In 1940, the Great Depression still gripped Ellis, Franklin Roosevelt accepted an unprecedented third presidential term, Bugs Bunny made his movie debut, and the Selective Service Act of 1940, the first peacetime draft in America, went into effect. The world changed and Ellis schools rode those waves.

In January 1940, weak local finances caused the Ellis School Board to vote to lease the local parochial school’s building and equipment and operate it as part of the public school system. The nuns agreed to continue teaching without compensation from February through May. Once the board agreed to this action, they renamed St. Mary’s School to Lincoln Elementary, operating Lincoln School until House Bill 190 made this arrangement illegal in 1945.

While some may find this information contradictory in theory, it solved a community issue. The public school did not have to build a new facility. Nuns continued serving families who desired parochial education. While many forgot this bit of Ellis' history, it reveals how the community worked effectively to meet their children’s educational needs and community values.

World War II began before Ellis fully recovered from the Great Depression. The first half of the '40s saw little development of new programs or building projects in the district. By 1945, the budget had increased to $52,000, a considerable improvement over Depression-era funding even while the district funded an additional grade school.

Once the war ended, community expansion began in earnest. At the Dec. 13, 1946 meeting, board members voted to build a new gymnasium at the high school. Though they approved construction at that time, completion took until spring 1951. In the meantime, the district remodeled the home economics department and updated typewriters in the business department in September 1949.

The '50s introduced more change. Railroad and agricultural businesses thrived while oil and gas industries expanded. Adding further prosperity, the Bureau of Reclamation Project at Cedar Bluff necessitated the building of additional homes to house their employees. More people moved into Ellis, and good fortune reigned.

District 2 in Ellis reflected the successful economic times with a proposed budget of $115,910 in 1951. They celebrated completing the gymnasium and music room, and the first mention of a driver’s education car appeared in the Sept. 13, 1951, board minutes. In addition, rural Districts 26 and 52 were combined with Ellis District 2, requiring District 2 to dispose of those respective properties.

Marking another district first, the board hired a teacher to establish a grade school physical education program. In another innovative action, October minutes record that the district employed a special education teacher to work with 18 to 21 students with developmental delays and/or speech defects.

Teacher salaries also improved. The base salary for “Degree teachers” moved from $2,600 to $2,700 a year. Educators also received the annual increase and a cost-of-living bonus of $100 paid out over their nine-month contract.

Over these 12 years, Ellis mirrored events occurring across the U.S. The Depression was a memory. America had won WW II and returning soldiers experienced a booming economy. Riding these waves of optimism, Ellis residents added programs and improved infrastructure to support their children’s educations. For many, these were western Kansas' golden years.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b963889f-d6c4-4188-9855-e29e2883a26c">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools Part 13: 1935-1939</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/61399f29-0958-4290-85c4-6e96c610fc27">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools Part 12: 1927-1933</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/0de30e1b-bb01-44e2-bbee-2534451ce51d">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 11</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7dbf4b2f-ff51-490e-96d4-527cf5ce1596">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 10</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5d3b0050-884e-43a6-8da4-9419e81bbf3f">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part&nbsp;9</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6046ee3c-c6c2-4d3a-adf3-98084fcf506b">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 8</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/a410c8ea-2038-4aa9-bbac-4ba20e3dce59">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part&nbsp;7</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/c4d25696-4e64-4f03-b53f-52322f5800a6">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part&nbsp;6</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d1be1bca-b1ce-4748-b41f-f04fdecdd0c9">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part&nbsp;5</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/31162282-e1ad-4458-94c1-4efa3642155e">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 3</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4116f584-aca2-45ea-92ea-f4cb948ad1af">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part&nbsp;2</a>

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/539bba70-e799-4512-9cf1-809101486476">Madroirn: The beginning of Ellis schools</a>

In 1940, the Great Depression still gripped Ellis, Franklin Roosevelt accepted an unprecedented third presidential term, Bugs Bunny made his movie debut, and the Selective Service Act of 1940, the first peacetime draft in America, went into effect. The world changed and Ellis schools rode those waves.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1714596744159.jpeg" alt="Ellis Brick High School photo. Courtesy of Ellis High School Alumni Association.JPG" />
 <figcaption>Ellis Brick High School photo. Courtesy of Ellis High School Alumni Association.JPG</figcaption>
 </figure>In January 1940, weak local finances caused the Ellis School Board to vote to lease the local parochial school’s building and equipment and operate it as part of the public school system. The nuns agreed to continue teaching without compensation from February through May. Once the board agreed to this action, they renamed St. Mary’s School to Lincoln Elementary, operating Lincoln School until House Bill 190 made this arrangement illegal in 1945.While some may find this information contradictory in theory, it solved a community issue. The public school did not have to build a new facility. Nuns continued serving families who desired parochial education. While many forgot this bit of Ellis' history, it reveals how the community worked effectively to meet their children’s educational needs and community values.World War II began before Ellis fully recovered from the Great Depression. The first half of the '40s saw little development of new programs or building projects in the district. By 1945, the budget had increased to $52,000, a considerable improvement over Depression-era funding even while the district funded an additional grade school.Once the war ended, community expansion began in earnest. At the Dec. 13, 1946 meeting, board members voted to build a new gymnasium at the high school. Though they approved construction at that time, completion took until spring 1951. In the meantime, the district remodeled the home economics department and updated typewriters in the business department in September 1949.The '50s introduced more change. Railroad and agricultural businesses thrived while oil and gas industries expanded. Adding further prosperity, the Bureau of Reclamation Project at Cedar Bluff necessitated the building of additional homes to house their employees. More people moved into Ellis, and good fortune reigned.District 2 in Ellis reflected the successful economic times with a proposed budget of $115,910 in 1951. They celebrated completing the gymnasium and music room, and the first mention of a driver’s education car appeared in the Sept. 13, 1951, board minutes. In addition, rural Districts 26 and 52 were combined with Ellis District 2, requiring District 2 to dispose of those respective properties.Marking another district first, the board hired a teacher to establish a grade school physical education program. In another innovative action, October minutes record that the district employed a special education teacher to work with 18 to 21 students with developmental delays and/or speech defects.Teacher salaries also improved. The base salary for “Degree teachers” moved from $2,600 to $2,700 a year. Educators also received the annual increase and a cost-of-living bonus of $100 paid out over their nine-month contract.Over these 12 years, Ellis mirrored events occurring across the U.S. The Depression was a memory. America had won WW II and returning soldiers experienced a booming economy. Riding these waves of optimism, Ellis residents added programs and improved infrastructure to support their children’s educations. For many, these were western Kansas' golden years.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/b963889f-d6c4-4188-9855-e29e2883a26c">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools Part 13: 1935-1939</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/61399f29-0958-4290-85c4-6e96c610fc27">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools Part 12: 1927-1933</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/0de30e1b-bb01-44e2-bbee-2534451ce51d">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 11</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7dbf4b2f-ff51-490e-96d4-527cf5ce1596">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 10</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5d3b0050-884e-43a6-8da4-9419e81bbf3f">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part&nbsp;9</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/6046ee3c-c6c2-4d3a-adf3-98084fcf506b">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 8</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/a410c8ea-2038-4aa9-bbac-4ba20e3dce59">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part&nbsp;7</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/c4d25696-4e64-4f03-b53f-52322f5800a6">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part&nbsp;6</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/d1be1bca-b1ce-4748-b41f-f04fdecdd0c9">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part&nbsp;5</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/31162282-e1ad-4458-94c1-4efa3642155e">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part 3</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4116f584-aca2-45ea-92ea-f4cb948ad1af">Madorin: History of Ellis Schools, part&nbsp;2</a><a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/539bba70-e799-4512-9cf1-809101486476">Madroirn: The beginning of Ellis schools</a>

Madorin: History of Ellis Schools 1940 – Part 14

By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension District

Spring is my favorite time of year. The weather warms up, and I migrate outdoors to enjoy the weather. I love walking, biking, or simply sitting on my porch to soak up the sunshine. There’s something about sunshine that lifts my mood, and I don’t think I am the only one who feels this way. Science shows that rays from the sun have a positive effect on most of us. It provides a mental boost, and it supplies Vitamin D.

Vitamin D is a useful resource throughout the entire body. It plays a role in calcium absorption for strong bones, helps keep the immune system functioning properly, improves insulin sensitivity, and is linked to a reduced risk of cognitive decline. Vitamin D can also play an important role in cancer risk, cardiovascular disease, and mental health.

While we know the vitamin has fantastic effects on health, over 40% of Americans are deficient in the essential vitamin, and most of us aren’t getting the recommended intake. Children and adults should get 600 IU per day while those over 70 should aim for 800 IU.

Although many of us lack the essential vitamin, there are several different ways to increase intake. Direct sunlight, diet, and supplements can all help.

Sunlight exposure is the most potent source of Vitamin D. In fact, about 30 minutes of direct sunlight twice a week is equivalent to taking 20,000 IU of the vitamin orally! Experts recommend getting outdoors anytime from 10 am- 4 pm to get the full benefit.

Food can also provide Vitamin D in smaller amounts. Natural sources include trout, salmon, eggs, liver, and mushrooms. Other foods are fortified with the vitamin, and these can include cereal, milk, and juice.

Dietary supplements can also help you reach your Vitamin D needs. These supplements contain high levels of the vitamin, and they have been shown to cure Vitamin D-related diseases such as Rickets. Although a supplement may be convenient, it is always a good idea to consult your doctor first.

Like many of nature’s gifts, Vitamin D is generous in many ways. As you know, the vitamin is necessary for good physical health, and it is promising for mental health. Studies show that people with anxiety and depression are likely to have low vitamin D levels.

While we don’t know if depression is caused directly by low Vitamin D levels, we do know that getting outside to soak up sunshine can promote physical activity and provide opportunities to socialize. Along with these mood boosters, a colorful, Vitamin D-rich diet can support mental health as well.

