By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, has introduced a bill that would require the Kansas Department of Aging Disability Services to provide acute care psychiatric beds for juveniles in western Kansas.

SB-407 would require KDADS to provide 12 acute care psychiatric beds for juveniles in Hays and Garden City or the surrounding communities.

KVC Hospital-Hays closed the only juvenile acute care psychiatric beds in western Kansas in October, citing changes in regulations that would not allow youth in acute care to be housed in the same space as youth in residential care.

<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/11/04/closure-of-kvc-beds-leaves-kids-with-psychiatric-needs-hundreds-of-miles-from-treatment/">SEE RELATED STORY: Closure of KVC beds leaves kids with psychiatric needs hundreds of miles from treatment</a>

"Someone shows up in Hays, and they say, 'Sorry, we no longer have the acute care beds here. You have to go to Wichita or Kansas City.' Most of the time Wichita is full," Billinger said. "We have such a shortage of beds right now, opening these 24 up will help, but it is going to be not nearly enough beds to take care of the kids with needs."

Acute care beds are reserved for youth in need of temporary intense treatment and who may be a danger to themselves or others.

"What's happening is when these folks show up in Hays now and they say you have to go on to Kansas City, these parents are saying, 'Sorry, that is not an option,'and they are taking these children home without any treatment.

"My concern is someone hurting themselves or someone else.&nbsp; ... It would be a tragedy. We need to take care of these kids, and we are going to figure out a way to do it."

&nbsp;Walt Hill, director of High Plains Mental Health, confirmed parents and guardians are resorting to traveling to Kansas City, out of state or forgoing in-patient treatment for their children because of the lack of acute care beds.

"There is great need for this, and a great interest in this," he said. "I think it is just a matter of getting it moved on toward the finish line."

KDADS conducted a listening tour in western Kansas during the last several weeks, and Hill said the acute care beds has been a point of concern.

"I think those options were still wide open in those discussions, looking at different communities and different partners and they looked at different potential physical facilities," Hill said. "I am not exactly sure what the next steps are. I think that probably rests with KDADS."

The Hays Post tried to contact KDADS for comment, but a phone call was not returned.

Billinger's bill would require KDADS to provide the beds without additional funding. However, he said if that proved to be a stumbling block for the legislation, he would seek additional funding for the project.

Billinger's bill has been referred to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, but has not been scheduled for a hearing as turn around looms at the statehouse. This is the deadline for all bills to be moved to the opposite house of the Legislature for hearings.

KVC is moving forward with turning the space it was using for acute care beds into residential treatment psychiatric beds. This type of treatment generally lasts 30 to 90 days and is for youth who have been stabilized.

Kansas has about 200 children on a waiting list for residential treatment with a wait time of about five months.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostSen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, has introduced a bill that would require the Kansas Department of Aging Disability Services to provide acute care psychiatric beds for juveniles in western Kansas.SB-407 would require KDADS to provide 12 acute care psychiatric beds for juveniles in Hays and Garden City or the surrounding communities.KVC Hospital-Hays closed the only juvenile acute care psychiatric beds in western Kansas in October, citing changes in regulations that would not allow youth in acute care to be housed in the same space as youth in residential care.<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/11/04/closure-of-kvc-beds-leaves-kids-with-psychiatric-needs-hundreds-of-miles-from-treatment/">SEE RELATED STORY: Closure of KVC beds leaves kids with psychiatric needs hundreds of miles from treatment</a>"Someone shows up in Hays, and they say, 'Sorry, we no longer have the acute care beds here. You have to go to Wichita or Kansas City.' Most of the time Wichita is full," Billinger said. "We have such a shortage of beds right now, opening these 24 up will help, but it is going to be not nearly enough beds to take care of the kids with needs."Acute care beds are reserved for youth in need of temporary intense treatment and who may be a danger to themselves or others."What's happening is when these folks show up in Hays now and they say you have to go on to Kansas City, these parents are saying, 'Sorry, that is not an option,'and they are taking these children home without any treatment."My concern is someone hurting themselves or someone else.&nbsp; ... It would be a tragedy. We need to take care of these kids, and we are going to figure out a way to do it."&nbsp;Walt Hill, director of High Plains Mental Health, confirmed parents and guardians are resorting to traveling to Kansas City, out of state or forgoing in-patient treatment for their children because of the lack of acute care beds."There is great need for this, and a great interest in this," he said. "I think it is just a matter of getting it moved on toward the finish line."KDADS conducted a listening tour in western Kansas during the last several weeks, and Hill said the acute care beds has been a point of concern."I think those options were still wide open in those discussions, looking at different communities and different partners and they looked at different potential physical facilities," Hill said. "I am not exactly sure what the next steps are. I think that probably rests with KDADS."The Hays Post tried to contact KDADS for comment, but a phone call was not returned.Billinger's bill would require KDADS to provide the beds without additional funding. However, he said if that proved to be a stumbling block for the legislation, he would seek additional funding for the project.Billinger's bill has been referred to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, but has not been scheduled for a hearing as turn around looms at the statehouse. This is the deadline for all bills to be moved to the opposite house of the Legislature for hearings.KVC is moving forward with turning the space it was using for acute care beds into residential treatment psychiatric beds. This type of treatment generally lasts 30 to 90 days and is for youth who have been stabilized.Kansas has about 200 children on a waiting list for residential treatment with a wait time of about five months.

Bill would require juvenile acute psychiatric beds in western Kansas

LAWRENCE — Twenty-one new law enforcement officers graduated from the&nbsp;<a href="https://kletc.org/">Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center</a>&nbsp;on Feb 14. Jennifer Richner of the Edwardsville Police Department was the graduating class president, and Sheriff Andrew Dedeke from Leavenworth County was the speaker for the ceremony in KLETC’s Integrity Auditorium.

The new officers were members of the 262nd basic training class. The graduates, who began their training in October 2019, represented 14 municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas.

Graduates receive certificates of course completion from KLETC and Kansas law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the state’s law enforcement licensing authority. The training course fulfills the state requirement for law enforcement training. Classroom lectures and hands-on applications help train officers to solve the increasingly complex problems they face in the line of duty.

Under a new class format that launched in fall 2019, basic training classes start more frequently and feature smaller group sizes, with a new class starting every three weeks.&nbsp;

Established by the Kansas Legislature in 1968, KLETC trains the majority of municipal, county and state law enforcement officers in Kansas and oversees the training of the remaining officers at seven authorized and certified academy programs operated by local law enforcement agencies and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

About 300 officers enroll annually in KLETC 14-week basic training programs. KLETC offers continuing education and specialized training to over 10,000 Kansas officers each year. KLETC is located one mile west and one mile south of Yoder, near Hutchinson, and is a division of University of Kansas Professional &amp; Continuing Education.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579117666958.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE — Twenty-one new law enforcement officers graduated from the&nbsp;<a href="https://kletc.org/">Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center</a>&nbsp;on Feb 14. Jennifer Richner of the Edwardsville Police Department was the graduating class president, and Sheriff Andrew Dedeke from Leavenworth County was the speaker for the ceremony in KLETC’s Integrity Auditorium.The new officers were members of the 262nd basic training class. The graduates, who began their training in October 2019, represented 14 municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas.Graduates receive certificates of course completion from KLETC and Kansas law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the state’s law enforcement licensing authority. The training course fulfills the state requirement for law enforcement training. Classroom lectures and hands-on applications help train officers to solve the increasingly complex problems they face in the line of duty.Under a new class format that launched in fall 2019, basic training classes start more frequently and feature smaller group sizes, with a new class starting every three weeks.&nbsp;Established by the Kansas Legislature in 1968, KLETC trains the majority of municipal, county and state law enforcement officers in Kansas and oversees the training of the remaining officers at seven authorized and certified academy programs operated by local law enforcement agencies and the Kansas Highway Patrol.About 300 officers enroll annually in KLETC 14-week basic training programs. KLETC offers continuing education and specialized training to over 10,000 Kansas officers each year. KLETC is located one mile west and one mile south of Yoder, near Hutchinson, and is a division of University of Kansas Professional &amp; Continuing Education.Northwest Kansas graduates included:Ellis County<ol>
 <li>Andrew Sheely, Fort Hays State University Police Department</li>
 </ol>Osborne County<ol>
 <li>Matthew Pasilas, Osborne Police Department</li>
 </ol>

NW Kansas officers among newest police academy grads

<a href="https://hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575929617735.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582240657551.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Three-day weather outlook

Dr. Nicholas Mondero is originally from Ness City, Kansas. Dr. Mondero completed his undergraduate work at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He then attended Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. 

