
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
An earthquake just across the Kansas-Oklahoma border is one of the strongest recently in the region. 

Preliminary measurement from the U.S. Geological Survey has the earthquake at a 4.6 magnitude centered just to the northwest of Medford, Oklahoma at a depth of 7.8 km. 

It was felt at least as far north as Hutchinson around 11:11 a.m. Monday.

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HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
An earthquake just across the Kansas-Oklahoma border is one of the strongest recently in the region. Preliminary measurement from the U.S. Geological Survey has the earthquake at a 4.6 magnitude centered just to the northwest of Medford, Oklahoma at a depth of 7.8 km. It was felt at least as far north as Hutchinson around 11:11 a.m. Monday.

Oklahoma earthquake felt in Hutchinson Monday


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
With a Winter Storm Watch already in effect for Reno County, Reno County Emergency Management Director Adam Weishaar wants to remind the public of the need to plan ahead for the upcoming snow.

"This is a planned event," Weishaar said. "It shouldn't take any of us by surprise. Some of the things we encourage people to do is stock up their pantries, stock up on their dry food items. Plan to have some bottled water and that kind of stuff, prescriptions and hygiene items, then build your emergency kit. Another thing people seem to forget about from time to time, is be sure their vehicle is filled up with gas."

Also, be more vigilant about keeping communication devices charged.

"Make sure that your cell phone is charged," Weishaar said. "I know that everyone has a bad habit of letting their cell phone go dead throughout the day, but maybe Tuesday it would be a good idea to start plugging it in where you are sitting at your desk, or sitting at home to make sure that if there's a power outage, you will have that cell service."

Depending on whether we get ice or snow, the amount of time it could take to get back to normal may be different.

"I'm more concerned about an icing event that could happen before the snow," Weishaar said. "If it's an icing event, it could be a week. If it's just snow that we receive, I usually say that within about 24 hours after the snow ends, we're back to normal being able to travel where we need to go, at least locally. You should be ready to hunker down at least for a couple of days, if necessary."

The National Weather Service is currently predicting this as mostly a snow event for Reno County.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1585131092050.png" alt="Reno County Emergency Management" />
 <figcaption>Reno County Emergency Management</figcaption>
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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
With a Winter Storm Watch already in effect for Reno County, Reno County Emergency Management Director Adam Weishaar wants to remind the public of the need to plan ahead for the upcoming snow."This is a planned event," Weishaar said. "It shouldn't take any of us by surprise. Some of the things we encourage people to do is stock up their pantries, stock up on their dry food items. Plan to have some bottled water and that kind of stuff, prescriptions and hygiene items, then build your emergency kit. Another thing people seem to forget about from time to time, is be sure their vehicle is filled up with gas."Also, be more vigilant about keeping communication devices charged."Make sure that your cell phone is charged," Weishaar said. "I know that everyone has a bad habit of letting their cell phone go dead throughout the day, but maybe Tuesday it would be a good idea to start plugging it in where you are sitting at your desk, or sitting at home to make sure that if there's a power outage, you will have that cell service."Depending on whether we get ice or snow, the amount of time it could take to get back to normal may be different."I'm more concerned about an icing event that could happen before the snow," Weishaar said. "If it's an icing event, it could be a week. If it's just snow that we receive, I usually say that within about 24 hours after the snow ends, we're back to normal being able to travel where we need to go, at least locally. You should be ready to hunker down at least for a couple of days, if necessary."The National Weather Service is currently predicting this as mostly a snow event for Reno County.

Weishaar: Think ahead with winter storm coming in


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
As part of Wednesday's Reno County Community Outlook Conference, Chamber CEO Debra Teufel is going to provide some statistics from a business conditions survey they conducted in January.

"One of the questions that we asked of our businesses is, what are your sales doing for the last two years?," Teufel said. "Have they been increasing, stable or declining? A majority were increasing, which is wonderful. As a result of that, because business is increasing across the community, many, many businesses are hiring."

So, how many jobs are out there? More than some might think.

"Of the survey respondents, there were only four that said they would not add any jobs," Teufel said. "The great majority said they would add between one and five. There were some real surprises on there, companies that said, if they could find the workforce, they would add 30 to 50 positions. That, right there, is the story that we need to continue to work on some of the deficiencies in the community around getting a workforce trained up."

It's not that there aren't great partners to do the training, it's convincing people, especially young people, that they should be looking at a career path when they are really young.

"We need more willing participants in some of those programs," Teufel said. "We need to get young people encouraged about the job market and get them trained up earlier. Some of the things that we're working on with community partners in economic development is getting younger people in the community exposed to those great jobs. Then, we also asked some questions about their outlook on the quality of the workforce. The majority said that they would rank their existing workforce in this community as good to excellent."

Over 50% of those that are trying to hire right now are finding out that the workforce that is applying is lacking some advanced skills, but 67% said that applicants are lacking basic soft skills like showing up on time and following through if a job is offered.

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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
As part of Wednesday's Reno County Community Outlook Conference, Chamber CEO Debra Teufel is going to provide some statistics from a business conditions survey they conducted in January."One of the questions that we asked of our businesses is, what are your sales doing for the last two years?," Teufel said. "Have they been increasing, stable or declining? A majority were increasing, which is wonderful. As a result of that, because business is increasing across the community, many, many businesses are hiring."So, how many jobs are out there? More than some might think."Of the survey respondents, there were only four that said they would not add any jobs," Teufel said. "The great majority said they would add between one and five. There were some real surprises on there, companies that said, if they could find the workforce, they would add 30 to 50 positions. That, right there, is the story that we need to continue to work on some of the deficiencies in the community around getting a workforce trained up."It's not that there aren't great partners to do the training, it's convincing people, especially young people, that they should be looking at a career path when they are really young."We need more willing participants in some of those programs," Teufel said. "We need to get young people encouraged about the job market and get them trained up earlier. Some of the things that we're working on with community partners in economic development is getting younger people in the community exposed to those great jobs. Then, we also asked some questions about their outlook on the quality of the workforce. The majority said that they would rank their existing workforce in this community as good to excellent."Over 50% of those that are trying to hire right now are finding out that the workforce that is applying is lacking some advanced skills, but 67% said that applicants are lacking basic soft skills like showing up on time and following through if a job is offered.

Teufel: Businesses want to hire, if they can find applicants

Jackie Mundt, Pratt County farmer and rancher

Our household has only one rule about pets. We cannot buy or seek out pets, they must find and choose us. This rule is not my creation, but it is easy to follow because I have always been apathetic to pets.

I don’t dislike animals but lack an interest in pets. I am not the person who stops to talk to dogs in the park or asks about someone’s pets with interest beyond friendliness. Owning a pet has always seemed like a chore I want to avoid at all costs.

Life rarely goes how we plan. During the polar vortex cold spell last February, my life was transformed by the unlikely arrival of two new pets.

At some point in the bitter cold days, we noticed the appearance of a couple of stray cats. We knew these cats needed help surviving the cold spell and put out food, a heated water bowl and some straw bales to keep them dry, warm and full.

