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Year: 2019

Ellis Co. reduces speed limit for a portion of Feedlot Road

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The Ellis County Public Works department is advising that, due to the current road conditions and upcoming road construction, the speed limit will be reduced to 35 mph in a 2-mile area of Feedlot Road.

The affected area will begin at the intersection of US 183 and Feedlot Road and commence West for two (2) miles ending at the 230th Avenue and Feedlot Road intersection.

Motorists traveling in this area should be aware of the reduced speed limit that is posted until further notice.

Questions should be directed to the Ellis County Public Works department at (785)-628-9455.

Submitted

Officer with Fort Hays State ties picked to lead Ottawa PD

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Weingartner
OTTAWA — The City of Ottawa has selected Interim Chief Adam Weingartner as the next police chief of the Ottawa Police Department.

“I am pleased to announce that Adam was selected as the next chief of police,” City Manager Richard U. Nienstedt said. “Chief Weingartner is well-qualified and well-known in the community and has proven his ability to lead the department and achieve the high standards expected by the community, the employees of the department and me. I look forward to working with him on a daily basis as he and the entire department continue to provide exceptional law enforcement services to our community.”

Weingartner is a graduate of the 262nd session of the FBI National Academy and a graduate of the 2009 Kansas Police Administrators Seminar. He has an associate of applied science degree in criminal justice from the State University of New York-Canton, a certificate in leadership studies from Fort Hays State University and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Central Christian College of Kansas. He is a graduate of Leadership Franklin County and served on the Board of Trustees from 2012-2015. He is the secretary/treasurer for the Capitol Area Major Case Squad (M-Squad) and is a member of the Kansas Peace Officers Association, Kansas Association of Chiefs of Police, FBI National Academy Associates and International Association of Chiefs of Police.

“I am honored to be selected as the next police chief,” Weingartner said. “Thank you to the city manager, Ottawa City Commission, the citizens of Ottawa and the employees of the department for their trust in my abilities to lead this great organization. I am excited to lead this dedicated group of public servants and watch the organization grow.”

Weingartner served as a combat engineer in the U.S. Army stationed at Fort Riley, Kan completing his service at the rank of sergeant. Originally from Greenfield Center, New York, Weingartner has lived in Ottawa since starting as a police officer with the department in 1995. He and his wife, Staci, have two teenage sons attending Ottawa schools.

“I can’t thank my family enough for their support during this process. Without them, none of this is possible,” Weingartner said.

Nienstedt said the process to select the next police chief included advertising the position and an interview panel. “As I said when Chief Weingartner was appointed as the Interim Chief-it is a high priority to not only select a chief with the skills possessed by former Chief Butler but who is also committed to continuing the community involvement and outreach that is done by the entire police department with our citizens-Chief Weingartner is that person and will do great work to continue the traditions of exceptional policing to this community.”

— City of Ottawa

Northwest Kansans named to rural leadership class

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MANHATTAN – Kansas Agriculture and Rural Leadership Inc. (KARL) Class XV participants have been announced by the program’s president, Jill Zimmerman. The class was inaugurated at an event June 1 in Lindsborg.

National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson provided a program about America’s Heartland to celebrate the inauguration of the new class and the third decade of KARL.

“It certainly appears that KARL Class XV is filled with outstanding individuals from throughout our state, and I am excited for them to begin the program,” said Steve Baccus, Minneapolis, Kansas, who recently assumed duties as chairman of the KARL board of directors. “KARL aims to create leaders who will help ensure the long-term viability of Kansas agriculture, who will think forward, who have the ability to engage and positively influence society, and who can participate in communication networks that enhance agriculture and rural Kansas.”

The class will participate in seminars across Kansas, a national study/travel seminar in Washington, D.C. and a Blue Chip seminar, and conclude in 2021 with an international study/travel seminar to the United Arab Emirates. The goal of the program is to develop problem solvers, decision makers and spokespersons for agriculture and rural Kansas.

Seminar themes include leadership assessment and potential; natural resources and energy; leadership through communication; agricultural policy; international trade and finance; Kansas’ political process; global perspectives; social and cultural issues; understanding and developing leadership skills; agribusiness and marketing; information technology; advances in health care; the resources and people of Kansas and other areas designed to develop leaders through exposure to an array of current topics and issues and how they interrelate.

The newest members of Kansas’ premier two-year agricultural and rural leadership development program represent a myriad of professions influential to agriculture and rural communities in Kansas.

KARL Class XV participants by hometown and county are:

– Inman, McPherson County: Kim Baldwin (family farming operation)

– Mound Valley, Labette County: J.J. Bebb (Cornerpost Crop Insurance)

– Lenexa, Johnson County: Leland Brown (Merck Animal Health)

– DeSoto, Johnson County: Allison Burenheide (Merck Animal Health)

– Ellis, Ellis County: Darci Cain (Fort Hays State University)

– Liberal, Seward County: Stewart Cauble (Seaboard Farms)

– Downs, Osborne County: Amy Doane (Smith County Memorial Hospital)

– Tescott, Ottawa County: Jessica Ebert Ebert Ranch, CALF News)

– Pratt, Pratt County: Karly Frederick (BTI John Deere)

– Sabetha, Nemaha County: Roy Frey (Kansas Insurance Group, Inc.)

– Topeka, Shawnee County: Sean Gatewood (Gatewood Governmental Relations & Consulting)

– Phillipsburg, Phillips County: Kayla Jarvis (First National Bank and Trust)

– Manhattan, Riley County: Justin Kastner (Kansas State University, Trinity Canton Church)

– Garden City, Finney County: Austin Love (Commerce Bank)

– Oakley, Logan County: Leigh Ann Maurath (Kansas Farm Bureau)

– Lakin, Kearny County: Kyler Millershaski (MK Farms, Inc.)

