The League of Women Voters of Great Bend-Barton County is planning a Candidate Forum for Thursday, July 21 from 6:30 p.m. -8 p.m. at the Great Bend Senior Center at 2005 Kansas Avenue.

League members are preparing questions to ask those running in contested races for County Commissioners for Districts, 1, 4 and 5.&nbsp; 

Candidates are encouraged to send their bio and picture to the local Chamber of Commerce to be posted on their events webpage. 

The public is welcome to attend this event and learn more about the candidates' views on issues important to the people in our county.

Candidate forum to hear from Barton Co. Commission hopefuls 

By CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2022-06-21/how-satellite-guided-cows-might-save-the-kansas-prairie-and-make-ranchers-more-money">Kansas News Service</a>

STRONG CITY, Kan. — Third-generation rancher Daniel Mushrush has 30-plus miles of barbed wire fence to tend to.

Calves
 wriggle beneath it. The wires get loose. Wild animals take a toll. And 
when streams surge after storms, rushing water often snaps sections in 
two.

For Mushrush and his family, the fence-mending on their Flint Hills ranch never ends. It’s inescapable.

“Fencing is right up there with death and taxes,” the third-generation cattle rancher said.

But
 this year, his cattle sport new GPS collars intended to make 
traditional fences not quite obsolete, but less important. About the 
size of an iPhone and twice as thick, the collars offer a high-tech take
 on the kind of familiar invisible fences that homeowners install for 
dogs.

Mushrush joined a Nature Conservancy project that brings 
together ranchers, scientists and conservation experts in Kansas, 
Colorado and New Mexico.

Their work is part of a flurry of recent studies into the tech world’s fledgling virtual fence industry.

Mushrush’s Red Angus cattle will help researchers learn whether the devices can save
 ranchers money and simultaneously help ailing bird populations, reduce 
water pollution and increase the resilience and diversity of grasslands.

Biologists
 from Kansas State University will help study the effects of a project 
that could prove a model bridge between conservationists and Flint Hills
 ranchers.

The agriculture and conservation fields often stand at 
odds, but they also share some common ground in their appreciation of 
the nation’s last significant stretches of unplowed tallgrass prairie.

“If
 I’m going to own Flint Hills grass, there’s a moral obligation to treat
 it like it’s sacred,” Mushrush said. “Because it is. There’s not very 
much left.”

Still, paying his bills comes first. Protecting wildlife, such as the disappearing greater prairie chicken, comes second.

“Is
 it as important as me making my mortgage payment? Obviously not,” he 
said. “Because (prairie chickens) can’t take this ranch, like the bank 
still could.”

The Mushrush ranch is home to 
between 800 and a couple thousand cattle, depending on the time of year.
 The family owns or leases about 15,000 acres.

Seen on a map, the ranch is shaped something like Africa. Fencing, meanwhile, cuts across it in straight lines.

“That’s where it was drawn out 100 years ago,” Mushrush said. “That’s where the fence is yet today.”

Those
 rigid lines are blind to the curvy contours that shape this land — 
flat-topped hills, rocky ledges and snake-like, meandering streams.

Yet when it comes to grazing, the contours matter. They effectively funnel cattle toward some areas and away from others.

And
 when the herd consistently opts, say, to lounge along a creek, the 
damage can add up. The cattle can chomp and stomp the same areas too 
much, tearing up the banks and filling the stream with nitrogen from 
their manure.

Mushrush decided to try the GPS collars. His barbed 
wire fences just aren’t where he needs them, making it hard to give 
vegetation the right balance of grazing and rest that produces more 
robust grasses.

When grasses suffer, it limits how many animals a ranch can support.

Mushrush
 can’t solve the problem by installing ever more physical fences, which 
can cost thousands of dollars per mile. Even with temporary fences, it’s
 tough. This landscape — including when any given swath of it would 
benefit from more or less grazing — is simply too nuanced.

Virtual fence
 aims to let ranchers block off any zone on their property by pulling up
 a map on an electronic tablet and using software to set the lines.

Adding
 a buffer zone along a winding creek — practically impossible, and 
prohibitively expensive with normal fences — becomes easy. So do other 
changes, such as redrawing paddocks or moving cattle to let grazed 
grasses grow.

The GPS collars don’t require ranchers to bury wires in the ground the way invisible fences for dogs frequently do.

If
 cattle walk toward the invisible line, the collars make noises. If they
 keep walking, those noises get louder. If they cross the line, the 
collars deliver a shock.

Most of the cattle take the hint. A few shrug off the discomfort and cross the barrier to munch on the proverbial greener grass.

But if most of the cattle stick to the rules, that could be enough to benefit ranchers, flora and fauna.

The Nature Conservancy has an interest in ranchers succeeding financially.

