December brought Kansas its first comprehensive look at its housing needs in nearly three decades. This report is a bonanza for policy geeks and anyone who cares about housing issues.&nbsp;

The Office of Rural Prosperity, created by Governor Laura Kelly, partnered with the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, Kansas’s housing finance agency, to sponsor the report. It provides localized data on housing needs, population trends, and market dynamics.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If you want to address housing challenges facing average Kansans, the data in this report are the start.&nbsp;&nbsp;

For renters, finding quality and affordable housing is hard in many communities. That leaves many Kansans paying inflated prices for under-maintained properties or paying significantly more than mortgages might otherwise cost.&nbsp;

For buyers, a limited supply of affordable, modest-sized homes is pushing many into renting or more expensive homes than desired. And many buyers can’t compete when sellers in some Kansas markets expect perks like thousands in cash over asking or waived inspections.&nbsp;

But in some Kansas communities, especially shrinking rural communities, reality is often different—too few buyers and difficulty obtaining funds to bring properties up to buyer expectations.&nbsp;

From the report, two problems define most Kansas markets.&nbsp;

First, there is a gap in middle class housing, typically more affordable, smaller sized, and smaller lot homes. This is the critical shortage that turns buyers into renters or encourages larger mortgages just to have a house. In the Kansas City metro, it can also be the deciding factor between living in Kansas versus Missouri.&nbsp;

Second, there is a shortage of rental and smaller home stock suitable for our aging population. In Kansas, only the Kansas City metro saw its share of 0-19-year-olds grow in the last decade.&nbsp;

You can sense from local politics that these trends clash with how some communities see themselves. In 2021 local elections in Kansas, some communities saw real controversy over new rental housing and whether policies should favor larger or smaller single family homes.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If city halls in Kansas make growth decisions based on image over needs and trends, they might make easy political decisions that actually make the housing situation in their communities more challenging.&nbsp;

For the frustrated, asking how to improve this situation is natural. The answers may not be easy.&nbsp;

Housing is an inherently local issue. The easiest solutions may be found in local government—growth policies and zoning. But participation in local elections in Kansas is pretty low. How many of us know who serves on our city councils, let alone what growth decisions they make that ultimately frustrate us?&nbsp;

Politicians in Topeka can still promote solutions. It might require innovate policy and local partnerships. This is truly an issue where there is no one simple solution, and where brainstorming effective policy innovation is needed.&nbsp;

Finding these solutions, though, requires our political machinery to actually care. Some in the politics industry care more about talking about housing problems for political point-scoring than actually finding hard solutions. Or they would rather carnival bark about sideshows like critical race theory or outrage-of-the-day headlines than engage you on hard issues.&nbsp;

You can read the “Kansas Statewide Housing Needs Assessment 2021” at&nbsp;<a href="https://kshousingcorp.org/">https://kshousingcorp.org/</a>. Kansas doesn’t need to wallow helplessly in its housing challenges, but we do need citizens and policymakers who know the real problems and seek the hard solutions.&nbsp;

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575644168170.png" alt="Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>December brought Kansas its first comprehensive look at its housing needs in nearly three decades. This report is a bonanza for policy geeks and anyone who cares about housing issues.&nbsp;The Office of Rural Prosperity, created by Governor Laura Kelly, partnered with the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation, Kansas’s housing finance agency, to sponsor the report. It provides localized data on housing needs, population trends, and market dynamics.&nbsp;&nbsp;If you want to address housing challenges facing average Kansans, the data in this report are the start.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>For renters, finding quality and affordable housing is hard in many communities. That leaves many Kansans paying inflated prices for under-maintained properties or paying significantly more than mortgages might otherwise cost.&nbsp;For buyers, a limited supply of affordable, modest-sized homes is pushing many into renting or more expensive homes than desired. And many buyers can’t compete when sellers in some Kansas markets expect perks like thousands in cash over asking or waived inspections.&nbsp;But in some Kansas communities, especially shrinking rural communities, reality is often different—too few buyers and difficulty obtaining funds to bring properties up to buyer expectations.&nbsp;From the report, two problems define most Kansas markets.&nbsp;First, there is a gap in middle class housing, typically more affordable, smaller sized, and smaller lot homes. This is the critical shortage that turns buyers into renters or encourages larger mortgages just to have a house. In the Kansas City metro, it can also be the deciding factor between living in Kansas versus Missouri.&nbsp;Second, there is a shortage of rental and smaller home stock suitable for our aging population. In Kansas, only the Kansas City metro saw its share of 0-19-year-olds grow in the last decade.&nbsp;You can sense from local politics that these trends clash with how some communities see themselves. In 2021 local elections in Kansas, some communities saw real controversy over new rental housing and whether policies should favor larger or smaller single family homes.&nbsp;&nbsp;If city halls in Kansas make growth decisions based on image over needs and trends, they might make easy political decisions that actually make the housing situation in their communities more challenging.&nbsp;For the frustrated, asking how to improve this situation is natural. The answers may not be easy.&nbsp;Housing is an inherently local issue. The easiest solutions may be found in local government—growth policies and zoning. But participation in local elections in Kansas is pretty low. How many of us know who serves on our city councils, let alone what growth decisions they make that ultimately frustrate us?&nbsp;Politicians in Topeka can still promote solutions. It might require innovate policy and local partnerships. This is truly an issue where there is no one simple solution, and where brainstorming effective policy innovation is needed.&nbsp;Finding these solutions, though, requires our political machinery to actually care. Some in the politics industry care more about talking about housing problems for political point-scoring than actually finding hard solutions. Or they would rather carnival bark about sideshows like critical race theory or outrage-of-the-day headlines than engage you on hard issues.&nbsp;You can read the “Kansas Statewide Housing Needs Assessment 2021” at&nbsp;<a href="https://kshousingcorp.org/">https://kshousingcorp.org/</a>. Kansas doesn’t need to wallow helplessly in its housing challenges, but we do need citizens and policymakers who know the real problems and seek the hard solutions.&nbsp;Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: Housing data sheds light on tough political problem 

Somewhere on my lengthy list of unanswered questions is the query that asks “Just how far will we go to protect ourselves from ourselves?” Don’t get me wrong, there are some very necessary warnings out there, like huge letters on a tank of gasoline that read “FLAMMABLE,” or flags that tell us “Road Work Ahead.” But for every good and reasonable warning are a dozen other absolutely wacky warnings that leave us shaking our head.&nbsp;

The thing to remember about wacky warnings is that they got there because someone, somewhere actually did what the warnings tell you not to do. So, someone somewhere tried eating that deodorant stick before the warning “Do Not Ingest” was put there, and so on and so forth. I’m convinced the need for most wacky warnings come about as dares, and are preceded by those four infamous little words, “Here, Hold My Beer.”&nbsp;

The outdoor industry is not immune to wacky warnings and offers plenty of products that bear them. The owner’s manual for a new gun I bought says “Appropriate use for this firearm means using your firearm for legal purposes.” So evidently criminals using guns to commit crimes haven’t read the owner’s manual first? “Always keep fingers and other body parts away from the muzzle” is another firearm warning. I already know there’s a hole in the end of the barrel where that thing comes out, oh now what’s it called … oh yeah, the bullet, so I shouldn’t have to feel around there with my finger to find it, and I can’t imagine what other body parts the warning means. The manual for my crossbow tells me “Always THINK before you shoot.” Now why’d they have to go and open that can-a-worms?&nbsp;

And speaking of worms, I found “Not for human consumption” on all fish bait, whether artificially made from who-knows-what, or catfish stink bait made from blood, liver and other organic stuff. Now I may have had this fishin’ thing wrong all along. I’ve always thought the goal was to use the bait to catch fish to take home and eat, not to sit in the boat and eat the bait. Part of the fun of fishing for me has always been takin’ along a nice picnic lunch or at least snacks. I really can’ t picture myself taking a loaf of bread and making sandwiches by spreading slices of bread with stinky catfish bait. On one brand of catfish stink bait, I found the warning “Beware, dogs love this stuff.” Not sure I’d have put that on the jar if my goal was to sell that bait to fishermen to actually catch fish. And I’m not sure why I should “Beware” that my dog might love it. Should I “Beware” because all my expensive bait might disappear, and show up later that night as chunks all over the couch that now smell worse than the bait, or because the dog could grow fins and swim away down the river? One particular artificial bait made by the Berkley Company looks like crayfish packed in a pouch of liquid of some sort. It’s called “Gulp Alive” and the warning reads “Looks alive, Feels alive, Tastes alive; not for human consumption.” Now, to a good-ole’-boy out for a relaxing day on the water, that’s like dealing him all four aces and asking him not to play them!&nbsp;

On canisters of black powder used for muzzle loading guns I found this odd warning “Caution, do not eat, drink or smoke around this product.” Now, a warning against smoking anywhere near gun powder is one of those things that should never have to be said, but why not eat or drink around black powder? I have to remind myself again that these warnings usually come about because of some actual event. Maybe someone somewhere was once enjoying a sandwich while loading their muzzleloader, unknowingly ingested some black powder from the air along with the sandwich, and the next morning while completing their morning constitutional, blew the outhouse into the next county.

Perhaps the product I was most surprised to find warnings on were the little hand, foot and toe warmers that you stick inside your gloves or boots. The warning read “Caution, for external use only. Do not allow contents to contact eyes or mouth.” OK, not quite sure what to say about the “external use only” part of the warning, but I must say how disappointed I am that I can’t eat hand warmers! Yes, there have been a few times while sitting in a deer blind when I’ve neglected to pack a snack and wished I had just a little something to nibble on, but I can honestly say I’ve never considered chomping on my hand or foot warmers. As for the rest of the warning, I can’t remember the last time my mouth or eyes got cold and I considered putting a hand or foot warmer on them.&nbsp;