– Liberty, Montgomery County: Jesse Muller (Muller Construction, Inc.)

– Preston, Pratt County: Jackie Mundt (Kanza Cooperative Association)

– Russell, Russell County: Andrew Ochampaugh (Agrilead, Inc.)

– Kinsley, Edwards County: Garrett Reiss (Phytech U.S., Inc.)

– Manhattan, Riley County: Kendra Riley (Kansas Department of Agriculture)

– Wichita, Sedgwick County: JR Robl (Hutton Construction)

– Sharon Springs, Wallace County: Clay Schemm (Arrow S Farms)

– Wichita, Sedgwick County: Anthony Seiler (Sedgwick County Farm Bureau)

– Garden City, Finney County: Bob Tempel (WindRiver Grain, LLC)

– Hutchinson, Reno County: Debra Teufel (Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce)

– Riley, Riley County: Shawn Thiele (IGP Institute, Kansas State University)

– Abilene, Dickinson County: Beth Weibert (Ag Risk Consulting)

The KARL program is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to developing leaders for agriculture, business and rural communities, and is a member of the International Association of Programs for Agricultural Leaders (IAPAL), represented in 40 states and multiple countries. For more information about KARL, call Jill Zimmerman at 785-532- 6300, email [email protected] or visit the KARL website at www.karlprogram.com .

Exploring the historical effects of ‘fat’ stereotyping

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Christopher Forth

KU NEWS SERVICE

LAWRENCE — Disgust or contempt.

Those are the responses the word “fat” elicits.

“Disgust is an emotion that’s not about vision. It’s about touch, the fear of contact,” said Christopher Forth, a University of Kansas professor of history and Dean’s Professor of Humanities.

“If it’s not about aesthetics, why does fat provoke this sense of, ‘I can be contaminated by this?’”

That’s one of the questions addressed in Forth’s upcoming work, “Fat: A Cultural History of the Stuff of Life” (Reaktion Books, 2019). The publication has already garnered national interest after The Atlantic published a 2,000-word excerpt in May taken from the chapter “Grease and Grace: The Disenchantment of Fat?”

It included Forth’s anecdote involving an 18th-century Italian countess named Cornelia di Bandi who suddenly burst into flames.

He wrote, “Only her arms and legs remained intact. After examining what was left of her body, a local physician concluded, in a report cited years later, that the conflagration ‘was caused in her entrails’ by the variety of combustible materials to be found there, including alcohol and fat, ‘an oily liquid … of an easily combustible nature.’”

Forth said, “I have two favorite chapters, and they’re both gross.”

In addition to the aforementioned “Grease and Grace,” he favors one titled “The Fat of the Land” because of his fascination with its agricultural context.

“I had heard the phrase ‘living off the fat of the land,’ which I thought was a metaphor. It’s not. That phrase means the soil is literally sticky, unctuous, swelling. When people used to call soil fat, they meant it,” he said.

Overall, the professor describes the book as “a dramatic reinterpretation of fat and the reasons for the stereotypes about it.”

Forth spent 11 years researching and writing “Fat.” He traveled to Australia, the U.K. and many regions of the U.S. while investigating the subject.

The 352-page book delves into the history of fat, tracing the cultural, philosophical, religious and even racial connections. What once was considered healthy and desirable slowly morphed into the modern perception. He said this attitude can first be attributed to the Greeks, who originally celebrated then began to distrust less-than-Adonis-like physiques.

But the tipping point came in the late 18th century.

“Fat became a kind of pollutant that had to be excreted in order to purify the body,” Forth said.

“You start to see fat observed in non-Western peoples — particularly Africa, India and China — and this becomes a problem of not just connecting it with dirt but of nonwhiteness. It was unseemly, filthy and uncivilized.”

Forth asserts contemporary reactions by the medical community reinforced this negative outlook.

“Physicians will try to address the symptoms being manifested with immediate reference to a person’s weight — the idea that losing weight will fix this or that problem, which it won’t. The weight in many cases is incidental to the actual problem. So the health care industry is caught up in their own sense of disgust and misunderstanding about those who are overweight,” he said.

As someone who tries to avoid using the word “obesity” because of its pejorative connotation, Forth said individuals can simply look at the political news of the day to see how conflicted Americans are when it comes to the concept of fat.

Take President Donald Trump, for instance.

“You have a lot of people who very rightly condemned him for his overt, nasty fat-shaming. But after the election, it was common to call out Trump on his own fat, but also to attribute fatness to his supporters — then go the extra mile and suggest fat is connected to foolishness or stupidity. Then they connect that to the image of domesticated animals who follow and do what they’re told,” Forth said.

“So the fat-shaming of women that many Hillary Clinton supporters rightly condemned, they seem very happy to fat-shame on different grounds when it seems OK.”

This is the fourth book written solely by Forth, who’s been at KU since 2007. Past work includes “Zarathustra in Paris: The Nietzsche Vogue in France, 1891-1918,” “The Dreyfus Affair and the Crisis of French Manhood” and “Masculinity in the Modern West: Gender, Civilization and the Body.”

Forth considers his expertise to be the history of the body, including sexuality, senses and emotions.

As for the ultimate influence of “Fat: A Cultural History of the Stuff of Life,” Forth said, “I’d like it to expand the ways we think about how and why fat stereotyping works.”

Prairie Doc Perspectives: Listening for God

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Rick Holm

How do any of us cope with the catastrophes of life? Years ago, a couple faced the tragedy of an accidental death of their only young child. Even though most marriages don’t survive such an insult, this one did. Between the woman and man, there was love, forgiveness, and plenty of help from the people of their church. The people of the congregation, like the wings of a mother hen, surrounded the couple with support, comfort, and warmth.