The cats continued to show up for meals, and we began to learn their personalities. The female tabby had ninja stealth, which she used to get her food. The grey male was more interested being friends with the tabby. He followed her bellowing the most pitiful “hello-oh” in hopes of becoming her friend.

She was not impressed. This created hours of entertainment for us as we watched him try to sneak food without alerting her. We later learned he made that sound constantly when he was looking for others. Fittingly, we named him Hello Kitty

After a few weeks, milk was added to our meal offerings in an effort to try to get close enough to pet them. In the spring, the 100 pounds of cat food and somewhere between 5 and 10 gallons of milk paid off. Marc was able to pet the tabby, now named KitCat. She soon discovered the joy of a good scratch behind your ears, and it wasn’t long before both cats lined up for scratches.

At some point in this long campaign to convince the cats to become our pets, I went from rolling my eyes to a willing and enthusiastic participant. I was even the first person to let them into the house when they showed signs of curiosity.

By fall, KitCat was living as a mostly indoor cat with the personality of a mercurial princess who spends her days issuing orders and punishing those who dare ignore her. She is funny and sassy, demanding and sweet, playful and curious.

It became clear by the affection, wrath and possessiveness that KitCat chose me to be her human servant. And that fills my heart with joy and peace.

It was a surprise to realize I am not apathetic to pets. I let fear and worry about responsibility color my decisions and convince me cats weren’t that great.

KitCat reminded me that my capacity to love and serve others will only grow out of necessity. I would not have willingly sought out this responsibility but when it landed on me, the burden was lighter than expected and completely worth it.

We all make excuses and rationalize our reasons for not doing the hard things like volunteering to help, building relationships with new people, giving generously or being selfless. Stop letting those excuses and start asking, who needs me?

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

<figure>
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 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Jackie Mundt, Pratt County farmer and rancherOur household has only one rule about pets. We cannot buy or seek out pets, they must find and choose us. This rule is not my creation, but it is easy to follow because I have always been apathetic to pets.I don’t dislike animals but lack an interest in pets. I am not the person who stops to talk to dogs in the park or asks about someone’s pets with interest beyond friendliness. Owning a pet has always seemed like a chore I want to avoid at all costs.Life rarely goes how we plan. During the polar vortex cold spell last February, my life was transformed by the unlikely arrival of two new pets.At some point in the bitter cold days, we noticed the appearance of a couple of stray cats. We knew these cats needed help surviving the cold spell and put out food, a heated water bowl and some straw bales to keep them dry, warm and full.The cats continued to show up for meals, and we began to learn their personalities. The female tabby had ninja stealth, which she used to get her food. The grey male was more interested being friends with the tabby. He followed her bellowing the most pitiful “hello-oh” in hopes of becoming her friend.She was not impressed. This created hours of entertainment for us as we watched him try to sneak food without alerting her. We later learned he made that sound constantly when he was looking for others. Fittingly, we named him Hello KittyAfter a few weeks, milk was added to our meal offerings in an effort to try to get close enough to pet them. In the spring, the 100 pounds of cat food and somewhere between 5 and 10 gallons of milk paid off. Marc was able to pet the tabby, now named KitCat. She soon discovered the joy of a good scratch behind your ears, and it wasn’t long before both cats lined up for scratches.At some point in this long campaign to convince the cats to become our pets, I went from rolling my eyes to a willing and enthusiastic participant. I was even the first person to let them into the house when they showed signs of curiosity.By fall, KitCat was living as a mostly indoor cat with the personality of a mercurial princess who spends her days issuing orders and punishing those who dare ignore her. She is funny and sassy, demanding and sweet, playful and curious.It became clear by the affection, wrath and possessiveness that KitCat chose me to be her human servant. And that fills my heart with joy and peace.It was a surprise to realize I am not apathetic to pets. I let fear and worry about responsibility color my decisions and convince me cats weren’t that great.KitCat reminded me that my capacity to love and serve others will only grow out of necessity. I would not have willingly sought out this responsibility but when it landed on me, the burden was lighter than expected and completely worth it.We all make excuses and rationalize our reasons for not doing the hard things like volunteering to help, building relationships with new people, giving generously or being selfless. Stop letting those excuses and start asking, who needs me?"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service. Copyright © 2022 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

Insight: A Cat Tale

BUNKER HILL, KS –&nbsp;Doctors on Call, a local production of Smoky Hills PBS, will feature Dr. Michael Hagley and Dr. Robert Fleming with Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System.&nbsp; This episode will air&nbsp;Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 7 PM&nbsp;and will focus on cardiology.

Doctors on Call is a program that provides medical information on a variety of different topics. Medical professionals from throughout the state travel to Bunker Hill to provide information and answer questions from the viewing audience. The doctors selected each week have expertise in the topic chosen for that program.&nbsp; Questions can be called in during the show or emailed prior to the broadcast.&nbsp;

The program airs LIVE on Smoky Hills PBS at 7PM on Tuesdays.&nbsp; You can also stream each episode LIVE on the Smoky Hills PBS YouTube channel:&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/StreamSmokyHillsPBS" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/StreamSmokyHillsPBS</a>

A schedule of programs and past episodes are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smokyhillspbs.org/" target="_blank">www.SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>.&nbsp;

To submit questions electronically on a specific topic, viewers can send an email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:doctors@shptv.org" target="_blank">doctors@shptv.org</a>. Questions submitted through email must be received by noon on the day of the show. During the program, viewers can call I-800-337-4788.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643639752961.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>BUNKER HILL, KS –&nbsp;Doctors on Call, a local production of Smoky Hills PBS, will feature Dr. Michael Hagley and Dr. Robert Fleming with Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System.&nbsp; This episode will air&nbsp;Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 7 PM&nbsp;and will focus on cardiology.Doctors on Call is a program that provides medical information on a variety of different topics. Medical professionals from throughout the state travel to Bunker Hill to provide information and answer questions from the viewing audience. The doctors selected each week have expertise in the topic chosen for that program.&nbsp; Questions can be called in during the show or emailed prior to the broadcast.&nbsp;The program airs LIVE on Smoky Hills PBS at 7PM on Tuesdays.&nbsp; You can also stream each episode LIVE on the Smoky Hills PBS YouTube channel:&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/StreamSmokyHillsPBS" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/StreamSmokyHillsPBS</a>A schedule of programs and past episodes are available at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.smokyhillspbs.org/" target="_blank">www.SmokyHillsPBS.org</a>.&nbsp;To submit questions electronically on a specific topic, viewers can send an email to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:doctors@shptv.org" target="_blank">doctors@shptv.org</a>. Questions submitted through email must be received by noon on the day of the show. During the program, viewers can call I-800-337-4788.

Doctors on Call Features Hutch Regional cardiologists


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Hutchinson Police reported Monday in a release that they made it a priority in 2021 to&nbsp;focus on sex offenses as well as human trafficking. 

"These predators focus on both adults and children," the department said. 

The department said in 2021 they have made four arrests for electronic solicitation, believing the child to be 14-15 years old, three arrests for indecent solicitation of a child and ten arrests for buying sexual relations.

