HaysMed

The annual HaysMed Service Awards Banquet was held Tuesday night at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall in Hays. The highlight of the banquet was the presentation of the Norman W. Jeter Humanitarian Award, the Sister Mary J. Mollison Nurse of the Year Award and the Vic Eddy, MD, Physician of the Year Award. These awards are the highest level of recognition that an associate of Hays Medical Center can receive.

The Norman W. Jeter Humanitarian Award recognizes an individual’s human kindness and dedication to medical excellence. The award was presented to Pat Marrs, RN, Corporate Compliance at HaysMed. Marrs has been with the organization since 1974.

Recipient of the Sr. Mary J. Mollison Nurse of the Year Award was Karen Threlkel, RN. This award honors a nurse who displays excellence in the areas of job knowledge and performance, quality improvements, self-development and participation in hospital and community affairs. Threlkel began her career with HaysMed in 1977 and works at HaysMed Family Medicine.

The Vic Eddy, MD, Physician of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Babu Prasad, Radiation Oncologist at the Dreiling/Schmidt Cancer Institute. The award recognizes a physician who displays a high level of clinical experience and an extraordinary dedication to improving healthcare delivery in the community. Dr. Prasad began his career at HaysMed in 1983.

For 40 years of service the following individual was recognized:
Nadine Gottschalk

For 35 years of service the following individuals were recognized:
Bob Brungardt
Darla Cain-Karst
Darrell Werth, MD

For 30 years of service the following individuals were recognized:
Susan Amrein
Robin Armbrister
Wanda Rohr

For 25 years of service the following individuals were recognized:
Paul Brungardt
Lisa Dinkel
Michelle Jensen
Lois Koerner
Nancy Kreutzer
Jacque Krueger
Martha Lambert
Cathy Pasek
Melissa Portenier
Phyllis Riedel
Kathy Sulzman
Tina Tuttle

For 20 years of service the following individuals were recognized:
Myron Applequist
Amy Braun
Debora Cook
Vivian Dietz
Margie Dreiling
Rose Ann Dreiling
Sara Dunn
Tara Garcia
Teresa Heimann
Zita Klaus
Jim Kramer
Theresa Madden
Chris Markus
Bob McAnany
Becky Morris
James Mulkey
Bryan Noone
Marilyn Pfannenstiel
Bob Schumacher
Mary Beth Sell
Angel Smith
Jane Soukup
Linda Stefan
Janice Tholen
Jennifer VonFeldt
Kellie Voss
Kristi Williams

For 15 years of service the following individuals were recognized:
Jennifer Bethel
Stacy Brown
Lindsey Dreiling
Leo Elms
Jane Geist
Keith Goetz
Sarah Harm
Chrissy Haynes
Patty Kuhlmann
Shawn Landers
Donna Legleiter
Debbie Linenberger
Mary Ricke
Theresa Roe
Tina Rohr
Heidi Schlautman
Alexia Schmidt
Angie Schoenberger
Jessica Seib
Gerald Sekavec
Susan Smith
Christine Wasinger
Bryce Young
Carol Young
Alanna Zimmerman

For 10 years of service the following individuals were recognized:
Trudy Alstatt
Sharon Bittel
Shanon Custer, MD
Kelli Delimont
Lacey Dreiling
Jerry Elliott
Misty Flax
Tori Gano
Denise Garrison
Pam Gasper
Pam Gassmann
Heidi Gohl
Shelly Green
Jenny Guernsey
Annette Herman
Susie Kohlrus
Aaron Leuenberger
Kelly Malleck
Angie McKenna
Barbara Miller
Richard Peckham
Kylee Pfannenstiel
Michelle Pope, MD
Kinsey Post
Kurt Rider, MD
Cheryl Robben
Julie Robben
Teri Rohr
Cathy Russell
Chanc Salmans
James Schmidt
Sarah Selfridge
Cynthia Smith
Kim Taylor
Katherine Teller
Karen Wagner
Alan Wamser
Carmen Winter

For 5 years of service the following individuals were recognized:
Ashley Adams
Jessica Albers
David Arellano
Kendra Barnes
Riana Bates
Kelli Bean
Amy Befort
Barbara Bunker
Brandon Cunningham, MD
Gloria Custer
Lisa Eisiminger
Lori Frederking
Jordan Gabel
Carol Geist
Fernando Guzman-Soto
Rosie Hammerschmidt
Erin Hobbs
Chrissy Hoff
Trese Holle
Ardie Hurst
Jayne Inlow
Amber Irwin
Kandi Jackson
Allison Jones
David Juenemann
Tyler Kaiser
Carly Leiker
Christy Lemuz
Crystal Mahan
Stan Maskus
Lisa McGrath
Jordan Petz
Lori Post
Rod Ream
Devin Reed
Jannelle Reynolds
Megan Richard
Autumn Robbins
Shana Rome
Brian Ross
Andrea Sandoval, MD
Miki Smith
Anissa Sonntag
Claudia Stremel
Kristi Thompson
Shae Veach
Ashley Wellbrock
Jason Williams
Jodi Wolfe

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Don’t be complacent about spring weather. Next week is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Kansas. The annual statewide tornado drill is Tue., March 15, at 6:30 p.m.

The city of Hays has an “all-hazards” city emergency operations plan to respond to disasters, including a tornado. The city manager or designated representative will be at the Ellis County Emergency Operations Center, (EOC) coordinating the response with county officials.

All city departments have a role in disaster response. Police officers, firefighters and public works, parks and utilities crews with heavy equipment will perform search and rescue work. Midwest Energy crews will assist in the search and rescue effort, controlling gas leaks and downed power line dangers.

As quickly as possible after the search and rescue mission has been completed, efforts will shift to recovery. This includes clearing streets and restoring city services.

