<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574099003602.png"><a href="https://www.hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here. </a><img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574870686820.jpeg">

Three-day weather outlook

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574802720194.jpeg">Donna Krug is the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent and District Director for the Cottonwood Extension District. Tuesday is a special day designated as “Dining In Day.” Research has shown that the whole family benefits from family mealtime by having better nutrition, improving family communication, fostering family traditions, and teaching life skills, such as meal planning,&nbsp;budgeting, and food preparation. Encouraging families to prepare simple, healthy meals and eat&nbsp;together supports the essence of my job as a family and consumer sciences educator: “Creating&nbsp;Healthy and Sustainable Families” is my goal.&nbsp; I know how challenging it can be for busy families to actually sit down together for a meal that&nbsp;is prepared at home. Work schedules and kids who need to be shuttled to sports or activities&nbsp;interrupt plans to prepare a healthy meal at home. When our three kids were growing up, my&nbsp;middle child, Adam, would call me every day when he arrived home from school and ask what&nbsp;was for supper. As a 6th grader, I believe he prepared as many skillet meals and spaghetti and&nbsp;meatballs as I did. And to his credit, he often prepares the evening meal for his busy family now. Revisiting a popular program from a couple of years ago titled, “Freezer Ready Slow Cooker&nbsp;Meals” can be a great way to make “Dining In Day” a success at your house. Twelve recipes,&nbsp;complete with a shopping list, takes a lot of the guess work out of meal preparation. Pulling one&nbsp;of the prepared meals out of the freezer in the evening and thawing in the fridge, makes this an&nbsp;easy prep. Cooking the ingredients in a slow cooker while you are at work the next day, means supper is ready when you walk in the door! I’ll be happy to share the Freezer-Ready Slow&nbsp;Cooker meals recipes and handout. Just give me a call or send me an e-mail. With my busy work schedule, I am blessed to have my husband John plan a prepare most of&nbsp;our evening meals. I’m not sure what is on our menu for December 3rd, but I’m betting we will be&nbsp;“Dining In.” I would love to hear your “Dining In” stories! Donna Krug is the Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent and District Director for the Cottonwood Extension District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or <a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;

KRUG: 'Dining In' for healthy families

🎤Post Podcast: Community Assistance Center offers help with Christmas meals

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1575047674735.jpeg">The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a high wind warning for Saturday across much of western Kansas, including Ellis County and surrounding counties. Forecasters are calling for winds averaging 30 to 40 mph, with gusts reaching up to 65 mph. The warning is in effect from 9 a.m. to 9 p..m. Saturday. The NWS warns the winds could topple trees, down power lines and cause minor structural damage. Travel will be made more hazardous, especially for high-profile vehicles, and visibility could be reduced due to blowing dust. Click <a href="https://hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HERE</a> for the complete extended forecast.<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1575047937573.jpeg">

NWS warns of wind gusts up to 65 mph Saturday

Two flour producers have issued voluntary national recalls of their products because of the potential presence of E. coli. According to information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA, both UNFI and Hodgson Mill have announced voluntary recalls on Wednesday. The following information was provided by the FDA. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1575044709961.jpeg">Images provided by FDA UNFI recall UNFI announced Wednesday a voluntary national recall of five-pound bags of its Wild Harvest® Organic All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached, with a Code of AA BEST IF USED BY 010820 CC 15:58 and UPC Code 711535509158. The recall is being issued for the potential presence of E. coli. During routine FDA sampling of the five-pound bag product, results were found to be positive for E.coli. E. coli can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections in infants, older people, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems. The most common symptoms of E. coli are diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea and vomiting, which develop within three or four days of eating contaminated food. The illness usually lasts about a week and most people recover without treatment. Guidance from FDA and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to warn that consumers should refrain from consuming any raw products made with flour and that all surfaces, hands and utensils should be properly cleaned after contact with flour or dough. To date, UNFI has not received any direct consumer reports of confirmed illnesses related to this product. This recall is being issued out of an abundance of care. This recall only affects the following code date of Wild Harvest® Organic All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached five-pound bags currently in stores or consumers’ pantries. No other types of Wild Harvest® Flour are affected by this recall. Wild Harvest® Organic All-Purpose Flour, Unbleached Package UPC: 711535509158 Best if Used by Date: 010820 CC 15:58. Consumers are asked to check their pantries and dispose of the product affected by this recall. Consumers with questions may contact UNFI at 855-423-2630 (customer support is available seven days-a-week between 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM CST). Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1575044817293.jpeg"> Hodgson Mill recall Hodgson Mill of Effingham, Ill., announced Wednesday a voluntary national recall of specific lots of its Unbleached All-Purpose White Wheat Flour (5 lb.) We are taking this voluntary precautionary step because of the potential presence of pathogenic E. coli which was discovered through sampling raw uncooked flour. Hodgson Mill has not received any confirmed reports of illnesses related to this product. The only product affected by this voluntary recall is: Unbleached All-Purpose White Wheat Flour (5 lb.) UPC 0-71518-05009-2 Best By Date 10-01-2020 and 10-02-2020 with lot codes listed Lot# 001042 &amp; 005517 Use By and Lot Code information can be found on the bottom back panel of the 5 lb. Bag. Used By date and Lot Code, along with their location on the bag, must all match in order to represent flour affected by this recall. Consumer safety is our top priority. Hodgson Mill package states "do not eat raw flour, dough or batter". The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) warns consumers to not consume raw flour or uncooked raw dough. E. coli is killed by heat through baking, frying, sautéing, or boiling products made with flour. For more information, refer to the following: <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/features/no-raw-dough/index.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.cdc.gov/features/no-raw-dough/index.html</a>. Symptoms of pathogenic E. coli illness include acute, often bloody diarrheal illness and abdominal cramps. Most people recover within a week. However, children, the elderly, and immunosuppressed individuals may develop hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS, a severe illness which may cause the kidneys to fail. Consumers are reminded to wash their hands, work surfaces, and utensils thoroughly after contact with raw dough products or flour, and to never eat raw dough or batter. This lot of flour was milled at an ADM Milling Facility in St Louis, Mo., and repacked at Hodgson Mill, Inc. facility in Effingham, Ill., and was distributed by Hodgson Mill through retailers and distribution nationwide and sold through our website <a href="www.hodgsonmill.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.hodgsonmill.com</a>. Consumers who have purchased 5 pound packages of Unbleached All-Purpose White Wheat Flour with specific lot codes are urged to stop using the product immediately and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company customer service M-F 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1-888-417-9343 x 1. Any consumers concerned about an illness should contact a physician. Bakers have trusted Hodgson Mill flour products in their kitchens for many years and because of that trust we have issued this voluntary recall. We remain committed to providing our consumers safe and superior products.