"Social media and the internet are commonly used for targeting victims," the department said. 

The department asked parents to make sure they are talking with children about the people they are communicating with on social media, also they asked that parents be vigilant in checking children's social media and internet usage.

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HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Hutchinson Police reported Monday in a release that they made it a priority in 2021 to&nbsp;focus on sex offenses as well as human trafficking. "These predators focus on both adults and children," the department said. The department said in 2021 they have made four arrests for electronic solicitation, believing the child to be 14-15 years old, three arrests for indecent solicitation of a child and ten arrests for buying sexual relations."Social media and the internet are commonly used for targeting victims," the department said. The department asked parents to make sure they are talking with children about the people they are communicating with on social media, also they asked that parents be vigilant in checking children's social media and internet usage.

Hutchinson police give sex offense arrest statistics

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Tuesday evening through Thursday morning.

A wintry mix will quickly transition to moderate to  heavy snow. Initial snowfall accumulations on Wednesday of 3 to  5 inches, with an additional round of 3 to 6 inches of  snowfall Wednesday evening. 

Ice accumulations of a light glaze are possible early Wednesday.

Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing  snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous  conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. The  cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero could result in  hypothermia if precautions are not taken.

Near white out conditions are possible  across southeast Kansas for Wednesday evening, due to heavy  snowfall and blowing snow.

<figure>
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 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Tuesday evening through Thursday morning.A wintry mix will quickly transition to moderate to heavy snow. Initial snowfall accumulations on Wednesday of 3 to 5 inches, with an additional round of 3 to 6 inches of snowfall Wednesday evening. Ice accumulations of a light glaze are possible early Wednesday.Travel could be very difficult. Areas of blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute. The cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.Near white out conditions are possible across southeast Kansas for Wednesday evening, due to heavy snowfall and blowing snow.

Winter Storm Watch for Tuesday evening-Thursday morning


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The Hutchinson City Council will consider the options on the Woodie Seat Freeway project at Tuesday's meeting. A motion is expected after that discussion. 

Also to be heard is the presentation by the ARPA Task Force. Since they've already presented to the county commission, we know that it is their intent to recommend that the bulk of the money from the federal government should go toward finding child care solutions in Hutchinson and Reno County. 

In addition to that, there is an extension request for the CDBG Housing Grant on the agenda, with the goal to finish the ten houses they hope to get done by the middle of June, instead of the middle of March.

Furthermore, the city council is planning an executive session to talk about its ongoing negotiations with the union that covers 125 city employees following the other parts of the agenda. The union has already rejected two offers from the city.

There will also be a proclamation for Black History Month and a presentation of the 2021 Crisis Response Report from Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper. The Hutchinson City Council meeting begins Tuesday at 9 a.m. at City Hall.

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HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The Hutchinson City Council will consider the options on the Woodie Seat Freeway project at Tuesday's meeting. A motion is expected after that discussion. Also to be heard is the presentation by the ARPA Task Force. Since they've already presented to the county commission, we know that it is their intent to recommend that the bulk of the money from the federal government should go toward finding child care solutions in Hutchinson and Reno County. In addition to that, there is an extension request for the CDBG Housing Grant on the agenda, with the goal to finish the ten houses they hope to get done by the middle of June, instead of the middle of March.Furthermore, the city council is planning an executive session to talk about its ongoing negotiations with the union that covers 125 city employees following the other parts of the agenda. The union has already rejected two offers from the city.There will also be a proclamation for Black History Month and a presentation of the 2021 Crisis Response Report from Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper. The Hutchinson City Council meeting begins Tuesday at 9 a.m. at City Hall.

Busy agenda for Hutchinson City Council Tuesday

By RON FIELDS <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">Post News Network</a>

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health challenges among young people were the leading causes of disability and poor life outcomes,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf">according to the U.S. Surgeon General.</a>

But now after almost two years of enduring a life-changing pandemic, area mental health professionals say the need for mental health services has increased dramatically — compounded by factors such as social media, political divisions in communities and an overloaded mental health care system.

"Especially toward the fall of 2020, we were starting to see an increase after kids were at home for six months," said Carie Brown of Great Bend-based&nbsp;<a href="https://heartofkansas.com/">Heart of Kansas Family Heath Care</a>. "Symptoms have been more exacerbated by the pandemic."

Brown, a licensed specialist clinical social worker and licensed clinical addictions counselor, said the isolation caused by stay-at-home orders was traumatic for many young people.

"We have kids whose home lives are not good. Food is an issue or safety is an issue," said Brown, a Fort Hays State University graduate and Logan, Kan., native. "During that pandemic time, they were all alone in that."

If you’re in crisis, get immediate help: Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273- 8255,&nbsp;<a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/">chat</a>&nbsp;with trained counselors 24/7, or&nbsp;<a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-yourself/">get help in other ways through the Lifeline.</a>&nbsp;You can also contact the National Crisis Textline by texting HOME to 741741.

Pediatric psychologist Matthew Wassom of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.katieswaymanhattan.com/">Katie's Way</a>&nbsp;in Manhattan agreed.

"From March 2020 through the summer and into the fall of 2020 ... they were losing the routine and structure of life," he said. "And then, obviously, you take away one of the most valuable things, which is social functioning.

"Children were spending more time with family. ... That's nice for some families, but not for all families, especially in vulnerable populations," he said.

In rural northwest Nebraska, Catherine Jones-Hazledine, a psychologist with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.westernnebraskabehavioralhealth.com/">Western Nebraska Behavior Health</a>, said mental health issues among her patients have been magnified by current circumstances.

"We see all of the normal things that we would see, but they are just intensifying. A lot of us as providers are worried about parent-child interactions because there were no breaks, worried about parents coping and increases in maladaptive parenting," she said. "We are seeing depressed kids, really lonely kids, especially in high school, where those kids lost milestone after milestone after milestone."

School referrals make up a significant portion of the juvenile patient loads for most mental health providers. Brown said that during the early days of the pandemic, juvenile cases actually saw a slight decrease.

"Kids with behavior or emotional issues, those issues tend to come out in a school setting, in a a structured setting," Brown said. "During that March of 2020 to the fall, there were not a lot of new referrals. But once kids got back into schools, that's when we really started seeing that influx in referrals."

Wassom said his patient load was a mixed bag during that time period.

"Some vulnerable populations had less access to care ... but kids with better resources, more involved parents, more financial resources, we saw them seeking out care for the first time," he said.

The situation was different for Jones-Hazledine, whose practice is integrated in medical settings along with other health providers.

"The doctors are still the first person that people call when they're concerned about their kids out here, that and their pastors and priests," she said. "The kids were still finding their way to us."

Jones-Hazledine said the politics of COVID, coupled with other events on a national scale, have "coalesced into this big ball of conflict" — adding to the stressors for young people.&nbsp;

"We're in a very rural red areas, and there's a lot of division about what it all means and what to think. That's been hard for everybody, but especially to the young people. It's super confusing," she said. "There are kiddos out there whose family believes in the science, and those kids go to school and go to class with kids who believe differently. ... And can be teased or mocked.

