ABILENE -- The retirement reception for longtime a Abilene physician was reflective of the times we live in now. 

Dr. Doug Sheern retired as a physician at Memorial Hospital in Abilene at the end of March. Those attending his reception on March 31 wished their friend and colleague well while practicing the social distancing that has become the norm in the time of COVID-19.

Sheern provided care for more than 40 years in Abilene, according to information provided by&nbsp;Memorial Health System (MHS). Sheern will be missed dearly, by not only all of his patients, but by the MHS staff as well, MHS noted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587000967815.jpeg" alt="MHS CEO Harold Courtois, left, presents Dr. Doug Sheern with a retirement gift in front of MHS colleagues and staff outside Memorial Hospital. Photos courtesy MHS" />
 <figcaption>MHS CEO Harold Courtois, left, presents Dr. Doug Sheern with a retirement gift in front of MHS colleagues and staff outside Memorial Hospital. Photos courtesy MHS</figcaption>
 </figure>ABILENE -- The retirement reception for longtime a Abilene physician was reflective of the times we live in now. Dr. Doug Sheern retired as a physician at Memorial Hospital in Abilene at the end of March. Those attending his reception on March 31 wished their friend and colleague well while practicing the social distancing that has become the norm in the time of COVID-19.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1587001160470.jpeg" alt="MHS friends and colleagues gathered outside -- at a safe distance -- for Sheern's retirement reception." />
 <figcaption>MHS friends and colleagues gathered outside -- at a safe distance -- for Sheern's retirement reception.</figcaption>
 </figure>Sheern provided care for more than 40 years in Abilene, according to information provided by&nbsp;Memorial Health System (MHS). Sheern will be missed dearly, by not only all of his patients, but by the MHS staff as well, MHS noted.

Longtime Abilene physician retires

Today is Thursday, April 16, the 107th day of 2020. There are 259 days left in the year.

On April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in which the civil rights activist responded to a group of local clergymen who had criticized him for leading street protests; King defended his tactics, writing, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."

In 1789, President-elect George Washington left Mount Vernon, Virginia, for his inauguration in New York.

In 1889, comedian and movie director Charles Chaplin was born in London.

In 1917, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin returned to Russia after years of exile.

In 1945, during World War II, U.S. troops reached Nuremberg. U.S. forces invaded the Japanese island of Ie Shima.

In 1947, the cargo ship Grandcamp, carrying ammonium nitrate, blew up in the harbor in Texas City, Texas; a nearby ship, the High Flyer, which was carrying ammonium nitrate and sulfur, caught fire and exploded the following day; the blasts and fires killed nearly 600 people. At the South Carolina statehouse, financier Bernard M. Baruch declared: "Let us not be deceived — we are today in the midst of a cold war."

In 1960, shortly before midnight, rock-and-roll performer Eddie Cochran, 21, was fatally injured in a taxi crash in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England (he died the next day).

In 1962, New Orleans Archbishop Joseph Rummel excommunicated three local Roman Catholics for fighting racial integration of parochial schools. Bob Dylan debuted his song "Blowin' in the Wind" at Gerde's Folk City in New York.

In 1972, Apollo 16 blasted off on a voyage to the moon with astronauts John W. Young, Charles M. Duke Jr. and Ken Mattingly on board.

In 1977, Alex Haley, author of the best-seller "Roots," visited the Gambian village of Juffure, where, he believed, his ancestor Kunte Kinte was captured as a slave in 1767.

In 1986, dispelling rumors he was dead, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi appeared on television to condemn the U.S. raid on his country and to say that Libyans were "ready to die" defending their nation.

In 2003, the Bush administration lowered the terror alert level from orange to yellow, saying the end of heavy fighting in Iraq had diminished the threat of terrorism in the United States.

In 2007, in one of America's worst school attacks, a college senior killed 32 people on the campus of Virginia Tech before taking his own life.

Ten years ago: The U.S government accused Wall Street's most powerful firm of fraud, saying Goldman Sachs &amp; Co. had sold mortgage investments without telling buyers the securities were crafted with input from a client who was betting on them to fail. (In July 2010, Goldman agreed to pay $550 million in a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but did not admit wrongdoing.)

Five years ago: U.N. Security Council members were moved to tears as a Syrian doctor, Mohamed Tennari, an eyewitness to suspected chlorine attacks on civilians in Syria, gave a graphic eyewitness account of dying children during a closed-door briefing. The NFL reinstated Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, clearing the way for him to return after missing most of the previous season while facing child abuse charges in Texas for disciplining his son with a wooden switch.

One year ago: French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to rebuild Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral "even more beautifully," a day after a raging fire destroyed the cathedral's spire and roof; he said he wanted to see the renovation of the landmark completed within five years. France's richest businessman, Bernard Arnault, and his luxury goods group LVMH pledged more than $220 million for the reconstruction of Notre Dame; other French companies pledged aid totaling in the hundreds of millions of dollars. U.S. health regulators halted sales of a type of surgical mesh used to repair pelvic conditions in women, after years of patients' reports of injuries and complications. The Seattle Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson announced agreement on a $140 million, four-year extension that made him the highest-paid player in the NFL.

Today's Birthdays: Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI is 93. Actor Peter Mark Richman is 93. Singer Bobby Vinton is 85. Denmark's Queen Margrethe II is 80. Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 73. Former Massachusetts first lady Ann Romney is 71. NFL coach Bill Belichick is 68. Rock singer and former politician Peter Garrett is 67. Actress Ellen Barkin is 66. Actor Michel Gill is 60. Rock musician Jason Scheff (Chicago) is 58. Singer Jimmy Osmond is 57. Rock singer David Pirner (Soul Asylum) is 56. Actor-comedian Martin Lawrence is 55. Actor Jon Cryer is 55. Rock musician Dan Rieser is 54. Actor Peter Billingsley is 49. Actor Lukas Haas is 44. Actress-singer Kelli O'Hara is 44. Actress Claire Foy (TV: "The Crown") is 36. Figure skater Mirai Nagasu is 27. Actress Sadie Sink is 18.

Thought for Today: "We think too much and feel too little." — Charles Chaplin, English actor-comedian-director (born this date in 1889, died in 1977).

