Having grown up on a farm I’ve been a part of many livestock tagging adventures. These escapades always took place in a barn or corral and involved smelly cattle, sheep or hogs, manure, dust and flies.  For years the University of Kansas has studied monarch butterfly migration attempting to understand how they navigate, whether by the sun, the earth’s magnetic field or if their actions are simply instinctual. A tagging program began in 1992 where monarch butterflies are caught and actually tagged with an adhesive tag on one wing; quite different than any other animal tagging event I’ve been a part of.  Each year KU prints 100,000 of the tiny 3/8 inch diameter adhesive tags and mails them to a myriad of locations east of the Rocky Mountains. Each tag contains the words “MONARCH WATCH,” a KU website and a toll free phone number plus the number assigned to that butterfly. Formerly known as “Monarch Mania,” the event now known as a Butterfly Festival will happen on September 15 from 9 AM till noon at Kansas Wetlands Education Center (KWEC) near Great Bend. Besides allowing both kids and adults to help capture and tag butterflies, this year’s festival will include puppet shows for the kiddos and a working bee hive, weather permitting. The event is free of charge and nets & helpers will be available for capturing and tagging butterflies. For more info, call KWEC at 1-877-243-9268 or visit their website at www.wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu.

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It was 5:45 AM and still pitch black as we trekked through the McPherson Valley Wetlands on our way to the small waterhole my exuberant teenage guide had found the day before. We trade experiences and knowledge; I teach him to trap and he takes me waterfowl hunting; that morning was opening day of the last year’s 2017 teal season in Kansas. Jared had set a waypoint on his phone’s GPS, and I lost track of the number of times he told me “It’s not much farther now!” Finally at his chosen pool, he let me get settled while he deployed the decoys in a tiny pond that in the dark looked no bigger than a backyard fish pond.

The same recent rains that ruined many good dove hunts last week have created very optimistic conditions for teal hunters this week. Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Area, Jamestown Wildlife Area, Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area, McPherson Valley Wetlands and Neosho Wildlife Area all report good water and good numbers of teal, and both are improving every day since the much needed rain. Along with the additional water, cool weather, improved habitat and hunting seasons already open in northern states have combined to bring thousands of teal into Kansas. Early teal season runs September 8 – 23 in the Low Plains Duck Zone, and September 15 – 23 in the High Plains Duck Zone west of highway 283. The daily harvest limit is 6 teal, and hunters need to possess a Kansas Harvest Information Program (HIP) stamp, a Kansas State Waterfowl Habitat permit and a Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation stamp as well as a Kansas hunting license. Fall and winter waterfowl seasons in Kansas were looking rather bleak after a dry spring and summer, but it looks like God’s rain may salvage those prospects, so don’t sell your waders just yet.

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In 1981, the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), like all other outdoor, hunting and conservation organizations saw a need to get America’s youth outdoors, and Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship (JAKES) was born for the purpose of “informing, educating and involving youth in wildlife conservation and the wise stewardship of our natural resources.” On September 29 – 30, the 2018 Kansas State JAKES Camp will be held at White Memorial Camp 6 miles north of Council Grove, KS and is open to boys and girls 17 and younger.

Saturday’s events include fishing, arts and crafts, BB gun and trap shooting, target shooting, archery, canoeing and wild game calling. Saturday evening, participants can compete in the annual Kansas State JAKES turkey calling contest. Sunday will begin with a sun-rise worship service followed again by game calling and a program on trapping and fur harvesting. Cost is $25 for JAKES members, $35 for non-members which includes a JAKES membership and $25 for adults. Tent and RV camping spots are available, as well as cabins for an additional fee. Cost includes the evening meal on Saturday and Sunday morning breakfast. Contact Gib Rhodes for more info at 620-437-2012.

These three are merely a glimpse into the fall outdoor activities available in Kansas starting this month. Dove season is already here, more waterfowl seasons, deer archery season, mountain man rendezvous at Maxwell Wildlife Refuge and special youth hunts of various descriptions are all waiting in the wings, and that only takes us through October! So grab a kid and your gear and get outdoors to Explore Kansas Outdoors!

Steve can be contacted by email at [email protected].

  

Friends,

Friday’s job report revealed that there were more than 200,000 jobs added in August, with unemployment remaining at 3.9%. The combination of lower taxes, less regulation, and an increase in access to capital have created a strong climate for American businesses, both large and small, to thrive.