His clinical training was performed in various Cherokee Nation hospitals and clinics throughout Northeast Oklahoma. Dr. Mondero also completed his externship in ocular disease at EyeCare Associates of South Tulsa and has special interest in specialty contact lenses and ocular disease. Dr. Mondero received his Doctorate of Optometry from NSUOCO in May of 2013. 

While in school, he was a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa honor society, and also received the GP Lens Institute’s Clinical Excellence Award. Dr. Mondero is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Kansas Optometric Association. 

Dr. Mondero and his wife Katrina enjoy time with their two sons. In his spare time, he enjoys sports and the outdoors. He and his family have recently moved from Manhattan to Hays. Dr. Mondero has recently joined with Dr. Michael Hattan at 1517 E. 27th Street. He is accepting new patients and  looks forward to seeing you! Give the office a call at 785.625.2226 to schedule an appointment. Please help us welcome him back to the area!&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582216707106.jpeg" alt="Dr. Nicholas Mondero" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Nicholas Mondero</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Nicholas Mondero is originally from Ness City, Kansas. Dr. Mondero completed his undergraduate work at Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas, where he received a Bachelor of Science in Biology. He then attended Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. His clinical training was performed in various Cherokee Nation hospitals and clinics throughout Northeast Oklahoma. Dr. Mondero also completed his externship in ocular disease at EyeCare Associates of South Tulsa and has special interest in specialty contact lenses and ocular disease. Dr. Mondero received his Doctorate of Optometry from NSUOCO in May of 2013. While in school, he was a member of the Beta Sigma Kappa honor society, and also received the GP Lens Institute’s Clinical Excellence Award. Dr. Mondero is a member of the American Optometric Association and the Kansas Optometric Association. Dr. Mondero and his wife Katrina enjoy time with their two sons. In his spare time, he enjoys sports and the outdoors. He and his family have recently moved from Manhattan to Hays. Dr. Mondero has recently joined with Dr. Michael Hattan at 1517 E. 27th Street. He is accepting new patients and looks forward to seeing you! Give the office a call at 785.625.2226 to schedule an appointment. Please help us welcome him back to the area!&nbsp;

FICK: Soil testing will save time, money

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<div><iframe title="Dale: Seniors have options when it comes to Medicare" height="400" width="400" style="border: none;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/35n5c-d461c3?from=yiiadmin&download=1&version=1&vjs=1&skin=3&auto=1&share=1&fonts=Helvetica&download=1&rtl=0&pbad=1"></iframe></div><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5dd2f46c897d147ad4bb104b">To find out more about The Post Podcast, or subscribe to mobile notifications click here.</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/sunflowerseniorsolutions/posts/">For more about Sunflower Senior Solutions visit their facebook page.</a>

🎤Post Podcast: Seniors have options when it comes to medicare

A man is facing a rape charge after allegedly soliciting a 15-year-old over social media in Hays.

Following an incident that was first reported Feb. 11 to the Hays Police Department, which allegedly occurred on Dec. 29, an investigation was launched.

That investigation led to a search warrant being issued for the home of&nbsp;Christopher Leroy Boese, 19, according to Hays Deputy Police Chief Brian Dawson.

During initial contact with Boese, Dawson said, drugs were observed in plain view and Boese was detained on suspicion of drug possession and possession of paraphernalia.

Subsequent questioning of Boese and statements taken from the 15-year-old victim led to an affidavit being issued for sex crimes.

He was then arrested on suspicion of rape, criminal sodomy, electronic solicitation of a minor and sexual exploitation of a child, according to Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees.

A no-contact order with the alleged victim was also put in place.

Boese remains in custody in Ellis County jail in lieu of a $150,000 bond.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e4d907765b5d31438496e0a">This incident is the second in Hays recently in which a minor victim was lured in through the social media app, Snapchat.&nbsp;</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e4d907765b5d31438496e0a"></a>Dawson said it should serve as a reminder to parents to have conversations with their children about the dangers of social media.

"People may not be who they are portraying themselves as on the internet," Dawson said. "They could be telling kids that they are younger and asking kids to send photographs. Some kids are doing it then they are (potentially) meeting up with these people.

"Parents need to be talking to their kids about these dangers," he said.

By JAMES BELL Hays PostA man is facing a rape charge after allegedly soliciting a 15-year-old over social media in Hays.Following an incident that was first reported Feb. 11 to the Hays Police Department, which allegedly occurred on Dec. 29, an investigation was launched.That investigation led to a search warrant being issued for the home of&nbsp;Christopher Leroy Boese, 19, according to Hays Deputy Police Chief Brian Dawson.During initial contact with Boese, Dawson said, drugs were observed in plain view and Boese was detained on suspicion of drug possession and possession of paraphernalia.Subsequent questioning of Boese and statements taken from the 15-year-old victim led to an affidavit being issued for sex crimes.He was then arrested on suspicion of rape, criminal sodomy, electronic solicitation of a minor and sexual exploitation of a child, according to Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees.A no-contact order with the alleged victim was also put in place.Boese remains in custody in Ellis County jail in lieu of a $150,000 bond.&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e4d907765b5d31438496e0a">This incident is the second in Hays recently in which a minor victim was lured in through the social media app, Snapchat.&nbsp;</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e4d907765b5d31438496e0a"></a>Dawson said it should serve as a reminder to parents to have conversations with their children about the dangers of social media."People may not be who they are portraying themselves as on the internet," Dawson said. "They could be telling kids that they are younger and asking kids to send photographs. Some kids are doing it then they are (potentially) meeting up with these people."Parents need to be talking to their kids about these dangers," he said.

Second recent Snapchat sex abuse investigation in Hays results in arrest

A suspect currently awaiting trial for sex-related crimes in Colorado was arrested at a Hays motel on suspicion of rape.

At 1:08 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14, a deputy with the Ellis County Sheriff's Department and an officer with the Hays Police Department observed a 14-year-old girl exiting a room during a routine patrol at the Rodeway Inn, 3404 Vine, according to Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler.

After making contact with the minor, officers found she appeared intoxicated and began an investigation.&nbsp;

Christopher Lynn Cox, 20, was found in the room and, after questioning, was arrested.

Cox is being held in the Ellis County jail in lieu of a $150,000 bond on suspicion of rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and unlawfully hosting a minor consuming alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage.

A no-contact order with the victim has also been put in place, according to Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e4ee86765b5d31438496f8f">This incident is the second in Hays recently in which a minor victim was lured in through the social media app, Snapchat.&nbsp;</a>

Cox is currently awaiting trial stemming from offenses in Prowers County, Colorado.