<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>Today is Thursday, April 16, the 107th day of 2020. There are 259 days left in the year.Today's Highlight in History:On April 16, 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. wrote his "Letter from Birmingham Jail" in which the civil rights activist responded to a group of local clergymen who had criticized him for leading street protests; King defended his tactics, writing, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."On this date:In 1789, President-elect George Washington left Mount Vernon, Virginia, for his inauguration in New York.In 1889, comedian and movie director Charles Chaplin was born in London.In 1917, Vladimir Ilyich Lenin returned to Russia after years of exile.In 1945, during World War II, U.S. troops reached Nuremberg. U.S. forces invaded the Japanese island of Ie Shima.In 1947, the cargo ship Grandcamp, carrying ammonium nitrate, blew up in the harbor in Texas City, Texas; a nearby ship, the High Flyer, which was carrying ammonium nitrate and sulfur, caught fire and exploded the following day; the blasts and fires killed nearly 600 people. At the South Carolina statehouse, financier Bernard M. Baruch declared: "Let us not be deceived — we are today in the midst of a cold war."In 1960, shortly before midnight, rock-and-roll performer Eddie Cochran, 21, was fatally injured in a taxi crash in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England (he died the next day).In 1962, New Orleans Archbishop Joseph Rummel excommunicated three local Roman Catholics for fighting racial integration of parochial schools. Bob Dylan debuted his song "Blowin' in the Wind" at Gerde's Folk City in New York.In 1972, Apollo 16 blasted off on a voyage to the moon with astronauts John W. Young, Charles M. Duke Jr. and Ken Mattingly on board.In 1977, Alex Haley, author of the best-seller "Roots," visited the Gambian village of Juffure, where, he believed, his ancestor Kunte Kinte was captured as a slave in 1767.In 1986, dispelling rumors he was dead, Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi appeared on television to condemn the U.S. raid on his country and to say that Libyans were "ready to die" defending their nation.In 2003, the Bush administration lowered the terror alert level from orange to yellow, saying the end of heavy fighting in Iraq had diminished the threat of terrorism in the United States.In 2007, in one of America's worst school attacks, a college senior killed 32 people on the campus of Virginia Tech before taking his own life.Ten years ago: The U.S government accused Wall Street's most powerful firm of fraud, saying Goldman Sachs &amp; Co. had sold mortgage investments without telling buyers the securities were crafted with input from a client who was betting on them to fail. (In July 2010, Goldman agreed to pay $550 million in a settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, but did not admit wrongdoing.)Five years ago: U.N. Security Council members were moved to tears as a Syrian doctor, Mohamed Tennari, an eyewitness to suspected chlorine attacks on civilians in Syria, gave a graphic eyewitness account of dying children during a closed-door briefing. The NFL reinstated Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, clearing the way for him to return after missing most of the previous season while facing child abuse charges in Texas for disciplining his son with a wooden switch.One year ago: French President Emmanuel Macron pledged to rebuild Paris' Notre Dame Cathedral "even more beautifully," a day after a raging fire destroyed the cathedral's spire and roof; he said he wanted to see the renovation of the landmark completed within five years. France's richest businessman, Bernard Arnault, and his luxury goods group LVMH pledged more than $220 million for the reconstruction of Notre Dame; other French companies pledged aid totaling in the hundreds of millions of dollars. U.S. health regulators halted sales of a type of surgical mesh used to repair pelvic conditions in women, after years of patients' reports of injuries and complications. The Seattle Seahawks and quarterback Russell Wilson announced agreement on a $140 million, four-year extension that made him the highest-paid player in the NFL.Today's Birthdays: Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI is 93. Actor Peter Mark Richman is 93. Singer Bobby Vinton is 85. Denmark's Queen Margrethe II is 80. Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 73. Former Massachusetts first lady Ann Romney is 71. NFL coach Bill Belichick is 68. Rock singer and former politician Peter Garrett is 67. Actress Ellen Barkin is 66. Actor Michel Gill is 60. Rock musician Jason Scheff (Chicago) is 58. Singer Jimmy Osmond is 57. Rock singer David Pirner (Soul Asylum) is 56. Actor-comedian Martin Lawrence is 55. Actor Jon Cryer is 55. Rock musician Dan Rieser is 54. Actor Peter Billingsley is 49. Actor Lukas Haas is 44. Actress-singer Kelli O'Hara is 44. Actress Claire Foy (TV: "The Crown") is 36. Figure skater Mirai Nagasu is 27. Actress Sadie Sink is 18.Thought for Today: "We think too much and feel too little." — Charles Chaplin, English actor-comedian-director (born this date in 1889, died in 1977).Copyright 2020, The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Today in History -- April 16

MANHATTAN – Farmers across the country were already dealing with trade conflicts, weak commodity prices and ever-challenging weather and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

“Life has changed as we know it. We’re all trying to figure out what this is and how it will affect agriculture,” said Kansas State University agricultural economist Robin Reid during an April 8 webinar. The event was one of two offered for women in agriculture as a follow-up to a winter series “Farm Financial Skills for Kansas Women in Agriculture.”

The presentations are available&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/news/recent-videos/addressing-concerns-amid-covid-19-follow-farm-financial-skills-kansas-women-ag">online</a>&nbsp;on the&nbsp;<a href="http://agmanager.info/">Agmanager.info</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agmanager.info/">website</a>.

“We were already in a challenging time for agriculture,” said LaVell Winsor, agricultural economist with the K-State Research and Extension Farm Analyst program.

Like families across the country, Winsor noted that school closures linked to the pandemic have farm families figuring out how to handle having children at home when they normally would be in school. In many cases, one parent is either working from home or has an off-farm job to go to while the other parent is getting spring crops planted and tending to livestock.

“In highly volatile times, no one is going to stop eating, but we are learning a lot about how the supply chain works and how it can be disrupted,” Winsor said.

Farm families are used to dealing with uncertainty – always-changing weather, shifting trade policy and competition from other countries. But in this case, Winsor said, the pandemic is a “black swan” event – one that could not be predicted or planned for but that could have catastrophic effects. The spread of COVID-19 and resulting stay-at-home orders, business closures and potential supply chain disruptions due to transportation or labor difficulties are presenting even more uncertainty and anxiety than farm families normally deal with.&nbsp;

Dairy, beef cattle, hogs and corn have been hit the hardest, Reid said, adding that the corn market received a double whammy – the oil trade war between Russia and Saudi Arabia which has driven oil and gasoline prices lower, plus less demand for ethanol because the pandemic-related stay-at-home orders means drivers are driving less.

About one-third of ethanol plants are predicted to close, Reid said, which reduces the need for corn.

Because of the predicted plant closures, an estimated 200 million to 500 million fewer bushels of corn will be needed this year compared with last. USDA has estimated a large corn crop this year if farmers are able to plant in a timely manner and input supply chains are not disrupted.&nbsp;

“USDA had projected a $3.60 Marketing Year Average for this year’s corn crop,” Reid said. “I don’t believe that estimate will last because of the factors that are bringing corn prices down.”

A bright spot is that U.S. grain sorghum prices are strengthening because China has been making recent purchases. In some areas, grain sorghum prices are higher than corn prices, which is unusual, Reid said.

Wheat prices also have been given a boost because countries such as Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan are stockpiling wheat for domestic consumption as fears of a prolonged quarantine grow, she added.

“As bread is flying off the shelves, we’ve seen more demand for wheat. That’s really the biggest boost,” Reid said.

Agricultural processors cannot always change quickly, which adds uncertainty to farmers deciding what crops to grow or how much milk or meat to produce. Reid gave the example of dairy processing-related businesses that provide individual packets of butter to now-closed restaurants and school districts. They don’t always have the equipment or ability to quickly pivot to a different product. Similarly, with restaurants closed, the demand for higher quality beef is curtailed. Grocery shoppers are still buying beef but tend to purchase lower-priced cuts, such as ground beef.

Compounding the uncertainty is that some farms and agricultural processing companies are dealing with labor difficulties, including several meat processing facilities closing temporarily. Some employees are not coming to work, either because they now have small children at home to care for, have become sick or are concerned about getting sick.

“The bottom line is, we have a lot of cattle and the bottleneck is at the packing plants and processors,” Reid said.

The economists summarized the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, the largest relief package in U.S. history. Among the provisions are $9.5 billion in direct relief to agricultural enterprises, including livestock, dairy and specialty crops, and $14 billion to the Commodity Credit Corporation for funds spent previously.

In her work as an economist with K-State’s Farm Analyst program, Winsor works one on one with farmers. She encourages farm families to consult with key advisors, including business partners, which in some cases are other family members, lenders, brokers or marketing advisors, agricultural retailers or others.

“We don’t have to bear the responsibility of decisions by ourselves,” said Winsor, who herself is a partner in her own family’s farm operation.

“When I sit down with farmers at the kitchen table, the ones who are willing to make decisions are usually the ones who come out ahead. When we’re uncomfortable, just making one decision is helpful,” Winsor said, noting that it may be shifting some acres you plant to one crop in favor of a different one.

