Hear this month's Cheyenne Bottoms show with Eagle Radio's Steve Webster and Area Wildlife Manager Jason Wagner that aired Dec. 21, 2022.

The Cheyenne Bottoms Show airs the third Wednesday of every month at 8:30 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.&nbsp;

Hear this month's Cheyenne Bottoms show with Eagle Radio's Steve Webster and Area Wildlife Manager Jason Wagner that aired Dec. 21, 2022.<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/3cbfre5s/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>The Cheyenne Bottoms Show airs the third Wednesday of every month at 8:30 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.&nbsp;

🎙Cheyenne Bottoms show: Manager Jason Wagner

By MIKE COURSON Great Bend Post

The rules have always been simple: strip your Christmas tree before disposing of it. This year there are limited options for the disposal of real trees after Christmas. Great Bend Director of Public Lands Scott Keeler said the lake is not an option this year. 

"What we've run into is there's so much garland and trash that's on the trees, that it is not compatible for fish habitat," Keeler said.

But there is still the option of taking the old trees to the compost site. Director of Public Works Jason Cauley reiterates that all decorations should be removed from the tree before disposing of it.

"The compost site is not permitted for trash," he said. "That would be considered trash or refuse. We can only take products that are still in their natural forms in a lot of respects. We can't take processed lumber, we can't take any form of trash at all. That's why it has to be stripped bare."

Trees that have been stripped bare will be added to the burn pile or  recycled by other residents looking to add fish habitat in ponds. The compost site is open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609258939475.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By MIKE COURSON Great Bend PostThe rules have always been simple: strip your Christmas tree before disposing of it. This year there are limited options for the disposal of real trees after Christmas. Great Bend Director of Public Lands Scott Keeler said the lake is not an option this year. "What we've run into is there's so much garland and trash that's on the trees, that it is not compatible for fish habitat," Keeler said.But there is still the option of taking the old trees to the compost site. Director of Public Works Jason Cauley reiterates that all decorations should be removed from the tree before disposing of it."The compost site is not permitted for trash," he said. "That would be considered trash or refuse. We can only take products that are still in their natural forms in a lot of respects. We can't take processed lumber, we can't take any form of trash at all. That's why it has to be stripped bare."Trees that have been stripped bare will be added to the burn pile or recycled by other residents looking to add fish habitat in ponds. The compost site is open to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Christmas trees need to be stripped prior to GB compost site disposal

ELLSWORTH COUNTY—A Kansas sheriff's deputy was injured in an accident just after 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Ellsworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Ford Explorer&nbsp;with emergency equipment activated and driven by Ellsworth County Deputy Adam M. Macy, 27, Salina, was responding to a collision on&nbsp;Kansas 14 one quarter mile north of Ave H.

The driver lost control on the ice. The SUV entered the ditch and rolled one time.&nbsp; EMS transported Macy to the hospital in Ellsworth. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY—A Kansas sheriff's deputy was injured in an accident just after 7:30 p.m. Sunday in Ellsworth County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Ford Explorer&nbsp;with emergency equipment activated and driven by Ellsworth County Deputy Adam M. Macy, 27, Salina, was responding to a collision on&nbsp;Kansas 14 one quarter mile north of Ave H.The driver lost control on the ice. The SUV entered the ditch and rolled one time.&nbsp; EMS transported Macy to the hospital in Ellsworth. He was properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Kan. deputy hospitalized after SUV rolls on icy road

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland recently announced the award recipients for the new Strategic Economic Expansion and Development grant program. In total, 61 recipients will receive nearly $2.7 million to invest in small communities across the state. &nbsp;

“SEED grants provide funding for quality-of-life enhancements in some of our state’s smallest communities,” Toland said. “These investments will set the stage for future economic development success and prosperity across the state.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Awardees are located in communities with a population of 5,000 or less, as required by (KS Stat 9-2324 [2021]). They are required to provide a minimum 10-percent match as well as complete the projects within 12 months. Projects must be focused on economic development and revitalization efforts through one of the following quality-of-life categories:&nbsp;

Funding for the SEED program, which is administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, is provided through the Technology Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions Development and Expansion Fund. The TEFFI Act was enacted in 2021 through bipartisan legislation to promote economic development throughout the state.&nbsp;

The 2022 SEED grant recipients in northwest Kansas include:

•&nbsp;Cheyenne Community Development Corporation,&nbsp;Community Vibrancy, $49,125&nbsp; •&nbsp;Gove County Economic Development,&nbsp;Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Food Retail, $47,289 •&nbsp;Logan County Community Foundation,&nbsp;Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Food Retail, Library, $28,701 •&nbsp;Ness City Chamber of Commerce,&nbsp;Food Retail, $49,125&nbsp; •&nbsp;City of Osborne Economic Development, Childcare, Food Retail, Library, $46,712&nbsp;&nbsp; •&nbsp;City of Rozel Park Committee,&nbsp;Community Vibrancy, $49,125 •&nbsp;Phillipsburg Child Care Center, Childcare, $42,408 •&nbsp;Atwood Public Library, Library, $25,054&nbsp;&nbsp; •&nbsp;Rush County Economic Development, Food Retail, $49,125&nbsp;&nbsp; •&nbsp;Bunker Hill Lions Club, Community Vibrancy, $34,388&nbsp;&nbsp; •&nbsp;Sheridan County, Childcare, Library, Senior Programming, $49,125&nbsp;&nbsp; • Sherman County Community Development Corporation, Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Library, $49,125&nbsp;&nbsp; •&nbsp;City of Lebanon, Food Retail, $49,125 •&nbsp;WaKeeney Travel &amp; Tourism, Community Vibrancy, $49,125&nbsp; •&nbsp;&nbsp;City of Wallace, Community Vibrancy, $32,397

Kansas Department of CommerceTOPEKA&nbsp;– Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland recently announced the award recipients for the new Strategic Economic Expansion and Development grant program. In total, 61 recipients will receive nearly $2.7 million to invest in small communities across the state. &nbsp;“SEED grants provide funding for quality-of-life enhancements in some of our state’s smallest communities,” Toland said. “These investments will set the stage for future economic development success and prosperity across the state.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Awardees are located in communities with a population of 5,000 or less, as required by (KS Stat 9-2324 [2021]). They are required to provide a minimum 10-percent match as well as complete the projects within 12 months. Projects must be focused on economic development and revitalization efforts through one of the following quality-of-life categories:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Childcare and senior programming – projects that support or enhance these services, such as building improvements, educational materials, supplies and equipment&nbsp;</li><li>Community vibrancy – projects that refresh, re-energize and unlock the attractiveness of rural communities, such as art installations, murals and signage&nbsp;</li><li>Food retail – projects that support access to food retail establishments, including development, renovation and/or expansion&nbsp;</li><li>Libraries – projects that support providing free and open access to a broad range of materials and services, including reading material, technology, furniture and building improvements&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>Funding for the SEED program, which is administered by the Kansas Department of Commerce, is provided through the Technology Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institutions Development and Expansion Fund. The TEFFI Act was enacted in 2021 through bipartisan legislation to promote economic development throughout the state.&nbsp;The 2022 SEED grant recipients in northwest Kansas include:•&nbsp;Cheyenne Community Development Corporation,&nbsp;Community Vibrancy, $49,125&nbsp; •&nbsp;Gove County Economic Development,&nbsp;Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Food Retail, $47,289 •&nbsp;Logan County Community Foundation,&nbsp;Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Food Retail, Library, $28,701 •&nbsp;Ness City Chamber of Commerce,&nbsp;Food Retail, $49,125&nbsp; •&nbsp;City of Osborne Economic Development, Childcare, Food Retail, Library, $46,712&nbsp;&nbsp; •&nbsp;City of Rozel Park Committee,&nbsp;Community Vibrancy, $49,125 •&nbsp;Phillipsburg Child Care Center, Childcare, $42,408 •&nbsp;Atwood Public Library, Library, $25,054&nbsp;&nbsp; •&nbsp;Rush County Economic Development, Food Retail, $49,125&nbsp;&nbsp; •&nbsp;Bunker Hill Lions Club, Community Vibrancy, $34,388&nbsp;&nbsp; •&nbsp;Sheridan County, Childcare, Library, Senior Programming, $49,125&nbsp;&nbsp; • Sherman County Community Development Corporation, Childcare, Community Vibrancy, Library, $49,125&nbsp;&nbsp; •&nbsp;City of Lebanon, Food Retail, $49,125 •&nbsp;WaKeeney Travel &amp; Tourism, Community Vibrancy, $49,125&nbsp; •&nbsp;&nbsp;City of Wallace, Community Vibrancy, $32,397

NW Kan. organizations receive economic development funding

ELLSWORTH COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Sunday in Ellsworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Dodge Ram driven by Jose L. Murillo, 47, Colorado Springs, Colorado, was eastbound on Interstate 70 a mile east of 6th Road.&nbsp;

The driver lost control due to ice on the roadway. The pickup left the roadway, struck a guardrail and came to rest in the median.

An infant, one of three children in the vehicle, had a minor injury.&nbsp; Murillo and another passenger in the vehicle were not injured. The injured child was not properly restrained, according to the KHP.

ELLSWORTH COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Sunday in Ellsworth County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2020 Dodge Ram driven by Jose L. Murillo, 47, Colorado Springs, Colorado, was eastbound on Interstate 70 a mile east of 6th Road.&nbsp;The driver lost control due to ice on the roadway. The pickup left the roadway, struck a guardrail and came to rest in the median.An infant, one of three children in the vehicle, had a minor injury.&nbsp; Murillo and another passenger in the vehicle were not injured. The injured child was not properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Baby injured after pickup strikes guardrail in Ellsworth County

Mystery, romance, history, comedy, thriller, suspense, science fiction, cook books—all reading categories. Reading cook books for fun surprises folks, but once you begin reading them recreationally, you discover those categories listed above slip into each and every recipe book on your shelf.

Though she was a good cook, my mom didn’t love to cook. As a result, I grew up reading few cook books. Her mom, however, loved creating amazing meals and desserts so Grandma Lottie owned more. While she didn’t have near the selection I have or that I’ve found at nearby auctions or thrift stores, her most interesting recipes were written on scraps of paper, old envelopes, and snipped from old newspapers. She tucked these in the fronts and backs of her worn recipe books where I found them after she passed away. In addition, she saved a manila envelope full of her mom’s and grandmother’s recipes. These originated in England and came with the Bears to Russell County.

These handwritten, detailed ingredients remind me of reading history. The cooks wrote instructions for wood or coal stoves so this modern-day cook had to research what cool, warm, and hot oven mean. Rarely did they offer exact cup or spoon measurements. A pinch, a dash, a handful, an egg- size bit of butter made their point.

