As another week passes, my hope is that you are staying well and finding things to smile about each day. It is easy to get overloaded with news accounts that we really have no control over. Taking time each day for what I call “self-care” is more important than ever. Carving out time for whatever brings you peace of mind may look different for you than it does for me. Those of you who know me, can guess my self-care includes a bike ride somewhere every chance I get.

The “Mindful Meditation and Do-In” class that was set to begin next week through the Great Bend Recreation Commission can’t be held due to the stay at home order. But for those who were signed up and for anyone who has access to a computer, a recorded version is available. While I am disappointed that we can’t meet in person, taking advantage of the video format allows you to participate in the comfort of your own home. Our Cottonwood Extension District website has a link to Everyday Mindfulness in the middle of the front page. This was a recording I was asked to do at one of our agent updates. Extension colleagues, Charlotte Shoup-Olsen and Debra Bolton, join me as we share the benefits of taking deep breaths and clearing the many thoughts racing through our minds. About 31 minutes into the recording, my husband, John, leads a short meditation and Do-In (pronounced doe-een) exercises.

As I surveyed additional mindful meditation resources that are on-line I found literally hundreds of links to well-done videos. There are many websites with research based information as well. Mindfulness was a hot topic before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, more than ever, people are hoping to find a way to cope with the feelings of anxiousness and uncertainty.&nbsp;

The “Everyday Mindfulness” fact sheet I helped write a couple of years ago offers the following benefits that come from a regular meditation practice:

If you are interested in checking out the fact sheet and leaders guide, it can be found on the KSRE web site. You can search by the publication title, “Everyday Mindfulness” or publication numbers MF3424 and MF3425.

If the Mindful Meditation and Do-In classes sound like something you would like to participate in, please give me a call to register for the sessions we are hoping to teach in July at the Great Bend Activity Center.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574802720194.jpeg" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>As another week passes, my hope is that you are staying well and finding things to smile about each day. It is easy to get overloaded with news accounts that we really have no control over. Taking time each day for what I call “self-care” is more important than ever. Carving out time for whatever brings you peace of mind may look different for you than it does for me. Those of you who know me, can guess my self-care includes a bike ride somewhere every chance I get.The “Mindful Meditation and Do-In” class that was set to begin next week through the Great Bend Recreation Commission can’t be held due to the stay at home order. But for those who were signed up and for anyone who has access to a computer, a recorded version is available. While I am disappointed that we can’t meet in person, taking advantage of the video format allows you to participate in the comfort of your own home. Our Cottonwood Extension District website has a link to Everyday Mindfulness in the middle of the front page. This was a recording I was asked to do at one of our agent updates. Extension colleagues, Charlotte Shoup-Olsen and Debra Bolton, join me as we share the benefits of taking deep breaths and clearing the many thoughts racing through our minds. About 31 minutes into the recording, my husband, John, leads a short meditation and Do-In (pronounced doe-een) exercises.As I surveyed additional mindful meditation resources that are on-line I found literally hundreds of links to well-done videos. There are many websites with research based information as well. Mindfulness was a hot topic before the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, more than ever, people are hoping to find a way to cope with the feelings of anxiousness and uncertainty.&nbsp;The “Everyday Mindfulness” fact sheet I helped write a couple of years ago offers the following benefits that come from a regular meditation practice:<ol>
 <li>Increased ability to relax</li><li>Improved concentration</li><li>Increased energy and enthusiasm for life</li><li>Increased creativity</li><li>Increased self-awareness</li><li>Improved self-esteem</li><li>Improved work/school performance</li>
 </ol>If you are interested in checking out the fact sheet and leaders guide, it can be found on the KSRE web site. You can search by the publication title, “Everyday Mindfulness” or publication numbers MF3424 and MF3425.If the Mindful Meditation and Do-In classes sound like something you would like to participate in, please give me a call to register for the sessions we are hoping to teach in July at the Great Bend Activity Center.Donna Krug is the District Director and the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

KRUG: Self-care more important than ever before

Three-day weather outlook

When public health disasters strike and times get tough, neighbors 
pull together to help neighbors. We deliver groceries, pick up 
prescriptions, sew masks and blankets, cook meals, provide 
transportation, assemble care packages, serenade, write cards and 
letters, check on vulnerable residents, donate resources and more. We 
reassure one another that our communities can and will come back even 
stronger than before.

Why do people give of themselves so freely when trouble comes around?
 When asked, they often say, “This is just what our community does” or 
“Helping one another is the American way.”

It is the American way, but in more respects than we might 
fully realize. Among the many helpers and hometown heroes are people who
 are putting their religious faith into action. The freedom to do so is 
assured us in the First Amendment.

Take a close look at the volunteer landscape and see literally 
hundreds of faith traditions that make America the most religiously 
pluralistic country on earth. Those faith traditions are represented by 
diverse people who step forward to do good things for others. Among the 
helpers also are individuals — now nearly one-quarter of all Americans —
 who ascribe to no organized denomination at all, but whose actions are 
guided by deep humanistic concerns. The religious and the humanist share
 not only a right, but a value.

Faith-in-action in times of trouble is nothing new in America. It is 
at least as old as the First Amendment that supports it. Consider these 
few examples, taken from our country’s history with public health 
epidemics.

Opportunities abound to put faith into action to support our 
neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic today. Information about ways to 
help is readily available through churches, synagogues, temples, 
mosques, other houses of worship and faith-based community 
organizations. We can connect on social media, through virtual meet-up 
groups, online community bulletin boards and social media channels. 
Also, many Americans are acting alone on their own individual sense of 
faithfulness in their own neighborhoods.

After weeks of stay-at-home social distancing, we are looking forward
 to the day when we can resume life as we knew only a few months ago. 
Some commentators suggest that things will not be the same when we come 
out of the present difficulty: The old normal has been so shaken that a 
new normal will necessarily take its place.

Let’s hope that we move into that new normal stronger than we were 
before. And let’s hold fast to our First Amendment right to put faith 
into action to lift one another up in any troubled times that may lie 
ahead.

