
WICHITA — 
The Kapaun Family and the Diocese of Wichita are planning the transport of Father Emil Kapaun’s remains to Wichita in just a few days.

Following a send-off Mass at the Cathedral in Honolulu, Father Kapaun’s remains will be transported from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii on a flight that will land at Eisenhower airport in Wichita on Saturday, September 25, 2021. 

A procession will depart from the airport and Father Kapaun will arrive home at St. John Nepomucene in Pilsen on September 26 for a private homecoming and observance.&nbsp;

From Pilsen, Father Kapaun’s remains will be transported back to Wichita, to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. A public Vigil service for Fr. Emil J. Kapaun will be held at Hartman Arena on September 28th&nbsp;at 7:00 p.m. On Wednesday, September 29th&nbsp;a Mass will be held at Hartman Arena at 10:30 a.m. Following the Mass of Christian Burial at Hartman Arena, Father Kapaun's remains will process from Veterans Memorial Park (339 Veterans Memorial Pkwy) by way of horse-drawn caisson from&nbsp;1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception where he will finally be laid to rest.

WICHITA — 
The Kapaun Family and the Diocese of Wichita are planning the transport of Father Emil Kapaun’s remains to Wichita in just a few days.Following a send-off Mass at the Cathedral in Honolulu, Father Kapaun’s remains will be transported from the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii on a flight that will land at Eisenhower airport in Wichita on Saturday, September 25, 2021. A procession will depart from the airport and Father Kapaun will arrive home at St. John Nepomucene in Pilsen on September 26 for a private homecoming and observance.&nbsp;From Pilsen, Father Kapaun’s remains will be transported back to Wichita, to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. A public Vigil service for Fr. Emil J. Kapaun will be held at Hartman Arena on September 28th&nbsp;at 7:00 p.m. On Wednesday, September 29th&nbsp;a Mass will be held at Hartman Arena at 10:30 a.m. Following the Mass of Christian Burial at Hartman Arena, Father Kapaun's remains will process from Veterans Memorial Park (339 Veterans Memorial Pkwy) by way of horse-drawn caisson from&nbsp;1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., to the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception where he will finally be laid to rest.

Remains of Fr. Emil Kapaun to return to Kansas later this month

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 14 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Friday.

The KDHE also reported an additional coronavirus-related death, bringing the total to 75.

There have been 456 new COVID-19 cases identified in Ellis County after a lull in cases dwindled to near zero in June.

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

As of Monday morning, there were 11 COVID inpatients at HaysMed, down from 13 Friday.

The KDHE reported Wednesday 48 percent of eligible Ellis County residents are fully vaccinated, noting the vaccination rate for the entire Kansas population (12 and older) is approximately 59 percent.

Since reporting began, there have been 4,260 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 75 coronavirus-related deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632158211089.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Monday reported 14 new COVID-19 cases in Ellis County had been identified since Friday.The KDHE also reported an additional coronavirus-related death, bringing the total to 75.There have been 456 new COVID-19 cases identified in Ellis County after a lull in cases dwindled to near zero in June.<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.&nbsp;As of Monday morning, there were 11 COVID inpatients at HaysMed, down from 13 Friday.The KDHE reported Wednesday 48 percent of eligible Ellis County residents are fully vaccinated, noting the vaccination rate for the entire Kansas population (12 and older) is approximately 59 percent.Since reporting began, there have been 4,260 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 75 coronavirus-related deaths.

KDHE: 14 new virus cases, additional death in Ellis Co. since Friday

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Holy Family Elementary fourth-grade teacher Maddy Quimby shares information about the Christ's Cupboard program.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">notifications click here.</a>

<div><iframe title="Christ‘s Cupboard ministry helps area children with food insecurity" 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=iac4x-10e4ecf-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Holy Family Elementary fourth-grade teacher Maddy Quimby shares information about the Christ's Cupboard program.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">notifications click here.</a>

🎙Post Podcast: Christ‘s Cupboard ministry helps area children with food insecurity

A softball tournament Sunday raised $200 that will go to a relief vehicle for local firefighters.&nbsp;The Hays Police Department won the tournament this year. In second place was the Hays Fire Department with Ellis County EMS taking third.

Submitted<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1632154022216.jpeg" alt="Members of all three teams that played in the fundraiser — the Hays Police and Fire departments and Ellis County EMS. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Members of all three teams that played in the fundraiser — the Hays Police and Fire departments and Ellis County EMS. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>A softball tournament Sunday raised $200 that will go to a relief vehicle for local firefighters.&nbsp;The Hays Police Department won the tournament this year. In second place was the Hays Fire Department with Ellis County EMS taking third.

Softball tournament raises funds for firefighter relief vehicle

Corrected Sept. 20 for the correct phone number to book rides.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

WAKEENEY — After a wait of more than nine months, WaKeeney has received a new van to provide public transportation outside of the city limits.

The city already has a public transportation program within the city, but this van will be used to take local residents to appointments in Hays, Hill City or Quinter.&nbsp;

Rural Trego County residents can also request rides to WaKeeney. The program has set a 60-mile limit but may make some exceptions for further distances based on driver and van availability,&nbsp;Nancy Bollig, parish nurse for the Prairie Faith Shared Ministry.&nbsp; She helped organize the grant applications for the van.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9b7c64cb-b66c-496c-9892-6513a0a08d34">The city received a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation for 100 percent of the purchase cost of the van, as well as $3,748 from the Heartland Community Foundation to use toward the start-up costs.</a>

To book a ride, residents need to call 785-743-8014 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m Mondays through Fridays.

This also will be the run times for the van.&nbsp;

Passengers will need to call for rides at least 24 hours in advance or by Friday for a Monday ride. The program is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so scheduling in advance is preferred.

The cost will be $10 round trip from WaKeeney to Hays, $7 round trip from WaKeeney to Ellis, Hill City or Quinter. Other rides will be 30 cents per mile.

The goal of the program is to provide transportation to all local residents regardless of the ability to pay. Bollig said she is still trying to work out the details of that part of the program.

The van the city purchased with the KDOT funds is handicap accessible with a lift. It can carry up to 10 people, depending on the seat configuration. Seats can be removed to accommodate wheelchairs.

Drivers and riders will be required to mask per federal regulations as a precaution against COVID.

Although the program sprang from a need for local residents to attend medical, mental health and dental appointments, Bollig said she hopes the van could be used to meet residents' social needs as well.

She said if a driver is available, she envisions groups going to Hays or Hill City for movies or plays.

She said the van may also be able to run early hours if a passenger needs to get to Hays for early morning medical procedures.

The idea for the program sprang from a&nbsp;Strategic Doing session, sponsored by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. A small community group was formed.

The group researched what other counties were doing and found both Gove and Rooks counties have similar successful programs.

Bollig thanked the Heartland Community Foundation for its support, which paid for a cell phone for the program, a child safety seat, advertising, and Department of Transportation physicals and driver training.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631808023014.jpeg" alt="WaKeeney recently bought a van with grant funds to begin out-of-town public transportation. From left: Terry Rush, Ed Schmeidler, Michelle Rauch (three of the van drivers). Jacque Hobbs is the other fully trained driver, not pictured." />
 <figcaption>WaKeeney recently bought a van with grant funds to begin out-of-town public transportation. From left: Terry Rush, Ed Schmeidler, Michelle Rauch (three of the van drivers). Jacque Hobbs is the other fully trained driver, not pictured.</figcaption>
 </figure>Corrected Sept. 20 for the correct phone number to book rides.By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostWAKEENEY — After a wait of more than nine months, WaKeeney has received a new van to provide public transportation outside of the city limits.The city already has a public transportation program within the city, but this van will be used to take local residents to appointments in Hays, Hill City or Quinter.&nbsp;Service begins Wednesday.Rural Trego County residents can also request rides to WaKeeney. The program has set a 60-mile limit but may make some exceptions for further distances based on driver and van availability,&nbsp;Nancy Bollig, parish nurse for the Prairie Faith Shared Ministry.&nbsp; She helped organize the grant applications for the van.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/9b7c64cb-b66c-496c-9892-6513a0a08d34">The city received a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation for 100 percent of the purchase cost of the van, as well as $3,748 from the Heartland Community Foundation to use toward the start-up costs.</a>To book a ride, residents need to call 785-743-8014 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m Mondays through Fridays.This also will be the run times for the van.&nbsp;Passengers will need to call for rides at least 24 hours in advance or by Friday for a Monday ride. The program is on a first-come, first-serve basis, so scheduling in advance is preferred.The cost will be $10 round trip from WaKeeney to Hays, $7 round trip from WaKeeney to Ellis, Hill City or Quinter. Other rides will be 30 cents per mile.The goal of the program is to provide transportation to all local residents regardless of the ability to pay. Bollig said she is still trying to work out the details of that part of the program.The van the city purchased with the KDOT funds is handicap accessible with a lift. It can carry up to 10 people, depending on the seat configuration. Seats can be removed to accommodate wheelchairs.Drivers and riders will be required to mask per federal regulations as a precaution against COVID.Although the program sprang from a need for local residents to attend medical, mental health and dental appointments, Bollig said she hopes the van could be used to meet residents' social needs as well.She said if a driver is available, she envisions groups going to Hays or Hill City for movies or plays.She said the van may also be able to run early hours if a passenger needs to get to Hays for early morning medical procedures.The idea for the program sprang from a&nbsp;Strategic Doing session, sponsored by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. A small community group was formed.The group researched what other counties were doing and found both Gove and Rooks counties have similar successful programs.Bollig thanked the Heartland Community Foundation for its support, which paid for a cell phone for the program, a child safety seat, advertising, and Department of Transportation physicals and driver training.

