SUBMITTED
Although most of the guests are of Volga-German descent, patrons at the March 15 lunch at the Hays Senior Center celebrated an early St. Patrick’s Day while wearing the traditional green.
Hays Senior Center celebrates St. Patrick’s Day
Month: March 2018
Report: Hundreds Of Veterans In Kan. Lost Out On Care At Non-VA Facilities
By DAN MARGOLIES
Almost 1,000 veterans in Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois were denied care at non-VA facilities because their wait times were incorrectly reported, an audit released last week concludes.
The report, by the Office of Inspector General for the Veterans Health Administration, found that 18 percent of appointments for new patients at VA facilities in the three states had wait times longer than 30 days. The facilities’ own electronic scheduling systems, however, showed only 10 percent had wait times of more than 30 days.
CREDIT VETERANS HEALTH
The inaccurate wait-time data meant that veterans were not identified as eligible for treatment through the VA’s Choice program, which allows veterans who face wait times of more than 30 days, or have to travel more than 40 miles to a VA facility, to seek care at non-VA facilities.
Because wait times were not accurately measured, the inspector general report estimated that staff failed to offer 970 patients the option of receiving care through the Choice program.
The VA came under fire in 2014 amid disclosures that the VA Medical Center in Phoenix had falsified records to conceal long wait times. The scandal prompted a shakeup in the VA health system, including the resignation of Eric K. Shinseki, the secretary of Veterans Affairs. Since then, inspector general reports have found similar problems at other VA facilities across the country.
The new report looked at wait times in the VA region that includes VA facilities in Kansas City, St. Louis, Columbia and Poplar Bluff, Missouri; Wichita, Topeka and Leavenworth, Kansas; and Marion, Illinois. The region is known as VISN 15 (VISN stand for Veterans Integrated Service Network and encompasses VA medical centers and clinics in Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana and Arkansas).
“The main thing that is most troubling to me is that the through lines and the themes that contributed to the problems we were seeing with wait times at so many of the facilities as far back as 2014 still seem to be in place,” said Charles Hughes, a policy analyst with the conservative-leaning Manhattan Institute who has written about VA wait times.
“I’m not talking about willful manipulation or anything in that vein, but just inconsistent enforcement of the processes that are supposed to be in place,” Hughes said. “Sometimes facility staff doesn’t quite understand what they’re supposed to be doing and the end result is more veterans are waiting longer than the data indicates. And in a lot of cases that can lead to them not getting timely care or being inappropriately not made eligible for the Choice program.”
Kevin T. Arnhold, a spokesman for VISN 15, said in an email that the facilities “appreciate the inspector general’s review and we welcome the oversight because we know it makes us better.”
“And while this report highlighted opportunities for improvement with respect to our wait times, it also validates VISN 15’s efforts to deliver timely health care to Veterans,” he said. “Nevertheless, we are taking this opportunity to redouble our efforts to provide timely, high-quality care to those who have worn the uniform.”
U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Missouri, said in an email to KCUR that the report “clearly shows there’s more work that needs to be done to ensure wait times are being reported accurately, consults are being managed effectively, and veterans who are eligible for the Choice program are able to get the care they need within 30 days.”
Blunt last year co-sponsored legislation called the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act, aimed at protecting whistleblowers while making it easier to fire employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Drew Pusateri, a spokesman for U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Missouri, said via email that McCaskill was reviewing the inspector general report “but finds many aspects of the audit concerning and will be demanding additional information from the VA.”
The report follows a similar audit of another VA region last year, which also found facilities failing to maintain accurate data on wait times.
Neither report reviewed the quality of the health care provided at the facilities. Rather, they measured wait times for new patients and the accuracy of the facilities’ wait-time data.
The VA health system comprises 1,700 hospitals and clinics, making it the country’s largest integrated health care system.
The new inspector general report says that “VA data reliability continues to be a high-risk area.”
In addition to finding that 18 percent of appointments for new patients overall had wait times exceeding 30 days, the report also found that the wait times for 38 percent of new mental health or specialty care appointments were inaccurate. The report said the average wait time for the 18 percent cohort was 53 days.
“Staff continued to enter the wrong date in the scheduling system primarily because VISN 15 and facility management did not ensure staff consistently implemented VHA’s scheduling requirements,” the report stated.
