SEK Library Newsletter

The SEKnFind Newsletter
April 2024

We hope you enjoy this newsletter sent as a courtesy to adult patrons of a southeast Kansas library using the SEKnFind catalog.
This selection of titles are NEW at a SEKnFind library and available for a hold.
Need assistance? Your local librarian can show you how!
Happy Reading!

New Fiction

Just for the summer
by Abby Jimenez

With every person they date finding their soulmate the second they break up, Justin and Emma decide to date each other and break up to cancel each other’s curse out, but their quick fling turns into something more when their families get involved and they catch real feelings for each other. Original.

The unquiet bones : a novel
by Loreth Anne White

When human remains are found, reopening a decades-old case, a group of friends, highly respected, affluent members of their communities, begins to fracture as homicide detective Jane Munro and forensic anthropologist Dr. Ella Queen get closer to the truth of what happened on an autumn night 47 years ago.

The best way to bury your husband
by Alexia Casale

After killing her husband—a truly terrible man, Sally finds herself leading an extremely unusual self-help group of women who have come together to heal the damage their husbands have done—and to work out a plan to get rid of the bodies and get away with it. Original.

Victim : a novel
by Andrew Boryga

A hustler from a family of hustlers, Javi Perez, after college graduation, writes a viral essay embellishing his life story, which lands him a gig at a legendary magazine, but when his childhood best friend is released from prison, Javi offers to cut him in on the deal in exchange for his silence.

Crow talk : a novel
by Eileen Garvin

The best-selling author of The Music of Bees returns with the story of the unlikely friendship between a lonely ornithologist and an Irish musician working to save an injured crow in the wild beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Happy medium
by Sarah Adler

Gretchen Acorn, a fake spirit medium, is hired to cleanse a skeptical goat farmer’s property where she is shocked to find herself face-to-face with a very real ghost who wants to help the landowners avoid a long-standing curse. Original.

Night falls on Predicament Avenue
by Jaime Jo Wright

“In 1910, Effie joins forces with an English newcomer to discover what lies behind the doors of the abandoned house on Predicament Avenue. In the present day, Norah reluctantly inherits the house turned bed and breakfast, where her first guest, a crime historian and podcaster, is set on uncovering the truth about what haunts this place”

I cheerfully refuse : a novel
by Leif Enger

In a climate-ravaged America, a grieving musician sails a sentient Lake Superior, seeking his lost love amidst rising corpses, crumbling empires, and an unexpected rebellion sparked by his own gentle spirit.

Ghost station
by S. A. Barnes

While part of a small space exploration crew on an abandoned planet, a psychologist confronts a gruesome murder and twisted secrets as she races to prevent history from repeating itself in the form of space-borne madness. 125,000 first printing.

Moon of the turning leaves : a novel
by Waubgeshig Rice

When a community of Anishinaabe people, with their natural resources dwindling, needs to find a new home, Evan Whitesky leads a dangerous mission back to their ancestral home in the Great Lakes region, during which they encounter other survivors, some who thrive on violence.

Matterhorn
by Christopher Reich

When his son Will dies following in his footsteps, former CIA agent Mac Dekker, forced into hiding after being framed for treason, returns to the field to uncover the secrets Will was hiding and finds himself working to stop a terrorist plot that threatens thousands.

The man from Waco
by William W. Johnstone

Sacrificing his freedom by confessing to his desperate brother’s crime, John Bannack, while on work detail outside the prison, saves the judge who sentenced him from a bloody prison break, in return the judge releases him and employs him as his bodyguard and avenger. Original.

New Audiobooks

Darling Girls
by Sally Hepworth

Two women who escaped an overly-strict home with a foster mother on a farm are called back to their childhood home and into the orbit of their former guardian when human bones are discovered beneath the farmhouse. 300,000 first printing.

The County Line
by Steve Weddle

During the Great Depression, Cottonmouth Tomlin, after the death of his uncle, returns home to Columbia County to the broken-down outlaw camp—the sum of his family legacy, but soon pushes the boundaries of the community’s forgiving nature as he is faced with hard choices. Original.

