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Ellis County Sheriff's activity log: Aug. 31-Sept. 6, 2025

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Ellis County Jail bookings: Aug. 30-Sept. 6, 2025

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

Giant wild animals filled the sky during the Hays Prairie Winds Kite Show on Saturday and Sunday.

The event was at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex, organized by the Hays Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau and the Hays Recreation Commission.

Great American Kites &amp; Events of Missouri provided the kites of all shapes and sizes, accompanied by food trucks and family activities spread throughout the sports complex.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757271914090.jpeg" alt="Massive kites, provided by&nbsp;Great American Kites &amp; Events of Missouri, during the&nbsp;Hays Prairie Winds Kite Show. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Massive kites, provided by&nbsp;Great American Kites &amp; Events of Missouri, during the&nbsp;Hays Prairie Winds Kite Show. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostGiant wild animals filled the sky during the Hays Prairie Winds Kite Show on Saturday and Sunday.The event was at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex, organized by the Hays Convention &amp; Visitors Bureau and the Hays Recreation Commission.Great American Kites &amp; Events of Missouri provided the kites of all shapes and sizes, accompanied by food trucks and family activities spread throughout the sports complex.<figure>
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📷 Colorful kites soar over Hays at Prairie Winds Show

By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension District

Changes in income, increased expenses, and other financial stresses can be overwhelming.

We have several publications available that can help identify opportunities and provide insight into coping with and handling tough financial times.

One of these, “When Your Income Drops: Coping With Stress”, was just updated in August and includes some ways to understand and help in addressing financial situations. 

None of us handle finances or financial stress in the exact same way. This can create additional stress within a household when all are not on the same page. This publication is part of a series which include additional topics such as “Making Ends Meet”, “Don’t Panic; Take Control”, and “Sharpening Survival Skills”.

Another publication that can be useful for any household is “How Are You Doing? A Financial Checkup.”

 It notes that a financial checkup is just as important as a physical checkup and can help identify problems, chart progress, and outline action steps to achieve goals. It is a great tool for helping with a household discussion about priorities and financial management. It covers great information highlighting a tax checkup, credit checkup, insurance checkup, a retirement checkup, and an investment checkup.

We don’t have any workshops planned for the immediate future on financial planning or budgeting so let us know if we can provide a resource or guide to help in navigating financial stresses.

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness!

Michelle Beran is a Family and Community Wellness Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is a Family and Community Wellness Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is a Family and Community Wellness Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension DistrictChanges in income, increased expenses, and other financial stresses can be overwhelming.We have several publications available that can help identify opportunities and provide insight into coping with and handling tough financial times.One of these, “When Your Income Drops: Coping With Stress”, was just updated in August and includes some ways to understand and help in addressing financial situations. None of us handle finances or financial stress in the exact same way. This can create additional stress within a household when all are not on the same page. This publication is part of a series which include additional topics such as “Making Ends Meet”, “Don’t Panic; Take Control”, and “Sharpening Survival Skills”.Another publication that can be useful for any household is “How Are You Doing? A Financial Checkup.” It notes that a financial checkup is just as important as a physical checkup and can help identify problems, chart progress, and outline action steps to achieve goals. It is a great tool for helping with a household discussion about priorities and financial management. It covers great information highlighting a tax checkup, credit checkup, insurance checkup, a retirement checkup, and an investment checkup.We don’t have any workshops planned for the immediate future on financial planning or budgeting so let us know if we can provide a resource or guide to help in navigating financial stresses.Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness!Michelle Beran is a Family and Community Wellness Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

BERAN: Get your financial checkup

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed announced that 27 local and off-system bridge projects across Kansas, including several in the region, will receive a combined total of $40.5 million in state and federal funding as part of two local bridge improvement programs.

“By funding bridge projects across our state, we are directly investing in the future of our communities,” Kelly&nbsp;said.&nbsp;“Repairing and replacing aging bridges ensures people and commerce can move safely and efficiently throughout Kansas.”

Combined with matching funds from the awarded cities and counties, the total project value is over $46.5 million. By reshaping the local bridge programs, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) more than doubled its annual funding as part of the existing Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE).

There are more than 19,000 bridges on local road systems across Kansas, and over 5,000 of those bridges need updates to meet today’s standards.

“The Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program has allowed us to enhance our commitment to local bridges,”&nbsp;Secretary Reed said. “This is about more than just infrastructure; it's about strengthening the vital connections that keep our towns and cities thriving.”

KDOT will award about $20 million through the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program (KLBIP) in Fiscal Year 2026. 

The funds will go to 11 bridge replacement projects, and an additional four deficient bridges will be permanently removed from local systems. 

The KLBIP, established in 2015, provides funds to local public authorities for the replacement or rehabilitation of deficient city and county-owned bridges. The program also allows cities and counties to be awarded additional funds for the removal of deficient bridges.

KDOT will award $20.5 million through the Off-System Bridge program (OSB) in Fiscal Year 2027 to fund 16 projects across the state. The OSB program was established to comply with federal requirements to use a specific portion of federal funds for bridges not on the federal-aid system. The funding is a combination of federal Surface Transportation Block Grant funds, Bridge Program Funds, and state funds.

The OSB and KLBIP programs are used for city and county bridges in need of replacement or repair that are not on the state highway system. Funds for both programs are awarded through an application process and, in most cases, require a local contribution. KDOT uses selection criteria that consider items such as bridge condition, detour length, inability to carry legal loads, and past project history.

For this cycle of the local bridge programs, KDOT received a combined total of 163 applications requesting $189.3 million.

The recipients and project locations for the KLBIP and OSB programs include the following areas.

2026 Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program Projects

2027 Off-System Bridge Program Project Recommendations

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/4/1744384842051.jpeg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of the GovernorTOPEKA&nbsp;– Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed announced that 27 local and off-system bridge projects across Kansas, including several in the region, will receive a combined total of $40.5 million in state and federal funding as part of two local bridge improvement programs.“By funding bridge projects across our state, we are directly investing in the future of our communities,” Kelly&nbsp;said.&nbsp;“Repairing and replacing aging bridges ensures people and commerce can move safely and efficiently throughout Kansas.”Combined with matching funds from the awarded cities and counties, the total project value is over $46.5 million. By reshaping the local bridge programs, the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) more than doubled its annual funding as part of the existing Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program (IKE).There are more than 19,000 bridges on local road systems across Kansas, and over 5,000 of those bridges need updates to meet today’s standards.“The Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program has allowed us to enhance our commitment to local bridges,”&nbsp;Secretary Reed said. “This is about more than just infrastructure; it's about strengthening the vital connections that keep our towns and cities thriving.”KDOT will award about $20 million through the Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program (KLBIP) in Fiscal Year 2026. The funds will go to 11 bridge replacement projects, and an additional four deficient bridges will be permanently removed from local systems. The KLBIP, established in 2015, provides funds to local public authorities for the replacement or rehabilitation of deficient city and county-owned bridges. The program also allows cities and counties to be awarded additional funds for the removal of deficient bridges.KDOT will award $20.5 million through the Off-System Bridge program (OSB) in Fiscal Year 2027 to fund 16 projects across the state. The OSB program was established to comply with federal requirements to use a specific portion of federal funds for bridges not on the federal-aid system. The funding is a combination of federal Surface Transportation Block Grant funds, Bridge Program Funds, and state funds.The OSB and KLBIP programs are used for city and county bridges in need of replacement or repair that are not on the state highway system. Funds for both programs are awarded through an application process and, in most cases, require a local contribution. KDOT uses selection criteria that consider items such as bridge condition, detour length, inability to carry legal loads, and past project history.For this cycle of the local bridge programs, KDOT received a combined total of 163 applications requesting $189.3 million.The recipients and project locations for the KLBIP and OSB programs include the following areas.2026 Kansas Local Bridge Improvement Program Projects<figure>
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Ellis County, area bridge projects awarded state funding

BUNKER HILL — Smoky Hills PBS is proud to present&nbsp;Growing Together, an all-new local mini-series created and produced by Smoky Hills PBS. This engaging series brings families trusted resources, practical tools, and expert advice for raising children at every stage of life.

From babies taking their first bites to young adults preparing for independence,&nbsp;Growing Together&nbsp;explores the challenges and triumphs of parenting and caregiving with real stories, local voices, and evidence-based guidance.

“Local productions like Growing Together are what make Smoky Hills PBS unique,” said Sara Oberle, producer/director of&nbsp;Growing Together&nbsp;and Smoky Hills PBS sales underwriting associate.&nbsp; “By focusing on the needs of Kansas families, we’re able to provide resources that are both practical and deeply meaningful to our communities.”

