The Downtown Hays Development Corp. is working to bring an ice skating rink to downtown Hays this winter, but in order to make it happen, the group is asking the public for help.

"We have a GoFundMe page right now that we want to let everyone know about," said Sara Bloom, DHDC executive director. "Downtown Hays Development Corporation is trying to raise money to turn the downtown pavilion into an ice skating rink this winter.

"The premise behind this is we want to ensure that even if COVID is still a thing this winter — which we anticipate it being — that we have a family-friendly outdoor activity for people to enjoy all winter long where we can also regulate the crowd," Bloom said.

"It's around $35,000 to bring that in, so we are trying to raise $17,000 to $18,000 prior to committing to bringing that," Bloom said.

Ideally, that money would be raised in the next couple of weeks, she said.

"We started fundraising for it during our auction and now we have set up a GoFundMe page and we also have some business sponsorships available," Bloom said.

She said if everyone helps out a little, the project will come to fruition.

"If everybody that has shared the (Facebook) post gives just $5, we've got an ice skating rink," Bloom said.

Bloom said they anticipate an entry fee, but the amount will depend on the amount raised beforehand.

They also hope the rink can help raise funds for Ellis County organizations.

"We will charge something because we want it to be a fundraiser for not only downtown Hays, but for other nonprofits that we are going to be partnering with," Bloom said.

<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/downtown-hays-ice-skating-rink?utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer&amp;utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet">The GoFundMe page can be found by clicking here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600463704415.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="DHDC seeks donations to turn pavalion into skating rink this winter" height="122" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/haary-ec20a3?from=pb6admin&download=1&version=1&auto=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Helvetica&skin=3&pfauth=&btn-skin=101"></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostThe Downtown Hays Development Corp. is working to bring an ice skating rink to downtown Hays this winter, but in order to make it happen, the group is asking the public for help."We have a GoFundMe page right now that we want to let everyone know about," said Sara Bloom, DHDC executive director. "Downtown Hays Development Corporation is trying to raise money to turn the downtown pavilion into an ice skating rink this winter."The premise behind this is we want to ensure that even if COVID is still a thing this winter — which we anticipate it being — that we have a family-friendly outdoor activity for people to enjoy all winter long where we can also regulate the crowd," Bloom said.But that idea comes with a price tag."It's around $35,000 to bring that in, so we are trying to raise $17,000 to $18,000 prior to committing to bringing that," Bloom said.Ideally, that money would be raised in the next couple of weeks, she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600457803624.png" alt="A graphic shared on the DHDC Facebook page Friday shows a total of $1,300 raised toward a winter skating rink in the downtown pavilion." />
 <figcaption>A graphic shared on the DHDC Facebook page Friday shows a total of $1,300 raised toward a winter skating rink in the downtown pavilion.</figcaption>
 </figure>"We started fundraising for it during our auction and now we have set up a GoFundMe page and we also have some business sponsorships available," Bloom said.She said if everyone helps out a little, the project will come to fruition."If everybody that has shared the (Facebook) post gives just $5, we've got an ice skating rink," Bloom said.Bloom said they anticipate an entry fee, but the amount will depend on the amount raised beforehand.They also hope the rink can help raise funds for Ellis County organizations."We will charge something because we want it to be a fundraiser for not only downtown Hays, but for other nonprofits that we are going to be partnering with," Bloom said.<a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/downtown-hays-ice-skating-rink?utm_medium=copy_link&amp;utm_source=customer&amp;utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet">The GoFundMe page can be found by clicking here.</a>

🎙 DHDC seeks donations to turn pavilion into skating rink this winter

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

<a href="https://haysartscouncil.org/">The Hays Arts Council's website can be found here.</a>

<div><iframe title="New exhibitions on the way at the Hays Arts Council" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/b3drf-ec205b?from=pb6admin&download=1&version=1&vjs=1&auto=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Helvetica&skin=3&pfauth="></iframe></div><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">notifications click here.</a><a href="https://haysartscouncil.org/">The Hays Arts Council's website can be found here.</a>

🎙 Post Podcast: New exhibitions on the way at the Hays Arts Council

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Saturday rescinded a boil water advisory for
Ellis County Rural Water District 1C public water supply. The advisory was issued because of a
loss of pressure in the distribution system.


Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system
failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water
advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.


Laboratory testing samples collected from Ellis Co. RWD 1C indicate no evidence of bacteriological
contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by
KDHE officials to be resolved.


For consumer questions, contact the water system or call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For
consumer information, visit <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm">KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage.&nbsp;</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586195747392.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KDHETOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Saturday rescinded a boil water advisory for
Ellis County Rural Water District 1C public water supply. The advisory was issued because of a
loss of pressure in the distribution system.
Public water suppliers in Kansas take all measures necessary to notify customers quickly after a system
failure or shutdown. Regardless of whether it’s the supplier or KDHE that announces a boil water
advisory, KDHE will issue the rescind order following testing at a certified laboratory.
Laboratory testing samples collected from Ellis Co. RWD 1C indicate no evidence of bacteriological
contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by
KDHE officials to be resolved.
For consumer questions, contact the water system or call KDHE at 785-296-5514. For
consumer information, visit <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm">KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage.&nbsp;</a>

Boil order rescinded for rural water district in Ellis Co. 

&nbsp;The Barton County Health Department has identified multiple positive cases of COVID-19 involving persons at Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill in Great Bend on Sunday, September 13 through Friday September 18, 2020. Individuals who visited Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill on those dates may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).&nbsp;

The Barton County Health Department encourages those who were at the above location during the identified days and times to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days. Symptoms include fever, cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue, diarrhea, and/or shortness of breath/difficulty breathing. If symptoms develop, please stay home and contact your health care provider for guidance on testing. In an emergency, please call 911and notify first responders that you were potentially exposed to COVID-19 and, if possible, wear a cloth face mask before they arrive.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595202434504.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;The Barton County Health Department has identified multiple positive cases of COVID-19 involving persons at Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill in Great Bend on Sunday, September 13 through Friday September 18, 2020. Individuals who visited Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill on those dates may have been exposed to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).&nbsp;The Barton County Health Department encourages those who were at the above location during the identified days and times to monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days. Symptoms include fever, cough, chills, muscle pain, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, fatigue, diarrhea, and/or shortness of breath/difficulty breathing. If symptoms develop, please stay home and contact your health care provider for guidance on testing. In an emergency, please call 911and notify first responders that you were potentially exposed to COVID-19 and, if possible, wear a cloth face mask before they arrive.&nbsp;

Possible COVID-19 exposure at Applebee's in Great Bend

At 1:50 p.m. Friday, a 911 call was received reporting a two-vehicle injury
accident located at the intersection of 110th Avenue and Fairground Road in Ellis County.


Deputies determined Kolton Keller, 17, was driving westbound on Fairground Road approaching
the controlled intersection of 110th Avenue. Terrance Kohl, 79, was driving northbound on 110th
Avenue with his 93-year-old passenger Evelyn Kohl, also approaching the
controlled intersection. 

As both vehicles entered the intersection, the sheriff's office reported Keller failed to yield for a posted
stop sign at 110th Avenue. Keller’s vehicle collided with the passenger side of the Kohls' vehicle sending it
into the northwest ditch. Keller’s vehicle continued westerly through the intersection and ended up on
its drivers side.

Emergency personnel responded and declared Evelyn Kohl deceased on scene. Keller and Terrance Kohl were transported by Ellis County EMS to HaysMed for medical treatment. All three accident victims were/are Ellis residents.

The accident is still under investigation by the Ellis County Sheriff's Office and the 23rd Judicial District
Coroner's Office. This will be the ELSO's final media release regarding this incident. Anyone needing
further information is encouraged to contact our office to speak to the case investigator directly.

At 1:50 p.m. Friday, a 911 call was received reporting a two-vehicle injury accident located at the intersection of 110th Avenue and Fairground Road in Ellis County.

Emergency personnel responded and declared the passenger of one of the involved vehicles — a 93-year-old female — deceased on scene. A 17-year-male and a 79-year-old male were transported by Ellis County EMS to HaysMed for medical treatment. All three accident victims were/are Ellis residents.

