HFD
The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants on Fri., May 3, 2019 in the area of Vine St. to Ash St. between 27th St. and 19th St. and also in the area of Hall St. to Oak St. between 17th St. and 7th St.
This is part of a coordinated effort by the city of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually.
By JOHN HANNA
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republican legislators in Kansas revived tax relief legislation Thursday night without assurances that Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly would accept a new, smaller plan for helping individuals and businesses who are paying more in state income taxes because of changes in federal tax laws.
The Senate approved, on a 27-13vote, a measurethat is less than half the size of a tax relief bill that Kelly vetoedin March after describing it as fiscally irresponsible. Drafted by GOP negotiators for the House and Senate, it would save taxpayers roughly $90 million during the budget year beginning in July and about $240 million over three years. The House could vote on it as early as Friday to determine whether the bill goes to Kelly.
Kelly has urged legislators to wait until at least next year to pursue tax legislation, arguing that Kansas must be sure first that its finances are stable. However, Republican leaders made tax relief a top priority and contend the state is receiving a “windfall” that it doesn’t deserve because of the federal tax changes at the end of 2017.
The Senate’s vote came a day after the Kansas Department of Revenue reported that the state collected $81 million more in taxes than anticipated during April.
“How dare we realize in one month the money it takes to pay for this bill, knowing that it’s going to increase for many months to come, and not pass the savings on to Kansas businesses and Kansas individuals?” said Senate President Susan Wagle, a Wichita Republican.
Kelly framed the first, larger tax relief billas an irresponsible return to a tax-cutting experiment under former Republican Gov. Sam Brownback that made Kansas nationally notorious because of the persistent budget woes that followed. Bipartisan legislative majorities repealed mostof the Brownback tax cuts in 2017, and Kelly ran successfully againstBrownback’s political legacy last year.
“Folks, we’re playing the same game,” said Sen. Tom Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat.
The governor said Thursday that the state has in recent years made “impulsive, poorly reviewed” tax changes and instead should do a comprehensive study of its tax system.
“Above all, I believe this discussion should be guided by a thoughtful, data-driven, big-picture vision for Kansas — not by a hasty attempt to achieve an immediate political victory,” Kelly said in a statement.
Wagle said supporters of the first tax bill, including the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, cut back on the potential cost of the state with the second bill to make it more palatable to Kelly.
But Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, a Topeka Democrat, predicted, “This bill is destined for a veto.”
Like other states, Kansas faced revising its income tax code because it is tied to the federal tax code. The federal tax changeschampioned by President Donald Trump lowered rates but also included provisions that raised money for Kansas, in part by discouraging individual filers from claiming itemized deductions.
“This is clearly a tax increase if we don’t fix this,” said Sen. Rick Billinger, a Goodland Republican.
Like the earlier bill Kelly vetoed, the new measure would allow individuals to itemize on their state tax returns even if they do not itemize on their federal returns. The bill also provides relief to corporations, particularly large firms with operations outside the U.S., but it is less weighted toward those business taxpayers than the previous measure.
Unlike the earlier measure, the new plan does not attempt to apply the changes retroactively so that filers could receive refunds on what they paid this spring for 2018.
FHSU University Relations
Two Fort Hays State University communication sciences and disorders professors and two CSD program specialists recently attended the annual meeting of the Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders in San Diego, where they gave two presentations.
Dr. Karmen Porter, chair of the department, and Dr. Frederick Britten, professor of communication sciences and disorders, presented “Aligning CSD Course Learner Outcomes with University/College Accreditation Initiatives and CAA Standards.” The CAA is the specialized accrediting body for the master’s degree in speech-language pathology at FHSU.
Their presentation focused on the assessment plan that is being used at FHSU in tracking the course learning outcomes and how it ties into the specialized accreditation of the master’s program in speech-language pathology.
“It was reinforcing to acknowledge that FHSU and our CSD program is much further along in the process than many other programs,” said Porter.
“Our presentation was able to demonstrate how we have acquired and monitored the data and how we use the data for course and program improvement,” said Britten.
“Serving Students, the Community, and Clients through Telepractice Initiatives” was presented by Porter, Jacque Jacobs, Herndon Clinic coordinator and program specialist, and Stephanie Tiernan, program specialist. Joining them in this presentation was Dr. Jayne Brandel, former member of the FHSU faculty.
“Serving Students” described the innovative telepractice program offered through FHSU and a school district in southwestern Kansas and describes the initiation of the service and the equipment. FHSU uses this program in the graduate clinical education portion of the master’s degree in speech-language pathology. Telepractice Initiatives is able to provide speech-language services to an area of the state which would otherwise be unserved.