UPDATED: WaKeeney to start out-of-town transportation service

JAG-K Students have a 97 percent graduation rate statewide

TOPEKA — The Hays High School Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas program has earned the prestigious “5 of 5 Award” for 2021.&nbsp;

The evidence-based program helps students prepare for post-secondary education and employment opportunities. JAG-K programs across the state, serving approximately 4,000 students, reported a graduation rate of 97 percent for the Class of 2020.&nbsp;

The 5 of 5 Award is bestowed upon those JAG programs that meet or exceed performance measures in five categories: graduation rate, successful outcomes, employment, post-secondary enrollment and job placement. JAG has a 12-month follow-up period with all seniors as part of its evidence-based, data-driven national model.&nbsp;

The JAG national organization announced that for the seventh consecutive year, JAG-K earned the Jobs for America’s Graduates State 5 of 5 Award.&nbsp;

“To receive the 5 of 5 Award for the seventh year in a row is special. But it’s an even more impressive accomplishment by our Career Specialists and staff to achieve it during the pandemic,” said JAG-K President/CEO Chuck Knapp. “The JAG model proved in the face of adversity to effectively prepare students for successful futures.

“We are proud of each of our schools who qualified for this&nbsp;JAG-K is a multi-year, in-school program for students in grades seven through 12 that offers tools to successfully transition students into post-secondary school, the military, or directly into the workforce with marketable skills. Participants in the program face multiple barriers to success that their JAG-K Career Specialist helps them overcome through a nationally-accredited, evidence-based model.&nbsp;

The 501(c)3 nonprofit organization is a state affiliate of the national JAG program network which operates in 40 different states and territories. It is primarily funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant to the State of Kansas administered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families. In addition to school districts and DCF, JAG-K partners with the Kansas Department of Education. Other JAG-K funding sources include AT&amp;T, Capitol Federal, John Deere, Synchrony Financial and Taco Bell.

To learn more about JAG-K, visit <a href="http://www.jagkansas.org">www.jagkansas.org</a>, ‘Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas’ on Facebook, and on Twitter at @JAG_Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631811476186.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>JAG-K Students have a 97 percent graduation rate statewide</h2>News releaseTOPEKA — The Hays High School Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas program has earned the prestigious “5 of 5 Award” for 2021.&nbsp;The evidence-based program helps students prepare for post-secondary education and employment opportunities. JAG-K programs across the state, serving approximately 4,000 students, reported a graduation rate of 97 percent for the Class of 2020.&nbsp;The 5 of 5 Award is bestowed upon those JAG programs that meet or exceed performance measures in five categories: graduation rate, successful outcomes, employment, post-secondary enrollment and job placement. JAG has a 12-month follow-up period with all seniors as part of its evidence-based, data-driven national model.&nbsp;The JAG national organization announced that for the seventh consecutive year, JAG-K earned the Jobs for America’s Graduates State 5 of 5 Award.&nbsp;“To receive the 5 of 5 Award for the seventh year in a row is special. But it’s an even more impressive accomplishment by our Career Specialists and staff to achieve it during the pandemic,” said JAG-K President/CEO Chuck Knapp. “The JAG model proved in the face of adversity to effectively prepare students for successful futures.“We are proud of each of our schools who qualified for this&nbsp;JAG-K is a multi-year, in-school program for students in grades seven through 12 that offers tools to successfully transition students into post-secondary school, the military, or directly into the workforce with marketable skills. Participants in the program face multiple barriers to success that their JAG-K Career Specialist helps them overcome through a nationally-accredited, evidence-based model.&nbsp;The 501(c)3 nonprofit organization is a state affiliate of the national JAG program network which operates in 40 different states and territories. It is primarily funded through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant to the State of Kansas administered by the Kansas Department for Children and Families. In addition to school districts and DCF, JAG-K partners with the Kansas Department of Education. Other JAG-K funding sources include AT&amp;T, Capitol Federal, John Deere, Synchrony Financial and Taco Bell.To learn more about JAG-K, visit <a href="http://www.jagkansas.org">www.jagkansas.org</a>, ‘Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas’ on Facebook, and on Twitter at @JAG_Kansas.

Hays High JAG-K program earns top national honor

By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-09-17/rural-suicide-rates-are-rising-in-kansas-and-solutions-wont-come-easy">Kansas News Service</a>

Kyle Carlin understands first-hand how hard a mental health crisis can hit in rural Kansas. 

He dealt with depression starting as a teenager. It eventually led him to attempt suicide.

But
 he didn’t think about seeking counseling until he was preparing to 
leave the Army Reserve in Hays roughly 12 years ago. Even then, asking 
for help wasn’t easy.

“Stigma is such a big issue around mental health,” Carlin said, “especially in western Kansas.”

His story illustrates a growing trend stressing rural communities across Kansas and the nation.

While suicide rates have increased by nearly <a href="https://www.khi.org/policy/article/21-41" target="_blank">45%</a> statewide over the past two decades, rates have risen most sharply in the most sparsely populated parts of Kansas.

A new Kansas Health Institute <a href="https://www.khi.org/assets/uploads/news/15207/urban-rural_differences_in_suicide_rates_and_leading_means_in_kansas.pdf" target="_blank">analysis</a>
 of state data shows that suicide rates climbed in rural and frontier 
counties by roughly 55% and 60% respectively from 2000 to 2019, 
significantly outpacing the increases in mid-sized cities and urban 
areas.

For frontier counties — the least populated parts of the 
state — the KHI analysis also revealed a troubling rise in the rate of 
suicides that used firearms, which was notably higher than the rate in 
rural areas with more residents. (The institute and the Kansas News 
Service both receive significant funding from the Kansas Health 
Foundation.)

And a variety of factors — from scarce resources to cultural stigmas 
to economic hardships — continue to put rural Kansans at risk.

That’s why Carlin volunteers with the local chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to put on a <a href="https://supporting.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&amp;eventID=7984" target="_blank">suicide prevention walk</a> happening this month in Hays: He hopes it can make it easier for others to reach out for help like he did years ago.

“The
 difference for me was recognizing that you can’t just muscle through 
it,” Carlin said. “There are times when you need support outside of 
yourself.”

Bradley Dirks, a behavioral health specialist with 
K-State Research and Extension, said that the geographic isolation that 
generally accompanies rural life is often compounded by a culture that 
rewards toughness, grit and self-sufficiency.

“We don’t want to 
look weak, particularly as a male, particularly in a rural agriculture 
setting,” Dirks said. “So to go to someone and say, ‘Look, I'm at the 
end of my rope, I need help,’ is really difficult.”

That mindset, 
plus the limited number of counseling options nearby and the challenge 
of finding anonymity in a small town, fuels the stigma that often keeps 
people from getting the help they need.

“If someone goes to a 
local therapist, and everybody sees the pickup out in front,” he said, 
“There's that stigma: ‘Oh, what's wrong with so and so?’”

Meanwhile,
 Dirks said the COVID-19 pandemic has multiplied the layers of stress 
piling onto rural Kansans as people have lost jobs, scrambled to find 
child care when schools closed and felt heightened tensions within the 
community as everyday discussions became politicized.

“It’d be 
abnormal,” he said, “if you were to come to me and say, ‘Hey, no, 
everything's cool, everything's good’ in today’s climate.”

The growing risk of suicide in rural Kansas mirrors national trends over the past two decades, with suicides occuring at <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/ss/ss6618a1.htm" target="_blank">much higher rates</a> in rural parts of the U.S. compared to urban areas. (National <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-suicide-prevention-coronavirus-pandemic-d8d9168403baa6660e5125c040b2ae81" target="_blank">suicide rates actually dropped 6%</a> last year during the pandemic.)

