The Hays leadership team for the MOKAN Take Charge Challenge.
The Hays MOKAN Take Charge Challenge Leadership Team has won a competition focused on energy efficiency and sustainability and will receive $10,000 to be used in community projects that support “green” ideas.
The winners were announced today in a news release from Cassi Reimer, program director of Hutchinson-based Climate and Energy Project.
The MOKAN Take Charge Challenge, sponsored by the Climate and Energy Project, engaged Hays, Hutchinson, Kansas City, Kan., and Warrensburg, Mo., in a competition designed to impact energy efficiency through education, engagement and results.
The challenge ran from Aug. 1 through Jan. 31.
Hays won first place with an average score of 2,770 points. Kansas City, Kan., came in a close second place with 2,297 points followed by Warrensburg, Mo., with 1,794 and Hutchinson with 822.
Climate and Energy Project Program Director Cassi Reimer talks with Northwestern Printer owners Marvin and Jennifer Rack.
In Hays, Northwestern Printers won first place with a score of 7,570 points and will receive $5,000 from Midwest Energy.
Thomas More Prep-Marian (Admin Building) came in second place with 6,740 points followed by Holy Family Elementary, with 5,740 and Nex-Tech 1 with 4,880.
The MOKAN Take Charge Challenge was a commercial challenge.
Hays had almost 20 participants complete more than 1,000 tasks for the challenge, which saved energy, water and money. The leadership team and participants in Hays held more than 60 events throughout the challenge, which were used to share educational information with nearly 7,000 people.
Marvin Rack gives a tour of new energy efficient projects installed at Northwestern Printers.
The Hays Leadership Team gained key support by partnering with Midwest Energy.
Hays participants include: Northwestern Printers, Master Cleaners, Cross Manufacturing Inc, KSU Ag Research Center, Ellis County Coalition, Holy Family Elementary, Thomas More Prep – Admin Building, Thomas More Prep – Nations Hall Dormitory, Thomas More Prep – Marian Hall Girls Dormitory, Hadley Center, Nex-Tech 1, Nex-Tech 2, Midwest Energy, City of Hays Water Softening Plant, Ellis County, Hays Area Chamber of Commerce, Eagle Communications 1, and Eagle Communications 2.
Northwestern Printers Green Team member Howard Droegemeier
A celebration event to recognize Hays participants will be held Thursday, February 20.
The competition builds on the success of the Kansas Take Charge Challenge, which was created by the Climate + Energy Project in 2009. The Kansas Take Charge Challenge was a residential challenge. Nationwide recognition for the innovative and successful challenge includes the New York Times, Lawrence Berkley Labs and PBS.
Disclosure: Becky Kiser is a member of the MOKAN Take Charge Challenge Hays leadership team.
Since the beginning of January, winter storms and freezing temperatures have resulted in more than 450 American Red Cross blood drive cancellations and nearly 14,000 uncollected blood and platelet donations.
The figures are included in aN American Red Cross news release.
To help the situation, two on-location mini-drives will be held in Hays.
The Hays ARC Blood Donation Center will be at the Ellis County Courthouse tomorrow from 9 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. and Tuesday, Feb. 11, at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School from 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.
RUSSELL — A traffic stop Wednesday afternoon by a Russell County Sheriff’s deputy resulted in a man’s arrest on several drug allegations.
According to a news release today from Russell County Sheriff John Fletcher, the traffic stop was made at 4:24 p.m. in the 4000 block of 184th Street.
The male passenger matched the description of a person wanted on a Norton County warrant for failure to appear.
Numerous drug-related items reportedly were found during the traffic stop.
The deputy arrested Leo Cole Archibald, 27, for possession of methamphetamine and marijuana, as well as drug paraphernalia. Archibald also was arrested on a warrant out of Norton County.
Local legislators Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, Rep. Travis Couture-Lovelady and Rep. Sue Boldra talk to constituents at Saturday’s HACC Eggs and Issues breakfast.
The snow and cold temperature didn’t hinder attendance at Saturday morning’s kickoff of the Eggs and Issues legislative series, hosted by the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.
A light breakfast was served and then on to business with Statehouse updates from three area legislators: 111th District Rep. Sue Boldra, R-Hays, 110th District Rep. Travis Couture-Lovelady, R-Palco, and 40th District Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, R-Grinnell.
The trio first delivered brief remarks about their legislative work since the 2014 session opened Jan. 13, and then answered questions submitted by the audience.
Many wanted to know about education funding.
