I have a serious problem with vaccine skeptics who are over 70. When they were children, they saw mothers march from door-to-door, collecting dimes to fund polio research. And they witnessed the nationwide relief when first Jonas Salk developed the “killed” vaccine and then Sabin developed the “attenuated” oral vaccine administered as drops in sugar cubes.

Alongside that effort was a longstanding drive to vaccinate against smallpox. Us older folks still have that scar on our left shoulder. Thanks to vaccination, the last case in the U.S. was in 1949. Worldwide vaccination and quarantine ended smallpox in the wild in the 1970s in Somalia, Africa.&nbsp; In 1976, I witnessed the deeply pock-marked face of a smallpox survivor in the streets of Macao.&nbsp; Now, I could understand the tremendous motivation of a population that suffered smallpox—so disfiguring and fatal in one-third of the victims---usually children.

In 2019, we had also eliminated measles from the United States through requiring childhood vaccination for school attendance. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, with a contagion rate of 12-to-18 (meaning that one person transmits it to up to 18 others).&nbsp; With such a high rate of transmission, nearly 95 percent of schoolchildren need to be vaccinated to halt the transmission to the few children who cannot be vaccinated due to immunity disorders. However, the anti-vax campaign on the West Coast had dropped the level of vaccinated schoolchildren to a point where measles was re-introduced from overseas and took off.

All states have vaccination requirements for schoolchildren, but different states allow a different assortment of exemptions. Obviously, the immune-compromised students need and receive a medical exemption. But some states also allowed exemption for religious or personal philosophy. A handful of states narrowed the exemption to medical only.

This right of a state and its schools to mandate vaccination was solidly established long ago in 1905, when the Supreme Court ruled in Jacobson v. Massachusetts that a state can mandate vaccines and impose criminal fines on those not in compliance. When Indiana University required COVID-19 vaccinations and students petitioned the Supreme Court, Justice Amy Coney Barrett refused to step in, rejecting the case on August 12, and citing Jacobson.

In 2019, before this pandemic, I was awarded for a radio commentary recorded on the measles anti-vaxxer dilemma. I described how “science was self-defeating.” By eliminating those early major epidemics that caused widespread pain, suffering and death, a new generation grew up free from these experiences and as a result no longer valued the benefits brought by vaccination. In other words, the success of science undermined the future motivation for vaccination.

But now, in this current pandemic, my explanation of anti-vaxxers as youngsters who grew up without major epidemic experience falls short. There is now a much larger element of politics and confirmation bias that is rejecting science, embracing falsehoods, and threatening health worldwide.

And that presents a personal problem because I try to follow my speech professor’s rule to “...remember at all times the inherent dignity of humans for that is more important than any other concern....” Those over 70 have had direct experience in the effectiveness of vaccines in eliminating polio and smallpox. And yet many are choosing instead to believe in abstract media messages that are in total contradiction to what they personally experienced in childhood. But how can I express utter contempt for those readers or listeners who put media over experience, without assaulting their dignity?

My professor continued, noting that a speaker/writer must be adequately informed because there is no right to disseminate ignorance, to think straight for there is no right to promote confusion, and to be socially responsible and bear in mind the welfare of those affected. So I will clarify. My contempt is for the dissemination of ignorance, promotion of confusion and disregard for people’s welfare.&nbsp; &nbsp;

If we had today’s media back in the 1950s, as well as the political polarization of this time, we would still today be living with folks in iron lungs, children on crutches, and one-third of smallpox victims dying each season.&nbsp;&nbsp;

John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities in 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573490075841.jpeg" alt="John Richard Schrock" />
 <figcaption>John Richard Schrock</figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN RICHARD SCHROCKI have a serious problem with vaccine skeptics who are over 70. When they were children, they saw mothers march from door-to-door, collecting dimes to fund polio research. And they witnessed the nationwide relief when first Jonas Salk developed the “killed” vaccine and then Sabin developed the “attenuated” oral vaccine administered as drops in sugar cubes. Alongside that effort was a longstanding drive to vaccinate against smallpox. Us older folks still have that scar on our left shoulder. Thanks to vaccination, the last case in the U.S. was in 1949. Worldwide vaccination and quarantine ended smallpox in the wild in the 1970s in Somalia, Africa.&nbsp; In 1976, I witnessed the deeply pock-marked face of a smallpox survivor in the streets of Macao.&nbsp; Now, I could understand the tremendous motivation of a population that suffered smallpox—so disfiguring and fatal in one-third of the victims---usually children. In 2019, we had also eliminated measles from the United States through requiring childhood vaccination for school attendance. Measles is one of the most contagious diseases, with a contagion rate of 12-to-18 (meaning that one person transmits it to up to 18 others).&nbsp; With such a high rate of transmission, nearly 95 percent of schoolchildren need to be vaccinated to halt the transmission to the few children who cannot be vaccinated due to immunity disorders. However, the anti-vax campaign on the West Coast had dropped the level of vaccinated schoolchildren to a point where measles was re-introduced from overseas and took off. All states have vaccination requirements for schoolchildren, but different states allow a different assortment of exemptions. Obviously, the immune-compromised students need and receive a medical exemption. But some states also allowed exemption for religious or personal philosophy. A handful of states narrowed the exemption to medical only. This right of a state and its schools to mandate vaccination was solidly established long ago in 1905, when the Supreme Court ruled in Jacobson v. Massachusetts that a state can mandate vaccines and impose criminal fines on those not in compliance. When Indiana University required COVID-19 vaccinations and students petitioned the Supreme Court, Justice Amy Coney Barrett refused to step in, rejecting the case on August 12, and citing Jacobson. In 2019, before this pandemic, I was awarded for a radio commentary recorded on the measles anti-vaxxer dilemma. I described how “science was self-defeating.” By eliminating those early major epidemics that caused widespread pain, suffering and death, a new generation grew up free from these experiences and as a result no longer valued the benefits brought by vaccination. In other words, the success of science undermined the future motivation for vaccination. But now, in this current pandemic, my explanation of anti-vaxxers as youngsters who grew up without major epidemic experience falls short. There is now a much larger element of politics and confirmation bias that is rejecting science, embracing falsehoods, and threatening health worldwide. And that presents a personal problem because I try to follow my speech professor’s rule to “...remember at all times the inherent dignity of humans for that is more important than any other concern....” Those over 70 have had direct experience in the effectiveness of vaccines in eliminating polio and smallpox. And yet many are choosing instead to believe in abstract media messages that are in total contradiction to what they personally experienced in childhood. But how can I express utter contempt for those readers or listeners who put media over experience, without assaulting their dignity? My professor continued, noting that a speaker/writer must be adequately informed because there is no right to disseminate ignorance, to think straight for there is no right to promote confusion, and to be socially responsible and bear in mind the welfare of those affected. So I will clarify. My contempt is for the dissemination of ignorance, promotion of confusion and disregard for people’s welfare.&nbsp; &nbsp; If we had today’s media back in the 1950s, as well as the political polarization of this time, we would still today be living with folks in iron lungs, children on crutches, and one-third of smallpox victims dying each season.&nbsp;&nbsp;John Richard Schrock has trained biology teachers for more than 30 years in Kansas. He also has lectured at 27 universities in 20 trips to China. He holds the distinction of “Faculty Emeritus” at Emporia State University.

ED. FRONTLINES: Personal experience or abstract media?

The Southeast of Saline Trojans travel to Ellsworth Friday night to take on the Bearcats.

If you can't make it to the game, KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and Salina Post have you covered. You can listen to the game on KINA or watch it live on&nbsp;<a href="http://salinapost.com/">SalinaPost.com</a>&nbsp;beginning at 7 p.m. tonight. As usual, Devin Hanney will have the call.

Click on the link below to watch the game live at 7 p.m. Friday.

The Southeast of Saline Trojans travel to Ellsworth Friday night to take on the Bearcats.If you can't make it to the game, KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and Salina Post have you covered. You can listen to the game on KINA or watch it live on&nbsp;<a href="http://salinapost.com/">SalinaPost.com</a>&nbsp;beginning at 7 p.m. tonight. As usual, Devin Hanney will have the call.Click on the link below to watch the game live at 7 p.m. Friday.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sil1IjFqWno"></iframe>
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

🎥Watch live as SES takes on Ellsworth tonight

I have decided it’s time to get control of my money. Your plan sounds workable, but I talked to some friends about it, and they think I would be better off using a credit card for emergencies. Can you explain why you advise saving a separate emergency fund?

When bad, unexpected things happen, like a job layoff or a blown car engine, you shouldn’t depend on credit cards. If you use debt to cover emergencies, you’re digging a financial hole for yourself. My plan will walk you out of debt forever, and a strong foundation of any financial house includes an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/quick-guide-to-your-emergency-fund" target="_blank">emergency fund</a>.

Putting together a fully funded emergency fund is Baby Step 3 of my plan for getting out of debt and gaining control of your money. Before you reach&nbsp;this&nbsp;point, however, steps one and two should be completed first. Baby Step 1 is saving $1,000 for a starter emergency fund. Baby Step 2 is where you pay off all debt, except for your home, using the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-calculator" target="_blank">debt snowball method</a>.

A fully-funded emergency fund should cover three to six months of expenses. You start the emergency fund with $1,000, but a full emergency fund can range from $5,000 to $25,000 or more. A family that can make it on $3,000 per month might have a $10,000 emergency fund as a minimum.

What is an emergency? An emergency is something you had no way of knowing was coming—an event that has a major, negative financial impact if you can’t cover it. Emergencies include things like paying the deductible on medical, homeowners or car insurance after an accident, a job loss, a blown automobile transmission or your home’s heating and air unit suddenly biting the dust.

Something on sale you “need” is not an emergency. Fixing the boat, unless you live on it, is not an emergency. Want to buy a car, a leather couch or go to Cancun? Not emergencies. Prom dresses and college tuition are&nbsp;not&nbsp;emergencies, either.

Never rationalize the use of your emergency fund for something you should&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/investment-calculator" target="_blank">save</a>&nbsp;for. On the other hand, don’t make payments on medical bills after an accident while your emergency fund sits there fully loaded. If you’ve gone to the trouble of creating an emergency fund, make sure you are crystal clear on what&nbsp;is&nbsp;and&nbsp;isn’t&nbsp;an emergency.

Also, keep your emergency fund in something that is liquid.&nbsp;Liquid&nbsp;is a money term that basically means easy to access with no penalties. I use growth-stock&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/what-are-mutual-funds" target="_blank">mutual funds</a>&nbsp;for long-term investing, but I would never put my emergency fund there. I suggest a money market account with no penalties and full check writing privileges for your emergency fund.

Your emergency fund account is not for building wealth. It’s an insurance policy against rainy days!

