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Month: October 2019

Downs, Wilson nursing homes among those transferred from receivership to new owner

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KDADS

TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard announced that 15 Kansas nursing facilities in receivership have been successfully transferred — with zero closures — from Skyline Health to new owner Mission Health, a Florida-based company with more than a dozen nursing facilities already operating in the state. Governor Laura Kelly is praising that achievement.

“Every senior in the State of Kansas deserves a stable, caring environment to call home,” Governor Kelly said. “The staff and leadership at KDADS worked quickly and with determination to ensure stability and quality of care for the more than 800 seniors living in the facilities affected by the Skyline situation. I applaud KDADS for its commitment to the very important mission of protecting Kansans.”

“We know that other states dealing with the issues surrounding Skyline have had to make the unfortunate and sometimes unavoidable decision to close facilities and force residents to find a new place to live,” said KDADS Secretary Laura Howard. “In our case, KDADS was determined that wasn’t going to happen and our staff worked very hard to find an alternative to displacing these seniors from their home. I’m proud today to say we were successful in avoiding that scenario.”

KDADS’ Survey, Certification and Credentialing Commission has performed a thorough review of the requests for change of ownership and has approved licensure applications submitted by Mission Health.

“We’re excited about welcoming these new communities and expanding Mission Health in the state of Kansas,” said Stuart Lindeman, President and CEO of Mission Health Communities. “I am incredibly  proud that Mission Health has been chosen to continue to follow these communities from receivership to ownership. We look forward to growing with these local businesses to deliver consistent care and services for patients, families and staff while focusing on an outstanding Mission Experience for everyone involved.”

In March of last year, KDADS moved to take 15 nursing facilities homes across the state into receivership after learning operator Skyline Health, a company headquartered in New Jersey, had fallen behind on vendor bills for basics like food services, medical equipment and utilities, putting residents’ health and safety at risk.

All 15 receivership actions were consolidated in April 2018 by the Kansas Supreme Court into a single action pending before the Johnson County District Court in the case: Laura Howard, Secretary of KDADS v. Spring Hill Care and Rehabilitation Center, LLC, et al., Case No. 18-CV-01688. As a result, the Secretary was appointed as the Receiver for each of the facilities to provide for the administration and oversight for the facilities while in receivership.

The 15 facilities included in the receivership action were:

  • Chase County Care & Rehabilitation Center, Cottonwood Falls
  • Downs Care & Rehabilitation Center, Downs
  • Edwardsville Care & Rehabilitation Center, Edwardsville
  • El Dorado Care & Rehabilitation Center, El Dorado
  • Eskridge Care & Rehabilitation Center, Eskridge
  • Kaw River Care & Rehabilitation Center, Edwardsville
  • Lansing Care & Rehabilitation Center, Lansing
  • Neodesha Care & Rehabilitation Center, Neodesha
  • Parkway Care & Rehabilitation Center, Edwardsville
  • Pittsburg Care & Rehabilitation Center, Pittsburg
  • Spring Hill Care & Rehabilitation Center, Spring Hill
  • Wakefield Care & Rehabilitation Center, Wakefield
  • Wellington Care & Rehabilitation Center, Wellington
  • Wichita Care & Rehabilitation Center, Wichita
  • Wilson Care & Rehabilitation Center, Wilson

The receivership action taken against Skyline prompted the introduction of first-of-its-kind state legislation that sets stricter vetting standards for nursing facility owners and investors. Passed with bi-partisan support, the new law, which went into effect May 9 this year, requires potential nursing facility owners in Kansas to submit detailed financial and historical ownership information before receiving approval.

Additionally, anyone seeking to buy a nursing facility in Kansas is required to provide a list of every other licensed property that he or she owns or has ever owned, either within the state or elsewhere in the United States, including stakes in the operation or the real estate associated with the facility. Prospective buyers must further provide a 12-month operating budget along with proof that he or she has enough working capital to carry out that budget.

The law also makes it easier for the state to revoke, suspend or deny a license and makes an operator ineligible to apply for a new license for 10 years following the termination of a receivership action.

