SUBMITTED

RUSSELL–The St. John Lutheran Church Back-to-School Giveaway Committee will be hosting their Back-to-School Clothing Giveaway on Wednesday, August 10, 3-7 p.m., and Thursday, August 11, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Any youth, ages preschool through senior high, who qualifies for free or reduced lunches, who is in need of back-to-school clothing and who is attending a Russell school, is welcome to come and pick up free clothing.

Clothing items are limited to 10 items per youth each day of the giveaway and parents must have their children with them in order to “shop” for them.

Due to the generosity of others, we will be able to give each child a new socks and underwear as well as school supplies for those attending middle school and high school while supplies last.

St. John Lutheran Church is located at 425 N Main St., Russell. For more information call (785) 483-5358

FHSU University Relations and Marketing

An article written by Garrett Nathan, an Omaha, Neb., graduate student in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at Fort Hays State University, has been accepted for publication in a national, peer-reviewed journal.

“Sound Intensity Levels of Volume Settings on Cardiovascular Entertainment Systems in a University Wellness Center,” pointing out risks of hearing loss, will appear in the fall 2016 issue of the Recreational Sports Journal.

“As a student researcher and Wellness Center patron, I had multiple goals for this study,” said Nathan. “As a researcher, I wanted to develop my own personal research agenda, gaining knowledge and experience in the research process. As a patron, I wanted to investigate the sound intensity levels cardiovascular entertainment systems produced to advocate for safe-listening practices, as well as educate fellow patrons.”

Nathan developed his interest in the field of speech-language pathology over the nine years of speech therapy he received as a child.

“As a child, I spent hours in therapy working on multiple articulation, language and literacy goals to keep up with my peers,” said Nathan. “While deciding on a career, I confidently pursued SLP to assist individuals who have speech/language deficits.”

Dr. Fred Britten, professor of communication sciences and disorders, was a collaborating author and also mentored Nathan during the nine-month process.

“We decided to submit this publication to a journal in the health and wellness area because of the limited information present in that area,” said Britten. “We felt strongly about heightening the awareness of noise-induced hearing loss among professionals in the health and wellness field.”

Dr. Jeff Burnett, professor of health and human performance, was also a collaborating author.

Nathan will complete his degree in speech-language pathology in July 2016. This research project was in addition to other research requirements.

“This project was something above and beyond Nathan’s requirements for graduation,” said Britten. “He wanted to be involved and took the lead. This is something that not every student will take on.”

“I am humbled and honored for the opportunity to publish in a peer-reviewed journal publication this early in my professional career,” said Nathan. “I highly recommend students of all levels to pursue experiences in research to better their field of study and foster their own professional growth.”

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission and Commissioner Barb Wasinger have seen a number of changes in the past four years, but Wasinger says she’d “like to do more.”

Wasinger is seeking re-election to the District 2 county commission seat and faces Al Ackerman in the Aug. 2 primary.

She was the first woman elected to the county commission in 2012 after serving a number of years on the Hays City Commission.

Wasinger said the county has accomplished a lot of the past four years, with passing of the sales tax and finishing construction on the Emergency Service building and the remodel of the jail and courthouse, as well the taking over the former Commerce Bank building on Eighth Street and turning that into the County Administration building.

“I can walk away from that and be very proud that we were able to complete those projects and get all that done,” said Wasinger.

She also said the projects coming in close to budget is “great news.”

Wasinger said some of the discussions with the builder and the architects in executive session with county counselor were among the reasons they were able to come in so close to the $14.3 million budget.

“There were a lot of things that were happening behind the scenes,” Wasinger said. “Things that were more involved with our attorney.”

With the population of the county staying relatively steady, Wasinger said the county must continue to work to maintain the “excellent level of service” Ellis County has provided in its history, but she said it’s a balancing act.

“You try to make sure you’re maintaining roads and keeping services for your citizens while keeping the budget down,” Wasinger said.

Facing a potential $3.7 million budget deficit, the commission called on county departments to find areas to cut their budgets, and Wasinger said she is proud of how staff worked together to balance the budget.

“We really have watched our dollars and cents all year trying to make sure we didn’t overspend at all,” she said.

After raising the mill levy slightly for the 2016 budget, the commission and Wasinger were committed to not raising the levy for fiscal year 2017.

“As a government … we exist for our taxpayers and not the other way around,” said Wasinger. “It’s balancing tax dollars and what you take from taxpayers and making sure that you give them the services that they are needing.”