To complicate matters, these recipes call for ingredients I either can’t find in Kansas such as eels to make eel pie or saleratus, which I learned is an old-timey word for baking soda. My great and great-great grandmothers saved several recipes that called for fresh kidneys. Though I can get those from the butcher, I have no urges to bake a kidney pie.

Since I began cooking in my teens, cook books and cooking shows have gained popularity. Any of us can buy a celebrity cookbook and serve our families the same meals that Trish Yearwood and Valerie Bertinelli whip up in their kitchens. For those of us who like learning about other cultures through their foods, we can add Amish, Mexican, Italian, Native American Creole, and other foods to our diets.

Regional collections put together by churches or communities as commemorative collections or fund- raisers count among my favorites. Ellis County contributes a treasure trove of amazing dishes created by Volga German, Bukovina, and Bohemian cooks. Even though I have a Volga German grandmother, I’d have never learned how much I love those old recipes if I hadn’t moved here and bought cook books. On another note, I have a favorite from Wallace, Idaho, a mountain silver mining town. Huckleberry recipes abound as desserts, side dishes, and meat sauces. Because English families moved there to work the mines, the book shares several pasty varieties, a great find for cooks who love hand pies.

One way to travel back in time involves rereading cook books I received as a bride or soon after. Not only do I recall foods we loved to eat back then like Watergate Salad, but also, I see names that jerk me back several decades. What a poignant way to remember favorite people and foods.

So, if you can’t find anything good to read at the library or on your kindle, scan through your old recipe books. You might get as lucky as I did the other day and have your grandma’s best lemon meringue pie recipe written in her hand fall in your lap. It was almost as good a real visit.

Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671737474309.jpeg" alt="written by: Karen Madorin" />
 <figcaption>written by: Karen Madorin</figcaption>
 </figure>Mystery, romance, history, comedy, thriller, suspense, science fiction, cook books—all reading categories. Reading cook books for fun surprises folks, but once you begin reading them recreationally, you discover those categories listed above slip into each and every recipe book on your shelf.Though she was a good cook, my mom didn’t love to cook. As a result, I grew up reading few cook books. Her mom, however, loved creating amazing meals and desserts so Grandma Lottie owned more. While she didn’t have near the selection I have or that I’ve found at nearby auctions or thrift stores, her most interesting recipes were written on scraps of paper, old envelopes, and snipped from old newspapers. She tucked these in the fronts and backs of her worn recipe books where I found them after she passed away. In addition, she saved a manila envelope full of her mom’s and grandmother’s recipes. These originated in England and came with the Bears to Russell County.These handwritten, detailed ingredients remind me of reading history. The cooks wrote instructions for wood or coal stoves so this modern-day cook had to research what cool, warm, and hot oven mean. Rarely did they offer exact cup or spoon measurements. A pinch, a dash, a handful, an egg- size bit of butter made their point.To complicate matters, these recipes call for ingredients I either can’t find in Kansas such as eels to make eel pie or saleratus, which I learned is an old-timey word for baking soda. My great and great-great grandmothers saved several recipes that called for fresh kidneys. Though I can get those from the butcher, I have no urges to bake a kidney pie.Since I began cooking in my teens, cook books and cooking shows have gained popularity. Any of us can buy a celebrity cookbook and serve our families the same meals that Trish Yearwood and Valerie Bertinelli whip up in their kitchens. For those of us who like learning about other cultures through their foods, we can add Amish, Mexican, Italian, Native American Creole, and other foods to our diets.Regional collections put together by churches or communities as commemorative collections or fund- raisers count among my favorites. Ellis County contributes a treasure trove of amazing dishes created by Volga German, Bukovina, and Bohemian cooks. Even though I have a Volga German grandmother, I’d have never learned how much I love those old recipes if I hadn’t moved here and bought cook books. On another note, I have a favorite from Wallace, Idaho, a mountain silver mining town. Huckleberry recipes abound as desserts, side dishes, and meat sauces. Because English families moved there to work the mines, the book shares several pasty varieties, a great find for cooks who love hand pies.One way to travel back in time involves rereading cook books I received as a bride or soon after. Not only do I recall foods we loved to eat back then like Watergate Salad, but also, I see names that jerk me back several decades. What a poignant way to remember favorite people and foods.So, if you can’t find anything good to read at the library or on your kindle, scan through your old recipe books. You might get as lucky as I did the other day and have your grandma’s best lemon meringue pie recipe written in her hand fall in your lap. It was almost as good a real visit.Karen is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan. After a time away, she’s glad to be home.

MADORIN: The joy of reading cook books

As
of Tuesday, December 20, the Drought Monitor shows little change.&nbsp; We are still in extreme drought with
exceptional drought nearby to the south and west.&nbsp; The little snow we had will make little
difference.&nbsp; It will be interesting to
see how this last severe cold snap combined with our dry soils hurts the wheat
growing points below the ground.&nbsp; This
weather, the ups and downs, is hard on cattle and producers are keeping an eye
out for respiratory diseases.&nbsp; The six-to-ten-day
weather outlook (December 27 – 31) indicates a 60 – 70% chance of above normal
temperatures and a 33 – 40% chance of above normal precipitation.&nbsp; The eight-to-fourteen-day outlook (December
29 to January 4) indicates a 50 – 60% chance of above normal temperatures and a
40 – 50% chance of above normal precipitation.&nbsp;
We shall see.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Last week’s column discussed some of
the top ag stories of 2022,&nbsp; This week,
what are the likely top stories for 2023.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hardly
a surprise, but the weather outlook for the 2023 growing season looms
large.&nbsp; Will this La Nina finally
weaken?&nbsp; Will we return to a more normal
weather pattern or is an El Nino on the horizon?&nbsp; Will the extremes in temperature, moisture,
winds, and storms continue?

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This
ties into the first bullet point.&nbsp; The
ongoing shortage of surface and ground water for a large portion of the
country, especially west of the Mississippi River.&nbsp; Dealing with this crisis impacts not only
agriculture but urban areas (think Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas) and the fight
between those two entities for water, but also our relations with Mexico.&nbsp; And we can’t forget the ongoing drought and
famine in parts of Africa and Asia or the severe flooding in other parts of the
world.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine will continue to affect world food,
energy, and fertilizer supplies.&nbsp; We live
in a world ag, energy, and fertilizer economy, not to mention equipment and
technology.&nbsp; Not to mention the
possibility of a widening war that could further effect world fuel and food
supplies.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While
inflation has eased a bit the latter half of 2022, this will continue to be a
challenge for producers and consumers.&nbsp;
Much lower fossil fuels prices will help, however, events in the Ukraine
may cause dramatic increases in oil and gas.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As
odd as it may sound after three years of Covid, the effects of Covid in
China.&nbsp; Without going into all the
details, the Chinese government has dramatically changed its zero Covid policy
while still not allowing in overseas vaccines.&nbsp;
Predictions are for potentially millions of deaths and tens of millions
serious illnesses.&nbsp; Aside from the harm
to the Chinese people, this will likely disrupt supply chains among other
things.

·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally,
work for the next Farm Bill will highlight the incoming Congress.&nbsp; With a change in the majority for the House,
hoe contentious will negotiations be between the two parties and White House.

Merry Christmas, Happy
Holidays, and Happy New Year to all.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596995818491.jpeg" alt="Barton Community College Agriculture Instructor Dr. Vic Martin" />
 <figcaption>Barton Community College Agriculture Instructor Dr. Vic Martin</figcaption>
 </figure>As
of Tuesday, December 20, the Drought Monitor shows little change.&nbsp; We are still in extreme drought with
exceptional drought nearby to the south and west.&nbsp; The little snow we had will make little
difference.&nbsp; It will be interesting to
see how this last severe cold snap combined with our dry soils hurts the wheat
growing points below the ground.&nbsp; This
weather, the ups and downs, is hard on cattle and producers are keeping an eye
out for respiratory diseases.&nbsp; The six-to-ten-day
weather outlook (December 27 – 31) indicates a 60 – 70% chance of above normal
temperatures and a 33 – 40% chance of above normal precipitation.&nbsp; The eight-to-fourteen-day outlook (December
29 to January 4) indicates a 50 – 60% chance of above normal temperatures and a
40 – 50% chance of above normal precipitation.&nbsp;
We shall see.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Last week’s column discussed some of
the top ag stories of 2022,&nbsp; This week,
what are the likely top stories for 2023.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Hardly
a surprise, but the weather outlook for the 2023 growing season looms
large.&nbsp; Will this La Nina finally
weaken?&nbsp; Will we return to a more normal
weather pattern or is an El Nino on the horizon?&nbsp; Will the extremes in temperature, moisture,
winds, and storms continue?·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This
ties into the first bullet point.&nbsp; The
ongoing shortage of surface and ground water for a large portion of the
country, especially west of the Mississippi River.&nbsp; Dealing with this crisis impacts not only
agriculture but urban areas (think Denver, Phoenix, Las Vegas) and the fight
between those two entities for water, but also our relations with Mexico.&nbsp; And we can’t forget the ongoing drought and
famine in parts of Africa and Asia or the severe flooding in other parts of the
world.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The
ongoing Russian aggression in Ukraine will continue to affect world food,
energy, and fertilizer supplies.&nbsp; We live
in a world ag, energy, and fertilizer economy, not to mention equipment and
technology.&nbsp; Not to mention the
possibility of a widening war that could further effect world fuel and food
supplies.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; While
inflation has eased a bit the latter half of 2022, this will continue to be a
challenge for producers and consumers.&nbsp;
Much lower fossil fuels prices will help, however, events in the Ukraine
may cause dramatic increases in oil and gas.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As
odd as it may sound after three years of Covid, the effects of Covid in
China.&nbsp; Without going into all the
details, the Chinese government has dramatically changed its zero Covid policy
while still not allowing in overseas vaccines.&nbsp;
Predictions are for potentially millions of deaths and tens of millions
serious illnesses.&nbsp; Aside from the harm
to the Chinese people, this will likely disrupt supply chains among other
things.·&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Finally,
work for the next Farm Bill will highlight the incoming Congress.&nbsp; With a change in the majority for the House,
hoe contentious will negotiations be between the two parties and White House.Merry Christmas, Happy
Holidays, and Happy New Year to all.

Barton Ag Instructor Dr. Vic Marton - Top Ag Stories of 2023

Back for its 18th Season, Doctors on Call will begin airing on Smoky Hills PBS on Tuesday, January 10th at 7 p.m.

“We are excited to be back for another season of Doctors on Call,” said Les Kinderknecht, Senior Producer/Director of Smoky Hills PBS. “We have a great lineup this year with many great doctors from Central and Western Kansas.”

Doctors on Call is a LIVE viewer call-in show hosted by Jenna Miller. It is also produced by Smoky Hills PBS and takes place in Studio A in Bunker Hill, KS. Smoky Hills PBS brings in medical professionals from throughout the state to provide medical information on their field of expertise. Each week Doctors on Call highlights a new topic with a new doctor.

