I write this letter for educational purposes because there has been a text sent out by the ACLU to my constituents to request their support that I put a polling location on Fort Hays State University campus.

What polling location you use when you vote on Election Day is driven by where you live. Being a student and/or faculty member on campus on the day of the Election doesn’t mean that you can vote at that polling location. Only those who live in Ward 1 Precinct 1 or 2 would be able to vote on campus. If you are a student or faculty member that lives elsewhere in Ellis County and you attempt to vote on campus, the Election Board worker will direct you to your correct polling location, as you will not be in the poll book at that location.

While I did close down the polling location that was closest to FHSU, I did so because of the historically low voter turnout. I had to close another poll site because of it being nonADA compliant, and being a good steward of the County’s money, I found it economically feasible to combine a low performing poll site with the one I closed down.

The opportunity was presented to me to use Messiah Lutheran Church, which is a perfect location for all four Wards and Precincts because it has a large room for the Election, as well as ample parking.

I would also like to take this time to remind, not only the students, but everyone in the county that we offer early voting at the Administration Center, which is only .40 miles from campus, starting two weeks prior to any election, or you can request an advance mail ballot.

I was asked by the students to offer Saturday early voting; therefore I will be offering early voting on the Saturday prior to Election Day to accommodate those students as well as others that cannot get away from school and/or their jobs during the week. Saturday voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Administration Center, 718 Main.

If anyone has any questions or concerns, please contact me at 785-628-9410, email me at bdreiling@ellisco.net or stop by the office at 718 Main St., Hays.

—Bobbi Dreiling, Ellis County Clerk, Election official

I write this letter for educational purposes because there has been a text sent out by the ACLU to my constituents to request their support that I put a polling location on Fort Hays State University campus.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698091063975.png" alt="letter&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>letter&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>What polling location you use when you vote on Election Day is driven by where you live. Being a student and/or faculty member on campus on the day of the Election doesn’t mean that you can vote at that polling location. Only those who live in Ward 1 Precinct 1 or 2 would be able to vote on campus. If you are a student or faculty member that lives elsewhere in Ellis County and you attempt to vote on campus, the Election Board worker will direct you to your correct polling location, as you will not be in the poll book at that location.While I did close down the polling location that was closest to FHSU, I did so because of the historically low voter turnout. I had to close another poll site because of it being nonADA compliant, and being a good steward of the County’s money, I found it economically feasible to combine a low performing poll site with the one I closed down.The opportunity was presented to me to use Messiah Lutheran Church, which is a perfect location for all four Wards and Precincts because it has a large room for the Election, as well as ample parking.I would also like to take this time to remind, not only the students, but everyone in the county that we offer early voting at the Administration Center, which is only .40 miles from campus, starting two weeks prior to any election, or you can request an advance mail ballot.I was asked by the students to offer Saturday early voting; therefore I will be offering early voting on the Saturday prior to Election Day to accommodate those students as well as others that cannot get away from school and/or their jobs during the week. Saturday voting will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Administration Center, 718 Main.If anyone has any questions or concerns, please contact me at 785-628-9410, email me at bdreiling@ellisco.net or stop by the office at 718 Main St., Hays.—Bobbi Dreiling, Ellis County Clerk, Election official

LETTER: Ellis County Clerk answers questions on polling locations

By STEVE GILLILAND Exploring Kansas Outdoors

One October a few years ago, I watched a large number of hawks following combines through a soybean field, snatching up rodents kicked out of hiding by the machines as they lumbered through the fields. The dictionary defines symbiotic (symbiosis) as “The living together of two kinds of organisms to their mutual advantage.” Maybe “symbiotic” is not quite the right word to describe the above scenario, but you have to admit there are times where animals and birds use human activities to their advantage.

For example, years ago I had some peacocks. Any of you who presently own or have ever owned peacocks will agree with me that they can be a real pain in the butt, but while I had those pesky fowl, I had gardens that were absolutely insect-free. They would follow me when I mowed the lawn, back a few feet and on the side of the mower where the grass was discharged, and would turn themselves inside out to be the first to snatch a bug shot out from the mower, especially those big green hoppers I called “katydids.” Symbiotic or not, they knew that when the lawn mower was pushed across the yard, snacks would come their way.

Awhile back, we stopped to see a friend at a business on a side street smack in the middle of downtown Hutchinson. As we pulled into the parking lot, the large dumpster for the business sat straight ahead of us inside a four-sided enclosure, and perched on the back corner of the enclosure was what appeared to be a hawk decoy, put there to ward off pigeons I presumed. As I stared at the decoy, it swiveled its head around and stared back at me; it was a mature red tailed hawk with a squirrel held firmly in its talons. I was slightly surprised to see a red-tailed hawk in downtown Hutchinson, and since there were no houses or trees for several blocks around, I was really puzzled as to where the hawk had managed to snag the squirrel.

Our friend there was not surprised to hear about the hawk and added some details that explained where the hawk had likely found the squirrel. The business is very near the railroad, and that time of the year, he said there always seemed to be dabs of grain strewn along the tracks, evidently from rail cars moving wheat, soybeans, corn and milo. Pigeons, squirrels and birds came from all over that part

of town to feast on the grain, making for a virtual smorgasbord for stealthy predators like the hawk. He told us he once observed a hawk catch a pigeon nearby as it snacked on the grain. Again, maybe this is not really a true symbiotic relationship, but the squirrels and pigeons knew the grain would be there, and the predators knew the pigeons and squirrels will be there too, all thanks to man.

Just like domestic livestock quickly becoming familiar when chores are done each day and they are fed, the above scenarios can also be repeated over and over again in the wild. Wildlife not only relies on nature for survival, it also learns when help is available, inadvertently or not, from man too.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Exploring Kansas OutdoorsOne October a few years ago, I watched a large number of hawks following combines through a soybean field, snatching up rodents kicked out of hiding by the machines as they lumbered through the fields. The dictionary defines symbiotic (symbiosis) as “The living together of two kinds of organisms to their mutual advantage.” Maybe “symbiotic” is not quite the right word to describe the above scenario, but you have to admit there are times where animals and birds use human activities to their advantage.For example, years ago I had some peacocks. Any of you who presently own or have ever owned peacocks will agree with me that they can be a real pain in the butt, but while I had those pesky fowl, I had gardens that were absolutely insect-free. They would follow me when I mowed the lawn, back a few feet and on the side of the mower where the grass was discharged, and would turn themselves inside out to be the first to snatch a bug shot out from the mower, especially those big green hoppers I called “katydids.” Symbiotic or not, they knew that when the lawn mower was pushed across the yard, snacks would come their way.Awhile back, we stopped to see a friend at a business on a side street smack in the middle of downtown Hutchinson. As we pulled into the parking lot, the large dumpster for the business sat straight ahead of us inside a four-sided enclosure, and perched on the back corner of the enclosure was what appeared to be a hawk decoy, put there to ward off pigeons I presumed. As I stared at the decoy, it swiveled its head around and stared back at me; it was a mature red tailed hawk with a squirrel held firmly in its talons. I was slightly surprised to see a red-tailed hawk in downtown Hutchinson, and since there were no houses or trees for several blocks around, I was really puzzled as to where the hawk had managed to snag the squirrel.Our friend there was not surprised to hear about the hawk and added some details that explained where the hawk had likely found the squirrel. The business is very near the railroad, and that time of the year, he said there always seemed to be dabs of grain strewn along the tracks, evidently from rail cars moving wheat, soybeans, corn and milo. Pigeons, squirrels and birds came from all over that partof town to feast on the grain, making for a virtual smorgasbord for stealthy predators like the hawk. He told us he once observed a hawk catch a pigeon nearby as it snacked on the grain. Again, maybe this is not really a true symbiotic relationship, but the squirrels and pigeons knew the grain would be there, and the predators knew the pigeons and squirrels will be there too, all thanks to man.Just like domestic livestock quickly becoming familiar when chores are done each day and they are fed, the above scenarios can also be repeated over and over again in the wild. Wildlife not only relies on nature for survival, it also learns when help is available, inadvertently or not, from man too.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

GILLILAND: Survival of the Fastest

By MARK JOSLYN Insight Kansas

It’s not unusual to see homeless people drifting outside of businesses, lingering near public transportation, sleeping under bridges, or camping in city parks.

But sometimes we pause and consider what in fact happened.&nbsp; What personal setbacks or tragic circumstances caused this? &nbsp;

The answers are important because the causes people assign directly impact their support for government solutions.

According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2023-AHAR-Part-1.pdf">2023 report</a>&nbsp;from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the number of people living on the streets or in shelters on a single night in January was more than 650K, a 12% increase from 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp; The count is the highest recorded since the inception of the annual report in 2007. It also marked the sixth consecutive year of growth. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Homelessness also rose in forty-one states.&nbsp; The largest increases were in New York (29,022 more homeless), California (9,878), Florida (4,797), Colorado (4,042), and Massachusetts (3,634). States with the highest homeless population per 10,000 residents were New York (52), Vermont (51), Oregon (48), and California (46). &nbsp;

In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2023-AHAR-Part-1.pdf">Kansas</a>, the homeless population was 2,636, or a rate of 9 per 10,000 residents.&nbsp; It’s the&nbsp;<a href="https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness-dashboards/?State=Kansas">fifth</a>&nbsp;year in a row Kansas’s homeless rate increased, and the largest total number since 2014.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Scholars and homeless advocates typically&nbsp;<a href="https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2024/01/why-its-so-hard-to-end-homelessness-in-america/">identify</a>&nbsp;structural or systemic factors as root causes.&nbsp; Persistent system level challenges like the absence of affordable housing, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, and the grind of poverty are frequently cited.

In addition, individual causes are mentioned – such as lack of personal responsibility, poor finance skills, mental illness, and substance abuse.

Recent&nbsp;<a href="https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/48510-more-americans-homelessness-serious-problem-poll">polling</a>&nbsp;shows most Americans recognize homelessness as a very serious problem.&nbsp; And the public names both systemic and individual causes.

However, Democrats prefer systemic causes and Republicans individual ones. &nbsp;

Democrats, for example, are more likely than Republicans to&nbsp;<a href="https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/48510-more-americans-homelessness-serious-problem-poll">identify</a>&nbsp;lack of affordable housing and poverty.&nbsp; Republicans are more likely than Democrats to name drugs and alcohol addiction and personal responsibility.

