Summer Chill Collection comes out today at Bath & Body Works!!
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Month: July 2013
Merger of Juvenile, Adult correctional systems Begins
A plan to merge the state’s juvenile and adult correctional systems goes into effect today, following the legislature’s approval and months of preparation.
Governor Sam Brownback proposed an executive reorganization order at the beginning of the 2013 Kansas Legislative session to incorporate the Juvenile Justice Authority (JJA) into the Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC).
Since its inception as a cabinet-level agency in 1997, JJA has often been scrutinized for lack of supervision, insufficient programing, and mismanagement. The criticism contained in a recent audit prompted Brownback to recommend the management of juvenile correctional services be moved under KDOC.
“Moving JJA to KDOC will increase the emphasis on safety while continuing to provide programs proven to get our youth back on the right path,” said Brownback of the reorganization order.
Legislators took time during the session to contemplate the order, but their approval of the move was expressed by their allowing it to take effect without a vote. By not rejecting the order within 60 calendar days of its introduction, they allowed the order to take effect today, July 1.
The new division will now be known as “Juvenile Services” within the KDOC, and will contain all of the facilities and programs dedicated to the juvenile correctional population. The division will be overseen by a Deputy Secretary of Juvenile Services. KDOC veteran Terri Williams took the role of Acting JJA Commissioner in March 2012 and will continue to direct the division as the Deputy Secretary.
“I am proud and appreciative of the hard work of staff during the transition,” said Williams. “Improvements have already been seen as we have shared resources and the expertise of our talented and dedicated juvenile services and KDOC staff members. These efficiencies will allow for the continuation of evidenced-based programs and quality assurance measures in our facilities and our communities. Those initiatives, coupled with our improved facility safety and security, will further enhance public safety and rehabilitative outcomes for the youth and families we serve.”
State law allows youth from ages 10 to 23 to be in the state’s custody. There are approximately 1,500 juveniles presently in the system. Juvenile services focuses on prevention, intervention programs, community-based services and the concept that a youth should be placed in a juvenile correctional facility only as a last resort.
There are approximately 325 juvenile offenders placed within the two state juvenile facilities – the Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility and the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex in Topeka. Youth not placed in a juvenile correctional facility are rehabilitated through a network of community-based programs consisting of graduated sanctions, delinquency prevention and community placements.
KDOC Secretary Ray Roberts supported Brownback’s recommendation to merge the programs, believing the consolidation will provide opportunities to strengthen public safety, build upon successes realized through a minimal administrative consolidation of functions two years ago, and provide for the unique needs of the two populations. He assured the legislature that the juvenile offenders will be treated with appropriate care for their age.
“It is imperative that basic safety and security practices are routinely employed in correctional environments while we maintain the distinct differences in program needs and management strategies for juveniles and continue the rehabilitation of the juvenile population,” said Secretary Roberts. “A consolidation will make both agencies stronger and better equipped to provide comprehensive corrections in the State of Kansas.”
Country Stampede Success despite Incidents
This years Country Stampede held at Tuttle Creek State Park wrapped up Sunday evening. Officials with the four-day festival consider it a success.
Wayne Rouse, Country Stampede General Manager, said the responses have been positive,” Everything I’ve heard has been really positive. If you look on our facebook page or some of the re-tweets or comments in general, it’s all been really positive.”
This years festival featured Little Big Town, Jason Aldean, Trace Adkins and Miranda Lambert.
Security is always a major issue at the Country Stampede, however this year Kurt Moldrup, Director of Festival Security, said that this years festival went smoothly, “Really it was probably one of the better ones. We had far fewer incidents.”
Moldrup went on to mention that cooler temperatures this year was probably a reason why there were fewer problems with the crowds.
The cooler temperatures were also the reason for fewer medical problems according to the festival’s head of Emergency Medical Services Larry Couchman, ” Heat compromises everything, alcohol intensifies with heat, other medical issues intensify with heat. By not having the extreme heat it’s been a pretty good weekend.”
Couchman did mention that he could think of two major incidents, one involved an individual who was severely injured while playing an alcohol related game in the campgrounds and needed a medical transport. The other involved an individual who overdosed on illegal drugs. Otherwise the number of medical calls were down from years past.
Plans for next year are already underway with Eric Church already confirmed for the 2014 Country Stampede. Rouse also mentioned that fans can expect an announcement in November that will be very exciting.
Hays Man Celebrates Father’s Day Twice
A Hays man got to celebrate Father’s Day twice this year.