Viewers also have the opportunity to call in with questions LIVE during the show. The doctors selected each week have expertise in the topic chosen for that program. A schedule of programs and past episodes are available at www.SmokyHillsPBS.org.

January 10 – General Health - Dr. Tyrel Somers - Russell Regional Hospital

January 17 – Pet Health – Dr. Brandon Weidenhaft – Big Creek Vet Service, Hays

January 24 – Chiropractic Care – Dr. Lindsay Gallion, DC, Russell Chiropractic &amp; Sports Therapy

January 31 – Pain Management – Dr. Bell Razafindrabe - Pain, Spine &amp; Rehab, Great Bend 

To submit questions electronically on a specific topic, viewers can send an email to doctors@shptv.org. Questions submitted through email must be received by noon on the day of the show. During the program, viewers can call in questions at I-800-337-4788.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647437349209.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Back for its 18th Season, Doctors on Call will begin airing on Smoky Hills PBS on Tuesday, January 10th at 7 p.m.“We are excited to be back for another season of Doctors on Call,” said Les Kinderknecht, Senior Producer/Director of Smoky Hills PBS. “We have a great lineup this year with many great doctors from Central and Western Kansas.”Doctors on Call is a LIVE viewer call-in show hosted by Jenna Miller. It is also produced by Smoky Hills PBS and takes place in Studio A in Bunker Hill, KS. Smoky Hills PBS brings in medical professionals from throughout the state to provide medical information on their field of expertise. Each week Doctors on Call highlights a new topic with a new doctor.Viewers also have the opportunity to call in with questions LIVE during the show. The doctors selected each week have expertise in the topic chosen for that program. A schedule of programs and past episodes are available at www.SmokyHillsPBS.org.Coming up in January:January 10 – General Health - Dr. Tyrel Somers - Russell Regional HospitalJanuary 17 – Pet Health – Dr. Brandon Weidenhaft – Big Creek Vet Service, HaysJanuary 24 – Chiropractic Care – Dr. Lindsay Gallion, DC, Russell Chiropractic &amp; Sports TherapyJanuary 31 – Pain Management – Dr. Bell Razafindrabe - Pain, Spine &amp; Rehab, Great Bend To submit questions electronically on a specific topic, viewers can send an email to doctors@shptv.org. Questions submitted through email must be received by noon on the day of the show. During the program, viewers can call in questions at I-800-337-4788.

PBS to roll out new season of Doctors on Call

Hear last week's City Edition episode with Eagle Radio's Steve Webster and Great Bend Municipal Airport Manager Martin Miller that aired Dec. 21, 2022.

The City Edition program airs every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596658271505.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hear last week's City Edition episode with Eagle Radio's Steve Webster and Great Bend Municipal Airport Manager Martin Miller that aired Dec. 21, 2022.<div><iframe width="100%" height="265" src="https://clyp.it/rwrmifom/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>The City Edition program airs every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. on 1590 KVGB &amp; 95.5 FM.&nbsp;

🎧City Edition: Airport Manager Martin Miller

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has released the Kansas 2021&nbsp;Annual Summary of Vital Statistics.

“The Kansas Annual Summary of Vital Statistics report contains information on births, deaths, marriages, divorces and more,”&nbsp;Kay Haug, State Registrar, said. “It is a valuable tool for public health program evaluation and community health assessment.”

Results from the report showed 31,637 Kansas resident deaths recorded in 2021, a decrease of 0.1 percent from the 31,667 deaths recorded in 2020. The 2021 death count remains higher than the 27,312 deaths recorded in 2019, largely due to the continuing Coronavirus 2019 pandemic. The Kansas age-adjusted death rate in 2021 (903.5 deaths per 100,000 standard U.S. 2000 population) was higher than in any other year in the last twenty (2002-2021).

Additional highlights from the Kansas 2021 Annual Summary include:

Haug added vital records also are necessary for individuals to carry out day-to-day business such as obtaining passports, enrolling in schools, sports participation, starting new jobs, qualifying for subsidized housing, collecting life insurance benefits and transferring property.

State Agencies such as the Kansas Department of Children and Families, Disability and Aging Services, Department of Commerce and the Social Security Administration rely upon vital records, in addition to Kansas Department of Health and Environment in order to provide programming and services to promote health to Kansas citizens.

Vital statistics are compiled annually and released by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment each year during the last part of the year. The full vital statistics summary report is available for download&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMjEuNjg2MjQyMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292L0RvY3VtZW50Q2VudGVyL1ZpZXcvMjU3NzIvMjAyMS1Bbm51YWwtU3VtbWFyeS1GdWxsLVJlcG9ydD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.aEM8bxSzxeRaXzHUqZr2HP0ZdZvvDiSEhQQWCPdYzWk/s/1305943097/br/151009797543-l" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;The tables and charts contained in this report represent only a glimpse of the insight that can be gained from the data.

Additional data can be requested by calling (785)-296-8795 or visiting&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMjEuNjg2MjQyMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8va2ljLmtkaGVrcy5nb3YvP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.ILKzyrZuziYBSKFXALRf4l5dIk9LPmRMin0kF5BzHl4/s/1305943097/br/151009797543-l" target="_blank">http://kic.kdheks.gov/</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1626537461693.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has released the Kansas 2021&nbsp;Annual Summary of Vital Statistics.“The Kansas Annual Summary of Vital Statistics report contains information on births, deaths, marriages, divorces and more,”&nbsp;Kay Haug, State Registrar, said. “It is a valuable tool for public health program evaluation and community health assessment.”Results from the report showed 31,637 Kansas resident deaths recorded in 2021, a decrease of 0.1 percent from the 31,667 deaths recorded in 2020. The 2021 death count remains higher than the 27,312 deaths recorded in 2019, largely due to the continuing Coronavirus 2019 pandemic. The Kansas age-adjusted death rate in 2021 (903.5 deaths per 100,000 standard U.S. 2000 population) was higher than in any other year in the last twenty (2002-2021).Additional highlights from the Kansas 2021 Annual Summary include:<ul>
 <li>Heart disease remains first among the leading causes of death for Kansas residents, and cancer the second.</li><li>The number of live births to Kansas resident mothers in 2021 was 34,697, up one percent from 34,368 in 2010.</li><li>Accidental deaths due to drugs rose from 432 in 2020 to 635 in 2021.</li><li>The rate of 19.2 per 100,000 deaths by suicide matched that of 2018, it’s single highest in the past twenty years.</li><li>184 infant deaths occurred in 2021, was very close to the number seen in 2019.</li><li>Death in Kansas was responsible for 245,414 years of potential life lost before age 75 in 2021.</li>
 </ul>Haug added vital records also are necessary for individuals to carry out day-to-day business such as obtaining passports, enrolling in schools, sports participation, starting new jobs, qualifying for subsidized housing, collecting life insurance benefits and transferring property.State Agencies such as the Kansas Department of Children and Families, Disability and Aging Services, Department of Commerce and the Social Security Administration rely upon vital records, in addition to Kansas Department of Health and Environment in order to provide programming and services to promote health to Kansas citizens.Vital statistics are compiled annually and released by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment each year during the last part of the year. The full vital statistics summary report is available for download&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDAsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMjEuNjg2MjQyMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8vd3d3LmtkaGUua3MuZ292L0RvY3VtZW50Q2VudGVyL1ZpZXcvMjU3NzIvMjAyMS1Bbm51YWwtU3VtbWFyeS1GdWxsLVJlcG9ydD91dG1fbWVkaXVtPWVtYWlsJnV0bV9zb3VyY2U9Z292ZGVsaXZlcnkifQ.aEM8bxSzxeRaXzHUqZr2HP0ZdZvvDiSEhQQWCPdYzWk/s/1305943097/br/151009797543-l" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;The tables and charts contained in this report represent only a glimpse of the insight that can be gained from the data.Additional data can be requested by calling (785)-296-8795 or visiting&nbsp;<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMjEyMjEuNjg2MjQyMDEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwOi8va2ljLmtkaGVrcy5nb3YvP3V0bV9tZWRpdW09ZW1haWwmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT1nb3ZkZWxpdmVyeSJ9.ILKzyrZuziYBSKFXALRf4l5dIk9LPmRMin0kF5BzHl4/s/1305943097/br/151009797543-l" target="_blank">http://kic.kdheks.gov/</a>.

Kansas 2021 Annual Summary of Vital Statistics now available

Merry Christmas from Eagle Radio and Great Bend Post! Thank you for listening and viewing Eagle Communications' products.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671739351431.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Merry Christmas from Eagle Radio and Great Bend Post! Thank you for listening and viewing Eagle Communications' products.

Merry Christmas from Eagle Radio & Great Bend Post!

Merry Christmas from Eagle Radio and Great Bend Post!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1702957734554.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Merry Christmas from Eagle Radio and Great Bend Post!

Merry Christmas from Eagle Radio!

K-State Research and Extension news service&nbsp;

MANHATTAN — “Ruralpreneurs” in business, tourism, technology and agriculture along with community volunteers are among those to be honored by K-State’s Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development as Leaders of the Year for 2022.&nbsp;

This year’s award categories and winners are:&nbsp;

The winners will be honored through a hybrid Zoom/in-person awards presentation on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the K-State Student Union in Manhattan.&nbsp;

“Congratulations to these individuals and organizations for their creativity and commitment to rural communities,” said Shawna Moyer, chair of the Board of Directors of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development.&nbsp;

Roxie Yonkey serves as her organization’s CEO – in this case, Chief Exploration Officer. After designing travel guides and promoting tourism from her home in Goodland, she became a travel writer and blogger. Roxie has published the book “100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die.” For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.roxieontheroad.com/">roxieontheroad.com</a>.&nbsp;

Cassidy Cage and Halle Schindler&nbsp;

When sorority sisters and roommates Cassidy Cage and Halle Schindler were visiting the Schindler family farm near Paola, they talked about a project they could do together. That led to the creation of C&amp;H Designs, a startup business using a Cricut device to create customizable vinyl designs for shirts and other items. Their products have now been marketed across Kansas and beyond. For more information, search for C&amp;H Designs on Instagram.&nbsp;

Daniel Friesen was a tech-savvy kid in Buhler who started a computer repair business called IdeaTek while in high school. He went on to study information systems at Hutchinson Community College and Wichita State before pursuing his business full-time in Buhler. IdeaTek is now an Internet service provider with an emphasis on fiber optics. The company employs more than 120 people from Strong City to Liberal. For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ideatek.com/">www.IdeaTek.com</a>.&nbsp;

Danny Scott was a banker in Caney who was concerned about the direction of the community.&nbsp;&nbsp;The grocery store had closed and downtown businesses were boarded up. Danny and his wife Norma joined with others and the local county extension agent to form the Caney Community Betterment Group Foundation which joined the Kansas PRIDE program.&nbsp;