Consequently Democrats strongly&nbsp;<a href="https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/42548-american-attitudes-on-homelessness-poll">support</a>&nbsp;government programs that build housing for the chronically homeless, boosting funding for subsidized housing, and allocating more resources to social services.&nbsp;

Republicans prioritize funding for people with addictions and for veterans.&nbsp; They also support incentivizing developers to build low income housing, architecture that prevents homeless from sleeping or camping in public and banning homeless encampments.

Though the parties may never agree on the causes of homelessness, the unfolding humanitarian and administrative crisis at the U.S. Mexico border threatens to ensnare homelessness in the immense tangle of immigration politics.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Thousands of migrants have traveled to various cities across the country.&nbsp; Local governments and non-profits, already dealing with the challenges of homelessness, face extraordinary&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cpr.org/2024/01/04/colorado-democrats-ask-for-more-federal-money-for-migrants/">financial strains</a>&nbsp;in housing and feeding the new arrivals.&nbsp; Federal funds&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2023/08/21/dhs-announces-distribution-more-77-million-congressional-funding-communities">allocated</a>&nbsp;for this purpose are increasingly scarce, which means many shelters may soon close and migrants will be forced onto the streets.

The two crises are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/23/housing-crisis-migrant-immigrants-homeless">coming together</a>, one effectively magnifying the other.

Immigration now leads the latest&nbsp;<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/611135/immigration-surges-top-important-problem-list.aspx">Gallup poll</a>&nbsp;as the most pressing problem in the nation – surpassing inflation and the economy.&nbsp; Homelessness ranks fifth, moving up from past surveys and ahead of key issues like race relations, crime, democracy, and healthcare.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

We can no longer afford to look away.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695215697316.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK JOSLYN Insight KansasIt’s not unusual to see homeless people drifting outside of businesses, lingering near public transportation, sleeping under bridges, or camping in city parks.Often, we look away.But sometimes we pause and consider what in fact happened.&nbsp; What personal setbacks or tragic circumstances caused this? &nbsp;The answers are important because the causes people assign directly impact their support for government solutions.According to a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2023-AHAR-Part-1.pdf">2023 report</a>&nbsp;from U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the number of people living on the streets or in shelters on a single night in January was more than 650K, a 12% increase from 2022.&nbsp;&nbsp; The count is the highest recorded since the inception of the annual report in 2007. It also marked the sixth consecutive year of growth. &nbsp;&nbsp;Homelessness also rose in forty-one states.&nbsp; The largest increases were in New York (29,022 more homeless), California (9,878), Florida (4,797), Colorado (4,042), and Massachusetts (3,634). States with the highest homeless population per 10,000 residents were New York (52), Vermont (51), Oregon (48), and California (46). &nbsp;In&nbsp;<a href="https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2023-AHAR-Part-1.pdf">Kansas</a>, the homeless population was 2,636, or a rate of 9 per 10,000 residents.&nbsp; It’s the&nbsp;<a href="https://endhomelessness.org/homelessness-in-america/homelessness-statistics/state-of-homelessness-dashboards/?State=Kansas">fifth</a>&nbsp;year in a row Kansas’s homeless rate increased, and the largest total number since 2014.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Scholars and homeless advocates typically&nbsp;<a href="https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2024/01/why-its-so-hard-to-end-homelessness-in-america/">identify</a>&nbsp;structural or systemic factors as root causes.&nbsp; Persistent system level challenges like the absence of affordable housing, particularly in low-income neighborhoods, and the grind of poverty are frequently cited.In addition, individual causes are mentioned – such as lack of personal responsibility, poor finance skills, mental illness, and substance abuse.Recent&nbsp;<a href="https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/48510-more-americans-homelessness-serious-problem-poll">polling</a>&nbsp;shows most Americans recognize homelessness as a very serious problem.&nbsp; And the public names both systemic and individual causes.However, Democrats prefer systemic causes and Republicans individual ones. &nbsp;Democrats, for example, are more likely than Republicans to&nbsp;<a href="https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/48510-more-americans-homelessness-serious-problem-poll">identify</a>&nbsp;lack of affordable housing and poverty.&nbsp; Republicans are more likely than Democrats to name drugs and alcohol addiction and personal responsibility.Consequently Democrats strongly&nbsp;<a href="https://today.yougov.com/politics/articles/42548-american-attitudes-on-homelessness-poll">support</a>&nbsp;government programs that build housing for the chronically homeless, boosting funding for subsidized housing, and allocating more resources to social services.&nbsp;Republicans prioritize funding for people with addictions and for veterans.&nbsp; They also support incentivizing developers to build low income housing, architecture that prevents homeless from sleeping or camping in public and banning homeless encampments.Though the parties may never agree on the causes of homelessness, the unfolding humanitarian and administrative crisis at the U.S. Mexico border threatens to ensnare homelessness in the immense tangle of immigration politics.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Thousands of migrants have traveled to various cities across the country.&nbsp; Local governments and non-profits, already dealing with the challenges of homelessness, face extraordinary&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cpr.org/2024/01/04/colorado-democrats-ask-for-more-federal-money-for-migrants/">financial strains</a>&nbsp;in housing and feeding the new arrivals.&nbsp; Federal funds&nbsp;<a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2023/08/21/dhs-announces-distribution-more-77-million-congressional-funding-communities">allocated</a>&nbsp;for this purpose are increasingly scarce, which means many shelters may soon close and migrants will be forced onto the streets.The two crises are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/23/housing-crisis-migrant-immigrants-homeless">coming together</a>, one effectively magnifying the other.Immigration now leads the latest&nbsp;<a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/611135/immigration-surges-top-important-problem-list.aspx">Gallup poll</a>&nbsp;as the most pressing problem in the nation – surpassing inflation and the economy.&nbsp; Homelessness ranks fifth, moving up from past surveys and ahead of key issues like race relations, crime, democracy, and healthcare.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;We can no longer afford to look away.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: The causes of homelessness

By Stacy Campbell Cottonwood Extension District, Hays

I hope that many of you involved in agriculture in Kansas are already familiar with the AgManager.info web site. It is one of the premier extension sites for information on the agricultural economy, from Kansas State University.

AgManager.info website is a comprehensive source of information, analysis, and decision-making tools for agricultural producers, agribusinesses, and others. The site serves as a clearinghouse for applied outreach information emanating from the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University. It was created by combining departmental and faculty sites as well as creating new features exclusive to the AgManager.info site. The goal of this coordination is to improve the organization of web-based material and allow greater access for agricultural producers and other clientele. Topics presented on the AgManager.info site include: crop and livestock marketing and outlook reports, crop insurance, farm management, land values, rental rates, agricultural policy, farm bill, upcoming events, human resources, income tax and law, and agribusiness. Several topics include features that are updated weekly, encouraging repeat visits to the site. AgManager.info also contains decision-making tools, such as budget spreadsheets, and data sets that can encourage the agricultural industry to view AgManager.info as the most comprehensive and widely used university-sponsored website for applied research and economic outreach information.

If you are in the agriculture industry I would highly encourage to visit the site and I think you will see the vast amount of useful information on it, and will hopefully book mark it! In 2023 there were a total of 259,047 sessions by 177,314 unique visitors, with 516,500 page views. There is not a week that goes by in my job as an Extension Agent that I do not go to and utilize the information on the web site for my work. The web address is www.agmanager.info

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By Stacy Campbell Cottonwood Extension District, HaysI hope that many of you involved in agriculture in Kansas are already familiar with the AgManager.info web site. It is one of the premier extension sites for information on the agricultural economy, from Kansas State University.AgManager.info website is a comprehensive source of information, analysis, and decision-making tools for agricultural producers, agribusinesses, and others. The site serves as a clearinghouse for applied outreach information emanating from the Department of Agricultural Economics at Kansas State University. It was created by combining departmental and faculty sites as well as creating new features exclusive to the AgManager.info site. The goal of this coordination is to improve the organization of web-based material and allow greater access for agricultural producers and other clientele. Topics presented on the AgManager.info site include: crop and livestock marketing and outlook reports, crop insurance, farm management, land values, rental rates, agricultural policy, farm bill, upcoming events, human resources, income tax and law, and agribusiness. Several topics include features that are updated weekly, encouraging repeat visits to the site. AgManager.info also contains decision-making tools, such as budget spreadsheets, and data sets that can encourage the agricultural industry to view AgManager.info as the most comprehensive and widely used university-sponsored website for applied research and economic outreach information.If you are in the agriculture industry I would highly encourage to visit the site and I think you will see the vast amount of useful information on it, and will hopefully book mark it! In 2023 there were a total of 259,047 sessions by 177,314 unique visitors, with 516,500 page views. There is not a week that goes by in my job as an Extension Agent that I do not go to and utilize the information on the web site for my work. The web address is www.agmanager.infoStacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

Campbell: AgManager.info – for agricultural producers, agribusiness

A favorite page updates me daily on how many days remain til Spring arrives; however, I don’t need notices because friends post photos of budding trees and blooming crocuses. Lengthening sunshine, robins appearing, and sandhill cranes winging north direct me to search for sprouting tulips and daffodils as well as evidence of last fall’s scattered seeds germinating in our flower beds. These may not flash neon, but hints that spring lurks around the corner pop up daily in our yard.

One clue is a crazy tulip ring our two little granddaughters and I planted two falls ago that recently thrust a couple of inches of pointy green leaves through crusty soil. The wacky orb we three girls created that afternoon is as jabberwocky as it was the day we planted it despite me urging little blondes to keep it straight. I’m so glad natural inclinations took over, leaving intriguing protuberances and indentions in our masterpiece. That crazy shape adds so much joy to the blooms and reminds me of blessed time with loved ones new to digging orderly holes and burying bulbs.

Last fall, to complement the tulips, I tucked in a line of daffodils along a patio where we set bird baths. The stems haven’t emerged but bulges reminiscent of gloriously pregnant bellies tell me I’ll see green any day. I can’t wait to watch breezes make ruffled, yellow cups dance and invite neighborhood bees to hide inside.

After inspecting this emergent behavior, I checked last year’s flower bed to see what magic had worked it way to the surface. Sure enough, bachelor button leaves stretch toward sun rays along with tiny sprouts still too small to identify. I intentionally flung seeds of flowers I saw hummers or butterflies visiting last summer into every bed in the yard. Here’s hoping their blooms invite scores of favorite visitors.