These all new episodes will air on Tuesdays at 7 p.m., exclusively on Smoky Hills PBS.&nbsp; Rebroadcasts will be available on Sundays at 3:30 p.m., ensuring multiple opportunities for viewers to tune in.&nbsp; Streaming options will also be available on the free&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pbs.org/pbs-app/">PBS app</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@SmokyHillsPBS">Smoky Hills PBS YouTube</a>&nbsp;channel.

For more information on broadcast times and additional coverage details, please visit our website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.smokyhillspbs.org/">SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>&nbsp;or download the free Smoky Hills PBS mobile app for Android and iPhone users.

Growing Together is made possible by a partnership with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/locations/great-bend-campus-hospital-great-bend-ks">The&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/locations/great-bend-campus-hospital-great-bend-ks">University of Kansas Health System (Great Bend)</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bcbsks.com/">Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansashealth.org/">Kansas Health Foundation Grant</a>, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, Western Kansas Community Foundation Grant, Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Southwind Bank, Salina Pediatric Care (Salina Regional Health Center), Danny and Janis Reichenborn, Wilson State Bank, and La Pasadita Camiceria.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756916061214.png" alt="Smoky Hills PBS" />
 <figcaption>Smoky Hills PBS</figcaption>
 </figure>Smoky Hills PBS BUNKER HILL — Smoky Hills PBS is proud to present&nbsp;Growing Together, an all-new local mini-series created and produced by Smoky Hills PBS. This engaging series brings families trusted resources, practical tools, and expert advice for raising children at every stage of life.From babies taking their first bites to young adults preparing for independence,&nbsp;Growing Together&nbsp;explores the challenges and triumphs of parenting and caregiving with real stories, local voices, and evidence-based guidance.“Local productions like Growing Together are what make Smoky Hills PBS unique,” said Sara Oberle, producer/director of&nbsp;Growing Together&nbsp;and Smoky Hills PBS sales underwriting associate.&nbsp; “By focusing on the needs of Kansas families, we’re able to provide resources that are both practical and deeply meaningful to our communities.”These all new episodes will air on Tuesdays at 7 p.m., exclusively on Smoky Hills PBS.&nbsp; Rebroadcasts will be available on Sundays at 3:30 p.m., ensuring multiple opportunities for viewers to tune in.&nbsp; Streaming options will also be available on the free&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.pbs.org/pbs-app/">PBS app</a>&nbsp;and the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/@SmokyHillsPBS">Smoky Hills PBS YouTube</a>&nbsp;channel.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756914827224.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>For more information on broadcast times and additional coverage details, please visit our website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.smokyhillspbs.org/">SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>&nbsp;or download the free Smoky Hills PBS mobile app for Android and iPhone users.Growing Together is made possible by a partnership with&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/locations/great-bend-campus-hospital-great-bend-ks">The&nbsp;</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/locations/great-bend-campus-hospital-great-bend-ks">University of Kansas Health System (Great Bend)</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.bcbsks.com/">Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansashealth.org/">Kansas Health Foundation Grant</a>, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, Western Kansas Community Foundation Grant, Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center, Southwind Bank, Salina Pediatric Care (Salina Regional Health Center), Danny and Janis Reichenborn, Wilson State Bank, and La Pasadita Camiceria.

Smoky Hills PBS announces new production

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

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757080147873.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

Stroup Hall at Fort Hays State University is expanding as the allied health program moves in with the nursing program.&nbsp;

On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Crista Beiker, chair of allied health department, and Jenny Manry, nursing department chair, along with president Tisa Mason about of the growth of the two departments.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650389030295.jpeg" alt=" " />
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 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast: Expansion of Stroup Hall at Fort Hays State University" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=5mxvf-1954898-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Stroup Hall at Fort Hays State University is expanding as the allied health program moves in with the nursing program.&nbsp;On this episode of the Hays Post Podcast, news reporter Becky Kiser talks with Crista Beiker, chair of allied health department, and Jenny Manry, nursing department chair, along with president Tisa Mason about of the growth of the two departments.&nbsp;

🎙 Post Podcast: Expansion of Stroup Hall at Fort Hays State University

By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

Here are several changes / updates to hunting and fishing regulations that will take effect September 12, 2025.

Expanded senior license options and a longer coyote season are among key changes.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has announced several regulation updates taking effect September 12, including new discounted licenses for Kansas seniors and an extended season for night vision coyote hunting.

Kansas residents ages 65–74 will soon have access to three new multi-year license options:

· 5-Year Combination Hunting &amp; Fishing License – $90

One-year senior licenses remain available at half the standard adult rate.

“We introduced these new options after our authority to offer the deeply discounted 10-year senior licenses—commonly known as the senior lifetime license—expired,” said KDWP Secretary Christopher Kennedy. “While we’re still working to bring back the 10-year license, these five-year options give seniors more choices right now.”

Hunters using night vision equipment will now have a longer season to pursue coyotes. The updated season runs from September 1 to March 31, excluding firearm deer seasons. Due to the timing of the regulation change, the 2025–2026 season will only include:

· Trout Permit Fee Increase: Raised from $12 to $17.50 to cover rising stocking costs.

· Mussel Fees Removed: Mussel fishing and dealer fees were eliminated because commercial mussel harvesting was banned in 2022.

· Muzzleloader Ammunition Update: Hunters may now use either lead or non-lead (nontoxic) shot when hunting big game with muzzleloaders—a type of firearm loaded from the front of the barrel.

· More whitetail antlerless deer tags will be available in southeastern and central Kansas.

· Fewer whitetail antlerless deer tags will be available in northwestern Kansas due to declining deer populations.

· Extended firearm season dates were added for southeastern deer management units.

· 2025-2026 dates for Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth, and Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range were set to support military access while respecting Department of Defense operations.

The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism maintains a very good and informative website, so go to <a href="https://ksoutdoors.gov/">www.ksoutdoors.gov</a> to stay informed of further changes, updates and for more valuable information to help you continue to enjoy Kansas Outdoors.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas OutdoorsHere are several changes / updates to hunting and fishing regulations that will take effect September 12, 2025.Expanded senior license options and a longer coyote season are among key changes.The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) has announced several regulation updates taking effect September 12, including new discounted licenses for Kansas seniors and an extended season for night vision coyote hunting.New 5-Year Senior LicensesKansas residents ages 65–74 will soon have access to three new multi-year license options:· 5-Year Hunting License – $50· 5-Year Fishing License – $50· 5-Year Combination Hunting &amp; Fishing License – $90One-year senior licenses remain available at half the standard adult rate.“We introduced these new options after our authority to offer the deeply discounted 10-year senior licenses—commonly known as the senior lifetime license—expired,” said KDWP Secretary Christopher Kennedy. “While we’re still working to bring back the 10-year license, these five-year options give seniors more choices right now.”Longer Night Vision Coyote SeasonHunters using night vision equipment will now have a longer season to pursue coyotes. The updated season runs from September 1 to March 31, excluding firearm deer seasons. Due to the timing of the regulation change, the 2025–2026 season will only include:· September 29–December 2, 2025· December 15–31, 2025· January 1–March 31, 2026Other Regulation Updates· Trout Permit Fee Increase: Raised from $12 to $17.50 to cover rising stocking costs.· Mussel Fees Removed: Mussel fishing and dealer fees were eliminated because commercial mussel harvesting was banned in 2022.· Muzzleloader Ammunition Update: Hunters may now use either lead or non-lead (nontoxic) shot when hunting big game with muzzleloaders—a type of firearm loaded from the front of the barrel.· Deer Permit Adjustments:· More whitetail antlerless deer tags will be available in southeastern and central Kansas.· Fewer whitetail antlerless deer tags will be available in northwestern Kansas due to declining deer populations.· Extended firearm season dates were added for southeastern deer management units.· 2025-2026 dates for Fort Riley, Fort Leavenworth, and Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range were set to support military access while respecting Department of Defense operations.The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism maintains a very good and informative website, so go to <a href="https://ksoutdoors.gov/">www.ksoutdoors.gov</a> to stay informed of further changes, updates and for more valuable information to help you continue to enjoy Kansas Outdoors.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: New wildlife regulations take effect September 12

Fort Hays State University paid tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.

The memorial stair climb began Saturday at 7:46 a.m. at Lewis Field Stadium, one hour before the first plane struck the North Tower in 2001. The opening consisted of the national anthem and a moment of silence.

Participants chose to run or walk the stadium steps or complete laps around the Lewis Field turf.