The Morningside
by Téa Obreht

After being expelled from their ancestral home, Silvia and her mother finally settle at the Morningside, a crumbling luxury tower in Island City where Silvia’s aunt Ena serves as the superintendent. Silvia feels unmoored in her new life because her mother has been so diligently secretive about their family’s past. Silvia knows almost nothing about the place where she was born and spent her early years, nor does she know why she and her mother had to leave. But in Ena there is an opening: a person willing to give the young girl glimpses into the folktales of her demolished homeland, a place of natural beauty and communal spirit that is lacking in Silvia’s lonely and impoverished reality. Enchanted by Ena’s stories, Silvia begins seeing the world with magical possibilities and becomes obsessed with the mysterious older woman who lives in the penthouse of the Morningside. Silvia’s mission to unravel the truth about this woman’s life, and her own haunted past, may end up costing her everything.

New Nonfiction

Before it’s gone : stories from the front lines of climate change in small town America
by Jonathan Vigliotti

A veteran journalist embarks on a poignant American odyssey, tracing the human toll of climate change that is no longer just a warming future, guiding readers across our current wildfire-ravaged landscapes, hurricane-battered coasts and vanishing ecosystems.

The age of magical overthinking : notes on modern irrationality
by Amanda Montell

Utilizing her linguistic insights and sociological explorations, the best-selling author of Cultish and host of the podcast Sounds Like a Cult delves into the cognitive biases that run rampant in our brains, including“magical thinking,” offering a prevailing message of hope, empathy and forgiveness for our anxiety-riddled human selves.

The anxious generation : how the great rewiring of childhood is causing an epidemic of mental illness
by Jonathan Haidt

“After more than a decade of stability or improvement, the mental health of adolescents plunged in the early 2010s. Rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide rose sharply, more than doubling on most measures. Why? In [this book], social psychologist Jonathan Haidt lays out the facts about the epidemic of teen mental illness that hit many countries at the same time. He then investigates the nature of childhood, including why children need play and independent exploration to mature into competent, thriving adults. Haidt shows how the ‘play-based childhood’ began to decline in the 1980s, and how it was finally wiped out by the arrival of the ‘phone-based childhood’ in the early 2010s.”

Briefly perfectly human : making an authentic life by getting real about the end
by Alua Arthur

“A deeply transformative memoir that reframes how we think about death and how it can help us lead better, more fulfilling and authentic lives, from America’s preeminent death doula”

Alien earths : the new science of planet hunting in the cosmos
by Lisa Kaltenegger

An astrophysicist unlocks the mysteries of alien worlds, from lava planets to multi-sun systems, using Earth as a key and humanity’s curiosity as fuel, in a thrilling quest to answer whether we are alone in the universe. 50,000 first printing.

A year full of pots : container flowers all seasons
by Sarah Raven

“Master the art of growing flowers in pots year round with inspiration from stunning full-color images and expert advice from the Sunday Times bestselling author of A Year Full of Flowers.”

Food Gifts : 150+ irresistible recipes for crafting personalized presents
by Elle Simone Scott

A food stylist and cast of America’s Test Kitchen offers an all-occasion guide to making 150 homemade, delicious food gifts including Fruits of the Forest Liqueur, Banana Caramel Pie in a Jar and Chocolate Ginger Truffles. Illustrations.

Tetanus Shots Offered to Individuals Affected by Flooding

The Southeast Kansas Multi-County Health Department is located between 6th and Lowman Streets and 6th and Horton Streets.

 

SEK Multi-County Health Department is offering free tetanus shots for individuals affected by the recent flooding.  Tetanus shots will be available to impacted residents as well as first responders, volunteers, or any others who have been or will be assisting with recovery and cleanup efforts.

Free tetanus shots will be available by appointment at the SEK Multi-County Health Department in Iola, Garnett, and Fort Scott while flood response continues.