FDA: Two flour producers issue recalls

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/10/1570717694308.jpeg">By BECKY KISERHays Post It was a white Thanksgiving in Hays this year. According to the official report from the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town, 1.9 inches of snow fell Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Another trace of snow was measured throughout the day. The nearly two inches of snow yielded 0.27 inches of moisture. So far in November, 5.9 inches of snow has fallen. The total amount of moisture for the month is 0.47 inches. The year-to-date total of moisture in Hays is 28.84 inches.

Nearly two inches of snow for a white Thanksgiving in Hays

🎤Post Podcast: Low unemployment rate creates challenges for area

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574354565233.jpeg">Travis Brunner, far left, and his team at Sunrise AgriBusiness Solutions in Hays. By CRISTINA JANNEYHays Post A new agribusiness consulting company opened in Hays in August, <a href="https://www.sunriseabs.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Sunrise AgriBusiness Solutions.</a> The Hays location is the business's headquarters with branch locations outside of Leoti and in Salina. The business focuses on cash grain and helping farmers make solid business decisions, Travis Brunner, president/owner, said. Brunner, a Fort Hays State University graduate, has been trading grain for 22 years. He is a former employee of Cargill and Midland Marketing. Brunner has a family farm south of Abilene in Marion County. Another employee in the firm has been trading grain for 27 years. "Our sales team/sales professionals will go to the farm and get to know who the farmer is and their farming operation," he said. "They will do cash break evens for the farm and develop a marketing plan around that particular individual's needs from a cash flow perspective, government programs or payments to family living expenses and build a game plan around that." The company focuses on marketing the product once it is planted or harvested. The business does not focus on the agronomy side of the operation — what to plant, Brunner said. Sunrise seeks to help farmers maximize revenue through a written marketing plan, Brunner said. The company uses an app so the farmer can see their cash grain position. It gives a snapshot of their farm in the current market. "We look at it as a way to partner with the grower or rancher to help them to make good solid decisions that are good for their particular farming practices," Brunner said. The counsel the advisers would give a western Kansas farmer is different than what Brunner would give a producer using irrigation in Nebraska or producers in eastern Kansas or Texas. "We say that we are an extension of them," he said. "We are a part of their team. We work together and give candid feedback back and forth. We can help them do a better job of marketing their cash commodities." Margins continue to shrink and cost of production continue to rise, so that is why Brunner said Sunrise's services are important. How your grandfather or father did business might not be profitable today, Brunner said. "Our job is to reduce that risk through a diverse side portfolio and knowing it is a complex, truly world market," he said. Eighty percent of the farmer grain is sold at the bottom of the market, Brunner said. "A farmer works so hard day in and day out to produce the goods that we all consume and need, and yet one misstep in their marketing can impact them on such a large scale," he said. "If we can help farmers take away some of the risk and frustration and the time that it takes to do a good job of marketing, we've served our client and served them well." Brunner said he hopes to continue to grow Sunrise's customer base. He also hopes to add more satellite offices, including locations in Nebraska and eastern Colorado. The Hays Area of Chamber of Commerce will have a ribbon cutting at Sunrise on Dec. 3. There will be an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunrise's Hays location is at 201 W. 11th. They can be reached at 785-301-1164 or <a href="learnmore@sunriseabs.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">learnmore@sunriseabs.com</a>. Business hours are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Sunrise AgriBusiness seeks to help farmers maximize profits

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574879396288.jpeg">RCPD In an effort to implement a more victim-centered approach to sexual violence response, the Riley County Police Department has hired Melissa Mosher as its newly established Victim Advocate Coordinator. Mosher’s role is to assist victims of crime with emotional support and accompaniment during a traumatic experience. She is a 1998 graduate of Fort Hays State University with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in leadership studies. "Victims of crime now have a person devoted specifically to them, providing information, advocacy and emotional support during the investigation process,” Mosher said.&nbsp; Mosher will provide systems-based advocacy services to victims of crime during each step of the criminal investigation process. Through the Victim Advocate Coordinator, you will be able to receive referrals for direct social services. Since starting in September, Mosher has worked to strengthen RCPD’s community collaborations and relations with citizens through education and advocacy. “During these first few months as Victim Advocate Coordinator, I have been meeting RCPD’s dedicated officers and introducing myself to Manhattan’s supportive network of social service organizations,” Mosher said. Read more about <a href="http://www.rileycountypolice.org/directory/melissa-mosher" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Melissa's professional background here.</a>