“I think a lot of it is just kind of, I don’t want to say incompetence, but misunderstanding or mistakes or just poor performance,” Hughes, of the Manhattan Institute, said.
He added: “It is a little disheartening that we’re into 2018 now and still having a lot of these same issues.”
Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor for the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @DanMargolies.
Exploring the trails of Castle Rock and the badlands
By DENA WEIGEL BELL
WaKeeney Travel Blog
WAKEENEY – With its wide open vistas and gently rolling hills, Trego County’s beautiful prairie provides a tranquil High Desert setting, but this dusty landscape hides a secret. It was once part of an amazing waterway called the Western Interior Seaway. You can find out more about that ancient seascape on a hike around Castle Rock and its adjoining badlands.
These amazing 70-foot rock formations were created during the mid-to-late Cretaceous period and very early Paleogene Era when the sea split the continent of North America into two landmasses. Water from the north flowed down the center of what is now the North American continent, emptying out into the Gulf of Mexico and carving out a trough between the Rocky and the Appalachian Mountain ranges.
Throughout this time, millions of pre-historic sea creatures left their remains in the chalk and shale seabed where they fossilized over the course of 80 million years.
Castle Rock and its adjoining badlands is a geologist’s and paleontologist’s playground.
Along the trails that crisscross the rock outcroppings, earthen pyramids, and striking white towers, or hoodoos, you’ll find the remains of sharks, mollusks, ammonites, plesiosaurs–a predatory marine reptile–giant shellfish, mosasaurs, and squid-like animals, among many others. You’ll also find fossils of the plankton-like animals that secreted the chalky platelets that give the Cretaceous Period its name and remnants of animals that roamed our prairie in more recent ancient times, like the great mammoths of the pre-historic era.
Castle Rock gained more historical significance during America’s pioneering days when it became an identifying landmark on the Smoky Hill Trail and the Butterfield Overland Despatch. What a surprise it must have been for travelers when, after days of flat earth travel, they came upon a hidden valley of chalky cliffs!
Today’s families love the wide-open spaces and trails they find at Castle Rock and the Badlands and this is a great time to explore. The nooks and crannies can be a cozy home to modern-day wild animals, so keep an eye and ear out for snakes. The trails are all unmarked and in their natural state, with no railings or steps to aid climbers, and some of the rocks are unstable, so wear good hiking shoes.
Traveling to Castle Rock and the Badlands will take you over dirt roads and onto private property, whose owners graciously allow visitors to enter with the expectation that they respect the area and take care not to damage the site. You can make the trip over the unpaved roads in a passenger car if you go slow but it is better in a SUV or pick-up, and always be aware of the constantly changing weather conditions. And, photographers–don’t forget your cameras for amazing shots of this mythical looking landscape!
To visit, turn south on Banner Road from Collyer (Exit #115), look for the turnoff to the Castle Rock and it’s badlands roughly 12.4 miles south of I-70 at Trego County U Road. Turn west (right) on U Rd. and go 2.8 miles into Gove County on K Road. Look for signs pointing north to Castle Rock to guide you into the pasture, then follow the path, crossing the cattle guard and driving to the bluff that overlooks Castle Rock.
After visiting the site, stop in at WaKeeney’s Trego County Historical Society to see just a few of the fossils that have been recovered at Castle Rock and the Badlands.
There is a great group of fossils gathered by amateur and professional paleontologists in the Leonard and Irene Purinton Collection.
Together, Castle Rock and its adjoining badlands were named as one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas by the Kansas Sampler Foundation in 2008 and is a must-do on your Kansas travel bucket list.
It is a fantastic landscape with a secret past that continues to be revealed in layers of Trego County’s prairie.
FHSU gets 2017 Tree Campus USA recognition
FHSU University Relations
With a campus full of trees and a plan to take care of them, Fort Hays State University has been recognized as a leader in promoting healthy trees and conservation by the Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus USA program.
The program’s criteria are establishing a tree advisory committee; evidence of a campus tree-care plan; dedicated annual expenditures for its campus tree program; an Arbor Day observance; and sponsorship of student service-learning projects.
“We are proud to be one of the six Tree Campus USA universities in the state of Kansas and the only one in western Kansas, said Dr. Teresa Clounch, an assistant vice president for student affairs at FHSU and chair of the FHSU Tree Campus USA Committee.
