TOPEKA&nbsp;– Today, Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz announced 16 counties have received approximately $8.5 million through the Kansas High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) Program.

The HRRR program is a state/local partnership initiative designed to improve safety on off-system rural roads. This year’s HRRR selections include 16 counties with total projects costs of $11 million. When Coronavirus Relief Funds and Highway Infrastructure Program funds became available earlier this year, KDOT was able to distribute twice the funds typically available for HRRR annually.&nbsp;

“This $8.5 million will go a long way to improve critical local roadways, protect Kansans, and spur economic growth,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly. “As our economy continues to recover from COVID-19, we must use every tool in our disposal to ensure a strong, resilient foundation for years to come. Congratulations to the 16 Kansas counties that submitted successful applications.”

Kansas HRRR funds cover 90-100 percent of total project cost with the counties making up the difference if required. KDOT was able to select six additional HRRR projects for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2022 and several projects previously scheduled for FFY 2023 have moved up to FFY 2022.

“When additional federal coronavirus relief funds became available, KDOT recognized the need to move quickly to expand the HRRR program to as many counties as possible,”&nbsp;said Lorenz. “Even with the additional money, we are only able to fund half the applications received, which shows the high demand for rural safety projects.”

KDOT received more than 30 applications for 2021 HRRR safety-related funding for off-system rural roadways. HRRR project funding ranged from $62,000 to $1.4 million. Counties sent in applications for this program from November 2020 to the end of February 2021.

Projects in this program fall into one of two categories: Systemic (encompassing a local roadway collector network) or Site Specific. Projects in the Systemic category are 100 percent federally funded and do not require a local match. Site Specific projects are 90 percent federally funded with the county contributing at least 10 percent of the cost.

The county, category, amount awarded, federal fiscal year (FFY) and brief description for HRRR projects receiving funds are shown below:

TOPEKA&nbsp;– Today, Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas Department of Transportation Secretary Julie Lorenz announced 16 counties have received approximately $8.5 million through the Kansas High Risk Rural Roads (HRRR) Program.The HRRR program is a state/local partnership initiative designed to improve safety on off-system rural roads. This year’s HRRR selections include 16 counties with total projects costs of $11 million. When Coronavirus Relief Funds and Highway Infrastructure Program funds became available earlier this year, KDOT was able to distribute twice the funds typically available for HRRR annually.&nbsp;“This $8.5 million will go a long way to improve critical local roadways, protect Kansans, and spur economic growth,”&nbsp;said Governor Laura Kelly. “As our economy continues to recover from COVID-19, we must use every tool in our disposal to ensure a strong, resilient foundation for years to come. Congratulations to the 16 Kansas counties that submitted successful applications.”Kansas HRRR funds cover 90-100 percent of total project cost with the counties making up the difference if required. KDOT was able to select six additional HRRR projects for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2022 and several projects previously scheduled for FFY 2023 have moved up to FFY 2022.“When additional federal coronavirus relief funds became available, KDOT recognized the need to move quickly to expand the HRRR program to as many counties as possible,”&nbsp;said Lorenz. “Even with the additional money, we are only able to fund half the applications received, which shows the high demand for rural safety projects.”KDOT received more than 30 applications for 2021 HRRR safety-related funding for off-system rural roadways. HRRR project funding ranged from $62,000 to $1.4 million. Counties sent in applications for this program from November 2020 to the end of February 2021.Projects in this program fall into one of two categories: Systemic (encompassing a local roadway collector network) or Site Specific. Projects in the Systemic category are 100 percent federally funded and do not require a local match. Site Specific projects are 90 percent federally funded with the county contributing at least 10 percent of the cost.The county, category, amount awarded, federal fiscal year (FFY) and brief description for HRRR projects receiving funds are shown below:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620314687020.png" alt="* Indicates counties identified as being especially hard-hit economically because of COVID-19." />
 <figcaption>* Indicates counties identified as being especially hard-hit economically because of COVID-19.</figcaption>
 </figure>

Area counties among those receiving High Risk Rural Roads funds

Police are investigating an incident in which windows on a minivan were smashed in a central Salina neighborhood Wednesday night.

An officer was sent to the 500 block of S. Phillips Street at approximately 11 p.m. Wednesday after a witness called police to report someone breaking his neighbor's vehicle windows. The witness saw a white male wearing a white shirt hitting the windows of a 2009 Chrysler Town and Country minivan belonging to Mark Smith, 69, of Salina, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.

After breaking the windows, the man ran north on S. Phillips Street and then east on Morrison Avenue.

The windshield of the minivan had three holes in it and all three driver-side windows were shattered. It appeared that the windshield may have been struck with a hammer, Forrester reported. Damage was estimated at $1,500.

Police are investigating an incident in which windows on a minivan were smashed in a central Salina neighborhood Wednesday night.An officer was sent to the 500 block of S. Phillips Street at approximately 11 p.m. Wednesday after a witness called police to report someone breaking his neighbor's vehicle windows. The witness saw a white male wearing a white shirt hitting the windows of a 2009 Chrysler Town and Country minivan belonging to Mark Smith, 69, of Salina, according to Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester.After breaking the windows, the man ran north on S. Phillips Street and then east on Morrison Avenue.The windshield of the minivan had three holes in it and all three driver-side windows were shattered. It appeared that the windshield may have been struck with a hammer, Forrester reported. Damage was estimated at $1,500.

Police looking for person who broke minivan windows

Better Business Bureau (BBB) has announced the winners of its 2021 Scott Mecham Student of Integrity Award Scholarships from The Kansas Plains.

These awards were created to promote ethics and integrity among young people so they may be motivated to continue incorporating moral values into every aspect of their lives. Public, private and home-schooled high school seniors from BBB’s service area were invited to apply.

Twelve graduating students who have demonstrated outstanding community service, leadership and personal integrity annually receive $2,000 scholarships from BBB’s Education Foundation for their post-secondary education expenses at any accredited institution. Winners were chosen across BBB’s service area of The Kansas Plains, Omaha/Southwest Iowa; Lincoln/Greater Nebraska; and South Dakota. They were chosen by independent panels of judges based mainly on the content of a required essay about a situation the students were personally involved in that tested their ethical philosophy.

2021 BBB Students of Integrity from The Kansas Plains

Makenna Roths&nbsp;will be graduating from Southeast of Saline High School, Gypsum. She will attend Wichita State University Cohen Honors College and pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree. Makenna said, “I have chosen my intended major to be geology because it has many career opportunities, all of which will allow me to continue to learn, research and discover. My passion for learning new things and discovering the unknown will be my driving force as I work to make a positive impact on my society that will carry on to make a positive impact on the world.”

Audrey Rymer&nbsp;is from Hays and she is graduating from Hays High School. Audrey will be attending the Fort Hays State University, where she plans to begin pursuing a career in medicine. She would like to be an orthopedic or cardiac surgeon. She said, “I am fascinated with the human body and how just a minor fault in the body can have drastic repercussions.” Audrey has come to love being in hospitals through her parents who both work in them as well as the time she has had to spend in them because of injuries she has sustained in her life.

Jaylah Hurley&nbsp;will be a graduate of Inman High School, Inman. At Fort Hays State University she plans to pursue an Associate of Science Degree in radiologic technology and then a Bachelor of Science Degree in medical diagnostic imaging. Along with observation experiences in different radiology departments and clinical experience during college, Jaylah plans to begin a career as a radiologist technologist upon graduating.&nbsp;

“These ‘Students of Integrity’ personify all of the best aspects of ethical behavior and fine character in their personal choices and actions. They serve as role models for others to emulate,” said BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty.&nbsp;“Unlike many other scholarships, grades, financial need and ethnicity are not factors in selecting the recipients. Makenna, Audrey and Jaylah are receiving these scholarships because of their commitment to honesty and accountability inside and outside of the classroom. The Better Business Bureau and its Foundation are proud to honor these amazing young adults with this prestigious award!”

ABOUT BBB:&nbsp;Better Business Bureau has been assisting U.S. consumers and businesses since 1912. It is a nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. BBB services to consumers are free of charge. BBB provides objective advice, free BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.3 million companies, 11,000 charity reviews, dispute resolution services, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://bbb.org/" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>&nbsp;for more information.

Better Business Bureau (BBB) has announced the winners of its 2021 Scott Mecham Student of Integrity Award Scholarships from The Kansas Plains.BBB Student of Integrity AwardsThese awards were created to promote ethics and integrity among young people so they may be motivated to continue incorporating moral values into every aspect of their lives. Public, private and home-schooled high school seniors from BBB’s service area were invited to apply.Twelve graduating students who have demonstrated outstanding community service, leadership and personal integrity annually receive $2,000 scholarships from BBB’s Education Foundation for their post-secondary education expenses at any accredited institution. Winners were chosen across BBB’s service area of The Kansas Plains, Omaha/Southwest Iowa; Lincoln/Greater Nebraska; and South Dakota. They were chosen by independent panels of judges based mainly on the content of a required essay about a situation the students were personally involved in that tested their ethical philosophy.2021 BBB Students of Integrity from The Kansas PlainsMakenna Roths&nbsp;will be graduating from Southeast of Saline High School, Gypsum. She will attend Wichita State University Cohen Honors College and pursue a Bachelor of Science Degree. Makenna said, “I have chosen my intended major to be geology because it has many career opportunities, all of which will allow me to continue to learn, research and discover. My passion for learning new things and discovering the unknown will be my driving force as I work to make a positive impact on my society that will carry on to make a positive impact on the world.”Audrey Rymer&nbsp;is from Hays and she is graduating from Hays High School. Audrey will be attending the Fort Hays State University, where she plans to begin pursuing a career in medicine. She would like to be an orthopedic or cardiac surgeon. She said, “I am fascinated with the human body and how just a minor fault in the body can have drastic repercussions.” Audrey has come to love being in hospitals through her parents who both work in them as well as the time she has had to spend in them because of injuries she has sustained in her life.Jaylah Hurley&nbsp;will be a graduate of Inman High School, Inman. At Fort Hays State University she plans to pursue an Associate of Science Degree in radiologic technology and then a Bachelor of Science Degree in medical diagnostic imaging. Along with observation experiences in different radiology departments and clinical experience during college, Jaylah plans to begin a career as a radiologist technologist upon graduating.&nbsp;“These ‘Students of Integrity’ personify all of the best aspects of ethical behavior and fine character in their personal choices and actions. They serve as role models for others to emulate,” said BBB President and CEO Jim Hegarty.&nbsp;“Unlike many other scholarships, grades, financial need and ethnicity are not factors in selecting the recipients. Makenna, Audrey and Jaylah are receiving these scholarships because of their commitment to honesty and accountability inside and outside of the classroom. The Better Business Bureau and its Foundation are proud to honor these amazing young adults with this prestigious award!”ABOUT BBB:&nbsp;Better Business Bureau has been assisting U.S. consumers and businesses since 1912. It is a nonprofit, business-supported organization that sets and upholds high standards for fair and honest business behavior. BBB services to consumers are free of charge. BBB provides objective advice, free BBB Business Profiles on more than 5.3 million companies, 11,000 charity reviews, dispute resolution services, alerts and educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. Please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://bbb.org/" target="_blank">BBB.org</a>&nbsp;for more information.

