HUTCHINSON— Officials in Reno County are investigating a possible outbreak of Pertussis or whooping cough in Hutchinson.
The Reno County Health Department says three cases have been reported and are still under investigation.
The Health Department, KDHE and USD 308 are working together on these and investigating additional cases.
Health officials ask that you make sure your family’s vaccinations are up-to-date. Protections against Pertussis from the childhood vaccine “Dtap” decreases over time. Older children and adults, including pregnant women should get a pertussis booster shot called “TDap” to protect themselves and infants near or around them.
The $673,532 computer purchase of 820 Surface 3s for Hays High School students, 60 Surface Pro 3s for HHS staff and 108 Lenovo c50-30 Desktops for computer labs at the high school and middle school computer labs, is scheduled for a vote during tonight’s meeting of the Hays USD 489 school board.
Board members will also vote on financing for the Windows computers purchase recommended by the district Technology Committee. Administration is recommending the board approve financing of $375,000 with Bank of Hays, the low bidder with a 1.24% rate and no closing fee costs.
The remainder of the PC technology purchases would be paid with capital outlay funds.
Other agenda items include a vote on the 2015-2016 school fees, including a proposed $20 increase in the technology fee at Hays High School, which would increase the fee to $50 if approved.
Administration is also recommending approval of a five cent increase in the elementary lunch price and a 10 cent lunch increase price at the middle school and high school for 2015-2016. Due to federal price equity requirements, USD 489 is required to raise lunch prices a minimum of $.07 weighted average.
The board will consider voting to approve the three year Kansas State Department of Education Technology Plan so it can be submitted to the State of Kansas.
The board will also discuss renewing membership in the Kansas Association of
School Boards at a cost of $13,145 for membership and legal assistance fund fees.
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, in the Toepfer Board Room at the USD 489 Administrative Building, 323 W. 12th.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is banning the federal government from providing some military-style equipment to local police.
The announcement is a surprise coming nine months after police in full body armor with armored trucks dispelled last summer’s racially charged protests in Ferguson, Missouri. The White House suggested last year that Obama would maintain programs that provide the equipment because of their broader contribution to public safety.
But an interagency group found “substantial risk of misusing or overusing” items like tracked armored vehicles, high-powered firearms and camouflage. The task force also created new controls for a longer list of weapons and gear the federal government provides to police.
The announcements come as Obama is visiting Camden, New Jersey, one of the country’s most violent and poorest cities.
MANHATTAN -The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Science and
Technology Directorate announced the award of a contract for the final phase of construction of the National Bio and Agro-defense Facility, or NBAF, being constructed in Manhattan according to Kansas State University.
The $834 million award by S&T’s procurement support partner, the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, or FLETC, modifies the existing contract for McCarthy Mortensen NBAF Joint Venture, which was selected in 2009.
“The NBAF will be a key component in our joint effort with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to advance research critical to the security of our nation’s food supply and agricultural economy,” said S&T Under Secretary Dr. Reginald Brothers. “This critical facility will further develop the strategic partnerships between the Department, the state of Kansas, and the city of Manhattan, along with private entities and better leverage the research capabilities of the NBAF once it is operational.”
The state of Kansas is providing $307 million, and the city of Manhattan is providing $5 million toward the total acquisition cost inclusive of planning, design, construction and commissioning of the $1.25 billion facility. The award is the beginning of the third and final phase of construction of the NBAF. Site preparation was completed in 2012 with funding provided by the state of Kansas.
The central utility plant, or CUP, is expected to be completed in October of this year. The $80 million CUP, which houses the boilers, chillers, emergency diesel generators and other support elements for the main laboratory facility, was funded with $40 million in federal appropriations and $40 million in gift funding from the state of Kansas.
Construction is expected to be completed in 2020 with full operational capability achieved by 2022.
TOPEKA – Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior/Senior High School was honored May 5 as one of just 44 Kansas schools and districts offering excellent character education that focuses on students’ social, emotional and character development.
Awards to these character-focused schools and districts were given at the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic site in Topeka. The awards were given though the Kansas Schools of Character Recognition Program, and sponsoring organizations were the Topeka City of Character, Character.org, the Kansas State Department of Education, and the Brown v. Board site.
