MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture has been awarded $349,025 through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Funds for the program are presented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service. The purpose of the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is to increase opportunities for specialty crops. Specialty crops are defined by USDA as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.” The Kansas Department of Agriculture has selected other recipients to further utilize the funds.
The following is a list of Kansas projects that will be funded by the grant:
Children First: CEO Kansas Inc., Fresh Food Matters, $61,512.00 — Educate low-income children and youth about specialty crops, as well as host six farm-to-table lunch events to provide knowledge about specialty crops to those living in low-income neighborhoods.
Kansas State University, Taking the Next Step in Pulse Crop Development for Kansas, $74,866.00 — Partner with Kansas State University to identify genetic markers in field peas for heat stress tolerance relevant to Kansas growing conditions, as well as identify germplasm useful in breeding pea varieties.
North Central Regional Planning Commission, Beloit — Expanding Production and Markets of Fruits and Vegetables in North Central Kansas, $39,750.00 — Expand north central Kansas growth-oriented fruit and vegetable growers and expand the local market for production through grocers.
Extension Education Foundation, Inc., Growing Specialty Crop Producers in South Central Kansas, $33,707.00 — Implement a regionally-appropriate Growing Growers program in South Central Kansas and Sedgwick County.
Kansas State University, Expansion of Blueberry Production in Kansas with Greenhouse and High Tunnel Methods, $33,707.00 — Evaluate two different hydroponic systems for greenhouse production of six different blueberry cultivars to determine yield and water use compared to traditional production techniques.
Kansas Department of Agriculture, KDA Education Program: Great Lakes Expo Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market, $35,527.62 — Provide a continuing education opportunity for specialty crop growers to attend the Great Lakes Expo located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in December 2018.
Kansas State University, Growing the Vegetable Producers Community with a Specialty Crop Growers Association, $36,158.00 — Renovate the existing Kansas Vegetable Growers Association into the Kansas Specialty Crop Growers Association by conducting statewide educational outreach and establishment of a web and social media presence.
For more information about the Specialty Crop Block Grant program, including expanded summaries of this year’s recipients, visit agriculture.ks.gov/specialtycropblockgrant.
OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Johnson County nurse has pleaded guilty to stealing opioid drugs while working at a residential care facility in Gardner, Kansas.
41-year-old Jeremy Keith Bailey pleaded guilty Thursday to possession of a controlled substance, theft and Medicaid fraud.
The Kansas Attorney General’s Office said that Bailey surrendered his nursing license as part of the plea agreement.
Bailey was charged earlier this year with stealing the Percocet while working as a registered nurse at the Meadowbrook Rehabilitation Hospital.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas and Wichita-area leaders say that growing methamphetamine addiction is driving up the state’s crime rates and filling jails with individuals who would be better served in treatment centers.
State and local officials met with community members at the Wichita Crime Commission’s Sedgwick County Drug Summit on Thursday.
Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter says seven out of 10 inmates at the county jail are struggling with drug addiction. Easter says law enforcement can’t use arrests to solve the problem.
The county sheriff’s deputy Robert Kunze says 11 percent of all charged felony cases his office handles have at least one count of meth possession.
After the panel, Easter said an oversight board and a strategic plan could help slow the growth of meth addiction.
HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, will present a Diabetes Symposium on Tuesday, December 4, 2018. The programs are jointly provided by HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, The University of Kansas Medical Center Continuing Education and Professional Development and the Area Health Education Center – West. The program will be held at HaysMed in the Hadley Conference Rooms.
Registration and breakfast for the program begins at 8:00 am. The program runs from 8:30 am – 4:30 p.m. Topics covered include: overview of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea with diabetes and obesity and weight loss and insulin sensitivity.
Speakers for the program include: John Miles, MD, Endocrinologist, Brian Noone, RN, Sleep Lab, Zurab Tsereteli, MD, Surgeon, Dorothy Gideon, RN, Tara Roa, PA-C, CDE all with The University of Kansas Health System; Diane Bickford, President, TriVantage Development.
The program is designed for Physicians, Physician Assistants, Advance Practice Nurses, Nurses, Social Workers, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and other interested Healthcare Professionals.