Now a municipal-owned grocery store has opened, new businesses have moved downtown, and positive momentum is occurring. For more information, search for Caney Community Betterment Group Foundation on Facebook.&nbsp;

Steve Radley, CEO of NetWork Kansas, wanted to create a way to encourage cross-sector collaboration, resource development and implementation for bold economic and community development improvements across Kansas. With the assistance of NetWork Kansas’ Strategic Inclusive Communications Director and marketing professional, Christina Long, a planning team was assembled and the NetWorked Partnership for Community Investment was created.&nbsp;

NetWorked expanded from statewide virtual convenings to a statewide in-person conference called NetWorked for Change, featuring resources for rural and urban communities with leading support from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and the Kansas Health Foundation. For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.networkedforchange.com/">www.networkedforchange.com</a>.&nbsp;

Landon Oldham founded Heartland Soil Services in Cunningham when he identified a need for more data to assist farmers with precision agriculture. Today, Heartland Soil Services&nbsp;specializes in soil sampling, yield mapping, imagery, irrigation management tools, variable rate seeding and fertilizer prescriptions, and end-of-season data analysis. Such data helps&nbsp;farmers apply their inputs in a more efficient, effective and environmentally-friendly way. For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.heartlandsoilservices.com/">www.heartlandsoilservices.com</a>.&nbsp;

The 2022 Huck Boyd Leaders of the Year winners were selected by entrepreneurship students in K-State’s College of Business and by agricultural communications students in K-State’s College of Agriculture. Each year the Huck Boyd Institute selects its leaders of the year from among those featured previously on its weekly Kansas Profile radio program and column.&nbsp;

Kansas Profile is distributed by the K-State Radio Network and K-State Research and Extension News Media Services to radio stations and newspapers statewide.&nbsp;

K-State Research and Extension news service&nbsp;MANHATTAN — “Ruralpreneurs” in business, tourism, technology and agriculture along with community volunteers are among those to be honored by K-State’s Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development as Leaders of the Year for 2022.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631206837973.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>This year’s award categories and winners are:&nbsp;<ul>
 <li>Entrepreneurship --&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/stories/2021/05/kansas-profile-ch-designs.html">Cassidy Cage and Halle Schindler, C&amp;H Designs, Manhattan/Paola</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Technology --&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/stories/2021/08/kansas-profile-daniel-friesen-ideatek.html">Daniel Friesen, IdeaTek, Buhler</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Creative Arts --&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/stories/2021/11/kansas-profile-roxie-yonkey.html">Roxie Yonkey, author of "100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die", Goodland</a>.&nbsp;</li><li>Community Service --&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/stories/2021/09/kansas-profile-danny-scott-caney-community-betterment.html">Danny Scott, Caney Community Betterment Group Foundation</a>/PRIDE, Caney.&nbsp;</li><li>Entrepreneurial Development -- Christina Long, Steve Radley – NetWorked for Change, Wichita.&nbsp;</li><li>Agriculture -- Landon Oldham, Heartland Soil Services, Cunningham.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1637768594573.png" alt="Yonkey" />
 <figcaption>Yonkey</figcaption>
 </figure>The winners will be honored through a hybrid Zoom/in-person awards presentation on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at the K-State Student Union in Manhattan.&nbsp;“Congratulations to these individuals and organizations for their creativity and commitment to rural communities,” said Shawna Moyer, chair of the Board of Directors of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development.&nbsp;Roxie Yonkey&nbsp;Roxie Yonkey serves as her organization’s CEO – in this case, Chief Exploration Officer. After designing travel guides and promoting tourism from her home in Goodland, she became a travel writer and blogger. Roxie has published the book “100 Things to Do in Kansas Before You Die.” For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.roxieontheroad.com/">roxieontheroad.com</a>.&nbsp;Cassidy Cage and Halle Schindler&nbsp;When sorority sisters and roommates Cassidy Cage and Halle Schindler were visiting the Schindler family farm near Paola, they talked about a project they could do together. That led to the creation of C&amp;H Designs, a startup business using a Cricut device to create customizable vinyl designs for shirts and other items. Their products have now been marketed across Kansas and beyond. For more information, search for C&amp;H Designs on Instagram.&nbsp;Daniel Friesen&nbsp;Daniel Friesen was a tech-savvy kid in Buhler who started a computer repair business called IdeaTek while in high school. He went on to study information systems at Hutchinson Community College and Wichita State before pursuing his business full-time in Buhler. IdeaTek is now an Internet service provider with an emphasis on fiber optics. The company employs more than 120 people from Strong City to Liberal. For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ideatek.com/">www.IdeaTek.com</a>.&nbsp;Danny Scott&nbsp;Danny Scott was a banker in Caney who was concerned about the direction of the community.&nbsp;&nbsp;The grocery store had closed and downtown businesses were boarded up. Danny and his wife Norma joined with others and the local county extension agent to form the Caney Community Betterment Group Foundation which joined the Kansas PRIDE program.&nbsp;Now a municipal-owned grocery store has opened, new businesses have moved downtown, and positive momentum is occurring. For more information, search for Caney Community Betterment Group Foundation on Facebook.&nbsp;Steve Radley&nbsp;Steve Radley, CEO of NetWork Kansas, wanted to create a way to encourage cross-sector collaboration, resource development and implementation for bold economic and community development improvements across Kansas. With the assistance of NetWork Kansas’ Strategic Inclusive Communications Director and marketing professional, Christina Long, a planning team was assembled and the NetWorked Partnership for Community Investment was created.&nbsp;NetWorked expanded from statewide virtual convenings to a statewide in-person conference called NetWorked for Change, featuring resources for rural and urban communities with leading support from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and the Kansas Health Foundation. For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.networkedforchange.com/">www.networkedforchange.com</a>.&nbsp;Landon Oldham&nbsp;Landon Oldham founded Heartland Soil Services in Cunningham when he identified a need for more data to assist farmers with precision agriculture. Today, Heartland Soil Services&nbsp;specializes in soil sampling, yield mapping, imagery, irrigation management tools, variable rate seeding and fertilizer prescriptions, and end-of-season data analysis. Such data helps&nbsp;farmers apply their inputs in a more efficient, effective and environmentally-friendly way. For more information, see&nbsp;<a href="http://www.heartlandsoilservices.com/">www.heartlandsoilservices.com</a>.&nbsp;The 2022 Huck Boyd Leaders of the Year winners were selected by entrepreneurship students in K-State’s College of Business and by agricultural communications students in K-State’s College of Agriculture. Each year the Huck Boyd Institute selects its leaders of the year from among those featured previously on its weekly Kansas Profile radio program and column.&nbsp;Kansas Profile is distributed by the K-State Radio Network and K-State Research and Extension News Media Services to radio stations and newspapers statewide.&nbsp;

Northwest Kansas author honored by Huck Boyd Institute

The Great Bend Recreation Commission continues to wind down its indoor soccer season. Thursday night, Angel's Auto Sales, managed by Humberto Alonzo, Jr., claimed the men's championship.

Team members include Alonzo Jr., Israel Franco, Carlos Franco, Francisco Garcia, Jaime Arellanes, Edwin Chavez, Joaquin Garcia, and Constante Lucas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671804471089.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Great Bend Recreation Commission continues to wind down its indoor soccer season. Thursday night, Angel's Auto Sales, managed by Humberto Alonzo, Jr., claimed the men's championship.Team members include Alonzo Jr., Israel Franco, Carlos Franco, Francisco Garcia, Jaime Arellanes, Edwin Chavez, Joaquin Garcia, and Constante Lucas.

Great Bend Rec crowns adult men's indoor soccer champs

Merry Christmas Everyone! At this time of year, we bring plants into our house to help decorate for the season. Many of these, such as trees and poinsettias are removed and discarded at the end of the season, but Christmas Cactus are plants that you can enjoy all year long! I found a short article on them to share with you this week that goes over care if you have one already, or what to do if you are looking at getting a Cactus. I hope you enjoy this and I hope each and every one of you has a Very Merry Christmas!&nbsp;

&nbsp;Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) and Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) are epiphytes native to the jungles of South America. Epiphytic plants grow on other plants and use them for support but not for nutrients. Though these cacti are different species, they will hybridize and produce varying stem shapes. Christmas cactus normally has smooth stem segments, and Thanksgiving Cactus has hook-like appendages on each segment. Both of these cacti prefer bright indirect light. 

Too much sun can result in the leaves turning yellow. Common household temperatures are fine. Soil should be kept constantly moist but not waterlogged. Give them a light fertilization every other week. Blooming will normally cease in late winter to early spring, but continue to keep them moist and fertilized until fall. 

During the fall, stop fertilizing, and give the plants only enough water so the stems do not shrivel in order to encourage flower bud formation. Though these plants seem to flower best if kept a little pot bound, flowers will diminish if they are too crowded. 

If you haven't repotted in several years, or if you notice a decrease in flowering from the previous year, move the plant to a larger pot in the spring. If possible, move the plants outside for the summer. Choose a shady spot because these plants will not tolerate full sun. Leave the plants outside until frost threatens. Normally, the plants will have received enough cool nights in the 50- to 55-degree range that flower buds will have formed. However, if they haven't, subjecting the plants to nights greater than 12 hours long and temperatures between 59 and 69 degrees can also generate flowers. Twenty-five consecutive long nights is enough for flower initiation. Place the plants in an unused room or cover them with a dark cloth or cardboard box to insure that they receive uninterrupted darkness. After the flower buds have formed, it takes an additional nine to 10 weeks for flowers to complete development and bloom.&nbsp;

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

K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus in Manhattan.&nbsp;

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141354634.png" alt="written by : Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District" />
 <figcaption>written by : Alicia Boor - Cottonwood Extension District</figcaption>
 </figure>Merry Christmas Everyone! At this time of year, we bring plants into our house to help decorate for the season. Many of these, such as trees and poinsettias are removed and discarded at the end of the season, but Christmas Cactus are plants that you can enjoy all year long! I found a short article on them to share with you this week that goes over care if you have one already, or what to do if you are looking at getting a Cactus. I hope you enjoy this and I hope each and every one of you has a Very Merry Christmas!&nbsp;&nbsp;Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) and Thanksgiving Cactus (Schlumbergera truncata) are epiphytes native to the jungles of South America. Epiphytic plants grow on other plants and use them for support but not for nutrients. Though these cacti are different species, they will hybridize and produce varying stem shapes. Christmas cactus normally has smooth stem segments, and Thanksgiving Cactus has hook-like appendages on each segment. Both of these cacti prefer bright indirect light. Too much sun can result in the leaves turning yellow. Common household temperatures are fine. Soil should be kept constantly moist but not waterlogged. Give them a light fertilization every other week. Blooming will normally cease in late winter to early spring, but continue to keep them moist and fertilized until fall. During the fall, stop fertilizing, and give the plants only enough water so the stems do not shrivel in order to encourage flower bud formation. Though these plants seem to flower best if kept a little pot bound, flowers will diminish if they are too crowded. If you haven't repotted in several years, or if you notice a decrease in flowering from the previous year, move the plant to a larger pot in the spring. If possible, move the plants outside for the summer. Choose a shady spot because these plants will not tolerate full sun. Leave the plants outside until frost threatens. Normally, the plants will have received enough cool nights in the 50- to 55-degree range that flower buds will have formed. However, if they haven't, subjecting the plants to nights greater than 12 hours long and temperatures between 59 and 69 degrees can also generate flowers. Twenty-five consecutive long nights is enough for flower initiation. Place the plants in an unused room or cover them with a dark cloth or cardboard box to insure that they receive uninterrupted darkness. After the flower buds have formed, it takes an additional nine to 10 weeks for flowers to complete development and bloom.&nbsp;Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State campus in Manhattan.&nbsp;K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating.&nbsp;