It’s
 an issue that’s especially pressing in many of the neighboring Great 
Plains states that share some cultural and economic similarities with 
western Kansas. Colorado, Oklahoma, Wyoming and South Dakota all rank 
among the nation’s <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/suicide-mortality/suicide.htm" target="_blank">highest per capita</a> suicide rates. Kansas currently ranks <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/suicide-mortality/suicide.htm" target="_blank">16th nationally</a>.

Suicide is now the <a href="https://www.khi.org/policy/article/21-41" target="_blank">ninth-leading</a> cause of death in the state and the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/14753Kq1TWARB-mkRihKGdQkawuF17nAU/view" target="_blank">second leading</a> cause of death for Kansans aged 15 to 34.

Wyatt
 Beckman, an analyst who worked on the Kansas Health Institute report, 
said the mental health challenges rural Kansans face demand different 
approaches than what works in Kansas City or Wichita.

“Rural 
communities aren’t simply smaller versions of cities,” Beckman said. 
“Suicide prevention efforts that we design and implement and evaluate in
 an urban context … can’t always be copied into rural communities.”

What’s
 more, Beckman said that even across western Kansas, significant 
differences exist from one county to the next — such as whether 
residents live in a town of 15,000 or 150 people and whether the nearest
 mental health clinic is 10 or 100 miles away.

For the KHI report, sparsely populated counties were categorized 
either as rural, with between six and 20 people per square mile, or 
frontier, with fewer than six people per square mile. Combined, they 
account for <a href="http://kic.kdheks.gov/OHA/ksmap.html#peer" target="_blank">more than half</a> of Kansas counties and comprise nearly all of the western half of the state.

Beckman
 grew up in Ness County, one of the many frontier counties in western 
Kansas with fewer than 3,000 residents. He said that makes the 
challenges people face in Ness County very different from those in 
neighboring Ellis County — Hays is the county seat — which has more than 20,000 residents.

If
 national and state initiatives don’t customize their approaches to 
understand those nuances between rural communities, people will continue
 to fall through the cracks.

For example, the per capita number of
 people dying by suicide with a gun in rural counties is similar to the 
statewide average. But the suicide-by-firearm rate in frontier counties 
is more than <a href="https://www.khi.org/assets/uploads/news/15207/urban-rural_differences_in_suicide_rates_and_leading_means_in_kansas.pdf" target="_blank">1.5 times higher</a> than rural counties.

That could call for new suicide prevention strategies specifically designed for gun owners in those frontier communities.

Beckman pointed to a <a href="https://vtspc.org/gun-shop-project/?doing_wp_cron=1631753545.4202458858489990234375" target="_blank">Vermont initiative</a> that partners with gun shops and firing ranges to promote suicide awareness with materials written by gun owners and a <a href="https://coloradofirearmsafetycoalition.org/gun-storage-map/" target="_blank">Colorado coalition</a> that provides a statewide network of temporary, voluntary gun storage locations for gun owners in crisis.

“It
 could be easy to lump all of (the rural counties) together and say 
they’re all the same,” he said. “But the data show that they're facing 
different rates of suicide by firearm, and underneath that, there are 
likely different challenges and different needs for suicide prevention.”

For rural Kansans who want to reach out for help, there are resources available.

For example, the state department of agriculture partnered with farming organizations to set up an <a href="https://www.kansasagstress.org/" target="_blank">initiative</a>
 called Kansas Ag Stress that offers support designed for farmers, 
ranchers and their families. A 2017 University of Iowa study found that 
the average suicide rate among American farmers and ranchers was <a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2020/03/05/seeds-of-despair-isolated-and-with-limited-access-to-mental-health-care-hundreds-are-dying-by-suicide/" target="_blank">3.5 times</a> that of the general public.

Businesses, churches or other community organizations in Kansas can contact their local <a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Kansas State University extension office</a>
 to have an agent offer training on mental health first aid and suicide 
prevention to their group. The training can be customized for the 
audience and range from 15 minutes to a few hours.

Kansas also has a network of <a href="https://www.acmhck.org/resources/cmhc-map/" target="_blank">community mental health centers</a> that offer care at locations spread throughout the state, including Garden City, Liberal, Greensburg and Hays.

But for people living in frontier counties, it might still be a challenge to reach them. The Hays-based center, <a href="http://www.hpmhc.com" target="_blank">High Plains Mental Health Center</a>, serves 17 counties spanning more than 15,000 square miles.

Dirks,
 the K-State extension agent, grew up in a farm family in Iowa and has 
worked in rural mental health settings for much of his 40-year career. 
He said that it’s key for mental health providers in rural areas to 
understand the ways that people in those communities tend to downplay 
mental and emotional struggles and learn how to spot the subtle signs of
 distress before they lead to crisis.

“In cultures where you can’t
 admit that you are struggling,” he said, “when someone does mention 
something, it is probably the tip of the iceberg.”

But nearly all rural counties in Kansas have a <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2019-12-27/kansas-sees-shortage-of-psychiatrists-and-other-mental-health-providers" target="_blank">shortage</a> of mental health providers, and it can be challenging for centers in less populated areas to attract and retain specialists.

Still, Dirks said he’s starting to see rural attitudes toward mental health slowly change.

“We
 think it’s weakness,” Dirks said. “I turn that upside down and say I 
think it's a sign of strength … for someone to say, ‘Look, I need 
help.’”

If you are considering suicide, please contact the national <a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/" target="_blank">suicide prevention helpline</a> anytime by calling 800-273-8255 or texting “HOME” to 741741.

If
 you would like to talk with someone in Kansas about what you or a loved
 one are going through, here are some regional resources that can help:

<a href="https://www.kansasagstress.org/" target="_blank">Kansas Ag Stress</a> helpline 800-447-1985

High Plains Mental Health Center in <a href="http://www.hpmhc.com/" target="_blank">Hays</a> 785-628-2871

Compass Behavioral Health in <a href="http://www.compassbh.org/" target="_blank">Garden City</a> 620-276-7689

Southwest Guidance Center in <a href="http://www.swgccmhc.org/" target="_blank">Liberal</a> 620-624-8171

Iroquois Center for Human Development in <a href="http://www.irqcenter.com/" target="_blank">Greensburg</a> 620-723-2272