He pleaded not guilty to assault in the third degree and unlawful sexual contact in the case that was set for trial in April in Lamar, Colo.

"This is just good police work," Scheibler said. "The officers were up there being proactive and on patrol, they got out to speak to an individual and saw something potentially suspicious and made contact."

"That investigation allowed us to recover a 14-year-old girl and make sure she was safe and helped us put a sex offender in jail," he said.

Drees said the victim was contacted by Cox via a phone app called Snapchat and encouraged parents to monitor their children's social media accounts.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582227427685.png" alt="Christopher Lynn Cox / Ellis County photo" />
 <figcaption>Christopher Lynn Cox / Ellis County photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostA suspect currently awaiting trial for sex-related crimes in Colorado was arrested at a Hays motel on suspicion of rape.At 1:08 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14, a deputy with the Ellis County Sheriff's Department and an officer with the Hays Police Department observed a 14-year-old girl exiting a room during a routine patrol at the Rodeway Inn, 3404 Vine, according to Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler.After making contact with the minor, officers found she appeared intoxicated and began an investigation.&nbsp;Christopher Lynn Cox, 20, was found in the room and, after questioning, was arrested.Cox is being held in the Ellis County jail in lieu of a $150,000 bond on suspicion of rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child, and unlawfully hosting a minor consuming alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage.A no-contact order with the victim has also been put in place, according to Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e4ee86765b5d31438496f8f">This incident is the second in Hays recently in which a minor victim was lured in through the social media app, Snapchat.&nbsp;</a>Cox is currently awaiting trial stemming from offenses in Prowers County, Colorado.He pleaded not guilty to assault in the third degree and unlawful sexual contact in the case that was set for trial in April in Lamar, Colo."This is just good police work," Scheibler said. "The officers were up there being proactive and on patrol, they got out to speak to an individual and saw something potentially suspicious and made contact.""That investigation allowed us to recover a 14-year-old girl and make sure she was safe and helped us put a sex offender in jail," he said.Drees said the victim was contacted by Cox via a phone app called Snapchat and encouraged parents to monitor their children's social media accounts.All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Drees: Snapchat used to lure in 14-year-old rape victim

By BRIAN GRIMMETT <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/modern-kansas-earthquake-era-looks-be-ending-mostly">Kansas News Service</a>

WICHITA — On Aug. 16, the second day of the 
school year, students in the Burrton district felt the shake of a 4.2 
magnitude earthquake. They knew exactly what to do: hide under their 
desks until it stopped.

It was a fairly new procedure, as the 
district, which is halfway between Hutchinson and Wichita, hadn’t 
conducted its first drill until the end of the 2018-19 school year.

“They
 just adapted beautifully,” said Joan Simoneau, the district’s 
superintendent. “We couldn’t have asked for a better crisis situation, 
especially on the second day of school.”

Only in the last five 
years have earthquake drills and damage — one of the Burrton ISD 
buildings hasn't been used since August — been a reality in Kansas.&nbsp;A 
small oil and gas boom dramatically increased the amount of wastewater 
being injected into the ground, which put pressure on ancient faults.

While
 experts say the overall trend is declining and the recent spike in 
earthquakes near Hutchinson shouldn’t last long, some cities are looking
 for solutions that could lead to more problems.

Before
 2015, Kansas rarely experienced seismic activity. The faults that 
existed were minor, with very little external forces acting on them. 
Then came a rush on oil and gas, thanks to new technology that allowed 
companies to extract oil and gas from places where it’d been too hard or
 too expensive. Increased activity meant more wastewater — a lot more.

Shortly
 after experts linked earthquakes to increased wastewater pumping, state
 regulators limited the amount of wastewater that could be put into 
particularly active zones in south-central Kansas.

When oil prices and oil and gas activity all dropped, so did Kansas’ earthquakes.

But
 the pressure from water injection, which mostly took place in Harper 
County near the state’s border with Oklahoma, had a long tail, to the 
point that it’s impacted faults farther north.

“We see a pressure
 build, we see a direct correlation with seismicity,” Kansas Geological 
Survey geophysicist Rick Miller told lawmakers recently. “We see a 
pressure diffusion and now we’re seeing a drop in seismicity, which is 
really, really, good news.”

There are a few outliers. Hutchinson, in Reno County, saw a spike in 
earthquakes in 2019. Miller said he didn’t even know there were faults 
where the main cluster was centered.

The spike also didn’t follow
 the normal pattern seen elsewhere. When regulators and experts began 
looking at injection wells in the area, they found that injection 
volumes hadn’t increased. But there had been bursts, or pulses, of 
increased wastewater injection in May and July.

Shortly after, Reno County experienced 4.2 and a 4.6 magnitude earthquakes.

“We’ve
 admonished (well owners) to not pulse, they’ve asked us, define what a 
pulse is,” said Tom Stiles, director of the bureau of water at the 
Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

But the connection 
between pulses and earthquakes is inconsistent, Miller said. In 2016, 
there were pulses and no earthquakes. The following two years: increased
 earthquake activity but no pulses.

“... (W)e really don’t have a smoking gun that says this is what caused it,” he said.

The
 wells closest to the earthquake cluster in Reno County aren’t from oil 
and gas operations. They’re used by industrial companies and are known 
as Class I wells.

Hutchinson operates the two highest-volume Class I wells to dispose of the waste produced by the city’s water-treatment plant.

Brian
 Clennan, the director of public works for Hutchinson, said those 
disposals are so crucial that “we cannot operate our water treatment 
center at this point without them.”

The city isn’t just worried 
about causing earthquakes, either. The space available in well has 
rapidly decreased; Clennan estimated about only 25 years of useful life 
left.

To remedy both problems, the city is looking to reduce the 
amount of wastewater it produces in the short term. But it’s also 
working on a way to eliminate the need for the wells at all.

One 
option is to pipe the wastewater into the Arkansas River, which is 
estimated to cost about $4 million. It also comes with its own set of 
problems.

The wastewater from the plant is high in chlorides and 
other nutrients. Put too much of that into the river and irrigated crops
 will be damaged or killed.

Stiles said the state has been 
successful in reducing the chloride levels in the Arkansas River south 
of Hutchinson. And he wants to be extremely careful when considering 
anything that could reverse it.

“We don’t want to undo some of 
the progress we’ve made there,” Stiles said. “The one thing we don’t 
want to do is trade off one set of problems in exchange for another 
set.”

