Kansas State Historical Society

TOPEKA–The Kansas Historical Foundation announced that the application deadline for its academic and non-academic research grants is April 15. The purpose of the grants is to help defray expenses while conducting research at the Kansas Historical Society in Topeka.

The Alfred M. Landon Historical Research Grant is presented annually to a graduate student researching at the State Archives, Kansas Museum of History, or the Historical Society’s archaeology collections. The total amount available is $1,000 to be used during the fiscal year July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016. Funds for this program are provided by an endowment established in 1987 by family and friends in memory of Governor Landon and in appreciation of his distinguished service to Kansas and the nation.

The Edward N. Tihen Historical Research Grant is presented annually to a non-academic researcher for research in the collections of the Historical Society. The total amount available is $500 to be used during the fiscal year July 1, 2015 – June 30, 2016. Funds for the grant are provided by the Tihen Endowment, established in 1995 by Dr. Tihen’s family and friends in his memory and in appreciation of his role as an amateur historian.

For more information and application forms, visit kshs.org/15798.

Kansas Department of Agriculture

MANHATTAN–Assistant Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Susan Metzger testified today to a U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s “Waters of the Unites States” (WOTUS) proposed rule.

The proposed WOTUS rule expands federal jurisdiction under EPA’s Clean Water Act and has ignited widespread concern from farmers, ranchers and rural constituencies around the country.

“Applying a blanket definition of tributary in Kansas will result in in nearly a 460 percent increase in the number of stream miles classified as Waters of the U.S., subject to all programs and provisions of the Clean Water Act. A nationally defined, “one size fits all,” definition for terms like tributaries is not appropriate given the scarcity of flow in Western States such as Kansas, and the inherent variability of those streams to impact downstream waters,” Metzger said.

She noted that “the distraction and diversion brought forth by this rule will incur additional expenditures at the state level for marginal environmental benefit and diminished success in water quality improvement in Kansas. The inevitable slow-down in permit reviews and increase in bureaucratic paperwork will unnecessarily delay and deter economic growth and impede the adoption of soil and water conservation practices by the farmers and ranchers of Kansas.”

The Kansas Department of Agriculture submitted formal comments during the comment period stating significant opposition to this proposed rule. It is an overreach by the federal government into state jurisdiction over intrastate waters. The testimony today, provided by Metzger, supports and promotes the agency’s vision of advocating for and promoting the agriculture industry, the state’s largest industry, employer and economic contributor.

During a break in the game between Kansas University and Wichita State University on Sunday, the camera zoomed in on Gov. Sam Brownback, seen wearing a shirt with both teams on it.

While the camera was on him, a booing could be audibly heard from those at the game on national television. Watch below.

PRATT– Deer, antelope, and elk hunting seasons for 2015-2016 will be determined when the Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Commission meets on March 26. The meeting will be held at the Kansas Museum of History, 6425 SW 6th Ave., Topeka.

The meeting will begin at 1 p.m. with time for public comments on non-agenda items, followed by a general discussion period. Topics covered in the general discussion include Secretary’s remarks regarding agency and state fiscal status; an update on the 2015 legislative session; a briefing of the department strategic plan; an update on tourism division activities; a preview of the new department website; webless migratory birds, early migrant bird seasons; and the Fort Riley deer season.

Workshop topics for the afternoon session, which will be discussed for potential regulatory action at a future meeting, include public land regulations.

The commission will recess at 5 p.m., then reconvene at 6:30 p.m. at the same location to discuss any remaining workshop items and begin the public hearing. Public hearing items to be discussed and voted on during the evening session include season dates, bag limits, and permit requirements for antelope, elk, and deer. Secretary’s Orders for deer permits will also be discussed.

Time will be available in both the afternoon and evening sessions for public comment on non-agenda items. If necessary, the commission will reconvene at the same location at 9 a.m., March 27, to complete any unfinished business.

Live video and audio streaming of the meeting can be accessed by visiting ksoutdoors.com.

The next commission meeting is scheduled for April 23 at the Great Plains Nature Center, 6232 East 29th St. N, Wichita.

KS Department of Agriculture

TOPEKA–The Neighbor to Neighbor statewide food drive launched this month to support our neighbors in need and reduce hunger in Kansas communities.

Harvesters-The Community Food Bank in Topeka hosted state leaders, including Governor Sam Brownback and Secretary of Agriculture Jackie McClaskey, representatives of the food banks of Kansas, Dillon’s Food Stores employees and members of the Kansas agriculture community.

