By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

For the second time in as many weeks, the League of Women Voters of Great Bend hosted a candidate forum at the Great Bend Senior Center last Thursday. Whereas the first forum focused on candidates in local races, the second featured candidates running for state and federal offices. Donald Anderson II and Levi Morris are running for district judge in the 20th Judicial District. Anderson, who has practiced law in the area since 2010, answered first on the question of what makes him the best candidate for the position. He said part of it is staying out of the political fray.

"What makes me the best for the position is my understanding that my values don't matter as a judge," he said. "Any judge that tells you their values do matter does not understand the law. A judge's role in this entire process is to follow the law. It's that simple."

Morris also had several years of experience in private practice before becoming Barton County Attorney in 2018. He feels his experience as a department head will be beneficial in the judicial district that spans five counties.

"I counted once and I've practiced in nearly a third of of Kansas' 105 counties, and I've practiced in 14 of the 31 judicial districts," he said. "Long gone are the days when judges sort of sat on the bench all day and issued opinions. Judges have to be administrators as well."

Thursday's forum also featured candidates running for legislative positions at the state and federal levels. Watch the forum in its entirety below.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722004457919.jpeg" alt="District Judge Candidate Levi Morris" />
 <figcaption>District Judge Candidate Levi Morris</figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostFor the second time in as many weeks, the League of Women Voters of Great Bend hosted a candidate forum at the Great Bend Senior Center last Thursday. Whereas the first forum focused on candidates in local races, the second featured candidates running for state and federal offices. Donald Anderson II and Levi Morris are running for district judge in the 20th Judicial District. Anderson, who has practiced law in the area since 2010, answered first on the question of what makes him the best candidate for the position. He said part of it is staying out of the political fray."What makes me the best for the position is my understanding that my values don't matter as a judge," he said. "Any judge that tells you their values do matter does not understand the law. A judge's role in this entire process is to follow the law. It's that simple."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722004434042.jpeg" alt="District Judge Candidate Donald Anderson II" />
 <figcaption>District Judge Candidate Donald Anderson II</figcaption>
 </figure>Morris also had several years of experience in private practice before becoming Barton County Attorney in 2018. He feels his experience as a department head will be beneficial in the judicial district that spans five counties."I counted once and I've practiced in nearly a third of of Kansas' 105 counties, and I've practiced in 14 of the 31 judicial districts," he said. "Long gone are the days when judges sort of sat on the bench all day and issued opinions. Judges have to be administrators as well."Thursday's forum also featured candidates running for legislative positions at the state and federal levels. Watch the forum in its entirety below.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGreatBendPost%2Fvideos%2F1564925141094343%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>

Judicial candidates Morris, Anderson take questions at candidate forum

Nearly three months have passed since Bright Beginnings Childcare Center held its ribbon cutting and open house, and nearly two months have passed since the center officially opened its doors. On Wednesday, Advancing Barton County Childcare announced that Bright Beginnings is now Department for Children and Families (DCF) certified. Bright Beginnings Program Director Kelsie Baxter said the certification will open the door for more families to utilize the center.

"Being DCF certified allows us to hopefully get more kids in the door. It just allows us to help out those families who need quality care as well. With us not being DCF approved, there was no way for DCF to help cover those costs, so parents were paying out of pocket until we got DCF approved," she said.

To gain the certification, a daycare provider must be licensed through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and have a current KDHE permanent license. Payments from DCF are made to families via a Kansas Benefits Card, which is used to pay the childcare provider. 

Providers receive an eligibility notice when children in their care are approved for childcare subsidy benefits. The amount of the subsidy remains confidential unless a parent chooses to disclose the information. Benefits are based on needs and DCF benefit rates, and subsidy benefits typically do not cover the full cost of care.&nbsp;

For more information, contact Bright Beginnings at (620) 796-2392.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717512428472.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostNearly three months have passed since Bright Beginnings Childcare Center held its ribbon cutting and open house, and nearly two months have passed since the center officially opened its doors. On Wednesday, Advancing Barton County Childcare announced that Bright Beginnings is now Department for Children and Families (DCF) certified. Bright Beginnings Program Director Kelsie Baxter said the certification will open the door for more families to utilize the center."Being DCF certified allows us to hopefully get more kids in the door. It just allows us to help out those families who need quality care as well. With us not being DCF approved, there was no way for DCF to help cover those costs, so parents were paying out of pocket until we got DCF approved," she said.To gain the certification, a daycare provider must be licensed through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and have a current KDHE permanent license. Payments from DCF are made to families via a Kansas Benefits Card, which is used to pay the childcare provider. Providers receive an eligibility notice when children in their care are approved for childcare subsidy benefits. The amount of the subsidy remains confidential unless a parent chooses to disclose the information. Benefits are based on needs and DCF benefit rates, and subsidy benefits typically do not cover the full cost of care.&nbsp;For more information, contact Bright Beginnings at (620) 796-2392.

Bright Beginnings Childcare Center now DCF certified

Every year, custom harvesters travel the country to cut wheat and other crops for farmers who don’t have the equipment or manpower to do it themselves, a service that is vital to agriculture in America.

The new Tiger Media Network documentary, “Life On The Harvest Run,” explores the lives of two custom harvesting families from Kansas and what their summers on the harvest run are like. TMN’s latest crop of paid summer interns — Ryan Schuckman, Raegan Neufeld, and John Billinger — interviewed the Befort family from Hays and the Froese family from Inman.&nbsp;

“Life On The Harvest Run” will premiere at 4 p.m. on July 25 on the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0aUTrZUkCBF5-2Bwz-2F2-2FlggJ0NPgB9-2FwUWJrEQbq1iP7CffmUrMQMRVAkAmwscW1G78g-3D-3Dms11_x9osS7BzWruc2vyP0ryhjp1x1SORXKHR3ODGO-2FMcAZWcDEH5sFjG8hifz-2Fx-2FLlz0ywhQ3aSn225U2ntY8ehBVeNagO9eVdTLJp47lJyzn97NxdAPpZKCVKBkbERPShtsZssiUkIeY2PbdnNdqinNeA7F-2B8DdM-2FbtJIJwRZ0FV4xaXcgKlEgrSP98MaRcyCXU2bL-2BrzR-2BvGX4DDvGmiCHquqyOMSrVAXLKQktJmiWARCxUGXnXIr1UWwmSDHve9-2B2SejrJRox-2BqWFa8DQoxl0GzmUYOgmXV2FNVgds6zbSeIGHGGNFD6mS7XwgY-2FN9EPZHFq96S5qZLKPqA5bkF1wpSldLW11d4xfDzx9z0S6SeQm8vEwihhMEtp8mNBhJ98B">TMN YouTube page</a>. Additional videos and information can be found&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0R-2FahaYvlWMQVwpohIgG4CNelZPZaex-2BLxa7vAP9p-2F-2BgEzurFUFLnNqvSObPKitivQ-3D-3DchsE_x9osS7BzWruc2vyP0ryhjp1x1SORXKHR3ODGO-2FMcAZWcDEH5sFjG8hifz-2Fx-2FLlz0ywhQ3aSn225U2ntY8ehBVeNagO9eVdTLJp47lJyzn97NxdAPpZKCVKBkbERPShtsZssiUkIeY2PbdnNdqinNeA7F-2B8DdM-2FbtJIJwRZ0FV4xaXcgKlEgrSP98MaRcyCXU2bL-2BrzR-2BvGX4DDvGmiCHquqyOMSrVAXLKQktJmiWARBRV7KVEPUE0lOorQyS75zLcYkn-2F02NA9NQodhNyLMWvz6fVq8lwd1V8uAEWqBy4IsEGeeGSliNjThjThQVFtrt9LUoFOrhCsQV0qLJWITsFkBT2DUBx3SVgk5JhFkKsenW8HeBVtKK3z5Ha9TQ0vjP">here</a>.

“I think that the interviews went well,” Schuckman said. “We were able to get a really interesting perspective from everyone. I am very proud of how we made the story, took what everyone said in the interviews and made a really interesting documentary.”

The Fort Hays State University students interviewed active and retired custom harvesters to get a mix of present and past perspectives. Interviewees ranged from 20 to 91 years old.&nbsp;

“Not only are we learning how to work as a team, but we’re also learning about events and history we wouldn't have known otherwise,” Billinger said. “It helps preserve their stories and experiences for generations to come.”

By participating in the internship, the students received a real-world experience of what their prospective careers in the media industry might be like.&nbsp;

“This is something that I think I knew beforehand, but this experience has kind of reinforced that working with other people is very beneficial,” Neufeld said. “We each have our own strengths, and it would’ve been difficult without any one of us.”

Schuckman, Neufeld and Billinger each had prior experience with creating a documentary, but this was the first time they worked with others.

“I learned a lot more about what working in a production is like, where you have multiple people and multiple cameras — working together as a team rather than working by myself,” Schuckman said.

