The Hays Police Department responded to 12 animal calls and 16 traffic stops, Wednesday, March 18, 2015, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Driving Under the Influence–700 block Walnut St, Hays
Abandoned Vehicle–200 block W 7th St, Hays; 7:52 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–2700 block Hickory St, Hays; 8:49 AM
Stolen/Recovered Property–1300 block 40 Hwy, Hays; 3/10/15 3 PM; 4 PM
Found/Lost Property–3300 block Vine St, Hays; 10:37 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–600 block E 11th St, Hays; 11:38 AM
Animal At Large–300 block W 9th St, Hays; 1:31 PM
Abandoned Vehicle–3100 block Thunderbird Dr, Hays; 1:39 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–2300 block Main St, Hays; 3:01 PM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 3:55 PM; 4:04 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–700 block Main St, Hays; 4:30 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 4:38 PM
Mental Health Call–300 block W 23rd St, Hays; 4:54 PM
Disturbance – General–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 5:14 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–100 block W 43rd St, Hays; 5:30 PM
Disturbance – Noise–300 block W 20th St, Hays; 5:37 PM; 7:35 PM
Domestic Disturbance–500 block E 20th St, Hays; 5:30 PM; 5:43 PM
Disturbance – General–800 block Elm St, Hays; 5:50 PM
Animal At Large–100 block E 23rd St, Hays; 7:16 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1900 block Milner, Hays; 7:20 PM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 8:23 PM
Minor in Possession of CMB/LIQ–1300 block Donald Dr, Hays; 11:30 PM

FHSU University Relations

The live-action graphic novel “The Intergalactic Nemesis,” featuring live actors, musicians, sound effects and full-screen images, will be presented by Fort Hays State University’s Encore Series at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, at the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center in Sheridan Hall on the FHSU campus.

Inspired by “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “Star Wars,” “The Intergalactic Nemesis” is a one-of-a-kind mash-up of radio drama and comic book adventure. Three actors voice dozens of characters. A Foley artist creates hundreds of sound effects and a keyboardist performs a score while more than 1,250 individual, full-color, hand-drawn, high-resolution comic book images are projected on an enormous screen.

Tickets are available at the Memorial Union Student Service Center, by calling 785-628-5306, or by visiting www.fhsu.edu/encore. Tickets for the general public are $30 reserved, $26 unreserved; for seniors and children ages 5-17, tickets are $28 reserved, $24 unreserved; and for FHSU students tickets are $21 reserved, $17 unreserved with a Tiger Card.

This event is sponsored by Chartwells.

Hays Medical Center

Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute will soon be equipped with a new imaging system called VisionRT that offers pinpoint accuracy and enhanced patient safety during radiation treatments.

The institute, which is part of the Hays Medical Center family, is one of only two facilities between Shawnee and Denver to offer this system.

VisionRT is just one benefit that goes hand-in-hand with the new SBRT linear accelerator that soon will be available at the institute. SBRT stands for Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, which reduces the number of treatments for patients that qualify.

The new imaging system is just more icing on the cake. “VisionRT has three cameras that provide a three-dimensional map of the patient,” said Lindsey Fox, medical physicist. “We use this to track the patient’s position and movement during treatment. There are tight margins around the tumor, and with x-rays and CT images we can visualize the situation.

“Treatments will be done more quickly and we can monitor the patient’s movement at all times,” Fox continued. “We set the patient up in the exact position each time and if there is movement outside of tolerances, the radiation beam shuts off automatically.”

Leo Elms, medical dosimetrist/radiation oncology operations manager, noted the system is extremely accurate and reliable.

“It is so accurate,” he explained, “you can tell if someone blinks. It could be a slow, gradual movement or a sudden movement.

“The automatic shut-off ensures the proper area is treated,” he added. “We don’t want to treat areas that are not intended to be treated. With SBRT, everything is multiplied. So we take extra precautions to prevent radiation from going to areas where we don’t want it to go.”

The new system will benefit a majority of patients – whether traditional or more complex treatments are involved.

VisionRT also will allow Dreiling/Schmidt to offer what is called a “breath-hold treatment” that is important in caring for patients with certain breast cancers.

Elms and Fox noted this new equipment is just one more example of HaysMed going the extra mile for patients and their families.

“Dr. John Jeter, the board of directors and the administration want to provide high-quality services so that HaysMed can be the best community hospital,” Elms said. “We take that very seriously in radiation oncology and at Dreiling/Schmidt.

“We have the same equipment as major cancer centers, and go beyond what other centers do,” he continued. “We have decades of experience here, with a well-balanced, well-educated staff. It is a pleasure to work with these high-level professionals.”

Elms also noted that a person seeking treatment at Dreiling/Schmidt “is not just a number, not just another patient. The level of care here is probably not given at larger places because of sheer volume. We are fortunate here in western Kansas.”

Fox, who came to Dreiling/Schmidt late in 2013, said she was impressed early on with HaysMed. “One thing I noticed right away was the whole attitude here – not just in radiation oncology but throughout the hospital,” she said. “They are willing to make changes and stay current. This is a rapidly changing field with new technologies.

“HaysMed is open to this,” she continued. “No one is hesitant to make changes. We are staying in the forefront of technology, and are progressive and open-minded.”

Dreiling/Schmidt has been completely remodeled. It now features a more modern look, enhanced privacy and comfort, and new clinical treatment areas. Partial funding for the renovation came from contributions to the HaysMed Foundation capital campaign, “Beyond Medicine.”

Eggs & Issues, an Hays Area Chamber of Commerce legislative forum, will be Saturday, March 21,  at 8:30 a.m. in the Ellis County Administrative Center at 718 Main.

Reps. Sue Boldra, R-Hays, and Travis Couture-Lovelady, R-Palco, and Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, R-Grinnell, will discuss the legislative process and happenings in Topeka.

A light breakfast will be served. Send RSVPs to [email protected].

After a cloudy and cool day today the weekend will be more spring like.

Today A 40 percent chance of rain, mainly between 11am and 4pm. Areas of fog before 2pm. Otherwise, cloudy, with a high near 54. Calm wind becoming north 5 to 9 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 31. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming southwest in the evening.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 71. Northwest wind 6 to 9 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.
Friday Night Clear, with a low around 38. South southwest wind 6 to 8 mph.
Saturday Sunny, with a high near 75. West southwest wind 6 to 11 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 41.
Sunday Sunny, with a high near 76.
Monday A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly sunny, with a high near 64.

 

Hays Fire Department

The City of Hays Fire Department will be inspecting fire hydrants and flushing water mains Thursday, March 19, in the area of Home Depot east of Vine Street and South of 45th Street.

The work will continue Friday, March 20, at the Bickle Schmidt Sports Complex and in the area between Arbor and Augusta Lane towards Vine Street and between 27th Street and 20th Street.

This is part of a coordinated effort by the City of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually.

Inspecting fire hydrants ensures that the valves operate properly and that there is no damage or obstructions that will prevent or interfere with the prompt use of fire hydrants in an emergency. Firefighters are also checking the pressure and volume of water mains in each neighborhood for firefighting purposes.

The associated flushing of water mains allows chlorine to be distributed throughout the system to eliminate bio-filming in the water mains.

Slight discoloration of the water supply may be encountered although there will be no health risks to the consumer. All reasonable efforts will be taken to minimize the inconvenience to the public. Drivers are asked to avoid driving through water discharging from a fire hydrant during the short flushing period.

For more information, contact the Hays Fire Department at (785) 628-7330.