Dozens of first responders, including firefighters in full gear, honored 9/11 heroes by replicating the efforts of those who climbed the World Trade Center.

20-year-old Jose Amaya, a paid-on-call firefighter with the Ellis County Fire Department, said that although he was not born before 2001, he stayed motivated by imagining himself in the shoes of those who attempted the climb.

"We don't exactly see what those first responders did on 9/11, but we kind of get a feeling of what they had to suffer through to get up to the top of the World Trade Center," Amaya said.

18-year-old Kamdem Keller, a county firefighter, said he drew motivation from remembering the first responders who ran toward danger.

"When you're out here with this gear on and you're doing it, you realize these guys were making a push that not very many people could make," Keller said.

Gear typically weighs between 45 and 75 pounds.

After the climb, Amaya said he hopes the public recognizes firefighters’ dedication to serving the community.

"I'm glad I joined the fire department. They feel like a second family to me," he said.

Keller said he hopes the public will continue to support all first responders, including fire, law enforcement and EMT.

"Support your first responders, no matter what agency they are," Keller said. "These are tough jobs. You see some really challenging things, but if you're there to support them, it helps them give a deeper push in their day-to-day life."

As participants completed their laps, footage and audio from the New York attacks were displayed on the big screen at Lewis Field Stadium.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757188909962.jpeg" alt="A firefighter climbing down the Lewis Field Stadium bleachers for the Fort Hays State University Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A firefighter climbing down the Lewis Field Stadium bleachers for the Fort Hays State University Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By TONY GUERRERO Hays PostFort Hays State University paid tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001.The memorial stair climb began Saturday at 7:46 a.m. at Lewis Field Stadium, one hour before the first plane struck the North Tower in 2001. The opening consisted of the national anthem and a moment of silence.Participants chose to run or walk the stadium steps or complete laps around the Lewis Field turf.Dozens of first responders, including firefighters in full gear, honored 9/11 heroes by replicating the efforts of those who climbed the World Trade Center.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757188991995.jpeg" alt="Participants and first responders during a moment of silence at the Fort Hays State University 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Lewis Field Stadium. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Participants and first responders during a moment of silence at the Fort Hays State University 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb at Lewis Field Stadium. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189029943.jpeg" alt="Firefighters climbing down the Lewis Field Stadium bleachers for the Fort Hays State University 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Firefighters climbing down the Lewis Field Stadium bleachers for the Fort Hays State University 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189076414.jpeg" alt="Firefighters and a participant climbing down the&nbsp;Lewis Field Stadium bleachers for the Fort Hays State University 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Firefighters and a participant climbing down the&nbsp;Lewis Field Stadium bleachers for the Fort Hays State University 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189140215.jpeg" alt="Firefighters climbing up the Lewis Field Stadium bleachers for the Fort Hays State University 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Firefighters climbing up the Lewis Field Stadium bleachers for the Fort Hays State University 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189114128.jpeg" alt="Fort Hays State University athletes participating in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Fort Hays State University athletes participating in the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189204760.jpeg" alt="Jose Amaya with the Ellis County Fire Department resting during the Fort Hays State University 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Jose Amaya with the Ellis County Fire Department resting during the Fort Hays State University 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>20-year-old Jose Amaya, a paid-on-call firefighter with the Ellis County Fire Department, said that although he was not born before 2001, he stayed motivated by imagining himself in the shoes of those who attempted the climb."We don't exactly see what those first responders did on 9/11, but we kind of get a feeling of what they had to suffer through to get up to the top of the World Trade Center," Amaya said.18-year-old Kamdem Keller, a county firefighter, said he drew motivation from remembering the first responders who ran toward danger."When you're out here with this gear on and you're doing it, you realize these guys were making a push that not very many people could make," Keller said.Gear typically weighs between 45 and 75 pounds.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189251032.jpeg" alt="A firefighter and his gear at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A firefighter and his gear at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189289828.jpeg" alt="Firefighters resting at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. A picture of fallen New York Fire Department Lieutenant Paul Martini is taped to the back of a firefighter's gear. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Firefighters resting at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. A picture of fallen New York Fire Department Lieutenant Paul Martini is taped to the back of a firefighter's gear. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189461695.jpeg" alt="Firefighters at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Firefighters at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189305329.jpeg" alt="A firefighter with an axe&nbsp;at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A firefighter with an axe&nbsp;at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189407913.jpeg" alt="A young boy with firefighter gear&nbsp;at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A young boy with firefighter gear&nbsp;at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189169097.jpeg" alt="A tired firefighter&nbsp;at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A tired firefighter&nbsp;at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>After the climb, Amaya said he hopes the public recognizes firefighters’ dedication to serving the community."I'm glad I joined the fire department. They feel like a second family to me," he said.Keller said he hopes the public will continue to support all first responders, including fire, law enforcement and EMT."Support your first responders, no matter what agency they are," Keller said. "These are tough jobs. You see some really challenging things, but if you're there to support them, it helps them give a deeper push in their day-to-day life."As participants completed their laps, footage and audio from the New York attacks were displayed on the big screen at Lewis Field Stadium.Breakfast was served after the climb.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189528412.jpeg" alt="A firefighter&nbsp;at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A firefighter&nbsp;at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189693574.jpeg" alt="A timeline of events from Sept. 11, 2001, next to participants of the memorial stair climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero" />
 <figcaption>A timeline of events from Sept. 11, 2001, next to participants of the memorial stair climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189352096.jpeg" alt="Firefighters sitting next to a boy at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Firefighters sitting next to a boy at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189567194.jpeg" alt="Firefighters&nbsp;at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Firefighters&nbsp;at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189751905.jpeg" alt="Hays Police Officers holding the Kansas and United States flag during a moment of silence&nbsp;at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Hays Police Officers holding the Kansas and United States flag during a moment of silence&nbsp;at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757189714839.jpeg" alt="Firefighters&nbsp;at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Firefighters&nbsp;at the 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb. Photo by Tony Guerrero/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>

📷 Young firefighters pay tribute to 9/11 victims; FHSU Memorial Stair Climb

By&nbsp;BRIAN WHEPLEY <a href="https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/campuses/wichita/about/news/news-archive/medical-student-returns-to-kansas-hometown-for-clerkship-rural-medical-training.html">KU News Service</a>

Third-year medical student Jack Thomas considered going somewhere besides his hometown of Scott City to fulfill KU School of Medicine-Wichita’s rural training requirement. But the appeal of a familiar family medicine clinic and time with his family, friends, dog and mother’s cooking won out.

“It’s interesting seeing people you know. My first day there I saw one of my neighbors and had the chance to reconnect and help them,” Thomas says of the family medicine clerkship.

“I always look to connect rural students back to their rural roots if they’re interested,” says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/l152f027.html">Lynn Fisher, M.D.</a>, associate professor of family and community medicine and assistant clerkship director. “It’s like a puzzle,” he says of balancing locations and student interests that can include going back home and facets of family medicine such as obstetrics, pediatrics, surgery, emergency care and &nbsp;hospital care.

Thomas is no stranger to the Scott City Clinic, as he participated in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/academics/premedical-programs/scholars-in-health.html">Scholars in Health</a>&nbsp;as a Kansas State University undergraduate. The program identifies Kansas residents interested in becoming primary care doctors in underserved areas and, having met academic and other requirements, guarantees medical school admission. As a scholar, he shadowed Scott City physicians.

This time around, his immersion shifted from watching to doing. That ranges from writing case notes to navigating the electronic medical record system to following a visiting general surgeon and an ear, nose and throat specialist. He’s done morning rounds and gotten to see patients on his own and with Libby Hineman, M.D., and colleagues Chris Cupp, M.D., and Matthew Lightner, M.D. – all KU School of Medicine graduates.

“It’s been different in that I’ve been going in and seeing and talking to patients and then presenting a differential diagnosis,” Thomas says. “The three doctors are really good teachers and very helpful in me gaining clinical skills like physical exams.”

And he’s gotten hands-on, from removing skin lesions to sewing stitches to what Hineman calls “a perk of coming way out here,” helping deliver a baby via C-section one week and scrubbing in for a laparoscopic procedure the next.

Family medicine, “it’s a nice rotation to do at the beginning of your third year before you get into all those specialty rotations,” says Hineman, who’s known Thomas since starting practice in Scott City in 2006.

Growing up in the town of about 4,000, where his father works in natural gas sales and mother was a radiology technician, Thomas wasn’t immersed in medicine. That changed during his junior year of high school when the distance runner – a state champion in cross-country and the 3,200 meter – tore a critical hip cartilage, the labrum, at a critical time, college recruiting season.