This is the second documentary produced by TMN summer interns, following the success of last year’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0Z7s0wKb3e2PxYMp0XONaGFhwfeTRcT8Ke9G2BQ8D51-2FHAlWt1ABgR2kZMCCxrkHwQ-3D-3DuOca_x9osS7BzWruc2vyP0ryhjp1x1SORXKHR3ODGO-2FMcAZWcDEH5sFjG8hifz-2Fx-2FLlz0ywhQ3aSn225U2ntY8ehBVeNagO9eVdTLJp47lJyzn97NxdAPpZKCVKBkbERPShtsZssiUkIeY2PbdnNdqinNeA7F-2B8DdM-2FbtJIJwRZ0FV4xaXcgKlEgrSP98MaRcyCXU2bL-2BrzR-2BvGX4DDvGmiCHquqyOMSrVAXLKQktJmiWARAil9lkj4F9uQUwMKnA4AYLKznq2CeQIKK6ymeLWgMoue4CYmeetvtWINF2nPVgVkjw9nZEIRvlPg7DV-2BYCo1Rwf8ngCuBDopD59IQr3Frqt6eS8QoRsvt6-2Ba-2FQigUeULHT-2BR77uPO5WxHU8uCB25XL">“45x: A Dirt Dream.”</a>

“One goal of Tiger Media Network is to give students a look into what the real-world working environment might be,” said Nick Schwien, director of TMN. “We want our FHSU students to stand out to potential employers when they apply for jobs post-graduation. Experiences like this fit perfectly into the Department of Informatics approach to preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s workforce.”

TMN News and Sports Director Russell Heitmann said he hopes future summer interns can continue to build on the success of prior projects.

“Our first set of interns set the bar high with a quality product and gave our current students a goal of what to reach for,” he said. “Next summer’s interns should be able to look at the finished product and see something to try and emulate and learn from, just like this year’s interns did with the prior internship group.”&nbsp;

Ryan Schuckman is a junior from Hays studying Information Networking and Telecommunications: Digital Media Production and Journalism.&nbsp;

Raegan Neufeld is a senior from Inman studying Information Networking and Telecommunications: Digital Media Production and Journalism.&nbsp;

John Billinger is a senior from Ellinwood studying Information Networking and Telecommunications: Digital Media Production and Journalism.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721914680501.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Every year, custom harvesters travel the country to cut wheat and other crops for farmers who don’t have the equipment or manpower to do it themselves, a service that is vital to agriculture in America.The new Tiger Media Network documentary, “Life On The Harvest Run,” explores the lives of two custom harvesting families from Kansas and what their summers on the harvest run are like. TMN’s latest crop of paid summer interns — Ryan Schuckman, Raegan Neufeld, and John Billinger — interviewed the Befort family from Hays and the Froese family from Inman.&nbsp;“Life On The Harvest Run” will premiere at 4 p.m. on July 25 on the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0aUTrZUkCBF5-2Bwz-2F2-2FlggJ0NPgB9-2FwUWJrEQbq1iP7CffmUrMQMRVAkAmwscW1G78g-3D-3Dms11_x9osS7BzWruc2vyP0ryhjp1x1SORXKHR3ODGO-2FMcAZWcDEH5sFjG8hifz-2Fx-2FLlz0ywhQ3aSn225U2ntY8ehBVeNagO9eVdTLJp47lJyzn97NxdAPpZKCVKBkbERPShtsZssiUkIeY2PbdnNdqinNeA7F-2B8DdM-2FbtJIJwRZ0FV4xaXcgKlEgrSP98MaRcyCXU2bL-2BrzR-2BvGX4DDvGmiCHquqyOMSrVAXLKQktJmiWARCxUGXnXIr1UWwmSDHve9-2B2SejrJRox-2BqWFa8DQoxl0GzmUYOgmXV2FNVgds6zbSeIGHGGNFD6mS7XwgY-2FN9EPZHFq96S5qZLKPqA5bkF1wpSldLW11d4xfDzx9z0S6SeQm8vEwihhMEtp8mNBhJ98B">TMN YouTube page</a>. Additional videos and information can be found&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0R-2FahaYvlWMQVwpohIgG4CNelZPZaex-2BLxa7vAP9p-2F-2BgEzurFUFLnNqvSObPKitivQ-3D-3DchsE_x9osS7BzWruc2vyP0ryhjp1x1SORXKHR3ODGO-2FMcAZWcDEH5sFjG8hifz-2Fx-2FLlz0ywhQ3aSn225U2ntY8ehBVeNagO9eVdTLJp47lJyzn97NxdAPpZKCVKBkbERPShtsZssiUkIeY2PbdnNdqinNeA7F-2B8DdM-2FbtJIJwRZ0FV4xaXcgKlEgrSP98MaRcyCXU2bL-2BrzR-2BvGX4DDvGmiCHquqyOMSrVAXLKQktJmiWARBRV7KVEPUE0lOorQyS75zLcYkn-2F02NA9NQodhNyLMWvz6fVq8lwd1V8uAEWqBy4IsEGeeGSliNjThjThQVFtrt9LUoFOrhCsQV0qLJWITsFkBT2DUBx3SVgk5JhFkKsenW8HeBVtKK3z5Ha9TQ0vjP">here</a>.“I think that the interviews went well,” Schuckman said. “We were able to get a really interesting perspective from everyone. I am very proud of how we made the story, took what everyone said in the interviews and made a really interesting documentary.”The Fort Hays State University students interviewed active and retired custom harvesters to get a mix of present and past perspectives. Interviewees ranged from 20 to 91 years old.&nbsp;“Not only are we learning how to work as a team, but we’re also learning about events and history we wouldn't have known otherwise,” Billinger said. “It helps preserve their stories and experiences for generations to come.”By participating in the internship, the students received a real-world experience of what their prospective careers in the media industry might be like.&nbsp;“This is something that I think I knew beforehand, but this experience has kind of reinforced that working with other people is very beneficial,” Neufeld said. “We each have our own strengths, and it would’ve been difficult without any one of us.”Schuckman, Neufeld and Billinger each had prior experience with creating a documentary, but this was the first time they worked with others.“I learned a lot more about what working in a production is like, where you have multiple people and multiple cameras — working together as a team rather than working by myself,” Schuckman said.This is the second documentary produced by TMN summer interns, following the success of last year’s&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://link.mediaoutreach.meltwater.com/ls/click?upn=u001.EWtdXdo3nx3t8ZlvSfKX0Z7s0wKb3e2PxYMp0XONaGFhwfeTRcT8Ke9G2BQ8D51-2FHAlWt1ABgR2kZMCCxrkHwQ-3D-3DuOca_x9osS7BzWruc2vyP0ryhjp1x1SORXKHR3ODGO-2FMcAZWcDEH5sFjG8hifz-2Fx-2FLlz0ywhQ3aSn225U2ntY8ehBVeNagO9eVdTLJp47lJyzn97NxdAPpZKCVKBkbERPShtsZssiUkIeY2PbdnNdqinNeA7F-2B8DdM-2FbtJIJwRZ0FV4xaXcgKlEgrSP98MaRcyCXU2bL-2BrzR-2BvGX4DDvGmiCHquqyOMSrVAXLKQktJmiWARAil9lkj4F9uQUwMKnA4AYLKznq2CeQIKK6ymeLWgMoue4CYmeetvtWINF2nPVgVkjw9nZEIRvlPg7DV-2BYCo1Rwf8ngCuBDopD59IQr3Frqt6eS8QoRsvt6-2Ba-2FQigUeULHT-2BR77uPO5WxHU8uCB25XL">“45x: A Dirt Dream.”</a>“One goal of Tiger Media Network is to give students a look into what the real-world working environment might be,” said Nick Schwien, director of TMN. “We want our FHSU students to stand out to potential employers when they apply for jobs post-graduation. Experiences like this fit perfectly into the Department of Informatics approach to preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s workforce.”TMN News and Sports Director Russell Heitmann said he hopes future summer interns can continue to build on the success of prior projects.“Our first set of interns set the bar high with a quality product and gave our current students a goal of what to reach for,” he said. “Next summer’s interns should be able to look at the finished product and see something to try and emulate and learn from, just like this year’s interns did with the prior internship group.”&nbsp;Ryan Schuckman is a junior from Hays studying Information Networking and Telecommunications: Digital Media Production and Journalism.&nbsp;Raegan Neufeld is a senior from Inman studying Information Networking and Telecommunications: Digital Media Production and Journalism.&nbsp;John Billinger is a senior from Ellinwood studying Information Networking and Telecommunications: Digital Media Production and Journalism.&nbsp;

Ellinwood intern at FHSU explores custom harvesting in documentary

Hear this month's Focus on Stafford County show with Eagle Radio's Steve Webster and Stafford County Economic Development Director Ryan Russell that aired July 25, 2024.

The Focus on Stafford County program airs the fourth Thursday of the month at 11:30 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687372980932.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hear this month's Focus on Stafford County show with Eagle Radio's Steve Webster and Stafford County Economic Development Director Ryan Russell that aired July 25, 2024.<div><iframe title="Focus on Stafford County show" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=na5i8-167e09a-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=60a0c8" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>The Focus on Stafford County program airs the fourth Thursday of the month at 11:30 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.

🎙Post Podcast: Focus on Stafford County show

Control volunteer wheat early and often to protect next year’s yields

Billowing clouds bringing summer showers are a welcome sight for sore eyes following a multi-year drought, but Kansas producers should also keep their eyes on their fields to monitor and control volunteer wheat. Doing so is essential to protecting next summer’s harvest as those sneaky plants harbor the wheat curl mites that carry yield-limiting diseases like Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus (WSMV).&nbsp;

“Now’s the time to be vigilant about volunteer control,” said Kelsey Andersen Onofre, assistant professor of plant pathology at K-State's College of Agriculture. “The best opportunity we have to manage WSMV is by managing our volunteer wheat prior to planting. The situation this past season could lead to heightened risk in 2024-25.”

Onofre explained that a combination of meteorological conditions throughout the growing season led to increased WSMV pressure on the 2024 wheat crop.&nbsp;

“We had volunteer wheat last year because of crop failure due to drought and untimely hail prior to harvest. We even had cases where folks were grazing volunteer wheat because of the drought conditions,” she said. “Then we had good conditions for mite development and reproduction in the fall. All that led to a perfect storm for WSMV last year.”

