Chad Frey

Chad Frey

Sunflower Summer builds more than memories

In 2021, Kansas Tourism launched the Sunflower Summer program, opening the doors to our state’s zoos, museums, nature centers, and historical sites to Kansas families — for free! Designed to help young Kansans explore and fall in love with their home state, the program has quickly proven to be much more than a feel-good initiative.

Letter to the editorProud Kansas heritage

We Kansans should be proud of our heritage. Eisenhower, a great leader raised in Abilene is the most notable. A standout at West Point who led our allied forces to defeat Hitler’s Nazis. He was not shy by exposing the Nazi atrocities to the world. Trump claims of antisemitism is the reason he attacks Harvard while being antisemitic himself. He praised Neo Nazis and stereotyped Jewish people. As president Eisenhower led our country to prosperity and stood firm against aggression, He knew who friends were and who valued our allies. He built highways instead of fences. He enforced the court orders, and didn’t defy time. Trump, a corrupt bigot who has no values. We have Bob Dole, a brave soldier and senator with roots In Russell. He knew what America first meant. With democrat support he helped feed the starving here and abroad. Now we are stuck with the lacky Roger Marshall. Wichita East Highschool grad Bill Gates, an Air Force officer Who led the CIA and later was Secretary of Defense. He Modernized our Military and was one of our best statesmen. He served 2 presidents of opposing parties who valued our counter. Now we have Hegseth, a white nationalist bigot that is not qualified to run anything to the delight of our enemies. Emporia’s Willam Allen White set the example for journalist nationwide and helped root out the KKK in Kansas. If you visit old cemeteries, you’ll see the graves of former union soldiers who gave all to end slavery. We need to honor our heritage and reject the corruption and lawless in the current administration..

Teen Mental Health

The start of summer brings a sense of excitement for many teens. Take a moment to reflect back to your teen years. As we reminisce, we can likely all say that our adolescent years were a unique and informative time of our life. Mental wellbeing habits are often formed during this time as teens strengthen their social and emotional skills, laying a foundation of habits for the rest of their life. Consider what habits you perhaps formed during this time and what supports you had or needed when you were a teen.