Every now and again, a little phrase mesmerizes lawmakers. This year, that phrase appears to be “consultant study on efficiency in government.”

The idea: Kansas is probably spending money on programs or assigning similar duties to different agencies or requiring certain reports or fees or something just because, well, that’s how we’ve always done it here.

The idea expands: We’ll spend up to $3 million next year to hire a consultant—presumably not from “here”—to look at how Kansas government operates and whether there are efficiencies that can be found by private contractors who don’t drink the local water.

That consultant contract for government efficiency concept caught fire in the House Appropriations Committee; it so lit up the eyes of those lawmakers that the Senate put the provision in its Mega budget bill that will finance most of state government. No, that $3 million item won’t be printed in red in the bill, but it is likely to be the most-read section of that bill and may draw some votes for it.

Those “not from here” consultants may turn up some cost-saving ideas that haven’t been thought of by Kansans. There are undoubtedly efficiencies that newly hired workers have discovered, and their agency managers either steal as their own ideas or dismiss because it’s a change, and many don’t care for change. Or that suggestion might work in other divisional offices, but not the one where it was first thought up.

But, state government is one of those institutions that tends to pave the cow path rather than consider new ways to get the cattle to the pond.

The concept is that after that $3 million study—which will of course be put out for bids, but now that most legislators seem comfortable for some reason with the $3 million number, well, the bids will probably be close to that sum—we’ll learn of enough big and little spending cuts to save dozens or hundreds of times that much.

Opponents in this tight budget year, which is already seeing its focus shift from spending to the taxes that will have to be raised to support that spending, figure that Kansas already has people on staff who can do that hard look at efficiencies.

Supporters of that outside look at state agency operations and management maintain that the local folks haven’t found enough new, startling and politically acceptable economies to balance the budget, so they need help. In a similar consultant-led scrubbing of state operations in North Carolina this year, the consultants identified what they say could pencil out to more than $600 million in savings in the next decade.

That is, of course, if North Carolina executive and legislative branches buy into the suggestions and enact them after, presumably, weighing the political backlash from suggested changes.

In Kansas, there’s that same issue: You have to wonder whether any changes that those “fresh eyes” suggest are going to be mechanically or politically feasible. Or, whether the Legislature will feel duty-bound to adopt at least $3 million worth of those savings suggestions just to break even on the deal.

Who knows? Maybe if Kansans could just hand their income tax payments to a Highway Patrol trooper who stops them, we’d need one less employee in the Department of Revenue? Or, do we really need a Secretary of State in years when there are no elections?

It might be interesting, but would the money be better spent dredging a reservoir…or could we lay off the meat inspectors if restaurant customers would just sign a hold-harmless agreement when they order a meal?

The idea is trendy—at least in the Kansas Legislature, which probably tells you something about the Legislature—but we’ll see where it goes…

Syndicated by Hawver News Co. of Topeka, Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report. To learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit www.hawvernews.com.

A coworker recently told me she saw her horses chasing a couple animals across her pasture that were dark, about the size of raccoons, and had no visible tail. She told me a couple animals of the same description had run from her barn a while back.

She is convinced they were nutrias which are basically overgrown muskrats that thrive in the backwaters of Louisiana and other parts of the south. I was skeptical they were nutria because I have never heard of nutria in Kansas. Communication with Matt Peek, research biologist with the Kansas Dept of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism who also acts as the furbearer biologist for the state shed some light on their possible identity.

Identifying wildlife only from someone’s description can be a challenge, but there are clues we can use. One good clue is the tracks left by the animals themselves. Each animal’s footprints are unique and different from each other, sort of like human fingerprints. If one knows the tracks of different animals, positive identification can be made if tracks can be found.

Another dependable clue is droppings left by the animals. Again, droppings are usually unique to each different animal and hunters and trappers learn to use them as valuable clues to where animals are traveling.

Other facts useful in identifying wildlife are obviously the size, shape and color of the critter, any sounds it makes, where it was seen and anything else about what it was eating, where it lives, etc.

Now back to the two “suspects” in the pasture. Matt Peek said that although there are no known nutrias in Kansas today, historical records show they once lived here long ago. So while it is very unlikely what she saw were in fact nutria, it is not totally out of the question. A better answer would be that what she saw were groundhogs which have been in eastern KS for years and, like armadillos, are expanding their range all the time, or badgers. Using the criteria above, let’s put our CSI hats on and analyze the situation.