Blair Forlaw is developing a workshop program, “Leadership in a 
Multi-Faith Democracy,” for the Freedom Forum’s Religious Freedom 
Center.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587068805383.jpeg" alt="Blair Forlaw" />
 <figcaption>Blair Forlaw</figcaption>
 </figure>When public health disasters strike and times get tough, neighbors 
pull together to help neighbors. We deliver groceries, pick up 
prescriptions, sew masks and blankets, cook meals, provide 
transportation, assemble care packages, serenade, write cards and 
letters, check on vulnerable residents, donate resources and more. We 
reassure one another that our communities can and will come back even 
stronger than before.Why do people give of themselves so freely when trouble comes around?
 When asked, they often say, “This is just what our community does” or 
“Helping one another is the American way.”It is the American way, but in more respects than we might 
fully realize. Among the many helpers and hometown heroes are people who
 are putting their religious faith into action. The freedom to do so is 
assured us in the First Amendment.Take a close look at the volunteer landscape and see literally 
hundreds of faith traditions that make America the most religiously 
pluralistic country on earth. Those faith traditions are represented by 
diverse people who step forward to do good things for others. Among the 
helpers also are individuals — now nearly one-quarter of all Americans —
 who ascribe to no organized denomination at all, but whose actions are 
guided by deep humanistic concerns. The religious and the humanist share
 not only a right, but a value.Faith-in-action in times of trouble is nothing new in America. It is 
at least as old as the First Amendment that supports it. Consider these 
few examples, taken from our country’s history with public health 
epidemics.<ol>
 <li>In 1794, Protestant reverends Richard Allen and Absalom Jones
 came to the defense of black Philadelphians who had put their health 
and safety at risk while removing and burying the bodies of people who 
lost their lives in the yellow fever epidemic. The ministers countered 
racist accusations of wrongdoing that were being leveled publicly 
against the workers. Jones’s and Allen’s pamphlet, “A Narrative of the 
Proceedings of the Black People, During the Late Awful Calamity in 
Philadelphia, in the Year 1793 and a Refutation of Some Censures Thrown 
Upon Them in Some Late Publications,” was widely read and debated.</li><li>In 1864, Quakers from Indiana sent missionaries to Arkansas to 
establish an orphanage for children who had lost their parents to the 
ravages of smallpox during the Civil War. Most of these children were 
African Americans whose parents had escaped from slave plantations of 
the South and run to the relative safety of Union troop encampments, 
where they were protected as “contraband of war.” Smallpox, diarrhea and
 other communicable diseases felled many soldiers, civilians and 
families during the war.</li><li>During the influenza pandemic of 1918, Rabbi Samuel Thurman
 of St. Louis spoke out forcefully in defense of the quarantine imposed 
on residents by city officials. Speaking of city leaders, including the 
chief of the local health board, who experienced resistance from many 
residents, the rabbi wrote: “Due to his determined action, St. Louis has
 been spared the terrible fate of other cities of its size and larger… 
The price we are paying now is commensurately small compared with the 
gain and good we shall obtain in the end.” He was right. Because of 
early and decisive action on the part of city leaders, St. Louis had one
 of the lowest excess death rates in the nation.</li><li>In Worchester, Mass., members of the Catholic Women’s Club delivered
 clothing, food and comfort to influenza patients in 1918. On one day 
alone, they distributed large quantities of applesauce, pears, peaches, 
squash, lamb stew, meat pies, chicken soup, cornmeal muffins, johnny 
cakes, tapioca pudding and cocoa — prepared by volunteers and 
transported in their own vehicles to homes of those in need. Because 
most of the club members were schoolteachers, their volunteer work 
stopped when the epidemic had subsided enough to reopen schools.</li><li>When influenza struck again in pandemic proportions in 2009, the 
Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) provided free H1N1 vaccinations 
to low-income residents of the Southside of Chicago. The IMAN community 
clinic was established in the late 1970s to support health, wellness and
 healing among community residents, “beyond the barriers of religion, 
ethnicity and nationality.” In 2020, the clinic supports residents 
facing illness, economic insecurity, stress and isolation because of 
COVID-19.</li>
 </ol>Opportunities abound to put faith into action to support our 
neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic today. Information about ways to 
help is readily available through churches, synagogues, temples, 
mosques, other houses of worship and faith-based community 
organizations. We can connect on social media, through virtual meet-up 
groups, online community bulletin boards and social media channels. 
Also, many Americans are acting alone on their own individual sense of 
faithfulness in their own neighborhoods.After weeks of stay-at-home social distancing, we are looking forward
 to the day when we can resume life as we knew only a few months ago. 
Some commentators suggest that things will not be the same when we come 
out of the present difficulty: The old normal has been so shaken that a 
new normal will necessarily take its place.Let’s hope that we move into that new normal stronger than we were 
before. And let’s hold fast to our First Amendment right to put faith 
into action to lift one another up in any troubled times that may lie 
ahead.Blair Forlaw is developing a workshop program, “Leadership in a 
Multi-Faith Democracy,” for the Freedom Forum’s Religious Freedom 
Center.

FIRST FIVE: Faith, freedom in action in troubled times – like now

STOCKTON − A Rooks County man has been charged with second-degree intentional murder and criminal possession of a firearm, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a news release Friday.

Schmidt on Friday filed the charges against Thomas S. Wojtczuk, 39, Woodston, in connection with the death of Charity Northrop on April 8 in Woodston. Bond has been set at $1 million. First appearance in Rooks County District Court has not yet been scheduled.

The case was investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Rooks County Sheriff’s Office. The attorney general’s office accepted the case at the request of the Rooks County Attorney’s Office, which will assist with the prosecution. Criminal charges are merely accusations.&nbsp;Individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Any public comments on the prosecution of Wojtczuk are governed by the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 3.6, Trial Publicity, and Rule 3.8, Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor. All media requests or inquiries should be directed to the Office of the Attorney General, 120 S.W. 10th, 2nd Floor, Topeka, Kansas 66612, (785) 296-8495.

No additional information is available at this time.

A copy of the complaint is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/3bjMosW">https://bit.ly/3bjMosW</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587157905240.png" alt="Wojtczuk / Rooks County photo" />
 <figcaption>Wojtczuk / Rooks County photo</figcaption>
 </figure>Office of the Attorney GeneralSTOCKTON − A Rooks County man has been charged with second-degree intentional murder and criminal possession of a firearm, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt said in a news release Friday.Schmidt on Friday filed the charges against Thomas S. Wojtczuk, 39, Woodston, in connection with the death of Charity Northrop on April 8 in Woodston. Bond has been set at $1 million. First appearance in Rooks County District Court has not yet been scheduled.The case was investigated by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Rooks County Sheriff’s Office. The attorney general’s office accepted the case at the request of the Rooks County Attorney’s Office, which will assist with the prosecution. Criminal charges are merely accusations.&nbsp;Individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Any public comments on the prosecution of Wojtczuk are governed by the Kansas Rules of Professional Conduct Rule 3.6, Trial Publicity, and Rule 3.8, Special Responsibilities of a Prosecutor. All media requests or inquiries should be directed to the Office of the Attorney General, 120 S.W. 10th, 2nd Floor, Topeka, Kansas 66612, (785) 296-8495.No additional information is available at this time.A copy of the complaint is available at&nbsp;<a href="https://bit.ly/3bjMosW">https://bit.ly/3bjMosW</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

AG charges Rooks Co. man with second-degree murder

The Wild West Festival’s executive committee met this week to discuss this summer’s multi-day event. After difficult conversations, the group agreed that the concerts will not take place.

Wild West Festival was scheduled for Wednesday, July 1, to Saturday, July 4, in Municipal Park in Hays, and would normally include three nights of concerts, Main Street parade, carnival, and free fireworks show. The parade and carnival are still being discussed. Plans will depend on state regulations at that time.

The committee stated that necessary sponsor funds have not been secured in order to effectively proceed with festival planning.

“Sponsors are not in a position to give and we understand that,” said Sandi Maier, Wild West Festival event coordinator. “With so many unknowns in our community’s future, we can’t proceed as usual with an event of this scale.”

Maier has been involved with the festival committee for 12 years; six years as a committee member, and the last six years as event coordinator.

Maier confirmed that the free fireworks show will still take place on Saturday, July 4, thanks in part to the City of Hays fulfilling their sponsorship commitment.

“For that, we are truly grateful, because I know our community will be ready to celebrate Independence Day together any way we can,” said Maier.

The Wild West Festival is a 501(c)4 nonprofit corporation organized for the purpose of providing an annual community festival celebrating the customs and traditions of Hays.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582048830672.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hays CVBThe Wild West Festival’s executive committee met this week to discuss this summer’s multi-day event. After difficult conversations, the group agreed that the concerts will not take place.Wild West Festival was scheduled for Wednesday, July 1, to Saturday, July 4, in Municipal Park in Hays, and would normally include three nights of concerts, Main Street parade, carnival, and free fireworks show. The parade and carnival are still being discussed. Plans will depend on state regulations at that time.The committee stated that necessary sponsor funds have not been secured in order to effectively proceed with festival planning.“Sponsors are not in a position to give and we understand that,” said Sandi Maier, Wild West Festival event coordinator. “With so many unknowns in our community’s future, we can’t proceed as usual with an event of this scale.”Maier has been involved with the festival committee for 12 years; six years as a committee member, and the last six years as event coordinator.Maier confirmed that the free fireworks show will still take place on Saturday, July 4, thanks in part to the City of Hays fulfilling their sponsorship commitment.“For that, we are truly grateful, because I know our community will be ready to celebrate Independence Day together any way we can,” said Maier.The Wild West Festival is a 501(c)4 nonprofit corporation organized for the purpose of providing an annual community festival celebrating the customs and traditions of Hays.

Wild West Festival to forgo concerts, keep fireworks

Press to offer free meals to children next week

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The community is stepping up to try to fill the gap of the USD 489 grab-and-go meal program that had to be closed this week because an employee tested positive for COVID-19.

Hays McDonald's has agreed to drop the price of its Happy Meals to $1 each from April 20 to 24. The price will be honored at both the McDonald's north and south locations. No special coupon is needed to take advantage of the offer.

Becky Rogowski, secretary of the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance, said $1 per meal per child is going to be too much for some families.

The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance is raising funds to provide free meals for needy families. ECMA is working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County to identify the families in most need.

If the ECMA raises enough money, it will cover all meals for all children.

Rogowski said the school district was providing 1,600 meals per day five days per week as of earlier this week.

That also included breakfast for the following morning.

USD 489 announced Thursday night it would close its grab-and-go meal program. An employee tested positive for COVID-19 from an exposure outside of work, USD 489 said in a news release.

&nbsp;The individual did not come in direct contact with students, families or volunteers, according to USD 489.

