By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas Outdoors

Well, you know what they say, “Spring waits for no man.” Wait, maybe it’s just me that says that. 

Anyway, it’s true, and while we certainly have some winter left, I think we can figure there’s more of winter now in our rearview mirror than there is in front of us. 

So, as we wait to see if she comes in like a lion or a lamb, spring will continue to claw its way across the calendar and arrive at just the right time that God has planned. In the meantime, here are a few things in the Kansas outdoors still going on, or on the horizon.

Light geese, more commonly known as snow geese, can still be hunted under a special “conservation order” until April 30.

 In order to thin down the enormous population of these birds, besides allowing for a lengthy season, the special conservation order removes all harvest limits and allows for unplugged shotguns to be used. That lets hunters use the complete shell capacity of their shotgun, rather than only three shells in the gun at a time that is legal for normal waterfowl hunting. Permission to hunt these guys is usually easy to get, too, as most farmers want them gone.

Both beavers and otters can be trapped in Kansas until March 31. 

I have never trapped otters, but I know that spring beaver trapping can be really productive as the males become very active in spring. They can be enticed to check out man-made castor mound sets that they make naturally in the wild to attract females. A pile of mud and leaves pulled up onto the edge of the bank and sweetened with a dab of beaver castor-based lure will usually do the job.

Wild turkeys will soon be leaving the large flocks where they accumulate, sometimes by the hundreds, for safety and security during the winter. The toms will start putting together their smaller harems of hens, and heading to where they will breed, nest and raise their broods.

 The 2025 spring turkey season for youth and disabled hunters starts April 1, archery season begins April 7 and regular firearms season starts April 16.

We all watch to see the first robins, wrens and other songbirds arrive back in Kansas each spring, but another less popular and often maligned, or at least ignored species will begin arriving back in our state in the month of March. 

Turkey Vultures that have wintered in South America will begin gracing our skies again in mid to late March. 

Vultures are God’s clean-up crew and have a face only a&nbsp;mother could love, but watching them soar effortlessly on huge outstretched wings for hours at a time is mesmerizing to me.

&nbsp;One spring years ago, Joyce and I were told of an old tumbled-down building not far away that had been a vulture nesting site for years, and that year we were privileged to watch a pair of Turkey Vulture chicks grow-up and fledge from that nest. 

Talk about humble beginnings; that so called “nest” was nothing more than a flat spot on the floor, amidst filth and excrement, in a concealed corner of that old ramshackle building. But from there grew two more amazing birds to float on the Kansas winds and to help clean up dead critters from along our highways.

 Yet another example of how God can use the meekest among us for His service.

Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574696211722.png" alt="Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Steve Gilliland. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By STEVE GILLILAND Explore Kansas OutdoorsWell, you know what they say, “Spring waits for no man.” Wait, maybe it’s just me that says that. Anyway, it’s true, and while we certainly have some winter left, I think we can figure there’s more of winter now in our rearview mirror than there is in front of us. So, as we wait to see if she comes in like a lion or a lamb, spring will continue to claw its way across the calendar and arrive at just the right time that God has planned. In the meantime, here are a few things in the Kansas outdoors still going on, or on the horizon.Light geese, more commonly known as snow geese, can still be hunted under a special “conservation order” until April 30. In order to thin down the enormous population of these birds, besides allowing for a lengthy season, the special conservation order removes all harvest limits and allows for unplugged shotguns to be used. That lets hunters use the complete shell capacity of their shotgun, rather than only three shells in the gun at a time that is legal for normal waterfowl hunting. Permission to hunt these guys is usually easy to get, too, as most farmers want them gone.Both beavers and otters can be trapped in Kansas until March 31. I have never trapped otters, but I know that spring beaver trapping can be really productive as the males become very active in spring. They can be enticed to check out man-made castor mound sets that they make naturally in the wild to attract females. A pile of mud and leaves pulled up onto the edge of the bank and sweetened with a dab of beaver castor-based lure will usually do the job.Wild turkeys will soon be leaving the large flocks where they accumulate, sometimes by the hundreds, for safety and security during the winter. The toms will start putting together their smaller harems of hens, and heading to where they will breed, nest and raise their broods. The 2025 spring turkey season for youth and disabled hunters starts April 1, archery season begins April 7 and regular firearms season starts April 16.We all watch to see the first robins, wrens and other songbirds arrive back in Kansas each spring, but another less popular and often maligned, or at least ignored species will begin arriving back in our state in the month of March. Turkey Vultures that have wintered in South America will begin gracing our skies again in mid to late March. Vultures are God’s clean-up crew and have a face only a&nbsp;mother could love, but watching them soar effortlessly on huge outstretched wings for hours at a time is mesmerizing to me.&nbsp;One spring years ago, Joyce and I were told of an old tumbled-down building not far away that had been a vulture nesting site for years, and that year we were privileged to watch a pair of Turkey Vulture chicks grow-up and fledge from that nest. Talk about humble beginnings; that so called “nest” was nothing more than a flat spot on the floor, amidst filth and excrement, in a concealed corner of that old ramshackle building. But from there grew two more amazing birds to float on the Kansas winds and to help clean up dead critters from along our highways. Yet another example of how God can use the meekest among us for His service.Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.Steve can be contacted by email at stevenrgilliland@gmail.com.

Explore Kansas Outdoors: Spring is about to spring

&nbsp;By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension District

Most gardeners think soil testing only determines nutrient deficiencies, but the tests also help gardeners understand whether the soil contains adequate nutrients. Basic tests check the soil’s pH, as well as the phosphorus and potassium levels.

“Most of the lawn and garden soil tests that come out of our soil-testing lab (at Kansas State University) show more than adequate levels of both phosphorus and potassium,” K-State horticultural expert Cynthia Domenghini said. “If those nutrients are not needed, applying them is a waste of money and can be a source of pollution.”

Domenghini urges gardeners to test their garden’s soil before beginning spring gardening, particularly if the soil hasn’t been tested in several years.

To do so, she says, take a sample from multiple locations in the garden and lawn. Samples should be taken at a depth between the surface and eight inches, depending on the area being sampled. Next, mix the samples together to total one pint of soil.

More information on taking an accurate soil test is available online from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/outreach-and-services/soil-testing-lab/soil-analysis/producers-and-homeowners.html">K-State Agronomy Soil Analysis lab.</a>

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/outreach-and-services/soil-testing-lab/soil-analysis/producers-and-homeowners.html"></a>According to Domenghini, the soil sample can then be submitted to your&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local K-State Research and Extension office</a>&nbsp;to have tests done at the K-State soil testing laboratory for a fee.

“A soil test determines fertility problems, not other conditions that may exist, such as poor drainage, poor soil structure, soil borne diseases or insects, chemical contaminants or damage,” Domenghini said. “All of these conditions may reduce plant performance but cannot be evaluated by a soil test.”Domenghini recommends submitting dry soil samples, as wet soil has different precautions.

“Wet soil samples should be air-dried before being submitted for testing,” Domenghini said. “Do not use artificial means of drying such as an oven or microwave as such treatment may result in inaccurate readings of nutrient levels.”

Soil tests should be used as a tool to identify nutrient deficiencies, Domenghini said, but often they do not tell the whole story of other factors affecting plant growth.

Additional factors that can affect plant growth include: · Not enough sun. · Poor soil physical characteristics. · Walnut trees (walnuts give off a natural herbicide that interferes with the growth of some plants, such as tomatoes). · Tree roots. · Shallow soils. · Improper watering.

Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District, which includes Barton and Ellis counties, for K-State Research and Extension. You may contact her by email at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1739899719761.png" alt="Soil sampling. Photo courtesy K-State Research and Extension" />
 <figcaption>Soil sampling. Photo courtesy K-State Research and Extension</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;By ALICIA BOOR Cottonwood Extension DistrictMost gardeners think soil testing only determines nutrient deficiencies, but the tests also help gardeners understand whether the soil contains adequate nutrients. Basic tests check the soil’s pH, as well as the phosphorus and potassium levels.“Most of the lawn and garden soil tests that come out of our soil-testing lab (at Kansas State University) show more than adequate levels of both phosphorus and potassium,” K-State horticultural expert Cynthia Domenghini said. “If those nutrients are not needed, applying them is a waste of money and can be a source of pollution.”Domenghini urges gardeners to test their garden’s soil before beginning spring gardening, particularly if the soil hasn’t been tested in several years.To do so, she says, take a sample from multiple locations in the garden and lawn. Samples should be taken at a depth between the surface and eight inches, depending on the area being sampled. Next, mix the samples together to total one pint of soil.More information on taking an accurate soil test is available online from the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/outreach-and-services/soil-testing-lab/soil-analysis/producers-and-homeowners.html">K-State Agronomy Soil Analysis lab.</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.agronomy.k-state.edu/outreach-and-services/soil-testing-lab/soil-analysis/producers-and-homeowners.html"></a>According to Domenghini, the soil sample can then be submitted to your&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/about/statewide-locations.html">local K-State Research and Extension office</a>&nbsp;to have tests done at the K-State soil testing laboratory for a fee.“A soil test determines fertility problems, not other conditions that may exist, such as poor drainage, poor soil structure, soil borne diseases or insects, chemical contaminants or damage,” Domenghini said. “All of these conditions may reduce plant performance but cannot be evaluated by a soil test.”Domenghini recommends submitting dry soil samples, as wet soil has different precautions.“Wet soil samples should be air-dried before being submitted for testing,” Domenghini said. “Do not use artificial means of drying such as an oven or microwave as such treatment may result in inaccurate readings of nutrient levels.”Soil tests should be used as a tool to identify nutrient deficiencies, Domenghini said, but often they do not tell the whole story of other factors affecting plant growth.Additional factors that can affect plant growth include: · Not enough sun. · Poor soil physical characteristics. · Walnut trees (walnuts give off a natural herbicide that interferes with the growth of some plants, such as tomatoes). · Tree roots. · Shallow soils. · Improper watering.Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District, which includes Barton and Ellis counties, for K-State Research and Extension. You may contact her by email at aboor@ksu.edu or calling 620-793-1910.