The fatality accident is still under investigation by the Ellis County Sheriff's Office and the 23rd Judicial District Coroner's Office. The name of the decedent and those involved are intentionally being withheld pending notification of next of kin. First responders from Ellis County Emergency Medical Service, Ellis County Rural Fire, and Ellis Police Department also responded to assist with the scene.

The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office will release more details in a future media release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600444921352.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Ellis County Sheriff's OfficeAt 1:50 p.m. Friday, a 911 call was received reporting a two-vehicle injury
accident located at the intersection of 110th Avenue and Fairground Road in Ellis County.
Deputies determined Kolton Keller, 17, was driving westbound on Fairground Road approaching
the controlled intersection of 110th Avenue. Terrance Kohl, 79, was driving northbound on 110th
Avenue with his 93-year-old passenger Evelyn Kohl, also approaching the
controlled intersection. As both vehicles entered the intersection, the sheriff's office reported Keller failed to yield for a posted
stop sign at 110th Avenue. Keller’s vehicle collided with the passenger side of the Kohls' vehicle sending it
into the northwest ditch. Keller’s vehicle continued westerly through the intersection and ended up on
its drivers side.Emergency personnel responded and declared Evelyn Kohl deceased on scene. Keller and Terrance Kohl were transported by Ellis County EMS to HaysMed for medical treatment. All three accident victims were/are Ellis residents.The accident is still under investigation by the Ellis County Sheriff's Office and the 23rd Judicial District
Coroner's Office. This will be the ELSO's final media release regarding this incident. Anyone needing
further information is encouraged to contact our office to speak to the case investigator directly.----------------------Original release:&nbsp;At 1:50 p.m. Friday, a 911 call was received reporting a two-vehicle injury accident located at the intersection of 110th Avenue and Fairground Road in Ellis County.Emergency personnel responded and declared the passenger of one of the involved vehicles — a 93-year-old female — deceased on scene. A 17-year-male and a 79-year-old male were transported by Ellis County EMS to HaysMed for medical treatment. All three accident victims were/are Ellis residents.The fatality accident is still under investigation by the Ellis County Sheriff's Office and the 23rd Judicial District Coroner's Office. The name of the decedent and those involved are intentionally being withheld pending notification of next of kin. First responders from Ellis County Emergency Medical Service, Ellis County Rural Fire, and Ellis Police Department also responded to assist with the scene.The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office will release more details in a future media release.

Update: Sheriff's office IDs victim in Friday fatal accident

We are excited to announce that there are now MORE WAYS to watch Smoky Hills PBS!&nbsp; Still for FREE and available now anywhere you watch by downloading the PBS app on Android mobile, Amazon Fire tablets, iOS, tvOS, and Chromecast in addition to ROKU,&nbsp;<a href="http://pbs.org/">PBS.org</a>&nbsp;or by visiting the link here:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://video.smokyhillstv.org/livestream">https://video.smokyhillstv.org/livestream</a>

“Being able to stream our channel, Smoky Hills PBS, LIVE is a huge step for us and our viewers,” said Amanda Smith, Smoky Hills PBS Marketing Director. “Our viewers in central and western Kansas can now access Smoky Hills PBS with just a click of a button, giving everyone free local and national programming that can’t be found anywhere else!”

To access Smoky Hills PBS LIVE on your smartphone or smart TV, first download the PBS video app.&nbsp; Make sure you have selected Smoky Hills PBS as your local PBS station within the PBS video app. Then, simply click on the LIVE TV button and push play.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

In addition to LIVE streaming, PBS and PBS KIDS content is available on all platforms including&nbsp;<a href="http://pbs.org/">PBS.org</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://pbskids.org/">PBSKIDS.org</a>, as well as the PBS Video app and PBS KIDS Video app available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung TV and Chromecast.&nbsp; Smoky Hills PBS members are also able to view an extended library of quality public television programming via Smoky Hills PBS Passport (contact Smoky Hills PBS for details).

If you have questions about the Smoky Hills PBS live streaming, reach email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:shptv@shptv.org">shptv@shptv.org</a>&nbsp;or call 800.337.4788.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1578663876107.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SHPTVWe are excited to announce that there are now MORE WAYS to watch Smoky Hills PBS!&nbsp; Still for FREE and available now anywhere you watch by downloading the PBS app on Android mobile, Amazon Fire tablets, iOS, tvOS, and Chromecast in addition to ROKU,&nbsp;<a href="http://pbs.org/">PBS.org</a>&nbsp;or by visiting the link here:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://video.smokyhillstv.org/livestream">https://video.smokyhillstv.org/livestream</a>“Being able to stream our channel, Smoky Hills PBS, LIVE is a huge step for us and our viewers,” said Amanda Smith, Smoky Hills PBS Marketing Director. “Our viewers in central and western Kansas can now access Smoky Hills PBS with just a click of a button, giving everyone free local and national programming that can’t be found anywhere else!”To access Smoky Hills PBS LIVE on your smartphone or smart TV, first download the PBS video app.&nbsp; Make sure you have selected Smoky Hills PBS as your local PBS station within the PBS video app. Then, simply click on the LIVE TV button and push play.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition to LIVE streaming, PBS and PBS KIDS content is available on all platforms including&nbsp;<a href="http://pbs.org/">PBS.org</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://pbskids.org/">PBSKIDS.org</a>, as well as the PBS Video app and PBS KIDS Video app available on iOS, Android, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, Samsung TV and Chromecast.&nbsp; Smoky Hills PBS members are also able to view an extended library of quality public television programming via Smoky Hills PBS Passport (contact Smoky Hills PBS for details).If you have questions about the Smoky Hills PBS live streaming, reach email&nbsp;<a href="mailto:shptv@shptv.org">shptv@shptv.org</a>&nbsp;or call 800.337.4788.— Submitted

Smoky Hills PBS is now streaming live

"Things are going better than I ever could have expected," said&nbsp;Rachel Wentling, Holy Family Elementary principal, about the 2020-21 school year.

While the Catholic elementary school has had to adapt the year to the ongoing pandemic, now that the year has begun, students and staff are focusing less on the mitigation measures that were put into place and more on creating a learning environment that is as close to normal as possible.

"Getting this school year off the ground has been harder than usual," Wentling said. "I often compare the beginning of the school year to the launching of a space shuttle. Despite all of our other complications, this year has been especially difficult, but after we have gotten started it is going much better than I ever expected."

Getting the mitigation measures in place was the biggest challenge while preparing for the year.

"In order for us to be able to have school in person, we had to implement a lot of mitigation strategies," Wentling said. "That has taken a lot of work by a lot of people in my building."

Given building limitations, they worked to find the safest way to provide the best education possible for the students — requiring effort from the entire staff.

"We were not able to distance the students the full six feet that most people recommended," Wentling said. "So were are using all kinds of different strategies to help us."

But overall, the students have adapted well to those measures she said.

"I don't want to say it feels normal," Wentling said. "I don't ever want to say it feels normal, but I think it is becoming a little more normed, in that (the mitigation measures) are no longer the focus."

The students and staff she said are beginning to focus more on interaction and academics than the novelty of the mitigation measures.

"Our students have adapted beautifully and we are starting to see what their normal orneriness come out," Wentling said. "That's not at all a bad thing. That means that if their normal orneriness is coming out then these things that we had to put in place that everybody was so worried about are beginning to fade into the background."

She said while the year is settling in, they are still answering some questions and are not sure when thing will completely return to normal.

And they are also looking for ways to continue to improve the year with the measures in place.

"I think the general consensus is that it feels good," Wentling said.

While most students returned to in-person learning at the beginning of the year, a few opted for a remote learning environment.

For those students, the school partnered with the Smoky Valley Virtual Charter school in Lindsborg.&nbsp;

"We already had a working relationship with them on some other school-related programs," Wentling said. "So they were able to us with those virtual online students."

While students working remotely are enrolled in both Holy Family and the charter school, some services are being provided by Holy Family, including monitoring test-taking.