HPD Activity Log Oct. 7-10

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The Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and conducted 6 traffic stops Mon., Oct. 7, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Found/Lost Property–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 1:45 AM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–Hays; 1:03 AM; 2:12 AM
Found/Lost Property–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 7:20 AM
Civil Dispute–200 block E 9th St, Hays; 8:50 AM
Disturbance – Noise–300 block E 18th St, Hays; 9:08 AM
Dead Animal Call–2600 block Augusta Ln, Hays; 10:18 AM
Civil Dispute–1800 block Ash St, Hays; 10:23 AM
Disturbance – Noise–500 block W 32nd St, Hays; 10:25 AM
Dead Animal Call–1000 block E 41st St, Hays; 11:26 AM
Found/Lost Property–100 block W 14th St, Hays; 11:36 AM
MV Accident-Private Property–1900 block Vine St, Hays; 12:19 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–200 block E 6th St, Hays; 12:55 PM
Civil Transport–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 2:21 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–2700 block Hall St, Hays; 2:52 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–2700 block Hall St, Hays; 3:41 PM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 4 PM; 4:04 PM
Towed Vehicle–400 block E 8th St, Hays; 4:12 PM
Found/Lost Property–1000 block E 8th St, Hays; 5:38 PM
Suspicious Activity–1300 block Steven Dr, Hays; 5:52 PM
Theft (general)–2000 block Vine St, Hays; 10/6 1:30 PM; 2:16 PM
Civil Transport–2200 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 8:36 PM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 10:11 PM
Welfare Check–500 block W 21st St, Hays; 7:42 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–Hays; 4/26 4:19 PM
Disturbance – General–400 block W 7th St, Hays; 11:16 PM
Suspicious Vehicle–1400 block Hall St, Hays; 11:39 PM
Runaway Juvenile–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 10/7 11:56 PM; 10/8 6:02 AM

The Hays Police Department responded to 4 animal calls and conducted 8 traffic stops Tue., Oct. 8, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Open Door/Window–1900 block Main St, Hays; 1:01 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2200 block Vine St, Hays; 10:19 AM
Suspicious Activity–600 block E 6th St, Hays; 3 AM; 3:30 AM
Drug Offenses–2700 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 10/4; 10/5
Animal At Large–700 block Vine St, Hays; 11:22 AM
Suspicious Person–300 block E 6th St, Hays; 12:15 PM
Violation of Restraining Order/PFA–1800 block Ash St, Hays; 7:30 AM; 10:30 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–2000 block Walnut St, Hays; 1:36 PM
Bicycle – Lost,Found,Stolen–2100 block Elm St, Hays; 2:07 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2500 block Vine St, Hays; 3:24 PM
Theft of Vehicle–1400 block E 8th St, Hays; 9/30 12 AM; 10/8 10:25 AM
Found/Lost Property–Hays; 3:56 PM
Miscellaneous Investigation–2700 block Vine St, Hays; 4:03 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–2300 block E 15th St, Hays; 4:46 PM
Traffic/Driving Complaint–1300 block Fort St, Hays; 5:27 PM
Drug Offenses–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 5:34 PM
Drug Offenses–1300 block Anthony Dr, Hays; 6:41 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–17th St and Oak St, Hays; 7:10 PM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–800 block Ash St, Hays; 7:45 PM
Suicidal Subject–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 8:26 PM
Drug Offenses–800 block Walnut St, Hays; 10:25 PM; 10:30 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 11 animal calls and conducted 15 traffic stops Wed., Oct. 9, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Mental Health Call–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 12:35 AM
Dead Animal Call–27th St and Country Ln, Hays; 8:04 AM
Assist – Other (not MV)–200 block E 7th St, Hays; 10/8
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 9:38 AM
Welfare Check–200 block W 29th St, Hays; 10:22 AM
Criminal Trespass–3500 block Vine St, Hays; 11 AM
Found/Lost Property–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 11:10 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–100 block Ash St, Hays; 12:16 PM
MV Accident-Property Damage–4000 block Vine St, Hays; 12:10 PM
Found/Lost Property–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 12:34 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–400 block W 8th St, Hays; 2:53 PM
Abandoned Vehicle–2300 block Timber Dr, Hays; 4:07 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–200 block W 6th St, Hays; 4:24 PM
Suspicious Activity–1900 block Oak St, Hays; 4:39 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–100 block Ash St, Hays; 5:35 PM
Suspicious Person–500 block Pine St, Hays; 6 PM; 6:07 PM
Burglary/business–1300 block Fort St, Hays; 10/4 6 PM; 10/9 6:11 PM
Civil Transport–2800 block Fort St, Hays; 10:10 PM; 10:19 PM
Found/Lost Property–100 block E 10th St, Hays; 10:58 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 9 animal calls and conducted 12 traffic stops Thu., Oct. 10, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Domestic Disturbance–500 block W 21st St, Hays; 6:57 AM
Domestic Disturbance–500 block W 21st St, Hays; 10/8 6:30 PM; 7:30 PM
Theft (general)–4000 block Gen Hays Rd, Hays; 1:40 AM; 9:30 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–1200 block Motz Ave, Hays; 10:33 AM
Animal Cruelty/Neglect–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 10:45 AM
Found/Lost Property–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 12:18 PM
Animal At Large–1300 block E 15th St, Hays; 12:17 PM
Burglary/residence–4800 block US 183 Alt Hwy, Hays; 12:51 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–1900 block Holmes Rd, Hays; 1:01 PM
Found/Lost Property–Hays; 1:42 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–2200 block 22nd St, Hays; 12 AM; 3:20 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–43rd and Roth, Hays; 3:08 PM
Theft (general)–400 block W 11th St, Hays; 10/3 12 PM; 12:15 PM
Civil Transport–200 block E 7th St, Hays; 4:18 PM
Search Warrant–4800 block US 183 Alt Hwy, Hays; 5:01 PM
Theft (general)–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 4:15 PM; 5:15 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–15th and Allen St, Hays; 5:45 PM; 5:47 PM
Civil Dispute–1700 block Agnes Dr, Hays; 10/8 2 PM; 10/10 10:33 PM