BOOR: Column soil testing

By&nbsp;RUSSSELL ARBEN FOX Insight Kansas

This week, Kansas Secretary of Transportation Calvin Reed kicked off KDOT’s annual Transportation Safety Conference in Wichita by emphasizing the key components of decreasing fatalities on Kansas’s streets and highways: safer drivers, safer vehicles, safer speeds, and safer roads.

 He was immediately followed by the conference’s keynote speaker, Charles Marohn, the founder of Strong Towns, an organization dedicated to helping America’s cities manage their finances and built environments better. Chuck made the case that, practically speaking, Kansas’s cities should just ignore the first three factors and focus on the last. He’s right.

Kansas’s traffic statistics aren’t terrible, but they aren’t good. Like the rest of the country, Kansas mostly saw fatalities from road accidents increase throughout the 2010s and the first part of this decade. 

There have been some&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/07/10/kansas-traffic-fatalities-trend-downward-after-seven-years-averaging-more-than-420-deaths/">dramatic improvements over the past two years</a>; 2024 saw the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kake.com/home/kansas-sees-record-low-traffic-fatalities-in-2024-but-2025-trends-spark-concern/article_5bbfab2c-dd11-11ef-baf2-13b1610ed7bf.html">lowest number of Kansans killed in car crashes</a>—344—in nearly 80 years.

Still<a target="_blank" href="https://tripnet.org/reports/addressing-americas-traffic-safety-crisis-kansas-news-release-07-02-2024/">, Kansas remains above the national average of fatal accidents per population</a>, and so it’s reasonable that KDOT has made reducing traffic deaths—through their “Drive to Zero” initiative—a key priority.

For a variety of reasons, though, most of the actual work that’s been done in support of that initiative has been focused on educating (or shaming) drivers—for speeding, or being distracted, or failing to follow every traffic rule—and on inducing (or requiring) municipalities to lower the speeds on their arterial roads and streets. 

When asked after his presentation about the Drive to Zero plan, Marohn applauded it—but also argued that 98% of the problem here is road design, with driver responsibility, vehicle quality, and speed calculations taking up the tiny remainder.

Marohn’s argument builds upon the basic idea the human beings, being human, will always make mistakes, always be distracted, etc., and thus one ought to focus on fixing the conditions humans operate in, rather than fixing humans themselves. 

In the design of highways, this principle took the form of “forgiving design”—these roads needed to be wide, and the drivers speeding on them needed to be channeled in the same direction, all to minimize the deadly costs of mistakes.

But over the decades these lessons were taken from high-speed, cross-country roads and imposed on city streets. 

Thus we have what Marohn calls “stroads”: neighborhood streets lined with sidewalks and schools and businesses and houses, but designed in ways that assume everyone will drive fast and poorly, requiring them to be huge and thus pedestrian-unfriendly. 

This, obviously, discourages pedestrian use, which not only has negative economic, civic, and public health consequences, but also implicitly encourages drivers to drive even faster and more poorly.

The characteristics of such design assumptions are dangerous one-way streets, drivers gunning at intersections, near-unusable cross-walks, and more. 

Marohn wants to see cities focus on changing these design assumptions, rather than chastising drivers for acting in exactly the way the conditions they encounter on the road encourage them to do. Makes sense to me.

And fortunately, it makes sense to many city leaders and planners across Kansas as well (Marohn likely wouldn’t have been KDOT’s guest of honor otherwise). 

In Wichita, Kansas City, Salina, and elsewhere, Kansas municipalities are slowly but surely making changes. 

One-way streets are being converted to two-way; unnecessary lanes are being shrunk and made safer; designers are thinking more about traffic calming (putting in meridians, for example) and less about draconian speed reductions. 

Zero traffic fatalities may be a distant goal, but we’ll get closer to it by fixing the streets that carry traffic, rather than the drivers negotiating it.

Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586443443315.jpeg" alt="Russell Arben Fox&nbsp;teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Russell Arben Fox&nbsp;teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By&nbsp;RUSSSELL ARBEN FOX Insight KansasThis week, Kansas Secretary of Transportation Calvin Reed kicked off KDOT’s annual Transportation Safety Conference in Wichita by emphasizing the key components of decreasing fatalities on Kansas’s streets and highways: safer drivers, safer vehicles, safer speeds, and safer roads. He was immediately followed by the conference’s keynote speaker, Charles Marohn, the founder of Strong Towns, an organization dedicated to helping America’s cities manage their finances and built environments better. Chuck made the case that, practically speaking, Kansas’s cities should just ignore the first three factors and focus on the last. He’s right.Kansas’s traffic statistics aren’t terrible, but they aren’t good. Like the rest of the country, Kansas mostly saw fatalities from road accidents increase throughout the 2010s and the first part of this decade. There have been some&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/07/10/kansas-traffic-fatalities-trend-downward-after-seven-years-averaging-more-than-420-deaths/">dramatic improvements over the past two years</a>; 2024 saw the&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.kake.com/home/kansas-sees-record-low-traffic-fatalities-in-2024-but-2025-trends-spark-concern/article_5bbfab2c-dd11-11ef-baf2-13b1610ed7bf.html">lowest number of Kansans killed in car crashes</a>—344—in nearly 80 years. Still<a target="_blank" href="https://tripnet.org/reports/addressing-americas-traffic-safety-crisis-kansas-news-release-07-02-2024/">, Kansas remains above the national average of fatal accidents per population</a>, and so it’s reasonable that KDOT has made reducing traffic deaths—through their “Drive to Zero” initiative—a key priority.For a variety of reasons, though, most of the actual work that’s been done in support of that initiative has been focused on educating (or shaming) drivers—for speeding, or being distracted, or failing to follow every traffic rule—and on inducing (or requiring) municipalities to lower the speeds on their arterial roads and streets. When asked after his presentation about the Drive to Zero plan, Marohn applauded it—but also argued that 98% of the problem here is road design, with driver responsibility, vehicle quality, and speed calculations taking up the tiny remainder.Marohn’s argument builds upon the basic idea the human beings, being human, will always make mistakes, always be distracted, etc., and thus one ought to focus on fixing the conditions humans operate in, rather than fixing humans themselves. In the design of highways, this principle took the form of “forgiving design”—these roads needed to be wide, and the drivers speeding on them needed to be channeled in the same direction, all to minimize the deadly costs of mistakes.But over the decades these lessons were taken from high-speed, cross-country roads and imposed on city streets. Thus we have what Marohn calls “stroads”: neighborhood streets lined with sidewalks and schools and businesses and houses, but designed in ways that assume everyone will drive fast and poorly, requiring them to be huge and thus pedestrian-unfriendly. This, obviously, discourages pedestrian use, which not only has negative economic, civic, and public health consequences, but also implicitly encourages drivers to drive even faster and more poorly.The characteristics of such design assumptions are dangerous one-way streets, drivers gunning at intersections, near-unusable cross-walks, and more. Marohn wants to see cities focus on changing these design assumptions, rather than chastising drivers for acting in exactly the way the conditions they encounter on the road encourage them to do. Makes sense to me.And fortunately, it makes sense to many city leaders and planners across Kansas as well (Marohn likely wouldn’t have been KDOT’s guest of honor otherwise). In Wichita, Kansas City, Salina, and elsewhere, Kansas municipalities are slowly but surely making changes. One-way streets are being converted to two-way; unnecessary lanes are being shrunk and made safer; designers are thinking more about traffic calming (putting in meridians, for example) and less about draconian speed reductions. Zero traffic fatalities may be a distant goal, but we’ll get closer to it by fixing the streets that carry traffic, rather than the drivers negotiating it.Dr. Russell Arben Fox teaches politics at Friends University in Wichita.

INSIGHT KANSAS: The drive to zero begins with streets, not drivers themselves

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

Since I have had some questions recently on soil sampling, I thought it might be worth re-visiting. Not always a fun activity but the return on investment (ROI) is guaranteed!