The food drive is a collaborative effort by the Kansas Department of Agriculture, Dillon’s Food Stores, Harvester’s – The Community Food Network, Kansas Food Bank, Second Harvest Community Food Bank and the Kansas agriculture community.

The goal is to raise 85,000 meals for Kansas families during the food drive, Mar. 1 – Mar. 31.

Kansans can contribute to the campaign at Dillon’s Food Stores statewide, at other community locations across the state or through the virtual donation portal, http://ksn2n.harvestersvfd.org.

Governor Brownback signed a proclamation declaring March and Kansas Agriculture Month and March18 as Kansas Agriculture Day. He also stressed the importance of serving our neighbors in need as well as educating all Kansans about how the food they eat transitions from farm to fork.

“Hunger is everywhere across Kansas – in rural counties, suburban communities and urban neighborhoods,” said Governor Brownback. “It is important to do all we can to help those in need because when Kansas families and children have enough to eat, our communities are stronger and our state is stronger.”

“At Dillon’s, our number one community priority is to help bring food and hope to those living with less,” said Sheila Lowrie, Dillon’s Stores spokeswoman. “That’s what makes the Neighbor to Neighbor Kansas Food Campaign especially meaningful for us. We are proud to continue this commitment with the wonderful support of our local food banks and the generosity of our Dillon’s customers and associates throughout our stores in Kansas.”

Dillon’s Food Stores made an initial donation of 2,500 pounds of non-perishable food items at the kick-off event.

To learn more about the Neighbor to Neighbor statewide food drive and ways to participate, visit agriculture.ks.gov/ksagday.

Office of the State Fire Marshal

TOPEKA–Tana, one of OSFM’s two arson dogs, has once again been nominated for the Hero Dog Awards by the American Humane Association. Tana’s sharp senses and tedious training have contributed to putting several arsonists behind bars. This is the second year in a row Tana has been nominat­ed. Voting is now open at http://www.herodogawards.org/hda2015vote-tana#voteform. During the first round, you can vote every day.

“Tana can go into the scene of an arson-caused fire and identify if any type of accelerant was used and the origination point,” said Rose Rozmiarek, Tana’s handler and OSFM Chief of Investigations.

Tana, a 5-1/2 year old yellow lab, is a certified Accelerant Detection Canine through the Maine State Police and works in the OSFM Investigation Division.

This amazing dog started her service work at a young age and has already been in service for 4 ½ years working multiple cases with convictions. Many of the suspects in her cases would plead out their case in­stead of going to trial knowing the evidence that Tana uncovered.

Tana was diagnosed with a potential debilitating injury in the fall of 2013 that could have ended her short career. She underwent surgery and was back to work within two months. Her desire and drive continues and still is assisting in arson convictions throughout the State of Kansas.

Besides working fire scenes, Tana also presents demonstrations as well as promotes fire safety to the citizens of Kansas. She worked with school age children during Fire Prevention Week and is now a regular at the Kansas State Fair Emergency Preparedness Day events.

Arson dogs have many different skills and train every day to sharpen those skills. Not only can they sniff out the exact location of accelerant at a fire scene, they can also pick out a suspect from a line-up. Often the ar­sonists will still have traces of the accelerant on their clothing.

Rozmiarek says Tana has helped put criminals in jail in several cases with the evidence she discovers at ar­son scenes. In the case of a Parsons, Kansas fire, a suspect tried to pass off a fatal house fire as an electrical accident but Tana detected accelerant in the house’s ceiling insulation. With that evidence presented at court, the arsonist was convicted.

Rozmiarek says if Tana can win the award, arson dogs will finally get the spotlight they deserve.

“To credit Tana for her skills and accomplishments at bringing arsonists to justice would just be awesome.”

Anyone can vote for Tana at www.herodogawards.org. The first round of voting opened March 9th and will end May 15th. The top three vote getters will go on to the second round to select the category winner and, finally, each category winner will move on to final selection for the overall Hero Dog.

There are multiple categories other than Arson Dog, and top finalists in each category will travel to Beverly Hills, Calif. to attend the American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards Gala.

Cash prizes will be given out to the winners, and they will choose what charity or benefit to donate it to.

“Tana should be a Hero dog because not only does she put arsonists in jail but also touches so many others as an ambassador to fire safety while overcoming medical obstacles,” said Rozmiarek.

