Too often caregivers neglect their own health and well-being and put their own needs “on the back burner”. The first chapter of The Caregiver Helpbook is about taking care of yourself. Additional chapters will help the caregiver set goals, make a plan and problem solve.&nbsp;

If you are a caregiver, consider joining an upcoming virtual class to be offered for six consecutive Mondays, April 5th through May 10th from 1:30 to 3 pm. The class does cost $5 but it includes a 230-page Caregiver Helpbook that will be very helpful to family members. The class size is limited, so don’t delay signing up. The link to register for the class is: <a href="https://bit.ly/2WsKkcFe">https://bit.ly/2WsKkcF</a> or you can call the Ford County Extension Office at 620-227-4542. If you know a caregiver who could benefit from this class, please share the information with them.&nbsp;

The Powerful Tools for Caregivers class is designed to help family caregivers take care of themselves while caring for a relative or friend. The class will provide tools to:

The class is only being offered virtually on Zoom at this time. But don’t let that turn you away. If you have never used Zoom, I would be glad to set up a zoom link with you so you can practice before the class starts. Don’t hesitate to give me a call if you have questions about the Powerful Tools for Caregivers class.&nbsp;

Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Too often caregivers neglect their own health and well-being and put their own needs “on the back burner”. The first chapter of The Caregiver Helpbook is about taking care of yourself. Additional chapters will help the caregiver set goals, make a plan and problem solve.&nbsp;If you are a caregiver, consider joining an upcoming virtual class to be offered for six consecutive Mondays, April 5th through May 10th from 1:30 to 3 pm. The class does cost $5 but it includes a 230-page Caregiver Helpbook that will be very helpful to family members. The class size is limited, so don’t delay signing up. The link to register for the class is: <a href="https://bit.ly/2WsKkcFe">https://bit.ly/2WsKkcF</a> or you can call the Ford County Extension Office at 620-227-4542. If you know a caregiver who could benefit from this class, please share the information with them.&nbsp;The Powerful Tools for Caregivers class is designed to help family caregivers take care of themselves while caring for a relative or friend. The class will provide tools to:<ul>
 <li>Help you reduce stress</li><li>Communicate effectively</li><li>Take care of yourself</li><li>Reduce guilt, anger and depression</li><li>Help you relax</li><li>Make tough decisions</li><li>Set goals and problem solve.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>The class is only being offered virtually on Zoom at this time. But don’t let that turn you away. If you have never used Zoom, I would be glad to set up a zoom link with you so you can practice before the class starts. Don’t hesitate to give me a call if you have questions about the Powerful Tools for Caregivers class.&nbsp;	Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

UNRUH: Powerful tools for caregivers

We have lived in our house for over 20 years.&nbsp; When we moved in my three sons were 15, 13, and 11.&nbsp; The neighbors across the street have a very large front yard.&nbsp; It did not take long before that yard was a football, basketball, or whatever else field for the Clinkscales boys.&nbsp; They would get a game going with each other, and soon friends would join in.&nbsp;

We have all grown older. The boys’ lives have taken them to different locations through different events of life, some good, and some not so good. &nbsp;

Maintaining their relationship with each other is very important to me.&nbsp; I know it is so easy to let events and changes in life work as “permission” to lose contact. &nbsp;

As a result, once a year my sons and I have a “boys’ trip,” without spouses or children.&nbsp; It is short, usually a long weekend, but it is a time for just us to be together. &nbsp;

I meet with families almost daily.&nbsp; Most of them are dealing with chronic illnesses or aging issues.&nbsp; One significant consideration is their support system and family dynamics.&nbsp; Both could be a real problem.&nbsp; The children may have drifted apart from each other as well as their parents, not only physically but emotionally, and have differing opinions about priorities for their parents.

This has been worsened by the pandemic.&nbsp; Families have curtailed or eliminated visits with each other.&nbsp; Family relationships may have lapsed or gone cold.&nbsp; I hear more and more, “I haven’t seen my brother or my sister since….” or “my parents,” or “my children.”&nbsp; &nbsp;

Life has a way of encouraging us to drift apart.&nbsp; Just as I have continued to work at practicing law to be a good lawyer, we have to “practice” to be good family members.&nbsp; That may mean overlooking differences, and searching for likenesses and love.

So, we do a boys’ trip every year.&nbsp; My hope is that long after I can’t do the boys’ trip, my sons will continue their relationships as best friends, despite their differences and life’s bumps along the way.&nbsp; I know they will have to work at being best friends, but it is worth the effort.

And by the way, if you come by our house while my sons are in town, there is likelihood you will find them in the neighbors’ yard playing football (with a new team member, Alex, my three year old grandson).&nbsp; It warms my heart to see that. &nbsp;

My hope for you is that you will work at staying best friends with your family.&nbsp; Those are irreplaceable relationships. &nbsp;

Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, 
Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To 
contact him, please send an email to randy@clinkscaleslaw.com. 
Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information 
purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different 
and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable 
law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578498921842.png" alt="Randy Clinkscales" />
 <figcaption>Randy Clinkscales</figcaption>
 </figure>We have lived in our house for over 20 years.&nbsp; When we moved in my three sons were 15, 13, and 11.&nbsp; The neighbors across the street have a very large front yard.&nbsp; It did not take long before that yard was a football, basketball, or whatever else field for the Clinkscales boys.&nbsp; They would get a game going with each other, and soon friends would join in.&nbsp;We have all grown older. The boys’ lives have taken them to different locations through different events of life, some good, and some not so good. &nbsp;Maintaining their relationship with each other is very important to me.&nbsp; I know it is so easy to let events and changes in life work as “permission” to lose contact. &nbsp;As a result, once a year my sons and I have a “boys’ trip,” without spouses or children.&nbsp; It is short, usually a long weekend, but it is a time for just us to be together. &nbsp;I meet with families almost daily.&nbsp; Most of them are dealing with chronic illnesses or aging issues.&nbsp; One significant consideration is their support system and family dynamics.&nbsp; Both could be a real problem.&nbsp; The children may have drifted apart from each other as well as their parents, not only physically but emotionally, and have differing opinions about priorities for their parents.This has been worsened by the pandemic.&nbsp; Families have curtailed or eliminated visits with each other.&nbsp; Family relationships may have lapsed or gone cold.&nbsp; I hear more and more, “I haven’t seen my brother or my sister since….” or “my parents,” or “my children.”&nbsp; &nbsp;Life has a way of encouraging us to drift apart.&nbsp; Just as I have continued to work at practicing law to be a good lawyer, we have to “practice” to be good family members.&nbsp; That may mean overlooking differences, and searching for likenesses and love.So, we do a boys’ trip every year.&nbsp; My hope is that long after I can’t do the boys’ trip, my sons will continue their relationships as best friends, despite their differences and life’s bumps along the way.&nbsp; I know they will have to work at being best friends, but it is worth the effort.And by the way, if you come by our house while my sons are in town, there is likelihood you will find them in the neighbors’ yard playing football (with a new team member, Alex, my three year old grandson).&nbsp; It warms my heart to see that. &nbsp;My hope for you is that you will work at staying best friends with your family.&nbsp; Those are irreplaceable relationships. &nbsp;Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, 
Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To 
contact him, please send an email to randy@clinkscaleslaw.com. 
Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information 
purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different 
and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable 
law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.

CLINKSCALES: Remaining best friends

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Ellis High School junior Zeke Haag recently completed a project to offer a little bit of fun for his church community.

Haag, 17, of Ellis completed an octaball&nbsp; or "ga ga ball" pit for his church, Ogallah Christian Church.&nbsp;

The court is octagonal. Players roll or hit a soccer-ball-sized ball with their hands. If the ball hits you below the waist, you are out of the game. The object of the game is to eliminate all of the other players.

He said his church youth group likes to play the game when they go to camp, so he offered to build a court at the church for his Eagle Scout project.

The cost of the project was about $900. Haag funded the project through donations from the church, friends and family.&nbsp;

Haag has been a Scout since he was in the first grade. He is a member of Troop 101 in Hays.

Haag said his goal since he was a Cub Scout has been to earn his Eagle Scout Award.

Haag has completed all of his merit badges, leadership hours and camping hours, and is waiting for final review of his project to receive his Eagle Scout Award, the highest honor in Boy Scouts.

He said one of his favorite aspects of Scouts has been camping. He has camped in West Virginia for the National Boy Scout Jamboree, as well as in Colorado and New Mexcio.

"I just like the outdoor atmosphere," he said.