Flint Hills ranchers run their cattle on what the environmental group describes as <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/tallgrass-prairie-national-preserve/" target="_blank">one of the world’s most diverse ecosystems</a>, with more than 500 plant species.

Once
 one of North America’s dominant landscapes, settlers and their 
descendents plowed almost the entire continent’s tallgrass to plant 
crops.

“The Flint Hills is really the only place where we have significant 
contiguous acres that are still in native tallgrass prairie,” said Tony 
Capizzo, who heads the Nature Conservancy’s work to preserve it.

Flint Hills ranches that thrive are likely to remain ranches — and unplowed prairie — instead of facing development.

“Ranching is very inherently compatible with prairie conservation,” he said. “Ranching needs to stay profitable.”

The Nature Conservancy owns the 10,000-acre <a href="https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/tallgrass-prairie-national-preserve/" target="_blank">Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve</a> next to Mushrush’s property. Bison roam there, as do some of Mushrush’s cattle, through a lease.

Prairie
 needs grazing — in the right amounts — to thrive. It prevents some 
plant species from taking over, so that the land continues to host its 
signature diverse collection of grasses and wildflowers.

The 
wildlife that call the prairie home, meanwhile, benefit from a patchy 
landscape, in which different areas bear the marks of varying degrees of
 grazing and burning. The Nature Conservancy thinks GPS could help 
achieve that.

Mushrush said he and the Nature Conservancy may rank their priorities differently, but their goals still overlap.

His
 top priority is grass that’s as healthy and robust as possible, so that
 he can graze more livestock and keep the ranch profitable for decades 
to come. He hopes the GPS collars will help him keep cattle in the right
 places at the right times to achieve that.

And if researchers can show him how to shore up prairie biodiversity at the same time, he said, “it’s certainly worth trying.”

“That
 is one of the reasons we’re so excited” to study virtual fencing, said 
Alice Boyle, a biology professor at K-State who studies birds. “It’s the
 first solution that I know about that is positive … from the ranching 
perspective and from the grassland conservation perspective.”

The 
cattle only recently received collars. This year, the devices will track
 where the animals spend their time, but won’t restrict their movements.

K-State
 biologists will use these months to gauge the current situation before 
the virtual fences go live. Then they’ll see in the coming years how the
 prairie responds to a nimbler way of managing livestock.

They’ll 
look for changes in nitrogen pollution and erosion when cattle can no 
longer loiter consistently along their favorite streams.

They’ll look for plant diversity and vigor in areas that get needed rest.

They’ll look for increases in grassland birds.

Half of North America’s grassland birds have disappeared since 1970.

For Kansas, that means icons of the open plains, such as <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Eastern_Meadowlark/lifehistory" target="_blank">the brightly colored, sweet-singing meadowlarks</a>, pipe up each spring in smaller numbers.

“In
 many ways, the species that we’re worried about … define our natural 
landscape,” Boyle said. “And we live in the last big stronghold of where
 those populations are still common.”

Once widespread, <a href="https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Greater_Prairie-Chicken/" target="_blank">prairie chickens</a>
 known for their eerie whooping sounds and dances on breeding grounds, 
called leks, now retain shrinking toeholds in scattered parts of the 
central U.S.

The virtual fencing project could help by effectively
 cording off areas for rest from prescribed burning and grazing, long 
enough to let a mat of dead grass called thatch accrue at ground level, 
interwoven among the live grass.

Many grassland birds need thatch to survive.

“We can create patches of that suitable nesting habitat in areas 
close to the prairie chicken leks,” said. “We know that the females tend
 to nest not too far from those leks.”

Like physical fences, 
virtual fences are expensive, too. The question is whether the benefits —
 both in terms of healthier grass and less time and money spent mending 
barbed wire or moving temporary fences — can pay off long-term for 
ranchers.

A team of business experts from Colorado State 
University will study Mushrush’s experience to help figure it out. 
Mushrush is optimistic.

“The math should work,” he said. “It’s a 
lot of money up front, but ultimately I think it will make our lives a 
little easier and it will help.”

“Water, wildlife (and) rancher profitability,” he said, “all three of those are really important to sustainability.”

Celia Llopis-Jepsen is a reporter for the Kansas News Service. You 
can follow her on Twitter @celia_LJ or email her at celia@kcur.org.

