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Month: November 2016

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, Dillons to sponsor no-cost flu shots

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By GARRETT SAGER
Hays Post

Flu season is here, and the holiday season is just around the corner. To ensure that you and your family can enjoy their time together, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas will be sponsoring no-cost flu shots scheduled Nov. 5 to 13.

dillonssignwithstarbucksBCBSKS is partnering with Dillons to cover all Kansans, ages 6 and older regardless of insurance coverage — will even cover you if you do not have coverage.

This is a great opportunity for those without insurance to receive protection from the flu without having to pay for the shot, organizers said. BCBSKS will be picking up the copay that generally comes with those who do have coverage.

Fifty-seven Dillons pharmacies in 27 different communities, stretching from Colby to Leavenworth and Manhattan to Arkansas City will be sponsoring the flu shots.

Simple steps to receive the no-cost flu shot:

  • Visit a nearby Dillons pharmacy, Nov. 5 to13 during regular pharmacy hours
  • Provide basic information such as name and date of birth
  • Show an insurance ID card if you have coverage. If you do not have coverage, you do not need to display one.
  • Bring the Dillion’s pharmacy consent form filled out.

For more information on the flu shots, a look at the vaccine information statements from the CDC, and to print the consent form, visit the BCKSKS website.

Helen Catherine Koerner

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3997437_wlppHelen Catherine Koerner, age 88, passed away, surrounded by her family, on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 at Cedar Village Care Center, Ness City. She was born October 24, 1928 on the family farm near Antonino, Kansas the daughter of Jacob M. and Amelia Werth Haas.

She was a 1947 graduate of Girls’ Catholic High School, Hays and then went to work at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company as a bookkeeper. On May 12, 1949, she married Ervin “Blackie” Koerner in Hays where they began their married life. Later they moved to McCracken and then finally settled on the farm south of Ness City where they raised their 11 children. Besides raising her children, Helen was a daycare provider for many years. Helen was very proud of her German heritage and she was committed to her Catholic faith which she passed on to her children and others as she taught religion education in the church for many years. She was a devout member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Altar Society in Ness City. Her angel food cakes, noodles, and German cooking were a delight to many people. Helen was active in her community and served on the High Point township election board.

Helen is survived by her four sons: Larry (Kathy), Crete, NE, Dennis (Karen), Garden City, Kenneth (Marlena), Ness City, and Greg Koerner, Dodge City; seven daughters: Barbara (Larry) Bieker, Hays, Dorothy Stieben, Hays, Donna (Robert) Metzker, Ness City, Mary Ellen (Eldon) Stoecklein, Hays, Karen (Jerry) Casey, Plainville, Laura (Kevin) House, El Dorado, Janice (Adam) Showalter, Alexander; one sister, Mary Ann Gabel, Hays; 39 grandchildren and 42 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ervin; parents; step-mother, Lidwina Haas; sister, Alvera Boos; daughter-in-law, Patricia Koerner; and son-in-law, LaVerne Stieben.

Funeral service will be Saturday, November 5, 2016, 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church, Ness City with burial in the St. Joseph Cemetery, Hays at 2:00 p.m. The rosary will be on Friday, November 4 at 6:30 followed by the Parish Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Friends may call at Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Ness City on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be given to Sacred Heart Church, Cedar Village, and Thomas More Prep-Marian High School.

SCHROCK: Buzzed teaching

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John Richard Schrock is a professor at Emporia State University.
John Richard Schrock is a professor at Emporia State University.

This election will see the legalization of recreational marijuana up for vote in nine more states. The arguments often center on increased state income, analogies with Prohibition, questionable claims of medication not being available otherwise, etc. But rarely does a citizen stop to think about the possibility of a teacher being high on marijuana in the classroom.

The Kansas State Board of Education (KSBE) faces this situation on a near monthly basis.

The Professional Practices Commission (PPC) is charged with examining the cases of teachers who commit felonies or otherwise violate the professional standards we expect of the teachers who stand as role models for our children. That also includes considering prior diversion agreements. Teacher licenses are revoked for conviction of passing bad checks, sex-with-students, and other felonies. And recently, there has been an increase in diversions or convictions for possession of marijuana.

Recommendations from the PPC must be approved by the State Board of Education at a regular monthly meeting. These are open public records and the September 2016 KSBE meeting agenda details one interesting case that should give advocates of legalization of marijuana pause.