Warnings; you gotta’ love em.’ Did you ever think you’d see the day that society would heed a warning so profoundly that a shortage of .22 rifle shells would turn into a shortage of toilet paper? By the way, I feel the need to warn you that “Reading this column will either make you pee your pants with laughter or put you to sleep, and persons needing that much toilet paper right now might want to forego reading it altogether.”&nbsp;&nbsp; Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:stevenrgilliland@gmail.com">stevenrgilliland@gmail.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>Somewhere on my lengthy list of unanswered questions is the query that asks “Just how far will we go to protect ourselves from ourselves?” Don’t get me wrong, there are some very necessary warnings out there, like huge letters on a tank of gasoline that read “FLAMMABLE,” or flags that tell us “Road Work Ahead.” But for every good and reasonable warning are a dozen other absolutely wacky warnings that leave us shaking our head.&nbsp;The thing to remember about wacky warnings is that they got there because someone, somewhere actually did what the warnings tell you not to do. So, someone somewhere tried eating that deodorant stick before the warning “Do Not Ingest” was put there, and so on and so forth. I’m convinced the need for most wacky warnings come about as dares, and are preceded by those four infamous little words, “Here, Hold My Beer.”&nbsp;The outdoor industry is not immune to wacky warnings and offers plenty of products that bear them. The owner’s manual for a new gun I bought says “Appropriate use for this firearm means using your firearm for legal purposes.” So evidently criminals using guns to commit crimes haven’t read the owner’s manual first? “Always keep fingers and other body parts away from the muzzle” is another firearm warning. I already know there’s a hole in the end of the barrel where that thing comes out, oh now what’s it called … oh yeah, the bullet, so I shouldn’t have to feel around there with my finger to find it, and I can’t imagine what other body parts the warning means. The manual for my crossbow tells me “Always THINK before you shoot.” Now why’d they have to go and open that can-a-worms?&nbsp;And speaking of worms, I found “Not for human consumption” on all fish bait, whether artificially made from who-knows-what, or catfish stink bait made from blood, liver and other organic stuff. Now I may have had this fishin’ thing wrong all along. I’ve always thought the goal was to use the bait to catch fish to take home and eat, not to sit in the boat and eat the bait. Part of the fun of fishing for me has always been takin’ along a nice picnic lunch or at least snacks. I really can’ t picture myself taking a loaf of bread and making sandwiches by spreading slices of bread with stinky catfish bait. On one brand of catfish stink bait, I found the warning “Beware, dogs love this stuff.” Not sure I’d have put that on the jar if my goal was to sell that bait to fishermen to actually catch fish. And I’m not sure why I should “Beware” that my dog might love it. Should I “Beware” because all my expensive bait might disappear, and show up later that night as chunks all over the couch that now smell worse than the bait, or because the dog could grow fins and swim away down the river? One particular artificial bait made by the Berkley Company looks like crayfish packed in a pouch of liquid of some sort. It’s called “Gulp Alive” and the warning reads “Looks alive, Feels alive, Tastes alive; not for human consumption.” Now, to a good-ole’-boy out for a relaxing day on the water, that’s like dealing him all four aces and asking him not to play them!&nbsp;On canisters of black powder used for muzzle loading guns I found this odd warning “Caution, do not eat, drink or smoke around this product.” Now, a warning against smoking anywhere near gun powder is one of those things that should never have to be said, but why not eat or drink around black powder? I have to remind myself again that these warnings usually come about because of some actual event. Maybe someone somewhere was once enjoying a sandwich while loading their muzzleloader, unknowingly ingested some black powder from the air along with the sandwich, and the next morning while completing their morning constitutional, blew the outhouse into the next county.Perhaps the product I was most surprised to find warnings on were the little hand, foot and toe warmers that you stick inside your gloves or boots. The warning read “Caution, for external use only. Do not allow contents to contact eyes or mouth.” OK, not quite sure what to say about the “external use only” part of the warning, but I must say how disappointed I am that I can’t eat hand warmers! Yes, there have been a few times while sitting in a deer blind when I’ve neglected to pack a snack and wished I had just a little something to nibble on, but I can honestly say I’ve never considered chomping on my hand or foot warmers. As for the rest of the warning, I can’t remember the last time my mouth or eyes got cold and I considered putting a hand or foot warmer on them.&nbsp;Warnings; you gotta’ love em.’ Did you ever think you’d see the day that society would heed a warning so profoundly that a shortage of .22 rifle shells would turn into a shortage of toilet paper? By the way, I feel the need to warn you that “Reading this column will either make you pee your pants with laughter or put you to sleep, and persons needing that much toilet paper right now might want to forego reading it altogether.”&nbsp;&nbsp; Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:stevenrgilliland@gmail.com">stevenrgilliland@gmail.com</a>.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Wacky warnings

By JOHN BAETZ <a href="https://www.kansaspregame.com/">Kansas Pregame Publisher</a>

Parents and student-athletes, football fan or not, please give this a read — it’s filled with valuable advice for aspiring college student-athletes.

I knew I wanted to be a football player at an early age. My brother’s high school team won a state championship in 1982, and even though I was just eight-years-old at the moment, he and his teammates hoisting that trophy in celebration was burned into my memory and played like a newsreel on repeat in my mind throughout my teenage years.

The singular goal of team success permeated my being throughout junior high and high school, but was always underscored by the dream of playing college football. As much as I wanted to win high school football games, I also wanted to be a scholarship college football player at the highest level possible.

Unfortunately, because of that focus, I was left unprepared for college in many ways.

Academically, I did just enough to survive in high school. In courses that came more naturally to me, such as English and history, I was generally above average. In classes that were more challenging, such as math and science, I did just enough to stay eligible to play football.

I’m embarrassed to admit my lack of focus on academics, not just because it left me unprepared for some college level courses, but also because I missed out on so many scholarship opportunities tied to academic performance. I was, frankly, too confident that a college football scholarship would pay for my college education.

While I was a barely above average high school player who filled my role on my team well, my own estimation of my football skill was likely a bit inflated. While I enjoyed the recruiting process…I completely mishandled it. But, that’s a story for another time.

I was fortunate to earn a handful of scholarship offers at the NAIA and junior college level, and even a DII offer, along with several DII walk-on invites. I chose the JUCO option, and it quickly became clear that junior college was not the right fit. My size and speed&nbsp;&nbsp;– or lack thereof&nbsp;&nbsp;–&nbsp;&nbsp;left me as a kind of&nbsp;“tweener” for my ideal position. I knew after just a couple weeks of practice that I probably should’ve gone to a four-year school where I could’ve developed in a red-shirt year and grown into my position.

Ultimately, I transferred to a four-year school, left football behind, and focused on academics.

Let me be clear – this is not a criticism of junior college football! In fact, three of my high school teammates found immediate playing time and success in the junior college ranks. Many, many Kansas athletes have used junior college as a jumping off point for eventual four-year success. It simply was not the best fit for me.

But, that’s not what I want you to take from this. What is more important is how wholly unprepared I was left for college because of my singular focus on football.

I love football, and even with its risks I still believe it’s a great game that provides a great physical outlet for young people across the country. I was fortunate to parlay my passion for football, and all athletics, into a successful small business, and I couldn’t love my work more.

All that said, I mismanaged preparation for college, and I would love to help young student-athletes and their families avoid making similar mistakes. As a result, I’ve developed a kind of checklist of considerations for aspiring college athletes. Check them out below:

Certainly there are many other considerations for successful navigation of the college selection process, but financial preparedness provides a sense of security and reduces the challenges and overall stress load related to receiving a college education.

There’s no time like the present to put saving for college at the top of your list.

John Baetz is the owner of Sixteen 60 Publishing Co. in Lincoln, publisher of Kansas Pregame Magazines and past publisher of the Lincoln Sentinel-Republican and Chapman News-Times newspapers and other specialty publications.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640628266608.jpeg" alt="John Baetz" />
 <figcaption>John Baetz</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN BAETZ <a href="https://www.kansaspregame.com/">Kansas Pregame Publisher</a>Parents and student-athletes, football fan or not, please give this a read — it’s filled with valuable advice for aspiring college student-athletes.I knew I wanted to be a football player at an early age. My brother’s high school team won a state championship in 1982, and even though I was just eight-years-old at the moment, he and his teammates hoisting that trophy in celebration was burned into my memory and played like a newsreel on repeat in my mind throughout my teenage years.The singular goal of team success permeated my being throughout junior high and high school, but was always underscored by the dream of playing college football. As much as I wanted to win high school football games, I also wanted to be a scholarship college football player at the highest level possible.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Unfortunately, because of that focus, I was left unprepared for college in many ways.Academically, I did just enough to survive in high school. In courses that came more naturally to me, such as English and history, I was generally above average. In classes that were more challenging, such as math and science, I did just enough to stay eligible to play football.I’m embarrassed to admit my lack of focus on academics, not just because it left me unprepared for some college level courses, but also because I missed out on so many scholarship opportunities tied to academic performance. I was, frankly, too confident that a college football scholarship would pay for my college education.While I was a barely above average high school player who filled my role on my team well, my own estimation of my football skill was likely a bit inflated. While I enjoyed the recruiting process…I completely mishandled it. But, that’s a story for another time.I was fortunate to earn a handful of scholarship offers at the NAIA and junior college level, and even a DII offer, along with several DII walk-on invites. I chose the JUCO option, and it quickly became clear that junior college was not the right fit. My size and speed&nbsp;&nbsp;– or lack thereof&nbsp;&nbsp;–&nbsp;&nbsp;left me as a kind of&nbsp;“tweener” for my ideal position. I knew after just a couple weeks of practice that I probably should’ve gone to a four-year school where I could’ve developed in a red-shirt year and grown into my position.Ultimately, I transferred to a four-year school, left football behind, and focused on academics.Let me be clear – this is not a criticism of junior college football! In fact, three of my high school teammates found immediate playing time and success in the junior college ranks. Many, many Kansas athletes have used junior college as a jumping off point for eventual four-year success. It simply was not the best fit for me.But, that’s not what I want you to take from this. What is more important is how wholly unprepared I was left for college because of my singular focus on football.I love football, and even with its risks I still believe it’s a great game that provides a great physical outlet for young people across the country. I was fortunate to parlay my passion for football, and all athletics, into a successful small business, and I couldn’t love my work more.All that said, I mismanaged preparation for college, and I would love to help young student-athletes and their families avoid making similar mistakes. As a result, I’ve developed a kind of checklist of considerations for aspiring college athletes. Check them out below:<ol>
 <li>Athletic assessment – Every year hundreds, if not thousands of high school athletes, and their parents, claim they are&nbsp;“slept on” by top level athletic programs. The reality is that participating in college athletics is incredibly difficult at any level and properly assessing your own skill level early in high school is imperative in choosing the right opportunity. Remember, it’s not just about being on a team. It's about having a legitimate opportunity to earn playing time and not only get, but keep that scholarship.</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Academic success – I think kids who hear me speak probably get tired of this message, but PLEASE put the student in student-athlete first. Do this not just because the opportunities to make a living as a professional athlete are ultra-rare, but also because academic performance can provide scholarship opportunities. If you are not a full-ride DI athlete – and very, very few of you are – then your athletic scholarship will not cover the complete cost of your education. Thousands of college graduates leave school with loads of student loan debt every year, and if your family cannot afford to cover the complete cost of your education, then you’ll want to find any and all resources to pay for those expenses. Academic scholarships are key, but so is my next point.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol><ol>
 <li>Saving for college – This should likely be the number one consideration, but it’s probably the one people least like to talk about. Even a small investment monthly at an early age can result in a windfall that can help cover costs not covered by an athletic scholarship. My family was left unprepared in this regard. But where do you start, right? Well one place to start is at the Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Rogers’&nbsp;529 Learning Quest Website (<a href="https://www.learningquest.com/home.html">https://www.learningquest.com/home.html</a>). Learning Quest provides tips on how to pay for college, including the Learning Quest 529 Savings Plan. It’s a tax-advantaged investment option to help cover the ever-increasing costs of college, while potentially reducing reliance on student loans.</li>
 </ol>Certainly there are many other considerations for successful navigation of the college selection process, but financial preparedness provides a sense of security and reduces the challenges and overall stress load related to receiving a college education.There’s no time like the present to put saving for college at the top of your list.John Baetz is the owner of Sixteen 60 Publishing Co. in Lincoln, publisher of Kansas Pregame Magazines and past publisher of the Lincoln Sentinel-Republican and Chapman News-Times newspapers and other specialty publications.

