A white knuckled cab ride: tips and tricks for survival

Distracted driving and the attendant risks is all the buzz these days. But separately consider the hazards sometimes presented by cab drivers whose driving habits prompt fibrillations. Combine these two and you have a column.

Saint Francis offering free training course for individuals interested in becoming foster parents, b

Saint Francis Community Services (a provider of foster care, adoption, and family preservation services) will offer a free, 10 week course, Partnering for Safety and Permanence - Model Approach to Partnerships in Parenting (PS-MAPP), for individuals interested in becoming foster parents. The course begins Aug. 4 and will be held every Thursday for 10 weeks from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Saint Francis Community Service office, 1508 Main Street, Great Bend.

Extension intern shares with seniors

Rena Berrett, summer extension intern, will share information about the agricultural exchange she has participated in during a program at 1 p.m. on Monday, at the Great Bend Senior Center. Berrett, who grew up in eastern Oregon, has spent the past school year as a Kansas State Wildcat, pursuing a degree in Agriculture. The similarities and differences between the two states will be highlighted by Rena. She will also share highlights from the Ag trip ...

New Icon for Healthy Eating

The past 50 or more years have brought a multitude of ways to teach and reinforce the concepts of healthy eating. When I was in the elementary grades the 'carrot lady' would come and visit our school lunchroom in Washington, at least once a year. Her message was one that stuck in my memory; "eat first what you don't like and then what you do like, and your plate will be clean." The 4-H foods ...

Fluids important to manage heat, humidity safely

The final day of the Barton County Fair last Sunday proved to be a hot one. 4-H families worked together to serve the beef barbecue to more than 1,400 folks either in Expo I or the handy drive through. Ice tea was a popular choice; more than 60 gallons were prepared and consumed. Water cooler fans inside the building took the edge off of the triple digit heat. The hard working clean up crew ...

A COUNTRY EDUCATION

Looking at the griddle-flat sandy farmland with its golden stubble fields surrounding the former Wheatland School, it is easy to see how the school got its name.

Five Generations

Derrick R. Wheeldon promoted

Recently promoted from Major to Lieutenant Colonel, United States Air Force, Lt. Col. Derrick R. Wheeldon is Chief, Strategy and Policy Branch, in the Plans Division of the Intelligence Directorate,

College Orientation for your freshman: separating fact from fiction.

Our third son Robert had KU orientation last week. He brought back a notebook "New Student Orientation Guide." The inside page said "Welcome to KU." Glossy with a big Jayhawk on the front, he dropped it on the dining room table where it didn't move. Untouched by human hands. Until last Friday, that is. I grabbed it between innings while watching the Royals play the Cubs. Aided by an adult beverage, cooler climes, and Bernie at my side, I struck pure gold.

National Festival of Breads seminar

Five experts in the field of nutrition and baking will offer free educational seminars during the second National Festival of Breads, June 25. The Educational Seminar session, each which last about 45 minutes, begin at 9 a.m. at the Airport Hilton Inn, 2098 Airport Road, Wichita. The seminar is free and open to the public.

Summer’s winged bounty

By Pam Martin Kansas Department Wildlife, Parks and Tourism educator With butterfly weed's orange flowers now in full bloom and butterflies approaching their peak populations it's prime time for butterfly watching. Just watching butterflies brings back childhood memories. I've been chasing butterflies since I could hold a net and run. Over the years, I've learned to look for butterflies sipping nectar from flowers so I don't have to expend as much energy or risk a ...

Bike Across Kansas Times 2

It was an awesome ride! Of course I am talking about the 2011 version of Bike Across Kansas. Returning to work Monday, after a week of riding our tandem bike from border to border, my mind was filled with great memories of people and places. Hats off to the committee of volunteers who plan and support the ride for the 800+ participants. The communities that we lunched or stayed overnight at showered our group with ...

Have a happy Fathers’ Day

When you are 52, your dad is 30 years older and still works every day, Father's Day is already special. Still, if I had a dream day as a dad, it would go something like this:

Batman graduates from basic military training

Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Jordan R. Batman graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas.

Donna Krug Column

This has been a tough week. The reality of damage and loss of life from storms hit too close to home. Last summer our Extension intern was Kristin Gleason. Tuesday, she lost her mother, Linda, and brother, Jeffrey, in the tragic storm related accident south of Great Bend. Kristin is healing from her injuries but our hearts go out to her and her dad, Jim, as they deal with their loss.

Poaching Veterans’ Pensions

Veterans and their families are a target for some dishonest advisers who are claiming to offer free help with paperwork for pension claims. The scheme involves attorneys, financial planners, and insurance agents trying to persuade veterans over 65 to make decisions about their pensions without giving them the whole truth about the long-term consequences