FHSU UNIVERSITY RELATIONS AND MARKETING

Fort Hays State University students in the Agriculture Department recently traveled to Manhattan to compete against 23 universities in the 2017 Judging Conference of the North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture.

FHSU placed first in Computer Application with Ethan Ziegler, Hays, a spring 2017 graduate, placing second high individual and Hunter Hewitt, Sterling junior, as the fourth high individual. Other team members were Tucker Gillespie, Grainfield senior, and Reagan Quick, Larned senior. Dr. Craig Smith, associate professor of agriculture, was the coach.

This was the first time a group from FHSU competed in the NACTA Computer Applications contest, which tested the students’ skills in analyzing a real-world agricultural business problem in Excel. They were judged on the usability, functionality and accuracy of their Excel spreadsheet.

FHSU also placed first in the Livestock Judging contest, with Michael Dix, Stockton junior, as the high individual. Mariah Beikman, St. Francis junior, was second high individual and Abbie Baker, Parker, Colo., junior, was third high individual. Additional team members were Thane Barker, Lebo junior, Hylie Dibbern, Cairo, Neb., senior, and Mackenzie Thornburg, Great Bend junior. Kevin Huser was the livestock judging coach.

Michael Dix was also the high individual for hogs, sheep, goats and reasons.

The FHSU Livestock Management contest team placed third. Team members were:
Sarah Bellar, Howard senior, Cody Howell, Chanute senior, Haley Showalter, Valley Falls senior, and Hannah Weber, Milan senior. Dr. Bob Keener, assistant professor of agriculture, was the coach.

Ziegler placed third high individual in Precision Agriculture.

Other teams participating were:

Agribusiness: Weber, Kendra Brummer, Downs junior, Celine Hornung, Stratton, Colo., senior, and Chase Wagner, Esbon senior.

Knowledge Bowl: Ziegler, Weber, Hornung and Wagner.

Crops: Ziegler; Chase Clinkingbeard, Hugoton junior; Landon Davis, Haviland sophomore; Lucas Heinzen, Janesvile, Wis., freshman; Levi Sanders, Towner, Colo., freshman; and Jacob Mettlen, Liberal junior.

 

KDHE

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Barton County Health Department (BCHD) are collaborating with health care and other public health partners to investigate the death of a central Kansas adult.

Laboratory results have confirmed that the death was caused by Neisseria meningitidis, which can cause severe and fatal cases of meningococcal meningitis, an infection of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord.

Signs and symptoms of meningococcal meningitis include a sudden onset of fever, headache, stiff neck, chills, and feeling unusually weak or tired. Nausea, vomiting, altered mental state, and a dark purple rash may also be present.

Currently, there is no evidence to suggest the general public is at an increased risk of developing meningitis. BCHD is working to identify all persons at high risk of exposure to the individual and is actively providing recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis.

N. meningitidis is only spread from person-to-person by sharing throat or respiratory secretions (saliva or spit). You must be in close contact with a sick person’s saliva or respiratory secretions in order for the bacteria to spread. Close contact can include being directly sneezed or coughed upon, kissing, sharing a water bottle, or sharing eating/drinking utensils. It is not spread by casual contact or by simply breathing the air where a person with meningitis has been.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends post-exposure antibiotics for household, close, or intimate contacts during the 7 days prior to illness onset. Health care professionals who had unprotected contact with the respiratory secretions will also receive post-exposure antibiotics.

If you are experiencing symptoms of meningococcal meningitis, immediately visit your primary care physician, an urgent care medical clinic or emergency room.

A vaccine is available to protect individuals from certain types of meningococcal meningitis. While the vaccine is not used to treat people who have already been exposed to an infected person, it can prevent future infections. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and KDHE recommends meningococcal vaccine for the following groups:

All children and teens, ages 11 through 18 years
People age 2 months and older with functional or anatomic asplenia
People age 2 months and older who have persistent complement component deficiency (an immune system disorder, including people taking eculizumab [Soliris])
People age 2 months and older with HIV infection
People younger than 22 years of age if they are or will be a first-year college student living in a residential hall

Questions may be directed to the Barton County Health Department at (620) 793-1902 or the Kansas Department of Health and Environment at (877) 427-7317.

Hays Post

Thomas More Prep-Marian will graduate 42 seniors during graduation ceremonies at 2 p.m. Sunday at Al Billinger Field House on the TMP campus.

Baccalaureate mass will be at noon Sunday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.

Commencement address will be given by Barbara Wagoner, former campus minister at TMP.

