We have had a number of contacts regarding lilacs that were virtually defoliated with leaves showing many spots on the leaves. Cercospora leaf spot appears to be the causal agent. This is one of those diseases that only shows up during wet, humid summers. Though the shrubs look bad, loss of leaves this late in the season will not harm otherwise healthy plants. Therefore, there is no need to apply a fungicide. Also, an application this late would not help anyway. However, cleaning up dead leaves will reduce the amount of inoculum for next year and is recommended. This disease is weather-dependent and requires wet, humid weather at certain times to flourish. Therefore, lilacs that were hammered this year may not become infected next. Even if we do have another wet summer that encourages this disease, we do not recommend a fungicide application as damage to the plant is negligible.

Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions she can be contacted by e-mail at lfick@k-state.edu or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1580750915301.jpeg" alt="Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>We have had a number of contacts regarding lilacs that were virtually defoliated with leaves showing many spots on the leaves. Cercospora leaf spot appears to be the causal agent. This is one of those diseases that only shows up during wet, humid summers. Though the shrubs look bad, loss of leaves this late in the season will not harm otherwise healthy plants. Therefore, there is no need to apply a fungicide. Also, an application this late would not help anyway. However, cleaning up dead leaves will reduce the amount of inoculum for next year and is recommended. This disease is weather-dependent and requires wet, humid weather at certain times to flourish. Therefore, lilacs that were hammered this year may not become infected next. Even if we do have another wet summer that encourages this disease, we do not recommend a fungicide application as damage to the plant is negligible.Lauren Fick is the Horticulture Extension Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District. If you have questions she can be contacted by e-mail at lfick@k-state.edu or by phone at 785-628-9430 or 620-793-1910.&nbsp;

FICK: Lilac leaf spot

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

The thank-you note came from the office of former President George W. Bush, expressing appreciation for the wonderful pork rinds provided by this remarkable business.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Thaddeus and Kelly Perry are owners and founders of Perry’s Pork Rinds in Bronson.&nbsp;&nbsp;They grew up in southeast Kansas, married and moved to Bronson to be near family.

Thaddeus, a butcher, would occasionally fry pork rinds in the backyard as a hobby. Kelly remembered delicious pork rinds from the Ozarks.&nbsp;

When Kelly and Thaddeus wanted to earn some extra money for a cruise, they decided to sell pork rinds and funnel cakes at an upcoming fair in Missouri.&nbsp;&nbsp;

They looked online for seasonings and USDA-inspected pork rinds, borrowed a kettle, and set up a tent at the fair. Then a thunderstorm came through and ruined any chance of cooking. “I cried,” Kelly said. “But my husband is the hardest-working guy I know.&nbsp;&nbsp;After the storm passed, he cooked more pork rinds all night long.”&nbsp;

The pork rinds were a big hit. Kelly and Thaddeus were soon headed to his niece’s wedding in Manhattan and she posted on Facebook about the few bags of pork rinds they had remaining. When she checked messages after the wedding, she realized the rinds were in high demand. “We sold all we had left and paid for our cruise in full,” Kelly said.&nbsp;

Kelly and Thaddeus set up their own LLC as Perry’s Pork Rinds in September 2017. “We haven’t stopped since,” Kelly said.&nbsp;

“Several customers were interested in nutritional facts so we contacted Dr. Elizabeth Boyle and Dr. Fadi at K-State. They were so helpful with our nutrition labeling,” Kelly said. The Perrys also joined the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s From the Land of Kansas program.&nbsp;

“We use soybean oil and we heat it to just over 400 degrees,” Thaddeus said. “Soybean oil is a heart-healthy oil and it smells better than lard,” Kelly said. “We hand-season them. Our pork rinds are unique flavors, a very fresh, light crunch that’s not hard, a really good, low-carb snack option,” she said.&nbsp;

Perry’s Pork Rinds now offers this tasty snack in 10 flavors and three seasonal ones. “Everything we do is because we listen to our customers,” Kelly said. “I would post different flavors on Facebook and ask our customers to vote on them,” she said.&nbsp;

Today, Perry’s Pork Rinds come as original, spicy, ranch, barbecue, cinnamon sugar, sour cream &amp; onion, cheddar cheese, chili cheese, chili lime, and garlic parmesan. (Is your mouth watering yet?) Product sales got another boost when posted on the Shop Kansas Farms Facebook page. Sales boomed and two full-time employees were hired.&nbsp;

Kelly likes to experiment with recipes using pork rinds. “I made a bacon, jalapeño,&nbsp;cheddar-cheese, pork-rind meatloaf,” she said. “Anything that calls for breadcrumbs, you can use pork rinds for. They’re great in chili, taco salad, and other dishes,” she said. “It’s more than just a snack, it can help make a family meal,” Kelly said.&nbsp;

Perry’s Pork Rinds have gone to all 50 states plus Canada and as far away as Saudi Arabia. The office of former President Bush ordered products and sent a complimentary thank-you note afterward.&nbsp;

Sales in 2019 were up 328%. Perry’s Pork Rinds was named the Kansas Department of Commerce Minority-Owned Business of the Year in Sales and Distribution.&nbsp;

The Perrys plan to open the Famous Perry’s Pork Rind Country Store and production facility in a new building along Highway 54 at the site of a former gas station. This will feature other Kansas products including in-house made fudge, saltwater taffy, jerky, smoked cheese, popcorn and more.&nbsp;

That’s exciting to see in a rural community like Bronson, population 323 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.perrysporkrinds.com/">www.perrysporkrinds.com</a>&nbsp;or follow them on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/PerrysPorkRinds">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/perrysporkrinds/">Instragram</a>.&nbsp;