SES's Roths a Better Business Bureau Student of Integrity

HAYS – The major goal of Future Educators Day at Fort Hays State University is to increase interest for students in the teaching profession and to inspire them by having them interact with some of the most dynamic teachers in the state. 

High school students attending the 2021 event last month at FHSU got to hear from – and interact with – the best of the best.

Tabatha Rosproy, who spoke at the inaugural Future Educators Day in 2020 as part of the Kansas Teachers of the Year team, returned this year as National Teacher of the Year (NTOY). That designation by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is the most prestigious teacher recognition program in the country.

Dr. Jill Arensdorf, FHSU provost, also addressed those in attendance.

“Teaching is the lifeblood of our communities,” Arensdorf said. “It’s a calling to help shape and define our youth as well as our community.”

There are currently nearly 1,400 teaching vacancies listed on the Kansas Education Employment Board. Arensdorf pointed out that teaching is a stable career – and much more.

FHSU graduates more than 200 teacher education majors each academic year. Most of those students complete student teaching in their final semester before graduating. This semester, FHSU has 112 student teachers with 124 scheduled for the fall of 2021. Overall, Fort Hays State averages more than 1,000 students in its Teacher Education Program.

Dr. Chris Jochum, chair of FHSU’s Department of Teacher Education, emphasized the significance of hosting Future Educators Day on the campus that was founded as a Teacher’s College in 1902.

“It shows our continued commitment to serving Kansas communities through recruiting and training excellent teachers,” Jochum said. “This is critically important for potential first-generation college students who may have limited experience on a college campus. Simply getting them to campus and having them interact with other students, faculty, and staff sends the message that they’re capable of being successful here.”

While it is sometimes difficult to attract quality teachers to rural areas, Dr. Paul Adams, dean of FHSU’s College of Education, insists that Fort Hays State is committed to helping fill that gap. He was pleased that Rosproy – who is nationally recognized and has been featured in Reader’s Digest – was able to speak at the Future Educators Day for a second year.

“Our College of Education is committed to preparing teachers as part of our mission to serve Kansas,” Adams said. “Tabatha is a leader and innovator as a teacher. Her energy and enthusiasm conveyed what it means to be a teacher – for students considering their choice of careers. I believe students walked away from this event realizing that teaching is more than just a career, that it is a way of life and making a difference in the world.”

Part of Rosproy’s responsibilities as NTOY include attending speaking engagements across the country to inspire others to join the teaching profession and to bring national public attention to the importance of excellence in teaching.

Rosproy’s reign as NTOY began on July 1, 2020, and runs for one year. Because of the pandemic this past year, 95 percent of her presentations have been virtual, with only a few in-person events. She definitely wanted FHSU’s Future Educators Day on the in-person list. After all, she is a Fort Hays State student, working on her Master of Science in Education degree.

Rosproy, who has been working as a preschool teacher for special education students in Winfield for the past seven years, has the distinction of being the first NTOY who works in early childhood education.

After giving a lively and uplifting presentation to the students in the Memorial Union this year, students were able to visit with representatives from the FHSU Admissions office. Then, current FHSU students in Teacher Education led smaller break-out sessions for the participants. The sessions focused on three areas that Rosproy told the students that “great teachers do” – connecting to your purpose and doing what you are passionate about, building relationships, and engaging your students.

The event enabled the students’ teachers, counselors, and principals to accompany them and interact more as colleagues, thus underscoring the importance and significance of the profession.

Rosproy’s passion was evident as she talked about her teaching career. She told the students how she “shined in school” because adults recognized her strengths and believed in her.

“I am who and what I am because of what other people poured into me,” she said. “You can change the life of a child as a teacher.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620262293372.jpeg" alt="National Teacher of the Year Tabatha Rosproy spoke at FHSU's Future Educators Day.&nbsp;Rosproy began her career as an early childhood teacher in 2010 with Salina USD 305. Photo courtesy FHSU" />
 <figcaption>National Teacher of the Year Tabatha Rosproy spoke at FHSU's Future Educators Day.&nbsp;Rosproy began her career as an early childhood teacher in 2010 with Salina USD 305. Photo courtesy FHSU</figcaption>
 </figure>HAYS – The major goal of Future Educators Day at Fort Hays State University is to increase interest for students in the teaching profession and to inspire them by having them interact with some of the most dynamic teachers in the state. High school students attending the 2021 event last month at FHSU got to hear from – and interact with – the best of the best.Tabatha Rosproy, who spoke at the inaugural Future Educators Day in 2020 as part of the Kansas Teachers of the Year team, returned this year as National Teacher of the Year (NTOY). That designation by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) is the most prestigious teacher recognition program in the country.Dr. Jill Arensdorf, FHSU provost, also addressed those in attendance.“Teaching is the lifeblood of our communities,” Arensdorf said. “It’s a calling to help shape and define our youth as well as our community.”There are currently nearly 1,400 teaching vacancies listed on the Kansas Education Employment Board. Arensdorf pointed out that teaching is a stable career – and much more.FHSU graduates more than 200 teacher education majors each academic year. Most of those students complete student teaching in their final semester before graduating. This semester, FHSU has 112 student teachers with 124 scheduled for the fall of 2021. Overall, Fort Hays State averages more than 1,000 students in its Teacher Education Program.Dr. Chris Jochum, chair of FHSU’s Department of Teacher Education, emphasized the significance of hosting Future Educators Day on the campus that was founded as a Teacher’s College in 1902.“It shows our continued commitment to serving Kansas communities through recruiting and training excellent teachers,” Jochum said. “This is critically important for potential first-generation college students who may have limited experience on a college campus. Simply getting them to campus and having them interact with other students, faculty, and staff sends the message that they’re capable of being successful here.”While it is sometimes difficult to attract quality teachers to rural areas, Dr. Paul Adams, dean of FHSU’s College of Education, insists that Fort Hays State is committed to helping fill that gap. He was pleased that Rosproy – who is nationally recognized and has been featured in Reader’s Digest – was able to speak at the Future Educators Day for a second year.“Our College of Education is committed to preparing teachers as part of our mission to serve Kansas,” Adams said. “Tabatha is a leader and innovator as a teacher. Her energy and enthusiasm conveyed what it means to be a teacher – for students considering their choice of careers. I believe students walked away from this event realizing that teaching is more than just a career, that it is a way of life and making a difference in the world.”Part of Rosproy’s responsibilities as NTOY include attending speaking engagements across the country to inspire others to join the teaching profession and to bring national public attention to the importance of excellence in teaching.Rosproy’s reign as NTOY began on July 1, 2020, and runs for one year. Because of the pandemic this past year, 95 percent of her presentations have been virtual, with only a few in-person events. She definitely wanted FHSU’s Future Educators Day on the in-person list. After all, she is a Fort Hays State student, working on her Master of Science in Education degree.Rosproy, who has been working as a preschool teacher for special education students in Winfield for the past seven years, has the distinction of being the first NTOY who works in early childhood education.After giving a lively and uplifting presentation to the students in the Memorial Union this year, students were able to visit with representatives from the FHSU Admissions office. Then, current FHSU students in Teacher Education led smaller break-out sessions for the participants. The sessions focused on three areas that Rosproy told the students that “great teachers do” – connecting to your purpose and doing what you are passionate about, building relationships, and engaging your students.The event enabled the students’ teachers, counselors, and principals to accompany them and interact more as colleagues, thus underscoring the importance and significance of the profession.Rosproy’s passion was evident as she talked about her teaching career. She told the students how she “shined in school” because adults recognized her strengths and believed in her.“I am who and what I am because of what other people poured into me,” she said. “You can change the life of a child as a teacher.”-FHSU-

Former Salina teacher Rosproy speaks at FHSU future teacher event

K-State professor says each individual has their own ‘facts’ related to pandemic

MANHATTAN – Americans are cautiously approaching this summer with hopes that the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is in the rear-view mirror, but a Kansas State University professor says there is still much that needs to be done to heal from the effects of the worst public health crisis in more than 100 years.&nbsp;

“This pandemic has been filled with change, loss, some grief and some positive things,” said Elaine Johannes,&nbsp;the Kansas Health Foundation Distinguished Professor of Community Health at K-State. “So, the meaning of what has happened really needs to be our focus now. The meaning helps us understand how, mentally, we move toward the recovery phase.”&nbsp;

Over the past 16 months, Johannes has talked publicly on such topics as resilience, mental health, the pandemic’s impact on children and families, and more. For more than two decades, she has worked in mental health,&nbsp;well-being and helping people to understand and recover from many kinds of trauma.&nbsp;

“We’ve been through a disaster,” Johannes said. “The pandemic has created crisis and stress…Now we are in the recovery mode.”&nbsp;

In March, the American Psychological Association released a report titled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2021/one-year-pandemic-stress-conclusion" target="_blank">Stress in America</a>&nbsp;that indicated 46% of Americans are not comfortable going back to living life the way they did before the pandemic.&nbsp;

Johannes said each individual should consider four points to keep in mind when making decisions on how much of their former life they are going to return to. They include:&nbsp;

●Acknowledge that we’re unsure.&nbsp;It’s okay to feel unsure, and maybe even afraid.

●Tolerate the uncertainty.&nbsp;Be willing to talk about your unique experience of living through a pandemic, maybe even with a little bit of pride. Johannes quotes former Pres. Harry S. Truman who once said that the reward of suffering is experience. “Own that experience,” Johannes said.&nbsp;“Though we’ve made it through some really tough times, we now will learn to tolerate the uncertainty. We’re a tough group and we’ve learned from this.”