Brian Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and 
natural resources for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You 
can follow him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/briangrimmett?lang=en">@briangrimmett</a>&nbsp;or
 email him at grimmett@kmuw.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582211129738.jpeg" alt="A look at earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 2.0 that were recorded in Kansas in 2019. Kansas Geological Survey" />
 <figcaption>A look at earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 2.0 that were recorded in Kansas in 2019. Kansas Geological Survey</figcaption>
 </figure>By BRIAN GRIMMETT <a href="https://www.kmuw.org/post/modern-kansas-earthquake-era-looks-be-ending-mostly">Kansas News Service</a>WICHITA — On Aug. 16, the second day of the 
school year, students in the Burrton district felt the shake of a 4.2 
magnitude earthquake. They knew exactly what to do: hide under their 
desks until it stopped.It was a fairly new procedure, as the 
district, which is halfway between Hutchinson and Wichita, hadn’t 
conducted its first drill until the end of the 2018-19 school year.“They
 just adapted beautifully,” said Joan Simoneau, the district’s 
superintendent. “We couldn’t have asked for a better crisis situation, 
especially on the second day of school.”Only in the last five 
years have earthquake drills and damage — one of the Burrton ISD 
buildings hasn't been used since August — been a reality in Kansas.&nbsp;A 
small oil and gas boom dramatically increased the amount of wastewater 
being injected into the ground, which put pressure on ancient faults.While
 experts say the overall trend is declining and the recent spike in 
earthquakes near Hutchinson shouldn’t last long, some cities are looking
 for solutions that could lead to more problems.<h2>Under pressure</h2>Before
 2015, Kansas rarely experienced seismic activity. The faults that 
existed were minor, with very little external forces acting on them. 
Then came a rush on oil and gas, thanks to new technology that allowed 
companies to extract oil and gas from places where it’d been too hard or
 too expensive. Increased activity meant more wastewater — a lot more.Shortly
 after experts linked earthquakes to increased wastewater pumping, state
 regulators limited the amount of wastewater that could be put into 
particularly active zones in south-central Kansas.When oil prices and oil and gas activity all dropped, so did Kansas’ earthquakes.But
 the pressure from water injection, which mostly took place in Harper 
County near the state’s border with Oklahoma, had a long tail, to the 
point that it’s impacted faults farther north.“We see a pressure
 build, we see a direct correlation with seismicity,” Kansas Geological 
Survey geophysicist Rick Miller told lawmakers recently. “We see a 
pressure diffusion and now we’re seeing a drop in seismicity, which is 
really, really, good news.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582211191321.jpeg" alt=" A map of pressure changes in the Arbuckle formation with an overlay of detected earthquakes. Credit Rick Miller / Kansas Geological Survey" />
 <figcaption> A map of pressure changes in the Arbuckle formation with an overlay of detected earthquakes. Credit Rick Miller / Kansas Geological Survey</figcaption>
 </figure>There are a few outliers. Hutchinson, in Reno County, saw a spike in 
earthquakes in 2019. Miller said he didn’t even know there were faults 
where the main cluster was centered.The spike also didn’t follow
 the normal pattern seen elsewhere. When regulators and experts began 
looking at injection wells in the area, they found that injection 
volumes hadn’t increased. But there had been bursts, or pulses, of 
increased wastewater injection in May and July.Shortly after, Reno County experienced 4.2 and a 4.6 magnitude earthquakes.“We’ve
 admonished (well owners) to not pulse, they’ve asked us, define what a 
pulse is,” said Tom Stiles, director of the bureau of water at the 
Kansas Department of Health and Environment.But the connection 
between pulses and earthquakes is inconsistent, Miller said. In 2016, 
there were pulses and no earthquakes. The following two years: increased
 earthquake activity but no pulses.“... (W)e really don’t have a smoking gun that says this is what caused it,” he said.<h2>A unique problem</h2>The
 wells closest to the earthquake cluster in Reno County aren’t from oil 
and gas operations. They’re used by industrial companies and are known 
as Class I wells.Hutchinson operates the two highest-volume Class I wells to dispose of the waste produced by the city’s water-treatment plant.Brian
 Clennan, the director of public works for Hutchinson, said those 
disposals are so crucial that “we cannot operate our water treatment 
center at this point without them.”The city isn’t just worried 
about causing earthquakes, either. The space available in well has 
rapidly decreased; Clennan estimated about only 25 years of useful life 
left.To remedy both problems, the city is looking to reduce the 
amount of wastewater it produces in the short term. But it’s also 
working on a way to eliminate the need for the wells at all.One 
option is to pipe the wastewater into the Arkansas River, which is 
estimated to cost about $4 million. It also comes with its own set of 
problems.The wastewater from the plant is high in chlorides and 
other nutrients. Put too much of that into the river and irrigated crops
 will be damaged or killed.Stiles said the state has been 
successful in reducing the chloride levels in the Arkansas River south 
of Hutchinson. And he wants to be extremely careful when considering 
anything that could reverse it.“We don’t want to undo some of 
the progress we’ve made there,” Stiles said. “The one thing we don’t 
want to do is trade off one set of problems in exchange for another 
set.”Brian Grimmett reports on the environment, energy and 
natural resources for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service. You 
can follow him on Twitter&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/briangrimmett?lang=en">@briangrimmett</a>&nbsp;or
 email him at grimmett@kmuw.org. The Kansas News Service is a
 collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public
 Radio focused on health, the social determinants of health and their 
connection to public policy.

Modern Kansas earthquake era looks to be ending ... mostly 

RAWLINS COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Wednesday in Rawlins County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Dodge Charger driven by&nbsp; Cory M. Howard, 26, Atwood, was southbound on Kansas 25 fourteen miles north of Colby and was passing another vehicle.&nbsp;

The driver lost control of the car on the slick roadway. The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the right and rolled an unknown number of times.

EMS transported Howard to the hospital in Atwood. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

RAWLINS COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Wednesday in Rawlins County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Dodge Charger driven by&nbsp; Cory M. Howard, 26, Atwood, was southbound on Kansas 25 fourteen miles north of Colby and was passing another vehicle.&nbsp;The driver lost control of the car on the slick roadway. The vehicle traveled off the roadway to the right and rolled an unknown number of times.EMS transported Howard to the hospital in Atwood. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

NW Kansas man hospitalized after rollover crash

GOVE COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just after 6 p.m. Wednesday in Gove County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Ford Explorer driven by&nbsp; Jolyne C. Nickle, 63, Fremont, Utah, was westbound on Interstate 70 two miles east of the Oakley exit.

The SUV left the roadway, entered the north ditch, overturned, struck a post and a KDOT fence.

EMS transported Nickle to the Logan County Hospital. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

GOVE COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just after 6 p.m. Wednesday in Gove County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1998 Ford Explorer driven by&nbsp; Jolyne C. Nickle, 63, Fremont, Utah, was westbound on Interstate 70 two miles east of the Oakley exit.The SUV left the roadway, entered the north ditch, overturned, struck a post and a KDOT fence.EMS transported Nickle to the Logan County Hospital. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Woman hospitalized after SUV overturns on I-70

Farmers are struggling with mental health issues and mental health providers are going to have to go to them if they hope to get people help, a panel of local women in agriculture told a recent conference on mental health.

<a href="http://hpmhc.com/">High Plains Mental Health</a> with a grant from the Robert E. and Patricia A. Schmidt Foundation sponsored "Hope in the Heartland" conference on Feb. 8 on the FHSU campus in Hays to focus on mental health issues for farmers, ranchers and others in the ag industry.

Suicides among farmers have soared, and low commodity prices and increasing input prices are creating increasing stress on families who make their livings from agriculture.

Between 2014 and 2017, the suicide rate in the 20 northwest counties served by High Plains Mental Health increased by 64 percent.

Panelist Dr. Lauren Mack, Plainville veterinarian, Jessie Wyrill, farm owner at Kirwin, and JoEllyn Argabright, Extension agent and farm owner from Rawlins County, talked about challenges farmers are facing.

Mack, who regularly works with ranchers and cattle in her practice, said she regularly interacts with ranchers in the field who are discouraged and mentally and physically stressed.

"There is a lot of pride and a lot of stigma that we have to work through, she said. "I have a few cattlemen that will say something to me, but I will say, 'I am not your resource. Can I help you find something?' Then that step is a hard step to take."

She has had cattlemen ask her about their physical health rather than go to an MD. She had a man pass out in a field during a herd check.

"I've had people with heart problems. I was like 'This is too hot. We shouldn't be doing this,' and they'll do it anyway because that's their life," Mack said. "So crossing that barrier to that mental side is going to take some sensitivity on providers parts."

