Officers from the Hays Police Department participated in the “You Drink. You Drive. You Lose.” two week driving under the influence enforcement campaign that ran Aug. 14 to Sept. 1. The purpose of this enforcement was to enforce Kansas DUI laws and other traffic laws.
According to a news release issued Friday morning, officers made 52 traffic stops resulting in 11 DUI arrests, three minor in possession of alcohol arrests, two transporting open alcohol container arrests, one drug possession arrest and one driving while suspended arrest. Officers also wrote 31 other traffic-related citations.
“You Drink. You Drive. You Lose.” campaign efforts were supported by a grant from the Kansas Department of Transportation.
In the news release, the HPD would like encouraged those who might be drinking to call Safe Ride at (785) 621-2580 or use a designated driver.
In a year when Kansans have been inundated by news reports of incidents of mismanagement and even death caused by failures at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), there is finally good news to deliver: The U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives came together to pass compromised legislation to overhaul access to veterans’ health care by offering the choice of utilizing care outside the VA. In August, the Veterans Access to Care through Choice, Accountability and Transparency Act of 2014 (H.R. 3220) was signed into law.
Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan.
I was proud to sponsor this bill, which was developed as a consequence to the deplorable situations veterans have been experiencing at VA medical facilities all across the country. Over the past few months, Kansans reached out to me every day to share their troubling experiences. The stories came veterans, veteran family members and even fearful VA employees, across our state who spoke of turmoil in the system and veterans being made to feel like a number – rather than like patriots deserving of care from a grateful nation.
I am pleased the Senate and House did not walk away from this issue, and called on the VA to live up to its commitment to care for those who have sacrificed for our country. While H.R. 3220 offers hope to veterans by including some of the most significant reforms that have been made within the VA in decades, it is just the beginning. Congress now has the responsibility of overseeing the implementation of these vital changes at the VA.
First and foremost, this legislation takes an important step toward ensuring veterans no longer struggle with unacceptable wait times at VA facilities. Instead of waiting months, veterans will now have the new “Choice Card” which gives them the option of seeing their local physician if they are not offered a VA appointment within a reasonable amount of time.
Another important issue this legislation addresses is the burden of distance and travel time rural veterans face when seeking care at VA facilities. Kansans understand this all too well since the average driving time to a VA facility in our state is two hours. If a veteran lives more than 40 miles from a VA facility, they may now select a community healthcare provider to get the timely, quality care they deserve. This is of utmost importance to the 41 percent of veterans in the VA health care system who reside in rural areas. Every veteran deserves access to health care services regardless of where they call home.
This provision to serve rural veterans is modeled after a pilot program I led in the House, which became law in 2008 called Access Received Closer to Home or ARCH. I am pleased the compromised VA reform legislation also extends ARCH in the five pilot sites already operating across the country, including the surrounding area of Pratt, Kan. Veterans from the five ARCH pilot sites are overwhelmingly satisfied with the care they receive through the program, which was set to expire this month. This extension will make certain they may continue to receive quality care closer to home, and it is my hope that the new Secretary of the VA, Bob McDonald, will authorize the expansion of the ARCH program to serve the entire state of Kansas .
These important changes are already making a difference in the lives of Kansas veterans. Lee Mahin of Smith Center recently reached out to my office to share good news. He was surprised to receive a phone call from the VA letting him know he would no longer be forced to travel four hours to Omaha, Neb., for his colonoscopy and would now be allowed to have the exam in his hometown. The procedure has already been rescheduled and confirmed at Smith County Memorial Hospital, and Lee is appreciative that he will no longer have to arrange for someone to drive him to Omaha and sleep in hotel the night before.
In addition to ensuring timely, high-quality care, increased accountability at the VA is fundamental to change. H.R. 3220 gives the Secretary of the VA the authority to fire or demote VA executives based on their performance and misconduct. On the day of his resignation, former-VA Secretary Shinseki said he “was too trusting of some” and could not “explain the lack of integrity amongst some of the leaders of our health care facilities.” I hope Secretary McDonald wastes no time in executing this authority in the VA bureaucracy to develop a workforce that is committed to serving veterans and changing the culture of indifference.