David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank">@davidcondos</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631896087181.png" alt="File photo / Kansas News Service" />
 <figcaption>File photo / Kansas News Service</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID CONDOS <a href="https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2021-09-17/rural-suicide-rates-are-rising-in-kansas-and-solutions-wont-come-easy">Kansas News Service</a>Kyle Carlin understands first-hand how hard a mental health crisis can hit in rural Kansas. He dealt with depression starting as a teenager. It eventually led him to attempt suicide.But
 he didn’t think about seeking counseling until he was preparing to 
leave the Army Reserve in Hays roughly 12 years ago. Even then, asking 
for help wasn’t easy.“Stigma is such a big issue around mental health,” Carlin said, “especially in western Kansas.”His story illustrates a growing trend stressing rural communities across Kansas and the nation.While suicide rates have increased by nearly <a href="https://www.khi.org/policy/article/21-41" target="_blank">45%</a> statewide over the past two decades, rates have risen most sharply in the most sparsely populated parts of Kansas.A new Kansas Health Institute <a href="https://www.khi.org/assets/uploads/news/15207/urban-rural_differences_in_suicide_rates_and_leading_means_in_kansas.pdf" target="_blank">analysis</a>
 of state data shows that suicide rates climbed in rural and frontier 
counties by roughly 55% and 60% respectively from 2000 to 2019, 
significantly outpacing the increases in mid-sized cities and urban 
areas.For frontier counties — the least populated parts of the 
state — the KHI analysis also revealed a troubling rise in the rate of 
suicides that used firearms, which was notably higher than the rate in 
rural areas with more residents. (The institute and the Kansas News 
Service both receive significant funding from the Kansas Health 
Foundation.)<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631896147821.png" alt="This graph from the Kansas Health Institute report shows how suicide rates in rural and frontier counties have risen compared with the rest of the state. Courtesy of the Kansas Health Institute" />
 <figcaption>This graph from the Kansas Health Institute report shows how suicide rates in rural and frontier counties have risen compared with the rest of the state. Courtesy of the Kansas Health Institute</figcaption>
 </figure>And a variety of factors — from scarce resources to cultural stigmas 
to economic hardships — continue to put rural Kansans at risk.That’s why Carlin volunteers with the local chapter of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to put on a <a href="https://supporting.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&amp;eventID=7984" target="_blank">suicide prevention walk</a> happening this month in Hays: He hopes it can make it easier for others to reach out for help like he did years ago.“The
 difference for me was recognizing that you can’t just muscle through 
it,” Carlin said. “There are times when you need support outside of 
yourself.”Bradley Dirks, a behavioral health specialist with 
K-State Research and Extension, said that the geographic isolation that 
generally accompanies rural life is often compounded by a culture that 
rewards toughness, grit and self-sufficiency.“We don’t want to 
look weak, particularly as a male, particularly in a rural agriculture 
setting,” Dirks said. “So to go to someone and say, ‘Look, I'm at the 
end of my rope, I need help,’ is really difficult.”That mindset, 
plus the limited number of counseling options nearby and the challenge 
of finding anonymity in a small town, fuels the stigma that often keeps 
people from getting the help they need.“If someone goes to a 
local therapist, and everybody sees the pickup out in front,” he said, 
“There's that stigma: ‘Oh, what's wrong with so and so?’”Meanwhile,
 Dirks said the COVID-19 pandemic has multiplied the layers of stress 
piling onto rural Kansans as people have lost jobs, scrambled to find 
child care when schools closed and felt heightened tensions within the 
community as everyday discussions became politicized.“It’d be 
abnormal,” he said, “if you were to come to me and say, ‘Hey, no, 
everything's cool, everything's good’ in today’s climate.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631896193443.png" alt="People gather for a suicide prevention and awareness walk in Hays in 2018. Courtesy of Kyle Carlin" />
 <figcaption>People gather for a suicide prevention and awareness walk in Hays in 2018. Courtesy of Kyle Carlin</figcaption>
 </figure>Rural differencesThe growing risk of suicide in rural Kansas mirrors national trends over the past two decades, with suicides occuring at <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/ss/ss6618a1.htm" target="_blank">much higher rates</a> in rural parts of the U.S. compared to urban areas. (National <a href="https://apnews.com/article/pandemics-suicide-prevention-coronavirus-pandemic-d8d9168403baa6660e5125c040b2ae81" target="_blank">suicide rates actually dropped 6%</a> last year during the pandemic.)It’s
 an issue that’s especially pressing in many of the neighboring Great 
Plains states that share some cultural and economic similarities with 
western Kansas. Colorado, Oklahoma, Wyoming and South Dakota all rank 
among the nation’s <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/suicide-mortality/suicide.htm" target="_blank">highest per capita</a> suicide rates. Kansas currently ranks <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/sosmap/suicide-mortality/suicide.htm" target="_blank">16th nationally</a>.Suicide is now the <a href="https://www.khi.org/policy/article/21-41" target="_blank">ninth-leading</a> cause of death in the state and the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/14753Kq1TWARB-mkRihKGdQkawuF17nAU/view" target="_blank">second leading</a> cause of death for Kansans aged 15 to 34.Wyatt
 Beckman, an analyst who worked on the Kansas Health Institute report, 
said the mental health challenges rural Kansans face demand different 
approaches than what works in Kansas City or Wichita.“Rural 
communities aren’t simply smaller versions of cities,” Beckman said. 
“Suicide prevention efforts that we design and implement and evaluate in
 an urban context … can’t always be copied into rural communities.”What’s
 more, Beckman said that even across western Kansas, significant 
differences exist from one county to the next — such as whether 
residents live in a town of 15,000 or 150 people and whether the nearest
 mental health clinic is 10 or 100 miles away.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631896227706.png" alt="This map of Kansas from the state department of health shows how counties were grouped by population density for the KHI analysis. Rural counties are shown in blue, and frontier counties are shown in white." />
 <figcaption>This map of Kansas from the state department of health shows how counties were grouped by population density for the KHI analysis. Rural counties are shown in blue, and frontier counties are shown in white.</figcaption>
 </figure>For the KHI report, sparsely populated counties were categorized 
either as rural, with between six and 20 people per square mile, or 
frontier, with fewer than six people per square mile. Combined, they 
account for <a href="http://kic.kdheks.gov/OHA/ksmap.html#peer" target="_blank">more than half</a> of Kansas counties and comprise nearly all of the western half of the state.Beckman
 grew up in Ness County, one of the many frontier counties in western 
Kansas with fewer than 3,000 residents. He said that makes the 
challenges people face in Ness County very different from those in 
neighboring Ellis County — Hays is the county seat — which has more than 20,000 residents.If
 national and state initiatives don’t customize their approaches to 
understand those nuances between rural communities, people will continue
 to fall through the cracks.For example, the per capita number of
 people dying by suicide with a gun in rural counties is similar to the 
statewide average. But the suicide-by-firearm rate in frontier counties 
is more than <a href="https://www.khi.org/assets/uploads/news/15207/urban-rural_differences_in_suicide_rates_and_leading_means_in_kansas.pdf" target="_blank">1.5 times higher</a> than rural counties.That could call for new suicide prevention strategies specifically designed for gun owners in those frontier communities. Beckman pointed to a <a href="https://vtspc.org/gun-shop-project/?doing_wp_cron=1631753545.4202458858489990234375" target="_blank">Vermont initiative</a> that partners with gun shops and firing ranges to promote suicide awareness with materials written by gun owners and a <a href="https://coloradofirearmsafetycoalition.org/gun-storage-map/" target="_blank">Colorado coalition</a> that provides a statewide network of temporary, voluntary gun storage locations for gun owners in crisis.“It
 could be easy to lump all of (the rural counties) together and say 
they’re all the same,” he said. “But the data show that they're facing 
different rates of suicide by firearm, and underneath that, there are 
likely different challenges and different needs for suicide prevention.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631896264172.png" alt="This graph from the KHI report shows the growing gap between suicide-by-firearm rates in frontier counties and the rest of the state." />
 <figcaption>This graph from the KHI report shows the growing gap between suicide-by-firearm rates in frontier counties and the rest of the state.</figcaption>
 </figure>‘A sign of strength’For rural Kansans who want to reach out for help, there are resources available.For example, the state department of agriculture partnered with farming organizations to set up an <a href="https://www.kansasagstress.org/" target="_blank">initiative</a>
 called Kansas Ag Stress that offers support designed for farmers, 
ranchers and their families. A 2017 University of Iowa study found that 
the average suicide rate among American farmers and ranchers was <a href="https://investigatemidwest.org/2020/03/05/seeds-of-despair-isolated-and-with-limited-access-to-mental-health-care-hundreds-are-dying-by-suicide/" target="_blank">3.5 times</a> that of the general public.Businesses, churches or other community organizations in Kansas can contact their local <a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Kansas State University extension office</a>
 to have an agent offer training on mental health first aid and suicide 
prevention to their group. The training can be customized for the 
audience and range from 15 minutes to a few hours.Kansas also has a network of <a href="https://www.acmhck.org/resources/cmhc-map/" target="_blank">community mental health centers</a> that offer care at locations spread throughout the state, including Garden City, Liberal, Greensburg and Hays. But for people living in frontier counties, it might still be a challenge to reach them. The Hays-based center, <a href="http://www.hpmhc.com" target="_blank">High Plains Mental Health Center</a>, serves 17 counties spanning more than 15,000 square miles.Dirks,
 the K-State extension agent, grew up in a farm family in Iowa and has 
worked in rural mental health settings for much of his 40-year career. 
He said that it’s key for mental health providers in rural areas to 
understand the ways that people in those communities tend to downplay 
mental and emotional struggles and learn how to spot the subtle signs of
 distress before they lead to crisis.“In cultures where you can’t
 admit that you are struggling,” he said, “when someone does mention 
something, it is probably the tip of the iceberg.”But nearly all rural counties in Kansas have a <a href="https://www.kcur.org/health/2019-12-27/kansas-sees-shortage-of-psychiatrists-and-other-mental-health-providers" target="_blank">shortage</a> of mental health providers, and it can be challenging for centers in less populated areas to attract and retain specialists.Still, Dirks said he’s starting to see rural attitudes toward mental health slowly change.“We
 think it’s weakness,” Dirks said. “I turn that upside down and say I 
think it's a sign of strength … for someone to say, ‘Look, I need 
help.’”If you are considering suicide, please contact the national <a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/" target="_blank">suicide prevention helpline</a> anytime by calling 800-273-8255 or texting “HOME” to 741741.If
 you would like to talk with someone in Kansas about what you or a loved
 one are going through, here are some regional resources that can help:<a href="https://www.kansasagstress.org/" target="_blank">Kansas Ag Stress</a> helpline 800-447-1985High Plains Mental Health Center in <a href="http://www.hpmhc.com/" target="_blank">Hays</a> 785-628-2871Compass Behavioral Health in <a href="http://www.compassbh.org/" target="_blank">Garden City</a> 620-276-7689Southwest Guidance Center in <a href="http://www.swgccmhc.org/" target="_blank">Liberal</a> 620-624-8171Iroquois Center for Human Development in <a href="http://www.irqcenter.com/" target="_blank">Greensburg</a> 620-723-2272David Condos covers western Kansas for High Plains Public Radio and the Kansas News Service. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/davidcondos" target="_blank">@davidcondos</a>.