“It was my whole life,” he says of running, so the injury was devastating and the journey to successful treatment and recovery left an impression.

He saw different orthopedists for assessment and feels fortunate to have found a Colorado hip specialist who delivered a sobering timeframe for recovery but also provided the expertise to enable Thomas to heal and earn a spot on the K-State cross-country team. He’d run for two years in college before fully turning his attention to a new passion, medicine.

Thomas, whose first two years of medical school were in Kansas City, initially wanted to pursue orthopedics but has shifted toward dermatology, an interest furthered by a family history of skin cancer and skin issues of his own. He sees the need for rural dermatologists and can envision a practice with visits to multiple rural locations, and Hineman says they’ve discussed how a rural specialty practice is more doable now than in the past.

Still, Thomas has made no final decision on a specialty: “I want to go through all the other rotations to see if there’s something I really enjoy.”

Medical students have long had a required fourth-year, four-week rural rotation. Starting last year, though, students choosing to do the longer third-year family medicine clerkship in a rural location can use it to satisfy the fourth-year requirement.

It’s a change that allows students more time for fourth-year electives but also – as Hineman and Fisher mentioned – encourages earlier exposure to rural practice. As a result, it’s an opportunity for students to be sold on family medicine before the residency match process kicks in and makes a switch more challenging.

Fisher handles the Wichita campus’ rural placements, about 40-plus annually for third years, while the Kansas City campus coordinates those for its students and Salina’s. Volunteer preceptors – the local physician mentors – are available in almost every county with full-time family physicians.

“Some sites take multiple students almost every month of the year. Some sites will take a student three or four times a year. Some sites may take a student once or twice a year. It just runs the gamut,” says Fisher, noting sites might drop in and out if they lose physicians. Scott City, for example, stopped taking students when it went from five doctors to three.

“The doctors, a lot of them KU graduates, are wanting to give back to future students. Teaching helps keep you on your toes, and we know it also helps prevent burnout,” Fisher says. “I think hospital systems do it because you never know when that potentially could land you a future recruit. Sometimes students love a site so much that they may go back multiple times because they really have an interest.”

Seeing rural practice in action can be a powerful recruiting tool. Fisher notes his fourth-year med school rotation in Quinter led to his 15 years of rural practice. Scott City will soon return to a full complement of five doctors and restore obstetrics care when Morgan Gillam, M.D., and Brittany Peach, M.D., KUSM-Wichita and Via Christi family medicine graduates, join the practice. Both did rotations during residency there.

“They loved the community, but they also loved our practice and how we worked together,” Hineman says. “It gave them that peek into, ‘Hey, I might want to work there someday.’”

In addition to teaching about medicine, Hineman says, preceptors can share how a small-town physician can achieve a work-life balance – or something close to it – amid late-night deliveries, ER and vacation coverage, and raising a family. Often, the job extends beyond medical care: “The physicians play such an important role in the community, and community members look to them for leadership,” Thomas says.

While still debating a specialty, Thomas appreciates family medicine.

“They take care of the whole family and take care of people their entire lives. They know how to form relationships with patients,” Thomas says. “You’re doing a lot of procedures, filling the role of general surgeon, delivering babies, acting as an internist. You have to know a lot about everything.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756994227961.jpeg" alt="Third-year medical student Jack Thomas, center, is learning from Libby Hineman, M.D., Christopher Cupp, M.D., and their colleague (not pictured) Matthew Lightner, M.D., this summer at the Scott City Clinic. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Third-year medical student Jack Thomas, center, is learning from Libby Hineman, M.D., Christopher Cupp, M.D., and their colleague (not pictured) Matthew Lightner, M.D., this summer at the Scott City Clinic. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;BRIAN WHEPLEY <a href="https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/campuses/wichita/about/news/news-archive/medical-student-returns-to-kansas-hometown-for-clerkship-rural-medical-training.html">KU News Service</a> Third-year medical student Jack Thomas considered going somewhere besides his hometown of Scott City to fulfill KU School of Medicine-Wichita’s rural training requirement. But the appeal of a familiar family medicine clinic and time with his family, friends, dog and mother’s cooking won out.“It’s interesting seeing people you know. My first day there I saw one of my neighbors and had the chance to reconnect and help them,” Thomas says of the family medicine clerkship.“I always look to connect rural students back to their rural roots if they’re interested,” says&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/l152f027.html">Lynn Fisher, M.D.</a>, associate professor of family and community medicine and assistant clerkship director. “It’s like a puzzle,” he says of balancing locations and student interests that can include going back home and facets of family medicine such as obstetrics, pediatrics, surgery, emergency care and &nbsp;hospital care.Thomas is no stranger to the Scott City Clinic, as he participated in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kumc.edu/school-of-medicine/academics/premedical-programs/scholars-in-health.html">Scholars in Health</a>&nbsp;as a Kansas State University undergraduate. The program identifies Kansas residents interested in becoming primary care doctors in underserved areas and, having met academic and other requirements, guarantees medical school admission. As a scholar, he shadowed Scott City physicians.This time around, his immersion shifted from watching to doing. That ranges from writing case notes to navigating the electronic medical record system to following a visiting general surgeon and an ear, nose and throat specialist. He’s done morning rounds and gotten to see patients on his own and with Libby Hineman, M.D., and colleagues Chris Cupp, M.D., and Matthew Lightner, M.D. – all KU School of Medicine graduates.“It’s been different in that I’ve been going in and seeing and talking to patients and then presenting a differential diagnosis,” Thomas says. “The three doctors are really good teachers and very helpful in me gaining clinical skills like physical exams.”And he’s gotten hands-on, from removing skin lesions to sewing stitches to what Hineman calls “a perk of coming way out here,” helping deliver a baby via C-section one week and scrubbing in for a laparoscopic procedure the next.Family medicine, “it’s a nice rotation to do at the beginning of your third year before you get into all those specialty rotations,” says Hineman, who’s known Thomas since starting practice in Scott City in 2006.<h2>Finding a painful path to medicine</h2>Growing up in the town of about 4,000, where his father works in natural gas sales and mother was a radiology technician, Thomas wasn’t immersed in medicine. That changed during his junior year of high school when the distance runner – a state champion in cross-country and the 3,200 meter – tore a critical hip cartilage, the labrum, at a critical time, college recruiting season.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756994043210.jpeg" alt="Jack Thomas during his days running for Scott Community High School, where he won two state titles. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Jack Thomas during his days running for Scott Community High School, where he won two state titles. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>“It was my whole life,” he says of running, so the injury was devastating and the journey to successful treatment and recovery left an impression.He saw different orthopedists for assessment and feels fortunate to have found a Colorado hip specialist who delivered a sobering timeframe for recovery but also provided the expertise to enable Thomas to heal and earn a spot on the K-State cross-country team. He’d run for two years in college before fully turning his attention to a new passion, medicine.Thomas, whose first two years of medical school were in Kansas City, initially wanted to pursue orthopedics but has shifted toward dermatology, an interest furthered by a family history of skin cancer and skin issues of his own. He sees the need for rural dermatologists and can envision a practice with visits to multiple rural locations, and Hineman says they’ve discussed how a rural specialty practice is more doable now than in the past.Still, Thomas has made no final decision on a specialty: “I want to go through all the other rotations to see if there’s something I really enjoy.”<h2>How the clerkships work</h2>Medical students have long had a required fourth-year, four-week rural rotation. Starting last year, though, students choosing to do the longer third-year family medicine clerkship in a rural location can use it to satisfy the fourth-year requirement.It’s a change that allows students more time for fourth-year electives but also – as Hineman and Fisher mentioned – encourages earlier exposure to rural practice. As a result, it’s an opportunity for students to be sold on family medicine before the residency match process kicks in and makes a switch more challenging.Fisher handles the Wichita campus’ rural placements, about 40-plus annually for third years, while the Kansas City campus coordinates those for its students and Salina’s. Volunteer preceptors – the local physician mentors – are available in almost every county with full-time family physicians.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756994133325.jpeg" alt="Third-year medical student Jack Thomas, right, is spending the summer learning from Matthew Lightner, M.D., a KU School of Medicine-Wichita graduate, and other doctors at the Scott City Clinic. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Third-year medical student Jack Thomas, right, is spending the summer learning from Matthew Lightner, M.D., a KU School of Medicine-Wichita graduate, and other doctors at the Scott City Clinic. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>“Some sites take multiple students almost every month of the year. Some sites will take a student three or four times a year. Some sites may take a student once or twice a year. It just runs the gamut,” says Fisher, noting sites might drop in and out if they lose physicians. Scott City, for example, stopped taking students when it went from five doctors to three.“The doctors, a lot of them KU graduates, are wanting to give back to future students. Teaching helps keep you on your toes, and we know it also helps prevent burnout,” Fisher says. “I think hospital systems do it because you never know when that potentially could land you a future recruit. Sometimes students love a site so much that they may go back multiple times because they really have an interest.”Seeing rural practice in action can be a powerful recruiting tool. Fisher notes his fourth-year med school rotation in Quinter led to his 15 years of rural practice. Scott City will soon return to a full complement of five doctors and restore obstetrics care when Morgan Gillam, M.D., and Brittany Peach, M.D., KUSM-Wichita and Via Christi family medicine graduates, join the practice. Both did rotations during residency there.“They loved the community, but they also loved our practice and how we worked together,” Hineman says. “It gave them that peek into, ‘Hey, I might want to work there someday.’”In addition to teaching about medicine, Hineman says, preceptors can share how a small-town physician can achieve a work-life balance – or something close to it – amid late-night deliveries, ER and vacation coverage, and raising a family. Often, the job extends beyond medical care: “The physicians play such an important role in the community, and community members look to them for leadership,” Thomas says.While still debating a specialty, Thomas appreciates family medicine.“They take care of the whole family and take care of people their entire lives. They know how to form relationships with patients,” Thomas says. “You’re doing a lot of procedures, filling the role of general surgeon, delivering babies, acting as an internist. You have to know a lot about everything.”