By offering veterans choice and flexibility – and making certain bureaucrats are held accountable – this legislation will begin to improve the lives of countless veterans who have lost hope in the agency that was created to serve them. I was proud to support the passage of this important bill, but our work continues. I will work to make certain Kansas veterans have a Department of Veterans Affairs worthy of their service and sacrifice.
Lillian Jacobs, age 83 of Hays, passed away Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at her home. She was born August 26, 1931 on the family farm in rural Ellis County, Kansas to Isidore and Anna (Meier) Klaus. She attended Girl’s Catholic High School. She married Gene Jacobs February 23, 1952 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Pfeifer.
Lillian was a farmwife and also worked for Travenol for 10 years and then worked as a bookkeeper at Coca-Cola for 32 years. She was a member of the Victoria Daughters of Isabella, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Hays and a past member of Holy Cross Catholic Church. She was a loyal volunteer at the ARC Thrift Shop and she also supported numerous charities. She also enjoyed her grandchildren’s school and sporting events and was a loving, compassionate and caring person.
She is survived by her husband Gene of the home; two daughters, Patty Way and husband Larry of Wichita and Debbie Hoffman and husband Tom of Hays; two granddaughters, Whitney Woods and husband Adam of Norman, OK and Kaylee Hoffman of Laramie, WY; a step granddaughter, Brandi Way of Wichita; three step great grandchildren, Ryan, Tayton and Mallory Way; two sisters-in-law, Mary Klaus of Schoenchen and Alberta Klaus of Hays. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Julius, Lavern, Edward and Robert and three sisters, Esther Rogers, Verneda “Neats” Dorathy and Mary Alice Rupp.
Funeral Mass will be 10:30 AM Saturday, September 6, 2014 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Pfeifer, KS. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held Friday 4-8 PM and Saturday 9 AM – 10 AM at Brock’s – Keithley Funeral Chapel, 2509 Vine St.
A Victoria Daughters of Isabella Rosary will be Friday at 6:30 PM followed by a parish vigil at 7:00 PM all at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Holy Cross Charities or St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Hays. Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected]
As Traci Stanford, Downtown Hays Development Corp.‘s executive director, prepares for the next week’s fifth annual Wines and Steins fundraising event, she recalls being emotional this time last year. She had recently resigned her position and was preparing to move to Tennessee for her husband’s new job.
“I remember last year at Wines and Steins — I cried the whole time through my speech, because I was so sad to leave,” she said.
While Stanford and her family did move, they soon found themselves missing family in Hays and “the heart of Hays” — its downtown.
“It is kind of surreal to be back for this event this year,” Stanford said. “My husband and I have been very blessed to be back. We love Hays, and I love downtown Hays. I never thought (the position) would be on my plate again, but when the opportunity arose, I was excited to come back again.”
Traci Stanford
Stanford was named executive director in August and immediately started planning for the organizations biggest fundraising event, scheduledfor Sept. 12.
Stanford said the “unique and eclectic” event draws more than 200 strollers every year.
“We really just celebrate all that is going on in downtown Hays. There is so much progress being made, there is always new businesses that are opening,” she said. “We really just offer an opportunity to celebrate the heart of Hays.”
Stanford said 14 to 15 businesses will open their doors after hours and, as in years past, offer hors d’oeuvres and samples of wines and brews.
New this year is “Taste of Downtown,” where participants will get the chance to sample foods from downtown restaurants.
“Everyone is there to support the organization and and enjoy downtown,” Stanford said. “The event gives a different atmosphere and and offers a different relationship between the business owners and strollers as well.”
Wines and Steins is scheduled for 6 to 11 p.m. Sept. 12, beginning with check-in at Emprise Bank, 1200 Main.
For more information and make reservations, contact the DHDC at (785) 621-4171 or stop by DHCS offices at 2700 Vine in Hays.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The proposed Innovation Campus at Wichita State University has jumped a major financial hurdle.