All participants are required to complete and sign a “verification of attendance” form. After the program, a certificate of completion will be provided to activity participants based on documentation of actual attendance time.
Physician: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education through the joint providership of The University of Kansas Medical Center Office of Continuing Medical Education and HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System. The University of Kansas medical Center Office of Continuing Medical Education is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The KU Medical Center Office of Continuing Medical Education designates this live activity for a maximum of 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of the participation in this activity.
CNE: Hays Medical Center is approved as a provider of continued nursing education by the Kansas State Board of Nursing. The course offering is approved for 6.00 contact hours applicable for RN, or LPN re-licensure. Kansas State Board of Nursing Approved Provider Number: LT0021-1138.
Respiratory Therapy
The HaysMed Respiratory Care Continuing Education Evaluator on behalf of the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts has approved this program for 6.0 CRCE Hours. Providership No. 004
PT/OT
Paperwork will be provided to submit to KOTA and KPTA for credits.
ASRT
An application has been submitted to ASRT. Approval is pending.
EMS
EMS approval pending.
The fee for the program is $60 for non HaysMed employees, $30 for CAH employees. There is no registration fee for HaysMed, Great Bend and Larned Associates, part of The University of Kansas Health System. You can register online: www.haysmed.com/education and click on professional education or registering by calling 785-623-5500. You may pay online with a valid credit card or may choose to be invoiced. Workshop fees will be refunded if notification of cancellation is made 24-hours prior to the workshop.
TOPEKA – The Kansas National Guard will be adding three new names to its roster of distinguished Guardsmen during an induction ceremony for the Kansas National Guard Hall of Fame Nov. 4.
The ceremony will take place at Ramada Hotel and Convention Center, 420 E 6th St., Topeka, beginning at 2 p.m.
This year’s inductees are retired Col. Wayne L. Cline, Topeka, the late retired Col. James E. Trafton, Kansas City, Kansas, and retired Chief Master Sgt. Danny M. Roush, Lyndon.
“These nominees are stellar examples of what it means to be a member of the Kansas National Guard,” said Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general. “Throughout their careers, they exemplified the kind of dedication and leadership that makes the Kansas National Guard the proud and honorable organization it is.”
Col. Wayne L. Cline
Retired Col. Wayne L. Cline’s career covered more than 36 years of service that included branch qualification in field artillery, engineering, transportation and aviation. Cline enlisted in the Kansas National Guard in 1953 and completed Officer Candidate School in 1959, commissioning as a second lieutenant. Over the course of his career, he served in numerous leadership positions. As an aviator, he was instrumental in implementing a phase maintenance program for the CH54A helicopter that was adopted worldwide. He was the first KSARNG aviator to fly helicopters in instrument weather conditions and developed a comprehensive instrument training program for all of the other aviators.
Col. James Trafton
Retired Col. James Trafton began his military career in 1971 as a private and served in a reconnaissance platoon with the 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam, where he was awarded the Combat Infantryman’s Badge. Trafton graduated from Officer Candidate School in 1982 and was commissioned as an engineer officer in 1984. He branch transferred to infantry in 1991 and served in several leadership positions, including command of the 2nd Battalion, 137th Infantry. He led the battalion during its deployment for Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2005, overseeing more than 1,300 combat patrols with units dispersed throughout Baghdad, Kirkuk, Mosul, Ramadi, Irbil and Basra, Iraq. At the time of his retirement in 2008, he was Kanas Army National Guard Strength Management Officer. He was inducted into the Kansas National Guard Officer Candidate School Hall of Fame in August 2009. Trafton died in April 2010 from injuries sustained in a traffic accident.
Chief Master Sgt. Danny Roush
Retired Chief Master Sgt. Danny Roush joined the Kansas Air National Guard in 1973, enlisting into the 190th Civil Engineer Squadron. During a career that spanned almost 40 years, Roush served the Kansas National Guard in many capacities, including journeyman electrician, interior electric shop noncommissioned officer in charge, exterior electric shop supervisor, squadron first sergeant, electrical superintendent, facility manager and civil engineer manager. Roush deployed twice in his career, first to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in 1990 and to Kirkuk, Iraq, in 2005.
Music of the night is next in the 2018-19 season of the Fort Hays State University International Piano Series, featuring the Italian pianist and conductor Marco Tessa.