Researchers found that no society has survived more than three generations without a religious foundation including belief in prayer, afterlife, and ritual. One interpretation of this data argues that religion serves the function of helping a society continue, thus implying religion endures due to survival advantage. Some critics of organized religion argue just because we have the need for a spiritual connection doesn’t mean that God exists. I contend that the opposite is true. Even though atrocities have been done in the name of religion, I am reassured of God’s presence by the fact that societies do better with a faith-based underpinning. However, I think there are other more convincing reasons than this to believe in God.

I am reassured of God’s presence when watching a religious based rehabilitation program successfully help men find their way back from drug or alcohol abuse. The leaders, who fill a mentor role, teach “It’s not just about you. . . it’s about loving others and loving God.” I am reassured when studying the complexity of the human heart and the way the heart muscle, valves, and arteries interact while sending blood with oxygen and nutrition to every cell in the body. I am reassured when our Hopeful Spirit Chorale sings, bringing spiritual connection to the hearts, and tears to the eyes of those listening and singing. I am reassured when a church, mosque, or synagogue full of people saying a wisdom prayer such as the Lord’s Prayer in unison, vibrates the souls of the congregation. I am reassured when watching a flock of birds or a school of fish move together and change direction as if one organism, in synchrony by some ancient and holy spirit.

As a medical doctor caring for people through the years, I have had to rely on science with which to help resolve health problems people face. Observing people, especially as they reach the end of their lives, I realized that often science is simply not enough. There is a deeper place where people need to go for help when the end is near. In my view, if we listen very carefully, the spiritual realm is all around. For many, this Divine Essence provides great help and meaning. We need to open our spiritual ears for that Holy Something that resides outside our scientific understanding.

In one famous interview of Mother Theresa the interviewer asked her how she prays. “I listen,” was her response. “What does God say in return?” was the next question. “He listens,” was the answer.

For free and easy access to the entire Prairie Doc® library, visit www.prairiedoc.org and follow The Prairie Doc® on Facebook, featuring On Call with the Prairie Doc® a medical Q&A show streaming live most Thursdays at 7 p.m. central.

HaysMed to present cancer symposium

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HaysMed

HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, will present a Cancer Symposium 2018 on Thursday, June 27, 2019.   The program is 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 for the program begins at 8:30 am with breakfast.    The program is designed to improve the care of cancer patients including, but not limited to, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, immunotherapy toxicity, breast cancer survivorship and head and neck cancers.

Speakers for the program include:  Mark Hancock, MD, Mazin Al-Kasspooles, MD, FACS, Anthony Dominick, MD, Denise DeBoer, APRN, and Justin Bond, MD, all with The University of Kansas Health System.

The program is designed for Physicians, PAs, APRN’s, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Social Workers, PTS, OTS and other interested Healthcare Professionals.

All participants requesting continuing education credit must complete verification of attendance and evaluation form online.  Instructions will be distributed at the time of sign-in.

Physician: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) 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 5.0 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 5 contact hours applicable for RN, or LPN re-licensure.  Kansas State Board of Nursing Approved Provider Number:  LT0021-1138.

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.

There is no registration fee for the employees of HaysMed, Pawnee Valley Campus, St. Rose Medical pavilion, Great Bend Campus and Bistate consortium members.  The fee for critical access hospital employees is $30.  The fee for non HaysMed providers is $60.    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.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Refund of CE fees: Workshop fees will be refunded if notification of cancellation is made 24-hours prior to the workshop. Cancellation: HMC reserves the right to cancel any workshop that does not meet enrollment quota. All pre-registered attendees; will receive a full refund.

NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, [email protected], 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.

This weekend’s Hays-area garage sales

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Hays-area garage sales

Scroll to the bottom for a map of garage sale locations. Hays Post offers FREE garage sale listings weekly. Having a garage sale next weekend? Click HERE to submit your information.

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2519 E. 21st, Hays
Friday June 7th 3:00 to 8:00 pm. Saturday June 8th 8:00 to 12:00 am

Multi family garage sale Friday June 7th 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Saturday June 8th 8:00 to 12:00. Lots of house hold items, home decor, women’s clothing, nursing scrubs, purses, scrapbook items, dorm size refrigerator & much more.

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700 E 6th, No. 161, Hays (across from Gordon’s Carpet)
Saturday the 8th and Sunday the 9th 8am -?

Moving Sale! This weekend only! All must go! Hundreds of items of quality women’s clothing mostly Med and Large. Some clothing brands include Reebok, Big Star, Nike, Ann Taylor, Coach, Banana Republic, Lula Roe, Columbia and Clark’s. Lots of business casual. Crafts items, Star Wars and Trek items, antiques, kitchen, bird and rabbit decor, signed art and ceramics, disc golf, books, vinyl records and more!

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2902 Roosevelt Ave., Hays
Friday Noon- 8pm : Sat. 8am-Noon

3 family sale : Home decor : furniture : antique/ vintage items: Longaberger baskets: treasures : junk: Something for everyone

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1410 3rd St., Hays
Saturday-9:00 a.m.

Lots of name brand clothes (Business and Casual), women shoes, house hold items, Pampered Chef items, furniture, tools and misc. items

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1308 Grand Street, Hays
6.8.2019

ESTATE GARAGE SALE. Most everything that an estate would have to sell within a home – new things and old things. A considerable amount of women’s cloths, purses and shoes most hardly ever worn or used. This will be part of the Prairie Acres 9th Annual Community-Wide Garage Sale.

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2218 Haney, Hays
June 7th and 8th

2218 Haney Drive friday june 7 12 (possibly earlier) to 6:30 (possibly later depending on traffic) saturday june 8 8 am to 1 (possibly later depending on traffic) priced to move!! Girls clothes 12-18 month to 3t and some 4t…boys size 4t/4 to 6/7(kids clothes all brands including some nike/UA…lots of shoes..some mens, womens size l/xl shirts, pants with some buckle name brand, lots of toys, household and misc, books, some misc baby/toddler items, coffee table, 18 inch like new ford rims, adding as we go ALL PRICED TO MOVE!