Rural suicide rates rising in Kansas — and solutions won't come easy 

The Kansas Food Bank has received a combined gift totaling $15,000 from Midland Marketing and Land O’Lakes which will provide food for the communities served by Midland Marketing.

“We take great pride in providing the Kansas Food Bank with resources to ensure our neighbors who experience hunger have access to missing meals” said Kevin Royer, CEO of Midland Marketing.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It is important to us to give back to the communities where we are located and this donation will do just that.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Funds will support different programs.&nbsp; One of those is the Food 4 Kids weekend backpack program.&nbsp;&nbsp;Food 4 Kids provides chronically hungry children with a packet of kid friendly, nutritious food every Friday during the school year.&nbsp; These are items that they can easily open and eat on their own without any preparation.&nbsp; The weekend packets provide kids the nourishment they need to grow and thrive.&nbsp; Throughout the pandemic partner schools have adapted to make sure children in the program still received their packets even if they were remote learning.&nbsp;

Local agencies who are receiving food bank grants include: &nbsp;Community Access Center and St Joe pantries in Hays and pantries in Ellis, Osborne, Plainville, Stockton and Victoria.

In addition, funds will support the mobile food pantry in the following counties:&nbsp; Graham, Ness and Rush.&nbsp; A Mobile Pantry is deployed by the Kansas Food Bank to communities that lack or have limited pantry service to provide an additional safety net.&nbsp;

“We are very thankful to Midland Marketing and Land O’ Lakes for this generous donation” stated Brian Walker, President and CEO of the Kansas Food Bank.&nbsp; “We are honored to have them support our work and mission.”&nbsp;

The Kansas Food Bank saw a tremendous increase in the number of people needing food assistance this past year due to the pandemic.&nbsp; Those increases were statewide in rural and urban areas.&nbsp; &nbsp;

The announcement was made at Midland Marketing in Hays on Friday, Sept. 10.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631811919921.jpeg" alt="Tom Benoit Land O'Lakes Board Member, Ryan Benoit, Debi Kreutzman Community Relations Manager for the Kansas Food Bank, and Kevin Royer CEO of Midland Marketing" />
 <figcaption>Tom Benoit Land O'Lakes Board Member, Ryan Benoit, Debi Kreutzman Community Relations Manager for the Kansas Food Bank, and Kevin Royer CEO of Midland Marketing</figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseThe Kansas Food Bank has received a combined gift totaling $15,000 from Midland Marketing and Land O’Lakes which will provide food for the communities served by Midland Marketing.“We take great pride in providing the Kansas Food Bank with resources to ensure our neighbors who experience hunger have access to missing meals” said Kevin Royer, CEO of Midland Marketing.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It is important to us to give back to the communities where we are located and this donation will do just that.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Funds will support different programs.&nbsp; One of those is the Food 4 Kids weekend backpack program.&nbsp;&nbsp;Food 4 Kids provides chronically hungry children with a packet of kid friendly, nutritious food every Friday during the school year.&nbsp; These are items that they can easily open and eat on their own without any preparation.&nbsp; The weekend packets provide kids the nourishment they need to grow and thrive.&nbsp; Throughout the pandemic partner schools have adapted to make sure children in the program still received their packets even if they were remote learning.&nbsp;Local agencies who are receiving food bank grants include: &nbsp;Community Access Center and St Joe pantries in Hays and pantries in Ellis, Osborne, Plainville, Stockton and Victoria.In addition, funds will support the mobile food pantry in the following counties:&nbsp; Graham, Ness and Rush.&nbsp; A Mobile Pantry is deployed by the Kansas Food Bank to communities that lack or have limited pantry service to provide an additional safety net.&nbsp;“We are very thankful to Midland Marketing and Land O’ Lakes for this generous donation” stated Brian Walker, President and CEO of the Kansas Food Bank.&nbsp; “We are honored to have them support our work and mission.”&nbsp;The Kansas Food Bank saw a tremendous increase in the number of people needing food assistance this past year due to the pandemic.&nbsp; Those increases were statewide in rural and urban areas.&nbsp; &nbsp;The announcement was made at Midland Marketing in Hays on Friday, Sept. 10.&nbsp;

Kansas Food Bank receives $15K from Midland Marketing, Land O’ Lakes

TOPEKA&nbsp;— Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz have announced 13 counties, including Trego County, will receive a combined total of $7.5 million through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Off-System Bridge Improvement Program.

“My administration is committed to improving the overall transportation system in our state, including bridges owned by cities and counties in need of long-overdue repairs,” Kelly said. “We look forward to fostering further partnerships among all levels of government to continue building the kind of robust, responsive infrastructure system that moves people and goods as efficiently as possible across Kansas and boosts our state and local economies.”

In Kansas, there are more than 19,300 locally owned bridges, of which 1,230 are in “poor” condition and an additional 3,844 are either unable to carry legal loads or accommodate modern truck sizes. Off-system bridges are located on roadways not otherwise eligible for federal aid.

State funding for the 13 projects will be enhanced by a minimum 20 percent match from each recipient, resulting in $10.4 million in total local infrastructure improvements. KDOT received 87 applications requesting $46.4 million as part of the Off-System Bridge Improvement Program.

“There is clearly a high demand for transportation infrastructure investments across our state,” Lorenz said.&nbsp;“By partnering with KDOT, our communities are better able to help local road systems do the job they’re intended to do – like moving people and goods – and thus promote economic development and create more opportunities for growth.”

In addition to this federally required program, KDOT reinstated the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program bridge program as part of the Kelly Administration’s 10-year, bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program to assist cities and counties with the local roadway system.&nbsp;

For federal fiscal year 2023, the county, locations and amounts awarded for the Off-System Bridge Improvement Program include:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631745634594.jpeg" alt="(Photo by Pixabay)" />
 <figcaption>(Photo by Pixabay)</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Governor Laura KellyTOPEKA&nbsp;— Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz have announced 13 counties, including Trego County, will receive a combined total of $7.5 million through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Off-System Bridge Improvement Program.“My administration is committed to improving the overall transportation system in our state, including bridges owned by cities and counties in need of long-overdue repairs,” Kelly said. “We look forward to fostering further partnerships among all levels of government to continue building the kind of robust, responsive infrastructure system that moves people and goods as efficiently as possible across Kansas and boosts our state and local economies.”In Kansas, there are more than 19,300 locally owned bridges, of which 1,230 are in “poor” condition and an additional 3,844 are either unable to carry legal loads or accommodate modern truck sizes. Off-system bridges are located on roadways not otherwise eligible for federal aid.State funding for the 13 projects will be enhanced by a minimum 20 percent match from each recipient, resulting in $10.4 million in total local infrastructure improvements. KDOT received 87 applications requesting $46.4 million as part of the Off-System Bridge Improvement Program.“There is clearly a high demand for transportation infrastructure investments across our state,” Lorenz said.&nbsp;“By partnering with KDOT, our communities are better able to help local road systems do the job they’re intended to do – like moving people and goods – and thus promote economic development and create more opportunities for growth.”In addition to this federally required program, KDOT reinstated the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program bridge program as part of the Kelly Administration’s 10-year, bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program to assist cities and counties with the local roadway system.&nbsp;For federal fiscal year 2023, the county, locations and amounts awarded for the Off-System Bridge Improvement Program include:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631745464704.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Trego Co. receives funding for bridge improvement

Northwest Tech is moving up the national graduation rate rankings according to a recent report published by the Chronicle of Higher Education. The Almanac, an annual publication produced by The Chronicle of Higher Education, provides national insights on data and trends throughout higher education. The college has maintained steady success with graduation rates, and this year Northwest Tech was ranked #20 among 851 two-year publicly-funded colleges in the United States. The new ranking places Northwest Tech among the top 3% in success rates in the nation. 
 
“We are excited about our ability to maintain high graduation rates, and it serves as a reflection of the commitment by our faculty and staff to provide pathways and support for our students to reach graduation,” said Northwest Tech President Ben Schears. “We are small, responsive, and provide a personalized, hands-on experience for our students that larger institutions simply cannot deliver.” Schears indicated the small campus and classes, combined with the high amount of contact time students have with faculty members is the real key for the college. “When students walk down our hallways, we know them and often know aspects of their personal story. If they miss class, we are willing and able to reach out and see why,” said Schears. 
 
