Submitted

SALINA–The Libertarian Party of Kansas (LPKS) held their annual state convention at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina on Saturday April 30.

The convention was attended by roughly sixty Libertarians and non-Libertarians who were curious to see what this third-party had to offer.

During the convention the membership re-elected LPKS State Chair Rob Hodgkinson of Stillwell, and 1st District Coordinator Joey Frazier of Salina to new three year terms. Jeff Caldwell of Overland Park, Kansas was elected to serve as the 3rd District Coordinator.

The party also nominated candidates to represent the party on the Kansas general election ballot in November. With the nominations at their convention, the Libertarian Party will have candidates on every ballot in the state of Kansas. The party plans to officially announce all of their state candidates in early June.

Those in attendance heard from a number of Libertarian Presidential candidates or their representatives, while the front-runners for the Libertarian nomination were attending the larger New York State Convention where more delegates were at stake and that also took place on Saturday. The Libertarian presidential candidate will be chosen at the party’s national convention at the end of May. Thirteen Kansas delegates, plus a number of alternates, will attend the national convention in Orlando, Florida.

LPKS State Chair, Rob Hodgkinson, said that the Kansas Libertarian delegates take their responsibility very seriously. “The presidential candidate they select will be America’s only other option to the candidates offered by the establishment parties.”

The Libertarian presidential candidate will be the only third-party candidate to appear on the general election ballot in all 50 states.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission voted to move forward with reconstruction of the bridge running over the Saline River on Yocemento Avenue at Monday’s County Commission meeting.

The commission accepted the bid of $123,819 from King Construction but that was only after the Public Works Department agreed to do some of the work.

At the last meeting in April Interim Public Works Director Curt Hoffman presented the commission with four bids the county received to replace the bridge deck. King Construction’s bid was the lowest totaling $239,905. But the commission asked Hoffman to look for ways to cut the cost.

According to Hoffman the county will save about $51,400 to remove the deck and remove and replace the guardrail. The county will also save $64,600 by not painting the bridge.

Hoffman said crews could begin work on the project by the end of the month.

In other business County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes presented the commission with three scenarios for the commission’s budget. In the scenarios the commission’s budget would stay approximately the same as last year, $238,448, cut 2.5-percent or cut 5-percent. A 5-percent reduction in the commission’s budget would cut about $11,900.

The cuts proposed by Smith-Hanes were a reduction in services by County Counselor Bill Jeter, ending the commissions membership is a number of county and municipality organizations and a few minor cuts elsewhere.

Commissioner Barbra Wasinger said they are still going to have to find places to cut, adding that they may have to look at cutting salaries of some non-union employees.

“You see people across the county taking pay cuts in half,” Wasinger said “It’s time to make some of those hard decisions”

Commissioner Dean Haselhorst echoed Wasinger statements and said once they get the budget proposals from each department, with their cuts they will have a better understanding of where they stand.

Each department will present the county administrator with their scenarios later this month.

“We can’t maintain this, we just don’t have the money,” said Wasinger.

Attorneys Alex Herman and Greg Schwartz went before the commission to discuss the defense attorney contract. Four different firms are contracted, by the county to handle certain cases. The county paid $5,500 a month per attorney. According to Herman, the contract saves the county about $900 per month per attorney.

The commission had built in the budget a two-year fee increase. But told the attorney Monday this do not have the money for an increase this year. Herman and Schwartz said they would stay at the $5,500 per month fee.

Haselhorst told the commission they did have a few leaks inside the courthouse and law enforcement center because of the latest round of rain but crews were called in to fix the issue.

KU News Service

LAWRENCE — The names of nearly 4,800 candidates for degree from the University of Kansas this spring — representing 93 Kansas counties, 44 other states and 44 other countries — have been announced by the University Registrar. Degrees are officially conferred in June.

KU’s 144th Commencement will be Sunday, May 15. More than 4,500 of the members of the Class of 2016 are expected to participate. Faculty and candidates for degrees will assemble at 10 a.m. along Memorial Drive for the procession, which begins at 10:30 a.m.