To guarantee we’ll have ample nectar and pollen to entice more guests, I picked up seed packets at a local store. Now that some of last fall’s seeds have shot up tiny, curled leaves, I’ll add new varieties to the mix. If long term forecasters hit their mark regarding moisture predications, we’ll enjoy action in the flower garden until next fall’s first hard frost.

As protection for bees and other pollinators through the winter, we leave dead and decomposing stalks, stems, and leaves to cover overwintering pollinators. As a bonus, birds we feed hide in the tumbled piles from a Cooper’s Hawk who passes through at least one a week seeking dinner. I’ve started cleaning a few of those to prepare our potato plot for planting somewhere around St. Patrick’s Day. It takes all my patience to keep from rushing to clear everything to bare soil. I’m so ready to garden, but we still have frigid temps ahead and pollinators need any help we can offer.

Though I love autumn best, thoughts of giving myself a tilled-soil French manicure sets every eager-to-plant nerve in me on fire. When Spring lurks, more patience exits with every warm breeze.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158626307.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINA favorite page updates me daily on how many days remain til Spring arrives; however, I don’t need notices because friends post photos of budding trees and blooming crocuses. Lengthening sunshine, robins appearing, and sandhill cranes winging north direct me to search for sprouting tulips and daffodils as well as evidence of last fall’s scattered seeds germinating in our flower beds. These may not flash neon, but hints that spring lurks around the corner pop up daily in our yard.One clue is a crazy tulip ring our two little granddaughters and I planted two falls ago that recently thrust a couple of inches of pointy green leaves through crusty soil. The wacky orb we three girls created that afternoon is as jabberwocky as it was the day we planted it despite me urging little blondes to keep it straight. I’m so glad natural inclinations took over, leaving intriguing protuberances and indentions in our masterpiece. That crazy shape adds so much joy to the blooms and reminds me of blessed time with loved ones new to digging orderly holes and burying bulbs.Last fall, to complement the tulips, I tucked in a line of daffodils along a patio where we set bird baths. The stems haven’t emerged but bulges reminiscent of gloriously pregnant bellies tell me I’ll see green any day. I can’t wait to watch breezes make ruffled, yellow cups dance and invite neighborhood bees to hide inside.After inspecting this emergent behavior, I checked last year’s flower bed to see what magic had worked it way to the surface. Sure enough, bachelor button leaves stretch toward sun rays along with tiny sprouts still too small to identify. I intentionally flung seeds of flowers I saw hummers or butterflies visiting last summer into every bed in the yard. Here’s hoping their blooms invite scores of favorite visitors.To guarantee we’ll have ample nectar and pollen to entice more guests, I picked up seed packets at a local store. Now that some of last fall’s seeds have shot up tiny, curled leaves, I’ll add new varieties to the mix. If long term forecasters hit their mark regarding moisture predications, we’ll enjoy action in the flower garden until next fall’s first hard frost.As protection for bees and other pollinators through the winter, we leave dead and decomposing stalks, stems, and leaves to cover overwintering pollinators. As a bonus, birds we feed hide in the tumbled piles from a Cooper’s Hawk who passes through at least one a week seeking dinner. I’ve started cleaning a few of those to prepare our potato plot for planting somewhere around St. Patrick’s Day. It takes all my patience to keep from rushing to clear everything to bare soil. I’m so ready to garden, but we still have frigid temps ahead and pollinators need any help we can offer.Though I love autumn best, thoughts of giving myself a tilled-soil French manicure sets every eager-to-plant nerve in me on fire. When Spring lurks, more patience exits with every warm breeze.

MADORIN: When spring lurks

By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension District

Last week, I discussed the benefits of outdoor play. Next, I would like to explore ideas and get creative on things to do outside to hopefully spark your own imagination on how to make outside time more appealing to children than electronics. Be a good role model for your children and spend time outside yourself! Sometimes we have to make it a priority for it to happen. Don’t overthink it and it doesn’t always have to be complicated or elaborate.

· Nature Study-take a camera and a notebook-start a nature collection or have a scavenger hunt

· Visit a farm, orchard, botanical garden

· Pick flowers and make May Day baskets (May 1st)

· Fishing, hunting, camping (age appropriate, could be real or make believe)

I hope this encourages you to get outside and enjoy whatever weather we are having right now. I have fond memories of playing football and visiting several parks on a weekend afternoons while

enjoying a snack along the way with my children when they were younger. Now I enjoy taking my dogs for a walk, especially when my husband tags along.

I always admired a neighbor of mine that had young children. I would see them outside in all kinds of weather, different times of the day, for different lengths of time. Sometimes the parents were outside with them doing a structured activity and other times the older kids would be outside on their own. They gardened, walked, rode bikes and scooters, went to the pool, played ball games, among many other activities. This allowed them to spend time together as a family and enjoy the benefits of physical activity as well as the outdoors. I think they also used it as a way to help their children calm down on trying days. By creating a change of scenery, it allowed the child to get out some emotions or pent up energy. What a great idea to help children learn to manage their emotions. What if when we were stressed or upset about something we took a walk or jog to sort out our feelings rather than eating something that was bad for us or going shopping?

Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension DistrictLast week, I discussed the benefits of outdoor play. Next, I would like to explore ideas and get creative on things to do outside to hopefully spark your own imagination on how to make outside time more appealing to children than electronics. Be a good role model for your children and spend time outside yourself! Sometimes we have to make it a priority for it to happen. Don’t overthink it and it doesn’t always have to be complicated or elaborate.Ideas for Outside play:· Ball play· Walking/bike/scooter trails· Sand play· Water play· Bubble play· Sidewalk chalk· Nature Study-take a camera and a notebook-start a nature collection or have a scavenger hunt· Parks· Picnics· Read (yes, take books outside)· Gardening· Visit a farm, orchard, botanical garden· Make mud pies· Climb a tree· Pick flowers and make May Day baskets (May 1st)· Biking, scooters, surf, boogey board· Jump rope· Take dog for a walk/play fetch· Fishing, hunting, camping (age appropriate, could be real or make believe)I hope this encourages you to get outside and enjoy whatever weather we are having right now. I have fond memories of playing football and visiting several parks on a weekend afternoons whileenjoying a snack along the way with my children when they were younger. Now I enjoy taking my dogs for a walk, especially when my husband tags along.I always admired a neighbor of mine that had young children. I would see them outside in all kinds of weather, different times of the day, for different lengths of time. Sometimes the parents were outside with them doing a structured activity and other times the older kids would be outside on their own. They gardened, walked, rode bikes and scooters, went to the pool, played ball games, among many other activities. This allowed them to spend time together as a family and enjoy the benefits of physical activity as well as the outdoors. I think they also used it as a way to help their children calm down on trying days. By creating a change of scenery, it allowed the child to get out some emotions or pent up energy. What a great idea to help children learn to manage their emotions. What if when we were stressed or upset about something we took a walk or jog to sort out our feelings rather than eating something that was bad for us or going shopping?Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu.

KOERNER: Outdoor play

By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension District

Sometimes physical activity can be a chore. After a long day of work, running errands, and taking care of loved ones, it can seem like another “to-do” on the list. However, when we avoid movement, we feel guilt creep in. We know it’s important to improve the number on the scale, decrease cholesterol, manage blood sugar, and set ourselves up for healthy aging. Although these are all significant reasons to get active, they may not be enough.

Science indicates that the right “why” to be active is the motivator that makes you genuinely want to prioritize physical activity. This drive comes from within, and it is strongly related to what you value most in life. How can sitting less and moving more contribute to your values or to the roles you play in life?

Connecting movement and physical activity with your ability to fulfill your values can be a good starting place in finding your “why.”

For example, you may be someone who values relationships most in life. Do you strive to be an active grandparent, productive employee, or supportive friend? Regular stretching, going on a daily walk, or biking to work can strengthen your heart, build muscle, and defend against chronic illness. Physical activity can play an important part in your ability to serve others and fulfill your purpose in each role you play.

When you view physical activity this way, movement may feel more like a gift than a chore.

Think about physical activity you actually enjoy such as pickleball, dancing, biking, or gardening. When you take part in movement you find joy in, you might just have fun! These activities can be something you look forward to and result in immediate benefits. You will likely feel more energized, focused, flexible, and less stressed. When you exercise for these reasons, physical activity can be a hobby that fills your cup. This is why it is essential to schedule time for movement. When you prioritize your own health, you have more to pour into the things you value most in life.

Take time to analyze your current motivation for exercise. Is it sustainable, or will you burn out in the near future? When you find the right “why,” exercise can become a gift that you want to do. You will succeed and reap the immediate benefits of movement. This is the successful cycle of motivation. I encourage you to find your “why” and to see movement as a gift. After all, it is one that keeps on giving.

Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697546908793.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension DistrictSometimes physical activity can be a chore. After a long day of work, running errands, and taking care of loved ones, it can seem like another “to-do” on the list. However, when we avoid movement, we feel guilt creep in. We know it’s important to improve the number on the scale, decrease cholesterol, manage blood sugar, and set ourselves up for healthy aging. Although these are all significant reasons to get active, they may not be enough.Science indicates that the right “why” to be active is the motivator that makes you genuinely want to prioritize physical activity. This drive comes from within, and it is strongly related to what you value most in life. How can sitting less and moving more contribute to your values or to the roles you play in life?Connecting movement and physical activity with your ability to fulfill your values can be a good starting place in finding your “why.”For example, you may be someone who values relationships most in life. Do you strive to be an active grandparent, productive employee, or supportive friend? Regular stretching, going on a daily walk, or biking to work can strengthen your heart, build muscle, and defend against chronic illness. Physical activity can play an important part in your ability to serve others and fulfill your purpose in each role you play.When you view physical activity this way, movement may feel more like a gift than a chore.Think about physical activity you actually enjoy such as pickleball, dancing, biking, or gardening. When you take part in movement you find joy in, you might just have fun! These activities can be something you look forward to and result in immediate benefits. You will likely feel more energized, focused, flexible, and less stressed. When you exercise for these reasons, physical activity can be a hobby that fills your cup. This is why it is essential to schedule time for movement. When you prioritize your own health, you have more to pour into the things you value most in life.Take time to analyze your current motivation for exercise. Is it sustainable, or will you burn out in the near future? When you find the right “why,” exercise can become a gift that you want to do. You will succeed and reap the immediate benefits of movement. This is the successful cycle of motivation. I encourage you to find your “why” and to see movement as a gift. After all, it is one that keeps on giving.Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.