MARSHALL: Doctor’s Note Oct. 14

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Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.

Friends,

Saturday was National Farmers Day, a day with deep roots where we take time to recognize and thank farmers for their hard work and contribution to the economy.

Agriculture is the largest economic driver in Kansas, accounting for 44.5% of the state’s total economy. The agriculture sector employs 13% of Kansas’ workforce through direct and indirect careers.

Kansas is the nation’s 7th largest agricultural exporting state, shipping $4.8 billion in domestic agricultural exports abroad in 2017. Agriculture in Kansas is not just about growing crops and raising animals, it includes renewable energy production, food processing, research and education, agribusiness and more. I am proud to represent the farmers of Kansas that provide the food, fiber, and fuel that sustain our great nation.

So make sure you thank a farmer?

Dairy Margin Coverage Program

Enrollment for the 2020 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program has been opened by the USDA’s Farm Service Agency. The DMC was authorized by the 2018 Farm Bill and is a program designed to help producers manage economic risk brought on by milk price and feed cost disparities.

The DMC program offers reasonably priced protection to dairy producers when the margin between the all-milk price and the average feed cost falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer. So far in 2019 dairy farmers have earned more than $300 million from the program.

Enrollment is open until December 13, 2019. If you want more information on the program Click Here. You can also visit the USDA’s DMC program homepage Here.

Supporting Rural Transportation

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao announced the Rural Opportunities to Use Transportation for Economic Success (ROUTES) Initiative, with a goal of dedicating discretionary U.S. DOT resources to improving the safety and usability of the nation’s rural infrastructure.

The roads in Kansas and other rural states are vital to the movement of goods and services across this country. But many of the rural transportation systems – roads, bridges, and highway-rail crossings – lack the investment necessary to keep them safe and usable.

U.S. DOT will assist rural stakeholders in better understanding and utilizing the grants and funding programs to identify critical rural transportation concerns and coordinate efforts among DOT’s different modal administrations. To learn now about the ROUTES initiative, Click Here.

Disaster Aid Coming to Kansas

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of Rural Development recently announced $150 million in additional funding to help communities hardest hit by adverse weather and natural disasters.
The counties included in the 2019 FEMA disaster declaration, highlighted in the graphic, can apply for funds through the Community Facilities Program to make improvements to buildings, infrastructure, and public facilities using USDA grant dollars.

The Community Facilities program can help rural communities in their recovery efforts by ensuring they have the facilities and infrastructure to support their residents and businesses.

Interested communities are encouraged to contact a USDA Rural Development Community Programs Specialist in Kansas. A list of specialists in Kansas can be found Here.

Combating School Violence

Morris County Public Schools has been awarded a grant of $452,913 by the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office. Recipients were given the grants under the School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) which granted $32.5 million dollars across 103 grantees.

