Kansas 4-H is celebrating National 4-H Week Oct. 2-8, 2016. More than 86,000 youth in Kansas are learning leadership and other skills through the state’s 4-H programs.
K-State Research and Extension
MANHATTAN – 4-H is built on a belief in the power of young people, that every child has valuable strengths and real influence to improve the world around them. The organization provides the kinds of experiences to grow into true leaders. K-State Research and Extension encourages all Kansans to celebrate Kansas 4-H true leaders during National 4-H Week, Oct. 2-8, 2016.
“True leaders are young people who have confidence; know how to work well with others; can endure through challenges; and will stick to a job until it gets done,” said Diane Mack, K-State interim department head and state 4-H Program Leader. “In Kansas 4-H, we believe true leaders aren’t born – they are grown.”
During National 4-H week, Kansas 4-H will highlight life skills, such as confidence, leadership, responsibility, compassion and curiosity, through its new brand campaign 4-H Grows Here. The campaign engages youth to learn these life skills by doing – through guidance, tools and encouragement from adult mentors and by putting youth in the driver’s seat to make great things happen.
4-H is America’s largest youth development organization – empowering nearly six million young people across the U.S. In Kansas, more than 86,000 youth participate in the 4-H program through hands-on projects in areas like science, health, agriculture and citizenship. 4-H clubs have evolved to include special interest (SPIN) clubs focusing only on a particular project, in-school enrichment programs, after-school programs and 4-H camps.
Join the conversation this week by using the hashtags #4HGrown, #4HGrowsHere and #TrueLeaders on social media. Share with us your 4-H experience and the positive impact it has made on your life. For more information on how to join 4-H, visit www.Kansas4-H.org or contact your local K-State Research and Extension office.
Lack of understanding and critical thinking on the part of some in the environmental movement has compromised their effectiveness as self-appointed protectors and guardians of our planet.
Whenever we improve our critical thinking skills it becomes easier to see through deception and exaggeration that has characterized the promotions of some environmental organizations and the mass media’s coverage of their issues.
If we examine the issue of critical thinking, one of the first things we must realize is that correlation is not causation. I know I am wandering into a deep subject for such a shallow mind as mine, but bear with me.
Correlation means two things tend to happen at the same time. Causation means one thing is known to cause another.
Because two things happen at the same time doesn’t mean one is causing the other. We need proof, including a reasonable theory showing the path by which one thing causes another to occur.
Global warming and pollution of the water supply with herbicides for example – common environmental concerns – have resulted when correlation of two things was mistaken for causation. To avoid future errors, radical environmentalists must be responsible for proving that one thing is actually causing another to happen.
They just can’t say it. That doesn’t make it so.
In today’s world, much remains unexplained. Cancer is one disease that comes to mind.
This dreaded disease might be due to genetic conditions, nutrition, a health problem in childhood, prolonged stress or a combination of these factors. One day scientists may find a cure for this disease, but that day has not arrived.
Trends don’t always predict the future. During the early ‘70s some scientists predicted the advent of another ice age. During the ‘80s temperatures increased and some experts said we’d experience catastrophic global warming. The cold winter of 1993-94 prompted a new wave of hysteria about another ice age.
Today’s projected cataclysms are the continued fear of global warming and the melting of the polar ice caps. Predictions of resource depletion are another reason for concern. Most of these are based on projections of past trends. Trends only serve as a guideline of past events and cannot document exactly what will happen down the road.
Another element of critical thinking is reliance on fact rather than opinion. So often in our society, the “squeaky wheel gets the grease.” The loudest or most controversial opinion receives the most attention.
This has definitely been true in the environmental movement where claims of upcoming calamities receive extensive media coverage. To make sure experts with a minority view don’t mislead the public, seek relevant facts and make up your own mind.
One reason apocalyptic abusers thrive is the general public rarely relies on its long-term memory. People are unlikely to remember a doomsayer’s dire predictions of a few months ago, much less 10 or 20 years back. We must remember yesterday’s false alarms and the people who sounded them if we are to respond to future calls to action.
While few people enjoy risk in their lives, we can’t live without it. Everything we do has risk attached even ordinary events like walking down the steps (falling and breaking bones) or crossing the street (being hit by a truck).
Remember the risk of drowning (16 in a million), or dying in a home accident (90 in a million), or being killed in an auto accident (192 in a million) greatly exceeds the alleged environmental risks being hawked by some organizations.
Throughout our lives we make choices. We must decide between the black pair of shoes and the brown. We must decide on catsup, pickles or mustard on our hot dog.
The same can be said about our environment. We have to choose our priorities. We can’t do everything at once. To do so could produce unintended consequences that could harm the world in which we live.
Instead, we must apply the same prudence we apply to other significant aspects of our lives. The importance of environmental issues doesn’t exempt them from this discipline. Their importance makes careful planning and efficiency all the more necessary.