In the Q3 MetLife and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index, which was released last week, almost 70% of small businesses surveyed had a positive outlook about their companies and their potential to grow going into the next quarter. With many of the companies across the district being small businesses, these report results are encouraging and a good indicator that we’re moving things in the right direction here in Washington.

Now we must pass a Farm Bill and secure our trade deals, so that our Ag community can also enjoy this economic boom.

Conferees outline top priorities for Farm Bill 

This week the Senate and House Ag Committee leaders hosted a meeting with the full Farm Bill Conference Committee.  This public meeting gave each member time to outline the priorities of the bill that are most important to them.

Kansas agriculture is in uncertain times. Multiple years of low prices and continued drought have taken their toll. Today, Kansas farm bankruptcies are six times what they were just three years ago. That is why I have no higher priority than a five-year farm bill, done on time.

Farm country needs a multi-year bill that protects crop insurance, tightens the safety net, opens markets and makes responsible investments in our communities.

Read my full remarks HERE. Watch the full meeting by clicking HERE.

Judge Kavanaugh: The best choice for #SCOTUS

Judge Kavanaugh is an honest, tried and true Judge that has demonstrated time and time again he will uphold the Constitution. Judge Kavanaugh has a proven track record as the type of jurist that President Trump has promised to put on the Supreme Court. This week, in his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the high-ranking judge spent more than 30 hours answering questions. And while Democrats weren’t satisfied with his appearance before the Senate, his time in the hot seat just showed me how qualified, fair, and true leader he is.

I fully support Judge Kavanaugh and am grateful that President Trump selected the top qualified Judge in the country to serve on our Supreme Court, fulfilling another promise by the President.

Kavanaugh has devoted his life to public service and is a man of integrity. Unfortunately, if you watched the hearings on TV, you saw a lot of grandstanding from the left. Do not let the Democrats charades fool you, Kavanaugh is the best of the best with a proven track record.

Great Work, Kearny Co. Hospital!

Last week, Kearny County Hospital received feedback from their recent inspection survey completed on behalf of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Not only did KCH pass this inspection, they received zero deficiencies – an incredible accomplishment that shows KCH is providing the highest level of care. Hospital CEO, Ben Anderson, attributes the hospital’s success to his “wonderful team.” Congratulations to Ben Anderson and the entire team at Kearny County Hospital.

Thank you, Salina veterans!

One of this congresses top priorities are to protect and help those who so honorably served to protect our country. I had the opportunity to sit down with members of the Salina VFW and Salina Chamber Military Affairs Council to discuss the needs and concerns of our Salina veteran population.

We are working hard to provide the healthcare services our veterans need and deserve and will continue to advocate for improvements in the VA and veteran services.

Meeting with KS Ag Leaders

It was a pleasure speaking to the folks of the Kansas City AgriBusiness Council. We hit the ground running discussing the Farm Bill, trade, tariffs, and guest worker visas.

I represent one of the largest ag-producing districts in the country, but our agriculture industry encompasses far more than just farmers and ranchers. Hundreds of companies in Kansas support producers in one way or another and are dependent upon a strong farm economy.

To ensure Ag country is taken care of we must pass the Farm Bill, secure our trade deals, and open markets.

That’s a wrap!

On Monday, we wrapped our Community Coffee Tour. In August we traveled more than 2,500 miles, visited with residents in dozens of communities and met with thousands of Kansans.

I’ve never seen a public so engaged. Since elected, I have stopped in every county across the Big First at least once if not twice, and have hosted nearly 90 town halls and roundtables.

Two years ago when I started, at almost every meeting folks brought up national security, I don’t think one person brought it up on our coffee tour. There is no doubt, our nation is more secure, and I am proud to see us no longer living in fear of threats like ISIS, which has been demolished under President Trump’s leadership.

Still, there is so much work to be done, among your top concerns were Trade/tariffs, the Farm Bill, the cost of health care, Infrastructure, and Immigration.

I’ll take your feedback to Washington and keep fighting for solutions. It was so great to hear from everyone who joined our team on our August Community Coffee Tour.

 

 

 

Here is a brief explanation on the importance of soil pH from the KSU horticulture specialist Chandler Day that I came across recently. This may help in understanding why so many of our trees, bushes and even grass turn yellow from iron chlorosis.

