It is plain to see for all that COVID-19 is out of control across Kansas and the nation. As county commissioners and commissioner-elect, it is your responsibility to help protect the citizens and visitors to our fine county. To ignore the science behind the wearing of masks and proper social distancing, and yes, some of you actively suborning these health measures, you do great disservice to us all. 

As a retired medical technologist for which PPE was a standard and required part of the routine workday, you quickly adapt to the use. It promotes safety, but (and here is the important point), the use of PPE for this disease cannot and will not be effective until and unless 90 to 95% of the population adhere to the requirements. 

These are not political statements, but public health statements and we should all do our part to protect ourselves and one another. I strongly, strongly urge you to follow Governor Kelly’s mandate. Should you not, you are complicit in the spread and potential deaths that may follow. I assure you that if you do not, you will never receive my vote for any position you may seek in the future.&nbsp; Mike Giess, Hays

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582312931775.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>To the Ellis County Commission:It is plain to see for all that COVID-19 is out of control across Kansas and the nation. As county commissioners and commissioner-elect, it is your responsibility to help protect the citizens and visitors to our fine county. To ignore the science behind the wearing of masks and proper social distancing, and yes, some of you actively suborning these health measures, you do great disservice to us all. As a retired medical technologist for which PPE was a standard and required part of the routine workday, you quickly adapt to the use. It promotes safety, but (and here is the important point), the use of PPE for this disease cannot and will not be effective until and unless 90 to 95% of the population adhere to the requirements. These are not political statements, but public health statements and we should all do our part to protect ourselves and one another. I strongly, strongly urge you to follow Governor Kelly’s mandate. Should you not, you are complicit in the spread and potential deaths that may follow. I assure you that if you do not, you will never receive my vote for any position you may seek in the future.&nbsp; Mike Giess, Hays

LETTER: Ellis Co. must follow state mask mandate

The truth about the economic and COVID outcome disparities between states locked down by their governors and the seven states allowed to remain open was brutally victimized in a recent Hays Post story. &nbsp;

The article was written by a reporter at the Kansas Reflector, a left-leaning Topeka organization affiliated with States Newsroom. &nbsp;

<a href="https://sentinelksmo.org/kansas-reflector-legislative-coverage-puts-media-bias-on-full-display/">A column at The Sentinel</a> exposes a long list of false accusations, deception and incomplete information.&nbsp; For example, the states locked down by their governors have 46% more COVID deaths per million of population than the seven states not shut down.&nbsp; The survival rate for the states left open is 99% versus 97.6 % for the states shut down.

States not shut down by their governors also have less job loss.&nbsp; They lost 4.5% of private jobs between February and September, versus 7.7% for the others.&nbsp; Nebraska is one the states not shuttered by their governor; if Kansas had only lost 3.7% of jobs like Nebraska (instead of our loss of 5.2%), there would have been 17,000 more jobs here in September.

But don’t just take my word for this; watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNsi1_BB6Tw">the video</a> of the legislative hearing and you’ll understand the full depth of media bias in Topeka.

Dave Trabert is CEO of the Kansas Policy Institute, an educational and research organization.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605883070462.jpeg" alt="Dave Trabert " />
 <figcaption>Dave Trabert </figcaption>
 </figure>The truth about the economic and COVID outcome disparities between states locked down by their governors and the seven states allowed to remain open was brutally victimized in a recent Hays Post story. &nbsp;The article was written by a reporter at the Kansas Reflector, a left-leaning Topeka organization affiliated with States Newsroom. &nbsp;<a href="https://sentinelksmo.org/kansas-reflector-legislative-coverage-puts-media-bias-on-full-display/">A column at The Sentinel</a> exposes a long list of false accusations, deception and incomplete information.&nbsp; For example, the states locked down by their governors have 46% more COVID deaths per million of population than the seven states not shut down.&nbsp; The survival rate for the states left open is 99% versus 97.6 % for the states shut down.States not shut down by their governors also have less job loss.&nbsp; They lost 4.5% of private jobs between February and September, versus 7.7% for the others.&nbsp; Nebraska is one the states not shuttered by their governor; if Kansas had only lost 3.7% of jobs like Nebraska (instead of our loss of 5.2%), there would have been 17,000 more jobs here in September.But don’t just take my word for this; watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNsi1_BB6Tw">the video</a> of the legislative hearing and you’ll understand the full depth of media bias in Topeka.Dave Trabert is CEO of the Kansas Policy Institute, an educational and research organization.

LETTER: Story missed the facts on COVID, shutdowns

Stay save during the holidays this year by following these tips to safely prepare your holiday meal. Handling poultry (chickens and turkey) incorrectly and undercooking it are the most common problems that lead to foodborne disease outbreaks linked to poultry.

The first step is to thaw your turkey safely. Many family gatherings may be smaller this year so the turkey may be smaller also. If you have a 12- to 16-pound turkey it will need to thaw for a full week in the refrigerator. If you are working with a smaller turkey for a small gathering move it from the freezer to the refrigerator the weekend before Thanksgiving. If the turkey did not get taken out of the freezer early another option is to thaw it in a sink of cold water but the water must be changed every 30 minutes and the plastic bag must be leakproof so no bacteria is allowed in. A third option for a small turkey is to thaw the turkey in the microwave.&nbsp;

Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter. A thawing turkey must defrost at a safe temperature. When the turkey is left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, its temperature becomes unsafe. Bacteria can grow rapidly in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F.

Secondly, when handling the raw turkey remember that it can contaminate anything that it touches with harmful bacteria. Wash your hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling turkey. DO NOT wash the raw turkey! Turkey juices can spread in the kitchen and contaminate the countertop and other surfaces. Never place cooked foods or fresh produce on a plate, cutting board or other surface that has been in contact with raw turkey. Wash all cutting boards, utensils, dishes and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing the turkey and before you prepare the next item.&nbsp;

The third step to a safe turkey dinner is to set the oven to at least 325 degrees. It is not a safe option to place it in the oven overnight at a low temperature. Place the completely thawed turkey in a pan that is 2 to 2 ½ inches deep. Cooking times will vary depending on the weight of the turkey but in all cases use a food thermometer to ensure that the turkey reaches a temperature of 165 degrees. Place the food thermometer into the center of the stuffing and the thickest part of the breast or thigh. Even if your turkey has a pop-up indicator, it is best to test the temperature with a food thermometer. Let the turkey stand 20 minutes before removing all stuffing from the cavity and carving the meat.&nbsp;

The fourth step to a food safe holiday is to refrigerate leftovers at 40 degrees or colder as soon as possible and within 2 hours of the food being prepared to prevent food poisoning. Slice or divide the big cuts of meat into smaller quantities for refrigeration so it can cool quickly. Reheat all leftovers to at least 165 degrees F before serving it again.&nbsp;

	For more information, search for “Lets Talk Turkey” found at the usda.gov website. Don’t forget to wash hands often, social distance and keep those holiday gatherings small.&nbsp; Have a safe holiday week&nbsp;

Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Stay save during the holidays this year by following these tips to safely prepare your holiday meal. Handling poultry (chickens and turkey) incorrectly and undercooking it are the most common problems that lead to foodborne disease outbreaks linked to poultry.The first step is to thaw your turkey safely. Many family gatherings may be smaller this year so the turkey may be smaller also. If you have a 12- to 16-pound turkey it will need to thaw for a full week in the refrigerator. If you are working with a smaller turkey for a small gathering move it from the freezer to the refrigerator the weekend before Thanksgiving. If the turkey did not get taken out of the freezer early another option is to thaw it in a sink of cold water but the water must be changed every 30 minutes and the plastic bag must be leakproof so no bacteria is allowed in. A third option for a small turkey is to thaw the turkey in the microwave.&nbsp;Never thaw your turkey by leaving it out on the counter. A thawing turkey must defrost at a safe temperature. When the turkey is left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours, its temperature becomes unsafe. Bacteria can grow rapidly in the “danger zone” between 40°F and 140°F.Secondly, when handling the raw turkey remember that it can contaminate anything that it touches with harmful bacteria. Wash your hands with warm soapy water for 20 seconds before and after handling turkey. DO NOT wash the raw turkey! Turkey juices can spread in the kitchen and contaminate the countertop and other surfaces. Never place cooked foods or fresh produce on a plate, cutting board or other surface that has been in contact with raw turkey. Wash all cutting boards, utensils, dishes and countertops with hot soapy water after preparing the turkey and before you prepare the next item.&nbsp;The third step to a safe turkey dinner is to set the oven to at least 325 degrees. It is not a safe option to place it in the oven overnight at a low temperature. Place the completely thawed turkey in a pan that is 2 to 2 ½ inches deep. Cooking times will vary depending on the weight of the turkey but in all cases use a food thermometer to ensure that the turkey reaches a temperature of 165 degrees. Place the food thermometer into the center of the stuffing and the thickest part of the breast or thigh. Even if your turkey has a pop-up indicator, it is best to test the temperature with a food thermometer. Let the turkey stand 20 minutes before removing all stuffing from the cavity and carving the meat.&nbsp;The fourth step to a food safe holiday is to refrigerate leftovers at 40 degrees or colder as soon as possible and within 2 hours of the food being prepared to prevent food poisoning. Slice or divide the big cuts of meat into smaller quantities for refrigeration so it can cool quickly. Reheat all leftovers to at least 165 degrees F before serving it again.&nbsp;	For more information, search for “Lets Talk Turkey” found at the usda.gov website. Don’t forget to wash hands often, social distance and keep those holiday gatherings small.&nbsp; Have a safe holiday week&nbsp;	Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

UNRUH: Turkey and food safety

A vote was passed Wednesday by KSHSAA governing body in regards to delaying winter sports. The details of the proposal can be found <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4e455f5c-7b6f-4808-a8e7-c1de145d8a8a">HERE</a>.

<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasPregame/posts/4652176228188521?__cft__[0]=AZW7wA1P0gEkpijgOrOY-oliMwWHX_96YBHJ41F_PR3oPHB1M4-0gCUjr7ad5O9gQJ-4a7detz6GfNXtDW82da767RI3QzxgcMi6SWTp6leSVy6CoTFrgzgpYlVve8IlFlkBh5p69Lzuo2ZkNSdFFVkRk7Ybfpi-KNIFeJ7A-BEGFA&amp;__tn__=-UK-R"></a>I strongly urge everyone to consider the following as the KSHSAA votes on Tuesday, November 24th, to adopt or not to adopt these policies:

1.  We must promote the wearing of masks, washing hands, and social distancing as much as possible.  Our students and athletes are bearing the brunt of this epidemic because of adult choices.  The research supports the wearing of masks even if you don't believe in them.  If you don't believe, come to our schools, they are the best indication.  It's truly remarkable what our students and staff are doing in regards to wearing masks, social distancing and wearing face-shields just to be able to go to school and play. HHS averages less than a 1% positive rate on a daily basis out of 850 students.  None of the positive cases to date have been contact traced back to transmission at school.  That is the truth.

2.  We need data-based information to explain the rationale of delaying winter competitions until Jan. 15th if we would be limiting fans anyway.  The data needs to be more drilled down and more specific in regards to showing the effects of implementing such policies.  In other words, how do we know that these policies will mitigate the spread when there's no data to back up the hypothesis?  Implementing policies because of the recognition of the recent rapid deterioration of Kansas health evidenced by elevated positivity rates, the impact of other illnesses on top of COVID-19 in an overburdened health care system, and moving interscholastic activities indoors doesn't provide a clear cut rationale to propose the delays.  It is  understood that less events equals less exposure risk but again we would be limiting fans anyway to zero to begin with therefore eliminating the transmission possibilities.

3.  Hypothetically, extending the moratorium would put our students at a higher risk because they would be filling idle time by possibly going out and socializing in the community.  As per the KSHSAA rationale, the proposal would limit contact between coach/athlete/school but there's no data to support that being a problem area.  Our local data shows that schools are the safest places to be for kids other than their own homes.  As long as we are dealing in hypotheticals ...

