No private information was obtained in the alleged computer hacking threat last year of the Ellis Co. EMS administrative phone lines.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
No confidential information was obtained during last year’s alleged denial-of-service attack against computers hosting the Ellis County Emergency Medical Service (EMS) administrative voice lines, according to county health administrator Kerry McCue.
“There were no administrative phone calls overheard and no patient information was obtained or lost from our possession,” McCue said Wednesday afternoon. “There were no HIPAA concerns or violations.”
HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) is U.S. legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information.
McCue wants to assure the public that “no confidential information” was accessed by the alleged computer hacker.
A Larned man, Michael D. Golightley, 34, is charged with seven counts of damaging a protected computer and one count of threatening to damage a protected computer. The crimes are alleged to have occurred in March 2017 in Ellis County.
According to a July 17 news release from U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister, District of Kansas, the indictment alleges Golightley hired an entity known as DDosCity to carry out a series of denial-of-service attacks against computers served by the local internet service provider Nex-Tech.
Nex-Tech provided backup and monitoring service for Ellis County’s EMS administrative voice lines, Russell County’s hospital voice lines, the Quinter hospital’s voice lines, the Grove County Sheriff’s administrative voice lines, the Russell County Sheriff’s administrative voice lines and the administrative voice lines for the police and fire departments of Russell County.
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated robbery.
Image courtesy Wichita Police
Just after 10p.m. Tuesday, police responded to a convenience store in the 600 Block of East Pawnee in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
A 38-year-old employee told police an unknown suspect entered the business, displayed a handgun and demanded money. The suspect took cash and fled on foot. There were no injuries according to Davidson.
The suspect is described as a white or Hispanic man in his 30s, 6-foot-1 and 120 pounds. He wore a dark, long sleeve shirt, blue jeans and a bandanna covering his face.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Wichita Police.
Karen Ann Ryan, age 76, passed away from kidney failure on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at her home in Scott City, Kansas.
She was born on April 3, 1942 in Shallow Water, Kansas, the daughter of Paul D. & Dora Scovill Ryan.
Karen was a lifetime resident of Scott City, Kansas and was a homemaker, wife and mother.
She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints of Scott City, Kansas.
On September 17, 1960 she married Larry E. Ryan in Tucumcari, New Mexico. He passed away on April 17, 2002 in Hays, Kansas.
Survivors include her three daughters – Denise Craig of Scott City, Kansas, Linette & Brian Little of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, Mershon Misner of Colorado Springs, Colorado, three sons – Aaron Ryan of Scott City, Kansas, Bryan & Gaynelle Ryan of Henderson, Nevada, Chad & Jessie Ryan of Scott City, Kansas, two sisters – Betty Dunlap of Caballo, New Mexico, Nancy & John Witt of Caballo, New Mexico; twenty one grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Karen was preceded in death by her parents, husband, and three sisters – Mary Ryan, Dorin Penka, Peggy VanWey, and one infant brother, Paulin E. Ryan and one brother, Dean Ryan.
Funeral Services will be held at the Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 906 Cresant Ave. in Scott City, Kansas on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.with Bishop James A. Yager presiding.
Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be made to the Karen Ryan Memorial Fund in care of Price & Sons Funeral Homes.
Interment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas.
Visitation will be at Price & Sons Funeral Home from 1pm – 8pm Friday in Scott City, Kansas.
Eugene L. Smith, age 77, passed away on Tuesday, July 17, 2018 at the Scott County Hospital in Scott City, Kansas. He was born on July 23, 1940 in Scott City, Kansas, the son of Loyd & Edith Watkins Smith. A lifetime resident of Scott City, Kansas, he was a retired mechanic at Smith Motor Company for 56 years.
He was a US Army Veteran serving during the Vietnam war and a member of the VFW and NRA.
On January 11, 1959 he married Carolyn Sue Harp in Scott City, Kansas. She survives.
Survivors include his Wife – Carolyn Sue Smith of Scott City, Kansas, Two Daughters – Kimie France of Scott City, Kansas
Dustie Rohrbough of Scott City, Kansas, One Grandson – Hunter Eugene Stevens of Goodland, Kansas and
One Granddaughter – Taryn Ruth Rohrbough of Scott City, Kansas.
He was preceded in death by his Parents and One Sister – Ramona Limback.
Funeral Services will be held at the United Methodist Church in Scott City, Kansas on Friday, July 20, 2018 at 2:00 p.m.with Pastor Don Williams presiding.
Memorials in lieu of flowers may made to the Pence Community Church in care of Price & Sons Funeral Homes.
Interment will be in the Scott County Cemetery in Scott City, Kansas
Visitation will be from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Scott City, Kansas.
Rhonda Meyerhoff of Eagle Communications, left, presents a check to the ARC for its accessible recreation complex. The ARC is represented, from left, by Brent Kaiser, ARC activities director, Abe Meitner, Sarah Meitner and Kathy McAdoo, ARC executive director.
Eagle Communications made the first donation to a planned accessible park project that is being backed by the ARC of the Central Plains.