LETTER: I wish I would’ve saved for college …

By KIM BALDWIN McPherson&nbsp;County farmer Amid the hustle and bustle of this season, I have recently been reminded that, contrary to the temperatures outside, it is winter. As if the short daylight hours, the Christmas stockings and kids being out for winter break haven’t clued me in on this time of the year, a tiny reminder has made it abundantly clear it is indeed winter. The reminder began last week when I was sitting and enjoying my breakfast tea at the kitchen table in silence. It’s a rare occurrence during this time of the year when I am able to sit in solitude and enjoy my warm morning drink. However, on this particular day while everyone was out of the house and I was writing down my list of to-dos, I realized I was not alone. As I’d scribble another item on my list, a little rustling sound would follow. I stopped a couple of times to determine where the sound was coming from.&nbsp; Perhaps a branch was scratching a window, or a toy had not been turned off. When I stopped my list-making and got up to investigate, the noise stopped. I returned to my list and warm cup of tea to continue my task, and the noise began again. Perhaps the caffeine finally kicked in and I was fully aware of the situation because it was then I realized the rustling was in the cabinet under my kitchen sink. I sprang up from my chair to open the cabinet door just in time to catch a little gray mouse scurrying away. Yes, this is my annual reminder winter is truly here. Over the next few days, I began my attempt to rid my house of this tiny mouse. Peanut butter cups were purchased and traps were strategically placed. I wanted to get this creature “taken care of” sooner rather than later as I firmly believe that even if you see only one, there are definitely more. My senses have become acutely more aware of the presence of this little creature in my house. The sounds at midnight of tiny feet skittering across a wooden floor under the cover of darkness, an empty snapped trap minus its appealing bait, and the discovery of a collection of individually wrapped dishwasher tablets relocated from their proper place are all evidence of a mouse. As I discover more proof of this animal in my home, I have become obsessively determined to catch it. This determination has become an annual event for me in our farmhouse. Every year at this time I try to outwit pests that have opted to move into my home instead of claiming the many outbuildings and barns as their winter retreats.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Every year at this time I declare I will catch that mouse! Every year at this time I wake up and immediately wonder if I have caught anything overnight. And every year, I am caught off guard by the determined actions of a tiny creature who, like clockwork, knows when winter is here. Yes, even if it doesn't seem like winter to us yet, my tiny reminder assures me that winter has most definitely arrived.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573617414005.jpeg" alt="Kim Baldwin" />
 <figcaption>Kim Baldwin</figcaption>
 </figure>By KIM BALDWIN McPherson&nbsp;County farmer Amid the hustle and bustle of this season, I have recently been reminded that, contrary to the temperatures outside, it is winter. As if the short daylight hours, the Christmas stockings and kids being out for winter break haven’t clued me in on this time of the year, a tiny reminder has made it abundantly clear it is indeed winter. The reminder began last week when I was sitting and enjoying my breakfast tea at the kitchen table in silence. It’s a rare occurrence during this time of the year when I am able to sit in solitude and enjoy my warm morning drink. However, on this particular day while everyone was out of the house and I was writing down my list of to-dos, I realized I was not alone. As I’d scribble another item on my list, a little rustling sound would follow. I stopped a couple of times to determine where the sound was coming from.&nbsp; Perhaps a branch was scratching a window, or a toy had not been turned off. When I stopped my list-making and got up to investigate, the noise stopped. I returned to my list and warm cup of tea to continue my task, and the noise began again. Perhaps the caffeine finally kicked in and I was fully aware of the situation because it was then I realized the rustling was in the cabinet under my kitchen sink. I sprang up from my chair to open the cabinet door just in time to catch a little gray mouse scurrying away. Yes, this is my annual reminder winter is truly here. Over the next few days, I began my attempt to rid my house of this tiny mouse. Peanut butter cups were purchased and traps were strategically placed. I wanted to get this creature “taken care of” sooner rather than later as I firmly believe that even if you see only one, there are definitely more. My senses have become acutely more aware of the presence of this little creature in my house. The sounds at midnight of tiny feet skittering across a wooden floor under the cover of darkness, an empty snapped trap minus its appealing bait, and the discovery of a collection of individually wrapped dishwasher tablets relocated from their proper place are all evidence of a mouse. As I discover more proof of this animal in my home, I have become obsessively determined to catch it. This determination has become an annual event for me in our farmhouse. Every year at this time I try to outwit pests that have opted to move into my home instead of claiming the many outbuildings and barns as their winter retreats.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Every year at this time I declare I will catch that mouse! Every year at this time I wake up and immediately wonder if I have caught anything overnight. And every year, I am caught off guard by the determined actions of a tiny creature who, like clockwork, knows when winter is here. Yes, even if it doesn't seem like winter to us yet, my tiny reminder assures me that winter has most definitely arrived."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Winter assurance

Throughout the days of December 15 – 17, the Ellis County Fire Department spent approximately 1,711 working hours between 77 firefighters on scene, extinguishing the wildfires in Ellis County. 

During those days approximately 55,424 acres of grasslands burned, and unfortunately, 10 homes, 17 other structures, and a business burned down which has impacted many families and their livelihoods. 

During those days, so many people showed their support not just to those who had lost everything, but also to the firefighters of the Ellis County Fire Department. 

We have tried to create a list to thank everyone who helped in so many ways. Some have asked to not be mentioned but thank you as well as you know who you are.&nbsp;

Our deepest thank you for your support to the Ellis County Fire Department to the following:

• Emergency dispatchers who did the best they could between radio traffic and phone calls • The Russell, Rooks, Ness, Osborne, and Phillips County fire departments for mutual aid&nbsp; • Sheriff’s deputies assisting in evacuations • All the employers who let the firefighters leave work to assist in the firefighting efforts&nbsp; • American Red Cross • Dillons &nbsp; • Midwest Energy • Western Cooperative • Ellis County Public Works (water and fuel) &nbsp; • Midland Marking – water trucks • Jimmy John’s • McDonalds • All those who dropped off drinking water throughout the fires • Monti and Kylee Honas &nbsp; • FHSU • CG Oil, Inc. • Kansas Highway Patrol for traffic control, and providing updates from the air • Kansas Forestry Service for personnel and coordinating water drops from planes • Sunflower Bank in Victoria for lasagna &nbsp; • Gari Herdt for breakfast • Victoria High students and staff for sack lunches • Fork That Bakery for sandwiches and snacks • Peggy Wohler for sandwiches • Jason Kippes for water • Kori Braun for helping to organize the food deliveries • Total for water, ice, and Gatorade • The Library for food and drinks • Alejandro Robles for food and water &nbsp; • Brian Staff for the use of a tractor • Jayme Zimmerman for the use of a tractor • All the farmers bringing equipment to cut in fire lines • To everyone else we may have missed or asked not to be listed&nbsp;

Darin Myers CPM, EFO, MPA Fire Chief and County Administrator Ellis County, Kansas

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1640621945297.png" alt="(Pixabay)" />
 <figcaption>(Pixabay)</figcaption>
 </figure>Throughout the days of December 15 – 17, the Ellis County Fire Department spent approximately 1,711 working hours between 77 firefighters on scene, extinguishing the wildfires in Ellis County. During those days approximately 55,424 acres of grasslands burned, and unfortunately, 10 homes, 17 other structures, and a business burned down which has impacted many families and their livelihoods. During those days, so many people showed their support not just to those who had lost everything, but also to the firefighters of the Ellis County Fire Department. We have tried to create a list to thank everyone who helped in so many ways. Some have asked to not be mentioned but thank you as well as you know who you are.&nbsp; Our deepest thank you for your support to the Ellis County Fire Department to the following:• Emergency dispatchers who did the best they could between radio traffic and phone calls • The Russell, Rooks, Ness, Osborne, and Phillips County fire departments for mutual aid&nbsp; • Sheriff’s deputies assisting in evacuations • All the employers who let the firefighters leave work to assist in the firefighting efforts&nbsp; • American Red Cross • Dillons &nbsp; • Midwest Energy • Western Cooperative • Ellis County Public Works (water and fuel) &nbsp; • Midland Marking – water trucks • Jimmy John’s • McDonalds • All those who dropped off drinking water throughout the fires • Monti and Kylee Honas &nbsp; • FHSU • CG Oil, Inc. • Kansas Highway Patrol for traffic control, and providing updates from the air • Kansas Forestry Service for personnel and coordinating water drops from planes • Sunflower Bank in Victoria for lasagna &nbsp; • Gari Herdt for breakfast • Victoria High students and staff for sack lunches • Fork That Bakery for sandwiches and snacks • Peggy Wohler for sandwiches • Jason Kippes for water • Kori Braun for helping to organize the food deliveries • Total for water, ice, and Gatorade • The Library for food and drinks • Alejandro Robles for food and water &nbsp; • Brian Staff for the use of a tractor • Jayme Zimmerman for the use of a tractor • All the farmers bringing equipment to cut in fire lines • To everyone else we may have missed or asked not to be listed&nbsp;Darin Myers CPM, EFO, MPA Fire Chief and County Administrator Ellis County, Kansas

LETTER: Ellis Co. Fire Chief thanks community for support during recent wildfires

Twas the night before Christmas and except for that mouse Not a creature was stirring cause’ we were locked in the house.

The villain called COVID had come here to reign It’s imprisoned our senses and numbed all our brains.

But deer season was here and my freezer was bare So, I snuck out the back so no one was aware.

It was just before dark as I climbed into my seat Overlooking a woodlot and a field of new wheat.

Then out in the wheatfield there arose such a clatter I sprang from my seat and I fell down the ladder.

I guess I clobbered my head when I fell to the ground Cause what looked like reindeer were roaming around.

“Merry Christmas to me” I though in my mind Reindeer meat in my freezer will suit me just fine.

But as the fog in my head cleared, I thought “What’s the chances” A field full of reindeer in the middle of Kansas?

I shouldered my rifle but the target I chose Appeared to have bells on and strange looking nose.

It looked funny and shiny and about to explode In fact, if you’d seen it, you might even say it glowed.

Then out from behind them stepped a man dressed in red And he fell to his knees in what looked like a sled.

He was visibly shaken and a tear wet his cheek As he turned around towards me and he started to speak.

“This once was my favorite night of the year I looked forward to spreading good will and good cheer.

But now all seems muddled, nothing is clear And the world has gone crazy and seems helpless with fear.

The naughty and nice list is just an offender Cause’ some kids today even question their gender.

Aunt Jemima got canceled and Dr Suess had to flee Some schools can’t call kids a “he” or a “she.”

And reindeer gas causes more grief Than the homeless among us that live on the street.

We’ve had to invent a new name for the elves Now I must call them “small workers with bells.”

Wood for the workshop and new paint for the sleigh Are all on some big ship out in some bay.

And costs have gone up and continue to soar To the point we can hardly make toys anymore.

He suddenly grew quiet and looked toward the sky Then with pain in his voice he said with a sigh

But the saddest illusion that some people utter Is that Christmas can’t happen because of this clutter.

Now you know I am Santa he said with a sniffle But Christmas is Jesus, that plain and that simple.

He climbed into his sleigh and to his team gave a whistle And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

And I heard him exclaim as they flew out of sight “Keep Christ in Christmas and to all a good night.”

So, in the absence of reindeer meat in my dish Guess I’ll just have a salad and a nice piece of fish.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="opinion" />
 <figcaption>opinion</figcaption>
 </figure>Twas the night before Christmas and except for that mouse Not a creature was stirring cause’ we were locked in the house.The villain called COVID had come here to reign It’s imprisoned our senses and numbed all our brains.But deer season was here and my freezer was bare So, I snuck out the back so no one was aware.It was just before dark as I climbed into my seat Overlooking a woodlot and a field of new wheat.Then out in the wheatfield there arose such a clatter I sprang from my seat and I fell down the ladder.I guess I clobbered my head when I fell to the ground Cause what looked like reindeer were roaming around.“Merry Christmas to me” I though in my mind Reindeer meat in my freezer will suit me just fine.But as the fog in my head cleared, I thought “What’s the chances” A field full of reindeer in the middle of Kansas?I shouldered my rifle but the target I chose Appeared to have bells on and strange looking nose.It looked funny and shiny and about to explode In fact, if you’d seen it, you might even say it glowed.Then out from behind them stepped a man dressed in red And he fell to his knees in what looked like a sled.He was visibly shaken and a tear wet his cheek As he turned around towards me and he started to speak.“This once was my favorite night of the year I looked forward to spreading good will and good cheer.But now all seems muddled, nothing is clear And the world has gone crazy and seems helpless with fear.The naughty and nice list is just an offender Cause’ some kids today even question their gender.Aunt Jemima got canceled and Dr Suess had to flee Some schools can’t call kids a “he” or a “she.”And reindeer gas causes more grief Than the homeless among us that live on the street.We’ve had to invent a new name for the elves Now I must call them “small workers with bells.”Wood for the workshop and new paint for the sleigh Are all on some big ship out in some bay.And costs have gone up and continue to soar To the point we can hardly make toys anymore.He suddenly grew quiet and looked toward the sky Then with pain in his voice he said with a sighBut the saddest illusion that some people utter Is that Christmas can’t happen because of this clutter.Now you know I am Santa he said with a sniffle But Christmas is Jesus, that plain and that simple.He climbed into his sleigh and to his team gave a whistle And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.And I heard him exclaim as they flew out of sight “Keep Christ in Christmas and to all a good night.”So, in the absence of reindeer meat in my dish Guess I’ll just have a salad and a nice piece of fish.Merry Christmas!Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: 'Twas the Night Before Christmas, 2021