ABILENE–Americans love their backyards. Retreats for recreation, entertainment, dining, and relaxation, they combine the comfort and convenience of living rooms with the freedom of the open air. A new Smithsonian traveling exhibition, “Patios, Pools, & the Invention of the Backyard,” explores the transition from the front porch to the backyard patio, the rise of the do-it-yourself homeowner, and the use of “chemical warfare” to achieve the perfect lawn.

The exhibition will be on display in the Library Building at the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home,Abilene, from March 21 through May 31.

“We are thrilled to be the debut site of this intriguing traveling exhibit. The Eisenhower Administration was known as the eight years of peace and prosperity when the suburbs gained in popularity. Traveling exhibits curated by the Smithsonian are always popular with our visitors and we look forward to another successful showing,” states Karl Weissenbach, director of the Eisenhower Presidential Library.

Through rare photographs, historic drawings and period advertisements, the exhibit explores the mid-century backyard of the 1950s from the rise of the suburbs and tract houses and the beauty of postwar garden design to the birth of the environmental movement. Drawing from the collections and research of the Smithsonian Gardens’ Archives of American Gardens, the exhibition is organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES).

In the 1950s, America was a nation emerging from the shadow of World War II, searching for ways to enjoy its new found peace and prosperity. Postwar trends such as the baby boom, a growing middle class, the do-it-yourself concept and a dramatic rise in home ownership remade much of the U.S. and contributed to the development of the suburban backyard.

Companies produced an increasing number of products designed to lessen the burden of yard work. Imported and hybrid grasses, herbicides and pesticides, automated sprinkler systems, chemical sprayers and newly affordable lawn mowers began to appear in sheds and garages around the nation. Many contemporary backyards still boast the pristine lawn, low-maintenance plantings, patios, outdoor furniture, grills and play equipment that first emerged after World War II.

SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 60 years. SITES connects Americans to their cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history.

Smithsonian Gardens care for living plant, artifact and archival collections. Its Archives of American Gardens collects and makes available for research use images of and documentation relating to a wide variety of cultivated gardens throughout the United States.

The Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home in Abilene, a nonpartisan federal institution, is part of the Presidential Libraries network operated by the National Archives and Records Administration. Presidential Libraries promote understanding of the presidency and the American experience. We preserve and provide access to historical materials, support research, and create interactive programs and exhibits that educate and inspire.

MANHATTAN–The Kansas Department of Agriculture was notified late Friday afternoon that samples collected from a backyard poultry flock containing both chickens and ducks in Leavenworth County was positive for HPAI H5N2. The flock was depopulated on Saturday morning by USDA officials.

KDA is establishing an incident command post in Leavenworth County, and as a part of the disease control and eradication protocol, a control zone has been established around the premise. KDA employees have begun survey work within the control zone to determine locations of backyard poultry flocks.

Avian Influenza is a contagious, rapidly spreading viral disease affecting birds.

Outbreaks of a strain of avian influenza have occurred in Missouri, Arkansas, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Idaho and are not considered to be a threat to public health or the food supply.

Avian Influenza exists naturally in many wild birds and can be transmitted by contact with infected animals or ingestion of infected food or water. The Center for Disease Control considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low. No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time.

“We are dedicated to providing the necessary assistance and precautions to avoid any possible spreading of the disease,” Dr. Bill Brown Kansas Animal Health Commissioner said in a Monday news release.

Symptoms in poultry include coughing, sneezing, respiratory distress, decreased egg production and sudden death.

If you suspect your flock has contracted the disease, quarantine the affected animals immediately. Infected animals must be humanely destroyed and disposed of properly to prevent the disease from spreading.

Although vaccines are available, they are not commonly used because no vaccine covers all 15 strains of the disease. Prevention is the best way to combat Avian Influenza. Keep wild birds away from your home or farm, and stay informed about the health of neighboring animals.

For more information, check www.agriculture.ks.gov/avianinfluenza.

TOPEKA–With the nice weather Kansas has experienced over the past few days, fire departments across the state are already experiencing an increase in grass burning incidents – some of which have already gotten out of control. Many of these fires are threatening property and structures and have resulted in injury to the firefighters responding to the fires.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM) provides tips and resources for helping farmers and ranchers to have safe and successful prescribed burns of their fields and pastures.