Dr. Jian Sun is one of ten men selected as a “Strong Dad of the Year” by the Kansas Early Head Start Strong Dads program. The awards were presented the week of Father’s Day at the Strong Dads Summit in Wichita.
Sun is the father of two young girls and an Assistant Professor of Public Administration in the Fort Hays State University Political Science Department.
“I love being a dad,” he said, and “my wife and I treasure our family time.”
DCF initiated the Strong Dads program to engage fathers and father figures in the lives of their children through playing, reading, talking and caring.
Strong Dads training sessions for about 1,000 men were held throughout the state beginning in April and wrapped up June 20.
Strong Dads curriculum was designed to encourage children’s physical, social, emotional and mental development.
Protecting our Independence
Protecting Our Independence
Edward P. Cross, President Kansas Independent Oil & Gas Association
July is a special month for many Americans. Most of us will eagerly take a break from our busy summer schedules to once again celebrate 
Independence Day. There will be much fanfare with fireworks, parades, picnics, and other patriotic events celebrating our country’s independence from Great Britain in 1776. But when the festivities have ended, only a few will have reflected upon the true meaning of independence and the role it has played in shaping our nation’s character.
Our founding fathers made it clear in the Declaration of Independence that all men were entitled to certain unalienable rights. Among those rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is easy to take for granted those rights and freedoms we share as Americans. However, it is important that we understand and appreciate the hard work and sacrifice that our forefathers made in order for us to enjoy the luxury of freedom. Freedom and independence are cornerstones in the foundation of our country’s heritage. The independent ideology of the American people is a fundamental element of our society and a key to our nation’s prosperity. We must protect that independence at all cost.
One important freedom we must protect is our free enterprise system. American business, and certainly the oil and gas industry, was founded upon the ideology of independence and free-market principles. Those principles allow business to be governed by the laws of supply and demand without government interference and excessive regulation. The dynamic free market has led to innovation and wealth creation, and has established an economic environment where hard work is rewarded.
But now, amidst economic turmoil, it seems free-market capitalism and independence are under attack. Government’s heavy-handed intervention into businesses and industries is unprecedented. It is alarmingly obvious that the increased governmental control is dragging on the economy. Where will it stop?
The oil and gas industry is always in the crosshairs of government. We are constantly battling excessive environmental regulation, drilling restrictions, and crippling taxation to fund politically expedient, yet questionably viable, government spending programs. Furthermore, the administration’s proposal to repeal our most critical and longstanding tax provisions would have a devastating impact on small independent oil and gas producers. Even if those regulations and tax proposals became law, the revenues would not come close to satisfying the President’s and Congress’ appetite for bigger government.
In his 1946 Independence Day speech, John F. Kennedy said, “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” Those words were never so true. Being mindful of the erosion of our independence and free- market system through excessive regulation and government interference cannot be over emphasized. We must, now more than ever, remain steadfast in our resolve to protect and preserve the precious independence that has molded our nation’s character.
KHAZ Country Music News: Dierks Bentley Getting Ready for Baby Boy’s Arrival with Help from Luke Bryan
Dierks Bentley and his wife Cassidy are having a baby boy this fall, and Luke Bryan was the first person outside the family to know the baby’s sex.
Dierks and Cass had just found out they were expecting a boy when Luke called them up to congratulate them on their impending arrival. When Dierks told Luke a boy was joining their two older daughters, Luke, who has two sons, told him, “Man! Let me tell you, get ready to start living!'”
Dierk says with a laugh, “I guess he assume girls, you know, you’re not living until you have a boy or something, but he just went on talking about it. ‘Man, you’re going to have someone to go fishing with.'”
Luke has also given Dierks some advice on naming the baby boy.
“Whatever I name my kid has to sound like someone that you could get totally hammered with,” Dierks explains. “That’s the filter that all the names have to flow through, like, ‘Man, I went out last night and got hammered with Bo Bryan.’ Something like that.”
Dierks may just name his firstborn son after Luke. He says, “I’ve been hammered with Luke many times.”
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
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Without Superman Overpass unsafe during tornado
(AP) — Weather officials in Tornado Alley have raised concerns about a scene in the new Superman movie that incorrectly portrays a highway overpass as a safe
place to hide during a tornado.
In the “Man of Steel,” Clark Kent’s dad sees a tornado approaching as he’s driving with his family. He then urges his family and other motorists to seek shelter under a highway overpass.
That contradicts the tornado safety information put out by weather officials. The National Weather Service says an overpass may actually be one of the worst places to seek shelter from a tornado because it puts people at risk of being hurt by flying debris.
Warner Bros. says the film is fiction and events depicted aren’t intended as emergency preparedness advice.