First of all, tracks and dropping would be nearly impossible to find in a grassy pasture, so that takes us to the next group of clues. Considering the size and shape of what she described, both badgers and groundhogs fit the bill and have just short, stubby tails, while nutria are built low and long like muskrats and have long, slender tails. Perhaps the most important clue to me is where they were seen. Both badgers and groundhogs would be at home in the middle of a pasture while nutria would not venture far from their home in some sort of water, and the only water near there is a small creek with barely anything in it.

To narrow it down even further, groundhogs fit the dark color description better than badgers and would also be right at home in and around her old barn, so my best guess in light of all the above, is that she saw her horses chasing a couple groundhogs.

Mind you, this is only my best deduction in light of the information and because there are no known nutria in Kansas. My friend might still be right, and if so, I hope to see them someday myself. Sometimes the unknown can be intriguing and I enjoy trying to solve mysteries involving wildlife. So put on your CSI hats and join me in the lab as we Explore Kansas Outdoors!

Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].

“Home” is the latest in a relatively short list of movies that are actually undersold by their trailers. To me, the advertisements made the film look like a very generic fish-out-of-water story. Much to my enjoyment and surprise, “Home” is far warmer and more inviting than I expected.

The creature design and animation are well executed and just plain fun to look at. The characters are emotive and the world feels simultaneously far-fetched and familiar. The ubiquitousness of Jim Parson’s voice (who portrays Sheldon Cooper in the immensely popular show “The Big Bang Theory”) at times breaks the fourth wall simply because audiences will have heard Parsons delivering socially awkward, scientifically-laden dialogue for years. Nevertheless, by the end of the film, I had fully come to embrace Parsons’ character of Oh. Once again, the trailer very misguidedly chooses to advertise the most Sheldon-esque scenes, which is, in my opinion, a disservice to the film.

I was pleasantly surprised by the level of imagination and inventiveness brought to bear by the film proper. The story that unfolds in the theatre is very different from what I imagined it would be from the advertisements. It’s a better story, a more interesting story and one that resonated with me far more than I had initially believed.

This is exactly the type of film that kids will enjoy for its colorfulness and its goofiness and adults hopefully will enjoy far more than they might anticipate. I would not have chosen to see this movie were it not for my position as a film reviewer. That said, I’m very glad for my time with “Home” and have enthusiastically recommended it to my parents; and now do the same to you, dear reader. While still a far cry from being included in my favorite animated movies, there is very real charm in “Home.” It’s expressive, heartfelt and surprisingly interesting from a science-fiction point of view.

4 of 6 stars

Although Ron Willis has met many people in his travels throughout the United States, he recalls a number of individuals from his childhood who taught him early on about being a person with integrity and compassion.

One of those people included his grandfather, a wise man and retired railroad engineer who completed school through the 8th grade.

“He always taught me that in the business of helping other people, what we had living in our hearts was more important than diplomas hanging on a wall,” said Willis, who still believes this despite the fact that he holds an education specialist degree from Fort Hays State University and has served as a mental health consultant throughout his adult life.

Others on that list include a kindergarten teacher and a high school track coach who taught him to save a little back for the finish line.

“I was an awful miler,” Willis recalled. “I usually came in toward the last of every race. But, my coach said, ‘No one will remember years later where you finished in a race, but they will remember how you finished.'”

“Finish well!” is the theme for an aging conference next month open to seniors, their families and their caregivers. K-State Research and Extension will sponsor the regional event, titled “Full Circle…an Aging Expo.” It will take place Friday, April 24 at the Colby Community College Student Union in Colby, and Willis is one of the featured speakers.

“I’m a storyteller,” Willis said, “so I believe that we hold people’s attention better when we use stories– personal examples and the like– to make our points. My grandfather, who was a real storyteller, always told me that I should have a point for their heads and a picture for their hearts, so listeners are apt to walk away knowing at least one thing to focus on to make a difference.”

While presenting at the Full Circle expo, Willis plans to engage all participants in some way. For those who care for seniors, he plans to talk about how to avoid burnout and compassion fatigue, which he said are two major struggles for caretakers. Some of the ways to protect against these struggles include knowing our triggers that allow us to stay encouraged, and understanding the importance of maintaining our integrity and finishing well.

“Most people will say in listening to me that they maybe didn’t learn anything new, but they were reminded of things they had learned along the way and may have forgotten,” Willis said.

In addition to Willis, a variety of other speakers will present information as part of the aging conference. Charmane Kandt of the Neuromuscular Wellness Center at Fort Hays State University will focus on exercising and being active to achieve optimum health. Other session topics will cover death and grieving, knowing your health history, financial matters for seniors, charitable estate planning, memory and making reading more fun.