Have you ever applied fertilizer, but didn’t see any results? Soil pH might be the problem. Before we talk about why your plants can’t uptake essential nutrients, let’s talk about what pH is.  Soil pH stands for potential Hydrogen and is measured on a 1-14 scale where 1 is very acidic, 7 is neutral, and 14 is very alkaline.

“Building Soils for Better Crops” states that most agronomic crops prefer a soil pH ranging from 6 to 7.5, depending on the crop. Soil pH influences your plants’ ability to uptake nutrients. This is important because you might see symptoms of a nutrient deficiency, green veins and yellowing around the leaf, on your plant, but that doesn’t mean the nutrients are not in the soil.

For example, in Kansas the micronutrient iron is plentiful in soils, yet we see iron chlorosis in plants, especially oak trees. This is because iron is in a soluble form and is easily taken up by oak trees when the soil pH ranges from 5.0 to 6.5, but when the soil pH is above a 7 iron is no longer soluble and the tree can’t use this micronutrient.

Understanding soil pH when applying fertilizers, especially nitrogen, is important too because fertilizer has the potential raise or lower your soils pH.  One of the best, and most accurate, ways to determine your soils pH is to send a soil sample to the K-State soil testing lab. Follow this link for more information about soil testing. For more information about soil acidity and pH management, check out this video provided by the USDA and follow this link to Chapter 20 in “Building Soils for Better Crops” called Other Fertility Issues: Nutrients, CEC, Acidity, and Alkalinity.

Rip Winkel is the Horticulture agent in the Cottonwood District (Barton and Ellis Counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at [email protected] or calling either 785-682-9430, or 620-793-1910.

This week, executives from Twitter, Facebook and Google testified before Congress. Again. This was the third congressional hearing this year where the internet giants were grilled on their content policies, their privacy and security practices and their role in democracy.

It’s been a rough couple of years for social media platforms. They’ve come under fire for so many different things it can be hard to remember all of them. To recap: For enabling Russian propagandists to influence our presidential election and terrorist organizations to find new recruits. For allowing fake news stories to go viral. For exacerbating political polarization by trapping their users in “filter bubbles.” For giving hate mongers and conspiracy theorists a platform to reach a wider audience. For filtering or down-ranking conservative viewpoints. For collecting private user data and selling it to the highest bidder. For siphoning profits away from struggling local news organizations.

The social media platforms are taking various actions to mitigate these problems. But every potential solution seems to bring forth another unanticipated consequence. YouTube is currently trying to debunk conspiracy videos on its site by displaying links to more accurate information right alongside of them — but there’s concern that the presence of a link to an authoritative source will make a video seem more legitimate, even if the text and link directly contradict the video.

Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey has expressed a desire to break up his users’ filter bubbles by injecting alternative viewpoints in their feeds. But new research suggests that exposing people to opposing political views may actually cause them to double down on their own — ironically, actually increasing political polarization. Facebook instituted a system for users to flag questionable news stories for review by their fact-checkers — but soon ran into the problem that users would falsely report stories as “fake news” if they disagreed with the premise of the story, or just wanted to target the specific publisher.

Some doubt the sincerity behind these efforts. As former Reddit CEO Ellen Pao says, “[S]ocial media companies and the leaders who run them are rewarded for focusing on reach and engagement, not for positive impact or for protecting subsets of users from harm.” In other words, what’s good for a company’s bottom line and what’s good for society as a whole are often at odds with each other.

It’s no wonder that the government is looking to step into the fray. If the numerous congressional hearings don’t make that clear, a proposed plan to regulate social media platforms that leaked from Senator Mark Warner’s office last month ought to. Just last week, President Trump announced that he wanted to take action against Google and Twitter for allegedly not displaying conservative media in his search results.

It’s unlikely that the president would be able to do much about that, just as it’s unlikely that Congress would be able to force Facebook to say, ban all fake news stories from its platform. Twitter, Facebook and Google are all private companies, and the First Amendment prohibits government officials from limiting or compelling speech by private actors.

So what can the government do? It can encourage (and, if necessary, regulate) these companies to be more transparent. It’s shocking how little we know about the algorithms, content moderation practices and internal policies that control what information we receive and how we communicate with one another. It’s reckless that we only become aware of these things when something catastrophic happens.