“By following these proven steps for safely burning fields or brush, Kansans will not be as likely to produce fires that burn out of control and put lives and property at risk,” Doug Jorgensen, State Fire Marshal, said in a news release.

The OSFM and Kansas Interagency Wildfire Council offer the following tips and best practices to help ensure a burn doesn’t become a wildfire:

· Know all state and local fire restrictions. Check with county officials who are charged with deciding whether burning is permissible based on local conditions.

· Notify neighbors as a courtesy prior to burning.

· Postpone the burn if unsure of the fuel and weather conditions.

· Have adequate resources and equipment available to prevent escaped fires.

· Consider smoke management to avoid unsafe roads and air quality conditions.

· Do not burn to the ends of the field. Setting boundaries, “back burning” and keeping the fire off of fence rows will prevent out-of-control burns.

Kansas experienced a significant increase in acres burned between 2013 and 2014. Total acres burned rose from 22,482 in in 2013 to 184,716 in 2014 – more than 8 times as many field burns in just one year.

PRATT–Each year, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) compiles a summary of all reported hunting incidents as a way to assess safety issues afield and address any potential areas for improvement in Hunter Education programs. The 2014 Kansas Hunter Education Hunting Incident Report is now available and although the total number of incidents has slightly increased from 2013, Kansas has had no firearms-related fatalities for three years running.

A total of twelve reported hunting incidents took place during the 2014 hunting seasons, and although the details surrounding each incident vary, all were preventable. A breakdown of the 2014 incidents is as follows:

– Five incidents of hunters unsafely swinging on game

-Three incidents of careless gun handling

-Two incidents of victims moving into the line of fire

-One incident of a hunter stepping onto his own broadhead that was left on the ground

-One incident of a hunter injured by a dog stepping on a shotgun left on the ground

Hunting remains one of the safest outdoor activities when compared to the millions of hunter days recorded by Kansas hunters each fall. It’s because of the efforts of volunteer Kansas Hunter Education instructors, and the thousands of students who have learned from them, that Kansans can safely enjoy and continue our great hunting heritage.

If you, or someone you know, is interested in taking a Hunter Education course and continuing good hunting practices into the 2015 seasons and beyond, visit ksoutdoors.com and click “Services/Education/Hunter” for more information.

MANHATTAN–The Kansas Department of Agriculture was notified late Friday afternoon that samples collected from a backyard poultry flock containing both chickens and ducks in Leavenworth County returned a presumptive positive result for highly pathogenic avian influenza at the National Veterinary Services Lab.

KDA will be establishing a control zone around the premise. This case is in addition to the areas of Cherokee and Crawford counties that are under surveillance after a confirmed case of the H5N2 strain of Avian Influenza was found in Jasper County, Missouri near Asbury earlier in the week.

Avian Influenza is a contagious, rapidly spreading viral disease affecting birds. Outbreaks of a strain of avian influenza have occurred in Missouri, Arkansas, Minnesota, Oregon, Washington and Idaho and are not considered to be a threat to public health or the food supply.

Dr. Bill Brown, State Animal Health Commissioner, confirmed that a response team from KDA’s Division of Animal Health and from USDA will be dispatched to the area to conduct surveillance activities and to collect additional sample from flocks within the control zone. “It is important to know where backyard flocks of poultry exist. We will be seeking information about the presence of backyard flocks in Leavenworth County.”

Avian Influenza exists naturally in many wild birds and can be transmitted by contact with infected animals or ingestion of infected food or water. CDC considers the risk to people from these HPAI H5 infections in wild birds, backyard flocks and commercial poultry, to be low. No human infections with the virus have been detected at this time.

“We are dedicated to providing the necessary assistance and precautions to avoid any possible spreading of the disease,” Brown said. Symptoms in poultry include coughing, sneezing, respiratory distress, decreased egg production and sudden death.

KDA is seeking assistance from backyard poultry owners in Leavenworth County. If you currently own poultry, the agency is requesting you self-report your backyard flock. This will assist animal health officials in helping to monitor the situation and control the spread of this disease. Please email information about the location and type of backyard flock in Leavenworth County to [email protected]. You may also contact the KDA Division of Animal Health at 785-564-6601.

If you suspect your flock has contracted the disease, quarantine the affected animals immediately. Also, be sure to restrict traffic on and off your farm and thoroughly disinfect any material leaving the farm such as tires, equipment and clothing. No effective treatment for the disease has been found. Infected animals must be humanely destroyed and disposed of properly to prevent the disease from spreading.