Haag was also recently honored with the Outstanding Arrowman Award though Boy Scouting. To qualify for the award, Haag had to be voted in as a member of the Boy Scout honor society. Arrowmen must have a minimum number of camping hours, as well as earn a vote of three-quarters of their troop.

Haag also is a member of the football, wrestling and baseball teams at EHS.

Haag said he plans to go to technical school after he graduates high school to study carpentry.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616774778918.jpeg" alt="Zeke Haag, right, assembles boards for an&nbsp;octaball pit at the&nbsp;Ogallah Christian Church for his Eagle Scout project. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Zeke Haag, right, assembles boards for an&nbsp;octaball pit at the&nbsp;Ogallah Christian Church for his Eagle Scout project. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostEllis High School junior Zeke Haag recently completed a project to offer a little bit of fun for his church community.Haag, 17, of Ellis completed an octaball&nbsp; or "ga ga ball" pit for his church, Ogallah Christian Church.&nbsp;The court is octagonal. Players roll or hit a soccer-ball-sized ball with their hands. If the ball hits you below the waist, you are out of the game. The object of the game is to eliminate all of the other players.He said his church youth group likes to play the game when they go to camp, so he offered to build a court at the church for his Eagle Scout project.The cost of the project was about $900. Haag funded the project through donations from the church, friends and family.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616775107588.jpeg" alt="Local youth play octaball in a new pit that Zeke Haag constructed at&nbsp;Ogallah Christian Church for his Eagle Scout project. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Local youth play octaball in a new pit that Zeke Haag constructed at&nbsp;Ogallah Christian Church for his Eagle Scout project. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Haag has been a Scout since he was in the first grade. He is a member of Troop 101 in Hays.Haag said his goal since he was a Cub Scout has been to earn his Eagle Scout Award.Haag has completed all of his merit badges, leadership hours and camping hours, and is waiting for final review of his project to receive his Eagle Scout Award, the highest honor in Boy Scouts.He said one of his favorite aspects of Scouts has been camping. He has camped in West Virginia for the National Boy Scout Jamboree, as well as in Colorado and New Mexcio."I just like the outdoor atmosphere," he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616775310629.jpeg" alt="Zeke Haag of Ellis with his family after receiving his Arrowman Award from the Boy Scouts. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Zeke Haag of Ellis with his family after receiving his Arrowman Award from the Boy Scouts. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Haag was also recently honored with the Outstanding Arrowman Award though Boy Scouting. To qualify for the award, Haag had to be voted in as a member of the Boy Scout honor society. Arrowmen must have a minimum number of camping hours, as well as earn a vote of three-quarters of their troop.Haag also is a member of the football, wrestling and baseball teams at EHS.Haag said he plans to go to technical school after he graduates high school to study carpentry.

Ellis Scout builds octaball pit for church for Eagle Scout project

Whether Gloria Blackwell's students are banging on a drum or tapping out a tune on a&nbsp;glockenspiel, Blackwell said she wants her students to have fun and build a love of music.

"A couple of months ago the principal came down the hall. We were doing a game of some kind. She said, 'It is so nice to hear the kids laugh,' " Blackwell said. "They were just having fun and enjoying themselves. That's being kids, because that's what they need to do."

Blackwell has been a music teacher for 46 years, 24 of those with the Hays school district.&nbsp;

She was nominated for the Hays Post Teacher of the Month by Wilson Elementary School Principal Anita Scheve.

"She goes out of her way to make sure that every student has every chance to succeed, often giving chances, coaching and exuding patience and giving an all-out effort long past the point where other educators would have given up," Scheve said in her nomination.

Scheve said Blackwell exposes students to a myriad of instruments and procured special funding to buy instruments that normally would be inaccessible to her students.

"Her passion for music is contagious, and her ear for talent unmistakable," Scheve said. "She is good at finding the 'diamond in the rough' and then helping him or her shine."

Scheve said Blackwell helps her students build a strong foundation in music, so they can pursue their musical education in middle school and beyond.&nbsp;

Between Wilson and Roosevelt elementary schools, Blackwell teaches more than 550 children each week. She only has the students for a half hour at a time.&nbsp;

However, Scheve said her love of her students is evident.

"Her love of the students is as palpable as her love of music, helping her build strong relationships that support and strengthen the child in all aspects of life by being that person they know believes in them," Scheve said.

Music was always prevalent in Blackwell's home as a child. Her dad, Elmer, played country music, and her mom, Philena, would put on classical music because she wanted her children to be exposed to culture. The piano was also a central piece in the family's home.&nbsp;

Blackwell teaches piano in her spare time and plays piano at church. On Easter, Blackwell's daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter will join her for a brass quartet performance at their church, Messiah Lutheran Church.

Blackwell was in the band and choir when she attended school in McCracken. Her father was a dairy farmer. He timed milking the cows around attending her performances, which meant the cows sometimes had to be milked early or late.&nbsp;

"Poor cows," Blackwell lamented, "but he thought it was important to be there."

When Blackwell was a teenager, she wanted to be a veterinarian. She grew up on a farm and loved animals. However, her school counselor told her girls didn't become vets.

"He said, 'You can't do that.' I said, 'But, I kind of do on the farm.' He said,'You need to choose another field,' " Blackwell said.

Blackwell liked music, so she earned a degree in music education from Fort Hays State University. She later earned a master's degree in education administration also from FHSU.

Before coming to Hays, she taught at McCracken, Gorham and Ransom. At Ransom, she taught K-12 music.&nbsp;She had two bands that played at state convention, which was a highlight in her career.

Although she majored in vocal music in college, she said she fell in love with instrumental music while teaching band. She plays most instruments.

Today, Blackwell said she loves teaching the little kids.

"They are full of energy," she said. "They like to do things. They like to learn new things. They're fun."

Blackwell uses a lot of instruments in her classes. The children do moving activities and sing.

"I bring in a lot of percussion-type of instruments, and they love that. They like to play drums and maracas and claves and bells," Blackwell said. "I have a lot of xylophones,&nbsp;metallophones and glockenspiel to help them learn their theory, so they know how music is put together."

Her philosophy continues to be music is for everybody.

"You can find something in music that you can like," she said. "There are so many aspects to it that you can find. I think it can make you happy when you're sad, and it can put you on a even keel when you are maybe a bit too excited about things.&nbsp;

"It is a good outlet. It lets you express yourself, no matter what your mood or you're feeling."

Although she could retire, she said she still thinks she has something to offer.&nbsp;

"My kids give me purpose," she said. "I just like doing what I do. I like seeing my kids."

Blackwell has taught many children. She has taught the children of the children she had in class. A couple of her students have also gone on to be music teachers. She told the story of one special student who reconnected with her as an adult.

"One girl I had at Ransom came up to me a number of years later, and she said, 'It's not all of the music that you taught me that I remember, but I remember mostly the discipline,' " Blackwell said.