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109 West 14th, Hays
Friday, June 7 from 8am to 7pm

Plants, flower seeds, garden tools & usual garage sale items

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2519 E. 21st., Hays
Friday June 7th. from 3:00 to 8:00 pm Saturday June 8th from 8:00 am to 12:00 am Saturday June 8th from 8:00 to 12:00 am

Multi family garage sale. 2519 E. 21st. St. Hays. Friday June 7th 3:00 to 8:00 pm, Saturday 8:00 to 12:00 am Lots of house hold items, home decor, women’s clothing, nursing scrubs, purses, scrapbook items, dorm size refrigerator & much more.

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660 Commerce Parkway, Hays
Friday, June 7th, 7am-7pm Saturday, June 8th , 8am-12pm

Employment Connections Benefit Sale. Kitchen items, household decor, books, furniture, collectibles, lots and lots of misc. Proceeds benefit persons with disabilities.

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4101 Covenant Dr., Hays
Friday the 7th from 1-7 PM

Tons of women’s name brand clothing and shoes
Brand new furniture, accessories, lamps, etc.
Baby girl clothing and toys
Pbteen room decor (bedding, lamps, rugs, etc)
Kitchen and bath items
Beauty items (perfumes, lotions, hairsprays, shampoo & conditioners)
Name brand purses and bags
Exercise equipment
Dance outfits/clothing

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1503 Henry Drive, Hays
June 8th from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Desks, small sofa table, jeans, purses, electric weed eaters, greeting cards, children’s books, pendant lights, Chiefs and Cowboys jackets, plastic shelving, coolers, bath rugs, lazy susan and many other items items.

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2230 Southview Drive, Hays
Thursday 4-7; Friday 8-6

The 3-car garage is full! All items are from pet-free/non-smoking homes. Cash only, please.
*Vintage Barbie Dolls and Collectibles (new in boxes)
*1930s Depression Glass (Most are $2 or less; Patterns: Strawberry, Waterford, Tea Room, Fortune, Queen Mary, Manhattan, Rose Cameo)
*Large assortment of vintage toy collectibles (New in packages; Looney Tunes, Disney, Flintstones, Felix the Cat, Kellogg’s, Oscar Meyer
*Caboose cupola seats *Vintage Pez (New in packages, including sets of Simpson’s Pez and Pokémon Pez)
*Girls’ Clothing 10/12 and up (summer and winter; Gymboree, Nike, Children’s Place, Crazy 8, Justice, Xersion). Excellent condition. Most are $1, or less.
*Girls’ Shoes sizes 3 and up (excellent condition)
*CB&Q railroad cans and tools
*Little Black Sambo vintage wooden children’s puzzle and other wooden puzzles
*Girl Scout Journey Junior Books (New)
*Vintage Matchbox and HO trucks (new in packages)
*Halliburton license plates (vintage; never used)
*Electric welder
*Vintage Craftsman tap and die thread cutter set in original wooden box
*Engine overhaul tools
*John Deere tractors and collectibles (new in boxes)
*Fisher Price Learn with Me Zebra Walker (new in the box- $10)
*Thomas and Friends Sea Monsters Pirate Set (new in the box- $10)
*Fisher Price Little People Disney Princess Magical Wand Palace (new in the box- $10)
*1965 Walt Disney Dumbo Record
*Warner Brothers Beanie Babies- new with tags/large assortment (Batman, Scooby Doo, Flash, Robin, Tweety, Taz, Speedy, Dino, Astro, etc.)
*Disney Beanie Babies- new with tags/large assortment (Mickey Mouse, Woody, Little Mermaid, Thumper, Seven Dwarfs, Dumbo, Flower, Flounder, Goofy, Flubber, Herbie, Panic and Pain, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, Baloo, Pegasus, Lady and the Tramp, etc.)
*Harley Davidson Beanie Babies- new with tags
*1996 Cabbage Patch Swimming OlympiKid USA Olympics Doll (new in box) *100’s of McDonald’s and Wendy’s toys (Throw these out at the next parade instead of candy!)
*Batman Virtual Reality System
*Jurassic Park Virtual Reality System
*Set of 62 NEW 1990 Major League Baseball M.V.P. Collector Pin Series Cards (Each package contains a baseball card and collector’s pin.)
*Complete set of eight 1990 High Fashion Barbie plate set by Susie Morton (produced by Danbury Mint) (Each plate is rimmed in 23K gold and measures just over 9 inches in diameter. New condition with certificates of authenticity.)
*Boyd’s Bears (new with tags) *Collectibles, home décor, household items
*Disney Princess Comforter (twin)
*Pfaff sewing machine in cabinet (1960’s)
*New and gently worn women’s shoes and women’s clothing
*Books, toys, arts/crafts, games
*Polly Pocket Pet Shop, Cars, etc.
*Children’s costumes, holiday décor and much more!!!
**Directions to 2230 Southview Drive: Go south on Canterbury, past the railroad tracks and Highway 40. Continue south past El Charro and the RV Center until you arrive at Reservation Road (the dirt road going east and west). Turn left (east) and go past Josephine and Big Creek Drive. Turn left (north) at the next corner (Logan Drive). If the wind cooperates, we will have a garage sale sign at this corner. Continue north for about a block. 2230 is a green house on the corner.

Forget April Showers, Kansas Never Had This Much Rain In May

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By BRIAN GRIMMET

Flooding near the confluence of the Little Arkansas and Arkansas River in Wichita
BRIAN GRIMMETT / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

The month of May was an all-timer in Kansas, as sites across the state recorded rain on all but two days. The deluge broke state and local rainfall records as well as setting several high water marks in Kansas’ rivers, streams, and reservoirs.

