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Month: May 2019

FHSU, Norton PD officers graduate from training

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YODER — Fifty-nine new law enforcement officers graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) on May 10. U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran was the speaker for the ceremony in KLETC’s Integrity Auditorium.

 The new officers were members of the 255th basic training class at the center. Located one mile west and one mile south of Yoder, near Hutchinson, the center is a division of University of Kansas Professional & Continuing Education.

 The graduates, who began their training Feb. 4, represented 43 municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas.

Graduates receive certificates of course completion from KLETC and Kansas law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the state’s law enforcement licensing authority. The training course fulfills the state requirement for law enforcement training. Classroom lectures and hands-on applications help train officers to solve the increasingly complex problems they face in the line of duty.

 Established by the Kansas Legislature in 1968, the center trains the majority of municipal, county and state law enforcement officers in Kansas and oversees the training of the remaining officers at seven authorized and certified academy programs operated by local law enforcement agencies and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

 About 300 officers enroll annually in KLETC 14-week basic training programs. The center offers continuing education and specialized training to over 10,000 Kansas officers each year.

 Graduates who granted permission to release their names are listed below by county and agency.

 Ellis County

Fort Hays State University Police Department in Hays – Eric Gerard, patrol officer

Norton County

Norton Police Department in Norton – Kaleb Tuxhorn, patrol officer

Atchison County

Atchison Police Department in Atchison – Thomas Moore, patrol officer

 Barber County

Medicine Lodge Police Department in Medicine Lodge – Jerry Swart, patrol officer

 Brown County

Iowa Tribal Police Department in White Cloud – Nicholas Hilderbrand, patrol officer

 Butler County

Rose Hill Police Department in Rose Hill – Stephen Frahm, patrol officer

Butler County Sheriff’s Office in El Dorado – Solomon Snowbarger, deputy

 Cherokee County

Galena Police Department in Galena – Kyle West, patrol officer

 Cowley County

Winfield Police Department in Winfield – Stephen Linarez, patrol officer

 Crawford County

Pittsburg Police Department in Pittsburg – Nicholas Cook and Aaron Jarvis, patrol officers

 Douglas County

University of Kansas Police Department in Lawrence – Eli Hodge, patrol officer

 Finney County

Garden City Police Department in Garden City – Ofelia Aguero and Julian Garcia, patrol officers

 Ford County

Ford County Sheriff’s Department in Dodge City – Morris Jones, deputy

Dodge City Police Department in Dodge City – Dominic Randall, patrol officer

 Franklin County

Ottawa Police Department in Ottawa – Holly Ewert, patrol officer

 Geary County

Junction City Police Department in Junction City – Zachary Mitchell, patrol officer

 Greeley County

Greeley County Sheriff’s Office in Tribune – Garrett Wright, patrol officer

 Kingman County

Kingman Police Department in Kingman – Casey Goble, patrol officer

 Kiowa County

Kiowa County Sheriff’s Department in Greensburg – Preston Capansky, deputy

 Leavenworth County

Leavenworth Police Department in Leavenworth – Jordan Green, Paul Lednicky and Joshua Parrott, patrol officers

Tonganoxie Police Department in Tonganoxie – Eric Janesko, patrol officer

 Marion County

Marion County Sheriff’s Department in Marion – Mason Hinz, deputy

 Marshall County

Blue Rapids Police Department in Blue Rapids – Christopher Flood, patrol officer

Marysville Police Department in Marysville – Bryant Frerking, patrol officer

 Miami County

Miami County Sheriff’s Office in Paola – Willis Miller, patrol officer

Miami County Sheriff’s Office in Paola – Dylan Yinger, deputy

Paola Police Department in Paola – Mitchell Gabbert and Keith Myers, patrol officers

 Mitchell County

Beloit Police Department in Beloit – Andrew Mai, patrol officer

 Montgomery County

Independence Police Department in Independence – Richard Sherley, patrol officer

 Pottawatomie County

Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office in Westmoreland – Cody Smith, patrol officer

