Strategic Communications for Step Up For Students. Recovering newspaperman. Politically homeless. Mizzou grad. Prog-rock, @Royals @Chiefs @TBLightning fan
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Articles by Scott Kent
In the Know: Get ready for these fun-filled events in Alexandria
Good Day, Alexandria! It may have taken a little longer than we'd hoped, but summer has finally arrived in the Alexandria Lakes Area. After a cool, wet May and June, the sunshine has settled in, the forecast looks fantastic, and it feels like we're finally in full stride. Whether you're enjoying the lakes, the trails, or one of the many community events, it's a great time to be out and about.
In the Know column: Being scammed isn't a sign of weakness
By Scott Kent I am writing to address a concern that affects far too many members of our community: scams. We have addressed this in the past with messaging similar to this. We are always educating and trying to alert the community. Whether they occur online, over the phone, through the mail, or even at our front doors, scams continue to target our residents — especially older adults and individuals with disabilities or other vulnerabilities. These crimes are not just about financial loss.
In the Know column: Finding peace and resilience
By Scott Kent In recent months, there’s been a noticeable shift in the air, not just in Alexandria, but across communities nationwide. From the news headlines to our daily lives, it seems like uncertainty and anxiety have become almost constant companions.
In the Know column: A mix of events and somber reflection in Alexandria
By Scott Kent Hello Alexandria! This past weekend in Alexandria showcased a unique blend of community spirit, high-spirited events, and moments of somber reflection. While the tragic news of Rep. Hortman and Sen.
The Kennedy family name is not what it used to be
The Kennedy name has been enshrined in the minds of Americans since the early 1960s as a symbol of American liberalism. This legacy has been tarnished and ruined by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy and Edward Kennedy were transformative political figures for the Democratic party in the latter half of the nineteenth century.
In the Know column: Building trust, ensuring safety
By Scott Kent I am extremely proud to report that we will be presenting the 2024 annual report to the Alexandria City Council on Monday March 24, 2025. I want to share some highlights with the community before it is officially released. This year, we continued our commitment to enhancing public safety and fostering positive community relationships. One of the most important themes throughout this report is the way our officers engaged with the community.
Generative AI has both hurt and helped the way we learn
Categories: The rapid integration of technology and artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the study and education of history, reshaping how we access, interpret and preserve the past. Now, if that opening sounded a little robotic to you, that’s for good reason. ChatGPT wrote that.
In the Know column: A summer update from the Alexandria Police Department
By Scott Kent It seems like forever since I’ve had the privilege to contribute an article and provide the community with updates from the Alexandria Police Department. Since early spring, Pope and Douglas County Sheriff Offices, along with the Glenwood, Starbuck and Alexandria Police Departments, have been working with a non-profit company by the name of Shield 616.
"Using Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi to Help Establish and Increase Vigo" by Melissa Burrell, Brad Geary et al.
Download Download Full Text (1.1 MB) mycorrhizal, reclamation, shoot biomass, root colonization Burrell, Melissa; Geary, Brad; Nelson, Shannon; De Santiago Lazalde, Josh Moroni; Kent, Scott; and Madsen, Matthew, "Using Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi to Help Establish and Increase Vigor of Plants in Mineland Soils" (2024). Library/Life Sciences Undergraduate Poster Competition 2024. 68. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/library_studentposters_2024/68 Plant and Wildlife Sciences
In the Know column: A huge increase in summer traffic
By Scott Kent Good Day Alexandria! Summer is upon us, and we have seen a huge increase in the vehicle traffic and visitors to our community! It is certainly ramping up to be another busy summer in our lake’s community. We tend to take more crash reports in our summer months than we do during our cold weather and snow events. Why? Simply because of the volume of traffic we see coming through the community and visitors to our retail stores.
Stop discrediting the study of history.
As a history major, I have been told countless times by relatives and hometown friends that I shouldn’t be pursuing it. The common rhetoric thrown at me is that the subject is dead and that I should be studying something more useful like computer science or economics, something that will give me a modern job. While I see nothing wrong with studying computer science or economics, the importance of history should not be doubted. Everyone has heard that history repeats itself.