“I can’t emphasize this enough -- continue to look at your farm financials,” Winsor said. “None of us feel very secure right now. Stay the course and follow your plan, but make adjustments if needed.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586785231655.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>K-State Research &amp; ExtensionMANHATTAN – Farmers across the country were already dealing with trade conflicts, weak commodity prices and ever-challenging weather and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.“Life has changed as we know it. We’re all trying to figure out what this is and how it will affect agriculture,” said Kansas State University agricultural economist Robin Reid during an April 8 webinar. The event was one of two offered for women in agriculture as a follow-up to a winter series “Farm Financial Skills for Kansas Women in Agriculture.”The presentations are available&nbsp;<a href="https://agmanager.info/news/recent-videos/addressing-concerns-amid-covid-19-follow-farm-financial-skills-kansas-women-ag">online</a>&nbsp;on the&nbsp;<a href="http://agmanager.info/">Agmanager.info</a>&nbsp;<a href="http://www.agmanager.info/">website</a>.“We were already in a challenging time for agriculture,” said LaVell Winsor, agricultural economist with the K-State Research and Extension Farm Analyst program.Like families across the country, Winsor noted that school closures linked to the pandemic have farm families figuring out how to handle having children at home when they normally would be in school. In many cases, one parent is either working from home or has an off-farm job to go to while the other parent is getting spring crops planted and tending to livestock.“In highly volatile times, no one is going to stop eating, but we are learning a lot about how the supply chain works and how it can be disrupted,” Winsor said.Farm families are used to dealing with uncertainty – always-changing weather, shifting trade policy and competition from other countries. But in this case, Winsor said, the pandemic is a “black swan” event – one that could not be predicted or planned for but that could have catastrophic effects. The spread of COVID-19 and resulting stay-at-home orders, business closures and potential supply chain disruptions due to transportation or labor difficulties are presenting even more uncertainty and anxiety than farm families normally deal with.&nbsp;Dairy, beef cattle, hogs and corn have been hit the hardest, Reid said, adding that the corn market received a double whammy – the oil trade war between Russia and Saudi Arabia which has driven oil and gasoline prices lower, plus less demand for ethanol because the pandemic-related stay-at-home orders means drivers are driving less.About one-third of ethanol plants are predicted to close, Reid said, which reduces the need for corn.Because of the predicted plant closures, an estimated 200 million to 500 million fewer bushels of corn will be needed this year compared with last. USDA has estimated a large corn crop this year if farmers are able to plant in a timely manner and input supply chains are not disrupted.&nbsp;“USDA had projected a $3.60 Marketing Year Average for this year’s corn crop,” Reid said. “I don’t believe that estimate will last because of the factors that are bringing corn prices down.”A bright spot is that U.S. grain sorghum prices are strengthening because China has been making recent purchases. In some areas, grain sorghum prices are higher than corn prices, which is unusual, Reid said.Wheat prices also have been given a boost because countries such as Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan are stockpiling wheat for domestic consumption as fears of a prolonged quarantine grow, she added.“As bread is flying off the shelves, we’ve seen more demand for wheat. That’s really the biggest boost,” Reid said.Agricultural processors cannot always change quickly, which adds uncertainty to farmers deciding what crops to grow or how much milk or meat to produce. Reid gave the example of dairy processing-related businesses that provide individual packets of butter to now-closed restaurants and school districts. They don’t always have the equipment or ability to quickly pivot to a different product. Similarly, with restaurants closed, the demand for higher quality beef is curtailed. Grocery shoppers are still buying beef but tend to purchase lower-priced cuts, such as ground beef.Compounding the uncertainty is that some farms and agricultural processing companies are dealing with labor difficulties, including several meat processing facilities closing temporarily. Some employees are not coming to work, either because they now have small children at home to care for, have become sick or are concerned about getting sick.“The bottom line is, we have a lot of cattle and the bottleneck is at the packing plants and processors,” Reid said.The economists summarized the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, the largest relief package in U.S. history. Among the provisions are $9.5 billion in direct relief to agricultural enterprises, including livestock, dairy and specialty crops, and $14 billion to the Commodity Credit Corporation for funds spent previously.In her work as an economist with K-State’s Farm Analyst program, Winsor works one on one with farmers. She encourages farm families to consult with key advisors, including business partners, which in some cases are other family members, lenders, brokers or marketing advisors, agricultural retailers or others.“We don’t have to bear the responsibility of decisions by ourselves,” said Winsor, who herself is a partner in her own family’s farm operation.“When I sit down with farmers at the kitchen table, the ones who are willing to make decisions are usually the ones who come out ahead. When we’re uncomfortable, just making one decision is helpful,” Winsor said, noting that it may be shifting some acres you plant to one crop in favor of a different one.Other tips include:<ol>
 <li>Discuss a farm safety plan. Wash hands. Stay home if you’re sick. Wear masks.</li><li>Be empowered to make decisions. What positive steps can you take now? Buy options on commodities? Buy stocks?</li><li>If it feels like your plan has blown up, consider where you have control. Continue with ordinary tasks such as spring planting and feeding livestock. It can make us feel normal.</li><li>Make amendments as needed. Review the government stimulus plan for anything that might impact you. Control your costs. Look at refinancing options on loans.</li><li>Review marketing plans. This may be an opportunity to lock in prices for wheat. With expected closing of some ethanol plants, this might be a time to lock in basis levels on corn. With ethanol plants closing, dried distiller’s grains (DDGs) may be replaced by soymeal in livestock rations.&nbsp;</li>
 </ol>“I can’t emphasize this enough -- continue to look at your farm financials,” Winsor said. “None of us feel very secure right now. Stay the course and follow your plan, but make adjustments if needed.”

Already beset by tough markets, farm families face pandemic fallout

TOPEKA, Kan. — During her Wednesday press briefing, Gov. Laura Kelly announced she's extending the stay-at-home order until May 3. She is working with Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, area business leaders and mayors to determine a path forward after that.&nbsp;

The Democratic governor is keeping the shelter-in-place order in place until May 3, rather than Sunday and continuing to limit in-person worship services and other religious gatherings to 10 or fewer people. 

That restriction has resulted in criticism from the Republican-controlled Legislature. Kelly called a meeting of the Republican-dominated State Finance Council in hopes of helping hospitals. Kansas now has 1,494 confirmed coronavirus cases and 76 COVID-19-related deaths.&nbsp;

In addition she said she has called a teleconference meeting with top Kansas legislators Wednesday afternoon to consider aid for hospitals and funding to cover costs associated with the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

She scheduled the session with lawmakers only four days after successfully thwarting attempts by top Republicans to revoke an order limiting in-person worship services and other religious gatherings to 10 or fewer people. She’s also faced GOP criticism as the state Department of Labor has struggled to handle a huge surge in unemployment claims from jobless workers.

Kelly called a meeting of the Republican-dominated State Finance Council in hopes of helping hospitals and releasing state funds to the Adjutant General’s Department, which oversees the state’s response to emergencies. The council is the governor and eight top lawmakers, six of them Republicans, and it makes some financial decisions when the GOP-controlled Legislature is not in session.

Statewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, grew Tuesday to 1,426 cases, up 50 from Monday. The number of deaths increased by seven to 69.

Nursing homes have been particularly hard, with the Clearwater Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Sedgwick County joining those battling outbreaks. The facility has four cases and one death, The Wichita Eagle reports.

It has a one-out-of-five star rating on the Medicare website that ranks long-term care facilities based on past inspections, citations and complaints. Facility owner Willie Novotny said the concerns raised in the Medicare inspection had nothing to do with the outbreak.

Meanwhile, a variety retail store in western Kansas’ Garden City called Tienda Variedades Candy has been linked to multiple coronavirus cases, and now public health officials are warning shoppers that they may have been exposed there last month.