The SVPP program provides funding directly to states and units of local government to be used to improve security at schools and on school grounds. Money can be used in a variety of methods, from coordination and training with local law enforcement to the placement of metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other deterrent measures. Thank you to the COPS office for their investment in the safety of the next generation of Americans.

USDA Roundtable

USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety Dr. Mindy Brashears and Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS) Administrator Carmen Rottenberg traveled to Kansas last week. They meet with small protein production facility managers and provide plant operators an opportunity to hear updates from FSIS leadership as well as ask questions about proposed changes and labeling requirements.

Under USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue’s leadership, the agency has placed a large emphasis on customer service and removing unnecessary regulations. Events like this week’s roundtable are part of the reason America has the safest and most affordable food supply in the world.

Following the roundtable, Deputy Under Secretary Dr. Brashears traveled to Manhattan to meet with veterinary medicine students at Kansas State University to discuss career opportunities within USDA.

National Co-Op Month

October is National Co-Op Month. Kansas is home to more than 525 co-op locations serving 600,000 members and generating millions of dollars for local economies.

These member-owned and member-driven organizations are an important part of the Kansas way of life, providing everything from farm credit to electric power.

For more than 100 years, these organizations have been serving communities across the district, and will continue to be vital to Kansas’ growth and success.

National 4-H Week

Last week was the Inspire Kids to Do National 4-H Week. From October 6th through the 12th counties all across the country have been celebrating everything 4-H and showcasing the incredible experiences that 4-H offers young people. The Inspire Kids to Do theme was chosen to highlight how 4-H encourages kids to take part in hands-on learning experiences in areas such as health, science, agriculture and civic engagement.

During my time in Congress I have had the opportunity to meet with many 4-H groups and am continually impressed with the leadership and drive that I see in these young Kansans. 4-H equips our youth with the skills they need to reach their full potential and I am proud to celebrate 4-H Week with them.

Rural and Independent Innovators Conference

The Kansas Small Business Development Center will be hosting one of their Rural & Independent Innovators Conferences (RIIC) at Fort Hays University on October 15th. These conferences are modeled around supporting Kansan entrepreneurs and innovators with information and education, with the goal of fostering connections and business opportunities.

Executive Director of Grow Hays, Doug Williams, will be the keynote speaker at this upcoming RIIC and will be speaking on “Growth Through Innovation.” There will also be presentations on business growth, market access, and raising capital. This is a great opportunity to network and learn, and I hope many of you have a chance to attend.  Additional information, along with registration details, can be found on their website Here.

Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.

Sewer line inspection, cleaning begins in downtown Hays area

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CITY OF HAYS

The city of Hays Water Resources Department has contracted with SAK Construction of O’Fallon, Missouri, to perform Cure in Place Pipe (CIPP) sewer lining at the locations shown on the map below.

In preparation for this project, Mayer Specialty Services, a sub-contractor for the lining project, will perform sewer line cleaning and video inspection of the work area.

Cleaning will begin Monday, October 14, 2019. Mayer Specialty Services should be completed with the cleaning and inspection project before November 8, 2019, weather permitting.

Door hanger notices will be placed on homes and businesses affected prior to cleaning. Work will begin at the north end of the project area and proceed south until completed. If you will not be home or on vacation during the time of sewer line cleaning, please protect your home by keeping your toilet lids down.

Should you have any questions, please contact Mayer Specialty Services project manager at 316-640-4148 or Water Resources Dept. at 785-628-7380.

Ash Street reconstruction continues

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City of Hays

Beginning on Monday, the demolition of Ash Street in Hays will continue to the north.

Ash Street will be closed south of Fourth Street as the reconstruction of streets in this area continues. This area will remain closed for the next several weeks as Ash Street is reconstructed from Elm to 4th Street.

Signs will be in place to direct the traveling public. The traveling public should use caution and if possible avoid areas of construction.

The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Office of Project Management at 628-7350 or the contractor, Morgan Brothers Construction at 432-3104 or 394-1777.

Margaret Rose Wieser

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Margaret Rose Wieser, age 93, passed away on Thursday, October 10, 2019 at her home at VIP Assisted Living in Surprise, Arizona.