John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.
With Wed., Oct. 5 being International World Teachers Day and the Every Student Succeeds Act soon to go in effect, the personal-finance website WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2016’s Best & Worst States for Teachers.
In order to help educators find the best teaching opportunities in the country and draw attention to the states needing improvement in this regard, WalletHub analyzed the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 16 key metrics, ranging from “average starting salary” to “pupil-teacher ratio” to “school safety.”
Best States for Teachers Worst States for Teachers
1 New Jersey 42 Rhode Island
2 Massachusetts 43 South Carolina
3 Illinois 44 North Carolina
4 Minnesota 45 Maine
5 Wyoming 46 South Dakota
6 Virginia 47 Mississippi
7 New York 48 Oregon
8 Texas 49 Arizona
9 Utah 50 West Virginia
10 Connecticut 51 Hawaii
Kansas ranked 32nd out of the 51 analyses.
Best vs. Worst
Wyoming has the highest average starting salary for teachers (adjusted for cost of living), $46,626, which is 1.9 times higher than in Hawaii, the state with the lowest, $24,334.
Michigan has the highest median annual salary for teachers (adjusted for cost of living), $70,042, which is two times higher than in Hawaii, the state with the lowest, $34,063.
Nevada has the lowest projected number of teachers per 1,000 students by year 2022 (indicating competition), 26.83, which is 3.3 times lower than in North Dakota, the state with the highest, 87.59.
Vermont has the lowest pupil-teacher ratio, 10.6, which is 2.3 times lower than in California, the state with the highest, 24.3.
Vermont has the highest public-school spending per student, $25,286, which is 3.4 times higher than in Indiana, the state with the lowest, $7,538.
Free adult hearing screenings, sponsored by the Kansas Masonic Foundation, will be offered this fall and next spring in six western Kansas communities by Fort Hays State University.
In addition, services for adults with swallowing difficulties, called dysphagia, will be offered in several other Kansas communities throughout the spring semester. Both services will be provided by graduate students from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the FHSU Herndon Clinic.
“The FHSU Herndon Clinic in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is very fortunate to have recently received a $250,000 grant from the Kansas Masonic Foundation to support adult speech, language and hearing services in western Kansas,” said Marcy Beougher, speech-language pathologist and an instructor in the department.
The first hearing screening will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at the Masonic Center, 600 Cedar Dr., Scott City. No appointment is necessary. Screenings will be conducted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Each site will have four stations, each with an FHSU graduate student providing screenings, supervised by Beougher. Each screening will take approximately 15-20 minutes.
“Many of these sites have never had a free hearing screening scheduled in their local community, so our hope is to provide a worthwhile service to many adults who would not have otherwise had the opportunity,” said Beougher.
The location of the screenings are listed by date. Exact times and locations for the later sites will be announced soon.
Oct. 7: Scott City Masonic Center, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Nov. 4: Medicine Lodge Dec. 2: Hoisington Feb. 3: Hill City
March 10: Hugoton April 7: Goodland
Beougher and Kori Haberman, CSD graduate assistant, are organizing the hearing screenings.
“We are very thankful to the Kansas Masonic Foundation for this opportunity to bring a much-needed service that also provides excellent clinical experience for our FHSU graduate students,” said Beougher.
“We believe it will be a win-win situation for all involved.”
For more information, visit fhsu.edu/herndon-clinic/ or contact the FHSU Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at 785-628-5366.
SHAWNEE COUNTY –Law enforcement authorities in Shawnee County are investigating an attempted
On Saturday, suspects made a burglary attempt at Dennison State Bank, 3640 SW Fairlawn in Topeka.
The suspect was captured on surveillance cameras.
Police asked that Anyone with information on this suspect please Email the TPD Criminal Intelligence Unit ([email protected]) or TPD DET Jesse Sherer ([email protected]) or call #785 368 9694 or Crime Stoppers at #785 234-0007
A cold front will be the focus for thunderstorm development chances by mid to late afternoon. The severe thunderstorm threats will be relegated to the central Kansas counties. Areas west of Wakeeney to Dodge City and Meade line will be behind the front with little if any chance for thunderstorms later in the day.
Today A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 75. South southeast wind 8 to 13 mph becoming north northwest in the afternoon.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 39. Northwest wind 5 to 8 mph becoming southwest in the evening.
WednesdaySunny, with a high near 78. Light and variable wind becoming east southeast 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Wednesday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 51. East wind 6 to 8 mph.
ThursdayMostly sunny, with a high near 70.
Thursday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 41. Breezy.
HUTCHINSON – A dispute between two men that led to one of them being taken to jail on a charge of aggravated battery was back before a Reno County judge on Monday for the formal reading of the charge.
