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Year: 2019
US officials identify ‘strong culprit’ in vaping illnesses
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials reported a breakthrough Friday in their investigation into the cause of a mysterious outbreak of vaping illnesses.
A government lab found the same chemical compound in fluid taken from the lungs of 29 patients across the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced.
The compound — vitamin E acetate — was previously found in liquid from electronic cigarettes and other vaping devices used by many of those who got sick.
Officials said this is the first time they’ve found a common suspect in the damaged lungs of patients.
“We are in a better place in terms of having one very strong culprit,” said the CDC’s Dr. Anne Schuchat.
But agency officials cautioned they cannot rule out all other toxic substances, and it may take animal studies to clearly show vitamin E acetate causes the lung damage that’s been seen.
More than 2,000 Americans who use vape have gotten sick since March, many of them teen and young adults, and at least 40 people have died.
Vitamin E acetate has recently been used as a thickener in vaping fluid, particularly in black market vape cartridges. While vitamin E is safe as a vitamin pill or to use on the skin, inhaling oily droplets can be harmful.
Many who got sick said they had vaped liquids that contain THC, the high-inducing ingredient in marijuana, with many saying they got them from friends or bought them on the black market.
About two months ago, New York drew attention to vitamin E acetate when the state’s public health lab discovered it in samples of vaping products from sick patients. In some instances, it made up more than half of the liquid in the cartridges.
The chemical has shown up in tests in other labs, too, including a U.S. Food and Drug Administration lab in Cincinnati.
For the latest test, the CDC used fluid extracted from the lungs of 29 patients in 10 states. They looked for a range of substances that had been found in various vaping devices, including nicotine, THC and other marijuana components, plant oils, mineral oil and cutting agents used on the black market.
The one substance that came up in all 29 patients was vitamin E acetate.
“To me what’s important here is both what they found, and what they didn’t find” said Scott Becker, head of the Association of Public Health Laboratories. “This was the only thing they found.”
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Space at a premium at Wilson, school board members learn on tour
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays school board toured Wilson Elementary School during its work session Monday night and discovered space is one of its significant challenges.
Wilson is housing more students now than it ever has, said Principal Anita Scheve. The school’s enrollment is 408 students. The school has three sections of each grade kindergarten through fifth grade.
Although the enrollment at the other three-section elementary schools in the district are similar, the total square footage at Wilson is much less. Wilson has about 39,000 square feet. The square footage at O’Loughlin Elementary is 49,000 square feet and the square footage at Roosevelt is 59,000 square feet.
“If you think about it, Roosevelt has almost the same enrollment but almost 50 precent more square footage to work with,” Scheve said. “A common theme you are going to see tonight is lack of storage and we are crowded.”
At several locations throughout the school, Scheve noted lighting. Many of the lights are original to the building when it was built in 1959. The district has been replacing lights at other schools with LEDs in attempts to save money.
The art and music wing was added to Wilson in 1966. An addition was built at Wilson in 1985 and one more classroom added in 1989, but the school has not had a significant renovation since.
The HVAC system in the building also dates to when the building was constructed in 1959. Scheve said at least one of the classrooms remains at 85 degrees year round.
Storage is a serious concern for the school. The fire marshal told the school officials after a recent inspection that it will have to move items that are being stored in hallways to other locations for safety reasons.
The school has two very small storage sheds. Scheve said she is working with buildings and grounds to move in a shipping container for more storage for the school.
The school is using smaller desks, because it needed to have some floor space for children to gather to work on reading and writing curriculum. Each classroom has its own library as a part of that curriculum. Those books take up space, which is at a premium. Teachers also have to carve out space for the storage of iPads.
The average size of classrooms at Wilson is 700 to 750 square feet, but designers today are recommended new elementary classrooms be a minimum of 900 to 1,000 square feet.
Outside, Scheve said she would like to have more cameras on the playground, because it is large and hard to supervise. She also said she would like less asphalt, because children have been injured by slipping and falling on the asphalt.
Plumbing is becoming an issue because much of it is also original from 1959. Much of the plumbing in the building is cast iron.
As part of the school’s trauma responsive practices, classrooms have calm-down corners for kids.
“Really just a space where they can use if they are feeling frustrated and they don’t know what to do with those feelings,” she said. “It is a space to stay in the class, but for the teacher to recognize and the student to recognize ‘I need some help or I need some time to figure things out or to get myself back to a learning state.’ ”
Wilson’s gym is also used as the cafeteria and auditorium. When the building was built, it only had two sections of each grade, so many more students are using the space than was originally intended.
