Submitted

Like many entrepreneurs, Kayla Rathbun started her business from humble beginnings. Working from home and specializing in handmade paper roses, she started her shop on Etsy, an online marketplace where people buy and sell unique goods. In less than one year, she has made thousands of paper roses, with many orders coming from businesses, including one order for paper rose napkin rings for a nationwide UPS banquet in Atlanta, Georgia, in April. For the most part, though, she makes them for weddings and bouquets for brides—and this is where the expansion of her business will occur.

Joining the ranks of companies like Google, Amazon, Apple, and Walt Disney, Rathbun is ready to take her business from her garage and into a  more prime location—the Chestnut Street District.  The store, called “Something Blue,” will be a wedding boutique store selling new and second-hand wedding supplies.  The store will also offer rental items, and of course, her paper roses. The “Something Blue” theme will carry throughout the store with departments arranged by name: “Something Old” for vintage and gently-used items, “Something New” for brand new items, and “Something Borrowed” with items for rent.

“I know that many brides, including myself last summer, have a terrible time trying to locate wedding items around Hays to purchase or rent at an affordable price,” said Rathbun.  “I love the idea of working together with other local businesses to give brides ideas and make their wedding planning a bit easier.”

Rathbun plans to hold an official opening in late September or early October. Something Blue will be located at 1008 Main Street in Hays.

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Topeka – Kansas Governor Sam Brownback announced new appointments to boards and commissions, including several western Kansas residents.

“I’d like to thank these men and women for sharing their time and talents to improve the State of Kansas,” said Governor Brownback.

The Governor’s Office is always looking for qualified, interested Kansans to serve the state on commissions and boards in their areas of expertise. If you are interested in serving on a commission or board, please visit https://governor.ks.gov/serving-kansans/office-of-appointments.

Abstracters Board of Examiners
Jerilyn Stull, McCracken (reappointment)

Advisory Commission on African-American Affairs
Sherdeill Breathett, Wichita (reappointment)
Bobby Love Senior, Olathe (reappointment)
Daphne Maxwell, Junction City (reappointment)

Advisory Committee on Trauma
Ronald Marshall, Topeka

Advisory Council on Aging
Dr. Crystal Burkhardt, Prairie Village (reappointment)
Holly Noble, Attica (reappointment)
Gary Pennings (reappointment)
Shirley Cook, Topeka

Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board
Dr. Todd Frye, Olathe (reappointment)
Jill Craven, Goddard (reappointment)
Kathryn Herzog, Wichita (reappointment)

Board of Examiners in Fitting & Dispensing of Hearing Instruments
Amy Weatherford, Topeka (reappointment)

Board of Nursing
Leslie Sewester, Olathe
Rebecca Sander, Hays

Credit Union Council
Michael Augustine, Olathe

Fire Service Training Commission
Brad Smith, Derby (reappointment)
James, Modig, Berryton (reappointment)
Frederick Mosher, Prairie Village (reappointment)
Michael Roosevelt, Augusta (reappointment)
Doug Jorgensen, Topeka (reappointment)

Kansas Dental Board
Dr. Mark Herzog, Ellsworth
Dr. Stephen Zeller, Topeka

Kansas Employment First Oversight Commission
Michael Donnelly, Topeka

Kansas Military Selective Service Board
Beth Bayne, Coldwater
Gaylen Huntley, Oberlin
Lance Nelson, Kensington
Larry Ochs, Syracuse
Carrol Ribbing, Leoti
Shannon Wright, Holton
Gary Starr, Grantville
Linda Wessel, Council Grove

Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission
Ward Cassidy, St. Francis

State Board of Veterinary Examiners
Joseph Allen, Salina (reappointment)
Dr. Orman “Larry” Snyder, Topeka (reappointment)

State Rehabilitation Council
Catherine Carter-Gibbons, Wichita

Radiologic Technology Council
Melinda Chiroy, Emporia (reappointment)