Tigers For Trees can be found on Facebook and Instagram.
“What I am most proud of is the campus and community collaboration. We have undergraduate students from one of our 18 learning communities, graduate students and faculty from biology, representatives from the Kansas Forest Service and the county horticulture extension office, and from university grounds,” she said.
“Your entire campus community should be proud of this sustained commitment to environmental stewardship,” said Lauren Weyers, program coordinator for the Arbor Day Foundation, in the letter announcing the recognition.
“Communities worldwide are facing issues with air quality, water resources, personal health and well-being, and energy use,” said Weyers. “Fort Hays State University is stepping up to do its part. As a result of your commitment to effective urban forest management, you are helping to provide a solution to these global challenges.”
Clounch also noted plans for the university to take part in the city’s Arbor Day celebration on Thursday, April 19. As part of the lead-in to that celebration, she said, Tigers for Trees will share information about campus efforts and offer a tree tour of campus on Tuesday, April 17.
Moran, Scalise introduce legislation to speed up broadband deployment
OFFICE OF SEN. MORAN
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation – and House Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) introduced the Reducing Antiquated Permitting for Infrastructure Deployments (RAPID) Act, instructing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to review outdated, overly-cumbersome regulations that inhibit timely approval for broadband deployment projects. This legislation directs the FCC, under its preexisting authority, to reexamine and revise deployments that are subject to review by the National Historic Preservation Act and the National Environmental Policy Act within a 180 day period with the goal of speeding up broadband project approval.
“The most responsible and effective way to close the growing digital gap is to grant broadband providers the opportunity to advance deployment projects without having to deal with unnecessarily complicated and duplicative federal mandates,” said Sen. Moran. “The RAPID Act would direct the FCC to swiftly review and modernize these burdensome regulations to promote innovation and encourage broadband deployment. By cutting excessive red tape, providers can more quickly get Kansans and Americans the access they need while improving American competitiveness in this innovative sector.”
“The United States is the global leader in wireless technology, and maintaining that position is more important than ever as new technologies promise to deliver innovative new services for families across America,” said Whip Scalise. “Federal regulations that deal with broadband deployment need to be streamlined to reflect modern technology while also protecting consumers, and doing so will ensure that America will remain the world’s leader in technology innovation and job creation.”
“The introduction of legislation by Senator Moran and Congressman Scalise has the potential to bring immediate regulatory relief to telecommunications providers, like Sprint, as we make significant investments in our wireless infrastructure and prepare for the deployment of next-generation 5G networks,” said Sprint Corporation Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Vonya B. McCann. “These balanced approach will pave the way towards reducing federal regulations that impose excessive costs and unnecessary delays to small cell deployment. We applaud these efforts and are committed to working with others in Congress to ensure this legislation’s success.”
“Senator Moran and Representative Scalise recognize that the United States is locked in a global race to deploy next generation 5G wireless networks and that modernizing outdated federal rules will spur new investment, innovation and job creation,” said CTIA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Kelly Cole. “The RAPID Act is a common sense measure directing the FCC to update its rules to keep pace with new technology and we look forward to its swift approval by both chambers.”
“I applaud Senator Moran and Representative Scalise for their leadership on wireless broadband deployment and for their introduction of the RAPID Act,” said Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Brendan Carr. “Senator Moran and Representative Scalise recognize that we need to incentivize even greater broadband deployment, including in rural communities. Their RAPID Act would help do exactly that by ensuring that we modernize outdated regulatory approaches. This effort can help unleash next-generation innovation and increase broadband deployment for all Americans.”
View the bill text here.
Kansas holds on for win over Clemson; advances to Elite Eight
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — For the third year in a row, Kansas made it through the Sweet 16 — although not before Clemson tried its hardest to add another wild chapter to an already unbelievable tournament.
The top-seeded Jayhawks brought at least a temporary halt to the insanity of this March, withstanding a ferocious rally by fifth-seeded Clemson on Friday for a too-close-for-comfort, 80-76 victory.
Malik Newman led the Jayhawks (30-7) with 17 points in a one-time runaway that got much closer and, quite frankly, won’t mean much to KU fans if their team can’t finish the job in the Midwest Region final Sunday. The Jayhawks will play Duke in what will be the nation’s only 1 vs. 2 regional final; the Blue Devils beat Syracuse 69-65.