Usually, the teacher who has a record of marijuana use—revealed by conviction or a diversion agreement—can be approved to keep their license and teach in the classroom if they can show that they are no longer using, test clean, regret their prior behavior, and ensure the PPC they will not use in the future.  The PPC then recommends they keep their license, as in the cases in the November agenda.

However, in September [as noted on page 115 of the KSBE agenda], one teacher did not agree to submit to hair follicle drug testing seven days after his hearing and again later. Based on his refusal to cooperate with their request for drug testing, as well as other concerns this raised, the PPC recommended his license be revoked. The State Board agreed.

While this action received no attention in the press, it raises a very big question. The Professional Practices Commission relies on specific “triggers” or “tripwires” (diversions and felony convictions) to draw their attention to problems in the profession. What if this teacher was teaching in Colorado where possession of marijuana and related paraphernalia was not a felony?  Unlike alcohol, there is no easy breathalyzer test for marijuana levels.  And THC remains in the blood longer than alcohol. There would be no felony conviction to trigger revocation. If he kept his usage low enough not to demonstrate gross impairment, it is likely that this teacher could keep his teaching license until retirement. He was just in the wrong state.

Citizens prone to minimize the consequence of legalizing marijuana might think twice if they realized that their children could be spending a year in a classroom with a buzzed teacher.

Dreaming Big – November 2016

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Dr. Jamie Schwandt and his guest discuss how you can dream big, think positive and take action. In this episode, Serena Hanson discusses her experiences as a foster child, and how that experience helps her in her current job at the Kansas Department of Children and Families.

LEGAL NOTICE: Hays USD 489

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Hays Unified School District 489 hereby releases its notice of intention for alternative project delivery method for construction of projects. A public hearing will be held on November 14, 2016 at 6:30 pm in the Toepfer Board Room at 323 West 12th Street, Hays, KS. This will be the community’s sole opportunity to address the USD 489 Board of Education regarding the matter. Questions regarding the hearing can be directed to Sarah Wasinger, Board Clerk, at 785-623-2400, extension 112, or by email at [email protected].

Police: Man hit, critically injured in Kansas crash

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Pedestrian accident on Thursday night-photo Topeka Police
Pedestrian accident on Thursday night-photo Topeka Police

SHAWNEE COUNTY -Law enforcement authorities in Shawnee County are investigating a pedestrian accident.

Just before 11:30p.m. on Thursday, emergency responders were dispatched to report of a 28-year-old man hit by a truck near Southwest Sena and Gage Boulevard in Topeka, according to a media release.

The victim was transported to a hospital with life threatening injuries.

The 1100 Block of Southwest Gage Boulevard was closed early Friday as police conducted an investigation.

Name of the victim was not released.

Pizza delivery! Royals send deep dish congrats to Cubs

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CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs’ front office got a surprise a day after their World Series win: 25 pizzas courtesy of last year’s champs, the Kansas City Royals.

The Royals posted a picture on Twitter on Thursday of Cubs staffers enjoying pies from Chicago deep dish pizza chain, Giordano’s. The tweet included the message, “Congrats @Cubs! Enjoy some pizza on us today as you plan your #WorldSeries celebrations!”

 

 

The Kansas City Star reports the Royals are continuing a new baseball tradition of the previous year’s champ congratulating the new one with pizza. It began with the Red Sox in 2014, who bought the San Francisco Giants pizza after their World Series victory. The Giants did the same for Kansas City last year.

Kan. suspect accused of sexual battery sentenced for amended charge

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Vasquez-Morales
Vasquez-Morales

RENO COUNTY– A Kansas man charged with crimes from 2005 avoided a preliminary hearing Thursday and entered pleas to lesser charges.

Martin Vasquez, Hutchinson, was facing a felony charge of burglary.

The state alleged that he entered a home in the 400 block of East 10th Street in Hutchinson with the intent to commit sexual battery.

The second charge was for the actual sexual battery.

Authorities say he allegedly touched a woman in a sexual way and she didn’t give him consent to do so.

The final count was for domestic battery involving the same woman.

Vasquez entered pleas to amended charges that included three counts of domestic battery.

District Attorney Keith Schroeder told the court that the victim didn’t want him to serve any prison time or be deported.

However, there is apparently an immigration hold on Vasquez, so that could still happen.

The court sentenced Vasquez was sentenced to a year and six months in the Reno County Correctional Facility, but was then placed on probation for one year.