WINKEL: Find your 'Why'

This week we finished the budget work and will have the budget ready to pass out of committee by Thursday and next week debated on the Senate floor.

These are additional bills passed out of the Senate prior to turnaround last week:

SB292 would create law to authorize the appointment of a State Judge Advocate by the Adjutant General; create and amend law related to death and disability benefits provided to Kansas Air and Army National Guard members; and amend law throughout Chapter 48 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated to modernize statutory language, remove outdated statutes, and remove references to trial by court-martial.

SB 384 would authorize the Emergency Medical Services Board to grant a permanent variance from a rule and regulation adopted to implement, enforce, or otherwise regulate provisions regarding minimal staffing on each vehicle providing emergency service.

SB 387 will modify a provision governing open enrollment in the Kansas School Equity and Enhancement Act to provide for the continued enrollment of nonresident students in a school district until the student graduates from high school. The bill would clarify that any student enrolled as a nonresident in a school district during the school year 2023-2024 will be permitted to continue their enrollment and attendance in that school district if the student is deemed in good standing. Such students would not be required to go through the lottery process to remain enrolled at the school district in the 2024-2025 school year. It would also specify that no school district shall be required to provide transportation to nonresident students unless otherwise required by applicable law and would add a deadline of July 30 of each year to a current notification requirement of school districts to notify the parent of the student’s denied enrollment and creates the ability for the parent to appeal the denial to the school district’s board of education. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the parent would be permitted to appeal to the Commissioner of Education, who will be required to conduct a hearing in accordance with the Kansas Administrative Procedure Act.

SB 318 would amend law in the Kansas Code of Procedure for Municipal Courts governing fingerprinting for municipal convictions and the prosecution of cases by the city attorney in municipal court.

SB 338 would amend provisions pertaining to certain financial reporting requirements on group- funded liability and group-funded workers compensation pools and would also remove a notification requirement relating to termination or cancellation of a member in a group-funded workers compensation pool.

SB 356 will amend provisions governing examination fees and compensation for examiners in the Insurance Code to establish a tiered-fee structure for financial examinations of insurance companies and societies based on the gross premiums received by such entities. The bill would also establish that certain examination costs be “reasonable.”

HB 2545 passed the House and the Senate which will make changes to the Self-Service Storage Act, specifically concerning sales of property after a notice of termination or non-renewal; non-delivery of rental agreements; and electronic signatures and delivery of rental agreements. The bill would permit a self-storage operator to sell personal property not retrieved by an occupant within 45 days of a notice of termination or non- renewal delivered by the operator pursuant to the rental agreement’s terms. It would also address party obligations when one party does not sign or deliver a rental agreement, but actions indicate the rental is to begin or continue.

I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. 

Please do not hesitate to contact me by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your concerns. My office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell number is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office, room 545-S.

Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, is senator of the 40th District which includes:

* Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins,&nbsp;Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace Counties* Phillips County: Cities: Logan, Long Island, Prairie View, Speed;&nbsp;Townships: Beaver, Belmont, Dayton, Granite, Logan, Long Island, Mound, Plainview, Prairie View,&nbsp;Solomon (part) and Towanda

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644852447177.jpeg" alt="Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist. File photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist. File photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Topeka March 3, 2024This week we finished the budget work and will have the budget ready to pass out of committee by Thursday and next week debated on the Senate floor.These are additional bills passed out of the Senate prior to turnaround last week:SB292 would create law to authorize the appointment of a State Judge Advocate by the Adjutant General; create and amend law related to death and disability benefits provided to Kansas Air and Army National Guard members; and amend law throughout Chapter 48 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated to modernize statutory language, remove outdated statutes, and remove references to trial by court-martial.SB 384 would authorize the Emergency Medical Services Board to grant a permanent variance from a rule and regulation adopted to implement, enforce, or otherwise regulate provisions regarding minimal staffing on each vehicle providing emergency service.SB 387 will modify a provision governing open enrollment in the Kansas School Equity and Enhancement Act to provide for the continued enrollment of nonresident students in a school district until the student graduates from high school. The bill would clarify that any student enrolled as a nonresident in a school district during the school year 2023-2024 will be permitted to continue their enrollment and attendance in that school district if the student is deemed in good standing. Such students would not be required to go through the lottery process to remain enrolled at the school district in the 2024-2025 school year. It would also specify that no school district shall be required to provide transportation to nonresident students unless otherwise required by applicable law and would add a deadline of July 30 of each year to a current notification requirement of school districts to notify the parent of the student’s denied enrollment and creates the ability for the parent to appeal the denial to the school district’s board of education. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the parent would be permitted to appeal to the Commissioner of Education, who will be required to conduct a hearing in accordance with the Kansas Administrative Procedure Act.SB 318 would amend law in the Kansas Code of Procedure for Municipal Courts governing fingerprinting for municipal convictions and the prosecution of cases by the city attorney in municipal court.SB 338 would amend provisions pertaining to certain financial reporting requirements on group- funded liability and group-funded workers compensation pools and would also remove a notification requirement relating to termination or cancellation of a member in a group-funded workers compensation pool.SB 356 will amend provisions governing examination fees and compensation for examiners in the Insurance Code to establish a tiered-fee structure for financial examinations of insurance companies and societies based on the gross premiums received by such entities. The bill would also establish that certain examination costs be “reasonable.”HB 2545 passed the House and the Senate which will make changes to the Self-Service Storage Act, specifically concerning sales of property after a notice of termination or non-renewal; non-delivery of rental agreements; and electronic signatures and delivery of rental agreements. The bill would permit a self-storage operator to sell personal property not retrieved by an occupant within 45 days of a notice of termination or non- renewal delivered by the operator pursuant to the rental agreement’s terms. It would also address party obligations when one party does not sign or deliver a rental agreement, but actions indicate the rental is to begin or continue.I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your concerns. My office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell number is 785-899-4700. If you are in Topeka stop by my office, room 545-S.Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, is senator of the 40th District which includes:* Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Rawlins,&nbsp;Sheridan, Sherman, Thomas, Trego and Wallace Counties* Phillips County: Cities: Logan, Long Island, Prairie View, Speed;&nbsp;Townships: Beaver, Belmont, Dayton, Granite, Logan, Long Island, Mound, Plainview, Prairie View,&nbsp;Solomon (part) and Towanda

BILLINGER: Senate Update, March 3, 2024; Budget work finished; 3 more bills passed

By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension District

We often associate 4-H projects with the county fair but there is so much more to the 4-H year!

The 4-H year begins in October and youth select several projects to explore and increase their knowledge and skills. During winter months, this project work can involve working with a beef or swine animal to begin growing, learning about health, and start handling the animal so that it is familiar with the 4-H member. Project work for the foods project may involve learning new skills such as measuring or using a sharp knife, and helping make meals for the family. Photography members can have incredible opportunities to experiment with light, shadows, and composition with the variety of weather that Kansas provides! Additionally, club members are taking on new leadership roles in their club and improving their communication skills at each meeting.

As we move into spring, livestock projects such as sheep and goats take off as those animals are born or purchased and youth will be learning about nutrition, animal health, and showmanship skills. Photography becomes even more fun as 4-H youth can explore subjects such as animals, insects, or landscapes as we can spend more time outside. This is the time that horticulture projects really get busy as youth work on preparing garden space and selecting seeds or plants.

Throughout the year, youth learn record keeping by working on Project Records which include setting goals, learning opportunities, project work, and financial records.

Communication, Leadership, and Community Engagement are all 4-H project areas but there is a piece of each of these in every 4-H project! These are lifetime skills that help youth be good family members, good employees, and good community members.

Keep learning! Keep showing grace and kindness!

Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MICHELLE BERAN Cottonwood Extension DistrictWe often associate 4-H projects with the county fair but there is so much more to the 4-H year!The 4-H year begins in October and youth select several projects to explore and increase their knowledge and skills. During winter months, this project work can involve working with a beef or swine animal to begin growing, learning about health, and start handling the animal so that it is familiar with the 4-H member. Project work for the foods project may involve learning new skills such as measuring or using a sharp knife, and helping make meals for the family. Photography members can have incredible opportunities to experiment with light, shadows, and composition with the variety of weather that Kansas provides! Additionally, club members are taking on new leadership roles in their club and improving their communication skills at each meeting.As we move into spring, livestock projects such as sheep and goats take off as those animals are born or purchased and youth will be learning about nutrition, animal health, and showmanship skills. Photography becomes even more fun as 4-H youth can explore subjects such as animals, insects, or landscapes as we can spend more time outside. This is the time that horticulture projects really get busy as youth work on preparing garden space and selecting seeds or plants.Throughout the year, youth learn record keeping by working on Project Records which include setting goals, learning opportunities, project work, and financial records.Communication, Leadership, and Community Engagement are all 4-H project areas but there is a piece of each of these in every 4-H project! These are lifetime skills that help youth be good family members, good employees, and good community members.Keep learning! Keep showing grace and kindness!Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:mberan@ksu.edu">mberan@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

BERAN: Year round learning

I saw an old friend in town the other day and he asked how I had done trapping last year. I told him I hadn’t set as many traps as I’d wanted and thus hadn’t caught as many coyotes as I had planned. I’ll never forget his reply; he told me “I was never a very good trapper. I had a friend that was very good, and I would set twice as many traps as him and I would catch twice as little!” I chuckled at his wording, but it got me to thinking. If I had thrown in the towel every time I hadn’t gotten a deer, or trapped as many coyotes as planned, or caught all the fish I’d wanted I would probably have ceased even going outdoors years ago.

There have been plenty of years when I haven’t harvested a deer or trapped as many critters as I’d wanted, but my biggest challenge has always been my fishing skills, or better yet my lack-thereof. Growing up in Ohio, we enjoyed Lake Erie and one of the many islands in Lake Erie is named Kelley’s Island. Our neighbor was pastor at one of the churches on Kelley’s Island and stayed there in the parsonage during the weekend, and lived next door to us during the week. Because of our friendship, if we went to Kelley’s Island on week days, he let us stay in the church parsonage, so each year we planned a short fishing trip there during the week. One of the fish Lake Erie is known for is the Yellow Perch. They are nothing like our invasive species White Perch here in Kansas and in my book are nearly as good as Walleye as far as eating quality. In the fall the perch would be biting around the island so we planned our trips around that. We sometimes fished from the ferry dock alongside native islanders. I always bought the same bait from the same bait shop and used the same tackle as the native islanders, but sitting 3 feet away on the dock, they would catch 12 fish to my one.