Vitamin D is a nutrient that influences a vast number of the body’s health responses, and it is critical for good health. Getting enough Vitamin D can be a simple way to take care of your body and mind. So, what can you do to protect your health and avoid Vitamin D deficiency?

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 DistrictSpring is my favorite time of year. The weather warms up, and I migrate outdoors to enjoy the weather. I love walking, biking, or simply sitting on my porch to soak up the sunshine. There’s something about sunshine that lifts my mood, and I don’t think I am the only one who feels this way. Science shows that rays from the sun have a positive effect on most of us. It provides a mental boost, and it supplies Vitamin D.Vitamin D is a useful resource throughout the entire body. It plays a role in calcium absorption for strong bones, helps keep the immune system functioning properly, improves insulin sensitivity, and is linked to a reduced risk of cognitive decline. Vitamin D can also play an important role in cancer risk, cardiovascular disease, and mental health.While we know the vitamin has fantastic effects on health, over 40% of Americans are deficient in the essential vitamin, and most of us aren’t getting the recommended intake. Children and adults should get 600 IU per day while those over 70 should aim for 800 IU.Although many of us lack the essential vitamin, there are several different ways to increase intake. Direct sunlight, diet, and supplements can all help.Sunlight exposure is the most potent source of Vitamin D. In fact, about 30 minutes of direct sunlight twice a week is equivalent to taking 20,000 IU of the vitamin orally! Experts recommend getting outdoors anytime from 10 am- 4 pm to get the full benefit.Food can also provide Vitamin D in smaller amounts. Natural sources include trout, salmon, eggs, liver, and mushrooms. Other foods are fortified with the vitamin, and these can include cereal, milk, and juice.Dietary supplements can also help you reach your Vitamin D needs. These supplements contain high levels of the vitamin, and they have been shown to cure Vitamin D-related diseases such as Rickets. Although a supplement may be convenient, it is always a good idea to consult your doctor first.Like many of nature’s gifts, Vitamin D is generous in many ways. As you know, the vitamin is necessary for good physical health, and it is promising for mental health. Studies show that people with anxiety and depression are likely to have low vitamin D levels.While we don’t know if depression is caused directly by low Vitamin D levels, we do know that getting outside to soak up sunshine can promote physical activity and provide opportunities to socialize. Along with these mood boosters, a colorful, Vitamin D-rich diet can support mental health as well.Vitamin D is a nutrient that influences a vast number of the body’s health responses, and it is critical for good health. Getting enough Vitamin D can be a simple way to take care of your body and mind. So, what can you do to protect your health and avoid Vitamin D deficiency?· Let the sun shine· Focus on food· Talk to your docKarissa 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: The sunshine vitamin

Omnibus Budget and Conference Committee

The House Appropriations Committee met Thursday following the joint meeting with the Senate Ways and Means Committee to draft the Omnibus Budget. 

The House version included several items concerning issues across the state, some of which are included below. 

• Under the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, the House added $3.5 million State General Fund (SGF) for indigent support for substance use disorder providers in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. • In the Department of Health and Environment—Health, $5 million SGF was added for child and adult behavioral beds in FY 2025. &nbsp;• In the Department of Health and Environment—Environment, $4.8 million was spent in FY 25 for the Small-Town Infrastructure Assistance Grant Program, to help provide wastewater treatment drinking water in towns with a population of 1000 or less.

There were many items regarding law enforcement and corrections. 

• First was $2.5 million SGF in FY 2025 for a newly created regional inpatient juvenile substance use treatment center in south central Kansas. • Second was $12 million SGF allocated in FY 25 for the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. The budget also included an additional $21 million for staffing at the correctional facilities across the state of Kansas.

There were also many funding items for higher education. 

• First, $2.4 million SGF in FY 2025 to provide a $7,000 base pay increase and a $2,500 retention bonus to nursing facilities at community and technical colleges. • Second was $1 million SGF to the Kansas Adult Learner Grant Program Fund and $2.5 million for Need-Based Aid at public universities in FY 2025. • Third was $1.1 million SGF in FY 2025 for the Kansas National Guard Education Master’s Program for Enhanced Readiness and Global Excellence, which provides financial assistance to Kansas National Guard members pursuing a master’s degree.

The Senate Ways and Means Committee finished their version of the Omnibus Budget Friday afternoon. Later that day Senate Ways and Means and House Appropriations conferenced on the Omnibus Budget and came to a consensus after midnight on April 27.

The final version of the omnibus budget bill passed both the Senate and the House on Tuesday, April 30. The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 22-11 and it passed the House Tuesday night, amidst the tornado sirens going off in the capitol, 71-49. The Kansas Legislature adjourned late Tuesday night and will return in January after the elections.

On Friday, the House voted to override the governor's veto on two tax bills. The first was House Bill 2036, the tax plan that would cut income, sales, and property taxes with a vote of 104-15. Second was House Bill 2098, that would reduce sales tax, with a vote of 99-20. I voted to override the governor’s veto on both bills.

On Monday, the House overrode many vetoes to bills or budget line items. We overrode the veto on House Bill 2583, which protects law enforcement dogs by increasing criminal penalties for harming or killing them. The House also overrode the veto for House Bill 2648, what is referred to as the Reins Act, which attempts to rein in the high cost of government bureaucracy. The veto was sustained on Senate Bill 233, the gender reaffirming bill.

Friday, the House voted on the adoption of the Conference Committee Report on House Substitute for Senate Bill 387 which is the K-12 Education Budget for fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026. For fiscal year 2024, the budget would lapse funding, including $714,470 to the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System for non-USDs and $341,000 to the Kansas Public Employee Retirement Systems for USDs and would bring fiscal year 2024 total appropriations to $6.7 billion.

Fiscal year 2025, the house appropriated a total of $6.6 billion which includes $65.5 million for Special Education Services Aid, $5 million for the School Safety and Security Grants, and $2.5 million for school food assistance.

This bill would also establish the Education Funding Task Force that is made up of three state representatives, three state senators, a parent, a teacher, and one superintendent from a rural district and one from an urban school district. The task force would be required to recommend to the Governor a new school finance formula to replace the current formula that is set to expire July 1, 2027, and review the current methods of disbursing Special Education State Aid. I supported this budget which passed the House 115-2.

Anytime 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 <a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.

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&nbsp;appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1621346439026.jpeg" alt="Rep. Troy L. Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Kansas House. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Troy L. Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Kansas House. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA MAY 1, 2024Omnibus Budget and Conference CommitteeThe House Appropriations Committee met Thursday following the joint meeting with the Senate Ways and Means Committee to draft the Omnibus Budget. The House version included several items concerning issues across the state, some of which are included below. • Under the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, the House added $3.5 million State General Fund (SGF) for indigent support for substance use disorder providers in Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. • In the Department of Health and Environment—Health, $5 million SGF was added for child and adult behavioral beds in FY 2025. &nbsp;• In the Department of Health and Environment—Environment, $4.8 million was spent in FY 25 for the Small-Town Infrastructure Assistance Grant Program, to help provide wastewater treatment drinking water in towns with a population of 1000 or less.There were many items regarding law enforcement and corrections. • First was $2.5 million SGF in FY 2025 for a newly created regional inpatient juvenile substance use treatment center in south central Kansas. • Second was $12 million SGF allocated in FY 25 for the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. The budget also included an additional $21 million for staffing at the correctional facilities across the state of Kansas.There were also many funding items for higher education. • First, $2.4 million SGF in FY 2025 to provide a $7,000 base pay increase and a $2,500 retention bonus to nursing facilities at community and technical colleges. • Second was $1 million SGF to the Kansas Adult Learner Grant Program Fund and $2.5 million for Need-Based Aid at public universities in FY 2025. • Third was $1.1 million SGF in FY 2025 for the Kansas National Guard Education Master’s Program for Enhanced Readiness and Global Excellence, which provides financial assistance to Kansas National Guard members pursuing a master’s degree.The Senate Ways and Means Committee finished their version of the Omnibus Budget Friday afternoon. Later that day Senate Ways and Means and House Appropriations conferenced on the Omnibus Budget and came to a consensus after midnight on April 27.The final version of the omnibus budget bill passed both the Senate and the House on Tuesday, April 30. The bill passed the Senate with a vote of 22-11 and it passed the House Tuesday night, amidst the tornado sirens going off in the capitol, 71-49. The Kansas Legislature adjourned late Tuesday night and will return in January after the elections.Veto OverridesOn Friday, the House voted to override the governor's veto on two tax bills. The first was House Bill 2036, the tax plan that would cut income, sales, and property taxes with a vote of 104-15. Second was House Bill 2098, that would reduce sales tax, with a vote of 99-20. I voted to override the governor’s veto on both bills.On Monday, the House overrode many vetoes to bills or budget line items. We overrode the veto on House Bill 2583, which protects law enforcement dogs by increasing criminal penalties for harming or killing them. The House also overrode the veto for House Bill 2648, what is referred to as the Reins Act, which attempts to rein in the high cost of government bureaucracy. The veto was sustained on Senate Bill 233, the gender reaffirming bill.K-12 Education BudgetFriday, the House voted on the adoption of the Conference Committee Report on House Substitute for Senate Bill 387 which is the K-12 Education Budget for fiscal years 2024, 2025, and 2026. For fiscal year 2024, the budget would lapse funding, including $714,470 to the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System for non-USDs and $341,000 to the Kansas Public Employee Retirement Systems for USDs and would bring fiscal year 2024 total appropriations to $6.7 billion.Fiscal year 2025, the house appropriated a total of $6.6 billion which includes $65.5 million for Special Education Services Aid, $5 million for the School Safety and Security Grants, and $2.5 million for school food assistance.This bill would also establish the Education Funding Task Force that is made up of three state representatives, three state senators, a parent, a teacher, and one superintendent from a rural district and one from an urban school district. The task force would be required to recommend to the Governor a new school finance formula to replace the current formula that is set to expire July 1, 2027, and review the current methods of disbursing Special Education State Aid. I supported this budget which passed the House 115-2.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 <a href="https://www.kslegislature.org/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.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&nbsp;appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

WAYMASTER: From the Dome to Home, May 1; Omnibus bill & conference committee

STEVE GILLIAND Exploring Kansas Outdoors

Many a good fisherman has cut his or her “teeth” on bluegills, often catching them from a farm pond with nothing but a hook and a bit of worm under a bobber. Some of us can even remember catching them with a cane pole and an old cork fastened on some sort of heavy cord. They’re feisty fighters and provide just enough action to get and keep a youngster “hooked” on fishing. When spawning, they scoop out oval shaped beds in the pond bottom, and in defense of their spawning ground, the little rascals will chase about any bait or lure thrown into the water.

