July 2024

Kansas Profile – Now That's Rural: Kelli Hueneke, Nex-Generation

It’s a busy day in town. The manager at the snack shop is offering a special, the mayor has scheduled a meeting, and the doctor is checking on her patients. But there’s something unusual about the people in this town: They are all grade-schoolers. They are participating in Young AmeriTowne, an educational experience providing hands-on learning about business and daily life. Kelli Hueneke is executive director of Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth, Inc., known as Nex-Generation. She grew up in Phillipsburg and earned business and elementary education degrees at Fort Hays State. She worked for Nex-Tech, a northwest Kansas telecommunications company, before becoming a full-time schoolteacher. Nex-Generation began as an internship and career development project of Nex-Tech in 2011. It was so successful that it became its own separate 501(c)3 organization in 2013. In 2024 Hueneke became executive director, succeeding founding director Jacque Beckman. Nex-Generation serves 28 counties in northwest and north central Kansas. Nex-Generation operates through four programs: career development, entrepreneurship, internships, and Young AmeriTowne of Kansas. Specifically, Nex-Generation sponsors virtual career fairs and expos for high school age students, plus life skills training and sessions on resume writing and interviewing. The organization facilitates youth business plan workshops, summer internships, work study programs and more. Young AmeriTowne of Kansas in the northwest Kansas area is being administered by Nex-Generation Round Up for Youth, Inc., under a license from Young Americans Center for Financial Education in Denver. "Young AmeriTowne" and "Young Americans Center for Financial Education" are registered trademarks of Young Americans Center for Financial Education in Denver, and the Young AmeriTowne logo is a trademark of Young Americans Center for Financial Education, also located in Denver. The program provides a hands-on experiential program for financial literacy education in participating schools. Aimed at fourth through eighth graders, it begins with 4-6 weeks of school lessons on the basics of economics and citizenship. It culminates in a one-day field trip to Young AmeriTowne of Kansas where the students practice their skills in a real-life type setting. AmeriTowne takes place at the former high school in the rural community of Lenora, population 207 people. Now, that’s rural. All students are part of one of 10 entities in AmeriTowne: A bank, town hall, snack shop, container shop, digital media agency, energy resource business, nex-great idea entrepreneurship shop, television station, radio station or medical center. After taking a brief quiz to identify their interests, students apply for mock jobs in those entities. They might be an accountant, technician, manager, doctor, police officer or something else. They also have the opportunity to run for office, or become town mayor or judge. Those are exciting campaigns. When the students arrive at AmeriTowne, they receive a mock paycheck, business loan, and individual bank account and step into their professional roles. The shop operators have to manage their businesses and repay their debts. Sometimes the medical center calls people away for appointments. Everyone has the opportunity to make purchases with their paychecks. In addition to business, students learn about philanthropy. AmeriTowne includes a donation station where students can drop off funds to support actual charitable organizations. Then private donors will donate real money to those organizations to match the student donations. Ultimately, teachers evaluate their work. Hueneke observed the power of this program first-hand when she participated as a teacher. “The kids feel like rock stars; it’s just incredible,” Hueneke said. “It’s an experience they will remember for a lifetime, and it lets them know there are good careers right here (in their hometown).” Since 2018, 82 schools and more than 3,000 students have participated in AmeriTowne. “This teaches students how to be contributing members of society, to help everyone to prosper, and to care for their community,” Hueneke said. For more information, see www.nex-generation.org. It’s a busy day in town, as these students practice their business and citizenship skills. We salute Kelli Hueneke and all those involved with Nex-Generation for making a difference with these initiatives to help students explore careers. They are truly learning lessons for life.

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Commissioners focus on mental health and record low inmate numbers pending final report on Jail Expansion

Chair Nathan Leiker and fellow Commissioners Michael Leiker and Neal Younger devoted nearly half an hour during the July 9, 2024 County Commission meeting to discussing with Sheriff Scott Braun and County Administrator Meyers the 27-page “Ellis County Jail Needs Assessment & Feasibility Study Draft Report” from Justice Planners.” Due to effects of Hurricane Beryl, Justice Planners consultants were unable to appear in person and have rescheduled to present the company’s final report to the Commission on August 13, 2024. The draft report of the study’s findings is available online as an attachment to the July 9, 2024 Ellis County Commissioners Meeting Agenda.

