FROM THE HAYS FIRE DEPARTMENT:

Tim Detrixhe, Firefighter, was recently promoted from Volunteer Firefighter within the City of Hays’ Fire Department.

Detrixhe has dedicated over a one year of service since he began his career as a Volunteer Firefighter in 2012.

—The staff of the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce invites members of the Chamber and the public to attend a Chamber Chat for the Blues, BBQ & Bargains upcoming event. The Chat will be held at Golden Belt Bank, 1101 East 27^th Street, Friday June 14, at 9:00 a.m.

Authors of “The Big Divide” will be in the Hays Public Library Gallery at 2:00pm on Sunday, June 16 to discuss their book.

For the past 16 years, Diane Eickhoff and Aaron Barnhart have been driving back and forth across one of the least visible and most contentious borders in American history: the Missouri-Kansas state line.

This boundary — this line in the dirt — once produced the fierce border wars that gave the world John Brown, Jesse James, William Clarke Quantrill and Ride With the Devil. But it also produced Harry Truman, Amelia Earhart, George Washington Carver, and three world-famous painters whose works could not have happened anywhere else.

The Civil War was fought here in the West before it was won in the East. The battles at Wilson’s Creek and Pea Ridge were crucial to keeping Missouri in the Union. History was made right here, by African American regiments who were seeing combat for the first time in the Civil War (long before the 54th Massachusetts of Glory renown).

Now it’s your turn to discover this remarkable landscape. The Big Divide will take you to the most compelling and unique sites where history happened along this turbulent border. Diane and Aaron — she’s a historian, he’s a journalist — can tell you why these sites mattered and make it easy for you to put together a themed driving tour to your tastes. If you’ve got kids, they’ve got you covered, too.

June 4, 2013 Meeting Minutes

Members present:
Linda Beech, Brian Dawson, Bob Duffy, Joan Dunn, Rayna Flax, Travis Rickford, Anita Scheve, Rae Smith, Kari Sparks, Jessica Vincent,

Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Grant Activities: CDRR grant Coordinator Kari Sparks shared the goal of reaching 30 Ellis County referrals to the free online/phone tobacco cessation counseling program, the Kansas Quitline, has been reached. According to the Quitline statistics the most popular “how heard about” answer was TV/Radio/online advertisements. The second most popular way community members are hearing about the Quitline is through a health professional. Travis Rickford, KDHE Out -Reach Coordinator for the CDRR grant shared grant awards for FY14 will be officially announced this month.

Communities That Care Data: Regional Prevention Center Consultant Kari Sparks shared the 2013 CTC data has been released. This year Ellis County reached the required participation rate due to USD 489’s decision to have their students take the survey. Last year USD 489 did not participate but Thomas Moore Prep and the school districts in Ellis and Victoria did. Therefore the data obtained this year provides a more accurate picture of underage substance abuse/use. Sparks will email the data to ECCP members in a spreadsheet.

“Talk, They Hear You” Campaign: RPC Consultant Kari Sparks shared a media campaign called “Talk. They Hear You.” The campaign from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is geared for the parents and caregivers of children nine through 15 years of age. The program provides brochures, flyer and power point templates that can be customized for the ECCP. Sparks asked members if this was a campaign they would be interested in supporting. The members who were present agreed they would like to support the campaign and will look at finding funds/donations in order to print the materials for dissemination throughout Ellis County.

Memorandum of Understanding – RPC Consultant read FY 2014 MOU statement for the ECCP and asked members to return signed form as a show of their support of the ECCP and upcoming goals.

Fake ID program – Todd Hileman, Public Resource Officer from the Kansas Highway patrol was present to ask ECCP members if they would be interested in supporting a Fake ID program that will focus on reducing the use and production of fake ID’s in Ellis County. The ECCP agreed to participate in the program. Hileman is asking the support of other organizations and community members and will let the ECCP know when the first meeting to discuss the program is scheduled.

ECCP Name Change – Members discussed the need for changing the name of the ECCP as “Ellis County Community Partnership” does not convey what the coalition stands for. Topic will be addressed at the next meeting.

Next Meeting: Wednesday, August 7th at noon at the Regional Prevention Center, 2714 Plaza Avenue.

Agency Updates:

Rayna Flax, Regional Alcohol and Drug Assessment Center – Rayna
shared she continues to pick up new clients in NW Kansas. Rayna asked members to refer eligible clients to her agency in order to provide substance abuse placement assessments and provide case management services
to people in need.

Rae Smith, Youth Friends – Rae shared her organization has given away more than 605 books to kids through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program in Ellis County. Smith also shared the 2013 Leadership Hays class is sponsoring a “Run for Reading” event June 15th to raise funds and awareness for the Imagination Library. Smith said the website, www.haysparents.com has registration information.

Linda Beech, Ellis County Extension – Linda shared the 4-H enrollment is on the rise and the office is busy getting ready for the Ellis County Fair scheduled July 15 – 20.

Joan Dunn, Early Childhood Connections – Joan shared the ECC is seeing an increase in foster kids enrolling in the program. Enrollment is also high in the “Parents as Teachers” and “Head Start” programs.
Anita Scheve, Learning Center, USD 489 – Anita shared the center is busy with summer school through June and July. Anita also shared the Learning Center had 35 graduates attend the May 30th high school graduation ceremony.

Jessica Vincent, Court Services – Jessica shared she is currently handling 75 cases. She said a lot of the cases deal with illegal substance abuse.

Bob Duffy, Kelly Center , Fort Hays State University– Bob shared this month his organization is celebrating the 100,000th Safe Ride. Bob said the Safe Ride continues to be very busy and the addition of second van has helped more Ellis County residents get home safely.