The program has been temporarily suspended as a precaution until April 26.

Donations are needed as soon as possible. They can be made through Venmo through Rogowski or Heidi Wasmer, USD 489 teacher, at @Becky-Rogowski or&nbsp;@Heidi-Wamser. You can also make donations using PayPal, credit card using Rogowski's Square, check or cash.

For more information on donating, contact Rogowski at 785-623-0179 or Heidi Wamser at 785-259-3821.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587149836912.jpeg" alt="Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe community is stepping up to try to fill the gap of the USD 489 grab-and-go meal program that had to be closed this week because an employee tested positive for COVID-19.Hays McDonald's has agreed to drop the price of its Happy Meals to $1 each from April 20 to 24. The price will be honored at both the McDonald's north and south locations. No special coupon is needed to take advantage of the offer.Becky Rogowski, secretary of the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance, said $1 per meal per child is going to be too much for some families.The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance is raising funds to provide free meals for needy families. ECMA is working with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County to identify the families in most need.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587149893773.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>If the ECMA raises enough money, it will cover all meals for all children.Rogowski said the school district was providing 1,600 meals per day five days per week as of earlier this week.That also included breakfast for the following morning.USD 489 announced Thursday night it would close its grab-and-go meal program. An employee tested positive for COVID-19 from an exposure outside of work, USD 489 said in a news release.&nbsp;The individual did not come in direct contact with students, families or volunteers, according to USD 489.The program has been temporarily suspended as a precaution until April 26.Donations are needed as soon as possible. They can be made through Venmo through Rogowski or Heidi Wasmer, USD 489 teacher, at @Becky-Rogowski or&nbsp;@Heidi-Wamser. You can also make donations using PayPal, credit card using Rogowski's Square, check or cash.For more information on donating, contact Rogowski at 785-623-0179 or Heidi Wamser at 785-259-3821.

McDonald's, Ministerial Alliance to fill gap of USD 489 meal program

TOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for&nbsp;Ellis&nbsp;County Rural Water District No. 1C.&nbsp;The advisory was issued&nbsp;because of&nbsp;a line break resulting in a&nbsp;loss of pressure in the system.&nbsp; Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.&nbsp;

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.&nbsp;

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

For consumer&nbsp;questions, please contact the water system or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514.&nbsp;For consumer information, visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fpws%2Femergencyresponse%2Fwater_disruption.htm&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C2adec878dd0246d90c1208d7e2e47108%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637227343078144760&amp;sdata=uHWA%2FJ9hst2pkd7vhy%2BleotaSkrTUSufPR9MTnFh5iA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585676672108.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;KDHETOPEKA –&nbsp;The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for&nbsp;Ellis&nbsp;County Rural Water District No. 1C.&nbsp;The advisory was issued&nbsp;because of&nbsp;a line break resulting in a&nbsp;loss of pressure in the system.&nbsp; Failure to maintain adequate pressure may result in a loss of chlorine residuals and bacterial contamination.&nbsp;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.&nbsp;Laboratory testing samples collected from&nbsp;Ellis Co RWD No. 1C&nbsp;indicate&nbsp;no evidence of&nbsp;bacteriological&nbsp;contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination are deemed by KDHE officials to be resolved.  &nbsp;For consumer&nbsp;questions, please contact the water system or you may call KDHE at 785-296-5514.&nbsp;For consumer information, visit KDHE’s PWS Consumer Information webpage:&nbsp;<a href="https://gcc01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kdheks.gov%2Fpws%2Femergencyresponse%2Fwater_disruption.htm&amp;data=02%7C01%7C%7C2adec878dd0246d90c1208d7e2e47108%7Cdcae8101c92d480cbc43c6761ccccc5a%7C0%7C0%7C637227343078144760&amp;sdata=uHWA%2FJ9hst2pkd7vhy%2BleotaSkrTUSufPR9MTnFh5iA%3D&amp;reserved=0" target="_blank">http://www.kdheks.gov/pws/emergencyresponse/water_disruption.htm</a>&nbsp;

Boil order rescinded for rural water district in Ellis Co. 

Join us at 9 a.m. Sunday for a special devotional message here on Hays Post from Life Church senior pastor Craig Groeschel.

The service is brought to you by the Hill City H20 Church,&nbsp;305 N. Pomeroy.

Join us at 9 a.m. Sunday for a special devotional message here on Hays Post from Life Church senior pastor Craig Groeschel.The service is brought to you by the Hill City H20 Church,&nbsp;305 N. Pomeroy.

USD 489 meals suspended through April 26

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Hays city commissioners plan to vote next week on whether to accept the low bid for the <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/515/North-Vine-Street-Corridor-Improvements">N. Vine Street Improvement project</a>, a bid that is $3.5 million higher than the engineer's estimate.

The $11.9 million dollar bid from Smoky Hill Construction of Salina. The only other bid was even higher at $12.7 million from KOSS Construction, Topeka.&nbsp;

 The estimate by the city's project engineer, WSP of Lenexa, is $8.46 million, while the estimate from the Kansas Department of Transportation is $8.15 million.&nbsp;

During Thursday night's city commission work session, John Braun, city project engineer, reviewed the project details and attributed the high bids primarily to the current economic situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The city is able to cover the higher than estimated cost of construction and (staff) believe it is best to accept the low bid and move forward with the project," Braun told commissioners.

The bid from Smoky Hill Construction, combined with $1.2 million for construction engineering by Kirkham Michael of Ellsworth, brings the project cost total to $13.1 million.&nbsp;

Subtracting the $6 million federal BUILD grant awarded to Hays leaves the city’s share at $7,110,430. KDOT has rounded that to $7,111,000. It is to be paid to KDOT by May 14 from the city's Capital Projects Fund.

KDOT will be administering construction of the project, and Braun assured the commission "I will have my pulse on this."

Reading a prepared statement, commissioner Michael Berges, a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial, said he is "irritated" by the bid and wonders if Hays is being taken advantage of because it is in a good financial position.

Sandy Jacobs, vice-mayor, continued to express her support of the project, and said she will be voting for it next week.

"We've been looking for solutions to North Vine for a long time," Jacobs noted, "but this is the best design - in my opinion - that has been brought forward.

"I hate like heck that we're paying more for it but I strongly believe that it's the right thing to do. Important in my decision is that we'll do this with no increase in the (city) sales tax."

Although he also supports the project, Shaun Musil, mayor, agreed that it is "completely unacceptable to be this much over." Musil also emphasized he disagrees with a portion of the design that extends 37th Street west from Vine to Skyline.

Musil told Toby Dougherty, city manager, residents are still suggesting improving only the 32nd and 33rd Street intersections, which would cost significantly less. The smaller project is something the city has talked about at least since the late 1990s.&nbsp;

"Why is that not in Hays' best interest?" Musil asked Dougherty.

"If you did that without any improvements further north in the corridor, you're creating more problems further up in the corridor," Dougherty explained.&nbsp;

"Right now you have significant congestion points at 35th and 37th Streets with a lot of left-hand turning movements coming out of that.

"You're not making the (former) Ambassador Hotel more viable. You're actually making the properties on the east side of Vine less viable because you're creating more congestion and accident points there.&nbsp;

"If we change the scope of the project that significantly, we'll probably lose the BUILD grant monies," Dougherty concluded.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Hays received a $6 million federal BUILD grant in Dec. 2018 to cover a portion of the project, which was estimated at a total cost of $9.3 million.&nbsp;The remainder of the funding will come from an increase in the Transient Guest Tax that was implemented in 2018.&nbsp;

"I believe every one of us up here is looking at this as seriously as humanly possible," said Mason Ruder, commissioner.

"I think we're all going to make the decision we believe is best for the city. We truly believe it's either good or bad for our community."