“This year was a bad year for WSMV, not just in western Kansas, but across the state. We had very severe WSMV across the whole northern tier of counties in Kansas, even in the northeast corner - that’s atypical. In addition, we had higher than usual levels of Triticum mosaic (TriM) come through the K-State Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic.”

While K-State is still crunching the final yield loss estimates from WSMV for the 2024 harvest, the disease causes an average of $75 million in losses to Kansas wheat farmers every year - with the potential for more than 80 percent yield loss in heavily infected fields.&nbsp;

The virus is spread by the wheat curl mite, which feeds on wheat and other grasses. Wheat curl mites and the virus must have green host tissue to survive on throughout the summer after harvest. They most commonly reside on volunteer wheat that blew out the back of the combine or shattered grain from hailstorms that happened before harvest. The mites move from mature wheat to newly emerged wheat in the summer. Onofre noted there can also be sneaky scenarios where volunteer wheat emerges in double-cropped fields or cover crops.&nbsp;

Fields with WSMV infections last year should be particularly mindful of volunteer management through the summer. While WSMV is not treatable once fields are infected, the disease is preventable - and controlling volunteer wheat is a top priority to do so.&nbsp;

“Managing your volunteer is the absolute best management strategy,” Onofre said, adding that it is recommended that producers terminate volunteer wheat at least two weeks prior to planting wheat to allow enough time to kill all the wheat curl mites present in a field. Ideally, all fields within one to two miles are volunteer-free, but that can be hard to accomplish.&nbsp;

Producers also have the option to select varieties developed with built-in genetic resistance to WSMV - and the list of varieties available with this resistance grows with each year’s releases. However, Onofre cautioned that the genes that provide resistance are not perfect - they’re pressure sensitive, turn off at high temperatures and don’t work against other mite-carried diseases like Triticum mosaic (TriM).&nbsp;

“An uptick in disease emphasizes that you can’t rely on that genetic resistance alone,” she said. “While we do have options and varietal selection is really important, that very first priority has to be controlling that volunteer wheat.”&nbsp;

Onofre also reminded producers that the K-State Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic can test for WSMV and other wheat viruses to determine the presence of the virus – even as early as this fall. If a producer suspects they have a WSMV or TriM infection, they can work with their local extension office to submit samples to the lab.&nbsp;

Read the latest guidance from K-State Agronomy on WSMV and the importance of controlling volunteer wheat this year at:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pH45tnH_N2NJtW0c0vmM64pcg2IO73PhkJB5Ife3GXpj_6CFSrjYHBRUMm8Yzb8Y1bw2SsFDVeDPhksKlZIa_o8YsAKFmYFo5P2quYchyp5w8CMi-0OQRQ702dCWMgMRRjFC9LmFzq-4phgKgmYpO9Xnd5Bb1E_-&amp;c=07sdvU14Dp0B_rwuv_uEFc9WLhz8NW4NicdXBU2ptcXuEsmTWS2VSA==&amp;ch=yuRhbNkjsxRt5Q5o6PkyBjhI8pnFSkziCJ1lZQrylIbe2VnorZu6PA==">https://eupdate.agronomy.ksu.edu/</a>.&nbsp;(specific link if you want to use it is at:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pH45tnH_N2NJtW0c0vmM64pcg2IO73PhkJB5Ife3GXpj_6CFSrjYHLvziN-gPULP1vX5t4tW1deRXgzn-LW7p8NYWRjY_RkwqdzGGy-y5fXrjoO_JtSui0biHwWRxo8MmF_wyQcT8OA9zkHzuQDAi7zSRPuhrY3kt1MY8Nj_tER83LImu6evtN8ecTg5wtgm2-f3lMQl1gj0h5KZZ9VIyEpVPzOQB7UMQxnuLiKLpbFKWP_Ezt6WFrNteVjCoXFRlbkY8gMWc0s=&amp;c=07sdvU14Dp0B_rwuv_uEFc9WLhz8NW4NicdXBU2ptcXuEsmTWS2VSA==&amp;ch=yuRhbNkjsxRt5Q5o6PkyBjhI8pnFSkziCJ1lZQrylIbe2VnorZu6PA==">https://eupdate.agronomy.ksu.edu/article/wheat-streak-mosaic-virus-control-of-volunteer-wheat-is-crucial-600-2</a>.)

Kelsey added an additional link if you want to include it: More on wheat streak mosaic virus&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pH45tnH_N2NJtW0c0vmM64pcg2IO73PhkJB5Ife3GXpj_6CFSrjYHLvziN-gPULP0fO6TyFq_yazu4r0vfn-_TLiNtf-Zh3xRtO-AeC10KzJsPKGg1vd1YuYBTCRzma6eUrIVbYHV6R_UKqzVTBOysfSCDAhAYgbpnzOj2_LIv0YDLPFNNnHDkHhX0YkinZUil0DwXO-AkBy-Ot3FGAg9A==&amp;c=07sdvU14Dp0B_rwuv_uEFc9WLhz8NW4NicdXBU2ptcXuEsmTWS2VSA==&amp;ch=yuRhbNkjsxRt5Q5o6PkyBjhI8pnFSkziCJ1lZQrylIbe2VnorZu6PA==">here</a>.

Written by Julia Debes for Kansas Wheat

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721936729496.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Control volunteer wheat early and often to protect next year’s yields</h2>Billowing clouds bringing summer showers are a welcome sight for sore eyes following a multi-year drought, but Kansas producers should also keep their eyes on their fields to monitor and control volunteer wheat. Doing so is essential to protecting next summer’s harvest as those sneaky plants harbor the wheat curl mites that carry yield-limiting diseases like Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus (WSMV).&nbsp;“Now’s the time to be vigilant about volunteer control,” said Kelsey Andersen Onofre, assistant professor of plant pathology at K-State's College of Agriculture. “The best opportunity we have to manage WSMV is by managing our volunteer wheat prior to planting. The situation this past season could lead to heightened risk in 2024-25.”Onofre explained that a combination of meteorological conditions throughout the growing season led to increased WSMV pressure on the 2024 wheat crop.&nbsp;“We had volunteer wheat last year because of crop failure due to drought and untimely hail prior to harvest. We even had cases where folks were grazing volunteer wheat because of the drought conditions,” she said. “Then we had good conditions for mite development and reproduction in the fall. All that led to a perfect storm for WSMV last year.”“This year was a bad year for WSMV, not just in western Kansas, but across the state. We had very severe WSMV across the whole northern tier of counties in Kansas, even in the northeast corner - that’s atypical. In addition, we had higher than usual levels of Triticum mosaic (TriM) come through the K-State Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic.”While K-State is still crunching the final yield loss estimates from WSMV for the 2024 harvest, the disease causes an average of $75 million in losses to Kansas wheat farmers every year - with the potential for more than 80 percent yield loss in heavily infected fields.&nbsp;The virus is spread by the wheat curl mite, which feeds on wheat and other grasses. Wheat curl mites and the virus must have green host tissue to survive on throughout the summer after harvest. They most commonly reside on volunteer wheat that blew out the back of the combine or shattered grain from hailstorms that happened before harvest. The mites move from mature wheat to newly emerged wheat in the summer. Onofre noted there can also be sneaky scenarios where volunteer wheat emerges in double-cropped fields or cover crops.&nbsp;Fields with WSMV infections last year should be particularly mindful of volunteer management through the summer. While WSMV is not treatable once fields are infected, the disease is preventable - and controlling volunteer wheat is a top priority to do so.&nbsp;“Managing your volunteer is the absolute best management strategy,” Onofre said, adding that it is recommended that producers terminate volunteer wheat at least two weeks prior to planting wheat to allow enough time to kill all the wheat curl mites present in a field. Ideally, all fields within one to two miles are volunteer-free, but that can be hard to accomplish.&nbsp;Producers also have the option to select varieties developed with built-in genetic resistance to WSMV - and the list of varieties available with this resistance grows with each year’s releases. However, Onofre cautioned that the genes that provide resistance are not perfect - they’re pressure sensitive, turn off at high temperatures and don’t work against other mite-carried diseases like Triticum mosaic (TriM).&nbsp;“An uptick in disease emphasizes that you can’t rely on that genetic resistance alone,” she said. “While we do have options and varietal selection is really important, that very first priority has to be controlling that volunteer wheat.”&nbsp;Onofre also reminded producers that the K-State Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic can test for WSMV and other wheat viruses to determine the presence of the virus – even as early as this fall. If a producer suspects they have a WSMV or TriM infection, they can work with their local extension office to submit samples to the lab.&nbsp;Read the latest guidance from K-State Agronomy on WSMV and the importance of controlling volunteer wheat this year at:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pH45tnH_N2NJtW0c0vmM64pcg2IO73PhkJB5Ife3GXpj_6CFSrjYHBRUMm8Yzb8Y1bw2SsFDVeDPhksKlZIa_o8YsAKFmYFo5P2quYchyp5w8CMi-0OQRQ702dCWMgMRRjFC9LmFzq-4phgKgmYpO9Xnd5Bb1E_-&amp;c=07sdvU14Dp0B_rwuv_uEFc9WLhz8NW4NicdXBU2ptcXuEsmTWS2VSA==&amp;ch=yuRhbNkjsxRt5Q5o6PkyBjhI8pnFSkziCJ1lZQrylIbe2VnorZu6PA==">https://eupdate.agronomy.ksu.edu/</a>.&nbsp;(specific link if you want to use it is at:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pH45tnH_N2NJtW0c0vmM64pcg2IO73PhkJB5Ife3GXpj_6CFSrjYHLvziN-gPULP1vX5t4tW1deRXgzn-LW7p8NYWRjY_RkwqdzGGy-y5fXrjoO_JtSui0biHwWRxo8MmF_wyQcT8OA9zkHzuQDAi7zSRPuhrY3kt1MY8Nj_tER83LImu6evtN8ecTg5wtgm2-f3lMQl1gj0h5KZZ9VIyEpVPzOQB7UMQxnuLiKLpbFKWP_Ezt6WFrNteVjCoXFRlbkY8gMWc0s=&amp;c=07sdvU14Dp0B_rwuv_uEFc9WLhz8NW4NicdXBU2ptcXuEsmTWS2VSA==&amp;ch=yuRhbNkjsxRt5Q5o6PkyBjhI8pnFSkziCJ1lZQrylIbe2VnorZu6PA==">https://eupdate.agronomy.ksu.edu/article/wheat-streak-mosaic-virus-control-of-volunteer-wheat-is-crucial-600-2</a>.)Kelsey added an additional link if you want to include it: More on wheat streak mosaic virus&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001pH45tnH_N2NJtW0c0vmM64pcg2IO73PhkJB5Ife3GXpj_6CFSrjYHLvziN-gPULP0fO6TyFq_yazu4r0vfn-_TLiNtf-Zh3xRtO-AeC10KzJsPKGg1vd1YuYBTCRzma6eUrIVbYHV6R_UKqzVTBOysfSCDAhAYgbpnzOj2_LIv0YDLPFNNnHDkHhX0YkinZUil0DwXO-AkBy-Ot3FGAg9A==&amp;c=07sdvU14Dp0B_rwuv_uEFc9WLhz8NW4NicdXBU2ptcXuEsmTWS2VSA==&amp;ch=yuRhbNkjsxRt5Q5o6PkyBjhI8pnFSkziCJ1lZQrylIbe2VnorZu6PA==">here</a>.Written by Julia Debes for Kansas Wheat