Lata Nott is executive director of the First Amendment Center of the Freedom Forum Institute. Contact her via email at [email protected], or follow her on Twitter at @LataNott.

By RON WILSON
Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

I looked into a human brain. Don’t worry, I wasn’t doing brain surgery. I was witnessing a demonstration of an incredible new, high-tech three-dimensional imaging system. This process is being pioneered by a team of entrepreneurs in the heart of Kansas.

Anjan Ghosh Hajra is the CEO of Immersion 3D Plus, the innovative company which developed this technology. Anjan’s father, Ashish Ghosh Hajra, came to the U.S. from India in 1971. After working back east, Ashish was transferred to a job in Salina where he enjoyed a long career with what is now Philips Lighting. He also worked on advanced degrees in chemical engineering at K-State.

“I fell in love with Kansas,” Ashish said. He also connected with Dr. Swapan Chakrabarti, a University of Kansas electrical engineering and computer science professor, who shared innovative ideas about 3D imaging.

Ashish started a company named Immersion 3D Plus, or I3DP, in Salina to commercialize these ideas. I3DP acquired the exclusive rights to the initial patents on Dr. Chakrabarti’s work from the University of Kansas and has since developed and filed additional provisional patents. Ashish also invested in Abilene where he is interested in expanding. Abilene is a rural community of 6,844 people. Now, that’s rural.

Ashish’s son Anjan studied at a medical school, in India, and at K-State before joining the business. “He has made a big difference,” Ashish said. Besides Anjan and Ashish, the company’s leadership team includes Dr. Chakrabarti as chief technology officer, K-State-Polytechnic engineering technology professor Dr. Raju Dandu as consultant, and research associate Alec Cork.

“We’ve developed a technology that allows you to see all sides of an image – and even what’s inside,” Anjan said. Using digital equipment, their process enables amazing volumetric visualization of what is inside people and things.

“We call it true 3D,” Anjan said. “This is more than a hologram or just wearing glasses in a movie theater,” he said. In fact, no 3D glasses are required.

The demonstration depicted the inside of a human brain and more. Thanks to this technology, we could see from all angles as well as through the brain itself.

Imagine the applications of this technology. Perhaps a doctor or specialist could more accurately see the inside of a human organ. Perhaps an engineer could see the inside of a building or a piece of equipment, or scan the earth for water or oil and gas. Perhaps a surgeon could conduct more precise operations using this technology.

There would also be applications for gaming, education and training.

Another innovation of this company is High Dynamic Range imaging. For example, a standard range has a measure of gradiant called 8 bits per color, while High Dynamic Range can depict up to 16 bits per color.

This produces more vivid, richer colorations in movies, photos, or other images, for example. It’s like Technicolor with depth.

In October 2017, I3DP presented the Immersion 3D Plus concept at a special event called Encountering Innovation, hosted by the Kansas Small Business Development Center. It was an opportunity for innovative small businesses to present their concepts to representatives of potential federal customers, primarily the Department of Defense. “The DoD is the largest customer on earth,” said Alan Badgley of the Kansas SBDCs. “They need innovation and technology, and we can be a match-maker to connect them with innovative Midwestern small businesses,” he said.

Another round of Encountering Innovation will be held in October 2018 in Johnson County. For information on that session, see www.encounteringinnovation.com.

“It was a real confidence boost to see their interest in our technology,” Anjan said. Imagine high-tech in the middle of the country. “What Silicon Valley has done in California, why can’t we do that here with Kansas kids?” Ashish said. For more information, see www.i3dplus.com.

I looked into a human brain. Immersive, 3D imaging enabled us to see inside and through the brain and other organs. We commend Anjan and Ashish Ghosh Hajra and all those involved with Immersion 3D Plus for making a difference with their innovative technology. I could see this business has a lot of brain power – and a lot of heart.

Note from Tammy Wellbrock, executive director of the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce: “For those who know all of us at your local chamber, we like to have fun while also providing enlightenment and information to those who depend on us for valuable resources. We saw this article and wanted to share with all of you to help answer that often-asked question, ‘What does the chamber do?’ Enjoy!”

By CHRISTINA R. GREEN

Have you ever waited a really long time for something like a movie to come out, only to be disappointed? Or maybe a friend told you how wonderful a particular city was. But when you went there it wasn’t nearly as fantastic as your imagination—and your friend—had made it out to be.

