Machen graduated from the University of Kansas in 1977 and from the KU School of Medicine in 1983. After a residency in family medicine at the University of Oklahoma, Tulsa Medical College, the Concordia native has spent the last 33 years practicing medicine in the northwest Kansas town of about 900 people.

“It’s the people,” said Machen, who is a partner at Bluestem Medical and on staff at Gove County Medical Center. “The people are your patients, and they become your friends. It might sound cliché, but you’re taking care of the salt of the Earth. These are people who work hard, and they love life and look out for each other. They would give you the shirt off their backs and ask for nothing, just because it’s the right thing to do.”

Machen has a seemingly boundless commitment to the next generation of medical students, whether it’s serving as network site director for KU Medical Center in Northwest Kansas or his association with the Scholars in Rural Health program. Machen has helped turn his corner of the Sunflower State into a place to be for medical students. So much so that there is a waiting list of students who want to serve preceptorships in the 15 to 20 towns that take part in the program. During his time in Quinter, more than 150 students have spent time in northwest Kansas.

— KU Medical Center

Hays Post

LA CROSSE—Flame Engineering Inc of LaCrosse achieved 17 years with no loss-time accidents on June 22.

Lost-time accidents implies a non-fatal accident that causes any loss time from work.

Flame manufactures LP gas equipment. This includes torches for home, agriculture and tar roofing. Flame Engineering has been operating in La Crosse since the late 1950s and now sells all over the world.

Jason Pivonka is the current vice president of the company. His father and grandfather founded the company, and his son is the fourth generation to work at Flame Engineering.

“Everyone at Flame Engineering works hard to maintain a safe work environment,” a news release said.

Flame Engineering has also been part of the Safety & Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) since October 2000, a designation which remains in effect today.

FHSU University Relations

Megan Purinton, Hays, recently joined the Fort Hays State University Alumni Association as the program coordinator for alumni engagement. She will serve the association as the primary event coordinator working with alumni volunteers to facilitate alumni engagement opportunities throughout the United States and beyond.

Prior to joining the FHSU Alumni Association staff, Purinton worked as a project administrator for Excel Constructors Inc. in Overland Park. She is also the owner of Inspired Design by Megan Purinton, a home painting business serving Hays and the surrounding area for over eight years.

“I’m thrilled to be part of the FHSU campus community,” said Purinton. “There is an excitement within this college atmosphere and I look forward to sharing it with Fort Hays State alumni and friends everywhere.”

Purinton is a 2004 graduate from Kansas State University, Manhattan, with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. She lives in Hays with her husband, Royce, and their four kids, Chloe, Isaac, Amelia, and Caroline.

Purinton may be reached at 785-628-4217 or [email protected].

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Most Hays residents are very happy when it rains.

But the past few weeks have brought multiple inches of rain falling hard and fast, causing flooding in portions of Hays on July 6.

These most recent rainstorms, on top of late spring rains, have also resulted in some messy alleys.

Public Works Director Jesse Rohr is well aware of the less than ideal conditions and says his employees are working to improve the situation.

“The stormwater and flooding have washed and eroded many of city’s alleys and they require maintenance, some more than others,” Rohr said Tuesday. “Public work staff is working on the alleys as schedules allow and will continue to do so over the next several months. The worst alleys are at the top of the priority list and will be worked on first.”

This work is in addition to the department’s annual alley maintenance program concentrated in in the fall and winter months.

“Our solid waste crews obviously use the alleys every day so they’re letting us know where they have difficulties getting through the alleys and we’ll address the worst of them. Eventually, we’ll get to all of them again,” Rohr declared.

“There’s also a lot of people who use alleys for rear-yard access to get to their detached garages in the back. And, a lot of alleys have utilities in them – electric, gas, phone, communications – and the utility companies need to get back there.

“The alleys do get a fair amount of traffic in them so they need to be accessible to the best extent possible.”

Alleys susceptible to erosion have a soil base with a limestone rock or crushed concrete topping. In many areas of Hays, alleys convey stormwater.

“That’s led to erosion in certain areas, typically along the sides,” Rohr explained. “After heavy rains, a lot of the aggregate on top of the alley will wash into the streets.” The city will move the rock topping back onto the alleys and rectify the erosion, all of which requires a motor grader.

“We still have other projects on the schedule,” Rohr noted, “so we appreciate the public’s patience and understanding. Please know that the conditions of the alleys will improve as additional time can be devoted to their maintenance.”

Residents with questions or concerns should call the Hays Public Works Department at 785-628-7350.