<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/" target="_blank">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time No. 1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1596845065840.jpeg" alt="Dave Ramsey" />
 <figcaption>Dave Ramsey</figcaption>
 </figure>Dear Dave,I have decided it’s time to get control of my money. Your plan sounds workable, but I talked to some friends about it, and they think I would be better off using a credit card for emergencies. Can you explain why you advise saving a separate emergency fund?LesleeDear Leslee,When bad, unexpected things happen, like a job layoff or a blown car engine, you shouldn’t depend on credit cards. If you use debt to cover emergencies, you’re digging a financial hole for yourself. My plan will walk you out of debt forever, and a strong foundation of any financial house includes an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/saving/quick-guide-to-your-emergency-fund" target="_blank">emergency fund</a>.Putting together a fully funded emergency fund is Baby Step 3 of my plan for getting out of debt and gaining control of your money. Before you reach&nbsp;this&nbsp;point, however, steps one and two should be completed first. Baby Step 1 is saving $1,000 for a starter emergency fund. Baby Step 2 is where you pay off all debt, except for your home, using the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/debt/debt-calculator" target="_blank">debt snowball method</a>.A fully-funded emergency fund should cover three to six months of expenses. You start the emergency fund with $1,000, but a full emergency fund can range from $5,000 to $25,000 or more. A family that can make it on $3,000 per month might have a $10,000 emergency fund as a minimum.What is an emergency? An emergency is something you had no way of knowing was coming—an event that has a major, negative financial impact if you can’t cover it. Emergencies include things like paying the deductible on medical, homeowners or car insurance after an accident, a job loss, a blown automobile transmission or your home’s heating and air unit suddenly biting the dust.Something on sale you “need” is not an emergency. Fixing the boat, unless you live on it, is not an emergency. Want to buy a car, a leather couch or go to Cancun? Not emergencies. Prom dresses and college tuition are&nbsp;not&nbsp;emergencies, either.Never rationalize the use of your emergency fund for something you should&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/investment-calculator" target="_blank">save</a>&nbsp;for. On the other hand, don’t make payments on medical bills after an accident while your emergency fund sits there fully loaded. If you’ve gone to the trouble of creating an emergency fund, make sure you are crystal clear on what&nbsp;is&nbsp;and&nbsp;isn’t&nbsp;an emergency.Also, keep your emergency fund in something that is liquid.&nbsp;Liquid&nbsp;is a money term that basically means easy to access with no penalties. I use growth-stock&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/what-are-mutual-funds" target="_blank">mutual funds</a>&nbsp;for long-term investing, but I would never put my emergency fund there. I suggest a money market account with no penalties and full check writing privileges for your emergency fund.Your emergency fund account is not for building wealth. It’s an insurance policy against rainy days!<a href="https://www.ramseysolutions.com/" target="_blank">Dave Ramsey</a>&nbsp;is a seven-time No. 1 national best-selling author, personal finance expert, and host of The Ramsey Show, heard by more than 18 million listeners each week. He&nbsp;has appeared on Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Today Show, Fox News, CNN, Fox Business, and many more. Since 1992, Dave has helped people regain control of their money, build wealth and enhance their lives. He also serves as CEO for Ramsey Solutions.

DAVE SAYS: Think of an emergency fund as insurance

From late July until mid-September, nearly 4,000 Kansas attended at least one of&nbsp;50&nbsp;community&nbsp;meetings&nbsp;to discuss what K-12 students need to learn to be successful adults, and what schools need to do to give them those skills. The largest group of participants were K-12 educators, but comparable numbers identified as community members, businesspeople, school board members, higher education staff, and students from both K-12 and college.&nbsp;

It was a huge commitment of time from&nbsp;Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson,&nbsp;Deputy Commissioner Brad&nbsp;Neuenswander&nbsp;and all 10 members of the State Board of Education&nbsp;– and it was critical because it will take&nbsp;communities across Kansas to&nbsp;make the educational improvements under discussion&nbsp;

Those attending overwhelmingly&nbsp;agreed with two conclusions from a similar&nbsp;series of&nbsp;meetings in 2015.&nbsp;

First,&nbsp;the definition of a successful student should&nbsp;be&nbsp;more&nbsp;than passing&nbsp;“subject area” courses and tests. It should build on&nbsp;academic skills (such as&nbsp;reading and&nbsp;math) but&nbsp;also&nbsp;include a student’s ability to use or apply those skills in&nbsp;the&nbsp;“real world,” plus both personal skills (such as&nbsp;work ethic,&nbsp;perseverance,&nbsp;self-discipline) and interpersonal skills (such as&nbsp;teamwork, speaking and listening, empathy) that&nbsp;help people succeed individually,&nbsp;as members of a&nbsp;community and in the workforce.&nbsp;

Second, to make this happen, schools&nbsp;must change in important ways: more&nbsp;available&nbsp;early childhood programs to help students start school on a more even basis; more attention to social and emotional&nbsp;needs that can&nbsp;hinder learning; education that&nbsp;is&nbsp;more personalized to each student, more flexible and more relevant to the student and family’s needs and goals; and&nbsp;stronger partnerships with business,&nbsp;communities,&nbsp;and families.&nbsp;

Each&nbsp;meeting allowed participants to submit suggestions&nbsp;on what was needed to accomplish these goals.&nbsp;While it&nbsp;will likely be&nbsp;several&nbsp;months&nbsp;before this information is&nbsp;compiled&nbsp;and analyzed,&nbsp;after attending 40 of the 50 meetings,&nbsp;here are&nbsp;my&nbsp;thoughts on next steps.&nbsp;

Clearly define the vision and plan.&nbsp;

The State Board of Education has adopted&nbsp;the vision&nbsp;that Kansas leads the&nbsp;world in the success of each student. It adopted&nbsp;five&nbsp;outcomes to be measured:&nbsp;social-emotional growth measured&nbsp;locally, kindergarten&nbsp;readiness,&nbsp;individual&nbsp;plan of&nbsp;study based on career interest,&nbsp;high school graduation&nbsp;and postsecondary success;&nbsp;and&nbsp;added two other measures for accreditation and&nbsp;recognition:&nbsp;academically prepared for postsecondary and civic engagement.&nbsp;

The board has also adopted a school redesign program with four “principles:”&nbsp;(1)&nbsp;Student success skills&nbsp;that&nbsp;integrate academics with&nbsp;social-emotional&nbsp;growth,&nbsp;(2)&nbsp;family,&nbsp;business,&nbsp;and&nbsp;community partnerships;&nbsp;(3)&nbsp;personalized learning&nbsp;that supports more student choice in&nbsp;time, place,&nbsp;pace,&nbsp;and path; and&nbsp;(4)&nbsp;real-world applications&nbsp;that include project-based learning,&nbsp;internships and civic&nbsp;engagement make learning&nbsp;relevant.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;board has&nbsp;a number of&nbsp;related initiatives. My own experience is that it can be difficult to&nbsp;quickly explain&nbsp;the entire vision and plan, especially&nbsp;to&nbsp;non-educators.&nbsp;It would be helpful to pull all these key components into a single statement or&nbsp;“resolution” explained&nbsp;in simple&nbsp;terms&nbsp;aimed&nbsp;at parents&nbsp;and community members.&nbsp;

Widen the circle of knowledge and support for this vision.&nbsp;

Four thousand&nbsp;is a&nbsp;lot&nbsp;of people, but it’s just a fraction of&nbsp;80,000 educators and school employees, half a million students and their families,&nbsp;and&nbsp;nearly&nbsp;three million&nbsp;people who live in Kansas&nbsp;and depend on a strong school system.&nbsp;

All of&nbsp;these groups will have to help make&nbsp;changes&nbsp;to improve&nbsp;that system&nbsp;– and none of those changes will be easy&nbsp;(or they would already have been done). The fact&nbsp;is&nbsp;many students do well&nbsp;and many adults are comfortable with&nbsp;the current system. Change will require support&nbsp;from teachers,&nbsp;school staff&nbsp;and&nbsp;parents plus the broader community.&nbsp;

Here are some ideas for&nbsp;building on the&nbsp;momentum of&nbsp;50 community meetings.&nbsp;Commit to&nbsp;sharing the information more broadly&nbsp;at the individual school level,&nbsp;with site councils, teacher&nbsp;organizations and parent group and meetings. It would be relatively easy to replicate the&nbsp;commissioner’s message&nbsp;in each school. Use&nbsp;district communication media&nbsp;to explain the vision. Present information to&nbsp;local&nbsp;business, civic and social groups.&nbsp;Ask&nbsp;local and state organizations to formally endorse the Kansans Can vision statement.&nbsp;

It is critical that communities understand and embrace the idea that&nbsp;these changes will help more students become&nbsp;more responsible,&nbsp;employable&nbsp;and self-sufficient, with stronger engagement in their communities and providing the skills Kansans to advance.&nbsp;

Adopt both short-term and long-term goals to achieve this vision.&nbsp;

The State Board has set ambitious long-term goals for&nbsp;graduation rates&nbsp;and postsecondary&nbsp;success, but a long journey begins with a single step.&nbsp;Here are some suggested goals for the next several years.&nbsp;These are my&nbsp;thoughts. Districts&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;using their own data for&nbsp;goal-setting&nbsp;as part of the&nbsp;school accreditation system.&nbsp;

Academically Prepared for Postsecondary. State assessments have been flat&nbsp;since 2015, were skipped in&nbsp;2019&nbsp;and are expected to be lower in&nbsp;2020 because of&nbsp;lost learning time and other factors&nbsp;due to COVID.&nbsp;Supported by additional state funding and federal COVID&nbsp;money,&nbsp;we can&nbsp;begin the recovery&nbsp;by increasing&nbsp;2021&nbsp;state&nbsp;assessments&nbsp;over&nbsp;2020.  &nbsp;

High School Graduation. Reach the highest graduation rate in Kansas history for the class of 2022, by&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;or exceeding&nbsp;90% statewide and a high mark for every&nbsp;subgroup by improving in each district.   &nbsp;

Postsecondary Success.  Set a record for the number of Kansas students taking the ACT&nbsp;or ACT&nbsp;WorkKeys&nbsp;this school year; continue&nbsp;efforts to increase&nbsp;high school students participating in concurrent enrollment,&nbsp;dual enrollment, and Excel in CTE programs.&nbsp;

Social Emotional Growth.&nbsp;Report the highest number of K-12 teachers, student support and instructional support staff, and&nbsp;of&nbsp;students participating in mental health programs or partnerships.   &nbsp;

Kindergarten Readiness.&nbsp;Set a record for Kansas children in high quality preschool programs&nbsp;and in the&nbsp;percentage&nbsp;of students entering kindergarten academically and&nbsp;social-emotionally ready for school &nbsp;

Individual Plan of Study.&nbsp;Improve this program for students using the State Board’s&nbsp;Star Recognition&nbsp;criteria.&nbsp;

Civic Engagement.&nbsp;There&nbsp;are&nbsp;countless ways schools could promote&nbsp;civic&nbsp;engagement, and the annual&nbsp;state and local election&nbsp;cycle of is&nbsp;a great&nbsp;opportunity.&nbsp;&nbsp;Districts could commit to&nbsp;student voter registration&nbsp;activities, promote&nbsp;participation&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Secretary of State’s Students Serve program&nbsp;to&nbsp;help local election officials at the polls,&nbsp;and other&nbsp;volunteer&nbsp;activities.&nbsp;

Accelerate&nbsp;sharing ideas&nbsp;of&nbsp;how&nbsp;schools&nbsp;can&nbsp;begin&nbsp;to&nbsp;implement&nbsp;this vision.&nbsp;

It’s clear from&nbsp;the community conversations that&nbsp;there is&nbsp;strong support for the&nbsp;ideas of broadening the definition of student success and&nbsp;adopting schools to&nbsp;achieve&nbsp;it.&nbsp;Although many schools have begun to implement some of these changes,&nbsp;leaders are looking&nbsp;for ways to move faster.&nbsp;

KSDE&nbsp;and state organizations&nbsp;like KASB can work hard to identify and share successful&nbsp;programs,&nbsp;as well as ideas that haven’t worked out. Local school leaders can commit to making time to&nbsp;learn about&nbsp;and consider these changes.&nbsp;For example, school boards&nbsp;could schedule a standing agenda&nbsp;item&nbsp;to discuss&nbsp;how&nbsp;they might implement those school redesign principles.&nbsp;

Examine whether changes in state policies would support this&nbsp;vision or&nbsp;detract from it.&nbsp;

Finally,&nbsp;where there are many changes schools and districts can take on their own,&nbsp;we need to study whether any state laws and policies are&nbsp;barriers. For example, the&nbsp;State Board has&nbsp;set up a task force to study&nbsp;state&nbsp;high school&nbsp;graduation&nbsp;requirements and&nbsp;is considering whether the current system&nbsp;based exclusively on&nbsp;Carnegie units in subject areas&nbsp;effectively supports the skills students need.&nbsp;

Likewise, new proposals&nbsp;concerning education,&nbsp;whether&nbsp;in the State Legislature,&nbsp;State Board of Education or Board of Regents, or at the local level, should be&nbsp;evaluated based&nbsp;on&nbsp;whether&nbsp;they&nbsp;support the&nbsp;vision,&nbsp;goals,&nbsp;and principles.&nbsp;