Projections conducted by the University of Washington have pushed the COVID-19 peak for Kansas out to April 29. Kelly’s order requiring people to stay home except for essential business, such as grocery store visits, had been set to expire Sunday, but she signaled last week that she would likely extend it. Some communities already are moving to tamp down further on public gatherings, with Manhattan announcing it was closing its pools for the summer.

Black Kansans have been disproportionately affected, with 109 cases per 100,000 residents, compared to 31 cases per 100,000 white residents as of Tuesday. The date is incomplete, though, with missing racial data for 24% of cases.

Kelly described the trend as “alarming” in a written statement and said that it “points to, among other things, inequalities in healthcare -- some of which could have been addressed had Kansas expanded Medicaid.”

Amid the outbreak, Kansas utility regulators Tuesday extended an emergency order barring utilities from shutting off service to customers who can’t pay their bills right now, The Wichita Eagle reported. The new order prohibits shutoffs of electric and natural gas utilities under state regulation due to nonpayment of bills through May 15.

TOPEKA, Kan. — During her Wednesday press briefing, Gov. Laura Kelly announced she's extending the stay-at-home order until May 3. She is working with Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, area business leaders and mayors to determine a path forward after that.&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F214325436538782%2F&show_text=0&width=560" width="560" height="315" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The Democratic governor is keeping the shelter-in-place order in place until May 3, rather than Sunday and continuing to limit in-person worship services and other religious gatherings to 10 or fewer people. That restriction has resulted in criticism from the Republican-controlled Legislature. Kelly called a meeting of the Republican-dominated State Finance Council in hopes of helping hospitals. Kansas now has 1,494 confirmed coronavirus cases and 76 COVID-19-related deaths.&nbsp;In addition she said she has called a teleconference meeting with top Kansas legislators Wednesday afternoon to consider aid for hospitals and funding to cover costs associated with the state’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.She scheduled the session with lawmakers only four days after successfully thwarting attempts by top Republicans to revoke an order limiting in-person worship services and other religious gatherings to 10 or fewer people. She’s also faced GOP criticism as the state Department of Labor has struggled to handle a huge surge in unemployment claims from jobless workers.HELPING HOSPITALSKelly called a meeting of the Republican-dominated State Finance Council in hopes of helping hospitals and releasing state funds to the Adjutant General’s Department, which oversees the state’s response to emergencies. The council is the governor and eight top lawmakers, six of them Republicans, and it makes some financial decisions when the GOP-controlled Legislature is not in session.STATSStatewide, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, grew Tuesday to 1,426 cases, up 50 from Monday. The number of deaths increased by seven to 69.Nursing homes have been particularly hard, with the Clearwater Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Sedgwick County joining those battling outbreaks. The facility has four cases and one death, The Wichita Eagle reports.It has a one-out-of-five star rating on the Medicare website that ranks long-term care facilities based on past inspections, citations and complaints. Facility owner Willie Novotny said the concerns raised in the Medicare inspection had nothing to do with the outbreak.Meanwhile, a variety retail store in western Kansas’ Garden City called Tienda Variedades Candy has been linked to multiple coronavirus cases, and now public health officials are warning shoppers that they may have been exposed there last month.Projections conducted by the University of Washington have pushed the COVID-19 peak for Kansas out to April 29. Kelly’s order requiring people to stay home except for essential business, such as grocery store visits, had been set to expire Sunday, but she signaled last week that she would likely extend it. Some communities already are moving to tamp down further on public gatherings, with Manhattan announcing it was closing its pools for the summer.RACIAL DISPARITIESBlack Kansans have been disproportionately affected, with 109 cases per 100,000 residents, compared to 31 cases per 100,000 white residents as of Tuesday. The date is incomplete, though, with missing racial data for 24% of cases.ADVERTISEMENTKelly described the trend as “alarming” in a written statement and said that it “points to, among other things, inequalities in healthcare -- some of which could have been addressed had Kansas expanded Medicaid.”NO ELECTRICITY SHUTOFFSAmid the outbreak, Kansas utility regulators Tuesday extended an emergency order barring utilities from shutting off service to customers who can’t pay their bills right now, The Wichita Eagle reported. The new order prohibits shutoffs of electric and natural gas utilities under state regulation due to nonpayment of bills through May 15.____

🎥  Kansas governor extends stay-at-home order until May 3

Never doubt that our firefighters are tough! Could you do this? From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinafire/">Salina Fire Facebook</a> page:

Never doubt that our firefighters are tough! Could you do this? From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinafire/">Salina Fire Facebook</a> page:<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fsalinafire%2Fposts%2F2695509520546557&width=500" width="500" height="867" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowTransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe></div>

Could you do this?

Here's the Saline County COVID-19 update for Wednesday:

Governor Kelly announced today the Statewide Stay-at-Home order is extended until May 3rd, 2020.

The Saline County Health Department does not have any additional positive cases of COVID-19 to report today. At 11 am, KDHE reported a total of 1,494 cases and 76 deaths.

The Health Department investigates communicable diseases every day. In some ways, disease investigation is a lot like detective work. We need to look at many pieces to complete the puzzle and identify people who are ill. When a person tests positive for COVID-19, the Saline County Health Department receives the positive lab result. With that notification, an investigation process is started by public health experts.

• We first check-in with the person who tested positive to see how they are. We remind the person to stay home. We ask when their symptoms started and where the person may have been during their contagious period.

• We also ask the person about close contacts who would be the highest risk for getting COVID-19.

Close contacts include someone who:

-Lives in the same household as the sick person with COVID-19

-Cares for a sick person with COVID-19

-Was within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for about 10 minutes

-Was in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19

• Close contacts are contacted and asked to quarantine themselves, that is, to stay home for 14 days and monitor themselves for symptoms.

• We notify agencies that could be affected as the investigation unfolds.

If a person is ever identified as a close contact, the Health Department will connect with you. Contact tracing and disease investigations are not new to the Health Department.

It cannot be stressed enough the importance of staying home and only going out for essential tasks. You can reduce your risks of exposure by:

• Staying home and only leaving to perform essential tasks.

• Maintain social distancing when out in public – 6 feet or more.

• Covering your face when social distancing is not able to be maintained in public places.

• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or more.

• Using hand sanitizer if washing your hands is not readily available.

• Utilizing delivery services or pick-up services.

• Contact your medical provider if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 Saline County continues to receive reports of alleged non-compliance with the Statewide Stay-at-Home order.

Alleged violations can be reported through our online submission form at <a href="http://www.saline.org">www.saline.org</a>. If you have a question about a business being essential or not, please visit the Governor’s website at <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/keff">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff</a> to see the order, list of essential functions, and frequently asked questions.

Help our community in stopping the spread of this virus. Only follow official sources to obtain information: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a> Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and Stay at Home.