Wheat Scoop: Stop the streak!

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Betty Cadoret of Stockton has been a volunteer in the Senior Companion Program for 28 years.

Cadoret, 91, joined the program shortly before her husband died.

"I have lovely companions," she said at a recent banquet celebrating the 50th anniversary of the program.

Cadoret, who still drives, visits with her companions and sometimes takes them to eat lunch, get a pop or go shopping.

"I always told my ladies when I got there, 'I've come to do what you want to do, so whatever you want to do, you tell me,'" she said.

The Senior Companion Program is part of the AmeriCorps Seniors program and is sponsored by Fort Hays State University in northwest Kansas.

In addition to offering friendship to older adults, who are often unable to leave their homes unaided, some companions help with light chores, such as dishes or laundry. They may help fill pill reminders, take a companion to a doctor's appointment or provide respite care for family caregivers.

The program helps seniors stay in their homes and gives the volunteers purpose, Tawnya Rohr, director, said.

"Especially in rural Kansas where families aren't always close and can't always provide those needed services," she said, "they help individuals remain living at home, so they don't have to go to that next level of care. 

"Our volunteers can go in and just provide that little bit of support to help them remain living independently at home."&nbsp;

Volunteers must be 55 years old or older. Incoming-qualifying seniors receive a small stipend for their service, and all volunteers are reimbursed for mileage.

FHSU's Senior Companion Program covers 13 counties, including Phillips, Graham, Rooks, Gove, Trego, Ellis, Russell, Ness, Rush, Barton, Hodgeman, Pawnee and Ford.

Cadoret said she looks forward to "meeting with her ladies."

"What I do is do her sink of dishes, and then we just sit and visit," she said of her current companion. 

"She says, 'I like to visit,' and I say, 'So do I," Cadoret said with a giggle. "We talk about this, that and the other. We have so much fun. It really makes my day because when I go home, I feel like I really have done a day's work."

Beverly Prescott, 84, of Larned, has been a senior companion for 21 years. She became a companion because her husband was a volunteer.

Prescott recalled a fond memory of one her comapnions.

"I had one companion, and I knew her all my life. We did a lot of things together. She had a little red Volkswagen that we would toodle around in. We had a great time. It was lots of fun," Prescott said.&nbsp;

"It gets me out of the house," she said, "and I see the satisfaction when I have done something for them. They are so appreciative."

She strongly urged others to participate in the program.

"Go for it," she said. "It's very inspiring. You get as much out of it as they do."

Adrienne Cargile, 89, of Hays, shares her faith with her companions. They pray together.

"It's so wonderful," Cargile said. "We're both blessed—myself and my senior companion.

"It gives me purpose. When you get to a certain age, you get away from activities and socializing. These people, we have so much in common. We go back to reminiscing about how life used to be."

Juanita Lumpkins of Great Bend was honored at the recent 50th-anniversary banquet for her 20 years of service as a senior companion. She also urged others to volunteer, saying more companions are needed and that she receives great joy from being a volunteer.

At the recent companions' banquet, Kristi Clore discussed how the program has helped her mother. She said her mother became very lonely after her husband died unexpectedly.

"My mom fell in between," Clore said. "'Where do I fit? Who do I help?' Someone like herself who had spent her whole life giving to her family felt as if she didn't fit anywhere."&nbsp;

Clore's mother was matched with Pat Bieker, now a 13-year veteran of the program from Ellis.

Clore said her mother talked about Pat every day.&nbsp;

When Clore's mother moved to Hays, Phyllis Robertson became her companion. Clore said Phyllis brings her mom cheeseburgers and Dr. Pepper Snoballs, which she loves.&nbsp;

"Those are some of the things she does for my mom, not because it's her job, but because she cares," Clore said.

Both women spent hours conversing with her mother, which she said is a great talent.

"My dad used to tell me long before he passed away that the goal in life is to change one person's day," Clore said. "If you change one person's day, you've succeeded as a human. Between Pat and Phyllis, they've done just that over and over and over again."

The program has 55 volunteers across its service area, considerably down from before the pandemic. Rohr said the program has a long list of clients who need volunteer companions.

For those who may need a companion, call 785-628-5809. If you are interested in volunteering, call the same number.

You can also learn more on the program's <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/seniorcompanions/">website</a>. You can also follow the program on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fhsu.fgp.scp">Facebook</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721756289684.jpeg" alt="Betty Cadoret, far right, a senior companion volunteer for 28 years, said she loves visiting with "her ladies." Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Betty Cadoret, far right, a senior companion volunteer for 28 years, said she loves visiting with "her ladies." Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><div><iframe title="Seniors help seniors as FHSU companion program celebrates 50 years" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=ps2sc-1678f43-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=auto&logo_link=podcast_page&btn-skin=60a0c8&size=315" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostBetty Cadoret of Stockton has been a volunteer in the Senior Companion Program for 28 years.Cadoret, 91, joined the program shortly before her husband died."I have lovely companions," she said at a recent banquet celebrating the 50th anniversary of the program.Cadoret, who still drives, visits with her companions and sometimes takes them to eat lunch, get a pop or go shopping."I always told my ladies when I got there, 'I've come to do what you want to do, so whatever you want to do, you tell me,'" she said.The Senior Companion Program is part of the AmeriCorps Seniors program and is sponsored by Fort Hays State University in northwest Kansas.In addition to offering friendship to older adults, who are often unable to leave their homes unaided, some companions help with light chores, such as dishes or laundry. They may help fill pill reminders, take a companion to a doctor's appointment or provide respite care for family caregivers.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721756989882.jpeg" alt="Beverly Prescott of Larned, a 21-year volunteer for the Senior Companion Program, said other seniors should volunteer for the program. "Go for it," she said. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Beverly Prescott of Larned, a 21-year volunteer for the Senior Companion Program, said other seniors should volunteer for the program. "Go for it," she said. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The program helps seniors stay in their homes and gives the volunteers purpose, Tawnya Rohr, director, said."Especially in rural Kansas where families aren't always close and can't always provide those needed services," she said, "they help individuals remain living at home, so they don't have to go to that next level of care. "Our volunteers can go in and just provide that little bit of support to help them remain living independently at home."&nbsp;Volunteers must be 55 years old or older. Incoming-qualifying seniors receive a small stipend for their service, and all volunteers are reimbursed for mileage.FHSU's Senior Companion Program covers 13 counties, including Phillips, Graham, Rooks, Gove, Trego, Ellis, Russell, Ness, Rush, Barton, Hodgeman, Pawnee and Ford.Cadoret said she looks forward to "meeting with her ladies.""What I do is do her sink of dishes, and then we just sit and visit," she said of her current companion. "She says, 'I like to visit,' and I say, 'So do I," Cadoret said with a giggle. "We talk about this, that and the other. We have so much fun. It really makes my day because when I go home, I feel like I really have done a day's work."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721757403714.jpeg" alt="Kristi Clore's mother has received services from the Senior Companion Program. She was a featured speaker at the 50th anniversary celebration banquet for the program on July 18. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Kristi Clore's mother has received services from the Senior Companion Program. She was a featured speaker at the 50th anniversary celebration banquet for the program on July 18. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Beverly Prescott, 84, of Larned, has been a senior companion for 21 years. She became a companion because her husband was a volunteer.Prescott recalled a fond memory of one her comapnions."I had one companion, and I knew her all my life. We did a lot of things together. She had a little red Volkswagen that we would toodle around in. We had a great time. It was lots of fun," Prescott said.&nbsp;"It gets me out of the house," she said, "and I see the satisfaction when I have done something for them. They are so appreciative."She strongly urged others to participate in the program."Go for it," she said. "It's very inspiring. You get as much out of it as they do."Adrienne Cargile, 89, of Hays, shares her faith with her companions. They pray together."It's so wonderful," Cargile said. "We're both blessed—myself and my senior companion."It gives me purpose. When you get to a certain age, you get away from activities and socializing. These people, we have so much in common. We go back to reminiscing about how life used to be."Juanita Lumpkins of Great Bend was honored at the recent 50th-anniversary banquet for her 20 years of service as a senior companion. She also urged others to volunteer, saying more companions are needed and that she receives great joy from being a volunteer.At the recent companions' banquet, Kristi Clore discussed how the program has helped her mother. She said her mother became very lonely after her husband died unexpectedly."My mom fell in between," Clore said. "'Where do I fit? Who do I help?' Someone like herself who had spent her whole life giving to her family felt as if she didn't fit anywhere."&nbsp;Clore's mother was matched with Pat Bieker, now a 13-year veteran of the program from Ellis.Clore said her mother talked about Pat every day.&nbsp;When Clore's mother moved to Hays, Phyllis Robertson became her companion. Clore said Phyllis brings her mom cheeseburgers and Dr. Pepper Snoballs, which she loves.&nbsp;"Those are some of the things she does for my mom, not because it's her job, but because she cares," Clore said.Both women spent hours conversing with her mother, which she said is a great talent."My dad used to tell me long before he passed away that the goal in life is to change one person's day," Clore said. "If you change one person's day, you've succeeded as a human. Between Pat and Phyllis, they've done just that over and over and over again."The program has 55 volunteers across its service area, considerably down from before the pandemic. Rohr said the program has a long list of clients who need volunteer companions.For those who may need a companion, call 785-628-5809. If you are interested in volunteering, call the same number.You can also learn more on the program's <a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/seniorcompanions/">website</a>. You can also follow the program on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/fhsu.fgp.scp">Facebook</a>.