●Take it easy.&nbsp;Acclimate slowly to&nbsp;return to life’s activities. Decide what you will resume doing and maybe things that you don’t want to continue. “Maybe there were relationships that weren’t healthy before the pandemic; this may be a good reason to let them go,” Johannes said. “As we re-enter life, take time to reflect what is good and what is not.”

●Re-focus on the facts.&nbsp;The&nbsp;reality of the pandemic is different for each person because we all experienced the pandemic uniquely.&nbsp;“We do that by telling our stories (to others) and acknowledging we that we had some difficulty, but yet we are a community supporting each other.”&nbsp;

“These four parts of re-entry will help get us to recovery,” Johannes said. “They can help us adapt, gain control, reflect and eventually get ahead.”&nbsp;

Johannes also noted that adults should&nbsp;<a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_support_teens_mental_health_during_covid_and_beyond?utm_source=Greater+Good+Science+Center&amp;utm_campaign=3af1b42969-ED_NEWSLETTER_APRIL_2021&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_5ae73e326e-3af1b42969-75249692" target="_blank">make an effort to help children recover</a>. Many youth may seem resilient, but helping them fully reflect on their experience and move ahead is important in building healthy attitudes that prepare them for future disasters.&nbsp;

“There is another disaster heading our way (at some point in the future),” Johannes said. “It may not be a pandemic, but it could be a fire or flood or something else, man-made or natural.”&nbsp;

Some adults or children may need professional help to fully recover. In any case, Johannes said, we should acknowledge those people in our families, household, work environment and other places may need our support. It could be as simple as asking, ‘How are you doing?’&nbsp;

The American Psychological Association also has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apa.org/practice/programs/dmhi/psychological-first-aid/resources" target="_blank">mental health first aid resources online</a>&nbsp;to help.&nbsp;

“It’s a mental health process,” Johannes said, “but it’s also a process to keep us going as a society.”&nbsp;

Two interviews with Johannes on the mental health aspects of living through and recovering from the pandemic are available on the weekly radio program,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/sound-living.html" target="_blank">Sound Living</a>, produced by K-State Research and Extension.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620234114883.jpeg" alt="The COVID-19 pandemic has been filled with change, loss, grief, and some positive things. Each individual has their own story on how they have come through the public health crisis.&nbsp;

Photo by&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/users/duplex-87749/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=5051835">Ursula Schneider</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=5051835">Pixabay</a>" />
 <figcaption>The COVID-19 pandemic has been filled with change, loss, grief, and some positive things. Each individual has their own story on how they have come through the public health crisis.&nbsp;

Photo by&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/users/duplex-87749/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=5051835">Ursula Schneider</a>&nbsp;from&nbsp;<a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=image&amp;utm_content=5051835">Pixabay</a></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>K-State professor says each individual has their own ‘facts’ related to pandemic</h2>MANHATTAN – Americans are cautiously approaching this summer with hopes that the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic is in the rear-view mirror, but a Kansas State University professor says there is still much that needs to be done to heal from the effects of the worst public health crisis in more than 100 years.&nbsp;“This pandemic has been filled with change, loss, some grief and some positive things,” said Elaine Johannes,&nbsp;the Kansas Health Foundation Distinguished Professor of Community Health at K-State. “So, the meaning of what has happened really needs to be our focus now. The meaning helps us understand how, mentally, we move toward the recovery phase.”&nbsp;<div><iframe style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/18812471/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/backward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/512888/" height="90" width="100%" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe></div>Over the past 16 months, Johannes has talked publicly on such topics as resilience, mental health, the pandemic’s impact on children and families, and more. For more than two decades, she has worked in mental health,&nbsp;well-being and helping people to understand and recover from many kinds of trauma.&nbsp;“We’ve been through a disaster,” Johannes said. “The pandemic has created crisis and stress…Now we are in the recovery mode.”&nbsp;In March, the American Psychological Association released a report titled&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2021/one-year-pandemic-stress-conclusion" target="_blank">Stress in America</a>&nbsp;that indicated 46% of Americans are not comfortable going back to living life the way they did before the pandemic.&nbsp;Johannes said each individual should consider four points to keep in mind when making decisions on how much of their former life they are going to return to. They include:&nbsp;●Acknowledge that we’re unsure.&nbsp;It’s okay to feel unsure, and maybe even afraid.●Tolerate the uncertainty.&nbsp;Be willing to talk about your unique experience of living through a pandemic, maybe even with a little bit of pride. Johannes quotes former Pres. Harry S. Truman who once said that the reward of suffering is experience. “Own that experience,” Johannes said.&nbsp;“Though we’ve made it through some really tough times, we now will learn to tolerate the uncertainty. We’re a tough group and we’ve learned from this.”●Take it easy.&nbsp;Acclimate slowly to&nbsp;return to life’s activities. Decide what you will resume doing and maybe things that you don’t want to continue. “Maybe there were relationships that weren’t healthy before the pandemic; this may be a good reason to let them go,” Johannes said. “As we re-enter life, take time to reflect what is good and what is not.”●Re-focus on the facts.&nbsp;The&nbsp;reality of the pandemic is different for each person because we all experienced the pandemic uniquely.&nbsp;“We do that by telling our stories (to others) and acknowledging we that we had some difficulty, but yet we are a community supporting each other.”&nbsp;“These four parts of re-entry will help get us to recovery,” Johannes said. “They can help us adapt, gain control, reflect and eventually get ahead.”&nbsp;Johannes also noted that adults should&nbsp;<a href="https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_support_teens_mental_health_during_covid_and_beyond?utm_source=Greater+Good+Science+Center&amp;utm_campaign=3af1b42969-ED_NEWSLETTER_APRIL_2021&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_term=0_5ae73e326e-3af1b42969-75249692" target="_blank">make an effort to help children recover</a>. Many youth may seem resilient, but helping them fully reflect on their experience and move ahead is important in building healthy attitudes that prepare them for future disasters.&nbsp;“There is another disaster heading our way (at some point in the future),” Johannes said. “It may not be a pandemic, but it could be a fire or flood or something else, man-made or natural.”&nbsp;Some adults or children may need professional help to fully recover. In any case, Johannes said, we should acknowledge those people in our families, household, work environment and other places may need our support. It could be as simple as asking, ‘How are you doing?’&nbsp;The American Psychological Association also has&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apa.org/practice/programs/dmhi/psychological-first-aid/resources" target="_blank">mental health first aid resources online</a>&nbsp;to help.&nbsp;“It’s a mental health process,” Johannes said, “but it’s also a process to keep us going as a society.”&nbsp;Two interviews with Johannes on the mental health aspects of living through and recovering from the pandemic are available on the weekly radio program,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/news/radio-network/sound-living.html" target="_blank">Sound Living</a>, produced by K-State Research and Extension.&nbsp;-KSRE-

🎙After COVID-19: Sharing experiences helps improve mental health

Today is Thursday, May 6, the 126th day of 2021. There are 239 days left in the year.

On May 6, 1954, medical student Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile during a track meet in Oxford, England, in 3:59.4. 

In 1527, unpaid troops loyal to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V attacked Rome, forcing Pope Clement VII to flee to safety; some scholars mark the ensuing sack of the city as the end of the Renaissance in Italy.

In 1882, President Chester Alan Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese immigrants from the U.S. for 10 years (Arthur had opposed an earlier version with a 20-year ban). 

In 1910, Britain's Edwardian era ended with the death of King Edward VII; he was succeeded by George V. 

In 1915, Babe Ruth hit his first major-league home run as a player for the Boston Red Sox. 

In 1937, the hydrogen-filled German airship Hindenburg caught fire and crashed while attempting to dock at Lakehurst, New Jersey; 35 of the 97 people on board were killed along with a crewman on the ground. 

In 1941, Josef Stalin assumed the Soviet premiership, replacing Vyacheslav M. Molotov. Comedian Bob Hope did his first USO show before an audience of servicemen as he broadcast his radio program from March Field in Riverside, California. 

In 1942, during World War II, some 15,000 American and Filipino troops on Corregidor island surrendered to Japanese forces. 

In 1957, Eugene O'Neill's play "Long Day's Journey into Night" won the Pulitzer Prize for drama; John F. Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage" won the Pulitzer for biography or autobiography.

In 2004, President George W. Bush apologized for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers, calling it "a stain on our country's honor"; he rejected calls for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. 

In 2010, a computerized sell order triggered a "flash crash" on Wall Street, sending the Dow Jones industrials to a loss of nearly 1,000 points in less than half an hour. 

In 2013, kidnap-rape victims Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight, who went missing separately about a decade earlier while in their teens or early 20s, were rescued from a house just south of downtown Cleveland. (Their captor, Ariel Castro, hanged himself in prison in September 2013 at the beginning of a life sentence plus 1,000 years.) 

In 2015, the NFL released a 243-report on "Deflategate" that stopped short of calling Patriots quarterback Tom Brady a cheater, but did call some of his claims "implausible" and left little doubt that he'd had a role in having footballs deflated before New England's AFC title game against Indianapolis and probably in previous games.

Ten years ago: Brimming with pride, President Barack Obama met with the U.S. commandos he'd sent after terror mastermind Osama bin Laden during a visit to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Al-Qaida vowed to keep fighting the United States and avenge the death of bin Laden, which it acknowledged for the first time in an internet statement.

Five years ago: In his first remarks about Donald Trump's status as the GOP's presumptive nominee, President Barack Obama urged the media to undertake tougher scrutiny of presidential candidates, saying from the White House, "This is not entertainment; this is not a reality show." For the second month in a row, the aerospace upstart SpaceX landed a rocket on an ocean platform just off the Florida coast, this time following the successful launch of a Japanese communications satellite.

One year ago: New York City began shutting down its subway system overnight to allow for additional cleaning and disinfecting of cars and stations. President Donald Trump reversed course on plans to wind down his COVID-19 task force; he said the force would shift its focus toward rebooting the economy and developing a vaccine. Three teenage McDonald's employees in Oklahoma suffered gunshot wounds after a customer opened fire; police said the woman was angry that the restaurant's dining area was closed because of the pandemic. Frontier Airlines said it was dropping plans to charge an extra fee for passengers to lock in an empty middle seat next to them. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos issued a new policy reshaping the way schools and universities dealt with complaints of sexual misconduct; the policy bolstered the rights of the accused.