The note came from the office of former President George Bush, thanking them for the product. We commend Thaddeus and Kelly Perry for making a difference with hard work and entrepreneurship with this tasty snack. For that, I am thankful.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598448592302.png" alt="Thaddeus and Kelly Perry " />
 <figcaption>Thaddeus and Kelly Perry </figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;The thank-you note came from the office of former President George W. Bush, expressing appreciation for the wonderful pork rinds provided by this remarkable business.&nbsp;&nbsp;Thaddeus and Kelly Perry are owners and founders of Perry’s Pork Rinds in Bronson.&nbsp;&nbsp;They grew up in southeast Kansas, married and moved to Bronson to be near family. Thaddeus, a butcher, would occasionally fry pork rinds in the backyard as a hobby. Kelly remembered delicious pork rinds from the Ozarks.&nbsp;When Kelly and Thaddeus wanted to earn some extra money for a cruise, they decided to sell pork rinds and funnel cakes at an upcoming fair in Missouri.&nbsp;&nbsp;They looked online for seasonings and USDA-inspected pork rinds, borrowed a kettle, and set up a tent at the fair. Then a thunderstorm came through and ruined any chance of cooking. “I cried,” Kelly said. “But my husband is the hardest-working guy I know.&nbsp;&nbsp;After the storm passed, he cooked more pork rinds all night long.”&nbsp;The pork rinds were a big hit. Kelly and Thaddeus were soon headed to his niece’s wedding in Manhattan and she posted on Facebook about the few bags of pork rinds they had remaining. When she checked messages after the wedding, she realized the rinds were in high demand. “We sold all we had left and paid for our cruise in full,” Kelly said.&nbsp;Kelly and Thaddeus set up their own LLC as Perry’s Pork Rinds in September 2017. “We haven’t stopped since,” Kelly said.&nbsp;“Several customers were interested in nutritional facts so we contacted Dr. Elizabeth Boyle and Dr. Fadi at K-State. They were so helpful with our nutrition labeling,” Kelly said. The Perrys also joined the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s From the Land of Kansas program.&nbsp;“We use soybean oil and we heat it to just over 400 degrees,” Thaddeus said. “Soybean oil is a heart-healthy oil and it smells better than lard,” Kelly said. “We hand-season them. Our pork rinds are unique flavors, a very fresh, light crunch that’s not hard, a really good, low-carb snack option,” she said.&nbsp;Perry’s Pork Rinds now offers this tasty snack in 10 flavors and three seasonal ones. “Everything we do is because we listen to our customers,” Kelly said. “I would post different flavors on Facebook and ask our customers to vote on them,” she said.&nbsp;Today, Perry’s Pork Rinds come as original, spicy, ranch, barbecue, cinnamon sugar, sour cream &amp; onion, cheddar cheese, chili cheese, chili lime, and garlic parmesan. (Is your mouth watering yet?) Product sales got another boost when posted on the Shop Kansas Farms Facebook page. Sales boomed and two full-time employees were hired.&nbsp;Kelly likes to experiment with recipes using pork rinds. “I made a bacon, jalapeño,&nbsp;cheddar-cheese, pork-rind meatloaf,” she said. “Anything that calls for breadcrumbs, you can use pork rinds for. They’re great in chili, taco salad, and other dishes,” she said. “It’s more than just a snack, it can help make a family meal,” Kelly said.&nbsp;Perry’s Pork Rinds have gone to all 50 states plus Canada and as far away as Saudi Arabia. The office of former President Bush ordered products and sent a complimentary thank-you note afterward.&nbsp;Sales in 2019 were up 328%. Perry’s Pork Rinds was named the Kansas Department of Commerce Minority-Owned Business of the Year in Sales and Distribution.&nbsp;The Perrys plan to open the Famous Perry’s Pork Rind Country Store and production facility in a new building along Highway 54 at the site of a former gas station. This will feature other Kansas products including in-house made fudge, saltwater taffy, jerky, smoked cheese, popcorn and more.&nbsp;That’s exciting to see in a rural community like Bronson, population 323 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.perrysporkrinds.com/">www.perrysporkrinds.com</a>&nbsp;or follow them on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/PerrysPorkRinds">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/perrysporkrinds/">Instragram</a>.&nbsp;The note came from the office of former President George Bush, thanking them for the product. We commend Thaddeus and Kelly Perry for making a difference with hard work and entrepreneurship with this tasty snack. For that, I am thankful.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Kelly and Thaddeus Perry, Perry’s Pork Rinds 

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<div><iframe title="Holy Family to kick off Red Wheel Fundraiser" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/sbhg4-e93a38?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: Holy Family to kick off Red Wheel Fundraiser

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

After a week of heat with Friday's daytime high soaring to 99 degrees in Hays, an overnight thunderstorm brought rain and cooler temperatures.

According to the official report from the K-State Agricultural Research Center, Hays received 1.98 inches of rain, just short of two inches.

August has been a dry month until now, with just 0.84 inches recorded.

As of 9 a.m. Aug. 29, Hays has a total of 2.84 inches of rain. The average is 3.03 inches by the end of August.

That brings the year-to-date total to 19.73 inches of moisture, exceeding the 152 year cumulative average of 17.71 inches by two inches.

The <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/ca710f04-d0bd-4aaa-948f-e44586ce20fd">weekend weather forecast</a> calls for cooler temperatures and rain each day.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/8/1565020359206.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostAfter a week of heat with Friday's daytime high soaring to 99 degrees in Hays, an overnight thunderstorm brought rain and cooler temperatures.According to the official report from the K-State Agricultural Research Center, Hays received 1.98 inches of rain, just short of two inches.August has been a dry month until now, with just 0.84 inches recorded.As of 9 a.m. Aug. 29, Hays has a total of 2.84 inches of rain. The average is 3.03 inches by the end of August.That brings the year-to-date total to 19.73 inches of moisture, exceeding the 152 year cumulative average of 17.71 inches by two inches.The <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/ca710f04-d0bd-4aaa-948f-e44586ce20fd">weekend weather forecast</a> calls for cooler temperatures and rain each day.

2 inches of overnight rain in Hays; 2 inches ahead for the year

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Chamber in Hays will soon be entering the first phase of its new health insurance program.

From Tuesday through Sept. 22, Heartland Benefits will make available health questionnaires to businesses that might be interested in joining the health insurance plan.

If a business is interested in participating in the plan, whose coverage year will start on Jan. 1, all the potential employees who might be covered in the plan need to fill out the online questionnaire.

The questionnaires will be used to determine the insurance pool and the rates for the group, said Joshua Sapp, president/CEO of Heartland Benefits Group.

The health questionnaire will only take about five minutes to complete, unless you have a large family, Sapp said. The questionnaires will be confidential, and The Chamber will not receive the information.

The link for the health questionnaire will be available in The Chamber's September newsletter as well as on its <a href="https://hayschamber.com/">website</a>.

The more people who participate in the insurance program, usually the better the rates,&nbsp;Sapp explained during a question-and-answer session last week at The Venue in Hays.

He said the program can offer insurance to a group as few as 15 individuals.

However, the concept of an association health plan is to include many businesses into one plan to spread the insurance risk and decrease costs, Sapp said.

"If you are with the traditional model of insurance, you are probably experiencing increase, after increase, after increase," he said. "Commonly we get decreases in benefits. We are getting worse benefits with an increase in cost over time. 

"What we are trying to do with The Chamber by coming together and putting these cost-containment strategies in place is to reverse that trend."

Kansas law only recently changed to allow chambers of commerce to offer association insurance plans, Sapp said.

Participating in the health questionnaire does not obligate you to participate in the program. The underwriting period will be from Sept. 23 through Oct. 14, after which rates for the group will be released.

Individuals will not be obligated until enrollment, which begins Oct. 29 with final confirmation closing on Nov. 19.&nbsp;

There will be an employee population participation requirement of 65 percent of qualifying employees (excludes employees who have signed waivers).

Employees who are allowed to sign waivers would include employees who have insurance coverage through another carrier. For example, this could be a person who is covered under their spouse's insurance policy.

All employees are encouraged to complete a health questionnaire, even any of those employees who may likely waive coverage.  If coverage is waived, then those employees will not be able to enroll at a later date, unless they meet a qualified life event, or until open enrollment of the next plan year.

Those desiring to participate in the plan must be a Chamber member in good standing (current on dues) and have a business membership status with The Chamber 30 days (Dec. 1) prior to the effective plan date.