Students who are temporarily out of class due to coronavirus exposure or mandated isolation also work virtually with their classroom teacher in order to stay caught up with their class.

So far, Wentling said some students have already had to quarantine this year, but there have been no confirmed cases in the school.

If a case does get confirmed, they are ready to adjust as needed to keep the year on track.

"We are going to do everything we can to keep the kids in class," Wentling said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600289353104.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="So far so good; Holy Family Elementary kicks off year" height="122" width="100%" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/rb2cc-ebd43f?from=pb6admin&download=1&version=1&auto=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Helvetica&skin=3&pfauth=&btn-skin=101"></iframe></div>By JAMES BELL Hays Post"Things are going better than I ever could have expected," said&nbsp;Rachel Wentling, Holy Family Elementary principal, about the 2020-21 school year.While the Catholic elementary school has had to adapt the year to the ongoing pandemic, now that the year has begun, students and staff are focusing less on the mitigation measures that were put into place and more on creating a learning environment that is as close to normal as possible."Getting this school year off the ground has been harder than usual," Wentling said. "I often compare the beginning of the school year to the launching of a space shuttle. Despite all of our other complications, this year has been especially difficult, but after we have gotten started it is going much better than I ever expected."Getting the mitigation measures in place was the biggest challenge while preparing for the year."In order for us to be able to have school in person, we had to implement a lot of mitigation strategies," Wentling said. "That has taken a lot of work by a lot of people in my building."Given building limitations, they worked to find the safest way to provide the best education possible for the students — requiring effort from the entire staff."We were not able to distance the students the full six feet that most people recommended," Wentling said. "So were are using all kinds of different strategies to help us."But overall, the students have adapted well to those measures she said."I don't want to say it feels normal," Wentling said. "I don't ever want to say it feels normal, but I think it is becoming a little more normed, in that (the mitigation measures) are no longer the focus."The students and staff she said are beginning to focus more on interaction and academics than the novelty of the mitigation measures."Our students have adapted beautifully and we are starting to see what their normal orneriness come out," Wentling said. "That's not at all a bad thing. That means that if their normal orneriness is coming out then these things that we had to put in place that everybody was so worried about are beginning to fade into the background."She said while the year is settling in, they are still answering some questions and are not sure when thing will completely return to normal.And they are also looking for ways to continue to improve the year with the measures in place."I think the general consensus is that it feels good," Wentling said.While most students returned to in-person learning at the beginning of the year, a few opted for a remote learning environment.For those students, the school partnered with the Smoky Valley Virtual Charter school in Lindsborg.&nbsp;"We already had a working relationship with them on some other school-related programs," Wentling said. "So they were able to us with those virtual online students."While students working remotely are enrolled in both Holy Family and the charter school, some services are being provided by Holy Family, including monitoring test-taking.Students who are temporarily out of class due to coronavirus exposure or mandated isolation also work virtually with their classroom teacher in order to stay caught up with their class.So far, Wentling said some students have already had to quarantine this year, but there have been no confirmed cases in the school.If a case does get confirmed, they are ready to adjust as needed to keep the year on track."We are going to do everything we can to keep the kids in class," Wentling said.

🎙 So far so good: Holy Family Elementary kicks off year

The Jayhawker Liberation Front is in the news.&nbsp;&nbsp;Among other things, these ambitious KU students demand closing campuses to all in-person learning until COVID is contained, along with an end to both capitalism and white supremacy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Those last two demands are beyond the scope of this column, but what about the first one?

I am opposed.&nbsp;&nbsp;I bring a different perspective.&nbsp;&nbsp;I teach at Emporia State, a smaller, more rural campus with a lower percentage of students in fraternities and sororities.&nbsp;&nbsp;A recent&nbsp;Axios&nbsp;report shows that smaller, more rural campuses like ESU are doing better at containing COVID than larger schools and urban campuses.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In addition, our affordable tuition means that the school is less hard-hit in the pocketbook.&nbsp;&nbsp;ESU’s official enrollment numbers were just released, showing little change from the same time last year, pre-COVID.&nbsp;&nbsp;My position undoubtedly biases my perspective, but when possible, I support keeping campuses open to on-campus learning while carefully, thoroughly monitoring the spread of COVID and vigorously encouraging responsible behavior.

A recent EDUCAUSE survey showed that 70% of students prefer their courses on campus.&nbsp;&nbsp;This trend is just as pronounced among the young “digital natives” as among the older, nontraditional students.&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition, struggling students have the most to lose from remote learning.&nbsp;&nbsp;

As the editors of&nbsp;Education Week&nbsp;note, evidence shows that students with special needs fall further behind than their peers when learning migrates away from physical classrooms.&nbsp;&nbsp;Furthermore, many of my peers are noticing another problem:&nbsp;&nbsp;lacking the funds to purchase a computer or WiFi service, many lower-income college students are attempting to do all their remote work from smartphones, often with poor results.&nbsp;&nbsp;The threat of COVID is very real, but from K-12 to the university, many at-risk students are not so much learning remotely as losing a year of school.&nbsp;&nbsp;Keeping the campus open is their best shot at keeping up.

In addition, some activities are impossible to do remotely.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, a great deal of scientific research happens at universities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Insuring that professors and students have access to our extensive campus laboratories not only advances the progress of science generally, it specifically promises breakthroughs in the treatment of infectious diseases.&nbsp;&nbsp;

In fact, one of today’s most-promising potential COVID vaccines is being developed from a partnership between Aztra-Zeneca and Oxford University scientists. These researchers and their students need access to their facilities to continue their research.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas scientists need this as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, Dr. Erika Martin here at ESU is doing collaborative research with students on the impact of microplastics on fish populations here in Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;This research requires both in-person field work and access to the lab.&nbsp;&nbsp;This research is critical to understanding the health of our fish populations and our waterways, as well as training our future aquatic biologists.

The primary reason university re-openings spread COVID is student behavior after hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;The universities need to be aggressive about countering this.&nbsp;&nbsp;This means frequent and repeated testing, immediately quarantining on- or off-campus houses where anyone has tested positive and disclosing all COVID-related information to the public and local health authorities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Provisions must also stay in place for students who cannot or choose not to come to class for safety reasons.&nbsp;&nbsp;Social distancing is in place, while mask-wearing is required and ubiquitous, as it should be.&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet closing the campus completely means that at-risk students fall further behind, financially struggling students rely on phones for activities that require a computer, and laboratory research stops.&nbsp;&nbsp;

When possible, campuses should remain at least partially open, but with extensive testing and safety precautions in place and responsible behavior vigorously enforced.

Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579108824567.jpeg" alt="Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University." />
 <figcaption>Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>The Jayhawker Liberation Front is in the news.&nbsp;&nbsp;Among other things, these ambitious KU students demand closing campuses to all in-person learning until COVID is contained, along with an end to both capitalism and white supremacy.&nbsp;&nbsp;Those last two demands are beyond the scope of this column, but what about the first one?I am opposed.&nbsp;&nbsp;I bring a different perspective.&nbsp;&nbsp;I teach at Emporia State, a smaller, more rural campus with a lower percentage of students in fraternities and sororities.&nbsp;&nbsp;A recent&nbsp;Axios&nbsp;report shows that smaller, more rural campuses like ESU are doing better at containing COVID than larger schools and urban campuses.&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition, our affordable tuition means that the school is less hard-hit in the pocketbook.&nbsp;&nbsp;ESU’s official enrollment numbers were just released, showing little change from the same time last year, pre-COVID.&nbsp;&nbsp;My position undoubtedly biases my perspective, but when possible, I support keeping campuses open to on-campus learning while carefully, thoroughly monitoring the spread of COVID and vigorously encouraging responsible behavior.A recent EDUCAUSE survey showed that 70% of students prefer their courses on campus.&nbsp;&nbsp;This trend is just as pronounced among the young “digital natives” as among the older, nontraditional students.&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition, struggling students have the most to lose from remote learning.&nbsp;&nbsp;As the editors of&nbsp;Education Week&nbsp;note, evidence shows that students with special needs fall further behind than their peers when learning migrates away from physical classrooms.&nbsp;&nbsp;Furthermore, many of my peers are noticing another problem:&nbsp;&nbsp;lacking the funds to purchase a computer or WiFi service, many lower-income college students are attempting to do all their remote work from smartphones, often with poor results.&nbsp;&nbsp;The threat of COVID is very real, but from K-12 to the university, many at-risk students are not so much learning remotely as losing a year of school.&nbsp;&nbsp;Keeping the campus open is their best shot at keeping up.In addition, some activities are impossible to do remotely.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, a great deal of scientific research happens at universities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Insuring that professors and students have access to our extensive campus laboratories not only advances the progress of science generally, it specifically promises breakthroughs in the treatment of infectious diseases.&nbsp;&nbsp;In fact, one of today’s most-promising potential COVID vaccines is being developed from a partnership between Aztra-Zeneca and Oxford University scientists. These researchers and their students need access to their facilities to continue their research.&nbsp;&nbsp;Kansas scientists need this as well.&nbsp;&nbsp;For example, Dr. Erika Martin here at ESU is doing collaborative research with students on the impact of microplastics on fish populations here in Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;This research requires both in-person field work and access to the lab.&nbsp;&nbsp;This research is critical to understanding the health of our fish populations and our waterways, as well as training our future aquatic biologists.The primary reason university re-openings spread COVID is student behavior after hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;The universities need to be aggressive about countering this.&nbsp;&nbsp;This means frequent and repeated testing, immediately quarantining on- or off-campus houses where anyone has tested positive and disclosing all COVID-related information to the public and local health authorities.&nbsp;&nbsp;Provisions must also stay in place for students who cannot or choose not to come to class for safety reasons.&nbsp;&nbsp;Social distancing is in place, while mask-wearing is required and ubiquitous, as it should be.&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet closing the campus completely means that at-risk students fall further behind, financially struggling students rely on phones for activities that require a computer, and laboratory research stops.&nbsp;&nbsp;When possible, campuses should remain at least partially open, but with extensive testing and safety precautions in place and responsible behavior vigorously enforced.Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Universities should stay open — responsibly

By C.J. JANOVY <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/09/18/listen-to-this-kid-who-worked-to-make-kansas-better-for-everyone/">Kansas Reflector</a>

Here’s a story about a promising young teenager with a heart of gold who fell into some real deep state stuff in Kansas.

The kid is Ashton Rickford, who just started ninth&nbsp;grade at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RCHSBuffaloes/">Rawlins County Junior/Senior High School</a> in Atwood, a town of about 1,200 people up near the Nebraska line.

When Ashton’s family moved
 to Atwood three years ago, they left what he describes as the “really 
big” town of Hays. He likes the small town better.

“Mom wouldn’t let me walk 
to the grocery store during the summer to get something to eat in Hays 
because it’s really big,” he says. “There are a lot of fun things you 
can do in a big town, but you don’t have the freedom when you’re a kid.”

In Atwood it’s easy to 
walk to friends’ houses or the youth center, or go to the lake to kayak 
at night. He likes the fact that everyone in Atwood knows each other.

That’s where the Kansas government bureaucracy comes in.

Last summer, four state 
agencies that provide care and education for Kansas kids — the 
Department for Children and Families, the Department of Education, the 
Department of Health and Environment and the <a href="https://kschildrenscabinet.org/">Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund</a> — wanted to do a better job of coordinating all of their services throughout the state’s 105 counties.

That’s complicated not 
only because of differing needs in various places but also because all 
levels of government — federal, state, county, local — as well as 
private businesses and philanthropic organizations are involved in 
providing children’s education and services, explains <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/24/kansas-vulnerable-children-cant-afford-to-absorb-state-budget-cuts/">Melissa Rooker</a>, executive director of the Children’s Cabinet.

They didn’t want to make 
any wrong assumptions about what Kansans needed. So they created a 
website where everyone could upload their stories — anonymously — and 
explain how they did, or didn’t, get help.

For the project to work, they needed lots of stories. That’s where Ashton came in.

He was 13 when he heard about the project from his dad, the executive director at <a href="https://www.livewellnwk.org/">Livewell Northwest Kansas</a>, a nonprofit in Colby. Ashton wanted to help.

They emailed everyone at the farm equipment company where his mom works and contacted all of her Facebook friends.

“They just have to write a story, if they’re thriving or just surviving,” Ashton told people.

He went door-to-door with 
print-outs, offering to enter people’s stories into the computer and 
then shred the paper so everything stayed anonymous.

Raising
 our family in a close-knit community has allowed our family to thrive 
most of our days. However, we recently experienced an unforeseen chapter
 in our lives when my husband became extremely ill. We almost instantly 
went from thriving to surviving. The days and months have been long, but
 with the support of our family and community, many have chosen to rally
 around us. Many eyes were on our family, but different individuals were
 led to support in different ways. Casseroles, driving, laundry, money, 
prayers, and listening ears were just a few things offered our family 
from the community. Once again, because of this community, our family 
has been able to thrive when we could have just survived.&nbsp;&nbsp; – Anonymous

&nbsp;&nbsp;I
 feel like this winter and summer our family was just surviving. Mother 
nature played a huge role in our agricultural lives that there was very 
high stress. During this time the were many ups and downs and some 
depression. However we all worked together and supported each other and 
made it through.&nbsp;&nbsp; – Anonymous

“Some people had very, 
very good stories,” he says. “There were stories about people who went 
through trauma and financial problems, even out here — farmers whose 
crops don’t grow good and they don’t get enough money from farming, they
 have to pay a lot for their equipment, and don’t make enough to support
 their families.”

He learned something a lot of us might have forgotten: You never know what someone’s going through.

“I didn’t know so many 
people were struggling on farms, had financial problems, family members 
dying, trauma,” he says. “It really opens your eyes, because you don’t 
think right away that person’s going through something.”

Ultimately, the stories he collected helped shape the state’s <a href="https://kschildrenscabinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/All_in_for_Kansas_Kids_Strategic_Plan_4.10.20.pdf">early childhood strategic plan. </a>

“Ashton talked to families
 who live a pretty isolated lifestyle on their farms and ranches, who 
are generally not heard from when there are big studies done and data 
collected,” she says. “Ashton <a href="https://kschildrenscabinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Needs-Assessment-2020.pdf">brought the voice of rural Kansas to life</a>.”

In March, when the pandemic hit, the state <a href="https://kschildrenscabinet.org/share-a-story/">opened the story portal again</a>.
 People just needed to share what they were going through and, Rooker 
says, agencies could see needs emerging in real time and try to help.

In April, for example, 
they steered $500 grants to childcare providers who suddenly needed to 
buy personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies or come up with 
educational materials for kids in age groups they hadn’t served.

&nbsp;&nbsp;It
 is hard to find needed supplies for cleaning and healthy foods to 
provide for the children in my care. Health officials warn you to only 
go out as little as possible, but when the shelves are empty of needed 
items you need to go back and look again. Also I went from 8 children in
 care to 3 which limits my income and it is a struggle to get needed 
supplies and also keep up on monthly Bill's. I realize that utility 
companies will not disconnect services during this time, but when it is 
over, will I be able to catch up with one a reasonable amount of time 
... &nbsp;&nbsp; – Anonymous

Next time you see some 
conspiratorial hooey about a government “deep state,” remember this 
story. In reality, government is an incredibly complex structure where 
generally decent people use common resources to try to help each other.

Ashton doesn’t know too much about politics yet. Until I mention it, he hasn’t heard the term “urban-rural divide.”

I’m a little sad to even bring it up with him, but he tries to address my question.

“Obviously in big towns, 
people don’t know what it’s like to live in the country, and country 
people don’t know what it’s like to live in the big town,” he says.

He’s been to Wichita 
enough to know that you have to drive farther to get around. But moving 
from Hays to Atwood, he didn’t notice much difference in people.

“I feel like they’re the same,” he says.

