Science Café Presents: “The Bare Bones About Dinosaur Growth”
Monday, March 18 at 7 p.m.
The Venue @ Thirsty’s, 2704 Vine Street, Hays
All dinosaurs started out life in eggs about the size of a football, but many grew up to be true giants. Join us to find out how and how we know!
Presenter: Cat Sartin, Instructor, Biological Sciences, FHSU
Sponsored by Science and Mathematics Education Institute. Free and open to public.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Stephanie Mott, a well-known advocate for LGBTQ rights in Kansas, has died.
Pastor Sarah Oglesby-Dunegan of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Topeka says Mott was hospitalized Sunday after apparently suffering a heart attack. She died Monday at the age of 61.
Mott was a mental health clinician at Valeo in Topeka. She led the Kansas Democratic Party’s LGBT caucus, and managed the Topeka chapter of Equality Kansas.
We are all devastated by the loss of Stephanie Mott. We cannot find adequate words to express our grief at her passing, but we will find solace in the knowledge that her life and her work will make Kansas a better place for future generations.
#ksleg #lgbtq pic.twitter.com/f16InIHkMp— Equality Kansas (@KansasEquality) March 4, 2019
Kansas Democratic Party chairwoman Vicki Hiatt and executive director Ethan Corson said in a statement that Mott was courageous in the face of cowardice while advocating for vulnerable people.
Equality Kansas said in a statement that the group will find solace in the knowledge that Mott’s work will make Kansas a better place for future generations.
Sue Ann Dreher, 67, passed away March 4, 2019, at her home in Larned.
She was born June 14, 1951 in Great Bend, the daughter of Vernie and Fern Hart Barragree. She was a psychiatric aide at the Larned State Hospital.
Sue was a longtime resident of the area, moving from Great Bend to Larned in 2010. She belonged to Cross Winds of Kansas Church, Hoisington, KS. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially loved spending time with her grandchildren and her dogs. She also loved helping at church, and dabbling into technology.
Survivors include: daughter, Sherry (Felipe) Trevino, Larned; sister Judy (Ora) Folsom, Great Bend; three grandchildren, Tanner Stevens and Sydney Stevens, both of Larned, and Dakota Stevens of Great Bend.
Preceding her in death are her parents and a sister, Karen Sue Barragree.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Cross Winds of Kansas, Hoisington, KS with Pastor Mark Williams presiding.
Memorials may be sent to the Sue Dreher Memorial Fund, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550.
April 16, 1937 ~ March 4, 2019
An obituary is pending with Koons-Russell Funeral Home.
Click HERE for service details.
Nancy Marie (Dole) Poche’-Stoppel, 70, of Russell, Kansas, passed away Saturday, March 2, 2019 at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell.
Nancy was born December 21, 1948 in Russell, Kansas. She was the daughter of Kenneth D. and Dorothy M. (Brown) Dole. She grew up in Russell and graduated from Russell High School in ’67. She then attended and graduated from the Cosmology School in Great Bend, Kansas.
Nancy was united in marriage to David H. Poche’. This union was blessed with two sons, Shane and Dustin. Later in life, she was united in marriage to Keith Stoppel on September 1, 2012 in Russell. They made their home in Russell.
Nancy was a Beautician for over 45 years in the Russell area. She was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church. She enjoyed decorating and cooking. She was known for her holiday treats that she would create for family and friends.
Nancy’s surviving family include her husband, Keith of the home; sons, Shane Poche’ and Dustin Poche’ both of the Russell, Kansas; brother, William Dole of Russell, Kansas; step brother, Tony Kilian (Sharon) of Russell, Kansas; and two grandchildren, Hannah Poche’ and Chandler Poche’.
Nancy was preceded in death by her father and step sister Lori Kilian.
Celebration of Nancy’s Life will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, March 8, 2019 at the Trinity United Methodist Church. A private burial will take place later. Visitation will be held from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, Thursday, March 7, 2019 at Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
A Memorial has been established with the Russell County Food Pantry. Contributions and condolences may be sent to Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary, who is in charge of these arrangements.
By JIM MCLEAN
Kansas News Service
Doctors at the University of Kansas Hospital say a change in the distribution of livers across the country could result in Kansans waiting longer for life-saving transplants.
So they’re backing a bill in the Kansas Legislature that would allow residents who donate their organs to specify whether they want them used to benefit Kansas transplant patients.
“The purpose of the Kansas Donor Rights act is to bring the conversation to the forefront,” said Sean Kumer, a liver transplant surgeon at KU.
Changes in the system used to distribute livers for transplant essentially nationalizing the system have yet to be finalized.
For years, organs have been distributed within regions. That worked well for states, like Kansas, where donor rates were high. It worked less well in states, such as New York and California, where the need for donated organs was high but donor rates were relatively low.