4.  Schools have adopted and enforced more consistently the protocols that ensure safety during school and events compared to other entities in the state.  There have been numerous sports activities take place both indoors and outdoors since June 2020 i.e. MAYB, Wrestling, volleyball, football, etc.  As per the KSDE, sports related clusters have accounted for only 373 out of a total of 128,594 total cases to date in KS.  That's .03% of all the cases documented in the state.  Again, schools are the safest places to be other than homes.  Why shorten the seasons and risk having students explore other ways to fill their time that could put them and others at risk?

5.  If season competitions are limited to the numbers proposed, there is the possibility of losing even more games/events to teams being quarantined, cancellations, etc. which could possibly mean fewer competitions than the number proposed.  Why not start with a full season and play as many games as possible.  We learned during Fall that we can adjust and move on.  Allow the same for Winter sports.  Again, let schools do their jobs to ensure the safety of the students, staff and community members.

6.  Again, as long as we are dealing with hypotheticals, if restrictions are placed on HS seasons, there is also the possibility that we run the risk of losing student athletes to non-KSHSAA member schools, club teams, AAU teams, attrition/quitting etc. This happened during the Fall when students began to go to other states to try to play.  This would only be displacing the problem because athletes would possibly be competing in un-monitored events during this pandemic or again finding other ways to occupy their time in the community.

The rise in COVID numbers across the state and the country can't be denied and should be taken seriously.  But, the proposed measures that appear on the surface to possibly mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are hypothetical at best and not data based enough to justify limiting activities for our students. However, there is data to support continuing the current KSHSAA schedule as long as protocols are put in place that help mitigate the risk.

Lance Krannawitter is Hays USD 489 assistant principal and athletic director.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605800460625.png" alt="Lance Krannawitter, Hays USD 489 assistant principal and athletic director" />
 <figcaption>Lance Krannawitter, Hays USD 489 assistant principal and athletic director</figcaption>
 </figure>A vote was passed Wednesday by KSHSAA governing body in regards to delaying winter sports. The details of the proposal can be found <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/4e455f5c-7b6f-4808-a8e7-c1de145d8a8a">HERE</a>.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/KansasPregame/posts/4652176228188521?__cft__[0]=AZW7wA1P0gEkpijgOrOY-oliMwWHX_96YBHJ41F_PR3oPHB1M4-0gCUjr7ad5O9gQJ-4a7detz6GfNXtDW82da767RI3QzxgcMi6SWTp6leSVy6CoTFrgzgpYlVve8IlFlkBh5p69Lzuo2ZkNSdFFVkRk7Ybfpi-KNIFeJ7A-BEGFA&amp;__tn__=-UK-R"></a>I strongly urge everyone to consider the following as the KSHSAA votes on Tuesday, November 24th, to adopt or not to adopt these policies:1. We must promote the wearing of masks, washing hands, and social distancing as much as possible. Our students and athletes are bearing the brunt of this epidemic because of adult choices. The research supports the wearing of masks even if you don't believe in them. If you don't believe, come to our schools, they are the best indication. It's truly remarkable what our students and staff are doing in regards to wearing masks, social distancing and wearing face-shields just to be able to go to school and play. HHS averages less than a 1% positive rate on a daily basis out of 850 students. None of the positive cases to date have been contact traced back to transmission at school. That is the truth.2. We need data-based information to explain the rationale of delaying winter competitions until Jan. 15th if we would be limiting fans anyway. The data needs to be more drilled down and more specific in regards to showing the effects of implementing such policies. In other words, how do we know that these policies will mitigate the spread when there's no data to back up the hypothesis? Implementing policies because of the recognition of the recent rapid deterioration of Kansas health evidenced by elevated positivity rates, the impact of other illnesses on top of COVID-19 in an overburdened health care system, and moving interscholastic activities indoors doesn't provide a clear cut rationale to propose the delays. It is understood that less events equals less exposure risk but again we would be limiting fans anyway to zero to begin with therefore eliminating the transmission possibilities.3. Hypothetically, extending the moratorium would put our students at a higher risk because they would be filling idle time by possibly going out and socializing in the community. As per the KSHSAA rationale, the proposal would limit contact between coach/athlete/school but there's no data to support that being a problem area. Our local data shows that schools are the safest places to be for kids other than their own homes. As long as we are dealing in hypotheticals ...4. Schools have adopted and enforced more consistently the protocols that ensure safety during school and events compared to other entities in the state. There have been numerous sports activities take place both indoors and outdoors since June 2020 i.e. MAYB, Wrestling, volleyball, football, etc. As per the KSDE, sports related clusters have accounted for only 373 out of a total of 128,594 total cases to date in KS. That's .03% of all the cases documented in the state. Again, schools are the safest places to be other than homes. Why shorten the seasons and risk having students explore other ways to fill their time that could put them and others at risk?5. If season competitions are limited to the numbers proposed, there is the possibility of losing even more games/events to teams being quarantined, cancellations, etc. which could possibly mean fewer competitions than the number proposed. Why not start with a full season and play as many games as possible. We learned during Fall that we can adjust and move on. Allow the same for Winter sports. Again, let schools do their jobs to ensure the safety of the students, staff and community members.6. Again, as long as we are dealing with hypotheticals, if restrictions are placed on HS seasons, there is also the possibility that we run the risk of losing student athletes to non-KSHSAA member schools, club teams, AAU teams, attrition/quitting etc. This happened during the Fall when students began to go to other states to try to play. This would only be displacing the problem because athletes would possibly be competing in un-monitored events during this pandemic or again finding other ways to occupy their time in the community.The rise in COVID numbers across the state and the country can't be denied and should be taken seriously. But, the proposed measures that appear on the surface to possibly mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are hypothetical at best and not data based enough to justify limiting activities for our students. However, there is data to support continuing the current KSHSAA schedule as long as protocols are put in place that help mitigate the risk.Lance Krannawitter is Hays USD 489 assistant principal and athletic director.

OPINION: High school sports proposal not justified

Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicates students who hold down a job during college get higher grades than those who are not employed at least part time. Research conducted by SightLine also found that students working on campus were significantly more likely to remain in good academic standing and to stay enrolled. In fact, student employment is frequently one of the top five most important factors in predicting student success.

These are just some of the reasons why Fort Hays State University continues to invest in student employment. We also know that meaningful learning and engagement opportunities can help build career readiness, provide a “home-away-from-home” experience by creating a sense of belonging, and they can help with time management as working on campus offers an incredibly convenient work environment.

When I was a student, I worked at the campus grill (great way to meet people), provided administrative support for the theatre director (loved learning how to run a soundboard, lighting and especially running the spotlight) and got to put my basic research skills to action when the director of the cafeteria hired me to walk around the dining hall and survey students on their food service likes and dislikes.

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about student Hannah Dechant’s college experience as a freshman. In addition to loving her Learning Community experience, Hannah, an elementary education major from Goodland, also mentioned her on-campus job. “I work at the Fort Hays State University farm, and I love every second I am there. I have shown sheep for 13 years, so I have been around livestock for most of my life, but I am constantly learning more and more everyday while I am at work.” One of Hannah’s work experiences included helping insert and remove CIDRS (progesterone releasing implants) to synchronize the reproductive cycle for breeding does.

Honestly, I hadn’t thought about students having jobs on the university farm. So that got me curious about what other student employment opportunities exist.

Our agriculture student employees are also responsible for checking pregnant cows, using ultrasound to check pregnancy of sows and working on a feed experiment with nursery pigs. They also assist sows during the labor process, including learning how to pull pigs – definitely not the same thing as pulled pork.

Students are driving grain trucks, hauling milo to the elevator. Several student employees are learning how to halter break and gentle down calves while others have been washing, drying and working hair on the sale heifers. Honestly, I don’t even know what some of this means – but it sounds more exciting than my job at the campus grill.

We have numerous opportunities for students to engage in student academic support jobs, providing peer-to-peer assistance such as tutoring, assisting with writing, or even helping with grading, preparing class materials and monitoring labs.

Belle Finney, a junior chemistry major from Beloit, is an online tutor for general and organic chemistry, lab prep staffer and front-desk employee. Bryant Karlin, a senior biology major from Victoria, is a learning aide in the Human Cadaver Lab. He helps students with dissections and finding or identifying structures. He also maintains the lab space.

Student Makerspace assistants are printing skulls, trilobites and other artifacts for use by the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. Seth Colson, a Hoisington junior majoring In Applied Technology Studies, has been programming a NAO robot (humanoid) to remind people to wear masks on campus.

The Office of Global Partnerships (OGP) engages its student workers in unique experiences. Graduate student Xiao Sun (Lucia), a professional studies major from Xinzheng, China, helps translate curriculum and vital business documents from our Chinese partner schools. She also serves as an interpreter for administrators during face-to-face and Zoom meetings. Jadyn Snyder, a senior finance major from Lyons, assisted with the behind-the-scenes technical and marketing efforts for seven virtual summer camps for prospective students from China, Cameroon, Turkey and the Bahamas. She also assists with financial duties for the OGP.

Another area of student employment includes undergraduate research. I love the fact that, unlike many universities, our students get to participate in undergraduate research as early as their freshman year. These roles involve data analysis, literature reviews, practicing critical thinking and the scientific process as they evaluate results. Often, students present their research during poster sessions or at academic conferences.

Three students are working on a Laser Biophysics project in the FHSU Physics Department, the Air Force Research Lab and with a defense contractor. Their duties include research on laser effects on human tissue. Two other students are working in our Bat Molecular Biology Lab doing DNA analysis via Guano (bat droppings). I have been assured there is no direct handling of bats this year due to what is yet unknown about COVID transmissibility.

Cody Jiles, a junior physics major from Abilene, works with Dr. Gavin Buffington and lead-scientists at Virginia Tech to keep the SuperDARN radar (the field of antennas on the hill near the FHSU wind turbines) functioning at optimal levels. The knowledge gained from this research provides insight into space weather hazards, including radiation exposure for high-altitude travelers and disruption to GPS and electrical power grids.

An interesting job for student employees in the Department of Art and Design is helping Professor Toby Flores prepare the iron for iron pours and castings. According to Dean Paul Faber, this can require a couple of weeks of “stirring the pot” about once an hour to melt the scrap iron. &nbsp;

Campus programs, including Times Talks, Constitution Day, Voter Registration Day, Red Hand Day (protesting the impressing of children into military service) and Tiger Talkback are all managed by student employees together with volunteers.

That barely scratches the opportunity surface. We have student ambassadors, campus tour guides, Tiger Tots teacher assistants, Intramurals officials and coordinators, wellness center staff, students working in the Sternberg Museum Discovery Room, student athletic trainers, technology support staff and Tiger Media network producers and on-air talent. The list seems endless.