Today's Birthdays: Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays is 90. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., is 87. Rock singer Bob Seger is 76. Singer Jimmie Dale Gilmore is 76. Gospel singer-comedian Lulu Roman is 75. Actor Alan Dale is 74. Actor Ben Masters is 74. Actor Richard Cox is 73. Actor Gregg Henry is 69. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is 68. TV personality Tom Bergeron is 66. Actor Roma Downey is 61. Rock singer John Flansburgh (They Might Be Giants) is 61. Actor Julianne Phillips is 61. Actor-director George Clooney is 60. Actor Clay O'Brien is 60. Rock singer-musician Tony Scalzo (Fastball) is 57. Actor Leslie Hope is 56. Actor Geneva Carr (TV: "Bull") is 55. Rock musician Mark Bryan (Hootie and the Blowfish) is 54. Rock musician Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters) is 50. Actor Stacey Oristano is 42. Model/TV personality Tiffany Coyne is 39. Actor Adrianne Palicki is 38. Actor Gabourey Sidibe is 38. Actor-comedian Sasheer Zamata is 35. Rapper Meek Mill is 34. Houston Astros infielder Jose Altuve is 31. Actor-singer Naomi Scott is 28. Actor Noah Galvin is 27.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Thursday, May 6, the 126th day of 2021. There are 239 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History: On May 6, 1954, medical student Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile during a track meet in Oxford, England, in 3:59.4. On this date: In 1527, unpaid troops loyal to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V attacked Rome, forcing Pope Clement VII to flee to safety; some scholars mark the ensuing sack of the city as the end of the Renaissance in Italy.In 1882, President Chester Alan Arthur signed the Chinese Exclusion Act, which barred Chinese immigrants from the U.S. for 10 years (Arthur had opposed an earlier version with a 20-year ban). In 1910, Britain's Edwardian era ended with the death of King Edward VII; he was succeeded by George V. In 1915, Babe Ruth hit his first major-league home run as a player for the Boston Red Sox. In 1937, the hydrogen-filled German airship Hindenburg caught fire and crashed while attempting to dock at Lakehurst, New Jersey; 35 of the 97 people on board were killed along with a crewman on the ground. In 1941, Josef Stalin assumed the Soviet premiership, replacing Vyacheslav M. Molotov. Comedian Bob Hope did his first USO show before an audience of servicemen as he broadcast his radio program from March Field in Riverside, California. In 1942, during World War II, some 15,000 American and Filipino troops on Corregidor island surrendered to Japanese forces. In 1957, Eugene O'Neill's play "Long Day's Journey into Night" won the Pulitzer Prize for drama; John F. Kennedy's "Profiles in Courage" won the Pulitzer for biography or autobiography.In 2004, President George W. Bush apologized for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by American soldiers, calling it "a stain on our country's honor"; he rejected calls for Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation. In 2010, a computerized sell order triggered a "flash crash" on Wall Street, sending the Dow Jones industrials to a loss of nearly 1,000 points in less than half an hour. In 2013, kidnap-rape victims Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight, who went missing separately about a decade earlier while in their teens or early 20s, were rescued from a house just south of downtown Cleveland. (Their captor, Ariel Castro, hanged himself in prison in September 2013 at the beginning of a life sentence plus 1,000 years.) In 2015, the NFL released a 243-report on "Deflategate" that stopped short of calling Patriots quarterback Tom Brady a cheater, but did call some of his claims "implausible" and left little doubt that he'd had a role in having footballs deflated before New England's AFC title game against Indianapolis and probably in previous games.Ten years ago: Brimming with pride, President Barack Obama met with the U.S. commandos he'd sent after terror mastermind Osama bin Laden during a visit to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. Al-Qaida vowed to keep fighting the United States and avenge the death of bin Laden, which it acknowledged for the first time in an internet statement.Five years ago: In his first remarks about Donald Trump's status as the GOP's presumptive nominee, President Barack Obama urged the media to undertake tougher scrutiny of presidential candidates, saying from the White House, "This is not entertainment; this is not a reality show." For the second month in a row, the aerospace upstart SpaceX landed a rocket on an ocean platform just off the Florida coast, this time following the successful launch of a Japanese communications satellite. One year ago: New York City began shutting down its subway system overnight to allow for additional cleaning and disinfecting of cars and stations. President Donald Trump reversed course on plans to wind down his COVID-19 task force; he said the force would shift its focus toward rebooting the economy and developing a vaccine. Three teenage McDonald's employees in Oklahoma suffered gunshot wounds after a customer opened fire; police said the woman was angry that the restaurant's dining area was closed because of the pandemic. Frontier Airlines said it was dropping plans to charge an extra fee for passengers to lock in an empty middle seat next to them. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos issued a new policy reshaping the way schools and universities dealt with complaints of sexual misconduct; the policy bolstered the rights of the accused.Today's Birthdays: Baseball Hall of Famer Willie Mays is 90. Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., is 87. Rock singer Bob Seger is 76. Singer Jimmie Dale Gilmore is 76. Gospel singer-comedian Lulu Roman is 75. Actor Alan Dale is 74. Actor Ben Masters is 74. Actor Richard Cox is 73. Actor Gregg Henry is 69. Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is 68. TV personality Tom Bergeron is 66. Actor Roma Downey is 61. Rock singer John Flansburgh (They Might Be Giants) is 61. Actor Julianne Phillips is 61. Actor-director George Clooney is 60. Actor Clay O'Brien is 60. Rock singer-musician Tony Scalzo (Fastball) is 57. Actor Leslie Hope is 56. Actor Geneva Carr (TV: "Bull") is 55. Rock musician Mark Bryan (Hootie and the Blowfish) is 54. Rock musician Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters) is 50. Actor Stacey Oristano is 42. Model/TV personality Tiffany Coyne is 39. Actor Adrianne Palicki is 38. Actor Gabourey Sidibe is 38. Actor-comedian Sasheer Zamata is 35. Rapper Meek Mill is 34. Houston Astros infielder Jose Altuve is 31. Actor-singer Naomi Scott is 28. Actor Noah Galvin is 27.

Today in History - May 6

Russell Stover Hiring Full Time Positions

These positions are full time positions with benefits.

As well as Part Time Relief Positions Available

Check out these jobs! To apply for these positions, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.russellstover.com/careers">www.russellstover.com/careers</a>.

Russell Stover Chocolates factory and store is located right of I-70 at exit 270 on the west side of Abilene, Kansas, and has been in business nationally since 1923.

Russell Stover Chocolates is an equal opportunity employer.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610422205593.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Russell Stover Hiring Full Time PositionsThese positions are full time positions with benefits.The positions available are:· 2nd Shift Service Floater Part Time· 2nd Shift Material Handler/Utility· 1st Material Handler/Utility· 2nd Shift Striper· Quality Assurance Manager· 2nd Shift Service· 2nd Shift Candy MakersAs well as Part Time Relief Positions AvailableCheck out these jobs! To apply for these positions, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://www.russellstover.com/careers">www.russellstover.com/careers</a>.Russell Stover Chocolates factory and store is located right of I-70 at exit 270 on the west side of Abilene, Kansas, and has been in business nationally since 1923.Russell Stover Chocolates is an equal opportunity employer.

Saline County COVID by the Numbers for Wednesday

Salina South held its annual S.T.A.R. Night (South Theatre Award&nbsp; Recognition) on Tuesday.&nbsp; 

Best Bit Part – The Dial Painters from&nbsp;Radium Girls

Best “A Bit More” Part –&nbsp; Kaydence Dickson, Alondra Mendiola

Best Supporting Actress –&nbsp; Yesenia Torres, Aubrey Powell

Best Supporting Actor –&nbsp; Aidan Heusman

David L. Webber Technical Theatre Award – Shelby Stolzenburg, Kaydence Dickson&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Jellybean Award (Theatre of Kindness) – Andrew Lagerman, Diana Geist

Marc Malone Musical Theatre Award – Nathan Streeter, Ashley Carraway

Best Actress –&nbsp; Mia Dennett

Best Actor –&nbsp; Aidan Heusman, Seth Carter

Throughout the school year, Drama Club members vote on T.O.M. winners (Thespian&nbsp;Of the&nbsp;Month).&nbsp; This year, the following students have won T.O.M. awards:

September –&nbsp; Mia Dennett, Kaydence Dickson, Nathan Streeter

October –&nbsp; Shelby Stolzenburg, Yesenia Torres

November –&nbsp; Ashley Carraway, Aidan Heusman

December – Reese Kimmi, Ethen Lainer&nbsp;

January –&nbsp; Evan Dickson, Aubrey Powell

February –&nbsp; Diana Geist, Malina Szyndlar

March –&nbsp; Andrew Lagerman, Alondra Mendiola

April –&nbsp; Ryan Graff, Comet Mitchell, Cameron Preble

DRAMA CLUB OFFICERS &amp; REPRESENTATIVES – 2020-21

Co-Presidents – Ashley Carrway / Nathan Streeter

Officer Board: Seth Carter, Mia Dennett, Kaydence Dickson, Ryan Graff, Ethen Lainer,&nbsp;Victoria Molina, Shelby Stolzenburg, Malina Szyndlar, Yesenia Torres,&nbsp;Aidan Heusman, Aubrey Powell, Elias Torres, Emily Streeter

South High School students were also chosen to serve on the Kansas Thespian State Board – a select group of students who help organize the State Conference.&nbsp; South High’s representatives for the 2020 conference were Andrew Lagerman &amp; Mia Dennett with Shelby Stolzenburg &amp; Malina Szyndlar as alternates.

