LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Two Ellis County Extension Agents were recognized at the recent National Association of County Agricultural Agents Association conference in Little Rock in late July.
Holly Dickman, Ellis County Extension Agent for Horticulture, received the Achievement Award that recognizes Extension agents with less than 10 years of experience for excellence in their fields for expertise and professionalism. Dickman reaches many people in the county and region with her media work with “Green and Growing weekly television segments, “Let’s Get Growing” daily radio tapings and bi-weekly public service announcements for homeowners, gardeners and landscape professionals. She works diligently in answering the hundreds of phone calls that come into the Extension office during the growing season and manages and works with 26 volunteer Master Gardeners.
Campbell, right, accepts his award.
Stacy Campbell, Ellis County Extension Agent for Agriculture, received the Distinguished Service Award which honors outstanding Extension professionals with more than 10 years of experience and represents the top 2 percent of NACAA membership. Campbell has strived to offer agriculture producers a well-rounded Extension educational program with an emphasis in various crop and livestock production management practices and issues and risk management strategies. He writes a weekly article for the newspaper in an effort to inform and keep ag producers aware of the latest information that can be useful to them. He has developed a GMO presentation and game that is given each spring and fall to middle school youth at the EARTH/Water Festivals.
With school starting across Kansas this unfortunately can mean the return of unhealthy lunches which can certainly be labeled as fast food, most of which come to schools shipped in already prepared packaging. If you have or have had children in school, you know what I mean.
Beanie weenies, chicken nuggets, high-carb mac and cheese, fried snacks and sugary soft drinks are popular fare served at school cafeterias across the Wheat State. Still, school lunch programs can play a key role in teaching and reinforcing healthy eating behaviors by integrating activities like on-site gardens, nutrition education, locally sourced foods and endeavors that affirm the value of mealtimes.
You don’t have to have eagle eyes to see this nation has a problem with obesity and that challenge has spread to this country’s youngsters. Did you know approximately 17 percent of U.S. children and adolescents aged 2-19 are obese, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control? That’s nearly triple the amount in 1980.
It’s time we turn this train around. Initiatives that connect our youth to fresh, healthy foods, a healthy lifestyle with plenty of exercise and healthy eating habits will go a long way toward changing this obesity endemic.
What’s happening here may seem more difficult than it really is. Looking back in our not too distant past, many Americans ate a balanced diet consisting of plenty of fruits, vegetables, grains and protein. Eating healthy isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible either. It does take discipline, restraint and the willingness to make life-altering changes in what have become bad-choice, unhealthy eating habits.
What better place to begin than with the future of our youngsters? Talk about an idealistic endeavor.
Let’s begin with one of the most important steps – connecting local farmers to schools. In communities across Kansas, local food producers provide beef, lamb, pork, poultry, fruits, grains and vegetables at local markets or directly from their farms.
Why can’t they provide farm-fresh foods for our school children?
Well this is happening – and right here in Kansas. In Clark County, in southwestern Kansas, local stockmen donate cattle to help feed students at Ashland High School. This generous contribution is known as the USD 220 beef program.
Between 15 and 20 livestock producers pledged to provide beef for this new program. With this many contributors, each producer donates one animal every two years.
This new strategy, allows the school district hopes to significantly reduce its food costs, engage the community, reward livestock producers and provide for its students.
Another program I recently read about includes the state of Vermont. Here a successful farm to school movement throughout the last 10 years has aided school lunch programs from state money. Nearly 60 percent of the schools have participated. Children of Vermont have benefited with farm-fresh foods and local farmers have expanded their business into a market worth more than $40 million.
School gardens can provide hands-on opportunities for children to cultivate and grow their own food. In high poverty areas of north Texas, school gardens not only nurture healthy lifestyles and respect for the environment, they can also provide academic achievement through the primary experiences of gardening.
Nutritional education should be a part of every public school in this country. So funding is tight. That’s a given. What if we engaged professional volunteers to run a broad range of topics that address nutrition?
You know, farmers and ranchers, agri-business types and maybe even people with nutritional backgrounds.
Our goal should be to feed our children while they are in school, but feed them with nutritious meals that will help them grow up to be healthy, well-adjusted adults. It’s time to cut back on a diet that focuses on processed foods delivered in boxes.
Children spend seven to eight hours nine to 10 months out of every year in schools across our nation. These same schools have our children under their wing more time than we as parents and grandparents during each day school is in session. Let’s reverse this trend of snacking and eating less than nutritious foods in our school systems.
Your children, grandchildren and mine deserve the best and healthiest foods available – fresh, locally produced and made from scratch served up at their schools.
John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Plaintiffs in the ongoing Kansas school finance lawsuit have told the state Supreme Court that some student test scores show the state is failing to fund its public schools adequately.