Here's the Saline County COVID-19 update for Wednesday:Governor Kelly announced today the Statewide Stay-at-Home order is extended until May 3rd, 2020.The Saline County Health Department does not have any additional positive cases of COVID-19 to report today. At 11 am, KDHE reported a total of 1,494 cases and 76 deaths.The Health Department investigates communicable diseases every day. In some ways, disease investigation is a lot like detective work. We need to look at many pieces to complete the puzzle and identify people who are ill. When a person tests positive for COVID-19, the Saline County Health Department receives the positive lab result. With that notification, an investigation process is started by public health experts.• We first check-in with the person who tested positive to see how they are. We remind the person to stay home. We ask when their symptoms started and where the person may have been during their contagious period.• We also ask the person about close contacts who would be the highest risk for getting COVID-19.Close contacts include someone who:-Lives in the same household as the sick person with COVID-19-Cares for a sick person with COVID-19-Was within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for about 10 minutes-Was in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19• Close contacts are contacted and asked to quarantine themselves, that is, to stay home for 14 days and monitor themselves for symptoms.• We notify agencies that could be affected as the investigation unfolds.If a person is ever identified as a close contact, the Health Department will connect with you. Contact tracing and disease investigations are not new to the Health Department.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586989207139.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>It cannot be stressed enough the importance of staying home and only going out for essential tasks. You can reduce your risks of exposure by:• Staying home and only leaving to perform essential tasks.• Maintain social distancing when out in public – 6 feet or more.• Covering your face when social distancing is not able to be maintained in public places.• Washing your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or more.• Using hand sanitizer if washing your hands is not readily available.• Stay home if you are sick.• Utilizing delivery services or pick-up services.• Contact your medical provider if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 Saline County continues to receive reports of alleged non-compliance with the Statewide Stay-at-Home order.Alleged violations can be reported through our online submission form at <a href="http://www.saline.org">www.saline.org</a>. If you have a question about a business being essential or not, please visit the Governor’s website at <a href="https://governor.kansas.gov/keff">https://governor.kansas.gov/keff</a> to see the order, list of essential functions, and frequently asked questions.Help our community in stopping the spread of this virus. Only follow official sources to obtain information: <a href="http://www.saline.org/coronavirus">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a> or <a href="http://www.kdheks.gov">www.kdheks.gov</a> Stay Safe, Stay Healthy and Stay at Home.

Saline County explains COVID-19 investigation process

By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina Post

The $53 million in grants announced Tuesday by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran are providing lifelines for Kansas airports.

For the Salina Regional Airport, the $1,836,078 grant will provide financial stability during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tim Rogers, executive director of the Salina Airport Authority, told Salina Post on Wednesday. 

The grants are a part of the Phase III Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5e96233aeb7f17053602867d">Moran: Salina, area airports receiving CARES Act grants</a>

"While reducing air travel is important to stop the spread of the virus, it has caused significant losses for our airports. Whether large or small, Kansas airports play an important role in the commerce and travel of our state," Moran said in announcing the grants. "While this can’t replace the usual business of these airports, these grants will work to alleviate the hardships currently felt within the industry."

Hardships, indeed. Rogers said that the Salina airport has experienced a 90 percent drop in passenger enplanements on United flights to Denver and Chicago, a 100 percent drop in rental car commissions, and a 50 percent drop in aviation fuel sales.

Rogers, however, was quick to point out that the Salina airport remains open.

"The Salina Regional Airport is still open and operating for air carrier flights, business jets, general aviation, military, air cargo and air ambulance flights," he said.

Rogers explained that the CARES Act grant for the Salina airport will be used for staff salaries, wages, benefits, and airport safety and airport/airfield maintenance in compliance with federal airport certification requirements.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576535579375.jpeg" alt="The Kennedy Air Terminal at Salina Regional Airport. Salina Post file photo" />
 <figcaption>The Kennedy Air Terminal at Salina Regional Airport. Salina Post file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY Salina PostThe $53 million in grants announced Tuesday by U.S. Senator Jerry Moran are providing lifelines for Kansas airports.For the Salina Regional Airport, the $1,836,078 grant will provide financial stability during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tim Rogers, executive director of the Salina Airport Authority, told Salina Post on Wednesday. The grants are a part of the Phase III Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/5e96233aeb7f17053602867d">Moran: Salina, area airports receiving CARES Act grants</a>"While reducing air travel is important to stop the spread of the virus, it has caused significant losses for our airports. Whether large or small, Kansas airports play an important role in the commerce and travel of our state," Moran said in announcing the grants. "While this can’t replace the usual business of these airports, these grants will work to alleviate the hardships currently felt within the industry."Hardships, indeed. Rogers said that the Salina airport has experienced a 90 percent drop in passenger enplanements on United flights to Denver and Chicago, a 100 percent drop in rental car commissions, and a 50 percent drop in aviation fuel sales.Rogers, however, was quick to point out that the Salina airport remains open."The Salina Regional Airport is still open and operating for air carrier flights, business jets, general aviation, military, air cargo and air ambulance flights," he said.Rogers explained that the CARES Act grant for the Salina airport will be used for staff salaries, wages, benefits, and airport safety and airport/airfield maintenance in compliance with federal airport certification requirements.

CARES Act grant provides financial stability for Salina airport

The Saline County Sheriff's Office is investigating the theft of equipment from a construction trailer in northwest Saline County.

Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that sometime between 5 p.m. April 7 and 7 a.m. April 8, someone forced entry into a construction trailer belonging to Reece Construction that was parked in the 2200 block of North Reese Road. The company was doing bridge work in the area, he said.

According to Soldan, it appeared that someone had first tried to beat a hole in the trailer before cutting two locks. Damage was estimated at $410, he said.

Once inside, someone stole $9,925 worth of equipment, mostly hand tools and power hand tools, Soldan said. Items stolen included a number of Milwaukee and DeWalt power tools, he added.

The Saline County Sheriff's Office is investigating the theft of equipment from a construction trailer in northwest Saline County.Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan said this morning that sometime between 5 p.m. April 7 and 7 a.m. April 8, someone forced entry into a construction trailer belonging to Reece Construction that was parked in the 2200 block of North Reese Road. The company was doing bridge work in the area, he said.According to Soldan, it appeared that someone had first tried to beat a hole in the trailer before cutting two locks. Damage was estimated at $410, he said.Once inside, someone stole $9,925 worth of equipment, mostly hand tools and power hand tools, Soldan said. Items stolen included a number of Milwaukee and DeWalt power tools, he added.

Nearly $10,000 worth of items stolen from work trailer

MANHATTAN – Kansas State University youth development specialist Elaine Johannes says the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, has brought on a new dynamic as young adults come back home to study and shelter with their family.

Many of those young adults would normally be exploring their independence at college&nbsp;&nbsp;or even high school, Johannes said, but instead are adjusting to an environment in which they might feel trapped by local stay-at-home orders.

“What is probably most difficult for that emerging adult – which is what we would call somebody between the ages of 19 and 25 --&nbsp;&nbsp;who is now back in their home is feeling instable,” said Johannes, who is also an associate professor in K-State’s College of Health and Human Sciences.

“There are certain tasks that the emerging adult thought they would be working on,” she said. “They were involved with finding what their identity is…what their career path is and what their passions are. They may be feeling and have been feeling like they’re in between being that high school student or moving on to a career path.”

It can feel like an emotional gut-punch when suddenly their growth is stunted by recommendations to stay away from crowds of friends and people who are helping them in their future plans, Johannes said.

But, she adds, “what’s interesting about this particular part of the lifespan is that emerging adults are usually optimists. They consider that part of their DNA and they believe that there are possibilities galore.”

Johannes said that same group tends to be loyal, compassionate, thoughtful and responsible.

“They consider ‘we,’ over ‘me,’” she said. “They look at how we all function together and they care about their community. So maybe that younger group can help us persist and get through this and they may actually be stronger after all this is over. Maybe this is the generation we can look at to see how we can re-connect socially and how we can move beyond what is happening now.”

Another group, often called millennials (who are typically between ages 24 to 39, may have a different reaction to the current pandemic. Johannes said this is the generation that has lived through numerous high school shooting massacres, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the 2008 economic recession and the United States’ war in Iraq.

“The millennials have been hit time after time, and no wonder they are kind of focused on themselves,” she said. “That’s reasonable given everything that has happened during their lifetime.”