First and foremost what are you sampling for? This will determine how deep of a sample you will need to get. For instance, if you are sampling for phosphorus, potassium, soil pH and even micronutrients such as zinc, and iron, then a 0 to 6 inch sample is necessary; a piece of cake.

However, if you also need to sample for nitrogen (N), and possibly even chloride and sulfur then it gets tougher. Nitrogen, sulfur (S), and chloride (Cl) easily move with water and therefore considered mobile in the soil, as opposed to phosphorus that only moves a little in the soil. To sample properly for N, S, and Cl, K-State recommendations are to sample to a depth of 24 inches.

I will be the first to admit that sampling to a depth of two feet can be a bit tiring with a hand probe, even when soil moisture is good. But if you really want a more accurate N, S &amp; Cl soil test, you should sample to 24 inches. If the soil is dry, sample as deep as you can and record what the average sampling depth was on the form that goes to the lab.

For example if you probe to an average depth of 16 inches, make sure it is recorded on the form. Be sure you completely fill out the entire form. It will ask what the intended yield goal is and crop to be grown, what the previous crop was, dryland or irrigated, and if any manure has been applied; make note of that too. The more information the lab has the better the recommendations will be.

Some folks are using cordless drills and an auger type of bit to pull the 24 inch samples. We have the auger bit and bucket for check-out, as well as hand probes for check-out at our offices.

If you are using a hand probe take along a can of WD-40 and oil up the probe tube before using it. The soil cores come out so much easier, and, no, the WD-40 will not affect the soil in any way to foul up the results. 

Other items needed are two clean plastic buckets to put the 0 to 6 and 0 to 24 inch samples in, the soil sample form from the lab you use, and bags to put the soil into to mail to the lab—about a pint of soil is needed.

K-State recommends taking at least 20 to 30 cores per field, which is a bitter pill to swallow that most don’t. The more cores you take the better representation of the field you will get—to a point. I would recommend taking at least 12 to 15 cores per field, mix thoroughly in a clean bucket, and then fill your soil container from this mixture.&nbsp;

It is actually recommended to divide your fields into uniform areas. For example, if the field has differences in topography--bottom ground, hill sides or sloping, soil texture, etc.

On fields that have been reduced-tilled or no-tilled for several years, a split sample from the top 6 inches (i.e. 0 to 3 inches and 3 to 6 inches) is encouraged to assess pH to determine if there is any nutrient stratification—decrease in soil pH near the surface.

Avoid sampling in old fence rows, dead furrows, low spots, feeding areas, and other areas that might give unusual results. If information is desired on these unusual areas, obtain a separate sample from that area.

County extension offices have the soil sample forms and bags, and most if not all will have a soil probe you can check out and use.

I better quit while I still might be ahead. If I keep pointing out all of the fine details that land grant universities and soil scientists recommend in order to take soil samples, I will probably scare off all that read this. 

The key is to just get started and at least try sampling a few fields, and with time and some experience it will get easier and you will probably learn some tricks to make the experience less time consuming and labor intensive.

 The other alternative is to have someone who does this service come out and pull the samples. 

Either way it will still pay dividends and you will know how much fertilizer to apply, rather than guessing.

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension Agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt="Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension Agent in the Cottonwood District. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension Agent in the Cottonwood District. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District Since I have had some questions recently on soil sampling, I thought it might be worth re-visiting. Not always a fun activity but the return on investment (ROI) is guaranteed!First and foremost what are you sampling for? This will determine how deep of a sample you will need to get. For instance, if you are sampling for phosphorus, potassium, soil pH and even micronutrients such as zinc, and iron, then a 0 to 6 inch sample is necessary; a piece of cake.However, if you also need to sample for nitrogen (N), and possibly even chloride and sulfur then it gets tougher. Nitrogen, sulfur (S), and chloride (Cl) easily move with water and therefore considered mobile in the soil, as opposed to phosphorus that only moves a little in the soil. To sample properly for N, S, and Cl, K-State recommendations are to sample to a depth of 24 inches.I will be the first to admit that sampling to a depth of two feet can be a bit tiring with a hand probe, even when soil moisture is good. But if you really want a more accurate N, S &amp; Cl soil test, you should sample to 24 inches. If the soil is dry, sample as deep as you can and record what the average sampling depth was on the form that goes to the lab.For example if you probe to an average depth of 16 inches, make sure it is recorded on the form. Be sure you completely fill out the entire form. It will ask what the intended yield goal is and crop to be grown, what the previous crop was, dryland or irrigated, and if any manure has been applied; make note of that too. The more information the lab has the better the recommendations will be.Some folks are using cordless drills and an auger type of bit to pull the 24 inch samples. We have the auger bit and bucket for check-out, as well as hand probes for check-out at our offices.If you are using a hand probe take along a can of WD-40 and oil up the probe tube before using it. The soil cores come out so much easier, and, no, the WD-40 will not affect the soil in any way to foul up the results. Other items needed are two clean plastic buckets to put the 0 to 6 and 0 to 24 inch samples in, the soil sample form from the lab you use, and bags to put the soil into to mail to the lab—about a pint of soil is needed.K-State recommends taking at least 20 to 30 cores per field, which is a bitter pill to swallow that most don’t. The more cores you take the better representation of the field you will get—to a point. I would recommend taking at least 12 to 15 cores per field, mix thoroughly in a clean bucket, and then fill your soil container from this mixture.&nbsp;It is actually recommended to divide your fields into uniform areas. For example, if the field has differences in topography--bottom ground, hill sides or sloping, soil texture, etc.On fields that have been reduced-tilled or no-tilled for several years, a split sample from the top 6 inches (i.e. 0 to 3 inches and 3 to 6 inches) is encouraged to assess pH to determine if there is any nutrient stratification—decrease in soil pH near the surface.Avoid sampling in old fence rows, dead furrows, low spots, feeding areas, and other areas that might give unusual results. If information is desired on these unusual areas, obtain a separate sample from that area.County extension offices have the soil sample forms and bags, and most if not all will have a soil probe you can check out and use.I better quit while I still might be ahead. If I keep pointing out all of the fine details that land grant universities and soil scientists recommend in order to take soil samples, I will probably scare off all that read this. The key is to just get started and at least try sampling a few fields, and with time and some experience it will get easier and you will probably learn some tricks to make the experience less time consuming and labor intensive. The other alternative is to have someone who does this service come out and pull the samples. Either way it will still pay dividends and you will know how much fertilizer to apply, rather than guessing.Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension Agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Soil sampling pays big dividends

SENATE HIGHLIGHTS March 4, 2025

Senate Committees continued to review bills which have been sent over from the House, and we had one day of General Orders this week in the Senate.&nbsp; As we work though committee bills on the floor, we will also begin to have&nbsp;Conference Committee reports to vote on as well.&nbsp; 

A Conference Committee is a small, bipartisan and bicameral committee that works to smooth out the differences between the House’s and Senate’s version of a similar bill.&nbsp; Once the Conference Committee comes to a compromise, the committee’s version of the bill will be sent to both the House and the Senate for a final vote, before advancing the bill to the Governor’s desk.&nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1604/">SCR 1604</a>, a resolution calling for the Convention of States.&nbsp; Under Article V of the United States Constitution, a convention of states may be called to propose amendments to the United States Constitution.&nbsp; It takes 34 states ratifying identical resolutions to call for such a convention, and then 38 states to ratify any amendments emerging from that convention. So far, 19 states have adopted a version of SCR 1604, which calls for a convention “limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress."&nbsp;&nbsp;SCR1604 passed 29-11.&nbsp; I voted yes.

<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb33/">SB 33</a>&nbsp;would authorize the sales tax exemption provided for in continuing law for sales of the services of slaughtering, butchering, custom cutting, dressing, processing, or packaging of an animal for the customer’s own use or consumption to be claimed without a requirement that exemption certificates or forms be provided by the purchaser or collected or maintained by the seller.&nbsp; This a follow-up bill from 2024 which removed sales tax on the processing of meat but customers were required to fill out extra Department of Revenue paperwork each time and keep on file for future review of the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 33 passed 40-0.&nbsp; I voted yes.

<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb137/">SB 137</a>&nbsp;would amend the Kansas Standard Asset Seizure and Forfeiture Act to permit firearms forfeited under the Act to be sold or transferred to a properly licensed federal firearms dealer.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB&nbsp;137 passed 39-1.&nbsp; I voted yes.

Full texts of the bills and supplemental notes as well as the Final Action vote on these measures can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp;

WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE

<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A?view_as=subscriber">Kansas Legislature YouTube</a>&nbsp;– Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.

<a target="_blank" href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/">Kansas Legislature Audio</a>&nbsp;– Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.

Kansas Legislature website –&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/">www.kslegislature.org</a>&nbsp;- has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions.

<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/kansascoge/">COGE Portal</a>&nbsp;– Committee on Government Efficiency Portal <a target="_blank" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/">WhiteHouse.gov</a>&nbsp;–Executive Actions are included here

UPDATE FROM KANSAS INSURANCE COMMISSIONER VICKI SCHMIDT

If you or someone you know has an issue with their insurance, we are happy to help!&nbsp; We may not always like the answers we get, but we will do our best to get you an answer.&nbsp; Please use the contact information below to reach out to us if we can be of assistance.