No tickets are required

The following are a list of graduates:

Heather Nicole Befort

Raegan Lynn Billinger

Meagan Elizabeth Brin

Carmen Grace Brull

Gabrielle Ann Chittenden

Morgan Elayne Choitz

Thomas Kenneth Cole

Mackenzie Fitzgerald

Joseph Stephen Flax

Maci Marie Gerhard

Bridget Mary Heimann

Alison Jean Helget

Chia-yi Hsu

Carson Joseph Klaus

Megan Nicole Koenigsman

Madyson Teighlor Koerner

Elizabeth Grace Leiker

Lori Lynn Leiker

Mark Daniel Loftus

Hayden Jeffrey Lowe

Nicholas Joseph Meis 

Matthew Thomas Moeder

Patrick Mugisha

Jessalyn Marie Pfannenstiel

Trevor Lee Pfeifer

Joshua Lee Plante

Tucker Rex Rhoades

Taryn Nicole Rupp

Alison May Schibi

Sara Elizabeth Schippers

Zane Douglas Staab

John Wesley Staples

Christopher Stecklein

Hui Tang

Shuqi Wang

Grace Marie Wasinger

Bryan Joseph Weber

Deonna Kay Wellbrock

Kelton Werth

Kendra Rose Werth

Joseph James Whitmer

Katelyn Zimmerman

Hello from Topeka, and the session keep on going with limited progress being made.

The big issues are still searching for solutions but we did vote on starting the process of putting together a tax package. One of those which is the elimination of certain sales tax exemptions. On Friday, the Kansas House passed HB 2380 on first vote, which would eliminate the exemption from sales tax for a selected group of services. These items are on the list, and would become subject to sales tax on July 1, should the Senate agree and the governor sign the measure into law: 1) Towing services 2) Detective services 3) Security services 4) Non-residential cleaning services 5) Pet daycare 6) Mini storage/Self storage and 7) Collection agencies.

Monthly state sales tax revenues have been a consistent underperformer in recent years, and nationally there is a growing recognition that the economy is gradually shifting from being goods-based to being service-based. As a result, systems of sales taxation based entirely on goods are slowly declining compared to the size of the economy. The entire list of sales tax exemptions in Kansas is quite lengthy, and best estimates are that the total annual value of those exemptions is over $6 billion. There are logical reasons for most of the exemptions on the list, and many could be categorized as services “consumed in production” by Kansas businesses. Taxing those items would increase the ultimate consumer cost of those products, and would have a depressing economic effect, functioning similar to a value-added tax.

The action by the House last week is an acknowledgement of the trend towards a service economy. It is estimated that elimination of these exemptions would increase state revenues by $52.3 million in fiscal year 2018. This list was carefully selected from the much broader list of sales tax exemptions, and represents an important step in broadening the tax base in Kansas, thereby relieving pressure on other sources of state revenue.

Another component of HB 2380 would reduce the sales tax on food in Kansas from 6.5% to 5.5%, effective July 1, 2020. Kansas has one of the highest sales tax on food of any state in the nation, and there is widespread agreement that this is a problem which must be addressed. This move would be the first step in that direction, but at a cost of approximately $55 million to the state. An amendment was proposed which would have made the reduction effective on July 1, 2017. Members defeated that amendment, recognizing that doing so while the state is wrestling with a serious fiscal imbalance would simply not be fiscally responsible. If this does pass and become law, we might be able to take the sales tax on food down to zero over a period of time, all of this hinges on the strength of the Kansas economy.

With regards to the larger issue of correcting the fiscal imbalance, and providing revenues necessary to fund essential governmental functions, the House Taxation Committee and members of leadership continue to work towards a broader solution. Since the House last took action on a tax bill in mid-February, the senate has tried twice and failed to pass a tax bill. Discussions continue, and although it is disappointing that past efforts have failed, each effort has value in further defining what solution may be acceptable and may ultimately pass into law.

Another issues the legislature has spent a lot of time dealing with foster care. The House gave preliminary approval to H Sub for SB 126 which would create a task force to recommend improvements to the foster care system in Kansas. Kansas’ foster care program is administered by the Department for Children and Families (DCF) and has been privatized since 1997. The department currently contracts with two service providers— KVC Behavioral Healthcare (KVC) and St. Francis Community Services (St. Francis)—to provide foster care services across the state.

Over the last several years it has become apparent that the foster care system has fallen short in its effort to protect children who may be abused or neglected. A report released by the Legislative Division of Post Audit in 2016 found the following: 1) DCF failed to conduct thorough background checks on foster families; 2) Some foster homes have “inadequate sleeping space for some children in foster care.” 3) DCF does not verify the income information provided by foster families to ensure that they have sufficient financial resources to serve as foster homes; and 4) Monthly in-person visits to foster homes by case managers did not always take place.