C.J. Janovy is a veteran journalist with deep roots in the Midwest. Before joining the Kansas Reflector, she was an editor and reporter at Kansas City’s NPR affiliate, KCUR. Before that, she edited the city’s alt-weekly newspaper, The Pitch.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600437268528.png" alt="Ashton Rickford, 14, has just started 9th grade at Rawlins County Junior/Senior High School, where he plays for the Buffaloes. (Submitted by Travis Rickford to Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Ashton Rickford, 14, has just started 9th grade at Rawlins County Junior/Senior High School, where he plays for the Buffaloes. (Submitted by Travis Rickford to Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>By C.J. JANOVY <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/09/18/listen-to-this-kid-who-worked-to-make-kansas-better-for-everyone/">Kansas Reflector</a>Here’s a story about a promising young teenager with a heart of gold who fell into some real deep state stuff in Kansas.The kid is Ashton Rickford, who just started ninth&nbsp;grade at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RCHSBuffaloes/">Rawlins County Junior/Senior High School</a> in Atwood, a town of about 1,200 people up near the Nebraska line.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>When Ashton’s family moved
 to Atwood three years ago, they left what he describes as the “really 
big” town of Hays. He likes the small town better.“Mom wouldn’t let me walk 
to the grocery store during the summer to get something to eat in Hays 
because it’s really big,” he says. “There are a lot of fun things you 
can do in a big town, but you don’t have the freedom when you’re a kid.”In Atwood it’s easy to 
walk to friends’ houses or the youth center, or go to the lake to kayak 
at night. He likes the fact that everyone in Atwood knows each other.That’s where the Kansas government bureaucracy comes in.Last summer, four state 
agencies that provide care and education for Kansas kids — the 
Department for Children and Families, the Department of Education, the 
Department of Health and Environment and the <a href="https://kschildrenscabinet.org/">Children’s Cabinet and Trust Fund</a> — wanted to do a better job of coordinating all of their services throughout the state’s 105 counties.That’s complicated not 
only because of differing needs in various places but also because all 
levels of government — federal, state, county, local — as well as 
private businesses and philanthropic organizations are involved in 
providing children’s education and services, explains <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/08/24/kansas-vulnerable-children-cant-afford-to-absorb-state-budget-cuts/">Melissa Rooker</a>, executive director of the Children’s Cabinet.They didn’t want to make 
any wrong assumptions about what Kansans needed. So they created a 
website where everyone could upload their stories — anonymously — and 
explain how they did, or didn’t, get help.For the project to work, they needed lots of stories. That’s where Ashton came in.He was 13 when he heard about the project from his dad, the executive director at <a href="https://www.livewellnwk.org/">Livewell Northwest Kansas</a>, a nonprofit in Colby. Ashton wanted to help.They emailed everyone at the farm equipment company where his mom works and contacted all of her Facebook friends.“They just have to write a story, if they’re thriving or just surviving,” Ashton told people.He went door-to-door with 
print-outs, offering to enter people’s stories into the computer and 
then shred the paper so everything stayed anonymous.Raising
 our family in a close-knit community has allowed our family to thrive 
most of our days. However, we recently experienced an unforeseen chapter
 in our lives when my husband became extremely ill. We almost instantly 
went from thriving to surviving. The days and months have been long, but
 with the support of our family and community, many have chosen to rally
 around us. Many eyes were on our family, but different individuals were
 led to support in different ways. Casseroles, driving, laundry, money, 
prayers, and listening ears were just a few things offered our family 
from the community. Once again, because of this community, our family 
has been able to thrive when we could have just survived.&nbsp;&nbsp; – Anonymous&nbsp;&nbsp;I
 feel like this winter and summer our family was just surviving. Mother 
nature played a huge role in our agricultural lives that there was very 
high stress. During this time the were many ups and downs and some 
depression. However we all worked together and supported each other and 
made it through.&nbsp;&nbsp; – Anonymous“Some people had very, 
very good stories,” he says. “There were stories about people who went 
through trauma and financial problems, even out here — farmers whose 
crops don’t grow good and they don’t get enough money from farming, they
 have to pay a lot for their equipment, and don’t make enough to support
 their families.”He learned something a lot of us might have forgotten: You never know what someone’s going through.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600437346333.jpeg" alt="Ashton Rickford answers questions at a conference in 2019. (Submitted by Travis Rickford to Kansas Reflector)" />
 <figcaption>Ashton Rickford answers questions at a conference in 2019. (Submitted by Travis Rickford to Kansas Reflector)</figcaption>
 </figure>“I didn’t know so many 
people were struggling on farms, had financial problems, family members 
dying, trauma,” he says. “It really opens your eyes, because you don’t 
think right away that person’s going through something.”Ultimately, the stories he collected helped shape the state’s <a href="https://kschildrenscabinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/All_in_for_Kansas_Kids_Strategic_Plan_4.10.20.pdf">early childhood strategic plan. </a>His service was invaluable, Rooker says.“Ashton talked to families
 who live a pretty isolated lifestyle on their farms and ranches, who 
are generally not heard from when there are big studies done and data 
collected,” she says. “Ashton <a href="https://kschildrenscabinet.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/Needs-Assessment-2020.pdf">brought the voice of rural Kansas to life</a>.”In March, when the pandemic hit, the state <a href="https://kschildrenscabinet.org/share-a-story/">opened the story portal again</a>.
 People just needed to share what they were going through and, Rooker 
says, agencies could see needs emerging in real time and try to help.In April, for example, 
they steered $500 grants to childcare providers who suddenly needed to 
buy personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies or come up with 
educational materials for kids in age groups they hadn’t served.&nbsp;&nbsp;It
 is hard to find needed supplies for cleaning and healthy foods to 
provide for the children in my care. Health officials warn you to only 
go out as little as possible, but when the shelves are empty of needed 
items you need to go back and look again. Also I went from 8 children in
 care to 3 which limits my income and it is a struggle to get needed 
supplies and also keep up on monthly Bill's. I realize that utility 
companies will not disconnect services during this time, but when it is 
over, will I be able to catch up with one a reasonable amount of time 
... &nbsp;&nbsp; – AnonymousNext time you see some 
conspiratorial hooey about a government “deep state,” remember this 
story. In reality, government is an incredibly complex structure where 
generally decent people use common resources to try to help each other.Ashton doesn’t know too much about politics yet. Until I mention it, he hasn’t heard the term “urban-rural divide.”I’m a little sad to even bring it up with him, but he tries to address my question.“Obviously in big towns, 
people don’t know what it’s like to live in the country, and country 
people don’t know what it’s like to live in the big town,” he says.He’s been to Wichita 
enough to know that you have to drive farther to get around. But moving 
from Hays to Atwood, he didn’t notice much difference in people.“I feel like they’re the same,” he says.C.J. Janovy is a veteran journalist with deep roots in the Midwest. Before joining the Kansas Reflector, she was an editor and reporter at Kansas City’s NPR affiliate, KCUR. Before that, she edited the city’s alt-weekly newspaper, The Pitch.

Listen to this NW Kan. kid who worked to make Kan. better for everyone

ELLIS — Despite numerous changes to the school
year in Ellis USD 388 due to the ongoing pandemic, administrators told the school board
Monday that — all things considered — the year has kicked off in a good way.

“I am really proud of them. They have
done really well with the changes and the masks,” said Ellis High School Principal
Donna Schmidt.

Only a month ago, the necessary changes
were a cause for concern, but at least so far, many of the most troubling
changes made have had only a minor impact on the students.

“We were probably way more worried than
we needed to be, but I’m glad we were over-prepared,” Schmidt said. “Really glad
about that.”

The most contentious of this year’s preparations
included the mandatory wearing of masks for students and staff, but she said
the masks have been only a minor concern for students. For the most part, she said, only occasional reminders to wear the masks correctly are required to keep the
students compliant.

And most students in the district chose
to attend classes in person, and the Schoology program put in place to assist
teachers allows students to stay caught up with their class, whether they
are fully remote or under quarantine.

“I hate to say we are getting pretty
good at that transition, because I don’t want to jinx ourselves, and be bombarded
with more of those transitions,” Schmidt said.

Maintaining a "Plan B” for events as the
year progresses is also something she said they are continuing to work on,
including plans for homecoming week.

“It’s a challenge, but we are still in
school,” Schmidt said.

Washington Elementary Principal John
Befort said in his building the situation is similar with students enjoying
being back in the classroom.