But attorneys for the state counter that funding is at record levels, that all schools are meeting state accreditation standards, and a court order for additional funding would be “a flagrant violation of the separation of powers.”
The Lawrence Journal-World reports both sides in the dispute filed briefs with the court Friday.
The Supreme Court could have a lot to say about what that new formula looks like and how much money needs to go into it when it weighs the two sides’ arguments and rules on the lawsuit later this year.
One year after the Pawnee County Health Department was awarded a three year grant through the Kansas Health Foundation to support breastfeeding mothers and babies, the project team is amazed with the progress achieved and also optimistic with the work ahead. The Lactation Assistance Access in all Counties Taking Action (LAACT-Action) project addresses the need to increase breastfeeding rates, specifically exclusive breastfeeding duration through 6 months, by providing physician referred prenatal breastfeeding education classes to expectant women and lactation consultations to breastfeeding mothers after delivery.
Public Health Departments in 20 counties are participating in the project: Barber, Barton, Comanche, Edwards, Ellis, Ellsworth, Ford, Harper, Hodgeman, Kingman, Kiowa, Ness, Pawnee, Pratt, Rice, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Stafford, and Trego. The health departments assist in linking physician referred expectant or breastfeeding women to an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) in their area.
Robin Rziha, RN, IBCLC is the project coordinator as well as the Pawnee County Health Department Administrator. Rziha covers some of the counties as an IBCLC, teaching classes and making home visits to mothers. “I enjoy working with expectant women and assisting them postpartum with breastfeeding, it is extremely rewarding to play a role in helping a mother with nurturing her baby through breastfeeding,” says Rziha.
Rziha gives much credit to physicians and hospitals in helping to promote breastfeeding to their patients prenatally and referring for classes and postpartum visits if necessary. “The classes and consultations really took off once the word got out to the physicians. Physician support is integral to a woman starting out breastfeeding and continuing. IBCLC visits to the physician’s offices and hospitals, especially the OB and Pediatric providers have been critical to the success of this project.” The counties that have physicians encouraging their prenatal patients to attend a breastfeeding class have been the most successful. Research shows that mothers who obtain breastfeeding education prenatally are better prepared for a successful breastfeeding experience.
Julie Fields, IBCLC, covers eight south central counties and is based out of Pratt. She recently delivered her fourth child in May and has managed to juggle being a new mother again with helping new moms. She feels this project has provided the needed avenue for mothers to reach assistance with breastfeeding. “Prior to this project, I had many moms contact me as a lactation consultant in private practice that were uncertain how they would pay for services out of pocket or how their insurance coverage would reimburse them. With the LAACT-Action project we are able to provide the services and work with insurance companies to receive reimbursement. It has also encouraged the physicians in my area to refer to me for lactation services knowing that the moms will not have unexpected charges for these covered services.”
Monique Homes, IBCLC in Hays, covers the north central counties.
The grant project timeline originally had Holmes phasing in with her five counties of Ellis, Rooks, Rush, Russell, and Trego starting January 2017 but with the demand of this service she has been providing the in-home lactation consultations from the start and just last month started teaching classes in her five counties.
Hays is the only community in the 20 county region served by the project that employs an IBCLC in the hospital. Working together with the IBCLC there, Holmes has been able to provide continuity of care from hospital to home when mothers are most likely to encounter difficulties and abandon their goals for breastfeeding within the first few weeks.
The three IBCLCs met at the Pawnee County Health Department recently for a planning meeting to share progress with each other and determine areas where a greater need of focus should be. The project goal is to give all mothers access to professional lactation assistance in their communities.
While IBCLCs are available in most regions of Kansas, they are rarely available through healthcare establishments, especially in rural areas.
Rziha noted that local public health departments have been a good vehicle for the delivery of lactation assistance and envisions this service being offered through all local health departments in the state.
Sustainability for the project is being realized through preventive services under the Affordable Care Act. Lactation education and counseling through referral from a licensed health care provider is a preventive service and is covered by most private insurance plans. “Until this project, no clinics in Kansas were doing third party billing for the lactation services. In a way, we are pioneering an effort to make this service available to all mothers in Kansas in the near future. Presently, depending on where a mother lives in the state of Kansas will to a large degree determine the level of success she may have with breastfeeding. We want every baby born in Kansas to have the same opportunity for a healthy start in life through breastfeeding,” says Rziha.
The Pawnee County Health Department LAACT-Action project is made possible through funding from the Kansas Health foundation. The Kansas Health Foundation is a private philanthropy dedicated to improving the health of all Kansans. For more information about the Kansas Health Foundation, visit www.kansashealth.org.
For more information about the LAACT-Action project visit www.laactaction.com or contact the Pawnee County Health Department.