Fort Hays State believes deeply in investing in our students. Student employment maximizes university budgets and clearly produces a significant return on investment. Bottom line – on-campus student employment is a good business, delivering phenomenal value through unique and meaningful high-impact educational experiences.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575302014229.png" alt="Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president" />
 <figcaption>Dr. Tisa Mason, FHSU president</figcaption>
 </figure>Bureau of Labor Statistics data indicates students who hold down a job during college get higher grades than those who are not employed at least part time. Research conducted by SightLine also found that students working on campus were significantly more likely to remain in good academic standing and to stay enrolled. In fact, student employment is frequently one of the top five most important factors in predicting student success.These are just some of the reasons why Fort Hays State University continues to invest in student employment. We also know that meaningful learning and engagement opportunities can help build career readiness, provide a “home-away-from-home” experience by creating a sense of belonging, and they can help with time management as working on campus offers an incredibly convenient work environment.When I was a student, I worked at the campus grill (great way to meet people), provided administrative support for the theatre director (loved learning how to run a soundboard, lighting and especially running the spotlight) and got to put my basic research skills to action when the director of the cafeteria hired me to walk around the dining hall and survey students on their food service likes and dislikes.A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about student Hannah Dechant’s college experience as a freshman. In addition to loving her Learning Community experience, Hannah, an elementary education major from Goodland, also mentioned her on-campus job. “I work at the Fort Hays State University farm, and I love every second I am there. I have shown sheep for 13 years, so I have been around livestock for most of my life, but I am constantly learning more and more everyday while I am at work.” One of Hannah’s work experiences included helping insert and remove CIDRS (progesterone releasing implants) to synchronize the reproductive cycle for breeding does.Honestly, I hadn’t thought about students having jobs on the university farm. So that got me curious about what other student employment opportunities exist.Our agriculture student employees are also responsible for checking pregnant cows, using ultrasound to check pregnancy of sows and working on a feed experiment with nursery pigs. They also assist sows during the labor process, including learning how to pull pigs – definitely not the same thing as pulled pork.Students are driving grain trucks, hauling milo to the elevator. Several student employees are learning how to halter break and gentle down calves while others have been washing, drying and working hair on the sale heifers. Honestly, I don’t even know what some of this means – but it sounds more exciting than my job at the campus grill.We have numerous opportunities for students to engage in student academic support jobs, providing peer-to-peer assistance such as tutoring, assisting with writing, or even helping with grading, preparing class materials and monitoring labs.Belle Finney, a junior chemistry major from Beloit, is an online tutor for general and organic chemistry, lab prep staffer and front-desk employee. Bryant Karlin, a senior biology major from Victoria, is a learning aide in the Human Cadaver Lab. He helps students with dissections and finding or identifying structures. He also maintains the lab space.Student Makerspace assistants are printing skulls, trilobites and other artifacts for use by the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. Seth Colson, a Hoisington junior majoring In Applied Technology Studies, has been programming a NAO robot (humanoid) to remind people to wear masks on campus.The Office of Global Partnerships (OGP) engages its student workers in unique experiences. Graduate student Xiao Sun (Lucia), a professional studies major from Xinzheng, China, helps translate curriculum and vital business documents from our Chinese partner schools. She also serves as an interpreter for administrators during face-to-face and Zoom meetings. Jadyn Snyder, a senior finance major from Lyons, assisted with the behind-the-scenes technical and marketing efforts for seven virtual summer camps for prospective students from China, Cameroon, Turkey and the Bahamas. She also assists with financial duties for the OGP.Another area of student employment includes undergraduate research. I love the fact that, unlike many universities, our students get to participate in undergraduate research as early as their freshman year. These roles involve data analysis, literature reviews, practicing critical thinking and the scientific process as they evaluate results. Often, students present their research during poster sessions or at academic conferences.Three students are working on a Laser Biophysics project in the FHSU Physics Department, the Air Force Research Lab and with a defense contractor. Their duties include research on laser effects on human tissue. Two other students are working in our Bat Molecular Biology Lab doing DNA analysis via Guano (bat droppings). I have been assured there is no direct handling of bats this year due to what is yet unknown about COVID transmissibility.Cody Jiles, a junior physics major from Abilene, works with Dr. Gavin Buffington and lead-scientists at Virginia Tech to keep the SuperDARN radar (the field of antennas on the hill near the FHSU wind turbines) functioning at optimal levels. The knowledge gained from this research provides insight into space weather hazards, including radiation exposure for high-altitude travelers and disruption to GPS and electrical power grids.An interesting job for student employees in the Department of Art and Design is helping Professor Toby Flores prepare the iron for iron pours and castings. According to Dean Paul Faber, this can require a couple of weeks of “stirring the pot” about once an hour to melt the scrap iron. &nbsp;Campus programs, including Times Talks, Constitution Day, Voter Registration Day, Red Hand Day (protesting the impressing of children into military service) and Tiger Talkback are all managed by student employees together with volunteers.That barely scratches the opportunity surface. We have student ambassadors, campus tour guides, Tiger Tots teacher assistants, Intramurals officials and coordinators, wellness center staff, students working in the Sternberg Museum Discovery Room, student athletic trainers, technology support staff and Tiger Media network producers and on-air talent. The list seems endless.Fort Hays State believes deeply in investing in our students. Student employment maximizes university budgets and clearly produces a significant return on investment. Bottom line – on-campus student employment is a good business, delivering phenomenal value through unique and meaningful high-impact educational experiences.

MASON: On-the-job training for FHSU student workers

Locally sourced food has grown in popularity in recent years, leading some cow-calf producers to raise steer calves through the finishing phase rather than selling them at weaning. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“To hand-raise a steer from 700 pounds to 1,400 pounds, factoring in the purchase price of the animal, feed costs and processing expenses, the beef that you bring home is going to cost about $5 per pound,” said Bob Weaber, beef extension specialist. “It will never be as reasonably priced as what you can buy at the grocery store.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

However, for those who want the experience of hand-raising a steer as compared to selling it to a cattle feeder, the experts offer the following advice.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“You may want to find a bulk storage solution for feed because that will decrease your feed costs from buying it a bag at time,” said Brad White, veterinarian and BCI director. One option, he said, is a gravity wagon that allows producers to buy feed by the ton and carry it by the bucket to the steers that are being fed. &nbsp;&nbsp;

“A finishing feed will need to have quite a bit of grain in it. For many that local source will be corn but it will also need a high energy protein source like soybean meal, cottonseed meal or distiller’s grains,” he said. “Work with your local co-op or extension agent who can help you formulate the right ration for a growing steer.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

The main goal for steers hand fed between 700 pounds through the finishing phase is three pounds per day, Weaber said. “To make that goal, the calf needs to be fed six pounds of feed for one pound of gain so about 2.1 tons of feed during that phase,” Weaber said. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Along with the feed, he said the cattle need to eat hay to keep their rumen healthy. “The hay keeps the calves from going into an acidotic state with the high concentrate finishing feed,” Weaber said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Veterinarian Bob Larson explained how a severe case of acidosis can be toxic to cattle and offered suggestions on ways to keep that from happening.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“You need to acclimate the cattle to a changing diet over several weeks where you are increasing the high grain concentrate and decreasing the hay. Otherwise some cattle will overeat the grain and that can have very serious consequences,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The timing of the feed delivery is also important.&nbsp;&nbsp;

“Feeding them at the same time each day helps the rumen PH balance,” said Weaber, who recommends feeding twice a day, 12 hours apart. If a morning feeding is missed, he said it is better to skip that feeding rather than feeding twice in a shorter time period.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Locally sourced food has grown in popularity in recent years, leading some cow-calf producers to raise steer calves through the finishing phase rather than selling them at weaning. &nbsp;&nbsp;“To hand-raise a steer from 700 pounds to 1,400 pounds, factoring in the purchase price of the animal, feed costs and processing expenses, the beef that you bring home is going to cost about $5 per pound,” said Bob Weaber, beef extension specialist. “It will never be as reasonably priced as what you can buy at the grocery store.”&nbsp;&nbsp;However, for those who want the experience of hand-raising a steer as compared to selling it to a cattle feeder, the experts offer the following advice.&nbsp;&nbsp;“You may want to find a bulk storage solution for feed because that will decrease your feed costs from buying it a bag at time,” said Brad White, veterinarian and BCI director. One option, he said, is a gravity wagon that allows producers to buy feed by the ton and carry it by the bucket to the steers that are being fed. &nbsp;&nbsp;“A finishing feed will need to have quite a bit of grain in it. For many that local source will be corn but it will also need a high energy protein source like soybean meal, cottonseed meal or distiller’s grains,” he said. “Work with your local co-op or extension agent who can help you formulate the right ration for a growing steer.”&nbsp;&nbsp;The main goal for steers hand fed between 700 pounds through the finishing phase is three pounds per day, Weaber said. “To make that goal, the calf needs to be fed six pounds of feed for one pound of gain so about 2.1 tons of feed during that phase,” Weaber said. &nbsp;&nbsp;Along with the feed, he said the cattle need to eat hay to keep their rumen healthy. “The hay keeps the calves from going into an acidotic state with the high concentrate finishing feed,” Weaber said.&nbsp;&nbsp;Veterinarian Bob Larson explained how a severe case of acidosis can be toxic to cattle and offered suggestions on ways to keep that from happening.&nbsp;&nbsp;“You need to acclimate the cattle to a changing diet over several weeks where you are increasing the high grain concentrate and decreasing the hay. Otherwise some cattle will overeat the grain and that can have very serious consequences,” he said.&nbsp;&nbsp;The timing of the feed delivery is also important.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Feeding them at the same time each day helps the rumen PH balance,” said Weaber, who recommends feeding twice a day, 12 hours apart. If a morning feeding is missed, he said it is better to skip that feeding rather than feeding twice in a shorter time period.&nbsp;&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:aboor@ksu.edu">aboor@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;or calling 620-793-1910&nbsp;

BOOR: A closer look at locally sourced food

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau

Harvest is winding down or already completed. Cattle are turned out on winter pasture. And I’m sure some have already selected their turkey for Thanksgiving. Yes, the end of 2020 is approaching fast — thankfully, mercifully.

Like the previous 101 years, this one won’t end without Kansas Farm Bureau’s annual meeting. Normally we’d gather hundreds of members in person to celebrate another harvest, recognize agricultural leaders and conduct the business of this great organization.

We’ll still do all that good stuff at our 102nd annual meeting Dec. 3-4, with the slight change of beaming the workshops, speakers, panel discussions, general sessions and more to your living room, tractor cab or barn.

The virtual sessions on Thursday and Friday will allow all Farm Bureau members in Kansas to participate for free, including Vance Crowe’s keynote address to lead off the meeting Thursday morning. Members can view the annual meeting agenda and register at www.kfb.org/annualmeeting. 

Other highlights include an appearance from U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, an update from Andrew Walmsley on American Farm Bureau Activities in Washington, D.C. and a townhall with our newly elected federal officials.

Additionally, there’s time set aside for networking, chatting about sessions and providing feedback. It’s similar to what would happen in the hallways and around meals at a regular convention.

I won’t try to sell you on the notion technology will fully replicate the KFB annual meeting experience because it can’t. However, like so many other things this year, it’s the safest way for members and staff to mark the trials and tribulations of 2020 and honor the achievements of agriculture and its practitioners.

Believe me, I know social distancing, mask wearing, avoiding public spaces have become tiresome chores. But we’re getting closer to the end of this malignancy. Just last week promising news of a vaccine was announced. Others are in the works as well. With the aid of science, hopefully this will be the first and last annual meeting held over computer screens.

The fact is right now, there’s no good way to bring hundreds of people together from every corner of the state and have them gather together for an extended amount of time. Significant modifications have been made to allow delegates to conduct KFB business when they gather on Saturday.

Voting delegates will debate and adopt policy statements for 2021, elect the KFB president and board members from even-numbered Farm Bureau districts. Delegates will attend in-person at one of the 10 hubs corresponding to their district. Attendance on Saturday is limited to KFB staff and voting delegates. These will be small groups with masks and plenty of space to spread out.

The logistics behind this year’s annual meeting are mind boggling, and I’ve been impressed with how many solutions, as imperfect as they may be, are available to help connect everyone at a distance. The show will go on with or without you, but I strongly urge you to take a look at the agenda, register and make plans to join us. There’s so much to see, learn and do, I know you’ll find something to grab your attention. I hope to see you there. And, of course, as with every other virtual event this year, pants are optional.

"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.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="Greg Doering" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm BureauHarvest is winding down or already completed. Cattle are turned out on winter pasture. And I’m sure some have already selected their turkey for Thanksgiving. Yes, the end of 2020 is approaching fast — thankfully, mercifully.Like the previous 101 years, this one won’t end without Kansas Farm Bureau’s annual meeting. Normally we’d gather hundreds of members in person to celebrate another harvest, recognize agricultural leaders and conduct the business of this great organization.We’ll still do all that good stuff at our 102nd annual meeting Dec. 3-4, with the slight change of beaming the workshops, speakers, panel discussions, general sessions and more to your living room, tractor cab or barn.The virtual sessions on Thursday and Friday will allow all Farm Bureau members in Kansas to participate for free, including Vance Crowe’s keynote address to lead off the meeting Thursday morning. Members can view the annual meeting agenda and register at www.kfb.org/annualmeeting. Other highlights include an appearance from U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, an update from Andrew Walmsley on American Farm Bureau Activities in Washington, D.C. and a townhall with our newly elected federal officials.Additionally, there’s time set aside for networking, chatting about sessions and providing feedback. It’s similar to what would happen in the hallways and around meals at a regular convention.I won’t try to sell you on the notion technology will fully replicate the KFB annual meeting experience because it can’t. However, like so many other things this year, it’s the safest way for members and staff to mark the trials and tribulations of 2020 and honor the achievements of agriculture and its practitioners.Believe me, I know social distancing, mask wearing, avoiding public spaces have become tiresome chores. But we’re getting closer to the end of this malignancy. Just last week promising news of a vaccine was announced. Others are in the works as well. With the aid of science, hopefully this will be the first and last annual meeting held over computer screens.The fact is right now, there’s no good way to bring hundreds of people together from every corner of the state and have them gather together for an extended amount of time. Significant modifications have been made to allow delegates to conduct KFB business when they gather on Saturday.Voting delegates will debate and adopt policy statements for 2021, elect the KFB president and board members from even-numbered Farm Bureau districts. Delegates will attend in-person at one of the 10 hubs corresponding to their district. Attendance on Saturday is limited to KFB staff and voting delegates. These will be small groups with masks and plenty of space to spread out.The logistics behind this year’s annual meeting are mind boggling, and I’ve been impressed with how many solutions, as imperfect as they may be, are available to help connect everyone at a distance. The show will go on with or without you, but I strongly urge you to take a look at the agenda, register and make plans to join us. There’s so much to see, learn and do, I know you’ll find something to grab your attention. I hope to see you there. And, of course, as with every other virtual event this year, pants are optional."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.

Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: The show goes on

Ages ago when I wore a much younger man's clothes, I heated my home with wood. Cutting firewood is hard on the back but was always enjoyable to me, and I’ve had some interesting experiences whilst collecting my winter’s fuel, to include smashing the windshield out of my dad’s pickup with an errantly tossed chunk of hard hedge wood.&nbsp;

When I was still in my late twenties, my dad and I got permission to cut dead trees from a patch of Ohio woods that sat well off the road at the end of a long, hilly, winding tractor path. We spent a day cutting and dragging several trees into the alfalfa field that bordered the woods. The following Saturday we again wound our way up the rutted tractor path, looking forward to a rewarding day of simply cutting-up and hauling the now easily-accessible wood. All that greeted us as we entered the field were dozens of neat little rows of sawdust, the only evidence left after someone had cut up and made-off with all our firewood.

A few years later, I found a good-sized uprooted tree in the small woodlot I owned. The hole left in the ground beneath the roots was the size of a Volkswagen and three feet deep. With the tree already flat on the ground, I cut all the limbs and dragged them out of my way, then with the main trunk ready to chunk-up, I started cutting at the upper end and worked my way toward the giant root ball. I hadn’t made it very far when something happened to the saw, requiring a tool that was still at the house. I started to set the saw in the crater beneath the roots, but for some reason changed my mind and placed it on the ground a few feet away. 

When I returned with the tool, I thought I had stepped through a worm-hole into another dimension or something, cause the downed-tree and the saw were both gone. I wondered around in circles and finally stumbled onto the saw on the ground, but where was the uprooted tree? It took me awhile to realize that removing all the limbs and cutting off the upper part of the tree had allowed the weight of the root ball to stand the remaining trunk of the tree back upright into the crater. Good thing I decided against putting my saw there; even better that I hadn’t sat down in there for a nap!

The granddaddy of all firewood mishaps took place on a dreary fall Saturday while cutting down a huge dead wild cherry tree that stood just across the driveway from our house. My firewood cutting skills were the stuff of legends…. once I got a tree on the ground, but putting it there without catastrophe often eluded me. 

I clambered as high into the behemoth as I could get and encircled the trunk with a log chain, then attached an old hay rope salvaged from the barn and ran it yards out into the open field where dad sat waiting on the trusty Farmall H. Cutting was a slow process with a chainsaw barely half the length of the tree’s diameter, but a notch was soon cut toward the open field. As I cut on the other side, I motioned for dad to put tension on the rope and chain. The tree began to list slightly, so I cut a bit further then stepped back to watch our prize topple into the open field. However, the sound of cracking wood was drowned out by the sound of snapping rope fibers as the old hay rope gave up the ghost. 

Half a year’s firewood teetered and wobbled for a few seconds before crashing the opposite direction across the drive and onto the power lines, putting the whole neighborhood out of power, during an Ohio State football game no less, which was akin to loosing power at the nursing home during Wheel of Fortune. The neighbor’s anger was matched only by the power company guys who had to come out on a Saturday. It seems our firewood heated the entire neighborhood that day…continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.

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>Ages ago when I wore a much younger man's clothes, I heated my home with wood. Cutting firewood is hard on the back but was always enjoyable to me, and I’ve had some interesting experiences whilst collecting my winter’s fuel, to include smashing the windshield out of my dad’s pickup with an errantly tossed chunk of hard hedge wood.&nbsp;When I was still in my late twenties, my dad and I got permission to cut dead trees from a patch of Ohio woods that sat well off the road at the end of a long, hilly, winding tractor path. We spent a day cutting and dragging several trees into the alfalfa field that bordered the woods. The following Saturday we again wound our way up the rutted tractor path, looking forward to a rewarding day of simply cutting-up and hauling the now easily-accessible wood. All that greeted us as we entered the field were dozens of neat little rows of sawdust, the only evidence left after someone had cut up and made-off with all our firewood.A few years later, I found a good-sized uprooted tree in the small woodlot I owned. The hole left in the ground beneath the roots was the size of a Volkswagen and three feet deep. With the tree already flat on the ground, I cut all the limbs and dragged them out of my way, then with the main trunk ready to chunk-up, I started cutting at the upper end and worked my way toward the giant root ball. I hadn’t made it very far when something happened to the saw, requiring a tool that was still at the house. I started to set the saw in the crater beneath the roots, but for some reason changed my mind and placed it on the ground a few feet away. When I returned with the tool, I thought I had stepped through a worm-hole into another dimension or something, cause the downed-tree and the saw were both gone. I wondered around in circles and finally stumbled onto the saw on the ground, but where was the uprooted tree? It took me awhile to realize that removing all the limbs and cutting off the upper part of the tree had allowed the weight of the root ball to stand the remaining trunk of the tree back upright into the crater. Good thing I decided against putting my saw there; even better that I hadn’t sat down in there for a nap!The granddaddy of all firewood mishaps took place on a dreary fall Saturday while cutting down a huge dead wild cherry tree that stood just across the driveway from our house. My firewood cutting skills were the stuff of legends…. once I got a tree on the ground, but putting it there without catastrophe often eluded me. I clambered as high into the behemoth as I could get and encircled the trunk with a log chain, then attached an old hay rope salvaged from the barn and ran it yards out into the open field where dad sat waiting on the trusty Farmall H. Cutting was a slow process with a chainsaw barely half the length of the tree’s diameter, but a notch was soon cut toward the open field. As I cut on the other side, I motioned for dad to put tension on the rope and chain. The tree began to list slightly, so I cut a bit further then stepped back to watch our prize topple into the open field. However, the sound of cracking wood was drowned out by the sound of snapping rope fibers as the old hay rope gave up the ghost. Half a year’s firewood teetered and wobbled for a few seconds before crashing the opposite direction across the drive and onto the power lines, putting the whole neighborhood out of power, during an Ohio State football game no less, which was akin to loosing power at the nursing home during Wheel of Fortune. The neighbor’s anger was matched only by the power company guys who had to come out on a Saturday. It seems our firewood heated the entire neighborhood that day…continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Exploring Outdoors Kansas: Firewood follies

By TOM BELL Kansas Hospital Association (retired)

We just finished (for the 
most part) an election that was not only held in the middle of a 
once-in-a-generation pandemic, but one in which that pandemic was a 
major political issue. Unlike the political commercials, however, the 
pandemic didn’t go away after the election.

Nevertheless, the 
conclusion of the election does provide us the opportunity to refocus, 
remove the politics and actually move forward to manage, and ultimately 
defeat, this virus.

To push ahead, though, we have to change our focus and acknowledge that strong federal leadership is needed.

For the most part 
throughout this struggle, President Donald Trump has indicated he wanted
 the governors to be “running things.” Granted, there was a time when he
 claimed “total authority” regarding restrictions governors may have put
 in place, but generally the federal government has wanted the buck to 
stop at the state level.

To the extent any federal 
leadership has existed, it’s been at best disengaged, voicing support 
for protective measures out of one side of its mouth while through 
actions demonstrating little interest in such measures. At its worst, 
federal “leadership” has been destructive. For example, instead of 
supporting frontline health workers, the leader of the federal 
government has, on numerous occasions, falsely accused them of <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/02/kansas-academy-rejects-trump-claim-physicians-profiting-from-covid-19-deaths/">inflating COVID death numbers</a>.

Due at least in part to this lack of federal leadership, we are now at a place where parts of our health care system are <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/06/hospitals-near-breaking-point-as-covid-19-patients-multiply/">in danger of being overwhelmed</a>; where personal protective equipment is once again in short supply and where states are back to competing with each other for <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/10/kdhe-kansas-hospitals-prefer-to-surge-covid-19-capacity-without-erecting-tent-cities/">scarce resources</a>.

My general belief is that 
because state government is closer to the problem and how it impacts 
individuals, the state is often better equipped to deal with a given 
problem. While there is some truth to that here, the crisis that is this
 pandemic literally cries out for federal leadership.

This virus doesn’t 
acknowledge state boundaries. It doesn’t really care whether a state is 
mostly rural or urban or somewhere in between. And it certainly pays no 
mind to what party comprises the state Legislature or sits in the 
governor’s office.

The reality is that states
 don’t have agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 with both the knowledge and the resources to recognize and respond to 
health security threats in an organized way. Neither do states have an 
organization like FEMA, whose literal mission is to prepare the nation
 for disasters. Moreover, states don’t have anything like the U.S. Food 
and Drug Administration, which we all depend on to ensure the quality 
and safety of therapeutics and vaccines. Finally, when you look at the 
amount of resources states like Kansas have compared to New York or 
California, leaving the states to fend for themselves is not only 
impractical, it is unfair.

I’m not arguing for a 
top-down, one-size-fits-all approach. Differences from state to state 
must be recognized and embraced. I’m also not suggesting that a stronger
 federal leadership role is a panacea — it is not.

I am arguing, however, 
that in this instance the federal government is uniquely suited for a 
strong leadership role and that the abandonment of that role has not 
served us well.

We have lots of work to do
 before we are through with the pandemic. The sooner the federal 
government reclaims its proper role in this effort the better.

Tom Bell of Topeka recently retired from the Kansas Hospital Association, where he worked for more than 30 years, serving roughly half that time as president and CEO. Prior to his work with KHA, Bell was a practicing health care attorney. He is a native Kansan from Holton, and graduated from Kansas State University and Washburn University School of Law. After graduation from law school, Bell clerked for Kansas Supreme Court Justice Harold Herd. Earlier this year, Bell was appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly to the Executive Committee of the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce, which is responsible for oversight of the statewide distribution of CARES Act funding related to COVID relief. He is also a board member of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.