(Video and photos courtesy of Nex-Tech)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587084308491.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostHays city commissioners plan to vote next week on whether to accept the low bid for the <a href="https://www.haysusa.com/515/North-Vine-Street-Corridor-Improvements">N. Vine Street Improvement project</a>, a bid that is $3.5 million higher than the engineer's estimate.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587085076252.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The $11.9 million dollar bid from Smoky Hill Construction of Salina. The only other bid was even higher at $12.7 million from KOSS Construction, Topeka.&nbsp; The estimate by the city's project engineer, WSP of Lenexa, is $8.46 million, while the estimate from the Kansas Department of Transportation is $8.15 million.&nbsp;During Thursday night's city commission work session, John Braun, city project engineer, reviewed the project details and attributed the high bids primarily to the current economic situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic."The city is able to cover the higher than estimated cost of construction and (staff) believe it is best to accept the low bid and move forward with the project," Braun told commissioners.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587085836878.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The bid from Smoky Hill Construction, combined with $1.2 million for construction engineering by Kirkham Michael of Ellsworth, brings the project cost total to $13.1 million.&nbsp;Subtracting the $6 million federal BUILD grant awarded to Hays leaves the city’s share at $7,110,430. KDOT has rounded that to $7,111,000. It is to be paid to KDOT by May 14 from the city's Capital Projects Fund.KDOT will be administering construction of the project, and Braun assured the commission "I will have my pulse on this."Reading a prepared statement, commissioner Michael Berges, a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial, said he is "irritated" by the bid and wonders if Hays is being taken advantage of because it is in a good financial position.Sandy Jacobs, vice-mayor, continued to express her support of the project, and said she will be voting for it next week."We've been looking for solutions to North Vine for a long time," Jacobs noted, "but this is the best design - in my opinion - that has been brought forward."I hate like heck that we're paying more for it but I strongly believe that it's the right thing to do. Important in my decision is that we'll do this with no increase in the (city) sales tax."Although he also supports the project, Shaun Musil, mayor, agreed that it is "completely unacceptable to be this much over." Musil also emphasized he disagrees with a portion of the design that extends 37th Street west from Vine to Skyline.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587093202586.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Musil told Toby Dougherty, city manager, residents are still suggesting improving only the 32nd and 33rd Street intersections, which would cost significantly less. The smaller project is something the city has talked about at least since the late 1990s.&nbsp;"Why is that not in Hays' best interest?" Musil asked Dougherty.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aQfG-G3eFUk"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>"If you did that without any improvements further north in the corridor, you're creating more problems further up in the corridor," Dougherty explained.&nbsp;"Right now you have significant congestion points at 35th and 37th Streets with a lot of left-hand turning movements coming out of that."You're not making the (former) Ambassador Hotel more viable. You're actually making the properties on the east side of Vine less viable because you're creating more congestion and accident points there.&nbsp;"If we change the scope of the project that significantly, we'll probably lose the BUILD grant monies," Dougherty concluded.&nbsp; &nbsp;Hays received a $6 million federal BUILD grant in Dec. 2018 to cover a portion of the project, which was estimated at a total cost of $9.3 million.&nbsp;The remainder of the funding will come from an increase in the Transient Guest Tax that was implemented in 2018.&nbsp;"I believe every one of us up here is looking at this as seriously as humanly possible," said Mason Ruder, commissioner."I think we're all going to make the decision we believe is best for the city. We truly believe it's either good or bad for our community."(Video and photos courtesy of Nex-Tech)

🎥 Hays commissioners to vote on north Vine construction project; $3.5M over estimate

The Eagle Radio of Hays Online Auction is currently underway!

There are several great items to bid on including:

Hearing Solutions (Hays/Colby) Pair of Sonic Cheer 20 Hearing Aids

From the whoop of a crowd, to chatter among friends, Hearing Solutions of Hays and Colby wants you to get back to hearing everything around you. Hearing Solutions offers up for bid this pair of Sonic Cheer 20 Wireless open fit Behind the Ear Hearing aids. With antifeedback circuitry, speech variable processing, soft noise reduction, Adaptive microphone system, and wireless connectivity, it allows you a great option to make your modern lifestyle even more fun and hassle-free. Gray in color…Configured to provide hands-free operation in most listening situations. Hearing Solutions of Hays and Colby, 29th and Vine in Hays, and on Range Ave in Colby…785-621-HEAR…LISTEN CLOSELY FOR SOME EXCITING NEWS COMING SOON FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT HEARING SOLUTIONS!&nbsp;

Hoxie Implement Circle M 20 foot Hay Trailer

From Hoxie Implement, this is a 4 bale, single row, bumper pull 2017 Circle M 20 foot hay trailer.&nbsp;&nbsp;

JD’s Country Style Chicken $50 Certificate

JD’s Chicken it’s the place for every taste! Enjoy daily lunch specials and a great menu selection. JD’s offers full table service and carry out. Or use the handy drive up window for call in orders. The place for every taste JD’s Chicken.

Kansas Underground Salt Museum 4 Blast Pass Tickets

&nbsp; From Strataca, the Kansas Underground Salt Museum in Hutchinson, four Blast Pass tickets. Travel 650 feet underground and see how salt was formed and mined. Plus, see authentic movie costumes stored in the mine. The Blast Pass includes admission to the museum, 30 minute dark tram tour, 15 minute underground train ride and souvenir piece of salt. This is the best package available to truly experience the museum. This is one of the most unique and interesting museums in Kansas and a great day trip for the family. Check out&nbsp;<a href="http://www.underkansas.org/" target="_blank">www.underkansas.org</a>&nbsp;for more details on the museum. Strataca in Hutchinson.&nbsp; &nbsp;

&nbsp; The Invisalign program from Lifetime Dental Care offers comfort, convenience and confidence while straightening your teeth using trays that are virtually invisible. The Invisalign program Includes office consultation, trays, photos, x-rays, aligners, whitening program and more. Invisalign works great for both adults and teens. Your new smile is waiting. Get started today!<a href="http://www.lifetimedentalcare.com/" target="_blank">www.lifetimedentalcare.com</a>. THIS OFFER NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

This $50 gift certificate is good for all services at Master Cleaners in Hays and Great Bend including cleaning, pressing, and sewing. This certificate is not valid for tuxedos. One certificate per visit---Maximum 2 certificates per family. Please redeem this certificate by 3-31-21. Master Cleaners , 200 West 8th St in Hays 785-625-2211.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Precision Valley Golf King Cobra Utility Adjustable 4 Iron

TWO IN ONE … it’s Cobra’s utility iron that is the first ever adjustable long iron, giving you the choice of lofts between 21 and 24 degrees. Features the Rogue graphite shaft. The hollow body construction improves forgiveness and launch conditions. Tungsten weighted, forged steel face, it’s iron precision with adjustability to maximize distance on any course, manage trajectory, and fine tune launch conditions. The reviews are excellent. From Precision Valley Golf and Bike in Hays, where the golf season never ends!&nbsp;&nbsp;

Radke Implement Kubota DZ Riding Mower

Retail Price $16999 Current bid $9,600

This new Kubota DZ 12-11 riding lawn mower has a 72 inch cutting width with side discharge. The shaft-driven deck means no pulley’s or belts. There’s more than enough power with Kubota’s diesel driven 26 HP 3-cylinder engine driving this zero-turn mower.&nbsp;&nbsp;

S and S Trailer Sales 1 Month Grain Trailer Rental during 2020 Wheat Harvest

This item is good for a 1 month "grain trailer" rental during the 2020 wheat harvest from S and S Trailer Sales of Ness City. Rent whatever length Mauer steel hopper grain trailer you'd like - from 24 foot all the way up to 42 foot. This will cover any grain trailer rental for 1 full month during the 2020 wheat harvest. This is for wheat harvest only from S and S Trailer Sales of Ness City.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Simpson Farm Enterprises Hypro Transfer Pump

The Pentair Hypro SF-1100-PTS Series Ag Runner is one of the best transfer pump systems on the market.  The Ag Runner is portable, flexible and extremely versatile, especially those that use multiple containers.  The entire system is a sturdy, easy-to-carry welded frame.  It has an industry leading pump, is built for rugged service, with a simple, accurate flow container.  Includes a 20 foot cable, electronic flow meter, 12 VDC motor.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Squeege Clean Commercial Window Cleaning

&nbsp; From Squeegee Clean we have a commercial window cleaning package. They will clean both inside and out, standard or high rise windows including store fronts. They do banks, car dealerships, restaurants, and convenience stores. They will leave your windows streak free and shiny. Each commercial business is unique is assessed on a case by case basis. Squeegee Clean of Hays, Kansas. Call 785-871-7696 or visit&nbsp;<a href="http://clenem.com/" target="_blank">clenem.com</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Wolf Furniture Galleries Set of End Tables and Cocktail Table

This set of two end tables and matching cocktail display table is up for bid from Wolf Furniture Galleries in Hays. This rustic set features two end tables with one drawer and plenty of under-storage to accentuate your living room. With these end tables, comes a very unique display cocktail table. The top glass of the cocktail table slides open in two different directions for display of collections and other figurines. The storage area can also be used for storage of remotes, books, and many other items used in the living room. It’s a very unique collection, built sturdy for year of enjoyment. Pass your old set on to the kids, and bid now on this set of two end tables and display cocktail table from Wolf Furniture Galleries, north of I70 in Hays, open 7 days a week.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/eagle-radio-auction">HERE</a>&nbsp;to see all the latest deals from local merchants.