Margaret was born January 1, 1926 in Leoti, Kansas, the daughter of John C. & Theresa M. (Goetz) Bauck. She attended St. Mary of The Plains High School in Dodge City, Kansas, transferred to and later graduated from Wichita County High School in Leoti, Kansas in 1943. Margaret worked for the Wichita County Rations Board, where she met her future husband, Mr. Lawrence Wieser.

Margaret & Lawrence were united in marriage on May 14, 1946 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Marienthal, Kansas. They made their home in Leoti where they raised six children. Margaret was a wife, mother, homemaker, seamstress, artist and gardener.

Margaret was a lifelong member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Leoti, Kansas. She found her artistic talent after taking art & painting classes and produced many paintings, which she then sold or gave to family members and friends. Margaret had a lifelong love of gardening and later opened a greenhouse through Interstate Distributors in Leoti. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society. Margaret lived in Leoti until August of 2014 when she moved to Sun City, Arizona to be closer to family. She spent the past two years at VIP Assisted Living in Surprise, Arizona.

Margaret’s surviving family includes her Six Children – Diana & Oran Charlson of Sun City, Arizona, Steve & Linda Wieser of Topeka, Kansas, Pam Spinner of Surprise, Arizona, Michelle & Doug Pellant of Russell, Kansas, Judy & Jim Ireland of Ocean View, Maryland, Peggy & David Page of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Ten grandchildren and Fifteen great grandchildren.

Her parents, husband, son-in-law, Larry Spinner, five brothers, Joe, Carl, Frank, George & Clem Bauck and sisters, Helen Dinkel & Lucille Born precede her in death.

Vigil Services will be held at 7:00 pm Thursday, October 17, 2019 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Leoti, Kansas. Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 am Friday, October 18, 2019 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Leoti, Kansas with Fathers Tim Hickey & Meinrad Miller officiating. Burial will be in Leoti Cemetery in Leoti, Kansas.

Memorials may be given to St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in care of the funeral home.

Friends may call from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm Wednesday and from 2:00 pm until 5:00 pm Thursday at Price & Sons Funeral Home in Leoti, Kansas.

PREVIEW: Fall Radio Auction Oct. 17 & 18

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The Eagle Radio Auction kicks off Thursday morning at 8 a.m. on radio stations 101.9 KKQY and 94.3 FM and 1400 AM KAYS.

BOS Motorsports 2018 Bobcat XRZ 48 SD Mower

There are thousands of items to bid on and buy, including a Bob Cat Zero Turn mower from BOS Motorsports.

Retail Price $5299

This brand new carry-over 2018 Bob Cat Zero Turn mower offers a 48″ deck with side discharge and a powerful Kawasaki FR651V engine for years of mowing service. Featuring an adjustable, high back seat with spring-dampened suspension and armrests. Mow longer between fill ups with a 6 gallon fuel tank and productive mowing with 21.5 horsepower and speed us up to 7 miles per hour. The Bob-cat CRZ also features a TufDeck, professional grad mower deck and the best warranty on the market with a 6 year or 600 hour warranty on the mower and 3 year warranty on the Kawasaki engine. See the great folks at BOS Motorsports to see this brand new 2018 Bob-Cat XRZ SD 48 inch Zero Turn residential mower or see BOS Motorsports, 1210 East 43rd street, 785-628-2525.

 

 

 

 

Avalon Advanced Health
$1500 Cool Sculpting Certificate

This $1500 certificate is good toward 4 or more CoolSculpting applications from Avalon of Hays. Transform your body with Cool Sculpting – a safe, non-invasive way to reduce fat in trouble areas, like the mid-section, that tend to be diet and exercise resistant. CoolSculpting targets and freezes fat cells causing their natural death. Most start to see results in 3 weeks, with dramatic changes in 1 to 3 months. 4 treatments or more are usually needed. For more information, visit avalonhays.com. Lose fat, look and feel better with these 2 Cool Sculpting Sessions from Avalon of Hays, located in the Eagle Business Plaza just off 27th and Hall in Hays.

KC-area homicide suspect arrested after hours-long standoff

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Police on the scene of Sunday’s standoff photo courtesy KMBC TV

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities have arrested a Kansas City area homicide suspect after an hours-long standoff.

The shooting was reported around 1:15 p.m. Sunday at a home in Raytown. Police say the victim was found dead outside the home near a truck.