 Reno County

Hutchinson Police Department in Hutchinson – Trevor Nobbs, patrol officer

 Riley County

Riley County Police Department in Manhattan – Kathryn Bunnell, Matthew Horne, Leland O’Brien, James Scotti and Raymond Springer, patrol officers

 Saline County

Salina Police Department in Salina – Joshua Groot, Alyssa Rivera and Kyle Truitt, patrol officers

Saline County Sheriff’s Office in Salina – Kevin Shankle, deputy

 Sedgwick County

Derby Police Department in Derby – Gabriel Gutierrez, patrol officer

 Shawnee County

Kansas Bureau of Investigation in Topeka – Jamie Funk, special agent

Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office in Topeka – Luke Williams, deputy

 Wyandotte County

University of Kansas Medical Center Police Department in Kansas City – Adam Drybread and Hanif Gray, patrol officers

Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department in Kansas City – Stephen Dyer and William Green, deputies.

 

Warning signs, tips for Better Speech, Hearing Month

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FHSU University Relations

With speech and language disorders ranking among the most common disabilities in children, Fort Hays State University’s Herndon Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic encourages parents to learn the signs of trouble for May’s Better Hearing and Speech Month.

FHSU’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders encourages parents and caregivers to learn the signs and seek an evaluation if they have concerns about their child’s ability to communicate.

“Development of strong communication skills is extremely important, and parents anxiously await their child’s first words,” says an information bulletin from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

“Yet, common misconceptions remain. One is that children generally ‘grow out’ of speech or language difficulties, but unfortunately this mistaken impression too often delays treatment.”

Speech and language disorders are evaluated and treated by speech-language pathologists. Speech is the ability to produce speech sounds using the mouth, lips and tongue, while language is the ability to use and put words together, and to understand others’ words.

Difficulties in speech may include the child saying sounds the wrong way, repeating sounds and words, or is difficult to understand. Difficulties in language may include difficulty understanding questions, following directions or naming objects. Early speech and language treatment sets a child up for future school and social success.

“Good communication skills are critical, helping with behavior, learning, reading, social skills and friendships,” says the ASHA bulletin. “It is much easier, more effective, and less costly to treat speech and language disorders early, and May is a great time to educate parents on this important point.”

Warning signs to watch for in young children, as suggested by the Herndon Clinic:

·        Does not babble (4 to 7 months).
·        Makes only a few sounds or gestures, like pointing (7 to 12 months).
·        Does not understand what others say (7 months to 2 years).
·        Says only a few words (12 to 18 months).
·        Says p, b, m, h and w incorrectly in words (1 to 2 years).
·        Words are not easily understood (18 months to 2 years).
·        Does not put words together to make sentences (1.5 to 3 years).
·        Says k, g, f, t, d and n incorrectly in words (2 to 3 years).
·        Produces speech that is unclear, even to familiar people (2 to 3 years).
·        Repeating first sounds of words, like “b-b-b-ball” for “ball” (any age).
·        Stretching out sounds such as “ffffffarm” for “farm” (any age).

Warning signs in school-aged children:

·        Has trouble following directions.
·        Has problems reading and writing.
·        Does not always understand what others say.
·        Is not understood by others.
·        Has trouble talking about thoughts or feelings.

Tips for parents from the Herndon Clinic to encourage a child’s communication development:

For young children:

·        Talk, read and play with your child.
·        Listen and respond to what your child says.
·        Talk with your child in the language that you are most comfortable using.
·        Teach your child to speak another language, if you speak one.
·        Talk about what you do and what your child does during the day.
·        Use a lot of different words with your child.
·        Use longer sentences as your child gets older.
·        Have your child play with other children.

For elementary-aged children:

·        Have your child retell stories and talk about their day.
·        Talk with your child about what you do during the day. Give them directions to follow.
·        Talk about how things are the same and how things are different.
·        Give your child chances to write.
·        Read every day. Find books or magazines that interest your child.

“Although treatment ideally begins early – in the toddler years – it is never too late to get treatment,” said Breanna Taylor, assistant clinical coordinator of the Herndon Clinic and an instructor in the CSD Department. “The large majority of parents report significant improvement after treatment.”