<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/17/to-defeat-covid-19-kansas-needs-strong-federal-leadership/">Republished courtesy the Kansas Reflector</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605631487449.jpeg" alt="Tom Bell,&nbsp;Kansas Hospital Association" />
 <figcaption>Tom Bell,&nbsp;Kansas Hospital Association</figcaption>
 </figure>By TOM BELL Kansas Hospital Association (retired)We just finished (for the 
most part) an election that was not only held in the middle of a 
once-in-a-generation pandemic, but one in which that pandemic was a 
major political issue. Unlike the political commercials, however, the 
pandemic didn’t go away after the election.Nevertheless, the 
conclusion of the election does provide us the opportunity to refocus, 
remove the politics and actually move forward to manage, and ultimately 
defeat, this virus.To push ahead, though, we have to change our focus and acknowledge that strong federal leadership is needed.For the most part 
throughout this struggle, President Donald Trump has indicated he wanted
 the governors to be “running things.” Granted, there was a time when he
 claimed “total authority” regarding restrictions governors may have put
 in place, but generally the federal government has wanted the buck to 
stop at the state level.To the extent any federal 
leadership has existed, it’s been at best disengaged, voicing support 
for protective measures out of one side of its mouth while through 
actions demonstrating little interest in such measures. At its worst, 
federal “leadership” has been destructive. For example, instead of 
supporting frontline health workers, the leader of the federal 
government has, on numerous occasions, falsely accused them of <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/02/kansas-academy-rejects-trump-claim-physicians-profiting-from-covid-19-deaths/">inflating COVID death numbers</a>.Due at least in part to this lack of federal leadership, we are now at a place where parts of our health care system are <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/06/hospitals-near-breaking-point-as-covid-19-patients-multiply/">in danger of being overwhelmed</a>; where personal protective equipment is once again in short supply and where states are back to competing with each other for <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/10/kdhe-kansas-hospitals-prefer-to-surge-covid-19-capacity-without-erecting-tent-cities/">scarce resources</a>.My general belief is that 
because state government is closer to the problem and how it impacts 
individuals, the state is often better equipped to deal with a given 
problem. While there is some truth to that here, the crisis that is this
 pandemic literally cries out for federal leadership.This virus doesn’t 
acknowledge state boundaries. It doesn’t really care whether a state is 
mostly rural or urban or somewhere in between. And it certainly pays no 
mind to what party comprises the state Legislature or sits in the 
governor’s office.The reality is that states
 don’t have agencies like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 with both the knowledge and the resources to recognize and respond to 
health security threats in an organized way. Neither do states have an 
organization like FEMA, whose literal mission is to prepare the nation
 for disasters. Moreover, states don’t have anything like the U.S. Food 
and Drug Administration, which we all depend on to ensure the quality 
and safety of therapeutics and vaccines. Finally, when you look at the 
amount of resources states like Kansas have compared to New York or 
California, leaving the states to fend for themselves is not only 
impractical, it is unfair.I’m not arguing for a 
top-down, one-size-fits-all approach. Differences from state to state 
must be recognized and embraced. I’m also not suggesting that a stronger
 federal leadership role is a panacea — it is not.I am arguing, however, 
that in this instance the federal government is uniquely suited for a 
strong leadership role and that the abandonment of that role has not 
served us well.We have lots of work to do
 before we are through with the pandemic. The sooner the federal 
government reclaims its proper role in this effort the better.Tom Bell of Topeka recently retired from the Kansas Hospital Association, where he worked for more than 30 years, serving roughly half that time as president and CEO. Prior to his work with KHA, Bell was a practicing health care attorney. He is a native Kansan from Holton, and graduated from Kansas State University and Washburn University School of Law. After graduation from law school, Bell clerked for Kansas Supreme Court Justice Harold Herd. Earlier this year, Bell was appointed by Gov. Laura Kelly to the Executive Committee of the Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas (SPARK) Taskforce, which is responsible for oversight of the statewide distribution of CARES Act funding related to COVID relief. He is also a board member of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/11/17/to-defeat-covid-19-kansas-needs-strong-federal-leadership/">Republished courtesy the Kansas Reflector</a>

OPINION: To defeat COVID-19, Kansas needs strong federal leadership

Skittish investors selling off oil futures late last week because of rising Covid numbers are back with the bulls on Monday on news of another vaccine breakthrough. This is the second time in just over a week that Coronavirus vaccine reports turned around crude-oil price trajectories. Futures prices were up more than three percent by midday Monday. The Nymex benchmark futures contract gained $1.36 to $41.49 per barrel. London Brent rose to $44.13, a gain of $1.35 per barrel. CHS in McPherson dropped its prices 75 cents per barrel on Friday. Kansas Common starts the week at $30.50 per barrel. That's down from $48 per barrel a year ago, but it's three dollars more than a week ago and $4.50 more than at the first of the month.&nbsp; The Rig Count in Kansas was unchanged last week according to Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service. There are seven active rigs east of Wichita, and 11 in Western Kansas. Drilling is underway on a lease in Barton County and another in Ellis County. Operators are about to spud new wells in Barton and Stafford counties. Baker Hughes reports 312 active drilling rigs across the U.S., including ten oil rigs and two seeking natural gas. The count in Texas is up six for the week, while New Mexico was up three. Regulators approved 14 new drilling permits last week, seven in eastern Kansas and seven west of Wichita.&nbsp; Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports operators completed nine new wells last week, which brings the total to 728 newly completed wells so far this year. There were eight in Western Kansas, including one in Ellis County. There was one completion in eastern Kansas. The government last week said domestic crude-oil stockpiles increased by more than four million barrels to more than 488 million barrels. That's about six percent above the five-year seasonal average. The Energy Information Administration said crude production in the U.S. increased last week to more than ten and a half million barrels per day. That's an increase of 51,000 barrels per day over the week before, but more than two million barrels per day behind the figures from a year ago.&nbsp; EIA says U.S. crude imports increased by nearly half a million barrels per day last week to five and a half million barrels per day. The four-week average is down more than 12 percent from a year ago.&nbsp; Crude storage at Cushing ticked upward again last week. The government reports stockpiles stored at the Oklahoma hub have now reached 77% of capacity. Oil-by-rail traffic in the U.S. is up for the week, but down more than 17% from a year ago according to weekly reports from the Association of American Railroads. A final vote is scheduled later this week for Colorado regulators hoping to ban the venting or flaring of natural gas at well sites. The new rules would also include requirements that the industry assess the cumulative impact of drilling on a local and statewide scale. The new regs would prohibit the routine burning or releasing of natural gas at oil well sites. Alaska is the only other state that bans such releases. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission plans a final vote on Friday. The state energy regulator in Texas is taking steps to reduce the flaring and venting of natural gas produced by oil wells, but not in the way environmentalists had hoped. The Railroad Commission of Texas is making changes to the form needed to apply for exceptions to the state's flaring rules. They're requiring more details to justify the exception, reducing the amount of time allowed for obtaining such an exception, and providing incentives for use of new technology.&nbsp; The government says global fuel consumption dropped by nearly six million barrels per day last month compared to a year earlier, but consumption was higher than the second- and third-quarter averages. EIA now predicts Brent crude prices will remain near $40 per barrel for the rest of the year, but then will rise to $47 a barrel next year.&nbsp; President-elect Joe Biden’s campaign promise to phase out oil could lead fairly quickly to the demise of at least two controversial pipeline projects. The Wall Street Journal suggests the election "probably" signals the end of the long-delayed Keystone XL oil pipeline and threatens the future of Dakota Access, another major crude conduit.&nbsp; Crude production in Libya continues to rise, topping 1.24 million barrels per day over the weekend, according to Reuters. That's up 200,000 barrels per day from the totals reported Nov. 7. The OPEC member's crude output was almost entirely cut off by a civil war and blockade earlier this year. Soil cleanup with oil-eating worms? A headline from a Russian study indicates just that. But, technically, it's the animals within the animals consuming spilled oil and cleaning the soil. The author of the study says they are using parasitic nematodes as a way to deliver marine bacteria, which consume and break down petroleum products into fatty acids. Cenovus Energy will acquire Husky Energy for $2.9 billion in stock. The deal will combine operations and for total output of about 750,000 barrels per day of oil and gas. The expanded Cenovus would be the third-largest Canadian producer after Canadian Natural Resources and Suncor Energy. S&amp;P Global Platts reports the company will keep the Cenovus name and its headquarters in Calgary, Alberta.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592847975802.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBARSkittish investors selling off oil futures late last week because of rising Covid numbers are back with the bulls on Monday on news of another vaccine breakthrough. This is the second time in just over a week that Coronavirus vaccine reports turned around crude-oil price trajectories. Futures prices were up more than three percent by midday Monday. The Nymex benchmark futures contract gained $1.36 to $41.49 per barrel. London Brent rose to $44.13, a gain of $1.35 per barrel. CHS in McPherson dropped its prices 75 cents per barrel on Friday. Kansas Common starts the week at $30.50 per barrel. That's down from $48 per barrel a year ago, but it's three dollars more than a week ago and $4.50 more than at the first of the month.&nbsp; The Rig Count in Kansas was unchanged last week according to Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service. There are seven active rigs east of Wichita, and 11 in Western Kansas. Drilling is underway on a lease in Barton County and another in Ellis County. Operators are about to spud new wells in Barton and Stafford counties. Baker Hughes reports 312 active drilling rigs across the U.S., including ten oil rigs and two seeking natural gas. The count in Texas is up six for the week, while New Mexico was up three. Regulators approved 14 new drilling permits last week, seven in eastern Kansas and seven west of Wichita.&nbsp; Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports operators completed nine new wells last week, which brings the total to 728 newly completed wells so far this year. There were eight in Western Kansas, including one in Ellis County. There was one completion in eastern Kansas. The government last week said domestic crude-oil stockpiles increased by more than four million barrels to more than 488 million barrels. That's about six percent above the five-year seasonal average. The Energy Information Administration said crude production in the U.S. increased last week to more than ten and a half million barrels per day. That's an increase of 51,000 barrels per day over the week before, but more than two million barrels per day behind the figures from a year ago.&nbsp; EIA says U.S. crude imports increased by nearly half a million barrels per day last week to five and a half million barrels per day. The four-week average is down more than 12 percent from a year ago.&nbsp; Crude storage at Cushing ticked upward again last week. The government reports stockpiles stored at the Oklahoma hub have now reached 77% of capacity. Oil-by-rail traffic in the U.S. is up for the week, but down more than 17% from a year ago according to weekly reports from the Association of American Railroads. A final vote is scheduled later this week for Colorado regulators hoping to ban the venting or flaring of natural gas at well sites. The new rules would also include requirements that the industry assess the cumulative impact of drilling on a local and statewide scale. The new regs would prohibit the routine burning or releasing of natural gas at oil well sites. Alaska is the only other state that bans such releases. The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission plans a final vote on Friday. The state energy regulator in Texas is taking steps to reduce the flaring and venting of natural gas produced by oil wells, but not in the way environmentalists had hoped. The Railroad Commission of Texas is making changes to the form needed to apply for exceptions to the state's flaring rules. They're requiring more details to justify the exception, reducing the amount of time allowed for obtaining such an exception, and providing incentives for use of new technology.&nbsp; The government says global fuel consumption dropped by nearly six million barrels per day last month compared to a year earlier, but consumption was higher than the second- and third-quarter averages. EIA now predicts Brent crude prices will remain near $40 per barrel for the rest of the year, but then will rise to $47 a barrel next year.&nbsp; President-elect Joe Biden’s campaign promise to phase out oil could lead fairly quickly to the demise of at least two controversial pipeline projects. The Wall Street Journal suggests the election "probably" signals the end of the long-delayed Keystone XL oil pipeline and threatens the future of Dakota Access, another major crude conduit.&nbsp; Crude production in Libya continues to rise, topping 1.24 million barrels per day over the weekend, according to Reuters. That's up 200,000 barrels per day from the totals reported Nov. 7. The OPEC member's crude output was almost entirely cut off by a civil war and blockade earlier this year. Soil cleanup with oil-eating worms? A headline from a Russian study indicates just that. But, technically, it's the animals within the animals consuming spilled oil and cleaning the soil. The author of the study says they are using parasitic nematodes as a way to deliver marine bacteria, which consume and break down petroleum products into fatty acids. Cenovus Energy will acquire Husky Energy for $2.9 billion in stock. The deal will combine operations and for total output of about 750,000 barrels per day of oil and gas. The expanded Cenovus would be the third-largest Canadian producer after Canadian Natural Resources and Suncor Energy. S&amp;P Global Platts reports the company will keep the Cenovus name and its headquarters in Calgary, Alberta.

News From the Oil Patch: Prices reverse course again

Spending time together as a family is so important for building togetherness and communication skills. Some of us are thinking we have had enough “togetherness” during the last eight months? &nbsp;

I know several families have decided they are not traveling for the holiday weekend or it will be very small gatherings. It might be a good time to make some specific plans for some fun things to do with your family.&nbsp;

My favorite spot to have a family gathering is in the kitchen.&nbsp; As children master new skills, they are eager to help in the kitchen. Their interest can provide enjoyable time while teaching nutrition and health.&nbsp;

Remind everyone to wash their hands with soap and water for a full 20 seconds before and after handling food. Clean the cabinets and make sure all the utensils and bowls are also clean. This is a great time to teach about cleaning up after yourself!