Register, bid and buy from the comfort of your own home!

The Eagle Radio of Hays Online Auction is currently underway!There are several great items to bid on including:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585335341918.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hearing Solutions (Hays/Colby) Pair of Sonic Cheer 20 Hearing AidsRetail Price $3700 no current bidFrom the whoop of a crowd, to chatter among friends, Hearing Solutions of Hays and Colby wants you to get back to hearing everything around you. Hearing Solutions offers up for bid this pair of Sonic Cheer 20 Wireless open fit Behind the Ear Hearing aids. With antifeedback circuitry, speech variable processing, soft noise reduction, Adaptive microphone system, and wireless connectivity, it allows you a great option to make your modern lifestyle even more fun and hassle-free. Gray in color…Configured to provide hands-free operation in most listening situations. Hearing Solutions of Hays and Colby, 29th and Vine in Hays, and on Range Ave in Colby…785-621-HEAR…LISTEN CLOSELY FOR SOME EXCITING NEWS COMING SOON FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT HEARING SOLUTIONS!&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582306071628.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hoxie Implement Circle M 20 foot Hay TrailerRetail Price $5188 Current bid $1,840From Hoxie Implement, this is a 4 bale, single row, bumper pull 2017 Circle M 20 foot hay trailer.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582914053955.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JD’s Country Style Chicken $50 CertificateRetail Price $50 Current bid $23JD’s Chicken it’s the place for every taste! Enjoy daily lunch specials and a great menu selection. JD’s offers full table service and carry out. Or use the handy drive up window for call in orders. The place for every taste JD’s Chicken.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583430947858.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Underground Salt Museum 4 Blast Pass TicketsRetail Price $78 Current bid $7&nbsp; From Strataca, the Kansas Underground Salt Museum in Hutchinson, four Blast Pass tickets. Travel 650 feet underground and see how salt was formed and mined. Plus, see authentic movie costumes stored in the mine. The Blast Pass includes admission to the museum, 30 minute dark tram tour, 15 minute underground train ride and souvenir piece of salt. This is the best package available to truly experience the museum. This is one of the most unique and interesting museums in Kansas and a great day trip for the family. Check out&nbsp;<a href="http://www.underkansas.org/" target="_blank">www.underkansas.org</a>&nbsp;for more details on the museum. Strataca in Hutchinson.&nbsp; &nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582914084062.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Lifetime Dental InvisalignRetail Price $5450 Current bid $700&nbsp; The Invisalign program from Lifetime Dental Care offers comfort, convenience and confidence while straightening your teeth using trays that are virtually invisible. The Invisalign program Includes office consultation, trays, photos, x-rays, aligners, whitening program and more. Invisalign works great for both adults and teens. Your new smile is waiting. Get started today!<a href="http://www.lifetimedentalcare.com/" target="_blank">www.lifetimedentalcare.com</a>. THIS OFFER NOT VALID WITH ANY OTHER&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581692244730.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Master Cleaners $50 CertificateRetail Price $50 Current bid $9This $50 gift certificate is good for all services at Master Cleaners in Hays and Great Bend including cleaning, pressing, and sewing. This certificate is not valid for tuxedos. One certificate per visit---Maximum 2 certificates per family. Please redeem this certificate by 3-31-21. Master Cleaners , 200 West 8th St in Hays 785-625-2211.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584121520737.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Precision Valley Golf King Cobra Utility Adjustable 4 IronRetail Price $220 Current bid $22TWO IN ONE … it’s Cobra’s utility iron that is the first ever adjustable long iron, giving you the choice of lofts between 21 and 24 degrees. Features the Rogue graphite shaft. The hollow body construction improves forgiveness and launch conditions. Tungsten weighted, forged steel face, it’s iron precision with adjustability to maximize distance on any course, manage trajectory, and fine tune launch conditions. The reviews are excellent. From Precision Valley Golf and Bike in Hays, where the golf season never ends!&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581613299030.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Radke Implement Kubota DZ Riding MowerRetail Price $16999 Current bid $9,600This new Kubota DZ 12-11 riding lawn mower has a 72 inch cutting width with side discharge. The shaft-driven deck means no pulley’s or belts. There’s more than enough power with Kubota’s diesel driven 26 HP 3-cylinder engine driving this zero-turn mower.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579798362125.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>S and S Trailer Sales 1 Month Grain Trailer Rental during 2020 Wheat HarvestRetail Price $2000 Current bid $570This item is good for a 1 month "grain trailer" rental during the 2020 wheat harvest from S and S Trailer Sales of Ness City. Rent whatever length Mauer steel hopper grain trailer you'd like - from 24 foot all the way up to 42 foot. This will cover any grain trailer rental for 1 full month during the 2020 wheat harvest. This is for wheat harvest only from S and S Trailer Sales of Ness City.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583861910543.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Simpson Farm Enterprises Hypro Transfer PumpRetail Price $1200 Current bid $300The Pentair Hypro SF-1100-PTS Series Ag Runner is one of the best transfer pump systems on the market. The Ag Runner is portable, flexible and extremely versatile, especially those that use multiple containers. The entire system is a sturdy, easy-to-carry welded frame. It has an industry leading pump, is built for rugged service, with a simple, accurate flow container. Includes a 20 foot cable, electronic flow meter, 12 VDC motor.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1583768745547.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Squeege Clean Commercial Window CleaningRetail Price $50 No current bid&nbsp; From Squeegee Clean we have a commercial window cleaning package. They will clean both inside and out, standard or high rise windows including store fronts. They do banks, car dealerships, restaurants, and convenience stores. They will leave your windows streak free and shiny. Each commercial business is unique is assessed on a case by case basis. Squeegee Clean of Hays, Kansas. Call 785-871-7696 or visit&nbsp;<a href="http://clenem.com/" target="_blank">clenem.com</a>.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584379047150.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Wolf Furniture Galleries Set of End Tables and Cocktail TableRetail Price $2135 Current bid $340This set of two end tables and matching cocktail display table is up for bid from Wolf Furniture Galleries in Hays. This rustic set features two end tables with one drawer and plenty of under-storage to accentuate your living room. With these end tables, comes a very unique display cocktail table. The top glass of the cocktail table slides open in two different directions for display of collections and other figurines. The storage area can also be used for storage of remotes, books, and many other items used in the living room. It’s a very unique collection, built sturdy for year of enjoyment. Pass your old set on to the kids, and bid now on this set of two end tables and display cocktail table from Wolf Furniture Galleries, north of I70 in Hays, open 7 days a week.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/eagle-radio-auction">HERE</a>&nbsp;to see all the latest deals from local merchants.Register, bid and buy from the comfort of your own home!

Eagle Radio Online Auction is underway!

Sponsored content. Part four of four. <a href="https://hayspost.com/category/eagle-tv">See the entire collection HERE.</a>

<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lPeynjPqm8I"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Sponsored content. Part four of four. <a href="https://hayspost.com/category/eagle-tv">See the entire collection HERE.</a>

🎥 Part 4: HaysMed answers your questions about COVID-19

Former Holy Family Elementary music teacher and traveling children's performing artist Randy Sauer, who now teaches in WaKeeney, created a special musical message for kids dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic precautions.

Corrected to reflect Sauer's current teaching position.

Former Holy Family Elementary music teacher and traveling children's performing artist Randy Sauer, who now teaches in WaKeeney, created a special musical message for kids dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic precautions.Watch the music video below.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1oMTabsRpdw" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>Corrected to reflect Sauer's current teaching position.

🎥 Music teacher shares positive musical message

COVID-19 is reminding us that many mundane aspects of governing actually matter, and that leaving unglamorous problems insufficiently addressed can come back to bite us. The information technology (IT) problems facing the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) perfectly illustrate this.

Many Kansans have lost jobs in this crisis. Governor Kelly announced this week that 130,000 Kansans filed initial unemployment insurance claims in recent weeks. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that this is “a 3,400% increase over the same week last year” and that online claims are up nearly 7,000%.