"I always thought that was important, because I think you have to do be disciplined in whatever you do in order to be successful," she said. "I felt that was a huge compliment that was what she took away from class — to be disciplined so she could do the things she needed to do in life."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616704214134.jpeg" alt="Gloria Blackwell, music teacher at Wilson and Roosevelt elementary schools, was named the March Hays Post Teacher of the Month." />
 <figcaption>Gloria Blackwell, music teacher at Wilson and Roosevelt elementary schools, was named the March Hays Post Teacher of the Month.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostWhether Gloria Blackwell's students are banging on a drum or tapping out a tune on a&nbsp;glockenspiel, Blackwell said she wants her students to have fun and build a love of music."A couple of months ago the principal came down the hall. We were doing a game of some kind. She said, 'It is so nice to hear the kids laugh,' " Blackwell said. "They were just having fun and enjoying themselves. That's being kids, because that's what they need to do."Blackwell has been a music teacher for 46 years, 24 of those with the Hays school district.&nbsp;She was nominated for the Hays Post Teacher of the Month by Wilson Elementary School Principal Anita Scheve."She goes out of her way to make sure that every student has every chance to succeed, often giving chances, coaching and exuding patience and giving an all-out effort long past the point where other educators would have given up," Scheve said in her nomination.Scheve said Blackwell exposes students to a myriad of instruments and procured special funding to buy instruments that normally would be inaccessible to her students."Her passion for music is contagious, and her ear for talent unmistakable," Scheve said. "She is good at finding the 'diamond in the rough' and then helping him or her shine."Scheve said Blackwell helps her students build a strong foundation in music, so they can pursue their musical education in middle school and beyond.&nbsp;Between Wilson and Roosevelt elementary schools, Blackwell teaches more than 550 children each week. She only has the students for a half hour at a time.&nbsp;However, Scheve said her love of her students is evident."Her love of the students is as palpable as her love of music, helping her build strong relationships that support and strengthen the child in all aspects of life by being that person they know believes in them," Scheve said.Music was always prevalent in Blackwell's home as a child. Her dad, Elmer, played country music, and her mom, Philena, would put on classical music because she wanted her children to be exposed to culture. The piano was also a central piece in the family's home.&nbsp;Blackwell teaches piano in her spare time and plays piano at church. On Easter, Blackwell's daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter will join her for a brass quartet performance at their church, Messiah Lutheran Church.Blackwell was in the band and choir when she attended school in McCracken. Her father was a dairy farmer. He timed milking the cows around attending her performances, which meant the cows sometimes had to be milked early or late.&nbsp;"Poor cows," Blackwell lamented, "but he thought it was important to be there."When Blackwell was a teenager, she wanted to be a veterinarian. She grew up on a farm and loved animals. However, her school counselor told her girls didn't become vets."He said, 'You can't do that.' I said, 'But, I kind of do on the farm.' He said,'You need to choose another field,' " Blackwell said.Blackwell liked music, so she earned a degree in music education from Fort Hays State University. She later earned a master's degree in education administration also from FHSU.Before coming to Hays, she taught at McCracken, Gorham and Ransom. At Ransom, she taught K-12 music.&nbsp;She had two bands that played at state convention, which was a highlight in her career.Although she majored in vocal music in college, she said she fell in love with instrumental music while teaching band. She plays most instruments.Today, Blackwell said she loves teaching the little kids."They are full of energy," she said. "They like to do things. They like to learn new things. They're fun."Blackwell uses a lot of instruments in her classes. The children do moving activities and sing."I bring in a lot of percussion-type of instruments, and they love that. They like to play drums and maracas and claves and bells," Blackwell said. "I have a lot of xylophones,&nbsp;metallophones and glockenspiel to help them learn their theory, so they know how music is put together."Her philosophy continues to be music is for everybody."You can find something in music that you can like," she said. "There are so many aspects to it that you can find. I think it can make you happy when you're sad, and it can put you on a even keel when you are maybe a bit too excited about things.&nbsp;"It is a good outlet. It lets you express yourself, no matter what your mood or you're feeling."Although she could retire, she said she still thinks she has something to offer.&nbsp;"My kids give me purpose," she said. "I just like doing what I do. I like seeing my kids."Blackwell has taught many children. She has taught the children of the children she had in class. A couple of her students have also gone on to be music teachers. She told the story of one special student who reconnected with her as an adult."One girl I had at Ransom came up to me a number of years later, and she said, 'It's not all of the music that you taught me that I remember, but I remember mostly the discipline,' " Blackwell said."I always thought that was important, because I think you have to do be disciplined in whatever you do in order to be successful," she said. "I felt that was a huge compliment that was what she took away from class — to be disciplined so she could do the things she needed to do in life."

Teacher of the Month: Blackwell spreads her love of music for 46 years

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard announced recently the agency has received a federal commitment of $4 million in grant funding to develop Assisted Outpatient Treatment services that will enhance outpatient treatment services for people with serious mental illness in Kansas. The grant will make $1 million available annually for four years. The funds will support five AOT pilot sites to reduce the incarceration and/or hospitalization of people with serious mental illness in their communities through court ordered outpatient treatment.

“Since day one, my administration has focused on improving services for Kansans who would be better served by treatment than incarceration,” Kelly said.&nbsp;“Using what we learn from these pilot sites, we’re ready to work with state and local partners to develop guidelines to protect Kansans statewide and reduce the number of individuals with mental illness in jails or in hospitals.”

“This grant enhances partnerships with law enforcement, mental health services, courts, hospitals and other community services within the pilot site communities to get Kansans with serious mental illness the help they need in their own communities,”&nbsp;KDADS Secretary Howard said. “The results of the project will inform recommendation to the Kansas Legislature on ways to improve Assisted Outpatient Treatment in Kansas.”

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation, awarded the grant to fund Kansas’ AOT pilot project in five regions and key communities across the state.

“KDADS is excited to be able to implement this grant in Kansas and expand opportunities for Kansans to receive community treatment instead of being admitted to state hospitals for institutional treatment,”&nbsp;KDADS Behavioral Health Services Commissioner Andy Brown said. “Our goals to work with local courts and CMHCs to reduce both incarcerations and involuntary hospitalizations for people with serious mental illness will be advanced with this funding from SAMHSA.”

This four-year SAMHSA program is intended to implement and evaluate new AOT programs and identify evidence-based practices in order to reduce the incidence and duration of psychiatric hospitalization, homelessness, incarcerations, and interactions with the criminal justice system while improving the health and social outcomes of individuals with a serious mental illness. This program is designed to work with courts to allow these individuals to obtain treatment while continuing to live in the community and their homes.

The intent of the Kansas AOT Project is to create five pilot sites in Kansas to establish process and procedure in support of modification of involuntary commitment laws and transition to the AOT model. The pilot sites include the Kansas counties of Cowley, Douglas, Ellis, Ford and Riley.

In a recent report card from the Treatment Advocacy Center, several gaps were identified in Kansas’s current laws – no explicit criteria for psychiatric deterioration, the treatment plan is not shared with the court, duration of initial order is not long enough, duration of continued order is not long enough, and there is no court monitoring of voluntary settlement agreements. These gaps will be addressed during the project through the pilot sites. 

The result of the pilot project will be recommendations to the Kansas Legislature to amend statutes to support a permanent AOT program in Kansas.

Office of Gov.TOPEKA&nbsp;– Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard announced recently the agency has received a federal commitment of $4 million in grant funding to develop Assisted Outpatient Treatment services that will enhance outpatient treatment services for people with serious mental illness in Kansas. The grant will make $1 million available annually for four years. The funds will support five AOT pilot sites to reduce the incarceration and/or hospitalization of people with serious mental illness in their communities through court ordered outpatient treatment.“Since day one, my administration has focused on improving services for Kansans who would be better served by treatment than incarceration,” Kelly said.&nbsp;“Using what we learn from these pilot sites, we’re ready to work with state and local partners to develop guidelines to protect Kansans statewide and reduce the number of individuals with mental illness in jails or in hospitals.”“This grant enhances partnerships with law enforcement, mental health services, courts, hospitals and other community services within the pilot site communities to get Kansans with serious mental illness the help they need in their own communities,”&nbsp;KDADS Secretary Howard said. “The results of the project will inform recommendation to the Kansas Legislature on ways to improve Assisted Outpatient Treatment in Kansas.”The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation, awarded the grant to fund Kansas’ AOT pilot project in five regions and key communities across the state.“KDADS is excited to be able to implement this grant in Kansas and expand opportunities for Kansans to receive community treatment instead of being admitted to state hospitals for institutional treatment,”&nbsp;KDADS Behavioral Health Services Commissioner Andy Brown said. “Our goals to work with local courts and CMHCs to reduce both incarcerations and involuntary hospitalizations for people with serious mental illness will be advanced with this funding from SAMHSA.”This four-year SAMHSA program is intended to implement and evaluate new AOT programs and identify evidence-based practices in order to reduce the incidence and duration of psychiatric hospitalization, homelessness, incarcerations, and interactions with the criminal justice system while improving the health and social outcomes of individuals with a serious mental illness. This program is designed to work with courts to allow these individuals to obtain treatment while continuing to live in the community and their homes.The intent of the Kansas AOT Project is to create five pilot sites in Kansas to establish process and procedure in support of modification of involuntary commitment laws and transition to the AOT model. The pilot sites include the Kansas counties of Cowley, Douglas, Ellis, Ford and Riley. In a recent report card from the Treatment Advocacy Center, several gaps were identified in Kansas’s current laws – no explicit criteria for psychiatric deterioration, the treatment plan is not shared with the court, duration of initial order is not long enough, duration of continued order is not long enough, and there is no court monitoring of voluntary settlement agreements. These gaps will be addressed during the project through the pilot sites. The result of the pilot project will be recommendations to the Kansas Legislature to amend statutes to support a permanent AOT program in Kansas.

Ellis Co. is pilot site for enhanced services for seriously mentally ill

When testing your soil, it is important to take samples of your yard from several different locations. Follow the simple steps in this video to see if your yard has any nutrition deficiencies.