Police say the suspect ran to his nearby home and barricaded himself inside. He was taken into custody around 7 p.m. The victim hasn’t been identified, and the shooter wasn’t immediately charged.

No details were released about what led up to the shooting.

Kansas man dies after ejected in 2-vehicle crash

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RENO COUNTY —One person died in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Sunday in Reno County.

The Sheriff’s department reported a truck driven by Van Dean, 61, Buhler, was eastbound on 4th Avenue at Buhler Road. When he entered the intersection, a northbound SUV driven by Tyler Obrecht, 26, Buhler, collided with the truck.

Dean was ejected from the truck when it rolled into the ditch northeast of the intersection, according to the sheriff’s department.

EMS transported Dean, Obrecht and a passenger in the SUV Jaxson Obrect, 2, to Hutchison Regional Medical Center where Dean was pronounced dead.

Dean was not wearing a seat belt, according to the Reno County Sheriff’s Department. Obrecht and the toddler were properly restrained. The child was not injured.
The accident remains under investigation.

Adopt-A-Cop creates positive relationships between officers, kids

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By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Lt. Tim Greenwood stood outside Holy Family Elementary School on a recent drizzly, gray morning, opening car doors for kids and giving high-fives and fist bumps.

It only takes about 15 minutes out of his day, but he said he thinks it is important for kids to see a police officer as one of the good guys.

Greenwood was part of the Adopt-A-Cop program when it began in Hays in 1998. The program was temporarily discontinued, but was resurrected about five years ago. Every school, public and private, in the city has at least one officer assigned.

“It is great when I am there and the kids smile and wave,” he said.

In addition to the welcomes in the morning, Greenwood periodically gives presentations to school on safety topics. Greenwood is also a veteran and the school invites him to lunch once a year to celebrate Veterans Day.

“I’m somebody those kids can look up to as a role model and not be afraid to reach out and say. ‘Hey, Officer Greenwood, how are you this morning?’ and develop a conversation or rapport that has served us professionally later on.”

The relationships he builds with the children has been useful as he has been called to tragedies and been able to calm a child because that child knew him from school.

Greenwood said Adopt-A-Cop has been one of his best assignments as a police officer.

“A young lady came up to me and asked if I remembered her, and I didn’t. It was a third grader that 20 years later had grown up and she still remembered I was her Adopt-A-Cop,” he said.

Sgt. Jason Bonczynski is assigned to Wilson Elementary School.

“I think the program has some really tremendous benefits for the kids” he said. “When I first started going, no one wanted to talk to me. There was a cop over there. They didn’t know what was going on. ‘He looks a little bit spooky.’ Once the kids realize I am there for the kids, they’re having fun and I’m handing out stickers and visiting and playing, they almost run me over for a sticker in the morning.

“Some kids have had experiences with law enforcement that might not pose us in the most positive light because we took a law enforcement action. They might be fearful of us. We have the opportunity to turn around those perceptions and let them know we are here for community service and to keep people safe.”

In his 21 years as an officer, he said there is nothing that puts a smile on his face and is more positive than being an Adopt-A-Cop.

“Who doesn’t like hanging out with kids?” he said.

HPD Deputy Chief Brian Dawson said the response to the program from schools, officers and the community has been positive.

“It helps build a rapport between the young people at schools and the officers as well as school staff and parents,” he said.

The HPD at one point had school resource officer program in Hays schools, but that program was discontinued.

“Silly Selfie” of some Wilson Elementary students and their Adopt-A-Cop Sergeant Jason Bonczynski. Courtesy of HPD Facebook

The current program amounts to 40 officer hours per year across the entire program. However, officers and the school officials said they thought the program offers maximum benefit for the amount of resources dedicated to it.

Lincoln Elementary School has two officers assigned to its school.

Lincoln Principal Kerri Lacy said having the officers welcome students in the morning one to three times per week has helped the children and parents feel more at ease with the officers. They have also visited the school and had lunch with the children.

“I think another benefit is our parents knowing we have Adopt-A-Cops,” Lacy said. “They see them out front in the morning and know we are keeping our school safe. Having the presence here is a great benefit.”

Lacy said she thinks the program helps change the kids’ perceptions of police officers.

“Our kids just think officers are scary, because that is all they know, so it is a good way for them to know officers are here to hep them if they need it and they are nice people and they are familiar with the school,” she said. “That way if they see an officer walking in the school they are not thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, there’s something wrong.’ They are here to be helpful.”