"Bullying is always something with young people, but it's jut different now," she added. "The kids see there are adults often engaging in conflict over medical issues, issues of what students should learn."

Social media and "screens" also have played an enormous role in mental health challenges, the providers said.

"Electronics are a huge issue. They've become the babysitter. They've become an easier method than actively engaging and trying to do things as a family," Brown said. "As parents, we all have to look at that and be honest about it. ... It creates more obstacles than people realize."

During the isolation period, young people used social media increasingly to stay connected with their peers, but also faced a heightened risk of being bullied or engaging in risky online behavior.

"Digital stuff is always worse," said Jones-Hazledine. "As a society, we'll say things to each other and treat each other on social media that we would never say in person. It's grown over time, and there is no consequence. "

One of her student patients recently paraphrased a quote from Oscar Wilde: "Give a man a mask, and he'll tell you the truth."

"Not just the positive, but the negative. ... It's more honest, but we are also more harsh," she said.

While Wassom said he doesn't have "blanket hate" for screens and social media, he agreed the isolation drove more kids to increased screen time, often to the detriment of those children.

"If a family system doesn't have a good process set up, then you see the negative side of social media and the internet," he said. "We've seen a higher rate of tech addiction-type behaviors and a lot of issues of negative side effects of social media platforms."

Wassom compared device use among young people to driver's education.

"It's about social media literacy, trying to teach children before they ever lay hands on a device how to use that device in an healthy manner," he said, noting no one would give the keys to a car to an untrained child an expect them to drive safely away.

While those in junior high and high school are experiencing a "new normal," some younger children will retain little, if any, recollection of what life was like pre-COVID — which could be a positive, Wassom said.

"If you have a 5- or 6-year-old who is now 8 or 9, they have a good stretch of their early elementary development done during a pandemic," he said. "They may not have a clear picture of how things are when there is not a pandemic, and maybe some of them are doing a bit better, and they've adapted in their resilience."

In Jones-Hazledine's area of western Nebraska, one of the most troubling aspects of COVID is what she is hearing from teachers and schools.

"We have heard over and over again that the kids they're teaching right now are a good year behind socio-emotionally. The year of isolation really took a toll on everything," she said. "Kids are resilient, but to hear that across the board in all different kinds of schools, it's kind of mind-blowing.

In a June 2021 study, the U.S. Surgeon General's office reported depressive and anxiety symptoms double during the pandemic, with 25 percent of young people experiencing depressive symptoms and 20 percent experiencing anxiety. Suspected suicide attempts increased 51 percent for girls and 4 percent for boys compared to 2019.

"It's a combination of everything we've talked about — feelings of isolation, exposure to things through screen time, this extremely difficult situation for kids and for parents," Brown said. "There's been an increase in suicidal behaviors and that is very concerning."

Like most every sector in the U.S. economy, mental health health providers are struggling with staffing issues in their clinics.

"We are absolutely overwhelmed, much more so than we were in the first year of the pandemic. The need is through the roof," Jones-Hazledine said. "Most practices out here, there are two- to three-month waiting lists. This is source of great stress to the providers in my practice."

Wassom said Katie's Way sees patients from eastern to far western Kansas.

"It speaks to the shortage of certain types of providers across the whole state," he said.

Brown agreed, noting her clinic is seeking an additional behavior health professional, as well a additional nursing staff.

Jones-Hazledine said she had to enforce a mandated break over the holidays. Her staff is dealing with what she called "compassion fatigue," and battling their own symptoms of burnout.&nbsp;

The U.S. Surgeon General's office said "there is much to be done" to support the mental health of children, including:

•&nbsp;Recognizing mental health is an essential part of overall health. •&nbsp;Empowering youth and their families to recognize, manage and learn from difficult emotions. •&nbsp;Ensuring every child has access to high-quality, affordable and culturally competent mental health care. •&nbsp;Supporting the mental health of children in educational, community and child care settings. •&nbsp;Addressing economic and social barriers to care. •&nbsp;Increasing data collection to more rapidly identify mental health needs.

Brown said access to services is crucial, as well as shaking the concept that mental health concerns is viewed through a stigmatized lens.

"Mental health has been seen like it's something to be ashamed of forever. The reality is it's nothing to be ashamed of," she said. "Everyone has felt sad, anxious, depressed —&nbsp;but there is help. It's important for people not to enter with that bias that it's something wrong.

"The more open people are to getting help, the more likely it is that it can be overcome and it can get better."

Wassom said there might be a silver lining in the pandemic for some children.

"I've got some hopeful optimism. When you look at research of adverse events, there are still a lot of kids out there who have good resiliency, good support and positive relationships," he said. "They can come through fairly stressful situations fairly well developed. They could be strengthened and have developed new skills that other generations don't have."

<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf">The U.S. Surgeon General's report</a>&nbsp;issued a series of recommendations for schools, families, communities, the media, providers and others to help more young people navigate mental health issues.

"If we each start reorienting our priorities to create accessible space in our homes, schools, workplaces, and communities for seeking and giving assistance, we can all start building a culture that normalizes and promotes mental health care," the report said. "This is the moment to demand change — with our voices and with our actions. Only when we do will we be able to protect, strengthen, and support the health and safety of all children, adolescents, and young adults — and ensure everyone has a platform to thrive."