Parents who understand those dynamics may be better able to help adult children stay balanced through this crisis, Johannes said

She cited information from the&nbsp;<a href="https://childmind.org/" target="_blank">Child Mind Institute</a>, a non-profit organization that provides support for children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders, as guidance for families while sheltered in their homes.

“The first thing is that we need to emphasize that social distancing is not a penalty or a disciplinary action,” Johannes said. “It’s for health. (Young adults) understand health and they understand the need to care for others. So if parents emphasize that social distancing is for health and for caring for friends and other people in the household, their children may be more likely to do it.”

Other ideas for parents helping young adults adjust to being back at home include:

•Let them know you understand the difficulties and you’re in it together. For kids still in high school, recognize their disappointment in losing such treasured memories as prom, graduation, theatre productions and sports events.

•Support their remote work, whether it be for classes or a job. Set up a spot in the home that is for them only.

•Maintain a routine. Everyone in the house should schedule time to work, time for entertainment and time to be physically active.

•Practice mindfulness, or “slowing down the worry,” Johannes said. “Learn to value the immediate moment and the feeling around it.”

“We can’t take away the anger or the frustration and disappointment that all of us feel,” she said. “But we can have those who are younger start to understand why that feeling happens and start to own it.”

Johannes said she hopes that families might “take the longer view that being closer-knit in our family and communities may actually strengthen us in the longer term.”

“Then, we can focus on how we support the younger people as they look to us to learn, how we handle stress, how we handle commitment to the community, to our households, and to ourselves,” she said. “I think the lesson is that we can come out stronger, more positive, as we get through this phase and we learn from it.”

MANHATTAN – Kansas State University youth development specialist Elaine Johannes says the current outbreak of the novel coronavirus, which causes the disease COVID-19, has brought on a new dynamic as young adults come back home to study and shelter with their family.Many of those young adults would normally be exploring their independence at college&nbsp;&nbsp;or even high school, Johannes said, but instead are adjusting to an environment in which they might feel trapped by local stay-at-home orders.“What is probably most difficult for that emerging adult – which is what we would call somebody between the ages of 19 and 25 --&nbsp;&nbsp;who is now back in their home is feeling instable,” said Johannes, who is also an associate professor in K-State’s College of Health and Human Sciences.“There are certain tasks that the emerging adult thought they would be working on,” she said. “They were involved with finding what their identity is…what their career path is and what their passions are. They may be feeling and have been feeling like they’re in between being that high school student or moving on to a career path.”It can feel like an emotional gut-punch when suddenly their growth is stunted by recommendations to stay away from crowds of friends and people who are helping them in their future plans, Johannes said.But, she adds, “what’s interesting about this particular part of the lifespan is that emerging adults are usually optimists. They consider that part of their DNA and they believe that there are possibilities galore.”Johannes said that same group tends to be loyal, compassionate, thoughtful and responsible.“They consider ‘we,’ over ‘me,’” she said. “They look at how we all function together and they care about their community. So maybe that younger group can help us persist and get through this and they may actually be stronger after all this is over. Maybe this is the generation we can look at to see how we can re-connect socially and how we can move beyond what is happening now.”Another group, often called millennials (who are typically between ages 24 to 39, may have a different reaction to the current pandemic. Johannes said this is the generation that has lived through numerous high school shooting massacres, the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the 2008 economic recession and the United States’ war in Iraq.“The millennials have been hit time after time, and no wonder they are kind of focused on themselves,” she said. “That’s reasonable given everything that has happened during their lifetime.”Parents who understand those dynamics may be better able to help adult children stay balanced through this crisis, Johannes saidShe cited information from the&nbsp;<a href="https://childmind.org/" target="_blank">Child Mind Institute</a>, a non-profit organization that provides support for children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders, as guidance for families while sheltered in their homes.“The first thing is that we need to emphasize that social distancing is not a penalty or a disciplinary action,” Johannes said. “It’s for health. (Young adults) understand health and they understand the need to care for others. So if parents emphasize that social distancing is for health and for caring for friends and other people in the household, their children may be more likely to do it.”Other ideas for parents helping young adults adjust to being back at home include:•Let them know you understand the difficulties and you’re in it together. For kids still in high school, recognize their disappointment in losing such treasured memories as prom, graduation, theatre productions and sports events.•Support their remote work, whether it be for classes or a job. Set up a spot in the home that is for them only.•Maintain a routine. Everyone in the house should schedule time to work, time for entertainment and time to be physically active.•Practice mindfulness, or “slowing down the worry,” Johannes said. “Learn to value the immediate moment and the feeling around it.”“We can’t take away the anger or the frustration and disappointment that all of us feel,” she said. “But we can have those who are younger start to understand why that feeling happens and start to own it.”Johannes said she hopes that families might “take the longer view that being closer-knit in our family and communities may actually strengthen us in the longer term.”“Then, we can focus on how we support the younger people as they look to us to learn, how we handle stress, how we handle commitment to the community, to our households, and to ourselves,” she said. “I think the lesson is that we can come out stronger, more positive, as we get through this phase and we learn from it.”

Stuck at home? Crisis may help young adults emerge stronger

Police are investigating the theft of $18,000 worth of items from a southwest Salina storage unit.

Sometime between 8:30 p.m. Sunday and 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, someone broke into a storage unit at Storage Mart, 1540 West Schilling Road, and stole the following items, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester reported this morning.

EZ GO golf cart, beige in color, valued at $4500

Harbor Freight 6500 Generator valued at $800

According to Forrester, entry was possibly made through the back wall of the unit. The sheet metal had several screws missing and the metal had been pried apart. 

Police are investigating the theft of $18,000 worth of items from a southwest Salina storage unit.Sometime between 8:30 p.m. Sunday and 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, someone broke into a storage unit at Storage Mart, 1540 West Schilling Road, and stole the following items, Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester reported this morning.EZ GO golf cart, beige in color, valued at $4500Harbor Freight 6500 Generator valued at $800Dewalt table saw valued at $700Kobalt tile saw valued at $300Kobalt miter saw valued at $300Milwaukee jigsaw valued at $360Milwaukee drill set valued at $350JBL amplifier valued at $200Rockford amp valued at $200Memphis subwoofer valued at $100Vinyl welder kit valued at $10,000Electric tacker valued at $190According to Forrester, entry was possibly made through the back wall of the unit. The sheet metal had several screws missing and the metal had been pried apart.

$18,000 worth of items taken from storage unit

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;&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;&nbsp;

Recent obituaries

OCCK, Inc. is currently seeking a dedicated, compassionate, conscientious, self-motivated individual to work with adults who have disabilities. Direct Support Professional support customers in home environments and the community to establish positive routines, and for the enhancement of daily living skills. This educator/instructor will provide support and guidance in a mentor-style relationship for the achievement of individual goals. On the job training and certifications are provided.

Apply online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.occk.com/" target="_blank">www.occk.com</a>&nbsp;and learn more about our mission and great benefits

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1576544829259.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>OCCK, Inc. is currently seeking a dedicated, compassionate, conscientious, self-motivated individual to work with adults who have disabilities. Direct Support Professional support customers in home environments and the community to establish positive routines, and for the enhancement of daily living skills. This educator/instructor will provide support and guidance in a mentor-style relationship for the achievement of individual goals. On the job training and certifications are provided.Apply online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.occk.com/" target="_blank">www.occk.com</a>&nbsp;and learn more about our mission and great benefitsEOEDrug testing required

Today in History -- April 15

By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm Bureau

I was a sophomore in college when Sept. 11 happened. Like everyone else, I remember a lot of confusion in the aftermath of that day. It wasn’t until about a week later when a letter from my father drove home the impact.