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;

Would you like to buy a four-door truck for $180?&nbsp;&nbsp;How about a semi truck for $225?&nbsp;&nbsp;Maybe a stock trailer for $150?&nbsp;&nbsp;Those prices can’t be real, so you must know that I’m just toying with you.&nbsp;

Today we’ll meet an innovative Kansas company that has diversified its product line to include miniature-sized trucks and farm equipment -- toys that are being shipped coast to coast and beyond.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Larry and Teresa Goodwin are owners of Goodwin Industries in Burns. One of the company’s product lines is Goodwin Miniatures.&nbsp;

Larry grew up near Burns. He worked with his father, Ron Goodwin, who we previously profiled years ago. Ron produced a line of smokers for cooking meat.&nbsp;

“I learned the skill of welding from my dad,” Larry said. While in high school, he attended tech school in Emporia. Larry opened his own welding shop in Burns and did the manufacturing of the smokers that his father was selling.&nbsp;

In 2006, Ron retired and sold the smoker line. Larry’s business is now known as Goodwin Industries.&nbsp;

Goodwin Industries produces several products in addition to doing custom metal work.&nbsp;&nbsp;They now build another model of the family smoker. The company makes a corn header sweep to go on a combine to help with corn harvest. “We do custom work for individuals and other companies,” Larry said.&nbsp;

Larry and his wife have two sons and two daughters. Their boys, Dustin and Zac, are working in the business.&nbsp;

In 2012, Zac was in college at Pratt and was home for the holidays. With time on his hands, he went to the shop and built some miniature replicas of cattle pens and corrals.&nbsp;

“We were doing farm shows where we were displaying the smokers,” Larry said. “We brought some of the miniatures along and they sold really well,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Goodwins eventually added Goodwin Miniatures to their product line.&nbsp;

These miniatures are 1/16 scale handcrafted steel replicas of semi trucks, pickup trucks, trailers, and cattle working equipment. These are not cheap Made in China products.&nbsp;&nbsp;They are handbuilt in the shop and powder coated to last.&nbsp;

These miniature models include the types of products one might find on a working Kansas farm. In addition to the trucks, there is a grain bin, a flat bed trailer, a ground load trailer, a goose neck trailer, a stock trailer, a hay trailer, a mixer bed, a high loader, a cube box and a bale loader.&nbsp;

For the livestock operator, there are livestock panels, feed bunk, water tank, gate frame, alley, loading chute, squeeze chute, four way connector and a bale feeder. Items are sold individually or in sets. The panels actually connect so they can be arranged in countless ways.&nbsp;

These are considered generational toys. They are built to last and can literally be handed down from generation to generation.&nbsp;

“A customer told us they were at a wedding in Montana and the kids there were playing with our toys from the previous three generations,” Larry said. “They are built to last.”&nbsp;

In fact, he has his own built-in testing crew. “I have three grandboys so we let them play with the toys first,” Larry said. “They are my R&amp;D department – that’s wreck and destroy,” he said with a smile.&nbsp;

Goodwin Miniatures have been shipped across the U.S. including Alaska, from coast to coast and as far away as Alberta, Canada.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s nice to do something that brings people joy,” Larry said.&nbsp;

Their high demand period is from September through December when Larry and his wife take these products to farm and craft shows before the holidays. “We get a really nice response from the people who get them,” Larry said.&nbsp;

It’s great to find this business in a rural community such as&nbsp;Burns, population 228 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodwinindustries.net/">www.goodwinindustries.net</a><a href="http://www.heartlandsoilservices.com/"></a>.&nbsp;

We commend Larry and Teresa and Ron Goodwin and Dustin and Zac of Goodwin Industries for making a difference with their creativity and craftsmanship. It’s good to see that miniature toys can produce giant-sized smiles.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638974403712.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;Would you like to buy a four-door truck for $180?&nbsp;&nbsp;How about a semi truck for $225?&nbsp;&nbsp;Maybe a stock trailer for $150?&nbsp;&nbsp;Those prices can’t be real, so you must know that I’m just toying with you.&nbsp;Today we’ll meet an innovative Kansas company that has diversified its product line to include miniature-sized trucks and farm equipment -- toys that are being shipped coast to coast and beyond.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Larry and Teresa Goodwin are owners of Goodwin Industries in Burns. One of the company’s product lines is Goodwin Miniatures.&nbsp;Larry grew up near Burns. He worked with his father, Ron Goodwin, who we previously profiled years ago. Ron produced a line of smokers for cooking meat.&nbsp;“I learned the skill of welding from my dad,” Larry said. While in high school, he attended tech school in Emporia. Larry opened his own welding shop in Burns and did the manufacturing of the smokers that his father was selling.&nbsp;In 2006, Ron retired and sold the smoker line. Larry’s business is now known as Goodwin Industries.&nbsp;Goodwin Industries produces several products in addition to doing custom metal work.&nbsp;&nbsp;They now build another model of the family smoker. The company makes a corn header sweep to go on a combine to help with corn harvest. “We do custom work for individuals and other companies,” Larry said.&nbsp;Larry and his wife have two sons and two daughters. Their boys, Dustin and Zac, are working in the business.&nbsp;In 2012, Zac was in college at Pratt and was home for the holidays. With time on his hands, he went to the shop and built some miniature replicas of cattle pens and corrals.&nbsp;“We were doing farm shows where we were displaying the smokers,” Larry said. “We brought some of the miniatures along and they sold really well,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Goodwins eventually added Goodwin Miniatures to their product line.&nbsp;These miniatures are 1/16 scale handcrafted steel replicas of semi trucks, pickup trucks, trailers, and cattle working equipment. These are not cheap Made in China products.&nbsp;&nbsp;They are handbuilt in the shop and powder coated to last.&nbsp;These miniature models include the types of products one might find on a working Kansas farm. In addition to the trucks, there is a grain bin, a flat bed trailer, a ground load trailer, a goose neck trailer, a stock trailer, a hay trailer, a mixer bed, a high loader, a cube box and a bale loader.&nbsp;For the livestock operator, there are livestock panels, feed bunk, water tank, gate frame, alley, loading chute, squeeze chute, four way connector and a bale feeder. Items are sold individually or in sets. The panels actually connect so they can be arranged in countless ways.&nbsp;These are considered generational toys. They are built to last and can literally be handed down from generation to generation.&nbsp;“A customer told us they were at a wedding in Montana and the kids there were playing with our toys from the previous three generations,” Larry said. “They are built to last.”&nbsp;In fact, he has his own built-in testing crew. “I have three grandboys so we let them play with the toys first,” Larry said. “They are my R&amp;D department – that’s wreck and destroy,” he said with a smile.&nbsp;Goodwin Miniatures have been shipped across the U.S. including Alaska, from coast to coast and as far away as Alberta, Canada.&nbsp;&nbsp;“It’s nice to do something that brings people joy,” Larry said.&nbsp;Their high demand period is from September through December when Larry and his wife take these products to farm and craft shows before the holidays. “We get a really nice response from the people who get them,” Larry said.&nbsp;It’s great to find this business in a rural community such as&nbsp;Burns, population 228 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.goodwinindustries.net/">www.goodwinindustries.net</a><a href="http://www.heartlandsoilservices.com/"></a>.&nbsp;We commend Larry and Teresa and Ron Goodwin and Dustin and Zac of Goodwin Industries for making a difference with their creativity and craftsmanship. It’s good to see that miniature toys can produce giant-sized smiles.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Larry Goodwin, Goodwin Industries 

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;

The businesses downtown are active. The brick streets are quiet. Two schoolboys are walking home with their bookbags. To the south, pickup trucks and livestock trailers are clustered around the sale barn. Downtown, a large 4-H clover is painted on the intersection of Main Street and Wisconsin Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This is Russell, Kansas: Quintessential small town America. The flags in this community are flying half-staff today, because the citizens of this rural community are mourning their favorite son who served his country his entire life.&nbsp;

Robert J. Dole was born in Russell in 1923. His parents had modest means, operating an egg and cream business. Young Bob was a bright and athletic kid who went to the University of Kansas to play basketball. His studies were interrupted when World War II hit and he enlisted in the U.S. Army.&nbsp;

In 1945, as a second lieutenant, Bob Dole was leading his troops into battle in the mountains of Italy when he was struck by an enemy shell. When his fellow soldiers saw the extent of his injuries, they gave him a shot of morphine and used his own blood to write the letter M on his forehead so a medic would know that he had already been administered the drug and would not give him another shot which would prove fatal.&nbsp;

In the military hospital, his fever soared to nearly 109 degrees. It looked like he would not survive, but his life was saved by a new medicine, streptomycin, which was an experimental drug at the time. He pulled through but was despondent about losing the use of his right hand and arm.&nbsp;

Bob Dole was sent to a specialist in Chicago. This was a turning point. Dole later wrote, “(The specialist) inspired me to focus on what I had left and what I could do with it, rather than complaining about what I had lost.” That doctor would perform seven surgeries on Bob Dole. In Russell, his friends and neighbors gathered money in a cigar box to help with expenses.&nbsp;

Dole went on to earn a law degree from Washburn University and came back to Russell to serve as county attorney. Here he encountered Huck Boyd, a small town weekly newspaper editor and Republican National Committee member from Kansas.&nbsp;

According to legend, Huck was returning home to Phillipsburg after a function late one night and was driving through Russell when he spotted one light on in the county courthouse. Curious about who was working at that hour, Huck went in and found young county attorney Bob Dole.&nbsp;

Huck was impressed by the hard-working young war hero and encouraged him to run for office, which he did. Huck went on to manage the successful Dole campaigns that followed. He saw his protégé rise to become Senate Majority Leader and to win the Republican nomination for president.&nbsp;

Huck Boyd and Senator Dole maintained a lifelong bond. When Senator Dole was asked to speak at Huck’s funeral, he was so emotionally moved that he couldn’t steel himself to do so.&nbsp;

Senator Dole always maintained a bond with the people of Kansas. Tad Felts is a long-time radio broadcaster who also led the annual Phillipsburg High School senior tour to Washington DC. In his forthcoming book, Tad wrote of a time before cell phones when Senator Dole invited the 60 visiting students to come into his office and call home to their parents and grandparents. “It was a madhouse,” Tad wrote.&nbsp;

The Senator would walk through, ask who the students were talking to, pick up the phone and say hello to the folks back home. “I’m sure he earned a lot of votes that day,” Tad wrote. Tad was highly complimentary of Senator Dole’s accessibility to the students from Kansas.&nbsp;

Ninety-eight years have passed since Bob Dole’s birth in this rural community of Russell, population 4,401 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