Scheve said the school has to schedule everything around its gym classes, because the time in the gym/cafeteria/auditorium is at such a premium. She said the students and staff are pressed for a time on a daily basis, because there is a gym class 10 minutes after breakfast and a gym class that ends 10 minutes before lunch is served.
The schedule is further complicated because Wilson shares a PE teacher with Lincoln Elementary School.
The school can’t fit all of its students in the gym/auditorium for programs, so it has to break the student body into two sections — K-2 and 3-5.
O’Loughlin has a larger gym, and it also has a separate cafeteria, Scheve said.
The school does not have a tornado shelter. The children shelter in the school’s hallway, which has skylights.
Hays High senior awarded Smith 4-H scholarship
The Ellis County 4-H Scholarship & Development Fund has awarded this year’s Rosemary Smith 4-H scholarship to Quentin Rupp of Hays.
Rupp is a senior at Hays High. He has been an active member of the Big Creek Astros 4-H Club for the past twelve years. He has been actively involved in Livestock, Photography, Woodworking, Leadership and Community Service projects.
Rupp has served as an officer in his 4-H club and has held several county leadership positions as well. He has been actively involved in planning and carrying out the Photo Adventure Day Camp for community youth each summer.
Rupp plans to attend NCK-Tech in the fall, majoring in welding. He is the son of Julie Miller of Hays.
The Rosemary Smith 4-H scholarship is presented in memory of a long time Ellis Co. 4-H volunteer by her family. The $250 scholarships are awarded to high school students who are taking concurrent credits or to current college students with a 4-H background.
4-H Scholarship & Development is a subcommittee of the 4-H Program Development Committee representing the Cottonwood Extension program. Their primary focus is fund development to support the 4-H Youth programs and scholarships in Ellis County. To give support to this fund, contact the Cottonwood Extension Office at (785) 628-9430.
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Report: Voter turnout up at Fort Hays State in 2018 mid-terms
FHSU University Relations
Fort Hays State University recently reported that student voting on its campus was up in last year’s election, increasing to 40.2 percent in 2018 from a rate of 26.3 percent in 2014.
“Education for democratic engagement is more crucial than it ever has been, given the current partisan divide and polarized political environment,” said Dr. Larry Gould, chair of the Department of Political Science at Fort Hays State and current faculty adviser and long-time participant in the American Democracy Project.
“Recent student ADP leadership and FHSU’s Student Government Association have made a spectacular difference in getting students to understand the importance of voting as a responsibility of citizenship,” he said. “The excellent improvement in all voter categories is a testament to their hard work and dedication.”
The report is part of the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement, or NSLVE, conducted by the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education at Tufts University’s Tisch College of Civic Life.
The full campus report can be viewed HERE.
The study shows that, nationwide, the voting rates at participating college campuses doubled on average compared to the previous midterm election, in 2014. In 2018, the Average Institutional Voting Rate among campuses in the study was 39.1 percent, nearly 20 percentage points higher than 2014’s average turnout rate of 19.7 percent. Turnout increases were widespread, with virtually all campuses seeing an increase over 2014.
“Voting and registration rates at Fort Hays State University are up in every category – age, race/ethnicity, gender, and enrollment status,” said Dr. Donnette Noble, Voss Distinguished Professor of Leadership Studies and director of civic learning and engagement at FHSU.
“The increases are significant and demonstrate that Fort Hays State is living up to its commitment to promote civic engagement and foster a generation of forward thinking and world ready global citizens,” she said. “It is incredibly exciting that our community of students is outpacing the national averages.”
The NSLVE is the only national study of college-student voting. It is based on the voting records of more than 10 million students at more than 1,000 colleges and universities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The IDHE does not receive any information that could individually identify students or how they voted.
The study provides reports to participating colleges and universities, like Fort Hays State, which use them to support political learning and civic engagement as well as to identify and address gaps in political and civic participation.
Breathe Coffee House to host Operation Christmas Child packing party
On Nov. 12, more than 100 empty shoeboxes will be transformed into gifts of hope as part of Breathe Coffee House’s packing party aimed to help children in need around the world.
Operation Christmas Child, a project of the international Christian relief organization Samaritan’s Purse, will deliver the shoeboxes — filled with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items — to children in need.
“It is amazing to be a part of a community that understands the power of giving. We are so excited to host a party to prepare shoebox gifts that will send a message of hope and love to children around the world. For many of these children, the gift-filled shoebox is the first gift they have ever received,” said Rachel Albin, Operation Christmas Child NW KS Area Coordinator.