In the Know column: What to do when tragedy strikes
By Scott Kent Over this last week, I have had dozens of conversations with staff and community members and have reflected deeply on what public safety means. The wounds and scars of losing Pope County Deputy Josh Owen last April are still raw, and these wounds are broken open as the tragedy in Burnsville unfolds this week. This tragic loss is felt deeply in our community, which offers the need to help.
Taylor Swift isn’t ruining the NFL, misogynists are
With the Kansas City Chiefs winning Super Bowl LVIII, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship remains the talk of sports broadcasters, football fans, Swifties and angry teenage boys. Since the dating rumors began in September 2023 and were eventually confirmed in December by Swift, the couple has been all over the media, according to a .
Hookup culture is ruining our idea of sex
The idea of no-strings-attached, casual hookups is destroying the way our generation handles sex. This idea of “hookups,” the idea of a sexual encounter being a casual and non-romantic experience, has been around for a little over a century now, having developed in the 1920s, according to a Feb. 2013 American Psychological Association study. Around 70% of people aged 12-21 reported having had some form of uncommitted sexual encounter, according to the same 2013 APA study.
In the Know column: Exciting changes in Alexandria Police Department
By Scott Kent Hello Alexandria! We have some exciting new assignment changes to report within our department. We had an internal opening for the position of sergeant and, in the end, Darcie Zirbes, who has worked in the police department since October 2006 was promoted. Darcie has worked as a patrol officer and school resource officer and was also asked to step in and try a new role partnered with North Memorial Amlbuance in the A.C.C.E.S.S. team.
Stop being quiet about the sexual assault of men
Male sexual trauma is not discussed enough by society, and that needs to change. At least one in six boys report being sexually assaulted before they turn 18, according to an April 8, 2020 Psychiatric Times article. Another alarming statistic—one in four adult men have reported being sexually assaulted in their lifetime, according to the same article. A majority of these men likely had their trauma ignored or denied by society.
Young people need to read more, but not eBooks
Our generation is just not reading enough physical literature. Around 55% of Gen Z reads every week, but 67% of them are reading on their phones, according to a Dec. 2022 Forbes article. A little more than half of our generation is reading weekly, and that’s a good thing. Around 35% of Gen Z is also reading more than they did two years ago, showing an increase of reading among our generation over the years, according to a .
Business Clinic: What are the options for our cash surplus?
© Stockfotos-MG/Adobe Stock Whether it’s a legal, tax, insurance, management or land issue, Farmers Weekly’s Business Clinic experts can help. Joe Spencer partner at accountant MHA and Scott Kent, chartered financial planner at MHA Caves offer advice on options for cash deposits. See also: Business Clinic: Can we get business asset disposal relief on our plans? Q. We’re a busy arable farm partnership with some holiday lettings. We have occasional cash surpluses which can be substantial at times.
Bisexual men are underrepresented in the media, and it needs to change
Bisexual men just aren’t getting enough positivity or representation in the media and it needs to be recognized. Compared to other LGBTQ+ communities, bisexuals make up considerably less media representation, with only 26% of LGBTQ+ characters identifying as bisexual. This already small percentage has reportedly been diminishing since 2016, according to a Sept. 2020 CBS Article. The depictions of bisexual characters are typically stuck in a binary.
In the Know column: Community Night Out is a hit
By Scott Kent Hello Alexandria! I thought I would keep you updated on some things we have been working on and things we have to pay attention to in the second half of 2023. Last week we had the most attended Community Night Out event that we have ever hosted at City Park. We estimated roughly 1,200 people came out to spend the evening with us. We did notice that we have more families and young children in the park than in years past.
In the Know column: Alexandria Citizens Police Academy wraps up amazing year
By Scott Kent Good day Alexandria! This time of year is always special for us as we wrap up our annual Citizens Police Academy. This is an eight-week course where we bring in 18-20 members of the public for a deep dive on what we do and how we do our jobs. This year we have been meeting every Tuesday night for three hours.
In the Know column: Why does court system take so long?