Are you worried chamber membership will turn out the same way? A lot of talk and not much value? You’re probably right. In fact, I have a feeling you’re always right. Am I right?

Here are 5 ways a chamber membership is totally overrated.

The Learning Resources Are Free or Nearly Free
Everyone knows that business experts who are willing to give of their skills and knowledge for the cost of membership must have something up their sleeves. The fact that these chamber people want business owners in their community to be able to grow their business through educating them on pertinent topics like social media, building your own website, and mitigating risk just doesn’t make sense.

Everyone knows it’s best to not share any information because if someone knows you’re successful, they’ll think you’re an industry thought leader. The fact that the chamber is giving away information and serving as a helpful community resource shows that they know nothing about business. If they truly wanted the economy to thrive, they would throw everyone into the deep end of the pool to see who could swim not provide learning resources for all like Lunch and Learns, free articles, and professional advice.

They Offer Networking to Increase Business Revenue
Chambers offer networking groups, some of which are tailored by industry or level. There are mastermind groups and leads groups and sometimes these business people get together just to have fun. I’m not sure why anyone would want to be a part of a group that promoted business in ways that could increase growth.
That sounds pretty boring. Although, the growth part could mean more business revenue, which could mean you could afford to do something more exciting. But who wants more revenue? Then you’d have to go out and find a hobby.

They’re Off Campaigning for Business
As if those chamber folks aren’t busy enough collecting drink tickets and cutting ribbons with giant scissors, they’re also busy talking to people at the state capital asking for their support for their community on business issues that affect their local business owners. Who wants to support issues that benefit business and the economy? Not you. You have other more important things to do like run your business.

Of course, I suppose if these chamber people weren’t off doing that, we might have some issues. Good thing they are.

It’s Always the Same People
Those chamber events are always full of the same people dedicated to improving the local business climate. They work on shop local programs and support member to member patronage. All they think about is how they can grow their business and help others in the community do the same. A lot of them will even give you their suggestions on how they can help you based on their business experience.
This just proves a chamber membership is completely overrated. We need more people in town talking about the Kardashians. Our economy is fine the way it is. More successful businesses would mean more traffic, anyway.

They Keep the Light On
When visitors come to town, those chamber people are there to greet them. They strike up a conversation with those travelers and then they even give them suggestions based on what those visitors are looking for. Could even be your business.

But a chamber membership is overrated because those referrals take all the fun out of those weary travelers just stumbling across your place right before you close. Don’t you love the serendipitous moment of someone coming in like that? There you are just wondering if you’ll get a customer and some days one appears. Who wants to join the chamber and have referrals walk in all the time? No one with any sense of romance or fate.

Yes, a chamber membership is truly overrated. Having access to the inside track for new jobs or economic opportunities, having someone who’s actively advocating for your business when you don’t have the time nor the inclination, being a part of informal mentoring, and having access to free or nearly free learning opportunities certainly doesn’t sound like it would help you grow your business at all.
You know what you should do instead? Spend more time on Facebook watching cat videos. I read that 96.7% of people who spend the better part of a day on social media watching videos of furry cuteness have a unicorn delivered to their doorstep on the vernal equinox.

It’s true. It was on the Interwebs.

Christina R. Green teaches small businesses, chambers, and associations how to connect through content. Her articles have appeared in the Midwest Society of Association Executives’ Magazine, NTEN.org, AssociationTech, and Socialfish. She is a regular blogger at Frankjkenny.com and the Event Manager Blog.

— Submitted by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce

Bill Graves, the last moderate Republican governor of Kansas, endorsed Democrat Laura Kelly in the gubernatorial race this week — his first public endorsement of a Democrat ever for statewide office. Sure, Graves and Kelly are both relatively centrist, but the shocker was Graves endorsing at all, especially after sitting out the 2014 election.

One compelling question in the governor’s race is which contender — Kelly or Independent Greg Orman — is best positioned to challenge Republican Kris Kobach. Who is the viable anti-Kobach? The Graves endorsement gives Kelly credibility for that title, especially with unhappy moderate Republicans.

Bluntly, Orman would have loved to get the Graves endorsement. It would have been a coup for him, and I would not be writing this column. But that did not happen. And with Election Day rapidly approaching, Orman is running out of time to convince Kansans that he is a viable candidate.

