TOPEKA – Beverly Mortimer, vice president of programming for Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas, has been selected to participant in the 91st Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC 91) hosted by the U.S. Secretary of Defense.
Mortimer was nominated by State Senator Elaine Bowers (District 36, R-Concordia) who participated in the 2018 conference.
The JCOC program is the oldest and most prestigious public outreach and full immersion program in the Department of Defense.
As a JCOC participant, Beverly Mortimer will spend several days at the Pentagon and military installations, engaging with senior military officials and U.S. Service members. Mortimer will gain a better understanding of the roles and mission of the U.S. Armed Forces, their skills, capabilities and equipment employed in defense of our nation.
The JCOC program directly links to the Department’s Know Your Military (#KYM) initiative, which is designed to help close the growing civilian-military divide by educating the American public about their military. “We are so proud of Bev and excited that she has been selected to participate in this prestigious program. As head of programming for JAG-K, getting to know our military will help our organization learn more about the career opportunities within the United States military,” said Chuck Knapp, JAG-K president and chief executive officer.
The objective of the JCOC public liaison program is to:
Educate and inform participants about the strength and readiness of the U.S. Armed Forces through personal observation of Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard operations.
Provide a better understanding of the rewards and challenges of military service.
Provide the American public opportunities to obtain a better understanding of national defense policies and programs through the eyes of those JCOC participants who have spent time with their military.
The 91st JCOC is scheduled for June 2019. More information about the conference can be found at https://jcoc.osd.mil/.
NORTON, Kan. (AP) — A statewide shortage of trained medical personnel has left many rural county ambulance services having to delay hospital transfers to ensure they have enough staff for emergencies.
For example, in Norton County in northwest Kansas, the county’s 5,400 residents are served by six full-time volunteers and nine volunteers, who respond to all 911 calls and taken patients from one hospital to another.
“Sometimes patients needing to be transferred are left waiting,” said Craig Sowards, Norton County EMS director.
In response to the problem, a proposal before the state Legislature would allow drivers without medical training to transport stable patients in rural areas, which sometimes can take hours. Ambulances would still need to have one person with medical training riding in the back, such as an EMT or a nurse, The Kansas News Service reports .
Some state and local EMS officials say having only one trained person on board could be risky, and they worry about lowering standards of care in rural areas.
“Occasionally patients decline and it’s often helpful to have an extra set of hands to stabilize (patients) before they move on,” said David Johnston, president of the Kansas Emergency Medical Services Association.
Joe House, executive director of the Kansas Board of Emergency Medical Services, defended current regulations that require two medically trained workers on board, including the driver.
“We write our regulations to protect the public’s well-being and safety,” House said. “It’s either safe to do or not safe to do.”
Emergency medical services are competing with clinics, hospitals and schools for trained personnel — and offer a starting wage of only about $21,000 a year, House said.
Many rural ambulance services rely on certified volunteers. Phillips County in northwest Kansas has 84 volunteers to serve a population just under 5,400 but the number drops significantly in surrounding counties.
Pete Rogers, EMS director for Phillips County, said he can’t imagine operating ambulances without two medically trained personnel on board.
“If you have somebody that’s simply a driver and you still have two technicians in the back of the truck with the patient then, then I, I see absolutely no problems with it,” he said. “But I would be concerned if it was a non-certified person driving and only one technician in the back.”
In Norton County, Sowards doesn’t think it’s necessary to have two trained EMS workers for stabilized transfers.
“I’ve been in EMS for 20 years running transfers — maybe once in 20 years I’ve had to have a driver come help,” he said, adding allowing non-certified ambulance drivers for transfers “could help a lot.”
The Kansas Dept. of Agriculture was selected for a USDA Rural Business Development Grant to host a business development workshop in Hays on Wed., March 20, 2019.
Jon Schallert will present a workshop titled: “Transform Your Business into a Consumer Destination.” The workshop will provide small businesses and communities with the business principles and tools needed to reinvent their business or community into a consumer destination.
The schedule for the day will include:
Keynote Session: 8:00 a.m.—11:15 a.m.
Lunch: 11:15 a.m.—12:30 p.m.