Mark Tallman is the associate executive director for advocacy for the Kansas Association of School Boards.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582221969260.jpeg" alt="Mark Tallman. Photo courtesy Kansas Association of School Boards" />
 <figcaption>Mark Tallman. Photo courtesy Kansas Association of School Boards</figcaption>
 </figure>By MARK TALLMANFrom late July until mid-September, nearly 4,000 Kansas attended at least one of&nbsp;50&nbsp;community&nbsp;meetings&nbsp;to discuss what K-12 students need to learn to be successful adults, and what schools need to do to give them those skills. The largest group of participants were K-12 educators, but comparable numbers identified as community members, businesspeople, school board members, higher education staff, and students from both K-12 and college.&nbsp;It was a huge commitment of time from&nbsp;Kansas Education Commissioner Randy Watson,&nbsp;Deputy Commissioner Brad&nbsp;Neuenswander&nbsp;and all 10 members of the State Board of Education&nbsp;– and it was critical because it will take&nbsp;communities across Kansas to&nbsp;make the educational improvements under discussion&nbsp;Those attending overwhelmingly&nbsp;agreed with two conclusions from a similar&nbsp;series of&nbsp;meetings in 2015.&nbsp;First,&nbsp;the definition of a successful student should&nbsp;be&nbsp;more&nbsp;than passing&nbsp;“subject area” courses and tests. It should build on&nbsp;academic skills (such as&nbsp;reading and&nbsp;math) but&nbsp;also&nbsp;include a student’s ability to use or apply those skills in&nbsp;the&nbsp;“real world,” plus both personal skills (such as&nbsp;work ethic,&nbsp;perseverance,&nbsp;self-discipline) and interpersonal skills (such as&nbsp;teamwork, speaking and listening, empathy) that&nbsp;help people succeed individually,&nbsp;as members of a&nbsp;community and in the workforce.&nbsp;Second, to make this happen, schools&nbsp;must change in important ways: more&nbsp;available&nbsp;early childhood programs to help students start school on a more even basis; more attention to social and emotional&nbsp;needs that can&nbsp;hinder learning; education that&nbsp;is&nbsp;more personalized to each student, more flexible and more relevant to the student and family’s needs and goals; and&nbsp;stronger partnerships with business,&nbsp;communities,&nbsp;and families.&nbsp;Each&nbsp;meeting allowed participants to submit suggestions&nbsp;on what was needed to accomplish these goals.&nbsp;While it&nbsp;will likely be&nbsp;several&nbsp;months&nbsp;before this information is&nbsp;compiled&nbsp;and analyzed,&nbsp;after attending 40 of the 50 meetings,&nbsp;here are&nbsp;my&nbsp;thoughts on next steps.&nbsp;Clearly define the vision and plan.&nbsp;The State Board of Education has adopted&nbsp;the vision&nbsp;that Kansas leads the&nbsp;world in the success of each student. It adopted&nbsp;five&nbsp;outcomes to be measured:&nbsp;social-emotional growth measured&nbsp;locally, kindergarten&nbsp;readiness,&nbsp;individual&nbsp;plan of&nbsp;study based on career interest,&nbsp;high school graduation&nbsp;and postsecondary success;&nbsp;and&nbsp;added two other measures for accreditation and&nbsp;recognition:&nbsp;academically prepared for postsecondary and civic engagement.&nbsp;The board has also adopted a school redesign program with four “principles:”&nbsp;(1)&nbsp;Student success skills&nbsp;that&nbsp;integrate academics with&nbsp;social-emotional&nbsp;growth,&nbsp;(2)&nbsp;family,&nbsp;business,&nbsp;and&nbsp;community partnerships;&nbsp;(3)&nbsp;personalized learning&nbsp;that supports more student choice in&nbsp;time, place,&nbsp;pace,&nbsp;and path; and&nbsp;(4)&nbsp;real-world applications&nbsp;that include project-based learning,&nbsp;internships and civic&nbsp;engagement make learning&nbsp;relevant.&nbsp;The&nbsp;board has&nbsp;a number of&nbsp;related initiatives. My own experience is that it can be difficult to&nbsp;quickly explain&nbsp;the entire vision and plan, especially&nbsp;to&nbsp;non-educators.&nbsp;It would be helpful to pull all these key components into a single statement or&nbsp;“resolution” explained&nbsp;in simple&nbsp;terms&nbsp;aimed&nbsp;at parents&nbsp;and community members.&nbsp;Widen the circle of knowledge and support for this vision.&nbsp;Four thousand&nbsp;is a&nbsp;lot&nbsp;of people, but it’s just a fraction of&nbsp;80,000 educators and school employees, half a million students and their families,&nbsp;and&nbsp;nearly&nbsp;three million&nbsp;people who live in Kansas&nbsp;and depend on a strong school system.&nbsp;All of&nbsp;these groups will have to help make&nbsp;changes&nbsp;to improve&nbsp;that system&nbsp;– and none of those changes will be easy&nbsp;(or they would already have been done). The fact&nbsp;is&nbsp;many students do well&nbsp;and many adults are comfortable with&nbsp;the current system. Change will require support&nbsp;from teachers,&nbsp;school staff&nbsp;and&nbsp;parents plus the broader community.&nbsp;Here are some ideas for&nbsp;building on the&nbsp;momentum of&nbsp;50 community meetings.&nbsp;Commit to&nbsp;sharing the information more broadly&nbsp;at the individual school level,&nbsp;with site councils, teacher&nbsp;organizations and parent group and meetings. It would be relatively easy to replicate the&nbsp;commissioner’s message&nbsp;in each school. Use&nbsp;district communication media&nbsp;to explain the vision. Present information to&nbsp;local&nbsp;business, civic and social groups.&nbsp;Ask&nbsp;local and state organizations to formally endorse the Kansans Can vision statement.&nbsp;It is critical that communities understand and embrace the idea that&nbsp;these changes will help more students become&nbsp;more responsible,&nbsp;employable&nbsp;and self-sufficient, with stronger engagement in their communities and providing the skills Kansans to advance.&nbsp;Adopt both short-term and long-term goals to achieve this vision.&nbsp;The State Board has set ambitious long-term goals for&nbsp;graduation rates&nbsp;and postsecondary&nbsp;success, but a long journey begins with a single step.&nbsp;Here are some suggested goals for the next several years.&nbsp;These are my&nbsp;thoughts. Districts&nbsp;will&nbsp;be&nbsp;using their own data for&nbsp;goal-setting&nbsp;as part of the&nbsp;school accreditation system.&nbsp;Academically Prepared for Postsecondary. State assessments have been flat&nbsp;since 2015, were skipped in&nbsp;2019&nbsp;and are expected to be lower in&nbsp;2020 because of&nbsp;lost learning time and other factors&nbsp;due to COVID.&nbsp;Supported by additional state funding and federal COVID&nbsp;money,&nbsp;we can&nbsp;begin the recovery&nbsp;by increasing&nbsp;2021&nbsp;state&nbsp;assessments&nbsp;over&nbsp;2020.  &nbsp;High School Graduation. Reach the highest graduation rate in Kansas history for the class of 2022, by&nbsp;meeting&nbsp;or exceeding&nbsp;90% statewide and a high mark for every&nbsp;subgroup by improving in each district.   &nbsp;Postsecondary Success.  Set a record for the number of Kansas students taking the ACT&nbsp;or ACT&nbsp;WorkKeys&nbsp;this school year; continue&nbsp;efforts to increase&nbsp;high school students participating in concurrent enrollment,&nbsp;dual enrollment, and Excel in CTE programs.&nbsp;Social Emotional Growth.&nbsp;Report the highest number of K-12 teachers, student support and instructional support staff, and&nbsp;of&nbsp;students participating in mental health programs or partnerships.   &nbsp;Kindergarten Readiness.&nbsp;Set a record for Kansas children in high quality preschool programs&nbsp;and in the&nbsp;percentage&nbsp;of students entering kindergarten academically and&nbsp;social-emotionally ready for school &nbsp;Individual Plan of Study.&nbsp;Improve this program for students using the State Board’s&nbsp;Star Recognition&nbsp;criteria.&nbsp;Civic Engagement.&nbsp;There&nbsp;are&nbsp;countless ways schools could promote&nbsp;civic&nbsp;engagement, and the annual&nbsp;state and local election&nbsp;cycle of is&nbsp;a great&nbsp;opportunity.&nbsp;&nbsp;Districts could commit to&nbsp;student voter registration&nbsp;activities, promote&nbsp;participation&nbsp;in the&nbsp;Kansas&nbsp;Secretary of State’s Students Serve program&nbsp;to&nbsp;help local election officials at the polls,&nbsp;and other&nbsp;volunteer&nbsp;activities.&nbsp;Accelerate&nbsp;sharing ideas&nbsp;of&nbsp;how&nbsp;schools&nbsp;can&nbsp;begin&nbsp;to&nbsp;implement&nbsp;this vision.&nbsp;It’s clear from&nbsp;the community conversations that&nbsp;there is&nbsp;strong support for the&nbsp;ideas of broadening the definition of student success and&nbsp;adopting schools to&nbsp;achieve&nbsp;it.&nbsp;Although many schools have begun to implement some of these changes,&nbsp;leaders are looking&nbsp;for ways to move faster.&nbsp;KSDE&nbsp;and state organizations&nbsp;like KASB can work hard to identify and share successful&nbsp;programs,&nbsp;as well as ideas that haven’t worked out. Local school leaders can commit to making time to&nbsp;learn about&nbsp;and consider these changes.&nbsp;For example, school boards&nbsp;could schedule a standing agenda&nbsp;item&nbsp;to discuss&nbsp;how&nbsp;they might implement those school redesign principles.&nbsp;Examine whether changes in state policies would support this&nbsp;vision or&nbsp;detract from it.&nbsp;Finally,&nbsp;where there are many changes schools and districts can take on their own,&nbsp;we need to study whether any state laws and policies are&nbsp;barriers. For example, the&nbsp;State Board has&nbsp;set up a task force to study&nbsp;state&nbsp;high school&nbsp;graduation&nbsp;requirements and&nbsp;is considering whether the current system&nbsp;based exclusively on&nbsp;Carnegie units in subject areas&nbsp;effectively supports the skills students need.&nbsp;Likewise, new proposals&nbsp;concerning education,&nbsp;whether&nbsp;in the State Legislature,&nbsp;State Board of Education or Board of Regents, or at the local level, should be&nbsp;evaluated based&nbsp;on&nbsp;whether&nbsp;they&nbsp;support the&nbsp;vision,&nbsp;goals,&nbsp;and principles.&nbsp;Mark Tallman is the associate executive director for advocacy for the Kansas Association of School Boards.

TALLMAN: 50 communities, 50 conversations, 5 ideas

If you can't make it to the game, KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and Salina Post have you covered. You can listen to the game on KINA or watch it live on <a href="http://SalinaPost.com">SalinaPost.com</a> beginning at 7 p.m. Friday. As usual, Devin Hanney will have the call.

The Southeast of Saline Trojans travel to Ellsworth Friday night to take on the Bearcats.If you can't make it to the game, KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and Salina Post have you covered. You can listen to the game on KINA or watch it live on <a href="http://SalinaPost.com">SalinaPost.com</a> beginning at 7 p.m. Friday. As usual, Devin Hanney will have the call.Click on the link below to watch the game live at 7 p.m. Friday.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Sil1IjFqWno"></iframe>
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 </figure>

🎥Watch live as SES takes on Ellsworth Friday night

TOPEKA – To protect Kansas students, teachers, and staff from the threat of the contagious Delta variant of COVID-19, Governor Laura Kelly's Safer Classrooms Workgroup will meet for the first time at 1p.m. Monday. Governor Laura Kelly will address the group.