The two major non-Kobach’s in the race have had roughly nine months since they announced to get traction with voters. Nine months to march in parades, air television ads, and sway us. Yes, there are two critical months left, but most of this campaign is behind us. And those months have put Orman in the role of spoiler, not leading contender.

We only have two public polls of the race. One shows Kelly 36%, Kobach 35%, and Orman 12%. The more recent poll shows Kobach 39%, Kelly 38%, and Orman 9%. In English, that means that Kelly and Kobach are effectively tied, with Orman in distant third. That second poll shows that among Independents, Kelly leads with 42%, Kobach 26%, and Orman pulling up the caboose with 12%.

Now, Orman has countered with polls of imaginary elections where only he or Kelly are on the ballot against Kobach. The problem for Orman is that those matchups are pure electoral fanfiction, and impossible fantasies since Kansas law prevents him and Kelly from coming off the November ballot.

What Orman has not done is release any polling showing himself as viable. No numbers on the three-way race. No polling showing he has strong appeal with Independents. No data contradicting the two public polls that showed that Kansans dislike Orman more than they like him. Complete silence.

Things were supposed to be different for Orman. Or so his fans said. Voters were supposed to rally to his Independent experiment. Kansans were supposed to swoon at the wealthy businessman (always a man, isn’t it?) who swoops in to fix government and upend politics (hello, Donald Trump). Orman’s money was supposed to make him viable. Moderate Republicans were supposed to back him. Democrats were supposed to nominate a different and weaker candidate — something that Orman’s dark money allies pushed when they attacked Kelly in her primary. Orman was supposed to be the anti-Kobach. But right now, that all looks like more electoral fanfiction.

Maybe Orman thinks that he can turn things around by November. Perhaps, though time is not on his side. Or maybe Orman miscalculated his political appeal? Maybe his strong Senate run in 2014 was more about Pat Roberts being unpopular than it was about Orman being appealing?

For anti-Kobach Kansans, do you have the luxury of choice in a state as Republican as Kansas? Orman guaranteed divided opposition to Kobach on the ballot, and Kobach would love for you to think that you can vote for the third place spoiler with no consequences. Unless this race changes dramatically in Orman’s favor by November, you can choose to divide yourselves in the voting booth, but you may discover that a Kobach governorship will not be just more electoral fanfiction.

Patrick. R. Miller is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas.

An August 29 news story featured the Current First District Congressman’s chief of staff, Brent Robertson, calling Alan LaPolice, “a perennial joke candidate.” The psychological term for this is projection. Simply put, one accuses others of being what he sees, or fears, in himself.

What’s the evidence that the Congressman’s surrogate-pointed remarks have 3 fingers pointing back at himself? Why, Marshall’s column the previous day. He proclaims proud cosponsorship of the Congressional STOP act. STOP aims to fortify schools and apportion funds to “behavioral health” and early reporting of potentially violent persons. To be fair, this at least initiates action for school safety.

But.

First, being one of 33 cosponsors of a bill introduced more than a year before does not mean you crafted the legislation. Second, it has not been passed by the Senate, so is not actual law. Third, fortification does not necessarily mean safety, since ‘one entry’ guarantees a choke point, where large numbers can be taken out in a single burst. Fourth, money to identify early violence doesn’t begin to address the multi-billion-dollar need for truly sufficient mental health care.

Fifth, and most important, there is nary a word here about making the public at large safer from guns: for example, automatic background checks, common-sense gun registration, and banning bump stocks and assault weapons.

In short, this attempt at public relations is a joke.

Anyone who has heard Alan LaPolice knows his grasp of the issues, his vision across party lines for real change in Kansas and the country, his rejection of big-money influence, and his pointedly sharp ability to cut through the brown matter, clarify green policy, and re-establish respect for the red, white, and blue.

If you have heard him. That is exactly what the Republican establishment does not want you to do. That is exactly why the Congressman refuses to debate in the First District. That is why he appears only in venues like small-town nursing homes. That reveals both arrogance and fear.

Alan LaPolice is not the joke candidate. And if you vote thinking he is, well, the joke will be on you.

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.

I am getting to the age that sometimes I look back on my life at the all the twists and turns. I know that all my “experiences” helped make me who I am today, and I am sure I am a better person for it. But, I really do not think I would want to go back and relive those events again.