How satellite-guided cows might save prairie, make ranchers more money

All American Giveaway with Fireworks for Less 

Purchase Country Stampede Tickets <a href="https://www-cart.elevateticketing.com/cart/468B389B-9513-4B28-A1A8-DC906777787C/tickets/5018">HERE</a>&nbsp;

Thursday Pit Pass Winners:Nicole UnruhEric Cape&nbsp;Janice BirzerMary KaiserJason MooreRose Marie LangBrenda ClarkMelanie MillerJanelle IrwinTerra Sanders

Friday Pit Pass Winners: Jaime Johnson

Country Stampede Codeword Contest with 100.7 Eagle Country 

The Great Grill off Sweepstakes with Great Bend KanEquip 

&nbsp;Check out&nbsp;<a href="https://www.myfavoritefurnishings.com/">My Favorite Furnishings</a>&nbsp;for more selections&nbsp;

My Favorite Furnishings is a family-owned &nbsp;Appliances, Furniture, Mattresses, and Flooring store based in Larned, KS. Since 2017, My Favorite Furnishings has served customers throughout Kansas with low prices on Appliances, Furniture, Mattresses, and Flooring products and top notch customer service.&nbsp;&nbsp; Our knowledge of the Appliances, Furniture, Mattresses, and Flooring we sell sets us high above the competition. My Favorite Furnishings is an authorized dealer of such brands as&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.myfavoritefurnishings.com/by-brand/ashley/Ashley-Furniture.html">Ashley Furniture</a>,<a href="https://www.myfavoritefurnishings.com/by-brand/bestf/Best-Home-Furnishings.html">&nbsp;Best Home Furnishings</a>,<a href="https://www.myfavoritefurnishings.com/by-brand/brooks/Brooks.html">&nbsp;Brooks Furniture</a>,<a href="https://www.myfavoritefurnishings.com/by-brand/ge/GE-Appliances.html">&nbsp;GE Appliances</a>, Speed Queen, Lay Z Boy and more. We can help you select your new Appliances, Furniture, Mattresses, and Flooring purchase at any budget.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Relax in Your Recliner Sweepstakes with My Favorite Furnishings 

Instant Finalist Days (Subject to Change)&nbsp;

Blazin’ Hot Summer Giveaway 

The “I Make a Difference Contest” has wrapped up for the season . Thank you to all the Barton County Grade School Students who entered the Contest!&nbsp;

100.7 Eagle Country I Make a Difference Contest 

Drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists across Kansas need to stay alert and share the road with increased use of multi-transportation modes. The responsibility to follow the rules of the road and safety practices applies to all and is especially prevalent this summer.

Summer spikes pedestrian and bicycle traffic, both for recreation and as a primary mode of transportation. Rising gas prices have also resulted in an increase in bicycle purchases and other non-motorized alternative transportation, especially in Kansas’ urban cities.

Preliminary data from the Kansas Department of Transportation indicates four bicycle and 46 pedestrian fatalities, or about 10.8% of the total fatalities in 2021. The National Safety Council reports an increase in preventable cyclist deaths of 16% in 2020 and a 44% increase in the past 10 years.

A cyclist or pedestrian is more likely to sustain serious injury or death because of a crash with a vehicle. A vehicle’s speed at the time of impact plays a big role in survivability. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has recently reported a partial increase in pedestrian fatality is due to the increase of SUVs and speeding high impact vehicles involved in a crash.

“Crashes are preventable, and KDOT is always focused on reducing fatalities,” said Chris Herrick, KDOT Division of Planning and Development Director. “As an avid bicycle rider, I know it’s everyone’s responsibility to share the road, stay alert and avoid distractions.”

Help reduce crashes and follow these safety tips -

For more information on bicycle-pedestrian safety, state bicycle route maps and bicycle statutes, visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA2MjEuNTk2OTY5MTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5rc2RvdC5vcmcvYnVyZWF1cy9idXJSYWlsL2Jpa2UvZGVmYXVsdC5hc3A_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.__D91wFaTUJNZtJa_EGya709H-YApVymOysNf1gUGwA/s/1410648818/br/133361474376-l" target="_blank">https://www.ksdot.org/bureaus/burRail/bike/default.asp</a>&nbsp;

Increase in bicycle traffic: Everyone using the road shares responsibility

Venture Corporation plans to begin work on the Airport Road (SW 40 Avenue) resurfacing project on Thursday, June 30.  The project extends from the US-56 highway intersection north to the West Barton County Road intersection. 

 Venture anticipates that it will take two days to mill the existing surface, and that they will begin the hot mix asphalt overlay work on Tuesday, July 5. 

 Following the completion of the overlay they will place a rock wedge along the edges of the roadway and stripe the new pavement with permanent markings. 

 The Barton County Road and Bridge crew will have Airport Road closed due to a crossroad pipe replacement from Monday, June 27 through Friday, July 1.  After completion of the pipe work the road will be reopened and Venture Corporation will have two way traffic through their construction zone on one half of the road.

"Once Road and Bridge gets their work done, it will be an open road," said Barton County Engineer Barry McManaman. "Since it's a four-lane road, Venture will have head-to-head traffic on half of the road. The Barton County Fair starts July 6, so the good news is we'll still have head-to-head traffic on Airport Road."

 Motorists are asked to slow down and be aware of the construction workers and equipment.  Venture’s resurfacing project is expected to be completed within two weeks, weather permitting.