The recital, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center on the Fort Hays State Campus, includes nocturnes by Frédéric Chopin and Robert Schumann.
“A nocturne is a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of, the night,” said Dr. Irena Ravitskaya, associate professor of music at Fort Hays State.
Dr. Irena Ravitskaya
“Written for solo piano, the nocturne was cultivated primarily in the 19th century. The first nocturnes were composed by the Irish composer John Field, generally viewed as the father of the Romantic nocturne,” she said. “However, the most famous nocturnes were composed by Frédéric Chopin, who wrote 21 of them. Nocturnes characteristically feature a long-span melody over a mesmerizing, even guitar-like accompaniment.”
Marco Tezza , born in Vicenza, Italy, has performed in concerts and recitals and taught all over the world. His program for the Piano Series concert is titled “… about the night soul.”
In his program notes, Tezza writes:
Night has always been the source of great artistic inspiration and with its mysterious appeal has fascinated the most important musicians, especially in the romantic period, so they have composed immortal works particularly roused by nightly sensations.
Night can recall the quietness of a postcard-like moonlight, but it is above all a space-time of the mind, where passions, remembrances, emotions and even nightmares intertwine and move our souls. This magical involvement will come out with the recital titled “….about the night soul.”
Presented by the FHSU Department of Music and Theatre, the International Piano Series, now in its third year, is a year-round program with a pure focus on piano. Funded entirely by donations, the performances are free to the community and students. Donations ensure the longevity of the program and support educational opportunities for music students.
“The series plays a distinctive role in the lives of students and the community by implementing excellence in the arts and education and cultivating piano music appreciation,” said Ravitskaya.
Each year, the series stages concerts for pianists from the United States and around the world. Performers range from young professionals emerging onto the world stage to seasoned performers with long-established careers.
“They all bring their unique approach to their instrument and contributions to the field,” said Ravitskaya. “They are role models to our students and a source of sophisticated entertainment for our community. The concerts take place on the university’s picturesque campus. While on campus, the guest artists offer master classes in which students perform and receive critiques. These master classes as well as student honor recitals are open to the public.”
Ron Wilson is director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at Kansas State University.By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development
How can beef be better? How can producers be compensated for improved quality? Those vexing questions were facing the cattle industry in the 1990s when an innovative group of producers tackled those issues head on. Their work became a success story in building demand by responding to customer needs.
Last week we learned about Mark Gardiner of Gardiner Angus Ranch. He told us about changes in beef marketing through the years.
As mentioned, the 1990s were a challenging time for the beef industry. Beef demand had fallen, compared to other proteins. Industry leaders commissioned a national beef quality audit, and the results were not good. “The audit said that one in four beef eaters was not getting a good steak,” Mark Gardiner said. “We were losing beef demand left and right.” The cattlemen felt they were being taken advantage of in the marketplace by the beef packers and wanted to capture more of the processing value.
With the encouragement of a new farmer-owned cooperative, the 21st Century Alliance, a group of innovative cattle producers got together to see if they could market their beef more effectively. In 1995, 21 cow-calf producers first met to discuss the concept of forming a marketing cooperative that would vertically integrate the beef industry for its members. These producers came from around Kansas, including rural communities such as Maple Hill, population 371; and Long Island, population 174 people. Now, that’s rural.
The cattlemen agreed to form a new organization called U.S. Premium Beef. Among the founding board members was Mark Gardiner.
The board selected Steve Hunt as CEO of the company and began exploring options for business. They concluded that, in order to have their own packing plant, they had to build it or buy it.
In 1997, U.S. Premium Beef agreed with Farmland Industries to purchase up to 50 percent of what is now known as National Beef Packing Company – the nation’s fourth largest beef processing company and an international leader in the value-added arena.
Another challenge was to find a way to reward higher beef quality. “We went all over the U.S.,” Mark said. He asked one beef packer, “What kind of cattle make the most money for you?” The answer was: High quality cattle. In other words, the cattle which produced prime and choice steaks generated more revenue for the meat processor than the poorer cattle.
U.S. Premium Beef then designed a grid system which offered producers a financial premium for cattle which met certain quality standards that would produce better beef. “The goal was value-based marketing,” Mark said. “We need to get paid what the cattle are worth.” The incentives in the grid system rewarded higher quality.