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ibkRNPNe9hw"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>When testing your soil, it is important to take samples of your yard from several different locations. Follow the simple steps in this video to see if your yard has any nutrition deficiencies.

🎥 Green & Growing 2021: Soil testing

Three-day weather outlook

Last month, I had a visitor to my office here at Friends University in Wichita. I knew who he was — he’s written and called me before — but this was the first time we’d met in person. It was a pleasure to talk with him, even though he was there to let me know how wrong he thought I was.&nbsp;

He is, you see, a reader of these columns, and was a strong supporter of President Trump. I wasn’t, and in writing about Kansas politics had said so, multiple times. That was fine with him; as a well-read fellow, he was no more surprised to see a professor of political science advocate for policies that most Republicans like himself disagree with than anyone else would be to see an oil company president advocate for policies that most Democrats disagree with.

Moreover, as a life-long gay Christian in conservative Kansas, he was thoroughly familiar what it means to be a minority, and to hold an unpopular point of view. So he didn’t come by the office to correct or challenge or convert me. Rather, he just wanted me to see things from his perspective. The resulting conversation was a real delight.

This is a too-rare thing in American politics today, Kansas politics included, for many reasons. Demographic and socio-economic changes have led to the conceptual (and sometimes literal) segregation of people with differences in opinion: between red states and blue states, and between rural areas and urban ones. Developments in campaign finance, election rules, and party structures have all encouraged&nbsp; politicians to maximize the differences built into our two-party system, with the result that the demonization of those you disagree with has been normalized.

Most of all, social media technologies make it easy for us to express ourselves anonymously and vindictively. So when I say I enjoyed being able to sit with a reader of my columns, to calmly consider our disagreements and reflect upon the words we use to express them, I’m not kidding.

A little more than a year ago, I was invited by Insight Kansas to start writing columns on public affairs in our state. As someone who studies and teaches about politics, and as someone who has newspapers and opinion-writing and blogging in his blood (my wife and I met while working at our campus newspaper), writing short essays like this one is nothing new. But I’ve appreciated the new audience which that invitation has given me — and that includes readers who take the time to reach out, whether by phone or e-mail or in person, and actually want to talk. Not to change minds, necessarily, but to fully express themselves, rather than sticking with cheap shots on Facebook or snarky memes on Twitter (which, yes, I’m sometimes guilty of too).

I don’t mean to sugar-coat civic life. We are all — as Kansans and Americans — going through some profound shifts in our thinking, and the fights over those shifting priorities — regarding race, education, gender, economics, the climate, and more — are fierce. I don’t know what things will look like when we get through to the other side of those fights, or if we ever will. Still, I’m grateful to be able to observe and write about it all, and for those who take democracy seriously enough to want to talk about what they’ve read, and keep the conversation going. And to the extent that anyone who has read this column to the end is one of them: my thanks to you as well.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the history and politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583339056495.jpeg" alt="Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the history and politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the history and politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita.</figcaption>
 </figure>Last month, I had a visitor to my office here at Friends University in Wichita. I knew who he was — he’s written and called me before — but this was the first time we’d met in person. It was a pleasure to talk with him, even though he was there to let me know how wrong he thought I was.&nbsp;He is, you see, a reader of these columns, and was a strong supporter of President Trump. I wasn’t, and in writing about Kansas politics had said so, multiple times. That was fine with him; as a well-read fellow, he was no more surprised to see a professor of political science advocate for policies that most Republicans like himself disagree with than anyone else would be to see an oil company president advocate for policies that most Democrats disagree with.Moreover, as a life-long gay Christian in conservative Kansas, he was thoroughly familiar what it means to be a minority, and to hold an unpopular point of view. So he didn’t come by the office to correct or challenge or convert me. Rather, he just wanted me to see things from his perspective. The resulting conversation was a real delight.This is a too-rare thing in American politics today, Kansas politics included, for many reasons. Demographic and socio-economic changes have led to the conceptual (and sometimes literal) segregation of people with differences in opinion: between red states and blue states, and between rural areas and urban ones. Developments in campaign finance, election rules, and party structures have all encouraged&nbsp; politicians to maximize the differences built into our two-party system, with the result that the demonization of those you disagree with has been normalized.Most of all, social media technologies make it easy for us to express ourselves anonymously and vindictively. So when I say I enjoyed being able to sit with a reader of my columns, to calmly consider our disagreements and reflect upon the words we use to express them, I’m not kidding.A little more than a year ago, I was invited by Insight Kansas to start writing columns on public affairs in our state. As someone who studies and teaches about politics, and as someone who has newspapers and opinion-writing and blogging in his blood (my wife and I met while working at our campus newspaper), writing short essays like this one is nothing new. But I’ve appreciated the new audience which that invitation has given me — and that includes readers who take the time to reach out, whether by phone or e-mail or in person, and actually want to talk. Not to change minds, necessarily, but to fully express themselves, rather than sticking with cheap shots on Facebook or snarky memes on Twitter (which, yes, I’m sometimes guilty of too).I don’t mean to sugar-coat civic life. We are all — as Kansans and Americans — going through some profound shifts in our thinking, and the fights over those shifting priorities — regarding race, education, gender, economics, the climate, and more — are fierce. I don’t know what things will look like when we get through to the other side of those fights, or if we ever will. Still, I’m grateful to be able to observe and write about it all, and for those who take democracy seriously enough to want to talk about what they’ve read, and keep the conversation going. And to the extent that anyone who has read this column to the end is one of them: my thanks to you as well.Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the history and politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Appreciating the conversations beyond the page

By DALE YOUNKER Natural Resources Conservation Service

In western Kansas, our dryland cropping systems tend to have long fallow periods between cash crops. The original reason behind these systems is to basically “bank” moisture in the soil profile for the next crop, thus reducing the risk of a failure. This seems to make sense in a semi-arid area that receives an average of 15 to 22 inches of rainfall annually. In dry years this could be the difference of having a crop or not.

One of the issues with these systems is that they are not very efficient at capturing and storing soil moisture during those fallow periods. Depending on how much tillage is done around 70 to 85% of the moisture is lost from runoff, evaporation and in some cases deep percolation below the crop’s root zone. In other words, if you receive 16 inches of moisture during a fallow period at best you are only gaining about 2.5 to 5 inches of additional moisture depending on how much tillage is used in the system. 

In a dry year that little bit of extra moisture might be difference from a failed crop and a decent crop. But in average or wet years we are greatly under utilizing the moisture Mother Nature has provided us.

Another concern with these systems is that for extended periods the soil surface is nearly bare and vulnerable to both wind and water erosion. And it doesn’t make much difference whether it is a tillage or no-till system. No-till fields, without cover on the soil surface, can blow and wash away just as easily as a tilled field. With every erosion event the soil becomes more degraded and less productive.

So, the question becomes can we utilize all of that lost moisture in a more positive way. I believe that we can. One way is just to intensify the cropping system with less fallow and more cash and/or cover crops. I think this has real merit in those 18 to 22-inch rainfall areas and possibly further north and west where our evaporation rates are less due to the cooler climate and higher elevations. 

This doesn’t have to be an all or none scenario and should be flexible. As an example, if in the spring after a fall harvested crop there is a good soil moisture profile and the long- term weather forecast is favorable I would plant another fall harvested crop rather than fallow those acres. If soil moisture is a little iffy but the weather forecast is neutral, I would lean towards planting a cover crop that can be terminated if conditions turn dry.

In the drier areas of the state just using cover crops to bridge that time between the cash crops may be a better option. This would provide a lot more flexibility than trying to incorporate more cash crops because you don’t need to worry about getting a crop to maturity so you can harvest it. 

You can always terminate a cover crop early if conditions become dry. Or, if conditions are extremely dry and the weather forecast is unfavorable when a cover crop needs to be planted you may decide not to plant it, at least for that season.

At the end of the day the one question that you really need to ask is will changing my current system be more profitable for my operation? Can I get enough economic gain from that extra cash or cover crop to make it worthwhile. And just don’t look at it from the short term but also consider long-term costs&nbsp;and benefits. If there is a lot of soil erosion with your current system eventually it will cost more money to maintain the productively of those fields.

Cover crops are not a silver bullet that will fix all soil health issues. They are just another tool in the toolbox that may work for some producers but not for others. There are other soil health practices, like nutrient management, no-till, crop rotation and others that may be a better fit for some producers.

If you are new to using cover crops, I suggest that you start small and experiment to figure out what might work for you before implementing it on a large scale. Seek out others in your area that are using cover crops and ask what they are doing to make it work for them. 