BOOR: Christmas cactus

Traditionally, the 10th anniversary is celebrated with a gift symbolizing the strength and resilience of a relationship. Those traits describe well the ties between Kansas wheat farmers and the public and private research partners that come together at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center in Manhattan for the betterment of the wheat industry.&nbsp;

The halls of the Center were filled with cheer in mid-December as these partners celebrated the 10th anniversary of the state’s single-largest, farmer investment in wheat research. The open house and holiday party also recognized the successful conclusion of the Fields Forward campaign supporting the Kansas Wheat Commission Research Foundation and unveiled a brand-new virtual tour of the facility.&nbsp;

“I don’t think we could have imagined the relationships and the projects that would have resulted from the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center 10 years ago when the building just opened,” said Aaron Harries, Kansas Wheat vice president of research and operations. “It’s exciting to know that it’s exceeded expectations, and we anticipate even bigger things in the next couple of decades.”

The Kansas Wheat Innovation Center was built by the Kansas Wheat Commission, through the Kansas wheat checkoff, to get improved wheat varieties into the hands of farmers faster at a time when private research in wheat was limited. The Center was built on land owned by Kansas State University; the Kansas Wheat Commission has a 50-year lease on the property.&nbsp;

Construction on the $15 million Kansas Wheat Innovation Center began in October 2011, and the facility was completed in November 2012. An additional four greenhouse bays were completed in spring 2018. Today, the facility boasts more than 10,000 square feet of office space, 15,000 square feet of laboratory space and 23,000 square feet of greenhouse space.&nbsp;

“The Kansas Wheat Innovation Center is a great story,” Harries said. “It’s really from the ground up about how farmers were telling the board of directors they wanted more investment in wheat research because they see the tangible results of that from the new varieties that are released.”

“The leadership of Kansas Wheat at that time really went out on a limb and decided to invest a large amount of producer dollars in the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center. Research was the main motivator, having a public face for the wheat organizations and the research that was being done. And it has just led to bigger and better projects.”&nbsp;

The Kansas Wheat Innovation Center is home to public and private wheat breeding programs conducting cutting-edge research on advanced wheat breeding, end-use quality and ancient wheat relatives, in addition to consumer outreach. While each project has its individual aims, they have a unified goal — using advanced techniques in wheat research to improve yield and quality of new wheat varieties while shortening the time needed to develop those varieties.&nbsp;

“In 20 years, or even in 10 years, from this anniversary, we’ll be talking about how we’re developing novel traits here in the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, about wheat varieties that result from work in the center that are specialized with nutritional value or other features,” Harries said.

There is no doubt the future of Kansas wheat has excellent support, especially as the 10th anniversary also celebrated the successful conclusion of Fields Forward, the campaign for a sustainable wheat future by the Kansas Wheat Commission Research Foundation.&nbsp;

The KWCRW was established in 2011 as the official fundraising organization for the Kansas Wheat Commission. The Foundation works to raise private dollars to combine with public funds for the advancement of wheat research, including the accelerated release of wheat varieties. The Fields Forward Campaign was launched in January 2019 and accepted many types of gifts to support wheat research, including cash, stock transfers, donations of grain and deferred gifts such as will bequests.

While the doors to the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center are open during regular business hours, anyone can take a virtual tour of the facility and its research projects anywhere at any time, thanks to a new virtual tour unveiled during the open house. Check out what the partners at the Center have accomplished over the last 10 years and what they have planned for the decade ahead at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=00162R1seN-2kvGMLwzbp3Nm_JPfVel7B085zoLZ9gJTcGfSwzqva_SgsTBYiQ2QxSOG8BO9_HSxehZJKws3JNA-eE-SnBfKdKQOYzFB28ALpYUrs0K01e3T6y2tf_tl7ANoVU8_Auvf2jJdvJx869IhQC38kdWF-V3&amp;c=5rmt1XlQ6JSTyDl-GDtbYLSwG-G5ziTtmyNc_eMgf4YSaRoIXERzFA==&amp;ch=OmJ9TI0v6xKbtk-fJdtc80Zy5AgENrkjjjRXXPFmYwHN9k7oavtv4A==" target="_blank">https://innovation.kswheat.com</a>&nbsp;or watch a video overview at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=00162R1seN-2kvGMLwzbp3Nm_JPfVel7B085zoLZ9gJTcGfSwzqva_SgsTBYiQ2QxSOl9qFMVxJkJW3O9rfCeEzvd9OpGoUZ0JzbnfIZfnMH8HO_nV-RoRNhdKDhkl0W86QRILiUxgw5RC4vQVSC8HRDD-Q0kQneGv5&amp;c=5rmt1XlQ6JSTyDl-GDtbYLSwG-G5ziTtmyNc_eMgf4YSaRoIXERzFA==&amp;ch=OmJ9TI0v6xKbtk-fJdtc80Zy5AgENrkjjjRXXPFmYwHN9k7oavtv4A==" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/kansaswheat</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628192917024.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Traditionally, the 10th anniversary is celebrated with a gift symbolizing the strength and resilience of a relationship. Those traits describe well the ties between Kansas wheat farmers and the public and private research partners that come together at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center in Manhattan for the betterment of the wheat industry.&nbsp;The halls of the Center were filled with cheer in mid-December as these partners celebrated the 10th anniversary of the state’s single-largest, farmer investment in wheat research. The open house and holiday party also recognized the successful conclusion of the Fields Forward campaign supporting the Kansas Wheat Commission Research Foundation and unveiled a brand-new virtual tour of the facility.&nbsp;“I don’t think we could have imagined the relationships and the projects that would have resulted from the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center 10 years ago when the building just opened,” said Aaron Harries, Kansas Wheat vice president of research and operations. “It’s exciting to know that it’s exceeded expectations, and we anticipate even bigger things in the next couple of decades.”The Kansas Wheat Innovation Center was built by the Kansas Wheat Commission, through the Kansas wheat checkoff, to get improved wheat varieties into the hands of farmers faster at a time when private research in wheat was limited. The Center was built on land owned by Kansas State University; the Kansas Wheat Commission has a 50-year lease on the property.&nbsp;Construction on the $15 million Kansas Wheat Innovation Center began in October 2011, and the facility was completed in November 2012. An additional four greenhouse bays were completed in spring 2018. Today, the facility boasts more than 10,000 square feet of office space, 15,000 square feet of laboratory space and 23,000 square feet of greenhouse space.&nbsp;“The Kansas Wheat Innovation Center is a great story,” Harries said. “It’s really from the ground up about how farmers were telling the board of directors they wanted more investment in wheat research because they see the tangible results of that from the new varieties that are released.”“The leadership of Kansas Wheat at that time really went out on a limb and decided to invest a large amount of producer dollars in the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center. Research was the main motivator, having a public face for the wheat organizations and the research that was being done. And it has just led to bigger and better projects.”&nbsp;The Kansas Wheat Innovation Center is home to public and private wheat breeding programs conducting cutting-edge research on advanced wheat breeding, end-use quality and ancient wheat relatives, in addition to consumer outreach. While each project has its individual aims, they have a unified goal — using advanced techniques in wheat research to improve yield and quality of new wheat varieties while shortening the time needed to develop those varieties.&nbsp;“In 20 years, or even in 10 years, from this anniversary, we’ll be talking about how we’re developing novel traits here in the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, about wheat varieties that result from work in the center that are specialized with nutritional value or other features,” Harries said.There is no doubt the future of Kansas wheat has excellent support, especially as the 10th anniversary also celebrated the successful conclusion of Fields Forward, the campaign for a sustainable wheat future by the Kansas Wheat Commission Research Foundation.&nbsp;The KWCRW was established in 2011 as the official fundraising organization for the Kansas Wheat Commission. The Foundation works to raise private dollars to combine with public funds for the advancement of wheat research, including the accelerated release of wheat varieties. The Fields Forward Campaign was launched in January 2019 and accepted many types of gifts to support wheat research, including cash, stock transfers, donations of grain and deferred gifts such as will bequests.While the doors to the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center are open during regular business hours, anyone can take a virtual tour of the facility and its research projects anywhere at any time, thanks to a new virtual tour unveiled during the open house. Check out what the partners at the Center have accomplished over the last 10 years and what they have planned for the decade ahead at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=00162R1seN-2kvGMLwzbp3Nm_JPfVel7B085zoLZ9gJTcGfSwzqva_SgsTBYiQ2QxSOG8BO9_HSxehZJKws3JNA-eE-SnBfKdKQOYzFB28ALpYUrs0K01e3T6y2tf_tl7ANoVU8_Auvf2jJdvJx869IhQC38kdWF-V3&amp;c=5rmt1XlQ6JSTyDl-GDtbYLSwG-G5ziTtmyNc_eMgf4YSaRoIXERzFA==&amp;ch=OmJ9TI0v6xKbtk-fJdtc80Zy5AgENrkjjjRXXPFmYwHN9k7oavtv4A==" target="_blank">https://innovation.kswheat.com</a>&nbsp;or watch a video overview at&nbsp;<a href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=00162R1seN-2kvGMLwzbp3Nm_JPfVel7B085zoLZ9gJTcGfSwzqva_SgsTBYiQ2QxSOl9qFMVxJkJW3O9rfCeEzvd9OpGoUZ0JzbnfIZfnMH8HO_nV-RoRNhdKDhkl0W86QRILiUxgw5RC4vQVSC8HRDD-Q0kQneGv5&amp;c=5rmt1XlQ6JSTyDl-GDtbYLSwG-G5ziTtmyNc_eMgf4YSaRoIXERzFA==&amp;ch=OmJ9TI0v6xKbtk-fJdtc80Zy5AgENrkjjjRXXPFmYwHN9k7oavtv4A==" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/kansaswheat</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;###Written by Julia Debes for Kansas Wheat

Wheat Scoop: Industry celebrates 10th Anniversary of KS Wheat Innovation Center

Smoky Hills PBS will air a day of local sports on New Year’s Day! The day will kick off at noon with the KSHSAA 8-Player State Football Championship (DI and DII).&nbsp; Next, will be&nbsp;The Jackie Stiles Story&nbsp;at 5:30 p.m., followed by the 2022 KS Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

The KSHSAA 8-Player State Football Championship will start at noon with the DII Championship game between Axtell and Thunder Ridge.&nbsp; Following DII will be the DI championship game between Little River and Wichita County.&nbsp; These games were previously played on Nov. 26, in Newton.