For more information, visit https://IdentifytheSigns.org and www.asha.org/public.

To schedule an assessment, contact FHSU’s Herndon Clinic at 785-628-5366 or email [email protected].

Police ask public for help with investigation of Washburn player’s shooting death

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TOPEKA — After three weeks, law enforcement authorities have not announced an arrest in the April 28 shooting death of 23-year-old Dwane Simmons and wounding of 23-year-old Corey Ballentine, both members of the Washburn University football team.

Dwane Simmons photo Washburn Athletics

On Friday, police reported are looking into all leads that have been brought forward to this point and are asking for additional assistance from anyone in the 1400 Block of SW 13th or surrounding area just before 1a.m. on April 28.

According to Lt. Andrew Beightel, detectives are still trying to identify people and search for evidence that may have been recorded during the incident. Detectives are asking that anyone who was attending the party that night to come speak with police.

Detectives are looking for photographs and or video that was taken throughout the night leading up to, during and after the fatal shooting.

The day before the crime, the New York Giants selected Ballentine in the NFL draft. He signed a contract with the team Thursday.

Anyone with information regarding this crime is encouraged to contact the Topeka Police Criminal Investigation Bureau at (785) 368-9400 or Shawnee County Crime Stoppers at (785) 234-0007. You can also make anonymous tips online here.

Hester Folkner

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Hester Folkner, 89, formerly of Downs, passed away May 15, 2019.

She was born in Mandrin, Tennessee to Della (Hubbard) and John Williford on December 29, 1929. She married Bill Folkner, October 18, 1956.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Bill in 2007, brothers, Hubert Williford and Benji Williford and sister, Sue Whalen.

She is survived by daughter, June (Charles ) Fischer of Esbon, grandson James Folkner of Dahlgren, Virginia, two great grandsons, brothers LaVern Williford, William Williford, Benny Williford and sister Joyce Grogan.

Graveside services will be held at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Concordia Kansas Monday, May, 20, 2019 at 10:30 am. No visitation. Memorials may be given to Belleville Health Care Center in care of Domoney Funeral Home at PO Box 127 Downs, Kansas 67437.

Herschel Benton Betts

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Herschel Benton Betts passed away on May 15, 2019 at The Willow House Assisted Living in Hays, Kansas at the age of 92. He was born in Norcatur, Kansas on November 15, 1926, to Jacob and Loretta (Belt) Betts.

At the age of nine his family moved to Oberlin as his father was with the First National Bank which later became Decatur County National Bank. As a child Herschel remembered attending the dedication of Sappa State Park with his family and was pleased upon his return to Oberlin in 1968 to be a part of the project to build the Oberlin Country Club Golf Course in that area. He graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1945, served in the U.S. Army, and attended Fort Hays State College where he played football for four years and earned degrees in physical education and business. He later attended the University of Northern Colorado and completed a master’s degree in school administration.

Following his marriage to Marion Joan Bremer on August 17, 1949, Herschel coached football, track, and taught accounting at Coldwater and Ulysses, and at Concordia from 1956 to 1968. He then served as high school principal at Oberlin from 1968-1981. After retiring, he and Marion continued to make their home in Oberlin and on the farm near Dresden before moving to Cedar View Assisted Living in Hays in 2015.

Herschel was a member of the Oberlin Rotary for almost 50 years serving as District 5670 Governor from 1986-1987. He was also a member of the Oberlin United Methodist Church, Fort Hays University Alumni Association, and was a Decatur County Commissioner. Herschel and Marion enjoyed attending Rotary conventions and traveling to other continents and visiting family members.