Main Line: (785) 296-3071 Consumer Assistance Hotline: 1-800-432-2484 Consumer Complaint:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kid.webcomplaints@ks.gov">kid.webcomplaints@ks.gov</a> Producer Licensing:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KID.Licensing@ks.gov">kid.licensing@ks.gov</a> Email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KID.Commissioner@ks.gov">KID.Commissioner@ks.gov</a> Website:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001SoDYgtD-dFj2steoGgFmoL8pLuf0NSmUSYwQCgp1HsxoadVCfwcm_95Am0jNUs0wFnhLh6WZZDNC0I3bvXKrYLcDAFEsmw8M0DoCWSkqIfiLrZCsRdIrP9T0QLWMfcrFnRn8KKAZuWRvenC77dA6Tw==&amp;c=_XGtk_g_SmaADwMA6e5Ys1lOAPiD2n0Y0WhdVf1Fcsl9xHGubVgxOA==&amp;ch=r3uWbCcKhRBHU_y3dsLIzaxpLTKaKBOHKjED-RjqskJBJwcemc8Blw==">Insurance.kansas.gov</a>

Thank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature.&nbsp; Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp; You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website.&nbsp; Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions.&nbsp; An email is the best at this point in the session.

Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E 300SW 10th St. Topeka, KS&nbsp;66612 elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov 785-296-7389 <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a> <a href="http://www.elainebowers.com/" target="_blank">www.elainebowers.com</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644853578448.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, 36th Dist. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, 36th Dist. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>SENATE HIGHLIGHTS March 4, 2025Senate Committees continued to review bills which have been sent over from the House, and we had one day of General Orders this week in the Senate.&nbsp; As we work though committee bills on the floor, we will also begin to have&nbsp;Conference Committee reports to vote on as well.&nbsp; A Conference Committee is a small, bipartisan and bicameral committee that works to smooth out the differences between the House’s and Senate’s version of a similar bill.&nbsp; Once the Conference Committee comes to a compromise, the committee’s version of the bill will be sent to both the House and the Senate for a final vote, before advancing the bill to the Governor’s desk.&nbsp;SENATE FLOOR ACTION<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/scr1604/">SCR 1604</a>, a resolution calling for the Convention of States.&nbsp; Under Article V of the United States Constitution, a convention of states may be called to propose amendments to the United States Constitution.&nbsp; It takes 34 states ratifying identical resolutions to call for such a convention, and then 38 states to ratify any amendments emerging from that convention. So far, 19 states have adopted a version of SCR 1604, which calls for a convention “limited to proposing amendments to the Constitution of the United States that impose fiscal restraints on the federal government, limit the power and jurisdiction of the federal government, and limit the terms of office for its officials and for members of Congress."&nbsp;&nbsp;SCR1604 passed 29-11.&nbsp; I voted yes.<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb33/">SB 33</a>&nbsp;would authorize the sales tax exemption provided for in continuing law for sales of the services of slaughtering, butchering, custom cutting, dressing, processing, or packaging of an animal for the customer’s own use or consumption to be claimed without a requirement that exemption certificates or forms be provided by the purchaser or collected or maintained by the seller.&nbsp; This a follow-up bill from 2024 which removed sales tax on the processing of meat but customers were required to fill out extra Department of Revenue paperwork each time and keep on file for future review of the state.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB 33 passed 40-0.&nbsp; I voted yes.<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/measures/sb137/">SB 137</a>&nbsp;would amend the Kansas Standard Asset Seizure and Forfeiture Act to permit firearms forfeited under the Act to be sold or transferred to a properly licensed federal firearms dealer.&nbsp;&nbsp;SB&nbsp;137 passed 39-1.&nbsp; I voted yes.Full texts of the bills and supplemental notes as well as the Final Action vote on these measures can be found at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp;WATCH AND LISTEN TO THE KANSAS LEGISLATURE<a target="_blank" href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0NO-Pb96CFABvxDwXAq8A?view_as=subscriber">Kansas Legislature YouTube</a>&nbsp;– Here you can follow the legislature live as it happens, or access archives of past sessions and committee meetings.<a target="_blank" href="http://sg001-harmony.sliq.net/00287/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/">Kansas Legislature Audio</a>&nbsp;– Here you can listen in on session or committees when they are in session, or access prior committee meetings, as well.Kansas Legislature website –&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/">www.kslegislature.org</a>&nbsp;- has extensive information on legislators, committees, bills, and past sessions.ADDITIONAL RESOURCES<a target="_blank" href="https://kslegislature.gov/li/kansascoge/">COGE Portal</a>&nbsp;– Committee on Government Efficiency Portal <a target="_blank" href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/">WhiteHouse.gov</a>&nbsp;–Executive Actions are included hereUPDATE FROM KANSAS INSURANCE COMMISSIONER VICKI SCHMIDTIf you or someone you know has an issue with their insurance, we are happy to help!&nbsp; We may not always like the answers we get, but we will do our best to get you an answer.&nbsp; Please use the contact information below to reach out to us if we can be of assistance.Main Line: (785) 296-3071 Consumer Assistance Hotline: 1-800-432-2484 Consumer Complaint:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:kid.webcomplaints@ks.gov">kid.webcomplaints@ks.gov</a> Producer Licensing:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KID.Licensing@ks.gov">kid.licensing@ks.gov</a> Email:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:KID.Commissioner@ks.gov">KID.Commissioner@ks.gov</a> Website:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001SoDYgtD-dFj2steoGgFmoL8pLuf0NSmUSYwQCgp1HsxoadVCfwcm_95Am0jNUs0wFnhLh6WZZDNC0I3bvXKrYLcDAFEsmw8M0DoCWSkqIfiLrZCsRdIrP9T0QLWMfcrFnRn8KKAZuWRvenC77dA6Tw==&amp;c=_XGtk_g_SmaADwMA6e5Ys1lOAPiD2n0Y0WhdVf1Fcsl9xHGubVgxOA==&amp;ch=r3uWbCcKhRBHU_y3dsLIzaxpLTKaKBOHKjED-RjqskJBJwcemc8Blw==">Insurance.kansas.gov</a>THANK YOU FOR ENGAGINGThank you for all of your calls, emails, and letters regarding your thoughts and concerns about happenings in Kansas. I always encourage you to stay informed of the issues under consideration by the Kansas Legislature.&nbsp; Committee schedules, bills, and other helpful information can be easily accessed through the legislature’s website at&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://www.kslegislature.org/">www.kslegislature.org</a>.&nbsp; You are also able to ‘listen in live’ at this website.&nbsp; Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and suggestions.&nbsp; An email is the best at this point in the session.Thank you for the honor of serving you!Senator Elaine Bowers Kansas State Capitol Building Room 223-E 300SW 10th St. Topeka, KS&nbsp;66612 elaine.bowers@senate.ks.gov 785-296-7389 <a href="http://www.kslegislature.org/" target="_blank">www.kslegislature.org</a> <a href="http://www.elainebowers.com/" target="_blank">www.elainebowers.com</a>

BOWERS: 2025 Senate Scene, Week 7

Its been a week since Turnaround and the House only introduced eight pieces of legislation. Each bill is detailed in a list below.

First is House Bill (HB) 2389, which would amend criminal law by requiring previous convictions be considered in determining bond for individuals arrested for sex offenses;

Second is HB 2390, this bill seeks to grant Jackson County the authority to raise the retailers’ sale tax for the purpose of supporting hospital services within the county;

Third is HB 2391, this legislation would prohibit carrying concealed handguns in the state capitol, with exceptions for law enforcement and military members performing official duties;

Fourth is HB 2392, which aims to set maximum education requirements, one level above offered courses, for nursing schools within Kansas and adjust licensure requirements for nurses out-of-state;

Fifth is HB 2393, this bill would establish additional charges within court procedure costs to fund non-judicial employee salaries from now till the end of fiscal year 2030;

Sixth is HB 2394, which would establish property tax use valuation for residential real property, real property used for commercial and industrial purposes, and mobile homes used for residential purposes;

Seventh is HB 2395, which creates a new tax credit, worth up to $250 in the first year and then $100 for the next five years—per animal—, for certain expenses on cats and dogs, that reside indoors and are spayed and neutered;

Eighth and last is HB 2396, this legislation would amend tax law in several ways.

 First it would establish a protest petition mechanism to negate property tax increases, within the taxing jurisdiction of the governing body raising said taxes, that exceeded the rate of inflation by the consumer price index and prior year rate increases for construction or renovation of buildings—the state of Kansas and school districts being exempted. Such a protest petition would require 10% of the voting population of the jurisdictions and need to be delivered within 30 days to take effect.

 Second, the bill would create an Acknowledging Stewardship of Tax Revenue and Appropriations (ASTRA) fund, initially funded at $60 million, that would allocate funds to taxing jurisdictions that did not raise their property taxes beyond the aforementioned values.

House Appropriations (HAPP) held hearings on Wednesday and Thursday, across a number of topics.