He said there were a few students that
needed help to get into the online sessions, but mostly going the year is going
well.

“Things are going a lot better than
expected,” Befort said.

He said his biggest concern is those
students that are more in need of in-person instruction that are working from
home and encouraged parents of those children to send them back to school if
needed and possible.

“If we had all kids in-house, it would
probably be a lot better, or a lot easier for our teachers, but we understand
why those parents do not want to do that,” Befort said.

And the concerns around wearing masks in
the elementary school also did not materialize.

&nbsp;“As
Donna said, the masks have not been an issue,” Befort said.

While covering a gym class recently, he
noted that there were no complaints about the masks, and students are not rushing
to pull them off.

Board president Jared Schiel told the
board that he was pleased with the way the year is shaping up.

“I would love for you both to pass on
gratitude to the teachers and everybody … because I have friends that are envious
right now. They are either in a hybrid system or they are trying to figure out
what they are going to do with their kids, or they are all online and then they
are really upset when we have activities going on, sports and everything else because
they don’t,” Schiel said. “Right now, I consider us very lucky and I think we
all know that is because of the work you guys are doing.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600447640278.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostELLIS — Despite numerous changes to the school
year in Ellis USD 388 due to the ongoing pandemic, administrators told the school board
Monday that — all things considered — the year has kicked off in a good way.“I am really proud of them. They have
done really well with the changes and the masks,” said Ellis High School Principal
Donna Schmidt.Only a month ago, the necessary changes
were a cause for concern, but at least so far, many of the most troubling
changes made have had only a minor impact on the students.“We were probably way more worried than
we needed to be, but I’m glad we were over-prepared,” Schmidt said. “Really glad
about that.”The most contentious of this year’s preparations
included the mandatory wearing of masks for students and staff, but she said
the masks have been only a minor concern for students. For the most part, she said, only occasional reminders to wear the masks correctly are required to keep the
students compliant.And most students in the district chose
to attend classes in person, and the Schoology program put in place to assist
teachers allows students to stay caught up with their class, whether they
are fully remote or under quarantine.“I hate to say we are getting pretty
good at that transition, because I don’t want to jinx ourselves, and be bombarded
with more of those transitions,” Schmidt said.Maintaining a "Plan B” for events as the
year progresses is also something she said they are continuing to work on,
including plans for homecoming week.“It’s a challenge, but we are still in
school,” Schmidt said.Washington Elementary Principal John
Befort said in his building the situation is similar with students enjoying
being back in the classroom.He said there were a few students that
needed help to get into the online sessions, but mostly going the year is going
well.“Things are going a lot better than
expected,” Befort said.He said his biggest concern is those
students that are more in need of in-person instruction that are working from
home and encouraged parents of those children to send them back to school if
needed and possible.“If we had all kids in-house, it would
probably be a lot better, or a lot easier for our teachers, but we understand
why those parents do not want to do that,” Befort said.And the concerns around wearing masks in
the elementary school also did not materialize.&nbsp;“As
Donna said, the masks have not been an issue,” Befort said.While covering a gym class recently, he
noted that there were no complaints about the masks, and students are not rushing
to pull them off.Board president Jared Schiel told the
board that he was pleased with the way the year is shaping up.“I would love for you both to pass on
gratitude to the teachers and everybody … because I have friends that are envious
right now. They are either in a hybrid system or they are trying to figure out
what they are going to do with their kids, or they are all online and then they
are really upset when we have activities going on, sports and everything else because
they don’t,” Schiel said. “Right now, I consider us very lucky and I think we
all know that is because of the work you guys are doing.”

Ellis USD 388 administration: Students adjusting well to changes

Three-day weather outlook

As college kids leave home for the first time, it is important that they transition with a plan that includes being current on immunizations, following good study habits, establishing self-control at the buffet counter and having financial support in place so they have the greatest chance for success in their new environment. &nbsp;&nbsp;

In much the same way, calves are most successful in transitioning off the farm when they’ve had good care, are current on their vaccinations, and have been exposed to the challenges of a changing diet. For the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute, many of these factors occur before weaning to minimize the stress of change. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“The goal of any pre-conditioning program should be to prepare the calf for the next event in its life,” said Bob Weaber, K-State beef cattle extension specialist. Pre-conditioning refers to the care the calf gets on the ranch before it’s weaned and before it enters the feedlot or a stocker operation. &nbsp;&nbsp;

From a health standpoint, vaccinations should be given while the calf is still nursing its dam, said K-State veterinarian Bob Larson. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“The best immune response to vaccinations will happen when the calves are not stressed and they are not carrying a parasite load,” Larson said. He added that immunity often does not reach effective levels until about three weeks after the vaccines are administered. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Another step in preparing the male calves is to have them castrated. The veterinarians advise cow-calf producers to take care of that early in the calf’s life. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“Castrating calves when they are two to three months of age causes minimal stress, allowing them to recover quickly. But the older the calf is when he has that done, the more it will challenge him,” Larson said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Along with taking care of the animal’s health needs, the experts said it is important to train the calves to eat from a feed bunk and locate the type of water source they will see during the next phase of life.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“If the calves get dehydrated and aren’t eating, then their immune response will be weakened,” Larson said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Part of that preparation may include letting them drink from a cattle waterer instead of a pasture pond, Weaber said. Exposing them to grain prior to weaning will help them make the transition to the backgrounding operation easier, as well. Backgrounding refers to co-mingling weaned calves of a similar age and continuing to grow them prior to entering the feed yard. &nbsp;&nbsp;

To build the best pre-conditioning program, the experts recommend the following:&nbsp;

To hear the full discussion on caring for calves prior to weaning, listen to the&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2020/09/04/stump-the-expert-pre-conditioning-top-preventative-health-tips-for-pre-conditioning-bqa-tips-for-weaning-early-preg-checks/" target="_blank">BCI Cattle Chat podcast online</a>. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>As college kids leave home for the first time, it is important that they transition with a plan that includes being current on immunizations, following good study habits, establishing self-control at the buffet counter and having financial support in place so they have the greatest chance for success in their new environment. &nbsp;&nbsp;In much the same way, calves are most successful in transitioning off the farm when they’ve had good care, are current on their vaccinations, and have been exposed to the challenges of a changing diet. For the experts at the Kansas State University Beef Cattle Institute, many of these factors occur before weaning to minimize the stress of change. &nbsp;&nbsp;“The goal of any pre-conditioning program should be to prepare the calf for the next event in its life,” said Bob Weaber, K-State beef cattle extension specialist. Pre-conditioning refers to the care the calf gets on the ranch before it’s weaned and before it enters the feedlot or a stocker operation. &nbsp;&nbsp;From a health standpoint, vaccinations should be given while the calf is still nursing its dam, said K-State veterinarian Bob Larson. &nbsp;&nbsp;“The best immune response to vaccinations will happen when the calves are not stressed and they are not carrying a parasite load,” Larson said. He added that immunity often does not reach effective levels until about three weeks after the vaccines are administered. &nbsp;&nbsp;Another step in preparing the male calves is to have them castrated. The veterinarians advise cow-calf producers to take care of that early in the calf’s life. &nbsp;&nbsp;“Castrating calves when they are two to three months of age causes minimal stress, allowing them to recover quickly. But the older the calf is when he has that done, the more it will challenge him,” Larson said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Along with taking care of the animal’s health needs, the experts said it is important to train the calves to eat from a feed bunk and locate the type of water source they will see during the next phase of life.&nbsp;&nbsp;“If the calves get dehydrated and aren’t eating, then their immune response will be weakened,” Larson said. &nbsp;&nbsp;Part of that preparation may include letting them drink from a cattle waterer instead of a pasture pond, Weaber said. Exposing them to grain prior to weaning will help them make the transition to the backgrounding operation easier, as well. Backgrounding refers to co-mingling weaned calves of a similar age and continuing to grow them prior to entering the feed yard. &nbsp;&nbsp;To build the best pre-conditioning program, the experts recommend the following:&nbsp;<ol>
 <li>Prepare the calves for their new environment by exposing them to new water sources and feed.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Manage the nutritional needs of the calves.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Minimize stressors prior to weaning.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Stimulate immunity through a vaccination program that matches the disease challenges those calves are going to face.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>Create a comprehensive plan for understanding optimum pre-weaning activities.&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>To hear the full discussion on caring for calves prior to weaning, listen to the&nbsp;<a href="https://ksubci.org/2020/09/04/stump-the-expert-pre-conditioning-top-preventative-health-tips-for-pre-conditioning-bqa-tips-for-weaning-early-preg-checks/" target="_blank">BCI Cattle Chat podcast online</a>. &nbsp;&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

BOOR: Minimizing stress in calves

In the latest of dozens of such incidents just this year, a Los 
Angeles radio journalist was attacked by sheriff’s deputies while 
recently reporting on a protest outside a hospital.