“There was considerable interest expressed by attendees in all aspects of this program,” said Britten. “The Council of Academic Programs in Communication Sciences and Disorders is made up of member academic programs in CSD from across the country. Faculty attend this meeting to discuss issues facing academic and clinical education in all graduate programs.”
“Having two presentations from Fort Hays State accepted for presentation is commendable, as the competition is difficult with many more submissions than there are spots in the program,” he said.
The CAPCSD promotes excellence in the graduate education of audiologists and speech-language pathologists by forming a conference program which facilitates continuous quality improvement of the programs.
Hays-area garage salesScroll to the bottom for a map of garage sale locations. Hays Post offers FREE garage sale listings weekly. Having a garage sale next weekend? Click HERE to submit your information.
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1726 Y Road, Plainville
5/4/2019 8am
Kids toys, outdoor toys, infant items, tools, antique toys, beer signs, furniture. Also city wide garage sale.
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510 W Jewell, Russell
Saturday, May 4, 8AM-2PM
Moving sale, DVDs, books, exercise gear, Christmas, fishing poles, crafts, gun safe, ladies clothes 16-18-20-22, games & toys, home décor, jewelry. Cash only, $20s or smaller. Adding more every day.
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609 S. Broadway, Plainville
Saturday, May 4th, 8:00 am — ???
Automotive, dehumidifier, lots of crafts & supplies, Coleman car vac, sewing machines, 2 E-Z Up tents, totes, display racks, un-opened 1,000 ct. Thank You bags, 30 yd. roll quilt batting, & lots of misc. No longer doing Craft Shows!!!
Monday morning was busy but I had time to go home for lunch. As I got home, the news was reporting smoke coming from the Notre Dame Cathedral. I got busy for the next 45 minutes but before heading back to work, I looked over at the television with my wife watching it. The spire at the cathedral had just collapsed.
I had an appointment at the office that required me to go back, but I could not help but worry that it was 9/11 all over again. I wondered how the world was about to change.
Though the news evolved that it was a fire that was caused by accident (at least we hope), I was still saddened by the loss of an 850-year-old historical landmark of the world. It is one of breathtaking beauty and of significance to so many people for various reasons.
That coming weekend was Easter. My wife and I traveled to Wichita to be with our grandson (as well as my son and his wife). Alex is now 20 months old. It always seems that when I am around him, he puts so many things in perspective.
That Sunday we were visitors at a church, with Alex in tow. One of the points of the message actually dealt with Notre Dame. Something that we can build and be so proud of can disappear in a moment.
The last couple of weeks I have had two difficult cases. One was with a family dealing with very advanced cancer. It had just come at a time when everything seemed to be working out perfectly for the family. Now life was taking a new direction.
Another family was dealing with dementia that snuck up on them. The husband had always been the strong one and was now struggling, and he knew it. He knew his time was limited. The children were struggling both with their dad that was struggling with his own frailty, as well as with their mother trying to guide her chronically ill spouse through this process.
Each case reminded me about how fragile life can be, but the one constant in both cases was the relationships of the family members with each other. Frankly my breath was taken away. It was all I could do to keep my eyes dry.
The church service reminded me that while Notre Dame was great, and even perhaps it will be rebuilt, it is our relationships that are most important.
And so it is with Easter. For many it is a difficult time understanding the Easter meaning. I do not want to get into the religious philosophies, but for me it is about a new beginning. It is a new life.
That weekend I got to take Alex (my grandson) on two different Easter egg hunts. At almost two years old, the eggs were fun to put in the basket, and equally fun to take out and throw. What he enjoys most was running over to his grandfather (and I suppose his parents as well).
While the eggs in our life may be important at the time we get them, what is important is the new beginning that we have each day with those with whom we have relationships.
While I am optimistic that Notre Dame will be rebuilt (and some will say will never be the same), I know that our spirit will continue on. Because our spirit is not stuff; it is the not the little eggs we pick up on Easter; it is the hugs and the time we have together.
I hope that the two families I met will remember that. I hope I do as well.
Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To contact him, please send an email to [email protected]. Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.
By RUTH FIRESTONE
Hays music lover
The Hays Symphony Orchestra will conclude its 2018-2019 season with two vastly different works connected only by the idea of suicide, Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, “Pathétique” (emotional, not pitiful, 1893) and the world premiere of Timothy Rolls’ “Cassini Overture” (2019).
The free concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4, in Sheridan Hall’s Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center on the Fort Hays State University campus.
Tchaikovsky’s Sixth Symphony, written shortly before his death, is thought by some to be his suicide note. Only circumstantial evidence exists for this, though. Tchaikovsky confirmed that the symphony had a “program,” or underlying non-musical idea, but would not tell anyone what this idea was.