Registration is $30 per person or $50 for two family members, and the pre-registration deadline is April 17. Registration at the door is $35 per person and will take place until 9:15 a.m. the day of the event. However, lunch cannot be guaranteed for registration at the door. The program begins at 9:45 a.m. and ends at 3:30 p.m.  You can find the conference registration brochure on the Ellis County Extension website at www.ellis.ksu.edu.

An added feature of the Full Circle Aging Expo is an educational track for professionals who can earn up to 6 CEU’s for participation.  The theme is “Person-Centered Care.”  Cost for the full-day professional training is $85, register by April 17.  More information about the professional track of the conference is available at 785-462-6281 or online at www.northwest.ksu.edu/fullcircle.

Mark your calendar now and plan to attend the Full Circle Aging Expo.  To register or for questions, contact the K-State Research and Extension Northwest Area Office (https://www.northwest.ksu.edu/p.aspx) for registration and program information at 785-462-6281.

Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.

Each year, 10% of all medical costs in the US are attributed to obesity. One in three adults and one in six children are obese. While we cannot change our genetics, we can change our behavior and environment.

On Friday, March 27, Ellis County Extension will host a free noon-hour program on managing obesity at the Extension Office meeting room, 601 Main, in Hays. Call 785-628-9430 to pre-register; bring a lunch to enjoy during the meeting if desired.

Guest speaker Donna Krug, Barton County Extension Agent, will present ways to reverse the trend of obesity. Learn how to develop an action plan for healthy eating and active living to manage your weight and improve your health.

The US Dietary Guidelines suggest that Americans should enjoy their food, but eat less. Healthy meals start with more vegetables and fruits and lowfat dairy along with recommended portions of protein and grains. You can enjoy your meals while making small adjustments to the amounts of food on your plate. Here are a few tips for avoid overeating while still enjoying mealtime:

1. Get to know the foods you eat. Find out what kinds of foods and how much to eat. An easy place to start is www.supertracker.usda.gov to find recommendations for food and activity for your age and activity level and to get tips and support for making better food choices.

2. Take your time. Be mindful to eat slowly, enjoy the taste and textures, and pay attention to how you feel. Use hunger and fullness cues to recognize when to eat and when you’ve had enough.

3. Use a smaller plate at meals to help with portion control. That way you can finish your entire plate and feel satisfied without overeating. The MyPlate guidelines recommend a 9-inch plate. Measure your dinnerware and see how it compares.

4. If you eat out, choose healthier options. Check and compare nutrition information about the foods you are eating. Choose smaller food items or share a large meal with a friend. Preparing food at home– instead of eating out– makes it easier to control what is in your meals.

5. Satisfy your sweet tooth in a healthy way. Indulge in a naturally sweet dessert dish—fruit! Serve a fresh fruit cocktail or a fruit parfait made with yogurt. For a hot dessert, bake apples and top with cinnamon.

6. Choose to eat some foods more or less often . Choose more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fat-free or 1% milk and dairy products. Cut back on foods high in solid fats, added sugars, and salt.

7. Find out what you need. Get your personalized plan by using the SuperTracker to identify your food group targets. Compare the foods you eat now to the foods you need to eat and make adjustments accordingly.

8. Sip smarter. Drink water or other calorie-free beverages, 100% juice, or fat-free milk when you are thirsty. Soda and other sweet drinks contain a lot of sugar and are high in calories.

9. Compare foods. Become a label-reader to look up and compare nutrition information and make the most healthful choices.

10. Make treats “treats,” not everyday foods. Treats are great once in a while. Just don’t make treat foods an everyday choice. Limit sweet treats to special occasions and choose foods from MyPlate for everyday snacks and desserts.

For more information on making healthy, active choices, plan to attend the free Extension program “Action Plan for Managing Obesity” on March 27 at noon at the Ellis County Extension Office. Call (785) 628-9430 to reserve your spot.

Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.

Do 150,000 Kansans get health coverage or not? It’s a moral question and a political one.

The answer should be an easy “yes.” So far, the Kansas Legislature has said “no,” but there is still time in the current legislative session to change the answer. True, lawmakers have their hands full trying to resolve a very serious budget crisis, but apart from that, no issue carries greater importance than expanding eligibility for Medicaid to more Kansas citizens.

 

Packed house public hearings in Topeka last week highlighted the advantages, chief of which is that many Kansans in every part of the state will gain health coverage. That alone ought to be enough to convince lawmakers. Kansans are good-hearted people who help each other. Here’s a chance to show respect and care to fellow citizens.