Salina South held its annual S.T.A.R. Night (South Theatre Award&nbsp; Recognition) on Tuesday.&nbsp; The following students received awards.Best Bit Part – The Dial Painters from&nbsp;Radium GirlsBest “A Bit More” Part –&nbsp; Kaydence Dickson, Alondra MendiolaBest Supporting Actress –&nbsp; Yesenia Torres, Aubrey PowellBest Supporting Actor –&nbsp; Aidan HeusmanDavid L. Webber Technical Theatre Award – Shelby Stolzenburg, Kaydence Dickson&nbsp;&nbsp;The Jellybean Award (Theatre of Kindness) – Andrew Lagerman, Diana GeistMarc Malone Musical Theatre Award – Nathan Streeter, Ashley CarrawayBest Actress –&nbsp; Mia DennettBest Actor –&nbsp; Aidan Heusman, Seth CarterThroughout the school year, Drama Club members vote on T.O.M. winners (Thespian&nbsp;Of the&nbsp;Month).&nbsp; This year, the following students have won T.O.M. awards:September –&nbsp; Mia Dennett, Kaydence Dickson, Nathan StreeterOctober –&nbsp; Shelby Stolzenburg, Yesenia TorresNovember –&nbsp; Ashley Carraway, Aidan HeusmanDecember – Reese Kimmi, Ethen Lainer&nbsp;January –&nbsp; Evan Dickson, Aubrey PowellFebruary –&nbsp; Diana Geist, Malina SzyndlarMarch –&nbsp; Andrew Lagerman, Alondra MendiolaApril –&nbsp; Ryan Graff, Comet Mitchell, Cameron PrebleDRAMA CLUB OFFICERS &amp; REPRESENTATIVES – 2020-21Co-Presidents – Ashley Carrway / Nathan StreeterVice-Presidents – Andrew LagermanOfficer Board: Seth Carter, Mia Dennett, Kaydence Dickson, Ryan Graff, Ethen Lainer,&nbsp;Victoria Molina, Shelby Stolzenburg, Malina Szyndlar, Yesenia Torres,&nbsp;Aidan Heusman, Aubrey Powell, Elias Torres, Emily StreeterSouth High School students were also chosen to serve on the Kansas Thespian State Board – a select group of students who help organize the State Conference.&nbsp; South High’s representatives for the 2020 conference were Andrew Lagerman &amp; Mia Dennett with Shelby Stolzenburg &amp; Malina Szyndlar as alternates.

South High Theatre announces student awards

Do you know of someone who has done a good deed? Recognize that person with a nomination on&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/">SalinaPost.com</a>&nbsp;for Comfort Heating &amp; Air's Good Neighbor Award!

Comfort Heating &amp; Air is partnering with Mokas to reward friendship and kindness in the community. Each week they will give away a $50 Mokas gift card and free VIP Clean &amp; Check to someone who has done a good deed for others.

They’re looking for persons who perform acts of kindness in our community; perhaps a neighbor who helps mow your lawn, watches your pets while you’re away, or shares vegetables from his/her garden.

To nominate someone for the Comfort Heating &amp; Air Good Neighbor Award,&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/fdb390c2-b6bd-4467-9693-f83f01e740b6#//">click here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618249218899.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Do you know of someone who has done a good deed? Recognize that person with a nomination on&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/">SalinaPost.com</a>&nbsp;for Comfort Heating &amp; Air's Good Neighbor Award!Comfort Heating &amp; Air is partnering with Mokas to reward friendship and kindness in the community. Each week they will give away a $50 Mokas gift card and free VIP Clean &amp; Check to someone who has done a good deed for others.They’re looking for persons who perform acts of kindness in our community; perhaps a neighbor who helps mow your lawn, watches your pets while you’re away, or shares vegetables from his/her garden.To nominate someone for the Comfort Heating &amp; Air Good Neighbor Award,&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/fdb390c2-b6bd-4467-9693-f83f01e740b6#//">click here</a>.

Comfort Heating & Air seeks Good Neighbor Award nominees

A new&nbsp;scam&nbsp;has emerged, preying on individuals who have lost a loved one to COVID-19 and are entitled to federal assistance.

Earlier this month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency launched a new program that would provide up to $9,000 for funeral expenses to people who have had to pay for laying a loved one to rest. The program covers deaths from COVID-19 since January 20, 2020.

To apply for the program, survivors need to show documents including receipts for expenses and a death certificate that says that the death happened in the United States or its territories and was likely caused by COVID-19.

FEMA and the Federal Trade Commission have reported that&nbsp;scammers are reaching out to survivors, posing as government employees offering to help with the process of registering for federal assistance. Unfortunately, these imposters are setting themselves up to take more than the government assistance. With access to financial information, a loved one’s death certificate and the survivor’s personally identifying information, the imposters are able to pocket up to $9,000 and cause hardship through identity theft for years to come.

Here’s what you need to know, according to the Kansas Attorney General's office:

●The government won’t ask you to pay anything to get this financial help. Anyone who does is a&nbsp;scammer.

●FEMA will not contact you until you have called FEMA or have applied for assistance. Anyone who contacts you out of the blue and claims to be a federal employee or from FEMA is a&nbsp;scammer.

●The government won’t call, text, email, or contact you on social media and ask for your Social Security, bank account, or credit card number. Anyone who does is a&nbsp;scammer.

●Don’t give your own or your deceased loved one’s personal or financial information to anyone who contacts you out of the blue. Anyone who does that and asks for that information is a&nbsp;scammer.

FEMA’s Funeral Assistance FAQs have information about the documents you need to apply for funeral expenses. The FAQs also tell you what to do if the death certificate didn’t identify COVID-19 as the likely cause of death, as sometimes happened early in the pandemic. You can learn more about this federal program at the FEMA website at <a href="http://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance">www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance</a>.

If you doubt a caller claiming to be from FEMA is telling the truth, hang up and report it to the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or the U.S. Department of Justice National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721.

For more tips on staying safe from COVID-19&nbsp;scams or to file a complaint, visit the Kansas Attorney General's office consumer protection website at <a href="http://InYourCornerKansas.org">InYourCornerKansas.org</a>&nbsp;or call the office's consumer protection hotline at (800) 432-2310.

A new&nbsp;scam&nbsp;has emerged, preying on individuals who have lost a loved one to COVID-19 and are entitled to federal assistance.Earlier this month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency launched a new program that would provide up to $9,000 for funeral expenses to people who have had to pay for laying a loved one to rest. The program covers deaths from COVID-19 since January 20, 2020.To apply for the program, survivors need to show documents including receipts for expenses and a death certificate that says that the death happened in the United States or its territories and was likely caused by COVID-19.FEMA and the Federal Trade Commission have reported that&nbsp;scammers are reaching out to survivors, posing as government employees offering to help with the process of registering for federal assistance. Unfortunately, these imposters are setting themselves up to take more than the government assistance. With access to financial information, a loved one’s death certificate and the survivor’s personally identifying information, the imposters are able to pocket up to $9,000 and cause hardship through identity theft for years to come.Here’s what you need to know, according to the Kansas Attorney General's office:●The government won’t ask you to pay anything to get this financial help. Anyone who does is a&nbsp;scammer.●FEMA will not contact you until you have called FEMA or have applied for assistance. Anyone who contacts you out of the blue and claims to be a federal employee or from FEMA is a&nbsp;scammer.●The government won’t call, text, email, or contact you on social media and ask for your Social Security, bank account, or credit card number. Anyone who does is a&nbsp;scammer.●Don’t give your own or your deceased loved one’s personal or financial information to anyone who contacts you out of the blue. Anyone who does that and asks for that information is a&nbsp;scammer.FEMA’s Funeral Assistance FAQs have information about the documents you need to apply for funeral expenses. The FAQs also tell you what to do if the death certificate didn’t identify COVID-19 as the likely cause of death, as sometimes happened early in the pandemic. You can learn more about this federal program at the FEMA website at <a href="http://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance">www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance</a>.If you doubt a caller claiming to be from FEMA is telling the truth, hang up and report it to the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 or the U.S. Department of Justice National Center for Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721.For more tips on staying safe from COVID-19&nbsp;scams or to file a complaint, visit the Kansas Attorney General's office consumer protection website at <a href="http://InYourCornerKansas.org">InYourCornerKansas.org</a>&nbsp;or call the office's consumer protection hotline at (800) 432-2310.

New scam targets survivors seeking FEMA assistance for funerals

Saline County Vaccination Collaboration has announced several upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinics.

Vaccinations will be given on a first come first serve basis. All vaccines are free.

From noon to 6 p.m. May 13, a second clinic will be conducted in the National Guard building at 2929 Scanlan Avenue. The Vaccination Collaboration will be giving second doses Moderna vaccinations to those who walked in during the initial National Guard clinic. There will also be Johnson &amp; Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations for those who prefer single dose vaccination.

This site will also be offering Kansas Department of Health and Environment free COVID-19 testing, generating results in one to two days. Central Kansas Mental Health Center will have information on its mission to provide mental health services, education, and integrated care to the Salina community. Additionally, free fresh produce courtesy of local grocers will be available for all attendees.

On May 19, the Vaccination Collaboration will be in Gypsum, Asssaria, and Brookville to give second Moderna doses to those who walked in during the initial clinic. Much like the National Guard clinic, single-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson will be available for those who prefer single-dose COVID-19 vaccination. Here are the times and locations for the three clinics:

9-11 a.m., City Auditorium, 621 Maple Street

12:15-2:15 p.m., Assaria Lutheran Church, 124 W. First Street

3:45-5:15 p.m., City Hall, 301 N. Perry Street

Saline County Vaccination Collaboration has announced several upcoming COVID-19 vaccination clinics.Vaccinations will be given on a first come first serve basis. All vaccines are free.From noon to 6 p.m. May 13, a second clinic will be conducted in the National Guard building at 2929 Scanlan Avenue. The Vaccination Collaboration will be giving second doses Moderna vaccinations to those who walked in during the initial National Guard clinic. There will also be Johnson &amp; Johnson COVID-19 vaccinations for those who prefer single dose vaccination.This site will also be offering Kansas Department of Health and Environment free COVID-19 testing, generating results in one to two days. Central Kansas Mental Health Center will have information on its mission to provide mental health services, education, and integrated care to the Salina community. Additionally, free fresh produce courtesy of local grocers will be available for all attendees.On May 19, the Vaccination Collaboration will be in Gypsum, Asssaria, and Brookville to give second Moderna doses to those who walked in during the initial clinic. Much like the National Guard clinic, single-dose Johnson &amp; Johnson will be available for those who prefer single-dose COVID-19 vaccination. Here are the times and locations for the three clinics:Gypsum9-11 a.m., City Auditorium, 621 Maple StreetAssaria12:15-2:15 p.m., Assaria Lutheran Church, 124 W. First StreetBrookville3:45-5:15 p.m., City Hall, 301 N. Perry Street

Second rural, National Guard vaccination clinics planned

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/category/obituaries" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Click&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/category/obituaries" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Recent obituaries

All applications are available online at&nbsp;<a href="http://bethanyvillageks.com/careers/">bethanyvillageks.com/careers/</a>.

Full-time day position. Under the direction of the housekeeping supervisor, or their agent, performs housekeeping duties for the facility and residents. Competitive wages and benefits.

Full or Part time positions available. Experience preferred will train the right candidate. Under supervision of dietary supervisor, prepares meals, including special diets, and snacks for all residents. Prepares meals for all working staff. Benefits for FT positions, competitive wages.

Full or Part time positions available. Under supervision of dietary supervisor or cook, maintains cleanliness in kitchen and dietary area. Benefits for FT positions, competitive wages.