FHSU grad named victim advocate coordinator for Riley Co. police

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574874961099.png">BY RON WILSONHuck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development “The belle of the ball.” That phrase may call to mind a pretty girl dancing in a fancy ballroom, but in this case, it refers to a different kind of ball. This belle is the woman who serves as the volunteer caretaker of the world’s largest ball of twine. She’s helping people from around the world enjoy this unique rural attraction. Linda Clover explained that Frank Stoeber was farming near Cawker City in Mitchell County in 1953. As he fed small bales of hay to his cows, he began to accumulate the loose balestrings made of sisal twine.&nbsp; “He was a child of the Depression, so he didn’t throw anything away,” Linda said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Rather than burning or discarding the twine, he started winding it into a ball. By the time he was done cleaning up his barn, he had a ball as big as his barn door.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Over time, he continued to add to the ball. Friends and neighbors started donating their twine to the project and the ball became massive. In 1956, when the Salina Journal wrote an article about it, the ball measured seven feet five inches and weighed 4,035 pounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;People wanted to stop and see this remarkable and offbeat sight. The Cawker City commercial club approached Frank about donating it to the city, so he did. In 1961, it was brought into town to display. In 1962, a shelter was built to protect and display the quirky attraction. Frank Stoeber continued to add twine until his death in 1974, and the community continued to do so after his passing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In 1973, the Guinness Book of World Records awarded Frank Stoeber’s ball of twine the title of World’s Largest. But controversy erupted. In 1978, a man in Minnesota contended that his ball of twine was even bigger.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The good citizens of Cawker City responded to this challenge. In 1982, the town held its first annual Twine-A-Thon in conjunction with the annual city picnic. Along with a parade, poker run, golf tournament and horseshoe tournament, people wrap more twine around the ball during that weekend each year. Other guests add twine year-round.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;By 1988, the ball was so big that it was moved to the city park in Cawker City and the present shelter was constructed. At that time the ball of twine measured 40 feet three inches in circumference, thus surpassing its rival in Minnesota. So there! Currently, the ball weighs 26,690 pounds, includes more than 8 million feet of sisal twine, and is still growing.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Linda Clover, the Cawker City school librarian, became the volunteer caretaker of the ball of twine in the late 1990s. She fields calls from all over the world. She even carries pre-cut pieces of twine with her, so that guests can add a piece and take their picture next to this remarkable landmark. Only authentic sisal twine is to be added to the ball. “I love people,” Linda said. “This brings people from all over, which is good for our community and north central Kansas,” she said. Since Cawker City is located on Highway 24, Linda is actively involved with the Highway 24 Alliance. She enjoys this interaction so much that the Wall Street Journal once referred to her as “the belle of the ball.” Cawker City’s ball of twine has been featured in everything from Rachael Ray to National Lampoon’s Vacation. It has drawn visitors from around the globe, as far away as Antarctica and Mongolia. “There was a young couple from England who were going to tour the U.S. for their vacation, and each one chose one attraction which they did not want to miss,” Linda said. “One chose Yankee Stadium, and the other chose Cawker City’s ball of twine.” That’s impressive for a rural community like Cawker City, population 469 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cawkercitykansas.com/ball-of-twine" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">www.cawkercitykansas.com/ball-of-twine</a>. The belle of the ball. In this case, it refers to the woman who promotes the world’s largest ball of twine. We salute Linda Clover and all those who are making a difference by promoting this unique attraction. I hope their visitors have a ball.

Now That’s Rural: Linda Clover, World’s Largest Ball of Twine

NORTON COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just after 1 p.m. Thursday in Norton County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ram 1500 driven by Steven Tran, Lincoln, NE., was westbound on Kansas 383 three miles east of the Kansas 60 Junction when it hit a patch of slush. The pickup traveled left of center and struck a 2016 Ford Focus driven by Amber N. Durke, 35, Aurora, CO., head-on. EMS transported Tran a passenger in the Ram Sierra Nicole Hendrickson, 20, Oberlin, Durke, and a passenger in the Ford Anthony R. Durke, 61, Fountain, CO., to the hospital in Norton. All four were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