Seniors help seniors as companion program celebrates 50 years

PAWNEE COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 6a.m. Saturday in Pawnee County

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Dodge van driven by Timothy Allen Taylor, 49, Garfield, was eastbound on U.S. 56 four miles west of Garfield.

The van traveled into the south ditch, came back across the highway, struck the north ditch, rolled and came to rest on its wheels facing north.

EMS transported Taylor to the hospital in Great Bend. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the&nbsp; KHP.

PAWNEE COUNTY—One person was injured in an accident just before 6a.m. Saturday in Pawnee CountyThe Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Dodge van driven by Timothy Allen Taylor, 49, Garfield, was eastbound on U.S. 56 four miles west of Garfield.The van traveled into the south ditch, came back across the highway, struck the north ditch, rolled and came to rest on its wheels facing north.EMS transported Taylor to the hospital in Great Bend. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the&nbsp; KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after van rollover crash

Megan Mawhirter has been involved in health-information management locally for more than a decade and now her reach extends to the state level.

Mawhirter is Director of Health Information Management &amp; Admissions at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH) in Larned. She was recently elected to a director position at the Kansas Health Information Management Association (KHIMA).

“Every healthcare encounter involves health information,” Mawhirter said. “There are so many pieces involved.

“Health information entails everything from the moment you check-in to the final invoice being sent,” she explained. “It encompasses the record of why a patient is here. There are so many moving parts to a patient visit.

“This is why a hospital or other healthcare facility needs to have someone trained to oversee the process. We must ensure we comply with all state and federal regulations.”

Mawhirter also works with PVCH Admissions to ensure all records are up-to-date. Other responsibilities include auditing records, and collaborating with attorneys, insurance companies and patients.

“The billing office and our health-information-management staff work together to assure accurate assignment of billing codes,” she noted.

KHIMA members are nurses, medical coders, billers, privacy officers and data specialists - anyone involved in the medical field.

“Members include so many different people, with so many skills and specialties,” said Mawhirter, who joined KHIMA in 2008 as a student. “The knowledge I have gained

as part of this organization is incredible and my new contacts around the state are instrumental in expanding my knowledge base.”

Mawhirter advises the board of directors, while serving as chair of the KHIMA Audit Subcommittee and liaison to the Information Integrity Committee.

“I plan to share the knowledge I gain with the staff at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital and other facilities,” Mawhirter commented. “The more information I have the better we can serve our patients and staff.

“Also, I encourage students and professionals to join this great statewide organization.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721918383101.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Megan Mawhirter has been involved in health-information management locally for more than a decade and now her reach extends to the state level.Mawhirter is Director of Health Information Management &amp; Admissions at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital (PVCH) in Larned. She was recently elected to a director position at the Kansas Health Information Management Association (KHIMA).“Every healthcare encounter involves health information,” Mawhirter said. “There are so many pieces involved.“Health information entails everything from the moment you check-in to the final invoice being sent,” she explained. “It encompasses the record of why a patient is here. There are so many moving parts to a patient visit.“This is why a hospital or other healthcare facility needs to have someone trained to oversee the process. We must ensure we comply with all state and federal regulations.”Mawhirter also works with PVCH Admissions to ensure all records are up-to-date. Other responsibilities include auditing records, and collaborating with attorneys, insurance companies and patients.“The billing office and our health-information-management staff work together to assure accurate assignment of billing codes,” she noted.KHIMA members are nurses, medical coders, billers, privacy officers and data specialists - anyone involved in the medical field.“Members include so many different people, with so many skills and specialties,” said Mawhirter, who joined KHIMA in 2008 as a student. “The knowledge I have gainedas part of this organization is incredible and my new contacts around the state are instrumental in expanding my knowledge base.”Mawhirter advises the board of directors, while serving as chair of the KHIMA Audit Subcommittee and liaison to the Information Integrity Committee.“I plan to share the knowledge I gain with the staff at Pawnee Valley Community Hospital and other facilities,” Mawhirter commented. “The more information I have the better we can serve our patients and staff.“Also, I encourage students and professionals to join this great statewide organization.”

Pawnee Valley Community Hospital’s Mawhirter assumes director position

Before my family and I moved to Kansas, 18 years ago next month, I didn’t consider summer my favorite season. As a perpetual student and then a college professor, summer vacations were obviously a nice break, and of course summer activities were fun. But compared with flowers in the spring, foliage in the fall, and snow in the winter, summer just didn’t impress me.

The Sunflower state changed that. People complain about the heat, humidity, and wind but I found it all quite wonderful. Getting on my bike and hitting the long, straight county roads, looking across golden wheat fields and rolling green pastures towards a broad and blue horizon, with sunflowers along the way—it was beautiful, and made me a firm fan of Kansas summers.

That did involve some adjustments, though. For example: when are the lazy “dog days” of summer? As a scholar of politics as well as a fan of the season, this actually mattered to me.

Growing up in Washington state, August was the tired, tail-end of summer, the time when everyone mentally checked out, and I carried that assumption into my professional life. Living and studying in Washington DC, August was so disregarded by many who worked there that there were humorous&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2010/08/august-let-s-get-rid-of-it.html">calls to abolish it</a>. August was when the parties and agencies mopped up unfinished business, if they worked at all, just waiting for politics to re-ignite in the fall.

But in Kansas, whose approach to the calendar had historically followed agricultural patterns distinct from what I knew as a child and student, things were different. With the wheat harvest complete before the end of July, schools and governments looked to August as the time to get back into a normal routine. And so, as the years have gone by, I’ve had to accustom myself to treating late July, rather than August, as the time to truly tune out and reset one’s internal clock.

I was thinking about this while speaking to a local political group just last week. I was surrounded by older folks, who’d dedicated years—decades really--of their lives to understanding and promoting the causes and candidates they believed in. One might imagine these folks would be, like me on these hot, late July days, taking it easy. But no—they were fired up, anxious and ready and engaged, filled with questions and challenges and concerns.

Their attitude surprised me, though it shouldn’t have. In a single week they, like all of us, had seen the attempted assassination of one presidential candidate and the withdrawal of another. Far from the summer political calendar closing its eyes and taking a nap, suddenly everything was turbo-charged and dramatic, the news terrible and shocking and inspiring and unexpected. As I commented to some other news junkies, upon my second late-night visit to a local television station in a little over a week, it’s not supposed to be like this until after Labor Day!

Well, so much for those expectations. July is rushing into August and beyond at breakneck speed, with primary elections and brokered conventions looming across the nation, some of whose consequences might well affect even the most local legislative races across our state.