Cover image by&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/@vesky?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Vesky</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/teen-depression?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636078636094.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By RON FIELDS <a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/post-news-network">Post News Network</a>Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health challenges among young people were the leading causes of disability and poor life outcomes,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf">according to the U.S. Surgeon General.</a>But now after almost two years of enduring a life-changing pandemic, area mental health professionals say the need for mental health services has increased dramatically — compounded by factors such as social media, political divisions in communities and an overloaded mental health care system."Especially toward the fall of 2020, we were starting to see an increase after kids were at home for six months," said Carie Brown of Great Bend-based&nbsp;<a href="https://heartofkansas.com/">Heart of Kansas Family Heath Care</a>. "Symptoms have been more exacerbated by the pandemic."Brown, a licensed specialist clinical social worker and licensed clinical addictions counselor, said the isolation caused by stay-at-home orders was traumatic for many young people."We have kids whose home lives are not good. Food is an issue or safety is an issue," said Brown, a Fort Hays State University graduate and Logan, Kan., native. "During that pandemic time, they were all alone in that."If you’re in crisis, get immediate help: Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273- 8255,&nbsp;<a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/">chat</a>&nbsp;with trained counselors 24/7, or&nbsp;<a href="https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/help-yourself/">get help in other ways through the Lifeline.</a>&nbsp;You can also contact the National Crisis Textline by texting HOME to 741741.Pediatric psychologist Matthew Wassom of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.katieswaymanhattan.com/">Katie's Way</a>&nbsp;in Manhattan agreed."From March 2020 through the summer and into the fall of 2020 ... they were losing the routine and structure of life," he said. "And then, obviously, you take away one of the most valuable things, which is social functioning."Children were spending more time with family. ... That's nice for some families, but not for all families, especially in vulnerable populations," he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643306004920.png" alt="Wassom" />
 <figcaption>Wassom</figcaption>
 </figure>In rural northwest Nebraska, Catherine Jones-Hazledine, a psychologist with&nbsp;<a href="https://www.westernnebraskabehavioralhealth.com/">Western Nebraska Behavior Health</a>, said mental health issues among her patients have been magnified by current circumstances."We see all of the normal things that we would see, but they are just intensifying. A lot of us as providers are worried about parent-child interactions because there were no breaks, worried about parents coping and increases in maladaptive parenting," she said. "We are seeing depressed kids, really lonely kids, especially in high school, where those kids lost milestone after milestone after milestone."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643306047888.jpeg" alt="Brown" />
 <figcaption>Brown</figcaption>
 </figure>School referrals make up a significant portion of the juvenile patient loads for most mental health providers. Brown said that during the early days of the pandemic, juvenile cases actually saw a slight decrease."Kids with behavior or emotional issues, those issues tend to come out in a school setting, in a a structured setting," Brown said. "During that March of 2020 to the fall, there were not a lot of new referrals. But once kids got back into schools, that's when we really started seeing that influx in referrals."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643306132278.png" alt="U.S. Surgeon General" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Surgeon General</figcaption>
 </figure>Wassom said his patient load was a mixed bag during that time period."Some vulnerable populations had less access to care ... but kids with better resources, more involved parents, more financial resources, we saw them seeking out care for the first time," he said.The situation was different for Jones-Hazledine, whose practice is integrated in medical settings along with other health providers."The doctors are still the first person that people call when they're concerned about their kids out here, that and their pastors and priests," she said. "The kids were still finding their way to us."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643306082797.jpeg" alt="Jones-Hazledine" />
 <figcaption>Jones-Hazledine</figcaption>
 </figure>Jones-Hazledine said the politics of COVID, coupled with other events on a national scale, have "coalesced into this big ball of conflict" — adding to the stressors for young people.&nbsp;"We're in a very rural red areas, and there's a lot of division about what it all means and what to think. That's been hard for everybody, but especially to the young people. It's super confusing," she said. "There are kiddos out there whose family believes in the science, and those kids go to school and go to class with kids who believe differently. ... And can be teased or mocked."Bullying is always something with young people, but it's jut different now," she added. "The kids see there are adults often engaging in conflict over medical issues, issues of what students should learn."<h2>Social media</h2>Social media and "screens" also have played an enormous role in mental health challenges, the providers said."Electronics are a huge issue. They've become the babysitter. They've become an easier method than actively engaging and trying to do things as a family," Brown said. "As parents, we all have to look at that and be honest about it. ... It creates more obstacles than people realize."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643306305522.png" alt="U.S. Surgeon General" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Surgeon General</figcaption>
 </figure>During the isolation period, young people used social media increasingly to stay connected with their peers, but also faced a heightened risk of being bullied or engaging in risky online behavior."Digital stuff is always worse," said Jones-Hazledine. "As a society, we'll say things to each other and treat each other on social media that we would never say in person. It's grown over time, and there is no consequence. "One of her student patients recently paraphrased a quote from Oscar Wilde: "Give a man a mask, and he'll tell you the truth.""Not just the positive, but the negative. ... It's more honest, but we are also more harsh," she said. While Wassom said he doesn't have "blanket hate" for screens and social media, he agreed the isolation drove more kids to increased screen time, often to the detriment of those children."If a family system doesn't have a good process set up, then you see the negative side of social media and the internet," he said. "We've seen a higher rate of tech addiction-type behaviors and a lot of issues of negative side effects of social media platforms."Wassom compared device use among young people to driver's education."It's about social media literacy, trying to teach children before they ever lay hands on a device how to use that device in an healthy manner," he said, noting no one would give the keys to a car to an untrained child an expect them to drive safely away.<h2>Outcomes</h2>While those in junior high and high school are experiencing a "new normal," some younger children will retain little, if any, recollection of what life was like pre-COVID — which could be a positive, Wassom said."If you have a 5- or 6-year-old who is now 8 or 9, they have a good stretch of their early elementary development done during a pandemic," he said. "They may not have a clear picture of how things are when there is not a pandemic, and maybe some of them are doing a bit better, and they've adapted in their resilience."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643306361441.png" alt="U.S. Surgeon General" />
 <figcaption>U.S. Surgeon General</figcaption>
 </figure>In Jones-Hazledine's area of western Nebraska, one of the most troubling aspects of COVID is what she is hearing from teachers and schools."We have heard over and over again that the kids they're teaching right now are a good year behind socio-emotionally. The year of isolation really took a toll on everything," she said. "Kids are resilient, but to hear that across the board in all different kinds of schools, it's kind of mind-blowing.In a June 2021 study, the U.S. Surgeon General's office reported depressive and anxiety symptoms double during the pandemic, with 25 percent of young people experiencing depressive symptoms and 20 percent experiencing anxiety. Suspected suicide attempts increased 51 percent for girls and 4 percent for boys compared to 2019."It's a combination of everything we've talked about — feelings of isolation, exposure to things through screen time, this extremely difficult situation for kids and for parents," Brown said. "There's been an increase in suicidal behaviors and that is very concerning."<h2>Staffing</h2>Like most every sector in the U.S. economy, mental health health providers are struggling with staffing issues in their clinics."We are absolutely overwhelmed, much more so than we were in the first year of the pandemic. The need is through the roof," Jones-Hazledine said. "Most practices out here, there are two- to three-month waiting lists. This is source of great stress to the providers in my practice."Wassom said Katie's Way sees patients from eastern to far western Kansas."It speaks to the shortage of certain types of providers across the whole state," he said.Brown agreed, noting her clinic is seeking an additional behavior health professional, as well a additional nursing staff.Jones-Hazledine said she had to enforce a mandated break over the holidays. Her staff is dealing with what she called "compassion fatigue," and battling their own symptoms of burnout.&nbsp;<h2>Solutions</h2>The U.S. Surgeon General's office said "there is much to be done" to support the mental health of children, including:•&nbsp;Recognizing mental health is an essential part of overall health. •&nbsp;Empowering youth and their families to recognize, manage and learn from difficult emotions. •&nbsp;Ensuring every child has access to high-quality, affordable and culturally competent mental health care. •&nbsp;Supporting the mental health of children in educational, community and child care settings. •&nbsp;Addressing economic and social barriers to care. •&nbsp;Increasing data collection to more rapidly identify mental health needs.Brown said access to services is crucial, as well as shaking the concept that mental health concerns is viewed through a stigmatized lens."Mental health has been seen like it's something to be ashamed of forever. The reality is it's nothing to be ashamed of," she said. "Everyone has felt sad, anxious, depressed —&nbsp;but there is help. It's important for people not to enter with that bias that it's something wrong."The more open people are to getting help, the more likely it is that it can be overcome and it can get better."Wassom said there might be a silver lining in the pandemic for some children."I've got some hopeful optimism. When you look at research of adverse events, there are still a lot of kids out there who have good resiliency, good support and positive relationships," he said. "They can come through fairly stressful situations fairly well developed. They could be strengthened and have developed new skills that other generations don't have."<a href="https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/surgeon-general-youth-mental-health-advisory.pdf">The U.S. Surgeon General's report</a>&nbsp;issued a series of recommendations for schools, families, communities, the media, providers and others to help more young people navigate mental health issues."If we each start reorienting our priorities to create accessible space in our homes, schools, workplaces, and communities for seeking and giving assistance, we can all start building a culture that normalizes and promotes mental health care," the report said. "This is the moment to demand change — with our voices and with our actions. Only when we do will we be able to protect, strengthen, and support the health and safety of all children, adolescents, and young adults — and ensure everyone has a platform to thrive."Cover image by&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/@vesky?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Vesky</a>&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="https://unsplash.com/s/photos/teen-depression?utm_source=unsplash&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_content=creditCopyText">Unsplash</a>

Children's mental health an increasing concern as COVID lingers


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — A bill that is making its way through the Kansas Legislature would restrict cell phone usage in vehicles in select situations.