Boldra, a longtime educator, has been appointed to the special committee considering Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposal to fund all-day kindergarten.
“I love the concept,” said Boldra, “but I’m unsure where the money will come from.”
The governor’s plan is for the Legislature to spend $16.3 million the first year and add an additional $16 million for each of the next five years. The plan total would be $240 million.
“There are only 15 Kansas school districts without full-day kindergarten,” Boldra pointed out, “but some of them require families to pay for it. Olathe is the highest, charging $1,375 per semester, so you know which kids are being left out.”
The plan would not mandate that kindergartners be in school all day.
“The state would pay for those who choose to attend all-day kindergarten, which should be available to all kids,” Boldra said. “Research shows money spent on early childhood education is getting the ‘best bang for your buck.'”
The legislature is still awaiting a Kansas Supreme Court ruling that will determine whether the state must comply with a lower-court ruling requiring the state to increase annual funding for K-12 education by an estimated $450 million.
All three legislators contend it is an “affront to the Constitution for the court to tell the Legislature how much to pay” for school funding, a remark that drew audience applause when Boldra spoke.
“It’s an interesting dynamic,” Couture-Lovelady said. “Kansas students are consistently in the top 10 percent of national testing, yet what we’re doing is ‘educate and export.’ We need to get the economy growing first and more people moving into the state. We do a great job of educating students but there are no jobs when they graduate, especially well-paying jobs.”
“We need to be fair,” Ostmeyer said. “We’ve put more money into education every year. The low-enrollment formula is critical for rural western Kansas school districts. But judges should not tell us how much to spend.”
The next Eggs and Issues breakfast is scheduled for March 22 at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. The series is sponsored by AT&T.
ELLIS–Ellis city council members want a lot more input from the public before they make any recommendation about purchasing the former bowling alley building for use as a community center.
During a special meeting Monday, council members toured the facility at 203 E. 2nd Street. Once they were back at city hall, several council members reported concerns from residents about committing to such a costly purchase when Ellis is facing a water shortage and expensive options for a new water source.
Council members then authorized an engineering study to determine the viability of partnering with the Trego County Rural Water District.
The complete meeting minutes follow.
DRAFT COPY NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED BY COUNCIL
ELLIS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING Minutes January 27, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Lyle Johnston called the special meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. Present were Council members Jeff Wolf, John Walz, John Leiker, Jolene Niernberger, and Terry Redetzke. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman and City Clerk Amy Burton. Council member Loran Gottschalk was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Connie Waldschmidt, David McDaniel and Nickole Byers.
(a) Walk-through of proposed location for community center
Council member John Leiker moved to recess and reconvene the meeting at 203 E. 2nd Street. Council member Jeff Wolf seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting recessed at 5:03 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 5:08 p.m. at 203 E. 2nd Street.
Public Present at 203 E. 2nd Street
Connie Waldschmidt, David McDaniel, Nickole Byers, Tim Kohlrus, Sylvia Kinderknecht, Gary Luea, Helen Fischer, Henry Fischer, Kevin Fox, Bill Ring, Dena Patee, Art Schoenthaler, Troy Weigel, and Ron Johnson.
The meeting reconvened at 5:35 p.m. in Council Chambers.
Public Present at Council Chambers
Connie Waldschmidt, David McDaniel, Ron Johnson, Tim Kohlrus, Gary Luea, Nickole Byers and Sylvia Kinderknecht.
Council discussed the proposed community building and who would own the site and be responsible for maintaining the facility. Several council members reported concerns from the public on spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a community building when the City is going to need money for water exploration. It was the consensus of Council that more community input is needed and that it was too early in the process to commit to the project. No action was taken at this time.
(b) Consideration of Engineering Study for Water Exploration
Council member John Walz moved to authorize an engineering study to determine the viability of partnering with the Trego County Rural Water District at a cost not to exceed $1,500.00, with half of the monies to come out of the Capital Improvement – Water Exploration Fund and half of the monies to come out of the Capital Improvement – Special Project Fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Terry Redetzke moved and Council member Jeff Wolf seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.
David Kwiatkowski is serving 39 years in prison for infecting patients with hepatitis C. The family of a Natoma woman has filed a lawsuit against a Pennsylvania hospital in connection with the case.
The son of a Natoma woman who died at Hays Medical Center after being infected with hepatitis C by a temporary employee “doesn’t expect anything” to come of a lawsuit filed by the family against the perpetrator’s previous employer.