It rained, it poured, the old man snored

May, June and July are historically Kansas’ wettest months. But this May was by far the wettest on record, which goes back 125 years.

In fact it was the wettest month ever recorded — period. The previous record was set in June 1951.

The prolonged period of rain also helped set several local records.

On May 8, 8.22 inches of rain were measured in the south central Kansas town of Wellington besting the previous record for rainfall in a 24-hour period of 6.52 inches set on June 21, 1942.

In the northeast corner of the state, Horton also set a 24-hour rainfall record: 9.42 inches on May 24.

200 daily records, meaning the most amount of rain to ever fall on a particular day, were also set.

In addition, 19 weather stations in the state recorded monthly totals of more than 20 inches of rain.

Volunteer weather watchers with the Community Collaborative Rain Hail and Snow Network station in Rose Hill, just south of Wichita, took top honors, recording more than 30 inches of rain in the month of May.

The rainfall was uneven across the state, but followed typical patterns — drier in the west, wetter in the east. At the extremes, southeast Kansas stations averaged 17 inches of rain for the month, while west central Kansas stations averaged only 5.31 inches, which is still 175% of normal rainfall for the region in May.

Rivers, streams, and reservoirs full up

All of the rain has to go somewhere. With much of the ground already saturated from April showers, most of it ended up in a Kansas river or stream, making pit stops in flood control reservoirs along its way downstream toward the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico.

The amount of water moving through the system was as high as anything the U.S. Geological Survey’s Kansas Water Science Center has ever seen.

Reservoirs including Tuttle Creek Lake, Perry Lake, Milford Lake, and Cheney Lake came near to or exceeded their capacity.

Between April 29 and June 3, 104 of 136 streamgages in the state exceeded flood stage. 15 sites were above flood stage for at least 20 days.

While it’s still too early to assess overall impacts, experts say there will likely be extensive erosion and sedimentation issues from the increased flows.

Rain, rain could come again another day

The first week of June has been much drier than May and has allowed stream and reservoir levels to slowly drop back down. While the drier weather has provided much needed respite for people with flooded fields and basements, the chance for even more flooding persists.

With already saturated ground and reservoirs that are still mostly full, even a normal amount of rain in June could bring back flooding. And the forecast doesn’t offer much comfort.

The National Weather Service June forecast predicts a 50% chance for above normal rain in June.

Brian Grimmett reports on the environment and energy for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KMUW, Kansas Public Radio, KCUR and High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. Follow him on Twitter @briangrimmett or email grimmett (at) kmuw (dot) org.

Coverage of energy and the environment is made possible in part by ITC Great Plains and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

In Kansas, wind turbine placement rules are made by counties

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(Photo by Brian Grimmett)

By BRIAN GRIMMETT
Kansas News Service

Wind farms have been sprouting across Kansas horizons for nearly 20 years, planting ever-more-giant turbines capable of transforming breezes into clean-energy megawatts and remaking the plains-and-prairie landscape.

The rules about how close those towering structures can stand to a road, to a home, or to a property line vary by project and from one county after the next.

Kansas has no statewide rulebook on the setbacks that govern how close a turbine can sit next to, well, anything. At least not yet. Legislators considered a statewide setback bill in 2019, but it didn’t get very far.

Instead, counties have been figuring out regulations as they go. That’s created a hodgepodge of agreements and regulations that range from outright prohibitions to whatever deal wind farm builders can cut with landowners and their neighbors.

Setbacks

One of the most common and hotly contested types of regulations regarding wind farms (see Reno County) has to do with what’s known as a setback. A setback is the distance a wind turbine must be from something else —roads, homes, a neighbor’s land.

Setbacks aim to protect against potential damage from ice that breaks off of the blades and to reduce the impacts of noise and shadows generated by the turbine.

Let’s take a look at how counties have been handling this so far.

No single government agency in Kansas keeps a comprehensive list. What we’re sharing here was gathered through phone calls and emails with county clerks, appraisers and commissioners in counties with operating turbines. Where possible, we’re sharing links to documents with the information. If you have more information to provide, send an email to [email protected] and we’ll update our data set.

No Setbacks

Clark County
Cloud County
Elk County
Haskell County
Kiowa County
Marshall County

These counties have no setbacks, at least any mandated by the county through an agreement or conditional use permit. They’ve left that to the landowners and the developers.

Largest Setbacks

There are several different types of setbacks, but the most common is how far the turbine must be from houses where people live. That’s also sometimes broken down into whether the house is on land that’s been leased or is on land owned by someone not participating in the project.

Pratt has the largest setbacks in the state.

Setbacks for non-participating houses

  1. Pratt County – 2,500 feet
  2. Kingman County – 1,400 feet
  3. Allen County – 1,400 feet
  4. Marion County – 1,320 feet
  5. Barber County, Butler County, Coffey County, Ellis County, Ford County, Harper County, Sumner County – 1,000 feet

Counties have set a more standard number for houses on land participating in the project. In every county that’s set that type of regulation, it’s 1,000 feet — all except Pratt County, which sets it at 2,500 feet.

Typical Setbacks

Every county is free to set its own rules, but some consensus has emerged. While not every county with wind farms has each of these restrictions, it’s generally where most have landed.

(Tiantian Zhou/Kansas News Service)

Property Lines

500 feet or 1.1 times the height of the turbine at its highest point.

To better understand the math, the average height of a wind turbine in Kansas is 417.7 feet. Multiply that by 1.1 and you get 459.5 feet.

But, new wind turbines do seem to be getting taller. One of the newest projects in the state is in Marion county. It also has the tallest turbines in the state. Each one is 492 feet tall when you include the top of a blade at its peak.

(Tiantian Zhou/Kansas News Service)

Homes

1,000 feet.

