With just under a week left to go until the general election, tensions and stress are running high among many of us. Eric Litwiller of Mental Health America of South Central Kansas talks about the unique challenges such a large, shared event can pose for individuals and the community as a whole, as well as how to navigate the coping process after the polls close.
A native of Southwest Kansas, Barry Ward, will be bringing his musical talents and faith-filled message to those attending services at Prairie Rose Ranch in Benton this upcoming Sunday. We talked to Chuck Haukos of In The Dirt Ministries to preview the event.
Looking for a different way to shop ahead of the holiday season? The 30th annual Wichita Alternative Gift Market will be held on November 9th at Hillside Christian Church and it is the area's premiere way to support others in need globally. We talked with Alternative Gifts International Executive Director Surinder Kaur today about what's in store this year.
If you've been looking for a way to (properly) dispose of your old, potentially hazardous household waste, please take note of an event being held this Saturday at the Textron Aviation/Beechcraft parking lot E - Gate C6. We were joined by Susan Erlenwein from Sedgwick County Government to preview this event and talk about the importance of taking safe, practical steps when getting rid of some household items.
A new show takes to the stage of Wichita Community Theatre today and will run through June 16th. It's called "The Puzzle with the Piazza" and we were joined by the show's director, John Dalton White, to get a feel for what can be expected from this production.
One of our favorite musicians, Bryan Bielanski of Bryan's Super Happy Fun Time, recently was in Wichita and stopped by Your Hour to talk about his ongoing tour across the country. If you missed his local show, he performed a song for us during his time on the program so you can get a taste of what's on his current album!
Senior Services, Inc. of Wichita touches the lives of seniors around our community in numerous ways, large and small, each day. We were joined on Your Hour by Laurel Alkire who is the Executive Director of that organization and were informed of some of the great things they're involved in - including Picklepalooza 2024 - a pickleball event at Chicken N Pickle - Wichita that will take place on June 21st.
Learn more here: https://seniorservicesofwichita.org/picklepalooza/
What's going on in your neighborhood? To answer that question, we regularly reach out to our local civic leaders and representatives. Recently, we talked with Maggie Ballard for Wichita City Council District VI to get a feel for what's happening in the area of the city that she represents and some of the way residents can get involved.
Many people know the scourge of addiction, particularly to fentanyl as of late, but when that addiction takes the life of a loved one, the battle against the drug and those who enable it only intensifies. On Your Hour, we were joined by Kimberly Edwards, who lost a daughter to that drug earlier in the year, and how she is working with others to fight back against this truly deadly addiction.
Staying hydrated is a great idea, regardless of what time of the year it is - but it takes on special importance during the summer months. In our visit with Eric Litwiler with Mental Health America of South Central Kansas, we talked about the commonly known physical benefits of doing this but also how that decision to get another drink of water can help improve your mental health as well!
One of the most interesting and unique ways to communicate has a home in our area, in a place you might not expect. W0VFW is a ham radio group that operates under the authority of the Wichita VFW Post 3115, but is actually open to ANYONE interested in the hobby at ANY skill level. We talked to Gaylen Klein about this group and how their group is unique among VFW chapters across the nation, as well as their upcoming sidewalk sale on June 15th.
If you're a senior citizen, would you know where all of your critical information is located if you were in an emergency situation and time was of the essence? If there's some hesitation to that question, the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services has a program called "Operation Red File" that helps folks get those documents together in one safe place should such an event occur. Our expert, Mary Halsig of Halsig Insurance, discussed this program on the show and expressed the importance of being prepared at any age.
The connection between physical health and mental health is one that's been known for some time, and as time goes on, the more we learn - the stronger the connection tends to be. During a visit from Mental Health America of South Central Kansas' Eric Litwiler, we learned more about how taking care of your body ultimately can benefit your mind and wellbeing in all aspects of your life!
On Your Hour, we talked with one of the pioneers of hospice care locally, Fr. Tom Welk. He is a co-founder the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice and discussed with us how hospice care is far more than what many may imagine it to be. He also explained how that kind of care, ultimately, can enhance the lives of not only the patient but their families and loved ones, regardless of how long a person may have left.