NW Kan. woman, 3 others hospitalized after head-on crash

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573762187755.jpeg"><img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574793012989.png">H. Edward Flentje is professor emeritus at Wichita State University and served with former Kansas Governors Bennett and Hayden. The century-long tradition of nonpartisan elections in Kansas suffered a setback in Wichita earlier this month. Many partisans were at fault. Take a look at the facts: First, the incumbent Wichita mayor hires the chair of the Sedgwick County Republican Party to aid in his reelection campaign. Next, the Republican Party officially endorses the incumbent mayor with a citywide mailer underwritten by the party. The same mailer also endorses an incumbent school board member for the at-large seat on the Wichita school board.&nbsp; Not to be outdone the state Democratic Party responds with its own flyer embracing the mayoral challenger and asserting unsubstantiated allegations against the incumbent.&nbsp;Then, an anonymous video surfaces on social media and smears the mayoral challenger with fallacious charges of sexual misconduct. The mayoral challenger files a defamation law suit against the producer and schemers associated with the video. Republican county officials then call for a local Republican legislator connected to the video to resign.&nbsp;Wow! Hardly nonpartisan elections. Ironically, this chicanery is reminiscent of a partisan donnybrook in Wichita that prompted the shift to nonpartisan city elections in Kansas.&nbsp; In the 1907 city election Wichita voters faced baffling partisan choices for mayor: a Republican anointed by the party machine controlling City Hall patronage; an insurgent Republican nominated by petition; one Democrat, then another, both dropping out at the last minute; and a Socialist. Voters were perplexed further by irregular party nominating tactics: primaries&nbsp;or&nbsp;conventions&nbsp;or&nbsp;caucuses held with irregular timing, sometimes citywide, or maybe by ward. City employees were charged with transporting “the lame, the halt, the indigent, the decrepit, the blind and the bleary-eyed” to the polls. In 1909, Kansas lawmakers enacted the law prohibiting candidates for city office from having party affiliation by their name on the ballot. Later, similar provisions were applied to school elections. These nonpartisan procedures are now used statewide to elect roughly 6,000 Kansans to positions on their city governing body and the local school board. Their service represents important community obligations. They determine spending levels, set tax rates, propose the issuance of debt for varied improvements, and oversee city and school operations. They are often subjected to harsh criticism for their decisions. Most elected city officials are paid little if anything for time-consuming work. School board members are paid nothing at all. Many Kansans take for granted the most fundamental impact of nonpartisan elections, that is, the insulation of local administrative leadership and employees from partisan politics. Kansas has become well recognized for the selection of city managers and school superintendents on the basis of qualifications and abilities. Such practices may seem obvious, but indeed they are not. Nonpartisanship not only encourages the selection of high quality leadership but also protects cities and schools from being jockeyed about by partisan controversy in the community. To see the contrast, look no further than unqualified partisans filling high-level posts in the Brownback administration: a budget director who could not keep numbers straight; a securities commissioner who used his office as a political campaign; inexperienced appointees unable to keep a state hospital properly certified; or a corrupt cabinet official who showered friends with state contracts. Or look at Oklahoma, where not that long ago contracting kickbacks landed 237 county officials in jail. Wichita will survive the partisan tomfoolery of this fall, but these events serve as a warning to all Kansans of the profound importance of preserving nonpartisanship in city and school elections.&nbsp;H. Edward Flentje is professor emeritus at Wichita State University and served with former Kansas Governors Bennett and Hayden. <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573762187755.jpeg">

INSIGHT KANSAS: Wichita politics undermines nonpartisan elections

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574099003602.png"><a href="https://www.hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here. </a><img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574870611924.jpeg">

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141087694.png">Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District. Soils across most of Kansas are now cool enough to allow producers to apply anhydrous ammonia for their 2020 corn crop. This practice has some appeal to producers. For one thing, fall fertilizer application spreads out the workload so there’s more time to focus on corn planting in the spring. Secondly, wet conditions in the spring sometimes prevents producers from applying lower-cost anhydrous ammonia ahead of corn planting, and forces them to apply more expensive sources after planting. Equally important for many producers have been issues with anhydrous ammonia availability at times in the spring.&nbsp; Despite those advantages, producers should be aware that there is potential for higher nitrogen (N) loss in the spring following a fall application, as a result of nitrification of the ammonium during late winter and very early spring and subsequent leaching, or denitrification. Reactions of anhydrous ammonia in the soilWhen anhydrous ammonia is applied to the soil, a large portion of the ammonia is converted to ammonium (NH4+, and can be bound to clay and organic matter particles within the soil. As long as the nitrogen remains in the ammonium form, it can be retained on the clay and organic matter, and does not readily move in most soils except sandy soils with very low CEC, so leaching is not an issue. At soil temperatures above freezing, nitrification occurs - ammonium is converted by specific soil microbes into nitrate-N (NO3-). Since this is a microbial reaction, it is very strongly influenced by soil temperatures. The higher the temperature, the quicker the conversion will occur. Depending on soil temperature, pH, and moisture content, it can take 2-3 months or longer to convert all the ammonia applied in late summer/early fall to nitrate. By delaying application until cold weather, most of the applied N can enter the winter as ammonium, and over-winter losses of the applied N will be minimal. Traditionally, producers should wait until soil temperatures are less than 50 degrees F at a depth of 4 inches before applying ammonia in the fall or early winter. Nitrification does not cease below 50 degrees F, but rather soils will likely become cold enough to limit the nitrification process. In many areas of Kansas, soils may stay warmer than 50 degrees well into late-fall and only freeze for short periods during the winter. The use of a nitrification inhibitor such as N-Serve can help reduce N losses from fall N applications under specific conditions, particularly during periods when soil temperatures warm back up for a period after application. One should also consider soil physical properties when considering fall application. Fall applications of N for corn should not be made on sandy soils prone to leaching, particularly those over shallow, unprotected aquifers. Rather, fall N applications should focus on deep, medium- to heavy-textured soils where water movement through the profile is slower. When is N lost?When considering fall application of N, keep in mind that loss of N during the fall and winter is not normally a problem in Kansas. The conversion of “protected” ammonium to “loss prone” nitrate during the fall and winter can be minimized by waiting to make applications until soils have cooled, and by using products such as nitrification inhibitors. The fact that essentially all the N may remain in the soil as ammonium all winter, coupled with our dry winters, means minimal N is likely to be lost over winter. However, soils often warm up early in the spring and allow nitrification to get started well before corn planting. Generally, if the wheat is greening up, nitrification has begun! Thus, one of the potential downsides of fall application is that nitrification can begin in late February and March, and essentially be complete before the corn crop takes up much N in late May and June. SummaryThe bottom line is this: If anhydrous ammonia is to be applied in the fall, there are a number of factors that must be considered, including soil texture, temperature, and soil moisture. Consider the following guidelines: <ul><li>Do not apply anhydrous ammonia in the fall on sandy soils.</li><li>On silt loam or heavier-textured soils, wait to apply anhydrous ammonia until soil temperatures at the 4-inch depth are below 50 degrees F (records indicate in most years this will be in November).</li><li>Use a nitrification inhibitor such as N-Serve with anhydrous ammonia to help reduce fall nitrification rates.</li><li>To check the soil temperature in your area visit the K-State Research and Extension Weather Data Library at: <a href="http://mesonet.k-state.edu/agriculture/soiltemp/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://mesonet.k-state.edu/agriculture/soiltemp/</a></li></ul>Stacy Campbell is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Fall application of anhydrous ammonia