<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA5MTAuNDU3NDk5MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3Yvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjEvMDkvU2FmZXItQ2xhc3Nyb29tcy1Xb3JrZ3JvdXAtTGF1bmNoLU1lZXRpbmctQWdlbmRhLTAwMi5wZGYifQ.HT3pCLXYCj9rqDwx1cFAzgDdyqHVKnSCwN35StexejY/s/1303160919/br/112176908414-l" target="_blank">View the meeting's agenda here.</a>

The workgroup, composed of highly skilled health professionals from across Kansas, will highlight the urgency of protecting kids from COVID-19 and use the best available science and information to support Governor Kelly’s administration, local governments, and school districts to promote health and safety in our schools.&nbsp;

“Children are catching the virus, being hospitalized, and dying from COVID at increasingly higher rates. There’s nothing more important than keeping our students healthy and in the&nbsp;classroom,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“The&nbsp;Safer&nbsp;Classrooms Workgroup will provide information and guidance to give parents, teachers, school boards, and others the tools they need to make informed decisions to protect our students and our communities.”

The&nbsp;Safer&nbsp;Classrooms Workgroup is composed of pediatricians, family physicians, school nurses, pharmacists, school psychologists, and other health professionals. They will meet weekly to highlight the urgency of protecting our kids from the delta variant, speaking with educators, parents, and advocates about their experiences as schools work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. &nbsp;

Every week, the workgroup will release a “School Safety Report” to serve as a resource for media, parents, schools, communities, and policymakers.&nbsp;

Information in this weekly report will include:

“We got our kids back in school by listening to health professionals, wearing masks, implementing stringent public health protocol, and getting vaccinated,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“We’ll keep them there by continuing to follow the best health practices. I encourage all Kansans to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

The full membership of the&nbsp;Safer&nbsp;Classrooms Workgroup is as follows:

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631556289277.png" alt="Members of the Safer Classroom workgroup as they began their work Monday afternoon" />
 <figcaption>Members of the Safer Classroom workgroup as they began their work Monday afternoon</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA – To protect Kansas students, teachers, and staff from the threat of the contagious Delta variant of COVID-19, Governor Laura Kelly's Safer Classrooms Workgroup will meet for the first time at 1p.m. Monday. Governor Laura Kelly will address the group.<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ejTdJLrn5N4" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTA5MTAuNDU3NDk5MzEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3Yvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjEvMDkvU2FmZXItQ2xhc3Nyb29tcy1Xb3JrZ3JvdXAtTGF1bmNoLU1lZXRpbmctQWdlbmRhLTAwMi5wZGYifQ.HT3pCLXYCj9rqDwx1cFAzgDdyqHVKnSCwN35StexejY/s/1303160919/br/112176908414-l" target="_blank">View the meeting's agenda here.</a>The workgroup, composed of highly skilled health professionals from across Kansas, will highlight the urgency of protecting kids from COVID-19 and use the best available science and information to support Governor Kelly’s administration, local governments, and school districts to promote health and safety in our schools.&nbsp;“Children are catching the virus, being hospitalized, and dying from COVID at increasingly higher rates. There’s nothing more important than keeping our students healthy and in the&nbsp;classroom,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“The&nbsp;Safer&nbsp;Classrooms Workgroup will provide information and guidance to give parents, teachers, school boards, and others the tools they need to make informed decisions to protect our students and our communities.”The&nbsp;Safer&nbsp;Classrooms Workgroup is composed of pediatricians, family physicians, school nurses, pharmacists, school psychologists, and other health professionals. They will meet weekly to highlight the urgency of protecting our kids from the delta variant, speaking with educators, parents, and advocates about their experiences as schools work to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. &nbsp;Every week, the workgroup will release a “School Safety Report” to serve as a resource for media, parents, schools, communities, and policymakers.&nbsp;Information in this weekly report will include:<ul>
 <li>Timely and relevant policies on testing and masking in schools, and best practices that can be shared across school districts.</li><li>Updates on school districts with clearly communicated quarantine, testing, and masking policies, to ensure parents and families have what they need to know to keep their children safe.</li><li>Information on school district vaccination and testing events – with resources to help schools plan, publicize, and implement.</li><li>County-level data on youth vaccinations, cases, hospitalizations, and deaths.&nbsp;</li><li>Schools with active outbreaks.&nbsp;</li>
 </ul>“We got our kids back in school by listening to health professionals, wearing masks, implementing stringent public health protocol, and getting vaccinated,”&nbsp;Governor Kelly said.&nbsp;“We’ll keep them there by continuing to follow the best health practices. I encourage all Kansans to get vaccinated as soon as possible.The full membership of the&nbsp;Safer&nbsp;Classrooms Workgroup is as follows:<ul>
 <li>G.A. Buie,&nbsp;Executive Director, United School Administrators of Kansas</li><li>Jennifer Bacani McKenney, MD,&nbsp;Health Officer, Wilson County</li><li>Jen Brull, MD,&nbsp;Family Physician, Post Rock Family Medicine</li><li>Lindsay Byrnes, MD, MPH, Medical Director, KUSM-Wichita, Wesley Children’s Hospital</li><li>Kristie Clark, MD,&nbsp;Pediatrician, Rural Health Clinic</li><li>Allen Greiner, MD,&nbsp;Family Physician, Wyandotte County Health</li><li>Dena Hubbard, MD,&nbsp;Kansas American Academy of Pediatrics</li><li>Rhonda Hutchinson, BSN, RN, President, Kansas School Nurse Organization</li><li>Kimber Kasitz, BSN, RN,&nbsp;Director of Health, Homebound, and Section 504 Services, USD 259</li><li>Stephanie Kuhlmann, DO,&nbsp;Pediatric Hospitalist Division Director and Pediatric Medical Director, KUSM-W, Wesley Children’s Hospital</li><li>Vernon Mills, MD,&nbsp;Pediatrician, retired</li><li>Kelli Netson, PhD,&nbsp;Neuropsychologist, KUSM-W Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences</li><li>Kevin Riemann,&nbsp;Executive Director, Kansas National Education Association</li><li>Manuel Solano, MD,&nbsp;Physician and program director, Community Health Center of Wyandotte County</li><li>Margaret Thompson, RN, ARNP,&nbsp;Nurse Anesthetist, Kansas Black Nurses Association</li><li>Randy Watson, Ed.D,&nbsp;Commissioner, Kansas State Department of Education</li>
 </ul>

🎥  Kan. Safer Classrooms workgroup first meeting 

<a href="https://www.stockhamfamily.com/obituaries/Robert-Ahlstedt/">Robert E. Ahlstedt Obituary - Visitation &amp; Funeral Information (stockhamfamily.com)</a>

Robert Eugene Ahlstedt, 79, of Lindsborg, KS, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, KS. Robert was born July 2, 1942 in McPherson, KS. He is the son of the late Emery and Hazel (Swedberg) Ahlstedt. A lifelong resident of Lindsborg, Robert graduated from Lindsborg public schools and Bethany College, where he was a two-sport NAIA All-American in basketball and football. He dedicated a majority of his life to being a schoolteacher for junior high science, physical education and coaching/mentoring youth in numerous sports. He was also the head referee for Friday night high school football games around the area for many years. In the summer months, Robert’s firework stand was widely known as THE place to buy fireworks for 45 years. His patriotism was unparalleled, as he thoroughly enjoyed [legally] setting things on fire and making loud noises for everyone to enjoy. Robert was very active within the community of Lindsborg, singing in the Messiah Chorus for 60 years. He was also a member of the Mennonite Men’s Chorus, Kiwanis, FIKA Friendship Group, Sunflower Ramblers RV Camping Club, and the Evangelical Covenant Church. In retirement, he and Cathy spent lots of time camping, fishing, traveling and playing card games such as “Up the River, Down the River” and “Swedish Poker”. There was not a tree Robert could not identify as he loved all things wood-related. He was a skilled woodcarver and a tremendous carpenter—a skill passed down from his father. He enjoyed cutting firewood and building fires indoors and out any time of the year. The only thing he may have loved more than all of this was coffee. It was a very rare occurrence to see Robert without a coffee cup in his hand; regardless of the occasion, location or time of day. There aren’t many in the Lindsborg area and beyond that have not been positively impacted by Robert’s presence. He never passed up an opportunity for a teaching/coaching moment, and he never held back his opinion. When he spoke, you listened, because you knew you were about to get some really sound advice. If he ever gave you a hard time, you just knew it was a sign of affection and an opportunity for growth. He could always be counted on to provide a corny joke, even if the situation didn’t call for it. His energy, positive attitude, work-ethic, and stamina were inspirational, and even through the years of arthritis pain, he never slowed down until the very end. He was a proud, self-proclaimed “stubborn Swede” and, as the saying goes in the sports world, he left it all on the field. He is survived by his wife Catherine of the home; daughter Michelle Cusumano (Bobby), daughter Diana Holloway (Dan), daughter Susan Ahlstedt, son Mike Ahlstedt (Sarah), son Steve Ahlstedt (CC), son Travis Basgall (Melissa), son Scott Peavler (Zaidinette), brother Earl Ahlstedt, sister Elly Ostlind, mother-in-law Helen Smith, sister-in-law Cindy Warren, sister-in-law Connie Corcoran (Lynn) as well as grandchildren Nevin Barker, Mackenna Barker, Kendall Barker, Crimson Barker, Jadyn Barker, Abby Holloway, Anna Holloway, Ally Holloway, Adriel Holloway, Amy Holloway, Caleb Holloway, Austin Heiling (Sidney), Derek Ahlstedt, Jason Ahlstedt, Riley Ahlstedt, Avery Ahlstedt, Allison Korb, Kaden Korb, Brooklyn Basgall and many nieces and nephews. Robert is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Gordon Ahlstedt. A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, September 13, 2021, at the Lindsborg Evangelical Covenant Church with Pastor Jeff Waugh officiating. Cremation was selected, and a private family committal service occurred at Salemsborg Lutheran Cemetery, Smolan, KS. Memorials may be made to the Lindsborg Evangelical Covenant Church, the Salina Rescue Mission or the Smoky Valley Historical Society. Memorials may be sent in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 N. Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460.

To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Robert E. Ahlstedt please visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stockhamfamily.com/store/Category.aspx?CategoryId=319&amp;icn=desktop_memorial_obituary_link#chooser">Sympathy Store</a>.