Airport Road in Barton Co. to close for projects

Do you know of a good story of a person, business or
organization working to make the Barton County area better or a little brighter? Maybe an unsung hero? 
 
Share your stories to the “<a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/246044026597234">Tell Me Something Good! Barton County</a>” Facebook page.
You can also email your ideas to <a href="mailto:mike.courson@eagleradio.net">mike.courson@eagleradio.net</a> or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:cole.reif@eagleradio.net">cole.reif@eagleradio.net</a>. 
 
Share the positivity with Eagle Communications! 
 
Eagle Communications reserves all rights on selection of stories submitted.

Tell me something good! Barton County

Farm families across the state are laser-focused on wheat harvest, but county 4-H fair deadlines are also quickly approaching. Whether your 4-Her is catching samples for the crop production project, snapping the perfect harvest photo during dinner or still trying to decide on the perfect recipe for a foods entry, Kansas Wheat has resources available and additional opportunities to share those projects with others across the state.&nbsp;

Festival-tested recipes available from the National Festival of Breads The National Festival of Breads is a public festival held every other year. Recipe entries from around the country are tested out in the Syngenta Speak for Wheat Test Kitchen at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center by nutrition educator Cindy Falk. Each of the finalists’ recipes is truly one of the best of the best with detailed instructions, tips and nutrition information provided.&nbsp;

Check out traditional&nbsp;yeast bread and roll recipes, recipes with unique ingredients like strawberry lemonade or Thai peanut sauce and even recipes for creating beautiful shapes at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FT4crxVlP53S9xX6E_u35aXZTKPm5O_eaKgranr33hSjyCzqZmnUNQVYB4_j0trYuhoXfi1q-XZxvjdBE8IwdqNGMo_LAdf1ZKa7CXKGpGSmNMH67-97ct4A7z4ICbFeRdn8Rpy9dnMtnJFebc4IT8y70irLZVgKDBcogUhAHQg=&amp;c=uTlnPyhqzOfbHZw18tnmT-TllTk3kkf_6MxBKcr3gICGmXYg_lWzeA==&amp;ch=6bY5xZU87AxCBB7FWsjeDw-UudesbhL66osqcNz9wmwG71bb4MgXXw==" target="_blank">https://nationalfestivalofbreads.com/recipes</a>.&nbsp;

EatWheat shares recipes, activities and farmer stories Looking for even more recipes to comb through for the perfect fair entry or harvest meal? EatWheat is a consumer-facing website that provides awareness of farm and production practices while also sharing beautiful wheat photography, full meal ideas, activities for the entire family like salt dough ornaments (a great 4-H craft project!) and — of course — the best wheat foods recipes around.&nbsp;

Explore the fun at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FT4crxVlP53S9xX6E_u35aXZTKPm5O_eaKgranr33hSjyCzqZmnUNaw_N0B0wQ98sm2dF5OEFHLz5yOOJeJgAuBC7z5_hKaBd4HE3HSoQhiCBGnL2J6IlOvbqoey9jO-i_frUqC3ThY=&amp;c=uTlnPyhqzOfbHZw18tnmT-TllTk3kkf_6MxBKcr3gICGmXYg_lWzeA==&amp;ch=6bY5xZU87AxCBB7FWsjeDw-UudesbhL66osqcNz9wmwG71bb4MgXXw==" target="_blank">EatWheat.org</a>.&nbsp;

Mark your calendar for the Kansas 4-H Wheat Expo As county fair participants start looking to practice recipes for the State Fair or youth want to show off their wheat photography or just learn more about wheat, mark your calendars for the Kansas 4-H Wheat Expo. Sponsored by the Kansas Wheat Commission and many other partners from across the state, the Kansas 4-H Wheat Expo is scheduled for Thursday, August 4. The one-day event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Stafford County Annex Building in St. John. The event is open to all and has special opportunities targeted to 4-H and FFA members.&nbsp;

In addition to a wheat judging contest, 4-H and FFA youth ages 7 to 19 and Cloverbuds ages 5 to 6 can participate in a Market Wheat Show. Enrollment in the project is not required (except for Division 1) and there will be cash awards for the two placings in each division in addition to ribbons for all entries.&nbsp;

In addition to the exhibits and judging contest, participants will be able to tour the Stafford County Flour Mill,&nbsp;Osborne Fruit and Vegetables — a family-owned, field-to-table produce business — and Spare Farms, which market vegetables sold at farmers' markets in surrounding cities.&nbsp; Registration for the event is now open and will close on July 25. There is a small registration fee of $6.00 per person, which is payable the day of the event.&nbsp;