“Here in the Midwest we have a very giving population,” Kumer said, noting that Kansas’ donor rate is consistently around 80 percent compared to 55 percent on the East and West coasts.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ordered the scrapping of the geography-based system after six patients awaiting transplants in California, New York and Massachusetts sued the agency.
“The practical effect of the new policy will be to redistribute livers from states and regions with high rates of organ donation to areas that have historically underperformed,” U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran of Kansas and Roy Blunt of Missouri said recently in a guest commentary in The Kansas City Star.
The new policy would disproportionately affect patients rural areas, the senators said.
“This shortsighted liver allocation policy … will not only mean fewer life-saving organs in our part of the country, but it will also adversely affect health outcomes throughout the Midwest,” they said.
In an interview with Modern Healthcare, Sander Florman, director of transplantation for New York’s Mount Sinai Health System, defended the new allocation system.
“In a system that is fundamentally handicapped by having too few organs for too many patients that need them, decisions need to be made and should favor saving the most lives and helping the sickest of our patients first,” Florman said.
If that is the criteria, Kumer said, preference should be given to regions where higher percentages of patients are dying while awaiting surgery. In Kansas, he said, approximately 20 percent of liver transplant patients die on the waiting list compared to about 8 percent in New York.
“Our (mortality) numbers are going to increase and theirs are going to decrease and that’s just not the way we should be running our system,” Kumer said.
The legality of the Kansas legislation could hinge on whether the courts buy the argument that an organ donation is a personal gift, Kumer said.
“It’s a gift, not a natural resource,” he said. “Donors and their families … should have the choice of where they want their organs to go.”
The bill was introduced late, but its chances of passing are improved by the fact that it has the backing of Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, an Overland Park Republican.
“It will get a hearing soon and we will address it this session,” Denning said.
Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Hays USD 489 will receive bids Thursday on the installation of secured entrances to Hays High School and Hays Middle School.
The frames on the Hays High School entrance are rusted and need to be replaced.
After school starts in the morning, the new entrances for both buildings will funnel visitors through the office.
The district has received $75,000 in grant funds toward the HHS project.
The rest of the funds for the HHS project would come from the 2018-19 budget, and funds for the HMS project would come from the 2019-20 budget, but both projects would likely be completed this summer, Rusty Lindsay, buildings and grounds director, said at the school board meeting Monday.
The district also will receive bids this week on improvements on HHS clock, phone and camera systems.
HHS’s heatings system and parking lot lights failed recently during a game night because a fuse blew in the system that times the systems turning on and off.
The clock system will cost about $150,000 to replace.
When the district replaces the wiring for the clock system, building and grounds would also like to pull wiring for new security cameras and a new Voice over Internet Protocol phone system.
Lindsay said once the wiring for the cameras and phone system is in place, the district can replace those systems as the budget allows.
The board also reviewed bids for replacing roofs at Hays Middle School and Roosevelt Elementary School.
Lindsay said replacement of a portion of roof at HMS has been moved up,
A leak has developed over the HMS kitchen, resulting in the kitchen being cited for a health violation by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
The low bid for the HMS project came from Wray Roofing of North Newton for $46,120.
The low bid for the Roosevelt project came from High Plains Roofing of Hays for $241,298.
Both of the projects would be completed before the end of 2019 with the HMS roof being paid for out of the FY19 budget, and the Roosevelt project being paid for out of the FY20 budget.
The board heard a report on Monday on possible changes in several board policies.
Staff has recommended a change in the district policy to allow groups of athletes to take district vehicles to travel to summer activities. Presently, parents are using private vehicles to transport students. This policy change would match new KSHSAA rules.
Board members said they wanted trips for all activities to have the same policy, and whether the district should pay for gas for the vehicles was also discussed.
The staff has also recommended changes in the student and staff tobacco policies.
The proposed change would prohibit staff from using any nicotine product in any district facility; in school vehicles; at school-sponsored activities, programs, or events; and on school owned or operated property.
The policy currently only prohibits nicotine use for staff in school buildings.
The proposed change for students would alert the consequences for students caught using nicotine products.
Student violations could result in parent/guardian notification, participating in tobacco education program, suspension and/or expulsion from school and/or extracurricular activities, community service, and/or notification of law enforcement.
Currently the policy states administrators may report students who are in violation of this policy to law enforcement as appropriate.
The policy changes are set to come back to the board for a vote in April.
In other business, the board:
• Approved the 2019-20 school calendar
• Heard a report on board goals.
• Heard a report on assessments and state accreditation
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board approved a $1.76 million contract with Paul-Wertenberger Construction Monday night for renovations of the former Oak Park Medical Complex.
The complex is being renovated for use by the Early Childhood Connections program.