Some years back when Joyce and I still had a boat, we went to Kannapolis fishing with another couple who were both avid fishermen, they in their boat and Joyce and I in ours. They had numerous brush piles in the lake marked on their GPS, so we anchored on each side of a long narrow brush pile. Joyce and I both rigged our rods exactly like theirs, and our boats were so close that at one point they tossed us the exact jig they were using. They caught crappies left and right and the only thing we caught was the rope anchoring the marker buoy.

My points here are, number one, I’m a lousy fisherman, seemingly almost cursed at times, but yet I still go when I can. Point number two is, that although harvesting fish and game is usually the goal when in the field or on the lake, the harvest should not be our sole purpose for being there. On one particular deer hunt during my youth, I was standing in a pre-determined spot in a large woodlot awaiting other hunters walking toward me. I heard rustling in the leaves, and watched as a mother red fox and her family of half-grown kits ran past me just a few feet away. As I recall, I didn’t harvest a deer that year, but would have missed that once-in-a-lifetime-sight had I not been there anyway.

I could fill pages with other stories like that of bobcats that peered at us from a few feet away, or hawks that cruised past us mere feet above the ground and only a stones-throw away, or the beaver that swam beneath my feet under the ice of a frozen creek. The bottom line is that all that would have been missed had we not been there, successful harvest or not. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors (successful harvest or not!)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Exploring Kansas OutdoorsI saw an old friend in town the other day and he asked how I had done trapping last year. I told him I hadn’t set as many traps as I’d wanted and thus hadn’t caught as many coyotes as I had planned. I’ll never forget his reply; he told me “I was never a very good trapper. I had a friend that was very good, and I would set twice as many traps as him and I would catch twice as little!” I chuckled at his wording, but it got me to thinking. If I had thrown in the towel every time I hadn’t gotten a deer, or trapped as many coyotes as planned, or caught all the fish I’d wanted I would probably have ceased even going outdoors years ago.There have been plenty of years when I haven’t harvested a deer or trapped as many critters as I’d wanted, but my biggest challenge has always been my fishing skills, or better yet my lack-thereof. Growing up in Ohio, we enjoyed Lake Erie and one of the many islands in Lake Erie is named Kelley’s Island. Our neighbor was pastor at one of the churches on Kelley’s Island and stayed there in the parsonage during the weekend, and lived next door to us during the week. Because of our friendship, if we went to Kelley’s Island on week days, he let us stay in the church parsonage, so each year we planned a short fishing trip there during the week. One of the fish Lake Erie is known for is the Yellow Perch. They are nothing like our invasive species White Perch here in Kansas and in my book are nearly as good as Walleye as far as eating quality. In the fall the perch would be biting around the island so we planned our trips around that. We sometimes fished from the ferry dock alongside native islanders. I always bought the same bait from the same bait shop and used the same tackle as the native islanders, but sitting 3 feet away on the dock, they would catch 12 fish to my one.Some years back when Joyce and I still had a boat, we went to Kannapolis fishing with another couple who were both avid fishermen, they in their boat and Joyce and I in ours. They had numerous brush piles in the lake marked on their GPS, so we anchored on each side of a long narrow brush pile. Joyce and I both rigged our rods exactly like theirs, and our boats were so close that at one point they tossed us the exact jig they were using. They caught crappies left and right and the only thing we caught was the rope anchoring the marker buoy.My points here are, number one, I’m a lousy fisherman, seemingly almost cursed at times, but yet I still go when I can. Point number two is, that although harvesting fish and game is usually the goal when in the field or on the lake, the harvest should not be our sole purpose for being there. On one particular deer hunt during my youth, I was standing in a pre-determined spot in a large woodlot awaiting other hunters walking toward me. I heard rustling in the leaves, and watched as a mother red fox and her family of half-grown kits ran past me just a few feet away. As I recall, I didn’t harvest a deer that year, but would have missed that once-in-a-lifetime-sight had I not been there anyway.I could fill pages with other stories like that of bobcats that peered at us from a few feet away, or hawks that cruised past us mere feet above the ground and only a stones-throw away, or the beaver that swam beneath my feet under the ice of a frozen creek. The bottom line is that all that would have been missed had we not been there, successful harvest or not. Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors (successful harvest or not!)Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

GILLILAND: You never know what you might be missing

By DALE YOUNKER Natural Resources Conservation Service

Many Kansas dryland cropping systems tend to have long 9–15-month fallow periods between cash crops. This is to basically “bank” moisture in the soil profile for the next crop, thus reducing the risk of a failure. This seems to make sense in semi-arid regions that receives an average of 15 to 22 inches of rainfall annually.

Unfortunately, these systems are typically not very efficient at capturing and storing moisture. Roughly around 15-25% of the rain and snow received during the fallow period is captured and stored in the soil for the next crop. The rest is lost from runoff, evaporation, and in some cases deep percolation below the crop’s root zone. 16 inches of moisture during a fallow period will only gain about 2.5 to 4 inches of additional soil moisture. The more tillage in the system the less moisture you will be able to capture and store. Granted, in dry years that extra moisture, as small as it is, might be the difference between a failed crop and a harvested crop. But in average or wet years we are greatly under utilizing the moisture mother nature has provided us.

Many times, these systems leave the soil surface nearly bare making the soil susceptible to both wind and water erosion. This is true in both tillage and no-till systems. No-till fallow fields, without cover on the soil surface, can blow and wash away just as easily as a tilled field. With every erosion event the soil becomes more degraded and less productive.

Can we utilize that lost moisture in a more positive way? In many situations I believe that we can. One way is to add more cash crops to the cropping system. This doesn’t have to be an all or none scenario and should be flexible. If there is a good soil moisture at planting time, and the long- term weather forecast is favorable, a cash crop could replace a fallow period. If soil moisture is sketchy and the long-term weather forecast is dry to neutral, you may forgo planting a cash crop and plant a cover crop, or just continue with the traditional fallow period.

Cover crops could also be used to bridge the time between the cash crops. They provide a lot more flexibility than trying to add more cash crops, because you don’t need to worry about getting a crop to maturity to harvest it. They can always be terminated early if gets dry, or not planted at all if moisture conditions are not favorable at planting.

Intensifying the crop rotation or adding cover crops are not a silver bullets that will fix all soil health issues. They are just another tool in the toolbox that may work for some producers, but not for others. There are other practices, like nutrient management, no-till, crop rotation and others that may be a better fit for some producers.

At the end of the day every producer needs to ask, is changing my current system going to put more money in my pocket? Both short term and long-term costs and benefits need to be considered, including the long-term productivity of the soil. For more information you can contact me at dale.younker@ks.usda.gov or any local NRCS office.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/1/1674661010889.png" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By DALE YOUNKER Natural Resources Conservation ServiceMany Kansas dryland cropping systems tend to have long 9–15-month fallow periods between cash crops. This is to basically “bank” moisture in the soil profile for the next crop, thus reducing the risk of a failure. This seems to make sense in semi-arid regions that receives an average of 15 to 22 inches of rainfall annually.Unfortunately, these systems are typically not very efficient at capturing and storing moisture. Roughly around 15-25% of the rain and snow received during the fallow period is captured and stored in the soil for the next crop. The rest is lost from runoff, evaporation, and in some cases deep percolation below the crop’s root zone. 16 inches of moisture during a fallow period will only gain about 2.5 to 4 inches of additional soil moisture. The more tillage in the system the less moisture you will be able to capture and store. Granted, in dry years that extra moisture, as small as it is, might be the difference between a failed crop and a harvested crop. But in average or wet years we are greatly under utilizing the moisture mother nature has provided us.Many times, these systems leave the soil surface nearly bare making the soil susceptible to both wind and water erosion. This is true in both tillage and no-till systems. No-till fallow fields, without cover on the soil surface, can blow and wash away just as easily as a tilled field. With every erosion event the soil becomes more degraded and less productive.Can we utilize that lost moisture in a more positive way? In many situations I believe that we can. One way is to add more cash crops to the cropping system. This doesn’t have to be an all or none scenario and should be flexible. If there is a good soil moisture at planting time, and the long- term weather forecast is favorable, a cash crop could replace a fallow period. If soil moisture is sketchy and the long-term weather forecast is dry to neutral, you may forgo planting a cash crop and plant a cover crop, or just continue with the traditional fallow period.Cover crops could also be used to bridge the time between the cash crops. They provide a lot more flexibility than trying to add more cash crops, because you don’t need to worry about getting a crop to maturity to harvest it. They can always be terminated early if gets dry, or not planted at all if moisture conditions are not favorable at planting.Intensifying the crop rotation or adding cover crops are not a silver bullets that will fix all soil health issues. They are just another tool in the toolbox that may work for some producers, but not for others. There are other practices, like nutrient management, no-till, crop rotation and others that may be a better fit for some producers.At the end of the day every producer needs to ask, is changing my current system going to put more money in my pocket? Both short term and long-term costs and benefits need to be considered, including the long-term productivity of the soil. For more information you can contact me at dale.younker@ks.usda.gov or any local NRCS office.

YOUNKER: Kansas dryland cropping systems

By CRISTINA MIRANDA Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

If you’re in the checkout line with a gift card (or several) in your hand, ask yourself: is the gift card you’re buying for a gift? Or is someone on the phone with you as you’re checking out telling you what to do – like buy a gift card to pay for something and give them the numbers? Gift cards are ONLY for gifts. That means if the gift card isn’t for someone’s birthday, anniversary, or for any other gift giving reason, it’s a scam.

<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/giftcards">Gift card</a>&nbsp;scammers only want your money. First they’ll call, text, email, or send a social media message. Then comes a made-up story: They’re from the government (pay taxes or a fine), tech support (something’s wrong with your computer – pay to fix it), or you’ve won a prize (but pay for it first.) Other scammers might use AI voice cloning to sound like a family member in trouble. It’s always urgent. They always want you to act fast or something bad will happen. And it’s always a scam.