I recently stumbled across another role for bluegills besides helping kids learn to fish. Do you remember how coal miners of years ago carried caged canaries into the mine with them to detect toxic air? It seems the birds were able to detect toxins in the air well before the miners could, and by watching the birds’ reactions the miners would be warned in time to exit the mines before breathing the poisoned air. It seems that some time back the Army developed a system of using bluegill fish to detect toxins in drinking water, much like the canaries were able to do with air in the coal mines. The original process was named IAC 1090, or Intelligent Aquatic BioMonitoring System, and though it was developed by the Army for its own use, the system is currently used to monitor the drinking water at Fort Detrick, Maryland, plus several large cities including New York City, San Francisco and Washington DC, and since 911, even more large US cities have begun using bluegills to help protect their water supplies.

It seems bluegills are extremely sensitive to toxins in the water where they live, so the system works by employing bluegill fish at water treatment plants. Each fish is kept in an individual plastic case that is described as looking like a trunk made into an aquarium. Fish do a three week tour of duty and are then replaced. They are kept inside at the water treatment facility and water is piped through the case, where electronic sensors monitor each fish for what amounts to “fish coughs.” Much like we humans cough to expel something foreign from our respiratory system, bluegills do the same by flexing their gills to expel something foreign, say a grain of sand, from their breathing passage. The instruments pick up these “coughs” and other irregularities and send the information to computers that constantly compare it to the fish’s normal behavior. If the computers sense that enough of the fish are upset by something in the water, they automatically trigger water samples to be taken and notify workers.

Bluegills are best able to detect non-biological threats such as pesticides, mercury, cyanide, heavy metals, fuel spills and phosphates. By monitoring the fish, workers are not able to tell exactly what toxins they are reacting to, just that there is threat to the drinking water that needs immediate attention. One article I found said that the Army had tested bluegills against 27 different toxins, and the fish detected them all.

The system at Fort Detrick tests both the raw water coming into the plant and the fully treated water just before its leaves the treatment facility. One example of the bluegill’s effectiveness cited a situation when the computer monitoring the fish sensed that the bluegills sampling the raw water pumped from the river had become agitated. The incoming water was immediately shut off and samples taken, revealing that someone had evidently washed a pesticide truck upstream in the river. The incoming water was so poisoned that all the fish that initially sensed it died, but not before the threat had been

addressed and identified. In this case the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia also benefited from the bluegills, allowing it to shut off its incoming water also, which was being pumped from the same river just one hundred yards upstream.

A spokesman for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, had this to say about their system that uses the little fish to protect its drinking water. “We appreciate that there’s an irony to this, that the oldest technology in the world -life- is now being combined with high technology to keep the water supply of the region safe. We want to use what works, and if that means we have to become fish keepers, then we will.” So the next time you catch a mess of bluegills, look upon them with a whole new respect! 

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>STEVE GILLIAND Exploring Kansas OutdoorsMany a good fisherman has cut his or her “teeth” on bluegills, often catching them from a farm pond with nothing but a hook and a bit of worm under a bobber. Some of us can even remember catching them with a cane pole and an old cork fastened on some sort of heavy cord. They’re feisty fighters and provide just enough action to get and keep a youngster “hooked” on fishing. When spawning, they scoop out oval shaped beds in the pond bottom, and in defense of their spawning ground, the little rascals will chase about any bait or lure thrown into the water.I recently stumbled across another role for bluegills besides helping kids learn to fish. Do you remember how coal miners of years ago carried caged canaries into the mine with them to detect toxic air? It seems the birds were able to detect toxins in the air well before the miners could, and by watching the birds’ reactions the miners would be warned in time to exit the mines before breathing the poisoned air. It seems that some time back the Army developed a system of using bluegill fish to detect toxins in drinking water, much like the canaries were able to do with air in the coal mines. The original process was named IAC 1090, or Intelligent Aquatic BioMonitoring System, and though it was developed by the Army for its own use, the system is currently used to monitor the drinking water at Fort Detrick, Maryland, plus several large cities including New York City, San Francisco and Washington DC, and since 911, even more large US cities have begun using bluegills to help protect their water supplies.It seems bluegills are extremely sensitive to toxins in the water where they live, so the system works by employing bluegill fish at water treatment plants. Each fish is kept in an individual plastic case that is described as looking like a trunk made into an aquarium. Fish do a three week tour of duty and are then replaced. They are kept inside at the water treatment facility and water is piped through the case, where electronic sensors monitor each fish for what amounts to “fish coughs.” Much like we humans cough to expel something foreign from our respiratory system, bluegills do the same by flexing their gills to expel something foreign, say a grain of sand, from their breathing passage. The instruments pick up these “coughs” and other irregularities and send the information to computers that constantly compare it to the fish’s normal behavior. If the computers sense that enough of the fish are upset by something in the water, they automatically trigger water samples to be taken and notify workers.Bluegills are best able to detect non-biological threats such as pesticides, mercury, cyanide, heavy metals, fuel spills and phosphates. By monitoring the fish, workers are not able to tell exactly what toxins they are reacting to, just that there is threat to the drinking water that needs immediate attention. One article I found said that the Army had tested bluegills against 27 different toxins, and the fish detected them all.The system at Fort Detrick tests both the raw water coming into the plant and the fully treated water just before its leaves the treatment facility. One example of the bluegill’s effectiveness cited a situation when the computer monitoring the fish sensed that the bluegills sampling the raw water pumped from the river had become agitated. The incoming water was immediately shut off and samples taken, revealing that someone had evidently washed a pesticide truck upstream in the river. The incoming water was so poisoned that all the fish that initially sensed it died, but not before the threat had beenaddressed and identified. In this case the city of Fredericksburg, Virginia also benefited from the bluegills, allowing it to shut off its incoming water also, which was being pumped from the same river just one hundred yards upstream.A spokesman for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, had this to say about their system that uses the little fish to protect its drinking water. “We appreciate that there’s an irony to this, that the oldest technology in the world -life- is now being combined with high technology to keep the water supply of the region safe. We want to use what works, and if that means we have to become fish keepers, then we will.” So the next time you catch a mess of bluegills, look upon them with a whole new respect! Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

GILLILAND: Bluegills; Canaries in the water

The environment in which we live, work, and play is more important than we realize. Studies show that the air we breathe, the buildings we reside in, and the neighborhoods we call home can impact physical and mental health. Some examples are glaring. Air pollutants, contaminated water, and chemical by-products can disrupt biological functions. Scientists suspect these can lead to serious health problems such as asthma, cancer, and Parkinson’s Disease.

On the other hand, some environmental factors affect health in less obvious, beneficial ways. If you are familiar with the Blue Zones, you know that people of these regions maintain exceptional health. This is due to lifestyle choices inspired by the physical environment. What do I mean by this? People of the Blue Zones are surrounded by opportunities that make the healthy choice, the easy choice. Walking trails, vegetable gardens, green spaces, and intergenerational living arrangements are not just accessible, they are the norm. People of these regions live in an environment that influences them to walk to work, prepare healthy meals, unwind in nature, and create lasting relationships.

As you can see, health is greatly influenced by the choices we make. And the choices we make depend largely on the environment we live in. For example, a cluttered area encourages people to leave trash behind. In fact, studies show that littering increases at these sites. Whereas, a well-kept area invites people to keep the space clean.

Our physical environment also influences stress levels which impacts the body and how we make decisions. A person who lives in an urban area can experience chronic stress due to continuous noise. However, access to green spaces and quiet areas reduces anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and improves sleep quality. In turn, this affects how the brain functions. When you have reduced levels of stress and good mental health, you are equipped to problem solve and to make new, healthy choices.

The environment impacts our physical health and psychological well-being. It also influences our subconscious decisions. So, I challenge you to be aware of your ecological footprint and to advocate for a healthy environment. This can be done many ways. It can include the 3 R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle, or it can simply be picking up trash in a parking lot. It can even be through system changes like supporting your community to build more sidewalks, parks, and bike lanes. To find more ideas visit: https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/what-you-can-do

Together we can all make the healthy choice, the easy choice.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697546908793.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KARISSA WINKEL Cottonwood Extension DistrictThe environment in which we live, work, and play is more important than we realize. Studies show that the air we breathe, the buildings we reside in, and the neighborhoods we call home can impact physical and mental health. Some examples are glaring. Air pollutants, contaminated water, and chemical by-products can disrupt biological functions. Scientists suspect these can lead to serious health problems such as asthma, cancer, and Parkinson’s Disease.On the other hand, some environmental factors affect health in less obvious, beneficial ways. If you are familiar with the Blue Zones, you know that people of these regions maintain exceptional health. This is due to lifestyle choices inspired by the physical environment. What do I mean by this? People of the Blue Zones are surrounded by opportunities that make the healthy choice, the easy choice. Walking trails, vegetable gardens, green spaces, and intergenerational living arrangements are not just accessible, they are the norm. People of these regions live in an environment that influences them to walk to work, prepare healthy meals, unwind in nature, and create lasting relationships.As you can see, health is greatly influenced by the choices we make. And the choices we make depend largely on the environment we live in. For example, a cluttered area encourages people to leave trash behind. In fact, studies show that littering increases at these sites. Whereas, a well-kept area invites people to keep the space clean.Our physical environment also influences stress levels which impacts the body and how we make decisions. A person who lives in an urban area can experience chronic stress due to continuous noise. However, access to green spaces and quiet areas reduces anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and improves sleep quality. In turn, this affects how the brain functions. When you have reduced levels of stress and good mental health, you are equipped to problem solve and to make new, healthy choices.The environment impacts our physical health and psychological well-being. It also influences our subconscious decisions. So, I challenge you to be aware of your ecological footprint and to advocate for a healthy environment. This can be done many ways. It can include the 3 R’s: reduce, reuse, and recycle, or it can simply be picking up trash in a parking lot. It can even be through system changes like supporting your community to build more sidewalks, parks, and bike lanes. To find more ideas visit: https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/what-you-can-doTogether we can all make the healthy choice, the easy choice.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: Make the healthy choice, the easy choice

In the recent legislative session, a significant decision was made that profoundly impacted property tax dynamics in Kansas. 