Moreover, he died of some sort of poisoning, either from impure water or arsenic, only nine days after having conducted the premiere. To me, the strongest evidence is the unusual sequencing of the symphony’s four movements. The slow movement, which normally comes second, comes fourth, ending the symphony not with a bang, but a whimper.
No matter what Tchaikovsky intended, a number of modern American composers have been inspired by the symphony’s melodies – like “This is the Story of a Starry Night,” arranged by Glenn Miller.
The premiere of “Cassini Overture,” commissioned by Shah Sadikov and the Hays Symphony, describes musically the path of the Cassini-Huygens Probe through the moons of Saturn to its “suicidal run into the atmosphere of the gas giant.”
Rolls explains the program: “Each moon is represented musically by a characteristic. For example, Enceladus is known for geysers so the flute and clarinet alternate a rising/falling figure that depicts them; Titan is known for methane, with methane rain that falls, represented by the marimba.”
There are also a couple of veiled references to Gustav Holst’s “Saturn,” one of “The Planets.”
The concert is sponsored by a generous donation from Michael Meade, with post-concert refreshments underwritten by the Downtown Hays Development Corporation.
Free tickets are available in the lobby before the concert, in advance at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, 27th and Vine, at The Downtown Hays Development office, 1200 Main, or online at hayssymphony.org.
May is an excellent time to fertilize cool-season lawns such as tall fescue and Kentucky bluegrass if they will be irrigated throughout the summer. Non-irrigated lawns often go through a period of summer dormancy because of drought and do not need this fertilization.
May is a good time to fertilize because the springtime flush of growth characteristic of these grasses has tapered off, so the fertilizer you apply will be less likely to cause excessive shoot growth than if you fertilized at a full rate in April. Slow-release nitrogen sources are ideal.
These nitrogen sources promote controlled growth, which is desirable as the stressful summer weather approaches. Relatively few fertilizers available to the homeowner supply ALL of the nitrogen in the slowly available form. But one such product that is widely available is Milorganite.
Other such products available in the retail market include cottonseed meal, alfalfa-based fertilizers, and any other products derived from plants or animals. (Bloodmeal is an exception, and contrary to popular belief, the nitrogen it supplies is quickly available.)
These products are all examples of natural organic fertilizers. They typically contain less than 10 percent nitrogen by weight, so compared to most synthetic fertilizers, more product must be applied to get the same amount of nitrogen. Translation: they are more expensive! Apply enough to give the lawn one pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. For example, if the fertilizer is 6 percent nitrogen by weight, you will need to apply almost 17 pounds of fertilizer product per 1,000 square feet. Summer lawn fertilizers that contain at least a portion of the nitrogen as slow-release are fine to use as well. Be sure to follow label directions.
If cost is prohibitive, you can use the less expensive quick-release (i.e., soluble) sources, but split the application into two doses as follows: apply enough to give the lawn 0.5 lb nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in May and again in early June.
Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at [email protected] or calling 620-793-1910.
Jaylinn Pfeifer, Ellis, is a new junior member of the American Angus Association, reports Allen Moczygemba, CEO of the national organization with headquarters in Saint Joseph, Mo.
Junior members of the Association are eligible to register cattle in the American Angus Association, participate in programs conducted by the National Junior Angus Association and take part in Association-sponsored shows and other national and regional events.
The American Angus Association is the largest beef breed association in the world, with more than 25,000 active adult and junior members.
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ELLSWORTH, Kan. – Cameron Rozean shot a 5-over-par 77 to win the individual title and help the TMP-Marian boys golf team to the team title at the Ellsworth Invitational Thursday at the Ellsworth Golf Course.
The Monarchs won by 33 strokes over Hoisington.
Rozean finished four ahead of Ellsworth’s Avery Haxton. Ryan Stoecklein shot an 88 to finish fourth. Tyler Robben was sixth with an 89, Ethan Brummer seventh with an 90 and Jack Johnson was 10th after a 92.
Team Results
1. Hays-TMP – 346
2. Hoisington – 379
3. Russell – 383
4. Ellsworth – 388
5. Republic County – 396
6. Larned – 398
7. Minneapolis – 440
8. Lyons – 495
Top 10 Individual Results
1. Cameron Rozean-TMP, 79
2. Avery Haxton-Ellsworth, 83
3. Alex Fischer-Republic County, 84
4. Ryan Stoecklien-TMP, 88
5. Drew, Nicholson-Hoisington, 88
6. Tyler Robben-TMP, 89
7. Ethan Brummer-TMP, 90
8. Cole Birky-Russell, 90
9. Kyle Lampert-Russell, 91
10. Jack Johnson-TMP, 92
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
A new store selling products containing CBD, a substance found in hemp, has opened in Hays.
BrightChoice CBD is the first retail outlet for Aaron Luck and his partner. He hopes to franchise across the country and is using Hays as a test market. Luck, an FHSU grad, moved back to Hays to be closer to family in Hays and his aging parents in Colby.