<h2>Robert E. Ahlstedt, Lindsborg</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631395405122.jpeg" alt="Robert E. Ahlstedt" />
 <figcaption>Robert E. Ahlstedt</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://www.stockhamfamily.com/obituaries/Robert-Ahlstedt/">Robert E. Ahlstedt Obituary - Visitation &amp; Funeral Information (stockhamfamily.com)</a>July 2, 1942 - September 7, 2021Robert Eugene Ahlstedt, 79, of Lindsborg, KS, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at Wesley Medical Center, Wichita, KS. Robert was born July 2, 1942 in McPherson, KS. He is the son of the late Emery and Hazel (Swedberg) Ahlstedt. A lifelong resident of Lindsborg, Robert graduated from Lindsborg public schools and Bethany College, where he was a two-sport NAIA All-American in basketball and football. He dedicated a majority of his life to being a schoolteacher for junior high science, physical education and coaching/mentoring youth in numerous sports. He was also the head referee for Friday night high school football games around the area for many years. In the summer months, Robert’s firework stand was widely known as THE place to buy fireworks for 45 years. His patriotism was unparalleled, as he thoroughly enjoyed [legally] setting things on fire and making loud noises for everyone to enjoy. Robert was very active within the community of Lindsborg, singing in the Messiah Chorus for 60 years. He was also a member of the Mennonite Men’s Chorus, Kiwanis, FIKA Friendship Group, Sunflower Ramblers RV Camping Club, and the Evangelical Covenant Church. In retirement, he and Cathy spent lots of time camping, fishing, traveling and playing card games such as “Up the River, Down the River” and “Swedish Poker”. There was not a tree Robert could not identify as he loved all things wood-related. He was a skilled woodcarver and a tremendous carpenter—a skill passed down from his father. He enjoyed cutting firewood and building fires indoors and out any time of the year. The only thing he may have loved more than all of this was coffee. It was a very rare occurrence to see Robert without a coffee cup in his hand; regardless of the occasion, location or time of day. There aren’t many in the Lindsborg area and beyond that have not been positively impacted by Robert’s presence. He never passed up an opportunity for a teaching/coaching moment, and he never held back his opinion. When he spoke, you listened, because you knew you were about to get some really sound advice. If he ever gave you a hard time, you just knew it was a sign of affection and an opportunity for growth. He could always be counted on to provide a corny joke, even if the situation didn’t call for it. His energy, positive attitude, work-ethic, and stamina were inspirational, and even through the years of arthritis pain, he never slowed down until the very end. He was a proud, self-proclaimed “stubborn Swede” and, as the saying goes in the sports world, he left it all on the field. He is survived by his wife Catherine of the home; daughter Michelle Cusumano (Bobby), daughter Diana Holloway (Dan), daughter Susan Ahlstedt, son Mike Ahlstedt (Sarah), son Steve Ahlstedt (CC), son Travis Basgall (Melissa), son Scott Peavler (Zaidinette), brother Earl Ahlstedt, sister Elly Ostlind, mother-in-law Helen Smith, sister-in-law Cindy Warren, sister-in-law Connie Corcoran (Lynn) as well as grandchildren Nevin Barker, Mackenna Barker, Kendall Barker, Crimson Barker, Jadyn Barker, Abby Holloway, Anna Holloway, Ally Holloway, Adriel Holloway, Amy Holloway, Caleb Holloway, Austin Heiling (Sidney), Derek Ahlstedt, Jason Ahlstedt, Riley Ahlstedt, Avery Ahlstedt, Allison Korb, Kaden Korb, Brooklyn Basgall and many nieces and nephews. Robert is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Gordon Ahlstedt. A celebration of life will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, September 13, 2021, at the Lindsborg Evangelical Covenant Church with Pastor Jeff Waugh officiating. Cremation was selected, and a private family committal service occurred at Salemsborg Lutheran Cemetery, Smolan, KS. Memorials may be made to the Lindsborg Evangelical Covenant Church, the Salina Rescue Mission or the Smoky Valley Historical Society. Memorials may be sent in care of Stockham Family Funeral Home, 205 N. Chestnut, McPherson, KS 67460. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Robert E. Ahlstedt please visit our&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stockhamfamily.com/store/Category.aspx?CategoryId=319&amp;icn=desktop_memorial_obituary_link#chooser">Sympathy Store</a>.

Robert E. Ahlstedt

Legendary NBC anchor&nbsp;Tom Brokaw&nbsp;had just returned to work on Sept. 11, 2001, after taking the summer off. A friend asked how it was to be back in the saddle.

“I’m doing fine but there’s no news,” Brokaw, now 81, complained. “It’s hard to get cranked back up.”

Little did anyone know everyone’s world was about to be changed forever.

At 8:46 a.m. on that splendid, crisp September morning, a plane hijacked by terrorists sliced into the World Trade Center’s North Tower. Seventeen minutes later, another hijacked plane smashed into the South Tower. By 10:28 a.m., both towers had collapsed, killing nearly 3,000 people in the space of 102 minutes.

By noon, a third hijacked plane plowed into the Pentagon (reported by AP at 9:43 a.m.) and a fourth, on which passengers tried to stop the hijackers, crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pa. (11:19 a.m.). No one on the four hijacked planes survived.

If ever there was a day where journalists proved the incalculable benefits of the First Amendment, and why they are so desperately needed to inform and educate the public, Sept. 11 was that day.

While many fled lower Manhattan and the Pentagon for their lives, every sort of journalist did what they have always done best: They ran toward danger. They kept their cameras trained on the horror. They commandeered taxis, borrowed bikes and jumped into strangers’ cars, ordering them to drive toward the scene. Their reports helped provide a sense of what was happening even when no one knew exactly what was happening.

More than 1,800 fashion writers from around the world in New York for the spring 2002 collection were pressed into service. Associated Press (AP) photographer&nbsp;Richard Drew&nbsp;left the show and headed to the scene, shooting some of the most arresting photos of that day. Many photographers like Drew were still using rolls of film.

“We were watching a guy clinging to the side of the building on the North Tower while people were falling from the building,” Drew told the&nbsp;<a href="https://newseumed.org/tools/lesson-plan/running-toward-danger-video-lesson" target="_blank">Newseum in 2002</a>. “You know what you have to do. You make pictures. There’s one image I shot of a man falling head first from the building. I felt like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/richard-drew-on-photographing-the-falling-man-on-911/" target="_blank">the photo</a>&nbsp;captured part of his life.”

Twenty years ago, Drew and hundreds of other journalists didn’t have the technology they have today. If reporters had cell phones then, they were primitive — and didn’t work anyway with cell towers down. The planes destroyed cell towers atop the Twin Towers, knocking many TV stations temporarily off the air until they hooked up to backup satellite and cable lines. Phone lines jammed. You needed rolls of quarters for a pay phone, if you could find one. Each was 10 to 12 deep in people waiting to make calls.

Then, there was no social media to muddy up the then much-needed information expressway. Today, everyone’s a publisher. Everyone is hyperconnected for nearly every aspect of their lives. Nearly 80 percent of U.S. adults have broadband at home. In March 2001, according to the Pew Research Center, just 6 percent did.

On Sept. 11, AP writer&nbsp;Sara Kugler&nbsp;finally found a pay phone at 9:39 a.m. “Mostly I gave color,” she said. “As I got closer to Vesey Street, I saw men’s shoes. Then I realized that people had been blown out of their shoes”

About the same time, in Arlington, Va., Reuters news assistant&nbsp;Molly Riley&nbsp;ran home from a doctor’s visit to get her bike, grabbed her Nikon digital Coolpix camera and pedaled to the Pentagon. She called the news desk to ask what was happening. Senior photographer&nbsp;Herman Beals&nbsp;replied: “Everything short of World War III.”

At 10:28 a.m., a stunned&nbsp;Aaron Brown, then CNN’s anchor, watched in horror — as did millions — as the second tower collapsed into a massive pile of dust, rubble, clothing and body parts. “Good Lord, there are no words.”

It was a day like no other. For that one day – only—the heads of CBS, ABC, CNN and NBC declared whatever footage one had, the others could use. No need for written agreements. The agreement ended the next day.

For journalists, it was personal too. It was happening to them. Some were physically injured, emotionally scared, traumatized. They did their jobs while worrying about their own families, their own safety, squashing their fears to heroically document a day anyone alive then has seared into their brains.

No other news event since has gripped the nation in real time like Sept. 11. TV stations stayed live all day, nearly 80 million people glued to cable or broadcast. Or they listened to the radio or tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to get information online. Newspapers put out extra editions.

Sure, now there’s live hurricane coverage, and millions tuned in to watch former President Trump’s impeachment hearings.

But not like on Sept. 11. At about 12:36 p.m. that day, CNN’s Brown said words he’d never imagined saying. “The United States of America is under attack … Those are really hard words to say.”

And yet, anchors around the world uttered those same words on Jan. 6, 2021, the day thousands stormed the U.S. Capitol when it was in session, breaking through police barriers, climbing through windows, pummeling the police — even trying to assault then-Vice President&nbsp;Mike Pence&nbsp;— in a futile effort to prevent certification of the 2020 presidential election.

This time, the attackers were Americans. But on that day too, the nation watched in horror. And on that day too, journalists ran toward danger.

Alicia Shepard is an independent journalist, former NPR ombudsman, journalism professor and co-author of “Running Toward Danger: Stories Behind the Breaking News of 9/11.” She is also the author of “Woodward and Bernstein: Life in the Shadow of Watergate.” Her Twitter handle is @<a href="https://twitter.com/ombudsman" target="_blank">ombudsman</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631329167205.jpeg" alt="The North Tower of the World Trade Center burns on 9/11. The South Tower has already collapsed. Photographer unknown, public domain via Wikimedia Commons" />
 <figcaption>The North Tower of the World Trade Center burns on 9/11. The South Tower has already collapsed. Photographer unknown, public domain via Wikimedia Commons</figcaption>
 </figure>By ALICIA SHEPARDLegendary NBC anchor&nbsp;Tom Brokaw&nbsp;had just returned to work on Sept. 11, 2001, after taking the summer off. A friend asked how it was to be back in the saddle.“I’m doing fine but there’s no news,” Brokaw, now 81, complained. “It’s hard to get cranked back up.”Little did anyone know everyone’s world was about to be changed forever.At 8:46 a.m. on that splendid, crisp September morning, a plane hijacked by terrorists sliced into the World Trade Center’s North Tower. Seventeen minutes later, another hijacked plane smashed into the South Tower. By 10:28 a.m., both towers had collapsed, killing nearly 3,000 people in the space of 102 minutes.By noon, a third hijacked plane plowed into the Pentagon (reported by AP at 9:43 a.m.) and a fourth, on which passengers tried to stop the hijackers, crashed into a field in Shanksville, Pa. (11:19 a.m.). No one on the four hijacked planes survived.If ever there was a day where journalists proved the incalculable benefits of the First Amendment, and why they are so desperately needed to inform and educate the public, Sept. 11 was that day.While many fled lower Manhattan and the Pentagon for their lives, every sort of journalist did what they have always done best: They ran toward danger. They kept their cameras trained on the horror. They commandeered taxis, borrowed bikes and jumped into strangers’ cars, ordering them to drive toward the scene. Their reports helped provide a sense of what was happening even when no one knew exactly what was happening.More than 1,800 fashion writers from around the world in New York for the spring 2002 collection were pressed into service. Associated Press (AP) photographer&nbsp;Richard Drew&nbsp;left the show and headed to the scene, shooting some of the most arresting photos of that day. Many photographers like Drew were still using rolls of film.“We were watching a guy clinging to the side of the building on the North Tower while people were falling from the building,” Drew told the&nbsp;<a href="https://newseumed.org/tools/lesson-plan/running-toward-danger-video-lesson" target="_blank">Newseum in 2002</a>. “You know what you have to do. You make pictures. There’s one image I shot of a man falling head first from the building. I felt like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/richard-drew-on-photographing-the-falling-man-on-911/" target="_blank">the photo</a>&nbsp;captured part of his life.”Twenty years ago, Drew and hundreds of other journalists didn’t have the technology they have today. If reporters had cell phones then, they were primitive — and didn’t work anyway with cell towers down. The planes destroyed cell towers atop the Twin Towers, knocking many TV stations temporarily off the air until they hooked up to backup satellite and cable lines. Phone lines jammed. You needed rolls of quarters for a pay phone, if you could find one. Each was 10 to 12 deep in people waiting to make calls.It’s a different world today.Then, there was no social media to muddy up the then much-needed information expressway. Today, everyone’s a publisher. Everyone is hyperconnected for nearly every aspect of their lives. Nearly 80 percent of U.S. adults have broadband at home. In March 2001, according to the Pew Research Center, just 6 percent did.On Sept. 11, AP writer&nbsp;Sara Kugler&nbsp;finally found a pay phone at 9:39 a.m. “Mostly I gave color,” she said. “As I got closer to Vesey Street, I saw men’s shoes. Then I realized that people had been blown out of their shoes”About the same time, in Arlington, Va., Reuters news assistant&nbsp;Molly Riley&nbsp;ran home from a doctor’s visit to get her bike, grabbed her Nikon digital Coolpix camera and pedaled to the Pentagon. She called the news desk to ask what was happening. Senior photographer&nbsp;Herman Beals&nbsp;replied: “Everything short of World War III.”At 10:28 a.m., a stunned&nbsp;Aaron Brown, then CNN’s anchor, watched in horror — as did millions — as the second tower collapsed into a massive pile of dust, rubble, clothing and body parts. “Good Lord, there are no words.”It was a day like no other. For that one day – only—the heads of CBS, ABC, CNN and NBC declared whatever footage one had, the others could use. No need for written agreements. The agreement ended the next day.For journalists, it was personal too. It was happening to them. Some were physically injured, emotionally scared, traumatized. They did their jobs while worrying about their own families, their own safety, squashing their fears to heroically document a day anyone alive then has seared into their brains.No other news event since has gripped the nation in real time like Sept. 11. TV stations stayed live all day, nearly 80 million people glued to cable or broadcast. Or they listened to the radio or tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to get information online. Newspapers put out extra editions.Sure, now there’s live hurricane coverage, and millions tuned in to watch former President Trump’s impeachment hearings.But not like on Sept. 11. At about 12:36 p.m. that day, CNN’s Brown said words he’d never imagined saying. “The United States of America is under attack … Those are really hard words to say.”And yet, anchors around the world uttered those same words on Jan. 6, 2021, the day thousands stormed the U.S. Capitol when it was in session, breaking through police barriers, climbing through windows, pummeling the police — even trying to assault then-Vice President&nbsp;Mike Pence&nbsp;— in a futile effort to prevent certification of the 2020 presidential election.This time, the attackers were Americans. But on that day too, the nation watched in horror. And on that day too, journalists ran toward danger.Alicia Shepard is an independent journalist, former NPR ombudsman, journalism professor and co-author of “Running Toward Danger: Stories Behind the Breaking News of 9/11.” She is also the author of “Woodward and Bernstein: Life in the Shadow of Watergate.” Her Twitter handle is @<a href="https://twitter.com/ombudsman" target="_blank">ombudsman</a>.