The Tax Plan adopted by the Kansas House and Senate notably omits the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund (LAVTR), thereby stripping a vital mechanism to alleviate the property tax burden on Kansas residents and businesses.

This move not only breaks a longstanding promise to our cities and counties but also occurs at a time when Kansas boasts a $1.9 billion budget surplus.

Established in 1965, the LAVTR was a landmark initiative designed to return a portion of state-collected sales taxes to local governments, thereby reducing local property taxes dollar-for-dollar.

This was a significant step towards ensuring equitable distribution of tax burdens and supporting local communities. Initially, LAVTR funding was halted when Kansas faced financial constraints and could not afford the allocations.

However, those financially restrictive times have long since passed, making the continued non-funding of LAVTR more difficult to justify, given current fiscal conditions.

Despite its potential, the fund has not received allocations for over two decades. This prolonged neglect underscores a missed opportunity, especially poignant, considering that Kansas cities and counties have foregone more than $1.7 billion in funding that could have directly reduced local property taxes.

This is not just a loss of funds but a loss of potential for Kansas residents to have a lighter tax burden and for local economies to thrive. 

Furthermore, most cities and counties across the state have worked diligently to maintain or lower their mill levy, often doing more with less. Local elected officials and city staff, who pay the same property tax rates as their constituents, recognize the heavy burden that high property taxes place on families and businesses.

The recent legislative decision to remove LAVTR entirely from the statutes effectively abolishes a practical tool for tax relief, with no forthcoming alternative that adequately addresses the immediate financial pressures on local governments.

This decision is even more difficult to reconcile with the fact that, during this time of fiscal abundance, the potential to fund LAVTR fully was feasible yet overlooked.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While the legislature faces complex fiscal decisions, these choices must prioritize the greater good.&nbsp; It is crucial to recognize that every dollar saved in property taxes is a dollar that can support family budgets, boost local economies and enhance community well-being.

In conclusion, our legislators face difficult fiscal decisions. However, eliminating the LAVTR during a time of surplus represents a significant step back in our efforts to provide genuine tax relief to Kansas residents. It is a disservice to both the spirit of equitable governance and the financial health of our local communities.&nbsp;

The promise of addressing high property taxes for all property owners should be fulfilled. There is still time. 

With Governor Kelly’s veto of the tax plan, the legislature can override the veto or work with the governor on a compromise tax plan, which should not include the wholesale elimination of the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund.

Rather, leveraging our state's surplus and funding the LAVTR would substantially reduce the financial burden on our citizens.

—&nbsp;Jon Quinday, Russell city manager

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698091063975.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In the recent legislative session, a significant decision was made that profoundly impacted property tax dynamics in Kansas. The Tax Plan adopted by the Kansas House and Senate notably omits the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund (LAVTR), thereby stripping a vital mechanism to alleviate the property tax burden on Kansas residents and businesses.This move not only breaks a longstanding promise to our cities and counties but also occurs at a time when Kansas boasts a $1.9 billion budget surplus.Established in 1965, the LAVTR was a landmark initiative designed to return a portion of state-collected sales taxes to local governments, thereby reducing local property taxes dollar-for-dollar.This was a significant step towards ensuring equitable distribution of tax burdens and supporting local communities. Initially, LAVTR funding was halted when Kansas faced financial constraints and could not afford the allocations.However, those financially restrictive times have long since passed, making the continued non-funding of LAVTR more difficult to justify, given current fiscal conditions.Despite its potential, the fund has not received allocations for over two decades. This prolonged neglect underscores a missed opportunity, especially poignant, considering that Kansas cities and counties have foregone more than $1.7 billion in funding that could have directly reduced local property taxes.This is not just a loss of funds but a loss of potential for Kansas residents to have a lighter tax burden and for local economies to thrive. Furthermore, most cities and counties across the state have worked diligently to maintain or lower their mill levy, often doing more with less. Local elected officials and city staff, who pay the same property tax rates as their constituents, recognize the heavy burden that high property taxes place on families and businesses.The recent legislative decision to remove LAVTR entirely from the statutes effectively abolishes a practical tool for tax relief, with no forthcoming alternative that adequately addresses the immediate financial pressures on local governments.This decision is even more difficult to reconcile with the fact that, during this time of fiscal abundance, the potential to fund LAVTR fully was feasible yet overlooked.&nbsp;&nbsp;While the legislature faces complex fiscal decisions, these choices must prioritize the greater good.&nbsp; It is crucial to recognize that every dollar saved in property taxes is a dollar that can support family budgets, boost local economies and enhance community well-being.In conclusion, our legislators face difficult fiscal decisions. However, eliminating the LAVTR during a time of surplus represents a significant step back in our efforts to provide genuine tax relief to Kansas residents. It is a disservice to both the spirit of equitable governance and the financial health of our local communities.&nbsp;The promise of addressing high property taxes for all property owners should be fulfilled. There is still time. With Governor Kelly’s veto of the tax plan, the legislature can override the veto or work with the governor on a compromise tax plan, which should not include the wholesale elimination of the Local Ad Valorem Tax Reduction Fund.Rather, leveraging our state's surplus and funding the LAVTR would substantially reduce the financial burden on our citizens.—&nbsp;Jon Quinday, Russell city manager

LETTER: Amidst a $1.9 billion surplus, Kansas abandons tax relief tool  

STEVE GILLIAND Exploring Kansas Outdoors

My supervisor from years ago lived in a community along Kannapolis Lake. He would tell me stories about the numerous deer that were always in his backyard, and scoff at my stories of unsuccessful deer hunts. “I don’t know why you don’t just come down and shoot a deer from my back porch” he would say. Obviously that would have taken little planning but would probably have been illegal and at very least would have been horrible public relations, and the sight of me dragging a field dressed deer through his back yard would possibly have gotten him run out of the community on a rail. Few non-hunters understand the strategy and planning that are part of successful hunting. Seldom is hunting merely climbing into a stand or blind, shooting game then going home.

Case in point; a couple turkey seasons ago, I was out for the first time that year. I often hunt on my sister’s land and have a general knowledge of where the turkeys there usually roost. But, having disobeyed the first rule of turkey hunting and not done any scouting whatsoever, I purposely arrived just at sunup so I could see ahead of me as I walked. I parked in a hay field, ducked under the fence and slowly strolled into a woodlot through which a partially dry stream cut like a sidewinder snake. I hadn’t taken a dozen steps when a gobbler’s booming report echoed just ahead of me. Not good! I had probably spooked the resident turkeys already and hadn’t yet even seen them.

Now the planning and strategy came into play. I knew where those turkeys were headed but there was more than one way for them to get there. Should I quickly backtrack and try to get around and ahead of them to ambush them elsewhere? It was still early in the season and I now knew where they roosted, so I choose to leave quietly, and come back to set up early that afternoon to try and intercept them on their return.

I arrived about four that afternoon and walked to the far side of that same woodlot, where I settled in amongst a group of fallen trees where Joyce and I had once begun building a nice deer stand until the trees blew down in a bad storm. Now the big cottonwood trunks lay in a twisted mass, perfect for harboring a hopeful turkey hunter. Around 5:30 black specks finally appeared in an alfalfa field at least a quarter mile away. They seemed content to graze the evening away there with little regard for my hen decoy, which I knew the sharp-eyed toms could see. It was strategy time again; I was near their roosting area and even if their mood changed and they came my way soon, that was no guarantee of a shot. Turkeys are easily spooked from the area if pressured to hard or too often, and if I was caught there without getting a shot, I would risk spooking them badly (again) when I left. I opted to back out quietly and plan for a better ambush point another day.

Sunday afternoon found me tucked in under a big cedar tree at the far end of the alfalfa field where the turkeys were grazing the evening before. This seemed to be a better ambush spot than where I’d been, and would not be so hard to get away from without spooking the group if things didn’t work out (again.) I sat overlooking the alfalfa and had a hen decoy placed twenty yards away at about the two o’clock position. I could see very well to my right but not very far to my left, as some clumps of weeds separating the fields blocked my view. After an hour and a half, I noticed the cows below me looking intently at something to my left. I’m not known for my patience, so I eased out of my camp chair onto my hands and knees to creep forward and have a look around. I’d not crawled a foot when the bright red face and fanned-out tail of a strutting gobbler stepped silently from behind the nearest clump of weeds barely ten feet away. The rest is history. He had crept silently in to check out my decoy, and would probably have given me a good shot If I’d have stayed glued to my seat another minute. My planning and strategy put me spot on for location, but my impatience busted me again!