SEE RELATED: Cambodian woman finds Christ’s love through Operation Christmas Child
SEE RELATED: Shoebox packing parties in full swing for Operation Christmas Child
The party, held at Breathe Coffee House, 703 B Main St., Hays, November 12 at 7 p.m., is open to the public, and anyone is welcome to experience the joy of giving.
Donations of items and monetary would be accepted and appreciated.
Breathe Coffee House hopes to pack 100 gifts to contribute to the expected 3,000 shoebox gifts collected this year in Hays.
To RSVP or donate to the event, email [email protected].
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Three-day weather outlook
Calling all businesses: Lender Rodeo will be this month at FHSU
FHSU University Relations
The Kansas Small Business Development Center at Fort Hays State University, along with the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Wichita District, will host the Lender Rodeo, an event geared towards connecting individuals with various lenders.
The event will be from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Robbins Center at Fort Hays State.
The W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship of Fort Hays State wants to provide pre-existing or start-up business opportunities to pitch their financial needs. One-on-one, ten-minute sessions will be available.
Cost of attendance is $20 with lunch included. You can register at: https://ksbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/25244. You can also call the office at 785-628-5615 for more information.
Free Lake Wilson admission on Veterans Day
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced it will waive day use fees at its more than 2,850 USACE-operated recreation areas nationwide, including Wilson Lake, in observance of Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
The waiver covers fees for boat launch ramps and swimming beaches. The waiver does not apply to camping and camping-related services, or fees for specialized facilities (group picnic shelters) and events. Other agencies that manage recreation areas on USACE lands are encouraged, but not required, to offer the waiver in the areas that they manage.
USACE began the Veterans Day fee waiver in 2006 as a way to honor the men and women who have served our nation and the armed forces.
USACE is one of the nation’s federal leaders in providing outdoor and water-based recreation, hosting millions of visits annually to its more than 400 lake and river projects. It’s estimated that 90 percent of the USACE-operated recreation areas are within 50 miles of metropolitan areas, offering diverse outdoor activities for all ages close to home.
To discover a USACE recreation site nearest you, please visit www.corpslakes.us, or www.recreation.gov
— U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Rush County woman hospitalized after SUV crash
STAFFORD COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just before 10p.m. Friday in Stafford County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Dodge Durango driven by Donald L. Elliott, 58, Otis, was westbound on NE 70th Street four miles north of St John.
The driver disobeyed the stop sign at U.S. 281. The vehicle left the road, entered the ditch, struck a fence and rolled onto the driver’s side.
EMS transported a passenger Amber L. Rightmyer, 22, Otis, to the Stafford County Hospital. Elliott was not injured. Both were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Plainville routs Ell-Saline in 1A playoff matchup
Seniors Jordan Finnesy and Jared Casey each scored three rushing touchdowns as the Plainville Cardinals earned a 53-21 win over the Ell-Saline Cardinals on Friday night in Plainville.
Plainville wasted little time getting on the board, it took them just one minute to put together a 71-yard opening drive that was capped off by a 34-yard touchdown run by Finnesy giving them a 6-0 lead.
After the Plainville touchdown Ell-Saline went three-and-out and were forced to punt. In their first four possession Ell-Saline had two punts, a turnover on downs and an interception that was returned for a touchdown.
Plainville answered with a touchdown drive every time they got the ball back. Finnesy scored his second of three rushing touchdowns during that stretch, Casey scored his first of three touchdowns on the day and Cody Crawford had the pick six that put Plainville up 26-0 after one.
It was much of the same in the second quarter when Casey scored from 16 yards out to give Plainville a 37-0 lead.
Ell-Saline was able to get on the board in the second quarter when quarterback TJ Morrical scored on a 31-yard touchdown run on fourth and three to cut the Plainville lead to 37-7.
On the next Plainville possession Finnesy found Crawford for the 20-yard touchdown to put Plainville up 40-7.
Casey added his third rushing touchdown at the end of the third quarter and Finnesy got his third early in the fourth quarter to start the running clock with Plainville up 53-7.
Ell-Saline’s Luke Parks was able to get in the endzone twice in the fourth quarter against the younger players for Plainville for the final score, 53-21 Plainville.
Plainville’s Jared Casey led all rushers with 162 yards and those three scores and Jordan Finnesy finished with 143 yards on the ground and three touchdowns.