Think you gave gift card numbers to a scammer? Act fast. Grab your gift card and the gift card receipt. Then,

Remember: gift cards are ONLY for gifts. If it’s for anything else, like to pay to fix any problem for ANY reason, it’s a scam.&nbsp;

Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/giftcards">ftc.gov/gift cards</a>&nbsp;to learn more. Share this information with your friends, family, and community to help stop gift card scams.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/8/1692642990978.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA MIRANDA Consumer Education Specialist, FTCIf you’re in the checkout line with a gift card (or several) in your hand, ask yourself: is the gift card you’re buying for a gift? Or is someone on the phone with you as you’re checking out telling you what to do – like buy a gift card to pay for something and give them the numbers? Gift cards are ONLY for gifts. That means if the gift card isn’t for someone’s birthday, anniversary, or for any other gift giving reason, it’s a scam.<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/giftcards">Gift card</a>&nbsp;scammers only want your money. First they’ll call, text, email, or send a social media message. Then comes a made-up story: They’re from the government (pay taxes or a fine), tech support (something’s wrong with your computer – pay to fix it), or you’ve won a prize (but pay for it first.) Other scammers might use AI voice cloning to sound like a family member in trouble. It’s always urgent. They always want you to act fast or something bad will happen. And it’s always a scam.Think you gave gift card numbers to a scammer? Act fast. Grab your gift card and the gift card receipt. Then,<ul>
 <li>Report the gift card scam to the gift card company.&nbsp;It doesn’t matter when the scam happened. Use this&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/avoiding-and-reporting-gift-card-scams#_Gift_Card_Company">How To Contact Gift Card Companies</a>&nbsp;list to report it.</li><li>Ask for your money back.&nbsp;Some companies are helping stop gift card scams and might give your money back. Always ask.</li><li>Tell the FTC at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.reportfraud.ftc.gov/">ReportFraud.ftc.gov</a>.&nbsp;Your report makes a difference and helps protect people in your community from fraud and scams.</li>
 </ul>Remember: gift cards are ONLY for gifts. If it’s for anything else, like to pay to fix any problem for ANY reason, it’s a scam.&nbsp;Visit&nbsp;<a href="https://consumer.ftc.gov/giftcards">ftc.gov/gift cards</a>&nbsp;to learn more. Share this information with your friends, family, and community to help stop gift card scams.

In the check-out line buying gift cards? Read on to avoid a scam

By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight Kansas

Last week justices on the Kansas Supreme Court signaled that they find fault with the 2021 state law that makes it more difficult for groups to hold voter registration drives.

The controversial law criminalizes “false representation” of an election official.

In theory, this seems like it would be a good thing as it would prevent voters from being misled. However, in reality, the law was written so poorly that any group or individual registering voters without a giant sign stating “Not An Election Official” could be punished under the law.

The justices’ line of questioning seem to indicate that they believe the “false representation” law might violate protected speech — which, if accurate, would be in agreement with the arguments brought forth by the law’s challengers, civic engagement groups focused on voter participation like the League of Women Voters and Loud Light.

As arguments are heard by the Kansas Supreme Court, the legislature is simultaneously pushing through changes that would amend the law to make it more narrow, only criminalizing voter registration drives if groups or individuals engaged in conduct “with the intent to cause a person to believe” they are an election official. In short, if they were deliberately engaging in disinformation.

This situation highlights the continuing power struggle between the legislature and the judiciary.

Voting rights is only one example. Another is access to abortion services.

For example, this session alone, the legislature has introduced nine bills that would restrict abortion access, despite the Court’s 2019 decision in Hodes &amp; Nauser v. Schmidt that constitutionally protects access and citizens’ vote to uphold that decision in August 2022.

Branches competing for political power is a feature of our system of separation of powers, not a bug.

James Madison, the brain behind separation of powers, believed that creating competing power centers within the political system would force compromise to happen. Madison meant just this when he famously said “ambition must be made to counteract ambition”.

Historically, compromise was more common in the political system than it is today. In our current era of hyperpartisan polarization, we more often see instances of constitutional hardball.

Constitutional hardball is often defined as actions by political parties to pass laws that violate norms in ways that undermine democracy. Another result of constitutional hardball is declining satisfaction with government institutions and overall lack of trust in government.

The 2023 Kansas Speaks public opinion survey, conducted by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University, gauged satisfaction with the performance of the state’s legislature and supreme court in October 2023.

23% of Kansans answered that they were very or somewhat satisfied with the overall performance of the Kansas Legislature, an 8 point drop from 2022.

22% of Kansans answered the same about the Kansas Supreme Court, a 10 point decline from the previous year.

The survey also asks about approval ratings for Governor Laura Kelly (38%), the US Congress (10%), US Senators Jerry Moran (24%) and Roger Marshall (21%), and President Joe Biden (22%), all of which saw a decline from 2022.

In an era marked by low approval ratings, continuous political power struggles risk further alienation of citizens. A healthy democratic government requires active and engaged Kansans, but the social science literature on civic engagement says that citizens are less likely to participate when trust in government is low.

As branches of government vie for power, democratic responsiveness wanes and Kansans suffer the consequences.

Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is the Department Chair of Political Science at Wichita State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694699489540.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ALEXANDRA MIDDLEWOOD Insight KansasLast week justices on the Kansas Supreme Court signaled that they find fault with the 2021 state law that makes it more difficult for groups to hold voter registration drives.The controversial law criminalizes “false representation” of an election official.In theory, this seems like it would be a good thing as it would prevent voters from being misled. However, in reality, the law was written so poorly that any group or individual registering voters without a giant sign stating “Not An Election Official” could be punished under the law.The justices’ line of questioning seem to indicate that they believe the “false representation” law might violate protected speech — which, if accurate, would be in agreement with the arguments brought forth by the law’s challengers, civic engagement groups focused on voter participation like the League of Women Voters and Loud Light.As arguments are heard by the Kansas Supreme Court, the legislature is simultaneously pushing through changes that would amend the law to make it more narrow, only criminalizing voter registration drives if groups or individuals engaged in conduct “with the intent to cause a person to believe” they are an election official. In short, if they were deliberately engaging in disinformation.This situation highlights the continuing power struggle between the legislature and the judiciary.Voting rights is only one example. Another is access to abortion services.For example, this session alone, the legislature has introduced nine bills that would restrict abortion access, despite the Court’s 2019 decision in Hodes &amp; Nauser v. Schmidt that constitutionally protects access and citizens’ vote to uphold that decision in August 2022.Branches competing for political power is a feature of our system of separation of powers, not a bug.James Madison, the brain behind separation of powers, believed that creating competing power centers within the political system would force compromise to happen. Madison meant just this when he famously said “ambition must be made to counteract ambition”.Historically, compromise was more common in the political system than it is today. In our current era of hyperpartisan polarization, we more often see instances of constitutional hardball.Constitutional hardball is often defined as actions by political parties to pass laws that violate norms in ways that undermine democracy. Another result of constitutional hardball is declining satisfaction with government institutions and overall lack of trust in government.The 2023 Kansas Speaks public opinion survey, conducted by the Docking Institute of Public Affairs at Fort Hays State University, gauged satisfaction with the performance of the state’s legislature and supreme court in October 2023.23% of Kansans answered that they were very or somewhat satisfied with the overall performance of the Kansas Legislature, an 8 point drop from 2022.22% of Kansans answered the same about the Kansas Supreme Court, a 10 point decline from the previous year.The survey also asks about approval ratings for Governor Laura Kelly (38%), the US Congress (10%), US Senators Jerry Moran (24%) and Roger Marshall (21%), and President Joe Biden (22%), all of which saw a decline from 2022.In an era marked by low approval ratings, continuous political power struggles risk further alienation of citizens. A healthy democratic government requires active and engaged Kansans, but the social science literature on civic engagement says that citizens are less likely to participate when trust in government is low.As branches of government vie for power, democratic responsiveness wanes and Kansans suffer the consequences.Alexandra Middlewood, PhD is the Department Chair of Political Science at Wichita State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: James Madison would not be happy with Kansas politics in 2024

By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University President

College athletics foster school spirit, community pride, and a sense of belonging among students, alums, and fans. Beyond camaraderie, participating in college sports promotes physical activity, wellness, discipline, and teamwork skills, enhancing the overall collegiate experience.

Athletic scholarships often make higher education accessible for talented student-athletes who excel in their respective sports. Additionally, successful athletic programs generate revenue and elevate a school's visibility, attracting prospective students and strengthening alum engagement.

Amid the multifaceted landscape of college athletics, the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) plays a pivotal yet often overlooked role. Appointed by and reporting to the president, the FAR is a crucial link between the institution, athletic department, and the NCAA, ensuring compliance, academic integrity, and student-athlete welfare.

Carrie Hielman, FAR at UVA, observed that two things are true: Most people don’t know what the faculty athletics representative does, and every NCAA school has one. Only one person from each of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s more than 1,100 colleges and universities serves as the faculty athletics representative for their school, making it a unique role at each institution.

At Fort Hays State University (FHSU), the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) position has a rich history of esteemed individuals who have significantly impacted the university's athletic journey within the NCAA.

Keith Faulkner held the role before 1989 when FHSU was a member of the NAIA, transitioning seamlessly into the NCAA era. Following Faulkner, Gary Cox served as the FAR for the RMAC Conference from 1989 to 1995, paving the way for the impactful tenure of Glen McNeil as FAR for the RMAC Conference from 1995 to 2006 and subsequently for the MIAA Conference until 2021. In 2021, Kenton Olliff took over as the FAR for the MIAA Conference, continuing FHSU's tradition of dedicated service to student-athletes and upholding the legacy of his predecessors.

FARs play a crucial role at NCAA member institutions like FHSU, ensuring the delicate balance between academics and intercollegiate athletics. As liaisons between the institution, the athletics department, and the NCAA, FARs like Glen McNeil and Kenton Olliff uphold compliance with regulations and promote academic integrity within athletics programs.

Their responsibilities include monitoring student-athlete academic performance, overseeing academic services, and providing senior advice on athletics. Engaging in institutional athletics committees, reporting to the faculty senate, and representing their institutions at NCAA conventions are among the duties fulfilled by FARs.

Beyond administrative tasks, FARs actively safeguard student-athletes’ well-being, engage with advisory committees, and conduct exit interviews to assess athletes' experiences. They also ensure institutional compliance with NCAA and conference regulations, swiftly addressing potential violations to maintain integrity in collegiate athletics programs.