Wind direction is not a factor when hunting turkeys, but when hunting most wildlife, wind speed and direction plays a huge role, along with time of day, location, weather patterns and even moon signs. Yes, hunting is a game of planning and strategy, and when all things come together correctly, the reward is often meat for the freezer….Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>STEVE GILLIAND Exploring Kansas OutdoorsMy supervisor from years ago lived in a community along Kannapolis Lake. He would tell me stories about the numerous deer that were always in his backyard, and scoff at my stories of unsuccessful deer hunts. “I don’t know why you don’t just come down and shoot a deer from my back porch” he would say. Obviously that would have taken little planning but would probably have been illegal and at very least would have been horrible public relations, and the sight of me dragging a field dressed deer through his back yard would possibly have gotten him run out of the community on a rail. Few non-hunters understand the strategy and planning that are part of successful hunting. Seldom is hunting merely climbing into a stand or blind, shooting game then going home.Case in point; a couple turkey seasons ago, I was out for the first time that year. I often hunt on my sister’s land and have a general knowledge of where the turkeys there usually roost. But, having disobeyed the first rule of turkey hunting and not done any scouting whatsoever, I purposely arrived just at sunup so I could see ahead of me as I walked. I parked in a hay field, ducked under the fence and slowly strolled into a woodlot through which a partially dry stream cut like a sidewinder snake. I hadn’t taken a dozen steps when a gobbler’s booming report echoed just ahead of me. Not good! I had probably spooked the resident turkeys already and hadn’t yet even seen them.Now the planning and strategy came into play. I knew where those turkeys were headed but there was more than one way for them to get there. Should I quickly backtrack and try to get around and ahead of them to ambush them elsewhere? It was still early in the season and I now knew where they roosted, so I choose to leave quietly, and come back to set up early that afternoon to try and intercept them on their return.I arrived about four that afternoon and walked to the far side of that same woodlot, where I settled in amongst a group of fallen trees where Joyce and I had once begun building a nice deer stand until the trees blew down in a bad storm. Now the big cottonwood trunks lay in a twisted mass, perfect for harboring a hopeful turkey hunter. Around 5:30 black specks finally appeared in an alfalfa field at least a quarter mile away. They seemed content to graze the evening away there with little regard for my hen decoy, which I knew the sharp-eyed toms could see. It was strategy time again; I was near their roosting area and even if their mood changed and they came my way soon, that was no guarantee of a shot. Turkeys are easily spooked from the area if pressured to hard or too often, and if I was caught there without getting a shot, I would risk spooking them badly (again) when I left. I opted to back out quietly and plan for a better ambush point another day.Sunday afternoon found me tucked in under a big cedar tree at the far end of the alfalfa field where the turkeys were grazing the evening before. This seemed to be a better ambush spot than where I’d been, and would not be so hard to get away from without spooking the group if things didn’t work out (again.) I sat overlooking the alfalfa and had a hen decoy placed twenty yards away at about the two o’clock position. I could see very well to my right but not very far to my left, as some clumps of weeds separating the fields blocked my view. After an hour and a half, I noticed the cows below me looking intently at something to my left. I’m not known for my patience, so I eased out of my camp chair onto my hands and knees to creep forward and have a look around. I’d not crawled a foot when the bright red face and fanned-out tail of a strutting gobbler stepped silently from behind the nearest clump of weeds barely ten feet away. The rest is history. He had crept silently in to check out my decoy, and would probably have given me a good shot If I’d have stayed glued to my seat another minute. My planning and strategy put me spot on for location, but my impatience busted me again!Wind direction is not a factor when hunting turkeys, but when hunting most wildlife, wind speed and direction plays a huge role, along with time of day, location, weather patterns and even moon signs. Yes, hunting is a game of planning and strategy, and when all things come together correctly, the reward is often meat for the freezer….Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

GILLILAND: Strategies of the Hunt

By BILL FIANDER Insight Kansas

Recently as I drove my Silent Generation father-in-law on an out-of-town trip along I-70, he made a peculiar observation. “I never noticed this before but there’s plastic bags everywhere. My gosh. It looks terrible!”

Peculiar because he’s typically not a passenger seat guy. Peculiar because he’s the last person I expect to hear pseudo-environmentally conscious commentary from. But knowing he’s a person who takes seriously where his local tax dollars go and his community’s appearance, combined with a newfound passenger seat status, I took heed of a lesson in local self-determination enshrined in the Kansas Constitution otherwise known as “home rule.”

Put simply: his right to solve a local problem locally.

This session, the Kansas Legislature attempted another end run on home rule with House Bill 2446: a wide-ranging, but straightforward, one-page bill designed to prohibit cities and counties from regulating “auxiliary containers” — plastic straws, bags, cups, packages, bottles, etc. for the transportation, consumption, or protection of food, beverage, or merchandise.

Two weeks ago, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed the “plastic bag” bill, stunningly without a single reference to preserving the environment, spoiling waterways, toxicity of microplastics in our bloodstream, emitting greenhouse gases, or the Great Pacific garbage patch that’s grown bigger than Kansas itself.

Instead, she reserved her 45-word veto to extoll the virtues of local control and accountability enshrined in the 1961 home rule amendment to the Kansas Constitution where “powers and authority granted cities pursuant to this section shall be liberally construed for the purpose of giving cities the largest amount of self-government.”

Cities no longer had to gain approval from the state for their laws. Local government was given power to reflect their citizens’ needs and values free from state interference.

The logic of home rule presupposes a municipality is unique — what makes sense for Dodge City may not make sense for Manhattan — and will ultimately act in its own best interest lest people vote with their feet or for new representation.

The challenge of home rule is abiding by it.

Effective March 1, the City of Lawrence is determining their best interest as they implement a ban on single-use plastic bags, the first of its kind in the state. They affirmed their desire to think globally and act locally about the 29–36 million discarded plastic bags proliferating annually in the nooks and crannies of their city.

Conversely, passage of HB 2446 would have nullified their residents’ wishes and the wishes of any other city’s residents to self-govern.

Slopes are slippery. If the Legislature begins to assert their voice for local issues in one city, it becomes easier the next day to assert their voice on a local issue important to your city. Previous or current slippage into local control includes smoking in public places, age of tobacco purchasers, political sign regulations, zoning to increase housing supply, solar roof panels, homeless camping, and controlling pet populations.

Maybe some of this is dawning on legislators. For being the only Great Plains state not banning plastic bag bans, the bill had a surprisingly comfortable veto-override proof margin in the House (72-51) and Senate (24-16)

Maybe they’re realizing a statewide ban eliminates enough discarded bags annually in Kansas to circle the earth six times.

Or that it’s harder to escape the irony of condemning federal intrusion into state affairs when you do the same to local affairs.

Bill Fiander is a lecturer of university courses specializing in public administration, urban planning, and state/local government. He is the former planning and development director for the City of Topeka and holds a master's degree in urban and regional planning from George Washington University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713980225682.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BILL FIANDER Insight KansasRecently as I drove my Silent Generation father-in-law on an out-of-town trip along I-70, he made a peculiar observation. “I never noticed this before but there’s plastic bags everywhere. My gosh. It looks terrible!”Peculiar because he’s typically not a passenger seat guy. Peculiar because he’s the last person I expect to hear pseudo-environmentally conscious commentary from. But knowing he’s a person who takes seriously where his local tax dollars go and his community’s appearance, combined with a newfound passenger seat status, I took heed of a lesson in local self-determination enshrined in the Kansas Constitution otherwise known as “home rule.”Put simply: his right to solve a local problem locally.This session, the Kansas Legislature attempted another end run on home rule with House Bill 2446: a wide-ranging, but straightforward, one-page bill designed to prohibit cities and counties from regulating “auxiliary containers” — plastic straws, bags, cups, packages, bottles, etc. for the transportation, consumption, or protection of food, beverage, or merchandise.Two weeks ago, Kansas Governor Laura Kelly vetoed the “plastic bag” bill, stunningly without a single reference to preserving the environment, spoiling waterways, toxicity of microplastics in our bloodstream, emitting greenhouse gases, or the Great Pacific garbage patch that’s grown bigger than Kansas itself.Instead, she reserved her 45-word veto to extoll the virtues of local control and accountability enshrined in the 1961 home rule amendment to the Kansas Constitution where “powers and authority granted cities pursuant to this section shall be liberally construed for the purpose of giving cities the largest amount of self-government.”Cities no longer had to gain approval from the state for their laws. Local government was given power to reflect their citizens’ needs and values free from state interference.The logic of home rule presupposes a municipality is unique — what makes sense for Dodge City may not make sense for Manhattan — and will ultimately act in its own best interest lest people vote with their feet or for new representation.The challenge of home rule is abiding by it.Effective March 1, the City of Lawrence is determining their best interest as they implement a ban on single-use plastic bags, the first of its kind in the state. They affirmed their desire to think globally and act locally about the 29–36 million discarded plastic bags proliferating annually in the nooks and crannies of their city.Conversely, passage of HB 2446 would have nullified their residents’ wishes and the wishes of any other city’s residents to self-govern.Slopes are slippery. If the Legislature begins to assert their voice for local issues in one city, it becomes easier the next day to assert their voice on a local issue important to your city. Previous or current slippage into local control includes smoking in public places, age of tobacco purchasers, political sign regulations, zoning to increase housing supply, solar roof panels, homeless camping, and controlling pet populations.Maybe some of this is dawning on legislators. For being the only Great Plains state not banning plastic bag bans, the bill had a surprisingly comfortable veto-override proof margin in the House (72-51) and Senate (24-16)Maybe they’re realizing a statewide ban eliminates enough discarded bags annually in Kansas to circle the earth six times.Or that it’s harder to escape the irony of condemning federal intrusion into state affairs when you do the same to local affairs.Bill Fiander is a lecturer of university courses specializing in public administration, urban planning, and state/local government. He is the former planning and development director for the City of Topeka and holds a master's degree in urban and regional planning from George Washington University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Plastic bags test home rule more than environment

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

The Endangered Species Act (ESA), established in 1973, protects threatened and endangered species and the critical habitats in which they live. This act requires federal agencies to ensure that any action they authorize or fund does not negatively affect any listed species or any critical habitat the organism needs to survive. For the EPA, this means they are required to assess potential risks to these species when they register or reregister a pesticide product. In 1988, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Endangered Species Protection Program (ESPP) to meet its obligations under this Act. A lawsuit filed in 2011 alleged that the EPA violated ESA when it registered or reevaluated certain pesticide active ingredients, which is now driving some changes that will affect Kansas producers.