The cost for Chamber membership for a sole proprietor is $280 annually with a $25 one-time initial sign-up fee.&nbsp;

Sarah Wasinger, Chamber executive director, said most businesses will save more on insurance than the cost of the Chamber membership.&nbsp;This health plan benefit will be available for all businesses, even sole proprietors, including farmers and ranchers.

"What Heartland Benefits Group is and how it differentiates from other brokers or advisers out there is we are working to find and mitigate as many costs as possible for our clients," Sapp said.

The Chamber’s health insurance plan is governed by a 13-member board that will make decisions for this health insurance plan. This board is comprised of local health care professionals/administrators, insurance experts, and small and large employer representation.

This team is ultimately responsible for maintaining a fiduciary responsibility for all who participate in the plan and keeping the best interest of the community’s health as the guiding principle for making decisions.

The program's funds will be in a trust. If the trust has funds in excess of what is needed to pay claims, the board can choose to increase benefits or decrease costs by, for example, allowing payers to skip a premium.

The focus of the program, Sapp said is to allow participants to see local doctors and use local pharmacies.

The program is offering three different health plans with varying deductibles as well as three different prescription coverage plans, which can be mixed and matched.

"It is not a one-size-fits-all, cookie cutter program. You can piece it together to meet your needs," Sapp said.&nbsp;

The plans will all be Affordable Care Act compliant, which means preventive care is covered. Because the plans will be ACA compliant, employers will be required to pay at least 50 percent of the least expensive single plan available.

Applicants also cannot be rejected for pre-existing conditions. Seasonal, part-time and 1099 employees are not eligible for the program.

Each business will receive their own invoice for the program.

You can learn more about The Chamber health insurance plan by visiting their website. <a href="https://hayschamber.com/chamber-health-insurance-and-wellness-plans">Click here</a>.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Chamber in Hays will soon be entering the first phase of its new health insurance program.From Tuesday through Sept. 22, Heartland Benefits will make available health questionnaires to businesses that might be interested in joining the health insurance plan.If a business is interested in participating in the plan, whose coverage year will start on Jan. 1, all the potential employees who might be covered in the plan need to fill out the online questionnaire.The questionnaires will be used to determine the insurance pool and the rates for the group, said Joshua Sapp, president/CEO of Heartland Benefits Group.The health questionnaire will only take about five minutes to complete, unless you have a large family, Sapp said. The questionnaires will be confidential, and The Chamber will not receive the information.The link for the health questionnaire will be available in The Chamber's September newsletter as well as on its <a href="https://hayschamber.com/">website</a>.The more people who participate in the insurance program, usually the better the rates,&nbsp;Sapp explained during a question-and-answer session last week at The Venue in Hays.He said the program can offer insurance to a group as few as 15 individuals.However, the concept of an association health plan is to include many businesses into one plan to spread the insurance risk and decrease costs, Sapp said."If you are with the traditional model of insurance, you are probably experiencing increase, after increase, after increase," he said. "Commonly we get decreases in benefits. We are getting worse benefits with an increase in cost over time. "What we are trying to do with The Chamber by coming together and putting these cost-containment strategies in place is to reverse that trend."Kansas law only recently changed to allow chambers of commerce to offer association insurance plans, Sapp said.Participating in the health questionnaire does not obligate you to participate in the program. The underwriting period will be from Sept. 23 through Oct. 14, after which rates for the group will be released.Individuals will not be obligated until enrollment, which begins Oct. 29 with final confirmation closing on Nov. 19.&nbsp;There will be an employee population participation requirement of 65 percent of qualifying employees (excludes employees who have signed waivers).Employees who are allowed to sign waivers would include employees who have insurance coverage through another carrier. For example, this could be a person who is covered under their spouse's insurance policy.All employees are encouraged to complete a health questionnaire, even any of those employees who may likely waive coverage. If coverage is waived, then those employees will not be able to enroll at a later date, unless they meet a qualified life event, or until open enrollment of the next plan year.Those desiring to participate in the plan must be a Chamber member in good standing (current on dues) and have a business membership status with The Chamber 30 days (Dec. 1) prior to the effective plan date.The cost for Chamber membership for a sole proprietor is $280 annually with a $25 one-time initial sign-up fee.&nbsp;Sarah Wasinger, Chamber executive director, said most businesses will save more on insurance than the cost of the Chamber membership.&nbsp;This health plan benefit will be available for all businesses, even sole proprietors, including farmers and ranchers."What Heartland Benefits Group is and how it differentiates from other brokers or advisers out there is we are working to find and mitigate as many costs as possible for our clients," Sapp said.The Chamber’s health insurance plan is governed by a 13-member board that will make decisions for this health insurance plan. This board is comprised of local health care professionals/administrators, insurance experts, and small and large employer representation.This team is ultimately responsible for maintaining a fiduciary responsibility for all who participate in the plan and keeping the best interest of the community’s health as the guiding principle for making decisions.The program's funds will be in a trust. If the trust has funds in excess of what is needed to pay claims, the board can choose to increase benefits or decrease costs by, for example, allowing payers to skip a premium.The focus of the program, Sapp said is to allow participants to see local doctors and use local pharmacies.The program is offering three different health plans with varying deductibles as well as three different prescription coverage plans, which can be mixed and matched."It is not a one-size-fits-all, cookie cutter program. You can piece it together to meet your needs," Sapp said.&nbsp;The plans will all be Affordable Care Act compliant, which means preventive care is covered. Because the plans will be ACA compliant, employers will be required to pay at least 50 percent of the least expensive single plan available.Applicants also cannot be rejected for pre-existing conditions. Seasonal, part-time and 1099 employees are not eligible for the program.Each business will receive their own invoice for the program.You can learn more about The Chamber health insurance plan by visiting their website. <a href="https://hayschamber.com/chamber-health-insurance-and-wellness-plans">Click here</a>.

Health questionnaires to soon be released for Chamber insurance plan

This year, like every election year, I have students asking me: “Why is voting so hard?”

My initial response is: “It’s not hard at all!” That answer is basically accurate, as the high levels of turnout among the older segments of our population demonstrate. Still, I can’t deny that there are reasons why voting nonetheless so often seems that way to my students.

Indeed, even experts like me can get mixed-up when answering questions for students and others, especially when mundane electoral procedures unexpectedly become subject to intense partisan argument, and contradictory information (or plain misinformation) surrounds us.&nbsp;

In the last month, I’ve twice found myself getting basic things wrong, as when I distinguished between the level of voter security provided by signing in at a polling station when casting an in-person vote versus signing the back of a mail-in ballot’s envelope. (The actual correct answer: there’s no difference at all.) If someone who has voted in every election for 30 years can get confused, perhaps we shouldn’t blame young people too much for feeling the same.

Who can we blame for the confusion, then? There are culprits aplenty. But rather than going after political or partisan targets, I would suggest thinking about the structure of elections themselves.

Historically, the power to organize elections in the United States has been held by the 50 different states. Important pieces of legislation and Supreme Court decisions in the 1960s nationalized some aspects of voting in America–but mostly our country remains a patchwork of different registration deadlines, ballot access rules, voting procedures, and more.