The effectiveness of FARs like Kenton Olliff at FHSU is bolstered by institutional support, underscoring their vital role in upholding academic standards and student welfare within collegiate athletics.

Emphasizing holistic student-athlete development, Kenton stresses the fulfillment of witnessing student-athletes excel in both athletic and academic realms. This focus underscores the essential role of the FAR in shaping the well-rounded success of individual student-athletes within the FHSU athletic community.

Kenton works closely with Senior Women’s Administrator and Assistant Athletic Director Dixie Balman in certifying student-athlete eligibility and overseeing essential tasks to ensure their overall well-being. In the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics, challenges such as regulatory changes, as well as facilitating student-athlete transfer, demand expertise to navigate effectively.

“It is rewarding to see student-athletes do well not only in their sport but also in the classroom,” shared Kenton.

With a spirit of collaboration and innovation reminiscent of initiatives seen at other institutions, the FAR's role at FHSU remains crucial in supporting the delicate balance between academics and athletics. The dedication and commitment of individuals like Kenton Olliff exemplify ongoing efforts to foster success and well-being among Fort Hays State University student-athletes, ensuring a thriving academic and athletic growth environment that honors the rich history of FARs who have paved the way before him.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University PresidentCollege athletics foster school spirit, community pride, and a sense of belonging among students, alums, and fans. Beyond camaraderie, participating in college sports promotes physical activity, wellness, discipline, and teamwork skills, enhancing the overall collegiate experience.Athletic scholarships often make higher education accessible for talented student-athletes who excel in their respective sports. Additionally, successful athletic programs generate revenue and elevate a school's visibility, attracting prospective students and strengthening alum engagement.Amid the multifaceted landscape of college athletics, the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) plays a pivotal yet often overlooked role. Appointed by and reporting to the president, the FAR is a crucial link between the institution, athletic department, and the NCAA, ensuring compliance, academic integrity, and student-athlete welfare.Carrie Hielman, FAR at UVA, observed that two things are true: Most people don’t know what the faculty athletics representative does, and every NCAA school has one. Only one person from each of the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s more than 1,100 colleges and universities serves as the faculty athletics representative for their school, making it a unique role at each institution.At Fort Hays State University (FHSU), the Faculty Athletics Representative (FAR) position has a rich history of esteemed individuals who have significantly impacted the university's athletic journey within the NCAA.Keith Faulkner held the role before 1989 when FHSU was a member of the NAIA, transitioning seamlessly into the NCAA era. Following Faulkner, Gary Cox served as the FAR for the RMAC Conference from 1989 to 1995, paving the way for the impactful tenure of Glen McNeil as FAR for the RMAC Conference from 1995 to 2006 and subsequently for the MIAA Conference until 2021. In 2021, Kenton Olliff took over as the FAR for the MIAA Conference, continuing FHSU's tradition of dedicated service to student-athletes and upholding the legacy of his predecessors.FARs play a crucial role at NCAA member institutions like FHSU, ensuring the delicate balance between academics and intercollegiate athletics. As liaisons between the institution, the athletics department, and the NCAA, FARs like Glen McNeil and Kenton Olliff uphold compliance with regulations and promote academic integrity within athletics programs.Their responsibilities include monitoring student-athlete academic performance, overseeing academic services, and providing senior advice on athletics. Engaging in institutional athletics committees, reporting to the faculty senate, and representing their institutions at NCAA conventions are among the duties fulfilled by FARs.Beyond administrative tasks, FARs actively safeguard student-athletes’ well-being, engage with advisory committees, and conduct exit interviews to assess athletes' experiences. They also ensure institutional compliance with NCAA and conference regulations, swiftly addressing potential violations to maintain integrity in collegiate athletics programs.The effectiveness of FARs like Kenton Olliff at FHSU is bolstered by institutional support, underscoring their vital role in upholding academic standards and student welfare within collegiate athletics.Emphasizing holistic student-athlete development, Kenton stresses the fulfillment of witnessing student-athletes excel in both athletic and academic realms. This focus underscores the essential role of the FAR in shaping the well-rounded success of individual student-athletes within the FHSU athletic community.Kenton works closely with Senior Women’s Administrator and Assistant Athletic Director Dixie Balman in certifying student-athlete eligibility and overseeing essential tasks to ensure their overall well-being. In the ever-evolving landscape of college athletics, challenges such as regulatory changes, as well as facilitating student-athlete transfer, demand expertise to navigate effectively.“It is rewarding to see student-athletes do well not only in their sport but also in the classroom,” shared Kenton.With a spirit of collaboration and innovation reminiscent of initiatives seen at other institutions, the FAR's role at FHSU remains crucial in supporting the delicate balance between academics and athletics. The dedication and commitment of individuals like Kenton Olliff exemplify ongoing efforts to foster success and well-being among Fort Hays State University student-athletes, ensuring a thriving academic and athletic growth environment that honors the rich history of FARs who have paved the way before him.

Heart of a Tiger: Balancing academics, athletics, evolving role of Faculty Athletics Representatives

Everyone dreams, wishes, hopes, or long for something. Some are blessed to build happy families, find satisfying jobs, and establish cozy homes. A dear friend recently achieved the specific dream of sharing her family story—a history specific to a small town in western Kansas. Since I’ve known Angela Bates, she’s researched and documented lives of her Kentucky ancestors, once enslaved people belonging to Vice-President Richard M. Johnson. Her story is the result of what happens when dream meets hard work and persistence.

Several years following Emancipation and the Homestead Act, recruiters traveled east to entice families to move West to homestead. Angela’s ancestors answered this call, founding Nicodemus and the surrounding township in Graham County.

Like many rural communities, Nicodemus experienced boom and bust, forcing many residents to seek jobs in urban regions. Swimming against that current, Angela changed career paths and left the city, returning to her ancestral home to document and share her family’s unique American history. Plan in mind, she collaborated with Kansas Senators Dole and Roberts, the National Park Service, and the Nicodemus community and descendants to establish Nicodemus as a National Historic Site in 1996.

For some this designation would suffice, but not Angela. For decades stories and scripts recounting an American tale specific to Angela’s family origins that led to the only remaining all Black town west of the Mississippi River waited to be shared. As she compiled family histories, ancestors’ lives scrolled through her mind like a movie on a screen.

Once technology made it possible to transition text to visuals, Angela persuaded donors, descendants of original settlers, Nicodemus Historical Society, friends, landowners, and regional filmmaker Nick Abt to turn the script simmering in her brain for decades into the documentary Ellis Trail to Nicodemus.

It first premiered February 17 at Frontier Stage in Hill City. Cast, crew, and land owners of film locations reunited to celebrate the long-awaited documentary. Hugs and laughter established the sense of a long-awaited family reunion as friends and loved ones reconnected. Two showings accommodated appreciative audiences.

Building the excitement, Angela announced an extended version of the documentary comes out later this year. A poignant script, sweeping photography, gritty visuals of actual descendants slogging over open prairie in a land unlike anything their pioneer ancestors had ever seen evoked audience gasps, sighs, laughs, and tears. Nick’s drone photography invited viewers to travel alongside those following forebearers’ footsteps through sere grasses, over eroded limestone hills, and across rivers.

Descendent interviews at the end of the documentary enriched it, adding depth to the stories of these African American pioneer settlers who sought and experienced freedom as first- time landowners and homesteaders in the West. To watch the actress playing Zerina Johnson channel her character’s emotion when she first sighted Nicodemus moved some viewers to the edge of their seats. Hearing descendants explain what Nicodemus means—a home they can always return to--and their sense of belonging to those pioneer families forced a communal scramble for tissues. Spectators responded to the power of family stories involving strong people who prayed and sacrificed their way to better lives for themselves and future generations.

While some families have dreamers who see possibility and make it happen, others don’t. The doers research and record the stories. They encourage others to share in translating that story to film to make it every human’s story-- the appeal of this documentary. While it’s unique in its representation of formerly enslaved men and women seeking freedom and landownership, its love story and willingness to risk everything for a better life is a universal dream come true.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708725159287.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINEveryone dreams, wishes, hopes, or long for something. Some are blessed to build happy families, find satisfying jobs, and establish cozy homes. A dear friend recently achieved the specific dream of sharing her family story—a history specific to a small town in western Kansas. Since I’ve known Angela Bates, she’s researched and documented lives of her Kentucky ancestors, once enslaved people belonging to Vice-President Richard M. Johnson. Her story is the result of what happens when dream meets hard work and persistence.Several years following Emancipation and the Homestead Act, recruiters traveled east to entice families to move West to homestead. Angela’s ancestors answered this call, founding Nicodemus and the surrounding township in Graham County.Like many rural communities, Nicodemus experienced boom and bust, forcing many residents to seek jobs in urban regions. Swimming against that current, Angela changed career paths and left the city, returning to her ancestral home to document and share her family’s unique American history. Plan in mind, she collaborated with Kansas Senators Dole and Roberts, the National Park Service, and the Nicodemus community and descendants to establish Nicodemus as a National Historic Site in 1996.For some this designation would suffice, but not Angela. For decades stories and scripts recounting an American tale specific to Angela’s family origins that led to the only remaining all Black town west of the Mississippi River waited to be shared. As she compiled family histories, ancestors’ lives scrolled through her mind like a movie on a screen.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708725175440.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Once technology made it possible to transition text to visuals, Angela persuaded donors, descendants of original settlers, Nicodemus Historical Society, friends, landowners, and regional filmmaker Nick Abt to turn the script simmering in her brain for decades into the documentary Ellis Trail to Nicodemus.It first premiered February 17 at Frontier Stage in Hill City. Cast, crew, and land owners of film locations reunited to celebrate the long-awaited documentary. Hugs and laughter established the sense of a long-awaited family reunion as friends and loved ones reconnected. Two showings accommodated appreciative audiences.Building the excitement, Angela announced an extended version of the documentary comes out later this year. A poignant script, sweeping photography, gritty visuals of actual descendants slogging over open prairie in a land unlike anything their pioneer ancestors had ever seen evoked audience gasps, sighs, laughs, and tears. Nick’s drone photography invited viewers to travel alongside those following forebearers’ footsteps through sere grasses, over eroded limestone hills, and across rivers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708725189585.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Descendent interviews at the end of the documentary enriched it, adding depth to the stories of these African American pioneer settlers who sought and experienced freedom as first- time landowners and homesteaders in the West. To watch the actress playing Zerina Johnson channel her character’s emotion when she first sighted Nicodemus moved some viewers to the edge of their seats. Hearing descendants explain what Nicodemus means—a home they can always return to--and their sense of belonging to those pioneer families forced a communal scramble for tissues. Spectators responded to the power of family stories involving strong people who prayed and sacrificed their way to better lives for themselves and future generations.While some families have dreamers who see possibility and make it happen, others don’t. The doers research and record the stories. They encourage others to share in translating that story to film to make it every human’s story-- the appeal of this documentary. While it’s unique in its representation of formerly enslaved men and women seeking freedom and landownership, its love story and willingness to risk everything for a better life is a universal dream come true.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/9/1662752587394.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

MADORIN: A Dream Come True — Nicodemus documentary

In today’s world, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are like “black holes.” Bobbie Bensaid, an extension educator from Mississippi State Extension, describes these platforms as “virtual portals that suck us in!” Social media is not bad, but at some point, it can consume more of our time than we would like. We often look to these unfulfilling brain boosts, and we can forget what we enjoy doing for fun! However, when we release dopamine due to meaningful activities, we are mentally satiated and tend to be more productive and fulfilled.