The expected changes are being outlined in the EPA’s herbicide, insecticide, fungicide, and rodenticide strategies, which have not been finalized yet. The strategies aim to minimize the exposure of protected species to pesticides. Many of the new risk mitigation measures outlined in the strategies will apply to all pesticides, but some will be specific to a particular site, product, or application timing.

Because the strategies have not been finalized, there is still a lot of uncertainty, but we know pesticide labels will change. Changes will include additional runoff, erosion, and spray drift reduction measures for many products. In addition, some applications will be affected by Pesticide Use Limitation Areas (PULAs), which will have additional restrictions beyond those listed on the product label. Applicators will need to read Endangered Species Protection Bulletins to determine if a PULA will affect an application.

The Endangered Species Protection Bulletin will identify the species of concern and the pesticide active ingredient that may affect it. It will also provide a description of protection measures necessary to protect the species and a county-level map showing the affected geographic areas. If the pesticide label directs you to the website “Bulletins Live! Two” or the toll-free number, you are required to follow the pesticide use limitations found in the Bulletin for your location, the pesticide active ingredient, and the application month (Figure 1). You can obtain Bulletins at the website: https://www.epa.gov/endangered-species/bulletins-live-two-view-bulletins or through the toll-free number 844-477-3813. Bulletins should be obtained no more than six months ahead of your application. It is recommended that applicators keep a record of the Bulletins they obtain as part of their application records. Remember, these bulletins will be required for all pesticides, not only restricted-use products.

As an applicator or producer, now is the time to familiarize yourself with the “Bulletin’s Live! Two” website and how to search, use, and save bulletins. It is important to know the upcoming changes and existing resources that can help you navigate and understand how to comply.

Information provided by Frannie Miller, K-State Research &amp; Extension Pesticide Safety and IPM Coordinator and Sarah Lancaster, K-State Extension Weed Science Specialist.

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.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictThe Endangered Species Act (ESA), established in 1973, protects threatened and endangered species and the critical habitats in which they live. This act requires federal agencies to ensure that any action they authorize or fund does not negatively affect any listed species or any critical habitat the organism needs to survive. For the EPA, this means they are required to assess potential risks to these species when they register or reregister a pesticide product. In 1988, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the Endangered Species Protection Program (ESPP) to meet its obligations under this Act. A lawsuit filed in 2011 alleged that the EPA violated ESA when it registered or reevaluated certain pesticide active ingredients, which is now driving some changes that will affect Kansas producers.The expected changes are being outlined in the EPA’s herbicide, insecticide, fungicide, and rodenticide strategies, which have not been finalized yet. The strategies aim to minimize the exposure of protected species to pesticides. Many of the new risk mitigation measures outlined in the strategies will apply to all pesticides, but some will be specific to a particular site, product, or application timing.Because the strategies have not been finalized, there is still a lot of uncertainty, but we know pesticide labels will change. Changes will include additional runoff, erosion, and spray drift reduction measures for many products. In addition, some applications will be affected by Pesticide Use Limitation Areas (PULAs), which will have additional restrictions beyond those listed on the product label. Applicators will need to read Endangered Species Protection Bulletins to determine if a PULA will affect an application.ESP BulletinsThe Endangered Species Protection Bulletin will identify the species of concern and the pesticide active ingredient that may affect it. It will also provide a description of protection measures necessary to protect the species and a county-level map showing the affected geographic areas. If the pesticide label directs you to the website “Bulletins Live! Two” or the toll-free number, you are required to follow the pesticide use limitations found in the Bulletin for your location, the pesticide active ingredient, and the application month (Figure 1). You can obtain Bulletins at the website: https://www.epa.gov/endangered-species/bulletins-live-two-view-bulletins or through the toll-free number 844-477-3813. Bulletins should be obtained no more than six months ahead of your application. It is recommended that applicators keep a record of the Bulletins they obtain as part of their application records. Remember, these bulletins will be required for all pesticides, not only restricted-use products.As an applicator or producer, now is the time to familiarize yourself with the “Bulletin’s Live! Two” website and how to search, use, and save bulletins. It is important to know the upcoming changes and existing resources that can help you navigate and understand how to comply.Information provided by Frannie Miller, K-State Research &amp; Extension Pesticide Safety and IPM Coordinator and Sarah Lancaster, K-State Extension Weed Science Specialist.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.

CAMPBELL: The Endangered Species Act, what ag producers need to know

By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University President

This summer, the Sternberg Museum of Natural History celebrates a milestone that speaks volumes about the human thirst for knowledge, experience, and community in a rapidly evolving world, with a record enrollment of 127 summer campers across all age groups from 35 different states, as well as India and China. This beacon of discovery amplifies its motto, "Excitement in Education through Exploration," as it opens new doors and trails for learning the earth and life sciences.

The array of summer programs lined up for 2024 are rich with educational diversity, with activities spanning across Kansas to the coast of North Carolina, to the San Francisco Bay! Sternberg's new collaboration with Eastern Tennessee State University and its Gray Fossil Site Museum exemplifies the power of collective wisdom and collaboration in enhancing learning experiences.

Perhaps the most remarkable chapters of this story unfold within the high school programs, where 80 young scientists are nurturing their calling. Among them, 54 will embark on a journey at the Sternberg Museum or Fort Hays State University, immersing themselves in the multifaceted world of paleontology.

The program's success and inclusion of a record number of instructors, ranging from returning camp alumni to doctoral students from the US and UK, echoes a larger narrative.

It is a tale of unwavering commitment, both to excellence in education and to the ongoing empowerment of its high school campers through post-camp support systems and opportunities that make the "Sternberg Science Camps+” a wholly unique offering in the breadth of youth summer science education programs.

The "+" symbolizes more than a mere branding strategy; it represents an enduring dedication to bolstering student outcomes long after the summer sun sets on their camping adventures. It represents the program’s commitment to innovation and collaboration with external entities with shared missions in engaging youth with the wonders of the earth and life sciences. Finally, it reflects the museum’s spirit of lifelong learning and its commitment to fostering a global community of inquisitive minds.

As the museum looks toward the horizon, one can see the reflections of its past success in the eager eyes of first-timers joining the programs and in the diligence of the educators preparing to guide these young explorers. Interest in the annual camps has soared, with programs like Field Paleontology: Kansas and the new Advanced Fossil Preparation camp filling up at unprecedented speed, demonstrating a burgeoning passion for the paleontological sciences. Field Paleontology: Kansas has proven so popular that a third session of the program has been created to accommodate the lengthy waitlist for sessions one and two!

This growth is a testament to the Sternberg Museum's relentless pursuit of what lies at the heart of education: the sheer joys of shared community and exploration. As campers traverse fossil field sites and free long-sequestered fossils from their rocky enclosures, they carry with them not

just the knowledge they've accumulated but also the priceless experience of scientific inquiry in action.

For educators and parents, the museum stands as a shining example of how to meld excitement with learning. It fosters an environment where children – and adults returning to the wonder of their childhood – can surrender to their curiosity, guided by the belief that to learn is to explore.

The story of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History and its record summer camp enrollment is one of the collective triumph of its students, the program staff, and the near-singular focus of the program’s founder/director David Levering’s pursuit of creating powerful, accessible opportunities for kids regardless of their economic status. It is a story written by every hand that digs into the earth searching for fossils, by every mind that marvels at the stories those fossils tell, and by every heart that beats faster with the thrill of discovery. As the Sternberg Museum continues to reach new heights, it holds a mirror to society's enduring fascination with the natural world. It strengthens an unspoken promise: to keep the flame of excitement in education burning bright for generations to come.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University PresidentThis summer, the Sternberg Museum of Natural History celebrates a milestone that speaks volumes about the human thirst for knowledge, experience, and community in a rapidly evolving world, with a record enrollment of 127 summer campers across all age groups from 35 different states, as well as India and China. This beacon of discovery amplifies its motto, "Excitement in Education through Exploration," as it opens new doors and trails for learning the earth and life sciences.The array of summer programs lined up for 2024 are rich with educational diversity, with activities spanning across Kansas to the coast of North Carolina, to the San Francisco Bay! Sternberg's new collaboration with Eastern Tennessee State University and its Gray Fossil Site Museum exemplifies the power of collective wisdom and collaboration in enhancing learning experiences.Perhaps the most remarkable chapters of this story unfold within the high school programs, where 80 young scientists are nurturing their calling. Among them, 54 will embark on a journey at the Sternberg Museum or Fort Hays State University, immersing themselves in the multifaceted world of paleontology.The program's success and inclusion of a record number of instructors, ranging from returning camp alumni to doctoral students from the US and UK, echoes a larger narrative.It is a tale of unwavering commitment, both to excellence in education and to the ongoing empowerment of its high school campers through post-camp support systems and opportunities that make the "Sternberg Science Camps+” a wholly unique offering in the breadth of youth summer science education programs.The "+" symbolizes more than a mere branding strategy; it represents an enduring dedication to bolstering student outcomes long after the summer sun sets on their camping adventures. It represents the program’s commitment to innovation and collaboration with external entities with shared missions in engaging youth with the wonders of the earth and life sciences. Finally, it reflects the museum’s spirit of lifelong learning and its commitment to fostering a global community of inquisitive minds.As the museum looks toward the horizon, one can see the reflections of its past success in the eager eyes of first-timers joining the programs and in the diligence of the educators preparing to guide these young explorers. Interest in the annual camps has soared, with programs like Field Paleontology: Kansas and the new Advanced Fossil Preparation camp filling up at unprecedented speed, demonstrating a burgeoning passion for the paleontological sciences. Field Paleontology: Kansas has proven so popular that a third session of the program has been created to accommodate the lengthy waitlist for sessions one and two!This growth is a testament to the Sternberg Museum's relentless pursuit of what lies at the heart of education: the sheer joys of shared community and exploration. As campers traverse fossil field sites and free long-sequestered fossils from their rocky enclosures, they carry with them notjust the knowledge they've accumulated but also the priceless experience of scientific inquiry in action.For educators and parents, the museum stands as a shining example of how to meld excitement with learning. It fosters an environment where children – and adults returning to the wonder of their childhood – can surrender to their curiosity, guided by the belief that to learn is to explore.The story of the Sternberg Museum of Natural History and its record summer camp enrollment is one of the collective triumph of its students, the program staff, and the near-singular focus of the program’s founder/director David Levering’s pursuit of creating powerful, accessible opportunities for kids regardless of their economic status. It is a story written by every hand that digs into the earth searching for fossils, by every mind that marvels at the stories those fossils tell, and by every heart that beats faster with the thrill of discovery. As the Sternberg Museum continues to reach new heights, it holds a mirror to society's enduring fascination with the natural world. It strengthens an unspoken promise: to keep the flame of excitement in education burning bright for generations to come.