Herschel is survived by his wife Marion; sons, Gene Betts and wife Jan of Austin, TX and J. Rod Betts and wife Lisa Kay of La Jolla, CA; daughter, Susan McMonagle and husband Charles of Bellingham, WA; six grandchildren: Anne (Mike) Schmidt and Mary Kate (Kyle) Juliff of Austin, Michael Betts of Denver, Casey Kay Betts of Houston, Christine (Adam) Ohlson of London, England, and Wes (Brianna) McMonagle of Sacramento, CA; six great-grandchildren: Mary and Henry Schmidt, Maddison, Ryan and Brett McMonagle, and Emily Ohlson; three nieces: Jan Ray of Palm Desert, CA, Jody Westby of Washington D.C., and Debbie Lohoefener of Oberlin; nephew, Greg (Mary Jo) Lohoefener of Kansas City; and cousin, Anne (Gene) Sullivan of Newport Beach, CA.

He is preceded in death by his parents; grandparents, Samuel & Eliza (Andekmann) Betts and Bailey and Mary Belt; brother, James; sister, Phyllis (Ray) Lohoefener; nephew, Kim Betts; and aunts and uncles.

A memorial service will be held Monday, May 20, 2019 at 2:00 pm at the United Methodist Church in Oberlin. Inurnment will follow at the Oberlin Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to Oberlin Country Club Golf Course, Oberlin United Methodist Church, Oberlin Library, Fort Hays University Foundation, or Oberlin Cemetery (Memorial Tree Project) and may be sent in care of Pauls Funeral Home, 121 N. Penn Ave, Oberlin, KS 67749. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.paulsfh.com

Elmer Erick Rall

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Elmer Erick Rall passed away May14, 2019 at the age of 84. He was born on May 9, 1935 in Sheridan County Kansas to William and Louise (Gaede) Rall. He married Elta Detjen on April 9, 1961 at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hoxie, Kansas. To this union, three sons were born, Douglas, David and Dennis.

Elmer went to work at a very young age. He served his country in the United States Army, stationed in Korea. Upon his return he worked for the Sheridan Country Road and Bridge department for 35 years until he retired. Elmer loved fishing and hunting with his sons, grandsons and brother-in-law, Larry Lewis. He was an avid gardener.

Elmer is survived by his wife Elta, sons, Doug (Lisa), David (Sandy) and Dennis all of Hoxie; grandsons, Clayton (Megan) of Tucson, Arizona and Taylor (Alex) of Hoxie one great granddaughter “little one” Brandon of Tucson, Arizona; sisters Rosie O’Connell of Norton, Kansas and Leona Boor of Hays, Kansas; brothers Kurt Rall of Euless,Texas and Gaehart Rall of Oklahoma; sisters-in-law, Judy Rall, Evelyn Rall, Doris Rall, Betty Rall and Agnes Lewis; and brother-in-law Larry Lewis and a host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents William and Louise Rall; sisters, Louise Withers, Wilma Steier, Mary Owens and Helen Rall; brothers Ted, Wilfred “Bob”, Ervin, William Jr. “Bill”and Larenz; sisters-in-law, Wanda Rall, Hilda Rall, and Arleta Detjen; and brothers-in-law, Bob Withers and Harold Boor.

A funeral service is planned for Monday, May 20, 2019, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hoxie, Kansas at 10:00 A.M. with pastor Michael Brockman presiding. Visitation will be held Sunday, May 19, 2019 from 1:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. with family receiving friends from 3:00 P.M. until 4:00 P.M. all at Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home in Hoxie, Kansas. Memorials are suggested to the Hoxie Medical Clinic or Sheridan County Health Complex.

Elmer loved to be around his family, he will be missed by all who knew him.

Robert J. ‘Bob’ Olsen

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Robert J. “Bob” Olsen, 82, of Russell, Kansas, died on Friday, May 17, 2019, at the Russell Regional Hospital in Russell, Kansas.

Services are pending at this time and cremation has been selected by the family. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Roy E. Herrman

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Roy E. Herrman, 80, Hays, died Friday, May 17, 2019 at the Hays Good Samaritan Society.

He was born October 24, 1938 in Liebenthal the son of Reinhold and Josephine (Kuhn) Herrman. He was a graduate of St. Joseph Military Academy and earned his bachelor’s degree in business from Fort Hays State University. On February 6, 1965 he was united in marriage to Hilda Mader at the Army Post Chapel in Wertheim, Germany. They celebrated 54 years of marriage.