Eleanor Y. Murphy, 89, Natoma, died in November 2012 at Hays Medical Center. According to the complaint, Murphy contracted hepatitis C after being treated by David Kwiatkowski, who worked at HaysMed when she was hospitalized there in 2010.
“My mother was one of six Hays Med patients determined to have the same strain of hep C as Kwiatkowski,” Lonnie Murphy, Hays, said Thursday.
Murphy and his siblings are suing UPMC Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh, Pa., and two medical staffing companies because, the family claims, they failed to notify law enforcement or health authorities in 2008 when they found Kwiatkowski stealing narcotics and injecting himself with them.
Kwiatkowski no longer was allowed to work at the hospital, but UPMC did not report his behavior to law enforcement or medical licensing facilities, the lawsuit said. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette first reported the lawsuit in a story last week.
Because of that, the complaint continues, Kwiatkowski continued working at hospital across the country for four more years. Kwiatkowski worked in the Hays Med cardiac catheterization laboratory from May to September 2010.
Kwiatkowski was sentenced to 39 years in prison after pleading in August to 16 federal counts. Investigators said he was responsible for infecting at least 45 hospital patients with hepatitis C by contaminating syringes.
“Other lawsuits filed by victims have been thrown out by the judge, so I don’t expect anything to come of our lawsuit. The main thing is that (Kwiatkowski) got put away,” Murphy said.
The Murphy family has hired Topeka attorney Tom Diehl, who is working in conjunction with peers in Kansas City and Pittsburgh.
“The case is filed but not on the court calendar yet,” Diehl said Thursday. “The lawsuit of another client of ours in the same situation was dismissed, along with two others. Since then, we’ve acquired additional information and expect to refile those cases, asking the judge to take another look at them.
“We’re in limbo, waiting for the judge to reconsider the earlier lawsuits,” he added.
The lawsuit, which includes claims of negligence and seeks punitive damages, also names as defendants Maxim Healthcare Services Inc. and Medical Solutions LLC, which place employees in health care jobs.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, today introduced a bill to preserve state education autonomy by prohibiting the federal government from coercing states to adopt education standards like Common Core.
“Setting high standards for our schools, our teachers and our children is the right thing to do, but those standards should be decided in Kansas, without bribes or mandates from Washington,” Roberts said in a news release. “We need to get the federal government out of the classroom, and return community decisions back to where they belong — in the community.”
Kansans Against Common Core leaders Kristin George and Megan King applauded the legislation saying, “We support efforts to stop Common Core, and reclaim local control of education in Kansas. We appreciate Senator Roberts introducing legislation to limit the federal overreach in education, and we urge Kansas legislators to follow his example in restoring local control.”
Designed by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers in 2007, Common Core was an effort to raise math and reading standards for students across the country. States could adopt Common Core voluntarily.
In defiance of federal law, the Obama Administration began coercing states to implement Common Core. They required states to adopt Common Core standards to receive federal funding under the Obama administration’s multibillion-dollar Race to the Top program and used federal funds to develop Common Core-aligned tests.
Roberts’ legislation, the Learning Opportunities Created At the Local Level Act would strictly forbid the federal government from intervening in a state’s education standards, curricula, and assessments through the use of incentives, mandates, grants, waivers or any other form of manipulation.
“Unfortunately, it is evident that certain waivers from onerous education requirements have been granted only to those states that agree to implement the White House’s preferred education policies,” Roberts said. “In fact, the New York Times has referred to the waiver process as ‘the most sweeping use of executive authority to rewrite federal education law since Washington expanded its involvement in education in the 1960s.’ My bill ensures states retain their authority to determine the curriculum and standards that are best for their students.”
Roberts is an outspoken opponent of the RTT grant program, a main vehicle the Obama Administration uses to force states to adopt Common Core. In June of 2013, during the Senate HELP Committee’s consideration of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Senator Roberts introduced amendments to end RTT.
In April, Roberts joined nine senators in sending a letter to the Appropriations Committee to prohibit federal funds to be spent developing education curriculum or standards including Common Core.
RUSSELL — A lighting project near Russell is one of several bids approved this month by the Kansas Department of Transportation for state highway construction and maintenance projects.
KDOT announced Tuesday in a news release there will be a new lighting project at the Interstate 70/U.S. 40/Pioneer Road Interchange. The location, which Russell residents have complained for years is poorly lit, is at Exit 189.
J Warren Co., Topeka, will do the job at a cost of $137,025.
The rules for use of the new dog park in Hays were released last week. Since then, the city and the group Friends of the Hays Dog Park have been asked a lot of questions about the rationale behind some of the regulations.