In a political culture supposedly built upon democratic debate, with people taking the time to test different political options carefully, that kind of speed isn’t good. But unless we can all learn to turn off our phones and trust that not everything always needs to be treated as a desperate emergency, we’ll have to make the best of our hurried reality, applying whatever limited breaks we can find occasionally. Summer’s still here, but maybe not the dog days of old, unfortunately.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1690389122282.jpeg" alt="written by:&nbsp;Dr. Russell Arben Fox - politics teacher at Friends University in Wichita" />
 <figcaption>written by:&nbsp;Dr. Russell Arben Fox - politics teacher at Friends University in Wichita</figcaption>
 </figure>Before my family and I moved to Kansas, 18 years ago next month, I didn’t consider summer my favorite season. As a perpetual student and then a college professor, summer vacations were obviously a nice break, and of course summer activities were fun. But compared with flowers in the spring, foliage in the fall, and snow in the winter, summer just didn’t impress me.The Sunflower state changed that. People complain about the heat, humidity, and wind but I found it all quite wonderful. Getting on my bike and hitting the long, straight county roads, looking across golden wheat fields and rolling green pastures towards a broad and blue horizon, with sunflowers along the way—it was beautiful, and made me a firm fan of Kansas summers.That did involve some adjustments, though. For example: when are the lazy “dog days” of summer? As a scholar of politics as well as a fan of the season, this actually mattered to me.Growing up in Washington state, August was the tired, tail-end of summer, the time when everyone mentally checked out, and I carried that assumption into my professional life. Living and studying in Washington DC, August was so disregarded by many who worked there that there were humorous&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2010/08/august-let-s-get-rid-of-it.html">calls to abolish it</a>. August was when the parties and agencies mopped up unfinished business, if they worked at all, just waiting for politics to re-ignite in the fall.But in Kansas, whose approach to the calendar had historically followed agricultural patterns distinct from what I knew as a child and student, things were different. With the wheat harvest complete before the end of July, schools and governments looked to August as the time to get back into a normal routine. And so, as the years have gone by, I’ve had to accustom myself to treating late July, rather than August, as the time to truly tune out and reset one’s internal clock.I was thinking about this while speaking to a local political group just last week. I was surrounded by older folks, who’d dedicated years—decades really--of their lives to understanding and promoting the causes and candidates they believed in. One might imagine these folks would be, like me on these hot, late July days, taking it easy. But no—they were fired up, anxious and ready and engaged, filled with questions and challenges and concerns.Their attitude surprised me, though it shouldn’t have. In a single week they, like all of us, had seen the attempted assassination of one presidential candidate and the withdrawal of another. Far from the summer political calendar closing its eyes and taking a nap, suddenly everything was turbo-charged and dramatic, the news terrible and shocking and inspiring and unexpected. As I commented to some other news junkies, upon my second late-night visit to a local television station in a little over a week, it’s not supposed to be like this until after Labor Day!Well, so much for those expectations. July is rushing into August and beyond at breakneck speed, with primary elections and brokered conventions looming across the nation, some of whose consequences might well affect even the most local legislative races across our state.In a political culture supposedly built upon democratic debate, with people taking the time to test different political options carefully, that kind of speed isn’t good. But unless we can all learn to turn off our phones and trust that not everything always needs to be treated as a desperate emergency, we’ll have to make the best of our hurried reality, applying whatever limited breaks we can find occasionally. Summer’s still here, but maybe not the dog days of old, unfortunately.

INSIGHT KANSAS: On being (politically) surprised by summer

It’s a two-minute recap of the headlines that broke this past week in the Golden Belt. For the full stories, click the links below.

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/c9673ba7-780f-494f-bbae-8eb562e434ac">Hoisington man dies after 2-vehicle rollover crash</a>

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/46068efc-6aa1-4a33-918a-9ce6be00320f">Numbers down, Great Bend considering ending June Jaunt</a>

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/734dc0c0-175c-4dc4-b21e-dad593c578f0">Barton college approves 5% increase to salary budget for 2025</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1718815632927.jpeg" alt="The Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau Board was in favor of possibly ending the June Jaunt festival." />
 <figcaption>The Great Bend Convention and Visitors Bureau Board was in favor of possibly ending the June Jaunt festival.</figcaption>
 </figure>It’s a two-minute recap of the headlines that broke this past week in the Golden Belt. For the full stories, click the links below.<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/lxu5z2o5/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/c9673ba7-780f-494f-bbae-8eb562e434ac">Hoisington man dies after 2-vehicle rollover crash</a><a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/46068efc-6aa1-4a33-918a-9ce6be00320f">Numbers down, Great Bend considering ending June Jaunt</a><a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/734dc0c0-175c-4dc4-b21e-dad593c578f0">Barton college approves 5% increase to salary budget for 2025</a>

Eagle Radio's news week in review

In the insect world, the cicadas stole the show in 2024 with the emergence of the 13-year and 17-year broods together for the first time in 221 years. While billions of the insects are impacting life in the eastern United States, another insect is making itself known in central and western Kansas: the grasshopper. Alicia Boor, agriculture and natural resources agent in the Cottonwood District for K-State Research and Extension, said there are limited options for controlling the insects.

"There are not a lot of insecticides that are going to kill the big ones," she said. "Your best bet is, if you find a hatching ground earlier in the spring, to spray using a recommended spray at that point to keep the population down. Once they get to this big stage a lot of them are at right now, unless you're going to have your neighbor and your whole neighborhood spray, you're not going to get a lot of coverage because they're just going to come back."

Certain conditions can lead to an increase in grasshoppers. Hot, dry summers can mean more grasshoppers laying eggs. If the following spring is warm and wet, more of those eggs will hatch. 

"Sometimes, if we have a couple of good years where they've had a lot of vegetation where their hatching grounds are, and they don't have to go out very far, they will stay and reproduce in that hatching ground," Boor said. "If we have a year where their good vegetation dries out, as they grow up and get to that last instar stage and become full-fledged adults, they grow wings."

The grasshoppers will eat all the food in an area before moving on. Boor said the insects can eat grass but are more likely to eat more succulent plants and crops. Five to eight grasshoppers per square yard in corn or sorghum may be enough to warrant insecticide treatment. The same applies to 15 or more grasshoppers in a square yard of alfalfa, and just a few grasshoppers per square yard of wheat can be destructive.

According to research from K-State, there are approximately 115 grasshopper species in the state, and only a few pose serious threats to grass and vegetable crops. The different, two-striped, and redlegged species are the three most common types of grasshoppers in Kansas. Differential and two-striped grasshoppers may grow as large as two inches. Most grasshoppers produce a single generation annually.&nbsp;

Boor did have some good news about grasshopper control: chickens love the insects, and many wild birds also eat the bugs. Several mammals are also known to dine on grasshoppers.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/6/1624552635915.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostIn the insect world, the cicadas stole the show in 2024 with the emergence of the 13-year and 17-year broods together for the first time in 221 years. While billions of the insects are impacting life in the eastern United States, another insect is making itself known in central and western Kansas: the grasshopper. Alicia Boor, agriculture and natural resources agent in the Cottonwood District for K-State Research and Extension, said there are limited options for controlling the insects."There are not a lot of insecticides that are going to kill the big ones," she said. "Your best bet is, if you find a hatching ground earlier in the spring, to spray using a recommended spray at that point to keep the population down. Once they get to this big stage a lot of them are at right now, unless you're going to have your neighbor and your whole neighborhood spray, you're not going to get a lot of coverage because they're just going to come back."Certain conditions can lead to an increase in grasshoppers. Hot, dry summers can mean more grasshoppers laying eggs. If the following spring is warm and wet, more of those eggs will hatch. "Sometimes, if we have a couple of good years where they've had a lot of vegetation where their hatching grounds are, and they don't have to go out very far, they will stay and reproduce in that hatching ground," Boor said. "If we have a year where their good vegetation dries out, as they grow up and get to that last instar stage and become full-fledged adults, they grow wings."The grasshoppers will eat all the food in an area before moving on. Boor said the insects can eat grass but are more likely to eat more succulent plants and crops. Five to eight grasshoppers per square yard in corn or sorghum may be enough to warrant insecticide treatment. The same applies to 15 or more grasshoppers in a square yard of alfalfa, and just a few grasshoppers per square yard of wheat can be destructive.According to research from K-State, there are approximately 115 grasshopper species in the state, and only a few pose serious threats to grass and vegetable crops. The different, two-striped, and redlegged species are the three most common types of grasshoppers in Kansas. Differential and two-striped grasshoppers may grow as large as two inches. Most grasshoppers produce a single generation annually.&nbsp;Boor did have some good news about grasshopper control: chickens love the insects, and many wild birds also eat the bugs. Several mammals are also known to dine on grasshoppers.

Grasshoppers becoming an issue in central, western Kansas

Kans for Kids will be celebrating its 30th birthday in October. Still, the Fighting Cancer Foundation continues to come up with new ways to assist area kids who are battling cancer. On Saturday, Aug. 17, Kans for Kids will host its first sporting clays benefit tournament at LaSada Lodge south of Russell. Kans for Kids Executive Director Christi Herber said the event is a fun and new way to help raise funds for a good cause.

"Kans for Kids appreciates all of Barton County and surrounding counties that support our kids and their families because these are local kids," she said. "All the donations stay right here for their family and friends."

The entry fee is $100 per person. Pre-registration includes a free shirt and lunch but ends July 31. 

"Registration is open the day of, so you do not have to preregister," Herber said. "You can just show up on Aug. 17 at LaSada and get you a spot."

Registration begins at 9 a.m. and prizes will be awarded to the top competitors. There will also be a silent raffle that Saturday, and raffle tickets are being sold ahead of the event for $20 apiece or six for $100. A home security system, cash, firearms, and watches are among the many prizes to be handed out. Raffle tickets may be purchased by contacting a Kans for Kids board member or by calling LaSada at (785) 483-3758. 

Pre-register for the clay shoot via scorechaser.com or by calling LaSada.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682364497407.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostKans for Kids will be celebrating its 30th birthday in October. Still, the Fighting Cancer Foundation continues to come up with new ways to assist area kids who are battling cancer. On Saturday, Aug. 17, Kans for Kids will host its first sporting clays benefit tournament at LaSada Lodge south of Russell. Kans for Kids Executive Director Christi Herber said the event is a fun and new way to help raise funds for a good cause."Kans for Kids appreciates all of Barton County and surrounding counties that support our kids and their families because these are local kids," she said. "All the donations stay right here for their family and friends."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721918485747.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The entry fee is $100 per person. Pre-registration includes a free shirt and lunch but ends July 31. "Registration is open the day of, so you do not have to preregister," Herber said. "You can just show up on Aug. 17 at LaSada and get you a spot."Registration begins at 9 a.m. and prizes will be awarded to the top competitors. There will also be a silent raffle that Saturday, and raffle tickets are being sold ahead of the event for $20 apiece or six for $100. A home security system, cash, firearms, and watches are among the many prizes to be handed out. Raffle tickets may be purchased by contacting a Kans for Kids board member or by calling LaSada at (785) 483-3758. Pre-register for the clay shoot via scorechaser.com or by calling LaSada.

