NCK TECH

In September 2016, North Central Kansas Technical College was recognized by the Chronicle of Higher Education as being among the top 2% in graduation rates in the nation. The college ranked 7th out of 895 two-year publicly funded technical and community colleges from around the United States.

Each year in their annual almanac, the Chronicle examines different measurements, including the success students have in completing their degree within three years and six years from their initial start date. The average graduation rate for the 895 institutions reviewed is 20.5%. NCK Tech performs 245% higher than the national average with a 70.8% degree attainment rate.

“The College is thrilled to receive this type of positive attention on the national level,” said NCK Tech President Eric Burks. “It’s rewarding to know we are helping our students succeed at such a high rate in comparison to other institutions across the country. This achievement is a direct reflection of the efforts of our students, as well as the quality and dedication of the entire NCK Tech team.”

There were 26 public technical and community colleges whose data was measured in the state of Kansas. Of those colleges, only 4 made the list – all of which happened to be technical colleges. The technical colleges receiving recognition were North Central Kansas Technical College (7th), Salina Area Technical College (9th), Northwest Technical College (12th) and Manhattan Area Technical College (19th).

“These rankings illustrate the high quality of the technical colleges in the state of Kansas,” said Burks, who also serves as the President of the Kansas Association of Technical Colleges.

Founded in 1964, NCK Tech has provided hands-on education and training to students from across the state of Kansas. With two campus locations and 24 academic programs, NCK Tech is leader in high-tech careers and quality education. To learn more about NCK Tech, visit the website at www.ncktc.edu.

Hays Medical Center

HaysMed will move its Convenient Care Walk In Clinic to the new building being developed at Big Creek Crossing.

The multi-tenant building will be located at the northwest corner of the property, where the former Montana Mike’s once stood. Starbucks will occupy the other portion of the building. Ground was broken last week, and completion is expected by the summer of 2017.

“This will be a great location for our walk in clinic,” said Shae Veach, vice president for regional operations and marketing. “The parking is great and the office is located just off Vine allowing for easy access for our patients who live in Hays or might just be visiting and need medical care.”

The 4,000-square-foot area will feature seven exam rooms, two procedure rooms, a lab, a large waiting room and easy check-in area. The individual registration offices afford patients more privacy when checking in at the clinic.

The hours are expected to stay the same, Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 7:30 pm, Saturday 9:00 am – 4:30 pm and Sunday 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. The clinic is closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas but open 9:00 am – 4:30 pm for New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Christmas Eve, Labor Day and 4th of July.

“We are very excited about being able to have the building built to the specifications that we need for Convenient Care” Veach said. “The response to opening our walk in clinic two years ago has been so phenomenal that we expect to see even more patients once we move to this new location.”

The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce will have its first Legislative Coffee at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 11 in the basement of the Ellis County Administrative Center, 718 Main.

The forums are a series of meetings with state legislators that provide area residents the opportunity to learn more about the legislative process and state issues.

Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, and Reps. Ken Rahjes, R-Agra, and Eber Phelps, D-Hays, are scheduled to attend.

Today Partly sunny, with a high near 48. Breezy, with a southeast wind 9 to 14 mph becoming west northwest 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Blustery, with a northwest wind 20 to 22 mph.

WednesdayPartly sunny, with a high near 36. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 21 to 23 mph.

Wednesday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 19. Northwest wind 8 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.

ThursdaySunny, with a high near 42. Northwest wind 8 to 15 mph.

Thursday NightMostly clear, with a low around 20.

FridaySunny, with a high near 42.

Friday NightMostly clear, with a low around 24.

It took an entire week. The nearly 10,000 Midwest Energy customers who lost power during the Jan. 15-16 ice storm are back on line.

Keith Miller, Midwest Energy’s Board of Directors Chairman issued the following open letter to customer-owners late Monday afternoon on the MWE Facebook page.

“On Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017 most counties in Midwest Energy’s service area were hit with the largest ice storm in nearly a decade.

From Goodland to Lyons, up to two inches of ice formed on our lines, which are designed to withstand a half-inch of ice. Damage was far-reaching and extensive; over 15 counties and 6,000 miles of wires, more than 350 transmission and distribution poles, and hundreds of service lines to homes were brought down.

Nearly 10,000 were without power at one point on Monday, Jan. 16th.

The entire Midwest Energy team mobilized; linemen, servicemen, field service assistants, warehouse personnel, and support personnel, as well as 14 contract crews and 10 more from sister cooperatives (two each from Ark Valley, Brown-Atchison, DS&O, Lane-Scott and Ninnescah Cooperatives). They worked long hours in difficult conditions, including mud up to their axles, for seven full days until power was restored to all.

The storm also brought out the best in our communities. In Kinsley, which was hit particularly hard, the local grocery store cooked free meals for dozens of residents who lacked power at home. In Barton County, farmers stood by with their tractors to pull drivers up mud-clogged roads. In countless cities, neighbors helped neighbors by sharing portable generators, chain saws, and muscle while clearing away downed limbs.

Hundreds of you compliment Midwest Energy’s restoration efforts, taking to Facebook, the Internet and calling in to our offices to praise our linemen and servicemen. But we would also like to than YOU, our customer-owners, for your patience and understanding while we safely restored power.

Living in rural Barton County, I know firsthand how difficult it is to live without power for days on end. But it’s inspiring that when conditions are most difficult, Kansans come together to do whatever is necessary to fix a problem.

Your Board of Directors does everything possible to keep your electric and gas service as reliable as possible. We thank you for your continued support, and for being our customer.”

Keith Miller, Midwest Energy’s Board of Directors Chairman