NEWS RELEASE

Portable air pollution monitors deployed this spring by the Kansas Sierra Club and members of the CleanAirNow Coalition indicate that the health of Manhattan residents is at risk during the Flint Hills burning season. Manhattan, home to Kansas State University, is the largest population center in Kansas directly in the path of smoke moving north.

The monitors showed PM2.5 fine particle levels well above the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) on April 7 and April 11, 2017. The results were consistent with levels measured in Lincoln, Nebraska the next day.

This wholesale burning has caused exceedances of the NAAQS for PM2.5 and/or ozone at monitors in Lincoln or Omaha, Nebraska this year and in each of the previous three years. There are no continuous PM2.5 monitors between Kansas City, Ks. and the Cedar Bluff Reservoir monitor near Hays, a distance of some 280 miles, capable of monitoring a northerly moving smoke plume in Kansas.

“Short term exposure to particulate matter air pollution can be deadly. It can trigger asthma attacks, and has been linked to strokes, heart attacks, and other serious health effects,” says Eric Kirkendall, Director of the Diesel Health Project and member of the CleanAirNow Coalition in Lawrence, Ks.

“A lot of people in this town and at the University are at risk,” says Manhattan resident and host of one of the monitors, Carol Barta. “We need a study of the cases seen at hospitals & clinics in Manhattan and elsewhere on heavy burn days like we recently experienced.”

The full report on the monitoring project may be found at this link. The groups are calling for KDHE to improve their ineffective 2010 Smoke Management Plan and to install continuous PM2.5 monitors to assess the health risks to small town and rural residents near the Flint Hills. They note that, unlike Kansas, Oklahoma has installed ten continuous PM2.5 particle monitors throughout the state connected to EPA’s AirNow alert system.

“State officials and stakeholders in the Flint Hills seem to think this problem will go away if they ignore it long enough,” says KSU Professor and Sierra Club member, Scott Smith. “We think that the good people of Kansas can get together with officials and fix it.”

More information on fine-particle health impacts is available from EPA’s AirNow air quality alert system.

“Quality Play for All” is the name of a local effort to revamp playgrounds in Junction City – specifically, the Fifth Street Playground Park.

Joy Davis is amongst those championing the effort. “I’ve been dreaming about this for about 10 years, because I felt like Playground Park was worn out 10 years ago.”

Davis noted that the newest equipment at the park was installed in 1985. “Over the years it’s been well used, and it’s worn out; the Parks and Rec Department does a good job of keeping it as safe as possible, but there are things from the elements that they just can’t correct.”

Davis is working with Angie Greenwood and Theresa Bramlage, amongst others to obtain a matching grant to renovate Playground Park and then other local parks like the Bramlage Skate Park. A matching grant means that if the community is able to raise $10,000 – for example, the grant would award an amount of $10,000. Davis said the goal is to raise $200,000 locally.

Part of the grant requires community support in the form of a random survey.

“A random survey will be sent out and we will need to get back a response of at least 585 households,” said Greenwood. “It won’t be a difficult survey, it’s going to be totally private, it won’t be tabulated locally here by anyone; and it will determine whether we qualify.”

The group would then submit the entire grant application.

Ideas are already in place for the type of renovation that they would like to have at the park.

“[Playground] equipment nowadays incorporates what’s called the seven elements of play,” said Greenwood. “And those things are sliding, spinning, balancing, climbing, swinging and brachiating – which is developing your upper body.”

New equipment at the park could feature climbing ropes and a turf-like surface for the ground underneath. All equipment would be ADA accessible and accommodate children of varying ages.

Greenwood and Davis both noted that residents should be on the lookout for the survey in the mail; if the grant process is successful, this will be the first of many park renovations in the community.

MANHATTAN, Kan. — A total of 48 students from the North Central District FFA were awarded their State FFA Degree at the 89th Kansas FFA State Convention, May 31–June 2, 2017, on the Kansas State University campus.