Again, it’s not hard to learn the rules and deadlines where you live, and so these differences aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Perhaps it’s reasonable that the different states take primary responsibility for managing democracy within their own political cultures.

Those distinct political cultures, however, no longer reflect many voters’ attitudes. Between the centralization of campaign fundraising, the speed and ease of networking technology, and the collapse of local journalism, citizens now often end up approaching elections with only the national context in mind. State and local political candidates know this, and thus they increasingly rely on national partisan rhetoric, perpetuating the shift.

This nationalization of our electoral thinking makes certain voting restrictions hard to justify. For example, why shouldn’t a registered voter, casting their ballot on Election Day, be able to do so at any polling location in the nation, in the same way anyone with a valid credit card can shop at any store in the country? The technology would be complicated, but since systems already exist to recognize your Visa card anywhere, national voter recognition should be possible as well.

There have been some efforts to address these changing electoral perspectives, like a new law that should allow in-person Kansas voters to use polling stations besides their assigned ones. But that’s a tiny, county-by-county change. As electoral rules are written by those who have managed to get elected under them, the incentive for larger changes isn’t strong.

In the end, I tell my students that voting, despite our many instantaneous national connections, will likely remain an inconsistent state-based patchwork. Clearing up any confusion which that contributes to is the responsibility of everyone who takes their citizenship seriously–which of course, includes the responsibility of checking to make sure we have our facts right first.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita, KS.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586443443315.jpeg" alt="Professor Russell Arben Fox directs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita, KS." />
 <figcaption>Professor Russell Arben Fox directs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita, KS.</figcaption>
 </figure>This year, like every election year, I have students asking me: “Why is voting so hard?”My initial response is: “It’s not hard at all!” That answer is basically accurate, as the high levels of turnout among the older segments of our population demonstrate. Still, I can’t deny that there are reasons why voting nonetheless so often seems that way to my students.Indeed, even experts like me can get mixed-up when answering questions for students and others, especially when mundane electoral procedures unexpectedly become subject to intense partisan argument, and contradictory information (or plain misinformation) surrounds us.&nbsp;In the last month, I’ve twice found myself getting basic things wrong, as when I distinguished between the level of voter security provided by signing in at a polling station when casting an in-person vote versus signing the back of a mail-in ballot’s envelope. (The actual correct answer: there’s no difference at all.) If someone who has voted in every election for 30 years can get confused, perhaps we shouldn’t blame young people too much for feeling the same.Who can we blame for the confusion, then? There are culprits aplenty. But rather than going after political or partisan targets, I would suggest thinking about the structure of elections themselves.Historically, the power to organize elections in the United States has been held by the 50 different states. Important pieces of legislation and Supreme Court decisions in the 1960s nationalized some aspects of voting in America–but mostly our country remains a patchwork of different registration deadlines, ballot access rules, voting procedures, and more.Again, it’s not hard to learn the rules and deadlines where you live, and so these differences aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Perhaps it’s reasonable that the different states take primary responsibility for managing democracy within their own political cultures.Those distinct political cultures, however, no longer reflect many voters’ attitudes. Between the centralization of campaign fundraising, the speed and ease of networking technology, and the collapse of local journalism, citizens now often end up approaching elections with only the national context in mind. State and local political candidates know this, and thus they increasingly rely on national partisan rhetoric, perpetuating the shift.This nationalization of our electoral thinking makes certain voting restrictions hard to justify. For example, why shouldn’t a registered voter, casting their ballot on Election Day, be able to do so at any polling location in the nation, in the same way anyone with a valid credit card can shop at any store in the country? The technology would be complicated, but since systems already exist to recognize your Visa card anywhere, national voter recognition should be possible as well.There have been some efforts to address these changing electoral perspectives, like a new law that should allow in-person Kansas voters to use polling stations besides their assigned ones. But that’s a tiny, county-by-county change. As electoral rules are written by those who have managed to get elected under them, the incentive for larger changes isn’t strong.In the end, I tell my students that voting, despite our many instantaneous national connections, will likely remain an inconsistent state-based patchwork. Clearing up any confusion which that contributes to is the responsibility of everyone who takes their citizenship seriously–which of course, includes the responsibility of checking to make sure we have our facts right first.Dr. Russell Arben Fox runs the History &amp; Politics major and the Honors program at Friends University in Wichita, KS.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Some confusion about voting is inevitable

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment,
in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, has revised its list of public health advisories for Kansas lakes due
to blue-green algae.

<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Falgae-illness%2Fdownload%2Fmilford-lake-zoned.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Ce688703580e641c39d6b08d84acf4be6%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637341601469692839&amp;sdata=UHkChvIS0LYSMC745zxlTY13ObtfXoeEzVurIOtMPR8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Milford Lake Zone C</a>,&nbsp;Geary County

Yates Center Kids’ Fishing Pond, Woodson County (new 8/27)

<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Falgae-illness%2Fdownload%2Fmilford-lake-zoned.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Ce688703580e641c39d6b08d84acf4be6%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637341601469702772&amp;sdata=g7NfwiFcC%2Bi88uKB3OPqVCqVos5Ne5SE%2FTjZeFcUy8U%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Milford Lake Zones A and
B</a>,&nbsp;Geary County (downgrade from warning 8/27)

Delaware River (between Valley Falls and Perry Lake), Jefferson
County (new 8/27)

<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Falgae-illness%2Fdownload%2Fperry_lake_zones.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Ce688703580e641c39d6b08d84acf4be6%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637341601469702772&amp;sdata=OMs7JFdCPnTzVFN%2BXoE4QWGW8LccuX4%2BwcQ3alMRwD4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Perry Lake Zones A, B
and C,&nbsp;Jefferson
County</a>

Lovewell Reservoir, Jewell County (downgrade from warning 8/27)

Unit G Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area, Linn County

Plainville Township Lake, Rooks County

When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following
precautions be taken:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be
consumed by humans.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Water contact should be avoided.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the
fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Do not allow pets to eat dried algae.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;
If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as
possible.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation.

A watch means that blue-green algae have been detected and a
harmful algal bloom is present or likely to develop. People are encouraged to
avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the
water. During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be
taken:

·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Water may be unsafe for humans/animals.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Avoid areas of algae accumulation and do not let people/pets eat
dried algae or drink contaminated water.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Swimming, wading, skiing and jet skiing are discouraged near
visible blooms.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may
affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean
water after any contact.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Clean fish well with potable water and eat fillet portion only.

KDHE investigates publicly-accessible bodies of water for
blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in
Kansas lakes. Based on credible field observation and sampling results, KDHE
reports on potentially harmful conditions.

Kansans should be aware that blooms are unpredictable. They can
develop rapidly and may float around the lake, requiring visitors to exercise
their best judgment. If there is scum, a paint-like surface or the water is
bright green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a
harmful bloom may be present. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim
in or drink water affected by a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along
the shore may become seriously ill or die.