Addresses of these three locations are as follows:

Allen County (Iola): 411 N. Washington Ave. Iola, KS 66749

Anderson (Garnett): 301 S. Vine, Garnett, KS 66032

Bourbon County (Fort Scott): 524 S. Lowman, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tetanus vaccines are recommended for people of all ages.  Adults need a tetanus booster shot every 10 years, but health care providers may recommend a booster sooner due to an injury or other health concerns.

Tetanus bacteria are everywhere in the environment, including soil, dust, and manure. Tetanus is most commonly caused by the bacteria getting into the body through broken skin, usually through injuries from dirty objects. During evacuation and flood cleanup, residents affected by flooding, emergency responders, cleanup workers, or volunteers may be at increased risk for these injuries. For this reason, these people should be sure that they are up to date with tetanus vaccination. This can be done by talking with your health care provider or reviewing your vaccination record.

Tetanus is commonly known as “lockjaw,” and is a serious disease that affects the nervous system and causes painful muscle contractions, particularly of your jaw and neck muscles. Tetanus can cause severe breathing problems and in serious cases, lead to death. There is no cure for tetanus.

Please call the SEK Multi-County Health Department for more information at:

Allen County: (620)365-2191

Anderson County: (785)448-6559

Bourbon County: (620)223-4464

Woodson County: (620)625-2484

Kansas Responds to Concerns about HPAI in Dairy Cattle

FDA Studies Confirm Safety of Pasteurized Milk

MANHATTAN, Kansas — The Kansas Department of Agriculture has been actively working with the Kansas dairy industry to respond to the nationwide concerns due to the discovery of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle. KDA has also been closely following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s testing of the commercial milk supply, which on Friday confirmed the effectiveness of the pasteurization process.

The KDA Division of Animal Health is helping dairies and veterinarians to understand and comply with the Federal Order from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA–APHIS) which took effect on Monday, April 29, 2024. The order requires lactating dairy cattle to receive a negative test for the virus prior to interstate movement. It also requires laboratories and state veterinarians to report positive results to USDA–APHIS.

These measures were instituted in an effort to further protect the U.S. livestock industry from the threat posed by HPAI. The Federal Order came two days after the Kansas Animal Health Commissioner, Dr. Justin Smith, issued a state order that expanded requirements for interstate or intrastate movement of lactating dairy cattle to include a recent health certificate (CVI).

In March, KDA announced that HPAI was identified in two commercial dairy herds, and early April there were two additional herds in Kansas that reported positive tests. Data appears to indicate that the virus is no longer present after 21-30 days, which has already passed for the positive Kansas herds.

Farmers and ranchers in Kansas have been advised to practice good biosecurity measures to protect their susceptible animals from being exposed to HPAI. This includes limiting movement of vehicles and visitors on and off the premises, separating domestic and wild animals as much as possible, minimizing movement of cattle, and monitoring animals for clinical signs of HPAI.

On Friday, the FDA reaffirmed its confidence that the commercial milk supply is safe. Their national commercial milk sampling study conducted over the last few weeks confirmed that pasteurization is effective in inactivating HPAI in milk. The pasteurization process of heating milk to a high temperature ensures milk and dairy products can be safely consumed. In line with long-standing policy, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention does not recommend consuming unpasteurized milk or raw milk. Dairies are also required to only allow milk from healthy animals to enter the food supply chain.

Updates on HPAI in Kansas, including the Commissioner’s Order issued on April 22, can be found on the KDA Division of Animal Health webpage dedicated to HPAI detections in livestock: www.agriculture.ks.gov/HPAI-Livestock. This page also provides a link to the USDA’s HPAI in Livestock webpage, which provides a variety of resources to assist livestock owners, a link to the Federal Order and affiliated guidance documents, and an ongoing report on confirmed cases in affected states across the U.S.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture is dedicated to serving Kansas farmers, ranchers, agribusinesses and the consumers/customers they serve while promoting public health and safety, protecting animal health, and providing consumer protection and food safety to the best of our ability.