Pre-registration deadline for Kans for Kids clay shoot July 31

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) have issued a public health advisory due to blue-green algae.

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 pets 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 pets, 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 target="_blank" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.ml9vPzv7c14zPT-0ub0JaCH6IdBTkzT1FLhLRAkrIgc/s/1305943097/br/246419897735-l">kdhe.ks.gov/1163</a>.

A&nbsp;Hazard status&nbsp;indicates that a harmful algal bloom is present, and extreme conditions exist.&nbsp;

When a hazard is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

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

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

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;When a watch is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

Advisories are&nbsp;Lifted&nbsp;when cell densities and toxin concentrations dissipate to levels below the Watch thresholds.

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;

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.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) have issued a public health advisory due to blue-green algae.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 pets 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 pets, 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 target="_blank" href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.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.ml9vPzv7c14zPT-0ub0JaCH6IdBTkzT1FLhLRAkrIgc/s/1305943097/br/246419897735-l">kdhe.ks.gov/1163</a>.Active AdvisoriesWarning&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Gathering Pond, Geary County</li><li>Harvey County East Lake, Harvey County</li><li>King Lake, Lyon County</li><li>Lake Afton, Sedgwick County</li><li>Melvern Outlet River Pond, Osage County</li><li>Melvern Outlet Swim Pond, Osage County</li>
 </ul>Watch&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Atchison City Lake #9, Atchison County</li><li>Atchison State Fishing Lake, Atchison County (Added July 26)</li><li>Cedar Lake, Johnson County (Added July 26)</li><li>Eagle Lake (Bel Aire), Sedgwick County</li><li>Louisburg City Lake, Miami County</li><li>River Pond (Tuttle Creek State Park), Pottawatomie &amp; Riley Counties (Added July 26)</li><li>Sabetha City Lake, Nemaha County (Added July 26)</li>
 </ul>Lifted&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Rooks County SFL, Rooks County</li>
 </ul>A&nbsp;Hazard status&nbsp;indicates that a harmful algal bloom is present, and extreme conditions exist.&nbsp;When a hazard is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:<ul>
 <li>Signage should be posted at all public access locations.</li><li>It is recommended that either a portion of the lake or the entire lake or zone, be closed to the public.</li><li>In some cases, the adjacent land should be closed as well. Actual setback distances will be determined on a site-specific basis, if necessary.</li><li>When partial closures (i.e., beach or cove) are issued, the remaining lake or zone area will carry a warning status.</li>
 </ul>A&nbsp;Warning status&nbsp;indicates that conditions are unsafe for human and pet exposure.&nbsp; Contact with the waterbody should be avoided.When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:<ul>
 <li>Signage should be posted at all public access locations.</li><li>Inhalation of spray or aerosols may be harmful.</li><li>Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock.&nbsp;</li><li>Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans.&nbsp;</li><li>Water contact should be avoided.&nbsp;</li><li>Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.&nbsp;</li><li>Do not allow pets to eat dried algae.&nbsp;</li><li>If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as possible.&nbsp;</li><li>Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>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;When a watch is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:<ul>
 <li>Signage should be posted at all public access locations.</li><li>Water may be unsafe for humans/animals.</li><li>Avoid areas of algae accumulation and do not let people/pets eat dried algae or drink contaminated water.</li><li>Swimming, wading, skiing and jet skiing are discouraged near visible blooms.</li><li>Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean water after any contact.</li><li>Clean fish thoroughly with potable water and eat fillet portion only.</li>
 </ul>Advisories are&nbsp;Lifted&nbsp;when cell densities and toxin concentrations dissipate to levels below the Watch thresholds.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;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.

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

Hear this month's Fueling Kansas show with Eagle Radio's Steve Webster and Executive Director of the Kansas Oil and Gas Producers Association Warren Martin that aired July 24, 2024.

The Fueling Kansas program airs the fourth Wednesday every month at 8:30 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1687372980932.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hear this month's Fueling Kansas show with Eagle Radio's Steve Webster and Executive Director of the Kansas Oil and Gas Producers Association Warren Martin that aired July 24, 2024.<div><iframe title="Fueling Kansas show - oil & gas education" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=tn5kf-167c25a-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=f6f6f6&font-color=auto&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=60a0c8" loading="lazy"></iframe></div>The Fueling Kansas program airs the fourth Wednesday every month at 8:30 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.&nbsp;

🎙Post Podcast: Fueling Kansas show - oil & gas education

It’s hard to believe that another year of being an extension agent has flown by! July 25 marks my 2nd anniversary as an extension agent. I just finished up my second year at the Ellis County Fair as well. Thank goodness for wonderful weather as it was another enjoyable week at the fairgrounds.

This year I got to help judge a couple of classes, which was quite an honor. I got to help Neil Younger, Ellis County Commissioner, judge the Special Class which was “Anything Noodles”. We had several entries but the winner went to, Dustin Rajewski, who made a tasty cold pasta salad based off of a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. I also assisted Seamus Holmes, Eagle Scout, who judged the open class scouting division. With a small number of entries, it was a difficult decision! I encourage more scouts to enter their merit badge projects, pinewood derby cars, or collections in the fair.

I also want to send a big thank you to all adults and youth who entered our King Arthur muffin class. We had a nice number of entries. Next year the King Arthur class will be “Yeast Breads”.

My favorite part of the 2024 fair was getting to watch the 4-H Champion Fitting and Showing Contest. I had never seen this competition before but WOW! These kids are amazing. I can’t believe the confidence and joy they have in working with the animals. I was brought to tears when the winners were announced. The junior winners were brothers so they hugged each other. Then two of their sisters won intermediate and finally one of their older sisters won the senior division. Almost the whole family was out there hugging and congratulating each other. It was heartwarming to see the support and love for each other.

One of the highlights of my second year was the Stay Strong, Stay Healthy Level 2 class held at the beginning of 2024. Stay Strong, Stay Healthy is a strength training class for older adults that helps them with balance, strength and flexibility. I had ten women enroll who were also previous Level 1 participants. They all finished! Now that is perseverance! Yes, life happens and throws us curveballs. Some participants had to miss a few classes, but they all finished. Not only did they all finish, but they continued to meet and do the exercises on their own! We had so much fun during the class and I’m so thankful for these ladies that have enriched my life and taught me so much. Another class will begin in early August.

I also brought two other K-State Research and Extension signature programs to the Cottonwood District this year. I have to say Walk with Ease has been my favorite program to offer. Walk with Ease is a program designed to help people with arthritis develop a walking routine. We partnered with Hays Rec to offer this program. Dining with Diabetes was the other new program offered this year. Thanks again to Hays Rec for partnering with us to provide an education and demonstration class to people with diabetes. We plan to continue these programs as time and need allow.

Since my background is in early childhood, I really enjoy supporting child cares in our community as well as programming in libraries and schools. Glo-germ handwashing, blender bike, story walks and organwise are a few of the programs I have to offer for the youth.

Goals for next year include offering Hypertension Awareness Prevention Program (look for that in February 2025) and to increase Maternal Child Health services in Ellis County. Several community partners plan on offering Becoming a Mom prenatal education classes in 2025 to create a circle of support for all families expecting a baby within their peers and with the services available to them in Ellis County. Mental health programs continue to be important in our community. I recently became certified in QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) which is a suicide prevention program and plan to offer those trainings as well.

Thank you, for another wonderful year! If you have any questions about current or future programming, please feel free to give me a call, send an email, or stop by the office!

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="written by: Monique Koerner - Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District." />
 <figcaption>written by: Monique Koerner - Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District.</figcaption>
 </figure>It’s hard to believe that another year of being an extension agent has flown by! July 25 marks my 2nd anniversary as an extension agent. I just finished up my second year at the Ellis County Fair as well. Thank goodness for wonderful weather as it was another enjoyable week at the fairgrounds.This year I got to help judge a couple of classes, which was quite an honor. I got to help Neil Younger, Ellis County Commissioner, judge the Special Class which was “Anything Noodles”. We had several entries but the winner went to, Dustin Rajewski, who made a tasty cold pasta salad based off of a Philly cheesesteak sandwich. I also assisted Seamus Holmes, Eagle Scout, who judged the open class scouting division. With a small number of entries, it was a difficult decision! I encourage more scouts to enter their merit badge projects, pinewood derby cars, or collections in the fair.I also want to send a big thank you to all adults and youth who entered our King Arthur muffin class. We had a nice number of entries. Next year the King Arthur class will be “Yeast Breads”.My favorite part of the 2024 fair was getting to watch the 4-H Champion Fitting and Showing Contest. I had never seen this competition before but WOW! These kids are amazing. I can’t believe the confidence and joy they have in working with the animals. I was brought to tears when the winners were announced. The junior winners were brothers so they hugged each other. Then two of their sisters won intermediate and finally one of their older sisters won the senior division. Almost the whole family was out there hugging and congratulating each other. It was heartwarming to see the support and love for each other.One of the highlights of my second year was the Stay Strong, Stay Healthy Level 2 class held at the beginning of 2024. Stay Strong, Stay Healthy is a strength training class for older adults that helps them with balance, strength and flexibility. I had ten women enroll who were also previous Level 1 participants. They all finished! Now that is perseverance! Yes, life happens and throws us curveballs. Some participants had to miss a few classes, but they all finished. Not only did they all finish, but they continued to meet and do the exercises on their own! We had so much fun during the class and I’m so thankful for these ladies that have enriched my life and taught me so much. Another class will begin in early August.I also brought two other K-State Research and Extension signature programs to the Cottonwood District this year. I have to say Walk with Ease has been my favorite program to offer. Walk with Ease is a program designed to help people with arthritis develop a walking routine. We partnered with Hays Rec to offer this program. Dining with Diabetes was the other new program offered this year. Thanks again to Hays Rec for partnering with us to provide an education and demonstration class to people with diabetes. We plan to continue these programs as time and need allow.Since my background is in early childhood, I really enjoy supporting child cares in our community as well as programming in libraries and schools. Glo-germ handwashing, blender bike, story walks and organwise are a few of the programs I have to offer for the youth.Goals for next year include offering Hypertension Awareness Prevention Program (look for that in February 2025) and to increase Maternal Child Health services in Ellis County. Several community partners plan on offering Becoming a Mom prenatal education classes in 2025 to create a circle of support for all families expecting a baby within their peers and with the services available to them in Ellis County. Mental health programs continue to be important in our community. I recently became certified in QPR (Question, Persuade and Refer) which is a suicide prevention program and plan to offer those trainings as well.Thank you, for another wonderful year! If you have any questions about current or future programming, please feel free to give me a call, send an email, or stop by the office!Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or moniquek@ksu.edu. K-State Research &amp; Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