For information on blue-green algae and reporting potential
harmful algal blooms, please visit <a href="https://www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm">www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm</a>. KDHE
updates the listings of advisories every Thursday but may update more
frequently if needed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593727789226.jpeg" alt="Blue-green algae" />
 <figcaption>Blue-green algae</figcaption>
 </figure>KDHETOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment,
in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, has revised its list of public health advisories for Kansas lakes due
to blue-green algae.WARNING<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Falgae-illness%2Fdownload%2Fmilford-lake-zoned.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Ce688703580e641c39d6b08d84acf4be6%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637341601469692839&amp;sdata=UHkChvIS0LYSMC745zxlTY13ObtfXoeEzVurIOtMPR8%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Milford Lake Zone C</a>,&nbsp;Geary CountyGathering Pond, Geary CountyCamp Hawk Lake, Harvey CountyYates Center Kids’ Fishing Pond, Woodson County (new 8/27)WATCHBrown State Fishing Lake, Brown CountyFord State Fishing Lake, Ford County<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Falgae-illness%2Fdownload%2Fmilford-lake-zoned.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Ce688703580e641c39d6b08d84acf4be6%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637341601469702772&amp;sdata=g7NfwiFcC%2Bi88uKB3OPqVCqVos5Ne5SE%2FTjZeFcUy8U%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Milford Lake Zones A and
B</a>,&nbsp;Geary County (downgrade from warning 8/27)Delaware River (between Valley Falls and Perry Lake), Jefferson
County (new 8/27)<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Falgae-illness%2Fdownload%2Fperry_lake_zones.pdf&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7Ce688703580e641c39d6b08d84acf4be6%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637341601469702772&amp;sdata=OMs7JFdCPnTzVFN%2BXoE4QWGW8LccuX4%2BwcQ3alMRwD4%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">Perry Lake Zones A, B
and C,&nbsp;Jefferson
County</a>Lovewell Reservoir, Jewell County (downgrade from warning 8/27)South Lake, Johnson CountyUnit G Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area, Linn CountyMarion County Lake, Marion CountyMelvern Outlet Pond, Osage CountyAgra Lake, Phillips CountyWebster Reservoir, Rooks CountyADVISORIES LIFTED AUG. 27, 2020Mission Lake, Brown CountyOverbrook City Lake, Osage CountyPlainville Township Lake, Rooks CountyWARNING PROTOCOLSWhen a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following
precautions be taken:·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock.·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be
consumed by humans.·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Water contact should be avoided.·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the
fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Do not allow pets to eat dried algae.·&nbsp;&nbsp;
If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as
possible.·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation.WATCH PROTOCOLSA watch means that blue-green algae have been detected and a
harmful algal bloom is present or likely to develop. People are encouraged to
avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the
water. During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be
taken:·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Water may be unsafe for humans/animals.·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Avoid areas of algae accumulation and do not let people/pets eat
dried algae or drink contaminated water.·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Swimming, wading, skiing and jet skiing are discouraged near
visible blooms.·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may
affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean
water after any contact.·&nbsp;&nbsp;
Clean fish well with potable water and eat fillet portion only.KDHE investigates publicly-accessible bodies of water for
blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in
Kansas lakes. Based on credible field observation and sampling results, KDHE
reports on potentially harmful conditions.Kansans should be aware that blooms are unpredictable. They can
develop rapidly and may float around the lake, requiring visitors to exercise
their best judgment. If there is scum, a paint-like surface or the water is
bright green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a
harmful bloom may be present. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim
in or drink water affected by a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along
the shore may become seriously ill or die.For information on blue-green algae and reporting potential
harmful algal blooms, please visit <a href="https://www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm">www.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm</a>. KDHE
updates the listings of advisories every Thursday but may update more
frequently if needed.

Plainville Lake lifted from algae watch; Webster, Agra lakes remain

Three-day weather outlook

Soil organic matter (SOM) is an indicator of how healthy and productive a soil is and serves many important functions. The higher the SOM, the better the soil is. It is the part of the soil that is composed of anything that once lived. It includes plant and animal remains in various states of decomposition, cells and tissues of soil organisms, and substances from plant roots and soil microbes.

After this material is well decomposed through time, about 10% of it forms into stable SOM, or humus. This is the porous, spongy material of the soil that has a pleasant, earthy smell that is dark in color. SOM forms slower in warmer and drier climates where the amount of plant biomass that can be grown is limited.

Soil organic matter is a reservoir of nutrients that are mineralized by microorganisms and released in the soil that plants can use. For each percent of SOM in the soil about 25 pounds of nitrogen, 5 pounds of P2O5, and 3 pounds of sulfur become plant available annually. In high SOM soils this can lead to significant fertilizer savings. The warmer the soil temperature the more nutrients are released, so summer crops benefit more from SOM mineralization than winter crops.

SOM behaves like a sponge and increases the water holding capacity of the soil. It can and hold up to 90% of its weight in water. This is especially important in drier climates where soil moisture is almost always the most limiting factor when it comes to crop yields.

High SOM soils have a higher percentage of stable soil aggregates which don’t break down, consolidate or condense when it rains. This improved soil structure increases the pore space in the soil which helps the soil take in more water. It also decreases runoff and erosion.

It is not easy, and it takes years to see a significant improvement, but there are ways that we can increase SOM levels in the soil.

* Reduce tillage. Tillage aerates the soil and causes a flush of soil microbial activity that speeds up the decomposition of organic matter. Tillage also increases erosion so when soil leaves the field organic matter goes with it, since most of the SOM is near the surface of the soil. Before our prairie soils were broken out, they naturally had about 3 to 4% SOM. The use of intensive tillage over several decades has reduced soil SOM levels by about half of what they originally were. By decreasing the amount of tillage, we can stabilize, and through time, increase SOM levels.

* Soil test on a regular basis and fertilize accordingly. Proper fertilization, based on a soil analysis and realistic yield goals, encourages plant growth and more root development. This can help build or maintain SOM levels, even when top growth is removed for forage.

* Intensify the crop rotation with additional cash or cover crops. Without a green growing plant that provides plant residue and roots that feed the soil biology, there is nothing there to build organic matter.

It makes economic sense to do what you can to maintain and improve organic matter levels in your soils. 

The higher the organic matter the less fertilizer you will need because more plant nutrients are released in the soil. High organic matter soils can help keep a crop growing and healthier longer during prolonged dry periods because of the higher water holding capacity. In some years this can be the difference between growing a profitable crop and not growing one, so it can affect the bottom line.

Consider using these practices on your operation to build and maintain organic matter levels in your soil.