For more information about soil health practices you can contact me at dale.younker@ks.usda.gov or any local NRCS office.

Dale Younker is a soil health specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Jetmore.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593956642758.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By DALE YOUNKER Natural Resources Conservation Service In western Kansas, our dryland cropping systems tend to have long fallow periods between cash crops. The original reason behind these systems is to basically “bank” moisture in the soil profile for the next crop, thus reducing the risk of a failure. This seems to make sense in a semi-arid area that receives an average of 15 to 22 inches of rainfall annually. In dry years this could be the difference of having a crop or not.One of the issues with these systems is that they are not very efficient at capturing and storing soil moisture during those fallow periods. Depending on how much tillage is done around 70 to 85% of the moisture is lost from runoff, evaporation and in some cases deep percolation below the crop’s root zone. In other words, if you receive 16 inches of moisture during a fallow period at best you are only gaining about 2.5 to 5 inches of additional moisture depending on how much tillage is used in the system. In a dry year that little bit of extra moisture might be difference from a failed crop and a decent crop. But in average or wet years we are greatly under utilizing the moisture Mother Nature has provided us.Another concern with these systems is that for extended periods the soil surface is nearly bare and vulnerable to both wind and water erosion. And it doesn’t make much difference whether it is a tillage or no-till system. No-till fields, without cover on the soil surface, can blow and wash away just as easily as a tilled field. With every erosion event the soil becomes more degraded and less productive.So, the question becomes can we utilize all of that lost moisture in a more positive way. I believe that we can. One way is just to intensify the cropping system with less fallow and more cash and/or cover crops. I think this has real merit in those 18 to 22-inch rainfall areas and possibly further north and west where our evaporation rates are less due to the cooler climate and higher elevations. This doesn’t have to be an all or none scenario and should be flexible. As an example, if in the spring after a fall harvested crop there is a good soil moisture profile and the long- term weather forecast is favorable I would plant another fall harvested crop rather than fallow those acres. If soil moisture is a little iffy but the weather forecast is neutral, I would lean towards planting a cover crop that can be terminated if conditions turn dry.In the drier areas of the state just using cover crops to bridge that time between the cash crops may be a better option. This would provide a lot more flexibility than trying to incorporate more cash crops because you don’t need to worry about getting a crop to maturity so you can harvest it. You can always terminate a cover crop early if conditions become dry. Or, if conditions are extremely dry and the weather forecast is unfavorable when a cover crop needs to be planted you may decide not to plant it, at least for that season.At the end of the day the one question that you really need to ask is will changing my current system be more profitable for my operation? Can I get enough economic gain from that extra cash or cover crop to make it worthwhile. And just don’t look at it from the short term but also consider long-term costs&nbsp;and benefits. If there is a lot of soil erosion with your current system eventually it will cost more money to maintain the productively of those fields.Cover crops are not a silver bullet that will fix all soil health issues. They are just another tool in the toolbox that may work for some producers but not for others. There are other soil health practices, like nutrient management, no-till, crop rotation and others that may be a better fit for some producers.If you are new to using cover crops, I suggest that you start small and experiment to figure out what might work for you before implementing it on a large scale. Seek out others in your area that are using cover crops and ask what they are doing to make it work for them. For more information about soil health practices you can contact me at dale.younker@ks.usda.gov or any local NRCS office.Dale Younker is a soil health specialist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Jetmore.

YOUNKER: Cover crops in western Kansas cropping systems

What better time to talk about this subject! Many in the community are taking advantage of KSU Big Creek Middle Smoky Hill River Watersheds &amp;amp; City of Hays Roll Out the Rain Barrel distribution. This is a fabulous way to conserve a precious resource for the home landscape. A typical barrel will hold approximately 50-55 gallons. They have a cover (required for safety and&nbsp;to prevent mosquitos) with an opening covered by a removable screen for filling and a spigot at&nbsp;the bottom to use when water is needed. The spigot has a knob to adjust the flow and an end where a hose can be attached.

Sounds perfect! All that lovely water ready for use. Conserving water and saving money, a new&nbsp;source of water for the garden and landscape. Whoa! A few details about placement and ease of use might be helpful.

Placement. Under a gutter downspout, whether off a house or garage, even a shed will catch the&nbsp;rain. Where do you plan on using the water? Putting the barrel to the closest downspout&nbsp;facilitates ease of use. Keep in mind, when full, a rain barrel can weigh up to 400 lbs. If not&nbsp;placed on a sturdy base or concrete, they will slowly sink and possibly tip over. A barrel will&nbsp;have an overflow opening which should be placed away from the structure, ideally onto an&nbsp;unpaved surface, to prevent damage to the house or garage. With a heavy rain, the barrel(s) will&nbsp;fill quickly, make sure there is adequate drainage away from the structure. With a little work and&nbsp;some PVC pipe, the barrels can even be connected to one another.

Use: OK, the barrel is full. Now what? The water will not flow quickly and as the barrel empties&nbsp;the flow will slow. Trying to water anything that is above the height of the spigot will be difficult&nbsp;as the water fights against gravity. To make sure the barrel not only won’t sink into the ground with the water weight, but also for ease of use, it should be placed on a base of some sort. Again,&nbsp;keep the weight in mind. A base must not only be able to support the weight but is solid enough&nbsp;to not sink with the weight. Cinderblocks would be suitable. The higher the base, the easier it is&nbsp;to use.

Maintenance: At least once a year, completely empty and rinse out the barrel. This will prevent&nbsp;algal growth, debris or any stagnant water. Do not leave water in the barrel over winter and keep&nbsp;the valve open! If the valve is closed and water remains in the barrel during the winter months,&nbsp;the barrel will crack, the ice melt and water flow, causing possible damage to the foundation of the building.

Safety notes: If using the water on the vegetable garden, make sure to wash off any produce, not with the collected rain water as there may be possible contaminants contained in the water from&nbsp;the roof.

For further information about purchasing a barrel, please drop by the Cottonwood Extension&nbsp;District office, 601 Main St., Hays, KS 67601 or call 725-628-9430. They have the order forms&nbsp;and you may also make your payment there.

Master Gardeners of Ellis County, Cottonwood District. More information available at www.&nbsp;cottonwood.ksu.edu or visit Facebook at Ellis County Extension Master Gardeners.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1614966296214.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>What better time to talk about this subject! Many in the community are taking advantage of KSU Big Creek Middle Smoky Hill River Watersheds &amp;amp; City of Hays Roll Out the Rain Barrel distribution. This is a fabulous way to conserve a precious resource for the home landscape. A typical barrel will hold approximately 50-55 gallons. They have a cover (required for safety and&nbsp;to prevent mosquitos) with an opening covered by a removable screen for filling and a spigot at&nbsp;the bottom to use when water is needed. The spigot has a knob to adjust the flow and an end where a hose can be attached.Sounds perfect! All that lovely water ready for use. Conserving water and saving money, a new&nbsp;source of water for the garden and landscape. Whoa! A few details about placement and ease of use might be helpful.Placement. Under a gutter downspout, whether off a house or garage, even a shed will catch the&nbsp;rain. Where do you plan on using the water? Putting the barrel to the closest downspout&nbsp;facilitates ease of use. Keep in mind, when full, a rain barrel can weigh up to 400 lbs. If not&nbsp;placed on a sturdy base or concrete, they will slowly sink and possibly tip over. A barrel will&nbsp;have an overflow opening which should be placed away from the structure, ideally onto an&nbsp;unpaved surface, to prevent damage to the house or garage. With a heavy rain, the barrel(s) will&nbsp;fill quickly, make sure there is adequate drainage away from the structure. With a little work and&nbsp;some PVC pipe, the barrels can even be connected to one another.Use: OK, the barrel is full. Now what? The water will not flow quickly and as the barrel empties&nbsp;the flow will slow. Trying to water anything that is above the height of the spigot will be difficult&nbsp;as the water fights against gravity. To make sure the barrel not only won’t sink into the ground with the water weight, but also for ease of use, it should be placed on a base of some sort. Again,&nbsp;keep the weight in mind. A base must not only be able to support the weight but is solid enough&nbsp;to not sink with the weight. Cinderblocks would be suitable. The higher the base, the easier it is&nbsp;to use.Maintenance: At least once a year, completely empty and rinse out the barrel. This will prevent&nbsp;algal growth, debris or any stagnant water. Do not leave water in the barrel over winter and keep&nbsp;the valve open! If the valve is closed and water remains in the barrel during the winter months,&nbsp;the barrel will crack, the ice melt and water flow, causing possible damage to the foundation of the building.Safety notes: If using the water on the vegetable garden, make sure to wash off any produce, not with the collected rain water as there may be possible contaminants contained in the water from&nbsp;the roof.For further information about purchasing a barrel, please drop by the Cottonwood Extension&nbsp;District office, 601 Main St., Hays, KS 67601 or call 725-628-9430. They have the order forms&nbsp;and you may also make your payment there.Master Gardeners of Ellis County, Cottonwood District. More information available at www.&nbsp;cottonwood.ksu.edu or visit Facebook at Ellis County Extension Master Gardeners.