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574442308723.jpeg"> SYLVAN GROVE — During its fall grant cycle, the Post Rock Community Foundation awarded over $33,000 to eight projects throughout Lincoln County and those served by USD 298 and USD 299. The following organizations received funding: · Lincoln Art Center, $9,190 for installation and supplies for a new floor for the Lincoln Art Center.· American Legion #359 Sylvan Grove, $8,093 for installation and supplies for a new floor for the facility.· Sylvan Historical Society, $5,000 to provide materials and labor to complete Phase 3 of the Sylvan Grove Union Pacific Railroad Depot renovation.· Lincoln County Emergency Management, $4,583 for the completion of installation of the storm siren for Hunter.· USD 299, $2,704 to purchase Legos and Lego Robotic kits for eighth grade students at Sylvan/Lucas Junior High.· Vesper Community Center, $1,996 for equipment purchases to improve the community center's emergency preparedness and food handling safety.· USD 299, $1,911 to purchase a new washer and dryer for life skills practice for special education students.· USD 299, $200 to rent the STAR LAB, from Smoky Hill Education Service Center in March. This round of grants was made possible by two funds at the community foundation: the Dane G. Hansen Community Grant Fund and the Post Rock Community Action Fund, which both focus on improving quality of life throughout the county. The foundation’s next grant cycle opens March 1, with online applications due May 1, 2020. For more information, visit <a href="http://postrockcf.org/search-apply-for-a-grant/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">http://postrockcf.org/search-apply-for-a-grant/</a>.

Lincoln County groups receive grants from Post Rock Community Foundation

Friends,The last few days have been a&nbsp;week of thanks&nbsp;in my office,&nbsp;to reflect on the people and blessings we are thankful for in our lives and in our country. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving yesterday and that you were able to celebrate with friends and family. I was blessed to be able to spend the day with my family back home in El Dorado.&nbsp; <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1575044407507.jpeg"> While enjoying our bountiful Thanksgiving meal, I reflected upon how thankful I am for all of the farmers and ranchers across this great country who work tirelessly to feed our nation and the world. I also thought about our men and women in uniform whose service may have prohibited them from being with their loved ones, so that we had the opportunity to be with ours. I cannot express how thankful we all are for your service. <h1>National Bible Week</h1>Above all else, I’m thankful to able to worship God in a free nation. Millions of people around the world are deprived of this basic human right, and I continue to keep them in my prayers and work to advance religious freedom globally. I am blessed to be able to regularly practice my faith, most often at my church in Great Bend, First Christian Church. This also happens to be National Bible Week, which has been celebrated since 1941, when President Roosevelt issued the first national proclamation. The Gospel has impacted my life profoundly, and I’m thankful to live in a country which recognizes the inalienable human right of freedom of religion, which is enshrined in our Constitution. <h1>Pence Celebrates with the Troops</h1>Last weekend, Vice President Mike Pence traveled to Iraq with his wife Karen to give the troops stationed at the Al Asad Air Force Base a surprise Thanksgiving celebration. Serving a group of nearly 150 troops the Vice President and Second Lady were able to bring a little taste of home to those serving overseas. It remains an honor to work alongside an administration that truly values and fights for the men and women who sacrifice to protect our nation. These heroes risk their lives everyday to keep Americans safe. To all of our armed forces, serving both domestically and overseas, we are thankful for your service. <h1>Get your Flu Shot!</h1>Vaccines continue to be one of the best ways to protect Americans and prevent the spread of illness and disease, such as the flu. Last week, the House Science Committee took a look at vaccine science, innovation in how we develop vaccines, and ways to better utilize technology and data as we try to make vaccines more effective. As we get deeper into cold and flu season, the hearing was an important conversation about the significance of investment and innovation in the health sciences, and a good reminder to get your flu shot before it is too late. <h1>Small Business Saturday</h1>From family farms to independent retailers, small businesses play a vital role in every community. Last week I once again signed on to the resolution honoring small businesses, and the impact they have across the county, by designating the Saturday after Thanksgiving as “Small Business Saturday.” I hope you will join me and&nbsp;ShopSmall&nbsp;on Saturday, ensuring that these companies can continue to support our local economies and overall way of life.&nbsp; To find out more about Small Business Saturday and ways to support local businesses, you can visit <a href="https://www.americanexpress.com/us/small-business/shop-small/" style="color: rgb(36, 64, 97);">www.shopsmall.com </a>or <a href="https://www.sba.gov/about-sba/organization/sba-initiatives#section-header-4" style="color: rgb(36, 64, 97);">www.sba.gov/saturday</a>. <h1>Supporting Wetland Conservation Efforts</h1>Last week, I supported extending the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). This extension, introduced by fellow Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus member Mike Thompson, will authorize $60 million annually through 2024 to conduct on the ground wetland conservation projects across North America. NAWCA provides financial resources to improve critical habitat for waterfowl, fish and other wildlife, while enhancing flood mitigation and improving air quality. NAWCA requires a dollar-for-dollar match of non-federal funds to federal dollars, and in the past, the program has raised $3 in non-federal funds for every federal dollar contributed. As an avid outdoorsman and hunter, I was proud to join my colleagues in the House in supporting this cost-effective and locally supported conservation program. <h1>National Suicide Prevention Hotline</h1>FCC Chairman Ajit Pai recently released his proposal to begin rulemaking establishing "9-8-8" as a new nationwide, three-digit hotline for mental health and suicide prevention. As suicide rates continue to increase it is critical that we are doing everything in our power to ensure people have access to the help they need, when the need it. Having quick access to help can make all the difference in times of crisis.&nbsp; As a member of the Suicide Prevention Caucus, I am thankful to see that the FCC is continuing to promote this issue. Earlier this year I joined as an original co-sponsor of H.R. 4194, which would permanently establish this three digit suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline. Together we can save lives, and I look forward to working with the FCC to see this implemented. <h1>Ag Newsletter</h1>I represent the largest agriculture-producing district in the country and have worked hard to promote our great farmers and ranchers. My office is starting an agriculture newsletter, dedicated to delivering news impacting all aspects of the agriculture industry. If you want to receive my updates, please email Katie Sawyer at katie.sawyer@mail.house.gov.&nbsp; I am proud of the work our farmers and ranchers do everyday and will continue to work hard to remove regulatory burdens, provide for a reliable farm safety net and open new markets to Kansas agriculture products. Congressman Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Great Bend) is the Kansas First District U.S. Representative.