“The world has forever changed,” he wrote. That’s the line that stuck in my brain nearly two decades later. My dad wasn’t prone to hyperbole. He didn’t make grand, definitive statements. Of course, his blunt assessment then was correct.

Unfortunately, my father’s words hold true for today’s current crisis.

Like everyone else, farmers and ranchers have seen their world turned upside down in a short amount of time. The year started on a bright note with optimism that new and expanded trade deals would help lift commodity prices from years-long doldrums. The confluence of an oil price war, COVID-19 and the fallout from both have hammered the agricultural sector.

The pain is widespread. Prices have cratered in nearly every corner of agriculture. May corn is down 15 percent from mid-January because of cratering demand for ethanol. Cotton, a small but growing crop in Kansas, is off nearly 30 percent. The “silver lining” for crops is soybeans, down 10 percent.

Despite lower grain prices, livestock producers are seeing freefalling prices as well. Hogs and live cattle are off more than 30 percent, while dairy is off by similar margins.

No marketing plan accounts for such rapid declines. Markets are in turmoil because there’s no basis to guide future decisions. Upended supply chains are straining to recalibrate to the dynamics of our presently slowed society that has wrecked our world.

I can’t imagine the agony of public health officials who face making unprecedented decisions. I can’t imagine the fear health care workers must have going to work every day. I can’t imagine the pain of hospitality workers who’ve lost their livelihoods are enduring. I can’t imagine the grief of families who’ve lost loved ones without being by their side and suffered the further indignity of not holding a funeral.

I can’t imagine what’s going through farmers’ minds with planting decisions looming. I can’t imagine the anguish of ranchers balancing keeping cattle and the daily cost to feed them versus selling at what amounts to fire sale prices. I can’t imagine the rage dairy producers feel when dumping milk.

While I can’t comprehend the situations so many find themselves in, I know we are all struggling to come to grips with enduring this crisis at a distance. I also know there are countless people who are still working behind the scenes to either mitigate the economic effects or end the pandemic.

I know this because I’ve seen it firsthand these past few weeks at Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB, where our mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

In addition to KFB staff, county Farm Bureaus and members across the state have stepped up to provide educational resources and opportunities to parents who’ve also become substitute teachers.

A partnership between KFB’s Foundation for Agriculture, county Farm Bureaus and Farm Bureau Financial Services has the ambitious goal of ending hunger in Kansas.

Our advocacy staffers are working with their counterparts at the American Farm Bureau Federation to ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture understands the needs of Kansas farmers and ranchers as it crafts a relief program authorized in the CARES Act.

Separately these may seem like small things, but they’re small things within our control. That’s how we get past the confusion and gain clarity as we begin to rebuild a world forever changed.

"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. Copyright © 2020 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694508756.jpeg" alt="Greg Doering. Photo courtesy Kansas Farm Bureau" />
 <figcaption>Greg Doering. Photo courtesy Kansas Farm Bureau</figcaption>
 </figure>By GREG DOERING Kansas Farm BureauI was a sophomore in college when Sept. 11 happened. Like everyone else, I remember a lot of confusion in the aftermath of that day. It wasn’t until about a week later when a letter from my father drove home the impact.“The world has forever changed,” he wrote. That’s the line that stuck in my brain nearly two decades later. My dad wasn’t prone to hyperbole. He didn’t make grand, definitive statements. Of course, his blunt assessment then was correct.Unfortunately, my father’s words hold true for today’s current crisis.Like everyone else, farmers and ranchers have seen their world turned upside down in a short amount of time. The year started on a bright note with optimism that new and expanded trade deals would help lift commodity prices from years-long doldrums. The confluence of an oil price war, COVID-19 and the fallout from both have hammered the agricultural sector.The pain is widespread. Prices have cratered in nearly every corner of agriculture. May corn is down 15 percent from mid-January because of cratering demand for ethanol. Cotton, a small but growing crop in Kansas, is off nearly 30 percent. The “silver lining” for crops is soybeans, down 10 percent.Despite lower grain prices, livestock producers are seeing freefalling prices as well. Hogs and live cattle are off more than 30 percent, while dairy is off by similar margins.No marketing plan accounts for such rapid declines. Markets are in turmoil because there’s no basis to guide future decisions. Upended supply chains are straining to recalibrate to the dynamics of our presently slowed society that has wrecked our world.I can’t imagine the agony of public health officials who face making unprecedented decisions. I can’t imagine the fear health care workers must have going to work every day. I can’t imagine the pain of hospitality workers who’ve lost their livelihoods are enduring. I can’t imagine the grief of families who’ve lost loved ones without being by their side and suffered the further indignity of not holding a funeral.I can’t imagine what’s going through farmers’ minds with planting decisions looming. I can’t imagine the anguish of ranchers balancing keeping cattle and the daily cost to feed them versus selling at what amounts to fire sale prices. I can’t imagine the rage dairy producers feel when dumping milk.While I can’t comprehend the situations so many find themselves in, I know we are all struggling to come to grips with enduring this crisis at a distance. I also know there are countless people who are still working behind the scenes to either mitigate the economic effects or end the pandemic.I know this because I’ve seen it firsthand these past few weeks at Kansas Farm Bureau (KFB, where our mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.In addition to KFB staff, county Farm Bureaus and members across the state have stepped up to provide educational resources and opportunities to parents who’ve also become substitute teachers.A partnership between KFB’s Foundation for Agriculture, county Farm Bureaus and Farm Bureau Financial Services has the ambitious goal of ending hunger in Kansas.Our advocacy staffers are working with their counterparts at the American Farm Bureau Federation to ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture understands the needs of Kansas farmers and ranchers as it crafts a relief program authorized in the CARES Act.Separately these may seem like small things, but they’re small things within our control. That’s how we get past the confusion and gain clarity as we begin to rebuild a world forever changed."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. Copyright © 2020 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

Insight: Rebuilding our world

MANHATTAN —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/bluekey" target="_blank">Blue Key</a>, a senior honorary at Kansas State University, has selected more than 20 students to receive Blue Key scholarships for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Blue Key scholarships are awarded based on the honorary's values of scholarship, leadership and service. All scholarship recipients undergo a rigorous application process. Learn more about each scholarship:

<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/bluekey/services/Scholarships.html" target="_blank">k-state.edu/bluekey/services/Scholarships.html</a>.

The following students are Blue Key scholarship recipients:&nbsp;Elizabeth Seidl, senior in biological systems engineering,&nbsp;De Soto, Blue Key Study Abroad Scholarship; Janae Schulte, junior in human development and family science,&nbsp;Ellsworth, Dr. Pat J. Bosco Graduate Student Scholarship; Gonzalo Alcantar, junior in industrial engineering,&nbsp;Garden City, Chester E. Peters Student Development Award.

From&nbsp;Greater Kansas City: Eric Terrazas, freshman in chemical engineering,&nbsp;Kansas City, Robert Lewis Sophomore Leadership Award; Maria Izquierdo, freshman in nutritional sciences, Bernard Franklin Opportunity Scholarship, Cameron Jones, junior in professional strategic selling, Neal Atkinson Junior Leadership Scholarship, Anastacia Mendoza, sophomore in business administration, Bernard Franklin Opportunity Scholarship, and Marone Shimekt, junior in management, Dr. Pat J. Bosco Graduate Student Scholarship, all from&nbsp;Lenexa; Erin Hartegan, junior in industrial engineering,&nbsp;Olathe, Chester E. Peters Student Development Award; and Justin Schieber, senior in computer science,&nbsp;Overland Park, Greg Hardin Memorial Scholarship.