According to the latest Almanac, Kansas public two-year colleges had a total of three institutions in the rankings – all of whom were Kansas technical colleges: Flinthills Tech (#1), NCK Tech (#9) and Northwest Tech (#20). “Kansas technical colleges have incredibly high success rates and frankly, we’re very effective at the work we do,” said Schears. “Our role is to develop skilled labor for a hungry workforce, and it is great to see that reflected in national graduation rankings.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631810849738.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>News releaseNorthwest Tech is moving up the national graduation rate rankings according to a recent report published by the Chronicle of Higher Education. The Almanac, an annual publication produced by The Chronicle of Higher Education, provides national insights on data and trends throughout higher education. The college has maintained steady success with graduation rates, and this year Northwest Tech was ranked #20 among 851 two-year publicly-funded colleges in the United States. The new ranking places Northwest Tech among the top 3% in success rates in the nation. 
 
“We are excited about our ability to maintain high graduation rates, and it serves as a reflection of the commitment by our faculty and staff to provide pathways and support for our students to reach graduation,” said Northwest Tech President Ben Schears. “We are small, responsive, and provide a personalized, hands-on experience for our students that larger institutions simply cannot deliver.” Schears indicated the small campus and classes, combined with the high amount of contact time students have with faculty members is the real key for the college. “When students walk down our hallways, we know them and often know aspects of their personal story. If they miss class, we are willing and able to reach out and see why,” said Schears. 
 
According to the latest Almanac, Kansas public two-year colleges had a total of three institutions in the rankings – all of whom were Kansas technical colleges: Flinthills Tech (#1), NCK Tech (#9) and Northwest Tech (#20). “Kansas technical colleges have incredibly high success rates and frankly, we’re very effective at the work we do,” said Schears. “Our role is to develop skilled labor for a hungry workforce, and it is great to see that reflected in national graduation rankings.”

Northwest Tech ranks in top 3% in national graduation rates

Three-day weather outlook

	September is designated as Food Safety month, so it is a perfect time to share information about this important topic. Consumers of all ages need to improve their safe food handling practices. With only 61 percent of Americans following all package cooking instructions, and even less using a food thermometer (19 percent), this is a unique opportunity to help educate and inform consumers to “Cook It Safe.”

	Pre-prepared meals are fast and convenient by design, but not taking the time to read the cooking instructions on the package can lead to undercooking. Not all of these foods can be cooked to a safe temperature in a microwave. Food poisoning can occur when food is not cooked evenly to a safe internal temperature high enough to destroy harmful bacteria that might be present.

	Frozen convenience foods may appear ready-to-eat and simply in need of being reheated, but many contain raw products that must be fully cooked before eating. Reading the product’s label should inform consumers whether the product needs to be reheated or thoroughly cooked. The package may convey, for example, that the product contains uncooked meat or poultry. If the package instructions for microwave cooking call for covering or stirring the food or allowing a “stand time” do not ignore these steps, which contribute to even cooking. Covering food traps moisture and raises the temperature, while stirring prevents cold spots where bacteria can survive. “Stand time” is the time between removal from a heat source and consumption, when food continues to cook for a few minutes. Skipping these key parts of cooking instructions may allow bacteria to survive and lead to foodborne illness.

	Get in the habit of using a food thermometer to ensure a safe internal temperature. It is a good idea to test the food in several places. This applies when cooking in microwaves or any other heat source. The safe internal temperatures that will ensure bacteria are killed in different types of food are:&nbsp;

For more information about food safety feel free to give me a call at the Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend office.

Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>	September is designated as Food Safety month, so it is a perfect time to share information about this important topic. Consumers of all ages need to improve their safe food handling practices. With only 61 percent of Americans following all package cooking instructions, and even less using a food thermometer (19 percent), this is a unique opportunity to help educate and inform consumers to “Cook It Safe.”	Pre-prepared meals are fast and convenient by design, but not taking the time to read the cooking instructions on the package can lead to undercooking. Not all of these foods can be cooked to a safe temperature in a microwave. Food poisoning can occur when food is not cooked evenly to a safe internal temperature high enough to destroy harmful bacteria that might be present.	Frozen convenience foods may appear ready-to-eat and simply in need of being reheated, but many contain raw products that must be fully cooked before eating. Reading the product’s label should inform consumers whether the product needs to be reheated or thoroughly cooked. The package may convey, for example, that the product contains uncooked meat or poultry. If the package instructions for microwave cooking call for covering or stirring the food or allowing a “stand time” do not ignore these steps, which contribute to even cooking. Covering food traps moisture and raises the temperature, while stirring prevents cold spots where bacteria can survive. “Stand time” is the time between removal from a heat source and consumption, when food continues to cook for a few minutes. Skipping these key parts of cooking instructions may allow bacteria to survive and lead to foodborne illness.	Get in the habit of using a food thermometer to ensure a safe internal temperature. It is a good idea to test the food in several places. This applies when cooking in microwaves or any other heat source. The safe internal temperatures that will ensure bacteria are killed in different types of food are:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Whole cuts of fresh beef, pork, veal and lamb: 145 degrees F, followed by three minutes of stand time.</li><li>Fish: 145 degrees F.</li><li>Ground beef, pork, veal, and lamb: 160 degrees F.</li><li>Eggs and egg dishes: 160 degrees F.</li><li>All poultry, ground or whole: 165 degrees F.</li><li>Leftovers and casseroles: 165 degrees F.</li><li>Hotdogs and reheated deli meats: 165 degrees F or steaming hot.</li>
 </ul>For more information about food safety feel free to give me a call at the Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend office.Donna Krug is the District Director and Family and Consumer Science Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: Cook it safe when preparing convenience foods

On this episode of the Post Podcast, Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams shares information about the request for a Rural Housing Incentive District for a downtown Hays project.&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="City commission hears incentive district request" 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=y9t5u-10e17ac-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of the Post Podcast, Grow Hays executive director Doug Williams shares information about the request for a Rural Housing Incentive District for a downtown Hays project.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">notifications click here.</a>

🎙Post Podcast: City commission hears incentive district request

On Sept. 11, 25 members of the Hays Fire
Department, the Ellis County Technical Rescue Team, the Goodland Fire Department
and the Sherman County Rural Fire Department gathered in Hays for their first
combined training.

“The is the first time that we have ever actually worked
together, so it was kind of a big deal, especially since it is on 9/11,”
Detrixhe said. 

Operation Western Partnership brought members of the Kansas
Task Force 7, covering 18 counties in western Kansas, to learn and practice various
rescue skills.

“They are the state resource out there, and we mutual aid
with them,” said HFD Lt. Tim Detrixhe.

“It’s part of the state USAR — Urban Search and Rescue
system,” Detrixhe said. “Urban Search and Rescue consists of things like
structural collapse, high-angle rescue, low-angle rescue, trench collapse,
grain entrapment, confined space, wide-area search.”

While the departments had
not worked together in the past, both Detrixhe and Lt. Matthew Breininger of the Sherman County Rural Fire said it had been discussed for some time, and this training
operation helps to let the various components of the group get to know each
other.

During the day, responders
moved through three training modules, each containing a unique but necessary part
of search and rescue operations.

“We modeled it off of Hays, so the whole idea of the entire
drill is a tornado struck Hays, and we have all of these scenarios that will
come into play if a tornado struck.”

During the first part of the day, the group broke into two
sections, with one learning about tools that could help extricate someone from
a debris pile. At the same time, the other group moved through an inside maze involving
crawling while wearing external air through a maze built inside a building at
the training site.

The first scenario simulated a trapped man with a chemical
leak in a storage facility.

“We have a victim in there,” Detrixhe said. “And we create a 'bad atmosphere.' So they are working through that scenario … integrating the two
teams together.”

During that scenario, rescuers used a SABA unit. This
supplied air breathing apparatus provides air to the responder during the rescue
without the challenges presented by wearing external air tanks.

“It’s very similar to the air packs that we wear going into
a fire … Well, if you are in a confined space, you don’t have room for that air
pack, and you are limited on time,” Detrixhe said. “On a good day…your thirty-minute
bottle is only going to last 20 minutes, max while you are working, and it’s bulky.
So what we do is separate those two things out.”

He said theoretically, with the system, a responder could
work indefinitely.

During the other scenario, the team worked to rescue an
unaccounted-for victim during a minor collapse of the Hadley Center.

“That’s the search component,” Detrixhe said.

“Any structural collapse, we are going to start with searching,
trying to locate our victims,” Breininger said. “So they are actually utilizing
the tools and equipment they would use to go through that.”

One of those pieces of equipment is a Delsar system.

“It has essentially got six pucks that are linked in series,
“Breininger said. “And there is a person with a control device. Each puck has a
number assigned to it, and it will actually detect tapping from someone buried
10-15 feet under the rubble.”

He said the control util shows which unit is the closest to
the sound during placement, allowing rescuers to dial into a location.