State Board of Healing Arts
Dr. Robin Durrett, Great Bend (reappointment)
Dr. Joel Hutchins, Holton (reappointment)
Dr. David Laha, Leawood (reappointment)
Dr. Garold Minns, Bel Aire (reappointment)

State Board of Technical Professions
Maurice Bowersox, Olathe (reappointment)
Joseph Johnson, Wichita
William Haverkamp, Topeka
Edward Halloran, Topeka

Washburn University Board of Regents
John McGivern, Topeka (reappointment)

911 Coordinating Council
Capt. Lance Royer, Topeka (reappointment)
Col. Christopher Stratmann, Topeka (reappointment)
Michael Leiker, Hays (reappointment)

DSNWK

Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas’ Employment Connections Program signed a five year contact agreeing to the “End Dependence Kansas (EDK)” initiative through the Department of Children and Families, which aims to increase the employment of Kansans with disabilities. DSNWK is striving to increase the successful closures in competitive, integrated employment from 60-percent to 75-percent.

The contract began July 1 and will end June 30, 2021, and welcomes a new full-time employee, Jackie Sakil. Sakil serves as the marketing manager for Employment Connections, which serves 18 counties in northwest Kansas.

Sakil relocated to Hays from the Salt Lake City area. She spent 20 years volunteering in the deaf community and previously worked as a vocational counselor and job coach.

Sakil said she already feels very welcomed in the community.

In September, Sakil and everyone involved in the project will attend training for EDK to ensure that goals are met.

The goals of the contract include empowering disabled Kansans, building the capacity and infrastructure with community partners, decreasing the reliance of people on the public benefit system, developing effective support systems, and improving the employment outcomes of Kansans with disabilities.

Seventy-percent of Sakil’s time is spent meeting with community businesses and securing internships, and 30-percent is spent working with families, persons served and the Department of Children and Families’ benefit specialist. In addition, Sakil will collaborate with mental health agencies, the Department of Corrections and provide other support needed for successful employment closures and maintenance of long term support.

Starting an internship program is one of Sakil’s current focuses. The goal of the internship program is to help find good matches between the people DSNWK serves and businesses, and to help build resumes, she said.

Employment Connections encourages those interested in providing employment opportunities for persons with developmental disabilities to contact Sakil at 785-621-5255. The EDK initiative will serve Ellis, Russell, Trego, Graham, Norton, Rooks, Phillips, Smith and Sheridan Counties. As the project progresses, DSNWK may consider expansion to other counties in Northwest Kansas.

DSNWK is a 501(c) (3) non-profit and Community Service Provider that assures the provision of quality services and programs to approximately 500 individuals with mild to severe disabilities. These services are available through community based and outreach programs and interagency agreements with other service providers in the 18 northwestern most counties of Kansas.

Submitted

The Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan, KS has awarded a $2,000,000 grant to the Salina Regional Health Foundation to assist in the remodeling of the new medical education building for the KU School of Medicine – Salina.

The new building will be located at 138 N. Santa Fe in downtown Salina and will provide more than twice the square footage of the current school. It has space to accommodate a possible expansion of class size from 8 to 16 students per year and will provide better space for a new medical school curriculum that focuses more on group work.

The Salina campus is the smallest four-year medical school campus in North America, and Salina is the smallest community in North America to be the site of a full, four-year allopathic medical school. When it opened, the concept was that the Salina campus would attract medical students with a desire to train in a rural environment, with the hope that they would want to practice primary care in rural Kansas.
The model is working. KU School of Medicine-Salina students are graduating with strong test scores and are moving on to preferred residencies and fellowships. Several graduates have indicated they plan to practice medicine in rural areas. At least two KU graduates are planning to practice in the Hansen service area.
The Hansen trustees recognize that the Salina Campus is an excellent avenue to bring physicians to Northwest Kansas to live and practice. The Foundation’s mission is to improve the quality of life in Northwest Kansas. Access to medical care is an important aspect of that mission.
“Mr. Hansen cared deeply about the people of Northwest Kansas. We see this grant as a way to continue his legacy of working to provide where he saw a need,” said Cy Moyer, chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Hansen Foundation. “We have been pleased with the work of the School and Dr. Cathcart-Rake.”
The grant is another show of support for the work the Salina medical school as a conduit for physicians practicing in rural Kansas. The Hansen Foundation has been a significant supporter of the school since it was established.