From the Ellis County Master Gardeners: Rain barrels

BY JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

It took an Ellis County jury just over an hour to find a
Russell man guilty in connection with a string of burglaries in Hays last year.

Robin Galyardt was found guilty Friday of three counts of burglary,
two counts of attempted burglary and two counts of theft.

Assistant Ellis County Attorney Aaron Cunningham said Friday that Galyardt was found guilty of burglary for breaking into Merle Norman Cosmetics, Eagle
Technology Solutions and CBD American Shaman on March 19, 2020. The attempted burglary
convictions stem from his Galyardt’s attempts to enter two other Hays businesses.

Galyardt was found guilty of theft for taking money from Eagle
Technology Solutions and CBD American Shaman.

Cunningham said Galyardt is expected to face between 27 and
55 months in prison. 

Officials are working to determine his prior criminal history. 

Galyardt does have a prior conviction for aggravated
burglary and possession of burglary tools dating back to 1990, according to
Kansas Department of Corrections records.

Sentencing is expected sometime next month.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616789779341.png" alt="Galyardt" />
 <figcaption>Galyardt</figcaption>
 </figure>BY JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostIt took an Ellis County jury just over an hour to find a
Russell man guilty in connection with a string of burglaries in Hays last year.Robin Galyardt was found guilty Friday of three counts of burglary,
two counts of attempted burglary and two counts of theft.Assistant Ellis County Attorney Aaron Cunningham said Friday that Galyardt was found guilty of burglary for breaking into Merle Norman Cosmetics, Eagle
Technology Solutions and CBD American Shaman on March 19, 2020. The attempted burglary
convictions stem from his Galyardt’s attempts to enter two other Hays businesses.Galyardt was found guilty of theft for taking money from Eagle
Technology Solutions and CBD American Shaman.Cunningham said Galyardt is expected to face between 27 and
55 months in prison. Officials are working to determine his prior criminal history. Galyardt does have a prior conviction for aggravated
burglary and possession of burglary tools dating back to 1990, according to
Kansas Department of Corrections records.Sentencing is expected sometime next month.

Russell man found guilty of burglarizing Hays businesses

The Ellis County Health Department on Friday reported the average number of new coronavirus cases per day in the last seven days fell to zero.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/947beb64-eabd-48fb-a447-931d787133b8">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

Ellis County Health Services Director Jason Kennedy also said that, beginning April 1, his department would no longer be issuing regular updates to the county COVID-19 dashboard.&nbsp;

"Due to the consistency and depth of information available on the KDHE website, the ECHD will no longer be separately reporting numbers of COVID-19 cases," he said Friday. "We encourage everyone to access the information on the <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">KDHE Dashboard</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

There was one new case of COVID-19 identified between Monday and Wednesday and just two new cases identified between Wednesday and Friday. There are currently 15 active cases, including one active hospitalization of an Ellis County resident, and 3,700 recovered cases.

As of Friday, there was one COVID-19 inpatient at HaysMed, after having zero patients Thursday.

The seven-day average of percent of positive tests dipped from 3.1 percent on Monday to 0.7 percent on Friday.

Since reporting began, there have been 3,715 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616780165751.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Ellis County Health Department on Friday reported the average number of new coronavirus cases per day in the last seven days fell to zero.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/947beb64-eabd-48fb-a447-931d787133b8">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.Ellis County Health Services Director Jason Kennedy also said that, beginning April 1, his department would no longer be issuing regular updates to the county COVID-19 dashboard.&nbsp;"Due to the consistency and depth of information available on the KDHE website, the ECHD will no longer be separately reporting numbers of COVID-19 cases," he said Friday. "We encourage everyone to access the information on the <a href="https://www.coronavirus.kdheks.gov/160/COVID-19-in-Kansas">KDHE Dashboard</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;There was one new case of COVID-19 identified between Monday and Wednesday and just two new cases identified between Wednesday and Friday. There are currently 15 active cases, including one active hospitalization of an Ellis County resident, and 3,700 recovered cases.As of Friday, there was one COVID-19 inpatient at HaysMed, after having zero patients Thursday.The seven-day average of percent of positive tests dipped from 3.1 percent on Monday to 0.7 percent on Friday.Since reporting began, there have been 3,715 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 73 coronavirus-related deaths.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616783641756.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Per-day COVID-19 rate in Ellis Co. falls to zero

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with High Plains Mental Health Center CEO Walt Hill.

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: High Plains Mental Health Center CEO Walt Hill" 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=ekvvv-feece2-pb&from=pb6admin&download=1&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3&btn-skin=3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with High Plains Mental Health Center CEO Walt Hill.

🎤Forward Ever: High Plains Mental Health Center CEO Walt Hill

The Barton County Sheriff’s Office reported that Carl Whiting was located and is now safe

BARTON COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Barton County Sheriff’s Office requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a man missing from Barton County.&nbsp;

The whereabouts of 64-year-old Carl A. Whiting are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.

Whiting was last seen at approximately 10 p.m. on Thursday, March 25, in Barton County, near K-96 Highway.

Whiting is a white male, 6 ft. 2 in. tall, weighing 240 lbs. He has brown eyes and sandy hair. Whiting was last seen wearing blue jeans, black and orange New Balance shoes, and a gray v-neck sweatshirt.

Additionally, he has dementia. Whiting has a history of leaving his home and soliciting rides from drivers, often times out of the county.

If you see Carl Whiting, or know his whereabouts, please immediately contact the Barton County Sheriff’s Office at 620-793-1920.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616755877455.png" alt="Carl Whiting photo KBI" />
 <figcaption>Carl Whiting photo KBI</figcaption>
 </figure>The Barton County Sheriff’s Office reported that Carl Whiting was located and is now safe-------BARTON COUNTY&nbsp;–&nbsp;The Barton County Sheriff’s Office requested that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) issue a statewide Silver Alert for a man missing from Barton County.&nbsp;The whereabouts of 64-year-old Carl A. Whiting are unknown, and the public’s assistance is requested to help locate him.Whiting was last seen at approximately 10 p.m. on Thursday, March 25, in Barton County, near K-96 Highway.Whiting is a white male, 6 ft. 2 in. tall, weighing 240 lbs. He has brown eyes and sandy hair. Whiting was last seen wearing blue jeans, black and orange New Balance shoes, and a gray v-neck sweatshirt.Additionally, he has dementia. Whiting has a history of leaving his home and soliciting rides from drivers, often times out of the county.If you see Carl Whiting, or know his whereabouts, please immediately contact the Barton County Sheriff’s Office at 620-793-1920.

KBI cancels Silver Alert; missing Great Bend man found

A cabin burned about 7:30 p.m. Thursday night at the C2T Ranch in the 1202 Saline River Road.

The cabin was a total loss. No one was injured.

Rural fire was able to respond to the scene and extinguish the blaze. No other structures were affected.

Chad Tuttle, co-owner, said the cabin was not finished and was being used for storage.

The cause of the fire is not know, but Tuttle said it could have be sparked by a heat lamp that was being used in the structure to warm chicks.

The Tuttles had not yet put a dollar figure on the loss.

Chad Tuttle said he and his wife had planned to use the cabin for expansion of their C2T Ranch campground, which is planned for this summer.

