Opinion
DD long-term care services needed
DD long-term care services needed I am very concerned that long-term care services have not yet been removed from the Administration’s ‘KanCare’ managed care proposal. I am a Kansas citizen, taxpayer, voter and supporter of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. I cannot state emphatically enough that I expect these vital long-term care services to be removed from KanCare. It is simply unacceptable to conduct such a massiv...
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‘Managed care’
First of all I need to apologize in advance for what I am about to say, but I am mad as hell. I feel like I am watching a train wreck right before my eyes and there is nothing I can do about it except help clean up after the disaster. I dislike writing negative columns, but something has to be done about managed care. It will have the biggest impact upon people with intellectual disabilities since the Developmental Disability Reform Act of 1...
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Make Super Bowl party a winner
USDA consumer food specialists report the quantity of food consumed on Super Bowl Sunday is second only to Thanksgiving. And, while food safety information is plentiful during the holiday season, bowl parties can create additional food safety risks, said Karen Blakeslee, K-State Research and Extension food scientist. “Football games last for several hours, making it more difficult for hosts to keep hot foods hot and cold foods cold,” Blakesle...
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Drought conditions likely to ease in 2012
December precipitation across Kansas averaged 1.69 inches, which was almost double the normal amount. That helped ease drought conditions in parts of the state and early forecasts point to a further reduction in 2012, according to Kansas climatologist Mary Knapp. “The preliminary statewide average precipitation total for December was 192 percent of normal,” said Knapp, who is director of the state’s Weather Data Library. “That makes it the 16...
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Consider closely fate of vulnerable Kansans The editorial cartoon in last Sunday’s edition of the Wichita Eagle has hit the nail squarely on the the head
Consider closely fate of vulnerable Kansans The editorial cartoon in last Sunday’s edition of the Wichita Eagle has hit the nail squarely on the the head. The intellectual and developmentally disabled are soon to be under the parsimonious managed care system of insurance companies. There are many questions that have not been answered by our elected officials. Why no information? Why have legislators not received any substantive information o...
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Walk Kansas fitness program will start soon
It’s January….that wonderfully hopeful time of year when we resolve to do better. We vow to get in shape, to lose weight, and to ditch all the other bad habits we have been accumulating for decades. If you’re like many folks, you may be looking at the exact same list of resolutions that you had last year. Lifestyle changes are hard to make. Research is continually discovering more health benefits to regular physical activity. As a nation, our...
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Kansas Profile - Super Bowl edition
The Super Bowl ring is large, hefty, and shiny – and it proudly displays the words “World Champions.” Today we’ll meet a man from rural Kansas who earned that ring as an assistant coach in the National Football League. Special thanks to Norton County Life Magazine whose article told this remarkable story. This is a Super Bowl edition of Kansas Profile. Larry Zierlein is the proud owner of a Super Bowl ring, which he earned as an assistant c...
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New funding policy good news for NCCC
Prada Shoes Рthe sequel!  Last year I wrote a column about how state funding for community colleges works in Kansas.  I likened state funding for credit hours to selling shoes in a strange way.  If you recall I pointed out that no matter how much it costs to offer a particular class Рfrom inexpensive classes like U.S. History, to expensive classes such as nursing courses Рthe college received the same dollar per credit hour.  It was li...
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Start small, think big for America Saves Week
Many of you may be like me and are ‘trying something new’ with your finances and personal budget in the New Year. America and Kansas Saves have some useful resources and incentives in February to keep us going! Kansas Saves is a national social marketing Campaign to “Save and Reduce Debt”; and encourage the average person that “You Can Build Wealth if you Start Small and Think Big.” February 19-26, is America Saves Week – a great time to take...
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Starting plants from seed
January is a dreaded cold month for many gardeners. One way to combat the gardening blues that January brings is to start vegetable and flower plants from seed. The following are steps needed to be successful in seed starting. Purchase recommended, quality seed: Start by checking out the list of K-State recommended varieties. Those can be found at www.ksre.ksu.edu and follow the lawn and garden link. The plants on this list have proven themse...