The brick streets of Russell are quiet today. Folks in Bob Dole’s hometown are fondly remembering their native son who succeeded on a national stage, yet never forgot that he came from rural Kansas.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639588027753.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;The businesses downtown are active. The brick streets are quiet. Two schoolboys are walking home with their bookbags. To the south, pickup trucks and livestock trailers are clustered around the sale barn. Downtown, a large 4-H clover is painted on the intersection of Main Street and Wisconsin Street.&nbsp;&nbsp;This is Russell, Kansas: Quintessential small town America. The flags in this community are flying half-staff today, because the citizens of this rural community are mourning their favorite son who served his country his entire life.&nbsp;Robert J. Dole was born in Russell in 1923. His parents had modest means, operating an egg and cream business. Young Bob was a bright and athletic kid who went to the University of Kansas to play basketball. His studies were interrupted when World War II hit and he enlisted in the U.S. Army.&nbsp;In 1945, as a second lieutenant, Bob Dole was leading his troops into battle in the mountains of Italy when he was struck by an enemy shell. When his fellow soldiers saw the extent of his injuries, they gave him a shot of morphine and used his own blood to write the letter M on his forehead so a medic would know that he had already been administered the drug and would not give him another shot which would prove fatal.&nbsp;In the military hospital, his fever soared to nearly 109 degrees. It looked like he would not survive, but his life was saved by a new medicine, streptomycin, which was an experimental drug at the time. He pulled through but was despondent about losing the use of his right hand and arm.&nbsp;Bob Dole was sent to a specialist in Chicago. This was a turning point. Dole later wrote, “(The specialist) inspired me to focus on what I had left and what I could do with it, rather than complaining about what I had lost.” That doctor would perform seven surgeries on Bob Dole. In Russell, his friends and neighbors gathered money in a cigar box to help with expenses.&nbsp;Dole went on to earn a law degree from Washburn University and came back to Russell to serve as county attorney. Here he encountered Huck Boyd, a small town weekly newspaper editor and Republican National Committee member from Kansas.&nbsp;According to legend, Huck was returning home to Phillipsburg after a function late one night and was driving through Russell when he spotted one light on in the county courthouse. Curious about who was working at that hour, Huck went in and found young county attorney Bob Dole.&nbsp;Huck was impressed by the hard-working young war hero and encouraged him to run for office, which he did. Huck went on to manage the successful Dole campaigns that followed. He saw his protégé rise to become Senate Majority Leader and to win the Republican nomination for president.&nbsp;Huck Boyd and Senator Dole maintained a lifelong bond. When Senator Dole was asked to speak at Huck’s funeral, he was so emotionally moved that he couldn’t steel himself to do so.&nbsp;Senator Dole always maintained a bond with the people of Kansas. Tad Felts is a long-time radio broadcaster who also led the annual Phillipsburg High School senior tour to Washington DC. In his forthcoming book, Tad wrote of a time before cell phones when Senator Dole invited the 60 visiting students to come into his office and call home to their parents and grandparents. “It was a madhouse,” Tad wrote.&nbsp;The Senator would walk through, ask who the students were talking to, pick up the phone and say hello to the folks back home. “I’m sure he earned a lot of votes that day,” Tad wrote. Tad was highly complimentary of Senator Dole’s accessibility to the students from Kansas.&nbsp;Ninety-eight years have passed since Bob Dole’s birth in this rural community of Russell, population 4,401 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;The brick streets of Russell are quiet today. Folks in Bob Dole’s hometown are fondly remembering their native son who succeeded on a national stage, yet never forgot that he came from rural Kansas.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Senator Bob Dole 

Now is the time for tributes and reflections on the life of Senator Bob Dole, who died on Dec. 5 at age 98.&nbsp; Yet, it is important not to romanticize the former Senate Majority Leader from Kansas.&nbsp; Dole certainly did great things, like spearheading the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and co-sponsoring a landmark expansion of Food Stamps (now called SNAP) with Democratic Senator George McGovern, whom he considered a friend.&nbsp; He also loved humor and showed he could take a joke with his multiple Saturday Night Live appearances, alongside actors that satirized him.

That said, Dole was also a ruthless partisan.&nbsp; He defended the Nixon Administration during the Watergate hearings and for the rest of Nixon’s life.&nbsp; In the 1976 vice-presidential debate, Dole accused Democrats of starting every U.S.-involved war in the 20th century, including World Wars I and II—an absurd statement.&nbsp; In between, Dole introduced the nation to abortion as a wedge issue, using it to eke out a victory over Dr. Bill Roy in the 1974 midterm election. Dole was a tough politico who knew how to play the game and win, which he often did.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Politics back then were hardly kind, gentle, fair, bipartisan, or politically correct.&nbsp; Yet they were different.&nbsp; Dole could attack a rival on the Senate floor, then socialize with them afterward, as a friend.&nbsp; He could go the extra mile to kill legislation sponsored by another senator, then team up with that same senator to pass a different bill.&nbsp; Perhaps most importantly, Dole did not attack American democracy itself.&nbsp; He did not promote insurrections or conspiracy theories, nor did he tear away at the separation of powers in the U.S. Constitution.&nbsp; With the notable exception of Roy, Dole did not generally try to win by making personal attacks against his opponents.&nbsp; He kept the focus on their voting records and issue stances—and on that, he could be quite the attack dog.&nbsp; Still, certain aspects of his opponents’ personal lives remained off-limits.&nbsp; An excellent example was the 1996 Presidential campaign.&nbsp; Pressured by consultants to raise the “character issue” against President Clinton, Dole refused to gossip about his opponent’s tumultuous personal life.&nbsp; When Dole did raise the character issue, it was based upon Clinton’s issue stands and the Whitewater land deal.&nbsp;

In Dole’s time, American politics were hardly perfect.&nbsp; Still, there was at least one difference from today—most people seeking power wanted to use that power to do things, either for the country as a whole or for their constituents back home.&nbsp; Election and re-election were means to those ends.&nbsp; To get that done, they had to keep the U.S. system of checks and balances functioning at least reasonably well.&nbsp; The political climate of Dole’s day was complicated, partisan, frustrating, difficult, and sometimes disappointing—but in the end, things did get done.&nbsp; Politics were hardball, and Dole was a master of the game.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Politics today are toxic.&nbsp; Many people seeking office now promise to tear down the constitutional system that allowed them to get there in the first place.&nbsp; Some political speeches by elected officials are completely indistinguishable from the deranged conspiracy theories promoted by crackpots and foreign agents on social media.

By contrast, Bob Dole was a tough and controversial leader who made the difficult choices that kept an imperfect political system working.&nbsp; Even as current officeholders eulogize Dole himself, some of them appear intent on tearing down that system, and his legacy along with it.

Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

Now is the time for tributes and reflections on the life of Senator Bob Dole, who died on Dec. 5 at age 98.&nbsp; Yet, it is important not to romanticize the former Senate Majority Leader from Kansas.&nbsp; Dole certainly did great things, like spearheading the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act and co-sponsoring a landmark expansion of Food Stamps (now called SNAP) with Democratic Senator George McGovern, whom he considered a friend.&nbsp; He also loved humor and showed he could take a joke with his multiple Saturday Night Live appearances, alongside actors that satirized him.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1639601062071.jpeg" alt="Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University." />
 <figcaption>Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.</figcaption>
 </figure>That said, Dole was also a ruthless partisan.&nbsp; He defended the Nixon Administration during the Watergate hearings and for the rest of Nixon’s life.&nbsp; In the 1976 vice-presidential debate, Dole accused Democrats of starting every U.S.-involved war in the 20th century, including World Wars I and II—an absurd statement.&nbsp; In between, Dole introduced the nation to abortion as a wedge issue, using it to eke out a victory over Dr. Bill Roy in the 1974 midterm election. Dole was a tough politico who knew how to play the game and win, which he often did.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Politics back then were hardly kind, gentle, fair, bipartisan, or politically correct.&nbsp; Yet they were different.&nbsp; Dole could attack a rival on the Senate floor, then socialize with them afterward, as a friend.&nbsp; He could go the extra mile to kill legislation sponsored by another senator, then team up with that same senator to pass a different bill.&nbsp; Perhaps most importantly, Dole did not attack American democracy itself.&nbsp; He did not promote insurrections or conspiracy theories, nor did he tear away at the separation of powers in the U.S. Constitution.&nbsp; With the notable exception of Roy, Dole did not generally try to win by making personal attacks against his opponents.&nbsp; He kept the focus on their voting records and issue stances—and on that, he could be quite the attack dog.&nbsp; Still, certain aspects of his opponents’ personal lives remained off-limits.&nbsp; An excellent example was the 1996 Presidential campaign.&nbsp; Pressured by consultants to raise the “character issue” against President Clinton, Dole refused to gossip about his opponent’s tumultuous personal life.&nbsp; When Dole did raise the character issue, it was based upon Clinton’s issue stands and the Whitewater land deal.&nbsp;In Dole’s time, American politics were hardly perfect.&nbsp; Still, there was at least one difference from today—most people seeking power wanted to use that power to do things, either for the country as a whole or for their constituents back home.&nbsp; Election and re-election were means to those ends.&nbsp; To get that done, they had to keep the U.S. system of checks and balances functioning at least reasonably well.&nbsp; The political climate of Dole’s day was complicated, partisan, frustrating, difficult, and sometimes disappointing—but in the end, things did get done.&nbsp; Politics were hardball, and Dole was a master of the game.&nbsp;&nbsp;Politics today are toxic.&nbsp; Many people seeking office now promise to tear down the constitutional system that allowed them to get there in the first place.&nbsp; Some political speeches by elected officials are completely indistinguishable from the deranged conspiracy theories promoted by crackpots and foreign agents on social media.By contrast, Bob Dole was a tough and controversial leader who made the difficult choices that kept an imperfect political system working.&nbsp; Even as current officeholders eulogize Dole himself, some of them appear intent on tearing down that system, and his legacy along with it.Michael Smith is a professor at Emporia State University.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Bob Dole’s politics were hardball, not toxic

The morning was the coldest morning yet this fall and everything was “crunchy” with a light coating of frost. I parked behind a big cedar along the field edge, donned the orange vest, shouldered my rifle and bag containing knives, binoculars and other necessities, pointed the flashlight toward the ground and set out for our raised blind about 200 yards away. Halfway there I walked up and over a grassy waterway where every blade of grass glistened in the flashlight beam like a thousand shimmering diamonds had been strewn about. Once in the blind, I settled into to one of the swivel chairs and awaited sunrise.&nbsp;

Our blind has three windows facing north, south and east, that slide open vertically. The north window faces a grassy draw that lies between open crop land and a woodlot to the right, and CRP &amp; an overgrown pasture to the left. A drainage creek runs just in front of the blind, making the spot a natural travel way between beddings areas in the woodlot and the overgrown pasture. As the sun slowly crept above the horizon, I opened the north window and scanned the dark landscape in front of me for moving deer.&nbsp;

Once the morning light was bright enough to take a shot if deer were spotted, I stood up, slid open the east-facing window and sat back in the chair. To my left on the edge of the draw and the CRP, two does with nearly grown fawns suddenly appeared as if from nowhere, as only deer can do. They must have seen me open the window, so they were nervous, and trotted along the edge of the draw, turning at about 100 yards, to cross and continue across the wheat field to my right and out of sight. Just minutes later, again as if from nowhere, a nice buck appeared at the same spot. With obvious love on his mind, moving quickly, he followed the exact path of the does. I will not shoot at a moving deer, but they can usually be stopped for a couple seconds by making a grunting sound like that of another deer. I like to be positioned to put my scope on them and be prepared to shoot as soon as they stop, but this guy out-maneuvered me and was soon gone too.&nbsp;

The next few minutes were brutal for me, as only deer hunters will understand. I beat myself with every feeling available. Thoughts like “That could have been the last deer you’ll see this season.” Or, “Why didn’t you at least try something?” Around and around they swirled in my mind, ceasing only when deer suddenly appeared from the right, across the wheatfield where they had all fled. “Could it be, are they actually coming back?” I wondered. First were the does and fawns, then one buck, and then a second buck joined them. We have corn scatted at the edge of the draw that usually stops deer for at least a nibble, but these deer were having none of that, and thought they weren’t running, they were moving quickly with a purpose. Again, only deer hunters will understand the next few seconds as my brain practically short-circuited trying to process the scenario. “No time to pick the best of the two bucks, so which one to choose.” Where do I try to stop him?” “What if they won’t stop and I blow another opportunity?” “Too many deer, will I be able to see him if he runs a little way after I shoot?”