"Senate Bill 332 is what we're referring to as a limited hands-free bill that applies to the most inexperienced drivers and vulnerable bystanders who are at risk," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "Specifically, it would ban the hand held use of cell phones for drivers under the age of 18 and then for all drivers who drive through a road construction zone when workers are present or a school zone during designated hours."

The school zone provisions would be at a time when a reduced speed limit is enforced.

"Many vehicles do have the capabilities to use Bluetooth to run your cell phone calls through your audio system in your vehicle," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "If you don't have that available, there are Bluetooth headsets that you can use. All of those would be legal and allow you to still use your cell phone. We're not banning the use of cell phones, we're just trying to get people to really focus their eyes on the road, have their hands on the wheel in these especially risky areas and for the youngest, most inexperienced drivers."

Advocates for this bill have been working on it for years.

"It's sort of a compromise," Steward said. "It doesn't go as far as a full cell phone ban while driving, which some states have. We've been pragmatic. We've worked as part of a large and diverse coalition in support of this bill and we've been working on it for about two years. We feel like this is a good bill, a bill that we think will have some strong support in the legislature."

The fine for a violation is $60, which although it is less than the national average for such violations, is consistent with other Kansas fines for behavior traffic violations. The bill has passed out of committee, but there is not word yet on when it will make it to the floor of the Kansas Senate.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1629113022641.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — A bill that is making its way through the Kansas Legislature would restrict cell phone usage in vehicles in select situations."Senate Bill 332 is what we're referring to as a limited hands-free bill that applies to the most inexperienced drivers and vulnerable bystanders who are at risk," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "Specifically, it would ban the hand held use of cell phones for drivers under the age of 18 and then for all drivers who drive through a road construction zone when workers are present or a school zone during designated hours."The school zone provisions would be at a time when a reduced speed limit is enforced."Many vehicles do have the capabilities to use Bluetooth to run your cell phone calls through your audio system in your vehicle," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "If you don't have that available, there are Bluetooth headsets that you can use. All of those would be legal and allow you to still use your cell phone. We're not banning the use of cell phones, we're just trying to get people to really focus their eyes on the road, have their hands on the wheel in these especially risky areas and for the youngest, most inexperienced drivers."Advocates for this bill have been working on it for years."It's sort of a compromise," Steward said. "It doesn't go as far as a full cell phone ban while driving, which some states have. We've been pragmatic. We've worked as part of a large and diverse coalition in support of this bill and we've been working on it for about two years. We feel like this is a good bill, a bill that we think will have some strong support in the legislature."The fine for a violation is $60, which although it is less than the national average for such violations, is consistent with other Kansas fines for behavior traffic violations. The bill has passed out of committee, but there is not word yet on when it will make it to the floor of the Kansas Senate.

Bill to require some hands-free cell phone usage progressing


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Continued strong crude oil prices are hitting Kansans at the gas pump this winter.

"Crude oil prices make up 50 to 60% of that price," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "Right now, we're looking at crude oil prices at or above $85 a barrel. That's about $20 higher than what we were seeing in November. That's the reason why, over the last couple of months, we've seen a general trend upward at the pumps."

There's no real relief in sight, either, as Omicron has not stopped people from driving.

"OPEC and its allies, as of now, don't plan any kind of dramatic ramp up of oil output," Steward said. "The result will be continued tight supply of oil. As you can imagine, that should keep gas prices fairly high."

The Reno County average as of Saturday is at $3.04 a gallon, with the state average at $3.07 and the national average at $3.36. The world is also watching to see if Russia is aggressive toward Ukraine and how other nations react if that happens.

"Russia is a large supplier of crude oil," Steward said. "Any interruption in supply, or potential interruption in supply, can drive prices upward. Hopefully, things will be resolved peacefully and we don't have to worry about that, but it's definitely something to keep in mind right now."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631897543449.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Continued strong crude oil prices are hitting Kansans at the gas pump this winter."Crude oil prices make up 50 to 60% of that price," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "Right now, we're looking at crude oil prices at or above $85 a barrel. That's about $20 higher than what we were seeing in November. That's the reason why, over the last couple of months, we've seen a general trend upward at the pumps."There's no real relief in sight, either, as Omicron has not stopped people from driving."OPEC and its allies, as of now, don't plan any kind of dramatic ramp up of oil output," Steward said. "The result will be continued tight supply of oil. As you can imagine, that should keep gas prices fairly high."The Reno County average as of Saturday is at $3.04 a gallon, with the state average at $3.07 and the national average at $3.36. The world is also watching to see if Russia is aggressive toward Ukraine and how other nations react if that happens."Russia is a large supplier of crude oil," Steward said. "Any interruption in supply, or potential interruption in supply, can drive prices upward. Hopefully, things will be resolved peacefully and we don't have to worry about that, but it's definitely something to keep in mind right now."OPEC+ is scheduled to meet Feb. 2.

AAA: Crude oil prices keeping gas above $3 a gallon


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Cosmosphere is providing funding for up to 30 Kansas K-12 teachers through the LaunchLearning fellowship.

"It serves two purposes," said Mimi Meridith with Cosmosphere. "The first is really to give those thirty educators from across the state of Kansas a lift, to give them a sense of connectivity to other like minded professionals, to give them resources and access to subject matter experts that otherwise they would never have. They have a chance to perhaps meet some astronauts, to come to a unique summer camp experience at the Cosmosphere together and to really light the fire under the way they present STEM education subjects in their classrooms."

The LaunchLearning fellowship begins March 9. The priority application deadline is Feb. 7.

LaunchLearning is available to school districts across the state," Merideth said. "It is fee based, but very reasonably based. These 30 educators will be learning to use that and become the experts in their schools on LaunchLearning, but also we hope that they become just incredibly passionate about science education."