Dustin Wedgewood, 32, Hutchinson, was arrested on the charge after he allegedly struck 28-year-old Joseph Murur with a large piece of wood.
On September 25, police were called to the 500 block of East 3 Road on the report of a battery.
When they arrived, they found Murur lying in the yard outside of an apartment.
He had been knocked out from being hit in the head and was taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment.
In court on Monday, Wedgwood claimed self-defense saying the victim pulled a knife on him.
The aggravated battery charge is a level seven person felony with a maximum sentence of two years and 10-months in prison.
COLBY, Kan.-The Hays High Lady Indian volleyball team took three matches in Colby on Monday night defeating Liberal, Phillipsburg and Colby. Hays High had their most dominant stretch on the season, losing only one set in the three matches. It was a late start and a late finish in Colby where Hays High didn’t start their final match until 10:05 p.m.
The toughest match was the opener against Liberal. Hays won the match in three sets. It was a rematch against Phillipsburg in match number two and after losing to the Panthers in three sets on Saturday in Great Bend, the Lady Indians cruised to a two set victory. The host, Colby, played the night cap with Hays High, a straight set HHS win.
With the three wins Hays High improves to 13-12 on the season. They are off until October 15th when they host the Western Athletic Conference Tournament.
Liberal (W 25-17, 24-26, 25-23)
Stat Leaders: Tasiah Nunnery 14 digs, 2 solo blocks, 7 kills; Jaycee Dale 8 block assists and 5 aces, Hannah McGuire 14 assists
Phillipsburg (W 25-17, 25-22)
Stat Leaders: Mattie Hutchison and Hannah McGuire 6 assists; Rachel Taylor, Tasiah Nunnery and Jaycee Dale 4 kills; Jaysa Wichers 9 block assists, Nunnery 14 digs
Colby (W 25-14, 25-19)
Stat Leaders: Mallory Linn, Rachel Taylor, Tasiah Nunnery and Jaycee Dale 4 kills; Hannah McGuire 10 assists; Nunnery 12 digs; Dale and Jaysa Wichers 4 blocks
GREENWOOD COUNTY – A bicycle rider died in an accident just after 8 a.m. on Monday in Greenwood County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2008 Chevy Impala driven by Shawn Patrick Echols, 32, El Dorado, was east bound on U.S. 54 seven miles east of Eureka.
The car struck an eastbound bicycle ridden by Michael John Balfe, 60, Claremont, West Australia.
Balfe was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Country Side Funeral Home.
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GREENWOOD COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities in Greenwood County are investigating a fatal bicycle accident.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported just after 8a.m. on Monday, a 2008 Chevy Impala was east bound on U.S. 54 seven miles east of Eureka.
The car struck an eastbound bicycle.
Name of the victim and additional details were have not been released.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review the case of a Kansas serial killer who stuffed the bodies of several victims into barrels.
Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt says Monday’s ruling leaves John Robinson’s capital murder conviction and death sentence intact. Robinson was convicted of killing seven women and a teenage girl in Kansas and Missouri in cases dating back to 1984. Investigators say he lured some victims with promises of work or sex.
Schmidt says this is the first death penalty case to exhaust direct appeals since capital punishment was reinstated in 1994 in Kansas. The case now returns to Kansas courts for further proceedings.
His attorney didn’t immediately return a phone message from The Associated Press.
HAYS – The TMP-Marian girls’s golf team won their second straight and third overall tournament title Monday. The Monarchs shot a 398 to win their own TMP Invitational at Smoky Hill Country Club. Hoisington was second with a 415 and Clay Center third in the windy conditions with 427.
Individually, Karee Dinkel and Shannen Chin were declared co-champions after both had a round of 86. It was declared too windy and dark to send them out on the course for a playoff.
Rounding out the scoring for TMP was Alison Helget 110, Gracie Wasinger 116, Avin Inlow 124 and Jenna Romme 120. Halle Lang 120, Katy Walters 140 and Haleigh Spray 156 also participated.
Next tourney for TMP-Marian is the 3-2-1A Regional at Russell on Monday October 10.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Democrats and voting rights advocates are ramping up voter registration drives across Kansas in the wake of recent court rulings allowing thousands of people to more easily register with a federal form or at motor vehicle offices without providing citizenship documents.
But the state’s Republican Party contends those court cases are “practically irrelevant” to the November election.
GOP Executive Director Clay Barker says it isn’t putting party emphasis on registration because its numbers are so high in Kansas and registration “tends to take care of itself.”
Republicans comprise 45 percent of the state’s 1.76 million registered voters. Unaffiliated voters make up 29 percent of the electorate, while Democrats trail with 25 percent.
The League of Women Voters is also advising its volunteers to use the federal form to register voters.
thunderstorms later in the day.