Just then one of the bucks stepped into the draw and stopped perfectly broadside to me at just over a hundred yards, offering the perfect shot, which put him on the ground where he stood, putting-to-rest all the above concerns, and saving me from another brutal mental beating. To this day, I have no clue how big the other buck was, but it doesn’t matter. I firmly believe in God’s guidance in everyday situations, including bringing those deer back before me so soon, and stopping that marvelous creature in front of me to harvest. God knew our freezer needed restocked and once again, He provided…Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>The morning was the coldest morning yet this fall and everything was “crunchy” with a light coating of frost. I parked behind a big cedar along the field edge, donned the orange vest, shouldered my rifle and bag containing knives, binoculars and other necessities, pointed the flashlight toward the ground and set out for our raised blind about 200 yards away. Halfway there I walked up and over a grassy waterway where every blade of grass glistened in the flashlight beam like a thousand shimmering diamonds had been strewn about. Once in the blind, I settled into to one of the swivel chairs and awaited sunrise.&nbsp;Our blind has three windows facing north, south and east, that slide open vertically. The north window faces a grassy draw that lies between open crop land and a woodlot to the right, and CRP &amp; an overgrown pasture to the left. A drainage creek runs just in front of the blind, making the spot a natural travel way between beddings areas in the woodlot and the overgrown pasture. As the sun slowly crept above the horizon, I opened the north window and scanned the dark landscape in front of me for moving deer.&nbsp;Once the morning light was bright enough to take a shot if deer were spotted, I stood up, slid open the east-facing window and sat back in the chair. To my left on the edge of the draw and the CRP, two does with nearly grown fawns suddenly appeared as if from nowhere, as only deer can do. They must have seen me open the window, so they were nervous, and trotted along the edge of the draw, turning at about 100 yards, to cross and continue across the wheat field to my right and out of sight. Just minutes later, again as if from nowhere, a nice buck appeared at the same spot. With obvious love on his mind, moving quickly, he followed the exact path of the does. I will not shoot at a moving deer, but they can usually be stopped for a couple seconds by making a grunting sound like that of another deer. I like to be positioned to put my scope on them and be prepared to shoot as soon as they stop, but this guy out-maneuvered me and was soon gone too.&nbsp;The next few minutes were brutal for me, as only deer hunters will understand. I beat myself with every feeling available. Thoughts like “That could have been the last deer you’ll see this season.” Or, “Why didn’t you at least try something?” Around and around they swirled in my mind, ceasing only when deer suddenly appeared from the right, across the wheatfield where they had all fled. “Could it be, are they actually coming back?” I wondered. First were the does and fawns, then one buck, and then a second buck joined them. We have corn scatted at the edge of the draw that usually stops deer for at least a nibble, but these deer were having none of that, and thought they weren’t running, they were moving quickly with a purpose. Again, only deer hunters will understand the next few seconds as my brain practically short-circuited trying to process the scenario. “No time to pick the best of the two bucks, so which one to choose.” Where do I try to stop him?” “What if they won’t stop and I blow another opportunity?” “Too many deer, will I be able to see him if he runs a little way after I shoot?”Just then one of the bucks stepped into the draw and stopped perfectly broadside to me at just over a hundred yards, offering the perfect shot, which put him on the ground where he stood, putting-to-rest all the above concerns, and saving me from another brutal mental beating. To this day, I have no clue how big the other buck was, but it doesn’t matter. I firmly believe in God’s guidance in everyday situations, including bringing those deer back before me so soon, and stopping that marvelous creature in front of me to harvest. God knew our freezer needed restocked and once again, He provided…Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: God, the perfect hunting guide

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau Despite all the available metrics available for us to make sense of our world, measuring it is still largely defined by the parameters set forth by humans. Everyone knows Mount Everest is the tallest mountain at just over 29,000 feet above mean sea level. Calculating the distance from base to peak gives the edge to Hawaii’s Mauna Kea at 33,484 feet, with just less than 14,000 of those above sea level. If you move the starting point to Earth’s center and look for the highest point closest to the stars, you’ll land on the top of Ecuador’s Mount Chimborazo because of its proximity to the equator where the Earth’s rotation makes the crust thicker. Measuring the physical attributes around us is tricky enough given the ability to produce vastly different outcomes based on where an observer chooses to begin. Still the measurements of physical attributes are objective. When it comes to measuring the lives of others, we have to resort to subjective opinions. On occasion, however, a person’s accomplishments are so impartially good and decent that society’s instincts and emotions combine into tautological proof. They are mountains in their own right. Bob Dole was a mountain of a man, and his contribution to Kansas and America are immense and immeasurable. After more than a week of reflection and mourning the loss of such a man, it’s quite possible if any metric did exist to quantify the admiration and devotion he inspired, Dole would set records. There are so many inflection points from which to choose to begin measuring. His birth in Russell; the Dust Bowl years of his youth; war wounds suffered on an Italian mountain. You can’t pick just one, they’re all part of the fabric that made up who Dole became. If pressed, however, I’d consider the barrage of enemy fire to be the most consequential for Kansas and the nation. Dole was studying to become a doctor when he enlisted and went off to war. The bullets that tore into his body didn’t just take his right arm, it likely robbed central Kansas of one of its finest physicians. Dole’s arduous three-year recovery also likely factored into his willingness to accept incremental progress, knowing that small changes add up over the course of time. This also meant largely avoiding the legislative spotlight, for as one of his many obituaries mentions, Dole’s record has “no signature bill.” Instead, he was content to leave fingerprints on decades of budget, tax and foreign policy discussions. Though I knew some of the broad strokes about most of the events mentioned above prior to his death earlier this month, I never knew just how much support he garnered outside of Kansas. I was a freshman in high school when his political career ended just short of the presidency. I knew him better as a pharmaceutical pitchman than a legislative powerbroker, though it was the latter that eventually made the biggest impression on me. I met Dole exactly once, during his “farewell” tour in 2014. He wasn’t running for anything, and he didn’t have anything to offer other than some conversation and his wit. Yet is presence alone was enough to draw a crowd on a sunny weekday afternoon in May. Some came just to say hello. For some, it was a chance to say goodbye. Still others just wanted to be in the presence of greatness again. Every one of us was better for the experience, even if we couldn’t quantify that at the time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="Greg Doering&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau Despite all the available metrics available for us to make sense of our world, measuring it is still largely defined by the parameters set forth by humans. Everyone knows Mount Everest is the tallest mountain at just over 29,000 feet above mean sea level. Calculating the distance from base to peak gives the edge to Hawaii’s Mauna Kea at 33,484 feet, with just less than 14,000 of those above sea level. If you move the starting point to Earth’s center and look for the highest point closest to the stars, you’ll land on the top of Ecuador’s Mount Chimborazo because of its proximity to the equator where the Earth’s rotation makes the crust thicker. Measuring the physical attributes around us is tricky enough given the ability to produce vastly different outcomes based on where an observer chooses to begin. Still the measurements of physical attributes are objective. When it comes to measuring the lives of others, we have to resort to subjective opinions. On occasion, however, a person’s accomplishments are so impartially good and decent that society’s instincts and emotions combine into tautological proof. They are mountains in their own right. Bob Dole was a mountain of a man, and his contribution to Kansas and America are immense and immeasurable. After more than a week of reflection and mourning the loss of such a man, it’s quite possible if any metric did exist to quantify the admiration and devotion he inspired, Dole would set records. There are so many inflection points from which to choose to begin measuring. His birth in Russell; the Dust Bowl years of his youth; war wounds suffered on an Italian mountain. You can’t pick just one, they’re all part of the fabric that made up who Dole became. If pressed, however, I’d consider the barrage of enemy fire to be the most consequential for Kansas and the nation. Dole was studying to become a doctor when he enlisted and went off to war. The bullets that tore into his body didn’t just take his right arm, it likely robbed central Kansas of one of its finest physicians. Dole’s arduous three-year recovery also likely factored into his willingness to accept incremental progress, knowing that small changes add up over the course of time. This also meant largely avoiding the legislative spotlight, for as one of his many obituaries mentions, Dole’s record has “no signature bill.” Instead, he was content to leave fingerprints on decades of budget, tax and foreign policy discussions. Though I knew some of the broad strokes about most of the events mentioned above prior to his death earlier this month, I never knew just how much support he garnered outside of Kansas. I was a freshman in high school when his political career ended just short of the presidency. I knew him better as a pharmaceutical pitchman than a legislative powerbroker, though it was the latter that eventually made the biggest impression on me. I met Dole exactly once, during his “farewell” tour in 2014. He wasn’t running for anything, and he didn’t have anything to offer other than some conversation and his wit. Yet is presence alone was enough to draw a crowd on a sunny weekday afternoon in May. Some came just to say hello. For some, it was a chance to say goodbye. Still others just wanted to be in the presence of greatness again. Every one of us was better for the experience, even if we couldn’t quantify that at the time."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: Taking measure

As I sit down to write this column, I am preparing for the annual Holiday Open House at the president’s residence and the tree lighting ceremony this evening. The month of December will fly by between semester-end traditions, including in-person commencement, service awards, and of course, the busy-ness and joy of the approaching holiday. I love all of it!

This season always evokes so many sweet memories for me, deep gratitude for all of the love that surrounds me, and the happiness stemming from the extra opportunities to focus on acts of kindness in the spirit of the season.&nbsp;

Sweet memories for me begin with traditional holiday food – especially the sweets. My mom and sister usually set a baking date. By the end of the day, they will have baked about 250 cookies. They are carefully packaged up for neighbors, co-workers, the mail carrier, and for the local shelter. There are still more cookies left to be eaten. My favorite are butterscotch oatmeal and frosted sugar cookies. My dad loves to frost the cutout cookies, and I appreciate his artwork.

My husband Bill’s family makes the most delicious pound cakes. His grandfather was a Methodist bishop, and I think his grandmother baked a cake for the entire congregation. At her house there would be countless pounds cakes, carefully wrapped, lining the stairs to the second floor. The love she poured into each pound cake was abundant. I miss her.

When I was young, my mom always organized a craft day. My brothers and sister and I would gather around the kitchen table and make a paper chain. That chain would be hung on the walls. Each year, the chain would be packed up in a big box, stored away, taken out the next year, and added to. It eventually covered every downstairs wall.

Each of us was also given a very large, personalized ornament. My mom had painted each one with our name on it – very significant for me as back in the day you could not buy anything with the name “Tisa” on it. It was such an honor to hang our special ornament.

We had a lot of Christmas rules. For example, you could never tell what you bought someone. One year, my sister and I decided to break that rule and told one another what we bought. Of course, mom discovered our secret and returned the gifts. Also, there was no peeking, and of course, there were consequences for peaking. On Christmas morning, we were not allowed to go downstairs until our parents were up and ready. I often slept on the stairs just be a little closer to Santa’s arrival and the magic of Christmas presents.&nbsp;

The art of Christmas gift wrapping is also a family tradition. The gift should never look like the actual gift. It is not uncommon for a small gift to be wrapped in several larger boxes. One year, my Dad jokingly put on his wish list “a whole lot of money” – so my mom went to the bank and got a lot of one-dollar bills, placed them in a box, and fluffed them up to create the illusion of bulk. Everyone got a good laugh out of that one.

As we grew older, new traditions emerged, like the tradition of the Christmas pickle ornament. On Christmas eve, after everyone has gone to bed, my parents place an ornament shaped like a pickle on one of the Christmas trees. (My mom usually has at least three trees.) The first to find the ornament is blessed with a year of good luck and an extra present.

I’ll be honest . That tradition gets a bit competitive at our house. One year, I was even disqualified from the competition for getting up early and finding the pickle before everyone had a chance to look. I am still a bit bitter about the disqualification. Even though I did not get the pickle present that year, I believe I was still blessed with a year of good luck.