Learn more about the 2022 Kansas 4-H/FFA Wheat Expo at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001FT4crxVlP53S9xX6E_u35aXZTKPm5O_eaKgranr33hSjyCzqZmnUNQVYB4_j0trYYa-DjTe01kY0s8aRIrzCVVVPfp8jwlNsD8V1AeoFAYidBoa2IKuPpnhpWuzJUcUvFV9C-hF8oyETugcVMoy_ULfsBHqNj7Afypa-a0ZM3VRB4tw4ulhBJzrbtDoulCv1p4bxostqiYfHIjC4yuUW9MetcQGivsn1&amp;c=uTlnPyhqzOfbHZw18tnmT-TllTk3kkf_6MxBKcr3gICGmXYg_lWzeA==&amp;ch=6bY5xZU87AxCBB7FWsjeDw-UudesbhL66osqcNz9wmwG71bb4MgXXw==" target="_blank">https://www.kansas4-h.org/events-activities/conferences-events/wheat/index.html</a>.&nbsp;

Written by Julia Debes for Kansas Wheat

Wheat Scoop: Find county fair inspiration from Kansas Wheat

A new Adams Brown website is now live at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.adamsbrowncpa.com/" target="_blank">www.adamsbrowncpa.com</a>&nbsp;where website visitors can more easily access information around financial issues impacting businesses and individuals.

“Our old site wasn’t user friendly, and finding information required a lot of clicks,” said Korby Boswell, senior marketing specialist at Adams Brown. “This site was designed with users in mind to make sure they could easily find whatever they are looking for.”

Highlights of the new user experience-focused website include:

“When people are looking for information, especially after hours when their advisor might not be available, we wanted to make sure they could find it,” Boswell said. “This new site is another way we’re meeting the evolving needs of our clients and communities.”

Adams Brown launches new website

Hear this week's County Edition show with Eagle Radio's Steve Webster and Barton County Appraiser Wendy Prosser that aired June 23, 2022.

The County Edition program airs every Thursday at 11:05 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.&nbsp;

🎙County Edition: Appraiser Wendy Prosser

It is your chance to win! View the Contests page on Great Bend Post to see what contests/giveaways are currently being promoted. View the page by clicking <a href="https://greatbendpost.com/category/contests">HERE</a>!

Eagle Radio CONTESTS

Harvest Safety 22. Driving heavy equipment. Check to make sure lighting and flashers are working properly and use them at all times of day. Display a slow-moving vehicle (SMV) sign on the back of implements. Be careful of soft edges on the roadway when giving way for oncoming traffic. Stay alert at all times, particularly since long hours during harvest can impair your judgment. Heavy loads don’t stop on a dime. Watch your speed and be mindful of intersections.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Harvest Safety 2022 - Barton County

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) have issued several public health advisories for Kansas lakes due to blue-green algae.&nbsp;

A harmful algal bloom (HAB) may look like foam, scum or paint floating on the water and be colored blue, bright green, brown or red. Blooms can develop rapidly; if the water appears suspicious or there is decaying algae on the shore, avoid contact and keep dogs away. These toxins can be absorbed by ingestion, inhalation of aerosols and even skin contact. Symptoms vary depending upon the type of exposure (e.g. direct contact, ingestion, inhalation) but can include rash, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, sore throat, and headache. If you, or your dog, come into contact with algae rinse the area with clean, fresh water. Suspected HAB-related health incidents, whether human or animal, regardless of season, should be reported at&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA2MjMuNTk4MjQ5NDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5rZGhlLmtzLmdvdi8xMTYzL1JlcG9ydC1hbi1JbGxuZXNzLW9yLUhlYWx0aC1JbmNpZGVudD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.8cqpEjVD2EKyaLDxG6xxXt_FUUWloT3mU2Q1WZNJ--Q/s/1305943094/br/133520509387-l" target="_blank">https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/1163</a>.&nbsp;

Warning&nbsp; Colwich City Lake, Sedgwick County&nbsp; Ford County Lake, Ford County (Added on June 23) Garnett Lake (north), Anderson County&nbsp; Jerry Ivey Pond, Saline County&nbsp; Lake Shawnee, Shawnee County&nbsp; Milford Lake Zone C, Geary and Clay County (Added on June 23)

Watch Gathering Pond, Geary County (Lowered on June 23) Marion Reservoir, Marion County Milford Lake Zone B, Geary County (Added on June 23)

Lifted Big Eleven Lake, Wyandotte County (Lifted on June 23)

A&nbsp;Warning status&nbsp;indicates that conditions are unsafe for human and pet exposure.&nbsp; Contact with the waterbody should be avoided.&nbsp;

When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:&nbsp;

A&nbsp;Watch status&nbsp;means that blue-green algae have been detected and a harmful algal bloom is present or likely to develop. People are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water.&nbsp;

During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:&nbsp;

KDHE investigates publicly-accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes. Based on credible field observation and sampling results, KDHE reports on potentially harmful conditions.&nbsp;&nbsp;