Golfing with Gotsche #9
Are you still carrying a 1,2 or 3 iron in your bag? Former PGA Touring Professional, Steve Gotsche, offers some advice on what you need to do with them.
Frank Leo – Hays Larks Head Coach
Community Connection host, Mike Cooper, visits with the head coach of the Hays Larks.
United Way Moment July
Susan Schlicting
Susan Schlicting gives some “heads up” on the approaching Ellis County Fair!
Restaurant Inspection Report June 16-30
MOKAS COFFEE, 1230 E 27TH HAYS, KS 67601
Inspection: June 19, 2013
Fail Notes
4-601.11(A)
Pf – Food Contact Clean to Sight and Touch – EQUIPMENT FOOD- CONTACT SURFACES and UTENSILS shall be clean to sight and touch.
[a slicer used for slicing tomatoes and ready to use has dried tomatoe seeds, and debris. COS cleaned the long white cutting board used for prep, the holes that are to keep the board in place contain dried food particles. PIC indicated they clean once pre week. COS educate and cleaned]
Fail Notes
3-302.12
Food storage containers (Common Name) Except for containers holding FOOD that can be readily and unmistakably recognized such as dry pasta, working containers holding FOOD or FOOD ingredients that are removed from their original packages for use in the FOOD ESTABLISHMENT, such as cooking oils, flour, herbs, potato flakes, salt, spices, and sugar shall be identified with the common name of the FOOD.
[in 3 containers formerly housing coffee flavors now houses powder chocolate flavors, not labeled. COS]
Fail Notes 3-304.14(B)(1) Wiping cloths (Storage) Cloths in-use for wiping counters and other EQUIPMENT surfaces shall be held between uses in a
chemical sanitizer solution at an appropriate concentration.
[two orange wet wiping cloths on the work counter of cook, not held between uses in sanitizer water COS put in sanitizer bucket
Fail Notes
4-904.11(B)
Knives, forks, and spoons that are not prewrapped shall be presented so that only the handles are touched by EMPLOYEES and by CONSUMERS if CONSUMER self-service is provided.
[the unwrapped knifes, forks, and spoons that the employees hand to customer, with bare hands are not stored to prevent mouthpiece from contamination COS corrected]
Fail Notes
4-101.11
P – Materials that are used in the construction of UTENSILS and FOOD- CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT may not allow the migration of deleterious substances or impart colors, odors, or tastes to FOOD. [container in the bottom of the west prep cooler housing raw hamburgr balls, not of food grade material. COS lined for temp. correction. Inspector also observed other Sterilite containers in the back clean dish area. PIC said that if where they put the pastries that come from Salina. There are also under bed storage containers from Salina, that are not food grade.]
5-501.115
A storage area and enclosure for REFUSE, recyclables, or returnables shall be maintained free of unnecessary items, as specified under § 6- 501.114, and clean.
[the west enclosed storage area has accumulation of empty buckets collecting rain water, and oil buckets, are attributing to smell. The back area around the walk in cooler has 24 in. to 36 in weeds]
LOVE’S TRAVEL STOP #455, 200 WASHINGTON ST, ELLIS, KS 67637
Inspection: June 19, 2013
Fail Notes
3-302.11(A)(1)(a)
P – FOOD shall be protected from cross contamination by separating raw animal FOODS during storage, preparation, holding, and display from raw READY-TO-EAT FOOD including other raw animal FOOD such as FISH for sushi or MOLLUSCAN SHELLFISH, or other raw READY-TO-EAT FOOD such as fruits and vegetables
[case of 15 dozen raw shell eggs stored in the retail wic directly above energy chews, lunchables and fresh strawberries COS rearrange]
Fail Notes
7-201.11(A)
P – Chemical Storage (spacing/partitioning) POISONOUS OR TOXIC MATERIALS shall be stored so they cannot contaminate FOOD, EQUIPMENT, UTENSILS, LINENS, and SINGLE-SERVICE and SINGLE-USE ARTICLES by separating the POISONOUS OR TOXIC MATERIALS by spacing or partitioning.
[in the coffee under counter storage is chemical spray bottle containing delimer in and above cabiner storing package coffee. COS removed chemical]
Fail Notes
3-305.11(A)(1)
Food storage – Except as specified in ¶¶ (B) and (C) of 3-305.11, FOOD shall be protected from contamination by storing the FOOD: in a clean, dry location; where it is not exposed to splash, dust, or other contamination; and at least 15 cm (6 inches) above the floor.