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The Amended Agenda For The Bourbon County Commission for This Evening

 

Bourbon County Courthouse

210 S. National Ave Fort Scott, KS 66701 Phone: 620-223-3800

Fax: 620-223-5832

Bourbon County, Kansas

1st District Commissioner

Jim Harris, Chairman

2nd District Commissioner

Clifton Beth

3rd District Commissioner

 

 

Bourbon County Commission Agenda 210 S. National Ave.

Fort Scott, KS 66701

 

April 29, 2024 5:30 p.m.

 

 

 

  1. Call Meeting to Order
  2. Flag Salute
  • Approval of Consent Agenda
    1. Approval of Minutes from 4/22/2024
    2. Approval of Accounts Payable Totaling $133,991.96
    3. Approval of Payroll Totaling $390.48
  1. Public Comments
  2. Vance Eden-PILOT Payments
  3. Department Updates
    1. Eric Bailey-Public Works
  • Brian Allen-Local Disaster Resolution
  • Jennifer Hawkins, County Clerk
    1. Executive Session KSA 75-4319 (b)(2)
  1. Commission Comments
  2. Adjourn Meeting

 

 

 

Executive Session Justifications:

 

KSA 75-4319 (b)(1) to discuss personnel matters of individual nonelected personnel to protect their privacy.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(2) for consultation with an attorney for the public body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the

attorney-client relationship.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(3) to discuss matters relating to employer/employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the

representative(s) of               the body or agency.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(4) to discuss data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trust and individual     proprietorships

KSA 75-4319 (b)(6) for the preliminary discussion of the acquisition of real property.

KSA 75-4319 (b)(12) to discuss matters relating to the security measures, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting

would jeopardize such security measures.

 

April 28-29 Tornado and Flooding in Bourbon County

Graphic from the National Weather Service, Springfield, MO, which monitors Bourbon, Cherokee, and Crawford Counties in Southeast Kansas. The Bourbon County flood warning is on the left in the graphic.

Storms this weekend included a tornado and major flooding in Bourbon County.

Because of almost 10 inches of rain, area rivers have gone out of their banks.

The Marmaton River crested at  47 feet on April 28, and is predicted to go back down to 30 feet by Tuesday afternoon, according to Peyton Camden, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service at Springfield, Mo, which monitors conditions in Bourbon, Cherokee, and Crawford Counties in Kansas.

Rain is in the forecast for the rest of the week.

“Depending on how much rain we get, there could be a second crest,” she said.

County roads and city streets in low-lying areas were flooded, but as of today, almost all are passable.

Tornado

A tornado touched down in rural Bourbon County on the evening of Friday, April 26.

“It touched down at about 85th and Poplar Roads on Friday evening,” Bourbon County Emergency Management Director Brian Allen said.  One home near Quail Road was also affected, he said.

The Clare George property on Poplar Road. Damage to the roof and windows of the house, left, and several outbuildings, middle and right, in the photo,  were affected by the tornado. Photo by Susan George.

Clare George’s home, northeast of Uniontown, had the windows blown out on three sides and some roof damage, plus outbuildings damaged.

Flood damage

Brad Matkin, Fort Scott City Manager said most city streets are reopened following the floods this weekend.

“20th Street from Hwy. 69 to Cooper Street is still closed because of road destruction,” Matkin said on the city’s Facebook page. Clark Street from Wall Street to Third Street is still closed until the manhole flooding stops, and the Fort Scott Lake road by the spillway is still closed, he said. Fort Scott Lake homeowners can access via Hwy. 69 to Hackberry Road.

The city crews are out working to get things back to normal, Matkin said.

This is a drone photo of Gunn Park as of this morning.

Eric  Bailey, Bourbon County Public Works Director, referred road condition questions to Fort Scott/Bourbon County Dispatch.

The dispatcher said all roads in the county are open now, but people should be aware there is some damage to the roads.

 

Local Ponds Were Built to Help With Floods

Dams were built in the 1980s for helping to alleviate the excess water from floods.