If you observe a scum or paint-like surface on the water, small floating blue-green clumps or filaments in the water, or if the water is an opaque green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in or drink water affected by a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die.&nbsp;

For information on blue-green algae and reporting potential harmful algal blooms, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA2MjMuNTk4MjQ5NDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL3d3dy5rZGhlLmtzLmdvdi9IQUI_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.M9toXYoN_Ok4U904dAmdg1h9_7eSt1EKF34xlCKWSXw/s/1305943094/br/133520509387-l" target="_blank">https://www.kdhe.ks.gov/HAB</a><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjA2MjMuNTk4MjQ5NDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtkaGVrcy5nb3YvYWxnYWUtaWxsbmVzcy9pbmRleC5odG0_dXRtX21lZGl1bT1lbWFpbCZ1dG1fc291cmNlPWdvdmRlbGl2ZXJ5In0.iY2mpVE46QCIvWP6oPzTQcHyoCWbdt2cGULeot2_De4/s/1305943094/br/133520509387-l" target="_blank"></a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Public health advisories for Kansas lakes due to blue-green algae

Barton Community College has named 247 students to the President’s List for the spring 2022 semester. To qualify for this honor students must have been enrolled in a minimum of 12 credit hours and maintained a grade point average of 4.0 on a 4.0 or "A" letter scale.

Beloit Shelby Sibley Brian Thiessen

Burdett Adam Hands Ashlee Miller

Dodge&nbsp;City Karina Herrera Solorzano Maria Ramirez Gutierrez Vanessa Rivero

Ellinwood Jodi Ledesma Mya Maxwell

Ellsworth Keenan Davenport Zachary Garrett Kyler Milbrandt Nya Rippert

Emporia Beau Baumgardner Britney Schroer

Ft. Leavenworth Gabriel Espinoza Michela Fontana Elise Lin April Mendez NaMari Moss Sugyeong Suh

Ft. Riley Alicia Abrego Jennifer Capon Valentina Cook Kayla Craythorn Sarah Davis Queen Cheska An Domingo Ana Estrada Mylene Franz Zaira Giordano Haley Gutierrez Jayleen Jaimes Chris Kim Katelyn Levesque Jessica Orchard Veronika Putrenkova Vincent Regur Bryston Smith Karissa Smith Jamie Willis

Gardner Jonathan Beers Wade Wolf

Great Bend Jaime Arellanes Jordan&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;Avila Caden Bieker Sage Cauley Addison Crites Ashton Ensley Dylan Graham Jaci Guthrie Wittney Hammeke Kendyl Henning Braeden Hopkins Madison Huslig Jayce Kohls Sydney Mason Aiden Miller Austin Moore Raegan Moore Kelci Popp Nautika Richards Jesus Sanchez Brandi Sander Ashton Smith Karter Smith

Haviland Kaylee Hottovy Michael Wondra

Hays Michael Chappell Tasiah Nunnery

Hoisington Sarah Bray Brayden Copp Camille Dolechek Chandra Ehler Gabriel Hipp Jennah Jeffrey Tori Mitchell Addison Smith

Junction City Cassandra Ace Yeriela Bell Mackenzie Girardot Morgan Honeycutt Jordan Irby Alyssa Leon Chaira Martin Joel Nieves Bailey Oloughlin Aleksandra Rojas Manuel Roman-Esparza Ashlynn Shea Tara Shuler

Kansas City CeAra Evans Chandler Miller

Larned Terry Adams Sarah Macmahon Juan Murillo Savannah Racette Zedrick Spencer Joseph Theis

Lawrence Landon Cook David Stuart

Leavenworth Christopher Goldman Emilie Joy Olivia Miller Phyne Pettis Caleb Smith

Lyons Heriberto Martinez Brianna Russell

Manhattan Kyla Barnett Dawson Beffa Amber Gravely Jordyn Haley Jaylee Layton Hailey Morgan John Harris Peralta Christina Price Landon Quesinberry Dean Rightnowar Wyatt Voth Cody Woodruff

Milford Arthur Hernandez Joshua Schwanke

Overland Park Julia Carey Anjana Jeyakumar

Perry Colby Easum Dallas Rhoads

Phillipsburg Evelyn Ebner Jacie Roth

St. John Jonathan Lyon Damian Rios

Smith Center Jaden Boden Kandis Frydendall

Stafford Marshall Woolf Toby Woolf

Topeka&nbsp; Kimberly Bahr Chase Clausing Robert Cordova Morse Bryssa Estanol Shawn Marquis Trysten Tobler Riley Vittitoe

Wichita Bailey Bontrager Jadyn Brown Caiden Duerksen Hanna Miller Matilyn Newman Stephanie Ramirez