That sheer volume is overwhelming KDOL. In just one day recently, per media reports, 877,000 attempted calls hit KDOL’s 200 phone lines. That’s sufficient capacity for most normal days, but not in this crisis.&nbsp;

Making things worse, KDOL has an aging IT system, some parts of which are 40 years old. Traffic has overwhelmed its outdated unemployment claims website, causing KDOL to redirect Kansans to its inundated phone system.&nbsp;

Despite adding staff, extending staff hours, and increasing capacity, KDOL has struggled to keep up. Understandably, this is a frustrating situation. We need government to work, especially in crisis. And government must remedy this situation quickly.

But this problem didn’t magically appear.&nbsp;

Kansas government has persistent IT problems predating COVID-19—problems that lawmakers knew about, didn’t sufficiently address, and that often leave government agencies struggling to find piecemeal solutions.

In October 2019, Governing cited “technology obsolescence, budget constraints, security, recruiting employees and limits on resources” as IT challenges facing Kansas government agencies. Government audits and media reports have documented these issues for years.

Googling finds some stories you might remember.

In 2019, Kelly appointed a state chief technology officer, a position that had been vacant for four years. The Wichita Eagle reported last August that most of state government’s IT infrastructure was at “end of life” status, and that manufacturers were no longer providing technological support.

In 2017 and 2018, the Brownback administration gave no-bid contracts worth $110 million to two IT companies, costing 56 IT workers their jobs. Kelly later canceled the contracts and sought to rehire the workers.

In 2016, the Brownback administration spent $10 million on computers that it left unused. The state donated them to Kansas State University in 2019.

In 2015, contractors delivered an overdue computer system for state Medicaid applications. The system required dozens of workarounds to function properly, causing application processing delays.

In 2012, Kansas paid $40 million for an upgraded DMV computer system that persistently malfunctioned, causing customer delays.&nbsp;

What’s happening now at KDOL is symptomatic of a long-term, known problem.

Though the Kansas legislature should have been addressing these issues better than it did over the last decade through consistent oversight and funding, its attention has also been elsewhere—revenue shortages, abortion, guns, Medicaid, and school funding. And outdated IT typically isn’t a hot issue for voters, so there probably wasn’t huge public pressure for lawmakers to address this.

Acknowledging this big picture doesn’t fix immediate challenges at KDOL, or help struggling Kansans. But we can learn and improve before the next crisis.&nbsp;

Going forward, we should ask policymakers for clear solutions to these problems. Can the governor redirect resources? Can legislators find the political will to provide viable solutions and resources? IT isn’t super sexy, but it’s super important for making government function.

Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575644168170.png" alt="Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas." />
 <figcaption>Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.</figcaption>
 </figure>COVID-19 is reminding us that many mundane aspects of governing actually matter, and that leaving unglamorous problems insufficiently addressed can come back to bite us. The information technology (IT) problems facing the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) perfectly illustrate this.Many Kansans have lost jobs in this crisis. Governor Kelly announced this week that 130,000 Kansans filed initial unemployment insurance claims in recent weeks. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that this is “a 3,400% increase over the same week last year” and that online claims are up nearly 7,000%.That sheer volume is overwhelming KDOL. In just one day recently, per media reports, 877,000 attempted calls hit KDOL’s 200 phone lines. That’s sufficient capacity for most normal days, but not in this crisis.&nbsp;Making things worse, KDOL has an aging IT system, some parts of which are 40 years old. Traffic has overwhelmed its outdated unemployment claims website, causing KDOL to redirect Kansans to its inundated phone system.&nbsp;Despite adding staff, extending staff hours, and increasing capacity, KDOL has struggled to keep up. Understandably, this is a frustrating situation. We need government to work, especially in crisis. And government must remedy this situation quickly.But this problem didn’t magically appear.&nbsp;Kansas government has persistent IT problems predating COVID-19—problems that lawmakers knew about, didn’t sufficiently address, and that often leave government agencies struggling to find piecemeal solutions.In October 2019, Governing cited “technology obsolescence, budget constraints, security, recruiting employees and limits on resources” as IT challenges facing Kansas government agencies. Government audits and media reports have documented these issues for years.Googling finds some stories you might remember.In 2019, Kelly appointed a state chief technology officer, a position that had been vacant for four years. The Wichita Eagle reported last August that most of state government’s IT infrastructure was at “end of life” status, and that manufacturers were no longer providing technological support.In 2017 and 2018, the Brownback administration gave no-bid contracts worth $110 million to two IT companies, costing 56 IT workers their jobs. Kelly later canceled the contracts and sought to rehire the workers.In 2016, the Brownback administration spent $10 million on computers that it left unused. The state donated them to Kansas State University in 2019.In 2015, contractors delivered an overdue computer system for state Medicaid applications. The system required dozens of workarounds to function properly, causing application processing delays.In 2012, Kansas paid $40 million for an upgraded DMV computer system that persistently malfunctioned, causing customer delays.&nbsp;What’s happening now at KDOL is symptomatic of a long-term, known problem.Though the Kansas legislature should have been addressing these issues better than it did over the last decade through consistent oversight and funding, its attention has also been elsewhere—revenue shortages, abortion, guns, Medicaid, and school funding. And outdated IT typically isn’t a hot issue for voters, so there probably wasn’t huge public pressure for lawmakers to address this.Acknowledging this big picture doesn’t fix immediate challenges at KDOL, or help struggling Kansans. But we can learn and improve before the next crisis.&nbsp;Going forward, we should ask policymakers for clear solutions to these problems. Can the governor redirect resources? Can legislators find the political will to provide viable solutions and resources? IT isn’t super sexy, but it’s super important for making government function.Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.

INSIGHT KANSAS: COVID-19 highlights tech problems in Kan. government

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

“If life gives you lemons, then make lemonade. If life gives you coronavirus, then make hand cleanser.”

Of those two statements, you may have heard the first, but you probably have not heard the second. But that is a way of describing the strategic change that has been made by an entrepreneurial company in rural Kansas, in response to the current coronavirus pandemic.

Hayes Kelman is the founder and CEO of this company which is now producing hand cleanser for free distribution to the public. The company is Boot Hill Distillery in Dodge City.

Hayes is a fifth-generation farmer in western Kansas. According to the distillery website, he “has always looked for … new uses for the grain he grows.” Hayes was seeking innovative alternative uses for his corn, other than cattle feeding or ethanol fuel. His solution might be considered coming full circle, given Dodge City’s history as a Wild West town with saloons dispensing whiskey.

In 2014, Hayes and his father Roger Kelman opened Boot Hill Distillery to convert their corn into liquid spirits. It is described as a craft distillery. The Kelmans grow 100% of the grain which is used in their spirits. All of the product is milled, mashed, fermented, distilled and bottled on-site at Boot Hill Distillery.

The distillery is located in a building which connects to Dodge City’s history as well. It is located atop the site of the original, infamous Boot Hill cemetery where cowboys were unceremoniously buried with their boots on. In 1878, the bodies were moved to the municipal cemetery, and Dodge City’s first multi-room schoolhouse was erected at that site. It served as a schoolhouse until 1927 when it was razed to make room for a new municipal building. That building hosted various offices through the years and now is the home of Boot Hill Distillery.

As the business grew, its products earned various awards in events such as the Washington Cup Spirits Competition, Bartenders Spirit Awards, American Craft Spirits, and Heartland Spirits Fest. Instead of “farm to fork,” this was described as “soil to sip.”

Then the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020. Large gatherings of people were banned, and social distancing was put in place. The sudden change devastated the hospitality industry across the nation. Public consumption of all kinds of products took a hit, but the Kelmans recognized that their company’s alcohol could also serve as an element of hand cleansers.

The idea went from concept to reality in four days. Research found that the World Health Organization recommended a hand-rub formula with 80% ethanol, glycerol, hydrogen peroxide, and sterile water. The Kelmans decided to shift their production and staff time to producing hand cleanser, provided free to the public in the form of four-ounce bottles. Businesses and organizations in the region stepped up to sponsor this initiative. A GoFundMe campaign was also established to support the effort.

Certain organizations received the product in bulk. Priority was given to first responders, the medical community, nursing homes, elderly care, transportation workers, and those interacting with others who do not have access to handwashing stations.

In late March 2020, distribution sites were established where people could drive up and receive the individual hand cleanser bottles. As of this writing, the company has bottled and given out more than 60,000 bottles and 500 gallons of hand cleanser. The first distribution sites were in Dodge City. The company expressed thanks to the Ford County Sheriff’s Department and the Gunsmoke Law Dogs Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club for helping manage traffic and assisting with the distributions.