I do not want to get into detail about my life, so let me pick on my grandmother again. She and my grandfather were married in the midst of the Depression. My grandfather was thankful that he got a job hauling crushed rock for the roadways in the Hill Country of Texas. My grandparents were thankful that they had a farm and could produce some of their own food such as eggs, pork, and beef. They knew that others were not so lucky.

My grandparents always recalled their blessings. This despite the fact that my grandmother’s father was murdered when she was only 18, that she and my grandfather had two boys that were both hemophiliacs, and who died because of hemophiliac-related illnesses; that my grandfather was involved in a bad train wreck and broke his neck; and on and on and on. Along the way, my grandfather was County Clerk for several terms, served as Sheriff of Hill County, Texas, became a policeman, and eventually Assistant Chief of Police in River Oaks, Texas.

I am sure that my grandparents had no idea where they ended up would have so many turns along the way.
I want to share this with you because I see this in estate planning. Years ago, when I was doing estate planning, people would come in and just tell me who they wanted to leave their property to. We would do a simple will.

Even today, I see some of that done with Legal Zoom and other online products. Also, I see it done in estate plans drafted by “big” law firms – you go through a series of questions, and they draft a set of documents for you.

What has changed? You have changed. I have changed.

How? We are living longer. We have more opinions about what we want and do not want. As an example, I know that I want my family to use every effort to keep me out of a nursing home for as long as possible. I have very definitive ideas about end of life and what is acceptable with me, and what is not acceptable to me. I have strong opinions about if I develop Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia, and what I want to happen going forward.

I also know what I do not know. I do not know what is going to happen to me. I do not know what is going to happen to my family. I do not know what is going to happen to my health. I do not know what is going to happen to my finances.

But, I know that, given the right questions, I can make a plan. I also know that I need to be sure that that plan is flexible.

I would respectfully suggest to you that life is not a straight line.

Many times, particularly if I am dealing with a client that may be in some type of health crisis, I explain to that client and their family that we do not know what all is going to happen. The purpose of my office, the purpose of many elder law attorneys, is to not have a “check the box” solution. It is to be able to tell the client where to turn through the maze of growing older.

You know it used to be this: You retired, you went on Social Security, and then you died. It is just not that simple anymore. And, that is not a bad thing. We have people, obviously, well beyond 65 that are thoroughly enjoying not only life, but are an integral part of our society.

Life is not a straight line. It is not a “check the box” about what happens when I die. It is much more than that.

As I said at the beginning, I have enjoyed my journey, but I do not know that I could have faced it all if I knew what was going to happen next. Don’t you feel the same?

Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To contact him, please send an email to [email protected]. Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.

It is easy to assume everyone understands the disabilities world, and specifically those with intellectual and developmental disabilities, but the truth is most do not. I’d like to invite you to take a simple journey with me and ponder a question: If something is present but you don’t see it, is it invisible?

Much in the world of disabilities and services provided is unknown, unless you live in that world. Let me shine a light and provide some simple insight about this world and how supports occur every day for people, where they live and work based on their needs. These routine supports can often occur around us, in our neighborhoods and they go without notice. I have heard the response, “I had no idea that is what you did (in our services)”.

The goal of each staff member at Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK) is to provide meaningful supports and services to people with disabilities in their community; the type that you and I would desire if we were the recipient of those services. My reference is to all staff, but my focus here is on those staff members who are commonly known across our nation as Direct Support Professionals (DSPs).

DSNWK, now in its 51st year, engages with these Direct Support Professionals to provide services and supports to people with disabilities to be involved in their community just like the rest of us.

Those seamless, every-day services, do not happen automatically. They originate from the heart and through the hands and feet of dedicated staff who walk life’s journey with people just like you and me, only difference – these people just happen to require extra support to be successful. These amazing staff, in doing their work, make the lives of others better.

Something many of us may not fully realize is these same support people wear many hats in the course of their work day. They are schedulers, teachers, shoppers, planners and skill builders. They provide medication and transportation supports as well as help problem-solve many times in any typical day. With a wide range of needs of persons served, the staff might be assisting a person as they prepare a meal at one moment and the next be involved in lifting and transferring another who may have mobility support needs. In society, these wonderful people ‘participate’ and ‘contribute’ continually pouring their efforts into the lives of persons served and the community in general.

The President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities called attention to these workers noting they represent one of the highest workforces in demand.