Wednesday saw the committee hold an informational hearing on higher education, with presentations given by the presidents, and chancellor, of all state funded, or partially so, universities. According to the information provided at the hearings higher education is improving in our state and university enrollment, especially for in-person classes, has increased.

On Thursday HAPP received briefings from MakeMyMove and KC2026 and held hearings on House Bill (HB) 2237 and Senate Bill (SB) 125. The MakeMyMove Corporation was represented by Ben Ledo, their vice president of sales. He contended that the state needed to create new incentives for improving inward migration to Kansas, in particular a grant program. KC2026, the organization that is planning and coordinating World Cup events in the Kansas City area in 2026, was represented by Lindsay Douglas, their director of integrated operations, and she informed the committee on how funds were being allocated and the rate of progress in preparing for the momentous event.

HB 2237, relating to recruitment and retention award programs in state agencies, received proponent testimony from eight agencies and SB 125, claims against the state, received none. Both bills did not receive any opponent or neutral testimony.

 The Kansas House of Representatives debated and voted on seven pieces of legislation this week. I have detailed four of those bills below. 

First was House Bill (HB) 2096. This bill would alter law regarding housing investor tax credits, enabling credits to be transferred by investors within the same year of their issuance.

Second was HB 2231. This legislation would alter the tax code by creating a new tax exemption of $2,320 for Head of Household tax filers, starting in tax year 2024, and increase the personal exemption to 100 percent for permanently disabled veterans.

Third was HB 2107. This legislation would establish utility civil law liability parameters for damaging fire events and create training courses on wildfire risk and mitigation within the Kansas Corporation Commission, funded through the agency’s fee fund.

Fourth and last was HB 2056. This bill would alter election law by requiring a signed and notarized declaration for recipients of certificates of nomination when running for public office.

Each of these bills passed the House and I voted yes on all of them.

It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.

Contact My Office Representative Troy L. Waymaster 300 SW 10th Street Topeka,&nbsp;Kansas 66612&nbsp; troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov <a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a> www.troywaymaster.com&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/10/1633970422056.jpeg" alt="Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, 109th Dist. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKAIts been a week since Turnaround and the House only introduced eight pieces of legislation. Each bill is detailed in a list below.First is House Bill (HB) 2389, which would amend criminal law by requiring previous convictions be considered in determining bond for individuals arrested for sex offenses;Second is HB 2390, this bill seeks to grant Jackson County the authority to raise the retailers’ sale tax for the purpose of supporting hospital services within the county;Third is HB 2391, this legislation would prohibit carrying concealed handguns in the state capitol, with exceptions for law enforcement and military members performing official duties;Fourth is HB 2392, which aims to set maximum education requirements, one level above offered courses, for nursing schools within Kansas and adjust licensure requirements for nurses out-of-state;Fifth is HB 2393, this bill would establish additional charges within court procedure costs to fund non-judicial employee salaries from now till the end of fiscal year 2030;Sixth is HB 2394, which would establish property tax use valuation for residential real property, real property used for commercial and industrial purposes, and mobile homes used for residential purposes;Seventh is HB 2395, which creates a new tax credit, worth up to $250 in the first year and then $100 for the next five years—per animal—, for certain expenses on cats and dogs, that reside indoors and are spayed and neutered;Eighth and last is HB 2396, this legislation would amend tax law in several ways. First it would establish a protest petition mechanism to negate property tax increases, within the taxing jurisdiction of the governing body raising said taxes, that exceeded the rate of inflation by the consumer price index and prior year rate increases for construction or renovation of buildings—the state of Kansas and school districts being exempted. Such a protest petition would require 10% of the voting population of the jurisdictions and need to be delivered within 30 days to take effect. Second, the bill would create an Acknowledging Stewardship of Tax Revenue and Appropriations (ASTRA) fund, initially funded at $60 million, that would allocate funds to taxing jurisdictions that did not raise their property taxes beyond the aforementioned values.COMMITTEE HAPPENINGSHouse Appropriations (HAPP) held hearings on Wednesday and Thursday, across a number of topics.Wednesday saw the committee hold an informational hearing on higher education, with presentations given by the presidents, and chancellor, of all state funded, or partially so, universities. According to the information provided at the hearings higher education is improving in our state and university enrollment, especially for in-person classes, has increased.On Thursday HAPP received briefings from MakeMyMove and KC2026 and held hearings on House Bill (HB) 2237 and Senate Bill (SB) 125. The MakeMyMove Corporation was represented by Ben Ledo, their vice president of sales. He contended that the state needed to create new incentives for improving inward migration to Kansas, in particular a grant program. KC2026, the organization that is planning and coordinating World Cup events in the Kansas City area in 2026, was represented by Lindsay Douglas, their director of integrated operations, and she informed the committee on how funds were being allocated and the rate of progress in preparing for the momentous event.HB 2237, relating to recruitment and retention award programs in state agencies, received proponent testimony from eight agencies and SB 125, claims against the state, received none. Both bills did not receive any opponent or neutral testimony.HOUSE DELIBERATIONS The Kansas House of Representatives debated and voted on seven pieces of legislation this week. I have detailed four of those bills below. First was House Bill (HB) 2096. This bill would alter law regarding housing investor tax credits, enabling credits to be transferred by investors within the same year of their issuance. Second was HB 2231. This legislation would alter the tax code by creating a new tax exemption of $2,320 for Head of Household tax filers, starting in tax year 2024, and increase the personal exemption to 100 percent for permanently disabled veterans. Third was HB 2107. This legislation would establish utility civil law liability parameters for damaging fire events and create training courses on wildfire risk and mitigation within the Kansas Corporation Commission, funded through the agency’s fee fund. Fourth and last was HB 2056. This bill would alter election law by requiring a signed and notarized declaration for recipients of certificates of nomination when running for public office. Each of these bills passed the House and I voted yes on all of them.It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas. Please contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.Contact My Office Representative Troy L. Waymaster 300 SW 10th Street Topeka,&nbsp;Kansas 66612&nbsp; troy.waymaster@house.ks.gov <a href="https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/">www.kslegislature.org</a> www.troywaymaster.com&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

WAYMASTER: From the Dome to Home, March 4, 2025

While researching Kelly Theater information in WaKeeney, I included background details. 

James Keeney, a Chicago land speculator purchased the town site from the Kansas Pacific Railroad in 1877. Working with business partner Albert Warren, the two surveyed the site in 1878. In 1879, they combined their names to title the newly founded community WaKeeney, promoting it as the “Queen City of the High Plains.”

Those familiar with a landscape divided by the significant 100th Meridian know this as a land of little rain, extreme temperatures, and harsh landscape. Native people migrated through seasonally to harvest buffalo but didn’t remain year-round.&nbsp;The Misters Keeney and Warren clearly possessed serious sales skills to turn their land speculation into Royal Habitat.

That said, a mere 34 years later, pre-WW I residents of WaKeeney and region could purchase tickets to watch movies in the Garden Theatre, owned by H.S. Givler, managed by CB Kelly.

By March 7, 1929, for a 25 to 50 cent admission fee, an audience sat in a dark theatre to watch "Airwings," a modern film with a synchronous score that included sounds of airplanes, machine guns, wind, and music. Keep in mind, this occurred prior to talking movies. The soundtrack ran separately from the movie.

On March 17, 1929, "Alias Jimmy Valentine", a William Haines all-talking picture was a “revelation to patrons of the Garden Theatre.” 

Imagine conversations viewers shared after watching a film that included visuals and audio on the same reel. Folks attending the movies in WaKeeney, KS, must have thought they did live in the Queen City of the High Plains after they experienced high-tech in their hometown. According to the Western Kansas News on March 21, 1929, the Garden Theater offered four talking movie viewings the prior Sunday.

Near the Ides of March, on the 22nd in 1929, Wakeeney 7th and 8th grade classes watched Julius Caeser at the Garden Theater with a discounted 10 cent ticket. According to the local paper, they enjoyed the movie. One can suppose discussions around family tables that evening were more than a little interesting.

Current readers wouldn’t think anything wrong about showing movies on a Sunday, but readers in 1929 understood CB Kelly, theatre manager, violated local Blue Laws, labor statutes forbidding businesses from operating on Sundays. 

According to the May 2, Western Kansas World edition, local law enforcement arrested Mr. Kelly for operating a picture show on Sunday in mid-January. He paid bond and awaited his May trial. Judge Peacock presided, County Attorney John Parsons prosecuted, and attorney Herman Long defended CB. Much to the relief of local audiences, the jury acquitted Mr. Kelly, who returned to his job at the Garden Theatre.

Unfortunately, in August, a malfunctioning projector contributed to overheated film catching fire and destroying the Garden Theatre. The fire occurred during a movie, and according to the Western Kansas World, once the audience noticed the fire, they calmly exited the facility. 

Despite the viewers' survival, the theatre and both adjoining buildings burned. The fire grew large enough that the nearby Ellis Fire Department sent a truck to help control flames. The crew from Ellis claimed they made it from Ellis to WaKeeney in 20 minutes.