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

Dale Younker is a&nbsp;soil health specialist with the&nbsp;Natural Resources Conservation Service in Jetmore.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593956609910.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Soil organic matter (SOM) is an indicator of how healthy and productive a soil is and serves many important functions. The higher the SOM, the better the soil is. It is the part of the soil that is composed of anything that once lived. It includes plant and animal remains in various states of decomposition, cells and tissues of soil organisms, and substances from plant roots and soil microbes.After this material is well decomposed through time, about 10% of it forms into stable SOM, or humus. This is the porous, spongy material of the soil that has a pleasant, earthy smell that is dark in color. SOM forms slower in warmer and drier climates where the amount of plant biomass that can be grown is limited.Soil organic matter is a reservoir of nutrients that are mineralized by microorganisms and released in the soil that plants can use. For each percent of SOM in the soil about 25 pounds of nitrogen, 5 pounds of P2O5, and 3 pounds of sulfur become plant available annually. In high SOM soils this can lead to significant fertilizer savings. The warmer the soil temperature the more nutrients are released, so summer crops benefit more from SOM mineralization than winter crops.SOM behaves like a sponge and increases the water holding capacity of the soil. It can and hold up to 90% of its weight in water. This is especially important in drier climates where soil moisture is almost always the most limiting factor when it comes to crop yields.High SOM soils have a higher percentage of stable soil aggregates which don’t break down, consolidate or condense when it rains. This improved soil structure increases the pore space in the soil which helps the soil take in more water. It also decreases runoff and erosion.It is not easy, and it takes years to see a significant improvement, but there are ways that we can increase SOM levels in the soil. Here are just a few:* Reduce tillage. Tillage aerates the soil and causes a flush of soil microbial activity that speeds up the decomposition of organic matter. Tillage also increases erosion so when soil leaves the field organic matter goes with it, since most of the SOM is near the surface of the soil. Before our prairie soils were broken out, they naturally had about 3 to 4% SOM. The use of intensive tillage over several decades has reduced soil SOM levels by about half of what they originally were. By decreasing the amount of tillage, we can stabilize, and through time, increase SOM levels.* Soil test on a regular basis and fertilize accordingly. Proper fertilization, based on a soil analysis and realistic yield goals, encourages plant growth and more root development. This can help build or maintain SOM levels, even when top growth is removed for forage.* Intensify the crop rotation with additional cash or cover crops. Without a green growing plant that provides plant residue and roots that feed the soil biology, there is nothing there to build organic matter.It makes economic sense to do what you can to maintain and improve organic matter levels in your soils. The higher the organic matter the less fertilizer you will need because more plant nutrients are released in the soil. High organic matter soils can help keep a crop growing and healthier longer during prolonged dry periods because of the higher water holding capacity. In some years this can be the difference between growing a profitable crop and not growing one, so it can affect the bottom line.Consider using these practices on your operation to build and maintain organic matter levels in your soil.For more information about this or other soil health practices you can contact me at dale.younker@ks.usda.gov or contact any local NRCS office.Dale Younker is a&nbsp;soil health specialist with the&nbsp;Natural Resources Conservation Service in Jetmore.&nbsp;&nbsp;

YOUNKER: Soil organic matter is important to soil health and profitability

TOPEKA – A Hays organization has been awarded nearly $77,000 in grants to provide services for victims of crime, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Friday.

Options: Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Inc. was awarded grants to support the following programs in 18 counties across Kansas:

“Organizations across Kansas do great work every day to support victims of crime,” Schmidt said. “We are proud to support these organizations through the victims services grant programs.”

The awards were made from the Protection from Abuse Fund and the State Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund. The Protection from Abuse Fund is funded by State General Fund appropriations, marriage license fees, county court costs and municipal court assessments. The State Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund is funded though the remittance of applicable fines, penalties and forfeitures from clerks of the district courts.

This year, the attorney general’s office awarded nearly $2.6 million in grants to local and state crime victim assistance organizations. More information on the grant programs and the full list of award recipients is available on the attorney general’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ag.ks.gov/#_blank">www.ag.ks.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1594750931446.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Office of the Attorney GeneralTOPEKA – A Hays organization has been awarded nearly $77,000 in grants to provide services for victims of crime, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced Friday.Options: Domestic and Sexual Violence Services Inc. was awarded grants to support the following programs in 18 counties across Kansas:<ul>
 <li>$31,970 to provide survivor-centered services to those experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or human trafficking by providing services directly to survivors in their communities.</li><li>$45,000 to strengthen organizational activities including direct services programming and administrative services, which ensures these critical services remain available.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>“Organizations across Kansas do great work every day to support victims of crime,” Schmidt said. “We are proud to support these organizations through the victims services grant programs.”The awards were made from the Protection from Abuse Fund and the State Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund. The Protection from Abuse Fund is funded by State General Fund appropriations, marriage license fees, county court costs and municipal court assessments. The State Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund is funded though the remittance of applicable fines, penalties and forfeitures from clerks of the district courts.This year, the attorney general’s office awarded nearly $2.6 million in grants to local and state crime victim assistance organizations. More information on the grant programs and the full list of award recipients is available on the attorney general’s website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ag.ks.gov/#_blank">www.ag.ks.gov</a>.

Kansas AG Schmidt announces grants for Options

The National Weather Service in Dodge City is warning of the possibility of thunderstorms Friday night across western Kansas.

"Strong to marginally severe thunderstorms will be possible late this afternoon through tonight across west-central, southwest and portions of central Kansas," the NWS said in a hazardous weather outlook statement.

The strongest storms will be capable of producing up to quarter-size hail and winds gusting up to 60 mph.

There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday, as well, withheavy rainfall possible.

Check Hays Post and tune in to your Eagle Radio of Hays stations for the latest on severe weather.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598640059946.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service in Dodge City is warning of the possibility of thunderstorms Friday night across western Kansas."Strong to marginally severe thunderstorms will be possible late this afternoon through tonight across west-central, southwest and portions of central Kansas," the NWS said in a hazardous weather outlook statement.The strongest storms will be capable of producing up to quarter-size hail and winds gusting up to 60 mph.There is a marginal risk of severe thunderstorms Saturday and Sunday, as well, withheavy rainfall possible.Check Hays Post and tune in to your Eagle Radio of Hays stations for the latest on severe weather.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Scattered thunderstorms will be possible across southwest and north central Kansas tonight (Friday 8/28). A few of these storms may be strong to marginally severe with the primary hazard being wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph and possibly even some hail. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/kswx?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#kswx</a> <a href="https://t.co/lbsqc6He78">pic.twitter.com/lbsqc6He78</a>&mdash; NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) <a href="https://twitter.com/NWSDodgeCity/status/1299401293799120902?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 28, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> </div>

NWS: Severe thunderstorms possible across western Kansas 

The Ellis County Health Department on Friday announced 47 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the county.

There are now 159 active cases, including two active hospitalizations, with 177 recovered cases.

Since reporting began, there have been 337 cases of coronavirus reported in Ellis County, including one death. The seven-day average of positive test results has risen to nearly 23 percent.

More than 150 of the new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since Monday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598637671246.png" alt="Ellis County / KDHE" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County / KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Ellis County Health Department on Friday announced 47 new cases of COVID-19 have been identified in the county.There are now 159 active cases, including two active hospitalizations, with 177 recovered cases.Since reporting began, there have been 337 cases of coronavirus reported in Ellis County, including one death. The seven-day average of positive test results has risen to nearly 23 percent.More than 150 of the new cases of COVID-19 have been reported since Monday.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598637611244.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

47 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Ellis Co. since Wednesday

WAKEENEY — The Trego County Health Department on Friday said two additional cases of COVID-19 had been identified in the county since Wednesday.