By Scott Kent A couple weeks ago I was sharing a cup of coffee with a friend at my favorite little coffee shop and as I was getting up to leave, I was asked a question from a regular coffee group to weigh on it from my perspective. The question was “Why does it take so long for people to get through the court system?” I shifted from a standing position to helping myself to a chair. This is not a quick answer and it went a little something like this.
In the Know column: New faces at police department this summer
By Scott Kent, Alexandria police chief Hello Alexandria! We have been living in a world of supply chain delays, and our summer weather has been no exception to the delay. With mid-June upon us, we are finally starting to see and feel what summer is supposed to be. The past month has been difficult with the two tornadoes, strong winds, and extreme rainfall.
Other Voices l Expanding the idea of public education
In her column Sunday, April 24, Rosemary Nilles makes a compelling argument for education choice, even as she rejects it. It’s encouraging to see the League of Women Voters of Florida supports the right of parents to choose the best learning environment for their children. This should represent common ground from which to advocate for a multitude of solutions. Unfortunately, Nilles limits the debate to just one delivery system.
Don’t blame families for exercising choice
Polk County Public Schools is the latest Florida school district to blame families choosing where to educate their children for their financial woes. The Ledger last week reported that district officials say they will lose funding for the 2022-23 school year compared to this year because more students will be accessing nondistrict learning options using state- and donor-funded education choice scholarships.
Don’t blame families for exercising choice
Polk County Public Schools is the latest Florida school district to blame families choosing where to educate their children for their financial woes. The Ledger last week reported that district officials say they will lose funding for the 2022-23 school year compared to this year because more students will be accessing nondistrict learning options using state- and donor-funded education choice scholarships.
Guest opinion: Redefining public education for the 21st century
In her April 15 column, Sharon Harris-Ewing paints a quaint, Norman Rockwell ideal of public education — one that, if it ever truly existed for all, is from a bygone era. The notion that centralized systems can accommodate every client’s needs, let alone unite them under common beliefs, belies the reality that is the United States today.
Guest opinion: Redefining public education for the 21st century
In her April 15 column, Sharon Harris-Ewing paints a quaint, Norman Rockwell ideal of public education — one that, if it ever truly existed for all, is from a bygone era. The notion that centralized systems can accommodate every client’s needs, let alone unite them under common beliefs, belies the reality that is the United States today.
Education choice benefits students, not systems
Florida is not creating two parallel school systems. It is funding students, not systems, ensuring the money follows the child to the setting that works best for him or her. Children's advocate and retired teacher Sally Butzin wrote in these pages April 5 ("The new wave of sanitizer parents") that “parents have always had the right to send their child to a private school” — but only if they had the means. What is a choice if you can’t exercise it?
Education choice benefits students, not systems | Opinion
Nearly a year after first offering her views about Florida’s education choice programs and Step Up For Students, Sally Butzin recently returned to the Democrat riding the same ramshackle narrative of shadowy forces supposedly undermining public education. Florida is not creating two parallel school systems. It is funding students, not systems, ensuring the money follows the child to the setting that works best for him or her.
Education choice benefits students, not systems | Opinion
Nearly a year after first offering her views about Florida’s education choice programs and Step Up For Students, Sally Butzin recently returned to the Democrat riding the same ramshackle narrative of shadowy forces supposedly undermining public education. Florida is not creating two parallel school systems. It is funding students, not systems, ensuring the money follows the child to the setting that works best for him or her.
In the Know column: Alexandria police to partner with first-year law enforcement college students
By Scott Kent, Alexandria police chief Spring is nearly in sight on the calendar; however, by looking at the extended forecast, it's a bit further away than any of us would prefer. With spring will come a renewed sense of change, new life, and energy. Our staff continues to go through changes in assignments, training and making our agency a trusted partner in the community. As we approach spring, I would like to inform you about a few things happening here at the Alexandria Police Department.
In the Know column: Creating a culture of care and empathy | Echo Press
Columns There has been a historical trend in law enforcement that law enforcement professionals don’t like to talk about, but the reality is scary. We lose more officers to suicide every year in this country than we do by officers being killed in the line of duty. 1:05 pm, Dec.