In order to finance the purchase of an interest in the packing plant, U.S. Premium Beef successfully conducted a stock offering in fall 1997. The ownership interest conveyed to producers the right and obligation to deliver cattle meeting certain standards. The system also conveyed carcass quality information back to the producer to help them make continuous improvement.
U.S. Premium Beef has evolved since that time. Mark Gardiner became board chair. In 2004, U.S. Premium Beef transitioned into a limited liability company. In 2011, a majority interest in National Beef Packing was purchased by Leucadia National Corporation.
U.S. Premium Beef’s performance through the years has been outstanding. According to Mark, from 1997 to 2018, U.S. Premium Beef had 15 million head of cattle delivered and generated grid premiums of $500 million, patronage payments of $84 million, and distributions of $993 million. That represents a benefit of $1.58 billion dollars to its members.
How can beef be better? These cattlemen found a way to do it. We commend Mark Gardiner, Steve Hunt, and the visionary cattlemen of U.S. Premium Beef for making a difference by finding better ways to market beef, improve beef quality, and respond to consumer demand. They found that bonus bucks provided incentive to build better beef.
And there’s more. For the Gardiner family, everything changed on one windy day in March 2017. We’ll learn about that next week.
Back when, Halloween and Fall Football were always accompanied by Charlie Brown. Charlie was the world’s greatest kicker, ’til Lucy betrayed him — again!
As she jerked the football away, Charlie’s heroic effort left him planted on his posterior, pondering yet again how he could have trusted Lucy one last time.
After October, November’s election looms. And voting Republicans could be the new Charlie Browns.
Despite the fact that Kansas has only recently begun to pluck itself from Brownbackian depths of despair, there are signs that Republicans may fall for it again, leaving us mired in a 50-yard-line mudhole.
It’s not just Republicans who must look skeptically for information before they vote.
Lucifer’s Lucy-like Republican candidates, with rare exceptions, simply refuse to debate.
Consider populous, solid-center Salina’s League of Women Voters forum for 1st District Congressman, Attorney General, and Secretary of State. Every. Single. Democrat … agreed to show up. Not. One. Republican … did so. And only one even offered the courtesy of a response.
Rep. Marshall did one debate on Wichita TV, but refused to show up in person, in-studio, and in-district for his-home-office Salina’s radio debate next morning. Meanwhile opponent Alan LaPolice and AG candidate Sarah Swain were there to meet the people in person.
Republican candidates don’t respect you enough to debate. They think they don’t have to.
But they do. It’s your Democracy, your voice, and your vote. You hold the football, not them.
We all know what’s at stake here: And it is not Peanuts.
David Norlin is Chairman of the Salina Planning Commission, former President of Salina Access TV, and a former College Director of Broadcasting and English Department Chair. He has twice run for Kansas State Office.
Brooklynne Mosley doesn’t like the term “blue wave.”
The Air Force veteran walked into the Kansas Democrats’ Wyandotte County field office wearing a T-shirt bearing the face of U.S. Senate candidate and liberal darling from Texas, Beto O’Rourke, and passing out buttons that read “throw shade, then vote.”
Democrats are trying to take control of the Third U.S. Congressional District by increasing turnout and persuading Republican voters. Canvassing is a big part of their strategy NOMIN UJIYEDIIN / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
Mosley talks optimistically about Democrats’ chances to flip U.S. House seats and governors’ mansions nationwide, and particularly in Kansas.
But she says “blue wave” makes Democratic wins sound inevitable, like the next full moon.
It’ll take effort. She points to the pivotal 2016 election, when Democrats and moderate Republicans swept into the Kansas Legislature to roll back then-Gov.Sam Brownback’s tax cuts and press for Medicaid expansion.
“What’s happening right now, on the ground, is not an accident,” she said. “We are in the process of building off that (2016) momentum.”
Still, a blue wave is hard to escape in discussions about the 2018 midterms — especially in conversations about the Kansas 3rd Congressional District.
Republican Kevin Yoder is trying to hang onto that seat in the face of a challenge from Democrat Sharice Davids. Flipping the 3rd will come down to how effectively Democrats can employ two different strategies — getting voters to the polls who usually don’t bother in non-presidential years, and convincing Republican voters to cross party lines.