“You essentially just start moving the sensors down the pile,
closer and closer, to pinpoint where somebody is at,” Breininger said. “That
gives us the first indication there is a victim.”

From there, the search would move to camera systems to
confirm the victim's location before the start of rescue attempts.

The last piece of the rescue would be extraction, with teams
working with a core drill and a concrete saw that would be used to extricate
victims.

The two teams ran those exercises separately before coming
back together for the third situation.

Wrapping up the training, a full-scale exercise in their
Hays Fire Department’s training tower presented the team inside with a full-scale
collapse of the Hadley Center due to a tornado strike.

“We have to use the training tower as the prop to go in and
get that person out,” Detrixhe said. “With the caveat that the ground floor is
no go. You can’t access anything from the ground floor. So we have to figure
out a way to get to the second floor to work down into the first floor, search
the whole building and get them out.”

During that last scenario, the group used a new system
of exterior climbing.

Once inside, structural components were secured using specialized
equipment that would hold up sections of the building while rescues attempts were
ongoing.

While the training was a way to help integrate the teams and
learn life-saving skills, Detrixhe said the timing made the day special.

“This is athing we have been wanting to do for a long time
and then we thought, this would be a good day to do it,” Detrixhe said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631911815108.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostOn Sept. 11, 25 members of the Hays Fire
Department, the Ellis County Technical Rescue Team, the Goodland Fire Department
and the Sherman County Rural Fire Department gathered in Hays for their first
combined training.“The is the first time that we have ever actually worked
together, so it was kind of a big deal, especially since it is on 9/11,”
Detrixhe said. Operation Western Partnership brought members of the Kansas
Task Force 7, covering 18 counties in western Kansas, to learn and practice various
rescue skills.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631911861382.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“They are the state resource out there, and we mutual aid
with them,” said HFD Lt. Tim Detrixhe.“It’s part of the state USAR — Urban Search and Rescue
system,” Detrixhe said. “Urban Search and Rescue consists of things like
structural collapse, high-angle rescue, low-angle rescue, trench collapse,
grain entrapment, confined space, wide-area search.”While the departments had
not worked together in the past, both Detrixhe and Lt. Matthew Breininger of the Sherman County Rural Fire said it had been discussed for some time, and this training
operation helps to let the various components of the group get to know each
other.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631911906893.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>During the day, responders
moved through three training modules, each containing a unique but necessary part
of search and rescue operations.“We modeled it off of Hays, so the whole idea of the entire
drill is a tornado struck Hays, and we have all of these scenarios that will
come into play if a tornado struck.”During the first part of the day, the group broke into two
sections, with one learning about tools that could help extricate someone from
a debris pile. At the same time, the other group moved through an inside maze involving
crawling while wearing external air through a maze built inside a building at
the training site.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631911926545.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The first scenario simulated a trapped man with a chemical
leak in a storage facility.“We have a victim in there,” Detrixhe said. “And we create a 'bad atmosphere.' So they are working through that scenario … integrating the two
teams together.”During that scenario, rescuers used a SABA unit. This
supplied air breathing apparatus provides air to the responder during the rescue
without the challenges presented by wearing external air tanks.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631911966542.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“It’s very similar to the air packs that we wear going into
a fire … Well, if you are in a confined space, you don’t have room for that air
pack, and you are limited on time,” Detrixhe said. “On a good day…your thirty-minute
bottle is only going to last 20 minutes, max while you are working, and it’s bulky.
So what we do is separate those two things out.”He said theoretically, with the system, a responder could
work indefinitely.During the other scenario, the team worked to rescue an
unaccounted-for victim during a minor collapse of the Hadley Center.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631911991175.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“That’s the search component,” Detrixhe said.“Any structural collapse, we are going to start with searching,
trying to locate our victims,” Breininger said. “So they are actually utilizing
the tools and equipment they would use to go through that.”One of those pieces of equipment is a Delsar system.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631912013625.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“It has essentially got six pucks that are linked in series,
“Breininger said. “And there is a person with a control device. Each puck has a
number assigned to it, and it will actually detect tapping from someone buried
10-15 feet under the rubble.”He said the control util shows which unit is the closest to
the sound during placement, allowing rescuers to dial into a location.“You essentially just start moving the sensors down the pile,
closer and closer, to pinpoint where somebody is at,” Breininger said. “That
gives us the first indication there is a victim.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631912036374.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>From there, the search would move to camera systems to
confirm the victim's location before the start of rescue attempts.The last piece of the rescue would be extraction, with teams
working with a core drill and a concrete saw that would be used to extricate
victims.The two teams ran those exercises separately before coming
back together for the third situation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631912059935.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Wrapping up the training, a full-scale exercise in their
Hays Fire Department’s training tower presented the team inside with a full-scale
collapse of the Hadley Center due to a tornado strike.“We have to use the training tower as the prop to go in and
get that person out,” Detrixhe said. “With the caveat that the ground floor is
no go. You can’t access anything from the ground floor. So we have to figure
out a way to get to the second floor to work down into the first floor, search
the whole building and get them out.”During that last scenario, the group used a new system
of exterior climbing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631912088354.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Once inside, structural components were secured using specialized
equipment that would hold up sections of the building while rescues attempts were
ongoing.While the training was a way to help integrate the teams and
learn life-saving skills, Detrixhe said the timing made the day special.“This is athing we have been wanting to do for a long time
and then we thought, this would be a good day to do it,” Detrixhe said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631912115026.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1645562687091.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Operation Western Partnership brings together NW Kan. rescuers

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;

“Bake the world a better place.” Not just “Make the world a better place,” but “Bake the world a better place.”&nbsp;

That sounds like a baker’s motto, and it would certainly apply to this bakery and gift shop in rural Kansas.&nbsp;

Nan Lisher is owner and founder of Elsie Grace’s Gift Shoppe and Bakery in Frankfort.&nbsp;As a kid, Nan was close to her grandmother, Elsie Grace Tilley. “She taught me a lot about baking and cooking,” Nan said. Nan and her cousin Sara even dreamed of running a restaurant someday.&nbsp;

That dream came true when Nan opened Nan’s Cooking Nook in Frankfort, with Sara’s help. They served homemade food. Their pies were especially popular. The restaurant operated until 1992.&nbsp;

Then Nan started formulating dry mixes for her snack dips, soups and pies. She formed a company to market these products and named it in honor of her grandmother, Elsie Grace’s. Nan and Sara marketed the dry mixes across northeast Kansas.&nbsp;

In downtown Frankfort, an older lady operated a small gift shop and fudge factory. One day in 1999, Nan stopped in to visit the lady and said, “If you ever want to sell this place, keep me in mind.” One month later, Nan owned the store. Talk about good timing.&nbsp;

Elsie Grace’s Gift Shoppe and Bakery now operates in that location, with Nan and her cousin Sara Colvin. The store offers a wide variety of gifts plus homemade pies, hot lunch meals and fudge. “There’s been fudge produced at this corner of town for 32 years,” Nan said.&nbsp;

Nan and Sara brought one of their homemade pies with them when they consulted with the director of the Small Business Development Center at the time. “He told us the pie was delicious but he said, ‘Nobody makes pies anymore.’” However, he helped with their business plan and promotion. “He was very beneficial, but I still laugh about that because I use that pie mix every day of the week,” Nan said.&nbsp;

“I love to bake and I love to cook,” she added. Her mother helped in the store and her husband would help open up in the mornings. “He called this my hobby.” That would change in a tragic instant.&nbsp;

April 7, 2002. Nan and her husband and her mom and dad were driving to Topeka for her grandson’s fourth birthday party. Near Frankfort, their car was hit by a drunk driver.&nbsp;Nan’s husband and her mother were killed instantly. Nan and her father were critically injured but survived.&nbsp;

“Without the town of Frankfort, I would never have made it,” Nan said. “The people in Frankfort wrapped their arms around us.” The community mobilized to help, with fundraisers and support.&nbsp;

“You have choices in life,” Nan said. “You can give up or you can stand on your feet.” With support from the community, Nan chose to continue Elsie Grace’s after her recovery. “I threw myself into the business after the accident,” Nan said. She later remarried.&nbsp;

Today, Elsie Grace’s offers products online as well as in the store at Frankfort. The business has expanded to the building next door. Upstairs apartments in the building are available for rent.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nan and Sara created the 320-page Elsie Grace’s Family and Friends Cookbook. At the gift shop and bakery, hot homemade meals are served at lunch on weekdays. The dry mixes for pies, soups, pancakes, cookies and dips are marketed across the nation.&nbsp;

“We’ve shipped to most states and as far away as Germany,” Nan said. That’s an impressive record for a business based in the rural community of Frankfort, population 726 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

“Cooking is my therapy,” she said. “I love to make people happy with food.”&nbsp;