Auburn, Ala.&nbsp; Davida Dowdell

Burbank, Calif.&nbsp; Savannah Benson

Sonora, Calif.&nbsp; Ashley Craig

Colorado Springs, Colo. Elizabeth Engelhardt

Fort Stewart, Ga. Howard Hosang

Louisville, Ky.&nbsp; Matthew McGrath

Cabin John, Md. Loretta Ingalls

Blue Springs, Mo. Quinton Robertson

West Glacier, Mont. Andrew Smith

Spring Valley, N.Y. Tovah Kenner

Fairborn, Ohio&nbsp; Grace Farrell

BCC students named to President’s List for spring 2022

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas Head Baseball Coach Dan Fitzgerald announced his coaching staff Friday, assembling an experienced group with deep recruiting ties specifically to the Midwest and the larger national landscape. All three assistant coaches have served as recruiting coordinators for Division I baseball programs as well as coaching stints at the Junior College level.

“I am extremely excited about this staff that is coming to Kansas,” Fitzgerald said. “All three of these men are excellent leaders, developers and recruiters. It’s critical to bring in a group that has worked in different settings and can combine their philosophies to teach our student-athletes. The knowledge and hard work this coaching staff will bring to the program will help us compete in the Big 12 on an annual basis.”

Brandon Scott	Assistant Coach/Pitching Coach

Tyler Hancock	Assistant Coach/Hitting Coach

Jon Coyne	Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

Wally Marciel	Director of Baseball Operations

Brandon Scott	Assistant Coach/Pitching Coach

Scott comes to Kansas after spending the last six seasons at Southern Illinois-Edwardsville as the Recruiting Coordinator/Pitching Coach. His pitching staff lowered its team ERA in each of his first four full seasons with the Cougars. Since SIUE moved to the Division I level in 2009, Scott’s group set a new season team record for opponent strikeouts in both 2018 and 2019. Prior to the cancelation of the 2020 season, SIUE ranked sixth in the nation in strikeouts per nine innings pitched.

Tyler Hancock, Assistant Coach/Hitting Coach

Hancock joins the staff after two seasons as an Assistant Coach at California Baptist University where he served as the recruiting coordinator and worked with catchers, infielders and outfielders. During his two years at CBU, the program went 76-36 with a 47-19 mark in conference. They also won a share of the 2021 Western Athletic Conference regular season title with a 29-7 league record.

Jon Coyne, Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator

Coyne arrives at Kansas following four seasons at University of New Mexico as the Infield Coach/Recruiting Coordinator. He was also responsible for working directly with the hitters where his team’s batting average was at least .285 every year

Wally Marciel – Director of Baseball Operations

Marciel will enter his ninth season as the Director of Baseball Operations. Marciel originally joined the staff in August 2014 and recently completed his eighth season in the role. He is in charge of helping coordinate travel and meals, managing the operations of all Jayhawk baseball camps, providing logistical support at games and incorporating analytical technology into student-athletes development. A native of Kailua, Hawaii, Marciel attended Kansas and pitched five seasons for the Jayhawks from 2007-11.

Baseball Head Coach Dan Fitzgerald Announces Coaching Staff

Team&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; SCL&nbsp; &nbsp;All&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;GB Great Bend Bat Cats&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;15-2&nbsp; 19-3&nbsp; &nbsp;- Cheney Diamond Dawgs&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 14-3&nbsp; &nbsp;15-3&nbsp; 1.0 Hutchinson Monarchs&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 12-5&nbsp; 12-5&nbsp; 3.0&nbsp; Newton Rebels&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 9-5&nbsp; &nbsp;11-5&nbsp; &nbsp;4.5 Derby Twins&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;9-8&nbsp; 12-8&nbsp; &nbsp;6.0 Haysville Aviators&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;5-8&nbsp; &nbsp; 7-9&nbsp; &nbsp; 8.0 Kingman Islanders&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;5-8&nbsp; &nbsp; 5-9&nbsp; &nbsp; 8.0 Wichita Lobos&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;5-9&nbsp; &nbsp; 5-9&nbsp; &nbsp; 8.5 Mulvane Patriots&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;1-14&nbsp; 1-14&nbsp; 13.0 316 Elite&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; 0-13&nbsp; 0-13&nbsp; 13.0 Saturday Games Great Bend 4 Hutchinson 3 Newton 16 Kingman 6 Cheney 10 Mulvane 1 Derby 9 316 Elite 4 Haysville 14 Wichita 1 Sunday Games Cheney @ Mulvane 7:00pm Kingman @ Newton 7:00pm Haysville @ Wichita 7:00pm&nbsp;&nbsp; Monday Games Hutchinson @ Great Bend 7pm Wichita @ Haysville 7:00pm Mulvane @ Cheney 7:00pm Kingman @ Newton 7:00pm 316 Elite @ Derby 7:00pm&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Sunflower Collegiate League Standings (6/26)