The Jackie Stiles Story will air on Smoky Hills PBS at 5:30 p.m.&nbsp; This inspirational film is about a 5’8” girl from Claflin, who became a basketball legend in the Midwest. Against all odds, Jackie became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history and the WNBA Rookie-of-the-Year. Her coaches and teammates agree that Jackie’s work ethic will probably never be matched.&nbsp;

A re-airing of this documentary will also be available in March. Check SmokyHillsPBS.org for a time and date to be announced.

The 2022 Kansas Sports Hall of Fame will be featured at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 1.&nbsp; The mission of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is to honor those that have contributed to the history of sports in Kansas and to educate and inspire the public regarding the value of athletics and Kansas athletic history by providing the requisite leadership and resources. Some 2022 inductees include: NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer from Emporia; Emporia State women’s basketball All-American Tara Holloway Churchill from Moundridge; the winningest coach in Kansas girls high school basketball Jesse Nelson from Olpe; former University of Kansas basketball coach, Roy Williams. For a full list of the KSHOF Class of 2022 visit,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kshof.org/" target="_blank">www.kshof.org</a>.

A full Smoky Hills PBS January program schedule can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smokyhillspbs.org/" target="_blank">www.SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>.&nbsp;

Smoky Hills PBS serves 71 counties in Central and Western Kansas and has been named the KS Association of Broadcasters Non-Metro Station of the Year.&nbsp; Smoky Hills PBS is available over the air, on many cable systems, DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, and Dish Network.&nbsp; You can also access Smoky Hills PBS via the&nbsp;FREE mobile app for Android and iPhone devices and is also available to stream by clicking here:&nbsp;<a href="https://video.smokyhillstv.org/livestream/" target="_blank">&nbsp;video.smokyhillstv.org/livestream</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;More information on Smoky Hills PBS and its programs and projects are available at<a href="http://www.smokyhillspbs.org/" target="_blank">&nbsp;www.SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>&nbsp;or by calling 1-800-337-4788.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579894481233.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Smoky Hills PBS will air a day of local sports on New Year’s Day! The day will kick off at noon with the KSHSAA 8-Player State Football Championship (DI and DII).&nbsp; Next, will be&nbsp;The Jackie Stiles Story&nbsp;at 5:30 p.m., followed by the 2022 KS Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.The KSHSAA 8-Player State Football Championship will start at noon with the DII Championship game between Axtell and Thunder Ridge.&nbsp; Following DII will be the DI championship game between Little River and Wichita County.&nbsp; These games were previously played on Nov. 26, in Newton.The Jackie Stiles Story will air on Smoky Hills PBS at 5:30 p.m.&nbsp; This inspirational film is about a 5’8” girl from Claflin, who became a basketball legend in the Midwest. Against all odds, Jackie became the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history and the WNBA Rookie-of-the-Year. Her coaches and teammates agree that Jackie’s work ethic will probably never be matched.&nbsp;A re-airing of this documentary will also be available in March. Check SmokyHillsPBS.org for a time and date to be announced.The 2022 Kansas Sports Hall of Fame will be featured at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 1.&nbsp; The mission of the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame is to honor those that have contributed to the history of sports in Kansas and to educate and inspire the public regarding the value of athletics and Kansas athletic history by providing the requisite leadership and resources. Some 2022 inductees include: NASCAR driver Clint Bowyer from Emporia; Emporia State women’s basketball All-American Tara Holloway Churchill from Moundridge; the winningest coach in Kansas girls high school basketball Jesse Nelson from Olpe; former University of Kansas basketball coach, Roy Williams. For a full list of the KSHOF Class of 2022 visit,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kshof.org/" target="_blank">www.kshof.org</a>.A full Smoky Hills PBS January program schedule can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smokyhillspbs.org/" target="_blank">www.SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>.&nbsp;Smoky Hills PBS serves 71 counties in Central and Western Kansas and has been named the KS Association of Broadcasters Non-Metro Station of the Year.&nbsp; Smoky Hills PBS is available over the air, on many cable systems, DirecTV, DirecTV Stream, and Dish Network.&nbsp; You can also access Smoky Hills PBS via the&nbsp;FREE mobile app for Android and iPhone devices and is also available to stream by clicking here:&nbsp;<a href="https://video.smokyhillstv.org/livestream/" target="_blank">&nbsp;video.smokyhillstv.org/livestream</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;More information on Smoky Hills PBS and its programs and projects are available at<a href="http://www.smokyhillspbs.org/" target="_blank">&nbsp;www.SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>&nbsp;or by calling 1-800-337-4788.

PBS to air Jackie Stiles documentary on Jan. 1

Great Bend Recreation Commission 2022 girls and boys indoor soccer champions.

K-1 Girls Co-Champions Team: Glitterbugs (4-2) Head Coach: Trent Suchy Roster: Atley Suchy, Blakelyn Gaddis, Paradise Gonzalez, Hannah Suchy, Londyn Bauer, Olivia Espinosa, Maria Towery, Jenna Boone, Maelee Armendariz, Keeley Meyer

Team: Stars (4-2) Head Coach: Micah YellowWolf Roster: Olivia Neely, Ramzie Wolf, Khora Leu, Charlee YellowWolf, Macey Wells, Mila Ortiz, Bentle Zimmerman, Riley Askew, Raya Haney, Kinsley Rostine

K-1 Boys Champions Team: Sidekicks (6-0) Head Coach: Kyra Zimmer Roster: Lukas Schwager, Stryker Greenfeather, Axel Mata, Kayden Wise, Kaeson Demel, Wylder Wilkinson, Adrian Perales, Johnny Mayers, Jayvion Lininger,Ethan Crowe

2-3 Girls Champions Team: Galaxy (6-0) Head Coach: Anthony Lopez Roster: Evelyn Schenek, Ruby Razo, Ashlynn Ketch, Maylee Ketch, April Aguilera, Kayla Alvarez, Jordyn Rains, Kylee Rains, Kimberly Enriquez

2-3 Boys Champions Team: Crushers (6-0) Head Coach: Jason Welcher Roster: Eduardo Valles Jr., Nolan Chrest, Kolt Schwager, Sebastian Garcia, Owen Guerra, Sullivan Devlin, Miles Johnson, Jace Welcher, Connor Steffan, Dominic Ibanez

4-5 Girls Champions Team: Storm (6-0) Head Coach: Mike Courson Roster: Alexa Sanchez, Miriam Perales, MaKenzy Herrman, Victoria Aguilera, Mia Bauer, Emma Delgadillo, Eliana Guzman-Trevino, Chloe Torres, Jalie Vsetecka

4-5 Boys Champions Team: Strikers (6-0) Head Coach: Alicia Segura Roster: Kesslor Denning, Santiago Guerrero, Alex Jacobo, Jacoby Chrest, Sebastian Acosta, Cristian Galindo, Daniel Alvarez, Jett Kern, Ivan Leyva, Martin Barrera, Jesus Santa Cruz, Westin Meyer

6-8 Girls Champions Team: Black Panthers (5-1) Head Coach: Marisela Segura Roster: Priscila Rodriguez, Daniela Armendariz, Paige Trendel, Valeria Cuevas, Natalia Rodriguez, Princessly Armendariz, Bierly Gallegos, Alexis Simon

6-8 Boys Champions Team: Arsenal (5-1) Head Coach: Daniel Holinde Roster: Branson Holinde, Cooper Burroughs, Elliot Jimenez, Randy Weber, Omar Razo, Jesus Molina, Alexis Alonzo, Rafael Chavez

Great Bend Recreation Commission 2022 girls and boys indoor soccer champions.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671723649643.jpeg" alt="Glitterbugs" />
 <figcaption>Glitterbugs</figcaption>
 </figure>K-1 Girls Co-Champions Team: Glitterbugs (4-2) Head Coach: Trent Suchy Roster: Atley Suchy, Blakelyn Gaddis, Paradise Gonzalez, Hannah Suchy, Londyn Bauer, Olivia Espinosa, Maria Towery, Jenna Boone, Maelee Armendariz, Keeley Meyer<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671723666282.jpeg" alt="Stars" />
 <figcaption>Stars</figcaption>
 </figure>Team: Stars (4-2) Head Coach: Micah YellowWolf Roster: Olivia Neely, Ramzie Wolf, Khora Leu, Charlee YellowWolf, Macey Wells, Mila Ortiz, Bentle Zimmerman, Riley Askew, Raya Haney, Kinsley Rostine<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671723681146.jpeg" alt="Sidekicks" />
 <figcaption>Sidekicks</figcaption>
 </figure>K-1 Boys Champions Team: Sidekicks (6-0) Head Coach: Kyra Zimmer Roster: Lukas Schwager, Stryker Greenfeather, Axel Mata, Kayden Wise, Kaeson Demel, Wylder Wilkinson, Adrian Perales, Johnny Mayers, Jayvion Lininger,Ethan Crowe<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671723808648.jpeg" alt="Galaxy" />
 <figcaption>Galaxy</figcaption>
 </figure>2-3 Girls Champions Team: Galaxy (6-0) Head Coach: Anthony Lopez Roster: Evelyn Schenek, Ruby Razo, Ashlynn Ketch, Maylee Ketch, April Aguilera, Kayla Alvarez, Jordyn Rains, Kylee Rains, Kimberly Enriquez<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671723823697.jpeg" alt="Crushers" />
 <figcaption>Crushers</figcaption>
 </figure>2-3 Boys Champions Team: Crushers (6-0) Head Coach: Jason Welcher Roster: Eduardo Valles Jr., Nolan Chrest, Kolt Schwager, Sebastian Garcia, Owen Guerra, Sullivan Devlin, Miles Johnson, Jace Welcher, Connor Steffan, Dominic Ibanez<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671723936632.jpeg" alt="Storm" />
 <figcaption>Storm</figcaption>
 </figure>4-5 Girls Champions Team: Storm (6-0) Head Coach: Mike Courson Roster: Alexa Sanchez, Miriam Perales, MaKenzy Herrman, Victoria Aguilera, Mia Bauer, Emma Delgadillo, Eliana Guzman-Trevino, Chloe Torres, Jalie Vsetecka<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671723951319.jpeg" alt="Strikers" />
 <figcaption>Strikers</figcaption>
 </figure>4-5 Boys Champions Team: Strikers (6-0) Head Coach: Alicia Segura Roster: Kesslor Denning, Santiago Guerrero, Alex Jacobo, Jacoby Chrest, Sebastian Acosta, Cristian Galindo, Daniel Alvarez, Jett Kern, Ivan Leyva, Martin Barrera, Jesus Santa Cruz, Westin Meyer<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671724036687.jpeg" alt="Black Panthers 3.jpg" />
 <figcaption>Black Panthers 3.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>6-8 Girls Champions Team: Black Panthers (5-1) Head Coach: Marisela Segura Roster: Priscila Rodriguez, Daniela Armendariz, Paige Trendel, Valeria Cuevas, Natalia Rodriguez, Princessly Armendariz, Bierly Gallegos, Alexis Simon<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671724074623.jpeg" alt="Arsenal" />
 <figcaption>Arsenal</figcaption>
 </figure>6-8 Boys Champions Team: Arsenal (5-1) Head Coach: Daniel Holinde Roster: Branson Holinde, Cooper Burroughs, Elliot Jimenez, Randy Weber, Omar Razo, Jesus Molina, Alexis Alonzo, Rafael Chavez