As a top seed the last two seasons, Kansas made it through the regional semifinals, only to flop a game shy of the Final Four both times. In fact, this marks the sixth time Bill Self’s team has been seeded first since KU won it all in 2008; the Jayhawks haven’t made the Final Four one of those times.
“I think about it all the time. I just told the guys in the locker room…this year, we’ve got to get over the hump,” said senior Devonte’ Graham, who had 16 points.
Still, it could’ve ended on Friday — in horrifying fashion — after Clemson stormed back from a 20-point deficit that stunned a crowd filled mostly with fans from Lawrence and surrounding areas, which are only a few hours from Omaha.
“We just kind of played not to lose down the stretch,” Self said.
Clemson trailed 62-42, but climbed to within six with 2:27 left. Graham’s offensive rebound after a Svi Mykhailiuk miss at the 1:57 mark allowed the Jayhawks to run almost a minute off the clock.
Kansas didn’t score after Graham’s rebound, and the Tigers got the next board for a chance to cut it to a one-possession game. But Shelton Mitchell and Gabe DeVoe each missed from beyond the arc. From there, Kansas overcame a dogged Clemson press just long enough to ensure that the Tigers couldn’t pull any closer until the tail end.
DeVoe had a career-high 31 for Clemson (25-10), which couldn’t replicate the magic it showed in beating Auburn by 31 to reach its first Sweet 16 in 21 years.
“We didn’t have our best game. Sometimes that’s not easy to keep fighting like that,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said.
PIVOTAL MOMENT
Clemson had scored five straight points to cut KU’s lead to 35-27 late in the first half when Elijah Thomas, after a review, was called for a flagrant foul. Silvio De Sousa knocked down the free throws, Lagerald Vick buried a 3 and Kansas cruised into halftime ahead 40-27. Vick, Newman and Graham then opened the second half with 3s to extend the lead to 20.
BIG PICTURE
One of the most encouraging signs for Kansas was that it jumped ahead by 13 at halftime despite a 1-for-7 start by Graham, the Big 12 player of the year. Big man Udoka Azubuike looked strong in his first start of the tournament with 14 points and 11 rebounds in a tournament-high 25 minutes.
FOR REAL?
What a wild 12 months it’s been for Brownell, the Clemson coach. He entered the season on the hot seat after six straight seasons without even making the NCAA Tournament. But the Tigers reached the regional semifinals for the first time since 1997 even after losing Donte Grantham, arguably their best player. The big question next is whether 2017-18 will prove a one shot wonder or the start of something big in the Upstate. Clemson has spent money on facilities to become a basketball school — but will it ever get out of the shadow cast by Dabo Swinney’s football team?
TIGERS CLAW BACK
For the final 12 minutes, Clemson played like the team that throttled Auburn to earn a crack at the Jayhawks. The Tigers didn’t turn it over once down the stretch, and they finished 14 of 19 at the free throw line — which was a strong point all year. But while Kansas hardly looked like a No. 1 seed down the stretch, it did improve to 25-1 this season when leading at the break.
DOKE LOOKED DOPE
Azubuike finished with his sixth double-double of the season. His presence forced Clemson to give more space to KU’s shooters, who went 10 of 22 on 3s.
HE SAID IT
“This is the team everyone would have thought … would not be in this game. We’ve got a legitimate shot to go to San Antonio. I think we’ll play with no ‘what ifs.’ I think we’ll be loose,” Self said.
VEGAS KNOWS
Kansas came in as a 4 ½-point favorite — a number that didn’t look to be in play … until it was.
Tiger baseball ends losing skid, edges SBU in 11 innings
BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Fort Hays State baseball team needed extra innings to defeat Southwest Baptist on their home turf this afternoon, 7-5 in 11 innings, ending a ten-game losing streak. The Tigers improved to 10-17 on the season and 2-12 in conference play, while the Bearcats moved to 8-17 overall and 2-11 in MIAA action.
Dayton Pomeroy started what seemed to be a high-scoring affair off the right way with a three-run blast in the first inning, giving the Tigers the early 3-0 advantage. The Bearcats countered with a run in the home half of the first frame keeping the game within two runs, 3-1.