Preparing students for a challenging world means offering more than intellectual stimulation. Character education helps to meet the needs of the business community, for instance, which has called for more focus on skills like reliability, honesty and leadership. Character education is a proactive effort by schools, districts and communities to help students develop important core ethical (recognizing what’s right) and performance (doing what’s right) values such as caring, honesty, diligence, fairness, fortitude, responsibility, grit, creativity, critical thinking, and respect for self and others.
“From recent surveys, it is clear that business and industry want employees to be academically prepared for the positions that they are seeking. But, more importantly, they want employees that demonstrate dependability, persistence, and teamwork skills,” said Brad Neuenswander, interim commissioner at the Kansas State Department of Education. “The social, emotional, and character development programs and initiatives prepare our students with the skills necessary for both college and career readiness.”
Sue Kidd, Kansas Character Development Initiative coordinator, said Kansas Standards for Social, Emotional and Character Development are used with students to develop life skills that help them become successful academically, ethically and socially.
For more information about Kansas character development programs, contact Kidd at (785) 865-9942 or [email protected]
Anybody that reads me knows I am anti-Democrat and I make it clear why. I make no apologies. Readers should also know by now I have issues with Republicans in Washington also, but not near as many.
In my writings, I have presented fact after fact why we can not continue down this same road politically with another left-wing liberal socialist in the White House. Without change, I don’t even want to think about the consequences, especially for my children and grandchildren.
Here are some facts I wish to make in this writing along with all the others I have made in previous writings.
Fact number one, we have a president that has exasperated race relations in this country. Barack Obama campaigned back in 2007 as a uniter, but instead this country has been more divided than ever. Obama’s administration has made race relations worse, and his former Attorney General Eric Holder was just as bad. Race relations in this country are at an all time low.
For the president to have a race baiter like Al Sharpton visit the White House some 50 times doesn’t help. What president would have a sidekick like Sharpton who makes a living creating racial tensions – and owes some $4 million in back taxes?
Why in the world did Baltimore come apart at the seams over a drug user, a drug pusher, 20 times arrested with 5 arrests outstanding? How many young lives were ruined by Freddie Gray pushing those drugs? The rioting makes no sense even though Gray died somewhere along the way during the arrest? How does that merit torching hundreds of businesses and vehicles, and looting the businesses? Until all the facts are in, who knows how Gray died? The rush to judgment by liberals is surreal.
Fact number two, statistics do not bear out that the police in this country are disproportionately killing African Americans. Of course, there are isolated instances of police abuse, but not typical. The big problem is black on black crime. Three out of four kids grow up in a home without a father, the kids lack education, live in poverty, exposed to drugs and, unfortunately, end up fighting each other. A kid born out of wedlock is most likely to grow up in poverty. Whitey is not the major problem, nor the cops. It’s a culture that requires change big time, but liberals don’t want to go there to make that change.
The big elephant in the room is not police targeting. It is welfare, or to put it in other terms – dependence on government. We could also call it “liberalism.” Unfortunately, when liberal agendas fail, liberals double down with even more of the same.
Fact number three, and the one I wish to emphasize the most. Blacks are shooting themselves in the foot, so to speak, when they vote election after election for Democrats. The melting-down Baltimore has been run by Democrats for decades. The mayor is black. The city council is predominately black, the police commissioner black, even the school board black, and that’s been the case for years. Look what happened in Detroit! That city went bankrupt under decades of Democrat rule by white and black liberals.
A good case can be made that keeping large numbers in poverty is intentional by liberals in that it ensures votes for Democrats as taxpayer money is doled out in the way of welfare. Liberals want people to think they are victims in order for big government to have an excuse to come to the rescue. The change that is needed to get people out of poverty requires jobs; jobs that have been missing not just in Baltimore but nationally as well. People need to take care of themselves by working as opposed to dependence on government bureaucrats.
Far too many voters think Dems are for the poor and Republicans are for the rich. That is a falsehood. For one thing, under Obama, the rich have become richer and more have become poor.
Fact number four, if Dems are unquestionably for the poor why hasn’t the War on Poverty going back to Democrat President Lyndon B. Johnson been a success? $22 trillion spent since the 1960s and poverty is still the same in America.
Obama gave $1.8 billion to Baltimore from the 2009 Stimulus Bill to create jobs. Where did all that money go? The unemployment rate in Baltimore is above the national average. Too often there is fraud and corruption involved.