Great Bend Rec 2022 girls & boys indoor soccer champs

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/7e2ab668-9071-46b5-b605-1daf867c4e31">City of Great Bend names new interim leadership duo</a>

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/5fc07937-2863-41b8-8dfa-7f3987713af5">Barton County Sheriff's Office seizes more than 12 pounds of meth</a>

<a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/7c11dec5-2103-472d-a9a9-517c14d87299">GBHS wrestlers benefitting form USD 4428 purchase of CUNA property</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671503176463.jpeg" alt="Logan Burns (left) was approved to become the City of Great Bend's interim city administrator and Police Chief Steve Haulmark (right) was voted to be Burns' consultant." />
 <figcaption>Logan Burns (left) was approved to become the City of Great Bend's interim city administrator and Police Chief Steve Haulmark (right) was voted to be Burns' consultant.</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/50nxgvhe/widget" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/7e2ab668-9071-46b5-b605-1daf867c4e31">City of Great Bend names new interim leadership duo</a><a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/5fc07937-2863-41b8-8dfa-7f3987713af5">Barton County Sheriff's Office seizes more than 12 pounds of meth</a><a href="https://greatbendpost.com/posts/7c11dec5-2103-472d-a9a9-517c14d87299">GBHS wrestlers benefitting form USD 4428 purchase of CUNA property</a>

Eagle Radio's News Week in Review

By DAVE BERGMEIER <a href="https://www.hpj.com/">High Plains Journal</a>

Fields Forward,&nbsp;a project of the Kansas Wheat Commission Research Foundation, reached its $4 million campaign goal&nbsp;to research a sustainable&nbsp;wheat future and&nbsp;hosted&nbsp;a celebration thanking&nbsp;donors on Dec. 15.

Tammy McClellan, Plainville,&nbsp;manager of donor relations for the&nbsp;fund drive, said the campaign paralleled what her husband, Mike, had gone through with the challenges of events&nbsp;over&nbsp;which there is no control. When the $4 million campaign was to begin in March 2020,&nbsp;the country was beginning to shut&nbsp;down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. That meant a slow campaign start but supporters stayed optimistic.

Mike’s father, the late Bob McClellan, believed strongly in the importance of the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center because the research would improve the quality and yield that growers needed so they could earn more money and improve profitability.

She encouraged those in attendance to think about the future as they go about their everyday lives.

“What will your&nbsp;legacy look like in this world?” she said.

Ron Suppes, a Dighton wheat grower,&nbsp;recognized&nbsp;the successful campaign&nbsp;by&nbsp;showing&nbsp;a light bulb&nbsp;filled with wheat kernels. He did that as a way to show people&nbsp;the importance of shining a light on the future. Suppes, the chairman of the Wheat&nbsp;Commission&nbsp;Research Foundation, continues to be impressed when he sees the accomplishments of visionaries who believed in supporting and growing the wheat industry.

“This includes all those who dreamed before us but who are no longer here with us,” he said.

The legacy of wheat growers is they have been willing to keep investing in sustainable and regenerative practices,&nbsp;and wheat has proven to be a champion for doing both and being a profitable crop for farmers, he said.

He also encouraged growers to take time from busy schedules to tour the innovation center and to continue to support the mission of research.

Guest speaker&nbsp;Gene Taylor, director of athletics at Kansas State University, talked about the success of the Big 12 champion football team and introduced several players&nbsp;who had agricultural backgrounds. Taylor also is a fan of wheat research and what it means to&nbsp;feeding&nbsp;the world.

Taylor has personally visited the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center and the International Grains Program since he arrived in Manhattan in April 2017. Taylor was the athletic director at North Dakota State University before being hired by K-State. While at NDSU, he had several friends in the agronomy program&nbsp;who&nbsp;had spoken&nbsp;highly of K-State’s research and had encouraged him to see the innovation center and the IGP.

He said the work by the industry is also the result of a committed team of researchers, support staff, donors and farmers. He likened it to the success of a football team and other successful sports programs that are looking for student-athletes who are willing to work hard and put their team above personal aspirations.

Taylor said K-State football coach Chris Klieman stresses a culture of a player-led team as the best way to achieve success. Taylor said the mindset can apply other vocations including wheat production.

“There is big intersection among academics, athletics and agriculture,” he said.

The work ethic of students who grew up with an agricultural background is well&nbsp;known at K-State and similar universities,&nbsp;and those students help set the tone about the importance of hard work and putting a team first.

“All of our coaches are looking for right people to be the right fit in the locker room,” Taylor said.

The event was an opportunity to showcase the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center in Manhattan, a 48,000-square-foot facility that was built for $15 million in 2012. A video about the role of research and genetics in feeding the world was shown in the International Grains Program conference center. Event-goers could go on a tour of the innovation center.

Aaron Harries, vice president of research and operations at Kansas Wheat, said it was appropriate the campaign completion came on the 10th anniversary of the wheat innovation center—a commitment by farmers and growers to improve the crop in terms of yield and quality for bakers and millers. The center houses 10,000 strains of&nbsp;ancient&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;grasses in the Wheat Genetics Resource Center.&nbsp;It&nbsp;is the second largest depository in the world only behind the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, also known as CIMMYT, in Mexico, which was established by the late agronomist and researcher Norman Borlaug.

Gary Millershaski, chairman of the Kansas Wheat Commission, said the working relationship among the partners, including K-State<a></a>, private and public institutions has few peers in terms of innovation that helps farmers. As he gave an invocation he asked people to pray for rain.

He&nbsp;then&nbsp;thanked the International Grains Program for its innovation and partnership.

“All of this was built by farmers through the checkoff,” Millershaski said as he looked upon the crowd that included grain producers, researchers, K-State faculty and donors.

Justin Gilpin, CEO of Kansas Wheat, said the innovation center was the result of growers, past and present, who had a “think big” mentality that will carry the wheat industry into the future. In the past 10 years the center has had over 10,000 visitors. He also thanked the public and private partnerships&nbsp;and leadership of Kansas Wheat Commissioners and to producers who are committed to improving yield and quality.

Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or dbergmeier@hpj.com. Republished with permission.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671737663621.jpeg" alt="Tammy McClellan, Plainville, manager of donor relations for the successful $4 million fundraiser “Fields Forward” for the Kansas Wheat Commission Research Foundation, thanked donors for their support. (Journal photo by Dave Bergmeier.)" />
 <figcaption>Tammy McClellan, Plainville, manager of donor relations for the successful $4 million fundraiser “Fields Forward” for the Kansas Wheat Commission Research Foundation, thanked donors for their support. (Journal photo by Dave Bergmeier.)</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAVE BERGMEIER <a href="https://www.hpj.com/">High Plains Journal</a>Fields Forward,&nbsp;a project of the Kansas Wheat Commission Research Foundation, reached its $4 million campaign goal&nbsp;to research a sustainable&nbsp;wheat future and&nbsp;hosted&nbsp;a celebration thanking&nbsp;donors on Dec. 15.Tammy McClellan, Plainville,&nbsp;manager of donor relations for the&nbsp;fund drive, said the campaign paralleled what her husband, Mike, had gone through with the challenges of events&nbsp;over&nbsp;which there is no control. When the $4 million campaign was to begin in March 2020,&nbsp;the country was beginning to shut&nbsp;down as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. That meant a slow campaign start but supporters stayed optimistic.Mike’s father, the late Bob McClellan, believed strongly in the importance of the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center because the research would improve the quality and yield that growers needed so they could earn more money and improve profitability.She encouraged those in attendance to think about the future as they go about their everyday lives.“What will your&nbsp;legacy look like in this world?” she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671737697902.jpeg" alt="Ron Suppes, Dighton, is chairman of the Wheat commission Research Foundation, praised visionaries who believed in supporting and growing the wheat industry. (Journal photo by Dave Bergmeier.)" />
 <figcaption>Ron Suppes, Dighton, is chairman of the Wheat commission Research Foundation, praised visionaries who believed in supporting and growing the wheat industry. (Journal photo by Dave Bergmeier.)</figcaption>
 </figure>Ron Suppes, a Dighton wheat grower,&nbsp;recognized&nbsp;the successful campaign&nbsp;by&nbsp;showing&nbsp;a light bulb&nbsp;filled with wheat kernels. He did that as a way to show people&nbsp;the importance of shining a light on the future. Suppes, the chairman of the Wheat&nbsp;Commission&nbsp;Research Foundation, continues to be impressed when he sees the accomplishments of visionaries who believed in supporting and growing the wheat industry.“This includes all those who dreamed before us but who are no longer here with us,” he said.The legacy of wheat growers is they have been willing to keep investing in sustainable and regenerative practices,&nbsp;and wheat has proven to be a champion for doing both and being a profitable crop for farmers, he said.He also encouraged growers to take time from busy schedules to tour the innovation center and to continue to support the mission of research.Guest speaker&nbsp;Gene Taylor, director of athletics at Kansas State University, talked about the success of the Big 12 champion football team and introduced several players&nbsp;who had agricultural backgrounds. Taylor also is a fan of wheat research and what it means to&nbsp;feeding&nbsp;the world.Taylor has personally visited the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center and the International Grains Program since he arrived in Manhattan in April 2017. Taylor was the athletic director at North Dakota State University before being hired by K-State. While at NDSU, he had several friends in the agronomy program&nbsp;who&nbsp;had spoken&nbsp;highly of K-State’s research and had encouraged him to see the innovation center and the IGP.He said the work by the industry is also the result of a committed team of researchers, support staff, donors and farmers. He likened it to the success of a football team and other successful sports programs that are looking for student-athletes who are willing to work hard and put their team above personal aspirations.Taylor said K-State football coach Chris Klieman stresses a culture of a player-led team as the best way to achieve success. Taylor said the mindset can apply other vocations including wheat production.“There is big intersection among academics, athletics and agriculture,” he said.The work ethic of students who grew up with an agricultural background is well&nbsp;known at K-State and similar universities,&nbsp;and those students help set the tone about the importance of hard work and putting a team first.“All of our coaches are looking for right people to be the right fit in the locker room,” Taylor said.The event was an opportunity to showcase the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center in Manhattan, a 48,000-square-foot facility that was built for $15 million in 2012. A video about the role of research and genetics in feeding the world was shown in the International Grains Program conference center. Event-goers could go on a tour of the innovation center.Aaron Harries, vice president of research and operations at Kansas Wheat, said it was appropriate the campaign completion came on the 10th anniversary of the wheat innovation center—a commitment by farmers and growers to improve the crop in terms of yield and quality for bakers and millers. The center houses 10,000 strains of&nbsp;ancient&nbsp;wheat&nbsp;grasses in the Wheat Genetics Resource Center.&nbsp;It&nbsp;is the second largest depository in the world only behind the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center, also known as CIMMYT, in Mexico, which was established by the late agronomist and researcher Norman Borlaug.Gary Millershaski, chairman of the Kansas Wheat Commission, said the working relationship among the partners, including K-State<a></a>, private and public institutions has few peers in terms of innovation that helps farmers. As he gave an invocation he asked people to pray for rain.He&nbsp;then&nbsp;thanked the International Grains Program for its innovation and partnership.“All of this was built by farmers through the checkoff,” Millershaski said as he looked upon the crowd that included grain producers, researchers, K-State faculty and donors.Justin Gilpin, CEO of Kansas Wheat, said the innovation center was the result of growers, past and present, who had a “think big” mentality that will carry the wheat industry into the future. In the past 10 years the center has had over 10,000 visitors. He also thanked the public and private partnerships&nbsp;and leadership of Kansas Wheat Commissioners and to producers who are committed to improving yield and quality.Dave Bergmeier can be reached at 620-227-1822 or dbergmeier@hpj.com. Republished with permission.