Consisting mostly of Wyandotte and Johnson counties, with a chunk of Miami County filling in its southern edge, the district went for Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election by a single point — while re-electing a Republican to Congress.
Congressman Yoder meeting with voters in Shawnee earlier this month
So Yoder has been reluctant to tie himself to President Donald Trump the way some fellow Kansas Republicans have. Secretary of State Kris Kobach and 2nd District candidate Steve Watkins eagerly embrace the polarizing president.
The National Republican Congressional Committee has pulled funding from Yoder’s race. That could be a sign that GOP brass thinks Yoder is doomed.
Mosley and other Democratic organizers are working on two fronts to help Davids.
Getting out the Wyandotte County vote
In Wyandotte County, it’s a turnout game.
The county is a reliable Democratic stronghold in a Republican state. It has lots of Democrats registered to vote, but few who bother to cast ballots. Only 35 percent showed up the last time Yoder was on the ballot in a midterm year.
If Democrats can get more people to Wyandotte County polls, those voters could decide turn congressional race — and maybe some statewide contests.
They could get a prod from turnout projects such as the left-leaning MainStream Coalition’s Voter to Voter program. It aims to rally 1,000 Kansas voters to each get 10 of their friends to the polls.
Lindsay Behgam, who’s been traveling around talking to potential voters in Wyandotte and Johnson counties, calls it a “Ponzi scheme with a happy ending, you know, we all get better democracy at the end.”
Some numbers look promising for Democrats — 2,300 more voters have registered in the county since the August primary. That primary also saw an uptick in turnout over 2016. That’s significant because voters are more apt to cast a ballot in presidential election years.
Crossing party lines in Johnson County
Neighboring Johnson County, the other half of the 3rd District, has seen a greater explosion in voter registration. Johnson County Elections Commissioner Ronnie Metsker said the county has been setting all-time voter registration records every day since early August.
It’s also seen an increase in people updating their registration — changing addresses, switching party affiliations, and requesting advance mail-in ballots.
Higher registration and turnout in Johnson County isn’t automatically good for Democrats like it is in Wyandotte County. Johnson County voters make a good showing in non-presidential election years, and tend to vote more Republican.
But this year, its voters are bucking the trend, or seem to be. Registration is up by 7,000 voters since August. But the county has nearly 10,000 more Democrats.
That reflects the goal of Democrats’ Johnson County strategy, which hinges less on turning out voters and more on turning them Democratic.
Dave Myres, head of the Johnson County Republicans, said his party has always worked a two-pronged approach of persuasion and turnout. In an email, he described 3rd District voters as highly educated and tuned in to the political process. He said the party is focusing attention on gains made under Republican control — economic successes, more military spending, a harder line on immigration.
“We treat every election like it is neck-and-neck, so our efforts haven’t materially changed,” he said in the email.
He did say Republican efforts are more robust in Johnson County than in Wyandotte, because Johnson has more registered voters.
Kansas GOP director Jim Joice declined to go into detail about the party’s 3rd District strategy until after Election Day.
Door-to-door, voter to voter
On a Saturday in early October when Trump stumped for Republicans in Topeka, Daniel Hodes and his son Beckett went door-knocking in Overland Park.
The father and son made their canvassing debut by going to the homes of voters the Kansas Democrats had identified as persuadable — maybe unaffiliated, or only intermittently Republican, or newly registered voters.
“That was a registered Republican, but she told me she’s voting Democrat,” Hodes said, gesturing back at a house where he’d spoken to an elderly woman with a dog. “I hope she does.”
It helps that the 3rd District’s Democratic candidate checks a lot of progressive boxes. Davids is a female candidate in a year that’s been deemed a possible second “Year of the Woman,” echoing the 1992 election that swept 28 women into Congress for the first time. She’s a liberal candidate following the 2016 presidential election that saw surprising energy behind socialist candidate Bernie Sanders. And, if elected, she’d be one of the first Native American congresswomen.
But Yoder is well-known across the district that’s handily elected a Republican to Congress the past four cycles.