MARSHALL: Doctor's Note Nov. 29

NORTON COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just after 1p.m. Thursday in Norton County. The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2017 Ram 1500 driven by Steven Tran, Lincoln, NE., was westbound on Kansas 383 three miles east of the Kansas 60 Junction when it hit a patch of slush. The pickup traveled left of center and struck a 2016 Ford Focus driven by Amber N. Durke, 35, Aurora, CO., &nbsp;head-on. EMS transported Tran a passenger in the Ram Sierra Nicole Hendrickson, 20, Oberlin, Durke, and a passenger in the Ford Anthony R. Durke, 61, Fountain, CO., to the hospital in Norton. All four were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

🎤Post Podcast: HACC says thanks to business community

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573140720976.jpeg"><img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574376931231.jpeg">Rachel Holopirek, third-grade teacher at La Crosse Elementary School, outside of her classroom in front of sunflowers her students painted. She is November's Hays Post Teacher of the Month. By CRISTINA JANNEYHays Post LA CROSSE — Rachel Holopirek gives her all to her students, and she expects their all in the classroom. Holopirek, a third-grade teacher at La Crosse Elementary School, was nominated for what her nominator said was a rare gift to capture and excite her students. The person who nominated Holopirek sang her praises but wished to remain anonymous. "I witness students sitting at the edge of their seats in her class listening intently to directions and the next activity," the nominator said. "Their eyes are wide with excitement, and they are not only engaged but having fun learning with one of her many project-based learning activities." Holopirek does little lecturing. Her students are usually moving around the room engaged in activities. "She inspires her students daily," the nominator said. "This is not only evident by the increased effort she gets from her students, not only the high test scores her students earn on the state tests (over half of her students scored at a 4 level in both reading and math, but also from the wonderful compliments I hear quite often from her students' parents." Holopirek said she believes if she has high expectations of her students, the students will be high performers. It is something that she values in her teachers growing up. Holopirek's nominator said her students want to reach their goals so they don't disappoint her. However, Holopirek said she knows children sometimes have challenges that make it difficult for them to concentrate and make the most of their learning during the school day. She said it is about seeing a student as a whole person. Her nominator noted Holopirek spends time before and after school helping students with school work and personal needs. Holopirek, 35, grew up in Peabody in a farm family. She has only been teaching elementary school for four years. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas in Unified Early Childhood Education, which allows her to teach birth through third grade. Before she came to La Crosse Elementary, she was director of the Tiny Steps preschool in La Crosse. She also has a master's degree in special education from Fort Hays State University. Holopirek didn't originally set out to be a teacher. She was studying child psychology, but some of her mentors urged her to pursue education instead. "I can remember my elementary school teachers," she said. "At the time, I didn't know the impact they were making in my life, but looking back, I know that they pushed me harder than I was achieving at that point and made me reach my potential. That was the teacher I wanted to be. "I want to set high expectations and push my students to reach their potential as learners." Summer Moeckel, a former Victoria teacher, has been one of Holopirek's greatest mentors. She said she was a very hands-on teacher, which is something to which Holopirek also aspires. One of the students' favorite activities is an economic lesson. The class takes out a loan from the bank. A bank official visits the class. The class uses the loan to buy ingredients for trail mix, sets up an assembly line, sells the trail mix and donates the profits to a cause of the students' choice. The students have donated money to their public library and school library. Last year's class donated their profits to the La Crosse pool. Holopirek also brings outside resources into the school to provide hands-on activities. The high school physics class teaches a lesson to the children. The day Hays Post visited, the class had a visit from the Wetlands Education Center. They also invite in experts from the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. "I just think there are so many resources outside of the classroom. Introducing those things to these students [is important]," she said. "In their lives, they might have a chance to go to those places, so being able to provide those in the classroom is big." Students learn in different ways and at different paces, Holopirek said. "As a teacher, it is our job and responsibility to make sure the instructions we are giving are done in multiple forms, so each child has the chance to succeed. "One of the things parents are most concerned about is the way we teach math now. Many call it Common Core. The idea is that we are teaching kids multiple ways to get to an answer and not giving them just one path in hopes each child will find a path that is right for them." Holopirek also has high standards for her students when it comes to behavior. "I have high expectations of how a student should behave inside the classroom, and I have been so impressed because even though I do set a high standard, I have't had a student who hasn't reached that. ... If they know you truly care about them, they will perform." She also works closely with families to support students. Because Holopirek has taught both her oldest child and is teaching her middle child now, she knows many of the children in her class beyond school. "I want to be a sense of comfort for those kids while still respecting their homes and their families," she said. Holopirek's husband teaches science at La Crosse High School. She said she and her husband make it a point to attend sporting and arts events in support of all the students in the school district. She has also helped organize teams in La Crosse that participate in Hays Recreation Commission leagues. "It is a priority of ours to let all of the USD 395 students know we care about them more than just inside the classroom," she said. When Holopirek was working with toddlers, she said she knew she made an impact on those children's lives, but they were too young to remember. "I am now teaching the students who I had as infants and toddlers, and they don't always remember the ones who made a difference when they were at a younger age. "I remember my third-grade teacher. ... I just hope some of the students will remember and look back at their elementary school teachers and know that they helped them develop into who they are because those are their critical years of development."<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573140720976.jpeg">