CB Kelly turned Givler’s catastrophe into opportunity, purchased two lots, and rebuilt a 500-seat movie theatre, which he named the Kelly Theatre. 

Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1658158626307.png" alt="Karen Madorin Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Karen Madorin Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By KAREN MADORIN While researching Kelly Theater information in WaKeeney, I included background details. James Keeney, a Chicago land speculator purchased the town site from the Kansas Pacific Railroad in 1877. Working with business partner Albert Warren, the two surveyed the site in 1878. In 1879, they combined their names to title the newly founded community WaKeeney, promoting it as the “Queen City of the High Plains.”Those familiar with a landscape divided by the significant 100th Meridian know this as a land of little rain, extreme temperatures, and harsh landscape. Native people migrated through seasonally to harvest buffalo but didn’t remain year-round.&nbsp;The Misters Keeney and Warren clearly possessed serious sales skills to turn their land speculation into Royal Habitat.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/2/1740608044762.jpeg" alt="Kelly theatre marquee. Courtesy image" />
 <figcaption>Kelly theatre marquee. Courtesy image</figcaption>
 </figure>That said, a mere 34 years later, pre-WW I residents of WaKeeney and region could purchase tickets to watch movies in the Garden Theatre, owned by H.S. Givler, managed by CB Kelly.By March 7, 1929, for a 25 to 50 cent admission fee, an audience sat in a dark theatre to watch "Airwings," a modern film with a synchronous score that included sounds of airplanes, machine guns, wind, and music. Keep in mind, this occurred prior to talking movies. The soundtrack ran separately from the movie.On March 17, 1929, "Alias Jimmy Valentine", a William Haines all-talking picture was a “revelation to patrons of the Garden Theatre.” Imagine conversations viewers shared after watching a film that included visuals and audio on the same reel. Folks attending the movies in WaKeeney, KS, must have thought they did live in the Queen City of the High Plains after they experienced high-tech in their hometown. According to the Western Kansas News on March 21, 1929, the Garden Theater offered four talking movie viewings the prior Sunday.Near the Ides of March, on the 22nd in 1929, Wakeeney 7th and 8th grade classes watched Julius Caeser at the Garden Theater with a discounted 10 cent ticket. According to the local paper, they enjoyed the movie. One can suppose discussions around family tables that evening were more than a little interesting.Current readers wouldn’t think anything wrong about showing movies on a Sunday, but readers in 1929 understood CB Kelly, theatre manager, violated local Blue Laws, labor statutes forbidding businesses from operating on Sundays. According to the May 2, Western Kansas World edition, local law enforcement arrested Mr. Kelly for operating a picture show on Sunday in mid-January. He paid bond and awaited his May trial. Judge Peacock presided, County Attorney John Parsons prosecuted, and attorney Herman Long defended CB. Much to the relief of local audiences, the jury acquitted Mr. Kelly, who returned to his job at the Garden Theatre.Unfortunately, in August, a malfunctioning projector contributed to overheated film catching fire and destroying the Garden Theatre. The fire occurred during a movie, and according to the Western Kansas World, once the audience noticed the fire, they calmly exited the facility. Despite the viewers' survival, the theatre and both adjoining buildings burned. The fire grew large enough that the nearby Ellis Fire Department sent a truck to help control flames. The crew from Ellis claimed they made it from Ellis to WaKeeney in 20 minutes.CB Kelly turned Givler’s catastrophe into opportunity, purchased two lots, and rebuilt a 500-seat movie theatre, which he named the Kelly Theatre. More to come on this venture.Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: Kelly Theatre—Part 1

In the past several years the legislature has focused on adding additional funding to our water agencies. 

Over 270 communities applied for the 2024 funding period, requesting a total of $237 million. Thirty-nine technical assistance grants and 24 water projects grants were awarded to 70 communities and special districts related to water. A total of $26,287,103 was awarded for Technical Assistance Grant Funds, Water Project Grant Funds and Loan Assistance. 

The communities awarded funding in the 40th Senate District and western Kansas in this round of grants are:&nbsp; • Technical Assistance Grants: Wallace, Ellis, Bunker Hill, Norcatur, Quinter • Loan Assistance Grants: Liebenthal, Gorham, Hill City, Gove, Plainville, Ellis County • Water Projects: Palco, Collyer.

Additional bills passed by the Senate which have been sent to the House include:

Greeley County contacted the Kansas Attorney General after local voters passed a bond proposal for specified improvements for Tribune school district USD200. The county did not meet compliance verification, and the Attorney General refused to approve the funds. SB2 will remedy the situation and will allow Greeley County to proceed with their improvements.

SB64 would amend Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) statutes. The bill would extend the timeline for a KPERS member to request an administrative hearing to appeal a decision made by the KPERS Board of Trustees without a hearing. The bill would also update KPERS statues to align with federal Internal Revenue Code regulations relating to the applicable age for required minimum distribution of pension benefits, recalculation of life expectancy for determining benefits distributions from a defined contribution or deferred contribution plan, and the addition of a SIMPLE IRA that meets specific rollover requirements to the list of eligible retirement plans. Last year KPERS return on investments returned $1.6B.

SB126 would enact the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. The compacts would facilitate the interstate practice of physician assistants (PAs) with the goal of improving public access to medical services and achieve several objectives that reduce administrative burden while increasing availability of licensed PAs as well as cooperation among member state licensing bodies.

I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions or concerns. My office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell number is 785 899-4700. If you are in Topeka, stop by my office at 545-S.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1644852447177.jpeg" alt="State Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist. File photo/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>State Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, 40th Dist. File photo/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA March 4, 2025In the past several years the legislature has focused on adding additional funding to our water agencies. Over 270 communities applied for the 2024 funding period, requesting a total of $237 million. Thirty-nine technical assistance grants and 24 water projects grants were awarded to 70 communities and special districts related to water. A total of $26,287,103 was awarded for Technical Assistance Grant Funds, Water Project Grant Funds and Loan Assistance. The communities awarded funding in the 40th Senate District and western Kansas in this round of grants are:&nbsp; • Technical Assistance Grants: Wallace, Ellis, Bunker Hill, Norcatur, Quinter • Loan Assistance Grants: Liebenthal, Gorham, Hill City, Gove, Plainville, Ellis County • Water Projects: Palco, Collyer.Additional bills passed by the Senate which have been sent to the House include: Greeley County contacted the Kansas Attorney General after local voters passed a bond proposal for specified improvements for Tribune school district USD200. The county did not meet compliance verification, and the Attorney General refused to approve the funds. SB2 will remedy the situation and will allow Greeley County to proceed with their improvements.SB64 would amend Kansas Public Employees Retirement System (KPERS) statutes. The bill would extend the timeline for a KPERS member to request an administrative hearing to appeal a decision made by the KPERS Board of Trustees without a hearing. The bill would also update KPERS statues to align with federal Internal Revenue Code regulations relating to the applicable age for required minimum distribution of pension benefits, recalculation of life expectancy for determining benefits distributions from a defined contribution or deferred contribution plan, and the addition of a SIMPLE IRA that meets specific rollover requirements to the list of eligible retirement plans. Last year KPERS return on investments returned $1.6B.SB126 would enact the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact. The compacts would facilitate the interstate practice of physician assistants (PAs) with the goal of improving public access to medical services and achieve several objectives that reduce administrative burden while increasing availability of licensed PAs as well as cooperation among member state licensing bodies.I am honored and grateful to represent the 40th Senate District in Kansas. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email: rick.billinger@senate.ks.gov or call me with your questions or concerns. My office number is 785-296-7399 or my cell number is 785 899-4700. If you are in Topeka, stop by my office at 545-S.

BILLINGER: Senate Update March 4, 2025

By MICHELLE BEFRAN Cottonwood Extension District

Have you ever worked on a jigsaw puzzle and, initially, the pieces and colors seem to make no sense? 

We’ve had a puzzle set up in our back room for several weeks and it is a good brain break. It also made me think about how we approach problems.

I start a jigsaw puzzle by trying to find all of the border pieces. This helps me to have a framework for how to get started. 

Next, I will start with a small area to identify colors or details that seem to go together. There are times when everything just feels like a jumble but finding the right spot for one or two pieces can keep me engaged and encourage me to keep looking for the next small step.

The first H in the 4-H Pledge is “head” as in, I pledge my head to clearer thinking. 

This is all about helping our young people learn to evaluate options and practice good decision-making skills. We use a lot of different techniques to help youth learn about and develop good decision-making skills. 

Some of these are fun such as a judging contest. Some are more serious such as decisions to be voted on during a club or project meeting. Sometimes, the decision-making practice comes as a part of another activity – if you don’t agree with a judge’s decision, YOU have a decision to make, such as truly listening to the feedback and choosing to find parts of it to improve in some way. 

Additionally, parents can and should model this behavior by not bashing a judge (or referee or other official) when you don’t agree with their determination. Sometimes, we have to agree to disagree but I am a firm believer that there is always something that can be learned from each interaction; we just have to make a decision to be open to the lesson.