Yes, attacked. Not the legalistic “taken into custody,” or the softer if-accurate, catch-all term “arrested.”

Reporter Josie Huang of radio station KPCC and its 
sister site, LAist — despite video proving she repeatedly identified 
herself as a reporter — was thrown violently to the ground by several 
officers while observing the arrest of a protester authorities said was 
being “uncooperative.”

The first statement by the sheriff’s department said Huang “ran 
toward deputies, ignored repeated commands to stay back … and interfered
 with the arrest.” A police spokesperson also said she failed to 
identify herself as “press.” She was taken to a local jail.

When confronted with multiple videos and audio from Huang’s own 
cellphone refuting each of those allegations, the spokesperson refused 
to respond directly, saying the matter was under investigation.

The event is as disgusting as it was unnecessary. The police conduct 
appears as unwarranted as the official account is contradicted by what 
can be seen and documented. The incident now joins a trendline that is 
as an appalling insult to individual rights as it is to the First 
Amendment freedoms that protect us all.

Huang was at a hospital earlier on the day of her arrest to attend a 
press conference regarding two deputies who had been shot in a cowardly 
ambush by an as-yet unknown assailant.

Huang was in her car in the hospital garage, typing notes from the 
press event, when she heard shouting outside. In a series of Facebook 
posts, she said she “saw a commotion ahead of me. Deputies rushed one 
man and chased another. I was filming an arrest when suddenly deputies 
shout ‘back up.’ Within seconds, I was getting shoved around. There was 
nowhere to back up.”

Video from other news operations shows Huang takes a few steps 
backward, but is grabbed and thrown to the ground by an officer. Her 
cell phone is knocked from her hand and several officers pile onto her.

“After my phone drops, it keeps recording and it captures two 
deputies damaging my phone by kicking and stepping on it. I can hear 
myself in the background shouting: “You guys are hurting me” and “Stop 
it.” Not only did Huang shout her KPCC affiliation, a press ID card on a
 lanyard around her neck is clearly visible in video of the attack.

It is understandable that deputies might be on edge after a vicious 
assault on two of their own. But the attack on Huang took place hours 
later, away from the scene of the shooting. Emotions should be in check 
and training should take over at such a point.

Granted, civil disturbances create chaotic moments. But by all 
accounts, the protest group was small — and only one demonstrator was 
being arrested.

What cannot be understood, and what should not be taken for granted, 
is that police nationwide have shown repeated, and at times vicious and 
life-threatening disregard for the First Amendment right of journalists 
to document their actions, even at the most challenging moments.

“Assault” is a crime — whether committed by a coward who slinks up to
 a patrol car and shoots two officers, or by those in uniform and 
wearing badges in full view of news cameras. For that matter, so is 
“testi-lying” — a word even authorities use to describe official 
accounts in which facts are twisted or simply invented to mask illegal 
conduct.

A hallmark of repressive regimes is their “secret” police, 
unaccountable to anyone but despots and operating out of sight and 
without accountability. The thousands of police officers who deserve our
 respect and admiration should not be tarnished by those who would act 
in violation of laws out of anger, disrespect or baser instincts.

Attacks on journalists certainly are nothing new worldwide. From the 
murder of abolitionist editors by pro-slavery mobs in the 1800s to 
bigoted assaults in the 1950s and 1960s on reporters covering the civil 
rights movement, to the insane 2018 shooting of five staffers at The Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Md., journalism has been — and is — a dangerous profession.

But this year, the <a href="https://pressfreedomtracker.us/" target="_blank">U.S. Press Freedom Tracker</a>
 (a watchdog coalition to which the Freedom Forum belongs) reports as of
 Sept. 15 that 191 journalists have been attacked, 61 arrested, with 
some “812+ reported aggressions against the press.”

By virtue of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and a pledged 
allegiance to the rule of law, all of us — police, protesters and public
 officials — should be better than that.

Huang is charged with interfering with the arrest. If a formal 
inquiry bears out her account and the video evidence, that charge will 
be dropped. Perhaps a settlement will occur. It’s unlikely the officers 
involved will be prosecuted, as anyone else who grabbed and tackled a 
person on the street would certainly be.

City officials and Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman,
 an independent monitor for the sheriff’s department, have opened their 
own investigations into the attack on Huang. Said Huntsman, “What 
surprises me the most is that once she was identified as a reporter that
 they transported her, that they cited her.”

In this year of attacks again and again on journalists simply for 
doing their jobs on behalf of the public, we can only wish we could be 
as surprised as Huntsman.

Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the
 Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom
 Forum Institute. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:gpolicinski@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">gpolicinski@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow him on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/@genefac" target="_blank">@genefac</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593729871227.png" alt="Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute. " />
 <figcaption>Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute. </figcaption>
 </figure>Enough is enough — and too much.In the latest of dozens of such incidents just this year, a Los 
Angeles radio journalist was attacked by sheriff’s deputies while 
recently reporting on a protest outside a hospital.Yes, attacked. Not the legalistic “taken into custody,” or the softer if-accurate, catch-all term “arrested.”Attacked.Reporter Josie Huang of radio station KPCC and its 
sister site, LAist — despite video proving she repeatedly identified 
herself as a reporter — was thrown violently to the ground by several 
officers while observing the arrest of a protester authorities said was 
being “uncooperative.”The first statement by the sheriff’s department said Huang “ran 
toward deputies, ignored repeated commands to stay back … and interfered
 with the arrest.” A police spokesperson also said she failed to 
identify herself as “press.” She was taken to a local jail.When confronted with multiple videos and audio from Huang’s own 
cellphone refuting each of those allegations, the spokesperson refused 
to respond directly, saying the matter was under investigation.The event is as disgusting as it was unnecessary. The police conduct 
appears as unwarranted as the official account is contradicted by what 
can be seen and documented. The incident now joins a trendline that is 
as an appalling insult to individual rights as it is to the First 
Amendment freedoms that protect us all.Huang was at a hospital earlier on the day of her arrest to attend a 
press conference regarding two deputies who had been shot in a cowardly 
ambush by an as-yet unknown assailant.Huang was in her car in the hospital garage, typing notes from the 
press event, when she heard shouting outside. In a series of Facebook 
posts, she said she “saw a commotion ahead of me. Deputies rushed one 
man and chased another. I was filming an arrest when suddenly deputies 
shout ‘back up.’ Within seconds, I was getting shoved around. There was 
nowhere to back up.”Video from other news operations shows Huang takes a few steps 
backward, but is grabbed and thrown to the ground by an officer. Her 
cell phone is knocked from her hand and several officers pile onto her.“After my phone drops, it keeps recording and it captures two 
deputies damaging my phone by kicking and stepping on it. I can hear 
myself in the background shouting: “You guys are hurting me” and “Stop 
it.” Not only did Huang shout her KPCC affiliation, a press ID card on a
 lanyard around her neck is clearly visible in video of the attack.It is understandable that deputies might be on edge after a vicious 
assault on two of their own. But the attack on Huang took place hours 
later, away from the scene of the shooting. Emotions should be in check 
and training should take over at such a point.Granted, civil disturbances create chaotic moments. But by all 
accounts, the protest group was small — and only one demonstrator was 
being arrested.What cannot be understood, and what should not be taken for granted, 
is that police nationwide have shown repeated, and at times vicious and 
life-threatening disregard for the First Amendment right of journalists 
to document their actions, even at the most challenging moments.“Assault” is a crime — whether committed by a coward who slinks up to
 a patrol car and shoots two officers, or by those in uniform and 
wearing badges in full view of news cameras. For that matter, so is 
“testi-lying” — a word even authorities use to describe official 
accounts in which facts are twisted or simply invented to mask illegal 
conduct.A hallmark of repressive regimes is their “secret” police, 
unaccountable to anyone but despots and operating out of sight and 
without accountability. The thousands of police officers who deserve our
 respect and admiration should not be tarnished by those who would act 
in violation of laws out of anger, disrespect or baser instincts.Attacks on journalists certainly are nothing new worldwide. From the 
murder of abolitionist editors by pro-slavery mobs in the 1800s to 
bigoted assaults in the 1950s and 1960s on reporters covering the civil 
rights movement, to the insane 2018 shooting of five staffers at The Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Md., journalism has been — and is — a dangerous profession.But this year, the <a href="https://pressfreedomtracker.us/" target="_blank">U.S. Press Freedom Tracker</a>
 (a watchdog coalition to which the Freedom Forum belongs) reports as of
 Sept. 15 that 191 journalists have been attacked, 61 arrested, with 
some “812+ reported aggressions against the press.”By virtue of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and a pledged 
allegiance to the rule of law, all of us — police, protesters and public
 officials — should be better than that.Huang is charged with interfering with the arrest. If a formal 
inquiry bears out her account and the video evidence, that charge will 
be dropped. Perhaps a settlement will occur. It’s unlikely the officers 
involved will be prosecuted, as anyone else who grabbed and tackled a 
person on the street would certainly be.City officials and Los Angeles County Inspector General Max Huntsman,
 an independent monitor for the sheriff’s department, have opened their 
own investigations into the attack on Huang. Said Huntsman, “What 
surprises me the most is that once she was identified as a reporter that
 they transported her, that they cited her.”In this year of attacks again and again on journalists simply for 
doing their jobs on behalf of the public, we can only wish we could be 
as surprised as Huntsman.Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the
 Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom
 Forum Institute. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:gpolicinski@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">gpolicinski@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow him on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/@genefac" target="_blank">@genefac</a>.