Despite what many may think, it’s currently very difficult for an adult to receive Medicaid services in Kansas. Most childless adults cannot qualify at all, regardless of income. Adults with children must have an annual income (for a family of four) below $9,000 to qualify. Expanded eligibility would move that limit up, and as one proponent suggests, “with one stroke, you could reduce the number of uninsured in this state almost by half.”

Expanding Medicaid eligibility also has significant economic benefits for Kansas.

When uninsured people show up sick in emergency rooms, hospitals are required to serve them, but get no compensation, which either raises hospital costs for everybody else, or creates financial distress for the hospital. For some hospitals in Kansas, expanded Medicaid eligibility could mean the difference between staying open or not.

At the start, the federal government will pay 100 percent of the cost to expand eligibility, bringing an estimated $400 million a year to the Kansas economy. Do our federal taxes go down if we turn that money away? No, they stay in Washington or go to some other state. We keep paying the same, but get less benefit for our tax dollars.

Eventually, Kansas must cover 10 percent of the cost, but that is still an incredibly good deal. What if the federal government would offer Kansas $400 million new dollars each year for highways if Kansas would provide a $40 million match? Would the Legislature take the deal? In a heartbeat.

Virtually the entire health community in Kansas supports this, and that broad in-state support was obvious at the public hearings. The hospitals have even offered to pay for the 10 percent match that Kansas must eventually provide.

So what’s the holdup?

Medicaid expansion is tied up with the struggle over Obamacare. States get to choose whether or not to implement an expansion, but that choice is made possible through Obamacare. In the hearings last week, a small collection of opponents expressed dark worries about might happen if Kansas gives ground to Obamacare. The opponents were all recruited and organized by Americans for Prosperity, an organization that has vigorously fought Obamacare nationally. Opponents offered no alternatives for how 150,000 Kansans could gain better health coverage; in fact, some even tried to suggest that they were better off without insurance.

Lawmakers must choose. Should they listen to the Kansas health community, pull $400 million a year into the Kansas economy, and insure many Kansans? Or should they side with organizations fighting Obamacare even though this portion of the national health law has direct advantages?

Twenty-eight states have already made the decision to expand Medicaid eligibility. More will follow. Be practical, lawmakers. For the benefit of everyone in our state, find a way to get that federal money into the Kansas economy and obtain health insurance for more Kansans.

Duane Goossen is a Senior Fellow at the Kansas Center for Economic Growth and formerly served 12 years as Kansas Budget Director.

By RON WILSON
Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

The stunt went horribly wrong. The team mascot was to drop 20 feet on a bungee cord above the stadium, bounce back up to a zip line, and ride down to midfield. But something must have malfunctioned, and instead of the bungee cord bouncing down 20 feet, the mascot fell 75 feet and crashed into the stadium seats below. This excruciating incident marked an important point in the life of this costumed mascot, who is making a difference in the lives of others.

Dan Meers is the Kansas City Chiefs football team official mascot, the costumed character KC Wolf. A group of rabid Chiefs fans began calling themselves the Wolfpack during the 1980s. In response, the Chiefs created the KC Wolf mascot position in 1989.

Dan grew up near St. Louis and attended the University of Missouri where he served for four years as the school mascot, Truman the Tiger. In 1989, he was crowned the National Collegiate Mascot Champion. After graduation, he became the mascot Fredbird for the St. Louis Cardinals.  In 1990, he was hired for the position of KC Wolf.

A mascot’s job is to entertain and “rev up” the fans and to be an ambassador for the team. On game days, KC Wolf does a pregame skit and participates in the player introductions and coin toss. He will visit designated tailgates, deliver birthday wishes, and even help couples get engaged at the stadium. He engages in various antics, such as teasing people with a giant rubber spider on a fishing line or dangling Twinkies above their heads for them to try to grab.

Of course, this is all done inside a giant furry costume with 85 inch hips. Dan quickly learned that he would have to stay in great shape in order to keep performing as a mascot, and he has done so.

What about the man inside the costume? Dan said, “My priorities are faith, family, and making a positive difference in the lives of others – in that order.” When he interviewed with the Chiefs, he indicated that, in addition to games and appearances, he wanted to speak at schools, churches and other youth events – a request to which the Chiefs enthusiastically agreed.

He is a highly sought after inspirational speaker. Dan has spoken in states from New Mexico to Virginia and even Hawaii. Of course, he is in high demand in Kansas and Missouri. In Dan’s book, he has written about speaking in rural Kansas communities such as Hays, Chanute, Paola, Tonganoxie, Humboldt, Iola, and Wellsville, population 1,853 people. Now, that’s rural. He enjoys conveying positive messages to youth and adults. In 2006, he was inducted into the Mascot Hall of Fame.