Obviously younger children need to be supervised with hot pans and knives but this is a great teaching opportunity. Try these easy projects with your children:

Encouraging children to help in the kitchen can offer a lot of pluses. They will most likely be more likely to eat the foods they help to prepare and they will be more aware of how much work it is to prepare food and then clean up after the food is prepared.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1588274071306.jpeg" alt="Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Berny Unruh is Family and Community Wellness agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Spending time together as a family is so important for building togetherness and communication skills. Some of us are thinking we have had enough “togetherness” during the last eight months? &nbsp;I know several families have decided they are not traveling for the holiday weekend or it will be very small gatherings. It might be a good time to make some specific plans for some fun things to do with your family.&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Go for a walk, a bike ride or find some other form of exercise</li><li>Plan meals for an entire week, make a grocery list, and then make the meals.&nbsp;</li><li>If the weather allows, plan an outdoor family meal.</li><li>Find a hobby the whole family can enjoy. It may be building a model or watching a video to learn a new skill.&nbsp;</li><li>Play a board game that allows members to talk and share. Charades or a Pictionary type game can have the entire family laughing until their belly hurts!&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>My favorite spot to have a family gathering is in the kitchen.&nbsp; As children master new skills, they are eager to help in the kitchen. Their interest can provide enjoyable time while teaching nutrition and health.&nbsp;Remind everyone to wash their hands with soap and water for a full 20 seconds before and after handling food. Clean the cabinets and make sure all the utensils and bowls are also clean. This is a great time to teach about cleaning up after yourself!Obviously younger children need to be supervised with hot pans and knives but this is a great teaching opportunity. Try these easy projects with your children:<ul>
 <li>Make personal pizzas. Use a can of refrigerated biscuits. Roll the biscuits slightly to flatten them; spread with sauce and your favorite toppings, such as chopped ham, cheese or pineapple.&nbsp;</li><li>Create a favorite smoothie. My favorite is strawberries, a small can of crushed pineapple and a banana. Add ice to make it a frosty, icy mixture.&nbsp;</li><li>Provide pretzels, raisins, crackers and a favorite spread like peanut butter or hazelnut spread to see who can create the most amazing turkey.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Encouraging children to help in the kitchen can offer a lot of pluses. They will most likely be more likely to eat the foods they help to prepare and they will be more aware of how much work it is to prepare food and then clean up after the food is prepared.&nbsp;	Berny Unruh is the Family and Community Wellness Agent for the Cottonwood Extension District.&nbsp; She can be reached at 785-628-9430 or at <a href="mailto:bunruh@ksu.edu">bunruh@ksu.edu</a>

UNRUH: Quality family time

When do our First Amendment rights become “wrongs?”

Well, when it comes to exercising your rights of free speech, 
assembly and petition in Tennessee, be careful. Setting up a up a tent 
for an overnight stay during a protest could land you in prison for up 
to six years.

A new law signed quietly into effect on Nov. 5 by Gov. Bill Lee
 changes the “crime” of overnight camping on state property without a 
permit — aimed at deterring protesters who have done that — from a 
misdemeanor to the much more serious felony. It also provides for 
stricter penalties and minimum jail terms for such clear threats to the 
republic as drawing in chalk on state property or interrupting 
legislators or local officials who are in a meeting.

In recent years, police have resorted to “sweeps” during 
demonstrations that operate on the theory of “arrest all and sort them 
out later,” sometimes taking into custody non-protesters simply walking 
to lunch or shopping. The Volunteer State’s new anti-protest law — 
advocates call it “criminal justice reform” — requires a magistrate’s 
intervention to gain early release for anyone sooner than a mandatory 
12-hour minimum stay behind bars.

A move in states to silence public protest began about a decade ago, 
around the time of the “Occupy” movement. The latest Tennessee statute 
was sparked by demonstrators who set up camp in Nashville’s War Memorial
 Plaza for nearly two months this year while seeking removal of a bust 
of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, first leader the Ku Klux Klan, from the state Capitol building.

By some reports, as many as 40 states have considered or adopted 
direct or backdoor attempts modeled on a draft law prepared by a 
conservative alliance of legislators and corporations to restrain public
 protest. Some proposals include providing legal immunity for motorists 
who — essentially absent a declaration of intent to injure or kill — 
strike demonstrators standing in a public thoroughfare.

Some proposed laws have been deemed outright to be unconstitutional 
for targeting certain groups or simply for being too broad or too vague.
 But government officials can enact lawful restrictions on “time, place 
and manner” in how we protest. If upheld by the courts, such laws can 
reasonably limit the hours and locations of public demonstrations or 
individual protests, the size of signs or the number of people who can 
gather in public spaces or on sidewalks.

Such laws nonetheless can chill free speech in ways seemingly distant
 from the 45 words of the First Amendment. Being convicted of a felony 
also may mean forfeiting the rights to vote, carry a gun or obtain a 
professional license and negatively can affect your ability to get a job
 or obtain a mortgage.

In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently proposed not 
only felony charges on protestors, but also penalties on cities and 
towns deemed not to be taking appropriate law and order measures in 
response to demonstrations. If enacted – and if the provisions survive 
court challenge – Florida would have the harshest anti-protest laws in 
the nation.

DeSantis’ proposal, to be considered when the legislature meets in 
March, includes felony charges for obstructing traffic during an 
“unauthorized” protest or for toppling a monument; an initial “no bail” 
provision for those arrested during a demonstration, and a mandatory 
six-month jail term for anyone who strikes a law enforcement officer 
during a protest. Anyone who organizes or simply donates money to 
protesters would risk penalties under the state’s racketeering laws.

Tennessee’s chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said that 
the new law “requiring 12-hour holds upon arrest, putting in place 
mandatory minimums and enhancing petty crimes to felony-level offenses …
 will send a message loud and clear that Tennessee is no place to 
exercise your constitutional rights if state or local government 
entities disagree with you.” An op-ed writer in the Memphis Commercial Appeal
 noted in August about the then-proposal that “In George Orwell’s novel 
‘1984,’ the state transforms all manner of innocuous activities into the
 most serious crimes … because in totalitarian societies, any deviation 
from even the smallest part of the system is perceived as a threat to 
the system as a whole.”

U.S. Supreme Court decisions stretching back more than 140 years have
 upheld our rights to assemble and petition. In 1937, the US. Supreme 
Court ruled unanimously in De Jonge v. Oregon that that the right to 
peaceably assemble “for lawful discussion, however unpopular the 
sponsorship, cannot be made a crime.” And in 1939 the court held in 
Hague v. Committee for Industrial Organization that streets and parks “ …
 have immemorially been held in trust for the use of the public and, 
time out of mind, have been used for purposes of assembly, communicating
 thoughts between citizens and discussing public questions.”

Ten years later, Justice William O. Douglas, in 
Terminiello v. City of Chicago, wrote that free speech is intended to “ …
 invite dispute. It may indeed best serve its high purpose when it 
induces a condition of unrest, creates dissatisfaction with conditions 
as they are, or even stirs people to anger … It may strike at prejudices
 and preconceptions and have profound unsettling effects as it presses 
for acceptance of an idea.”

More recent court rulings echo Douglas in acknowledgement that 
protest is inherently disruptive, may well be offensive or cause anguish
 to some, but is protected because of a need for “robust” public 
discussion around public policy and practices.

Yes, democracy is messy — and public demonstrations at times may well
 inconvenience, insult or infuriate you and me. But legislative acts 
designed to restrain, remove or chill our rights to protest are not just
 unconstitutional, but also unpatriotic.

As James Madison, author of the First Amendment, 
once observed about the new nation: “The censorial power is in the 
people over the government, and not in the government over the people.”

Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the
 Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom
 Forum Institute. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:gpolicinski@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">gpolicinski@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow him on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/@genefac" target="_blank">@genefac</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1593729871227.png" alt="Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute. " />
 <figcaption>Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom Forum Institute. </figcaption>
 </figure>When do our First Amendment rights become “wrongs?”Well, when it comes to exercising your rights of free speech, 
assembly and petition in Tennessee, be careful. Setting up a up a tent 
for an overnight stay during a protest could land you in prison for up 
to six years.A new law signed quietly into effect on Nov. 5 by Gov. Bill Lee
 changes the “crime” of overnight camping on state property without a 
permit — aimed at deterring protesters who have done that — from a 
misdemeanor to the much more serious felony. It also provides for 
stricter penalties and minimum jail terms for such clear threats to the 
republic as drawing in chalk on state property or interrupting 
legislators or local officials who are in a meeting.In recent years, police have resorted to “sweeps” during 
demonstrations that operate on the theory of “arrest all and sort them 
out later,” sometimes taking into custody non-protesters simply walking 
to lunch or shopping. The Volunteer State’s new anti-protest law — 
advocates call it “criminal justice reform” — requires a magistrate’s 
intervention to gain early release for anyone sooner than a mandatory 
12-hour minimum stay behind bars.A move in states to silence public protest began about a decade ago, 
around the time of the “Occupy” movement. The latest Tennessee statute 
was sparked by demonstrators who set up camp in Nashville’s War Memorial
 Plaza for nearly two months this year while seeking removal of a bust 
of Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest, first leader the Ku Klux Klan, from the state Capitol building.By some reports, as many as 40 states have considered or adopted 
direct or backdoor attempts modeled on a draft law prepared by a 
conservative alliance of legislators and corporations to restrain public
 protest. Some proposals include providing legal immunity for motorists 
who — essentially absent a declaration of intent to injure or kill — 
strike demonstrators standing in a public thoroughfare.Some proposed laws have been deemed outright to be unconstitutional 
for targeting certain groups or simply for being too broad or too vague.
 But government officials can enact lawful restrictions on “time, place 
and manner” in how we protest. If upheld by the courts, such laws can 
reasonably limit the hours and locations of public demonstrations or 
individual protests, the size of signs or the number of people who can 
gather in public spaces or on sidewalks.Such laws nonetheless can chill free speech in ways seemingly distant
 from the 45 words of the First Amendment. Being convicted of a felony 
also may mean forfeiting the rights to vote, carry a gun or obtain a 
professional license and negatively can affect your ability to get a job
 or obtain a mortgage.In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently proposed not 
only felony charges on protestors, but also penalties on cities and 
towns deemed not to be taking appropriate law and order measures in 
response to demonstrations. If enacted – and if the provisions survive 
court challenge – Florida would have the harshest anti-protest laws in 
the nation.DeSantis’ proposal, to be considered when the legislature meets in 
March, includes felony charges for obstructing traffic during an 
“unauthorized” protest or for toppling a monument; an initial “no bail” 
provision for those arrested during a demonstration, and a mandatory 
six-month jail term for anyone who strikes a law enforcement officer 
during a protest. Anyone who organizes or simply donates money to 
protesters would risk penalties under the state’s racketeering laws.Tennessee’s chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union said that 
the new law “requiring 12-hour holds upon arrest, putting in place 
mandatory minimums and enhancing petty crimes to felony-level offenses …
 will send a message loud and clear that Tennessee is no place to 
exercise your constitutional rights if state or local government 
entities disagree with you.” An op-ed writer in the Memphis Commercial Appeal
 noted in August about the then-proposal that “In George Orwell’s novel 
‘1984,’ the state transforms all manner of innocuous activities into the
 most serious crimes … because in totalitarian societies, any deviation 
from even the smallest part of the system is perceived as a threat to 
the system as a whole.”U.S. Supreme Court decisions stretching back more than 140 years have
 upheld our rights to assemble and petition. In 1937, the US. Supreme 
Court ruled unanimously in De Jonge v. Oregon that that the right to 
peaceably assemble “for lawful discussion, however unpopular the 
sponsorship, cannot be made a crime.” And in 1939 the court held in 
Hague v. Committee for Industrial Organization that streets and parks “ …
 have immemorially been held in trust for the use of the public and, 
time out of mind, have been used for purposes of assembly, communicating
 thoughts between citizens and discussing public questions.”Ten years later, Justice William O. Douglas, in 
Terminiello v. City of Chicago, wrote that free speech is intended to “ …
 invite dispute. It may indeed best serve its high purpose when it 
induces a condition of unrest, creates dissatisfaction with conditions 
as they are, or even stirs people to anger … It may strike at prejudices
 and preconceptions and have profound unsettling effects as it presses 
for acceptance of an idea.”More recent court rulings echo Douglas in acknowledgement that 
protest is inherently disruptive, may well be offensive or cause anguish
 to some, but is protected because of a need for “robust” public 
discussion around public policy and practices.Yes, democracy is messy — and public demonstrations at times may well
 inconvenience, insult or infuriate you and me. But legislative acts 
designed to restrain, remove or chill our rights to protest are not just
 unconstitutional, but also unpatriotic.As James Madison, author of the First Amendment, 
once observed about the new nation: “The censorial power is in the 
people over the government, and not in the government over the people.”Gene Policinski is a senior fellow for the First Amendment at the
 Freedom Forum, and president and chief operating officer of the Freedom
 Forum Institute. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:gpolicinski@freedomforum.org" target="_blank">gpolicinski@freedomforum.org</a>, or follow him on Twitter at&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/@genefac" target="_blank">@genefac</a>.