Teacher of the Month: Holopirek helps students reach their potential

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574447685330.jpeg">Kansas Department for Children and Families' social workers hold up sheets of papers illustrating the story of a 17-year-old boy who they expect in five years to be in prison or dead if they don't find him help. Evert Nelson / The Topeka Capital-Journal By PEGGY LOWE<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansas-foster-care-agency-trains-social-workers-be-personal-911-system-kids#stream/0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kansas News Service</a> The foster kid is a 17-year-old boy who was kicked out of his home when he was 10, started using drugs by 13, and in five years is expected to be in prison or dead. Kansas Department of Children and Families social workers check on him every day and there’s been some progress: He’s now in an independent living facility and he’s not using drugs anymore. But he still has many needs, including a coming heart transplant. How can he be helped? About 100 social workers from the Kansas Department for Children and Families considered that question at a bootcamp-stype workshop in Topeka on Friday with Kevin Campbell, creator of a national model called <a href="http://www.familyfinding.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Family Finding</a>. Campbell said the team assigned to the boy must find relatives or people who care about him and have them intervene in the boy’s life. “Basically you are building the personal 911 system for this kid,” Campbell said. “We call it a firehouse intervention. Quite literally, he needs a personal fire department ready to help him respond to the life he lives, which is a crisis every day.” The goal of Family Finding is getting kids connected to someone who loves them in hopes of keeping them out of the foster care system and potentially preventing further trauma. It’s one of several programs DCF has implemented since Gov. Laura Kelly came into office this year aimed at reforming the <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/parents-say-kansas-foster-care-system-chaotic-deceptive-and-traumatizing-children#stream/0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">long-embattled foster care system</a>. The social workers being trained on Friday came from DCF, the state’s two private contractors, and advocates from the community, said Tanya Keys, deputy DCF secretary. A strategic plan will be formed next month, while training is being implemented across the state, she said. “The idea is that (social workers) go back and start planting these seeds, talking about these concepts and we'll get materials out to them so we can start that readiness for implementation,” Keys said.<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574447717481.jpeg">Kevin Campbell, founder of the Center for Family Finding and Youth Connectedness, trains about 100 Kansas social workers Friday in a national model called "Family Finding." Credit Evert Nelson / The Topeka Capital-Journal Campbell, founder of the Center for Family Finding and Youth Connectedness and a former foster parent, began his research in 2000 after years of hearing “This kid’s got nobody.” He found that most foster children actually have a large family and that if they could be connected with five to eight adults who would make a “permanent relational commitment” to the child, it could change outcomes. “The training is really about, how do you heal children who have had such harm done to them?” he said. “And importantly, how do you heal the whole family? Because this kind of generational experience has to stop somewhere.” The training was sponsored by the Casey Foundation and Aetna Better Health of Kansas, which provides health care services for the state foster care system. Kellie Hans Reid, foster care coordinator with Aetna Better Health of Kansas, said research shows that traumatic experiences affect children’s health.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574447776725.jpeg">Groups of Kansas Department for Children and Families' social workers at a 'Family Finding' boot camp on Friday at the Topeka Capital Plaza Hotel. Credit Evert Nelson / The Topeka Capital-Journal “That, in turn, will affect their life course and their mortality, their metabolic issues, their cardiac issues,” she said. “What we know is that trauma affects the body.” After the training this week, the team of social workers went back to the 17-year-old boy they’d been working with. He had told them he didn’t have anyone in his life to help, but through talking with him about people from his past, social workers found some — including a former school principal and a former foster father who taught him jujitsu, a sport he loves. The social worker, who could not be identified because she works undercover to find missing foster kids, said she was trying to “give him a family, like it doesn’t have to be blood, just someone who cares about him.” “He went from having two of us,” she said, “to having 26 of us in this week.”&nbsp; Peggy Lowe is a reporter at KCUR and is on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/peggyllowe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@peggyllowe.</a>

