“Did you hunt geese, dove, or ducks last year? If yes, how many did you bag?” This is just one of a handful of questions that can provide biologists at the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP) with information critical to managing migratory game bird populations.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service estimates that 30-40% of edible food in the United States currently goes to waste. These 133 billion pounds of wasted food are worth an estimated $161 billion, which is a significant loss to our economy. At the household level, the average US family of four loses an estimated $1,500 per year on wasted food. Further, food waste accounts for 21% of the American waste stream.

The Rooks County Commissioners held their regular weekly meeting on Tuesday, August 31st. Business was conducted during the first part of the meeting with the commissioners giving their weekly reports. Commissioner Greg Balthazor stated he had traveled the county roads, noting that the chalk roads are rough due to the lack of rain. Mowing still needs to be done with the road department rotating the five mowers around the county.

Rooks County is in a “Drought Watch” according to the the Governor’s Drought Team which examines conditions and recommends updates to the Governor. Governor Laura Kelly approved the updated Drought Declarations for Kansas counties last Thursday, September 2nd, with Executive Order #21-26.

On July 29, at 8:25 p.m., Conor A. Balthazor, age 16, of Palco, was driving west on AA Road near 12 Road when he hit some soft dirt and lost control of his vehicle, crossed over into the north ditch, hit a guard rail and then overturned. The 1997 Ford F-150 pickup he was driving was heavily damaged and had to be towed from the scene. Balthazor was wearing his seatbelt, and no injuries were reported.

For the second straight week, Webster Reservoir remains in a “Watch” Advisory for blue-green algae according to the latest release received Thursday, September 2nd, by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (KDWP).

Another Stockton veteran received the opportunity to experience a trip of a lifetime thanks to a wonderful organization. Glen Buss of Stockton served in the United States Army from August of 1957 until April of 1965.

According to the latest enrollment figures obtained from the USD 271 record keepers, for the first year since the 2018-19 school year, the number of students enrolled has shown a drop—a significant one—this year by 26 students. Only two previous times in the last seven years has there been a drop in enrollment: the 2014-15 term showed a drop of four students, and the 2018-19 term, a loss of seven.

World Trade Center—New York First plane hit the North Tower at 8:46 (ET) Second plane hit the South Tower at 9:03 (ET) Pentagon—Washington, DC Plane hit the western face of the Pentagon at 9:37 (ET) Flight 93—Shanksville, Pa. Plane crashes in a field in Pennsylvania at 10:03 (ET) • In all, 2,977 people (not counting the 19 hijackers) lost their lives, with most of them in New York.