Before the panel started, the conference goers watched a video that included farmers talking about mental health issues.&nbsp;Argabright said one aspect of the video that stood out to her was the woman in the video talking about how farming is a calling.

Argabright said understanding farming is a lifestyle and not just a business is important to understanding farm culture.

"There are things that data can't do for us," she said. "We know we live in places with high risk factors. We know the data says we've got problems, but there is a reason we live here and there is a reason we do it.&nbsp;

"When you are going to come in and talk to this population and us as a culture, you are going to have to flip that switch and understand there is a different way to go about the things we talk about and the way that we do them."

Wyrill noted farm families are never really able to get away from the stress on a farm.&nbsp;

"There is always that stigma that I need to be strong for the rest of the family for the farmer. If its male, he's trying to be strong for his whole family," Wyrill said. "The farm mom is going to try to be strong for her kids. No one is looking to break down and go get help because we are too busy and no one wants to admit they are not strong enough."

Wyrill&nbsp;said isolation also played a significant role in getting farmers the help they need. Farm families are busy, and they often don't take the time to be social.&nbsp;

"It's not just a job. It's our life and we can't get away from it," she said.

Mack said financial stressors are significant in many farmers' and ranchers' lives. She said cattlemen want to take care of their animals, but they may not be able to afford all of the vet bills. She said said she thinks farmers feel guilty about that.

"Otherwise I feel like I spend a lot of time giving people pep talks," she said. "They come and say, 'I've got dead calves.' If you went through last winter as a calf operation, you know you lost a lot. It is the hardest year since '93 is what I hear.&nbsp; Losing those animals is heartbreaking."

&nbsp;All she could tell cattlemen last year was "be glad you don't live in Nebraska."

"You have this healthy group. Let's hope the price goes up. You say the word hope," she said. "I use that word a lot to try to give people a positive outlook, but that's exhausting."

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e4c390d65b5d31438496cc4">SEE RELATED STORY:&nbsp;Ag financial downturn taking toll on farmer mental health</a>

Living in a farm family, Argabright said she wears multiple hats.

"I'm a mom. I'm a farm wife, and I'm an Extension professional. When I wear my work hat home, I'm thinking rural sustainability. We've got to figure out how to keep our communities going. We know we have some major issues. We have population exodus. We have infrastructure issues. We've got workforce gaps.&nbsp;

"I sit down and look at my husband and say we also have these problems at home. We just got done with tax season and we talked about that snowball effect. Let's just put that out a little bit further."

As a mom, she said it is hard not to put a guilt trip on her husband. They have small children. Her husband works 100 hours a week. He comes home exhausted.&nbsp;

"I want [my children] to respect hard work is a part of life, but I also want them to have a dad," she said.

Wyrill, who is on the Phillips County Hospital Board, said primary care providers need to be aware of the stress farmers are under. Mental health issues may be showing up as physical signs.

Weather affects farmers in profound ways and causes circumstances they can't control. Wyrill told the story about her father's friend who visited the doctor repeatedly and his physician couldn't determine what was causing his symptoms. A rain broke a prolonged drought, and the systems went away.

"I have had friends who were going to check their fields with canoes," she said. "You can't fix that. It's just there every day."

High Plains Mental Health Executive Director Walt Hill asked the panel what medical and mental health providers need to know about farmers and ranchers when they come into their offices.

Argabright said farmers are going to need to be approached where they are. That's at seed meetings, through people they trust or a sound bite they have to listen to because they are there for something else, she said.

Mack said using people who are already engrained in the community will be essential for reaching farmers. That includes local medical providers, friends, family members, other farmers and Extension agents.&nbsp;

"You can't bring someone from even Hays to Plainville," she said.

Wyrill is trying to connect farm and ag families through a program at the&nbsp;Phillips County Hospital called Farm Life Connections. The hospital brought in a representative from High Plains Mental Health to talk about farm stress at one of these meetings.&nbsp;

They have also addressed topics such as heat stroke, skin cancer, CPR, first aid and heart health.&nbsp;

The panel discussed the issue of stigma and shame and Mack said maybe all the walls should not be broken down. Farmers should be allowed to keep their mental health status private, she said.

Farmers have Smart phones and many are very comfortable with technology. She suggested providers connect with farmers through video on phones so they could reach them in the fields.

Hill said High Plains Mental Health has 50 sites in northwest Kansas where it provides telehealth via video conferencing. He said work still needs to be done to bring Medicare regulations up to speed with the use of telemedicine in rural areas.

Argabright said the interconnection of residents' lives is one of a rural community's greatest strengths.

"We are amazing at throwing chicken dinner feeds to support our neighbors and our friends and people in need and this really isn't a throw-me-a-chicken-dinner [problem]," she said. "I appreciate your comment on respect for privacy."

Rural communities need resources they are able to accept, Argabright said. She said local communities need to be involved in growing their own solutions.

High Plains Mental Health Center is headquartered in Ellis County in downtown Hays. The center also has five full-time branch offices in Goodland, Colby, Norton, Phillipsburg and Osborne with community outreach offices in St. Francis, Atwood, Oberlin, Smith Center, Plainville, Hill City, Hoxie, Oakley, Quinter, WaKeeney, Russell, La Crosse and Ness City.  Wallace County residents can access center resources through a Televideo Conferencing unit at the hospital.

To make appointments, call the main telephone line at 1-800-432-0333 or 785-628-2871.

Branch office phone numbers can be found on the <a href="http://hpmhc.com/contact-us/locations/">High Plains website</a>.