Construction work should start any day at the Oak Park property.
The district is still trying to finish the project so at least three of the buildings can be opened by the start of school in August.
The fourth building is going to be used by the program at Munjor, which runs year-round. Superintendent John Thissen said the work on that portion of the project may go into the fall.
The school district purchased the complex for $2 million, which will be paid for through a lease agreement out of capital outlay funds.
The district received a $1.47 million federal grant and a $500,000 donation from HaysMed, the primary owner of the complex before it was sold, for the renovations. The district has until June 30 to use the federal grant funds.
The district is behind its original time table on the project. However, Donna Hudson-Hamilton, ECC director, said the district could file for an extension on the use of the funds if needed.
The board also received architectural plans for the project. Thissen said the district went through several drafts with the architects to make sure classroom sizes were what was needed for the programs that would use them.
The district plans to use much of the existing plumbing, cabinets and hardware to be as efficient as possible with its funds.
Board member Paul Adams suggested the district try to include CTE students from the high school in the renovation process.
Hudson-Hamilton said the district had not considered doing that yet. However, ECC will need to have some cubbies built and installed, and the HHS students might be able to help with that project.
The district applied for two more grants for the project, including funds to pay for construction of a storm shelter at the complex and money to move playground equipment. The district did not receive the shelter grant and has not heard back on the playground grant.
The district will still include those two components in the project. They are a part of the existing budget.
The Hays Police Department responded to 2 animal calls and conducted 25 traffic stops Fri., March 1, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Mental Health Call–200 block W 4th St, Hays; 6:23 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–18th and Vine St, Hays; 7:50 AM
Found/Lost Property–Hays; 8:09 AM
Animal At Large–800 block Commerce Pkwy, Hays; 9:09 AM
Disturbance – General–1000 block W 28th St, Hays; 9:44 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–13th and Canterbury Dr, Hays; 1:02 PM
Criminal Threat–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 1:48 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–200 block W 38th St, Hays; 3:21 PM
Suspicious Activity–3200 block Vine St, Hays; 6:47 PM
Driving Under the Influence–700 block Ash St, Hays; 10:37 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 3 animal calls and conducted 27 traffic stops Sat., March 2, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Obstruction of Legal Process–700 block Park St, Hays; 12:12 AM
Mental Health Call–1200 block Motz Ave, Hays; 1:12 AM; 2 AM
Drug Offenses/DUI–100 block Fort St, Hays; 1:52 AM
Domestic Disturbance–2100 block E 21st St, Hays; 1:45 AM; 2:15 AM
Disturbance – Noise–2100 block Walnut St, Hays; 2:42 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–500 block W 36th St, Hays; 8:34 AM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 10:24 AM
Disorderly Conduct–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 10:31 AM
Contempt of Court/Fail to Pay–2200 block Main St, Hays; 12 PM
Suspicious Activity–1700 Haney Dr, Hays; 1:06 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–2700 block Augusta Ln, Hays; 2:43 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–200 block Ash St, Hays; 3:33 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–1300 block E 33rd St, Hays; 5:34 PM
Dead Animal Call–2500 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 6:12 PM
Animal At Large–300 block W 18th St, Hays; 6:28 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–600 block E 13th St, Hays; 7:54 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–27th and Hall, Hays; 8:01 PM
Disturbance – General–3400 block Vine St, Hays; 10:08 PM; 10:12 PM
Mental Health Call–1200 block Motz Ave, Hays; 11 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 2 animal calls and conducted 6 traffic stops Sun., March 3, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Unattended Death–2200 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 1:56 AM
Disorderly Conduct–400 block W 7th St, Hays; 2:50 AM; 2:55 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–200 block Ash St, Hays; 6:22 AM
Welfare Check–1200 block Motz Ave, Hays; 7:20 AM
Parking Complaint–1200 block E 33rd St, Hays; 7:16 AM
Unwanted Person–2800 block Fort St, Hays; 9:06 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2600 block Augusta Ln, Hays; 9:58 AM
Mental Health Call–2200 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 10:46 AM
Suicidal Subject–1700 block Volga Dr, Hays; 10:55 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–400 block W 15th St, Hays; 1:58 PM
Civil Dispute–2700 block Epworth St, Hays; 2:53 PM
Mental Health Call–1300 block E 30th St, Hays; 3:10 PM; 11 PM
Animal At Large–1200 block E 32nd St, Hays; 3:17 PM
Overdose–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 5:25 PM
Suicidal Subject–400 block E 6th St, Hays; 8:08 PM; 9:14 PM
Drug Offenses–1500 block Milner St, Hays; 12:34 PM; 8:33 PM
Battery – Domestic–400 block E 12th St, Hays; 9:40 PM; 10:05 PM
911 Hangup Call–1000 block E 37th St, Hays; 10:06 PM
Found/Lost Property–600 block E 13th St, Hays; 11:25 PM
Aggravated Battery–400 block E 12th St, Hays; 1/1 5 PM; 1/30 5 PM
The Hays Police Department responded to 4 animal calls and conducted 6 traffic stops Mon., March 4, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.