“I wanted to help the people of northwest Kansas and rural America who don’t have access to other alternatives here,” he said.
The investors have researched what they think are the best health and beauty products containing CBD and are offering them at 2403 Vine.
“My partner and I spent over a year and a half researching products,” he said. “We didn’t just go out and grab whatever was available on the wholesale market and sell it. We believe we have some of the best products on the market.”
Luck said all the products BrightChoice offers have no THC, which is the substance in marijuana that gets you high. The products are third-party tested to validate they contain no THC.
“Not all CBD products are created equal,” he said. “It is like any other product on the marketplace whether it is shampoo, whether it is gasoline, whether it is a sandwich shop, restaurant, any of those products. They are all different based on a lot of criteria.”
BrightChoice used 10 criteria to examine its product lines, which started with the extraction process. All the lines that BrightChoice sells extract CBD using CO2 instead of alcohol or gas. The companies BrightChoice buys from also extract their CBD oil from the whole plant, which gives you all the cannabinoids of the plant.
The store offers the Joy brand, which is a broad spectrum CBD product. Hemp contains about 100 other substances besides CBD and THC. The Joy products take full advantage of these potentially helpful ingredients.
BrightChoice’s Medterra line is a CBD isolate. Its only active ingredient is CBD suspended in a carrier oil.
Joy sources hemp from Colorado, and Medterra sources its hemp from Kentucky and claims to be 100 percent organically non-GMO grown. Joy and Medterra were recently written up by Hemp Ministry as two of the top CBD products in the country, Luck said.
Luck noted the consistency in sourcing the hemp and extracting the CBD oil is important in the end products and their effectiveness.
The Empower brand specializes in bath products, such as bath salts and topical oils.
CBD for Life is a brand that offers beauty products, such as skin creams, shampoo and conditioners.
Luck said he has customers who use the skin products to deal with rosacea, eczema and acne.
BrightChoice also carries Sativa, which is a line of plant-based skin care and beauty products. Luck said many people don’t realize that the average deodorant you buy at a discount store contains aluminum, which can be a problem for people with sensitive skin.
Luck himself takes CBD oil to deal with a rare arthritic condition called Ryder’s syndrome. He has had the condition, which causes inflammation throughout his body, since he was 17. He has not had to take prescription medication for his Ryder’s syndrome in several years, and he credits that to taking CBD oil.
“I don’t care if people come in here and don’t buy anything,” Luck said. “What I care about and what our business is about is education. … We want to educate people on the benefits, how it can help them, what the proper way is to take this, which ones are best for them, because when it comes to CBD, what I think is important is to treat the inside and the outside.
“It is not just about getting a topical cream and hoping that works for you. It is also about taking something internally and knowing what you are putting inside your body. I am amazed about how many people don’t ask questions about what they are putting inside their body.”
BrightChoice is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week. Luck may adjust the Sunday hours.
The store offers a veteran discount and a compassionate care program for people with chronic illnesses. Contact the store at 918-625-8823 for more information on these programs.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating more suspects after a Wednesday sex trafficking sting.
Wichita police vice detectives, patrol community policing officers and officers from the Broadway Corridor team conducted the sting targeting those attempting to purchase sex in the Broadway Corridor area, according to officer Charley Davidson.
Wednesday’s assignment is the 17thsimilar sting operation since August of 2017 which have resulted in 137 arrests including 27 women and 110 men.
Officers arrested 13 Wednesday, according to Davidson.
Friday A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 11am, then a slight chance of showers between 11am and 1pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 67. East northeast wind 6 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday Night Areas of fog after 4am. Otherwise, mostly clear, with a low around 43. East wind 5 to 8 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.
SaturdayMostly sunny, with a high near 73. Light and variable wind becoming south 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
Saturday NightA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 51. South southeast wind 8 to 10 mph.
SundayMostly sunny, with a high near 79.
Sunday NightA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly cloudy, with a low around 57.
MondayA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 83.
FINNEY COUNTY — Authorities in southwest Kansas are alerting residents of a new phone scam.
On Thursday, the Finney County Health Department in Garden City reported in a media release their phone number has been used in prank, recorded phone calls about false STD notifications.
The Health Department reminded the public they would never discuss private health information in a recording, always ask permission to discuss sensitive health information over the phone and will always identify as employees of the Finney County Health Department. The staff will also never discuss any health information in a voice mail.
If you’ve visited the health department for an STD, the health department will ask for your password or code to discuss any health-related issue over the phone.
When screening for STDs, the health department reminded they will never reveal the identity of the person that named them as a sexual partner.
If you receive a phone call that may seem suspicious, call the health department and staff will verify if we have attempted to contact you.