Frank Young,  the contracting officer for both the Marmaton and Mill Creek Watershed Districts, stated  “the watershed dams aren’t constructed with the capacity to totally control runoff from  extremely large rainfall events covering the drainage areas above each structure (pond). They will totally control the runoff from a 25 year storm which is around 4.8 inches of rainfall in a 6-hour period. The rest of the runoff from a larger rainfall event than 4.8 inches in 6 hours, will pass through the dam’s emergency spillway with some, but not total, control of that extra runoff”.

” Marmaton WSD has 28 completed structures that control roughly 25% of the total drainage area of the Marmaton River above Mill Creek. Mill Creel WSD has 14 completed dams that control roughly 28% of the Mill Creek drainage area. The two districts together control roughly 27% of the total drainage area above Ft. Scott,” Young said.

“When a huge rainfall event occurs over the entire river drainage area of just over 240,000 acres, over 70% of this area is uncontrolled,” he said. “The combined districts have plans to build structures that would control around a total of 60% of this area when completed.”

“Both Districts have planned structures awaiting permits to construct more dams from the Corps of Engineers,” Young said. Ever since Hurricane Katrina.. permits to construct dams have become increasingly difficult to obtain from these federal agencies. The last major dam construction ended for the Marmaton District in 2015. Since then no permits have been issued by the Corps to allow these Districts to continue their flood protection program.”

“The existing dams were constructed with state of Kansas grant money along with local cost share money raised from mill levies and landowner participation,” he said. “The districts both inspect their dams annually for damage caused by natural and or man-made events and conduct repairs and maintenance as needed to keep them in shape for service during flood events. The districts will again have to inspect the existing structures soon for damage caused by this flood with repairs, if needed, conducted throughout the coming months,” Young said.

 

Tetanus Shots For Flood/Tornado Workers

Brian Allen said he is working on getting tetanus vaccines from the State of Kansas for any workers who have worked in the flood waters that have inundated the county.

SEK Multi-County Health Department is offering free tetanus shots for individuals affected by the recent flooding.  Tetanus shots will be available to impacted residents as well as first responders, volunteers, or any others who have been or will be assisting with recovery and cleanup efforts.

Free tetanus shots will be available by appointment at the SEK Multi-County Health Department in Iola, Garnett, and Fort Scott while flood response continues.

 

Bourbon County (Fort Scott): 524 S. Lowman, Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tetanus vaccines are recommended for people of all ages.  Adults need a tetanus booster shot every 10 years, but health care providers may recommend a booster sooner due to an injury or other health concerns.

Tetanus bacteria are everywhere in the environment, including soil, dust, and manure. Tetanus is most commonly caused by the bacteria getting into the body through broken skin, usually through injuries from dirty objects. During evacuation and flood cleanup, residents affected by flooding, emergency responders, cleanup workers, or volunteers may be at increased risk for these injuries. For this reason, these people should be sure that they are up to date with tetanus vaccination. This can be done by talking with your health care provider or reviewing your vaccination record.

Tetanus is commonly known as “lockjaw,” and is a serious disease that affects the nervous system and causes painful muscle contractions, particularly of your jaw and neck muscles. Tetanus can cause severe breathing problems and in serious cases, lead to death. There is no cure for tetanus.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dangerous Situation, Stay Home, Stay Safe: FS City Manager

This is the east entrance to the lake, below the spillway. The road has broken out and there’s a lot of traffic, submitted by Jason Tourtillott.

Bourbon County experienced flooding rain on Saturday evening, 10 Inches, said Brad Matkin.

This is the view  towards Wall Street from Hwy.. 69 bypass, in front of Fort Scott Munitions.

In a Facebook post on the city’s page, he said the north end of town is flooded. He contacted fortscott.biz and asked to make this known.

“It’s a bad situation,” he said. “Water rescues are going on,” he said.

Please don’t be out unless absolutely necessary, Matkin said.

Third Street,  at the Hwy. 69 bypass,  by the railway, is flooded.

The safety of the residents and the public safety personnel is of utmost importance. Sightseeing is not encouraged.

 

The Marmaton River, which is located on  North National Avenue, one of the city’s main thoroughfares, is expected to crest at 45 feet, possible tomorrow.

