Chuck’s Chat Welcome to January!

I trust you all survived the holiday season.  It seems as families grow, mature, and move away that more coordination and planning becomes necessary.  It is my belief that it’s important for Santa Claus to visit the little ones at their own home, which means sometimes cousins, aunts, uncles and even Nanas and Papas have to wait their turn.  Even then it becomes a challenge to gather them all together.  Nonetheless, the wait is worth it to share the love and laughs with those we adore most.  Just think how absolutely wonderful our lives could be if we would just carry that happy holiday emotion with us every day.

I mentioned a while back that I was going to include a monthly pet peeve.  Well, here’s the first one:  driving without headlights in rain or fog.  From the 2014 Kansas Statute, Chapter 8, Article 17, Section 3:  Lighted head and other lamps are to be displayed (1) From sunset to sunrise; (2) when due to insufficient light or unfavorable atmospheric conditions, including smoke or fog, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 1,000 feet ahead; or (3) when windshield wipers are in continuous use as a result of rain, sleet or snow.  Friends, this law is not just for the drivers’ benefit, but oncoming traffic as well.  I would be willing to bet at least one-fourth of the vehicles I meet during inclement weather are not displaying their lights.  It’s sometimes difficult to recognize light colored vehicles in the fog.  There was a bad two vehicle accident not far from my house that sent 8 people to various hospitals, including 6 children.  The fog was very thick that morning.  I do not know if lack of lights was a factor, but a lack of caution most certainly was.  Don’t rely on your lights to automatically turn on, you may be driving a different vehicle that day and not think about it.  Please, turn on your lights. For the other guy.

A bit of Kansas Farm Bureau news:  You can help Joker, a Kansas dog, win “People’s Choice” as part of American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 2020 Farm Dog of the Year Contest, brought to you by Purina.   Go to his photo on Facebook and "Like" his original post to help this good boy win! The winner will be the dog that receives the most likes on all social platforms combined. The winner of People’s Choice Pup, Farm Dog of the Year and runners-up will be announced at AFBF’s Annual Convention in Austin, Texas, Jan. 17-22, 2020.

Kansas Framework for Growth was established by Governor Laura Kelly and Secretary of Commerce David Toland to develop a comprehensive strategy to accelerate economic growth in Kansas.  Kansas Framework for Growth is soliciting feedback from Kansans to help develop a road map for economic prosperity for Kansas. You can help by taking a short survey at kansasgrowth.com.

Here's to a healthy and prosperous new year!

Until next month,

Chuck Voelker