The Tigers got that run back after Addison Kaasch provided an RBI single, scoring Jordan Wilkerson and giving FHSU the 4-1 lead. SBU wasn’t going away as they plated a run in the bottom half of the second frame, cutting the lead to 4-2 after two innings of work.
Pomeroy crushed his team-leading tenth homer of the season and second blast of the game in the third inning, giving starter Ben Ramberg some more breathing room, this time 5-2 in favor of the Tigers. Southwest Baptist came storming back in the same inning with a two-run frame, coming within one of the Tigers.
After the first three innings and both teams combining for nine runs on 11 hits, the Tigers and Bearcats settled down and only allowed one run in the next seven innings when SBU tied the game in the seventh inning on a double steal.
Sam Capps came on in relief of Ramberg with two outs in the eighth frame and shut the door the rest of the way.
Bryce Baumwart led off the 11th inning with a single, giving the Tigers a chance with a runner on. Colton Helm pinch ran for Baumwart and immediately stole second base. Jason Nicholson advanced to first on a fielding error by the Bearcats, allowing Helm to reach third base. Helm then scored and Nicholson advanced 90 feet to second on a wild pitch, giving the Tigers their first run since the third frame. Alex Weiss singled in Nicholson two batters later.
Capps protected the Tiger lead after giving up back-to-back singles to start the inning, earning his second victory of the season. FHSU outhit SBU 13-9 in the contest.
The Tigers and Bearcats will square off tomorrow afternoon for game two of the weekend series. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
Jennies use late rally to sweep Tiger softball
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State was one out away from gaining a split on Friday (Mar. 23), but a two-run triple turned the tables and gave Central Missouri a sweep of an MIAA doubleheader. The Jennies took Game 1, 7-1, before using the late rally to take Game 2, 2-1. The Jennies ran their win streak to seven games, improving to 16-14 overall, 5-1 in the MIAA, while the Tigers fell to 7-25 overall, 3-7 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Central Missouri 7, Fort Hays State 1
Leaving runners on base was in issue for the Tigers all afternoon. The Tigers stranded 13 runners in the first game and could not capitalize on opportunities against UCM starting pitcher Alexa Bradley. After scoring one run in the first, the Tigers left the bases loaded to end a potential rally. In three more innings, the Tigers had runners reach second and third, and then in the final inning another runner reached third.
The Tigers had no problem collecting hits with 12 in the game, but could not find the key hit when they needed it. Bradley threw 5.0 innings against the Tigers, allowing just one run on 10 hits with two strikeouts before handing the ball to Katie Giacone, who threw the final 2.0 innings. Giacone allowed two hits and a walk, while also striking out two.
The Jennies had 14 hits in the game against FHSU pitcher Hailey Chapman, who allowed seven runs (six earned). She also walked two, but struck out six.
Central Missouri grabbed an early 2-0 lead with five hits in the first inning. After the Tigers sliced the lead in half in the bottom of the first, the Jennies added a single run in the fourth and then two runs each in the sixth and seventh innings.
Fort Hays State’s only run came on a Candace Bollig RBI single in the first inning with the bases loaded.
Game 2: Central Missouri 2, Fort Hays State 1
The Tigers were just one out from victory in Game 2 with a 1-0 lead, but a well-placed hit to right field by Allie Dishinger turned the tables on the Tigers as a pair of runners came in to score from second and first. Grace Philop dove in an attempt for a game-winning catch, but instead of keeping the ball in front of her, the gamble turned costly as the ball got by and turned into a triple for Dishinger.
Sierra Rodriguez had the Jennies baffled through six innings, throwing scoreless ball up to that point. After getting a routine ground out to open the seventh, she gave up her first walk. Head coach Adrian Pilkington opted to go to Hailey Chapman to close the game. Chapman had two strikes on the first batter she faced, but then hit the batter, putting runners at first and second. After getting a lineout to left field for the second out, Dishinger flared her well-placed hit on a 1-0 count to give UCM the advantage in the blink of an eye.
The Tigers scored their lone run in the fifth inning on a Philop double to the left center gap to take a 1-0 lead.
Rodriguez went 6.1 innings for the Tigers in the circle, allowing just three hits and a walk with two strikeouts. She was responsible for just the first run scored by the Jennies. Chapman took the loss in 0.2 innings of work.