However, he said the loss of the building will not affect the other projects set for the property.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/52410f55-8946-4fd6-87c9-ce06e68a41e8">SEE RELATED STORY: C2T Ranch north of Hays seeks to expand campsites, add event center.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616770197481.jpeg" alt="A cabin burned at the C2T Ranch north of Hays on Thursday night. No one was injured in the fire. Photo courtesy of Chad Tuttle" />
 <figcaption>A cabin burned at the C2T Ranch north of Hays on Thursday night. No one was injured in the fire. Photo courtesy of Chad Tuttle</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA cabin burned about 7:30 p.m. Thursday night at the C2T Ranch in the 1202 Saline River Road.The cabin was a total loss. No one was injured.Rural fire was able to respond to the scene and extinguish the blaze. No other structures were affected.Chad Tuttle, co-owner, said the cabin was not finished and was being used for storage.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616770143448.jpeg" alt="The cabin at C2T Ranch was being used for storage and is a total loss. Photo Courtesy of Chad Tuttle" />
 <figcaption>The cabin at C2T Ranch was being used for storage and is a total loss. Photo Courtesy of Chad Tuttle</figcaption>
 </figure>The cause of the fire is not know, but Tuttle said it could have be sparked by a heat lamp that was being used in the structure to warm chicks.The Tuttles had not yet put a dollar figure on the loss.Chad Tuttle said he and his wife had planned to use the cabin for expansion of their C2T Ranch campground, which is planned for this summer.However, he said the loss of the building will not affect the other projects set for the property.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/52410f55-8946-4fd6-87c9-ce06e68a41e8">SEE RELATED STORY: C2T Ranch north of Hays seeks to expand campsites, add event center.</a>

Cabin at C2T Ranch north of Hays burns overnight

A traffic stop in Ness County led a drug-related arrested in Ness County Thursday night.

At approximately 10:45 p.m., an officer with the Ness County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle reported at H Road on Kansas 96 in Ness County, according to an announcement attributed to Sherrif Brandon Mitchell on Facebook Friday morning.

During the traffic investigation, K9 Kaia was deployed and indicated drugs were in the vehicle.

"A preliminary probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, and approximately 21 individual air-sealed bags of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were located," Mitchell said.

 The male driver, who was not identified, was arrested on charges including felony distribution of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Mitchell also said this is an ongoing investigation with formal charges pending in Ness County, but all&nbsp;suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

A traffic stop in Ness County led a drug-related arrested in Ness County Thursday night.At approximately 10:45 p.m., an officer with the Ness County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on a suspicious vehicle reported at H Road on Kansas 96 in Ness County, according to an announcement attributed to Sherrif Brandon Mitchell on Facebook Friday morning.During the traffic investigation, K9 Kaia was deployed and indicated drugs were in the vehicle."A preliminary probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted, and approximately 21 individual air-sealed bags of marijuana and drug paraphernalia were located," Mitchell said. The male driver, who was not identified, was arrested on charges including felony distribution of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.Mitchell also said this is an ongoing investigation with formal charges pending in Ness County, but all&nbsp;suspects are innocent until proven guilty.

Traffic stop in Ness County leads to drug arrest

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

They make look fine, but they don't work well.

Jeff Boyle, Hays parks director, told Hays city commissioners Thursday night there are lots of complaints about the 10-year-old wireless baseball and softball field scoreboards at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.

"The internals on the scoreboards aren't functioning properly - the digits are just constantly going out - and the controllers haven't functioned properly for years," Boyle reported. "We've kept on buying new controllers and batteries but made sure our bid proposals were for hard-wired so we didn't have these issues again."

Commissioners unanimously approved the low bid of $79,905 from Daktronics, Brookings, S. Dak., for new 8 ft. by 14 ft. hard-wired scoreboards.&nbsp;

Boyle noted employees have installed electrical outlets in all eight ball field backstops to reliably charge the controllers.&nbsp;

The scoreboards will be paid for this year using the sports complex sales tax reserve fund which will be reimbursed in 2022 from the special park and recreation budget.&nbsp;

The scoreboard design includes a two-foot high sponsor panel at the top.&nbsp;

Not only will the top panel identify each ball field, it also adds an opportunity for the city to sell sponsorships on each scoreboard.&nbsp;

Boyle said he and Roger Bixenman, Hays Recreation Commission superintendent, have been discussing how much to charge and the possibility of combining sponsor contracts at the Hays Aquatic Park.&nbsp;

"For example, if we could get a thousand dollars per panel per year over a 10 year period - so that we're not changing the panels out - that will have paid for the scoreboards," Boyle said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

He thinks the scoreboards likely have a bigger impact than banners or sponsor signs at the swimming pool.

"Every time you look at the scoreboard, you're seeing the advertisement, so it's a little more visible. I think we have a little more room to play with."

"Right now they say you play at Field 1," added Shaun Musil, commissioner.

"I talked to a couple businesses. They said if you were at that field, you know it's so-and-so's field, so they be interested making sure you're advertising you're at "Sandy Jacobs Field" or something like that," Musil said.

There may also be an option of offering a combined sponsorship package with signs on the new shade shelters that will be installed this spring at the sports complex.&nbsp;

Boyle said he has confirmed with Daktronics the sponsor/field name panels can be added after the scoreboards are installed.

Commissioners also approved the $200,136.36 low bid from T&amp;T Builders, Hays, for installation of the ARC Park parking lot in Seven Hills Park, 33rd and Hillcrest.

The city will use a portion of its share of the Ellis County sales tax to pay for the concrete parking lot.&nbsp;

The required minimum number of handicapped parking spaces at the accessible facility is two. Boyle said the design calls for seven handicapped parking spots in the 46-stall lot.&nbsp;

Work on the parking lot is scheduled to begin the second week of April.

* Approved an ordinance authorizing the issuance of $6.48 million in general obligation bonds to Robert W. Baird &amp; Co., Milwaukee, Wis., to pay for the city's share of the North Vine Street Improvement Project. The debt service will start in 2022 and be paid from the additional two percent Transient Guest Tax (TGT) that went into effect Oct. 1, 2018. * Approved a low bid of $239,693 with Midlands Contracting, Kearney, Neb., for CIPP (Cure In Place Pipe) lining&nbsp;of approximately 10,000 linear feet of sanitary sewer * Approved the low bid of $104,474 from Stamm Manufacturing, Fort Pierce, Fla., for a new aerial platform lift truck for the Public Works Department&nbsp; * Heard the February Progress Report of city departments * Reappointed Albert J. Klaus to the Hays Housing Authority

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616723463160.jpeg" alt="New hard-wired scoreboards by Daktronics will be installed in early June at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex. (Artwork by Daktronics)" />
 <figcaption>New hard-wired scoreboards by Daktronics will be installed in early June at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex. (Artwork by Daktronics)</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThey make look fine, but they don't work well.Jeff Boyle, Hays parks director, told Hays city commissioners Thursday night there are lots of complaints about the 10-year-old wireless baseball and softball field scoreboards at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616723122985.jpeg" alt="The wireless scoreboards at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex are 10 years old and no longer working properly. (Photo by city of Hays)" />
 <figcaption>The wireless scoreboards at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex are 10 years old and no longer working properly. (Photo by city of Hays)</figcaption>
 </figure>"The internals on the scoreboards aren't functioning properly - the digits are just constantly going out - and the controllers haven't functioned properly for years," Boyle reported. "We've kept on buying new controllers and batteries but made sure our bid proposals were for hard-wired so we didn't have these issues again."Commissioners unanimously approved the low bid of $79,905 from Daktronics, Brookings, S. Dak., for new 8 ft. by 14 ft. hard-wired scoreboards.&nbsp;Boyle noted employees have installed electrical outlets in all eight ball field backstops to reliably charge the controllers.&nbsp;The scoreboards will be paid for this year using the sports complex sales tax reserve fund which will be reimbursed in 2022 from the special park and recreation budget.&nbsp;The scoreboard design includes a two-foot high sponsor panel at the top.&nbsp;Not only will the top panel identify each ball field, it also adds an opportunity for the city to sell sponsorships on each scoreboard.&nbsp;<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gEZlp2_qRzw"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Boyle said he and Roger Bixenman, Hays Recreation Commission superintendent, have been discussing how much to charge and the possibility of combining sponsor contracts at the Hays Aquatic Park.&nbsp;"For example, if we could get a thousand dollars per panel per year over a 10 year period - so that we're not changing the panels out - that will have paid for the scoreboards," Boyle said.&nbsp;&nbsp;He thinks the scoreboards likely have a bigger impact than banners or sponsor signs at the swimming pool."Every time you look at the scoreboard, you're seeing the advertisement, so it's a little more visible. I think we have a little more room to play with.""Right now they say you play at Field 1," added Shaun Musil, commissioner."I talked to a couple businesses. They said if you were at that field, you know it's so-and-so's field, so they be interested making sure you're advertising you're at "Sandy Jacobs Field" or something like that," Musil said.There may also be an option of offering a combined sponsorship package with signs on the new shade shelters that will be installed this spring at the sports complex.&nbsp;Boyle said he has confirmed with Daktronics the sponsor/field name panels can be added after the scoreboards are installed.Commissioners also approved the $200,136.36 low bid from T&amp;T Builders, Hays, for installation of the ARC Park parking lot in Seven Hills Park, 33rd and Hillcrest.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616727806136.jpeg" alt="The ARC Park parking lot will have seven handicapped parking spaces rather than the minimum federal requirement of two stalls." />
 <figcaption>The ARC Park parking lot will have seven handicapped parking spaces rather than the minimum federal requirement of two stalls.</figcaption>
 </figure>The city will use a portion of its share of the Ellis County sales tax to pay for the concrete parking lot.&nbsp;The required minimum number of handicapped parking spaces at the accessible facility is two. Boyle said the design calls for seven handicapped parking spots in the 46-stall lot.&nbsp;Work on the parking lot is scheduled to begin the second week of April.In other business, commissioners:* Approved an ordinance authorizing the issuance of $6.48 million in general obligation bonds to Robert W. Baird &amp; Co., Milwaukee, Wis., to pay for the city's share of the North Vine Street Improvement Project. The debt service will start in 2022 and be paid from the additional two percent Transient Guest Tax (TGT) that went into effect Oct. 1, 2018. * Approved a low bid of $239,693 with Midlands Contracting, Kearney, Neb., for CIPP (Cure In Place Pipe) lining&nbsp;of approximately 10,000 linear feet of sanitary sewer * Approved the low bid of $104,474 from Stamm Manufacturing, Fort Pierce, Fla., for a new aerial platform lift truck for the Public Works Department&nbsp; * Heard the February Progress Report of city departments * Reappointed Albert J. Klaus to the Hays Housing Authority