FIRST FIVE: We cannot allow First Amendment rights to become ‘wrongs’

By DAVID JORDAN <a href="https://healthfund.org/a/">United Methodist Health Ministry Fund</a>

A strong health system is critical to thriving rural communities and the health of rural Kansans. Even before COVID-19 began <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/21/nortons-covid-19-infection-rate-highest-ever-recorded-in-kansas/">surging in rural Kansas</a>,
 it was becoming more difficult to sustain health care services in a 
changing Kansas, where the rural health system is starved of resources 
with limited opportunity to innovate.

Significant shifts in 
population make maintaining health care and other important services in 
rural communities more tenuous each year. The &nbsp;2018 Kansas Health 
Foundation Report, <a href="https://kansashealth.org/2018/06/12/ks-demo-report/">“A Changing Kansas: Implications for Health and Communities</a>,”
 outlined dramatic double digit declines in population in rural Kansas 
between 1960 and 2016. Similar depopulation is projected for the state’s
 rural counties through 2066. Additionally, our rural communities are 
aging, with <a href="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/KS/AGE775219">16.3% &nbsp;of the population of Kansas age 65</a> and over.

One positive trend is that
 Kansas, including its rural communities, is becoming increasingly 
diverse. The only population growth in Kansas this century came from a 
52.5% increase in the minority population (any group other than 
non-Hispanic White). This trend makes it critically important that 
Kansas addresses longstanding racial and ethnic disparities in health, 
poverty rates and educational attainment.

The <a href="https://www.khi.org/assets/uploads/news/15048/20-39_adults_county_peer_group_2.pdf">high rate of rural Kansans without health insurance</a>
 is another challenge. Fewer people with health insurance means that 
hospitals are serving a greater proportion of patients who are unable to
 pay all or part of their bill. In addition, rural hospitals’ bottom 
lines have suffered as care shifts from the inpatient to the outpatient 
setting. Since 2010, five rural hospitals have closed and 73% of the 
hospitals in the state are operating at a loss.

Longstanding health care workforce shortages throughout rural Kansas also present a challenge to delivering care.

Kansas needs strong policy
 changes to address the challenges. We must think big, aim to be bold, 
and center equity in the work to improve the health of rural Kansans.&nbsp; 
Here are three things policymakers should consider:

Kansas must expand Medicaid. <a href="http://expandkancare.com/resources/">Expanding Medicaid</a>
 will cut the number of uninsured adults in half, address disparities 
and improve health. This budget positive policy solution will bring 
hundreds of millions of our tax dollars back to Kansas annually and 
create a payment mechanism to protect rural providers’ bottom lines.&nbsp; 
Expansion will also create thousands of rural jobs and offer employment 
opportunities to some of the young people who now leave rural Kansas.

Kansas needs to reimagine the health care workforce. Recruiting
 providers — especially culturally competent ones who meet the social, 
cultural and linguistic needs of patients — to rural Kansas is 
difficult. Other rural states have addressed workforce shortages by 
changing licensing and credentialing policies to make better use of 
providers such as physician’s assistants and <a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2019/06/19/dental-therapy-seen-as-a-best-practice-for-boosting-access-to-care">dental therapists</a> as part of doctor led teams. Adding culturally competent providers such as <a href="https://www.marc.org/Community/KC-Communities-for-All-Ages/PDFs/AP17-CHW-PowerPoint.aspx">community health workers</a>
 to Kansas’ workforce can help patients navigate the health system. Such
 changes will allow Kansas to grow our own workforce. Changes to 
licensing and credentialing policies will be met with resistance but 
experience from other states shows that these changes work.

Kansas, and the federal government, needs to embrace innovation in care delivery and payment.
 Current payment models are stifling innovation. Fee-for-service payment
 requires providers to see high volumes of patients in person. The 
COVID-19 pandemic has led to a loosening of these rules and an expansion
 of telehealth. Sustaining these changes post-pandemic, particularly 
expanding telehealth, is one way to embrace innovation.

In rural communities, 
hospitals are tied to a financing model that limits opportunities to 
deliver care in ways that best meet the needs of each community. 
Loosening critical access hospital rules would benefit rural Kansas by 
allowing the Kansas Hospital Association to pilot the <a href="https://kha-net.org/Advocacy/USCongress/FederalLegislation/d149655.aspx?type=view">Primary Health Center Model</a>
 they developed to offer a sustainable option to provide preventive and 
primary care, chronic disease management and emergency services.

We also know that health is more than health care. <a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20190701.764626/full/">Other states are exploring using Medicaid dollars</a>
 to address the social determinants of health — hunger, housing, 
transportation and early childhood education. Piloting this approach in 
rural Kansas can improve long-term health and reduce costs.

Having healthy residents 
and a sustainable health care system is critical to the vitality and 
viability of our rural communities.

Now, more than ever, <a href="https://www.communityconversationsks.com/">we need to be working towards the future of health</a>
 in our rural communities — a future that ensures all rural Kansans have
 access to care, uses rural residents as members of culturally competent
 health care teams, and innovates based on the needs of communities.

We cannot afford to lose time or another rural hospital. The future of rural Kansas is a stake.

David Jordan is the President of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, a health philanthropy focused on improving the health of Kansans. Before joining the Health Fund, David served as the executive director of the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, a coalition of more than 100 organizations working to improve access to health care in Kansas. He has more than 20 years of experience leading state and national efforts focused on changing policy to improve health and reduce disparities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605394398252.png" alt="Downtown Oberlin, Kansas, where the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund held a community conversation on the future of rural health in early March. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector) " />
 <figcaption>Downtown Oberlin, Kansas, where the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund held a community conversation on the future of rural health in early March. (Submitted to Kansas Reflector) </figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVID JORDAN <a href="https://healthfund.org/a/">United Methodist Health Ministry Fund</a> A strong health system is critical to thriving rural communities and the health of rural Kansans. Even before COVID-19 began <a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2020/10/21/nortons-covid-19-infection-rate-highest-ever-recorded-in-kansas/">surging in rural Kansas</a>,
 it was becoming more difficult to sustain health care services in a 
changing Kansas, where the rural health system is starved of resources 
with limited opportunity to innovate.Significant shifts in 
population make maintaining health care and other important services in 
rural communities more tenuous each year. The &nbsp;2018 Kansas Health 
Foundation Report, <a href="https://kansashealth.org/2018/06/12/ks-demo-report/">“A Changing Kansas: Implications for Health and Communities</a>,”
 outlined dramatic double digit declines in population in rural Kansas 
between 1960 and 2016. Similar depopulation is projected for the state’s
 rural counties through 2066. Additionally, our rural communities are 
aging, with <a href="https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/KS/AGE775219">16.3% &nbsp;of the population of Kansas age 65</a> and over.One positive trend is that
 Kansas, including its rural communities, is becoming increasingly 
diverse. The only population growth in Kansas this century came from a 
52.5% increase in the minority population (any group other than 
non-Hispanic White). This trend makes it critically important that 
Kansas addresses longstanding racial and ethnic disparities in health, 
poverty rates and educational attainment.The <a href="https://www.khi.org/assets/uploads/news/15048/20-39_adults_county_peer_group_2.pdf">high rate of rural Kansans without health insurance</a>
 is another challenge. Fewer people with health insurance means that 
hospitals are serving a greater proportion of patients who are unable to
 pay all or part of their bill. In addition, rural hospitals’ bottom 
lines have suffered as care shifts from the inpatient to the outpatient 
setting. Since 2010, five rural hospitals have closed and 73% of the 
hospitals in the state are operating at a loss.Longstanding health care workforce shortages throughout rural Kansas also present a challenge to delivering care.Kansas needs strong policy
 changes to address the challenges. We must think big, aim to be bold, 
and center equity in the work to improve the health of rural Kansans.&nbsp; 
Here are three things policymakers should consider:Kansas must expand Medicaid. <a href="http://expandkancare.com/resources/">Expanding Medicaid</a>
 will cut the number of uninsured adults in half, address disparities 
and improve health. This budget positive policy solution will bring 
hundreds of millions of our tax dollars back to Kansas annually and 
create a payment mechanism to protect rural providers’ bottom lines.&nbsp; 
Expansion will also create thousands of rural jobs and offer employment 
opportunities to some of the young people who now leave rural Kansas.Kansas needs to reimagine the health care workforce. Recruiting
 providers — especially culturally competent ones who meet the social, 
cultural and linguistic needs of patients — to rural Kansas is 
difficult. Other rural states have addressed workforce shortages by 
changing licensing and credentialing policies to make better use of 
providers such as physician’s assistants and <a href="https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/articles/2019/06/19/dental-therapy-seen-as-a-best-practice-for-boosting-access-to-care">dental therapists</a> as part of doctor led teams. Adding culturally competent providers such as <a href="https://www.marc.org/Community/KC-Communities-for-All-Ages/PDFs/AP17-CHW-PowerPoint.aspx">community health workers</a>
 to Kansas’ workforce can help patients navigate the health system. Such
 changes will allow Kansas to grow our own workforce. Changes to 
licensing and credentialing policies will be met with resistance but 
experience from other states shows that these changes work.Kansas, and the federal government, needs to embrace innovation in care delivery and payment.
 Current payment models are stifling innovation. Fee-for-service payment
 requires providers to see high volumes of patients in person. The 
COVID-19 pandemic has led to a loosening of these rules and an expansion
 of telehealth. Sustaining these changes post-pandemic, particularly 
expanding telehealth, is one way to embrace innovation.In rural communities, 
hospitals are tied to a financing model that limits opportunities to 
deliver care in ways that best meet the needs of each community. 
Loosening critical access hospital rules would benefit rural Kansas by 
allowing the Kansas Hospital Association to pilot the <a href="https://kha-net.org/Advocacy/USCongress/FederalLegislation/d149655.aspx?type=view">Primary Health Center Model</a>
 they developed to offer a sustainable option to provide preventive and 
primary care, chronic disease management and emergency services.We also know that health is more than health care. <a href="https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20190701.764626/full/">Other states are exploring using Medicaid dollars</a>
 to address the social determinants of health — hunger, housing, 
transportation and early childhood education. Piloting this approach in 
rural Kansas can improve long-term health and reduce costs.Having healthy residents 
and a sustainable health care system is critical to the vitality and 
viability of our rural communities.Now, more than ever, <a href="https://www.communityconversationsks.com/">we need to be working towards the future of health</a>
 in our rural communities — a future that ensures all rural Kansans have
 access to care, uses rural residents as members of culturally competent
 health care teams, and innovates based on the needs of communities.We cannot afford to lose time or another rural hospital. The future of rural Kansas is a stake.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605394525016.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>David Jordan is the President of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, a health philanthropy focused on improving the health of Kansans. Before joining the Health Fund, David served as the executive director of the Alliance for a Healthy Kansas, a coalition of more than 100 organizations working to improve access to health care in Kansas. He has more than 20 years of experience leading state and national efforts focused on changing policy to improve health and reduce disparities.

OPINION: Three things to make rural Kansas communities healthier

Covid is surging across Kansas. Over 1,200 Kansans have died. Hospitals are strained. Some Americans are experiencing second infections, threatening the herd immunity dream.

Many of us are just surviving. Knowing Covid is serious. Often wearing masks when out, whether government says to or not. Wanting schools open. Maybe attending church. Trying to see friends. But knowing the risks.

Many of us live in hopelessly divided realities. For some, Covid is an emergency and masks are required. For others, Covid is exaggerated, and masks are avoided and perhaps offensive.