Katie Giacone picked up the win for UCM in 3.0 innings of relief work. She allowed only two hits and a walk, moving to 6-5 on the season. Starter Sarah Brown lasted 4.0 innings and was responsible for the run scored by the Tigers. She allowed three hits and a walk.
Fort Hays State returns to action on Saturday (Mar. 24) when it hosts Southwest Baptist in another MIAA doubleheader. Games are set to begin at 12 pm.
Streaking Loyola to face Kansas State’s tough defense
ATLANTA (AP) — No. 11 seed Loyola-Chicago (31-5) vs. No. 9 seed Kansas State (25-11)
Final, South Regional, Atlanta, Saturday, approximately 6:09 p.m.
BOTTOM LINE: Loyola boasts the nation’s longest active winning streak, 13 games. The Ramblers have extended the streak in the NCAA Tournament by excelling in the clutch, winning its four NCAA Tournament games by a combined four points, including Thursday night’s 69-68 win over Nevada. Kansas State is winning with defense and held Kentucky to a season low for points in Thursday night’s 61-58 win. Kentucky was the seventh straight opponent held under 59 points by the Wildcats.
HIGH SCHOOL BUDDIES: Kansas State senior Mason Schoen was a teammate of Loyola’s Clayton Custer at Blue Valley Northwest High School in Overland, Park, Kansas. Custer also played on the same AAU team with Kansas State junior Amaad Wainwright.
HOT SHOOTING: Loyola shot 75 percent from the field in the second half against Nevada, making 18 of 24 shots.
LONG TIME COMING: The Ramblers’ lone Final Four appearance came when they won the championship in 1963. Kansas State’s most recent of four Final Four appearances came in 1964. The Wildcats are in their first regional final since 2010, when they lost to Butler.
QUOTABLE: “I don’t like what is going on in our business, to be honest. You know … you can’t do anything about it. If it is that bad and some of the stuff comes out, it needs to be changed, and I hope it does get changed. But all I can worry about is myself and making sure that I do things the right way and help them develop, and I know when the paper comes to your door or the news comes on, my kids don’t have to worry that I did something I’m not supposed to.” — Kansas State coach Bruce Weber on scandals in college basketball.
Gov. celebrates vocational rehabilitation counselors
DCF
TOPEKA – Recognizing the career potential of people with disabilities and affirming the importance of work in the psychological well-being of these individuals, Governor Jeff Colyer signed a proclamation earlier this month highlighting the work that vocational rehabilitation counselors do to empower Kansans with disabilities. March is Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Appreciation Month.
On March 1, at the State Capitol Building, Topeka, Governor Colyer met with several Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) vocational rehabilitation counselors to thank them for their service and to learn more about the accomplishments of DCF’s Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) division.
“The work that Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors do is vitally important because they are lifting up some of the most vulnerable Kansans and giving them purpose and hope,” Governor Jeff Colyer said.
DCF’s Acting Rehabilitation Services Director, Peg Spencer, shared some of the successes of the agency with Governor Colyer, stating that the agency has assisted more than 14,535 Kansans with disabilities become employed in the past 10 years. These clients are now filling positions in high-demand jobs, such as registered nurses, accountants, teachers and software developers.
James Tucker, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Overland Park, said that VR services help level the playing field for people with disabilities and assist them to gain employment.
Angela Roberson, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Topeka, said that she had client who is deaf and was receiving disability benefits, but that she wanted to work as a warehouse associate.
“We worked hard, and now she is successfully employed working as a warehouse associate, making $14 an hour,” said Roberson. “She was able to get off disability and receive health benefits through her employer. She loves her job, and Vocational Rehabilitation Services even helped her get hearing aids to help her at her job.”
DCF currently employs 68 counselors who provided services for 10,149 Kansans in fiscal year 2017. Approximately 75 percent of those who achieved employment through the VR program report their wages as their primary source of income, an indicator of the decrease of reliance on public assistance.
“It is so encouraging to hear about how these counselors are playing an integral part of their clients’ lives,” DCF Secretary Gina Meier-Hummel said. “I appreciate their dedication, because they work day in and day out to empower Kansans with disabilities to realize their full potential and help them gain competitive employment.”
Late child’s lock of hair stolen from mother’s car
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) – A Kansas City-area woman feels like she’s reliving her daughter’s death after discovering a lock of hair she kept of the 3-year-old has been stolen from her car.