Vote-by-numbers
Sharice Davids-courtesy photo
It’s hard to measure enthusiasm for a candidate, and even harder to tell if that will translate into actual votes on Election Day. But polls have Davids leading Yoder by as many as 9 percentage points.
Turnout in the primaries was also higher than the most recent presidential primary, which is far more likely to attract voters than a midterm. Twenty-five percent of registered voters in Wyandotte County and 30 percent in Johnson County cast a primary ballot this August, pushing up turnout in both counties some 10 percentage points over the 2014 primary.
For a group of volunteers preparing canvassing materials at the Johnson County Democrats headquarters, Davids’ candidacy was reason for optimism.
“Sharice is generating huge buzz — huge,” said Scott Roby as he put 3rd District campaign flyers and brochures into plastic bags for canvassers to take out. “Even Republicans and independents you talk to, she’s the one they single out on the ballot and say, ‘I like her.’”
Mary-Louise Poquette, a Davids organizer who was highlighting the name of Kansas House candidate Laura Smith-Everett on a stack of brochures for Roby, agreed.
“We have had an astounding number of Republicans who have said ‘we’re going your way this year,’” she said.
But organizers also have to contend with people who are interested in the issues, but don’t see much point in voting.
Ariadne Varela, a student at Donnelly College on the Wyandotte side of the district, went to one of Lindsay Behgam’s MainStream voter talks, but didn’t plan to cast a ballot this year.
She said she wants to see better outcomes for Wyandotte County in a couple ways — “health and wealth” — but didn’t think her vote would matter.
“I honestly have never thought about voting,” she said. “I’m really not into political [sic] and Democrats and stuff like that.”
Madeline Fox is a reporter for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. You can reach her on Twitter @maddycfox.
Grow Hays is accepting candidate applications for board of director positions that will open in 2019.
Prospective candidates must be willing to serve a three-year term. The Grow Hays Board meets a minimum of once a month, on the 4th Wednesdays of the month at 3:30 p.m. Board members are occasionally asked to serve on additional committees, which meet as required.
Those interested in applying can call 785-628-3102 to arrange a time to meet with current board members so the candidates know expectations if they are elected to the board. Candidates are encouraged to ask questions about the nature of the work.
Candidate applications are available at www.GrowHays.com or at BriefSpace, 219 West 10th. Deadline to apply is noon November 30, 2018.
Today
Sunny, with a high near 67. North wind 5 to 9 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Tonight
Clear, with a low around 43. South southeast wind 7 to 9 mph.
Monday
Sunny, with a high near 74. South wind 9 to 13 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 47. South wind 5 to 10 mph becoming north 12 to 17 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 28 mph.
Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 60. North wind 14 to 17 mph.
Tuesday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Wednesday
A 20 percent chance of rain before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55.
Wednesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 35.
Debbie Barnett, HHS secretary, thanks the board for her selection as USD 489’s Best of the Best.
By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post
USD 489 staff member Debbie Barnett was honored with the Hays school district’s Best of the Best award for November at the school board meeting Monday night.
Barnett, Hays High counselor secretary, was nominated by Suellyn Stenger, HHS counselor.
Debbie Barnett is “often the first person to welcome new students and their families to Hays High,” Stenger said, “and she is always very pleasant and helpful.
“Debbie multitasks more efficiently than anyone I have had the pleasure of working with. She remains positive no matter the demands placed upon her. Debbie’s attention to detail is second to none. I have been told everyone is replaceable, but I beg to differ in this situation.”
Stenger said Barnett’s responsibilities are too numerous to list. She also assists the school psychologist, school nurse, staff and administrators.
“She is often the initial the contact for students and parents who are distressed,” Stenger said, “and she handles every situation very calmly.”
Stenger added Barnett is professional and understands the importance of student confidentiality.
“The counseling office would simply not be as efficient without Debbie Barnett. She is the Best of the Best,” Stenger said.
Lucy Tippy and her teacher, Taylor Reynolds, with members of the Hays USD 489 school board. Photo Courtesy of USD 489
Lucy Tippy, Lincoln fifth-grader, was honored as the student Best of the Best.
She was nominated by her teacher, Taylor Reynolds.
“Lucy is such a light to have in my classroom,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds read her nomination letter.