The Sedgwick County Commission on Wednesday approved a funding mechanism to allow the university to start construction on a $43 million Experiential Building.
The “experiential engineering” building would provide labs, offices and high-tech equipment for entrepreneurs, students and researchers. It would be followed by a new business school and innovation building.
The Wichita Eagle reports the commission gave the university permission to use some money from property taxes to obtain bonds to erect buildings. A 1.5 mill levy raises about $6.2 million annually from property taxes, which has been used for scholarships. Wichita State needed the county’s permission to use some of that money to construct the new building.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Third-party candidates rarely win Senate races, but they could play significant roles in several key races this year.
And one of them has already helped drive the Democratic nominee from the Senate race in Kansas.
Many third-party candidates are libertarians. Libertarians tend to attract conservative voters who otherwise might lean Republican. That’s a concern to Republicans in Kentucky, North Carolina and a few other states.
However, a non-mainstream candidate is causing headaches for a Democratic senator in Louisiana.
In Kansas, Democratic nominee Chad Taylor left the race after seeing independent candidate Greg Orman attract more money. Republicans worry that Orman may be able to consolidate opposition to three-term GOP Sen. Pat Roberts.
But veteran campaigners note that third-party candidates often win only minuscule slivers of the vote.
CHICAGO (AP) – Garth Brooks figures the first shows of his comeback tour are going to be awful. Brooks played his first show of the series last night in Chicago. Brooks says every show will be better than the last, so he hopes whoever saw last night’s show was patient. Brooks says he purposely tried to stage a lot of shows and to not soak people on the ticket price. He says it kills him to get letters from people who say they would have loved to see his show but they couldn’t afford it. Tickets for Brooks’ Chicago shows went for as little as $55.
Central Oklahoma ran 36 more plays and dominated the time of possession and beat the Fort Hays State Tigers 26-7 in the season opener for both in front of 4,133 a Lewis Field Thursday night. The Bronchos, who had lost 19 of their last 21 road games, amassed 489 yards on 81 plays and had the ball for 40:44. The Tigers were held to 181 yards on 45 plays and only had the ball for 19:16.
Chris Brown Postgame News Conference
Daniel Lindsey / DeAndre James Postgame Interview
After a scoreless first quarter, UCO grabbed the lead on the first play of the second quarter, scoring on a 24 yard touchdown pass to Connor Pulley. The Tigers looked like they were going to answer on their next possession, but a controversial fumble by redshirt freshman James Sullivan at the five yard line gave the ball back to the Bronchos. Kevin Spain, who replaced starter Treveon Albert in the second quarter, hit Ed Williams on a 38-yard pass on third and nine then connected with Isaiah Maxi for 18 yards before the fumble, which appeared to come after Sullivan had already hit the ground.
Game Highlights
UCO quarterback Chas Stallard scored on an 11 yard run two possessions later to give the Bronchos a 14-0 lead at halftime.
The Bronchos controlled the second half, forcing the Tigers to punt on four their five possessions and picking off a pass on the other.
FHSU’s only score came late in the third quarter on a DeAndre James 89 yard kickoff return. It was the Tigers first kickoff return for a touchdown since C.J. Lovett returned one against Western State in the 2009 season opener.
Senior running back Edward Smith was injured on the Tigers first possession and didn’t return. Kevin Spain and Kenneth Iheme both rushed for 22 yards to lead the Tigers ground game. Spain completed 3-of-13 passes for 65 yards and threw an interception. Treveon Albert completed 4-of-9 for just 24 yards. Ed Williams hauled in three catches for 64 yards.
Punter Drew O’Brien launched a 78 yard punt late in the game, tying Adam Ryan for the second longest punt in Fort Hays State history.
The 0-1 Tigers make their first trip to Tahlequah, Oklahoma a week from Saturday to play Northeastern State. The River Hawks are at No. 9 Pittsburg State Saturday night.