Jaime Hampel told Independence Police she found her car had been ransacked Tuesday night. Among the items stolen was a wallet containing a lock of hair that belonged to Ryan Hampel, who died in a September car crash.
Hampel says the lock of hair was a little blonde curl with a pink bow that had white polka dots. It’s Hampel’s most tangible memento of her daughter.
The mother says the little bag with Ryan’s hair is the only thing she really cares about, and hopes the alleged thief will hear her story and return it.
MARSHALL: Doctor’s Note March 23
Friend,
While we welcomed the rainfall this week, as you can see in the picture below, it was not enough. As the threats from the drought persist, we must not neglect the harm that the lack of perception does to the district and our crops. Last week’s moisture was welcomed, but we are still far away from the precipitation levels needed to alleviate the drought and wildfire threats.
Sen. Pat Roberts, Sen. Moran, and I signed a letter to the USDA last week asking them to provide crucial assistance to our Kansas producers during this time. The unpredictability of mother nature is a stark reminder of why we need the certainty provided by a comprehensive Farm Bill.
National Agriculture Week!
On Tuesday, the nation celebrated the 45th National Agriculture Day. The agriculture industry contributes $992 billion to the U.S. economy and supports more than 21 million jobs! Kansas continues to be a leader in Ag not just in America but across the globe.
Besides being the number one producer of wheat in the country, as a state, we also are the top supplier of sorghum and beef. Kansas alone produces enough wheat every year to bake 36 billion loaves of bread, which is enough to feed everyone in the world for about two weeks! With 60 percent of our district’s economy agriculture-related and 45,000 farmers in our district alone, the success of the Big First is largely dependent on our hardworking farmers and producers.
So, if you haven’t already, I encourage you to thank a producer today.
Right to Try Act Passes House
This week the House finally passed The Right to Try Act. This bill authorizes the patients’ right to use experimental drugs that have passed the first phase of safety trials administrated by the FDA. I am a proud co-sponsor of this bill because, despite the terminally ill diagnosis, these patients are not giving up hope, and members of Congress should not try to steal that from them. These drugs could be the last shot to save someone’s life. Go to my website to read more on this legislation.
Omnibus Spending Package
Yesterday Congress passed the omnibus spending bill, which appropriates the funds agreed upon in the FY 2018 Bipartisan Budget Act. This appropriations package has victories that will directly impact Kansas, including a crucial fix for Section 199A, a delay of the Electronic Logging Device mandate on livestock haulers, pay raises for our troops at Fort Riley, rural broadband access expansion, and funds for school safety measures.
But it is not a perfect bill. I have received a lot of calls with concerns on our government’s budget process. I whole-heartedly agree with these concerns, the dollar amount of this spending bill does alarm me, and the last-minute process that we are required to approve a 2,000+ page budget is ridiculous. But I think it is important to mention that congress passed the amount in this bill back in February this omnibus was just allocating those funds, and as it unfolded I believe this bill does a lot for Kansas.
I voted for this omnibus to stop neglecting the needs of our military families and national security, to fix the ‘grain glitch’ that pitted Kansas agri-businesses against each other, to secure our schools, and end the digital divide in our rural communities.
This spending package gives our troops the largest pay raise our service members have seen in eight years and the resources they need to protect this country and themselves. That is a top priority for me and the families at Fort Riley. Go to my website to learn more on this spending package.
Kan. man held on $500K bond for alleged drug distribution
RENO COUNTY – A Kansas man with a long criminal history is jailed on a half million dollar bond after his arrest Thursday on drug distribution charges.
Officers served a high risk “no-knock” search warrant at 106 S Paine in Nickerson which is the home of 56-year-old Michael Curran.
During the search, officers found nearly two pounds of methamphetamine, nearly two ounces of marijuana, 892 oxycodone pills, a large digital scale, packaging materials, pipes with residue for smoking meth, a 22-caliber handgun, a 22-caliber rifle and $4,000 in cash.
Curran faces potential charges of possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, possession with intent to sell opioids, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal possession of a firearm.
Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton was in the courtroom Friday and Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen agreed the bond would stay the same. Part of that is the alleged crimes in this new arrest added to his criminal history with convictions for drugs, flee and elude, aggravated assault and aggravated failure to appear.
He’ll be back in court for the reading of formal charges for the latest arrest next week.