Tom Albers, Hays Middle School principal, said the idea behind Adopt-A-Cop is to have a police officer connected with the school.

The two officers assigned to the middle school open doors for students in the morning and greet them. They also walk the halls during the first part of the day, which is the school’s “Falcon time.”

Albers said he at times calls on the officers to give words of encouragement to students.

“They walk the building just talking to kids,” Albers said. “They are visible. They’re available for kids if they want to speak to them. They have very positive interactions with our students. It allows our kids to feel secure.”

High court to consider state role in prosecuting immigrants

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By ROXANA HEGEMAN Associated Press

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Donaldo Morales caught a break when federal prosecutors declined to charge him after he was arrested for using a fake Social Security card so he could work at a Kansas restaurant. But the break was short-lived. Kansas authorities stepped in and obtained a state conviction that could lead to Morales’s deportation.

A state appellate court overturned the conviction, but Kansas appealed. On Wednesday, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments about whether states can prosecute immigrants like Morales who use other people’s Social Security numbers to get a job.

Morales, who plans to attend the arguments with his wife and a son, said he has been having nightmares about being deported. His greatest fear is leaving behind his wife and children if the Supreme Court reinstates his state convictions — felonies that could trigger deportation proceedings.

“What I did was to earn money honestly in a job to support my family,” the 51-year-old Guatemalan immigrant told The Associated Press in Spanish.

The case before the nation’s highest court arises from three prosecutions in Johnson County, a largely suburban area outside Kansas City, Missouri, where the district attorney has aggressively pursued immigrants under the Kansas identity theft and false-information statutes.

The Kansas Supreme Court overturned the convictions of Morales as well as Mexican immigrants Ramiro Garcia and Guadalupe Ochoa-Lara after concluding the state was seeking to punish immigrants who used fake IDs to obtain jobs. It ruled that the federal government has exclusive authority to determine whether an immigrant is authorized to work in the United States. Kansas then appealed.

The Trump administration has filed a brief supporting Kansas, arguing that federal law does not prohibit the prosecution of immigrants for violating identity theft laws and contending that protection against fraud is among the oldest state powers.

“In the modern era, those crimes increasingly involve identity theft — a serious and ‘growing problem’ throughout the United States,” Solicitor General Noel J. Francisco said in a brief.

That approach marks a shift from that of the Obama administration. When Arizona tried to use identity theft laws to prosecute noncitizens for working illegally, the Justice Department under President Barack Obama argued that only the federal government has such authority.

Rekha Sharma-Crawford, an attorney representing the immigrants, said in an email that immigration officials are having the state to do its bidding by using routine encounters with noncitizens to “strong arm businesses” to turn over personnel files.

“This has a chilling effect for local businesses, spreads deep mistrust for law enforcement in immigrant communities and also destroys families who are an integral part of the societal fabric,” Sharma-Crawford said.

Morales, who has been living in the United States since 1989, was found guilty of state charges for identity theft and putting false information on employment forms related to his work at a Jose Pepper’s restaurant.

The other two prosecutions in the appeal also involve immigrants who unlawfully worked in the United States.

After Garcia got a speeding ticket on his way to his restaurant job, a local detective and a federal agent checked his employment paperwork at the Bonefish Grill. His attorneys told the court the federal government didn’t charge Garcia because he was cooperating with an investigation into a previous employer suspected of directing employees to change Social Security numbers. The local district attorney nonetheless charged him with identity theft, and pursued the state case even after Garcia obtained lawful immigration status.

Ochoa-Lara came to the attention of authorities after using a false Social Security number to lease an apartment and was later prosecuted in state court for using someone else’s number on a tax withholding employment form.

The case wound up before the nation’s highest court after the Kansas Supreme Court held that the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 preempts those state prosecutions for working unlawfully in the country.

Kansas contends the state’s Supreme Court ruling would frustrate its own efforts to combat identity theft. The state law generally criminalizes the use of any personal identifying information belonging to another person to obtain any “benefit” fraudulently, regardless of immigration status or work authorization.

Twelve states — Indiana, Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Maine, Mississippi, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia — have filed a brief backing Kansas, arguing a ruling against the state would hamper their interest in protecting their citizens.