FIRST FIVE: On 9/11, journalists ran toward danger

By BETH REECE U.S. Department of Defense

"The size of our building was a concern to me. It could've been a 
target," Lippert said two months shy of the attack's 20th anniversary.&nbsp;

Fear flooded the building's basement as workers crowded together, 
some openly sobbing with worry that loved ones working at the Pentagon 
or on temporary duty at the World Trade Center had been caught in the 
horror. Others gazed in shock at overhead TVs, wondering how such 
tragedy and blood could spill over American soil.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Spotlight/Remembering-September-11-2001/">RELATED: Remember Sept. 11, 2001</a>

John Morris, the former supervisor of the Document Automation 
Printing Service at the Pentagon, was watching news anchors report on 
the devastation in New York City when he and his staff heard what 
sounded like heavy furniture moving on the floor above. Stepping outside
 the office, Morris saw employees running, one warning of a bomb 
explosion. It was the hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 slamming into
 the building's southwest corridor.&nbsp;

Back at DLA Headquarters, Shirley Bergman, then a contract specialist
 for alternative fuels, agonized and wept knowing her husband was at a 
Marriott between the two 110-story World Trade Center towers 
interviewing senior economists for the U.S. Census Bureau. And Matthew 
Woodruff, now a general supply specialist at DLA Distribution San 
Joaquin, California, was just a sophomore in high school. All but one of
 his teachers halted class as students watched the horrific story unfold
 via news broadcasts.

"I still remember how vivid it was. There was a lot of stuff my 
parents wouldn't even let me watch on TV because of the nature of the 
event," he said, admitting that, like most Americans, he'd never even 
heard the word al-Qaida until that day.&nbsp;

Lippert made another announcement that employees should go home soon 
after Flight 93 crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Most 
were eager to return the next day even as the nation mourned and despite
 delays from increased security.

"We always talked about warfighters first, but this really brought it
 home," he said. "The whole country responded more patriotically than 
we'd seen in the past, and I think everyone felt the importance of what 
they were doing."&nbsp;

The Customer Interaction Center, where agents help callers place 
orders and find details like supply availability and delivery status, 
went to 24/7 operations on 9/11. Shamon Pratt, a customer service 
specialist who was then an agent, remembers the phone lines being eerily
 quiet for a couple of days before they rang off the hook, forcing 
management to hire more agents to handle the influx of calls.&nbsp;

"The end result is what we all want — well-equipped, well-protected warfighters," she said then.&nbsp;

Woodruff is another of the hundreds of DLA employees who've since 
left home to support forces in harm's way. He deployed for eight months 
in April 2011 to DLA Distribution's theater consolidating shipping point
 at Forward Operating Base Deh Dadi II, where he helped distribute the 
material to units on the ground.&nbsp;

The nation celebrated a victory during Woodruff's time in the 
warzone, and again, he saw it unfold via television. At breakfast in the
 chow hall On May 2, he watched President Barack Obama announce that 
U.S. Navy Seals had killed Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of 9/11.

"I could have helped deliver the helicopter part that was used to 
transport those who found him. It was the littlest things —&nbsp;screws, 
washers, o-rings —&nbsp;that had the biggest impact there," he said. "When 
you realize the part you help provide means there's one less helicopter 
down, it becomes more than just a job."

Twenty years after the tragedy that tested DLA's ability to support 
simultaneous wars, Lippert still remembers stepping into the Pentagon 
one day after the attack. He was there to meet with senior officials on 
the amount of money DLA would have for the next year, a meeting he was 
originally scheduled to attend the afternoon of 9/11.&nbsp;

"You could hear a pin drop. You could still smell the smoke, and 
there were armed guards all over the place with rifles and machine guns,
 something I never thought I'd see," he said.&nbsp;

DLA employees who've been in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past 20 
years say their pre-deployment training left no doubt their lives would 
be at risk. They deployed anyway, and all but two came home alive. 
Stephen Byus and Krissie Davis were both killed while serving in 
Afghanistan for DLA Disposition Services.&nbsp;

The vicious, unprovoked attacks that ripped apart Americans' sense of
 security 20 years ago resulted in the death of almost 3,000 people, 125
 of them service members or Defense Department civilians and 
contractors. Those attacks remain the deadliest terrorist act in 
America's history, and aftershocks of the atrocity ripple through lives 
even today.&nbsp;

Like Lippert, current DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Michelle Skubic points to employees' courage, patriotism and resilience.&nbsp;

"Just like the workforce of today, they understood that on America's 
worst day, DLA must be at its best," she said this week in a message to 
the agency.

The sharp memories of 9/11 urge employees like Woodruff to continually
 rededicate themselves to DLA's mission. American pride is alive and 
strong among DLA's members.

"9/11 taught us that we need to be resilient and not become 
complacent," Woodruff said. "It's like a game of chess. We need to be 
steps ahead of our adversaries."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631038876655.png" alt="The World Trade Center burns in the background of New York City’s Empire State Building, Sept. 11, 2001. Both World Trade Center towers were attacked as a result of a highly coordinated al-Qaida plot. U.S. Department of Defense photo" />
 <figcaption>The World Trade Center burns in the background of New York City’s Empire State Building, Sept. 11, 2001. Both World Trade Center towers were attacked as a result of a highly coordinated al-Qaida plot. U.S. Department of Defense photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By BETH REECE U.S. Department of Defense"The size of our building was a concern to me. It could've been a 
target," Lippert said two months shy of the attack's 20th anniversary.&nbsp;Fear flooded the building's basement as workers crowded together, 
some openly sobbing with worry that loved ones working at the Pentagon 
or on temporary duty at the World Trade Center had been caught in the 
horror. Others gazed in shock at overhead TVs, wondering how such 
tragedy and blood could spill over American soil.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.defense.gov/Explore/Spotlight/Remembering-September-11-2001/">RELATED: Remember Sept. 11, 2001</a>John Morris, the former supervisor of the Document Automation 
Printing Service at the Pentagon, was watching news anchors report on 
the devastation in New York City when he and his staff heard what 
sounded like heavy furniture moving on the floor above. Stepping outside
 the office, Morris saw employees running, one warning of a bomb 
explosion. It was the hijacked American Airlines Flight 77 slamming into
 the building's southwest corridor.&nbsp;Back at DLA Headquarters, Shirley Bergman, then a contract specialist
 for alternative fuels, agonized and wept knowing her husband was at a 
Marriott between the two 110-story World Trade Center towers 
interviewing senior economists for the U.S. Census Bureau. And Matthew 
Woodruff, now a general supply specialist at DLA Distribution San 
Joaquin, California, was just a sophomore in high school. All but one of
 his teachers halted class as students watched the horrific story unfold
 via news broadcasts.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631038987065.png" alt="Matthew Woodruff, general supply specialist at Defense Logistics Agency San Joaquin, Calif., gathers supplies for a customer order April 3, 2000. He is one of hundreds of DLA employees who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan to support warfighters on the ground following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Photo by Annette Silva, U.S. Department of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Matthew Woodruff, general supply specialist at Defense Logistics Agency San Joaquin, Calif., gathers supplies for a customer order April 3, 2000. He is one of hundreds of DLA employees who deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan to support warfighters on the ground following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Photo by Annette Silva, U.S. Department of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>"I still remember how vivid it was. There was a lot of stuff my 
parents wouldn't even let me watch on TV because of the nature of the 
event," he said, admitting that, like most Americans, he'd never even 
heard the word al-Qaida until that day.&nbsp;Lippert made another announcement that employees should go home soon 
after Flight 93 crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Most 
were eager to return the next day even as the nation mourned and despite
 delays from increased security."We always talked about warfighters first, but this really brought it
 home," he said. "The whole country responded more patriotically than 
we'd seen in the past, and I think everyone felt the importance of what 
they were doing."&nbsp;<h2>Homeland Response</h2>The Customer Interaction Center, where agents help callers place 
orders and find details like supply availability and delivery status, 
went to 24/7 operations on 9/11. Shamon Pratt, a customer service 
specialist who was then an agent, remembers the phone lines being eerily
 quiet for a couple of days before they rang off the hook, forcing 
management to hire more agents to handle the influx of calls.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631039034891.png" alt="Customer Interaction Center agents help Defense Logistics Agency customers track down details on supply availability and delivery status. The center went to 24/7 operations Sept. 11, 2001. Photo by Beth Reece, U.S. Department of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Customer Interaction Center agents help Defense Logistics Agency customers track down details on supply availability and delivery status. The center went to 24/7 operations Sept. 11, 2001. Photo by Beth Reece, U.S. Department of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>"The end result is what we all want — well-equipped, well-protected warfighters," she said then.&nbsp;Woodruff is another of the hundreds of DLA employees who've since 
left home to support forces in harm's way. He deployed for eight months 
in April 2011 to DLA Distribution's theater consolidating shipping point
 at Forward Operating Base Deh Dadi II, where he helped distribute the 
material to units on the ground.&nbsp;The nation celebrated a victory during Woodruff's time in the 
warzone, and again, he saw it unfold via television. At breakfast in the
 chow hall On May 2, he watched President Barack Obama announce that 
U.S. Navy Seals had killed Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of 9/11."I could have helped deliver the helicopter part that was used to 
transport those who found him. It was the littlest things —&nbsp;screws, 
washers, o-rings —&nbsp;that had the biggest impact there," he said. "When 
you realize the part you help provide means there's one less helicopter 
down, it becomes more than just a job."<h2>The Human Toll</h2>Twenty years after the tragedy that tested DLA's ability to support 
simultaneous wars, Lippert still remembers stepping into the Pentagon 
one day after the attack. He was there to meet with senior officials on 
the amount of money DLA would have for the next year, a meeting he was 
originally scheduled to attend the afternoon of 9/11.&nbsp;"You could hear a pin drop. You could still smell the smoke, and 
there were armed guards all over the place with rifles and machine guns,
 something I never thought I'd see," he said.&nbsp;DLA employees who've been in Iraq and Afghanistan in the past 20 
years say their pre-deployment training left no doubt their lives would 
be at risk. They deployed anyway, and all but two came home alive. 
Stephen Byus and Krissie Davis were both killed while serving in 
Afghanistan for DLA Disposition Services.&nbsp;<h2>The Promise: Never Forget</h2>The vicious, unprovoked attacks that ripped apart Americans' sense of
 security 20 years ago resulted in the death of almost 3,000 people, 125
 of them service members or Defense Department civilians and 
contractors. Those attacks remain the deadliest terrorist act in 
America's history, and aftershocks of the atrocity ripple through lives 
even today.&nbsp;Like Lippert, current DLA Director Navy Vice Adm. Michelle Skubic points to employees' courage, patriotism and resilience.&nbsp;"Just like the workforce of today, they understood that on America's 
worst day, DLA must be at its best," she said this week in a message to 
the agency.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631039148845.png" alt="Curtis Mitchell, operations supervisor at Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Fort Bragg, N.C.; Rob Delong, retired site manager at Fort Drum, N.Y.; and Sandra Delong listen during a memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers and civilians at Camp Atterbury, Ind., July 3. Mitchell and Delong attended pre-deployment training with Krissie Davis in 2015 and Delong was with her when their vehicle was hit by an enemy rocket during an attack on Bagram Air Base in June 2015. Photo by Jake Joy, U.S. Department of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Curtis Mitchell, operations supervisor at Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Fort Bragg, N.C.; Rob Delong, retired site manager at Fort Drum, N.Y.; and Sandra Delong listen during a memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers and civilians at Camp Atterbury, Ind., July 3. Mitchell and Delong attended pre-deployment training with Krissie Davis in 2015 and Delong was with her when their vehicle was hit by an enemy rocket during an attack on Bagram Air Base in June 2015. Photo by Jake Joy, U.S. Department of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631039148845.png" alt="Curtis Mitchell, operations supervisor at Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Fort Bragg, N.C.; Rob Delong, retired site manager at Fort Drum, N.Y.; and Sandra Delong listen during a memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers and civilians at Camp Atterbury, Ind., July 3. Mitchell and Delong attended pre-deployment training with Krissie Davis in 2015 and Delong was with her when their vehicle was hit by an enemy rocket during an attack on Bagram Air Base in June 2015. Photo by Jake Joy, U.S. Department of Defense" />
 <figcaption>Curtis Mitchell, operations supervisor at Defense Logistics Agency Disposition Services Fort Bragg, N.C.; Rob Delong, retired site manager at Fort Drum, N.Y.; and Sandra Delong listen during a memorial ceremony for fallen soldiers and civilians at Camp Atterbury, Ind., July 3. Mitchell and Delong attended pre-deployment training with Krissie Davis in 2015 and Delong was with her when their vehicle was hit by an enemy rocket during an attack on Bagram Air Base in June 2015. Photo by Jake Joy, U.S. Department of Defense</figcaption>
 </figure>The sharp memories of 9/11 urge employees like Woodruff to continually
 rededicate themselves to DLA's mission. American pride is alive and 
strong among DLA's members."9/11 taught us that we need to be resilient and not become 
complacent," Woodruff said. "It's like a game of chess. We need to be 
steps ahead of our adversaries."