“Lucy is a very bright student and goes above and beyond to help other students around her,” she said. “She is constantly asking the classroom teacher if she is able to help anyone who may not understand something. She spends all of her free time making sure her peers understand the assignment.
“She is always smiling and has a bright and happy energy about her that makes her light up a room. She just walks in the room, and she is always smiling and making funny jokes and just makes the classroom just that much better. I love having her in my class.”
TOPEKA – On Halloween, ghosts and ghouls may give you a fright, but real dangers, like pedestrian accidents, falls, burns and poisonings are a scary reality. Safe Kids Kansas, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, the Office of the State Fire Marshal and the Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office (KTSRO) remind families to keep safety in mind during fall festivities to ensure your trick-or-treaters enjoy a safe holiday.
On average, children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a vehicle and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. Drivers need to slow down and be extra alert, especially in neighborhoods, as there will be more children on the streets and sidewalks—and those kids may be focused on gathering candy and the excitement of the holiday rather than being careful while crossing streets.
“Review safety rules with your kids before they leave the house,” said Cherie Sage, Safe Kids Kansas. “Trick-or-treaters are often out when it’s dark, and it’s more difficult for drivers to see them. Children younger than 12 should not cross streets alone on Halloween without an adult or older responsible teenager. While it’s a good idea for children to have a cell phone with them in case of an emergency, remind them to pay attention to their surroundings, and not be distracted from hazards because they are texting or talking on the phone.”
Parents and kids should also be careful with candy. It’s hard to resist the temptation to dive right into treats, but it is best to check sweets for signs of tampering before children are allowed to eat them. Only eat treats in original and unopened wrappers.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, during the five-year period from 2009-2013, decorations were the item that first ignited in an estimated 860 reported home structure fires per year. Nearly half of those fires in homes happened because decorations were too close to a heat source. Forty-one percent of these incidents were started by candles. These fires caused an estimated average of one civilian death, 41 civilian injuries and $13 million in direct property damage per year.
With Halloween just a few days away, follow these tips to ensure your trick-or-treaters have a fun and safe holiday.
Decorating Safely
Choose costumes and decorations that are flame-resistance or flame-retardant, and avoid placing flammable materials such as hay bales, corn stalks and paper decorations near a heat source, including light bulbs and heaters.
Keep exits clear of decorations and props so nothing blocks escape routes.
Use battery-operated candles in jack-o-lanterns and when decorating pathways and yards.
Set a reminder to blow out any candles and unplug lights.
Use a single extension cord that is the right length for your outdoor lights and decorations. Do not connect multiple cords.
Teach your children who are going to parties and haunted houses to look for the exits and have a way out in case of an emergency.
Walk Safely
Cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks.
Look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross.
Put electronic devices down and keep heads up and walk, don’t run, across the street.
Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
Always walk on sidewalks or paths. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic as far to
the left as possible. Children should walk on direct routes with the fewest street crossings.
Watch for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
Trick or Treat with an Adult
Children under the age of 12 should not be alone at night without adult supervision. If kids are mature enough to be out without supervision, they should stick to familiar areas that are well lit and trick-or-treat in groups.
Keep Costumes Both Creative and Safe
When choosing a costume, stay away from long trailing fabric. Purchase only ones that are labeled flame-resistant or flame-retardant.
Decorate costumes and bags with reflective tape or stickers and, if possible, choose light colors.
Choose face paint and makeup whenever possible instead of masks, which can obstruct a child’s vision.
Have kids carry glow sticks or flashlights to help them see and be seen by drivers.
When selecting a costume, make sure it is the right size to prevent trips and falls.
Drive Extra Safely on Halloween
Slow down and be especially alert in residential neighborhoods. Children are excited on Halloween and may move in unpredictable ways.
Take extra time to look for kids at intersections, on medians and on curbs.
Enter and exit driveways and alleys slowly and carefully.
Eliminate any distractions inside your car so you can concentrate on the road and your surroundings.
Drive slowly, anticipate heavy pedestrian traffic and turn your headlights on earlier in the day to spot children from greater distances.
Popular trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., so be especially alert for kids during those hours.
For more tips on how to keep kids safe on Halloween and throughout the year, visit www.safekids.org.
KDA
Today