FIRST FIVE: Police, stop attacking journalists for doing their jobs

At 1:50 p.m. Friday, a 911 call was received reporting a two-vehicle injury
accident located at the intersection of 110th Avenue and Fairground Road in Ellis County. 

Emergency
personnel responded and declared the passenger of one of the involved vehicles — a 93-year-old female — deceased on scene. A 17-year-male and a 79-year-old male were transported by Ellis County EMS to
HaysMed for medical treatment. All three accident victims were/are Ellis residents.


The fatality accident is still under investigation by the Ellis County Sheriff's Office and the 23rd Judicial
District Coroner's Office. The name of the decedent and those involved are intentionally being withheld
pending notification of next of kin. First responders from Ellis County Emergency Medical Service, Ellis
County Rural Fire, and Ellis Police Department also responded to assist with the scene.


The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office will release more details in a future media release.


<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600444921352.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Ellis County Sheriff's OfficeAt 1:50 p.m. Friday, a 911 call was received reporting a two-vehicle injury
accident located at the intersection of 110th Avenue and Fairground Road in Ellis County. Emergency
personnel responded and declared the passenger of one of the involved vehicles — a 93-year-old female — deceased on scene. A 17-year-male and a 79-year-old male were transported by Ellis County EMS to
HaysMed for medical treatment. All three accident victims were/are Ellis residents.
The fatality accident is still under investigation by the Ellis County Sheriff's Office and the 23rd Judicial
District Coroner's Office. The name of the decedent and those involved are intentionally being withheld
pending notification of next of kin. First responders from Ellis County Emergency Medical Service, Ellis
County Rural Fire, and Ellis Police Department also responded to assist with the scene.
The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office will release more details in a future media release.

One dead after Friday afternoon accident in Ellis Co.

Friday night's football contest between the La Crosse Leopards and the Ness City Eagles has been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns at both schools.

This game was supposed to be the 101.9 The Bull's Area Game of the Week. It will be replaced by regularly scheduled programing.

Friday night's football contest between the La Crosse Leopards and the Ness City Eagles has been canceled due to COVID-19 concerns at both schools.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Due to concerns with COVID-19 spread amongst students, both USD 303 and USD 395 have agreed it is in our best interest to cancel tonight&#39;s Varsity Football game. We apologize for any inconvenience the late notice may cause. <a href="https://twitter.com/LaCrosseLeopard?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LaCrosseLeopard</a>&mdash; Ness City Jr/Sr High (@NessCityEagles) <a href="https://twitter.com/NessCityEagles/status/1307050588354600961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 18, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>This game was supposed to be the 101.9 The Bull's Area Game of the Week. It will be replaced by regularly scheduled programing.

La Crosse football game vs Ness City canceled due to COVID concerns

PHILLIPS COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 9:30a.m. Friday in Phillips County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Ford F150 driven by James Edgar Bass, 61, Phillipsburg, was westbound on U.S. 36 one mile west of Prairie View.

The driver had a medical episode causing the pickup to strike the bridge guardrail on the south side of the road.

The pickup then crossed the roadway striking the guardrail on the north side. The pickup came to rest one mile east of the bridge on the south side of the road.

EMS transported&nbsp;Bass and a passenger Wanda Lee Bass, 60, to the hospital in Phillipsburg.&nbsp; Both were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

PHILLIPS COUNTY —Two people were injured in an accident just before 9:30a.m. Friday in Phillips County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Ford F150 driven by James Edgar Bass, 61, Phillipsburg, was westbound on U.S. 36 one mile west of Prairie View.The driver had a medical episode causing the pickup to strike the bridge guardrail on the south side of the road.The pickup then crossed the roadway striking the guardrail on the north side. The pickup came to rest one mile east of the bridge on the south side of the road.EMS transported&nbsp;Bass and a passenger Wanda Lee Bass, 60, to the hospital in Phillipsburg.&nbsp; Both were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Couple from Phillipsburg hospitalized after pickup strikes rail

<div><iframe title="Food safety ever important" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/j2gzs-ec2024?from=pb6admin&download=1&version=1&vjs=1&auto=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Helvetica&skin=3&pfauth="></iframe></div><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">notifications click here.</a>

🎙 Post Podcast: Food borne illness easy to prevent with basic measures

RUSSELL — Russell Regional Hospital announced via social media Thursday that six staff members have tested positive for COVID-19.

"As you are aware, there has recently been an increase in positive cases in Russell as well as the surrounding counties. Unfortunately, this has impacted Russell Regional Hospital," wrote Sharon Collins, hospital CEO. "In the last several days a number of our staff (6) have tested positive for COVID-19. All was maintained to a small single department except for 2 cases. I want to ensure you that all precautions have been taken with the individuals that tested positive."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600450367243.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RUSSELL — Russell Regional Hospital announced via social media Thursday that six staff members have tested positive for COVID-19."As you are aware, there has recently been an increase in positive cases in Russell as well as the surrounding counties. Unfortunately, this has impacted Russell Regional Hospital," wrote Sharon Collins, hospital CEO. "In the last several days a number of our staff (6) have tested positive for COVID-19. All was maintained to a small single department except for 2 cases. I want to ensure you that all precautions have been taken with the individuals that tested positive."Read the entire announcement below:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRussellRegionalHospital%2Fposts%2F4316659591739743&width=500" width="500" height="245" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

Staff members at Russell Regional Hospital test positive for virus

The Ellis County Health Department on Friday announced 25 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the county since Wednesday.

The Ellis County Health Department on Friday announced 25 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the county since Wednesday.There are now 168 active cases, including eight active hospitalizations, and 567 recovered cases.The seven-day percent of positive tests, which had been falling in late August and early September, jumped to 21.5 percent. Just less than 13 percent of the 5,561 total tests have returned positive for COVID-19.According to the department's report Friday, there have been 738 total cases of coronavirus in Ellis County, including three deaths, since reporting began.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1600445653733.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

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