Applications are available on the LaunchNext website, or you can email <a href="mailto:fellows@cosmo.org">fellows@cosmo.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643470126420.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Cosmosphere is providing funding for up to 30 Kansas K-12 teachers through the LaunchLearning fellowship."It serves two purposes," said Mimi Meridith with Cosmosphere. "The first is really to give those thirty educators from across the state of Kansas a lift, to give them a sense of connectivity to other like minded professionals, to give them resources and access to subject matter experts that otherwise they would never have. They have a chance to perhaps meet some astronauts, to come to a unique summer camp experience at the Cosmosphere together and to really light the fire under the way they present STEM education subjects in their classrooms."The LaunchLearning fellowship begins March 9. The priority application deadline is Feb. 7.LaunchLearning is available to school districts across the state," Merideth said. "It is fee based, but very reasonably based. These 30 educators will be learning to use that and become the experts in their schools on LaunchLearning, but also we hope that they become just incredibly passionate about science education."Applications are available on the LaunchNext website, or you can email <a href="mailto:fellows@cosmo.org">fellows@cosmo.org</a>.

Fellowship to get Kansas teachers to Cosmosphere

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Foul play is not suspected after a person fell out of a window at the Wiley Building at 100 N. Main in Hutchinson Saturday evening.&nbsp;

According to a release from Hutchinson police, the incident happened around 7:15 p.m. The person who fell was pronounced dead at the scene.

The investigation continues. If you have additional information, contact Hutchinson police at 620-694-2816 or 620-694-2800.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582822413263.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Foul play is not suspected after a person fell out of a window at the Wiley Building at 100 N. Main in Hutchinson Saturday evening.&nbsp;According to a release from Hutchinson police, the incident happened around 7:15 p.m. The person who fell was pronounced dead at the scene.The investigation continues. If you have additional information, contact Hutchinson police at 620-694-2816 or 620-694-2800.

Hutchinson police investigating death at Wiley Building Saturday evening

HAREY COUNTY—A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Saturday in Harvey County.

&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1996 Chevy Astro Van driven by Daniel E. Perez, 69, Parsons, was southbound on Interstate 135 in North Newton.

The van traveled left of center and the driver overcorrected. The driver lost control of the vehicle when it fishtailed and overturned in the roadway.

EMS transported Perez to Wesley Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643391055149.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HAREY COUNTY—A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 2p.m. Saturday in Harvey County.&nbsp;The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1996 Chevy Astro Van driven by Daniel E. Perez, 69, Parsons, was southbound on Interstate 135 in North Newton.The van traveled left of center and the driver overcorrected. The driver lost control of the vehicle when it fishtailed and overturned in the roadway.EMS transported Perez to Wesley Medical Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after van overturns

ELLSWORTH COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 1:30p.m. Friday in Ellsworth County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Ford Fusion driven by Dalton Q. Hoffman, 19, Kanopolis, was northeast bound on Kansas Highway 156 at Kansas 14.

The Ford struck the passenger side of a southbound 2019 Kia Stinger driven by&nbsp; Heather Renae Cave, 47, Newton, who had&nbsp;stopped at the stop sign at the Kansas Highway 14 and Kansas Highway 156 junction, before proceeding through the intersection. 

EMS transported Hoffman and Cave to the hospital in Ellsworth. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/11/1636209377817.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>ELLSWORTH COUNTY—Two people were injured in an accident just after 1:30p.m. Friday in Ellsworth County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Ford Fusion driven by Dalton Q. Hoffman, 19, Kanopolis, was northeast bound on Kansas Highway 156 at Kansas 14.The Ford struck the passenger side of a southbound 2019 Kia Stinger driven by&nbsp; Heather Renae Cave, 47, Newton, who had&nbsp;stopped at the stop sign at the Kansas Highway 14 and Kansas Highway 156 junction, before proceeding through the intersection. EMS transported Hoffman and Cave to the hospital in Ellsworth. Both drivers were properly restrained, according to the KHP.

Woman from Newton hospitalized after 2-vehicle crash


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the highly active Omicron variant, Amtrak is temporarily reducing some train frequencies on select routes due to staffing challenges, including on the Southwest Chief.

Despite Amtrak’s rigorous vaccination and testing program, several hundred on-board service personnel, conductors, engineers, and mechanical crews continue to be impacted by COVID infections or exposures, particularly given the highly infectious nature of the new variant and the prevalence of breakthrough cases.

To ensure safe, reliable service and minimize unplanned service interruptions, Amtrak is suspending 8% of train departures over the next ten weeks.

There is a suspension of two weekly departures on nine long distance routes between until March 27, reducing weekly service from daily to five days per week, including the Southwest Chief.

Impacted customers with existing reservations are being re-accommodated. For more information visit <a href="http://Amtrak.com">Amtrak.com</a> and click on ‘Schedules’.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1609263248923.png" alt="Amtrak" />
 <figcaption>Amtrak</figcaption>
 </figure>
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the highly active Omicron variant, Amtrak is temporarily reducing some train frequencies on select routes due to staffing challenges, including on the Southwest Chief.Despite Amtrak’s rigorous vaccination and testing program, several hundred on-board service personnel, conductors, engineers, and mechanical crews continue to be impacted by COVID infections or exposures, particularly given the highly infectious nature of the new variant and the prevalence of breakthrough cases.To ensure safe, reliable service and minimize unplanned service interruptions, Amtrak is suspending 8% of train departures over the next ten weeks.There is a suspension of two weekly departures on nine long distance routes between until March 27, reducing weekly service from daily to five days per week, including the Southwest Chief.Impacted customers with existing reservations are being re-accommodated. For more information visit <a href="http://Amtrak.com">Amtrak.com</a> and click on ‘Schedules’.

Southwest Chief down to five days per week


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Join the Hutchinson Unit of the NAACP at the Hutchinson Community College Student Union in the Nunnemaker Room for their monthly meeting. 

Guest speakers will be Dashona Mahoney and Sarah Blake from Hutchinson Community Foundation, providing a follow-up report on the ARPA Reno County taskforce.&nbsp;

The meeting is Thursday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591092788258.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Join the Hutchinson Unit of the NAACP at the Hutchinson Community College Student Union in the Nunnemaker Room for their monthly meeting. Guest speakers will be Dashona Mahoney and Sarah Blake from Hutchinson Community Foundation, providing a follow-up report on the ARPA Reno County taskforce.&nbsp;The meeting is Thursday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.

NAACP to meet Feb. 3

RENO COUNTY — 
The Reno County Landfill will begin the process of moving to their new facility during the second week of February (weather permitting). The move will begin on Thursday, February 10, which will warrant temporary operation and schedule modifications.

The landfill will remain open during their normal hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 10 and Friday, February 11, but will close at noon on Saturday, February 12. The scale, however, will not be operable during those days. For this reason, the landfill will not be accepting “permitted” loads from February 10 through February 12. Loads that require permits include special waste, contaminated soil, and asbestos.