Accessory Structure

The height of the turbine plus 50 feet.

(Tiantian Zhou/Kansas News Service)

Roads

500 feet or 1.1 times the height of the turbine at its highest point.


(Tiantian Zhou/Kansas News Service)

Distance of the blade from the ground

This category is more varied. Only six counties even regulate this. It ranges from 40 feet to 100 feet.

It’s also worth noting that wind developers will sometimes exceed the limits set by counties and choose to keep their turbines further away from homes and roads. They generally tend to follow the turbine manufacturer’s recommended setbacks.

Ultimately, finding the right setbacks for each location involves compromise. Developers need space to be able to build enough turbines to make a project economically viable, and the people who live nearby want to be protected from potential hazards and annoyances.

But in Kansas, that ad hoc approach has mostly worked.

While speaking to numerous county officials for this story, most seemed pretty pleased with the arrangements they’d worked out. Generally, there were very few, if any, complaints about the turbines.

Brian Grimmett reports on the environment and energy for KMUW in Wichita and the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of KMUW, Kansas Public Radio, KCUR and High Plains Public Radio covering health, education and politics. Follow him on Twitter @briangrimmett or email grimmett (at) kmuw (dot) org.

Mostly sunny, warm Saturday, chance of storms late

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Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 86. South wind 7 to 15 mph.
Tonight
Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 59. South southeast wind 9 to 15 mph becoming north northeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Sunday
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 62. Breezy, with a north wind 17 to 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday Night
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 49. North wind 13 to 18 mph decreasing to 7 to 12 mph after midnight.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. North wind 5 to 8 mph.
Monday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 52.
Tuesday
A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 74.
Tuesday Night
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 53.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 75.

REPORT: Kansas among 10 best states for protecting children from cyber threats

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By REBECCA EDWARDS
Safewise

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – While June marks the end of school, it’s also Internet Safety Month, which is a good time to remind parents, caregivers, educators and youth service providers about the top safety threats facing children, how to protect them, and what to do if they become a victim.

Kansas has some of the most supportive laws in the country when it comes to protecting kids online, but it’s important that both adults and children are aware of the latest cyber threats so they can avoid them.

Top Online Threats for Kids

There are a number of potential dangers in cyberspace, but these are the top three online security risks that most kids face.

KISG Threat Icons - cyber bullying

1. Cyberbullying: Almost 34% of kids age 12–17 have been cyberbullied at some point in their life, and 11.5% have bullied someone else online. Cyberbullying is any aggressive, threatening, or mean-spirited activity conducted via electronic communication (email, social media posts, text messages, etc.). Girls are more likely to be the victims of cyberbullying, and more boys admit to bullying others online.¹

KISG Threat Icons - online predators

2. Online predators: Adults who use the internet to entice children for sexual or other types of abusive exploitation are considered online predators. Child victims can be as young as 1 or as old as 17. When it comes to online enticement, girls make up the majority (78%) of child victims—while the majority (82%) of online predators are male. And 98% of online predators have never met their child targets in real life.²

KISG Threat Icons - inappropriate content

3. Exposure to inappropriate content: Inappropriate content is one of the most common online threats that kids encounter. Everything from vulgar language and hate speech to graphically violent or sexual images can have a harmful effect on an impressionable child. Over 55% of tweens (kids age 10–12) have been exposed to violent content on the internet, and nearly 60% have come across sexually explicit words or images.³

NOTE: For the purposes of this guide, we’re focusing on the earliest prevention possible. While these internet safety tips for kids and parents can be applicable to anyone, we’ve selected steps to help protect children from ages 5 through 12.

KISG quote - Dennis Chow

How to Protect Your Kids from Cyberbullying

KISG cyber bullying icon #1

1. Know the risks: Understand what cyberbullying is, where and how it happens, and how to spot it. Explain that online bullies can act friendly at first, but also encourage your child to be on the lookout for any interactions that make them feel bad, scared, or sad.

KISG cyber bullying icon #2

2. Talk about it: Have ongoing discussions with your child. Talk about what cyberbullying is and what types of communication are acceptable and unacceptable. Make sure your child knows that it’s safe for them to talk to you if something makes them uncomfortable.

KISG cyber bullying icon #3

3. Keep a watchful eye: Place the computer in a common room and monitor all screen time. Use a shared email account, and if you let kids interact on social media, make sure you have full access to manage their accounts. Parental control software is another great way to stay in the know.

KISG cyber bullying icon #4

4. Set boundaries: Put time limits on screen time. Include all online activities—from homework to playing games and surfing the web. Restrict social media access and email accounts, and set rules for any IM, texting, etc. Let your kids know you’ll be checking in regularly.

KISG cyber bullying icon #5

5. Build a network (IRL): They don’t say it takes a village for nothing. The more people you have looking out for your kid online, the more likely you are to keep them safe. Know your kids’ friends and their parents. Enlist support from school, sports, and church leaders.

KISG cyber bullying icon #6

6. Be prepared to respond: Don’t wait until the heat of the moment to come up with your gameplan. In case your kid does get bullied online, learn what the proper responses are so you can keep your emotions in check and help your child deal with what they’re going through.

Steps to Take If Your Child Has Been Bullied

  • Pay attention: Look for signs of cyberbullying, like spending more time online or texting, hiding the screen from others, emotional responses to online interactions, and sadness or seclusion.
  • Ask questions: Gently ask your child what’s going on and how they feel about it. Find out if they’ve responded to the bully and what that response was.
  • Acknowledge their feelings: Your child may feel frightened, angry, sad, or even betrayed if the bully is someone they trusted. Let them know it’s okay to feel whatever they’re feeling.
  • Block the bully: Immediately block (or “unfriend”) the abuser. Use tools like site blockers and privacy settings as extra layers of protection.
  • Report it: Alert website and email administrators to the bully. Most social media platforms offer options to report a user or flag dangerous posts. If appropriate, report the abusive activity to school or law enforcement officials.
  • Assess the damage: If your child’s emotional response is extreme and protective measures don’t seem to help, seek the help of a professional.
  • Enlist reinforcements: Talk to other adults who can help protect your child (other parents, teachers, school administrators, coaches, etc.) and bolster your child’s positive friendships.