Marketing Roundtable: 12:30 p.m.—2:00 p.m.
The workshop will be held at the Fort Hays State Memorial Union, 700 College Drive.
The workshop is provided at no cost to attendees and lunch will be provided. Registration can be found at: https://bit.ly/2St1X7t.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) has added a new data set to its online health data query tool, Kansas Information for Communities (KIC). Emergency department data from the state’s general hospitals is now available on the KIC page.
“Using KIC, individuals and policy makers will be able to see the diagnoses that bring almost 900,000 residents to emergency departments at Kansas hospitals,” said KDHE Acting Secretary and State Health Officer Lee A. Norman, M.D. “This information can provide an insight into the injuries and illnesses affecting Kansans, many of which are preventable.”
Using the KIC emergency department data, individuals will be able to produce statistics on the number of ED visits by county, race, ethnicity, sex and various diagnosis categories. The diagnosis codes are grouped using a clinical classification software developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The same categories are used in the hospital discharge or inpatient diagnoses that are reported in the KIC hospital discharge query tool.
KIC can produce counts, rates and age-adjusted hospital ED or inpatient rates. Other data sets contained in KIC include hospital discharge procedures, births, deaths, pregnancies, cancer and population. Data used in KIC is deidentified with some small counts or unreliable rates suppressed.
The KIC web site also hosts a variety of other statistics, data and resources. The URL is https://kic.kdheks.gov.
Fans of the musical comedy series Church Basement Ladies will finally get to know more about the men of East Cornucopia Lutheran Church, in the new production “Rise Up O Men” coming to the Oakley High School Auditorium, Monday, March 18 at 7:30 p.m. Central.
This sidesplitting, uplifting peek into the lives of the rural Norwegian Lutherans who audiences first fell in love with in 2005 is the sixth chapter of the story begun in the original Church Basement Ladies. Rise Up O Men features familiar faces: Mrs. Mavis Gilmerson, Mrs. Vivian Snustad, and Mrs. Karin Engleson who would never leave the basement kitchen unattended, of course (who would make bars for the youth group meeting?). But as they busy themselves with preparations for their churches participation in the town’s 1964 Centennial Celebration, we get to see their coming and goings from the eyes of the menfolk, who have their own problems to solve. Karin’s husband Elroy, farmer Carl and Great War vet Arlo are joined in brotherhood by series staple Pastor E.L. Gunderson. Their camaraderie unites them as they deal with furnace salesmen, looming retirement, rival Protestant denominations, the Pastor’s bad jokes, and Arlene’s even-worse cooking.
“We’re ready to introduce some new faces to the many fans who’ve become part of the Church Basement Ladies family over the years,” said Troupe America’s Curt Wollan, who has produced all six of the shows. “We’ve also got a lineup of original musical numbers that we’ve caught our preview audiences humming on the way out of the theatre—between the belly laughs and the songs, Rise Up O Men is an exciting addition to the Church Basement Ladies canon.”
The series of Church Basement Ladies productions are inspired by the bestselling book Growing Up Lutheran by Janet Letnes Martin and Suzann Nelson. This latest chapter in the lives of these rural Minnesota Norwegians was developed by Greta Grosch, who wrote the scripts for the second, third, fourth, and fifth musicals in the series. Longtime Minneapolis StarTribune theatre critic Graydon Royce contributed additional material. Composer and songwriter Dennis Curley wrote the music, with lyrics by Dennis Curley and Greta Grosch.
Originally produced by Troupe America Inc, the original musical comedy, “The Church Basement Ladies”, opened at the Plymouth Playhouse in Minneapolis September 2005 to a response so enthusiastic that its initial run lasted two-and-a half years. Five sequels have expanded the universe of these familiar and beloved “Steel Magnolias of the Prairie,” making The Church Basement Ladies the most successful show in Troupe America’s 30-year history. Millions of Americans discovered a heartfelt connection to its deeply funny church matriarchs through regional and national touring productions. WPAA has brought all Church Basement Ladies comedies to northwest Kansas over more than a decade. This season’s WPAA programs are made possible through the generous support of area businesses and individual donors, including a major gift from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan, Kansas. Admission by WPAA season ticket or $20 adults, $10 students at the door.