Full or Part time positions available. Work under the supervision of Charge Nurse to provide supportive care to Bethany Home residents. Must be able to transfer residents using proper lifting technique and according to resident’s care plan, assist residents with all aspects of ADLs, personal hygiene. May be expected to take vital signs. Encourage proper intake of nutrition and hydration and assist as necessary. Observe any changes in resident condition and report those changes to Charge Nurse. Flexible hours; Benefits for FT positions, competitive wages commensurate on experience.

Certified Medication Assistant (CMA)

Full or Part time positions available. Work under the supervision of Charge Nurse to dispense medication in a safe and timely manner to Bethany Home residents. Practice the Five Rights of Medication Administration: 1.) Right resident, 2.) Right medication, 3.) Right time, 4.) Right route, 5.) Right dose. Observe and report any change in resident’s condition to Charge Nurse. Take vital signs as ordered. Assist CNAs as workload allows. Maintain a clean and well-stocked medication cart. Document medication administration according to Bethany Home policy. Understand and maintain confidentiality. Flexible hours; Benefits for FT positions, competitive wages commensurate on experience.

Full or Part time positions available. Under the direction of Director Of Nursing, plans, directs, and coordinates nursing care for the residents. Supervises direct care staff in the performance of resident care. Observes residents for changes in condition, and reports changes to physician. Documents all pertinent resident information, according to facility policy. Maintains strict confidentiality in all resident matters. Flexible hours; Benefits for FT positions, competitive wages commensurate on experience.

Full or Part time positions available. Under the direction of Director Of Nursing, plans, directs, and coordinates nursing care for the residents. Supervises direct care staff in the performance of resident care. Observes residents for changes in condition, and reports changes to physician.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1619451506602.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>All applications are available online at&nbsp;<a href="http://bethanyvillageks.com/careers/">bethanyvillageks.com/careers/</a>.HousekeeperFull-time day position. Under the direction of the housekeeping supervisor, or their agent, performs housekeeping duties for the facility and residents. Competitive wages and benefits.CookFull or Part time positions available. Experience preferred will train the right candidate. Under supervision of dietary supervisor, prepares meals, including special diets, and snacks for all residents. Prepares meals for all working staff. Benefits for FT positions, competitive wages.Dietary AideFull or Part time positions available. Under supervision of dietary supervisor or cook, maintains cleanliness in kitchen and dietary area. Benefits for FT positions, competitive wages.Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)Full or Part time positions available. Work under the supervision of Charge Nurse to provide supportive care to Bethany Home residents. Must be able to transfer residents using proper lifting technique and according to resident’s care plan, assist residents with all aspects of ADLs, personal hygiene. May be expected to take vital signs. Encourage proper intake of nutrition and hydration and assist as necessary. Observe any changes in resident condition and report those changes to Charge Nurse. Flexible hours; Benefits for FT positions, competitive wages commensurate on experience.Certified Medication Assistant (CMA)Full or Part time positions available. Work under the supervision of Charge Nurse to dispense medication in a safe and timely manner to Bethany Home residents. Practice the Five Rights of Medication Administration: 1.) Right resident, 2.) Right medication, 3.) Right time, 4.) Right route, 5.) Right dose. Observe and report any change in resident’s condition to Charge Nurse. Take vital signs as ordered. Assist CNAs as workload allows. Maintain a clean and well-stocked medication cart. Document medication administration according to Bethany Home policy. Understand and maintain confidentiality. Flexible hours; Benefits for FT positions, competitive wages commensurate on experience.Registered Nurse (RN)Full or Part time positions available. Under the direction of Director Of Nursing, plans, directs, and coordinates nursing care for the residents. Supervises direct care staff in the performance of resident care. Observes residents for changes in condition, and reports changes to physician. Documents all pertinent resident information, according to facility policy. Maintains strict confidentiality in all resident matters. Flexible hours; Benefits for FT positions, competitive wages commensurate on experience.Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)Full or Part time positions available. Under the direction of Director Of Nursing, plans, directs, and coordinates nursing care for the residents. Supervises direct care staff in the performance of resident care. Observes residents for changes in condition, and reports changes to physician.

Laboratory at Memorial Hospital in Abilene passes survey

Dalton Ramsey, a Salina senior in social work at&nbsp;<a href="https://polytechnic.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Kansas State Polytechnic Campus</a>, picked his major because he wants to help others. He's putting his education into action by helping the community service organization where he served as a student intern with a specific need. Ramsey successfully wrote a $5,000 grant proposal for Ashby House in Salina. The grant will be used to install a keycard-entry security door for residents with the Ashby House Sober Living program, which provides a safe and structured living environment for women who are in drug and alcohol treatment and offers family apartments for its women residents with children. "The new security door will make it harder for unwanted persons or unwanted substances to enter the transitional housing program," said Andy Houltberg, Ashby House executive director. K-State social work students have participated in practicums at Ashby House since its beginning, Houltberg said. Ramsey is the first K-State Polytechnic student to be involved with the new program. "Dalton was eager to pitch in and learn new things," Houltberg said. After expressing an interest in grant writing, Ramsey was tasked with completing the grant request from Ashby House to the Greater Salina Community Foundation and Dane G. Hansen Foundation for the funding. "I had to completely reteach myself how to write," Ramsey said. "Technical writing takes a compelling narrative backed up by great sources." Grant writing is now a skill Ramsey will add to his resume. After graduating from K-State Polytechnic in May, Ramsey plans to pursue a master’s degree in substance abuse and mental health. His interest was sparked through personal experiences with substance abuse and by the death of his favorite artist, Mac Miller, from an accidental overdose. "I've always tended to put others above myself," Ramsey said. "Social work gives me the platform to do that on a wider scale."&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620222773637.jpeg" alt="Dalton Ramsey, third from left, seen here with representatives of Ashby House and the Greater Salina&nbsp; Community Foundation, helped Ashby House land a $5,000 grant for its drug and alcohol treatment transitional housing program. Photo courtesy K-State Polytechnic" />
 <figcaption>Dalton Ramsey, third from left, seen here with representatives of Ashby House and the Greater Salina&nbsp; Community Foundation, helped Ashby House land a $5,000 grant for its drug and alcohol treatment transitional housing program. Photo courtesy K-State Polytechnic</figcaption>
 </figure>Dalton Ramsey, a Salina senior in social work at&nbsp;<a href="https://polytechnic.k-state.edu/" target="_blank">Kansas State Polytechnic Campus</a>, picked his major because he wants to help others. He's putting his education into action by helping the community service organization where he served as a student intern with a specific need. Ramsey successfully wrote a $5,000 grant proposal for Ashby House in Salina. The grant will be used to install a keycard-entry security door for residents with the Ashby House Sober Living program, which provides a safe and structured living environment for women who are in drug and alcohol treatment and offers family apartments for its women residents with children. "The new security door will make it harder for unwanted persons or unwanted substances to enter the transitional housing program," said Andy Houltberg, Ashby House executive director. K-State social work students have participated in practicums at Ashby House since its beginning, Houltberg said. Ramsey is the first K-State Polytechnic student to be involved with the new program. "Dalton was eager to pitch in and learn new things," Houltberg said. After expressing an interest in grant writing, Ramsey was tasked with completing the grant request from Ashby House to the Greater Salina Community Foundation and Dane G. Hansen Foundation for the funding. "I had to completely reteach myself how to write," Ramsey said. "Technical writing takes a compelling narrative backed up by great sources." Grant writing is now a skill Ramsey will add to his resume. After graduating from K-State Polytechnic in May, Ramsey plans to pursue a master’s degree in substance abuse and mental health. His interest was sparked through personal experiences with substance abuse and by the death of his favorite artist, Mac Miller, from an accidental overdose. "I've always tended to put others above myself," Ramsey said. "Social work gives me the platform to do that on a wider scale."&nbsp; -K-State Polytechnic-

K-State Polytechnic student helps Ashby House land grant

Leah&nbsp;Jean-Lacher&nbsp;Reay touched many lives with her generosity and enthusiasm before her death in a traffic collision Jan. 22, 2017. Join the Salina community in remembering Reay by donating blood at the annual American Red Cross blood drive held in her memory.

The blood drive is scheduled for noon to 6 p.m. May 12 at the Temple, 336 S. Santa Fe Avenue.

Before moving home to California in 2015, Reay, a 2013 Kansas Wesleyan University nursing graduate, worked for Salina Regional Health Center and served as a mentor for Salina youth. As a nurse and a regular blood donor, Reay also understood the importance of blood donation.

“I think these annual drives are such a meaningful way to remember Leah,” said Kevin Reay, her husband.

Held since 2017, the blood drives in memory of Reay&nbsp;have collected 111 donations.

To schedule an appointment for blood drive, call Yvonne at 785-452-7882.

The Red Cross&nbsp;is&nbsp;testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms.&nbsp;Testing may also identify the presence of antibodies developed after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.

Plasma from routine blood and platelet donations that test positive for high levels of antibodies may be used as convalescent plasma to meet potential future needs of COVID-19 patients. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood product collected from COVID-19 survivors who have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.

The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.

At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is also screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease.&nbsp;Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Donors can expect to receive antibody test and sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at <a href="http://RedCrossBlood.org">RedCrossBlood.org</a>.

Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXB8DBR7Jr5TcFyyqp8VCcW8o7gbhRQhu3-2BrGY78VBTVSe8Uh37tl7ceXQ2Xthz-2Fsb4n5lZsZ-2BHdiarUOgYP2JxWT1Rd-2FjbStjGbij2z9PCtIHxLsrILwTuuagtQlfNWJA-3D-3DrNLf_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqpIPJGTu-2Bac5HHVOgStPSgIpBmy4y2LgLDWZF1nJsNOGiq6jwXb7WVezvCO6-2BkIaNZBonE58jKGQj9yxGYScGZYjlNOmX6zYwz0XJsEIpUYmuFXrHAfVWM3-2Bu3qvZQdJkj65iZuUA7kv2RB348raawXAubnOAO2SDNeusAAcvzxEG71v-2Bhkft2gULxkoFRyIm2FV8Woh3VOWyc3xILSqUmpdLt51OyYP9OUVbTZDEmy7zOGSp-2FgYadlZc2aD09X0a9cetCvwAYIG1R3zSLwYzlw-3D" target="_blank">additional precautions&nbsp;</a>– including temperature checks, social distancing and face masks for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are&nbsp;asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a&nbsp;face mask while at the drive, in alignment with&nbsp;Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;public guidance.&nbsp;

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit  <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXB8DBR7Jr5TcFyyqp8VCcUhCBRb6TtLBWEBUqw6ksphR3CgU-2Br9dyNJIniqwyVk4tCN1pJAF8xwGvRHoS8DiPbUkpWg5G9KvKv37XVAuDDq9U1DcsN-2BW-2FP-2B74EH2lxMGibDkoeoKFGbOmPudm5zPuU-3DXETd_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqpIPJGTu-2Bac5HHVOgStPSgIpBmy4y2LgLDWZF1nJsNOGiq6jwXb7WVezvCO6-2BkIaNZBonE58jKGQj9yxGYScGZYjlNOmX6zYwz0XJsEIpUYmuFXrHAfVWM3-2Bu3qvZQdJko6Lnj55tAHeHfeRFqLSETkTIEX2BJVvbSAYTt2-2BtuqSJ1kB19CielnO1IYkMsUFvLc27HDF0EPQqbsChfl38pIYhQYtRu73ZI6XfesI6ygjXguEpphYb7S-2BhJf5lZ3Y8wGUU1HJ40qVVYI6akLKnn8-3D" target="_blank">RedCrossBlood.org</a>,&nbsp;call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)&nbsp;or enable&nbsp;the&nbsp;Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device&nbsp;to make an appointment or for more information.&nbsp;All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age&nbsp;in most states&nbsp;(16 with parental consent&nbsp;where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXB8DBR7Jr5TcFyyqp8VCcUhCBRb6TtLBWEBUqw6ksphvM0ydae5TdhaeqY7dxOnew-3D-3DHw3v_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqpIPJGTu-2Bac5HHVOgStPSgIpBmy4y2LgLDWZF1nJsNOGiq6jwXb7WVezvCO6-2BkIaNZBonE58jKGQj9yxGYScGZYjlNOmX6zYwz0XJsEIpUYmuFXrHAfVWM3-2Bu3qvZQdJkhQUbGHlgGpHcv4RLyuDhhiy9gx1i0CpOCIehPpNj-2BTMzFhQpXXuRWJSHiv49zWLnG-2FvRAdkdYIOZtFW-2FJe5IpgM4quOzYWnOIlNj0kTNQsZReQql71542taANRKFXJwsZO6Koc-2B-2FYDTeQiFW4nkA90-3D" target="_blank">donate blood</a>. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass®&nbsp;to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=TeZUXWpUv-2B6TCY38pVLo9nAk-2BdoMpFHABCOsrA-2BSZnjKz3J0zXbVc9qtWAkoVrOUEVZO_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqpIPJGTu-2Bac5HHVOgStPSgIpBmy4y2LgLDWZF1nJsNOGiq6jwXb7WVezvCO6-2BkIaNZBonE58jKGQj9yxGYScGZYjlNOmX6zYwz0XJsEIpUYmuFXrHAfVWM3-2Bu3qvZQdJkgjUp8TiAcXaB0sXMQwLQOdAwCr3fiqon281oNr-2FutBQPgxGCGH6DTBGRZzWYKy8QFuYXNLMSXvvWUy9yiUhLWwmLRBXbC96IWXGn9Y5lWtQhHhY6EI58Wj1e-2BHGYWwCe3y2TxoFj-2Bv6krIjyofoPak-3D" target="_blank">RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass</a>&nbsp;or use the Blood Donor App.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620179179521.jpeg" alt="Leah Jean-Lacher Reay. Photo courtesy American Red Cross" />
 <figcaption>Leah Jean-Lacher Reay. Photo courtesy American Red Cross</figcaption>
 </figure>Leah&nbsp;Jean-Lacher&nbsp;Reay touched many lives with her generosity and enthusiasm before her death in a traffic collision Jan. 22, 2017. Join the Salina community in remembering Reay by donating blood at the annual American Red Cross blood drive held in her memory.The blood drive is scheduled for noon to 6 p.m. May 12 at the Temple, 336 S. Santa Fe Avenue.Before moving home to California in 2015, Reay, a 2013 Kansas Wesleyan University nursing graduate, worked for Salina Regional Health Center and served as a mentor for Salina youth. As a nurse and a regular blood donor, Reay also understood the importance of blood donation.“I think these annual drives are such a meaningful way to remember Leah,” said Kevin Reay, her husband.Held since 2017, the blood drives in memory of Reay&nbsp;have collected 111 donations.To schedule an appointment for blood drive, call Yvonne at 785-452-7882.Health insights for donorsThe Red Cross&nbsp;is&nbsp;testing blood, platelet and plasma donations for COVID-19 antibodies. The test may indicate if the donor’s immune system has produced antibodies to this coronavirus, regardless of whether they developed symptoms.&nbsp;Testing may also identify the presence of antibodies developed after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.Plasma from routine blood and platelet donations that test positive for high levels of antibodies may be used as convalescent plasma to meet potential future needs of COVID-19 patients. Convalescent plasma is a type of blood product collected from COVID-19 survivors who have antibodies that may help patients who are actively fighting the virus.The Red Cross is not testing donors to diagnose illness, referred to as a diagnostic test. To protect the health and safety of Red Cross staff and donors, it is important that individuals who do not feel well or believe they may be ill with COVID-19 postpone donation.At a time when health information has never been more important, the Red Cross is also screening all blood, platelet and plasma donations from self-identified African American donors for the sickle cell trait. This additional screening will provide Black donors with an additional health insight and help the Red Cross identify compatible blood types more quickly to help patients with sickle cell disease.&nbsp;Blood transfusion is an essential treatment for those with sickle cell disease, and blood donations from individuals of the same race, ethnicity and blood type have a unique ability to help patients fighting sickle cell disease.&nbsp;&nbsp;Donors can expect to receive antibody test and sickle cell trait screening results, if applicable, within one to two weeks through the Red Cross Blood Donor App and the online donor portal at <a href="http://RedCrossBlood.org">RedCrossBlood.org</a>.Blood drive safetyEach Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXB8DBR7Jr5TcFyyqp8VCcW8o7gbhRQhu3-2BrGY78VBTVSe8Uh37tl7ceXQ2Xthz-2Fsb4n5lZsZ-2BHdiarUOgYP2JxWT1Rd-2FjbStjGbij2z9PCtIHxLsrILwTuuagtQlfNWJA-3D-3DrNLf_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqpIPJGTu-2Bac5HHVOgStPSgIpBmy4y2LgLDWZF1nJsNOGiq6jwXb7WVezvCO6-2BkIaNZBonE58jKGQj9yxGYScGZYjlNOmX6zYwz0XJsEIpUYmuFXrHAfVWM3-2Bu3qvZQdJkj65iZuUA7kv2RB348raawXAubnOAO2SDNeusAAcvzxEG71v-2Bhkft2gULxkoFRyIm2FV8Woh3VOWyc3xILSqUmpdLt51OyYP9OUVbTZDEmy7zOGSp-2FgYadlZc2aD09X0a9cetCvwAYIG1R3zSLwYzlw-3D" target="_blank">additional precautions&nbsp;</a>– including temperature checks, social distancing and face masks for donors and staff – have been implemented to help protect the health of all those in attendance. Donors are&nbsp;asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a&nbsp;face mask while at the drive, in alignment with&nbsp;Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&nbsp;public guidance.&nbsp;About blood donationSimply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit  <a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXB8DBR7Jr5TcFyyqp8VCcUhCBRb6TtLBWEBUqw6ksphR3CgU-2Br9dyNJIniqwyVk4tCN1pJAF8xwGvRHoS8DiPbUkpWg5G9KvKv37XVAuDDq9U1DcsN-2BW-2FP-2B74EH2lxMGibDkoeoKFGbOmPudm5zPuU-3DXETd_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqpIPJGTu-2Bac5HHVOgStPSgIpBmy4y2LgLDWZF1nJsNOGiq6jwXb7WVezvCO6-2BkIaNZBonE58jKGQj9yxGYScGZYjlNOmX6zYwz0XJsEIpUYmuFXrHAfVWM3-2Bu3qvZQdJko6Lnj55tAHeHfeRFqLSETkTIEX2BJVvbSAYTt2-2BtuqSJ1kB19CielnO1IYkMsUFvLc27HDF0EPQqbsChfl38pIYhQYtRu73ZI6XfesI6ygjXguEpphYb7S-2BhJf5lZ3Y8wGUU1HJ40qVVYI6akLKnn8-3D" target="_blank">RedCrossBlood.org</a>,&nbsp;call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767)&nbsp;or enable&nbsp;the&nbsp;Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device&nbsp;to make an appointment or for more information.&nbsp;All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age&nbsp;in most states&nbsp;(16 with parental consent&nbsp;where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=4tNED-2FM8iDZJQyQ53jATUXB8DBR7Jr5TcFyyqp8VCcUhCBRb6TtLBWEBUqw6ksphvM0ydae5TdhaeqY7dxOnew-3D-3DHw3v_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqpIPJGTu-2Bac5HHVOgStPSgIpBmy4y2LgLDWZF1nJsNOGiq6jwXb7WVezvCO6-2BkIaNZBonE58jKGQj9yxGYScGZYjlNOmX6zYwz0XJsEIpUYmuFXrHAfVWM3-2Bu3qvZQdJkhQUbGHlgGpHcv4RLyuDhhiy9gx1i0CpOCIehPpNj-2BTMzFhQpXXuRWJSHiv49zWLnG-2FvRAdkdYIOZtFW-2FJe5IpgM4quOzYWnOIlNj0kTNQsZReQql71542taANRKFXJwsZO6Koc-2B-2FYDTeQiFW4nkA90-3D" target="_blank">donate blood</a>. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass®&nbsp;to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at&nbsp;<a href="https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=TeZUXWpUv-2B6TCY38pVLo9nAk-2BdoMpFHABCOsrA-2BSZnjKz3J0zXbVc9qtWAkoVrOUEVZO_t63W6VOpNaQzFln0mRpIPwKWfC8tUIiPKNeIQzfdtyfQoXXVWW7tXyuBqGeFvk2cNuQE8DSUNhLYK5rhxUJJqpIPJGTu-2Bac5HHVOgStPSgIpBmy4y2LgLDWZF1nJsNOGiq6jwXb7WVezvCO6-2BkIaNZBonE58jKGQj9yxGYScGZYjlNOmX6zYwz0XJsEIpUYmuFXrHAfVWM3-2Bu3qvZQdJkgjUp8TiAcXaB0sXMQwLQOdAwCr3fiqon281oNr-2FutBQPgxGCGH6DTBGRZzWYKy8QFuYXNLMSXvvWUy9yiUhLWwmLRBXbC96IWXGn9Y5lWtQhHhY6EI58Wj1e-2BHGYWwCe3y2TxoFj-2Bv6krIjyofoPak-3D" target="_blank">RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass</a>&nbsp;or use the Blood Donor App.