There are times when problems feel like a jigsaw puzzle and the solution is not clear, the details are confusing, and it is hard to know where to start.

 Stopping to find your border and then identifying one or two ways to get started is usually best. At some point – in puzzles and problem-solving – we can begin to see not only what is missing but what or WHO can fill that spot.

Just like I can’t quite get that puzzle piece in the right spot, youth aren’t always going to make the best decisions every time. But with guidance and support to evaluate and grow, they will make better decisions more often!

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.

Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District.

For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668179445671.jpeg" alt="Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By MICHELLE BEFRAN Cottonwood Extension DistrictHave you ever worked on a jigsaw puzzle and, initially, the pieces and colors seem to make no sense? We’ve had a puzzle set up in our back room for several weeks and it is a good brain break. It also made me think about how we approach problems.I start a jigsaw puzzle by trying to find all of the border pieces. This helps me to have a framework for how to get started. Next, I will start with a small area to identify colors or details that seem to go together. There are times when everything just feels like a jumble but finding the right spot for one or two pieces can keep me engaged and encourage me to keep looking for the next small step.The first H in the 4-H Pledge is “head” as in, I pledge my head to clearer thinking. This is all about helping our young people learn to evaluate options and practice good decision-making skills. We use a lot of different techniques to help youth learn about and develop good decision-making skills. Some of these are fun such as a judging contest. Some are more serious such as decisions to be voted on during a club or project meeting. Sometimes, the decision-making practice comes as a part of another activity – if you don’t agree with a judge’s decision, YOU have a decision to make, such as truly listening to the feedback and choosing to find parts of it to improve in some way. Additionally, parents can and should model this behavior by not bashing a judge (or referee or other official) when you don’t agree with their determination. Sometimes, we have to agree to disagree but I am a firm believer that there is always something that can be learned from each interaction; we just have to make a decision to be open to the lesson.There are times when problems feel like a jigsaw puzzle and the solution is not clear, the details are confusing, and it is hard to know where to start. Stopping to find your border and then identifying one or two ways to get started is usually best. At some point – in puzzles and problem-solving – we can begin to see not only what is missing but what or WHO can fill that spot.Just like I can’t quite get that puzzle piece in the right spot, youth aren’t always going to make the best decisions every time. But with guidance and support to evaluate and grow, they will make better decisions more often!Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness.Michelle Beran is the 4-H Youth Development Agent in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Michelle at mberan@ksu.edu or call Cottonwood Extension District – Barton Office at 620-793-1910.

BERAN: Puzzle pieces

Two weeks ago, my wife was fired from her job with the federal government. We were playing a board game and having a beer when her phone rang. A colleague asked if she had “got the email.”

Having left her work phone at the office, she had no way of knowing. We bundled into the car and raced across town. After a few minutes inside, she emerged from her office and gave me a thumbs-down as she walked toward the car.

“Fired,” she said, clicking her seatbelt into place.

Unbeknownst to us, tens of thousands of probationary federal employees — those within their first one to two years of service — had received the same email that evening.

The message itself was blank, just a Word document attached with five short paragraphs. The fourth read:

“The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest.”

If the suddenness of the firing and its financial impact weren’t enough, the baseless claim of poor performance added insult to injury.

My wife was an archaeologist working out of Hays under the National Resource and Conservation Services wing of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was a dream job and one she had worked and studied for years to achieve. She engaged with Native American tribal groups, local communities, and farmers to ensure the preservation of cultural resources across the plains.

I suspect a lot of people might think that the federal government has no business employing archaeologists, but their work is vital. They document and protect irreplaceable cultural heritage — not just Indigenous histories but also the lives of the settlers and pioneers who shaped the landscape we live on today. They ensure that historical sites and artifacts, from ancient campsites to century-old homesteads, are not lost to development or neglect.

But it wasn’t just archaeologists who were fired. Biologists, soil scientists, water conservation specialists, public health workers and forest service employees were all swept away in the same mass termination. One commenter on a subreddit dedicated to the recently fired employees voiced his frustration with the new administration’s priorities :

“I know I’ll bounce back and land another job. I am grateful that I’m young and that I have support, and I’ll be OK. The thing I can’t get over is that the richest man in the world directed my firing. I make $50k a year and work to keep drinking water safe. The richest man in the world decided that was an expense too great for the American taxpayer.”

Compensation for the entire federal workforce made up just 4.3% of the federal budget in 2024. If the entire federal workforce was eliminated today it would barely put a dent in our national debt, which sits at $36 trillion. This comes alongside plans for further tax cuts from the Trump administration. Some analysts suggest these cuts could add as much as $4.8 trillion to the national debt in the next decade.

Given the relatively minor impact that these job cuts will have on U.S. spending, it is frustrating and vexing to see jubilant celebrations at the elimination of jobs that protect and preserve history, national parks, drinking water, soil health, forests, and environmental and public safety.

The fact that Elon Musk and DOGE chose to begin their scrutinization of government expenditures here rather than starting with the Defense Department and programs like the F-35 fighter jet — a decade behind schedule and $183 billion over budget — speaks volumes.

There is a naive belief that the private sector will absorb responsibility for these services. It is dubious. Many federal agencies exist to preserve and protect history, health, and nature. The private sector lacks sufficient incentive to care for these areas or, worse, has incentives to disregard them.

My wife’s (former) agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, was established in 1935 as the Soil Conservation Service in response to the Dust Bowl. Its primary goal was to help farmers and landowners implement practices that prevent soil erosion, improve land productivity, and promote sustainable agriculture. Over the years, the agency expanded its focus to include water conservation, wildlife habitat preservation, and more recently the preservation of cultural resources through archeology.

Small farms and ranches across the state of Kansas appear to be struggling to adapt to new changes in federal funding, while large corporate farms stand poised to absorb them. As the NRCS hemorrhages employees and funding, I wonder which private firm plans to step in to mitigate the effects of soil erosion, nutrient runoff and water contamination? Which start-up company will emerge to look after waterfowl and other wildlife?

My wife and three close friends are among those who were fired without notice and without severance. My wife and I will be OK. We have a strong support network, and while we may have to sell our house, we will find a way through this. Other friends of ours are single or have children and are far more reliant on this one job for their financial security. They will feel the impact of this shock for years to come.

As close friends tighten their belts, prepare to move back in with their families or sell their homes, Elon Musk appeared at the CPAC conference in Washington with a chrome-plated chainsaw, a celebratory talisman of the evisceration of the federal workforce.

The callous indifference to the struggles of fired civil servants and the history, nature, wildlife and people that they work to protect should be an affront to every reasonable American.

Sam Foglesong is a scholar of African Studies and a writer who lives in Hays.&nbsp;Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/submit-opinion/">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/3/1741102365726.png" alt="Elon Musk arrives on Jan. 20, 2025, in the U.S. Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of President Donald Trump. (Pool photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)" />
 <figcaption>Elon Musk arrives on Jan. 20, 2025, in the U.S. Capitol rotunda in Washington, D.C., for the inauguration of President Donald Trump. (Pool photo by Kenny Holston/Getty Images)</figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas ReflectorTwo weeks ago, my wife was fired from her job with the federal government. We were playing a board game and having a beer when her phone rang. A colleague asked if she had “got the email.”Having left her work phone at the office, she had no way of knowing. We bundled into the car and raced across town. After a few minutes inside, she emerged from her office and gave me a thumbs-down as she walked toward the car.“Fired,” she said, clicking her seatbelt into place.Unbeknownst to us, tens of thousands of probationary federal employees — those within their first one to two years of service — had received the same email that evening.The message itself was blank, just a Word document attached with five short paragraphs. The fourth read:“The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not demonstrated that your further employment at the Agency would be in the public interest.”If the suddenness of the firing and its financial impact weren’t enough, the baseless claim of poor performance added insult to injury.My wife was an archaeologist working out of Hays under the National Resource and Conservation Services wing of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It was a dream job and one she had worked and studied for years to achieve. She engaged with Native American tribal groups, local communities, and farmers to ensure the preservation of cultural resources across the plains.I suspect a lot of people might think that the federal government has no business employing archaeologists, but their work is vital. They document and protect irreplaceable cultural heritage — not just Indigenous histories but also the lives of the settlers and pioneers who shaped the landscape we live on today. They ensure that historical sites and artifacts, from ancient campsites to century-old homesteads, are not lost to development or neglect.But it wasn’t just archaeologists who were fired. Biologists, soil scientists, water conservation specialists, public health workers and forest service employees were all swept away in the same mass termination. One commenter on a subreddit dedicated to the recently fired employees voiced his frustration with the new administration’s priorities :“I know I’ll bounce back and land another job. I am grateful that I’m young and that I have support, and I’ll be OK. The thing I can’t get over is that the richest man in the world directed my firing. I make $50k a year and work to keep drinking water safe. The richest man in the world decided that was an expense too great for the American taxpayer.”Compensation for the entire federal workforce made up just 4.3% of the federal budget in 2024. If the entire federal workforce was eliminated today it would barely put a dent in our national debt, which sits at $36 trillion. This comes alongside plans for further tax cuts from the Trump administration. Some analysts suggest these cuts could add as much as $4.8 trillion to the national debt in the next decade.Given the relatively minor impact that these job cuts will have on U.S. spending, it is frustrating and vexing to see jubilant celebrations at the elimination of jobs that protect and preserve history, national parks, drinking water, soil health, forests, and environmental and public safety.The fact that Elon Musk and DOGE chose to begin their scrutinization of government expenditures here rather than starting with the Defense Department and programs like the F-35 fighter jet — a decade behind schedule and $183 billion over budget — speaks volumes.There is a naive belief that the private sector will absorb responsibility for these services. It is dubious. Many federal agencies exist to preserve and protect history, health, and nature. The private sector lacks sufficient incentive to care for these areas or, worse, has incentives to disregard them.My wife’s (former) agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, was established in 1935 as the Soil Conservation Service in response to the Dust Bowl. Its primary goal was to help farmers and landowners implement practices that prevent soil erosion, improve land productivity, and promote sustainable agriculture. Over the years, the agency expanded its focus to include water conservation, wildlife habitat preservation, and more recently the preservation of cultural resources through archeology.Small farms and ranches across the state of Kansas appear to be struggling to adapt to new changes in federal funding, while large corporate farms stand poised to absorb them. As the NRCS hemorrhages employees and funding, I wonder which private firm plans to step in to mitigate the effects of soil erosion, nutrient runoff and water contamination? Which start-up company will emerge to look after waterfowl and other wildlife?My wife and three close friends are among those who were fired without notice and without severance. My wife and I will be OK. We have a strong support network, and while we may have to sell our house, we will find a way through this. Other friends of ours are single or have children and are far more reliant on this one job for their financial security. They will feel the impact of this shock for years to come.As close friends tighten their belts, prepare to move back in with their families or sell their homes, Elon Musk appeared at the CPAC conference in Washington with a chrome-plated chainsaw, a celebratory talisman of the evisceration of the federal workforce.The callous indifference to the struggles of fired civil servants and the history, nature, wildlife and people that they work to protect should be an affront to every reasonable American.Sam Foglesong is a scholar of African Studies and a writer who lives in Hays.&nbsp;Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/submit-opinion/">here</a>.