In the Know column: Changes inside Alexandria Police Department
Columns Our school resource officers are working in partnership with the teachers and staff for security, safety, problem solving, and most importantly, building trust. 2:15 pm, Aug. 25, 2021 By Scott Kent, Alexandria police chief It has been a busy summer in Alexandria and Douglas County the past three months. We have been making some changes inside the Alexandria Police Department.
More choices have helped Florida’s public schools
Ever since the seeds of education choice were planted in Florida more than 20 years ago, opponents have predicted that giving families more options in their children’s education would cripple public schools. While choice has blossomed, public schools have proved the naysayers wrong. A recent column by the League of Women Voters is the latest to perpetuate the myth that parental choice threatens public education. First, let’s dispel some misconceptions.
In the Know column: What we look for when hiring a police officer
Columns I believe it is our job to police a community the way it wants to be policed and we will continue to do this with empathy in our hearts. Feb 10th 2021 - 11am. By Scott Kent, Alexandria police chief Greetings, Echo Press subscribers. It has been four and a half months since I last shared from the Alexandria Police Department. Changes have been occurring such as promotions, special assignments and we are committed to updating and defining our values, mission and vision.
In the Know column: Antique store visit made an impact
Columns Nov 4th 2020 - 9am. By Scott Kent, Alexandria police chief Hello all, as this is my first “In the Know” I thought that might be fitting to share a little about myself. My name is Scott Kent and I recently assumed the position of chief of police on Oct. 1 for the City of Alexandria, replacing Chief Richard Wyffels. My story begins in West Fargo ND where I grew up, attended and graduated from high school.
Guest column: Sheriff asks support for criminal justice levy renewal
Scott Kent (Photo: Submitted Photo) Crawford County residents, I am reaching out to you and asking for your vote for the renewal of the criminal justice levy. This levy is 2.75 mills and funds a large portion of the enforcement budget. The sheriff's office operates on two budgets. I have a jail budget that is partially supported by a 0.5% sales tax and an enforcement budget, which is partially funded by the criminal justice levy. Those funds cannot transfer over to the other.
School vouchers lifts Florida's low-income students. It should be a state priority.| Opinion
In her recent column, Paula Dockery asked if the state had enough revenue to meet its needs and still afford to “throw some money at those wanting to send their children to private schools using tax dollars” — as if providing an education lifeline to the more than 100,000 low-income students eligible for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship is an afterthought, or worse, a luxury. It should be a priority.
Sheriff: Support the Criminal and Administrative Justice Services Levy
On Nov. 6, Crawford County voters will have the opportunity to vote on the Criminal and Administrative Justice Services Levy. What type of levy is this? I hope to be able to answer what this levy is and why it is needed in Crawford County. In 1994, the voters passed 0.5-percent sales tax levy for the construction of the Crawford County Justice Center as well as the daily operational costs associated with running the Justice Center. This was a 25-year sales tax levy and it will be expiring mid-2019.
Education choice not a zero-sum game - redefinED
In politically polarized, tribalistic America, education has become yet another binary issue. For some, you are either “for” traditional public schools or you are “against” them. The Florida race for governor is typical of the divide. Andrew Gillum, the Democratic nominee, seeks to increase the state’s corporate income tax rate to raise $1 billion for traditional public schools.
Amendment 8 and the Future of School Choice
The Florida Supreme Court may have struck down a proposed education amendment to the state’s constitution, but the issue the measure raised can’t be easily dismissed. In a 4-3 decision, the court removed from the November ballot Amendment 8, which would have given the state the authority to establish and operate public schools, bypassing local school districts.
SCOTT KENT:Asking the right questions on police shootings
Like Volusia County Sheriff Ben Johnson, I wish there were video footage of a deputy shooting and killing Derek Cruice in his Deltona home March 4. But I honestly don’t know if it would make a difference. Officials say Deputy Todd Raible shot the unarmed 26-year-old in the face in response to a “perceived threat” caused by Cruice’s actions. Johnson suggests that had deputies been wearing body cameras at the time, the video would show the shooting was justified.
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