Brent Anderson, a former federal prosecutor who handled immigration-related criminal cases in Kansas, said it takes local, state and federal law enforcement working together to address identity theft.

“There is no point in prosecuting people who are misusing Social Security numbers to be employed if you can’t remove them from the United States because they will keep doing it because they have to, otherwise they can’t work,” said Anderson, who teaches homeland security law at Wichita State University.

Judge Kevin Moriarty, who presided over Morales’ and Garcia’s trials, had expressed concerns about both cases, according to transcripts in the Supreme Court record.

“I’m just saying we’re destroying families,” he said in a pre-trial hearing for Garcia.

In Morales’ trial, Moriarty found the defendant guilty, but noted he wasn’t stealing from the government. “He’s putting money into Social Security that he’ll never be able to draw out,” said the judge, who has since retired.

The judge also noted that three of Morales’ four children were born in this country.

Morales, an Overland Park resident who has since gotten legal work authorization, is now employed by a landscaping company. He has also started his own landscaping firm as a side business.

His U.S.-born wife, Isleen Gimenez Morales, is a lawyer who works as a disability rights advocate. She said being part of a Supreme Court case like this is not the kind of excitement anybody wants.

“Knowing that the outcome of this case will shape the immigration and criminal law in this country, I think it compounds the stress and distraction that our family has because we know the weight that it carries,” she said.

Fenwicks give reading room to FHSU’s Forsyth Library

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FHSU University Relations

Larry and Lyn Fenwick started out as high school sweethearts who married their freshman year at Fort Hays State University. The couple was back on campus this week, more than 50 years later, to partake in FHSU’s Homecoming festivities and to be recognized for their most recent contribution to Fort Hays State.

Through their generous gift, the couple is making possible the Larry and Lyn Fenwick Reading Room in FHSU’s Forsyth Library. Due to their generosity, Forsyth Library will be able to construct a new reading room during scheduled renovations.
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The Fenwicks were honored for their recent contribution Friday afternoon at FHSU’s Revisit the Past, Unleash the Future: A Library Showcase held at Forsyth Library.

“The Larry and Lyn Fenwick Reading Room is an important element of the renovation of Forsyth Library,” said Deborah Ludwig, Forsyth dean. The reading room is scheduled for completion in 2023.

“The future reading room will house, exhibit, and provide critical preservation of distinctive collections connected to Kansas and to our university, while also making these unique materials available to researchers for study in a secure setting,” said Ludwig. “On behalf of Forsyth Library and Fort Hays State University, we are deeply grateful to Larry and Lyn for their generous gift. With their help, we will keep important history alive and inspire future generations of researchers.”

Jason Williby, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation, said, “Our university’s continued success is in large part thanks to alumni and donors like Larry and Lyn Fenwick, who remain engaged with the university and our programs. They believe in our mission and want to make a positive impact in advancing education.”

“The Larry and Lyn Fenwick Reading Room will foster an environment for hard work and learning,” he said. “Housing collections of unique artifacts along with individual and group study spaces, the new space will be a great resource for students at Fort Hays State.”

The Fenwicks, rural Macksville, graduated from FHSU in 1966 and, after years of being away from Kansas, they made their way back home to Lyn’s ancestral farm in Stafford County.

Larry graduated from FHSU with a B.S. in business administration and immediately joined the U.S. Air Force, serving as an officer with the Strategic Air Command stationed at bases in New England and on the island of Guam.

In 1971, he began a 32-year career in investments and management while living in Dallas, Texas, Atlanta, Ga., and Charlotte, N.C.

Lyn began as an art major at Fort Hays State, but earned her degree in elementary education. During Larry’s service in the Air Force, Lyn taught secondary English for four years in New York state and Massachusetts. She earned her doctorate in law from the Baylor University School of Law and practiced in Texas before shifting her focus to writing and publishing two books.

Currently, she has a weekly blog and is finalizing a manuscript about a Kansas homesteader and the Populist Movement.

When discussing her path through Fort Hays State, Lyn said, “Dream big! Dreams are terrific, but so is the hard work that it takes.”

With their recent gift, the couple hopes to encourage students at Fort Hays State to study hard, accomplish their goals, and dream big.

To learn how you can join the Fenwicks in supporting Forsyth Library, please contact the FHSU Foundation at 785-628-5620 or [email protected]. For additional information, please visit https://foundation.fhsu.edu .

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