Currently, Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital has seven staff members who have tested positive, as well as four residents of the long-term care facility there. Four of the staff members live outside of Trego County, and they are counted in the results of their county of residence.

Kathleen Fabrizius, Trego County Emergency Management director, said Thursday the uptick in cases is related to a recent event. Nineteen new cases have been added to county totals since Monday, 17 of those active as of Friday.

The health department said test results for a round of testing at the hospital and long-term care facility are still pending. Neither the hospital nor the long-term care facility are currently allowing no visitors, and there is a mask mandate in effect for both.

Since reporting began, there have been 26 total cases of coronavirus reported in Trego County.

WAKEENEY — The Trego County Health Department on Friday said two additional cases of COVID-19 had been identified in the county since Wednesday.Currently, Trego County-Lemke Memorial Hospital has seven staff members who have tested positive, as well as four residents of the long-term care facility there. Four of the staff members live outside of Trego County, and they are counted in the results of their county of residence.Kathleen Fabrizius, Trego County Emergency Management director, said Thursday the uptick in cases is related to a recent event. Nineteen new cases have been added to county totals since Monday, 17 of those active as of Friday.The health department said test results for a round of testing at the hospital and long-term care facility are still pending. Neither the hospital nor the long-term care facility are currently allowing no visitors, and there is a mask mandate in effect for both.All active cases are in isolation.Since reporting began, there have been 26 total cases of coronavirus reported in Trego County.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598630064521.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Two new cases reported from Trego Co. COVID-19 cluster

Hays city commissioners voted 3-2 Thursday night to extend the city's face mask ordinance through Oct. 5, 2020. It was set to expire Aug. 31.

Five residents spoke against the mandate, along with a Salina physician, Amy Hogan, M.D., who talked by phone about her concerns, especially for the psychological well-being of young children wearing face masks.

No supporters of the extension had signed up to make comments on the agenda item, although Mayor Shaun Musil read an email submitted by Heather Harris, D.O., medical director at HaysMed, who favors the mask ordinance, along with hand washing and social distancing.

The commission first heard from Jason Kennedy, Ellis County Health Services director.

"Coronavirus is not going away. It's part of society," Kennedy said. "We don't get to be tired of the virus, and that doesn't make it go away."

Kennedy talked about research underway to produce a COVID-19 medical vaccine, predicting it is "at least four or five months away. ... Hopefully, it's effective and hopefully, we'll get enough people vaccinated to the point where we feel safe. But as long as we continue to test [in Ellis County], we'll see waves and we'll see plateaus."

The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Ellis County recently<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/cd3a0e67-18ff-4994-9791-68b06e842388"> jumped significantly</a>, coinciding with the return of college students at Fort Hays State University, where classes started Aug. 17.&nbsp;

Kennedy asked the commission to "vote for time, and sentiment of the public, to develop a plan of what the next year looks like.&nbsp;

"If we don't plan this, the public will continue to get less and less involved in mitigation measures.

"Ask them tonight for time, and to trust the plan that you guys put together will be based in fact and science, and will carry us through so that we can continue to make decent, educated decisions," Kennedy said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Commissioners had a lengthy, emotional discussion of the issue.

At one point, Musil had an audience member,&nbsp;Komoss Creamer, escorted from commission chambers by Police Chief Don Scheibler after an outburst in which she objected to a motion made by Sandy Jacobs, vice mayor, to extend the mandate through the end of the year.&nbsp;

Creamer, a therapist who specializes in child trauma, was one of the five people in opposition to the mandate&nbsp; who spoke earlier to the commission.

"We need to be able to decide what we want to do with our healthcare, not someone else who says this is the doctor to listen to, and then there's the mandate," Creamer said. "When government starts deciding healthcare, there is a big issue."

Tammy Werth said she had seen some "horrible things on Facebook, both for and against," and implored residents to "be kind to each other and respect each other. Let them choose if they want to wear a mask or they don't want to wear a mask."

A Type 1 diabetic at "high risk," Werth told the commission she had the coronavirus seven weeks ago, and no one else she was in contact with contracted it.

 "I got through it," Werth said. "There's a low death rate. Influenza's worse."

Jacobs finally amended her motion to end the mandate on Mon., Oct. 5.

All the commissioners spoke of emails and social media comments they had received. Some notes were favorable, supporting the ordinance extension and the commission. Others messages opposed the mandate and included personal condemnations of commissioners.&nbsp;

"I am sad, angry, horrified and disappointed," Ron Mellick said. "It's tearing this community apart because people won't compromise."

Mellick also noted Fort Hays State University and NCK Technical College have their own COVID policies and USD 489 is following state guidelines.&nbsp;

Musil teared up as he related messages he got accusing him personally of "causing people to die and commit suicide" because of the mandate.&nbsp;

The mayor said he would not vote for extending the mandate unless the city moves from educating the public to enforcing fines for violators.

Jacobs agreed with the enforcement.&nbsp;

"I dread it for the police department," Musil sighed.

"My goal is to keep the schools open, keep the
businesses open. 

"With the recent spread, the businesses are closing. The
governor isn’t telling them to close this time," Musil pointed out. "They’re having to do it because
they have no employees. And this is just the start of it.”

Mason Ruder and Michael Berges voted against the measure.

"I think it's working," Berges said, "but we need to find the end."