Commencement information and an up-to-date schedule of events are available at commencement.ku.edu. Degree candidates are listed below in alphabetical order.

Students northwest Kansas are listed below by county:

Ellis
Teresea Bennett, Ellis, Master of Social Work
Matthew Applequist, Hays, Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and English minor
Sarah Berens, Hays, Master of Social Work
Laura Chartier, Hays, Master of Social Work
Danielle Dinkel, Hays, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Psychology minor
Taylor Ermoian, Hays, Master of Social Work
Jacob Fouts, Hays, Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training
Kayla Glines, Hays, Master of Social Work
David Hageman, Hays, Bachelor of Science in in Business Administration
Crystal Huxman, Hays, Master of Social Work
Jordan Juenemann, Hays, Master of Business Administration and Graduate Certificate in Finance
Caden Junk, Hays, Bachelor of Science in Occupational Studies
Kendra Karlin, Hays, Bachelor of Science in Education and Business minor and Communication Studies minor
Laurissa Marcotte, Hays, Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering
Margaret Moore, Hays, Bachelor of Arts in English and History and French minors
Jake Nelson, Hays, Bachelor of Science in Business in Finance
Melinda O’Hair, Hays, Master of Social Work
Jessica Paxson, Hays, Doctor of Medicine
Taylor Pfeifer, Hays, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science
Molly Quint, Hays, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Dylan Schumacher, Hays, Bachelor of Science in Biology
Alyssa Vitztum, Hays, Bachelor of General Studies in Communication Studies and Sociology minor and Business minor
Kacie Vogt, Hays, Master of Social Work
Rachel Bunner, Pfeifer, Master of Accounting
Katelyn Lang, Victoria, Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Business minor
Courtney Unrein, Victoria, Bachelor of Science in Business in Marketing

Graham
Crystal Lindenman, Hill City, Master of Social Work

Norton
Rhees Carlson, Norton, Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics, Bachelor of Arts in French and Undergraduate Certificate in Service Learning
Mitchell Shelton, Norton, Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Studies

Osborne
Jakob Brush, Downs, Bachelor of Science in Business in Marketing and Bachelor of Science in Business in Management and Leadership
Hayden Phlieger, Natoma, Bachelor of Arts in Economics
Seth Conway, Osborne, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science
Aaron Geist, Osborne, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Taber Patee, Osborne, Bachelor of Social Work

Phillips
Alex Tharman, Long Island, Bachelor of Science in Biology
Rebecca Huber, Phillipsburg, Master of Social Work
Madison Orr, Phillipsburg, Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Business minor

Russell
Adam Hutchison, Russell, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Jennifer Maciaszek, Russell, Doctor of Medicine
Rachel Sipe, Russell, Doctor of Pharmacy

Smith
Kyle Abbott, Lebanon, Bachelor of General Studies in Economics and Business minor
Cara Kingsbury, Smith Center, Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science
Trenton Terrill, Smith Center, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Sara Timmons, Smith Center, Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Joe Windscheffel, Smith Center, Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Studies

Trego
Rachael Newcomer, Wakeeney, Bachelor of Science in Clinical Laboratory Science
Deven Schoenthaler, Wakeeney, Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy.

Starting May 14, the Hays Lions Club will provide free vision screening for children and adults on the second Saturday of each month.

The club has teamed up with the ARC Thrift Store, 600 Main, which is handicapped-accessible and has ample parking. Vision screening will be available from 9 a.m. to noon.

Vision disability is the single most prevalent disabling condition among children. Most times, children don’t know they can’t see well because that is the way they have seen since birth.

By early detection of vision disorders and treatment of these vision disorders, amblyopia and many other challenges to good vision are 95 percent correctable.

The screening is quick and non-invasive, accurate and reliable. It can detect nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism (blurred vision), strabismus (crossed eyed), unequal refractive power, and unequal pupil size.
This is a screening and is not a diagnosis. If irregularities are found, you are given the results so that you can contact your vision specialist.

The Lions also provide vision screening for day care facilities, pre-schools, public and private schools, Head Start programs, and many others. 

For more information and to schedule, contact Jim Huenergarde at (785) 650-7338.