Hays Firefighter Travis Hageman reminds residents to have a disaster kit prepared with supplies for the entire family to last three days.

The National Weather Service in Dodge City will host Severe Weather and Storm Spotter training tonight, Wed., March 9, at 7 p.m. in the Sternberg Museum, 3000 Sternberg Drive. The public is invited to attend.

The Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and 15 traffic stops Tuesday, March 8, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Battery – Domestic–2900 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 2:30 AM; 2:45 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–2800 block Oak St, Hays; 8:07 AM
Civil Dispute–300 block W 6th St, Hays; 8:08 AM; 8:39 AM
Civil Dispute–1500 block E 27th St Terr, Hays; 9:34 AM
Animal At Large–5th and Fort St, Hays; 11:13 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–300 block W 11th St, Hays; 3:29 PM
Counterfeit currency/documents–4700 block Roth Ave, Hays; 3/5; 3/6
Civil Dispute–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 3:49 PM; 4:24 PM
Found/Lost Property–100 block Main St, Hays; 4:14 PM
Animal At Large; 2000 block Marshall Rd, Hays; 4:31 PM
Disturbance – Noise–17th and MacArthur, Hays; 5:12 PM; 5:31 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–400 block W 4th St, Hays; 6:14 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–2700 block Oak St, Hays; 6:24 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–1000 block Country Club Dr, Hays; 6:43 PM
Criminal Trespass–200 block W 10th St, Hays; 9:45 PM
Driving While Suspended/Revoked–2300 block Vine, Hays; 10:54 PM

Submitted

SALINA — Catholic Charities of Northern Kansas will be moving to a new location within a year, thanks to the generous donation of an anonymous supporter.

With that donor’s support, the property at 1500 S. Ninth has been purchased and will undergo renovation to house Catholic Charities, the social services agency of the Catholic Diocese of Salina.

Michelle Martin, executive director of Catholic Charities, said the agency had been searching for a larger property for several years.

Catholic Charities’ current location, at 425 W. Iron, is a former medical clinic acquired by the diocese in 1959. The diocese initially planned to renovate that facility to enhance its efficiency but determined it would not be cost-effective.

“We did an analysis of the building, and it proved too expensive to retrofit. Given the age of our current location, extensive remodeling would be required to bring the entire facility up to current building codes and deal with environmental issues, so we started looking at other options,” she said.

In the meantime, a longtime supporter of Catholic Charities offered to purchase a property for the agency. The donor requested anonymity.

“The donor of this project was so deeply grateful for the many years of support shown to him by the Salina community. It was important to him to give back in a way that will help the area for a long time to come,” said Eric Frank, director of development for Catholic Charities. “What an impact this will make, and it’s just an incredible, heartfelt thing to do.”

Martin said the new location will be much more visible to the community and easier to access for clients, as many walk or use the City Go public transportation.

Catholic Charities provides an array of services focusing on adoption, pregnancy, financial assistance, counseling, immigration and predatory lending. Services are offered to anyone in need, regardless of faith belief. The agency’s coverage area is the same as the makeup of the Diocese of Salina, which includes 31 counties from Manhattan west to Goodland and north to the Nebraska line. It has satellite offices in Hays and Manhattan.

Martin said she hopes that renovations to the building can begin in April and expects the project to take several months. The building most recently served as a warehouse for Acoustic Sounds’ operations and before that was the location for Tractor Supply and, originally, Dillon’s Food Store.

“Renovations to the building in the past have kept it in good condition, and we are going to try to reuse as much as possible and make only changes as needed for efficient operations,” she said.

She also wants to incorporate solar energy.

“We’d like to be able to generate what we need to operate. We want to be as green as we can,” she said.
The building, with about 18,000 square feet, is about twice as large as the current Catholic Charities offices, Martin said. The current location does not have enough land for expansion and has limited parking.
“We’re not just building for now but for what Catholic Charities might become in the future. This gives us the opportunity to expand our programs, and for the diocese, there’s enough room to build another building if ever needed in the future,” she said.

Catholic Charities’ mission has changed over the years, based on the needs in the community, she said, and the building’s size and flexibility will allow the agency to adapt as programs and services change over time.
Founded in 1959, Catholic Charities initially focused on providing care for orphans. Catholic orphanages had been in operation in Clyde and later in Abilene from the early 1900s until then.

St. Joseph Children’s Home occupied the West Iron building until it was closed in 1991. Catholic Charities’ offices, which had been located a block north, moved into the building in 1994.

“Our mission over the years has evolved with the needs of the community.”  Martin said. “Services are open to all individuals, not just Catholics.”

The new location will allow the agency to do its job better, she said.

“We can serve people more efficiently, we can hold donated items until a need is matched, and we can enhance our confidentiality, security and respectful treatment of clients,” she said.

Frank, the agency’s director of development, said that while the donation of this property is greatly appreciated, it will not reduce the need for financial assistance from other supporters. The agency operates primarily on donations and is supported by Catholics through an annual appeal.

With the more visible location, Frank said he expects the agency will be busier than ever.

“We anticipate the demand for our services will increase with our improved visibility, so we’re going to need more help from our supporters,” he said.

For more information about Catholic Charities, go to ccnks.org.

The highest chance of rain is from Friday night into Saturday night, with the best chances east of Dodge City.

Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 63. Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 9 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 20 mph.

Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 35. East wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

ThursdaySunny, with a high near 68. Light west northwest wind becoming north northwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Thursday NightMostly clear, with a low around 37. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming south after midnight.

FridaySunny, with a high near 67. Southwest wind 5 to 13 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon.

Friday NightA 20 percent chance of showers after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.

SaturdayA 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 63.

Saturday NightA 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45.