High Plains has a 24-hour crisis line that can be reached at 1-800-432-0333. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The national suicide crisis text line can be reached at 741741.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582043622637.jpeg" alt="From left: Panelist Jessie Wyrill, farm owner near Kirwin, and JoEllyn Argabright, Extension agent and farm owner from Rawlins County, and Dr. Lauren Mack, Plainville veterinarian, talked about mental health challenges farmers are facing at the Hope in the Heartland conference Feb. 8 at FHSU." />
 <figcaption>From left: Panelist Jessie Wyrill, farm owner near Kirwin, and JoEllyn Argabright, Extension agent and farm owner from Rawlins County, and Dr. Lauren Mack, Plainville veterinarian, talked about mental health challenges farmers are facing at the Hope in the Heartland conference Feb. 8 at FHSU.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostFarmers are struggling with mental health issues and mental health providers are going to have to go to them if they hope to get people help, a panel of local women in agriculture told a recent conference on mental health.<a href="http://hpmhc.com/">High Plains Mental Health</a> with a grant from the Robert E. and Patricia A. Schmidt Foundation sponsored "Hope in the Heartland" conference on Feb. 8 on the FHSU campus in Hays to focus on mental health issues for farmers, ranchers and others in the ag industry.Suicides among farmers have soared, and low commodity prices and increasing input prices are creating increasing stress on families who make their livings from agriculture.Between 2014 and 2017, the suicide rate in the 20 northwest counties served by High Plains Mental Health increased by 64 percent.Panelist Dr. Lauren Mack, Plainville veterinarian, Jessie Wyrill, farm owner at Kirwin, and JoEllyn Argabright, Extension agent and farm owner from Rawlins County, talked about challenges farmers are facing.Mack, who regularly works with ranchers and cattle in her practice, said she regularly interacts with ranchers in the field who are discouraged and mentally and physically stressed."There is a lot of pride and a lot of stigma that we have to work through, she said. "I have a few cattlemen that will say something to me, but I will say, 'I am not your resource. Can I help you find something?' Then that step is a hard step to take."She has had cattlemen ask her about their physical health rather than go to an MD. She had a man pass out in a field during a herd check."I've had people with heart problems. I was like 'This is too hot. We shouldn't be doing this,' and they'll do it anyway because that's their life," Mack said. "So crossing that barrier to that mental side is going to take some sensitivity on providers parts."<h2>Farming is a lifestyle</h2>Before the panel started, the conference goers watched a video that included farmers talking about mental health issues.&nbsp;Argabright said one aspect of the video that stood out to her was the woman in the video talking about how farming is a calling.Argabright said understanding farming is a lifestyle and not just a business is important to understanding farm culture."There are things that data can't do for us," she said. "We know we live in places with high risk factors. We know the data says we've got problems, but there is a reason we live here and there is a reason we do it.&nbsp;"When you are going to come in and talk to this population and us as a culture, you are going to have to flip that switch and understand there is a different way to go about the things we talk about and the way that we do them."<h2>No escape from stress</h2>Wyrill noted farm families are never really able to get away from the stress on a farm.&nbsp;"There is always that stigma that I need to be strong for the rest of the family for the farmer. If its male, he's trying to be strong for his whole family," Wyrill said. "The farm mom is going to try to be strong for her kids. No one is looking to break down and go get help because we are too busy and no one wants to admit they are not strong enough."Wyrill&nbsp;said isolation also played a significant role in getting farmers the help they need. Farm families are busy, and they often don't take the time to be social.&nbsp;"It's not just a job. It's our life and we can't get away from it," she said.Mack said financial stressors are significant in many farmers' and ranchers' lives. She said cattlemen want to take care of their animals, but they may not be able to afford all of the vet bills. She said said she thinks farmers feel guilty about that."Otherwise I feel like I spend a lot of time giving people pep talks," she said. "They come and say, 'I've got dead calves.' If you went through last winter as a calf operation, you know you lost a lot. It is the hardest year since '93 is what I hear.&nbsp; Losing those animals is heartbreaking."&nbsp;All she could tell cattlemen last year was "be glad you don't live in Nebraska.""You have this healthy group. Let's hope the price goes up. You say the word hope," she said. "I use that word a lot to try to give people a positive outlook, but that's exhausting."<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5e4c390d65b5d31438496cc4">SEE RELATED STORY:&nbsp;Ag financial downturn taking toll on farmer mental health</a><h2>Multiple hats</h2>Living in a farm family, Argabright said she wears multiple hats."I'm a mom. I'm a farm wife, and I'm an Extension professional. When I wear my work hat home, I'm thinking rural sustainability. We've got to figure out how to keep our communities going. We know we have some major issues. We have population exodus. We have infrastructure issues. We've got workforce gaps.&nbsp;"I sit down and look at my husband and say we also have these problems at home. We just got done with tax season and we talked about that snowball effect. Let's just put that out a little bit further."As a mom, she said it is hard not to put a guilt trip on her husband. They have small children. Her husband works 100 hours a week. He comes home exhausted.&nbsp;"I want [my children] to respect hard work is a part of life, but I also want them to have a dad," she said.<h2>Stress as physical symptoms</h2>Wyrill, who is on the Phillips County Hospital Board, said primary care providers need to be aware of the stress farmers are under. Mental health issues may be showing up as physical signs.Weather affects farmers in profound ways and causes circumstances they can't control. Wyrill told the story about her father's friend who visited the doctor repeatedly and his physician couldn't determine what was causing his symptoms. A rain broke a prolonged drought, and the systems went away."I have had friends who were going to check their fields with canoes," she said. "You can't fix that. It's just there every day."High Plains Mental Health Executive Director Walt Hill asked the panel what medical and mental health providers need to know about farmers and ranchers when they come into their offices.<h2>Reaching out to farmers</h2>Argabright said farmers are going to need to be approached where they are. That's at seed meetings, through people they trust or a sound bite they have to listen to because they are there for something else, she said.Mack said using people who are already engrained in the community will be essential for reaching farmers. That includes local medical providers, friends, family members, other farmers and Extension agents.&nbsp;"You can't bring someone from even Hays to Plainville," she said.Wyrill is trying to connect farm and ag families through a program at the&nbsp;Phillips County Hospital called Farm Life Connections. The hospital brought in a representative from High Plains Mental Health to talk about farm stress at one of these meetings.&nbsp;They have also addressed topics such as heat stroke, skin cancer, CPR, first aid and heart health.&nbsp;<h2>Maintaining privacy</h2>The panel discussed the issue of stigma and shame and Mack said maybe all the walls should not be broken down. Farmers should be allowed to keep their mental health status private, she said.Farmers have Smart phones and many are very comfortable with technology. She suggested providers connect with farmers through video on phones so they could reach them in the fields.Hill said High Plains Mental Health has 50 sites in northwest Kansas where it provides telehealth via video conferencing. He said work still needs to be done to bring Medicare regulations up to speed with the use of telemedicine in rural areas.Argabright said the interconnection of residents' lives is one of a rural community's greatest strengths."We are amazing at throwing chicken dinner feeds to support our neighbors and our friends and people in need and this really isn't a throw-me-a-chicken-dinner [problem]," she said. "I appreciate your comment on respect for privacy."Rural communities need resources they are able to accept, Argabright said. She said local communities need to be involved in growing their own solutions.<h2>Seeking help</h2>High Plains Mental Health Center is headquartered in Ellis County in downtown Hays. The center also has five full-time branch offices in Goodland, Colby, Norton, Phillipsburg and Osborne with community outreach offices in St. Francis, Atwood, Oberlin, Smith Center, Plainville, Hill City, Hoxie, Oakley, Quinter, WaKeeney, Russell, La Crosse and Ness City. Wallace County residents can access center resources through a Televideo Conferencing unit at the hospital.To make appointments, call the main telephone line at 1-800-432-0333 or 785-628-2871.Branch office phone numbers can be found on the <a href="http://hpmhc.com/contact-us/locations/">High Plains website</a>.High Plains has a 24-hour crisis line that can be reached at 1-800-432-0333. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The national suicide crisis text line can be reached at 741741.Other online resources:<ol>
 <li><a href="https://suicidology.org/">American Association of Suicidology</a></li><li><a href="https://www.afsp.org/">American Foundation for Suicide Prevention</a></li><li><a href="http://www.nami.org/">National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)</a></li><li><a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/">National Council of Mental Health</a></li><li><a href="http://www.7cups.com./">&nbsp;7 Cups of Tea</a>&nbsp;(Free to use if you live in the High Plains service area)</li>
 </ol>

Panelists sound alarm on farm family stress, mental health

WAKEENEY —&nbsp;Five high school juniors will receive a $250 college scholarship, and the opportunity to travel to Washington or Steamboat Springs, Colo., through the Western Cooperative Electric youth contest program.

The winners were selected based off their combined scores in three areas: essay writing, personal interview, and electric cooperative knowledge.

Jonathan Spachek, Ellsworth High School, son of Kurt and Linda Spachek; and Ethan Reever, Otis-Bison High School, son of TJ and Kristi Reever, are the top two qualifying entrants in this year’s contest, winning the all-expenses-paid trip to Washington sponsored by Western and Kansas Electric Cooperatives Inc.

Spachek and Reever will represent Western at the nation’s capital from June 18 to 25. These students will have the opportunity to meet their U.S. representatives and senators, tour the White House, and visit many monuments, memorials and museums.

Alicia Phlieger, Hays High School, daughter of Scott and Dawn Phlieger; and Samantha Robben, Hoxie High School, daughter of Doug and Kim Robben, are the third- and fourth- place winners who will attend the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp in Steamboat Springs, Colo., from July 10-16 sponsored by Western and KEC.