The $1.6 million complex would include a playground, splash pad and baseball diamond. ARC announced the project at Hays Area Chamber of Commerce event Friday.
If you have questions on the recreation complex or wish to donate, email [email protected]. You can also follow the Hays Accessible Recreation Complex on Facebook.
The $125 Eagle donation was the unclaimed prize money from a second egg hunt that Eagle sponsored during the Wild West Festival.
EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — Officials say an Emporia doctor is losing his Kansas medical license for a sexual relationship with a patient who tried to commit suicide using pills he prescribed her.
The Kansas City Star reports that the Kansas Board of Healing Arts said in revoking Chester Stone’s license last week that he “was in a position of significant power” over the unnamed patient while he was treating her for anxiety. The board said he “abused that power” and “showed a “thorough lack of genuine remorse.”
Stone had a private practice and remains able to work at Veterans Affairs medical facilities because he still has a license in Missouri, although it’s unclear if he’s doing so. Stone says he thinks his attorneys have told Missouri officials about the loss of his Kansas license.
The Victoria VFW Post 1751 is raising funds to build an accessible restroom.
The VFW’s building was constructed in the late 1960s or early 1970s and the bathrooms have not been upgraded sine then.
Harland Rupp, VFW quartermaster, said the renovation is important to the community, as the VFW is the only building in Victoria that is large enough to accommodate many community events.
The building is not only used by the VFW and veterans, but for wedding showers, funeral dinners, anniversary parties, Knights of Columbus fish fries and other events. Some patrons of the establishment who used walkers and wheelchairs said they were having trouble maneuvering in the current restroom’s tight space.
A new expanded unisex restroom will be created with a wider door, grab bars and lowered sink for use by people who use wheelchairs.
The VFW estimates it will need $10,000 to do the renovations and hopes to have enough money raised within the next six months to fund the project.
The group is applying for a Home Depot grant and is conducting a burger and brat fundraiser from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the VFW, 204 E. Main St., Victoria. The fundraiser also will honor the community’s veterans.
Brats, burgers, hot dogs, baked beans, chips and coleslaw and beverages will be served. A full meal will cost $7.
Individual items can be purchased for the prices below.
Hamburger $3, brat $3, hot dog $2, bag of chips 50 cents, pop $1, beer $2
For more information on the fundraiser or on how to donate to the renovation project, contact Rupp at 785-623-1368.
The annual WKHRMA seminar will be held on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at the Robbins Center located on the campus of Fort Hays State University. Doors open and registration will begin at 8:30 a.m.
Speaker: Melody L. Rayl, Attorney, and Lauren Sobaski, Associate, of Fisher Phillips
Registration: $65 Members; $80 Non-Members; Lunch is included; Registration and Payment due October 9, 2018.
*This event will be SHRM (5 hours) & HRCI Certified
We would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support:
-Hays Area Chamber of Commerce
-Werth Wealth Management
-Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball
-Management Development Center (MDC) at Fort Hays State University
-Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
-Freedom Claims Management, Inc.
Hays could soon be home to a new Tractor Supply Company retail store north of Interstate 70.
A public hearing for rezoning property in the Crawford Addition, located on the northwest corner of 48th and Roth, and the final plat of Crawford Addition were approved unanimously June 18 by the Hays Area Planning Commission.
(Click to enlarge)
Property owner Crawford Supply Co. has requested annexation into the city limits and connection to city services, along with a zoning change from agriculture (A-L) to commercial general district (C-2).
The property abuts existing property zoned C-2.
According to information from Curtis Deines, Hays PIE Superintendent, the property has been used for agriculture production for many years. In May, the property owner began the process for developing the property.
“The property is currently being planned for development by Tractor Supply Company. City staff has been working with the developer for several months,” according to the city administrator’s memo to the Hays City Commission. “The annexation, rezoning, and plat have all gone through the Planning Commission with no issues.”
The annexation, zoning and platting will be reviewed by the Hays City Commission during its July 19 work session.
Other agenda items another review of the 2019 draft budget with specific discussion of funding to outside agencies.
During their first budget review, commissioners Sandy Jacobs, Ron Mellick and Mayor James Meier supported full funding – $100,000 – of the Fort Hays State University city scholarship program request. The draft 2019 budget calls for $90,000 which was the amount funded in 2018.
Commissioners will also review a proposed bid award for a tower at the new fire/rescue training facility under construction in south Hays.
They will also discuss maintenance procedures of the city’s stormwater drainage system at the request of Vice Mayor Henry Schwaller.
The Boyington family: son John Charles, John, Donna, and daughter Brooke pose at a pro rodeo event in 2015, when John was recognized as the 2015 PRCA Veterinarian of the Year. Donna is facing her second battle with cancer and has received donations from the Hope in the Heartland fund. The Phillipsburg rodeo raises money for Hope in the Heartland.
PHILLIPSBURG – Special funds gave two Phillipsburg women hope and help for the future.
When cancer struck Donna Boyington and Joanne Niemczyk Ceman, monies from the Hope in the Heartland fund helped them with extra expenses.