HEART OF A TIGER: Sternberg Museum's record summer camp enrollment marks new era of science exploration

In Victorian times, people of a certain social class with
time on their hands went “calling.”&nbsp; As
either a pass into another’s home or as a token of the visit, guests left a business-size
card in a lovely dish placed on a table in the entryway.&nbsp; These ornate calling cards engraved with the
caller’s name held special significance if one bent the left top corner one way
or another meaning if a different corner were bent or torn.&nbsp; 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While this
seems complicated in today’s more relaxed culture, I’ve found that nature introduces
calling cards of a different and less difficult-to-understand variety. While
walking hundreds of miles down country roads and paths, I’ve spied more than a
few calling cards deposited in the middle of the road to mark a local coyote’s
territory.&nbsp; These greetings, while clear
in their message, aren’t nearly as ornate or as collectible as those left by
our Victorian ancestors.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For those
unfamiliar with canid behavior, passing coyotes leave scat in strategic and
clearly visible patches of road or trail. They want other coyotes, foxes,
bobcats, house cats, dogs, and humans to acknowledge their domination of the
neighborhood. In fact, their very frequent messages pronounce their dominion
over the drive, pasture, and surrounding section roads. Anything or anyone else
trespasses.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While
Victorian cards present the visitor’s name in ornate script, surrounded by the
filigreed designs, coyotes leave simple communication. However, the attentive
can read volumes in these tubular epistles.

Over summer and into fall, I interpreted a list of such messages.
Wild canids tend feed opportunistically. Though they possess a lovely set of
incisors designed to shred raw flesh, they also eat fruits, berries, and
melons.&nbsp; Late spring and early summer mid-road
deposits reveal nature’s fibrous, fruity “ink.”&nbsp;
These calling cards vary little in theme.

&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Some
include lines that state, “Hey, check out the mulberries.&nbsp; Who needs rabbits when berries fall from the
tree into your mouth?” Another might read, “Mulberries rule, but watch out for attack
birds.” By late summer, I might find a message along these lines, “If you
thought mulberries were good, you must try the currants. This season’s little
berries defy description—flavor and bulk make them first choice of all coyotes!”

Once berries shrivel and fall to
the ground, Yote pronouncements take on new texture and dimension.&nbsp; Rodents come back into fashion.&nbsp; The messages read, “Whoa, that was one big
bunny!” or “Packrats make great snacks.” Fall diets include plentiful rodent
fur and little round seeds I haven’t identified, hence the following motto,
“Eat a balanced diet—a little meat combined with a little grain make a coyote
sleek, sassy, and fast.”

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While it
may seem odd to relate a coyote’s natural bodily function to calling cards left
behind by Victorian gentlefolk, similarities exist. Relying on sight and scent
features, they intentionally drop scat in the road to serve the same purpose as
old-fashioned human calling cards. Dogs read it with their noses and quickly cover
its scent by lifting a leg. You read the announcement that you’ve invaded
another creature’s marked territory with your eyes and think, who poops in the
middle of the road? 

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Coyotes do
because it’s theirs, and they can. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713561612001.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORINIn Victorian times, people of a certain social class with
time on their hands went “calling.”&nbsp; As
either a pass into another’s home or as a token of the visit, guests left a business-size
card in a lovely dish placed on a table in the entryway.&nbsp; These ornate calling cards engraved with the
caller’s name held special significance if one bent the left top corner one way
or another meaning if a different corner were bent or torn.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While this
seems complicated in today’s more relaxed culture, I’ve found that nature introduces
calling cards of a different and less difficult-to-understand variety. While
walking hundreds of miles down country roads and paths, I’ve spied more than a
few calling cards deposited in the middle of the road to mark a local coyote’s
territory.&nbsp; These greetings, while clear
in their message, aren’t nearly as ornate or as collectible as those left by
our Victorian ancestors.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; For those
unfamiliar with canid behavior, passing coyotes leave scat in strategic and
clearly visible patches of road or trail. They want other coyotes, foxes,
bobcats, house cats, dogs, and humans to acknowledge their domination of the
neighborhood. In fact, their very frequent messages pronounce their dominion
over the drive, pasture, and surrounding section roads. Anything or anyone else
trespasses.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While
Victorian cards present the visitor’s name in ornate script, surrounded by the
filigreed designs, coyotes leave simple communication. However, the attentive
can read volumes in these tubular epistles.Over summer and into fall, I interpreted a list of such messages.
Wild canids tend feed opportunistically. Though they possess a lovely set of
incisors designed to shred raw flesh, they also eat fruits, berries, and
melons.&nbsp; Late spring and early summer mid-road
deposits reveal nature’s fibrous, fruity “ink.”&nbsp;
These calling cards vary little in theme.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Some
include lines that state, “Hey, check out the mulberries.&nbsp; Who needs rabbits when berries fall from the
tree into your mouth?” Another might read, “Mulberries rule, but watch out for attack
birds.” By late summer, I might find a message along these lines, “If you
thought mulberries were good, you must try the currants. This season’s little
berries defy description—flavor and bulk make them first choice of all coyotes!”Once berries shrivel and fall to
the ground, Yote pronouncements take on new texture and dimension.&nbsp; Rodents come back into fashion.&nbsp; The messages read, “Whoa, that was one big
bunny!” or “Packrats make great snacks.” Fall diets include plentiful rodent
fur and little round seeds I haven’t identified, hence the following motto,
“Eat a balanced diet—a little meat combined with a little grain make a coyote
sleek, sassy, and fast.”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While it
may seem odd to relate a coyote’s natural bodily function to calling cards left
behind by Victorian gentlefolk, similarities exist. Relying on sight and scent
features, they intentionally drop scat in the road to serve the same purpose as
old-fashioned human calling cards. Dogs read it with their noses and quickly cover
its scent by lifting a leg. You read the announcement that you’ve invaded
another creature’s marked territory with your eyes and think, who poops in the
middle of the road? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Coyotes do
because it’s theirs, and they can.

MADORIN: Nature’s calling cards

By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension District

There is a common joke in Kansas – and many parts of the country – that goes something like this: If you don’t like the weather right now, just wait a few minutes, because it will change! How many times do we start out the day with one type of weather and end the day with something completely different!

Weather in Kansas can change pretty quickly, so it’s important to know what to do in any situation in order to remain safe.

It starts with preparedness. We all should have a plan, including such things as just knowing how you get your weather alerts. You may get those from a weather radio or other sources, such as news media. And then, talk to your family.

It is a good idea for everyone to practice what they would do if faced with a real weather emergency. Parents can practice the plan with children well in advance of severe weather threats; doing so helps to ease children’s anxiety in a real emergency.

Practicing and having a plan saves lives. That is especially true in rural areas where appropriate shelter may be many miles away, a scenario many Kansans may be in.

Keep a weather safety kit that includes such items as non-perishable food, medicines, blankets, boots, extra clothes, helmets, weather radio, batteries, a charging device for phones and even a map to track the path of the storm while listening to news reports.

The best place to wait out severe weather is always the lowest, central location in the home. If you only have a first floor – and not a basement – the ideal spot is a centrally located hallway or bathroom. Stay away from windows.

If caught outside, don’t go under trees during thunderstorms and don’t try to out-run tornadoes in your car. A ditch is a safe place to go if you’re outside. Get down in the ditch; debris will typically blow over you. If you’re in a place without a ditch, get down on the ground as low as you can so you don’t have things hitting you.

· Get inside. Avoid porches and over-hangs. Stay away from windows.

· Stay off electronics that are hooked into a wall, including computer and cell phone.

· Stay out of the shower, or other water sources.

· On average, Kansas has 95 tornadoes per year. There has been as few as 17 tornadoes reported in 2020 and 190 in 2008.

· The peak time for tornadoes in Kansas is April through June, often referred to as tornado season.

· Tornadoes can occur any time of year and are solely dependent on atmospheric conditions.

· A basement or lower level of the house – away from windows -- is always the safest spot to wait out a tornado warning.

· Kansas gets approximately 600 wind damage reports annually.

· High winds – defined as those over 55 miles per hour – create problems not only by downing trees, but by making driving conditions and visibility more difficult.

· As with tornadoes, the safest place during a wind storm is inside in a central location, away from windows.

· In an average year, there are more than 1,000 reports of hail in Kansas. Severe hail is defined as 1 inch or more in diameter.

· One-inch hail can cause injury, damage to cars, and even damage house siding and roofs.

· Know your proximity to a flood plain to determine your risk, know the low-lying areas and where water runs.

· Away from home – and especially when driving – the risks due to flooding are much greater. On the road, the best advice is “turn around, don’t drown.”

· Six inches of water can move a car effectively.

· The road under the water may not be intact and could damage or disable your vehicle

More information about staying safe during many weather emergencies is available online from the National Weather Service.