The Republican-controlled Kansas House approved wide-ranging tax legislation Thursday. The measure would reduce sales taxes on food, which could help Kansans across the income spectrum. It would also give some big corporations a break, and that will likely spark a showdown with Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly.
The Kansas House on Thursday debated who would benefit from a tax cut package and what it would cost the state. The measure is likely to be in Gov. Laura Kelly’s hands soon. STEPHEN KORANDA / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
Senate leaders introduced the initial version of the bill earlier this session in response to the federal tax overhaul of 2017. They pushed for the legislation to allow Kansans to continue itemizing on their state taxes even if they no longer do so on their federal returns because of larger standard deductions. They also wanted to free Kansas businesses from owing state taxes on overseas income that Congress incentivized them to repatriate.
Supporters of the proposal in both the Senate and the House said without it the federal tax cuts would trigger a state tax increase on businesses and people who itemize.
Opponents argued it amounts to a tax break for big business and the wealthy and would prompt the state to forfeit an estimated $400 million in revenue over the next three years just as its finances are stabilizing.
“I understand the temptation to keep the money,” Republican state Rep. Les Mason said during the House debate Thursday. “Are we going to do the right thing? Are we going to get this money back to the rightful owners?”
To make the legislation more palatable, House lawmakers bundled in a provision to cut the sales tax by 1 percentage point, which alone would lower state tax collections by around $175 million over three years. Another added provision would offset that some by collecting more from online purchases, raising an estimated $88 million during that time.
If lawmakers advance it with another vote, the bill will head to negotiations between the chambers to reconcile the changes made by the House.
Gov. Kelly hasn’t explicitly threatened to veto the bill, but she has said that tax cuts should not be a priority right now. Instead, she said the Legislature should come up with the money to satisfy the Kansas Supreme Court that school funding is adequate.
“It is time to put the priorities of Kansas families first and fund our schools,” she said last month. “With a Supreme Court deadline fast approaching, the Legislature should be focusing on education, not another irresponsible tax plan.”
The state’s finances are on solid ground since lawmakers reversed many of the tax cuts passed in 2012. But, Kelly has said making major tax changes could cause a repeat of the fiscal troubles Kansas faced during former Gov. Sam Brownback’s tenure.
In a way, the internet tax collections and food sales taxes are a political dare legislators may drop in front of Kelly. The food sales tax cut and internet sales tax provisions appear quite popular and they could be used to pressure her to sign the bill into law or stoke criticism if she vetoes it.
“It’s all about the hate of our governor,” Democratic state Rep. Cindy Neighbor said on the House floor. “It’s time to quit playing party politics.”
Reducing the food sales tax has broad support as a way to benefit lower-income Kansans, but it never happens because of the huge financial cost to the state budget.
Some House members blasted the bill for only cutting the state food sales tax from 6.5 to 5.5 percent. Local sales taxes further raise the rate.
Uncertainty over the cost of the bill is also a sticking point, with supporters and opponents alike questioning the accuracy of the estimates.
“It’s a shot in the dark,” Republican Senate President Susan Wagle said earlier in the session. She wondered aloud how much Kansas could stand to lose if the legislation doesn’t pass and businesses leave the state for a more favorable tax climate.
The uncertainty is exactly why Democrat Jim Gartner opposed it Thursday in the House. Without knowing the true cost, he said the bill could put the state in dire financial straits if the country enters a recession.
“What are we doing?” he asked on the floor. “We have no data. No concrete data.”
The Kansas Small Business Development Center will host four free tax workshops at Fort Hays State University over two days in April for small business owners.
Carl York, tax specialist, and Brett Gerber, state auditor, will provide business owners with all the information they need to know about taxes for their business.
The first workshop, “Small Business Tax Workshop,” is from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, April 16, in the Memorial Union’s Cavalry Room. This workshop will cover Kansas retailers’ sales tax and compensating use tax, goods and services subject to sales tax, record keeping and filing requirements, form preparation, exemption certificate, and withholding requirements.