Boyington, the wife of John and co-owner of Crossroads Veterinary Clinic in Phillipsburg, was first diagnosed with endometrial cancer in late 2014. She had a hysterectomy to remove the tumors. After radiation and chemotherapy treatment in 2015, doctors told her there was a very good chance the cancer would not return. She was diagnosed with her second bout in July of last year. Doctors repaired organs damaged by the cancer and removed more tumors, which had spread to her abdomen.
Ceman was diagnosed with breast cancer in August of 2016. She did chemotherapy once a week for eight weeks, then radiation treatment every day for nearly a month, driving to Hays for treatment.
Both women received funding from Hope in the Heartland, an organization which provides funding for cancer patients in the Phillips County and surrounding area. Hope in the Heartland’s main fundraiser is Kansas Biggest Rodeo, which raises money through its Tough Enough to Wear Pink night, held on the first Thursday of the rodeo each year. Fans at pink night (this year, August 2, 2018), are asked to wear pink to bring awareness to cancer. For every fan wearing pink to the rodeo that night, the Phillipsburg Rodeo Association donates one dollar to Hope in the Heartland funds. Voluntary donations are picked up through the grandstands that night, and local businesses also donate.
Ceman used the donation mostly for travel expenses. “It helped a lot,” she said. “We used it for traveling to Hays.” She is employed at Witmer Drug Store and Crossroads Vet Clinic, and her bosses were understanding. “The people I work for were really good,” she said. “I worked as much as I could. If I needed to sit for a few minutes and catch my breath, they were good about it.”
On days of treatment, Ceman worked half-days, scheduling treatments for the morning so she could be back to work in the afternoon.
Joanne Ceman has battled cancer and received funding from Hope in the Heartland. Her husband Chris and sons (from left) Tony, Chris, and Zach stand with her.
Ceman had her last radiation treatment in May of 2017, and her cancer is in remission. Her husband, Chris, is facing his own battle. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2013 and because of complications, has kidney failure. He is on home kidney dialysis.
Boyington worked at Crossroads Veterinary Clinic full time but during treatment did a lot of the paperwork from home. She and John’s daughter Brooke, the 2014 Phillipsburg Rodeo Queen, returned home to help her parents after graduating from Kansas State University last spring. “She has been a true blessing,” Donna said. “We’re so thankful, because she’s so helpful. She’s helped (John) as much if not more than me.”
Ceman and her husband Chris moved to Phillipsburg from Minnesota in 2001 with their three boys, Tony, Zach and Chris, and have gone to the rodeo several times. Before she had cancer, it wasn’t on her radar like it is now. “It’s amazing how many people are affected by it or have had some kind of it,” she said. The Hope in the Heartland money was appreciated. “It was wonderful. We were really grateful for it.”
Boyington was appreciative of the funds, too. She and John traveled to Kansas City frequently for treatment, as well as to Hays every three weeks, so the funds went towards travel expenses. Her final chemo treatment was in February.
Boyington has a unique tie to the Phillipsburg rodeo. She competed in college rodeo in the barrel racing, breakaway roping and goat tying and did some professional barrel racing as well. Her husband steer wrestled at the Phillipsburg Rodeo and serves as the official veterinarian for the rodeo. He won the 2015 PRCA Veterinarian of the Year award. They rarely miss a night of rodeo.
Both women are thankful for the friends, family and community that have supported them through their ordeal. Even though her husband’s health isn’t the best, Ceman looks on the bright side of it. “There’s always somebody who is worse off than we are.” Boyington appreciates the community. “It’s wonderful to live in a town like Phillipsburg. People are so thoughtful and we really appreciate it.”
“It’s nice to live in a place where people care.”
The Tough Enough to Wear Pink campaign started at the Phillipsburg rodeo in 2006; since then, more than $83,000 has been raised. Several Phillipsburg businesses match the rodeo’s donation: Prairie Horizon Agri-Energy, McClain Seed Sales, Rodgers and Associates Insurance Co., and Farmers State Bank.
The Phillipsburg rodeo is August 2-4. Performances begin at 8 pm each night, and tickets range in price from $11 to $18. Tickets can be purchased at Heritage Insurance in Phillipsburg (785.543.2448) and at the gate. For more information, visit the rodeo’s website at www.KansasBiggestRodeo.com.
KANSAS CITY — (AP) — A Kansas City-area woman has been charged with letting men rape her 2-year-old daughter.
Watson -photo Wyandotte County
Twenty-five-year-old Azzie Watson, of Independence, was charged Tuesday with child abuse and endangerment. Bond is set at $75,000. No attorney is listed for her in online court records.
Court documents say Watson’s boyfriend recorded Watson talking about repeatedly taking her daughter to a house where her daughter was raped about five times. She says on the recording that she watched.
Police were given the recording last month while responding to a rape report at a hospital. Court documents say Watson told detectives that what she said in the recording was a lie because she was scared of her boyfriend. Watson also said she didn’t know how her daughter contracted a sexually transmitted disease.