[case of 44AJ32 Dart cups stored directly on the floor in the back room. ]
Fail Notes
In-use utensil storage (Cleaned/sanitized surface) During pauses in FOOD preparation or dispensing, FOOD preparation and dispensing UTENSILS shall be stored on a clean portion of the FOOD preparation table or cooking EQUIPMENT only if the in-use UTENSIL and the FOOD-CONTACT surface of the FOOD preparation table or cooking EQUIPMENT are cleaned and SANITIZED at the required frequency.
[the ice scoop used to fill ice bags and provide other areas with ice, is stored on a used display beverage canister. ]
LOVE’S TRAVEL STOP #455 / DAIRY QUEEN, 200 WASHINGTON ST, ELLIS, KS 67637
Inspection: June 19, 2013
Fail Notes 4-601.11(A) Pf – Food Contact Clean to Sight and Touch – EQUIPMENT FOOD- CONTACT SURFACES and UTENSILS shall be clean to sight and
touch.
[the mixing wand of the south Blizzard machine has dried dairy from yesterday. Employee indicated was ready to use. COS cleaned]
Fail Notes
7-102.11
Pf – Common Name (Working Containers) Working containers used for storing POISONOUS OR TOXIC MATERIALS such as cleaners and SANITIZERS taken from bulk supplies shall be clearly and individually identified with the common name of the material.
[in the chemical rack, observed spray bottle not labeled. PIC indicated that the bottle belonged to Subway, therefore threw away.]
Fail Notes 4-202.16 Nonfood-contact surfaces free of crevices
[2 of the cambro 30CWCH lids covering dogs in the prep cooler are
cracked, COS pic put in area to reorder and supplied with other lids]
Fail Notes
4-502.11(A) UTENSILS shall be maintained in a state of repair or condition that complies with the requirements specified under Parts 4-1 and 4-2 or shall be discarded.
[Rubbermaid rubber scraper in the drawer ready to use, has the food contact surface broken, and gone. COS put in area to reminde to reorder.]
Fail Notes 4-302.14 Pf – A test kit or other device that accurately measures the concentration in mg/L of SANITIZING solutions shall be provided.
[no test kit provided for Q-T 44 will order on tomorrow delivery]
Fail Notes
4-602.13
NonFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES of EQUIPMENT shall be cleaned at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil residues.
[the upper part of the Blizzard machine has accumulation of dried dairy products from yesterday, employee indicated that equipment was ready
LOVES TRAVEL STOP #455, SUBWAY, 200 WASHINGTON ST ELLIS, KS 67637
Inspection: June 19, 2013
No Violations
Fail Notes
Temperature Measuring Devices (Integrated or Affixed) Cold or hot holding EQUIPMENT used for POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD (TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOOD) shall be designed to include and shall be equipped with at least one integral or permanently affixed TEMPERATURE MEASURING DEVICE that is located to allow easy viewing of the device’s temperature display. [no thermometer in the under counter cooler COS supplied]
Standards of identity for packaged foods – PACKAGED FOOD shall comply with standard of identity requirements in 21 CFR 131-169 and 9 CFR 319 Definitions and standards of identity or composition, and the general requirements in 21 CFR 130 – Food Standards: General and 9 CFR 319 Subpart A – General.
[the cookies packaged in a plastic plate with plastic cover, containing 12 cookies not labeled with ingredients, for customer self serve, (have preprinted labels with cookie name and warning of “may contain peanut oil”)]
EARL’S BAR & GRILL, 110 OAK ST., SCHOENCHEN, KS 67667
Inspection: June 26, 2013
No Violations
Fail Notes
7-102.11
Pf – Common Name (Working Containers) Working containers used for storing POISONOUS OR TOXIC MATERIALS such as cleaners and SANITIZERS taken from bulk supplies shall be clearly and individually identified with the common name of the material.
[chemical spray bottle under the bar not labeled with contents COS PIC labeled as all purpose cleaner (used for cleaning tables)]
Premises (Unnecessary items) The PREMISES shall be free of items that are unnecessary to the operation or maintenance of the establishment such as EQUIPMENT that is nonfunctional or no longer used.
[there are particially used paint cans in the back storage area.]
After use, mops shall be placed in a position that allows them to air- dry without soiling walls, EQUIPMENT, or supplies.
[wet mop stored in empty mop bucket squeeze mechanism]
New Concealed & Carry Law Begins Today
Changes to the Conceal and Carry law begin today. This allows gun owners with concealed and carry permits to bring firearms into public buildings that may not 
have adequate security measures.
Previously guns were banned in court houses and other public buildings where notices were posted. Many communities across the state including Hays and Ellis have filed a six month exemption to come up with new security measures.