Medical student returns to hometown of Scott City for clerkship, rural medical training

PHILLIPS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 9p.m. Saturday in Phillips County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 driven by Gary L. Massey, 54,&nbsp; Phillipsburg, was northbound on E 600 Road three miles north of U.S. 36. The driver&nbsp; failed to negotiate a curve. The pickup&nbsp; entered the west ditch, traveled back onto the road, entered east ditch and rolled several times before coming to a rest on its top.

EMS transported Massey to&nbsp;Phillips County Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

PHILLIPS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just before 9p.m. Saturday in Phillips County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Dodge Ram 2500 driven by Gary L. Massey, 54,&nbsp; Phillipsburg, was northbound on E 600 Road three miles north of U.S. 36. The driver&nbsp; failed to negotiate a curve. The pickup&nbsp; entered the west ditch, traveled back onto the road, entered east ditch and rolled several times before coming to a rest on its top.EMS transported Massey to&nbsp;Phillips County Hospital. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

NW Kansas man hospitalized after pickup rollover accident

By MARK R. JOSLYN Insight Kansas

West of Salina, on the way to Colorado, I saw them for the first time, towering over the plains, their immense blades turning in slow rhythmic circles. I was excited to see them, their sheer size awe inspiring.

My excitement, however, mixed with concern as the giant machines changed the quiet vastness of the open prairie into something commercial, even industrial.

Twenty years later, having passed by hundreds more – they’ve multiplied at a startling pace – my feelings about them haven’t settled.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cleanview.co/wind-farms/kansas">Fifty-one</a>&nbsp;utility scale windfarms are now scattered across 36 counties, most&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/f37701d386824345951016dc61859057">west</a>&nbsp;of Wichita but more appearing in the northeast and southeast regions.&nbsp;

Wind developers require forty to seventy&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://todayshomeowner.com/eco-friendly/guides/how-much-space-does-a-wind-turbine-need/">acres</a>&nbsp;per turbine. &nbsp;Farms with a hundred or more turbines thus span thousands of acres.&nbsp;There are nearly&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.chooseenergy.com/data-center/wind-generation-by-state/">4,500 turbines</a>&nbsp;ranging from 213 ft. tall to the hub, 323 ft. with blades 323 ft., at the state’s first wind farm in Gray County, to newer models reaching 374 ft. to the hub, 514 ft. with blades, at Prairie Queen in Allen County.&nbsp;

For reference, the Kansas State Capitol Building is 304 ft., the Statue of Liberty 305 ft.&nbsp;

Wind power accounts for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://windexchange.energy.gov/states/ks#capacity">47 percent</a>&nbsp;of the state’s electricity, a dramatic rise from less than 20 percent a decade ago.&nbsp;More wind power means less coal and natural gas.&nbsp;It also means&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://energiesmedia.com/why-kansas-wind-farms-are-changing-the-face-of-rural-farming-2025-guide/">compensation</a>&nbsp;for landowners and employment opportunities for area residents. Plus, wind farms support local communities through taxes, supplying counties with steady income to improve infrastructure and fund schools. And compared to traditional sources, wind energy delivers cheaper electricity.

Wind farms divide communities, separating those who profit from those that do not. They cause heated disputes over zoning laws, especially setback requirements, noise levels, and environmental compliance. Other concerns include light pollution, property values, shadow flicker, transmission lines, and rural aesthetics.&nbsp;

I get it, renewable energy takes on a different meaning with a turbine whirling nearby. To paraphrase a Douglas County&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp1xzMt5vOM">resident</a>: “I’m for clean power projects, just put them somewhere else.”&nbsp;

NIMBYism (not in my backyard) is a real barrier to wind expansion, especially in the populated eastern counties. 

In response to a permit request, Franklin County enacted a temporary moratorium on wind development. Douglas County residents successfully&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kaninfo.com/news/tougher-proposed-wind-farm-regs-but-douglas-county-opponents-say-deck-still-stacked-against-them/">lobbied</a>&nbsp;for more stringent regulations that stalled a windfarm proposal. Shawnee, Harvey, and Linn counties have recently banned wind projects. About a fifth of Kansas&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-01-13/ku-research-suggests-wind-power-isnt-a-red-vs-blue-issue-in-kansas">counties</a>&nbsp;prohibit new wind installations, many in sensitive areas of the Flint Hills. Governors from both parties have issued executive orders to protect Flint Hills from wind developers.

The Trump administration’s recent efforts to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/16/interior-requires-burgum-sign-off-for-solar-wind-projects-00458999">slow</a>&nbsp;wind power introduces further complications, likely politicizing what had been a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://lawrencekstimes.com/2025/01/15/ku-research-wind-divide/">nonpartisan</a>&nbsp;issue in Kansas.

Currently, the fragmented system of local regulations enables developers to capitalize on the financial vulnerabilities of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.khi.org/articles/how-rural-counties-can-shape-wind-energy-and-emerging-role-of-public-health/">counties</a>&nbsp;and landowners.

Perhaps statewide standards could lead to a more equitable distribution of wind power’s impacts. Yet limiting local control raises its own set of thorny issues. 

I am still awed by the turbines and still unsettled. I wonder how many is enough. How tall will they get? Where will they go? Chances are development stays west, and in places Kansans rarely visit but where in fact the burdens of wind energy are felt the most.