Found/Lost Property–Hays; 9:12 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–300 block W 7th St, Hays; 9:23 AM
Civil Dispute–1200 block Maple St, Hays; 9:28 AM
Found/Lost Property–1800 block Munjor Rd, Hays; 9:19 AM
Found/Lost Property–Hays; 10:10 AM
Found/Lost Property–Hays; 10:22 AM
MV Accident-Personal Injury–13th and Vine, Hays; 10:55 AM
Animal At Large–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 11:23 AM
Found/Lost Property–300 block E 25th St, Hays; 11:28 AM
Dead Animal Call–1200 block E 27th St, Hays; 12:09 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–100 block W 16th St, Hays; 12:14 PM
Identity Theft–3500 block Lincoln Dr, Hays; 12:17 PM
Welfare Check–1300 block E 33rd St, Hays; 12:25 PM
Mental Health Call–1300 block Golden Belt Dr, Hays; 2:08 PM
Attempt to Locate–2200 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 3:28 PM; 3:53 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–3500 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 3:54 PM
Violation of Restraining Order/PFA–400 block E 12th St, Hays; 9:35 PM; 9:40 PM
Suspicious Activity–500 block W 16th St, Hays; 2/25 10:13 PM; 3/4 10:13 PM
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The month of March is filled with lots of athletic contests and music events in Hays.
Melissa Dixon, executive director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), has a preview.
The updated events calendar is available on the Hays CVB website.
RENO COUNTY — Authorities are working to determine the cause of a fatal Tuesday morning fire in Reno County.
Just after 2:30a.m., Tuesday, deputies were dispatched to the area of 9 E Horseshoe Lane, Pretty Prairie, in rural Reno County for the report of a structure fire with possible occupants still inside the residence.
Deputies arrived on scene within minutes of being dispatched and found a single story double-wide residence on fire, according to a media release.
The fire spread quickly to other parts of the structure It was reported that Hannah Lynn Perry, 21, was able to get out of the residence with her two children 2-year-old Charlotte and 1-year-old Wyatt and to the neighbor’s house across the street and call 911.
Hannah reported that her grandmother, 70-year-old Judy Kay Alley was still inside the residence.
The fire department was able to get the fire under control and found one individual deceased within the residence. The victim had not been be identified, according to the release.
Hannah and Wyatt were transported to Via Christi St Francis by Reno County EMS and Charlotte was flown by EagleMed to Via Christi St Francis.
AmeriCorps Week 2019 is March 10-16, and Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas (DSNWK) would like to recognize its AmeriCorps VISTA volunteers.
Since 2016, DSNWK has recruited six full-time Americorps VISTAs to volunteer as program support, grant writers, and foodbank coordinators. In summer 2018, DSNWK recruited five Americorps VISTAs to support DSNWK, the Area Agency on Aging, and Learning Cross Preschool.
The main duties of VISTA, which stands for Volunteer in Service to America, is to provide sustainable support to nonprofits to help lift people out of poverty. VISTAs work full-time for a year and provided a stipend from the Corporation for National and Community Service.
On top of their regular volunteer duties, VISTAs with DSNWK held a banquet for first responders on 9/11, visited nursing homes on Veterans Day, and presented programs on the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Kansas Day.
Currently, two Americorps VISTAs have made a year-long commitment to DSNWK.
Mathew Vickery, York, Penn., is an AmeriCorps VISTA with DSNWK’s foodbank and pursuing a B.S. in nursing at Fort Hays State University.
Thomas Fuhrmann, St. Louis, Mo., is retired and volunteering as an AmeriCorps VISTA for DSNWK’s College for Living program, which provides day services to adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities.
AmeriCorps VISTA positions to assist with grant writing, events, and software development with DSNWK are currently available.
Help DSNWK thank these volunteers during AmeriCorps Week.
Steve Keil
Director of Development
Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas
Victoria VFW Post 1751 will be holding a fundraiser spaghetti supper to help with building repairs and improvements Saturday, March 30th, Victoria VFW, 204 E. Main.
Doors open at 4 p.m.
“Helping Hands of God” will be preparing and serving spaghetti, bread, salad, and dessert.
$10.00 per meal – Cash Bar will be open
For tickets call: Harland Rupp @ 785-623-1368, Dave Richardson @ 785-806-6095, Tom Schmidtberger @ 785-625-7581, Kurt Dinkel @ 785-735-8146 or Terry/Cathy Pfeifer @ 785-650-3958.