Ruder, who also voted against the original mandate, suggested the commission should develop a "plan for how things should go" at an upcoming work session.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598582433411.jpeg" alt="About 25 adults and children gather outside city hall protesting the face mask ordinance in Hays prior to Thursday's city commission meeting. (Photo by James Bell/Hays Post)" />
 <figcaption>About 25 adults and children gather outside city hall protesting the face mask ordinance in Hays prior to Thursday's city commission meeting. (Photo by James Bell/Hays Post)</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostHays city commissioners voted 3-2 Thursday night to extend the city's face mask ordinance through Oct. 5, 2020. It was set to expire Aug. 31.Five residents spoke against the mandate, along with a Salina physician, Amy Hogan, M.D., who talked by phone about her concerns, especially for the psychological well-being of young children wearing face masks.No supporters of the extension had signed up to make comments on the agenda item, although Mayor Shaun Musil read an email submitted by Heather Harris, D.O., medical director at HaysMed, who favors the mask ordinance, along with hand washing and social distancing.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598587541997.jpeg" alt="Heather Harris, D.O., medical director at HaysMed, expresses her support of extending the face mask ordinance in an email." />
 <figcaption>Heather Harris, D.O., medical director at HaysMed, expresses her support of extending the face mask ordinance in an email.</figcaption>
 </figure>The commission first heard from Jason Kennedy, Ellis County Health Services director."Coronavirus is not going away. It's part of society," Kennedy said. "We don't get to be tired of the virus, and that doesn't make it go away."Kennedy talked about research underway to produce a COVID-19 medical vaccine, predicting it is "at least four or five months away. ... Hopefully, it's effective and hopefully, we'll get enough people vaccinated to the point where we feel safe. But as long as we continue to test [in Ellis County], we'll see waves and we'll see plateaus."The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Ellis County recently<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/cd3a0e67-18ff-4994-9791-68b06e842388"> jumped significantly</a>, coinciding with the return of college students at Fort Hays State University, where classes started Aug. 17.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598582308861.jpeg" alt="Jason Kennedy, Ellis Co. Health Services director, speaks to Hays city commissioners Thursday.&nbsp;(Photo by James Bell/Hays Post)" />
 <figcaption>Jason Kennedy, Ellis Co. Health Services director, speaks to Hays city commissioners Thursday.&nbsp;(Photo by James Bell/Hays Post)</figcaption>
 </figure>Kennedy asked the commission to "vote for time, and sentiment of the public, to develop a plan of what the next year looks like.&nbsp;"If we don't plan this, the public will continue to get less and less involved in mitigation measures."Ask them tonight for time, and to trust the plan that you guys put together will be based in fact and science, and will carry us through so that we can continue to make decent, educated decisions," Kennedy said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Commissioners had a lengthy, emotional discussion of the issue.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598591688138.jpeg" alt="Komoss Creamer is escorted out of city commission chambers by Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler at the direction of&nbsp; Mayor Shaun Musil (right) after Creamer objected to an initial motion by Vice Mayor Sandy Jacobs to extend the city's mask ordinance until Dec. 31." />
 <figcaption>Komoss Creamer is escorted out of city commission chambers by Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler at the direction of&nbsp; Mayor Shaun Musil (right) after Creamer objected to an initial motion by Vice Mayor Sandy Jacobs to extend the city's mask ordinance until Dec. 31.</figcaption>
 </figure>At one point, Musil had an audience member,&nbsp;Komoss Creamer, escorted from commission chambers by Police Chief Don Scheibler after an outburst in which she objected to a motion made by Sandy Jacobs, vice mayor, to extend the mandate through the end of the year.&nbsp;Musil later apologized.&nbsp;Creamer, a therapist who specializes in child trauma, was one of the five people in opposition to the mandate&nbsp; who spoke earlier to the commission."We need to be able to decide what we want to do with our healthcare, not someone else who says this is the doctor to listen to, and then there's the mandate," Creamer said. "When government starts deciding healthcare, there is a big issue."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598594637355.jpeg" alt="During the 3 minutes allotted per speaker, Tammy Werth (at podium) talks about being diagnosed with coronavirus 7 weeks ago with no spread of the disease to people she was in contact with." />
 <figcaption>During the 3 minutes allotted per speaker, Tammy Werth (at podium) talks about being diagnosed with coronavirus 7 weeks ago with no spread of the disease to people she was in contact with.</figcaption>
 </figure>Tammy Werth said she had seen some "horrible things on Facebook, both for and against," and implored residents to "be kind to each other and respect each other. Let them choose if they want to wear a mask or they don't want to wear a mask."A Type 1 diabetic at "high risk," Werth told the commission she had the coronavirus seven weeks ago, and no one else she was in contact with contracted it. "I got through it," Werth said. "There's a low death rate. Influenza's worse."Jacobs finally amended her motion to end the mandate on Mon., Oct. 5.<figure>
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 </figure>All the commissioners spoke of emails and social media comments they had received. Some notes were favorable, supporting the ordinance extension and the commission. Others messages opposed the mandate and included personal condemnations of commissioners.&nbsp;"I am sad, angry, horrified and disappointed," Ron Mellick said. "It's tearing this community apart because people won't compromise."Mellick also noted Fort Hays State University and NCK Technical College have their own COVID policies and USD 489 is following state guidelines.&nbsp;Musil teared up as he related messages he got accusing him personally of "causing people to die and commit suicide" because of the mandate.&nbsp;"Abhorrent," Jacobs declared.The mayor said he would not vote for extending the mandate unless the city moves from educating the public to enforcing fines for violators.Jacobs agreed with the enforcement.&nbsp;"I dread it for the police department," Musil sighed."My goal is to keep the schools open, keep the
businesses open. "With the recent spread, the businesses are closing. The
governor isn’t telling them to close this time," Musil pointed out. "They’re having to do it because
they have no employees. And this is just the start of it.”Mason Ruder and Michael Berges voted against the measure."I think it's working," Berges said, "but we need to find the end."Ruder, who also voted against the original mandate, suggested the commission should develop a "plan for how things should go" at an upcoming work session.&nbsp;The entire meeting can be seen below:<figure>
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🎥 City commission extends face mask ordinance after emotional discussion

The Hays USD 489 school district is considering moving The Learning Center back to Rockwell Administration Center.

Superintendent Ron Wilson discussed the move with the school board on Monday night.&nbsp;

The Learning Center was located in the Rockwell basement. However, heavy rains last year resulted in flooding in the basement.

The program was temporarily moved to the former Washington school building. However, that building is set to be sold in Decemeber.

Wilson proposed The Learning Center be moved back to Rockwell in space that is being used now by the HHS Helping Hands program.

Although the area in Rockwell that was affected by the flooding has been gutted, Wilson said the space is not an ideal space for learning.

He proposed building an addition to the HHS vocational wing for the commercial kitchen for Helping Hands. Wilson said this would mean the Helping Hands students would no longer need to be bused to Rockwell.

Wilson said he did not yet have firm numbers to present to the board on the construction of the new kitchen for Helping Hands.&nbsp;

"This serves us in getting The Learning Center back to a better spot," Wilson said. "It also serves Helping Hands in terms of being closer to the site all of those students attend. It makes it way more useful."

Until Helping Hands can be moved and its former space readied for The Learning Center, Wilson proposed finding space in the community to house The Learning Center.

Wilson said the district is about a year away from being able to complete both moves.

Wilson said he would like to convert the space in the basement that was used by The Learning Center into office space.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1598391934059.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays USD 489 school district is considering moving The Learning Center back to Rockwell Administration Center.Superintendent Ron Wilson discussed the move with the school board on Monday night.&nbsp;The Learning Center was located in the Rockwell basement. However, heavy rains last year resulted in flooding in the basement.The program was temporarily moved to the former Washington school building. However, that building is set to be sold in Decemeber.Wilson proposed The Learning Center be moved back to Rockwell in space that is being used now by the HHS Helping Hands program.Although the area in Rockwell that was affected by the flooding has been gutted, Wilson said the space is not an ideal space for learning.He proposed building an addition to the HHS vocational wing for the commercial kitchen for Helping Hands. Wilson said this would mean the Helping Hands students would no longer need to be bused to Rockwell.Wilson said he did not yet have firm numbers to present to the board on the construction of the new kitchen for Helping Hands.&nbsp;"This serves us in getting The Learning Center back to a better spot," Wilson said. "It also serves Helping Hands in terms of being closer to the site all of those students attend. It makes it way more useful."Until Helping Hands can be moved and its former space readied for The Learning Center, Wilson proposed finding space in the community to house The Learning Center.Wilson said the district is about a year away from being able to complete both moves.Wilson said he would like to convert the space in the basement that was used by The Learning Center into office space.&nbsp;The school board took no action on the proposal Monday night. It will consider the project at a later board meeting.

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