Phlieger and Robben will join 100 other students from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming to develop leadership skills, mimic their own cooperative, and tour a coal mine and a power plant.

Fifth place winner Carlee Flax, Western Plains High School, daughter of Kevin Flax, Ransom, will serve as an alternate to the trips and will receive the $250 Darrell Brown Memorial Scholarship.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581953751430.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WAKEENEY —&nbsp;Five high school juniors will receive a $250 college scholarship, and the opportunity to travel to Washington or Steamboat Springs, Colo., through the Western Cooperative Electric youth contest program.The winners were selected based off their combined scores in three areas: essay writing, personal interview, and electric cooperative knowledge.Jonathan Spachek, Ellsworth High School, son of Kurt and Linda Spachek; and Ethan Reever, Otis-Bison High School, son of TJ and Kristi Reever, are the top two qualifying entrants in this year’s contest, winning the all-expenses-paid trip to Washington sponsored by Western and Kansas Electric Cooperatives Inc.Spachek and Reever will represent Western at the nation’s capital from June 18 to 25. These students will have the opportunity to meet their U.S. representatives and senators, tour the White House, and visit many monuments, memorials and museums.Alicia Phlieger, Hays High School, daughter of Scott and Dawn Phlieger; and Samantha Robben, Hoxie High School, daughter of Doug and Kim Robben, are the third- and fourth- place winners who will attend the Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp in Steamboat Springs, Colo., from July 10-16 sponsored by Western and KEC.Phlieger and Robben will join 100 other students from Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and Wyoming to develop leadership skills, mimic their own cooperative, and tour a coal mine and a power plant.Fifth place winner Carlee Flax, Western Plains High School, daughter of Kevin Flax, Ransom, will serve as an alternate to the trips and will receive the $250 Darrell Brown Memorial Scholarship.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581953770935.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

NW Kan. students winners in Western Co-op Electric youth contest

The 2020 Best of Craft Beer Awards took place Feb. 7 to 9 in Bend, Ore., and
featured over 2200 entries by 375 breweries from 49 different states, provinces and countries.


Lb. Brewing Co., 117 E. 11th in Hays, earned gold for the British-Style Imperial Stout category
with Lb.’s Roughneck Imperial Stout and bronze for the English-Style Brown Ale category with
Lb.’s Brownell Brown. Vetted brewers, certified judges and industry professionals
selected the winners in this annual, private competition dedicated to celebrating and
promoting the best of the best in brewing.


The latest honors raise Lb. Brewing Co.’s award count to 13 as the brewery and restaurant,
Gella’s Diner, prepare to celebrate 15 years in downtown Hays. These are the first medals
from the Best of Craft Beer Awards. Previous awards earned came from the World Lupulin
Challenge, World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival, which included Lb. Brewing
Co. being named Brewery of the Year in 2013.


Lb.’s Brownell Brown is currently on tap, however Lb.’s gold-winning Roughneck is only
available in 22 oz. bottles for a limited time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582140388459.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The 2020 Best of Craft Beer Awards took place Feb. 7 to 9 in Bend, Ore., and
featured over 2200 entries by 375 breweries from 49 different states, provinces and countries.
Lb. Brewing Co., 117 E. 11th in Hays, earned gold for the British-Style Imperial Stout category
with Lb.’s Roughneck Imperial Stout and bronze for the English-Style Brown Ale category with
Lb.’s Brownell Brown. Vetted brewers, certified judges and industry professionals
selected the winners in this annual, private competition dedicated to celebrating and
promoting the best of the best in brewing.
The latest honors raise Lb. Brewing Co.’s award count to 13 as the brewery and restaurant,
Gella’s Diner, prepare to celebrate 15 years in downtown Hays. These are the first medals
from the Best of Craft Beer Awards. Previous awards earned came from the World Lupulin
Challenge, World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival, which included Lb. Brewing
Co. being named Brewery of the Year in 2013.
Lb.’s Brownell Brown is currently on tap, however Lb.’s gold-winning Roughneck is only
available in 22 oz. bottles for a limited time.— Submitted

Hays' LB. Brewing Co. earns gold, bronze at international competition

The Hays Arts Council exhibition “The War Years: A Kansas Experience, 1941-1945”&nbsp;was created 30 years ago by then HAC director Leland Powers and HAC members Leon J. Staab and Michael Jilg.&nbsp;It was developed to honor the (then) 45th anniversary of the end of World War II.&nbsp;

It opened in September of 1990, and remains in the HAC’s permanent collection of works.

The 75th anniversary of that historical event will be&nbsp;this fall, but we're noting that February of 1945 is regarded as the “beginning of the end” of the war.&nbsp; Seventy-five years ago this month, the Battle of the Bulge had barely ended (Jan. 25, 1945, the Yalta Conference was held, the bombing raids on Dresden started, the Battle of Iwo Jima began, and United States Marines ultimately raised the U.S. flag on the summit of Mount Suribachi.

In honor of that February 1945 history, we are again showcasing this collection of images throughout this month at the Hays Arts Council, 112 E. 11th St.,&nbsp; Hays.

The exhibition features images gathered from private collections, largely from Hays area service men &amp; women. It was designed to document the human quality of their war experience.

The original photos were, in general, small snapshots - but they were professionally enlarged to 2ft x 2ft.

Among the images are those from the collections of Wendelin Staab, F.R. Oshant, Jr., Ed Moore, Arris Johnson, Dr. John Streck, Helen Kramer and Thaine Clark. The exhibition is comprised of 16 panels featuring a single image and its accompanying text.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581959856237.png" alt="“The War Years: A Kansas Experience, 1941-1945”&nbsp; is on display at the Hays Arts Council through Feb. 28." />
 <figcaption>“The War Years: A Kansas Experience, 1941-1945”&nbsp; is on display at the Hays Arts Council through Feb. 28.</figcaption>
 </figure>HACThe Hays Arts Council exhibition “The War Years: A Kansas Experience, 1941-1945”&nbsp;was created 30 years ago by then HAC director Leland Powers and HAC members Leon J. Staab and Michael Jilg.&nbsp;It was developed to honor the (then) 45th anniversary of the end of World War II.&nbsp;It opened in September of 1990, and remains in the HAC’s permanent collection of works.The 75th anniversary of that historical event will be&nbsp;this fall, but we're noting that February of 1945 is regarded as the “beginning of the end” of the war.&nbsp; Seventy-five years ago this month, the Battle of the Bulge had barely ended (Jan. 25, 1945, the Yalta Conference was held, the bombing raids on Dresden started, the Battle of Iwo Jima began, and United States Marines ultimately raised the U.S. flag on the summit of Mount Suribachi.In honor of that February 1945 history, we are again showcasing this collection of images throughout this month at the Hays Arts Council, 112 E. 11th St.,&nbsp; Hays.The exhibition features images gathered from private collections, largely from Hays area service men &amp; women. It was designed to document the human quality of their war experience.The original photos were, in general, small snapshots - but they were professionally enlarged to 2ft x 2ft.Among the images are those from the collections of Wendelin Staab, F.R. Oshant, Jr., Ed Moore, Arris Johnson, Dr. John Streck, Helen Kramer and Thaine Clark. The exhibition is comprised of 16 panels featuring a single image and its accompanying text.