The Foundation awarded the school $100,000 to assist with initial remodeling and start-up needs in 2011. An additional $75,000 has since been awarded for capital needs.

The Hansen Foundation has also provided $175,000 in scholarship assistance. Scholarship recipients are determined by the Dean of the Salina campus and are reserved for students who express a desire to practice in the 26-county service area of the Hansen Foundation.

In October of 2015, the Foundation created an endowed professorship at the school, a commitment of $50,000 a year for 20 years. The professorship can be used to support salary and educational enhancements.

“The Hansen Foundation has been incredibly supportive of the Salina Campus since inception,” said William Cathcart-Rake, M.D., KU School of Medicine–Salina Dean. “This major gift is just further recognition of the value KU School of Medicine–Salina has toward fulfilling their mission of providing for the health care needs of citizens in northwest and northcentral Kansas.”

The grant from the Hansen Foundation will be applied to the Salina Regional Health Foundation’s Blueprint for Rural Health Campaign goal of $7.5 million. It is the largest gift received for the campaign to date.

“We are overwhelmed with the support and generosity of the Hansen Foundation,” said Tom Martin, Executive Director of the Salina Regional Health Foundation. “The vision and foresight the Hansen Foundation Board of Trustees exhibited in making this gift will result in greater access to medical care for people in rural areas of Kansas.”

Hays-area garage sales

Scroll to the bottom for a map of garage sale locations. Hays Post offers FREE garage sale listings weekly. Having a sale next weekend? Click HERE for details.

Address: 1306 W. 44th St., Hays
Friday, Aug. 12 – 5 pm to 8 pm & Saturday, Aug. 13 – 7 am to 2 pm

Items for sale: Household Items, Men & Women’s Clothing, Toys, Puzzles, Games, 3D Puzzles, Baby Safety Items, Baby Gear, Shoes, School Supplies, Home Décor, Bean Bag, Sports Cards, Holiday Décor, Old Golf Clubs, End Table, Small Kitchen Appliances, Curtain Rods & Curtains, Boys 12″ Bike, TV Trays, Chairs, Storage Items

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Address: 209 E. 19th, Hays
Friday – 9-6 Saturday – 9-12

Items for sale: Electronics
Air soft pistol and targets
Board games
Books
Girls and boys toys
HFE and TMP Uniforms
Lots of shoes (some new)
Trampoline
Walkie Talkies
Some clothes
Baseball mitts

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Address: 1901 E 24th, Hays
Friday August 12 10am to 6pm

Items for sale: Bookcase, hall tree, tools, dishes, baby swing, baby bounce seats, car seat and bases, some antiques and collectibles

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Address: Big Creek Crossing, 2918 Vine, Hays
Saturday, August 13th, One Day Only! 9 am – 12 pm

Overstock desks, chairs, lamps, tables, entertainment centers and so much more at the … ReStore! Come see us at the South end of Big Creek Crossing, 2918 Vine Street in Hays, Ks!

New items daily. All revenue from sales goes to Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County in support of its building program. HFHEC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

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Address: 3503 Lincoln Drive, Hays
Friday 12, Noon – 8pm

Items for sale: Clothes, Purses, Shoes
Jewelry
Games
Furniture (Cabinets, shelves, coffee table, Chairs)
Safes
Antiques
Books
Harley Davidson Parts
Tools
Remodeling supplies
Nuts and bolts
Much, much more!!