The bill would state the recommended improvements may include proposed changes to current law, rules and regulations, and child welfare system processes. The Task Force would be required to review the level of oversight and supervision by DCF over foster care contractors and review the duties of those individuals responsible for foster children and other such areas of concern regarding foster care.

The bill would also require DCF to provide data and information on foster care programs as outlined in the bill upon request by the task force. Additionally, the bill would address task force membership and ex officio nonvoting membership appointments, length of members’ terms, appointment of task force leadership, meeting dates, quorum, membership compensation, and the provision of legislative and professional services. The task force would sunset on July 1, 2020.

A solution for school finance is still being worked on as the House continued its work on the K-12 school finance formula this past week, as it continued to discuss and vote on amendments each day last week.

There was much discussion regarding an amendment that would require schools to provide a particular type of therapy to students with autism at the request of their parent or guardian, provided they had a prescription. It was initially passed, but ultimately amended and delayed for one year during which the issue could be more fully examined.

Another amendment which garnered much attention would have required districts to spend an amount of their local foundation budget (formerly local option budget) that is proportional to the amount of the funding they get for at-risk and bilingual programs, on those particular programs. This amendment was originally added, and then removed following a vote to increase the weighting for at-risk students to the level recommended by the post audit. This amendment was estimated to cost $21 million.

Several other amendments were attached, including one that would require an LPA review of virtual education and another that eliminated the COLA weighting. It is anticipated the committee will pass a bill out this week.  It is estimated that the court will require at least six weeks to review the bill, which will need to be implemented by the court-imposed deadline of June 30th.

Please feel free to reach out to me. Call my cell phone: (785) 302-8416 or email: [email protected]. It is my honor to serve as your representative.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Hays Area Planning Commission will thank outgoing members and welcome new commissioners during their Mon., May 15 meeting.

Former Planning Commissioners Darrell Hamlin, Kris Munsch and Larry Gould will be recognized followed by introduction of the three new commissioners, Mike Vitztum, Jim Schreiber and Dustin Schlaefli.

Planning commissioners apply to serve on the board and are appointed by the Hays mayor.

The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. tonight in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main. The complete agenda is available here.

ELLIS–Funding requests from six local non-profit organizations will be presented to the Ellis City Council during their Mon., May 15 meeting.

Council members will also hear updates from Superintendent Robert Young about USD 388 capital improvements, from Water Advisory Board member Gary Luea and from City Clerk Amy Burton who will discuss warranty information from Natare Corporation which recently repaired the city swimming pool liner.

Tonight’s complete agenda follows.

AGENDA
May 15, 2017
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS
City Hall – Council Meeting Room

BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)
1) CONSENT AGENDA
a) Minutes from Regular Meeting on May 1, 2017
b) Bills Ordinance #2021
c) December 2016 Manual Journal Entries
(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda. By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson. ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment. Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)
2) PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
3) SPECIAL ORDER
a) Monthly Fire Department Report – Fire Chief Dustin Vine
b) Discuss Employee Health Insurance Renewal – Julie Yarmer, Freedom Claims Management, Inc.
c) Update on USD 388 Capital Improvements – Robert Young, Superintendent
d) 2017 Budget Request – Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs
e) 2017 Budget Request – Ellis Public Library
f) 2017 Budget Request – Ellis Alliance
g) 2017 Budget Request – Ellis Community Foundation
h) 2017 Budget Request – Chrysler Boyhood Home and Museum
i) 2017 Budget Request – Railroad Museum
j) Update from PRIDE Committee
4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Consider Approval of Ordinance Renaming Cottonwood Avenue
b) Consider Approval of City Attorney’s Contract
c) Update from Water Advisory Board – Gary Luea
5) NEW BUSINESS
a) Consider Approval of Contractor’s Pay Estimate #2, Request #2 for Payment of CDBG Funds, and Authorize Mayor to Sign Documents
b) Consider Donation of Campground Passes – Ellis Alumni Association
c) Consider Purchase of Colorimeter for Wastewater Treatment Plant
d) Consider Purchase of Utility Billing Forms
e) Consider Approval of Temporary Use Provision for Sale of Fireworks
f) Consider Approval of Group Life and Disability Insurance Renewal
g) Consider Approval of Employee Dental and Health Insurance Premiums
h) Consideration of Agriculture Lease
6) REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
a) Administrative
1) Public Works
(1) Comparative Water Report
(2) Department Update
2) Police
(1) Department Update
3) City Clerk
(1) Update on Warranty Information from Natare Corporation
(2) December 2016 Financial Statements
(3) Department Update
4) Attorney
(1) Update on Status of Code Violation Cases
5) Mayor Update and Announcements
(1) Report on Citizen’s Complaint
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
7) ADJOURNMENT