January 2022

MANHATTAN, Kan. January 21, 2022 - Kansas feedlots, with capacities of 1,000 or more head, contained 2.49 million cattle on feed on January 1, according to the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. This inventory was down slightly from last year.

The January 10 Kiowa County school board monthly meeting covered important COVID-19 related safety measures. Board members covered several items on the agenda and handled some old business in regards to the Kansas Association of School Boards with the approval of their policy updates. They appointed a negotiations team and reviewed their 2020-2021 financial audit before turning their attention to the most important meaure at hand - the district’s “Safe Return to In-Person instruction Plan.”

In 2021 the rural population of Kansas continued to decline while the Kansas City region remained one of the fastest-growing areas in the nation. It is estimated that Sunflower State has over 6,000 ghost towns and dwindling communities (World population review, KS). Rural flight has ushered in the Grim Reaper, actively collecting the soul of communities throughout the Heartland. Haviland is no different than many struggling communities showing a population growth rate since 2010 of negative 6% (World population review, Haviland).

Upon saying the Pledge of Allegiance and approving a consent agenda, the Commissioners were briefed on the various road and bridge projects underway at this time. A cattle guard was repaired near Belvidere, County fuel tanks were replaced in several locations, and the maintainers are busy grading the roadways. Next week tree trimming will begin south of Belvidere. They are looking into purchasing a used boom-lift for trimming and high work throughout the County. Prices are coming in for a new track loader equipped with a clamshell bucket for use at the landfill. The best deal is a 7-year lease that includes a 7-year warranty. The lease model will come equipped with a construction package. A lease contract will be considered at the next Commissioner’s meeting.

The St. John Short Stop is a business owned and operated by Kanza Coop. The Short Stop is a convenience store open daily from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sundays. It is managed by Shari Williamson and located at 434 North US 281.

The January 10, 2022 Skyline Board of Education meeting started with a tour of the vocational building by Bryan Pixler and his students. The group gave a presentation about the Engineering and Applied Math CTE pathway at Skyline. Pixler’s students began the semester drawing with traditional drafting instruments and learning about multi-view drawings and orthographic projection. Then in November 6 they began drawing with AutoCAD software, an industry standard program for design and drawing. The Drafting and CAD students finished up the year designing CO2 dragsters that were 3D printed.