Then came Nov. 23, 2013. Dan went to Arrowhead Stadium to practice a new stunt, which had him bungee jumping over the stadium and then riding a zip line to midfield. Dan got in the harness and leaped from his perch on the stadium lights.

But something went wrong. He fell 75 feet and crashed into the stadium seats, knocking two seats out of the concrete. He was rushed to the hospital where he was found to have a collapsed lung, seven broken ribs, fractured vertebrae and more. Two titanium rods were surgically inserted into his back.

Dan was inches away from dying or being paralyzed. Many consider his survival a miracle. After surgery, a long, painful rehabilitation ensued. Dan wrote about his experiences in a book titled “Wolves Can’t Fly” with proceeds being donated to a non-profit ministry. On Aug. 7, 2014, he returned to Arrowhead Stadium as KC Wolf.

“My accident was a reminder that I have a limited number of days on this earth,” Dan wrote.  “Life is a gift from God. Life spent selfishly is gone, but invested in helping others will bear fruit for eternity.” For more information, see www.characterthatcounts.org.

The stunt went terribly wrong, but Dan survived and has an amazing message to share with people. We salute Dan Meers for making a difference with his uplifting message. He is a costumed character with high character.

If Billy Crystal’s Fernando character were to visit a Kansas farm this spring you can be sure he wouldn’t be telling too many farmers, “Darling, you look marvelous.” You can also bet not too many farmers, step into the cab of their tractors wearing any of the high fashions portrayed on the pages of GQ or Esquire.

Looking good is great when you go to town but safety and comfort are much more important when dressing for farm chores.

Let’s begin with the head, after all that’s where thinking about safety should start, says Holly Higgins, Kansas Farm Bureau safety director.

Head injuries are common on the farm and tend to be serious, Higgins adds. When doing work that involves head hazards trade your familiar ball cap or straw hat for a hard hat.

“When you’re spraying chemicals, wear a wide-brimmed hat that is impervious to liquids,” she notes. “Make sure the brim is wide enough to keep chemical spray from drifting on the face or down on the back of the neck.”

Eyes have been labeled the “window to the soul” but just like all windows they can break if something is hurled, splashed or sprayed into them.

Safety goggles and sunglasses should be just as much a part of your daily garb as a good pair of steel-toed shoes, Higgins says. Throw away those athletic shoes unless you’re slated for a track meet somewhere off the farm.

Sunglasses are important because they lessen eye fatigue after long hours in the bright Kansas sun. Some believe quality eyewear can also lessen the chance of cataracts later in life.

While people often consider the farm a place of quiet tranquility, many farmers experience hearing loss, the safety specialist says. As a general rule, whenever the noise level reaches 85 decibels, farmers should reach for ear protection. While farmers don’t carry testing equipment to measure decibel level, they should wear ear protection when in doubt.

Higgins recommends ear muffs rather than ear plugs because the latter can cause compaction of ear wax which is difficult to remove.

“Loose fitting clothes remain a definite no no,” she says. “If you plan to stay in the sun most of the day wear long-sleeved cotton clothing.  Natural fibers allow the skin to breath and offer protection form the sun’s harmful rays.”

Here you might want to consider bringing back the straw hat for greater protection on the ears and neck.

“It’s also a great opportunity to slather on some sunscreen protection,” Higgins says.

Avoid wearing sweats with long draw strings that hang from the waist or around the neck. These strings are made of extremely strong nylon or other artificial fibers, Higgins says. These fibers don’t rip or tear as easily as clothing like cotton. It’s easy for dangling draw strings to catch in an augers, power take offs or other moving parts.

Proper fitting clothing is important for both daylong comfort and stability, she says. When spraying chemicals, wear waterproof or impervious footwear that won’t absorb chemicals.

Take off your jewelry in the field. Rings hang up on bolts, sharp corners – just about anything found around a farmstead. Don’t risk losing a finger or some other limb.

While the safely dressed farmer will not make the fashion pages of GQ or even his local newspaper or social media, you won’t find him/her on the obit pages either.

Keeping Kansas safe has always been an important mission of Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB). During Kansas Agriculture Month, KFB encourages farmers and ranchers to be aware of the farm safety programs available to keep friends and family safe.

For more than 66 years, Kansas Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization, has had a full-time staff position dedicated to safety and health issues for farmers. Visit www.kfb.org/educationoutreach/safety for more information on farm safety.

John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.