“Labor: Understanding Regulations, Forms, and Reports,” is from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. on Tuesday, April 16, in the Union’s Cavalry Room. Topics covered include unemployment insurance tax liabilities, steps for filing tax returns, and new hire information.
The third workshop is “Contractor’s Tax Workshop,” from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on April 16 in the Cavalry Room. Sales tax on materials and labor, project exemption certificates, and sales tax returns will be covered. To register, visit https://ksbdc.ecenterdirect.com/events/24581.
The final workshop is “Agricultural Sales and Use Tax,” from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, April 17, in the Cavalry Room. Topics covered will include how sales and use tax apply to ag businesses, exemptions, basic sales and use tax laws, and purchases tax.
The Kansas SBDC is sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with Kansas Department of Commerce and Fort Hays State University.
Mostly cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 47. Very windy, with a west southwest wind 14 to 19 mph becoming northwest 28 to 33 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 47 mph.
Tonight
Mostly clear, with a low around 22. Blustery, with a north northwest wind 18 to 23 mph decreasing to 8 to 13 mph in the evening.
Sunday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 45. Northwest wind 6 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Sunday Night
Partly cloudy, with a low around 23. East wind 6 to 9 mph.
Monday
A 20 percent chance of rain after noon. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 44. East southeast wind 7 to 10 mph.
Monday Night
Rain. Low around 36. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday
Rain likely, with thunderstorms also possible after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 55. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night
Rain and possibly a thunderstorm. Low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.
Wednesday
Rain. High near 52. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
TOPEKA – Registration is open for this year’s Kansas Rural Opportunities Conference in Dodge City.
The Kansas Department of Commerce hosts this conference annually to provide useful information about rural Kansas living, as well as to engage in a dialogue with rural Kansans to determine how the Department can bolster its efforts to improve the well-being of rural communities in the state.
The Conference will take place at the Boot Hill Casino & Conference Center in Dodge City on April 2-3.
New Commerce Secretary David Toland will be kicking off the conference and Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers will discuss the Office of Rural Prosperity. Lt. Governor Rogers and Secretary Toland will provide insight to community development efforts.
“The Kelly Administration is committed to ensuring that all Kansans have a high quality of life, regardless of their zip code,” said David Toland, Acting Secretary of the Kansas Department of Commerce.
“The Rural Opportunities Conference is a forum for learning about programs that can support and enhance rural communities, as well as an opportunity for residents to tell us their vision for the new Office of Rural Prosperity, which will be headed by Lieutenant Governor Rogers. Whether a business owner, local official, or just an everyday resident concerned about their community, the Rural Opportunities Conference is the place to be in April.”
HUTCHINSON – Fresh off their best offensive performance of the season the night before the TMP-Marian Monarchs struggled Friday night in a 62-50 loss to Girard in the 3A state semifinals at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
Bill Meagher postgame interview
The Monarchs opened up the game on a 7-2 run sparked by a Jackson Schulte three pointer and it appeared that the Monarchs would follow up Thursday’s hot shooting with another impressive performance but unfortunately the Monarchs would only hit two more three’s as they shot just 3-16 from three for 19%.
Even as the shooting woes continued the Monarchs were able to go step-for-step with the Trojans.
Girard used a 10-3 first quarter run to build a 15-12 lead after the first quarter.
The Trojans were able to build a five point lead a couple of times midway through the second quarter but Grant Ginther and Jackson Schulte completed a pair of three-point plays that cut the Trojans lead to 29-28 at the break.
With 6:00 left in the third quarter the Monarchs had closed within two at 34-32 only to see Girard outscore the Monarchs 12-3 to end the quarter and take a 48-37 lead into the fourth.
Girard was able to maintain the double-figure lead the rest of the way as they picked up the 62-50 win.
Jackson Schulte led the Monarchs with 13 points and Jared Mayers chipped in 11.
Game highlights
The loss drops TMP to 14-12 and they will take on Perry-Lecompton in the third place game Saturday.
Girard will face off with Beloit in the championship game.