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Commissioners formalize Fairground Rental Management agreement, raise rates for Schenk & Unrein rentals

County Commissioners voted unanimously on July 9, 2024 to formally hire Melinda Fross as the Fairground Rental Manager. In addition to approving the management contract, Commissioners also approved updated rental contracts for the Schenk and Unrein building to assist with offsetting operating and maintenance costs.

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Biden camp works to stem growing Democratic unease over reelection prospects

President Joe Biden faced perhaps the most consequential day yet for his ailing reelection campaign Thursday, with a press conference at the NATO annual meeting scheduled for late afternoon, as private talks among Democrats on Capitol Hill about his fitness for office extended and calls for him to withdraw from the race spread.

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A weight-loss plan that works; antibacterial products and health

Q: I started taking one of those new GLP-1 medications to lose weight, but I stopped taking it after about two months because I didn't like how I felt. So, all that expense, a bunch of discomfort, and I only lost about 8 pounds -- far less than my goal. What should I do now? -- Sandra W., Shreveport, LouisianaA: We're hearing a lot of stories like yours, and the latest studies back them up. Almost six of every 10 people who start on a GLP-1 weight-loss drug like Wegovy stop taking it before they lose much weight, according to a study by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. This echoes an analysis by pharmacy benefit managers that found that 68% of folks who started on GLP-1s for weight loss weren't still taking them one year later. While there may be enormous benefits from these medications -- beyond weight loss -- especially for folks who are overweight and have cardiometabolic disease, they clearly aren't for everyone. So, let's talk about a weight loss plan that has no monthly bill or negative side effects and offers you a longer, happier, healthier lifespan.It is called a 'Do-Over" and you can learn all about it in Dr. Mike's book "This is Your Do-Over: 7 Secrets to Losing Weight" and Dr. Oz's iHerb.com blog, "Dr. Oz's 9-Step Daily Wellness Routine."The goal is to adopt a lifelong set of habits and goals -- gradually, so that you stick with them. They include slashing your intake of highly processed foods and opting for a plant-based diet (with fatty fish like salmon); starting a daily walking routine with a buddy, heading for 10,000 steps a day; making sure you spend time with your posse and finding a purpose (that gives you the incentive to keep making life more fun and healthier); and adopting stress management techniques like meditation and yoga. We promise you'll have more fun, achieve improved health and lose weight -- and you'll be able to sustain that for the rest of your longer, healthier life!* * *Q: I'm worried that the super-cleaning and antibacterial products I'm using are doing more harm than good. What's the smart balance between protection from infections found on hands and surfaces and protection of my health? -- Seth R., Evanston, IllinoisA: Americans are germ and microbe-phobic, spending $1.7 billion annually on bacteria-slaying disinfectants and cleansers. But in many instances, old-fashioned soap and water -- used to clean countertops, washing your hands, and clothes -- will protect you from potential contamination from harmful bacteria and viruses. One study found that while soap kills influenza A viruses in 30 seconds, hand sanitizer takes around 4 minutes. (On the other hand, if you can't wash your hands, hand sanitizer is a smart alternative.) However, antibacterials in cleaning products can kill off good-for-you microbes on your skin and in your gut, making you vulnerable to acute and chronic diseases and fueling antibiotic resistance. For help finding the safest products, check out the EPA's Safer Choice (epa.gov/saferchoice). The trillions of microbes that live on your skin and in your gut and those found in some fermented foods and probiotics are essential for your health. For example, one recent study found that folks who eat a lot of foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, and kimchi and/or take probiotic supplements have a dramatically lower risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) than folks who don't enjoy those microbe-loaded foods and capsules.Another study shows that gobbling up the bacteria in those foods and from probiotics -- especially for folks age 60 and older -- is a surefire way to protect your brain from cognition problems and Alzheimer's. Yet a third study showed that having healthy gut bacteria can reduce your risk of contracting an infection by up to 25%. Our suggestion: Choose certified safe cleaning products and keep your biome healthy and happy with high-fiber and probiotic foods and probiotic supplements (see "Probiotic Benefits" in the iHerb.com blog).* * *Dr. Mike Roizen is the founder of www.longevityplaybook.com, and Dr. Mehmet Oz is global advisor to www.iHerb.com, the world's leading online health store. Roizen and Oz are chief wellness officer emeritus at Cleveland Clinic and professor emeritus at Columbia University, respectively. Together they have written 11 New York Times bestsellers (four No. 1's). (c)2024 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

Read MoreA weight-loss plan that works; antibacterial products and health