KDWPT

PRATT – Spring turkey season is about to kick off and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism knows the last thing you want to worry about is where you’ll be able to hunt this year. You don’t need to resort to begging, or even paying – KDWPT has nearly 275,000 acres open to the public for spring turkey hunting this year, and access is offered free of charge. It’s all at your fingertips in the 2017 Spring Turkey Hunting Atlas.

Available online now at ksoutdoors.com, and soon to be in print wherever licenses are sold, the 2017 Spring Turkey Hunting Atlas provides the locations of Walk-in Hunting Access (WIHA) areas, as well as state and federal public lands open to spring turkey hunting. Grab a paper copy for the truck, download a PDF (ksoutdoors.com) to your home computer, or download the files directly onto your Garmin GPS unit, and Android and iOS devices that can be used with Google Earth.

The 2017 spring turkey season starts with the youth/disabled season April 1-11, followed by the archery season April 3-11, and regular firearm (any legal equipment) season April 12-May 31. Spring turkey permits for Units 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 are available at ksoutdoors.com and at any license vendor, and hunters who have a spring turkey permit may also purchase a second turkey game tag. Buy the spring turkey permit combo by March 31 and save $7.50. A valid Kansas hunting license is required of all residents age 16 through 74 and all nonresidents, except persons hunting on their own land.

To purchase your turkey permit and optional additional game tag today, visit ksoutdoors.com/License-Permits.

“Where to hunt” is taken care of with the atlas. Now all you have to worry about is “When to hunt.”

KDWPT

PRATT – The Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission will conduct its March public meeting on Thursday, March 23, 2017 in Topeka at the Capitol Plaza Hotel, Emerald Rooms I and II, 1717 SW Topeka Blvd. The afternoon session will begin at 1 p.m. and recess at 5 p.m. The evening session will convene at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend both sessions and time will be set aside for public comment at the beginning of each for discussion of non-agenda items.

The afternoon session will begin with a report on the agency and state fiscal status and an update on the 2017 Kansas Legislative Session. The General Discussion portion of the meeting will include recognition of Tuttle Creek State Park’s Blue Chip Award, a Blue Cross Blue Shield parks support update, and an overview of the agency’s new consolidated licensing/reservation system.

The Workshop Session will include reviews of webless migratory bird and waterfowl season recommendations, as well as threatened and endangered species regulations. Regulations concerning hunting on Glen Elder and Marion wildlife areas and the deer season dates on Fort Riley Military Reservation will also be discussed.

The evening portion of the meeting will convene at 6:30 p.m. for the Public Hearing. Commissioners will hear proposals for, and vote on, the 2017 fall seasons for antelope, elk, turkey and deer. Deer permit allocations will be set by Secretary’s Orders.

If necessary, the commission will reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., March 24, to complete any unfinished business. Information about the Commission, as well as the March 23 meeting agenda and briefing book, can be downloaded at ksoutdoors.com/KDWPT-Info/Commission/Upcoming-Commission-Meetings.

Live video and audio streaming of the March 23 meeting will be available at ksoutdoors.com. If notified in advance, the department will have an interpreter available for the hearing impaired. To request an interpreter, call the Kansas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 1-800-432-0698. Any individual with a disability may request other accommodations by contacting the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission secretary at (620) 672-5911.

The next Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism commission meeting is scheduled for April 20, 2017, at the KDWPT Headquarters, 512 SE 25th Ave., in Pratt.

DCF

TOPEKA— Social workers are often one of the first lines of defense against abuse and neglect for children and vulnerable adults. Every day, these selfless women and men work diligently and efficiently to help people who cannot help themselves. The importance of their service cannot be overstated, but the physical and emotional demands of social work can take a toll on even the most dedicated social worker.

Governor Sam Brownback has designated March as Social Work Month. Friday, March 10, the Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF), in partnership with KVC Kansas, held a conference for more than 500 social workers across the state, at KVC Kansas Headquarters, Olathe. The presentation featured noted motivational speaker and author Mary B. Lucas, who has inspired audiences worldwide to invest in themselves and make meaningful connections in all aspects of life.

“The work of social workers is so powerful and meaningful, and so linked to the connections they make with the people they work with,” Lucas said. “I’m sharing my father’s wisdom in the hopes that they will walk away inspired and think about, as they write the next chapter of their life, how they approach the relationships that are important to them.”

DCF, along with its contracted providers, employ nearly 1,000 social workers statewide. Social Work Month is a time to recognize the hard work of this challenging occupation. It’s also a time to call attention to the need to recruit and retain social workers to serve the children and families of Kansas.

“Social workers do what they do to enhance the lives of children and families,” DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore said today to the group. “Social workers always want to be there to help those who need it the most, but in order to do that, they must give of themselves on a daily basis. We realize the toll that has on social workers, and understand that there has to be a replenishment. I hope this inspirational conference helped to replenish your spirit, and remind you of the strong support system behind you.”

DCF Social Worker Ivy McMillan, Topeka, understands the crucial role that child and adult welfare professionals play in the community, and also understands the need to support them through the ups and downs of their work.

“[The event today] was a wonderful experience.” McMillan said. “Mary made me think about how we need to work with our parents and youth and how we can mesh those relationships with the contractors. It can be difficult, because you do have frustrations throughout the day, but we need to remember that we are a unit, we’re all one.”

To become a social worker, individuals must graduate from an accredited university with at least a bachelor’s degree in social welfare. They must also pass a licensure exam and maintain the license with 40 hours of continuing education, every two years.
“We have a really strong support system at DCF,” McMillian said. “I think DCF is a great place to work. It’s a great place to begin your social work career. You get the training and job shadowing you need, and when you’re ready, you’re given your first case. Anyone going into child welfare should work at DCF.”

DCF is always looking for people who have a heart for serving vulnerable adults and children in Kansas. To learn more about becoming a social worker, and to view available positions, visit www.jobs.ks.gov.