The State Degree is the highest honor the Kansas FFA Association can bestow upon its members. In order to achieve this award, members must meet the following requirements: have received their Chapter FFA Degree, been an FFA member and agricultural education student for at least two years, earned at least $2,000 or worked 600 hours in their Supervised Agricultural Experience program, given a six-minute speech about agriculture or FFA, participated in eight different leadership activities, received a “C” average or better in high school and shown a record of outstanding leadership and community involvement.

 The members who met these qualifications and their respective FFA Chapters from the North Central District are: Abilene: Riley Sleichter; Beloit: Diedrick Bolte, Jimmy Broeckelman, Caden D. Emmot, Bethany Kay Mitchell, Brooke Alyssa Vetter; Blue Valley: Ryanne Marie Ewell, Caitlin McLean;  Chapman: Delaney Claeys, Kati Teresa Fehlman, Natalie Harris, Taylor Rae Lexow, Megan Nelson, Kyanna Volkman; Clay Center: Kinzey Janae Cott, Garrett Craig, Kamber Schulze, Courtney Sherbert; Clifton-Clyde: Eli Ohlde; Ellsworth: Jenna Haase, David Koralek, Amanda Miles, Chase Mueller, Lukas Sebesta, Wyatt Travnichek, Amy Westerman, Patrick Zamrzla, Taylor Zamrzla; Herington: Bailey Bayes, Falon Kickhaefer, Devonte McConnell; Linn: Kalen Mitchell Richardson, Karsyn Smith; Manhattan: Kyndall Brooke Norris; Pike Valley: Rileigh Gardner; Republic County: CC Ball, Elly Dahl, Ashton L. Holmes, Madison Scott, Brett Stindt, Justyn Stindt, Christian Tipton; Rock Hills: Glenn Rhys Marihugh, Alexys Ann Meier, Taneile Grace Peroutek; Washington County: Levi Thomas Gauby, Dylan Ray Nelson, Makinna Aubrey Bentz.

MANHATTAN, Kan. , June 2017 – While National Festival of Breads will have bodacious baking from eight finalists inside Manhattan Conference Center, things will be cooking outside, too. Cooking with a different flavor. The tangy, zesty savor of bar-be-cue.

Yes! National Festival of Breads also has a decidedly meaty flavor!

Grilling season is in fine form once Memorial Day weekend rolls around. As Manhattan hosts National Festival of Breads amateur baking competition June 17, temperatures will also rise in Blue Earth Plaza with “BBQ Like A Pro” events just outside. Events include barbecue demonstrations, live music, food and beer sales and a carnival-like atmosphere to accompany the hearty amateur baking efforts inside.

Barbecue fans can enhance outdoor-grill techniques from national champion Rod Gray of BBQ Pitmasters fame. Gray has a flair for the dramatic around a BBQ grill, and he’ll demonstrate best grilling practices with three animated, not-to-miss demos. Also, spectators can learn the latest supplemental barbecue tools from Manhattan’s own Aaron Nickell with Backyard Kitchen, which furnishes high-quality outdoor kitchen supplies and equipment.

Cox BBQ will be available in Blue Earth Plaza with traditional menu favorites. Tallgrass Brewery products and domestic beers will be among the hearty beverage selections. Music on the plaza will come from southeast Kansas legends The Past Blasters, who feature a trio of members in the Kansas music hall of fame. Events begin Friday, June 16, with complimentary, race-eve pasta dinner for Enrich Your Life 5K runners. Young music sensation Bryton Stoll will provide entertainment that night in Blue Earth Plaza.

All-in-all, a 20-hour extravaganza of events to accompany fifth biennial National Festival of Breads (#NFOB2017) in Manhattan, Kansas.

“The National Festival of Breads is the nation’s only amateur yeast bread-baking competition,” said Cindy Falk, co-chair of the event and nutrition educator for Kansas Wheat Commission. “This contest builds upon a rich tradition of grassroots support and is a way for amateur bakers to be recognized for their baking skills and creativity.”

2017 National Festival of Breads is presented by King Arthur Flour, Red Star Yeast and Kansas Wheat Commission. Additional sponsors include C&H Sugar, Domino Sugar, USA Pans, Hy-Vee Manhattan, Kansas Farm Bureau, Kansas State Bank and Manhattan area Walmart, Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond stores.