“That’s one of the highest in history,”  he said.

Looking south on NATIONAL Avenue towards the bridge over the Marmaton River.

In addition, the forecast is for more rain this week.

Brad Matkin. Submitted photo.

 

 

Get A Move On by Carolyn Tucker

Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

Get a Move On

 

When I was a kid, my folks would occasionally tell me to, “Get a move on.“ Where I come from this means, “hurry up” or “let’s go.” I was not one to typically sloom around but sometimes I didn’t want to comply immediately. One time after church, Dad came to me and said, “Let’s go.” I didn’t obey right away and continued to have fun hanging out  with my friends. (This wasn’t the first time I’d not been prompt to obey in this regard.) So after several minutes, I walked toward our usual parking space and discovered the car was gone and so were my parents! Fortunately, my neighbor lady attended the same church, so I just hitched a ride with her. I learned a valuable lesson that day. When Dad said it was time to go, I needed to do the right thing and say my good-byes right away.

 

Not everything in life happens the exact way we want or expect. When life takes a  detour, it’s normal to feel disappointed. But we need to deal quickly with feelings of disappointment in order to move on in a healthy manner. If you’re disappointed about something right now, I encourage you to push on toward better things ahead and leave the past at the train station. Paul writes to the Church in Phillipi: “…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead…” (Philippians 3:13 NLT).

 

When believers go through times of disappointment, we have to quickly get our private thought world in agreement with God’s thoughts. His thoughts and will are found in His life-giving Word. If we have a scrambled-eggs mindset, we can‘t be overcomers or be of help to anybody else. Remaining in a negative place and continuing to stir a skillet of burnt eggs is refusing to let go of the past. God desires that all of His children keep moving forward in hope and faith.

 

If not dealt with promptly, disappointment can lead to depression. An excellent way to move on is to refuse to live a self-absorbed life. Find someone needy, lonely, or sad and help them move on toward a fresh outlook and new mindset. Just think of it as a three-legged race — when you help others, it will help you too. Finding someone, other than yourself, to focus on is a positive approach. King Solomon had some good advice: “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer” (Ecclesiastes 4:9,10,12 NLT). We are most alive and happy when we’re loving and actively giving of ourselves because God created us be lovers and givers.

 

Because of our own life experiences, we can be an encouraging friend to someone who’s bearing a disappointment. The evils of isolation and the values of working together are significant. Compassion and fellowship brings helpfulness and comfort to both parties.

 

Do not earnestly remember the former things; neither consider the things of old” (Isaiah 43:18 AMP). We’re supposed to leave our disappointments behind and stop going over old history because it’s a waste of time to brood over what should have and could have happened. Even though disappointment can knock on your door, please don’t make it feel welcome. Don’t let disappointment hang around — act quickly and kick it to the curb.

 

The Key: When disappointment comes, don’t cop-out, just “get a move on.”

Backyard Birding – Tips for Attracting Hummingbirds

In the last week or so, I’ve seen several posts on social media that the hummingbirds have arrived! Feeding the hummingbirds is one of my favorite activities. If you are an avid feeder or are just thinking about getting started, here is some information to attract more to your home.

Although there are approximately 360 species of hummingbirds between North and South America, 99.99% of all hummingbirds found in our area will be the Ruby-throated. Their furious spring migration starts in April and continues until early May. Once the migration is complete, hummingbirds settle into nesting mode.

Nests are built in June, with the female determining the site location. The Ruby-throated hummingbird nests will be built near the tip of a down-sloping tree branch with a fairly open area below and the canopy above. Popular tree species for nest building include oak, yellow birch, pine and hackberry. Hummingbirds generally prefer deciduous tree species over conifers. The nesting site will be determined based upon availability of nectar sources and insects. The nests are small – no larger than the size of a quarter!

When it comes to food sources, hummingbirds are attracted to the color red. It is like a flashing neon on sign to them. To prove this point, try putting on a red cap or shirt and sit quietly near a feeder. The hummingbirds will definitely check you out! However, hummingbirds do feed on more than just red flowers.