KOERNER: Where did the time go?

From Great Bend City Council member Davis Jimenez...

"I wanted to share my thoughts regarding the recent event of the resignation of the Great Bend City Administrator and some possible promotion decisions within our city.

In 2023, the city contracted a group to find qualified applicants to be the city administrator. Recently, the current administrator submitted his resignation, with his last day to be in August. There has been discussion on how the position will be filled without opening it for people to apply. I believe this position should be opened to the public.

Hire a group to find the city qualified applicants like we have done in the past. The mayor believes the position should be given to someone without going through the application and interview process. I have nothing against anyone that wants the position, but I believe opening the position to the public is a fair way to make sure we do not miss or overlook any candidates that are qualified and have worked hard for an opportunity like this. If we open this position and find a qualified person, I will support it 100%.

I was also informed that some sort of decision has been made and a contract has been drafted.

I want to continue to see our city be great and one way to do so is to provide an open, fair and motivating culture that benefits everyone. Transparency is something that is always talked about and promised, so why is it that most have no idea this will happen soon?

Due to my requirements with the United States Army, I will not be present at the next city council meeting and wanted to voice my beliefs."

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/af8d8327-899f-4cff-9004-f0e928339e91">Story from July 15, 2024</a>

Great Bend Administrator apologizes for short stint in position

Last week, Great Bend City Administrator Brandon Anderson submitted his resignation, giving the city a 30-day notice. Hired last summer, Anderson’s stay with the city was just over a year. He had a chance to publicly address the Great Bend City Council at Monday's meeting for the first time stating the decision was based on personal reasons.

"On a personal note, I'd like to thank the council, city staff and citizens of Great Bend," said Anderson. "I apologize my stint here was short, but I also have come to believe that life is short. COVID taught me that many things can easily be taken away."

Anderson’s final day with the city will be Aug. 9. Prior to coming to Great Bend, Anderson spent 27 years in Texas, including his last stop as city manager for the City of Levelland, Texas.

"Thanks again for making my short stint here very rewarding," added Anderson.

Assistant City Administrator Logan Burns served as interim administrator from December 2022 to July 2023 prior to Anderson’s official start. The council will discuss Anderson's replacement at the meeting on Aug. 5.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684506037216.jpeg" alt="Great Bend City Council member Davis Jimenez" />
 <figcaption>Great Bend City Council member Davis Jimenez</figcaption>
 </figure>From Great Bend City Council member Davis Jimenez..."I wanted to share my thoughts regarding the recent event of the resignation of the Great Bend City Administrator and some possible promotion decisions within our city.In 2023, the city contracted a group to find qualified applicants to be the city administrator. Recently, the current administrator submitted his resignation, with his last day to be in August. There has been discussion on how the position will be filled without opening it for people to apply. I believe this position should be opened to the public.Hire a group to find the city qualified applicants like we have done in the past. The mayor believes the position should be given to someone without going through the application and interview process. I have nothing against anyone that wants the position, but I believe opening the position to the public is a fair way to make sure we do not miss or overlook any candidates that are qualified and have worked hard for an opportunity like this. If we open this position and find a qualified person, I will support it 100%.I was also informed that some sort of decision has been made and a contract has been drafted.I want to continue to see our city be great and one way to do so is to provide an open, fair and motivating culture that benefits everyone. Transparency is something that is always talked about and promised, so why is it that most have no idea this will happen soon?Due to my requirements with the United States Army, I will not be present at the next city council meeting and wanted to voice my beliefs."---<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/af8d8327-899f-4cff-9004-f0e928339e91">Story from July 15, 2024</a><h2>Great Bend Administrator apologizes for short stint in position</h2>Last week, Great Bend City Administrator Brandon Anderson submitted his resignation, giving the city a 30-day notice. Hired last summer, Anderson’s stay with the city was just over a year. He had a chance to publicly address the Great Bend City Council at Monday's meeting for the first time stating the decision was based on personal reasons."On a personal note, I'd like to thank the council, city staff and citizens of Great Bend," said Anderson. "I apologize my stint here was short, but I also have come to believe that life is short. COVID taught me that many things can easily be taken away."Anderson’s final day with the city will be Aug. 9. Prior to coming to Great Bend, Anderson spent 27 years in Texas, including his last stop as city manager for the City of Levelland, Texas."Thanks again for making my short stint here very rewarding," added Anderson.Assistant City Administrator Logan Burns served as interim administrator from December 2022 to July 2023 prior to Anderson’s official start. The council will discuss Anderson's replacement at the meeting on Aug. 5.

Great Bend councilman voices concerns on administrator hiring process

Citizens are able to get to know the candidates who are running for&nbsp;Federal/State positions. The candidate forum at the Great Bend Senior Center took place on Thursday, July 25. The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Great Bend- Barton County invited 12 candidates to participate. 

Candidates introduced themselves and answered two pre-determined questions.&nbsp;

Eagle Media livestreamed the event and is available for viewing below or on the Great Bend Post Facebook page.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1722003994583.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Citizens are able to get to know the candidates who are running for&nbsp;Federal/State positions. The candidate forum at the Great Bend Senior Center took place on Thursday, July 25. The League of Women Voters (LWV) of Great Bend- Barton County invited 12 candidates to participate. Candidates introduced themselves and answered two pre-determined questions.&nbsp;Eagle Media livestreamed the event and is available for viewing below or on the Great Bend Post Facebook page.&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=476&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGreatBendPost%2Fvideos%2F1564925141094343%2F&show_text=false&width=267&t=0" width="267" height="476" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><ul>
 <li>Invited Candidates: </li><li>Congress District 1:&nbsp;Tracey Mann, Paul Buskirk, Eric Bloom</li><li>State Senate (33):&nbsp;Tory Marie Blew, John Sturn, Matthew Westenfeld</li><li>State House (112):&nbsp;Mark Rondeau, Sherri Brantley</li><li>State House (113):&nbsp;Jo Ann Roth, Brett Fairchild (unable to attend)</li><li>District Judge (20):&nbsp;Donald E. Anderson II, Levi Morris</li>
 </ul>

🎥Watch Eagle Media's livestream of candidate forum

Barton County Sheriff’s
Office incident log (7/25)

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688655627753.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Barton County Sheriff’s
Office incident log (7/25)Non-Injury AccidentAt 8:06 a.m. an accident was reported at 193 SE 50 Road.K-9 Use / Call OutAt 1:34 p.m. the K-9 was called out to E. 7th
&amp; N. Goethe Avenue in Ellinwood.Utility ProblemsAt 1:37 p.m. utility problems were reported at 1221
McKinley.K-9 Use / Call OutAt 2:23 p.m. the K-9 was called out at 701 10th
Street.At 6:11 p.m. the K-9 was called out at MM 103 on S. US 281
Highway.Cattle OutAt 9:19 p.m. a report of cattle out was made at NE 140
Avenue &amp; NE 150 Road in Claflin.Traffic ArrestAt 10:18 p.m. a traffic arrest was reported in the 4700
block of Railroad Avenue.At 10:51 p.m. a traffic arrest was reported at MM 197 on W.
US 56 Highway.K-9 Use / Call OutAt 11:17 p.m. the K-9 was called out to MM 197 on W. US 56
Highway.Great Bend Police
Department incident log (7/25)Heart ProblemsAt 12:52 a.m. EMS assistance was needed at 5845 Hemlock Dr.Criminal DamageAt 11:43 a.m. Shilo Cruz reported criminal damage to
property at 3713 23rd Street.Animal ComplaintAt 1:38 p.m. Rob Wysong reported an animal complaint at 3515
Broadway.Non-Injury AccidentAt 1:52 p.m. Kristen Buckenrotch reported a two-vehicle
accident at 10th &amp; Washington.At 2 p.m. Jeff Johnson reported a two-vehicle accident at 10th
Morphy.At 5:38 p.m. Bill Varah reported a two-vehicle accident at
701 10th Street.Trespassing / CriminalAt 9:38 p.m. a report of Heaven Wornkey trespassing was made
at 5210 10th Street. Wornkey was arrested and booked in lieu of
bond.

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