For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.elsiegraces1.com/">www.elsiegraces1.com</a>.&nbsp;

“Bake the world a better place.” That is a good way to describe what happens at Elsie Grace’s Gift Shoppe and Bakery. We commend Nan Lisher and Sara Colvin at Elsie Grace’s for making a difference with a creative gift selection and delicious food. They are baking the world better, one pie at a time.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631712605760.png" alt="Sara Colvin and Nan Lisher" />
 <figcaption>Sara Colvin and Nan Lisher</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;“Bake the world a better place.” Not just “Make the world a better place,” but “Bake the world a better place.”&nbsp;That sounds like a baker’s motto, and it would certainly apply to this bakery and gift shop in rural Kansas.&nbsp;Nan Lisher is owner and founder of Elsie Grace’s Gift Shoppe and Bakery in Frankfort.&nbsp;As a kid, Nan was close to her grandmother, Elsie Grace Tilley. “She taught me a lot about baking and cooking,” Nan said. Nan and her cousin Sara even dreamed of running a restaurant someday.&nbsp;That dream came true when Nan opened Nan’s Cooking Nook in Frankfort, with Sara’s help. They served homemade food. Their pies were especially popular. The restaurant operated until 1992.&nbsp;Then Nan started formulating dry mixes for her snack dips, soups and pies. She formed a company to market these products and named it in honor of her grandmother, Elsie Grace’s. Nan and Sara marketed the dry mixes across northeast Kansas.&nbsp;In downtown Frankfort, an older lady operated a small gift shop and fudge factory. One day in 1999, Nan stopped in to visit the lady and said, “If you ever want to sell this place, keep me in mind.” One month later, Nan owned the store. Talk about good timing.&nbsp;Elsie Grace’s Gift Shoppe and Bakery now operates in that location, with Nan and her cousin Sara Colvin. The store offers a wide variety of gifts plus homemade pies, hot lunch meals and fudge. “There’s been fudge produced at this corner of town for 32 years,” Nan said.&nbsp;Nan and Sara brought one of their homemade pies with them when they consulted with the director of the Small Business Development Center at the time. “He told us the pie was delicious but he said, ‘Nobody makes pies anymore.’” However, he helped with their business plan and promotion. “He was very beneficial, but I still laugh about that because I use that pie mix every day of the week,” Nan said.&nbsp;“I love to bake and I love to cook,” she added. Her mother helped in the store and her husband would help open up in the mornings. “He called this my hobby.” That would change in a tragic instant.&nbsp;April 7, 2002. Nan and her husband and her mom and dad were driving to Topeka for her grandson’s fourth birthday party. Near Frankfort, their car was hit by a drunk driver.&nbsp;Nan’s husband and her mother were killed instantly. Nan and her father were critically injured but survived.&nbsp;“Without the town of Frankfort, I would never have made it,” Nan said. “The people in Frankfort wrapped their arms around us.” The community mobilized to help, with fundraisers and support.&nbsp;“You have choices in life,” Nan said. “You can give up or you can stand on your feet.” With support from the community, Nan chose to continue Elsie Grace’s after her recovery. “I threw myself into the business after the accident,” Nan said. She later remarried.&nbsp;Today, Elsie Grace’s offers products online as well as in the store at Frankfort. The business has expanded to the building next door. Upstairs apartments in the building are available for rent.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Nan and Sara created the 320-page Elsie Grace’s Family and Friends Cookbook. At the gift shop and bakery, hot homemade meals are served at lunch on weekdays. The dry mixes for pies, soups, pancakes, cookies and dips are marketed across the nation.&nbsp;“We’ve shipped to most states and as far away as Germany,” Nan said. That’s an impressive record for a business based in the rural community of Frankfort, population 726 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;“Cooking is my therapy,” she said. “I love to make people happy with food.”&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.elsiegraces1.com/">www.elsiegraces1.com</a>.&nbsp;“Bake the world a better place.” That is a good way to describe what happens at Elsie Grace’s Gift Shoppe and Bakery. We commend Nan Lisher and Sara Colvin at Elsie Grace’s for making a difference with a creative gift selection and delicious food. They are baking the world better, one pie at a time.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural:  Nan Lisher, Elsie Grace’s 

Health insurance companies have been shielding many customers from out-of-pocket “cost-sharing” expenses like deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments for Covid-related medical care. But that safety cushion is disappearing, increasing your direct financial risk from the disease.&nbsp;

Now that vaccines have proven safe and effective at mitigating Covid, insurers are shifting costs back onto customers, including large insurers here in Kansas like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas and Blue KC.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Testing and vaccines will continue to have no out-of-pocket costs under federal law, but other services will trigger customer cost-sharing.&nbsp;

For those who remain unvaccinated, that means a heightened risk of large medical bills, on top of their heightened risk of contracting Covid and suffering its more severe health effects.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The group most directly impacted is the nearly 60 percent of Kansans who, per the Kansas Health Institute (KHI), get their health insurance through an employer. Should these folks incur costs for Covid-related care, cost-sharing under their respective plans kicks in.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that in Kansas the average annual family deductible is about $3,600 and the average individual deductible is about $1,900. Annual out-of-pocket maximums for covered services for families can currently exceed $17,000 under federal law.&nbsp;

Going forward, then, an insured person who needs Covid treatment could face thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs that they didn’t risk before in the pandemic.&nbsp;

Roughly 250,000 Kansans lack health insurance, according to the KHI. These Kansans are disproportionately low income workers. They are also more likely to live in rural communities that have lower vaccination rates and that Covid has hit harder on a per capita basis. Not having benefited from cost-sharing waivers because they lacked insurance, not much changes for these folks and their risk for large medical debt.&nbsp;

If four-figure medical bills don’t intimidate you financially, congratulations on your comfort.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575644168170.png" alt="Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Health insurance companies have been shielding many customers from out-of-pocket “cost-sharing” expenses like deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments for Covid-related medical care. But that safety cushion is disappearing, increasing your direct financial risk from the disease.&nbsp;Now that vaccines have proven safe and effective at mitigating Covid, insurers are shifting costs back onto customers, including large insurers here in Kansas like Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas and Blue KC.&nbsp;&nbsp;Testing and vaccines will continue to have no out-of-pocket costs under federal law, but other services will trigger customer cost-sharing.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>For those who remain unvaccinated, that means a heightened risk of large medical bills, on top of their heightened risk of contracting Covid and suffering its more severe health effects.&nbsp;&nbsp;The group most directly impacted is the nearly 60 percent of Kansans who, per the Kansas Health Institute (KHI), get their health insurance through an employer. Should these folks incur costs for Covid-related care, cost-sharing under their respective plans kicks in.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that in Kansas the average annual family deductible is about $3,600 and the average individual deductible is about $1,900. Annual out-of-pocket maximums for covered services for families can currently exceed $17,000 under federal law.&nbsp;Going forward, then, an insured person who needs Covid treatment could face thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs that they didn’t risk before in the pandemic.&nbsp;Roughly 250,000 Kansans lack health insurance, according to the KHI. These Kansans are disproportionately low income workers. They are also more likely to live in rural communities that have lower vaccination rates and that Covid has hit harder on a per capita basis. Not having benefited from cost-sharing waivers because they lacked insurance, not much changes for these folks and their risk for large medical debt.&nbsp;If four-figure medical bills don’t intimidate you financially, congratulations on your comfort.&nbsp;&nbsp;But for many Kansans, that kind of expense risks financial ruin and entrapment as a defendant in the legal system. Economic surveys commonly estimate that the median American has under $4,000 in cash savings, while the Federal Reserve reported in 2019 that about 40 percent of Americans would struggle to cover a $400 emergency expense.&nbsp;&nbsp;Many readers probably know people—often the uninsured or the under-insured—who have asked for charity on GoFundMe to cover their medical bills. That is a sad reality of the modern American health care market, especially for the working class.&nbsp;&nbsp;These crowdfunding attempts typically fall far short, though. The&nbsp;Journal of the American Medical Association&nbsp;published a study in early 2021 reporting that the roughly 250,000 medical expense fundraisers on GoFundMe in the previous decade raised just 36% of their total goal.&nbsp;&nbsp;If neighborly goodwill can’t cover medical expenses for cancer patients when economic times are good, how can we expect it to cover the ballooning costs of Covid care in tougher economic times and when this disease has seemingly driven so many Americans to loathe each other and wish each other harm?&nbsp;Most Kansans probably aren’t enthusiastic to blow thousands of dollars on Covid care. Nor would they proudly tout that bill in some grand display of conservative virtue signaling. There is no shame in getting vaccinated just to lower your financial risks. But for those who choose to remain unvaccinated, hopefully they know the heightened financial peril they are embracing.&nbsp;Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;