America's darkest day strengthens DoD employees' patriotism, resolve

It's Trojans vs. Trojans today night as Southeast of Saline travels to Beloit.

If you can't make it to the game, KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and Salina Post have you covered. You can listen to the game on KINA or watch it live on&nbsp;<a href="http://salinapost.com/">SalinaPost.com</a>&nbsp;beginning at 7 p.m. As usual, Devin Hanney will have the call.

Click on the link below to watch the game tonight at 7 p.m.

It's Trojans vs. Trojans today night as Southeast of Saline travels to Beloit.If you can't make it to the game, KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and Salina Post have you covered. You can listen to the game on KINA or watch it live on&nbsp;<a href="http://salinapost.com/">SalinaPost.com</a>&nbsp;beginning at 7 p.m. As usual, Devin Hanney will have the call.Click on the link below to watch the game tonight at 7 p.m.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ICdTejKg7aY"></iframe>
 <figcaption>Video by Bryan Dennett, Eagle Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>

🎥Watch live as SES takes on Beloit tonight

It's Trojans vs. Trojans Friday night as Southeast of Saline travels to Beloit. 

Click on the link below to watch the 7 p.m. Friday game.

It's Trojans vs. Trojans Friday night as Southeast of Saline travels to Beloit. If you can't make it to the game, KINA (910 AM and 107.5 FM) and Salina Post have you covered. You can listen to the game on KINA or watch it live on <a href="http://SalinaPost.com">SalinaPost.com</a> beginning at 7 p.m. Friday. As usual, Devin Hanney will have the call.Click on the link below to watch the 7 p.m. Friday game.<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ICdTejKg7aY"></iframe>
 <figcaption>Video by Bryan Dennett, Eagle Communications</figcaption>
 </figure>

Watch live as SES takes on Beloit Friday night

MANHATTAN&nbsp;– Kansas State head coach&nbsp;Chris Klieman&nbsp;and select players met with members of the media on Tuesday at the Vanier Family Football Complex as Wildcats prepare for their home opener this Saturday against Southern Illinois inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium. 

The Wildcats and Salukis kick off at 6 p.m. on Saturday inside Bill Snyder Family Stadium in a game shown on Big 12 Now on ESPN+. Tickets for the game can be purchased online at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.kstatesports.com/tickets" target="_blank">www.kstatesports.com/tickets</a>&nbsp;or by phone at 1-800-221-CATS. CHRIS KLIEMAN, HEAD COACH

“Good to see everybody. Good to have everybody back. We're excited to get a chance to play at home after a big win last Saturday at AT&amp;T (Stadium). Thought our guys came out and played really hard, played physical, did some really good things on both sides of the ball. Some areas that we need to clean up, some penalties that hurt us a little bit and some things on defense with some of our techniques within coverages and things that we'll work on. Some of the first game things that I thought maybe would happen, and then offensively, just trying to get into a rhythm a little bit. We struggled in the second half getting into a rhythm and then had probably too many third and extra longs, although one of those resulted in a 60-yard touchdown. So, it was positive there, but guys are excited to play at home. Guys know that we have a really good opponent coming in here and got to play our best football to have a chance.”

On the ability to break big plays on third and long...

“Well, it throws off tendencies for sure as far as being able to just throw vertical games or drop back games or screen games on your third and extra long that you can hand the ball off and block it up well. Once again, I give our offensive staff and offensive line credit for picking up the kind of stunt that they had, and we're able to wall everybody off and make a big play but for us, trying to get the football into 22’s hands is important. That was one of those ways that we're able to get him the ball and had him in space. He made a big play.”&nbsp;

On the success of FCS teams in week one...

“I just think there's a lot of parity in college football and there's a lot of good football teams out there. There were a number of games that probably could have been won by FCS teams as well. Being at that level for a while myself, those are big games and big opportunities to make a statement and prove that you belong with the Power 5 schools. Briley Moore was a really good football player for us last year, and you get a bunch of guys like Briley Moore on your football team, you have a chance to win because of the belief that they have. Southern Illinois is no different. Nick (Hill) has done a tremendous job there, so it'll be a really good football game.”

On initial thoughts of Southern Illinois...

“Experience, experience, experience. Got a ton of guys back – 17 or 18 six-year guys. Nick's done a really good job. Only competed against him once, but you can see what he's done over the last four years with that program. Tremendous, tremendous skill on offense, really good quarterback. Probably the best reverse team in the country. You're going to see some reverses out of different formations and reverse passes and gadgets and Wildcat. They make you defend sideline to sideline with everybody. You better not just key in on a couple of guys. They've got some tremendous players, but they hit reverses on everybody. So, we've got to make sure and have discipline within our defense. Then their defense, they're older, experienced guys. Have played a lot of football and had success last year, making it long ways in the playoffs and had a big road win.”

On being prepared defensively for Southern Illinois...

“Well, we were so prepared to play the run against Stanford and we had guys coming downhill. There were some times in big people that they'd have that we had everybody with the corner coming downhill at the run, and we can't do that this week because of the amount of gadgets and trick plays and double moves and just really variety of offense. Stanford didn't give us that variety that Southern Illinois is going to. So, I think it's more of just the discipline of doing your technique and discipline of getting back to more spread-out football. Stanford wasn't as much spread-out football. These guys are going to run RPOs, and we're going to have all different personnel groupings. So it’s kind of back to what we did in fall camp versus our own offense that does so many different things. We have to get back to that because we had 12 full practices of nothing but Stanford. That's a different mindset playing those guys than it is playing a lot of teams.”

On how the Wildcats were able to stop the run against Stanford...

“Played fast and we worked both our three-down and four-down extensively for those 12-14 practices and had a good plan on both. Probably some of the personnel substitutions back and forth like everybody saw that we'd sub three, they'd sub two. We'd sub three. We got caught a couple times of playing the three-down when we wanted to get to four-down and had some success. So, then we just stuck with it, because sometimes they were bringing in so many people we didn't know all the time what the personnel was. So, we end up playing a little bit more three-down than we probably even thought we would.”

On the nerves with running a new defense for the first time in a game…

“Absolutely. Without question. We had a lot of things drawn up on the sidelines if it were Plan B and Plan C. Part of that was just not knowing what some of the solutions were to the problems that we were going to have. Fortunately, we didn't have as many problems this week, and we're still learning on some of this. That's why we still need to keep playing what our staff knows as well, so who knows? This week, maybe, we'll play more four-down, because there's some comfort level that we have in four-down against some of the personnel groupings that they have. We're just starting to dig into that as a staff. Yesterday we probably split it 50/50 just because we were just showing what our guys were doing offensively, or what they would do offensively. So, each week maybe a little bit different.”

On Reggie Stubblefield’s big pass breakup...

“​​I was excited for Reggie. Made a great play. He has a really good knack of just being a good, solid player of getting his eyes back around at the right time to knock it away. The guy had a step on him, but Reggie flipped his head around, saw the quarterback throw it and was able to undercut it and get a big, big hand out and that was kind of a theme throughout the day. There were a number of guys that only played a handful of snaps but were really impactful on those handful of snaps. He was one. Tee Denson was another one. Even Keenan Garber played really fast. So, I'm excited about the guys that maybe played on eight to 14 or 15 snaps but had an impact on the game.”

“We need to do a better job in some of our techniques and in coverage on defense. On offense, I thought we blocked well downfield with our receivers and tight ends. We just had too many negative plays that put us behind the sticks and had so many of those third and long. We were hoping for a lot more third and three, four or five and six and we end up getting a lot of third and 11-plus. There's not a lot of great calls on third and 11-plus unless you just hand the ball to Deuce, which we were able to the one time. They had some good success, so we need to be more productive on early downs. Some of that was some first-game mistakes and some of that was the fact that we only played 40-some plays. We didn't get a chance to really play a lot of offensive football.”

“Continues to progress and he's practicing. He's healthier and we'll find out, but we think he's healthier. Yesterday did some good things. He's not missing any practice time. It just takes a while to come back from the injury that he had. His time will come. There's no setbacks or anything like that. It's just making sure that he feels comfortable and we feel comfortable that he can play fast like Chabastin typically does.”

On getting the ball to Malik Knowles...

“Well, we need to get everybody the ball a little bit more. But that's part of the issue. We got to hang on to the ball and have the ball and not have it for 40 snaps or 45 snaps. It's one of the things we talked about as a staff, and there's a lot of guys who wish they would have played more. Coach Mess (Courtney Messingham) wishes he would have been able to call more plays, but that was the nature of the game. I've never seen a game in college football like that. Haven't been a part of one where there's so few plays and probably will never happen again. I wish it would. That's fun when it's over within three hours and it's 52 plays and 45 plays. That's just not common. We have to continue to sustain drives so we can have more plays and more opportunities for a lot of guys.”

On the play of the defensive line…

“Depth and strength. Coach Tru (Trumain Carroll) and his staff, Coach Tui (Mike Tuiasosopo), Coach (Buddy) Wyatt. We're bigger. We're stronger. We're more athletic. We have more depth. We played with an awful lot of guys. I think somebody told me we ended up playing 59 guys in that game, but on the defensive line we rotated so many guys. That's what we have to be able to do, whether we're playing three down or four down, is to make sure that we keep those guys fresh. We keep rolling guys in and out, and we feel comfortable doing that. We have four and five defensive tackles that can play, and we probably have six and seven defensive ends that can play. That's a benefit to have.”