🎥 City commission approves new scoreboards for sports complex, ARC parking lot

Campus Compact, a Boston-based nonprofit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has announced its 2021-22 Newman Civic Fellows. The list of 212 students for this coming school year includes Caden Frank, a graduate student at Fort Hays State University.

The Newman Civic Fellowship is a year-long program for students from Campus Compact member institutions who are nominated by their institution’s president or chancellor. The students selected for the fellowship are leaders on their campuses who demonstrate a commitment to finding solutions to local, national, or international challenges.

Frank, from Omaha, Neb., graduated in December 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership. He is a first-semester student in the Master of Science in Education (MSE) degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs program at FHSU. He came to FHSU in 2017 on a soccer scholarship and intending to pursue pre-engineering coursework. After taking just one class in the Department of Leadership Studies, Frank changed his major to organizational leadership.&nbsp;That decision led to his involvement in numerous leadership projects, both on campus and in the Hays community. He was selected to the VALUE program (Voss Advanced Leadership Undergraduate Experience) through the Department of Leadership Studies, where he focused on civic and non-profit leadership. While working on his MSE degree, Frank also serves as a graduate research assistant under the mentorship of Donnette Noble, the director of Civic Learning and Engagement.

Frank said in his Newman Civic Fellows personal statement that “personal connection is at the core of all I do, both personally and professionally.” He is looking forward to collaborating with a diverse group of peers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/3/1616704436427.jpeg" alt="Frank Caden" />
 <figcaption>Frank Caden</figcaption>
 </figure>FHSU University RelationsCampus Compact, a Boston-based nonprofit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education, has announced its 2021-22 Newman Civic Fellows. The list of 212 students for this coming school year includes Caden Frank, a graduate student at Fort Hays State University.The Newman Civic Fellowship is a year-long program for students from Campus Compact member institutions who are nominated by their institution’s president or chancellor. The students selected for the fellowship are leaders on their campuses who demonstrate a commitment to finding solutions to local, national, or international challenges.Frank, from Omaha, Neb., graduated in December 2020 with a bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership. He is a first-semester student in the Master of Science in Education (MSE) degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs program at FHSU. He came to FHSU in 2017 on a soccer scholarship and intending to pursue pre-engineering coursework. After taking just one class in the Department of Leadership Studies, Frank changed his major to organizational leadership.&nbsp;That decision led to his involvement in numerous leadership projects, both on campus and in the Hays community. He was selected to the VALUE program (Voss Advanced Leadership Undergraduate Experience) through the Department of Leadership Studies, where he focused on civic and non-profit leadership. While working on his MSE degree, Frank also serves as a graduate research assistant under the mentorship of Donnette Noble, the director of Civic Learning and Engagement.Frank said in his Newman Civic Fellows personal statement that “personal connection is at the core of all I do, both personally and professionally.” He is looking forward to collaborating with a diverse group of peers.“My career goal is to find ways I can invest in the next generation of people and help them be change-makers,” he said. “I think this fellowship will be beneficial to hear how my peers deal with certain demographics at their universities, which will give me more insight in becoming a change agent in Hays.”The Newman Fellowship is named for the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders, who was a tireless advocate for civic engagement in higher education. In the spirit of Dr. Newman’s leadership, Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors nominate student leaders from their campuses to be named Newman Civic Fellows.“Caden is a dedicated and accomplished student leader,” FHSU President Tisa Mason wrote in her nomination statement, where she pointed out that Frank received multiple honors for his tireless service and was named the 2018 Peer Mentor for FHSU’s Honors College. “Our campus is both proud of and grateful for his contributions as an undergraduate student, and we look forward to his continued contributions to meaningful engagement as a graduate student.”&nbsp;Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides Fellows with a variety of learning and networking opportunities that emphasize personal, professional, and civic growth. Each year, fellows participate in numerous virtual training and networking opportunities to help them develop the skills and connections they need to create large-scale positive change. The cornerstone of the fellowship is the two-day Annual Convening of Fellows, which offers intensive skill-building and networking. The fellowship also provides cohort students with opportunities to apply for exclusive scholarship and post-graduate opportunities.“We are proud to recognize these extraordinary student leaders and thrilled to engage with them,” Campus Compact President Andrew Seligsohn said. “The experience of the last year has driven home to all of us that we need open-minded, innovative, public-spirited thinkers and doers. That is what Campus Compact is about, and the stories of our Newman Civic Fellows demonstrate that is who they are.”Learn more about the Newman Civic Fellows program at&nbsp;<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=AzU7JuM9gNoo13mIpsUPJFcHRHMxfy6jmZkAaMikDWGgcGrg-2BbiN0pSVeMlF2mopPUfHSuCZdLCRzODm6kk-2BOg-3D-3DqeK0_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemYmAJYWaVa62GmugQrvdhe5LLHCfOGNott6JRsK5SdOhOuQHBNWWA4-2BP7NEphaWAP4fKT3wU7lpHTDrsXzvkKr8ecsx1EpUDI0heA5S-2BryHCYHv4Q2BOJGPMC0jn3IPX3USCM26uUcQAU1iKarh2iunlkI4zTind7yBZthXDH8kMExqyCuim8Sa4nNCWhZoQ5NqD1W0fACOpz-2BaoYLPCHQN714FVeH0FB06MTVigwwRwTqcmHBEchzsI-2BhUf-2BZjV9sgBM3d3VaX5JScn80Nnwcw-3D-3D">compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship</a>. More on the 2021-22 cohort can be found at<a href="http://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=AzU7JuM9gNoo13mIpsUPJFcHRHMxfy6jmZkAaMikDWGgcGrg-2BbiN0pSVeMlF2mophufX2sqoA1-2FPZl2Cp6is-2BDC6nGVFl4RmFVlkzGL7W7UyDSsgdo-2FuAh5zQFeR0drTkltG_-2FnwFlkKVzcKMOkDYhP8GUyFUplsqhIzQPvqFQr864lE6mcAzErX0FzZi5JGU6rvvK6MLOuHK4jhl5V61fmGkhToZRMbpEKBDAFMZ0jElT3tJmz7vmG2Oh1wrxpMGOIemYmAJYWaVa62GmugQrvdhe5LLHCfOGNott6JRsK5SdOhOuQHBNWWA4-2BP7NEphaWAP4fKT3wU7lpHTDrsXzvkKr0WJQB5SWCmC22LjlktjJoWz4ffnxn2bu9uMvV7zq4B2mdNxun-2BK26JqLFnW4HtV8evB2NUF1U431AUVcxS-2BBJbj33uOu058ugwlaIvmI-2BdB9OUMjFnnn1rSV1NHphTr5JjvZyUX2K2pWnBB8TFxrk5tPHN-2Bc5FN6u8U7Gg3nFXvBcPPLqNcacl4jelhDcpugg-3D-3D">&nbsp;compact.org/newman-civic-fellowship/2021-2022-newman-civic-fellows</a>.