Thanks to a sponsorship by Victory Electric Cooperative, distributions were also held in rural communities served by this electric co-op. Those included rural communities such as Cimarron, Montezuma, Jetmore, Bucklin, Spearville, Copeland and Ingalls, population 306 people. Now, that’s rural.

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

We commend Hayes and Roger Kelman for making a difference by initiating this community service, helping Kansans to stay healthy and clean.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586957112546.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development“If life gives you lemons, then make lemonade. If life gives you coronavirus, then make hand cleanser.”Of those two statements, you may have heard the first, but you probably have not heard the second. But that is a way of describing the strategic change that has been made by an entrepreneurial company in rural Kansas, in response to the current coronavirus pandemic.Hayes Kelman is the founder and CEO of this company which is now producing hand cleanser for free distribution to the public. The company is Boot Hill Distillery in Dodge City.Hayes is a fifth-generation farmer in western Kansas. According to the distillery website, he “has always looked for … new uses for the grain he grows.” Hayes was seeking innovative alternative uses for his corn, other than cattle feeding or ethanol fuel. His solution might be considered coming full circle, given Dodge City’s history as a Wild West town with saloons dispensing whiskey.In 2014, Hayes and his father Roger Kelman opened Boot Hill Distillery to convert their corn into liquid spirits. It is described as a craft distillery. The Kelmans grow 100% of the grain which is used in their spirits. All of the product is milled, mashed, fermented, distilled and bottled on-site at Boot Hill Distillery.The distillery is located in a building which connects to Dodge City’s history as well. It is located atop the site of the original, infamous Boot Hill cemetery where cowboys were unceremoniously buried with their boots on. In 1878, the bodies were moved to the municipal cemetery, and Dodge City’s first multi-room schoolhouse was erected at that site. It served as a schoolhouse until 1927 when it was razed to make room for a new municipal building. That building hosted various offices through the years and now is the home of Boot Hill Distillery.As the business grew, its products earned various awards in events such as the Washington Cup Spirits Competition, Bartenders Spirit Awards, American Craft Spirits, and Heartland Spirits Fest. Instead of “farm to fork,” this was described as “soil to sip.”Then the coronavirus pandemic hit in early 2020. Large gatherings of people were banned, and social distancing was put in place. The sudden change devastated the hospitality industry across the nation. Public consumption of all kinds of products took a hit, but the Kelmans recognized that their company’s alcohol could also serve as an element of hand cleansers.The idea went from concept to reality in four days. Research found that the World Health Organization recommended a hand-rub formula with 80% ethanol, glycerol, hydrogen peroxide, and sterile water. The Kelmans decided to shift their production and staff time to producing hand cleanser, provided free to the public in the form of four-ounce bottles. Businesses and organizations in the region stepped up to sponsor this initiative. A GoFundMe campaign was also established to support the effort.Certain organizations received the product in bulk. Priority was given to first responders, the medical community, nursing homes, elderly care, transportation workers, and those interacting with others who do not have access to handwashing stations.In late March 2020, distribution sites were established where people could drive up and receive the individual hand cleanser bottles. As of this writing, the company has bottled and given out more than 60,000 bottles and 500 gallons of hand cleanser. The first distribution sites were in Dodge City. The company expressed thanks to the Ford County Sheriff’s Department and the Gunsmoke Law Dogs Law Enforcement Motorcycle Club for helping manage traffic and assisting with the distributions.Thanks to a sponsorship by Victory Electric Cooperative, distributions were also held in rural communities served by this electric co-op. Those included rural communities such as Cimarron, Montezuma, Jetmore, Bucklin, Spearville, Copeland and Ingalls, population 306 people. Now, that’s rural.For more information or to donate, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.boothilldistillery.com/">www.boothilldistillery.com</a>.We commend Hayes and Roger Kelman for making a difference by initiating this community service, helping Kansans to stay healthy and clean.

Now That’s Rural: Hayes Kelman, Boot Hill Distillery

Today we write to you, not just as members of the Kansas House of Representatives, but also as
Kansans. We see and hear daily the concerns and fears shared by our fellow citizens about what
tomorrow will bring. That uncertainty is shared by everyone – from the suburbs of Kansas City
to the small towns of the Western plains, young and old, rich and poor.


The past few weeks have been unlike anything our state and nation has ever experienced and
hopefully ever will again. The battle in which we find ourselves engaged against the
dangerous virus, COVID-19, is an unseen enemy. The damage it causes is visible everywhere
and experienced by everyone.


We near the deadline for your first stay-at-home order to expire. Kansans deserve to have
confidence that your office has a plan to return us to some semblance of normalcy as soon as
possible. This needs to be based on sound science and constitutional principles. It is your
responsibility as governor to work with leaders to determine concrete, objective, measurable
standards and metrics to return our lives and livelihoods back to normal as soon as possible.
You very clearly stated that you were not “ready” for this crisis. However, there is no excuse
for us to not be prepared to rebuild and reopen our economy after the damage caused by
COVID-19.


After you issued multiple Executive Orders, and you sought legal relief to ensure you have the
unrestricted ability to continue doing so, we ask: what is your plan to get our economy moving?
To put citizens back to work? To fix the backlog of unemployment claims filed? How do you
plan to put our lives back to normal and do so while still keeping us safe and healthy? What
objective, scientific metrics have you determined must be met in order for us to begin the
process to re-open?


Our local, state and federal governments took action, as they should have, to fight this
dangerous virus. Social distancing guidelines are helping to mitigate the spread. Kansans have
heeded the advice to stay home, limit their social interaction and have taken heed of the
recommendations to avoid spreading the virus. We are proud of Kansans for listening to that
advice and doing their part to flatten the curve.


For years as a Kansas Senator, you championed the importance of Kansas schools receiving
consistent and long-term budget appropriations. You claimed it was vitally important for our
local school boards and administrators to be able to plan and make long-term budget


allocations and funding decisions. Right now, our entire economy is trying to plan and make
those very decisions – not about next year but rather next week.


From Kansas’ largest employers to the mom and pop small businesses that crowd Main Streets
across all of Kansas and their employees – everyone is waiting to get back to work and ready to
have some normalcy to their lives and livelihoods. After weeks of many of them being
shuttered, they need some certainty so they can plan for how to re-open or re-open in some
restricted capacity. Our families need certainty which allows them to know our economy has
suffered as little damage as possible and their jobs, careers and retirement are still secure. To
those who have become unemployed, they need a much more responsive government that
aids them in filing for unemployment and then helps them transition, as fast as possible, back
to being employed. Our children and students need to know when they are going back to
school and their classrooms, and that when they do – they will be safe.


This weekend we learned that President Trump is convening a national task force to work on
how to reopen our economy from a national perspective. In Texas, Governor Abbott has
already released plans for how business across his state can begin to re-open. There is no
excuse for the state of Kansas to not be doing the same.


Restarting our Kansas economy requires a plan of action. When Kansas has a plan, we are of the
belief that our state’s best days are still in front of us -- that our state’s economy will rebound
and recover, our employees will go back to work and our lives and livelihoods will return to
some semblance of normal. It will require visionary leaders working together, starting now. We
urge you to start today to chart our path on which we can begin to re-open our economy and
put Kansans back to work. Our businesses and employees have a herculean task and deserve to
know your plan for beginning to re-open our economy and to living outside of the confines of
our homes. Are we asking for the total lifting of the stay-at-home order with no restrictions?
Absolutely not. We are asking for your plan.


Ad Astra Per Aspera – to the stars through difficulties. This past month has certainly highlighted
the difficulties. Now let’s focus on reaching the stars!