Any flowering plant that has a trumpet-style flower and is in the red/orange sector of the color spectrum will be quite attractive to hummingbirds. In his presentation, Chuck highlighted several plants to include in your landscape to bring in the most birds. The list included: traditional red Salvia, Agastache, Scarlet runner bean, Cardinal flower, Beebalm, Trumpet Creeper (only if you have lots of space), Butterfly Bush, Hollyhock, Rose of Sharon, Cardinal Climber and Canna.

In southeastern Kansas, our feeders need to be up and open for business by the second week of April. Here are several tips for feeder management:

  • You CAN’T have too many feeders!
  • Don’t fill feeders completely full – clean at each filling
  • If hummingbirds are not emptying feeder – change nectar and clean every 2-3 days
  • Do not dye the water red – just a small amount of red on the feeder is all you need
  • Artificial nectar – 4 parts water, 1 part sugar

One eight ounce feeder will fulfill the daily energy needs of 40 to 60 hummingbirds. By having more feeders available, this will allow the hummingbirds to feed more easily with less stress. Also, it will decrease the likelihood of territorial fighting. If you’ve fed hummingbirds in the past, then I’m sure you know all about the one that seems to be the gatekeeper at the feeder!

In casual conversations, you might hear someone say that they have no hummingbirds over the summer, while others seem to be overrun with hummers. This could be due to “neighborhood feeder saturation.” Basically, this is when the number of feeders within a geographic area exceeds the biological needs of the hummingbirds present which spreads the birds out. Populations of birds can be cyclical – you can have hummers for several summers and then those birds go elsewhere or don’t survive the winter. However, in a year or two, the population will probably cycle back around.

If you have no hummingbird activity by late May or early June, you may just want to take the feeders down until early August. The south bound migration usually starts in late July or early August. Many bird watchers indicate that August and September are actually their best months.

Krista Harding is a K-State Research and Extension Horticulture agent assigned to Southwind District. She may be reached at [email protected] or 620-244-3826

 

K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 

 

KS High-Speed Internet Plan Offered to Underserved Areaas

Governor Kelly Announces Kansas Moving Forward with $451.7M High-Speed Internet
Deployment Plan


TOPEKA
— Governor Laura Kelly today announced federal approval of the state’s Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal Volume 2, providing an investment of more than $450 million to expand Kansas’ high-speed internet infrastructure. Funding will be granted to areas that have been identified as underserved through a competitive application process that will begin in July.

“Kansans, no matter their zip code, deserve access to reliable, high-speed internet,” Governor Laura Kelly said. “The distribution of BEAD funds will break down the barriers that have prevented some from fully participating in a thriving digital economy.”

Becoming a top 10 state for broadband and connecting every Kansan by the end of the decade is a significant goal for the Kelly-Toland administration. Today’s announcement puts Kansas on the path to reaching that goal.

“We understand the importance of providing opportunities for all Kansans by setting up our communities for success now and in the future,” Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of Commerce David Toland said. “With this federal approval, we can help ensure all Kansans have the digital tools they need to find jobs, work remotely, seek out telehealth options and more. High-speed internet access is key to supporting economic initiatives that drive state and local economies alike.”

Eligible homes and businesses within the predetermined funding areas will be made public for 60 days before the application process opens. This transparency ensures that applicants have adequate time to become aware of opportunities and to prepare for the process. Preregistration for BEAD applicants is set to begin Monday, May 13.

“For communities across Kansas, this announcement provides a timeline for solutions in areas that have long languished in the digital divide,” Office of Broadband Development Director Jade Piros de Carvalho said. “We recognize that reliable broadband is the foundation of modern life, and we are eager to put these dollars to work.”

Project funding applications will be accepted in rounds to enable equitable distribution of funds. The first 30-day application window tentatively opens July 8, offering interested stakeholders the opportunity to submit their proposals for consideration.

Learn more about the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment program and dates for technical assistance webinars here.

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Bourbon County Local News