Dr. Mark R. Joslyn is a professor of political science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709742204657.jpeg" alt="Buckeye wind turbines. File photo" />
 <figcaption>Buckeye wind turbines. File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK R. JOSLYN Insight KansasWest of Salina, on the way to Colorado, I saw them for the first time, towering over the plains, their immense blades turning in slow rhythmic circles. I was excited to see them, their sheer size awe inspiring.My excitement, however, mixed with concern as the giant machines changed the quiet vastness of the open prairie into something commercial, even industrial.Twenty years later, having passed by hundreds more – they’ve multiplied at a startling pace – my feelings about them haven’t settled.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://cleanview.co/wind-farms/kansas">Fifty-one</a>&nbsp;utility scale windfarms are now scattered across 36 counties, most&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/f37701d386824345951016dc61859057">west</a>&nbsp;of Wichita but more appearing in the northeast and southeast regions.&nbsp;Wind developers require forty to seventy&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://todayshomeowner.com/eco-friendly/guides/how-much-space-does-a-wind-turbine-need/">acres</a>&nbsp;per turbine. &nbsp;Farms with a hundred or more turbines thus span thousands of acres.&nbsp;There are nearly&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.chooseenergy.com/data-center/wind-generation-by-state/">4,500 turbines</a>&nbsp;ranging from 213 ft. tall to the hub, 323 ft. with blades 323 ft., at the state’s first wind farm in Gray County, to newer models reaching 374 ft. to the hub, 514 ft. with blades, at Prairie Queen in Allen County.&nbsp;For reference, the Kansas State Capitol Building is 304 ft., the Statue of Liberty 305 ft.&nbsp; Wind power accounts for&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://windexchange.energy.gov/states/ks#capacity">47 percent</a>&nbsp;of the state’s electricity, a dramatic rise from less than 20 percent a decade ago.&nbsp;More wind power means less coal and natural gas.&nbsp;It also means&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://energiesmedia.com/why-kansas-wind-farms-are-changing-the-face-of-rural-farming-2025-guide/">compensation</a>&nbsp;for landowners and employment opportunities for area residents. Plus, wind farms support local communities through taxes, supplying counties with steady income to improve infrastructure and fund schools. And compared to traditional sources, wind energy delivers cheaper electricity. Even so, resistance is building.&nbsp;Wind farms divide communities, separating those who profit from those that do not. They cause heated disputes over zoning laws, especially setback requirements, noise levels, and environmental compliance. Other concerns include light pollution, property values, shadow flicker, transmission lines, and rural aesthetics.&nbsp;I get it, renewable energy takes on a different meaning with a turbine whirling nearby. To paraphrase a Douglas County&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp1xzMt5vOM">resident</a>: “I’m for clean power projects, just put them somewhere else.”&nbsp;NIMBYism (not in my backyard) is a real barrier to wind expansion, especially in the populated eastern counties. In response to a permit request, Franklin County enacted a temporary moratorium on wind development. Douglas County residents successfully&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kaninfo.com/news/tougher-proposed-wind-farm-regs-but-douglas-county-opponents-say-deck-still-stacked-against-them/">lobbied</a>&nbsp;for more stringent regulations that stalled a windfarm proposal. Shawnee, Harvey, and Linn counties have recently banned wind projects. About a fifth of Kansas&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-01-13/ku-research-suggests-wind-power-isnt-a-red-vs-blue-issue-in-kansas">counties</a>&nbsp;prohibit new wind installations, many in sensitive areas of the Flint Hills. Governors from both parties have issued executive orders to protect Flint Hills from wind developers. The Trump administration’s recent efforts to&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/07/16/interior-requires-burgum-sign-off-for-solar-wind-projects-00458999">slow</a>&nbsp;wind power introduces further complications, likely politicizing what had been a&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://lawrencekstimes.com/2025/01/15/ku-research-wind-divide/">nonpartisan</a>&nbsp;issue in Kansas. Currently, the fragmented system of local regulations enables developers to capitalize on the financial vulnerabilities of&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.khi.org/articles/how-rural-counties-can-shape-wind-energy-and-emerging-role-of-public-health/">counties</a>&nbsp;and landowners. Perhaps statewide standards could lead to a more equitable distribution of wind power’s impacts. Yet limiting local control raises its own set of thorny issues. I am still awed by the turbines and still unsettled. I wonder how many is enough. How tall will they get? Where will they go? Chances are development stays west, and in places Kansans rarely visit but where in fact the burdens of wind energy are felt the most.Dr. Mark R. Joslyn is a professor of political science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

Insight Kansas: Mixed emotions about wind turbines?  You’re not alone 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1757079841932.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Family Worship: Revival and Riot in Ephesus - Acts 19:18-20

By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

Navigating the unknown for the stocker operator and fueling performance from the inside out are among topics planned for the 2025 Kansas State University Beef Stocker Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 25. The conference will take place at the K-State Beef Stocker Unit, Manhattan.

Registration is $25 and due Sept. 11. Walk-in registration is available for $35. To register, go to <a href="https://www.asi.k-state.edu/events/stockerfieldday/">asi.ksu.edu/stockerfieldday</a>. For more information, contact Katie Smith at 785-532-1267 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:katiesmith@ksu.edu">katiesmith@ksu.edu</a>.

“The 26th&nbsp;annual K-State Beef Stocker Field Day is geared towards providing the most updated information to beef producers as possible” said Dale Blasi, K-State professor of animal sciences and industry, and beef cattle extension specialist. “The morning session will dive deep into the current beef market and what might be coming down the road. Attendees will learn more about K-State’s work devoted to growing beef cattle and beef x dairy calves.”

The day will start with a welcome at 10:30 a.m. and will conclude around 5 p.m. This year’s event is sponsored by Kemin.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/7/1753957064006.png" alt=" Cows are pictured at the University of Missouri South Farm. Photo by Noah Grabianski/Missouri Business Alert" />
 <figcaption> Cows are pictured at the University of Missouri South Farm. Photo by Noah Grabianski/Missouri Business Alert</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension DistrictNavigating the unknown for the stocker operator and fueling performance from the inside out are among topics planned for the 2025 Kansas State University Beef Stocker Field Day on Thursday, Sept. 25. The conference will take place at the K-State Beef Stocker Unit, Manhattan.Registration is $25 and due Sept. 11. Walk-in registration is available for $35. To register, go to <a href="https://www.asi.k-state.edu/events/stockerfieldday/">asi.ksu.edu/stockerfieldday</a>. For more information, contact Katie Smith at 785-532-1267 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:katiesmith@ksu.edu">katiesmith@ksu.edu</a>.“The 26th&nbsp;annual K-State Beef Stocker Field Day is geared towards providing the most updated information to beef producers as possible” said Dale Blasi, K-State professor of animal sciences and industry, and beef cattle extension specialist. “The morning session will dive deep into the current beef market and what might be coming down the road. Attendees will learn more about K-State’s work devoted to growing beef cattle and beef x dairy calves.”The day will start with a welcome at 10:30 a.m. and will conclude around 5 p.m. This year’s event is sponsored by Kemin.Topics for this year’s agenda include<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756829592074.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

BOOR: Beef Stocker Field Day is Sept. 25

Kanas Department of Agriculture

MANHATTAN — Grain growers in central Kansas who plan to campaign for a seat on one of the state’s five grain commodity commissions — corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat or sunflowers — should be gathering petition signatures now to meet the November 30, 2025, filing deadline. Voting will take place in January-February 2026. The 2026 election will cover districts IV, V, VI — or the central third of Kansas.

District IV:&nbsp;Clay, Cloud, Jewell, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Republic, Rooks, Smith, and Washington counties. District V:&nbsp;Barton, Dickinson, Ellis, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Marion, McPherson, Rice, Rush, Russell, and Saline counties. District VI:&nbsp;Barber, Comanche, Edwards, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Kiowa, Pawnee, Pratt, Reno, Sedgwick, Stafford, and Sumner counties.

To be eligible to run, candidates must have been actively engaged in growing that commodity (corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat or sunflowers) within the preceding five years and must reside in and represent the district where they maintain their primary residence. To be included on the 2026 ballot, candidates must gather 20 signatures from eligible growers, with no more than five signatures from any one county.&nbsp;Eligible growers are Kansas residents who will be at least 18 years old by January 1, 2026, and who have actively grown corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers or wheat for the last three years.&nbsp;

Candidates may choose to collect signatures either on paper or online, or by using a combination of both. The online petition portal is available at:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fportal.kda.ks.gov%2Fenrollment%2FCommoditiesCandidatePetition%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019905a74353-ec5af454-d3bb-42d7-b320-f147aca725f8-000000/ltbTL_9mNMdn8VlNsCFhGK5qMJZ_JHVfzl10QT4lmOg=420">https://portal.kda.ks.gov/enrollment/CommoditiesCandidatePetition</a>.&nbsp;After creating an account, candidates will receive a unique URL to share with eligible signors, who can then provide their contact information and sign the petition electronically. Paper candidate registration packets are also available from the Kansas Department of Agriculture or the grain commodity commissions.&nbsp;

Commodity commissions are grower-led organizations committed to supporting the economic viability of their industries and fostering continuous improvement in their respective commodities. Commissioners serve three-year terms, which will begin on April 1, 2026. They oversee how check-off funds are invested in areas of market development, education, promotion, and research.