Bobbie explains, “Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is released in the brain when we do activities that are pleasurable or that we enjoy. When we are stimulated and release large amounts of dopamine, we teach our brains to return to these activities. For example, when we do activities we enjoy, dopamine is released, and it tells our brain, “We love this! Good job! Let’s keep going!” This is why junk food, sugar, and the internet are so addictive. These things trigger the release of large amounts of dopamine into our brains and make us want to repeat these experiences.”

Motivation, alertness, and focus often accompany healthy dopamine levels. However, we may feel tired, burnt out, and unhappy if our dopamine levels are low or unbalanced. We may also experience memory loss, mood swings, sleeplessness, and concentration issues. Having unhealthy amounts of dopamine, whether those levels are too high or too low, can take a toll on mental health.

Bobbie suggests making a ‘Dopamine Menu’ to remind ourselves what it is that brings us true satisfaction and to be intentional about engaging in those activities.

Using the template of an actual menu, she describes different sources of dopamine production that lead to happiness:

“First let’s think of Starters or appetizers. These are quick boosts of joy that can be done in under 10 minutes. What are those things you like to do that don’t take much time?”

Some examples are making a grocery list for the week, playing a game with your child, spending a few minutes in prayer or meditation, going for a walk, or writing a note and sticking it in the mail.

“Next, we have Mains. These are the big passions we have that take up a considerable amount of time.”

Mains or entrees might include playing a sport, volunteering, cooking dinner for a loved one, gardening, sewing, learning a new language, or reading a book.

“Our next section on our Dopamine Menu is Sides, and these are activities you can do while doing something else. These are activities we can do that make unpleasant things a bit more pleasant.”

Sides can include listening to music while exercising, talking on the phone, singing during a long car ride, or drinking your favorite coffee in a meeting.

“Desserts are next on the menu. These are things that are tasty in moderation but make us feel yucky if we have them too much. Examples of dopamine desserts are scrolling through social media, eating actual dessert, playing video games, or binging tv shows.”

“Finally, we have Specials. These are like specials at a restaurant. They are not always available, and typically they cost a bit more than others. So, these are the activities we love but we cannot have or do all the time.”

For example, vacations, attending a concert, or going on a shopping spree are specials.

Using your personalized Dopamine Menu can be a useful tool to help you find true happiness and a sense of purpose. I challenge you to make a conscious effort to do things that bring authentic fulfillment rather than binging on “brain desserts” that tend to give a false sense of satisfaction.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697546908793.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension DistrictIn today’s world, Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok are like “black holes.” Bobbie Bensaid, an extension educator from Mississippi State Extension, describes these platforms as “virtual portals that suck us in!” Social media is not bad, but at some point, it can consume more of our time than we would like. We often look to these unfulfilling brain boosts, and we can forget what we enjoy doing for fun! However, when we release dopamine due to meaningful activities, we are mentally satiated and tend to be more productive and fulfilled.What is dopamine?Bobbie explains, “Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that is released in the brain when we do activities that are pleasurable or that we enjoy. When we are stimulated and release large amounts of dopamine, we teach our brains to return to these activities. For example, when we do activities we enjoy, dopamine is released, and it tells our brain, “We love this! Good job! Let’s keep going!” This is why junk food, sugar, and the internet are so addictive. These things trigger the release of large amounts of dopamine into our brains and make us want to repeat these experiences.”Why is dopamine important?Motivation, alertness, and focus often accompany healthy dopamine levels. However, we may feel tired, burnt out, and unhappy if our dopamine levels are low or unbalanced. We may also experience memory loss, mood swings, sleeplessness, and concentration issues. Having unhealthy amounts of dopamine, whether those levels are too high or too low, can take a toll on mental health.What can we do?Bobbie suggests making a ‘Dopamine Menu’ to remind ourselves what it is that brings us true satisfaction and to be intentional about engaging in those activities.Using the template of an actual menu, she describes different sources of dopamine production that lead to happiness:“First let’s think of Starters or appetizers. These are quick boosts of joy that can be done in under 10 minutes. What are those things you like to do that don’t take much time?”Some examples are making a grocery list for the week, playing a game with your child, spending a few minutes in prayer or meditation, going for a walk, or writing a note and sticking it in the mail.“Next, we have Mains. These are the big passions we have that take up a considerable amount of time.”Mains or entrees might include playing a sport, volunteering, cooking dinner for a loved one, gardening, sewing, learning a new language, or reading a book.“Our next section on our Dopamine Menu is Sides, and these are activities you can do while doing something else. These are activities we can do that make unpleasant things a bit more pleasant.”Sides can include listening to music while exercising, talking on the phone, singing during a long car ride, or drinking your favorite coffee in a meeting.“Desserts are next on the menu. These are things that are tasty in moderation but make us feel yucky if we have them too much. Examples of dopamine desserts are scrolling through social media, eating actual dessert, playing video games, or binging tv shows.”“Finally, we have Specials. These are like specials at a restaurant. They are not always available, and typically they cost a bit more than others. So, these are the activities we love but we cannot have or do all the time.”For example, vacations, attending a concert, or going on a shopping spree are specials.Using your personalized Dopamine Menu can be a useful tool to help you find true happiness and a sense of purpose. I challenge you to make a conscious effort to do things that bring authentic fulfillment rather than binging on “brain desserts” that tend to give a false sense of satisfaction.Karissa Winkel is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 620-793-1910 or krwinkel@ksu.edu.

WINKEL: Finding true fulfillment, healthy dopamine levels

This week in the House of Representatives we debated nearly seventy bills before we adjourned for the midpoint of the session, commonly referred to as Turnaround. This is the time during session where we pass many bills out of the House and forward those bills to the Senate.

Here is a list of some of the bills that we debated this week in the House:

House Bill 2523 changes the allowance for a farm permit holder from fourteen to fifteen and allows them to drive to and from religious activities that is held by a religious organization. I contend that this bill is anti-agriculture by changing the age and I voted “no.”

House Bill 2661 requires that if there are vacancies in county commissioner districts due to increasing the number of commissioner districts be filled at the next general election and provides for staggering terms for the newly elected county commissioners.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633970422056.jpeg" alt="Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist. File photo" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist. File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>February 23TurnaroundThis week in the House of Representatives we debated nearly seventy bills before we adjourned for the midpoint of the session, commonly referred to as Turnaround. This is the time during session where we pass many bills out of the House and forward those bills to the Senate.Here is a list of some of the bills that we debated this week in the House:House Bill 2523 changes the allowance for a farm permit holder from fourteen to fifteen and allows them to drive to and from religious activities that is held by a religious organization. I contend that this bill is anti-agriculture by changing the age and I voted “no.”House Bill 2661 requires that if there are vacancies in county commissioner districts due to increasing the number of commissioner districts be filled at the next general election and provides for staggering terms for the newly elected county commissioners.House Bill 2604 increases the dollar amount for a small claim to $10,000.House Bill 2484 enacts the Social Work Licensure Compact. This will provided interstate practice privileges for social workers.House Bill 2637 expands the eligibility for Rural Emergency Hospital licenses to facilities that meet criteria at any point after 2015.House Bill 2567 establishes the Kansas National Guard Educational Master’s for Enhanced Readiness and Global Excellence (EMERGE) program. This is a bill that I co-sponsored.House Bill 2678 extends the period for how long a groundwater right can be deposited in a water bank and requiring a water bank to authorize a withdrawal of water on or before December 1 of the calendar year, in which the withdrawn water is to be used.I voted “yes” on these remaining bills. We will return from Turnaround on Feb. 28, 2024.Appropriations CommitteeThe House Appropriations Committee only met on Monday and Tuesday due to the approaching mid-session deadline referred to as “Turnaround.” Although we only met for two days, we did analyze many budgets.Here is a list of some of the budgets that we heard: Kansas State Fair, State Institutions for Intellectual Disabilities, Kansas Public Employee Retirement System, Office of the State Treasurer, and Kansas Human Rights Commission. We also discussed the budgets for thefollowing departments: Agriculture, Wildlife and Parks, Commerce, and Health and Environment-Environment. When we return on February 28, the committee will resume the budget discussions and complete the budget by early March.Return and Legislative CoffeesWhen we return from Turnaround on Feb. 28, the House Appropriations Committee will be finishing our budget reports. We will have the budgets of the Department of Children and Families, Corrections, Department of Transportation, and the Department of Health and Environment-Health, just to name a few. We will wrap up the budget reports the following week and then work diligently on the budget for the state of Kansas.While I am spending at home during Turnaround, I have many legislative towhalls and community events that I plan on attending. Here is the schedule for the legislative townhalls for the next week:Febr. 27 - Smith Center – The legislative coffee will be held at the Second Cup, 210 West 1st Street at 10:30 a.m.Feb. 27 – Osborne – This legislative coffee is scheduled at 2 p.m. and is located at the Hideout Coffeehouse, 130 West Main Street.March 2 – Russell – This legislative coffee will take place at the Russell Historical Museum, 825 North Kansas Street at 11 a.m.Contact InformationAnytime that you would like to participate and listen to the developments of committee hearings or discussion on the House floor, you can tune in by video or audio at www.kslegislature.org.As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, or email me at troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov.It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

Opinion