DETROIT (AP) – Ian Kennedy pitched effectively into the seventh inning to win for the first since June 26 as the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 3-1 on Monday night.
The Tigers lost slugger Miguel Cabrera after four innings to a strained left biceps. Cabrera appeared to injure himself in a first-inning collision with Cheslor Cuthbert at first base, but batted twice before leaving the game.
Detroit said Cabrera is day to day.
Kennedy (7-9) ended an eight-start winless streak, allowing one run on five hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings. Three relievers finished, with Kelvin Herrera pitching the ninth for his fifth save.
Daniel Norris (1-1) took the loss, allowing two runs – one earned – in 5 1/3 innings.
HUTCHINSON— The judge in the case of a Kansas teen accused of killing his mother and sister will only allow the state to show one picture of the victims at trial, which begins next week.
Samuel Vonachen who is now 17, is accused of setting a fire to his family’s home that killed his mother and sister. He was 14 at the time.
District Judge Trish Rose in stating that only one photo can be shown is allowing that to help with the medical testimony at trial, but deems the rest as too prejudicial against the defendant.
The defense had asked for more information on the evaluations from two psychologist, which they claim is too vague on how they came to their opinions and conclusions.
The judge denied the request.
On Monday, the defense asked for reconsideration, but Judge Rose stuck with her earlier ruling.
The state was also granted permission to endorse additional witnesses for the trial with no objection from the defense.
Jury selection will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday Aug. 22.
Opening statements could begin Tuesday morning. The trial is expected to last at least a week and a half.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) – Kansas City rookie defensive end Chris Jones gained attention in the Chiefs’ preseason opener.
The team’s first pick of this year’s draft had two tackles against Seattle and pressured quarterbacks. He also helped thwart a fourth-and-1 attempt in Kansas City territory.
Coach Andy Reid says Jones was able to “reach out and grab people.”
Jones is 6-foot-6 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan.
Jones is second on Kansas City’s unofficial depth chart behind Jaye Howard at left defensive end. He’s the only rookie listed on the first or second string on defense.
Weekend accident scene in Linn County -photo KDWP&T Game Wardens
LINN COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a pair of boat accidents in Linn County
Just after 1:30 am on Saturday a Miami County Game Warden was called out for an injury boat accident at Tanglewood Lake, according to a media release.
This accident resulted in serious injuries to a wakeboarder who collided with the lake dam after the boat towing him collided with the dam.
Linn County Sheriff Deputies arrested the boat operator for BUI.
On Sunday the Miami County warden was again called to an injury boat accident after two Personal Water Crafts collided head on at Linn Valley Lake. One person was transported to the hospital.
HUTCHINSON— Officials say carelessly, discarded cigarettes are blamed for starting a fire on Monday in Hutchinson.
Just after 6:30 pm, the Hutchinson Fire Department responded to the 300 block of West 1st for a structure fire, according to a media release.
Arriving units found smoke showing from a storage unit and smoke showing from the roof area of the structure.
The fire was controlled in 15 minutes, while units remained on scene for an hour overhauling and monitoring for hot spots. Damage to the structure is estimated at $10,000.
Police went to the Schlitterbahn Kansas City Water Park on July 7, to investigate the death of a 10-year-old boy photo courtesy KMBC
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Police say combined weights for a 10-year-old boy and two other people riding a raft with him at a water park when he was killed were within the ride’s limits.
Caleb Schwab died August 7 while riding the 168-foot “Verruckt” at Schlitterbahn WaterPark in Kansas City.
Riders are weighed to ensure each raft carries between 400 pounds and 550 pounds.
Police Monday released a report showing one rider at 140 pounds, another at 170, and an unclear weight for Caleb. He would have to weigh 90 pounds to make the trio’s weight reach 400 pounds.
But police said weights taken at a hospital after the accident show one person weighed 275 pounds, another weighed 197 pounds and a third weighed 73 pounds, putting the combined weight at 545 pounds.
The first of two practices of the 2016 football season came to a close Monday evening. Around 60 players checked out gear on Monday starting with a practice at 8 a.m. and then again at 4 p.m. The Indians enter their second season under coach Randall Rath. Rath already noticed a difference during the summer time before this season, noting the players understood how he wanted them to work in the summer time.
Coach Randall Rath
Hays will look to improve on their 2-7 record from a last season. Some of the key returners include Seniors Shane Berens, Conrad Vanjar, Chantz Brungardt and Kohlton Meyers and Junior Hunter Brown Hays opens the season September 2nd at Scott City.
TMP-Marian had 39 players greeted new head coach Jason Cauley as they held their first workout early Monday morning. Cauley takes over a Monarch team that finished 1-8 in 2015.
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Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. South southwest wind 6 to 13 mph.