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Address: 1700 Wheatland Ave, Hays
Friday 2-dark, Saturday 8-12

Items for sale: Multi-Family Garage Sale
Inflatable wading pool (8×4), Black/Decker paper shredder, high chair, portable baby swing, pfaltzgraff dish set (100 pieces), full/queen bed frame, full sheet sets, truck floor mats, junior/teen games, name brand clothing (youth-adult), misc home décor and small appliances, and too much more to list.

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Address: 1319 Lawrence Drive, Hays
Friday 10am – 7pm
Saturday 9am – 12am

2 Family Sale: Household Goods, Free Standing Fireplace, Home Decor, Kitchen items, Chairs, T.V.’s, Microwave

Many items to help set up for incoming students.

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Address: 517 W. 35th St., Hays
Friday 8-12-16 noon to 7pm. Saturday 8-13-16 8-11am

Items for sale: Holiday decorations, small appliances,furniture,household misc, adult 2x-3x clothing

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Address: 1402 E 25th St, Hays
Sat. 8 am to 12 pm

Items for sale: Two 10″ Kenwood subs with box that fit under back seat of quad cab Dodge Ram, years 2002/2006, Entertainment centers, household items and decor, VCR, lots of clothes all sizes, lots of misc!

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Address: 409 East 22nd, Hays
Saturday August 13 8:30am to ?

Items for sale: Clothing, furniture, books, games, kitchen items, and much more.

FHSU University Relations

Three programs from Fort Hays State University’s Virtual College have recently been ranked among the best and most affordable online programs offered by U.S. colleges.

ComputerScienceZone.org
No. 10, The 20 Best Online Bachelor’s in Computer Science Degrees 2016-2017
Computer Science Zone named FHSU’s Bachelor of Science in computer science as one of the 20 best online programs in this category.

The website cited Forbes, U.S. News and World Report to determine FHSU’s prestige, the number of concentrations offered and the affordability of the program for out-of-state students.

Students have choices when earning a computer science-related degree from FHSU. Online, students can earn a Bachelor of Science in computer science or information networking and telecommunications. Both programs include multiple concentration areas.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/29TtJcs.

BestValueMBA.net
Best Value MBA recognized both FHSU’s Master of Business Administration in marketing and Master of Business Administration in international business as being among the most affordable MBA programs available online.

No. 11, Top 20 Most Affordable Online Marketing MBA Programs 2016
Best Value MBA used College Navigator, a database provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, to compare the cost of tuition of FHSU’s MBA Marketing program with more than 500 other online programs.

FHSU’s program offers classes in marketing research, consumer behavior and strategic electronic marketing. Graduates have gone to work for Wal-Mart corporate, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Texas Instruments, Koch Industries, IBM, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and General Electric.

The MBA develops skills in the functional areas of business and teaches how to apply them to achieve organizational goals in a global environment.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2ave25O.

No. 12, Top 20 Most Affordable Online International MBA Programs 2016
Best Value MBA ranked FHSU’s international MBA program against more than 500 other programs by College Navigator, a database provided by the National Center for Education Statistics, to earn the No. 12 spot.

Students in the program take 34 credit hours, including courses in international marketing, international economics, international finance, information systems for management, strategic management and organizational behavior in a global context.

To view this ranking, visit https://bit.ly/2ayy3wi.

UPDATED: 15-year-old dies in ATV accident Thursday.

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

At around 10:35 a.m. Thursday, Ellis County Fire, Emergency Medical Services and Ellis County Sherriff’s Office, with the assistance of the Kansas Highway Patrol, were called to the scene of a rollover of an ATV southeast of Hays in the 1800 block of Munjor Road.

Early reports indicated the victim was a juvenile and was unresponsive as emergency responders arrived around 10:42 a.m.

The victim was transported from the scene shortly after 11 a.m.

Officers on scene said an announcement would be released at a later time.

Hays Post has a reporter on scene and will update as information becomes available.