Sunny mild Friday

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A wet weekend is expected with the better opportunity for rainfall being late Saturday into early Monday.

screen-shot-2016-11-04-at-4-55-14-amToday Sunny, with a high near 75. West wind 5 to 7 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 43. South southeast wind around 6 mph.

Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 70. South wind 5 to 13 mph.

Saturday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. South southeast wind around 9 mph.

SundayA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 66. South wind 9 to 17 mph.

Sunday NightA 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Cloudy, with a low around 49.

MondayA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 68.

3 hospitalized after Kansas industrial accident

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screen-shot-2016-11-04-at-6-09-49-amRENO COUNTY –Three people were injured in an industrial accident on Thursday in Reno County.

Just before noon on Thursday, first responders were dispatched to WifCo at 8003 North Medora Road northeast of Hutchinson, according to a media release.

Several employees reported a metal water tank had exploded.

The company uses pressurized air to push the water through pipes and the front end of a tank had been blown off injuring Peter Atha, Shane Oakley, and Joshua Hull.

Atha sustained a head injury when the metal plate struck him.

He was transported to Wesley Medical by EMS for treatment of critical injuries.

Co-workers transported Oakley and Hull to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries they sustained during the explosion.

The accident remains under investigation.

Wifco is a a steel fabrication supplier, storage tank manufacturing firm established in 1989, according to the company web site.

Stolen candy bar lands KSU student a sweet reward

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MANHATTAN -Halloween is over but students at Kansas State University were given an opportunity to grab more free candy on Thursday.

Hunter Jobbins, a university freshman says he returned to his car after a brief stop in the dorms over the weekend to find that a Kit Kat bar had handwritten note left in its place.

Jobbins then Tweeted a photo of the note which blew up on social media generating over 500,000 likes and even a response from Kit Kat, who promised to do much more than simply replace the treat.

The company made good on their promise, filling Jobbins’ car with 6,500 Kit Kat bars and sending an open invitation to the public.

“If you would have told me this would have happened, I would have told you you’re crazy,” said Jobbins.

In no time at all, hundreds of students descended outside the entrance of Haymaker Hall to get their hands on some free candy.

“It’s great that they did that,” Jobbins said. “I can’t thank them enough for doing this. It’s just been a really good experience doing this.”

Police: Truck hits, kills 62-year-old Kansas man

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Pedestrian accident smallTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say a truck has struck and killed a pedestrian in Topeka.

Police said in a news release that the 62-year-old man was hit Thursday. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. The name of the man wasn’t immediately released.

Police are investigating. No other information was immediately available.

UPDATE: 2 accused in Harvey Co. triple homicide on the run

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screen-shot-2016-11-03-at-2-59-53-pmHARVEY COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are searching for two people accused in connection with Sunday’s triple homicide in Harvey County.

Sheriff T. Walton says in a posting on his department’s Facebook page that 35-year-old Jereme Nelson and 31-year-old Myrta Rangel are charged in arrest warrants with capital murder and three counts of first-degree murder.

Their bond has been set at $1 million each, and the sheriff’s department believes they are in Oklahoma.

The bodies of 33-year-old Travis Street, 37-year-old Angela Graevs and the couple’s Newton friend, 52-year-old Richard Prouty were found Sunday outside a home in a rural area near Moundridge. The victims had been shot.

Harvey County Prosecuting Attorney David Yoder says the motive for the killings appears to be drug-related.

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Myrta Rangel also known as Myrta Lopez and Jereme Lee Davis-photo Harvey Co. Sherif
Myrta Rangel also known as Myrta Lopez and Jereme Lee Davis-photo Harvey Co. Sherif

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say multiple people may have been involved in the deadly shootings of three people in rural central Kansas.

The Wichita Eagle reports that Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton wouldn’t elaborate Wednesday or say how many people may have been involved in the killings. He discussed the possibility of multiple suspects a couple of hours after authorities said a 35-year-old man is being sought for questioning.

The victims have been identified as 33-year-old Travis Street, 37-year-old Angela Graevs and the couple’s Newton friend, 52-year-old Richard Prouty. Their bodies and the couple’s unharmed 18-month-old were found Sunday outside a home in a rural area south of Moundridge. The couple was facing drug and child

endangerment charges.

Harvey County Attorney David Yoder says the motive appears to be drug-related.

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