Although vaccines are available, they are not commonly used because no vaccine covers all 15 strains of the disease. Prevention is the best way to combat Avian Influenza. Keep wild birds away from your home or farm, and stay informed about the health of neighboring animals.

Additional information will be made available on Monday, March 16.

For more information please check www.agriculture.ks.gov/avianinfluenza

TOPEKA–Kansas Securities Commissioner Josh Ney announced the opening of the 2015 Financial Scholars Video Contest, which will run through April 21. He said his office is looking for original persuasive, TED-talk style video essays conveying the value of financial literacy. Students participating in the winning entry will each receive an iPad mini. The teacher of the winning entry will receive an iPad mini as well. The contest will be held in coordination with Financial Literacy Month in April.

Students who are working toward or who have received EverFi Financial Literacy Certification through participation in the Kansas Financial Scholars Program are invited to produce a 3-5 minute video which clearly and factually conveys the value of financial education. Students must incorporate at least one of the following as a starting point, centerpiece or final point of their speech:

– Explain why financial education is important to the future of our state and nation.
– Describe a problem that could be or is being solved through financial literacy.
– Incorporate a quote about money or finances into your speech. Explain why you agree or disagree with the author of the quote.
– Describe best practices or innovative ways of teaching financial literacy.
– Discuss barriers to becoming financially literate and how they can be overcome.

All submissions must be sent by the deadline of 3:30 P.M. on April 21, 2015. Full contest rules can be found at: http://ksc.ks.gov/VideoContest.

High School seniors who participate in the program or completed it in the past are also invited to compete in the Securities Commissioner’s new essay contest. Five scholarships ranging from $500 to $2500 will be awarded to high school seniors who win the essay contest, where students are asked to write a 3-4 page essay profiling an individual whose personal financial habits impacted their life or the lives of others. More details about the essay contest can be found at: www.ksc.ks.gov/EssayContest.

Questions about either contest or participation in the Kansas Financial Scholars Program can be directed to Shannon Stone, Director of Investor Education at [email protected] or by phone at (913) 652-9164.

The mission of the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner (KSC) is to protect and inform Kansas investors; to promote integrity, fairness, and full disclosure in financial services; and to foster capital formation.

The Kansas Financial Scholars Program is a 6-8 hour web-based curriculum which uses the latest in new media technologies. The 9-module course is aligned to the Kansas State Standards and offers programming aimed at teaching, assessing and certifying students in a variety of financial topics including credit scores, insurance, credit cards, student loans, mortgages, taxes, investments, savings, 401k’s and other critical concepts that map to national financial literacy standards. Each module takes around 30-45 minutes to complete.

Teachers who have not yet signed up for the Kansas Financial Scholars Program may contact the Securities Commissioner’s office for information on how to sign up and participate in the program this school year. The program is offered for free to all public, private and home school high-school aged students in the state of Kansas. Parents or grandparents who are interested in having their children participate can also contact the Securities Commissioner’s office to individually sign up their students.

TOPEKA–The Kansas Department of Commerce will continue to accept nominations for the 2015 Business Appreciation Month awards until March 20. The awards recognize successful Kansas companies that create jobs, support their local communities and enhance the quality of life in Kansas.

Regional finalists are recognized in June during the Team Kansas awards banquet, with the top nominee receiving the Governor’s Award of Excellence, the highest award given to a business by the state. The 2014 winner was Galaxy Technologies of Winfield.

Nominations are accepted from chambers of commerce, economic development organizations, small business development centers, organizations and individuals. Companies may also nominate themselves.

Nominations will be accepted through 5 p.m., Friday, March 20. Regional winners will be selected in the manufacturing/distribution, service, retail and hospital/non-profit sectors. Regional winners will then give presentations about their companies and community involvement to a panel of judges. The recipient of the Governor’s Award of Excellence will be announced at the Team Kansas awards ceremony. Late nominations cannot be accepted.

Award qualifications include:
· Business expansion in Kansas.
· Successful employee retention and recruitment practices.
· Employee training/educational programs.
· Capital investment in Kansas.
· Support of local activities including school activities, community events, economic development and leadership programs.

To submit an online nomination, visit KansasCommerce.com/BAM. For more information, contact Sarah Heinen at (785) 296-3805 or [email protected].