The Kansas Water Congress will hold its 2018 Summer Conference Thursday and Friday at the Robbins Center on the campus of Fort Hays State University.

The mission of the Kansas Water Congress is to promote wise management and stewardship of the state’s water resources and to protect, conserve, and develop Kansas water resources for the benefit of the state’s present and future generations.

The KWC is a nonprofit entity funded primarily by annual membership fees. The organization was established in 2002, and seeks to provide a forum where water users strive to:

• reach consensus on water issues;
• advocate positions on water policy;
• promote and advocate interactions between water-related state agencies and water districts;
• provide education and information on water issues affecting Kansas; and
• promote a broad base of membership, to include both sustaining and individual members representing a diversified base of water interests and users.

“The Kansas Water Congress Summer Conference is held each year to shed factual light and discussions on water issues significant to local, state, and national interests,” said KWC President David Brenn. “Our agenda for this year is no exception.”

Topics to be covered at this week’s event include updates on state and federal legislation and policy, watershed district reports, water banking, water transfers, aqueducts, and water quality in Kansas.

Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty will speak on the R9 Ranch project in Edwards County, a large-scale water-transfer project with the goal of securing a long-term municipal water source for the city.

Jeff Crispin, Director of Water Resources for the City of Hays, will lead the group on a bus tour that includes a look at the ongoing construction of the city’s new Waste Water Treatment Plant.

Registration is $80, and the public is welcome to attend. The meeting will adjourn by noon Friday.

More information on the Kansas Water Congress Summer Conference can be found at www.kswatercongress.org. To register, email [email protected] or call 620-287-4541.

— Hays CVB

KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The University of Kansas Health System announced today it has completed the purchase of Great Bend Regional Hospital and its affiliated clinics, including Central Kansas Family Practice and Heartland Regional. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Great Bend Regional Hospital will become part of The University of Kansas Health System, which includes The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, HaysMed in Hays, St. Rose Health Center in Great Bend, Pawnee Valley Community Hospital in Larned and The University of Kansas Health System St. Francis Campus in Topeka (in partnership with Ardent Health Services). Great Bend Regional Hospital will be renamed The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus.

HaysMed, St. Rose, Great Bend Regional and Pawnee Valley Community Hospital have historically competed for patients and market share. Now they will be part of one system, with complementary services and providers, not competing but collaborating, focusing together on the needs of the community.

“Our mission is to provide the highest quality care to Kansans. As healthcare across the country evolves, we are taking a new approach in Kansas. Our health system providers in Great Bend, Hays, Larned, Topeka and throughout the Kansas City metro area are keeping care close to home while expanding access to the most advanced treatment options only an academic medical center can provide,” said Bob Page, president and chief executive officer of The University of Kansas Health System. “Together, we can ensure people in Great Bend and across the state of Kansas have access to the right level of care, delivered in the most effective way.”

The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus will remain a strong employer and healthcare provider for the Great Bend community as a result of this purchase. Great Bend physicians, nurses and staff will be important additions to the health system, with substantially all the current workforce remaining in place. Patients will continue to receive care from their current doctors and practices. Moving forward, The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus will be led by local management, and The University of Kansas Health System will establish a local board for the hospital and clinics.

On Aug. 7, 2018, The University of Kansas Health System Great Bend Campus will celebrate the integration of the Great Bend hospital and affiliated clinics with physicians, nurses, staff and local community partners. On the same day, St. Rose Health Care, purchased by HaysMed in 2017, will be renamed “The University of Kansas Health System St. Rose Medical Pavilion.”

To learn more, visit https://www.kansashealthsystem.com/onekansashealth/.

— Submitted

By CRISTINA JANNEY

Hays Post

There is still time to buy your ducks for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Duck Derby on Aug 8. at the Hays Aquatic Park.

There will be thousands of ducks racing around the Lazy River at Hays Aquatic Park. The festivities will be 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The ducks will be split into heats of about 2,500 ducks per heat. The top 500 ducks (from each heat) will get to compete in the big Championship Race. Prizes will be awarded to the first 10 ducks crossing the finish line at the Championship Race.

This year’s grand prize is a 2017 Nissan Versa.

Other prizes include Royals tickets, tickets to the Wildcat Classic, Bronson Traeger Grill, Amazon Echo and
six months of high-speed Internet, two all-sport FHSU general admission tickets, $250 Walmart gift card, golf outing, wine gift basket and beauty gift basket.

All proceeds from the event go to supporting the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County’s mentoring programs.

Jenny Bates, BBBS director, said at a recent Rotary meeting the local chapter currently has 130 matches.

“That means there are 130 volunteers in the community that are spending their time loving on these kids, just helping them and letting them know that they can get out of what is going on and do more,” she said.

Bates told the story of one young man who had a difficult home life. His mother was disabled and his older brother struggled with addiction. His Big mentor helped him get signed up for football.

“He made friends through that and was able to feel as if he was included in something and a part of something,” Bates said. “When he first started in the program to talk to him, he would never make eye contact.”

By the time this young man graduated, he had started to come out of his shell, and you could make eye contact with him, she said.

“When you are supporting the Duck Derby and adopting ducks to win these amazing prizes, you are also supporting these kids in the community, who need that help,” Bates said.

Bates also read a thank you note from a young lady who recently graduated high school. She had been matched since she was 5 along with her siblings in the BBBS program. She will be attending FSHU to study nursing.

“Thank you for all you do for the Bigs and Littles involved in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program,” she wrote.

You can adopt ducks at Bank of Hays, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Car Zone, Downtown Hays Development, Eagle Radio, Golden Plains Credit Union, Hays Hobby Shop, James Motor Company and Kwik Shop.

Cost for ducks:

Single Duck – 1 Duck for $5
Gaggle – 6 Ducks for $25 (1 free)
Flock – 12 Ducks for $50 (2 free)
Colony – 25 Ducks for $100 (5 free)

The Duck Derby Race is sponsored by Paul Wertenberger Construction & Insurance Planning. The Duck Dash is sponsored by the Cooper Family. Eagle Communications is a presenting sponsor.

There will be a Duck Dash for children younger than 12 years of age with brightly colored ducks sold for $2 per duck. There is no limit on number of ducks that can be bought. Each child will get to keep one of their ducks after the race to take home. The grand prize for the Duck Dash is a $125 gift certificate to Escape Hays. See the BBBS website for details on other prizes.

Grilled hot dogs, chips and water will be available starting at 5:30 p.m. sponsored by Midwestern Pipeworks and served by Horizon Appliance

Other children’s activities will include a Hula Hoop contest and duck waddle races sponsored by by Aflac and Bieker Insurance Agency.

Back again this year is the cardboard boat races dubbed the Western Well Regatta.

Businesses and teams of individuals are encouraged to build a “yacht” made solely of cardboard and duct tape to race in the Soggy Bottom Challenge. There will be four races with six boats participating in each race. The winner of each race will be awarded a Pizza Party for their business and receive five complimentary entries in the Duck Race. The boat with the fastest time will have the honor of naming the Soggy Bottom Challenge next year. Entry fee is $500. Call at 785-625-6672 for more information.