TOPEKA — Kansas election official Scott Schwab predicts turnout in the Tuesday general election could hit 53% given absence of an attention-grabbing presidential contest and competitiveness in only a few state and federal races on the ballot. Schwab, who is up for reelection himself as secretary of state, said 1 million registered Kansans would take part in this November exercise in democracy.

With Kansas waterfowl season well underway, and upland gamebird season starting Saturday, November 12, I began thinking about all the skilled hunting dogs that are, and will be living their best life for the next couple months, finding and retrieving game for their owners / hunters. There is nothing more pleasing to watch then a good bird dog as it points a sitting pheasant for the hunters, or a good retriever as every muscle in its body tenses at the shot and it watches for its chance to retrieve the downed duck or goose for its master. It all reminds me of a story about another dog, though not quite as gifted.