What to Do If Your Child Is the Bully

  • Look: If your child sets up new email or social media accounts without your knowledge, makes snarky remarks while online, or starts to hide their online activity, they could be picking on someone.
  • Listen: If you’re concerned, gently broach the topic with your child and then allow them the room to answer. Be open-minded and don’t blame. Bullies are usually in some kind of pain as well.
  • Monitor: Double your efforts to track your child’s online activity. If you’re not already using parental control software, now is the time to start using it.
  • Support: Encourage your child to deal with their feelings and the reasons they’re engaging in this behavior. Suggest that they apologize to the kids they’ve hurt, and help them do it.
  • Get help: It can be hard to identify why your child starting acting out in this manner. Seek professional help, and if the bullying crosses lines at school (or legally), inform the appropriate authorities and ask for resources to address the situation.
Dr. Nir Kshetri quote

How to Protect Your Kids from Online Predators

bulb icon

1. Understand the danger: Learn what online predators are, where and how predators attack, and how to spot it. Explain that contact from strangers is never okay.

signpost icon

2. Guide online behaviors: Talk about what types of online interactions are okay and what aren’t. Discuss how to recognize signs of trouble and how to ask for help.

umbrella icon

3. Rein in digital cameras: Control access to digital cameras and photo apps on every device. Make sure your kids can’t upload or download photos without your permission.

binoculars icon

4. Monitor online activity: Keep the computer in a common room, set limits on screen time, use a shared email account, and put parental controls (like filters and apps) in place.

stop sign icon

5. Keep kids out of dangerous places: Talk about the risks of chat rooms and social networks, and set up rules and time limits if you allow your kids to use them. Always follow age restrictions for websites and apps.

shield icon

6. Don’t let your guard down: Know that “safe” places still require vigilance. There are kid-focused chat rooms and games where predators may pose as children.

Steps to Take If Your Child Has Been Targeted Online

  • Let your child know it’s not their fault.
  • Cut off communication with the predator.
  • Change online credentials, including screen names, usernames, and passwords.
  • Save screenshots or copies of messages and images from the predator.
  • Report the activity to website administrators and law enforcement.
  • Seek professional help for your child as appropriate.

Safety Tips for Kids

  • Never share personal information online.
  • Don’t respond to emails, texts, or messages from strangers.
  • Don’t post or share photos online.
  • Don’t click links, open attachments, or accept gifts from someone you don’t know.
  • Never agree to meet someone you met online.
  • Let your parents or another trusted adult know if you need help.
Scott Pietrzak quote

How to Protect Your Kids from Inappropriate Online Content

Map icon

1. Teach kids how to navigate the internet: Talk about proper online etiquette, how to enter safe search terms, how to identify a secure website (https), and when to ask an adult for help.

Telescope icon

2. Let kids know what to watch for: Teach them that bad stuff can come from many sources, including email and direct messages. Talk about inappropriate websites, pop-up ads, and when and where it’s okay to click on something.

Warning sign icon

3. Explain email safety: Make sure kids know not to click on things or open attachments in emails and not to respond to messages from people they don’t know. Have them ask an adult before they download anything.

Fire icon

4. Set up firewalls and content blockers: Use the built-in safety applications that come on your devices and add more to be extra safe. Block all websites that aren’t rated safe for children. Use a content filter or firewall that is designed to protect children from harmful content.

Eye icon

5. Be prepared: Have a plan in place in case your child is exposed to graphic content online. Know what the proper responses are so you can focus on helping your child manage their feelings.

Steps to Take If Your Child Has Been Exposed to Inappropriate Content

Don’t

  • Freak out.
  • React emotionally.
  • Shame your child.
  • Scare your child.
  • Blame your child

Do

  • Stay calm.
  • Be patient.
  • Find the source of the content.
  • Block access to dangerous or confusing sites.
  • Help your child sort out their feelings.
  • Restore a sense of safety.
  • Keep the conversation going.
Allan Buxton quote

How Much Is Your State Doing to Keep Kids Safe Online?

State by State Internet Safet for Kids Map

To grade each state, SafeWise looked at laws for both sexting and cyberbullying. Points were assigned to states based on the types of laws currently on the books and the consequences for violating those laws. If a state has a law proposed, partial points were granted. School policies and consequences were also factors. Letter grades were determined based on the total points, with higher points earning higher grades.