For more information on Kansas commodity commissions, including voter registration, please visit the Kansas Department of Agriculture website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.agriculture.ks.gov%2FCommodityCommissions%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019905a74353-ec5af454-d3bb-42d7-b320-f147aca725f8-000000/2QiKKWMoiTlzVbSkL5yJ4n405ApUxq3gCcrfX-SmTVs=420">www.agriculture.ks.gov/CommodityCommissions</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717405760745.jpg" alt="Photo by Pixabay" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Pixabay</figcaption>
 </figure>Kanas Department of Agriculture MANHATTAN — Grain growers in central Kansas who plan to campaign for a seat on one of the state’s five grain commodity commissions — corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat or sunflowers — should be gathering petition signatures now to meet the November 30, 2025, filing deadline. Voting will take place in January-February 2026. The 2026 election will cover districts IV, V, VI — or the central third of Kansas.District IV:&nbsp;Clay, Cloud, Jewell, Mitchell, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Republic, Rooks, Smith, and Washington counties. District V:&nbsp;Barton, Dickinson, Ellis, Ellsworth, Lincoln, Marion, McPherson, Rice, Rush, Russell, and Saline counties. District VI:&nbsp;Barber, Comanche, Edwards, Harper, Harvey, Kingman, Kiowa, Pawnee, Pratt, Reno, Sedgwick, Stafford, and Sumner counties.To be eligible to run, candidates must have been actively engaged in growing that commodity (corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, wheat or sunflowers) within the preceding five years and must reside in and represent the district where they maintain their primary residence. To be included on the 2026 ballot, candidates must gather 20 signatures from eligible growers, with no more than five signatures from any one county.&nbsp;Eligible growers are Kansas residents who will be at least 18 years old by January 1, 2026, and who have actively grown corn, grain sorghum, soybeans, sunflowers or wheat for the last three years.&nbsp;Candidates may choose to collect signatures either on paper or online, or by using a combination of both. The online petition portal is available at:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fportal.kda.ks.gov%2Fenrollment%2FCommoditiesCandidatePetition%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019905a74353-ec5af454-d3bb-42d7-b320-f147aca725f8-000000/ltbTL_9mNMdn8VlNsCFhGK5qMJZ_JHVfzl10QT4lmOg=420">https://portal.kda.ks.gov/enrollment/CommoditiesCandidatePetition</a>.&nbsp;After creating an account, candidates will receive a unique URL to share with eligible signors, who can then provide their contact information and sign the petition electronically. Paper candidate registration packets are also available from the Kansas Department of Agriculture or the grain commodity commissions.&nbsp;Commodity commissions are grower-led organizations committed to supporting the economic viability of their industries and fostering continuous improvement in their respective commodities. Commissioners serve three-year terms, which will begin on April 1, 2026. They oversee how check-off funds are invested in areas of market development, education, promotion, and research.For more information on Kansas commodity commissions, including voter registration, please visit the Kansas Department of Agriculture website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/http:%2F%2Fwww.agriculture.ks.gov%2FCommodityCommissions%3Futm_medium=email%26utm_source=govdelivery/1/0100019905a74353-ec5af454-d3bb-42d7-b320-f147aca725f8-000000/2QiKKWMoiTlzVbSkL5yJ4n405ApUxq3gCcrfX-SmTVs=420">www.agriculture.ks.gov/CommodityCommissions</a>.

Ellis County grain growers eligible to run for commodity commission seat

Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Hays USD 489 Superintendent Ron Wilson about progress on the bond projects during the summer on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/4/1650389030295.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Post Podcast USD 489 Update" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:300px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?from=embed&i=bqh4d-19548b3-pb&square=1&share=1&download=1&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&rtl=0&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=300" loading="lazy" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Reporter Cristina Janney speaks with Hays USD 489 Superintendent Ron Wilson about progress on the bond projects during the summer on this episode of the Hays Post Podcast.

🎙 Post Podcast: USD 489 summer bond projects update

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Western Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, of which Hays is a part, had almost $34,000 in payments withheld because of an overpayment in Medicaid funds.

The issue affected 153 of the state's school districts. The total owed by all of the districts was more than $11 million, with the Wichita school district owing $3 million.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b64d3ce7-d2bf-4101-bb82-184fc359928a">SEE RELATED STORY: Kansas school district repay Medicaid dollars after contractor error</a>

The West Central Kansas Co-op serves Hays, Russell, LaCrosse, Ellis, and Victoria, as well as private schools in these communities.

Kyle Carlin, co-op director, said the issue affected seven years of payments.

He said an error was identified in the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's calculation of data shared with its Medicaid contractor,&nbsp;Public Consulting Group.

Of the 35 payments that were reviewed, the local co-op had eight payments that were affected.

"We have not received an answer to why the error impacted some districts more than others, nor why it did not affect all of the payments," Carlin said in an email.

The total adjustment was&nbsp;$33,972, which was withheld from payments made to the co-op this summer.&nbsp;

"We were lucky compared to other districts. The overall impact to our budget was minimal," he said. "The unexpected cost was absorbed by our end-of-year cash balance, and did not affect any local decisions regarding staffing or district contributions to WCKSEC."

Secretary Janet Stanek from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment told the Legislative Budget Committee on Aug. 26 that she was offering no excuses, explained that previous administrations had cut staff and the program was “under-resourced," according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/" target="_blank">Kansas Reflector.</a>

“But I can tell you, PCG has stepped up, and we are holding them more accountable,” Stanek said. “We are going to look at adding positions to manage – even though you have a consultant or a contractor, as you know, somebody’s got to manage them too – and I would say it was loose, and that’s on us.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588177095967.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Western Central Kansas Special Education Cooperative, of which Hays is a part, had almost $34,000 in payments withheld because of an overpayment in Medicaid funds.The issue affected 153 of the state's school districts. The total owed by all of the districts was more than $11 million, with the Wichita school district owing $3 million.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b64d3ce7-d2bf-4101-bb82-184fc359928a">SEE RELATED STORY: Kansas school district repay Medicaid dollars after contractor error</a>The West Central Kansas Co-op serves Hays, Russell, LaCrosse, Ellis, and Victoria, as well as private schools in these communities.Kyle Carlin, co-op director, said the issue affected seven years of payments.He said an error was identified in the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's calculation of data shared with its Medicaid contractor,&nbsp;Public Consulting Group.Of the 35 payments that were reviewed, the local co-op had eight payments that were affected."We have not received an answer to why the error impacted some districts more than others, nor why it did not affect all of the payments," Carlin said in an email.The total adjustment was&nbsp;$33,972, which was withheld from payments made to the co-op this summer.&nbsp;"We were lucky compared to other districts. The overall impact to our budget was minimal," he said. "The unexpected cost was absorbed by our end-of-year cash balance, and did not affect any local decisions regarding staffing or district contributions to WCKSEC."Secretary Janet Stanek from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment told the Legislative Budget Committee on Aug. 26 that she was offering no excuses, explained that previous administrations had cut staff and the program was “under-resourced," according to the&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/" target="_blank">Kansas Reflector.</a>“But I can tell you, PCG has stepped up, and we are holding them more accountable,” Stanek said. “We are going to look at adding positions to manage – even though you have a consultant or a contractor, as you know, somebody’s got to manage them too – and I would say it was loose, and that’s on us.”

Local special education co-op pays back Medicaid funding after contractor error

By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/people/steve-kraske">STEVE KRASKE, HALLE JACKSON</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2025-09-02/in-kansas-and-missouri-red-meat-allergies-caused-by-tick-bites-are-on-the-rise">KCUR Public Radio</a>

<a href="https://www.kcur.org/halle-jackson"></a>An allergy to red meat caused by tick bites is on the rise in Kansas and Missouri, public health experts say.

It’s called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/29/lone-star-ticks-increase-climate-crisis" target="_blank">alpha-gal syndrome</a>, a condition that can develop after a bite from a lone star tick. Individuals with the disease can develop a variety of symptoms, including hives, nausea, shortness of breath or anaphylactic shock, two to six hours after eating red meat or other mammal products such as cow’s milk or gelatin.

Dr. Rex Archer, a professor of public health at Kansas City University and former director of the Kansas City Health Department, says the condition is on the rise as a result of climate change. Warmer summers allow tick populations in Kansas and Missouri to thrive.

However, reporting the condition to state and local health officials in Kansas and Missouri isn’t mandatory, which makes it hard to know exactly how many people are impacted.

“This is an extremely underreported disease because, unfortunately, it's not yet mandated by CDC to be reported by states,” Archer told KCUR’s Up To Date. “And many of the states that have the highest prevalence of the tick that can cause or spread this disease are not reporting it or mandating it.”