He was a United States Army veteran, retiring after 21 years of service. He served in Vietnam and earned a Purple Heart. Roy was a Certified Government Accountant (CGA) and auditor for the Department of Defense. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, enjoyed listening to country music, and watching westerns and old-time movies.

Survivors include his wife; Hilda of Hays, two daughters; Renee Vine of Hays and Cheryl Shubert of Hays, two brothers; Lester Herrman and wife Brenda of Hays and Leon Herrman and wife Debbie of Colorado Springs, CO, three sisters; Carol Danielson of Great Bend, Doris Winslow of Hays, and Linda Mayberry and husband Jim of Great Bend, five grandchildren; Alan Vine of Hays, Sara Totten and husband Tom of Hays, Shannon Shubert of Emporia, Abigail Shubert of Hays, and Allison Shubert of Hays, two great-grandsons; Leon Staab of Hays and Lucious “Luke” Doxey of Hays, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son; Mark, an infant great-grandson; Andrew Wesley Totten, five brothers; Elmer, Cyril, Frank, Donny, and J.R. Herrman, and a sister; Edna Rohr.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, May 21, 2019 at St. Joseph Catholic Church with Fr. Fred Gatschet officiating. Inurnment with military honors by the Fort Riley U.S. Army 1st Infantry Division funeral detail, Hays VFW Post No. 9076 Honor Guard, and American Legion Riders Post No. 173 will follow at the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery in WaKeeney. Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 on Monday and from 9:00 am until 9:45 on Tuesday, all at Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home. A combined vigil service and rosary will be at 7:00 pm on Monday at the funeral home.

Memorials are suggested to St. Joseph Church or for masses. Condolences and memories of Roy may be shared with the family at www.haysmemorial.com

Artist to exhibit railroad paintings as part of Nicodemus Chautauqua

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Submitted

During the 2019 Nicodemus Chautauqua several paintings, originals and prints will be on display by local artist Mike Boss.

Boss resides in Hill City and has spent years painting scenes from the railroad past. Boss was mentored by artist Jack Lynnwood from Los Angeles, who painted many posters for Hollywood and for the Northrop Corporation. 

Boss also is a base player, with training from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and K-State. He has played with Hays Symphony and other venues around the state.

Most of Mike’s prints can be seen in area banks, libraries and businesses.  His love for the railroad and its impact on Kansas is depicted in his many railroad paintings. His 2007 painting titled, “Sunset on an Era UP U23 at Hill City, KS,” of Union Pacific engine 247 coming into Hill City graces the cover of the recent railroad book, “Union Pacific’s Plainville Branch,”  by Larry Dilts of Colby.

The National Park Service and the Nicodemus Historical Society are sponsoring the event and will include Boss’ exhibit from May 20 to June 1 at the Visitor Center.

The Nicodemus Chautauqua will be noon to 5 p.m. May 25 in Nicodemus. The event is titled “Steel Wheels, Steel Rails and Hell on Wheels” and will discuss the railroad bypassing the community.

Kansas Lawmakers Had A Deal To Expand Medicaid Next Year, Until They Didn’t

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By JIM MCLEAN

A deal to clear the way for Medicaid expansion next year that some Kansas lawmakers thought they had brokered in the waning hours of their just-finished legislative session appears to be unraveling.

Republican lawmakers met several times during the last hours of the legislative session to negotiate among themselves about Medicaid expansion. Their deal appears to have dissolved.
JIM MCLEAN / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

Instead, the conservative leaders and moderate rank-and-file Republicans find themselves splitting in an intra-party fight.

Then, on the session’s final night, Hineman told reporters that his forces had reached an agreement with Senate leaders.

“We have achieved some assurances that have moved the ball in the right direction,” Hineman said.

The handshake deal, he said, committed the Senate to voting on a compromise expansion bill at the outset of the 2020 session. Importantly, he said, Senate leaders also agreed to leave the writing of the bill to a bipartisan committee of House and Senate members rather than a “handful” of conservative senators.