State-by-State Online Safety Laws

State Letter Grade Laws Address Cyberbullying or Online Harassment Legal Consequences for Online Harassment Schools Discipline Cyberbullying Includes Discipline for Off-Campus Offenses Laws Address Sexting Misdemeanor Penalties for Sexting Felony Penalties for Sexting
Alabama C YES YES NO NO NO NO YES
Alaska C NO YES YES NO NO YES NO
Arizona B YES YES YES NO YES YES NO
Arkansas A YES YES YES YES YES YES NO
California B YES YES YES YES proposed NO NO
Colorado B YES YES YES NO YES YES NO
Connecticut A YES YES YES YES YES YES NO
Delaware C YES YES YES NO NO NO NO
Florida A YES YES YES YES YES YES YES
Georgia A YES YES YES proposed YES YES YES
Hawaii B YES YES YES NO YES YES NO
Idaho C YES YES YES NO NO NO NO
Illinois B YES YES YES YES YES NO NO
Indiana B YES YES YES NO YES YES NO
Iowa C YES YES YES NO NO NO NO
Kansas A YES YES YES NO YES YES YES
Kentucky C YES YES YES NO NO NO NO
Louisiana B YES YES YES YES YES NO NO
Maine D YES NO YES NO NO NO NO
Maryland C YES YES YES NO NO NO NO
Massachusetts B YES YES YES YES proposed NO NO
Michigan C YES YES NO YES NO NO NO
Minnesota C YES NO YES YES NO NO NO
Mississippi C YES YES YES NO NO NO NO
Missouri C YES YES YES NO NO NO NO
Montana D YES YES NO NO NO NO NO
Nebraska B YES NO YES proposed YES NO YES
Nevada C YES YES NO NO YES YES NO
New Hampshire D YES NO NO YES NO NO NO
New Jersey B YES YES YES YES YES NO NO
New Mexico C YES NO YES NO YES NO NO
New York B YES YES YES YES YES NO NO
North Carolina C YES YES YES NO NO NO NO
North Dakota B YES YES YES NO YES YES NO
Ohio C YES YES YES NO NO NO NO
Oklahoma B YES YES YES NO YES YES NO
Oregon C YES YES YES NO NO NO NO
Pennsylvania A YES YES YES YES YES YES NO
Rhode Island C YES YES YES NO YES NO NO
South Carolina C YES YES YES NO proposed NO NO
South Dakota A YES YES YES YES YES YES NO
Tennessee C YES YES YES YES NO NO NO
Texas A YES YES YES YES YES YES NO
Utah A YES YES YES NO YES YES YES
Vermont B YES YES YES YES YES NO NO
Virginia C YES YES YES NO NO NO NO
Washington C YES YES YES NO NO NO NO
West Virginia C YES YES YES NO YES NO NO
Wisconsin D NO YES YES NO NO NO NO
Wyoming D YES NO YES NO NO NO NO

More Resources to Help with Online Safety for Kids

This guide is the perfect starting point to make sure you know the basics for keeping kids safe on the internet. But online threats are constantly changing, and cybercriminals are getting more sophisticated. To help you stay ahead of the curve, here are some of the resources we recommend.

Internet Safety Classes and Workshops

State and Local Internet Safety Resources

Tools to Keep Kids Safe Online

More Educational and Support Resources

Sources

1. Cyberbullying Research Center, “2016 Cyberbullying Data”
2. National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, “The Online Enticement of Children: An In-Depth Analysis of CyberTipline Reports”
3. Bark, “2018 Children and Teen Cyber Fact Sheet”
4. Cyberbullying Research Center, “State Sexting Laws”; Cyberbullying Research Center, “State Cyberbullying Laws”

 

Mondesi has three hits to help Royals end six-game skid

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Adalberto Mondesi had three hits and two RBIs, and the Kansas City Royals beat the Chicago White Sox 6-4 Friday night to end a six-game losing streak.

Mondesi’s third hit, an RBI single with two outs in the seventh, scored Whit Merrifield to make it 5-4. Mondesi had hits in three straight at-bats to end an 0-for-11 skid. He also scored on Jorge Soler’s RBI double to make it 6-4.

After Homer Bailey pitched six-plus innings of three-run ball, Brad Boxberger (1-3) allowed a run in the seventh but still got his first victory in 26 appearances. Ian Kennedy pitched the ninth for his fourth save in six chances.

Jace Fry (1-2) took the loss.

Ivan Nova allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings with six hits and a season-high six strikeouts.

James McCann put Chicago up 2-0 with a two-run double in the third, but Kansas City got one back in the bottom of the inning on Whit Merrifield’s RBI single.

Merrifield sparked a three-run sixth with a leadoff infield single. Alex Gordon singled against the shift and Mondesi tied it with a double to right. Nova then walked O’Hearn, snapping a streak of four straight strikeouts for O’Hearn, and Nova was done.

Cheslor Cuthbert ripped a single into right, scoring Gordon and Mondesi to give Kansas City a 4-2 lead. He has hit safely in all seven games since being called up May 31.

Tim Anderson chased Bailey with a leadoff double in the seventh and later scored on a fielder’s choice, and Yoan Moncada added an RBI double to tie it at 4.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: OF John Jay was transferred to Triple-A Charlotte for his rehab assignment. He has been on the IL with a right hip strain since spring training. He played three games with Double-A Birmingham and went 2 for 10.

Royals: 3B Hunter Dozier is making progress in his recovery from strained oblique. He is getting closer to introducing some baseball activity. He’s eligible to come off the IL for Tuesday’s game against Detroit but said he probably won’t be ready for that. … LHP Danny Duffy, who was hit by a line drive in Thursday’s start against Boston, said before Friday’s game that he is sore but doesn’t think he’ll miss a start.

UP NEXT

The White Sox will send RHP Lucas Giolito (8-1, 2.54 ERA) to the mound in the second game of the series. Giolito was the AL Pitcher of the Month for May. He is 7-0 with a 1.92 ERA over his last nine starts.

The Royals will depend on RHP Brad Keller (3-7, 4.50 ERA). Keller has faced the White Sox three times already in 2019.

NW Kan. woman, 2 children hospitalized after semi crash

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PHILLIPS COUNTY— Three people were injured in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Friday in Phillips County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1986 Peterbilt semi driven by Kelly Wade Lyon, 56, was eastbound on U.S. 36 behind a 2006 Chevy HHR driven by Elanor Ann Conrad-Farr, 55, Phillipsburg

The HHR was slowing, and failed to signal a left turn, according to the KHP. The semi attempted to pass the HHR on the left and struck the HHR on the driver’s side. The semi jack-knifed and came to rest in the north ditch.

Conrad-Farr and to passengers Dakota Conrad-Farr, 15 and Autum Conrad-Farr, 13, both of Phillipsburg were transported to the hospital in Phillipsburg. Lyon was not injured. All four were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

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