For those closely involved, we know the turnover rates and vacancy rates in this profession are high, and the resources available have historically been lacking. Another citation from the report included that the national average starting wage for this career field is low, starting from $8.66 to $13.67 (average $10.23) per/hr. This low-wage reality, along with low unemployment rates (particularly here in NW Kansas), and a growing demand for these valuable workers (as our population ages – and will be needing similar supports), begets the workforce crisis noted in the report. The challenge is upon us, and frankly, has been for a while.

There is much work in this arena and I believe there are two important take-a-ways worthy of calling out.

First, recognizing the importance of these service professionals and the value they bring to the lives of others each and every day is a vital first step to achieve consistent quality supports that people with disabilities need and deserve. Secondly, responding to the workforce crisis, stemming from the growing demand requires direction, resources and renewed action.

National Direct Support Professionals week, September 9th – 15th, 2018, affords us an opportunity to recognize these staff. Please join us in expressing gratitude to all those who serve others in any of the many varied roles of these direct support professionals. They deserve our thanks for the value they are in the lives of others and the value they bring to our communities.

Gerard L. Michaud
President and CEO
Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, Inc.

September 1 of 2017 was the deadline for Kansas high school instructors of academic college credit courses to have a masters degree and 18 graduate credit hours in the subject being taught.

High schools offer those “dual-credit” courses in cooperation with a nearby higher education institution. Those universities, community colleges and technical colleges are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). And the HLC set September 1, 2017 as a deadline for instructors of college credit courses to have a degree higher than the course level being taught. However, many high school instructors lacked those credentials. The Kansas Governor and the heads of the K-NEA, State Department of Education and Board of Regents requested more time for schools to meet this requirement.

The HLC responded by allowing: “…the opportunity for institutions with dual credit programs to seek an extension of the deadline from September 2017 to September 2024 as to faculty teaching in the dual credit program only.” However, each higher education partner had to individually apply to the HLC to request this extension to further train high school instructors of college credit courses. Otherwise the September 1, 2017 deadline ended college credit for that high school course.

Eight community colleges, tech schools and universities did not apply for an extension. That means that all high school courses accepted by them for college credit should now have been taught by a teacher with a masters degree with 18 graduate credit hours in the subject.

For those higher education institutions that received an extension, their under-qualified high school teachers of college credit courses should be making progress toward reaching those credentials.

It has been a year since these “regulations” have been in effect. What is the situation in Kansas high school classrooms? Having sent over 260 biology teachers into Kansas classrooms, I have plenty of sources of information from the field. But with Kansas being a rare state where teachers do not have tenure protection, I must be careful to not reveal sources.

The number of high school dual credit courses in Kansas should have gone down under these regulations; but they appear to have gone up substantially!

In some high schools where the higher education school did not request an extension, all dual credit courses should have been taught by masters-with-18 teachers. But there are multiple cases where teachers without these credentials are continuing to teach dual credit college courses under the assumption that they were somehow “grandfathered in.” There is no such HLC provision. These courses are being given college credit in violation of HLC criteria.

In high schools partnering with a higher ed institution that did seek and receive an extension, those teachers without the masters-with-18 credential should be working toward achieving that masters degree. But in many cases the teachers are merely teaching another year with no further educational effort being made, recognizing that the college credit for their high school course will end in 2024. This fails to meet the letter and the intent of the HLC “extension.”

But these violations of HLC standards may never see the light of day. Neither the State Department of Education nor the Board of Regents has any inspectors who go into the field to check credentials. Simply, if you have a law but no enforcement, you have no law.

I want to make it clear that there are some excellent high school teachers who offer a rigorous course that may very well deserve college credit. And there are some institutions, such as Johnson County Community College, that rigorously oversee the credentials and professional development of the high school teachers for which they accept course credit. But far more do not.

In this last year, the Kansas Legislature moved to enable all Kansas high school students to take dual credit coursework without asking if there were enough qualified high school teachers to support that effort. What was originally intended decades ago as a rare opportunity for a few exceptional students to move ahead, has now become an expectation of all students, regardless of their ability. With no minimal requirements established—the poorest performing high school student can enroll in dual credit at taxpayer expense. Every student is a Doogie Howser!

It has become common to hear that “the college degree has become the new high school diploma.” Formerly that meant that getting a job would now require more education. But it is now coming to mean that the college degree may equal no more than a high school diploma in academic achievement.

John Richard Schrock is a professor at Emporia State University.