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Year at college provided early presents
The Inbody family is gearing up for another great Christmas together. I honestly love the holidays. We added a new feature to our Christmas display at the house – Virtual Santa! If you drive by our place at 8th and Evergreen through one of the windows you can see Santa walking around the house, delivering gifts, eating cookies, checking his list, and waving to you. It’s a lot of fun! Come by and take a look. We have a tradition in our house o...
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Tips for traveling with food
Holiday meals just wouldn’t be the same without those favorite dishes made by aunts, grandmas, and other family and friends. It’s a time-honored tradition for people to bring food to gatherings. How do you decide who brings what or how to travel with food if you’re asked to bring something? When assigning foods or deciding what to take, consider the type of food and the distance to travel. Remember the two-hour rule – avoid leaving perishable...
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Christmas programs at library wrapping up
Merry Christmas to one and all from the Chanute Public Library! I am happy to report that because so many of you chose to pay your late fees with food, the library was able to donate nearly 500 items to the local food pantry in November. This program turned out to be a winning situation for everyone and I thank the library board for moving forward with this project. Children’s holiday programs are in full swing at the library. We have one re...
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‘A Grand Experiment’
The “Grand Experiment” in social services continues. This past Tuesday, Governor Brownback announced sweeping reforms to the state’s Medicaid system that according to Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, will save the state $367 million over the next five years without cutting rates or services, this while at the same time improving the quality of services provided. Their plan involves reshuffling departments, implementing a global waiver, expanding managed...
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Less sitting and more movement important for good health
Ann Ludlum Southwind Extension Modern lifestyles and technology have taken much physical activity and movement out of our lives. We sit for breakfast, sit in a car to drive to work, and sit at a desk. There’s little need to get up to go to the file cabinet, because the files are all right in front of us on the screen. We push a few buttons to cook the evening meal – or sit in a car and select a meal at the drive-through. At home, a few more b...
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‘Trick or Treat at the Depot’ Friday
What is the museum’s busiest day? People are often surprised to learn that our “Halloween” open house brings in the most visitors. It’s a chance for costumed girls and boys to tour the museum with their parents free of charge. Understandably masks and other exotic items in our West African exhibit cases are especially popular. Young museum visitors can also sign up for prizes. This year’s “Trick or Treat at the Depot” open house is Friday, Oc...
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Wash hands well and often to keep from getting sick
Washing hands seems like such a simple act, yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says handwashing is the single most important thing we can do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness to others. And in developing countries, handwashing with soap is the most effective and inexpensive way to prevent diarrheal and acute respiratory infections, which take the lives of millions of children every year. Yet, despite its li...
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Happiness isn’t?
“Is anyone in all the world safe from unhappiness?” — Sophocles Last month my column was entitled “Happiness is,” which I thoroughly enjoyed writing, so I decided to provide the opposite perspective and discuss “Happiness isn’t” in the field of intellectual disabilities. I am not a big fan of discussing unhappiness or negatives and I consider myself a very positive person, but there are times when they need to be brought out into the open for...
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Train trip to Chicago good experience
Wanting to take a trip but don’t want to necessarily drive? Perhaps you would rather not fly either. Well, there is still a great experience waiting for you. How about taking a trip by AMTRAK? Although I had traveled via train when I was younger, and we have taken many historic steam engine train rides, my husband and I took our first trip on Amtrak the end of May of this year. Result! We highly recommend it. We found the security screening...
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Join the 4-H Revolution
Join the 4-H Revolution Oct. 2-8 is National 4-H Week, and the Southwind Extension District in Allen, Bourbon and Neosho Counties are celebrating the 4-H youth who have made an impact on the community, and are stepping up to the challenges of a complex and changing world. Recent findings from Tufts University’s 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development indicate that young people in 4-H are three times more likely to contribute to their communit...
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