Kan. foster care agency trains social workers to be ‘personal 911’ for kids 

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574441258055.png">FHSU UNIVERSITY RELATIONS Six students and an instructor from Fort Hays State University were honored at the 60th annual Kansas Speech-Language-Hearing Association conference in Topeka. Six students received Margaret Byrne Sarricks Scholarships: Lauren Oldham, a Dodge City (67801) graduate student; Janae Powell, a Bucklin (67834) graduate student; Mollie Reves, an Olathe (66062) graduate student; Amy Schneider, an Olathe (66061) graduate student; and Tanner Staab, a Hays (67601) graduate student. Reves also received the Dixie Heinrich Servant Leadership Award. “I am proud and honored yet incredibly humbled to have been recognized through this scholarship,” said Reves. “This is not taken lightly and is something I am very grateful to have received. Leadership has always been a quality that has been important to me and I continue to work to actively improve my skills in this area.” Tara Marshall, instructor of communication science and disorders, received the Honors of the Association Award, the highest honor awarded by the KSHA to an audiologist or speech-language pathologist who has contributed significantly to KSHA and demonstrated outstanding leadership in the profession. “I’m humbled and honored to receive this award,” said Marshall. “Being able to serve others is a large part of why I chose this profession and I feel so fortunate to be part of Fort Hays State that supports and encourages service.” Thirty-three undergraduate and graduate students and nine faculty members attended. Fort Hays State hosted a planning committee chaired by Marshall and Breanna Taylor, program specialist in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. “It was a great experience co-chairing at the KSHA conference. It was so humbling to see the hard work and dedication of FHSU faculty and students in planning for the conference,” said Taylor. “Watching the conference come to life due to the collaboration of speech-language pathologists and audiologists all over Kansas was truly a pleasure.” “This was my first time going to KSHA, and I am still processing all the information learned,” said Alexis Werner, a Hays (67601) graduate student in the CSD Department. “I am beyond thankful for the opportunity to be involved in a program that is so dedicated to helping others, advocating, and so much more. It was really awesome to see all that unfold at the annual conference.” KSHAs Mission Statement: KSHA provides innovative professional development, advocacy, leadership, and networking for current and future speech-language and hearing professionals to enhance service delivery for those with communicated and related disorders.

Hays student awarded scholarship at 60th KSHA conference

RUSSELL - The next opening at the Deines Cultural Center features art from multi-media artist Sierra Furtwangler from Kingston, NY and Toby Flores from Hays, KS.&nbsp;Furtwangler's show, "Entomological Geometry" is a selection of hand-stitched, quilted pieces made entirely from recycled fabrics.&nbsp; <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574808546476.png">"After Botticelli" by Sierra Furtwangler She is a member of multiple music projects in New York, and designs and hand stitches her own costumes for performances. The fabric scraps making up each of the works on display include recycled remnants from these previous projects. The work attempts to invoke relationships between science and witchcraft, biological illustration and shamanism, and to contemplate the existential terror that surrounds our perception and deconstruction of the physical world around us, while heavily grounded in the narratives of art history. Furtwangler earned her MFA in sculpture from State University of New York at Albany, Albany, NY in 2010. She has shown in multiple galleries in New York, Pennsylvania, and Washington. When not making art she&nbsp;teaches painting, sculpture, and digital art, specializing in disability support.&nbsp;<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574808854329.png"> "Get on Your Knees" by Toby Flores of Hays Toby Flores’ show "Iron Steel, and Mary" is&nbsp;sculpture that evokes his passion for metal forging and foundry work through his delightful sense of humor. &nbsp;"At times, my work can be humorous and lighthearted, but this body of work comes from a different place and reflects my passion for iron, steel and the tools that shape them," said Flores.&nbsp;Flores earned a Master of Fine Arts in sculpture from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, in 2003. He has been teaching sculpture at Fort Hays State University since 2006.&nbsp;The opening reception is Friday, December 6&nbsp;from 5-7 p.m. During the opening Sierra and her husband, Heron’s two-person band "Blood and Stomach Pills" will play a brief set.&nbsp;The Deines Cultural Center is located in downtown Russell at 820 North Main Street. Admission is free and everyone is welcome. Call 785-483-3742 for information. - NEWS RELEASE -

Hays artist featured in new Deines Cultural Center exhibit

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574099003602.png"><a href="https://www.hayspost.com/state-farm-weather-window/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">For a full look at weather visit the State Farm Weather Window by clicking here. </a><img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574870517829.jpeg">

WAKEENEY — American Legion Moore Post 197 will be serving refreshment, hot chocolate and coffee at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Volunteers, who also will have goodie bags, will serve from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Legion Hall, 517 Russell Ave.<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574801131255.png">

Legion will serve treats at WaKeeney tree-lighting ceremony

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