While the county deals with the drop in oil valuation in the struggling agriculture economy, the state is also dealing with its own budget issues. Wasinger said the county is going to get less help from the state for things like roads and bridges.

“The next four years will be trying to figure out how to fix our bridges and maintain our roads and do things with less,” she added. “I think I’ve proven in the last four years it’s something I can do and something I have done.”

Wasinger said she would also like to continue improving teamwork among all county employees, something County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes is focusing on.

“I’m not sure prior to Phill being there and having someone there every day who wants to coordinate everything and make it more of a team effort, it wasn’t moving forward like we would’ve liked it too be.”

She also said, “It’s always been a goal for me is that we all work as one Ellis County.”

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

After serving in law enforcement for more than 27 years – 25 of those with the Kansas Highway Patrol – District 2 Ellis County Commission candidate Al Ackerman believes his leadership experience makes him a perfect candidate for public office.

Ackerman, a Hoxie native, is challenging District 2 County Commissioner Barb Wasinger in the Republican primary Aug. 2.

Serving as a county commissioner was always something Ackerman wanted to do but, until his retirement, from the Kansas Highway Patrol in 2014, he was not allowed to.

“I’ve always been interested in it,” Ackerman said. “I just want to be part of the county leadership.”

Ackerman moved to Hays 11 years ago when he transferred from the Johnson County area to Hays and he worked as a zone supervisor. He was in charge of troopers in Ellis and Russell counties.

Before working law enforcement Ackerman began working in the oil industry in the 1980s but found himself without a job following a slump in prices. With his previous experience in the oil field, Ackerman said he understands what the county is going through in the current downturn.

“I’ve experienced that pain that caused me to be out of a job,” Ackerman said. “I kind of can empathize with people in that regard.”

Ackerman said he believes the current commission is doing a good job but says when the times are tough serving on the commission can be “a thankless job.”

However, he said he would have done some things different. One of those is the jail and courthouse remodel and the construction of the Emergency Services building. Ackerman would have rather had the county keep the property at 22nd and Vine, instead of selling it too Commerce Bank for the property on Eighth Street.

He said he would have liked them to use that property to build a facility that could have better fit the county’s needs.

“Even though we have a so-called new jail, it’s extremely problematic,” Ackerman said.

With the decline in oil and gas revenue, Ackerman said he thinks there still too much unnecessary spending happening.

Ackerman said, “You have to trim where you can and you have to put ‘no’ in the vocabulary again.”

He also said he would look at what the county spends each year funding outside agencies.

“You want to be a part of the community as a county, and you want to help but, unfortunately, ‘no’ may become necessary to tell some of those folks and say ‘We’re sorry we cannot do this,’ ” Ackerman said.

Ackerman said he would also like to focus on rebuilding trust in the community, professionalism and communication with county employees.

“You have to listen to your constituents and to be a good leader you have to be a good listener,” Ackerman said.

He added, “As a commissioner, you need to understand what guidelines there are and the laws in place to govern or dictate to the county treasurer for example, as to what they are allowed to do in their office because the state obviously regulates that.”

“With my leadership and supervisory experience over the years,” Ackerman said. “I know the pains of being a leader but I know the rewards of it.”

The Kansas Foster and Adoptive Parent Association and the Kansas Family Advisory Network are coming together to co-sponsor a child welfare family summit at the United Methodist Church, 305 W. 7th, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m, Saturday in room 205.

Family summits offer families the chance to meet with KFAPA, KFAN, and other families to discuss the challenges they are facing in an open forum.

The KFAN offers assistance to birth and kinship parents, and the KFAPA offers assistance to foster and adoptive parents.

There will be giveaways to families that attend, as well as refreshments throughout the program.

To RSVP contact Nina Shaw-Woody at 1-800-969-5764. You may also email Nina at [email protected].

Over the next five days there will be a chance for thunderstorms each day. More seasonal temperatures are also expected to return to western Kansas. A frontal boundary will bring slightly cooler conditions today with highs in the 90’s.

Looking ahead to Monday and Tuesday, chances for thunderstorms continue, with the best chances expected Tuesday night. Otherwise, high temperatures remain around 90.

Today: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 10am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 95. Northwest wind 7 to 14 mph becoming east in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 26 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. East northeast wind 8 to 13 mph.

Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 9am. Partly sunny, with a high near 90. East southeast wind 8 to 11 mph.

Monday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 70. East southeast wind 6 to 11 mph.

Tuesday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. South southeast wind 6 to 11 mph.