Wheat foundation celebrates successful $4M fundraiser

By COLE REIF Great Bend Post

Are the in-laws in town? Looking for something to do in Great Bend over
the holiday break? 

Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes said your
evening should definitely start with the Trail of Lights around town. 
"You'll want to go to Jack Kilby Square and check out both sides of the courthouse," said Hayes. "The wild lights at Brit Spaugh Park and Zoo is always fun to enter. Then head down Broadway for the lights by the lake. We typically have one at K-96 and 10th Street. Then you'll drive around and hit the Barton County Historical Society lights." 
With a Christmas Window Decorating Contest this holiday season, Hayes invites
everyone browse the downtown area to look at the displays, including Yours
Truly Gift &amp; Flower Shoppe on Lakin Avenue which won the top prize. 
There is also the ice skating available at Jack Kilby Square. For those with
their own skates, the rink is open any time. Rentals will be available next
week. 
"Because of the cold weather, ice skating this weekend will be cancelled," said Hayes. "We still have one more week. December 29 and December 30 we will have some time for the free ice skating rentals." 
The last two days of free ice skate rentals will be next Thursday, Dec. 29 and Friday, Dec. 30 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671728268334.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By COLE REIF Great Bend PostAre the in-laws in town? Looking for something to do in Great Bend over
the holiday break? Great Bend Community Coordinator Christina Hayes said your
evening should definitely start with the Trail of Lights around town. 
"You'll want to go to Jack Kilby Square and check out both sides of the courthouse," said Hayes. "The wild lights at Brit Spaugh Park and Zoo is always fun to enter. Then head down Broadway for the lights by the lake. We typically have one at K-96 and 10th Street. Then you'll drive around and hit the Barton County Historical Society lights." 
With a Christmas Window Decorating Contest this holiday season, Hayes invites
everyone browse the downtown area to look at the displays, including Yours
Truly Gift &amp; Flower Shoppe on Lakin Avenue which won the top prize. 
There is also the ice skating available at Jack Kilby Square. For those with
their own skates, the rink is open any time. Rentals will be available next
week. 
"Because of the cold weather, ice skating this weekend will be cancelled," said Hayes. "We still have one more week. December 29 and December 30 we will have some time for the free ice skating rentals." 
The last two days of free ice skate rentals will be next Thursday, Dec. 29 and Friday, Dec. 30 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Holiday things to do this week in Great Bend

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

It’s the Big 12 championship football game in Arlington, Texas. The offensive starters take the field. The big offensive linemen get in position for the first snap. A look at the roster reveals that this is homegrown talent: Three of K-State’s five starting offensive linemen come from the state of Kansas.&nbsp;

Cooper Beebe, Hadley Panzer, and Hayden Gillum are the Sunflower State starting linemen who help anchor Kansas State’s offensive line. Beebe is from Kansas City, Kansas and attended Piper High School. Panzer is from the rural community of Lakin, population 2,205, and Gillum is from the rural community of Plainville, population 1,746 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

Cooper Beebe became a starter at K-State in 2020 – the same year he first earned All-Big 12 Academic honors. In 2021, he earned First Team All-Big 12 honors from both the league’s coaches and Associated Press -- the youngest offensive lineman to be named to the first team by either organization.&nbsp;

Beebe also was the first Wildcat freshman or sophomore offensive lineman to be named a First Team All-Big 12 performer since Dalton Risner in 2016. Beebe entered the 2022 season with lots of accolades: Pre-season All Big 12, pre-season All-American, and named to the Outland Trophy watch list.&nbsp;

At 6-foot-4 and 322 pounds, Beebe’s 2022 season has been outstanding. He was named a First Team All-Big 12 performer by the Associated Press for a second-consecutive season and First Team All-American by The Sporting News.&nbsp;

Named the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year by the league's coaches, Beebe did not allow a sack among his 395 passing blocking snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Beebe has not surrendered a sack in his last 28 games dating back to 2020.&nbsp;

Lakin’s Hadley Panzer is only a sophomore, but stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 300 pounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hayden Gillum was a four-year letter winner at Plainville before coming to K-State as a walk-on. He earned Second Team Academic All-Big 12 honors. Now 6-foot-3 and 286 pounds, he has become a standout center for the Wildcats.&nbsp;

Speaking of walk-ons, Austin Moore is from Louisburg and walked-on at K-State in 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;As a reserve linebacker, he earned First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors and was one of 13 players in the league to be nominated with a 4.0 GPA. He achieved First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors again in 2021.&nbsp;

Nicknamed ‘The Machine’ by his teammates, Moore started every game at linebacker in 2022. He finished the regular season with 82 tackles and led the Wildcats in tackling in three games.&nbsp;

Jaylen Pickle from Cimarron was another significant contributor for the Wildcats. The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder started at defensive end.&nbsp;

D.J. Giddens came to K-State from Junction City. He not only emerged as back-up running back to All-American Deuce Vaughn, he became a weapon for the Wildcats in his own right. Against West Virginia, the freshman had a 49-yard run for a touchdown.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/12/1671637329704.png" alt="Courtesy K-State Research &amp; Extension" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy K-State Research &amp; Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development&nbsp;&nbsp;It’s the Big 12 championship football game in Arlington, Texas. The offensive starters take the field. The big offensive linemen get in position for the first snap. A look at the roster reveals that this is homegrown talent: Three of K-State’s five starting offensive linemen come from the state of Kansas.&nbsp;Cooper Beebe, Hadley Panzer, and Hayden Gillum are the Sunflower State starting linemen who help anchor Kansas State’s offensive line. Beebe is from Kansas City, Kansas and attended Piper High School. Panzer is from the rural community of Lakin, population 2,205, and Gillum is from the rural community of Plainville, population 1,746 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;Cooper Beebe became a starter at K-State in 2020 – the same year he first earned All-Big 12 Academic honors. In 2021, he earned First Team All-Big 12 honors from both the league’s coaches and Associated Press -- the youngest offensive lineman to be named to the first team by either organization.&nbsp;Beebe also was the first Wildcat freshman or sophomore offensive lineman to be named a First Team All-Big 12 performer since Dalton Risner in 2016. Beebe entered the 2022 season with lots of accolades: Pre-season All Big 12, pre-season All-American, and named to the Outland Trophy watch list.&nbsp;At 6-foot-4 and 322 pounds, Beebe’s 2022 season has been outstanding. He was named a First Team All-Big 12 performer by the Associated Press for a second-consecutive season and First Team All-American by The Sporting News.&nbsp;Named the Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year by the league's coaches, Beebe did not allow a sack among his 395 passing blocking snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus. Beebe has not surrendered a sack in his last 28 games dating back to 2020.&nbsp;Lakin’s Hadley Panzer is only a sophomore, but stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 300 pounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hayden Gillum was a four-year letter winner at Plainville before coming to K-State as a walk-on. He earned Second Team Academic All-Big 12 honors. Now 6-foot-3 and 286 pounds, he has become a standout center for the Wildcats.&nbsp;Speaking of walk-ons, Austin Moore is from Louisburg and walked-on at K-State in 2019.&nbsp;&nbsp;As a reserve linebacker, he earned First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors and was one of 13 players in the league to be nominated with a 4.0 GPA. He achieved First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors again in 2021.&nbsp;Nicknamed ‘The Machine’ by his teammates, Moore started every game at linebacker in 2022. He finished the regular season with 82 tackles and led the Wildcats in tackling in three games.&nbsp;Jaylen Pickle from Cimarron was another significant contributor for the Wildcats. The 6-foot-5, 310-pounder started at defensive end.&nbsp;D.J. Giddens came to K-State from Junction City. He not only emerged as back-up running back to All-American Deuce Vaughn, he became a weapon for the Wildcats in his own right. Against West Virginia, the freshman had a 49-yard run for a touchdown.&nbsp;Then there is punter/placekicker Ty Zentner from Topeka. He achieved Academic All-Big 12 honors in 2020 and 2021. In 2022, he was named to the Associated Press All-Big 12 team.&nbsp;As a punter, Zentner enters bowl season ranked 17th in the nation and second in the Big 12 with a 44.7-yard average, a mark that currently ranks second in school history. He has 19 punts this season that have traveled at least 50 yards, while a career-high 26 of his punts have been downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.&nbsp;As a placekicker, Zentner went 29-for-29 on extra-point attempts and 9-for-9 on field goals, including the one in overtime that gave K-State the Big 12 championship.&nbsp;The state of Kansas has been good to the K-State football program. Since 1990, Wildcat players earning all conference honors have come from 33 cities in Kansas.&nbsp;The Big 12 championship game is over, and confetti rains down as a Big 12 championship is celebrated by the Wildcats – including those big offensive linemen. We commend all Kansas kids for making a difference in playing so well for their in-state teams because we appreciate homegrown heroes.&nbsp;

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