When my mom remarried, a new tradition came with my stepdad – a Christmas Eve open house. This tradition continues today with neighbors and friends gathering to eat, drink, and be merry. One year, Bill and I were driving home from Kansas to Massachusetts, and we invited two international students, Oliver and Alice, to join us. At the open house, Alice ate her first deviled egg and loved it so much that she ate a least a dozen all by herself.&nbsp; Every year since, we think of Alice on Christmas Eve when my mom puts out the deviled eggs.

There are so many beautiful memories, music, smells, tastes, warm hugs, and deep friendships surrounding my childhood and adulthood during the Christmas holiday. It is a great time to lovingly remember those who are no longer with us and cherish those who are – new friends and old.

I asked some of our international students about their holiday traditions – whether they were celebrating Christmas, Eid, Ramadan, or another tradition. Every student talked about gathering with family and friends. Friendship, family, and a sense of connection is so important to our well-being. So is a sense of generosity.

Poet Edwin Arlington Robinson said there are two kinds of gratitude: the sudden kind we feel for what we take and the larger kind we feel for what we give. I couldn’t say it better. May your days ahead be filled with large gratitude.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575302025343.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As I sit down to write this column, I am preparing for the annual Holiday Open House at the president’s residence and the tree lighting ceremony this evening. The month of December will fly by between semester-end traditions, including in-person commencement, service awards, and of course, the busy-ness and joy of the approaching holiday. I love all of it!This season always evokes so many sweet memories for me, deep gratitude for all of the love that surrounds me, and the happiness stemming from the extra opportunities to focus on acts of kindness in the spirit of the season.&nbsp;Sweet memories for me begin with traditional holiday food – especially the sweets. My mom and sister usually set a baking date. By the end of the day, they will have baked about 250 cookies. They are carefully packaged up for neighbors, co-workers, the mail carrier, and for the local shelter. There are still more cookies left to be eaten. My favorite are butterscotch oatmeal and frosted sugar cookies. My dad loves to frost the cutout cookies, and I appreciate his artwork.My husband Bill’s family makes the most delicious pound cakes. His grandfather was a Methodist bishop, and I think his grandmother baked a cake for the entire congregation. At her house there would be countless pounds cakes, carefully wrapped, lining the stairs to the second floor. The love she poured into each pound cake was abundant. I miss her.When I was young, my mom always organized a craft day. My brothers and sister and I would gather around the kitchen table and make a paper chain. That chain would be hung on the walls. Each year, the chain would be packed up in a big box, stored away, taken out the next year, and added to. It eventually covered every downstairs wall.Each of us was also given a very large, personalized ornament. My mom had painted each one with our name on it – very significant for me as back in the day you could not buy anything with the name “Tisa” on it. It was such an honor to hang our special ornament.We had a lot of Christmas rules. For example, you could never tell what you bought someone. One year, my sister and I decided to break that rule and told one another what we bought. Of course, mom discovered our secret and returned the gifts. Also, there was no peeking, and of course, there were consequences for peaking. On Christmas morning, we were not allowed to go downstairs until our parents were up and ready. I often slept on the stairs just be a little closer to Santa’s arrival and the magic of Christmas presents.&nbsp;The art of Christmas gift wrapping is also a family tradition. The gift should never look like the actual gift. It is not uncommon for a small gift to be wrapped in several larger boxes. One year, my Dad jokingly put on his wish list “a whole lot of money” – so my mom went to the bank and got a lot of one-dollar bills, placed them in a box, and fluffed them up to create the illusion of bulk. Everyone got a good laugh out of that one.As we grew older, new traditions emerged, like the tradition of the Christmas pickle ornament. On Christmas eve, after everyone has gone to bed, my parents place an ornament shaped like a pickle on one of the Christmas trees. (My mom usually has at least three trees.) The first to find the ornament is blessed with a year of good luck and an extra present.I’ll be honest . That tradition gets a bit competitive at our house. One year, I was even disqualified from the competition for getting up early and finding the pickle before everyone had a chance to look. I am still a bit bitter about the disqualification. Even though I did not get the pickle present that year, I believe I was still blessed with a year of good luck.When my mom remarried, a new tradition came with my stepdad – a Christmas Eve open house. This tradition continues today with neighbors and friends gathering to eat, drink, and be merry. One year, Bill and I were driving home from Kansas to Massachusetts, and we invited two international students, Oliver and Alice, to join us. At the open house, Alice ate her first deviled egg and loved it so much that she ate a least a dozen all by herself.&nbsp; Every year since, we think of Alice on Christmas Eve when my mom puts out the deviled eggs.There are so many beautiful memories, music, smells, tastes, warm hugs, and deep friendships surrounding my childhood and adulthood during the Christmas holiday. It is a great time to lovingly remember those who are no longer with us and cherish those who are – new friends and old.I asked some of our international students about their holiday traditions – whether they were celebrating Christmas, Eid, Ramadan, or another tradition. Every student talked about gathering with family and friends. Friendship, family, and a sense of connection is so important to our well-being. So is a sense of generosity.Poet Edwin Arlington Robinson said there are two kinds of gratitude: the sudden kind we feel for what we take and the larger kind we feel for what we give. I couldn’t say it better. May your days ahead be filled with large gratitude.

MASON: Gratitude for family, friends, traditions

Anyone who’s ever subscribed to a major outdoors magazine has seen the pictures of deer camps from years gone by. Found mostly in the big woods of the north, these deer-camps-of-old were annual gathering places for die-hard deer hunters in a time when opening day of deer season carried the same status as election day. Deer camps could be large tents or rustic cabins buried somewhere deep within the northern woods in the midst of the best deer hunting of the time. They were hallowed places where tradition ran deep and where comradery was nearly as important as putting a deer on the “meat pole” out front.&nbsp;

My grandfather was one of those die-hard hunters who harvested deer, elk and even a trophy moose that made the Boone and Crocket record book, and he passed his love of the outdoors and his love of big-game hunting down to his grandsons. In the year 2000 my brother Joe began taking his family for a week of deer hunting to Zeleski State Forest in southeastern Ohio. His son was twelve then and went with them on the first trip. For the next four years they went there but yearned to have land of their own in those beautiful rolling southeastern Ohio hills. In 2005 Joe purchased two hundred acres near the town of McArthur and the Gilliland Deer Camp was born. The land is reminiscent of the big north woods that harbored the deer camps of old, with only hills and trees as far as they eye can see, and majestic views marred only by the power line that snakes its way across the countryside.&nbsp;

The first couple years there his camping trailer served as the cabin, and they spent only the first week of deer gun season down there. Joe says that in those early years they spent more time chasing off trespassers who were used to the land being vacant than they spent hunting. A cabin was built a couple years later and after several additions it is now a grand gathering place that has become his retirement home. Off-seasons in the early years were spent carving out new trails or reopening old ones, and adding deer feeders, tree stands and blinds. To date the property holds three or four deer feeders and over a dozen tree stands and blinds.&nbsp;

What began in the early years as a gathering of my brother’s family and in-laws for one week of deer hunting has today evolved to include, sisters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandsons and nieces &amp; nephews from all around our family who now hunt numerous days of every deer season available there in Ohio. When our dad was still living, he yearned to spend that week there at my brother’s cabin with the “crew,” even though he never hunted deer a day in his life. To him it was all about the family time.&nbsp;

During that week, hunters are up and gone before day break, and return mid-morning or when any harvested deer are retrieved and hung on the “meat pole” out front. A wonderful porch spans the entire front of the cabin high above the driveway and creek below. Weather permitting, mid-days are spent there either relaxing in one of the many rocking chairs or by participating in the frequent shooting competitions held there on the porch. Targets include pumpkins, cans of shaving cream and an occasional chipmunk scurrying about by the stream.&nbsp;

Off seasons are still spent adding and improving tree stands and blinds, sprucing up existing trails or adding new ones, keeping deer feeders full and collecting and viewing camera chips from the fleet of trail cameras on the property. There are also wild hogs there and since there are no hunting restrictions on them, they are frequent targets for the freezer year round. Most recently Joe has started identifying wild ginseng patches in the woods and is attempting to get other patches started from seed he buys. &nbsp;

I think grandpa would be proud of the way our family has continued to pass his love of the outdoors and of deer hunting on down through the generations of our family. And I know he would be especially proud of the tradition my brother has started by opening up his hallowed spot to all our family. Grandpa’s other grandson (our cousin) who lived in Cheyenne, WY also followed in grandpa’s footsteps, putting at least one Wyoming elk in his freezer each year, and he has also imparted that love of big-game hunting to his son. To date, the harvest from my brother’s deer camp has filled the freezers of several family members with venison and wild hog meat for many years. Just last week he sent me a picture of his youngest grandson with his first buck...Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors…with your family.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve&nbsp;Gilliland" />
 <figcaption>Steve&nbsp;Gilliland</figcaption>
 </figure>Anyone who’s ever subscribed to a major outdoors magazine has seen the pictures of deer camps from years gone by. Found mostly in the big woods of the north, these deer-camps-of-old were annual gathering places for die-hard deer hunters in a time when opening day of deer season carried the same status as election day. Deer camps could be large tents or rustic cabins buried somewhere deep within the northern woods in the midst of the best deer hunting of the time. They were hallowed places where tradition ran deep and where comradery was nearly as important as putting a deer on the “meat pole” out front.&nbsp;My grandfather was one of those die-hard hunters who harvested deer, elk and even a trophy moose that made the Boone and Crocket record book, and he passed his love of the outdoors and his love of big-game hunting down to his grandsons. In the year 2000 my brother Joe began taking his family for a week of deer hunting to Zeleski State Forest in southeastern Ohio. His son was twelve then and went with them on the first trip. For the next four years they went there but yearned to have land of their own in those beautiful rolling southeastern Ohio hills. In 2005 Joe purchased two hundred acres near the town of McArthur and the Gilliland Deer Camp was born. The land is reminiscent of the big north woods that harbored the deer camps of old, with only hills and trees as far as they eye can see, and majestic views marred only by the power line that snakes its way across the countryside.&nbsp;The first couple years there his camping trailer served as the cabin, and they spent only the first week of deer gun season down there. Joe says that in those early years they spent more time chasing off trespassers who were used to the land being vacant than they spent hunting. A cabin was built a couple years later and after several additions it is now a grand gathering place that has become his retirement home. Off-seasons in the early years were spent carving out new trails or reopening old ones, and adding deer feeders, tree stands and blinds. To date the property holds three or four deer feeders and over a dozen tree stands and blinds.&nbsp;What began in the early years as a gathering of my brother’s family and in-laws for one week of deer hunting has today evolved to include, sisters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, grandsons and nieces &amp; nephews from all around our family who now hunt numerous days of every deer season available there in Ohio. When our dad was still living, he yearned to spend that week there at my brother’s cabin with the “crew,” even though he never hunted deer a day in his life. To him it was all about the family time.&nbsp;During that week, hunters are up and gone before day break, and return mid-morning or when any harvested deer are retrieved and hung on the “meat pole” out front. A wonderful porch spans the entire front of the cabin high above the driveway and creek below. Weather permitting, mid-days are spent there either relaxing in one of the many rocking chairs or by participating in the frequent shooting competitions held there on the porch. Targets include pumpkins, cans of shaving cream and an occasional chipmunk scurrying about by the stream.&nbsp;Off seasons are still spent adding and improving tree stands and blinds, sprucing up existing trails or adding new ones, keeping deer feeders full and collecting and viewing camera chips from the fleet of trail cameras on the property. There are also wild hogs there and since there are no hunting restrictions on them, they are frequent targets for the freezer year round. Most recently Joe has started identifying wild ginseng patches in the woods and is attempting to get other patches started from seed he buys. &nbsp;I think grandpa would be proud of the way our family has continued to pass his love of the outdoors and of deer hunting on down through the generations of our family. And I know he would be especially proud of the tradition my brother has started by opening up his hallowed spot to all our family. Grandpa’s other grandson (our cousin) who lived in Cheyenne, WY also followed in grandpa’s footsteps, putting at least one Wyoming elk in his freezer each year, and he has also imparted that love of big-game hunting to his son. To date, the harvest from my brother’s deer camp has filled the freezers of several family members with venison and wild hog meat for many years. Just last week he sent me a picture of his youngest grandson with his first buck...Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors…with your family.Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: My brother’s deer camp 

Last week brought a rocky two-day meeting of the Legislature’s Special Committee on Education. The purpose was to examine the decline in student achievement as shown on state assessment scores.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Nevertheless, almost an entire day was spent on testimony about Critical Race Theory.