More information on Kansas weather conditions, including up-to-date forecasts, is available online from https://mesonet.k-state.edu/

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="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MONIQUE KOERNER Cottonwood Extension DistrictThere is a common joke in Kansas – and many parts of the country – that goes something like this: If you don’t like the weather right now, just wait a few minutes, because it will change! How many times do we start out the day with one type of weather and end the day with something completely different!Weather in Kansas can change pretty quickly, so it’s important to know what to do in any situation in order to remain safe.It starts with preparedness. We all should have a plan, including such things as just knowing how you get your weather alerts. You may get those from a weather radio or other sources, such as news media. And then, talk to your family.It is a good idea for everyone to practice what they would do if faced with a real weather emergency. Parents can practice the plan with children well in advance of severe weather threats; doing so helps to ease children’s anxiety in a real emergency.Practicing and having a plan saves lives. That is especially true in rural areas where appropriate shelter may be many miles away, a scenario many Kansans may be in.Keep a weather safety kit that includes such items as non-perishable food, medicines, blankets, boots, extra clothes, helmets, weather radio, batteries, a charging device for phones and even a map to track the path of the storm while listening to news reports.The best place to wait out severe weather is always the lowest, central location in the home. If you only have a first floor – and not a basement – the ideal spot is a centrally located hallway or bathroom. Stay away from windows.If caught outside, don’t go under trees during thunderstorms and don’t try to out-run tornadoes in your car. A ditch is a safe place to go if you’re outside. Get down in the ditch; debris will typically blow over you. If you’re in a place without a ditch, get down on the ground as low as you can so you don’t have things hitting you.For specific weather emergencies:Lightning· Get inside. Avoid porches and over-hangs. Stay away from windows.· Stay off electronics that are hooked into a wall, including computer and cell phone.· Stay out of the shower, or other water sources.Tornado· On average, Kansas has 95 tornadoes per year. There has been as few as 17 tornadoes reported in 2020 and 190 in 2008.· The peak time for tornadoes in Kansas is April through June, often referred to as tornado season.· Tornadoes can occur any time of year and are solely dependent on atmospheric conditions.· A basement or lower level of the house – away from windows -- is always the safest spot to wait out a tornado warning.High winds· Kansas gets approximately 600 wind damage reports annually.· High winds – defined as those over 55 miles per hour – create problems not only by downing trees, but by making driving conditions and visibility more difficult.· As with tornadoes, the safest place during a wind storm is inside in a central location, away from windows.Hail· In an average year, there are more than 1,000 reports of hail in Kansas. Severe hail is defined as 1 inch or more in diameter.· One-inch hail can cause injury, damage to cars, and even damage house siding and roofs.Flooding· Know your proximity to a flood plain to determine your risk, know the low-lying areas and where water runs.· Away from home – and especially when driving – the risks due to flooding are much greater. On the road, the best advice is “turn around, don’t drown.”· Six inches of water can move a car effectively.· The road under the water may not be intact and could damage or disable your vehicleMore information about staying safe during many weather emergencies is available online from the National Weather Service.More information on Kansas weather conditions, including up-to-date forecasts, is available online from https://mesonet.k-state.edu/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: Severe weather

Having a polling place on campus, an area of town with a high population concentration, will be convenient for voters in that precinct, and encourage civic participation from the campus community. That is exactly the point that LOCAL voters have been trying to communicate for at least the last six years. It is also the point that the recent Hays Post article <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3a3f06a1-6b07-45c6-bf3c-8b76f4d564d7">“ACLU presents Ellis Co. Clerk petition”</a> and the county clerk herself are missing.

In this most recent effort, the students Madison Albers and Grace McCord, working with the American Democracy Project, have presented County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling and the Ellis County Commission with information about other Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) schools that support this claim.

The most recent example, Wichita State University, saw a nearly 20% increase in voter turnout after they put a polling place on their campus. Dreiling complained about comparisons to the University of Kansas in Lawrence. However, their on-campus students-to-total-population ratio is 24%, while FHSU’s is 17%.

That’s only a 6% [sic] difference and is not an unreasonable comparison. Yes, KU is a much larger school, but Lawrence is also a much larger town. The increase in voter participation at other KBOR universities with a polling place on campus means it is realistic to expect that adding a polling place to the FHSU campus would empower students to get registered locally and take a more active role in civic engagement, subsequently increasing voter turnout in that precinct.

Last year, Albers and McCord went above and beyond to find a place on campus that would meet all of Dreiling’s ever-changing requirements, secure the support of University Police (to address traffic concerns), garner bipartisan support from campus Democratic and Republican clubs, and have the Student Government on board to provide poll workers for the campus polling place.

When Dreiling further pushed back against the Memorial Union as a polling place (due to the distance to the polling location from the front entrance—even though she is legally required to provide curbside voting for those with limited mobility), these students worked to get commitments from Gross Memorial Coliseum/Cuningham Hall, including consideration of sporting event schedules and special elections, and met every demand Dreiling had made.

Despite all this, and in the middle of these discussions, Dreiling chose to move the polling place from 601 Main St. to a location 16 blocks away in the middle of other voting precincts.

It would have made more sense to move that polling place to somewhere within that precinct—such as the FHSU campus. Dreiling closed two polling places, 601 Main St. and 2900 Canal Blvd. That means she could have opened two new polling places while incurring the same cost, using the same machinery, poll workers, etc.

There was no reason to choose to only open the Messiah Lutheran Church location and discontinue talks with the American Democracy Project about a polling location on campus.

The fact that Dreiling is more willing to consider reopening the 601 Main St. location than to open a polling place on campus is difficult to comprehend.

The county clerk’s continued insistence on falling back on the failures of prior clerks to bring a polling place to campus for “good reason, [because] the feasibility is not there” proves that she has not taken seriously the work of these students, who have met her every obstacle with a solution, proving that the feasibility is there.

Ellis County deserves to have a clerk who wants as many citizens as possible to engage with this community and as many voters as possible to participate in elections.

Having a polling place on campus, an area of town with a high population concentration, will be convenient for voters in that precinct, and encourage civic participation from the campus community. That is exactly the point that LOCAL voters have been trying to communicate for at least the last six years. It is also the point that the recent Hays Post article <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/3a3f06a1-6b07-45c6-bf3c-8b76f4d564d7">“ACLU presents Ellis Co. Clerk petition”</a> and the county clerk herself are missing.In this most recent effort, the students Madison Albers and Grace McCord, working with the American Democracy Project, have presented County Clerk Bobbi Dreiling and the Ellis County Commission with information about other Kansas Board of Regents (KBOR) schools that support this claim.The most recent example, Wichita State University, saw a nearly 20% increase in voter turnout after they put a polling place on their campus. Dreiling complained about comparisons to the University of Kansas in Lawrence. However, their on-campus students-to-total-population ratio is 24%, while FHSU’s is 17%.That’s only a 6% [sic] difference and is not an unreasonable comparison. Yes, KU is a much larger school, but Lawrence is also a much larger town. The increase in voter participation at other KBOR universities with a polling place on campus means it is realistic to expect that adding a polling place to the FHSU campus would empower students to get registered locally and take a more active role in civic engagement, subsequently increasing voter turnout in that precinct.Last year, Albers and McCord went above and beyond to find a place on campus that would meet all of Dreiling’s ever-changing requirements, secure the support of University Police (to address traffic concerns), garner bipartisan support from campus Democratic and Republican clubs, and have the Student Government on board to provide poll workers for the campus polling place.When Dreiling further pushed back against the Memorial Union as a polling place (due to the distance to the polling location from the front entrance—even though she is legally required to provide curbside voting for those with limited mobility), these students worked to get commitments from Gross Memorial Coliseum/Cuningham Hall, including consideration of sporting event schedules and special elections, and met every demand Dreiling had made.Despite all this, and in the middle of these discussions, Dreiling chose to move the polling place from 601 Main St. to a location 16 blocks away in the middle of other voting precincts.It would have made more sense to move that polling place to somewhere within that precinct—such as the FHSU campus. Dreiling closed two polling places, 601 Main St. and 2900 Canal Blvd. That means she could have opened two new polling places while incurring the same cost, using the same machinery, poll workers, etc.There was no reason to choose to only open the Messiah Lutheran Church location and discontinue talks with the American Democracy Project about a polling location on campus.The fact that Dreiling is more willing to consider reopening the 601 Main St. location than to open a polling place on campus is difficult to comprehend.The county clerk’s continued insistence on falling back on the failures of prior clerks to bring a polling place to campus for “good reason, [because] the feasibility is not there” proves that she has not taken seriously the work of these students, who have met her every obstacle with a solution, proving that the feasibility is there.Ellis County deserves to have a clerk who wants as many citizens as possible to engage with this community and as many voters as possible to participate in elections. This petition, along with our continued willingness to encourage County Clerk Dreiling to do the right thing, shows that there is support for this polling location.This continued response of putting barriers in place and not meeting the voters where they are is a significant failure of leadership on Dreiling’s part. When Dreiling asserts that she has not heard from any other Ellis County citizens aside from us, that is simply not true.She, in fact, received dozens of emails from locals last year in support of our efforts. She responded to those emails and made public claims of being personally attacked [read, held accountable for her actions], so she has previously acknowledged interactions with other Ellis County voters—we are not sure why she would deny them now.Furthermore, letters of support from various campus entities such as Student Government, Faculty Senate, Campus Community Collaborative (3C), and Staff Senate were forwarded to Dreiling. President Tisa Mason has also publicly voiced her support of Albers’ and McCord’s efforts.If Dreiling has reached out to FHSU students about a voter registration drive on campus, she has not contacted Albers or McCord to coordinate. We have an opportunity to educate young voters about the importance of civic engagement and to encourage voter registration and commitment to this community. Students living in Hays can register to vote in Ellis County during their time in Hays. At every turn, people in Ellis County ask why we can’t get young people to stay here and start their lives.When Dreiling herself makes statements like “whether it be students or ACTUAL residents of Ellis County,” she is telling those students that they are not part of this community, that their voices don’t matter, and that she couldn’t care less if they got involved. Why would they ever choose to stay? — Anna Towns and Anniston Weber, both of Hays

Opinion