In Missouri, MU Extension is working to develop education and resources for people with alpha-gal syndrome. The group is currently&nbsp;<a href="https://extension.missouri.edu/news/mu-extension-wants-your-input-on-alpha-gal-syndrome" target="_blank">conducting a survey</a>&nbsp;of people about their experiences.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756996686930.png" alt="A lone star tick is shown in this May 2, 2024, photo. A bite from this tick, among others, can cause alpha-gal syndrome in humans. Photo by&nbsp;Carlos Moreno/KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption>A lone star tick is shown in this May 2, 2024, photo. A bite from this tick, among others, can cause alpha-gal syndrome in humans. Photo by&nbsp;Carlos Moreno/KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kcur.org/people/steve-kraske">STEVE KRASKE, HALLE JACKSON</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/podcast/up-to-date/2025-09-02/in-kansas-and-missouri-red-meat-allergies-caused-by-tick-bites-are-on-the-rise">KCUR Public Radio</a> <a href="https://www.kcur.org/halle-jackson"></a>An allergy to red meat caused by tick bites is on the rise in Kansas and Missouri, public health experts say.It’s called&nbsp;<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/29/lone-star-ticks-increase-climate-crisis" target="_blank">alpha-gal syndrome</a>, a condition that can develop after a bite from a lone star tick. Individuals with the disease can develop a variety of symptoms, including hives, nausea, shortness of breath or anaphylactic shock, two to six hours after eating red meat or other mammal products such as cow’s milk or gelatin.Dr. Rex Archer, a professor of public health at Kansas City University and former director of the Kansas City Health Department, says the condition is on the rise as a result of climate change. Warmer summers allow tick populations in Kansas and Missouri to thrive.However, reporting the condition to state and local health officials in Kansas and Missouri isn’t mandatory, which makes it hard to know exactly how many people are impacted.“This is an extremely underreported disease because, unfortunately, it's not yet mandated by CDC to be reported by states,” Archer told KCUR’s Up To Date. “And many of the states that have the highest prevalence of the tick that can cause or spread this disease are not reporting it or mandating it.”In Missouri, MU Extension is working to develop education and resources for people with alpha-gal syndrome. The group is currently&nbsp;<a href="https://extension.missouri.edu/news/mu-extension-wants-your-input-on-alpha-gal-syndrome" target="_blank">conducting a survey</a>&nbsp;of people about their experiences.

In Kansas, Missouri, red meat allergies caused by tick bites on rise

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

There has been an increase of insect infestations this growing season around the state. 

Two of the more widespread pests have been lepidoptera larvae (worms): the fall armyworm and the armyworm. These pests could become problematic for our fall planted wheat and alfalfa.

Fall armyworm (FAW) Adults are a light brown/dark brown mottled color and are typical of the noctuid moths, which mainly hide during the day and fly around depositing eggs at night. Adults cause no problems other than depositing the eggs from which the voracious feeding larvae hatch. These larvae feed on just about anything green and have been a problem this year, mainly in brome fields and other grassy areas in eastern Kansas. Larvae can be identified by the four dark spots, in the form of a square, on the top of the eighth abdominal segment.

In our area there are significant populations of FAW feeding in sorghum heads and as wheat planting approaches, fall armyworm problems are possible. However, reportedly, FAWs do not overwinter in Kansas. Thus, we may have one more generation of FAWs, but hopefully, most adults have emerged by the middle of September and migrate to overwintering sites without causing any damage to wheat, says Jeff Whitworth, K-State Extension Entomologist.

Armyworms (ARW) Adults are mostly light brown with a white spot on each forewing. Larvae are darker with several conspicuous light-colored stripes on both sides of their bodies, and they present a somewhat different problem than the FAW, because they do overwinter in Kansas. Therefore, the larvae may be around when the 2025 planted crop germinates.

Thus, planting as late as possible is important, as is destroying all volunteer wheat well before wheat planting begins. This is also important because it is the female moth that initiates the infestation by where she deposits her eggs, and she won't deposit any eggs unless she detects some greenery for a potential food source for the developing larvae. 

From past experience with armyworm infestations, they may continue to feed until temperatures dip into the mid-20s °F for a couple of hours. Armyworms seem to overwinter mostly as mature larvae, but it has been reported that they can also overwinter as pupae and/or adults. Thus, fall armyworms should not be a problem for the fall-planted wheat crop, but armyworms might be, especially in early-planted fields, says Whitworth.

Army cutworms One other worm to consider is the Army cutworm. These moths migrate back into Kansas in the fall, looking for any greenery on which to deposit their eggs. So, they will not be the same problem as armyworms, as their feeding will be ending this fall, but the army cutworms will just be starting their feeding and culminate in the common "Miller moths" in the spring.

The best ways to help mitigate an infestation in fall-planted wheat from any of these worms are to plant as late as possible and destroy all volunteer wheat well before any wheat is planted in your area.

Information provided by Jeff Whitworth, K-State Extension Entomology Specialist.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/9/1756828429419.jpeg" alt="Fall Armyworm. Photo courtesy Kansas State Research and Extension" />
 <figcaption>Fall Armyworm. Photo courtesy Kansas State Research and Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictThere has been an increase of insect infestations this growing season around the state. Two of the more widespread pests have been lepidoptera larvae (worms): the fall armyworm and the armyworm. These pests could become problematic for our fall planted wheat and alfalfa.Fall armyworm (FAW) Adults are a light brown/dark brown mottled color and are typical of the noctuid moths, which mainly hide during the day and fly around depositing eggs at night. Adults cause no problems other than depositing the eggs from which the voracious feeding larvae hatch. These larvae feed on just about anything green and have been a problem this year, mainly in brome fields and other grassy areas in eastern Kansas. Larvae can be identified by the four dark spots, in the form of a square, on the top of the eighth abdominal segment.In our area there are significant populations of FAW feeding in sorghum heads and as wheat planting approaches, fall armyworm problems are possible. However, reportedly, FAWs do not overwinter in Kansas. Thus, we may have one more generation of FAWs, but hopefully, most adults have emerged by the middle of September and migrate to overwintering sites without causing any damage to wheat, says Jeff Whitworth, K-State Extension Entomologist.Armyworms (ARW) Adults are mostly light brown with a white spot on each forewing. Larvae are darker with several conspicuous light-colored stripes on both sides of their bodies, and they present a somewhat different problem than the FAW, because they do overwinter in Kansas. Therefore, the larvae may be around when the 2025 planted crop germinates. Thus, planting as late as possible is important, as is destroying all volunteer wheat well before wheat planting begins. This is also important because it is the female moth that initiates the infestation by where she deposits her eggs, and she won't deposit any eggs unless she detects some greenery for a potential food source for the developing larvae. From past experience with armyworm infestations, they may continue to feed until temperatures dip into the mid-20s °F for a couple of hours. Armyworms seem to overwinter mostly as mature larvae, but it has been reported that they can also overwinter as pupae and/or adults. Thus, fall armyworms should not be a problem for the fall-planted wheat crop, but armyworms might be, especially in early-planted fields, says Whitworth.Army cutworms One other worm to consider is the Army cutworm. These moths migrate back into Kansas in the fall, looking for any greenery on which to deposit their eggs. So, they will not be the same problem as armyworms, as their feeding will be ending this fall, but the army cutworms will just be starting their feeding and culminate in the common "Miller moths" in the spring.The best ways to help mitigate an infestation in fall-planted wheat from any of these worms are to plant as late as possible and destroy all volunteer wheat well before any wheat is planted in your area.Information provided by Jeff Whitworth, K-State Extension Entomology Specialist.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at&nbsp;scampbel@ksu.edu&nbsp;or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Worrisome worms for wheat producers

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Life can change in an instant. If tragedy struck your family today, would you be able to cover your mortgage, childcare, and other critical expenses without your spouse’s income?

September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, and local Farmers Insurance agent Chelsy Proehl-Kofoid, located at 2703 Hall in Hays, is encouraging families to have the hard conversations now—before it’s too late.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/8/1756482736419.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Life can change in an instant. If tragedy struck your family today, would you be able to cover your mortgage, childcare, and other critical expenses without your spouse’s income?September is Life Insurance Awareness Month, and local Farmers Insurance agent Chelsy Proehl-Kofoid, located at 2703 Hall in Hays, is encouraging families to have the hard conversations now—before it’s too late.“In today’s world, most households rely on two incomes just to make ends meet,” said Proehl-Kofoid. “If one income disappears unexpectedly, the financial burden can be devastating—not just in the short term, but for years to come.”Life insurance is more than a safety net—it’s a plan to help your family maintain stability during one of the most difficult times of their lives. It can help cover:Funeral and final expensesRent or mortgage paymentsUtilities and household billsChildcare and school costsLong-term financial stability for your children“I’ve heard people say, ‘The community will help if something happens,’” Proehl-Kofoid shared. “And while that may be true, that generosity only goes so far. The reality is, your family needs a secure, personal plan to fall back on.”Chelsy and her team at Farmers offer a unique approach to identifying how much coverage makes sense based on your family’s needs, your current budget, and your long-term goals. It’s not one-size-fits-all—it’s personalized peace of mind.“Planning for the unexpected is a gift you give your loved ones,” said Proehl-Kofoid. “We’re here to help you make the best decision possible for your family’s future.”If you’ve been putting off the conversation, now is the perfect time to talk. Stop by Chelsy’s office at 2703 Hall in Hays, or call to schedule a no-obligation life insurance review. A short conversation today could protect everything you care about tomorrow.