A week later, differing accounts of that agreement now undermine trust and the chances that lawmakers will start the 2020 session with anything approaching consensus on how to expand Medicaid coverage to tens of thousands more low-income Kansans.

Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning, an Overland Park Republican, said Hineman’s account is “fairly accurate” with one big exception: Senate leaders didn’t agree to let a joint study committee — with legislators from both the House and Senate, Republican and Democrat — write the compromise bill.

Instead, he said, a Senate committee headed by Sen. Gene Sullentrop, a Wichita Republican and expansion opponent, will take the lead.

Notably, the House had passed an expansion bill. In the Senate, Denning and Senate President Susan Wagle refused to bring that bill to the floor for a vote.

“The House doesn’t set the Senate agenda,” Denning said in a recent interview with the Kansas News Service.

Denning said he was “very clear with Representative” Hineman about how he planned to proceed.

“No,” Hineman said when reached for a response, he wasn’t.

“That is certainly not my interpretation of the discussion we had,” Hineman said. “That’s very discouraging.”

Rep. John Eplee, an Atchison Republican who also participated in the negotiations, confirmed Hineman’s account that Senate leaders, including Denning, agreed to allow a joint committee to write the bill.

“That’s what he promised us in the meeting,” Eplee said, adding that Denning also pledged to use the governor’s bill as a starting point.

Believing they had won all the concessions they were going to get, Eplee said moderate Republicans dropped their demand for an immediate Senate vote.

“That helped turn the fire down,” he said.

But it ignited House Democrats’ frustration. Rep. Tim Hodge, a Democrat from Newton, said the coalition would have prevailed if moderate Republicans had continued to block passage of the budget.

“We all stayed and a bunch of you strayed,” Hodge said on the session’s final night. “We could have done this.”

The governor was also frustrated. Kelly anchored her campaign on expansion and thought she could get it done in her first session.

But, she said, moderate Republicans should have known better than to trust Denning, who for years had been one of the Legislature’s most outspoken opponents of expansion.

“The fact that he’s now reneging now on what some thought was a promise is not shocking at all,” Kelly said.

Kelly’s expansion bill passed the House 69-54 in March. A majority of senators also supported the bill, but Wagle and Denning wouldn’t allow it to come to a vote despite intense pressure from advocates who accused Republican leaders of denying life-saving care to thousands of vulnerable Kansans.

“I don’t run on emotion,” Denning said. “I understand the need to look at Medicaid expansion. I plan on doing it.”

Denning said he makes no apologies for tackling other priorities first, such as paying off state pension fund obligations and resuming construction on suspended highway projects before committing to expanding an already “very big entitlement program.”

“Once you turn that program on, there’s no turning it off,” he said. “That’s why I think it needs to have a lot of good due diligence.”

Hineman and other legislative supporters of expansion are concerned that the Senate bill will include a work requirement and host of other provisions favored by conservatives but opposed by Democrats and the interest groups pushing the issue, including the Kansas Hospital Association.

“That means we’re back in the middle of a probably very contentious wrangle over what the final product should be,” he said.

Wagle seemed to confirm those concerns at a late session news conference when she said any expansion plan that clears the Senate “will be very different” than the one that passed the House this year.

Medicaid Expansion in Brief:

  •  Kelly’s expansion plan would extend coverage under KanCare — the state’s privatized Medicaid program — to an estimated 130,000 more low-income Kansans.
  • A Medicaid expansion bill similar to the one introduced by Kelly and passed by the House was approved by the 2017 Legislature. It was vetoed by then Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and the Legislature narrowly failed to override his veto.
  • Expansion would cover Kansans making up to 138 percent of the federal poverty level. That’s $17,236 for an individual or $35,535 for a family of four.
  • Currently, the Kansas Medicaid program provides health coverage for children, pregnant women, individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities and elderly Kansans who have exhausted their resources. Adults with children are eligible, but only if they make less than 38 percent of the federal poverty level —- $9,538 for a family of four. Adults without children aren’t eligible for coverage no matter their income.
  • States and the federal government jointly fund Medicaid. Kansas’ share of those costs is approximately $1.3 billion annually. If Kansas expands its program, the federal government would cover 90 percent of the additional costs. The state’s share would be between $34 million and $42 million per year.
  • Expansion would generate an additional $913 billion in federal Medicaid funding for Kansas, according to the Kansas Hospital Association.  Supporters claim an associated boost in state tax receipts would help cover the cost of expansion.
  • Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia have adopted Medicaid expansion. Kansas and Missouri are among 14 that haven’t.