The landfill thanks the public for their patience during this move as there could be additional delays as they relocate across the road. The new facility includes an updated scale house, household hazardous waste drop-off and “swap shop”, water tank storage and filling, and garage for the field trucks. The new landfill address, starting Monday, February 14, will be&nbsp;4015 West Clark Road, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/5/1620142924521.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — 
The Reno County Landfill will begin the process of moving to their new facility during the second week of February (weather permitting). The move will begin on Thursday, February 10, which will warrant temporary operation and schedule modifications.The landfill will remain open during their normal hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday, February 10 and Friday, February 11, but will close at noon on Saturday, February 12. The scale, however, will not be operable during those days. For this reason, the landfill will not be accepting “permitted” loads from February 10 through February 12. Loads that require permits include special waste, contaminated soil, and asbestos.The landfill thanks the public for their patience during this move as there could be additional delays as they relocate across the road. The new facility includes an updated scale house, household hazardous waste drop-off and “swap shop”, water tank storage and filling, and garage for the field trucks. The new landfill address, starting Monday, February 14, will be&nbsp;4015 West Clark Road, Hutchinson, KS 67501.

Landfill to switch facilities Feb. 10

Reno County&nbsp;– January 28, 2022 – Changes are coming to Rcat’s fixed bus routes beginning February 28. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and the Reno County Commissioners have both approved the proposed changes.

“Throughout COVID we had to make revisions with how we do business,”&nbsp;stated Barbara Lilyhorn, Director of the Department of Aging and Transportation.&nbsp;“We’ve seen a decline in ridership, so we were tasked in finding the best way to continue serving our community.”

Rcat has been running reduced routes for almost two years now, so the updates requested will make those route changes more permanent. However, if ridership increases in the future, the routes can be revised again to accommodate those needs.

The proposed changes are posted in the Rcat Transfer Station, in all Rcat vehicles, and on the Reno County website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.renogov.org/rcat" target="_blank">www.renogov.org/rcat</a>. Public comments regarding the proposed changes will be accepted from January 29 thru February 27, 2022.&nbsp;

The public is invited to review the changes and to make comments by calling the Reno County Department of Public Transportation office at 620-694-2910.&nbsp; Comments may also be emailed to Rcat through the Reno County website’s “<a href="https://www.renogov.org/FormCenter/Contact-Us-7/Contact-Us-47" target="_blank">contact us</a>” page.

Signed written comments should be mailed to: Reno County Area Transit,&nbsp;120 W Ave B, Hutchinson, KS 67501.&nbsp;

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 </figure>Reno County&nbsp;– January 28, 2022 – Changes are coming to Rcat’s fixed bus routes beginning February 28. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and the Reno County Commissioners have both approved the proposed changes.“Throughout COVID we had to make revisions with how we do business,”&nbsp;stated Barbara Lilyhorn, Director of the Department of Aging and Transportation.&nbsp;“We’ve seen a decline in ridership, so we were tasked in finding the best way to continue serving our community.”Rcat has been running reduced routes for almost two years now, so the updates requested will make those route changes more permanent. However, if ridership increases in the future, the routes can be revised again to accommodate those needs.The proposed changes are posted in the Rcat Transfer Station, in all Rcat vehicles, and on the Reno County website at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.renogov.org/rcat" target="_blank">www.renogov.org/rcat</a>. Public comments regarding the proposed changes will be accepted from January 29 thru February 27, 2022.&nbsp; The public is invited to review the changes and to make comments by calling the Reno County Department of Public Transportation office at 620-694-2910.&nbsp; Comments may also be emailed to Rcat through the Reno County website’s “<a href="https://www.renogov.org/FormCenter/Contact-Us-7/Contact-Us-47" target="_blank">contact us</a>” page. Signed written comments should be mailed to: Reno County Area Transit,&nbsp;120 W Ave B, Hutchinson, KS 67501.&nbsp;Route changes are mapped below...<figure>
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Rcat fixed routes to change

HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/dd091215-73dc-4bc9-ae18-7f9ee8653047">The conclusions drawn by the Reno County ARPA task force are important</a>, but it's equally as important to keep the whole community at the table, even as the governing bodies wrestle with how best to use the funds, even if they do choose to use the bulk of them for child care.

"As a part of the task force, I was really impressed with the outcomes of the numbers," said Calvin Wright with the NAACP. "They reflect very closely, the census of the demographics of both Reno County and Hutchinson. Often times, there's a set of folks that are excluded from those discussions and you just get one perspective. One of the directives of the Treasury Department was very clear, that we should have a mindset of inclusion and the task force kept that in the forefront, right from the time they started selecting folks."

Part of the issue is not only being sure communities of color are heard, but that rural and urban needs are both met.

"It's going to be critical that whatever solutions are put in place to address child care in Reno County are available to everybody in the county," said Jackson Swearer with Start Up Hutch. "When we say that, we're talking about inclusion across all sorts of demographics including the geography of where people are. We've got to make sure that what we do is also helping folks out in Arlington and in Sylvia and in Turon and out by Fairfield, as much as it's helping the people in Hutchinson, as well. We know two-thirds of the population in the county, roughly, is located in Hutchinson. That's where a lot of the folks in the county are, but that means that there's a third of the folks in the county who aren't in the city of Hutchinson."

One thing that will be key is to place whatever solution comes in areas where all economic levels can have as equal of access as possible, which can be a challenge, given the inherent costs of child care. 

The ARPA task force will present its findings to the Hutchinson City Council on Tuesday.

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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/dd091215-73dc-4bc9-ae18-7f9ee8653047">The conclusions drawn by the Reno County ARPA task force are important</a>, but it's equally as important to keep the whole community at the table, even as the governing bodies wrestle with how best to use the funds, even if they do choose to use the bulk of them for child care."As a part of the task force, I was really impressed with the outcomes of the numbers," said Calvin Wright with the NAACP. "They reflect very closely, the census of the demographics of both Reno County and Hutchinson. Often times, there's a set of folks that are excluded from those discussions and you just get one perspective. One of the directives of the Treasury Department was very clear, that we should have a mindset of inclusion and the task force kept that in the forefront, right from the time they started selecting folks."Part of the issue is not only being sure communities of color are heard, but that rural and urban needs are both met."It's going to be critical that whatever solutions are put in place to address child care in Reno County are available to everybody in the county," said Jackson Swearer with Start Up Hutch. "When we say that, we're talking about inclusion across all sorts of demographics including the geography of where people are. We've got to make sure that what we do is also helping folks out in Arlington and in Sylvia and in Turon and out by Fairfield, as much as it's helping the people in Hutchinson, as well. We know two-thirds of the population in the county, roughly, is located in Hutchinson. That's where a lot of the folks in the county are, but that means that there's a third of the folks in the county who aren't in the city of Hutchinson."One thing that will be key is to place whatever solution comes in areas where all economic levels can have as equal of access as possible, which can be a challenge, given the inherent costs of child care. The ARPA task force will present its findings to the Hutchinson City Council on Tuesday.

Inclusion needs to remain at front as ARPA money decisions are made

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education will have a special meeting Monday.

The only agenda item for the meeting is an Executive Session for non-elected personnel. 

The meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. Monday at the USD 308 Admin Center located at 1520 N Plum.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education will have a special meeting Monday.The only agenda item for the meeting is an Executive Session for non-elected personnel. The meeting will take place at 6:00 p.m. Monday at the USD 308 Admin Center located at 1520 N Plum.

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