Opinion: Here’s the latest from Hays: Elon Musk fired my wife

What’s not to like about walking? It’s free. It’s easy to do, and it’s not just easy on joints but it also keeps them lubricated and flexible. There’s no question that walking is good for you. 

A University of Tennessee study found that women who walked had less body fat than those who didn’t walk. It also lowers the risk of blood clots, since the calf acts as a venous pump, contracting and pumping blood from the feet and legs back to the heart, reducing the load on the heart. 

In addition to being an easy aerobic exercise, walking is good for you in many other ways:&nbsp;

1.  Improve Circulation Walking wards off heart disease, brings up the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the heart. Post-menopausal women who walk just one to two miles a day can lower their blood pressure by nearly 11 points in 24 weeks. Women who walk 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of stroke by 20%, and by 40% when they stepped up the pace, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.&nbsp;

2.  Shore Up Your Bones Walking can stop the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis, according to Michael A. Schwartz, MD, of Plancher Orthopedics &amp; Sports Medicine in New York. In fact, one study of post-menopausal women found that 30 minutes of walking each day reduced their risk of hip fractures by 40%.&nbsp;

3.  Enjoy a Longer Life &nbsp;Research finds that people who exercise regularly in their fifties and sixties are 35% less likely to die over the next eight years than their non-walking counterparts. That number shoots up to 45% less likely for those who have underlying health conditions.&nbsp; 4.  Lighten Your Mood&nbsp; Walking releases natural painkilling endorphins to the body – one of the emotional benefits of exercise. A California State University, Long Beach, study showed that the more steps people took during the day, the better their moods were. &nbsp;

5.  Lose Weight &nbsp;A brisk 30-minute walk burns 200 calories. Over time, calories burned can lead to pounds dropped.&nbsp;

6.  Strengthen Muscles &nbsp;Walking tones your leg and abdominal muscles – and even arm muscles if you pump them as you walk. This increases your range of motion, shifting the pressure and weight from your joints to your muscles.&nbsp;

7.  Improve Sleep Studies found that women ages 50 to 75 who took one-hour morning walks were more likely to have less insomnia than women who didn’t walk.&nbsp;

8.  Support Your Joints The majority of joint cartilage has no direct blood supply. It gets its nutrition from joint fluid that circulates as we move. Movement and compression from walking “squishes” the cartilage, bringing oxygen and nutrients into the area. &nbsp;

9.  Improve Your Breathing When you are walking, your breathing rate increases, causing oxygen to travel faster through bloodstream, helping to eliminate waste products and improve your energy level and the ability to heal.

10.  Slow Down Mental Decline A study of 6,000 women ages 65 and older found that age-related memory decline was lower in those who walked more. According to the University of California, San Francisco, study, women walking 2.5 miles per day had a 17% decline in memory compared to a 25% decline in women who walked less than a half-mile per week.&nbsp;

11.  Lower Alzheimer's Risk A study from the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville found that men between the ages of 71 and 93 who walked more than a quarter of a mile per day had half the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than those who walked less.&nbsp;

12.  Do More for Longer Aerobic walking and resistance exercise programs may reduce the incidence of disability in the activities of daily living for people who are older than 65 and have symptomatic osteoarthritis, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management found.&nbsp;

Source: Arthritis Foundation&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1668522152076.jpeg" alt="Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo" />
 <figcaption>Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District. Courtesy photo</figcaption>
 </figure>What’s not to like about walking? It’s free. It’s easy to do, and it’s not just easy on joints but it also keeps them lubricated and flexible. There’s no question that walking is good for you. A University of Tennessee study found that women who walked had less body fat than those who didn’t walk. It also lowers the risk of blood clots, since the calf acts as a venous pump, contracting and pumping blood from the feet and legs back to the heart, reducing the load on the heart. In addition to being an easy aerobic exercise, walking is good for you in many other ways:&nbsp;1.  Improve Circulation Walking wards off heart disease, brings up the heart rate, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the heart. Post-menopausal women who walk just one to two miles a day can lower their blood pressure by nearly 11 points in 24 weeks. Women who walk 30 minutes a day can reduce their risk of stroke by 20%, and by 40% when they stepped up the pace, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston.&nbsp;2.  Shore Up Your Bones Walking can stop the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis, according to Michael A. Schwartz, MD, of Plancher Orthopedics &amp; Sports Medicine in New York. In fact, one study of post-menopausal women found that 30 minutes of walking each day reduced their risk of hip fractures by 40%.&nbsp;3.  Enjoy a Longer Life &nbsp;Research finds that people who exercise regularly in their fifties and sixties are 35% less likely to die over the next eight years than their non-walking counterparts. That number shoots up to 45% less likely for those who have underlying health conditions.&nbsp; 4.  Lighten Your Mood&nbsp; Walking releases natural painkilling endorphins to the body – one of the emotional benefits of exercise. A California State University, Long Beach, study showed that the more steps people took during the day, the better their moods were. &nbsp;5.  Lose Weight &nbsp;A brisk 30-minute walk burns 200 calories. Over time, calories burned can lead to pounds dropped.&nbsp;6.  Strengthen Muscles &nbsp;Walking tones your leg and abdominal muscles – and even arm muscles if you pump them as you walk. This increases your range of motion, shifting the pressure and weight from your joints to your muscles.&nbsp;7.  Improve Sleep Studies found that women ages 50 to 75 who took one-hour morning walks were more likely to have less insomnia than women who didn’t walk.&nbsp;8.  Support Your Joints The majority of joint cartilage has no direct blood supply. It gets its nutrition from joint fluid that circulates as we move. Movement and compression from walking “squishes” the cartilage, bringing oxygen and nutrients into the area. &nbsp;9.  Improve Your Breathing When you are walking, your breathing rate increases, causing oxygen to travel faster through bloodstream, helping to eliminate waste products and improve your energy level and the ability to heal. 10.  Slow Down Mental Decline A study of 6,000 women ages 65 and older found that age-related memory decline was lower in those who walked more. According to the University of California, San Francisco, study, women walking 2.5 miles per day had a 17% decline in memory compared to a 25% decline in women who walked less than a half-mile per week.&nbsp;11.  Lower Alzheimer's Risk A study from the University of Virginia Health System in Charlottesville found that men between the ages of 71 and 93 who walked more than a quarter of a mile per day had half the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease than those who walked less.&nbsp;12.  Do More for Longer Aerobic walking and resistance exercise programs may reduce the incidence of disability in the activities of daily living for people who are older than 65 and have symptomatic osteoarthritis, a study published in the Journal of Clinical Outcomes Management found.&nbsp;Source: Arthritis Foundation&nbsp;Monique Koerner is the Family and Community Wellness Agent with K-State Research and Extension – Cottonwood District. You may reach her at: 785-628-9430 or <a href="mailto:moniquek@ksu.edu" target="_blank">moniquek@ksu.edu</a>&nbsp;.&nbsp;