What has Obama done for the black community? Poverty is greater! Unemployment is greater!
Speaking of unemployment, how in the world is Obama’s executive order of giving millions of illegals amnesty going to help blacks find work or bring down the poverty rate? A majority of illegals are poor themselves. Hillary Clinton has come out recently in support of amnesty (actually citizenship) to get the Hispanic vote for Democrats, as is the unethical and unconstitutional goal of Obama.
More of the same come November 2016 is not the answer. We need voters using their heads, not emotion or even heart this next time around. How about a change to “common sense” the next time around!
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas State Fair is being asked to consider banning smoking throughout the fair grounds.
A Reno County youth group called Communities That Care has twice discussed its research and ideas on a smoking ban with the state fair board, which will consider the request Tuesday.
The Hutchinson News reports smoking is currently not allowed in the fair buildings or in the grandstand seating area. The youth group wants the fair board to expand that ban to the entire grounds, saying it would create a healthier environment for fairgoers.
Fair manager Denny Stoecklein says the board has to consider that about 20 percent – or 78,000 fairgoers each year – are smokers. He says other issues are accommodating vendors who smoke and how to enforce the ban.
VICTORIA — The second annual Knight Run 5K will be next month in Victoria.
The event, hosted by Victoria Basketball Teams, is scheduled for Saturday, June 13, and will start and end at Victoria Junior/Senior High School. Registration is from 6:30 to 7:45 a.m.
Registration before June 9 is $15 — $20 after June 9. Checks are to made payable to Victoria High School.
Top male and female runners in each division will receive awards.
Harley Glen North, 86, longtime resident of Brownell, died Sunday, May 17, 2015 at Rhode Island Suites Nursing Home, Ransom, Kansas.
He was born February 11, 1929 in Ransom to D. K. and Bessie (Taylor) North. He graduated from high school in Brownell.
He married Donna Marie Scott on December 1, 1949 in Ransom. He was a lifetime farmer/stockman of Trego and Ellis county.
Survivors include his wife, Donna, Ransom; sons William (Ramona), rural Ellis, Harley Joe (Kathy), Raleigh, NC; daughters, Rita North, Bartlesville, OK, and Enid John and Diana North, both of Hays, KS; 16 grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Keith North; and sister-in-law, Wilma “Billie” North.
Cremation has taken place. Services will be at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be given to Rhode Island Suites, Ransom.
Maxine Marie Peterson, age 77, passed away on Saturday, May 16, 2015 at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas. She was born on September 2, 1937 in Logan County, Kansas, the daughter of William and Gladys Couch Blau. A resident of Scott City, Kansas since 1959 moving from Leoti, Kansas, she was a nurse and worked at both the Scott County Hospital and Park Lane Nursing Home in Scott City, Kansas.
She was a member of the First Christian Church of Scott City and the Scott County Ladies VFW Auxiliary.
On September 5, 1959 she married William Scott in Scott City, Kansas. He passed away in August of 2001. On February 24, 1983 she married Hugo Peterson in Tribune, Kansas. He passed away on December 28, 1999 in Scott City, Kansas.
Survivors Include her One Son – Donald & Sheri Scott of Scott City, Kansas, Three Daughters – Tamara & Jimmy Wilcoxson of Scott City, Kansas, Pamela & Robert Emberton of San Antonio, Texas, Sheila & Mark Brau of Scott City, Kansas, Two Sisters – Betty Elder of Tribune, Kansas, Della Heinitz of Leoti, Kansas, Ten Grandchildren and Ten Great Grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her Parents, Husbands, Four Brothers, Three Sisters and One Grandchild.
Memorial Services will be held at the First Christian Church in Scott City, Kansas at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, 2015 with Steve Payne presiding.
Inurnment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas at a later date.
Memorials may be given to the Scott County Health Department or Park Lane Nursing Home % Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.
Visitation will be from 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Monday and 10:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Tuesday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.
Due to the observance of Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, refuse/recycling route collection schedules will be altered as follows:
Monday, May 25, and Tuesday, May 26, routes will be collected on Tuesday, May 26. Although collections may not occur on the normal day, collections will be completed.
There will be no change to Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday’s collection schedules.
City of Hays customers that may have any questions regarding this notice should contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at (785) 628-7357.