Sincerely,
The undersigned members of the Kansas House

Dear Governor Kelly:
Today we write to you, not just as members of the Kansas House of Representatives, but also as
Kansans. We see and hear daily the concerns and fears shared by our fellow citizens about what
tomorrow will bring. That uncertainty is shared by everyone – from the suburbs of Kansas City
to the small towns of the Western plains, young and old, rich and poor.
The past few weeks have been unlike anything our state and nation has ever experienced and
hopefully ever will again. The battle in which we find ourselves engaged against the
dangerous virus, COVID-19, is an unseen enemy. The damage it causes is visible everywhere
and experienced by everyone.
We near the deadline for your first stay-at-home order to expire. Kansans deserve to have
confidence that your office has a plan to return us to some semblance of normalcy as soon as
possible. This needs to be based on sound science and constitutional principles. It is your
responsibility as governor to work with leaders to determine concrete, objective, measurable
standards and metrics to return our lives and livelihoods back to normal as soon as possible.
You very clearly stated that you were not “ready” for this crisis. However, there is no excuse
for us to not be prepared to rebuild and reopen our economy after the damage caused by
COVID-19.
After you issued multiple Executive Orders, and you sought legal relief to ensure you have the
unrestricted ability to continue doing so, we ask: what is your plan to get our economy moving?
To put citizens back to work? To fix the backlog of unemployment claims filed? How do you
plan to put our lives back to normal and do so while still keeping us safe and healthy? What
objective, scientific metrics have you determined must be met in order for us to begin the
process to re-open?
Our local, state and federal governments took action, as they should have, to fight this
dangerous virus. Social distancing guidelines are helping to mitigate the spread. Kansans have
heeded the advice to stay home, limit their social interaction and have taken heed of the
recommendations to avoid spreading the virus. We are proud of Kansans for listening to that
advice and doing their part to flatten the curve.
For years as a Kansas Senator, you championed the importance of Kansas schools receiving
consistent and long-term budget appropriations. You claimed it was vitally important for our
local school boards and administrators to be able to plan and make long-term budget
allocations and funding decisions. Right now, our entire economy is trying to plan and make
those very decisions – not about next year but rather next week.
From Kansas’ largest employers to the mom and pop small businesses that crowd Main Streets
across all of Kansas and their employees – everyone is waiting to get back to work and ready to
have some normalcy to their lives and livelihoods. After weeks of many of them being
shuttered, they need some certainty so they can plan for how to re-open or re-open in some
restricted capacity. Our families need certainty which allows them to know our economy has
suffered as little damage as possible and their jobs, careers and retirement are still secure. To
those who have become unemployed, they need a much more responsive government that
aids them in filing for unemployment and then helps them transition, as fast as possible, back
to being employed. Our children and students need to know when they are going back to
school and their classrooms, and that when they do – they will be safe.
This weekend we learned that President Trump is convening a national task force to work on
how to reopen our economy from a national perspective. In Texas, Governor Abbott has
already released plans for how business across his state can begin to re-open. There is no
excuse for the state of Kansas to not be doing the same.
Restarting our Kansas economy requires a plan of action. When Kansas has a plan, we are of the
belief that our state’s best days are still in front of us -- that our state’s economy will rebound
and recover, our employees will go back to work and our lives and livelihoods will return to
some semblance of normal. It will require visionary leaders working together, starting now. We
urge you to start today to chart our path on which we can begin to re-open our economy and
put Kansans back to work. Our businesses and employees have a herculean task and deserve to
know your plan for beginning to re-open our economy and to living outside of the confines of
our homes. Are we asking for the total lifting of the stay-at-home order with no restrictions?
Absolutely not. We are asking for your plan.
Ad Astra Per Aspera – to the stars through difficulties. This past month has certainly highlighted
the difficulties. Now let’s focus on reaching the stars!
Sincerely,
The undersigned members of the Kansas House<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587072584176.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Kan. lawmakers issue letter asking for Kelly's reopening plan

While the current priority in the Covid-19 pandemic it stopping the spread and addressing the public health issues, we need to remember that we need to start looking long term to the economic recovery Kansas and our country will need to address.&nbsp;

The economic recovery will need to be addressed both in the immediate and in the long term. We need to start making plans now to address the long term economic recovery with the goal of not just recovering from the current economic impact of Covid-19 but also looking at long term growth for our state.&nbsp;

First and foremost our state’s leaders need to step up to the plate and start addressing the state’s economic recovery. Gov. Laura Kelly needs to have people working on this now, and making it as public as the health response. The Legislature needs to form a committee or task force to start meeting and holding virtual hearings with stakeholders around the state to put a plan together. The economic recovery will be a dominate theme of the 2021 legislative session and planning needs to start now, not in January.&nbsp;

First and foremost, we need to address our state’s tax structure, including income taxes, property taxes and sales taxes. We need a smarter tax policy that will make companies want to come here. This includes our high property taxes. We will also need to address our state’s spending as part of responsible fiscal management.&nbsp;

Next we’ll need to address our state’s high electric rates, and work to reduce electricity costs, which businesses want to see.&nbsp;

Reducing taxes and rates will make all parts of our state more attractive to business, including in our rural communities. For our rural communities we’ll need to make sure that 5G is a top priority so that businesses have the infrastructure that they’ll need.&nbsp;

The key to any economic recovery plan for our state is to fundamentally change the way that our state does business. Kansas will need to be proactive and aggressive in recruiting and retaining businesses. We are going to be facing stiff competition from other states and while we can have great economic conditions, a great workforce and great quality of life, we’ll need to sell why us and not another state.&nbsp; To do this, we need to bring back marketing officers in the Commerce Department who are aggressively selling our state to business.&nbsp;

Florida has been very aggressive in marketing their business climate. When New York banks were looking to locate offices outside of the region post Sept. 11, Florida and Tampa officials were aggressive into recruiting these firms, turning Tampa into the “Wall Street of the South.”&nbsp;

We also need to be aggressive in bringing tourists to our state to help our hospitality industry and small towns. Oklahoma’s lieutenant governor just launched a new branding and marketing plan for his state’s tourism industry and Kansas needs to be just as aggressive.&nbsp;

Kansans have always shot for the stars and as we know we have difficulties along the way. The Ad Astra spirit has guided Kansans through past crisis and will guide us through this one. That spirit is what should guide us through the coming economic recovery as we are aggressive to not only recover but to grow as we reach for the stars.&nbsp;

Wink Hartman is the CEO of the Hartman Group of Companies in Wichita and was the 2018 Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576860566850.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By WINK HARTMANWhile the current priority in the Covid-19 pandemic it stopping the spread and addressing the public health issues, we need to remember that we need to start looking long term to the economic recovery Kansas and our country will need to address.&nbsp;The economic recovery will need to be addressed both in the immediate and in the long term. We need to start making plans now to address the long term economic recovery with the goal of not just recovering from the current economic impact of Covid-19 but also looking at long term growth for our state.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>First and foremost our state’s leaders need to step up to the plate and start addressing the state’s economic recovery. Gov. Laura Kelly needs to have people working on this now, and making it as public as the health response. The Legislature needs to form a committee or task force to start meeting and holding virtual hearings with stakeholders around the state to put a plan together. The economic recovery will be a dominate theme of the 2021 legislative session and planning needs to start now, not in January.&nbsp;First and foremost, we need to address our state’s tax structure, including income taxes, property taxes and sales taxes. We need a smarter tax policy that will make companies want to come here. This includes our high property taxes. We will also need to address our state’s spending as part of responsible fiscal management.&nbsp;Next we’ll need to address our state’s high electric rates, and work to reduce electricity costs, which businesses want to see.&nbsp;Reducing taxes and rates will make all parts of our state more attractive to business, including in our rural communities. For our rural communities we’ll need to make sure that 5G is a top priority so that businesses have the infrastructure that they’ll need.&nbsp;The key to any economic recovery plan for our state is to fundamentally change the way that our state does business. Kansas will need to be proactive and aggressive in recruiting and retaining businesses. We are going to be facing stiff competition from other states and while we can have great economic conditions, a great workforce and great quality of life, we’ll need to sell why us and not another state.&nbsp; To do this, we need to bring back marketing officers in the Commerce Department who are aggressively selling our state to business.&nbsp;Florida has been very aggressive in marketing their business climate. When New York banks were looking to locate offices outside of the region post Sept. 11, Florida and Tampa officials were aggressive into recruiting these firms, turning Tampa into the “Wall Street of the South.”&nbsp;We also need to be aggressive in bringing tourists to our state to help our hospitality industry and small towns. Oklahoma’s lieutenant governor just launched a new branding and marketing plan for his state’s tourism industry and Kansas needs to be just as aggressive.&nbsp;Kansans have always shot for the stars and as we know we have difficulties along the way. The Ad Astra spirit has guided Kansans through past crisis and will guide us through this one. That spirit is what should guide us through the coming economic recovery as we are aggressive to not only recover but to grow as we reach for the stars.&nbsp;Wink Hartman is the CEO of the Hartman Group of Companies in Wichita and was the 2018 Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.

Local