Jim McLean is the senior correspondent for the Kansas News Service. You can reach him on Twitter @jmcleanks. 

Mostly sunny, breezy Sunday

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Today
Sunny, with a high near 69. Northwest wind 9 to 16 mph.
Tonight
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 5am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 45. East wind 7 to 16 mph.
Monday
Showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 7am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 54. East northeast wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Monday Night
Showers and possibly a thunderstorm before 10pm, then showers and thunderstorms between 10pm and 1am, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after 1am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Low around 51. East wind 13 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Tuesday
A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71. Breezy, with an east wind 15 to 24 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 36 mph.
Tuesday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 47.
Wednesday
Sunny, with a high near 81.
Wednesday Night
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 63.
Thursday
A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 81.

Downtown Hays Market set to kickoff Saturday; new online store June 1

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By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Downtown Hays Market is set to open Saturday, May 25 with much of your favorite produce and products.

The market will be open from 7:30 to 11 a.m. every Saturday through October in the Union Pacific Plaza Pavilion, 10th and Main, Hays.

Sara Bloom, Downtown Hays Development Corp. executive director, said the market set a record last year with almost 80 vendors and the market is hoping to exceed that this year.

“Last year was our biggest year to date for the market,” Bloom said. “We credit a lot of that to our wonderful new downtown pavilion. It has changed the whole atmosphere and feel of the event. It has really created that gathering place that we were striving for. We are excited for that to continue to play an integral part in the Downtown Hays Market and continue to see this program grow.”

About 40 percent of those vendors in 2018 were not local, but came from across the state.

“People can expect a wide variety of products at the Downtown Hays Market,” Bloom said. “A lot of people come looking for fresh produce, which we absolutely have, but I think they are surprised at the variety of vendors when they get there.

“You can purchase custom T-shirts. You can purchase leather earrings. You can purchase crocheted water balloons. We have people who are serving coffee and breakfast. We have cheesecakes, and every item you can possibly imagine can be found at the Downtown Hays Market.”

The market does not turn vendors away. There is no fee for vendors nor maximum or minimum markets in which vendors must participate. You can find more on becoming a vendor on the DHDC website.

The market again this year will have theme days, including opportunities for non-profits to interact with the public, Master Gardener events, and markets with activities for children. The Girl Scouts featured a booth with education about sex trafficking at a past market and another themed day featured photos with pets.

“We are looking for anything that will make the market stand out, make it a little bit more special and specifically make it a fun place for families to gather on any given Saturday,” Bloom said.

Coffee will be offered free again this year and will be provided by Hays business, Black Label.

Starting June 1, Downtown Hays Market will be offering an online store. Each vendor will be able to stock one item in the store, such as earrings, jam or an ornament. Customers can order online and have the product or products shipped directly to them or to someone as a gift. Gift boxes for multiple items will be available.

Customers will also be able to purchase market-branded items, such as T-shirts and bags.

“We really feel this will be a popular addition to the website,” Bloom said, “and it gives people the opportunity to give gifts to their loved ones from Kansas, from their home they love. We have a lot of visitors who come in, and they are only able to shop once and wish they could do more. Well, now they can.”

DHDC will handle shipping and handling for the online market store. The vendors will keep the proceeds from their items that are sold. For more information on this program, contact the DHDC. The online store will be a part of the new DHDC website.

DHDC will again sponsor the Bargains on the Bricks sidewalk sale. This year it will be Saturday, July 27.

Vendors do not have to be a Downtown Hays Market vendor or a downtown business to participate. Cost for a booth is $75. A reduced rate is available for market vendors. Non-profits can participate in Bargains on the Bricks free of charge.

 

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