On who popped out after watching the tape…

“Daniel Green played really, really well, and it was unfortunate that he had the targeting and he'll have to sit this first half. But he’ll learn from it. You'll learn from it. It was not a malicious play. It was a bang-bang play that is going to be called right now in college football. We understand that, but he played really well. I thought Felix Anudike (-Uzomah) played really well. I thought Ekow Boye-Doe played really well. And we were able to get some good play out of a lot of guys. Like I said, the most we had somebody play maybe was 30 snaps on defense. That's pretty good. We're playing a lot of guys, and who knows what it will be this week? We could end up playing 70 to 80 plays, so we have to continue to get contributions from a lot of people.”

On if Skylar Thompson showed any hesitancy…

“It's just still difficult to answer that when there's 40 plays and that's the hard thing. I thought early on we had a great rhythm offensively. That first drive was exceptional throwing the ball, running the ball. We went a little tempo. Their kid makes a great play, and they got a pick. So, then we get the ball back and we didn't bat an eye. We didn't flinch. We moved it right back down and scored, one was a big pass play to Phillip (Brooks) and that really good run by Skylar. So, I was so excited with the start of our game offensively. We didn't get off the field on defense a couple of times that extended drives. When you're running the ball like, then they're chewing up the clock. You're not having as many opportunities. Where I was a little disappointed, in general, offensively, we sputtered to start the second half. Give Stanford credit. They had some really good adjustments they made in the second half. Then once we threw the one quick three-step route to Malik (Knowles), everybody kind of loosened up and we end up getting points on that drive. Then we ended up getting another touchdown off of a turnover, but we just didn't have the ball very much on offense. Skylar is going to be great. He's going to be fine. I think he played really well for the limited snaps that we had. Had a couple of drops. If not, his stats are even better. He was not afraid to run the football, and that was good. We don't want him to run 25 times, but he may have run it six to 15 times a game just based on the team.”

On if the Arkansas State game last year better prepared K-State for this week…

“I never even thought about that until you brought it up. I think all of our staff haven't spent some time or majority of our staff haven't spent some time in FCS, in particular that league, the Missouri Valley, is a really good league. I think a lot of teams in our league in the Big 12 knew it going into this week, but last week there were a lot of good games in the Missouri Valley against Big 12 schools, and this is going to be no different. Wish you guys had the appreciation that I did for the eight years I spent at NDSU of how good football really is. Iowa State knows. I've talked to Matt Campbell. Iowa State knows how good Northern Iowa is year in and year out. South Dakota State’s as good as a lot of teams year in and year out. Colorado State found that out, then you go on down the line. We watched Washington. I thought Washington was a phenomenal team playing Stanford, and Montana found a way to beat those guys. Those things aren't flukes, maybe some teams didn't play as well. But that's not a fluke to beat a Power 5 team. Those are good football teams, and we're going to face another one that's got 16 six-year guys. A bunch of guys have played a lot of football there, and they have confidence in what they're doing, and they're well coached.”

On who is in charge of substitutions…

“Well, my kid (Devin Klieman) is one of them on defense. We screwed up a couple things, and I'll get him for that. But he is, Coach (Van) Malone is, and Coach Tui (Mike Tuiasosopo) and Coach (Buddy) Wyatt are on defense. Coach (Brian) Anderson and J-Ray (Jason Ray) are on offense. There's a lot of guys, but we have some things labeled out that we know who's going in the game. Then there's some things on defense that often you try to slow the game down a little bit when an offense substitutes. Stanford wasn't going tempo, but if they subbed, especially late in the play clock, we were going to sub. Ultimately, they end up having to take two timeouts because of it. That's the thing we've learned that we've been beat on it ourselves. We substituted late last year against somebody, and then they jog somebody out. That's part of the game of college football right now. So, there's a little bit of cat and mouse going on. Why did we take that kid out? Well, it's nothing that the kid did. We just substituted a guy so that play clock would keep turning. You get to the line of scrimmage, he looks saying, ‘Oh shoot, there's six seconds left, I’ll call a play.’ That's the substitution rule in college football and people are taking advantage of it right now.”

On who the leader of the secondary when Jahron McPherson is off the field…

“Well, Ross (Elder) is really good. TJ (Smith) is really good. Russ (Yeast) is getting better, just because he's new to the system. He's getting better. There's without question J-Mac is the guy, but we also know we need to do a great job with Jahron so he can play 12 games this year. Last year Jahron wore down playing 70 to 80 snaps a game and playing some special teams. We need to be smart so that we have guys that can play at a high, high level for the amount of plays. Jahron could play more. Wasn't many plays in that game, so each week will be a little bit different. But, probably TJ and Ross Elder would be the two.”

On the play of the young players on defense…

“I was excited for TJ. To have his season cut short last year after the Texas Tech game when he kind of had a coming out party and played really well and then the next week in practice, he was injured, to be able to come back and play at the high level. I think you can tell watching TJ he loves to play the game. This kid’s a fiery guy. He's energetic. He can strike. He covers well. He runs well. He understands what we're doing. I was really pleased with TJ and I think his best football is going to continue to come as he gets more and more reps and snaps.

Tee (Denson) was really good in the limited snaps he played. He made a couple of really good tackles. He's bigger. He's stronger. He's more confident this year, and I was excited to see him make some of the plays that he made. Austin Moore did some good things in a limited amount of snaps. Nate Matlack did some things in a limited amount of snaps. There's a lot of guys that we played that are younger that gets us excited because the foundation of our future is really good, but those guys have to be an impact this year.”

“Revo was the player of the game on the offensive line for us. Josh played one of his best games he's played. It was consistent. He's stronger. He's more athletic. He's more confident. Excited for what he's going to be able to do this year. He's one of those veteran guys now. He's played a lot of ball for us, and it's kind of the expectation we have for Revo is to play at that high level. I think his expectation is that as well that he could be a kid that can be an All-Big 12 player. I like the kid's work ethic and his mindset right now.”

On Jaylen Pickle playing outside in a 3-man front…

“He liked it. He was playing some defensive end, and he'll play d-end and d-tackle based on the fronts we're in. That's a big, long athletic body that can get his hands up that can be disruptive, and that’s the benefit. We can play Pick in a number of different spots as well as Eli (Huggins). He can do that, as well, but excited about the amount of guys we have that can play inside.”

“Well, it's still a work in progress in my mind because we still have a lot of new players that are playing significant roles. I would have said we're getting there. Defensively, for example, playing against our offense, you better be really smart because our offense in fall camp and spring ball is going to give you every formation known to mankind, and all the sudden 14 days, we go play Stanford where it's just a few formations. Then we flip the script yesterday and it was like it was brand new football again. So, we have to always continue to educate our guys and continue to talk about their base rules and fundamentals. That's the thing we visit about a lot offensively and defensively. When stuff hits the fan, go back to your rules and principles, and this is a week where we need to get back to our rules and principles.”

On if there are coaches in the profession he leaned on to learn the 3-3-5 defense…

“There is, and I'll keep them to myself.”

On what factor self-scouting was in the changes on defense…

“Not until after the season, and we were into January. Coach (Joe) Klanderman and I had a number of long conversations about what we needed to do to be better on defense. We had a lot of kids miss last year and a lot of COVID issues, but bottom line we needed to be better on defense. This was one way that we thought we could improve our defense. We didn't know if we would be playing it. We still don't know if we're going play it 50, 80%, 90% of the snaps. Last game we played an awful lot. I don't know what will happen this game, in the next game, but something that we've talked about, we still need to continue to get better on defense. That's how we have to win in this league is make sure that we can prevent big plays. That was the thing that they have a couple of nice throws on fade routes, and they have some really good wide receivers, but we can keep the ball in front of us and prevent the explosive runs and explosive screenplays, which we gave up last year that that'll help us in itself.”

On what Southern Illinois presents defensively…

“They're a mix between a four down and a three down. They like to pressure an awful lot. I think they've got a really, really good inside linebacker – number 54 (Bryce Notree) I think is a terrific football player. They have experience in the secondary, and they rotate some defensive linemen. They're good up front. They play their base stuff really well, but then they press you and get after you. They had just one game this year, and then we're going back and looking at games. We take it with a grain of salt of looking at the games in the past because nobody knows what people had last spring. When they play, I don't know how many guys were out. I don't know how many guys didn't practice very much. That’s the hard thing for the next three or four weeks as you prepare for games. Nobody really knows what people did. We’re not the same football team in 2020 from a personnel standpoint, all those things. I don't know if anybody is. They're very active and really experienced on defense.”

On the depth at skill positions for Southern Illinois…

“It helps this year with the kids that are able to come back. I think that's going to be the constant theme that we've talked about is there's going to be a lot of experienced teams this year. Then there's probably going to be more experienced teams next year just because of the roster management concerns that we all have. This is a group that to me was pretty evident, they had a bunch of guys in the spring. If they’re NFL kids, they didn't go on to the draft, so they played this spring season. They had a lot of success. They had one of their best seasons, made it to the playoffs, beat a really good Weber State team, and I've got a lot of respect for Weber State. Went to South Dakota State, probably should have beat South Dakota State, and I'm sure those kids think we've got a chance to make a run at a national championship. Let's all come back, and I think I firmly believe that what Nick’s got on his mind, and he should, because they’re as good a team as I've seen in the Missouri Valley, as far as those upper echelon three or four teams. I think they're one of them.”

On the impact of graduate-transfers…

“I felt really, really positive that they're going to make an impact throughout the whole season. I was glad that a number of them played a fair amount of snaps. As they continue to learn our system, continue to feel more comfortable, more and more of them will play and more will have a bigger role, but the guys that we anticipated having a big impact did.”

On Joe Klanderman being on the sidelines this year…

“Just listening in and hearing some of the conversations. As I flip back and forth between offense and defense during the game and then seeing the sound after timeouts and stuff, I was really pleased with the communication and some of the things that we were able to iron out on the sideline, better than we were last year with some of the adjustments. So, after week one, it was a good move, and I think we'll get better. I think we'll get better with him feeling more comfortable because he was upstairs with me in the past, too. So, this is the first year for a while that I know he's been on the sideline.”

On Skylar Thompson lowering his shoulder for the first touchdown…

“Let him play football. I'm with you, let him play football. He was excited to get in the end zone and get in there a couple times. I’m excited to continue to watch him progress because I've seen him play right now to really high level against our defense throughout all of fall camp. The more snaps he gets, the more comfortable he is going to be getting back to his old self, but the guy’s playing with a lot of confidence.”

On how the amount of graduate-transfers affects college football…

“That's a good question. I don't really know. I know that our older guys have played a lot of football, no matter if it's here, at another institution that you probably can tell them something once and they figure it out a little bit easier than a younger player. This isn't going to probably go any place, and this is kind of the new normal. We'll find out this offseason. You know how that cycle goes again, but we're pleased with the guys that we brought in right now. Who knows where we'll be next year with the transfer portal?”

On K-State players in graduate school…

“Yeah, a lot of kids are working on their masters. I know that we have so many kids when we're looking at class schedules. There are a lot of them working on MBAs, and it's pretty neat to see that there's going to be some kids who are going to be able to leave here not only with a degree but with a masters. I think that's pretty awesome for those kids.”

On Aamaris Brown’s playing time…

“We’ll find out. He played very similar to Reggie (Stubblefield) and Tee (Denson), had some productive plays, and he continues to feel comfortable with our scheme. Aamaris is really good football player. He just has to eliminate the mental mistakes, and that's what he and I are talking about every day. I know he cares, and he knows he's trying his tail off, but he's an exceptional athlete that will have an impact this season.”

On having the ability to stop great offensive plays…

“A little bit of both. We could have played those plays with a little bit better technique. In the same respect, one of the things that we noticed going into that game, it didn't matter who Stanford was playing was kids were coming up with those back shoulder fade routes really well. They connected and found a way to hang on to the football. So, probably a little bit of a combination of both. We could probably play it a little bit better technique, but let's give those Stanford wide receivers credit. They're really good players.”