Plainville improved to 9-1 with the win and will travel to Inman Friday night for the 1A sectional matchup.
KDA offers reimbursement to specialty crop growers
KDA
MANHATTAN — The Kansas Department of Agriculture has funds available for reimbursement to Kansas specialty crop growers who attend an educational conference with a primary focus on specialty crops. Qualifying conferences may include sessions about production practices, specialized equipment and technology, pest and disease management, specialty crop marketing practices, or business principles for specialty crop producers.
Applicants who apply for the reimbursement will be required to attend the conference and to complete surveys before, immediately after, and six months post-conference prior to payment being issued. Conferences not eligible will include those within the state of Kansas and the Great Plains Growers Conference. KDA will reimburse Kansas specialty crop growers up to $850 each in order to offset the cost of their conference registration, mileage/flights, hotel, meals, etc. The award is available on a first-come, first-served basis. The deadline for application is December 15, 2019.
Examples of conferences that may be eligible for applicants to attend include, but are not limited to:
- North American Strawberry Growers Association Conference; January 19-22, 2020; San Antonio, Texas
- North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association Conference; March 3-6, 2020; St. Louis, Missouri
- Great Lakes Expo Fruit, Vegetable, & Farm Market Conference; December 10-12, 2019; Grand Rapids, Michigan
- Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention; February 28-30, 2020; Hershey, Pennsylvania
- Southeast Regional Fruit & Vegetable Conference; January 9-12, 2020; Savannah, Georgia
This program is made possible by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crop Block Grant (SCBG). The SCBG makes funds available to state departments of agriculture solely to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. According to USDA, specialty crops are defined as “fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.”
This grant fits KDA’s mission to provide an environment that enhances and encourages economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy. For application details, go to the KDA website at www.agriculture.ks.gov/grants. Questions should be directed to Lexi Wright, From the Land of Kansas Program Coordinator, at 785-564-6755 or [email protected].
High School Area Regional Playoffs: Ness City @ Little River
Regional playoff action saw the Ness City Eagles pay a visit to the Little River Redskins. Both teams were 8-1 on the year. Little River was the champion of District 5, Ness City the runner-up in District 6.
The Ness City Eagles received the ball first and started the scoring early. A long touchdown pass from Jose Guzman to Easton Sieb put the Eagles up 6-0. A conversion by Guzman made it 8-0. The Redskins came right back with an 8-yard touchdown run by freshman Braxton Lafferty. Lafferty, who normally starts at flex-back, was filling in for injured star Graham Stephens at running back.
Ness City drove to the Little River 5, but turned the ball over on downs. Little River quickly capitalized on the opportunity when quarterback Jayden Garrison scampered 57 yards for a touchdown. After a failed conversion, the home team led 14-8.
Ness City put together an impressive drive to tie the game on a Hector Rodriguez touchdown run and took the lead on the conversion. The clock showed only 2 minutes until the half. Little River was able to make good use of those two minutes, as Garrison found Trey Rolfs on a n 11-yard touchdown pass just before the half. The halftime score showed Little River with a 22-16 advantage.
The Redskins received the ball to start the second half and found another score on a Jayden Garrison run. That made the lead 30-16. It was the first double digit lead either team had had all day. The teams traded scores for a time, and it was 38-34 Little River about halfway through the fourth.
Things got interesting as Garrison found Lafferty for a 43 yard touchdown off a screen pass on 2nd and long. This made it 44-34. Ness City kicked it into high gear and found another Hector Rodriguez touchdown with 2 minutes to go. The conversion made it 44-42 in favor of Little River.
The Eagles had all 3 of their timeouts, but Jayden Garrison took to the ground to gain first downs and run out the clock. The final score: Little River 44 Ness City 42
Easton Sibe caught 6 balls for 144 yards and 3 touchdowns for the Eagles. Hector Rodriguez carried the ball 18 times for 147 yards and 3 scores. Jayden Harrison led the way for Little River with 32 carries for 262 yards and 3 scores. He passed for another 2 touchdowns. Braxton Lafferty had a touchdown on the ground and another receiving.
The Eagles finish their season 8-2. They have a bright future with a sophomore class (Juniors in 2020) that includes stars such as quarterback Jose Guzman and defensive end Taylor Cable.
The Little River Redskins will continue their quest for a state championship. Their Coach, Kevin Ayers, has 3 already, 2 at Jetmore and 1 and Wallace County. The next step is a sectional trip to Leoti to face Wichita County, who beat Clifton-Clyde 54-38. Little River is know 9-1.