Maxwell Harman, sophomore in biochemistry and global food systems leadership,&nbsp;Inman, Walter Martin Memorial Scholarship; Maria Traskowsky, junior in computer science,&nbsp;Herington, Greg Hardin Memorial Scholarship; Louis Vopata, sophomore in psychology,&nbsp;Paxico, Neal Atkinson Junior Leadership Scholarship; Taylor Davison, sophomore in chemistry and microbiology,&nbsp;Salina, Neal Atkinson Junior Leadership Scholarship; Isabelle Woodrum, sophomore in political science,&nbsp;Seneca, Blue Key Study Abroad Scholarship; Sierra Staatz, junior in chemical engineering and biological engineering,&nbsp;Tonganoxie, Neal Atkinson Junior Leadership Scholarship; Courtney Wohletz, sophomore in human development and family science,&nbsp;Topeka, Neal Atkinson Junior Leadership Scholarship; Cadence Ciesielski, junior in philosophy and Spanish,&nbsp;Valley Center, Neal Atkinson Junior Leadership Scholarship; and Julia Howey, junior in life sciences,&nbsp;Wichita, Chester E. Peters Student Development Award.

From out of state: Sarah Carr, junior in civil engineering,&nbsp;Hampshire, Illinois, Chester E. Peters Student Development Award; Allyson Eichman, junior in business administration,&nbsp;Fulton, Missouri, Roy C. Langford Memorial Scholarship; Austin Drake, sophomore in microbiology,&nbsp;Maryville, Missouri, Robert Lewis Sophomore Leadership Award; Maria Hazelbaker, junior in agronomy and global food systems leadership,&nbsp;Wentzville, Missouri, Robert Lewis Sophomore Leadership Award; and Brea Hostert, junior in agribusiness,&nbsp;Atkinson, Nebraska, Roy C. Langford Memorial Scholarship.

MANHATTAN —&nbsp;<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/bluekey" target="_blank">Blue Key</a>, a senior honorary at Kansas State University, has selected more than 20 students to receive Blue Key scholarships for the 2020-2021 academic year.Blue Key scholarships are awarded based on the honorary's values of scholarship, leadership and service. All scholarship recipients undergo a rigorous application process. Learn more about each scholarship:<a href="https://www.k-state.edu/bluekey/services/Scholarships.html" target="_blank">k-state.edu/bluekey/services/Scholarships.html</a>.The following students are Blue Key scholarship recipients:&nbsp;Elizabeth Seidl, senior in biological systems engineering,&nbsp;De Soto, Blue Key Study Abroad Scholarship; Janae Schulte, junior in human development and family science,&nbsp;Ellsworth, Dr. Pat J. Bosco Graduate Student Scholarship; Gonzalo Alcantar, junior in industrial engineering,&nbsp;Garden City, Chester E. Peters Student Development Award.From&nbsp;Greater Kansas City: Eric Terrazas, freshman in chemical engineering,&nbsp;Kansas City, Robert Lewis Sophomore Leadership Award; Maria Izquierdo, freshman in nutritional sciences, Bernard Franklin Opportunity Scholarship, Cameron Jones, junior in professional strategic selling, Neal Atkinson Junior Leadership Scholarship, Anastacia Mendoza, sophomore in business administration, Bernard Franklin Opportunity Scholarship, and Marone Shimekt, junior in management, Dr. Pat J. Bosco Graduate Student Scholarship, all from&nbsp;Lenexa; Erin Hartegan, junior in industrial engineering,&nbsp;Olathe, Chester E. Peters Student Development Award; and Justin Schieber, senior in computer science,&nbsp;Overland Park, Greg Hardin Memorial Scholarship.Maxwell Harman, sophomore in biochemistry and global food systems leadership,&nbsp;Inman, Walter Martin Memorial Scholarship; Maria Traskowsky, junior in computer science,&nbsp;Herington, Greg Hardin Memorial Scholarship; Louis Vopata, sophomore in psychology,&nbsp;Paxico, Neal Atkinson Junior Leadership Scholarship; Taylor Davison, sophomore in chemistry and microbiology,&nbsp;Salina, Neal Atkinson Junior Leadership Scholarship; Isabelle Woodrum, sophomore in political science,&nbsp;Seneca, Blue Key Study Abroad Scholarship; Sierra Staatz, junior in chemical engineering and biological engineering,&nbsp;Tonganoxie, Neal Atkinson Junior Leadership Scholarship; Courtney Wohletz, sophomore in human development and family science,&nbsp;Topeka, Neal Atkinson Junior Leadership Scholarship; Cadence Ciesielski, junior in philosophy and Spanish,&nbsp;Valley Center, Neal Atkinson Junior Leadership Scholarship; and Julia Howey, junior in life sciences,&nbsp;Wichita, Chester E. Peters Student Development Award.From out of state: Sarah Carr, junior in civil engineering,&nbsp;Hampshire, Illinois, Chester E. Peters Student Development Award; Allyson Eichman, junior in business administration,&nbsp;Fulton, Missouri, Roy C. Langford Memorial Scholarship; Austin Drake, sophomore in microbiology,&nbsp;Maryville, Missouri, Robert Lewis Sophomore Leadership Award; Maria Hazelbaker, junior in agronomy and global food systems leadership,&nbsp;Wentzville, Missouri, Robert Lewis Sophomore Leadership Award; and Brea Hostert, junior in agribusiness,&nbsp;Atkinson, Nebraska, Roy C. Langford Memorial Scholarship.

Local, area students receive Blue Key scholarships

Reorganization of a boundary line between Meadowlark Ridge and Oakdale elementary schools is being considered to improve the balance between elementary schools while affecting the fewest families, according to Salina USD 305.

Reorganization of a boundary line between Meadowlark Ridge and Oakdale elementary schools is being considered to improve the balance between elementary schools while affecting the fewest families, according to Salina USD 305.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586908094835.jpeg" alt="Maps courtesy USD 305" />
 <figcaption>Maps courtesy USD 305</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/4/1586908241934.jpeg" alt="The current boundaries." />
 <figcaption>The current boundaries.</figcaption>
 </figure>Oakdale’s student enrollment is smaller than other district elementary schools, having declined in the last three years to 324 students. Enrollment at Meadowlark has grown to 463. Based on the enrollment trends in these two buildings, it does not appear that the imbalance will correct without boundary adjustments. Maps at this link illustrate the current boundary line as well as the proposed boundary change. The change would result in more balanced enrollment for 2020-2021.“We know that relationships and stability are important in a child’s education,” said Linn Exline, superintendent. “For this reason, families with students attending Meadowlark who will be affected by this change would be able to finish at Meadowlark.”At the start of school year 2020-2021, if parents and guardians choose to have their students finish at Meadowlark, the family will be responsible for transportation. Busing to Meadowlark will no longer be provided for students within the newly defined Oakdale attendance area beginning in 2020-2021. Letters will be mailed to affected families April 29 and they will have until May 15 to inform the district of their attendance preference.Improved balance in enrollment between the schools is expected over time. District attendance center boundaries were last reconfigured in school year 2011-2012. The changes sought to improve the balance of student enrollment and demographics for all district attendance centers.Since that time, several adjustments have been made to the district attendance center boundaries with the goal of balancing enrollment numbers between the elementary attendance centers. The school board plans to take action on the proposed boundary change at their April 28 regular meeting.To make a formal public comment during the April 28 meeting, please contact Deborah Howard, Board of Education Clerk, at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:deborah.howard@usd305.com" target="_blank">deborah.howard@usd305.com</a>&nbsp;or leave a message at 785-309-4727 by 1 p.m. on April 28. To speak with a board member, patrons can contact them using the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usd305.com/about_us/board_of_education" target="_blank">information found on this page</a>.