Hays residents featured in 'The War Years: A Kansas Experience, 1941-1945'

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575929617735.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here.</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582147747499.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Every town has its population of feral cats. Let me be clear right up front, when I say feral cats, I’m referencing cats that live on the streets or in the fields, that are unsocialized and quite possibly have never had an “owner,” not Fluffy that rolls around in a paper sack on the living room floor and cuddles with you at night.&nbsp;

Over the years many towns and states have adopted programs to trap and neuter feral cats to keep them from reproducing. That’s good, but then most are turned loose once again to live back on the streets and in the fields. Cats are ferocious and efficient hunters, and if they live near grain elevators, feedlots etc. where there are lots of rodents, they can be extremely helpful. The problem is that every town also has its person or persons who feel compelled to feed the feral cats, and then the town ends up with feral cat colonies where they hang out and wait for their next handout. Feeding feral cats does not help the cats in the long run and is actually illegal in many towns.

My biggest problem with feral cats is that because of their tenacity and hunting efficiency, they kill lots of pheasant and quail chicks and songbirds. I’m sure you’ve all watched blue jays and barn swallows dive bomb neighborhood cats that get too close to spring nests. Those parents have good cause to drive away those cats. Red foxes are good natural feral cat control technicians. Talk to any cat owner who lives in a small town where red foxes are known to live and they will quite likely have stories of disappearing cats. Occasionally I mistakenly catch a cat in a coyote trap. If it has a collar and a tag or looks like its some farmers good barn cat, I’ll let it loose. But if it appears to be a wild feral cat, it just becomes a bad day for the cat. Over the years, feral cat populations in the wild have become so out of control in some state that hunting seasons were proposed for them.&nbsp;

I have some unique ideas for making use of feral cats in the outdoors. I envision an entire stable of them to rent out as living four-legged heating pads, available to us hunters as foot, neck and lap warmers as we sit in deer and duck blinds. I’d call my whiskered employees something like Cozy Kitties or Toasty Tabbies. Cats always want to sleep and just naturally curl up in a ball anyway, so simply lay a pair on your boots or drape a couple across your shoulders and let nature take its course. Ditto for ice fisherman as they sit on over-turned five-gallon buckets on frozen lakes; a longhaired tabby wrapped around their neck like a scarf and one laid across each boot would really help cut the chilly wind. Sure, you might be the laughing stock of the lake for a while…until all your buddies are dancing around like Rumpelstiltskin trying to get warm. Then a few extra Cozy Kitties kept in your truck would be rented out in no time, payin’ you enough to stop at the seafood counter at Dillons on the way home when the fish didn’t bite.&nbsp; Winter campers would benefit doubly from a couple of Toasty Tabbies tucked into their sleeping bag. When we were kids, we’d ride in grandpa’s truck camper as he sped down the road on fishing trips, and the gentle rocking of the camper would put us to sleep in a heartbeat. Just imagine how fast you’d be asleep with a Cozy Kitty curled up beside you in your sleeping bag and purring like a bear in a honey factory.&nbsp;

These are just a few novel ides for using feral cats in the outdoors. I see it as a win-win-deal; a few feral cats are taken out of the wild, pet lovers are happy cause’ they weren’t killed and we hunters reap the benefits. Why I’ll bet the poor mislead folks at PETA would even be proud of me……. hmmm, wait, if that’s my reward maybe I need to rethink this whole thing! &nbsp; Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

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

Cover image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/MabelAmber-1377835/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3062069">Mabel Amber,</a>&nbsp;from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3062069">Pixabay</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>Every town has its population of feral cats. Let me be clear right up front, when I say feral cats, I’m referencing cats that live on the streets or in the fields, that are unsocialized and quite possibly have never had an “owner,” not Fluffy that rolls around in a paper sack on the living room floor and cuddles with you at night.&nbsp;Over the years many towns and states have adopted programs to trap and neuter feral cats to keep them from reproducing. That’s good, but then most are turned loose once again to live back on the streets and in the fields. Cats are ferocious and efficient hunters, and if they live near grain elevators, feedlots etc. where there are lots of rodents, they can be extremely helpful. The problem is that every town also has its person or persons who feel compelled to feed the feral cats, and then the town ends up with feral cat colonies where they hang out and wait for their next handout. Feeding feral cats does not help the cats in the long run and is actually illegal in many towns.My biggest problem with feral cats is that because of their tenacity and hunting efficiency, they kill lots of pheasant and quail chicks and songbirds. I’m sure you’ve all watched blue jays and barn swallows dive bomb neighborhood cats that get too close to spring nests. Those parents have good cause to drive away those cats. Red foxes are good natural feral cat control technicians. Talk to any cat owner who lives in a small town where red foxes are known to live and they will quite likely have stories of disappearing cats. Occasionally I mistakenly catch a cat in a coyote trap. If it has a collar and a tag or looks like its some farmers good barn cat, I’ll let it loose. But if it appears to be a wild feral cat, it just becomes a bad day for the cat. Over the years, feral cat populations in the wild have become so out of control in some state that hunting seasons were proposed for them.&nbsp;I have some unique ideas for making use of feral cats in the outdoors. I envision an entire stable of them to rent out as living four-legged heating pads, available to us hunters as foot, neck and lap warmers as we sit in deer and duck blinds. I’d call my whiskered employees something like Cozy Kitties or Toasty Tabbies. Cats always want to sleep and just naturally curl up in a ball anyway, so simply lay a pair on your boots or drape a couple across your shoulders and let nature take its course. Ditto for ice fisherman as they sit on over-turned five-gallon buckets on frozen lakes; a longhaired tabby wrapped around their neck like a scarf and one laid across each boot would really help cut the chilly wind. Sure, you might be the laughing stock of the lake for a while…until all your buddies are dancing around like Rumpelstiltskin trying to get warm. Then a few extra Cozy Kitties kept in your truck would be rented out in no time, payin’ you enough to stop at the seafood counter at Dillons on the way home when the fish didn’t bite.&nbsp; Winter campers would benefit doubly from a couple of Toasty Tabbies tucked into their sleeping bag. When we were kids, we’d ride in grandpa’s truck camper as he sped down the road on fishing trips, and the gentle rocking of the camper would put us to sleep in a heartbeat. Just imagine how fast you’d be asleep with a Cozy Kitty curled up beside you in your sleeping bag and purring like a bear in a honey factory.&nbsp;These are just a few novel ides for using feral cats in the outdoors. I see it as a win-win-deal; a few feral cats are taken out of the wild, pet lovers are happy cause’ they weren’t killed and we hunters reap the benefits. Why I’ll bet the poor mislead folks at PETA would even be proud of me……. hmmm, wait, if that’s my reward maybe I need to rethink this whole thing! &nbsp; Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.Cover image by <a href="https://pixabay.com/users/MabelAmber-1377835/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3062069">Mabel Amber,</a>&nbsp;from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=3062069">Pixabay</a>

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Feral cats

Numerous law enforcement agencies in northwest Kansas were advising against traveling through the region Wednesday evening as icy weather moved in causing several accidents on I-70 and other state highways.

Numerous law enforcement agencies in northwest Kansas were advising against traveling through the region Wednesday evening as icy weather moved in causing several accidents on I-70 and other state highways.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTrooperTodKHP%2Fposts%2F2350275838595857&width=500" width="500" height="663" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FThomasCountyKSSheriff%2Fposts%2F2474268809491987&width=500" width="500" height="497" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FShermanCountySheriffsOffice%2Fposts%2F2784022778391901&width=500" width="500" height="416" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FHaysPD%2Fposts%2F3230406213653512&width=500" width="500" height="462" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div><div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FNWSDodgeCity%2Fposts%2F4324754404216348&width=500" width="500" height="435" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div><a href="https://www.kandrive.org/kandrive/roads/#conditions/-98.41/38.3957/7">For the latest road conditions visit the Kansas Road Conditions website.</a>

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