Republicans, special interest group leaders and parents held forth that CRT is currently being taught across the state.&nbsp; This despite the Kansas State Board of Education’s widely publicized stand that CRT is not part of state curriculum standards—a viewpoint recently praised by the nationally recognized Aspen Institute Director of Education and Society Programs Danielle Gonzales.&nbsp;&nbsp;

While most speakers before the committee agreed that CRT as a theory to explain all of history was not being taught in Kansas, many pointed to instruction that focused on equity, social-emotional learning and diversity as actually promoting CTR.&nbsp; Moreover, some speakers challenged school library offerings based on language and graphics in books dealing with race, gender or sexuality.

The testimony, which can be read at Kansas Legislative Sessions Website, is troubling.&nbsp;&nbsp; Are the passionate reactions from parents on target or simply viewpoints formed by a national effort by Republicans to shore up their conservative base and become the party for parents?&nbsp;&nbsp;

Or did the parents’ comments validate perspectives of Libertarians who simply don’t believe in public education?

Or were they voices of those who wish to lay the groundwork for dismantling public education under the guise of state-funded vouchers/scholarships to private schools?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Perhaps none of the above—a review by Education Week reported that 42 percent of respondents to a Newsweek poll had never heard of CRT.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Whether the parents’ testimony represents squeaky-wheel complaints of a vocal minority or not, the incensed advocates who testified shouldn’t be viewed as representing Kansas public opinion.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Education Week review confirmed only one common finding—parents and the public are uncertain and confused about the teaching of history and racism.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Yet when this much fervent concern is raised, KSDE and the Legislature have an obligation to let the public know that the complaints are heard, understood and will be addressed.&nbsp;

Dismissing the public’s concerns about how race and gender are taught could result in loss of creditability for both KSDE and the legislature’s education committee.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Overall, committee testimony pointed to major underlying issues:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

At the end of the second day, there was no consensus on any of the above.&nbsp; However, the committee did circle back to its original purpose and agreed to a meeting of KSDE and legislators after the start of the next legislative session in January to begin working together on improving reading achievement in the early grades.&nbsp; It’s a good place to start on a difficult journey.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593719779701.jpeg" alt="Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education." />
 <figcaption>Sharon Hartin Iorio is Dean Emerita Wichita State University College of Education.</figcaption>
 </figure>Last week brought a rocky two-day meeting of the Legislature’s Special Committee on Education. The purpose was to examine the decline in student achievement as shown on state assessment scores.&nbsp;&nbsp;Nevertheless, almost an entire day was spent on testimony about Critical Race Theory.Republicans, special interest group leaders and parents held forth that CRT is currently being taught across the state.&nbsp; This despite the Kansas State Board of Education’s widely publicized stand that CRT is not part of state curriculum standards—a viewpoint recently praised by the nationally recognized Aspen Institute Director of Education and Society Programs Danielle Gonzales.&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>While most speakers before the committee agreed that CRT as a theory to explain all of history was not being taught in Kansas, many pointed to instruction that focused on equity, social-emotional learning and diversity as actually promoting CTR.&nbsp; Moreover, some speakers challenged school library offerings based on language and graphics in books dealing with race, gender or sexuality.The testimony, which can be read at Kansas Legislative Sessions Website, is troubling.&nbsp;&nbsp; Are the passionate reactions from parents on target or simply viewpoints formed by a national effort by Republicans to shore up their conservative base and become the party for parents?&nbsp;&nbsp;Or did the parents’ comments validate perspectives of Libertarians who simply don’t believe in public education?Or were they voices of those who wish to lay the groundwork for dismantling public education under the guise of state-funded vouchers/scholarships to private schools?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Perhaps none of the above—a review by Education Week reported that 42 percent of respondents to a Newsweek poll had never heard of CRT.&nbsp;&nbsp;Whether the parents’ testimony represents squeaky-wheel complaints of a vocal minority or not, the incensed advocates who testified shouldn’t be viewed as representing Kansas public opinion.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Education Week review confirmed only one common finding—parents and the public are uncertain and confused about the teaching of history and racism.&nbsp;&nbsp;Yet when this much fervent concern is raised, KSDE and the Legislature have an obligation to let the public know that the complaints are heard, understood and will be addressed.&nbsp;Dismissing the public’s concerns about how race and gender are taught could result in loss of creditability for both KSDE and the legislature’s education committee.&nbsp;&nbsp;Overall, committee testimony pointed to major underlying issues:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>The right of parents to be heard, their right to know what’s being taught and their right to protect their child’s privacy,</li><li>The right of local schools to establish equitable, inclusive learning environments through teaching accurate depictions of history including the problem of systemic racism and the accomplishment of American world leadership in advancing human rights,</li><li>The influence of political parties, national organizations and for-profit publishers of learning materials to dictate Kansas curriculum, and&nbsp;&nbsp;</li><li>The need for decision making to include those involved in K-12 education—students, teachers, parents, administrators and the local community.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>At the end of the second day, there was no consensus on any of the above.&nbsp; However, the committee did circle back to its original purpose and agreed to a meeting of KSDE and legislators after the start of the next legislative session in January to begin working together on improving reading achievement in the early grades.&nbsp; It’s a good place to start on a difficult journey.&nbsp;

INSIGHT KANSAS: Parents speak out at education hearing

By U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran R-Kan. In the summer of 1945, a worried Bina Dole in Russell, Kansas, called my grandma, who with my grandpa lived in rural Russell County, searching for news about her son. My dad, an Army sergeant, was also serving in Italy, and Bina shared over their party line she hoped my dad could learn more about Bob, who was gravely wounded.

Ray, my dad, on leave began the search to find Bob, but discovered he had been evacuated for medical treatment. Those two mothers, anxious for the safety of their children half a world away, offered comfort to each other and worked together to try and find news of 2nd Lieutenant Dole. They demonstrated the care and concern often found in small towns across Kansas, and it was the care and character of the people in Russell that shaped Bob Dole into the American hero and exemplary statesman we all knew.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

I am honored to serve in the “Dole seat” in the U.S. Senate and sit on the Senate floor in the “Dole desk” where I see his name carved into the desk drawer.

In small towns like Russell, there are differences of opinions, there are Republicans and Democrats and there are people who go to this church or that church. But when you’re in a small town, you have no choice but to get along, solve problems and work together.&nbsp;

As a young man, those values led Bob to swear an oath to protect and defend our country during World War II. On a battlefield in Italy, his life almost came to an end.&nbsp;

The injuries were horrific, tremendous and permanent. But his indomitable spirit helped him survive and endure the long road to recovery. And it was the people of Russell who collected donations in a cigar box on the same counter he worked behind as a soda jerk in high school to help make sure Bob’s medical expenses would be paid for. His wounds left him with a nearly paralyzed right arm, but Bob used his injuries to deepen his caring, not for himself, but for others.&nbsp;

He held an unmatched patriotism borne out of wartime sacrifice that marked every day of his life. Yet rather than ask for help, he offered it.

Sen. Dole can credit his view of life to his upbringing in a small Kansas town. He reflected, “The first thing you learn on the prairie is the relative size of a man compared to the lay of the land. And under the immense sky where I was born and raised, a man is very small. And if he thinks otherwise, he is wrong.”

Even after Sen. Dole became a household name across the country, he always returned back to his hometown to gain wisdom and begin each new chapter of his life.

"I think Bob can come here and get tranquility and strength," his sister, Gloria Nelson, said of Russell.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/12/1638983174129.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran R-Kan. In the summer of 1945, a worried Bina Dole in Russell, Kansas, called my grandma, who with my grandpa lived in rural Russell County, searching for news about her son. My dad, an Army sergeant, was also serving in Italy, and Bina shared over their party line she hoped my dad could learn more about Bob, who was gravely wounded.Ray, my dad, on leave began the search to find Bob, but discovered he had been evacuated for medical treatment. Those two mothers, anxious for the safety of their children half a world away, offered comfort to each other and worked together to try and find news of 2nd Lieutenant Dole. They demonstrated the care and concern often found in small towns across Kansas, and it was the care and character of the people in Russell that shaped Bob Dole into the American hero and exemplary statesman we all knew.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575913663048.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>I am honored to serve in the “Dole seat” in the U.S. Senate and sit on the Senate floor in the “Dole desk” where I see his name carved into the desk drawer.In small towns like Russell, there are differences of opinions, there are Republicans and Democrats and there are people who go to this church or that church. But when you’re in a small town, you have no choice but to get along, solve problems and work together.&nbsp;As a young man, those values led Bob to swear an oath to protect and defend our country during World War II. On a battlefield in Italy, his life almost came to an end.&nbsp;The injuries were horrific, tremendous and permanent. But his indomitable spirit helped him survive and endure the long road to recovery. And it was the people of Russell who collected donations in a cigar box on the same counter he worked behind as a soda jerk in high school to help make sure Bob’s medical expenses would be paid for. His wounds left him with a nearly paralyzed right arm, but Bob used his injuries to deepen his caring, not for himself, but for others.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618357296698.jpeg" alt="Moran" />
 <figcaption>Moran</figcaption>
 </figure>He held an unmatched patriotism borne out of wartime sacrifice that marked every day of his life. Yet rather than ask for help, he offered it.Sen. Dole can credit his view of life to his upbringing in a small Kansas town. He reflected, “The first thing you learn on the prairie is the relative size of a man compared to the lay of the land. And under the immense sky where I was born and raised, a man is very small. And if he thinks otherwise, he is wrong.”Even after Sen. Dole became a household name across the country, he always returned back to his hometown to gain wisdom and begin each new chapter of his life."I think Bob can come here and get tranquility and strength," his sister, Gloria Nelson, said of Russell.Following his injury during WWII, he returned to Russell to find strength and healing for his badly maimed body. After receiving the Vice Presidential nomination and amid the highs and lows of three Presidential campaigns, Russell always provided him a solid and steady place to land. Following the death of his brother, Kenny, in 1993, he returned to Russell to say goodbye. In 1996, members of his hometown gathered with Sen. Dole to celebrate his birthday. Following his loss to President Clinton that year, the town welcomed him again. He was a national and world leader, but he would always be a boy from Russell, a son of the Kansas plains.&nbsp;Russell Townsley, the former publisher of the Russell Daily News, wrote regarding Sen. Dole’s plan to make his announcement to run for president in 1987 from a stage in Russell, “Skeptics ask what can Bob Dole – or Russell – hope to gain from this public show and professionally staged rally. And this is where the skeptics find themselves travelling blind. There’s no need to look for ulterior motives, for there are none. Dole and his town gain from each other. While one draws on unseen reserves that have nurtured him from childhood, the other grows strong from the aura reflected from the image of leadership and stature borne by the other.”During his Vice Presidential run, Sen. Dole said, “I want to re-emphasize: If I’ve done anything it’s because of people I’ve known up and down Main Street. And I can recall the time when I needed help, the people of Russell helped.” That same cigar box that was used to collect donations to pay for Bob’s medical expenses after WWII was again given to Sen. Dole when he announced his campaign for president in 1996. Each time, more and more Kansans supported their hero.&nbsp;To the people of Russell and to the people across Kansas, thank you for the manner in which you have shaped, treated and respected a man worthy of our admiration. Sadly, we say goodbye to one of our own.

Opinion