Many of us fight over masks as a political symbol, pretending that government can actually force one on you. It can’t. We fight anyway.

Governor Laura Kelly issued a mask mandate in July. The Republican legislature overruled her. Power then fell on county governments, and most rejected mask requirements.

Politics elsewhere hasn’t always played out similarly.

Conservative Republican governors in Wyoming, Utah, Alabama, Ohio, and West Virginia have mandated masks, sometimes with fines.

In Georgia, Texas, and Florida, conservatives have centralized power in state government to block local control and keep counties from passing or enforcing local mask ordinances.

But generally, many of us are fighting over the idea that government can somehow make people wear masks.

One side says mask mandates are good, and can reduce infections if everyone complies.

Mandate supporters often overestimate enforcement and willingness to comply. In communities with mask mandates, police, health departments, businesses, and sometimes even schools don’t enforce them. Enforcement is often mythical.

One side says mask mandates are bad. This side is divided, however, between those who believe that masks should just be optional and those who are actually anti-mask.

Mandate opponents exaggerate the power of government to force compliance. As if Governor Kelly will ticket you herself for going maskless and tape one on your face. As if real enforcement exists.

Both stories are oversimplified talking points.

First, a statewide mask mandate isn’t realistically happening in Kansas. The debate is politically moot.

Second, short of vaccines or better treatments, stopping Covid is on us as citizens. Sure, government can factor into that—school and bar closures, testing availability, encouraging masks.

But government isn’t going to put a mask on you. Realistically, government isn’t going to punish you for going maskless. Government isn’t going to stop you from partying, eating out, or attending church.

Government cannot control you, despite scary arguments from politicians or paid political operatives. No matter what government says in any “mandate,” wearing a mask is your choice. Choosing businesses based on their mask enforcement is your choice. Your health is your choice. It always was.

The mandate isn’t the point. Your choices are the point.

Of course, that freedom means that we will continue to live in our separate, alienated realities.

Kansans who religiously wear masks and avoid businesses that don’t require them are free to continue. Mask opponents can’t control them.

Kansans who avoid masks and businesses that require them are free to continue. Mask supporters can’t control them.

Kansans who are just trying to survive this mess while politics fights over symbolism—you get to keep it up. Hopefully avoiding Covid. Hopefully not seeing masks as political statements. Hopefully rising above distorted political fantasies. Hopefully finding social support to thrive and be healthy, even if you’re ultimately on your own to protect yourself.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1593101597372.png" alt="Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas." />
 <figcaption>Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.</figcaption>
 </figure>Covid is surging across Kansas. Over 1,200 Kansans have died. Hospitals are strained. Some Americans are experiencing second infections, threatening the herd immunity dream.Many of us are just surviving. Knowing Covid is serious. Often wearing masks when out, whether government says to or not. Wanting schools open. Maybe attending church. Trying to see friends. But knowing the risks.Many of us live in hopelessly divided realities. For some, Covid is an emergency and masks are required. For others, Covid is exaggerated, and masks are avoided and perhaps offensive.Many of us fight over masks as a political symbol, pretending that government can actually force one on you. It can’t. We fight anyway.Governor Laura Kelly issued a mask mandate in July. The Republican legislature overruled her. Power then fell on county governments, and most rejected mask requirements.Politics elsewhere hasn’t always played out similarly.Conservative Republican governors in Wyoming, Utah, Alabama, Ohio, and West Virginia have mandated masks, sometimes with fines.In Georgia, Texas, and Florida, conservatives have centralized power in state government to block local control and keep counties from passing or enforcing local mask ordinances.But generally, many of us are fighting over the idea that government can somehow make people wear masks.One side says mask mandates are good, and can reduce infections if everyone complies.Mandate supporters often overestimate enforcement and willingness to comply. In communities with mask mandates, police, health departments, businesses, and sometimes even schools don’t enforce them. Enforcement is often mythical.One side says mask mandates are bad. This side is divided, however, between those who believe that masks should just be optional and those who are actually anti-mask.Mandate opponents exaggerate the power of government to force compliance. As if Governor Kelly will ticket you herself for going maskless and tape one on your face. As if real enforcement exists.Both stories are oversimplified talking points.First, a statewide mask mandate isn’t realistically happening in Kansas. The debate is politically moot.Second, short of vaccines or better treatments, stopping Covid is on us as citizens. Sure, government can factor into that—school and bar closures, testing availability, encouraging masks.But government isn’t going to put a mask on you. Realistically, government isn’t going to punish you for going maskless. Government isn’t going to stop you from partying, eating out, or attending church.Government cannot control you, despite scary arguments from politicians or paid political operatives. No matter what government says in any “mandate,” wearing a mask is your choice. Choosing businesses based on their mask enforcement is your choice. Your health is your choice. It always was.The mandate isn’t the point. Your choices are the point.Of course, that freedom means that we will continue to live in our separate, alienated realities.Kansans who religiously wear masks and avoid businesses that don’t require them are free to continue. Mask opponents can’t control them.Kansans who avoid masks and businesses that require them are free to continue. Mask supporters can’t control them.Kansans who are just trying to survive this mess while politics fights over symbolism—you get to keep it up. Hopefully avoiding Covid. Hopefully not seeing masks as political statements. Hopefully rising above distorted political fantasies. Hopefully finding social support to thrive and be healthy, even if you’re ultimately on your own to protect yourself.Patrick R. Miller is an Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.

INSIGHT KANSAS: Symbolic political fights over masks miss the point

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

Bingo! That’s a fun game that many people love to play. Today, we’ll meet a creative community foundation that used bingo and other projects to support its community during the pandemic.&nbsp;

Tara Vance is executive director of the Norton County Community Foundation. A Stockton native and Fort Hays State grad, she became director of the Norton Chamber of Commerce. In 2012, she was asked to serve as part-time director of the community foundation as well.&nbsp;

The more she learned about the importance of local philanthropy, the more committed she became to the community foundation. “I’ve developed a passion for it,” she said.&nbsp;

Scott Sproul, director of the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center Inc., was Norton County economic development director at the time. “He was a great mentor to me,” Tara said. “We saw that the private donor world would be essential (for our community) if tax dollars aren’t there someday.”&nbsp;

Today, Tara is the full-time director of the Norton County Community Foundation which has grown to $2 million in assets. The Dane G. Hansen Foundation in Logan has been strong partner of Norton and other community foundations in northwest Kansas.&nbsp;

One major asset is the Heaton Building in downtown Norton. This historic, remodeled building is owned by the community foundation and houses 16 different tenants.&nbsp;

Another key foundation project is called Secure Sebelius Lake. This lake provides water recreation opportunities but was at risk from drawdown. The community foundation raised funds to match the state’s spending to compensate irrigators for maintaining a certain water level in the lake. “This arrangement has been good for the community, good for the irrigators, and good for the state,” Tara said.&nbsp;

The Norton County Community Foundation annually offers various scholarships and grants for local projects.&nbsp;

Then the pandemic hit. Shutdown orders occurred. Tara looked for a positive community activity and found a business in another county that was doing a bingo game. She decided to adapt the idea for Norton County. “One of our donors sent in $10,000 and said, ‘Do something good with it,’” Tara said.&nbsp;

With help from a graphic designer at Nex-Tech, the rural broadband company, they developed an online game called NorCoBingo to support Norton County businesses.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Nex-Tech is an amazing community partner,” Tara said. They designed a bingo card with various activities that could be done in the county.&nbsp;

These included a range of things from “Plant Flowers or Vegetables” and “Buy a Gift Card from a Business closed to the Public” to “Take a Selfie in Front of Your Favorite Building” and “Make Cards for Nursing Home Residents.”&nbsp;

Other options included “Drive Around Town and Wave at 3 People,” “Perform a Random Act of Kindness,” “Use an Online Service at Norton Public Library,” and “Send a Card or Note to an Essential Worker.”&nbsp;

Outdoor activities in the county were another option, such as “Go Fishing at Prairie Dog State Park” and “Go Explore Lenora Lake,” which is near the rural community of Lenora, population 250 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

People were encouraged to fill out the bingo cards and turn them in, complete with pictures of them doing the activities. A daily drawing was held among those who submitted completed bingo cards. Three winners each day got gift certificates of $100 in chamber bucks. This project got people involved in doing good deeds as well as enjoying elements of the community.&nbsp;

In the end, more than 135 bingo submissions were received and more than $9,000 was spent at 26 businesses in Norton. When Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas made a statewide request for examples of positive responses to the pandemic, the Norton County Community Foundation was awarded another $10,000.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605103419261.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;Bingo! That’s a fun game that many people love to play. Today, we’ll meet a creative community foundation that used bingo and other projects to support its community during the pandemic.&nbsp;Tara Vance is executive director of the Norton County Community Foundation. A Stockton native and Fort Hays State grad, she became director of the Norton Chamber of Commerce. In 2012, she was asked to serve as part-time director of the community foundation as well.&nbsp;The more she learned about the importance of local philanthropy, the more committed she became to the community foundation. “I’ve developed a passion for it,” she said.&nbsp;Scott Sproul, director of the Northwest Kansas Economic Innovation Center Inc., was Norton County economic development director at the time. “He was a great mentor to me,” Tara said. “We saw that the private donor world would be essential (for our community) if tax dollars aren’t there someday.”&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/11/1605107143728.png" alt="Tara Vance / Norton County Community Foundation" />
 <figcaption>Tara Vance / Norton County Community Foundation</figcaption>
 </figure>Today, Tara is the full-time director of the Norton County Community Foundation which has grown to $2 million in assets. The Dane G. Hansen Foundation in Logan has been strong partner of Norton and other community foundations in northwest Kansas.&nbsp;One major asset is the Heaton Building in downtown Norton. This historic, remodeled building is owned by the community foundation and houses 16 different tenants.&nbsp;Another key foundation project is called Secure Sebelius Lake. This lake provides water recreation opportunities but was at risk from drawdown. The community foundation raised funds to match the state’s spending to compensate irrigators for maintaining a certain water level in the lake. “This arrangement has been good for the community, good for the irrigators, and good for the state,” Tara said.&nbsp;The Norton County Community Foundation annually offers various scholarships and grants for local projects.&nbsp;Then the pandemic hit. Shutdown orders occurred. Tara looked for a positive community activity and found a business in another county that was doing a bingo game. She decided to adapt the idea for Norton County. “One of our donors sent in $10,000 and said, ‘Do something good with it,’” Tara said.&nbsp;With help from a graphic designer at Nex-Tech, the rural broadband company, they developed an online game called NorCoBingo to support Norton County businesses.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Nex-Tech is an amazing community partner,” Tara said. They designed a bingo card with various activities that could be done in the county.&nbsp;These included a range of things from “Plant Flowers or Vegetables” and “Buy a Gift Card from a Business closed to the Public” to “Take a Selfie in Front of Your Favorite Building” and “Make Cards for Nursing Home Residents.”&nbsp;Other options included “Drive Around Town and Wave at 3 People,” “Perform a Random Act of Kindness,” “Use an Online Service at Norton Public Library,” and “Send a Card or Note to an Essential Worker.”&nbsp;Outdoor activities in the county were another option, such as “Go Fishing at Prairie Dog State Park” and “Go Explore Lenora Lake,” which is near the rural community of Lenora, population 250 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;People were encouraged to fill out the bingo cards and turn them in, complete with pictures of them doing the activities. A daily drawing was held among those who submitted completed bingo cards. Three winners each day got gift certificates of $100 in chamber bucks. This project got people involved in doing good deeds as well as enjoying elements of the community.&nbsp;In the end, more than 135 bingo submissions were received and more than $9,000 was spent at 26 businesses in Norton. When Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas made a statewide request for examples of positive responses to the pandemic, the Norton County Community Foundation was awarded another $10,000.&nbsp;For more information on the foundation, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.nortonccf.org/">www.nortonccf.org</a>.&nbsp;When a former Commerce Deputy Secretary was told of the varied activities in which the Norton County Community Foundation was involved, she was surprised. “But you’re making a difference,” she said.&nbsp;So where, across the state of Kansas, could I find a community foundation which is doing exceptionally creative things for its community? I look at Norton County and I say, “Bingo!”&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Opinion