RENO COUNTY — Authorities reported one of the children injured in Tuesday’s rural Reno County house fire has died.
Charolette Lynn Alley, 2, daughter of Hannah Perry and Dustin Alley died from her injuries, according to a social media report from the Reno County Sheriff. 70-year-old Judy Alley also died in the blaze.
First responders on the scene of Tuesday’s fatal house fire in Reno County -photo courtesy KAKE
Just after 2:30a.m., Tuesday, deputies were dispatched to the area of 9 E Horseshoe Lane, Pretty Prairie, in rural Reno County for the report of a structure fire with possible occupants still inside the residence.
Deputies arrived on scene within minutes of being dispatched and found a single story double-wide residence on fire, according to a media release.
The fire spread quickly to other parts of the structure It was reported that Hannah Lynn Perry, 21, was able to get out of the residence with her two children 2-year-old Charlotte and 1-year-old Wyatt and to the neighbor’s house across the street and call 911.
Hannah reported that her grandmother, 70-year-old Judy Kay Alley was still inside the residence.
The fire department was able to get the fire under control and found Judy Alley’s body.
Authorities have not reported the cause of the fire.
Four members of the 6888th (Photo courtesy U.S. Dept. of Defense)
OFFICE OF SEN. MORAN
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today, on International Women’s Day, announced that the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion were awarded a Meritorious Unit Commendation (MUC) by the Department of the Army on February 20, 2019 for the unit’s exceptionally meritorious performance during World War II. Sen. Moran sought the unit award on behalf of the women who served in the 6888th to recognize their service during their deployment to Europe.
The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion – the “Six-Triple-Eight” – was an all-black, all-female unit that served at home and in Europe during World War II, where they sorted and routed mail for millions of American service members and civilians.
“I am pleased to announce the awarding of the Meritorious Unit Citation to the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion for their service during World War II,” said Sen. Moran. “This unit arrived in theater and successfully sorted and routed millions of pieces of mail for servicemembers and civilians sent by their loved ones with the expectation that they would be delivered. As we celebrate Black History Month and the start of Women’s History Month, it is important we pause to recognize the contributions and service of this historic unit.”
“It is a privilege to celebrate the women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion, who served as the first and only Black -American unit in the Women’s Army Corps to deploy overseas during WWII,” said Commander of U.S. Army Human Resources Command Major General Jason Evans. “Their service was of notable distinction as they cleared over a million pieces of mail, ensuring the delivery and boosting the morale of troops fighting in the European Theater. It is a tremendous honor to recognize the accomplishments and sacrifices of these women by awarding them the Meritorious Unit Commendation. The legacy of the 6888th will continue to inspire Soldiers today and for many more years to come as they take their rightful place in history.”
“This is very exciting and most gratifying for the women of 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion and their families,” said retired Navy Commander and Chairman and Project Director for the 6888th Memorial Committee Carlton Philpot. “These women had a direct impact on the lives of so many at home and in the European Theater of Operations. If a letter was sent to and from the European Theater of Operations between 1943-1946, these women probably sorted and redirected it. The efforts of these women greatly enhanced the morale of those in Europe and at home. After waiting nearly 74 years, I’m sure I speak on behalf of so many when I say that many are very thankful for all of Senator Moran’s support and effort in getting these women this long overdue recognition they earned and deserve.”
More information about a Meritorious Unit Commendation can be found here.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Kansas Supreme Court has denied a 37-year-old Kansas woman’s appeal of her conviction for killing her son.
Blansett -photo KDOC
Lindsey Blansett was convicted of first-degree murder and aggravated assault in the December 2014 death of her son, Caleb, in Wellington. Prosecutors said she beat him with a rock and stabbed him to death. She was given a Hard 25 sentence.
Prosecutors argued during Blansett’s trial that she killed her son to spare him from suffering. Her defense argued she was mentally ill at the time and believed people were coming to her house to hurt Caleb.
Blansett’s appeal argued jury instructions not to consider her mental illness were erroneous.
The state Supreme Court said the instructions didn’t prevent the jury from considering how Blansett’s mental illness affected her ability to premeditate the crime.
Today