Annual Red Cross blood drive in memory of Leah Jean-Lacher Reay

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau

I recently received an email from a local car dealer offering to buy my truck. Normally I just delete these types of pitches, but in this instance curiosity got the best of me. I opened the email and quickly discovered my gently used vehicle was worth more than I expected — a lot more. The offer was almost exactly what I’d paid for the truck about three years ago, and it was just a few thousand less than a comparable new vehicle. It’s just one of the latest examples of the pandemic’s weird effects on nearly everything, starting with toilet paper and now cascading through every sector of the economy. A shortage of computer chips, lower factory output last year, surging demand and a host of other things have boosted the value of my truck. A similar story is playing out with lumber and the housing market. &nbsp; This logistics logjam includes agriculture, but the disruption today is going mostly unseen by consumers. Hiccups in the supply chains have created all sorts of shortages across the ag industry for things like fertilizer, herbicide and even the plastic wrap used for hay bales. Not all of these are directly related to COVID-19, but it served as the first domino in the chain reaction that’s led to higher prices for just about everything needed to make anything. Other factors include the deep freeze across the middle of the country in February that curtailed all sorts of industrial capacity and the beginning of a post-pandemic demand surge that comes with a return to more normal lifestyles. While these are just some of the proximate causes of current shortages and price increases, the root cause is the decades-long effort to squeeze every extra penny out of the process between a product’s origin and its consumption. Greatly oversimplified, this system fine tunes every part of the production process while using forecasting to figure out just how much product it needs to make, ship and place on a shelf as close to the time it’s purchased as possible. It’s often called “just in time delivery,” for this reason. When it works, which is the vast majority of the time, it lowers prices for everything by reducing the need to hold inventory. When there’s a once-in-a-century pandemic on top of other more regular interruptions, prices go up for everything. Overall, we’ve benefitted greatly from this efficiency. It’s one of the reasons Americans enjoy an abundance of affordable options for our food, electronics and other goods. The downside to having only the appearance of abundance and not an actual abundance. In time, the market will correct. High prices will cure high prices, either through reducing demand or enticing new competitors to increase supply. Of course, it’s a little easier to be optimistic if you’re not looking for a used truck, trying to buy (or build) a house or securing farm inputs. Right now, I’ve still got my truck. I’m holding out a little bit longer on the off chance I can make an even trade for a brand new one.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;Copyright © 2021 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="Greg Doering. Photo courtesy Kansas Farm Bureau" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering. Photo courtesy Kansas Farm Bureau</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm BureauI recently received an email from a local car dealer offering to buy my truck. Normally I just delete these types of pitches, but in this instance curiosity got the best of me. I opened the email and quickly discovered my gently used vehicle was worth more than I expected — a lot more. The offer was almost exactly what I’d paid for the truck about three years ago, and it was just a few thousand less than a comparable new vehicle. It’s just one of the latest examples of the pandemic’s weird effects on nearly everything, starting with toilet paper and now cascading through every sector of the economy. A shortage of computer chips, lower factory output last year, surging demand and a host of other things have boosted the value of my truck. A similar story is playing out with lumber and the housing market. &nbsp; This logistics logjam includes agriculture, but the disruption today is going mostly unseen by consumers. Hiccups in the supply chains have created all sorts of shortages across the ag industry for things like fertilizer, herbicide and even the plastic wrap used for hay bales. Not all of these are directly related to COVID-19, but it served as the first domino in the chain reaction that’s led to higher prices for just about everything needed to make anything. Other factors include the deep freeze across the middle of the country in February that curtailed all sorts of industrial capacity and the beginning of a post-pandemic demand surge that comes with a return to more normal lifestyles. While these are just some of the proximate causes of current shortages and price increases, the root cause is the decades-long effort to squeeze every extra penny out of the process between a product’s origin and its consumption. Greatly oversimplified, this system fine tunes every part of the production process while using forecasting to figure out just how much product it needs to make, ship and place on a shelf as close to the time it’s purchased as possible. It’s often called “just in time delivery,” for this reason. When it works, which is the vast majority of the time, it lowers prices for everything by reducing the need to hold inventory. When there’s a once-in-a-century pandemic on top of other more regular interruptions, prices go up for everything. Overall, we’ve benefitted greatly from this efficiency. It’s one of the reasons Americans enjoy an abundance of affordable options for our food, electronics and other goods. The downside to having only the appearance of abundance and not an actual abundance. In time, the market will correct. High prices will cure high prices, either through reducing demand or enticing new competitors to increase supply. Of course, it’s a little easier to be optimistic if you’re not looking for a used truck, trying to buy (or build) a house or securing farm inputs. Right now, I’ve still got my truck. I’m holding out a little bit longer on the off chance I can make an even trade for a brand new one."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.&nbsp;Copyright © 2021 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

INSIGHT: The logistics logjam

Today is Wednesday, May 5, the 125th day of 2021. There are 240 days left in the year. 

On May 5, 1925, schoolteacher John T. Scopes was charged in Tennessee with violating a state law that prohibited teaching the theory of evolution. (Scopes was found guilty, but his conviction was later set aside.)

In 1494, during his second voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus landed in Jamaica. 

In 1818, political philosopher Karl Marx, co-author of "The Communist Manifesto" and author of "Das Kapital," was born in Prussia. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573488868914.jpeg" alt="Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a>" />
 <figcaption>Photo of old book courtesy <a href="http://shutterstock.com">shutterstock</a></figcaption>
 </figure>By THE ASSOCIATED PRESSToday is Wednesday, May 5, the 125th day of 2021. There are 240 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On May 5, 1925, schoolteacher John T. Scopes was charged in Tennessee with violating a state law that prohibited teaching the theory of evolution. (Scopes was found guilty, but his conviction was later set aside.)On this date: In 1494, during his second voyage to the Western Hemisphere, Christopher Columbus landed in Jamaica. In 1818, political philosopher Karl Marx, co-author of "The Communist Manifesto" and author of "Das Kapital," was born in Prussia. In 1891, New York's Carnegie Hall (then named "Music Hall") had its official opening night, featuring Russian composer Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky as a guest conductor.In 1942, wartime sugar rationing began in the United States. In 1945, in the only fatal attack of its kind during World War II, a Japanese balloon bomb exploded on Gearhart Mountain in Oregon, killing the pregnant wife of a minister and five children. Denmark and the Netherlands were liberated as a German surrender went into effect. In 1961, astronaut Alan B. Shepard Jr. became America's first space traveler as he made a 15-minute suborbital flight aboard Mercury capsule Freedom 7.In 1973, Secretariat won the Kentucky Derby, the first of his Triple Crown victories.In 1978, Ben &amp; Jerry's ice cream had its beginnings as Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield opened an ice cream parlor at a converted gas station in Burlington, Vermont.In 1981, Irish Republican Army hunger-striker Bobby Sands died at the Maze Prison in Northern Ireland on his 66th day without food. In 1987, the congressional Iran-Contra hearings opened with former Air Force Maj. Gen. Richard V. Secord the lead-off witness. In 1994, Singapore caned American teenager Michael Fay for vandalism, a day after the sentence was reduced from six lashes to four in response to an appeal by President Bill Clinton. In 2009, Texas health officials confirmed the first death of a U.S. resident with swine flu. Ten years ago: Solemnly honoring victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks, President Barack Obama hugged survivors at ground zero in New York and declared that the killing of Osama bin Laden was an American message to the world: "When we say we will never forget, we mean what we say." Pakistan's army broke its silence over the U.S. commando raid that killed bin Laden, acknowledging its "shortcomings" in finding him but threatening to review cooperation with Washington if there was another violation of Pakistani sovereignty. Director, playwright and screenwriter Arthur Laurents ("West Side Story") died in New York at age 93. Five years ago: Former Los Angeles trash collector Lonnie Franklin Jr. was convicted of 10 counts of murder in the "Grim Sleeper" serial killings that targeted poor, young Black women over two decades. President Barack Obama commuted the prison sentences of 58 federal convicts, part of a broader push to ease punishments for nonviolent drug offenders. Londoners cast votes in an election that gave the city its first Muslim mayor, Labour lawmaker Sadiq Khan, who succeeded outgoing Conservative Boris Johnson. One year ago: President Donald Trump visited a Honeywell mask factory in Arizona, but ignored guidelines to wear a mask. Tyson Foods said it would resume limited operation of its huge pork processing plant in Waterloo, Iowa, with enhanced safety measures, more than two weeks after closing the facility because of a coronavirus outbreak among workers. Even though Joe Biden had no remaining opponents, a judge ruled that New York's Democratic presidential primary would have to take place on June 23 because canceling it would be unconstitutional. Michigan communities saw record turnout for local elections, with votes cast largely by mail. Facebook said it had removed several accounts and pages linked to QAnon, taking action for the first time against the far-right conspiracy theory circulated among Trump supporters.Today's Birthdays: Actor Pat Carroll is 94. Country singer-musician Roni Stoneman is 83. Actor Michael Murphy is 83. Actor Lance Henriksen is 81. Comedian-actor Michael Palin is 78. Actor John Rhys-Davies is 77. Rock correspondent Kurt Loder is 76. Rock musician Bill Ward (Black Sabbath) is 73. Actor Melinda Culea is 66. Actor Lisa Eilbacher is 64. Actor Richard E. Grant is 64. Former broadcast journalist John Miller is 63. Rock singer Ian McCulloch (Echo and the Bunnymen) is 62. NBC newsman Brian Williams is 62. Rock musician Shawn Drover (Megadeth) is 55. TV personality Kyan Douglas is 51. Actor Tina Yothers is 48. R&amp;B singer Raheem DeVaughn is 46. Actor Santiago Cabrera is 43. Actor Vincent Kartheiser is 42. Singer Craig David is 40. Actor Danielle Fishel is 40. Actor Henry Cavill is 38. Actor Clark Duke is 36. Soul singer Adele is 33. Rock singer Skye Sweetnam is 33. R&amp;B singer Chris Brown is 32. Figure skater Nathan Chen is 22.

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