Sunday June 26 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Oakland A's @ Kansas City Royals&nbsp; 5:00PM 1590/95.5FM - MLB - Los Angeles Dodgers @ Atlanta Braves&nbsp;&nbsp; Monday June 27 6:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Texas Rangers @ Kansas City Royals&nbsp; Tuesday June 28 6:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Texas Rangers @ Kansas City Royals&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Wednesday June 29 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Texas Rangers @ Kansas City Royals&nbsp; &nbsp; Friday July 1 5:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Kansas City @ Detroit Tigers Saturday July 2 2:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Kansas City @ Detroit Tigers&nbsp;&nbsp; Sunday July 3 11:15AM 1590/95.5FM - Kansas City @ Detroit Tigers&nbsp; &nbsp; 5:00PM 1590/95.5FM - MLB - Los Angeles Dodgers @ Atlanta Braves Monday July 4 2:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Kansas City @ Houston Astros&nbsp; 6:30PM 1590/95.5FM - MLB - Seattle Mariners @ San Diego Padres (in progress) Tuesday July 5 6:30PM 1590/95.5FM - Kansas City @ Houston Astros Wednesday July 6 6:30PM 1590/95.5FM -Kansas City @ Houston Astros&nbsp;&nbsp; Thursday July 7 12:30PM 1590/95.5FM -Kansas City @ Houston Astros &nbsp;&nbsp;

Eagle Radio and Hull Broadcasting PBP Schedule

19-3 Overall; 15-2 League Wed June 1 - Bat Cats 12 McPherson 5 W1 Thur June 2 - Bat Cats 5 Hays Larks 3 W2 Fri June 3 - Hays Larks 8 Bat Cats 0 L1 Sat June 4 - Dirt Bag Baseball Club @ Great Bend PPD Sun June 5 - Game 1 - Bat Cats 9 316 Elite 5 W1 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Game 2 - Bat Cats 3 316 Elite 2 W2

Mon June 6 - Bat Cats 5 Dodge City A's 2 W3 Wed June 8 - 316 Elite @ Great Bend DH PPD to June 14th. Time and location to be announced later Thur June 9 - Bat Cats 18 Dodge City 1 W4 Sat June 11 - Game 1 - Bat Cats 15 Mulvane 2 W5 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Game 2 - Bat Cats 7 Mulvane 1 W6 Sun June 12 - @ Mulvane - Game 1 - Bat Cats 8 Mulvane 0 W7 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Game 2 - Bat Cats 11 Mulvane 0 W8

Tue June 14 - @ GB - Game 1 - Bat Cats 15 316 Elite 0 W9 &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;- Game 2 - Bat Cats 13 316 Elite 1 W10 Wed June 15 - Bat Cats 4 Newton 1&nbsp; W11 Thur June 16 - Bat Cats 11 Newton 7&nbsp; W12 Fri June 17 - Bat Cats 6 Newton 3&nbsp; W13 Sun June 19- Newton 6 Great Bend 2&nbsp; L1

Mon June 20 - Haysville 4 Bat Bats 3 (10-inn) L2 Tue June 21 - Bat Cats 8 Haysville 1&nbsp; W1 Wed June 22 - Bat Cats 6 Haysville 3 W2 Thur June 23 - Bat Cats 7 Haysville 5&nbsp; W3 Sat June 25 - Bat Cats 4 Hutchinson 3&nbsp; W4

Mon June 27 - Hutchinson Monarchs @ Great Bend 7pm Tue June 28 - Great Bend @ Hutchinson Monarchs 7PM Wed June 29 - Great Bend @ Hutchinson Monarchs 7PM Thur June 30 - Kingman Islanders @ Great Bend 7pm Fri July 1 - Great Bend @ Kingman Islanders 7pm Saturday July 2 - Kingman Islanders @ Great Bend 6pm Sunday July 3 - Great Bend @ Kingman Islanders 7pm

Thur July 7 - Derby Twins @ Great Bend 7pm Fri July 8 - Great Bend @ Derby Twins 7pm Sat July 9- Derby Twins @ Great Bend 6pm Sun July 10- Great Bend @ Derby Twins 7pm

Tue July 12 - Cheney Diamond Dawgs @ Great Bend 7pm Wed July 13 - Great Bend @ Cheney Diamond Dawgs 7pm Thur July 14 - Cheney Diamond Dawgs @ Great Bend 7pm Fri July 15- Great Bend @ Cheney Diamond Dawgs 7pm

Mon July 18- Great Bend @ Wichita Lobos 7PM&nbsp; Tue July 19 - Wichita Lobos @ Great Bend 7pm Wed July 20- Great Bend @ Wichita Lobos 7PM&nbsp; Thu July 21 -&nbsp;Wichita Lobos @ Great Bend 7pm

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