In advance of Saturday’s opening, FHDP president Kim Perez has addressed the uncertainties.
“We began by searching the internet for the rules of other dog parks around the country and then worked with Hays Director of Parks Jeff Boyle on fine-tuning them and making them pertinent to Hays, “said Perez.
Below are the dog park rules and Perez’s answers to questions from the public.
Rules and Regulations
Use of this park constitutes agreement to the following rules:
1. Dogs must be 6 months of age or over and have valid rabies vaccination.
Dog under 6 months of age are not properly immunized against the communicable diseases a dog can catch in a dog park. If your dog is properly immunized, it should not be a problem.
2. All dogs must wear a collar with identification and rabies tags when using the park.
Display your compliance with the vaccination and registration rule by putting your dog’s tags on their collar.
3. Dogs must be leashed when entering or leaving the fenced area of the park and have a leash available at all times when in the park.
Dog need to be under your control and you need to be able to establish and maintain control if something happens. Have a leash ready. Also, there is a road outside the park; it would not be safe to allow your dog to run free. More importantly it is a city ordinance that dogs should not run free. For a list of Hays city ordinances see: https://www.haysusa.com/html/ordinances.html
4. No children under 12 years of age unless accompanied by and adult.
All children should be supervised in the park. A child who does not have experience around dogs must also be taught not to approach a dog and pet it UNLESS they have the owner’s permission. It is also not a good idea to run and play in the park like a child would in their backyard. Some dogs respond to this behavior by “herding” or chasing the child. Instead all children should remain calm and by the adult’s side. Remember that this is a park for dogs, not children. Some dogs are fine around kids, some are not. Also, if your child is older than 12, but cannot control your dog, they should not be left alone with them in the park.
5. Keep the gates closed at all times.
The park uses a double gate system to help keep dogs from bolting out of the park and away. It is imperative that these gates remain closed except when in use for the safety of the dogs.
6. Dog owners/handlers must remain in the dog park with the dog(s) and must be in reasonable control of the dog(s) at all times.
The dog park is not a drop-off dogsitter or place for you to come sit and read or nap. You should be with your dog the whole time they are in the park for the safety of your dog and others in the park. You are responsible for the behavior or your dog and you need to be with them to keep them out of potential trouble, to keep them from digging, and to pick up their messes!
7. No more than three (3) dogs are allowed per owner/handler.
The more dogs you have, the harder is it to handle them all. Please limit the number of dogs you are responsible for.
8. Aggressive dogs are not permitted. Dogs that show aggression must be removed immediately.
Aggressive dogs are a threat to other dogs and the people that use the park. If you know that your dog does not like to be around other dogs, maybe the dog park isn’t the place for you. Understand that aggressive dogs come in all shapes and sizes. If a dog is being aggressive and the owner will not leave, please call the Hays Police Department.
9. Dangerous Dogs as defined in City of Hays, Code of Ordinance, Chapter 5, Section 5-123 are not allowed in the dog park.
This is a city ordinance; please address all questions to the Parks Director, City Commissioners, or the City Manager.
10. The dog park is only for use by dogs and owners/handlers. No other types of pets are allowed.
No running your cat, pig, hamster, etc.
11. No food (human or dog), rawhide chews, bones or similar are allowed in the dog park.
Some dog become aggressive over food; it is best to avoid this issue by not bringing any food into the park, even dog treats.
12. Items that may cause health concerns for dogs such as cigarette butts, chewing tobacco and alcohol shall be properly disposed of and not left on the ground.
Tobacco and alcohol are toxic to dogs. Please keep them out of the park and out of the dogs’ reach. This is our park–we want to keep it clean.
13. No littering and no glass bottles.
Some dogs eat anything they can get their mouth on, including litter. Broken glass is a hazard to dogs and humans. Please clean up to prevent injury.
Doggy doo station
14. Owners/handlers are responsible for their dog’s behavior and must immediately remove any excrement deposited by their dog and must fill in any holes dug by their dog.
Clean up after your dog. If you see someone leaving feces in the park, please gently remind them there are doggy stations and bags for their convenience and it is their responsibility to clean up after their dog. Do not let your dog dig around the fence and create gaps that dogs can escape through.
15. Dogs in heat, pregnant or lactating are not permitted in the dog park.
All of these conditions can cause aggressive behavior in other dogs.
16. Owners/handlers are responsible for any injuries or property damage caused by their dog.
Self-explanatory.
17. Owner/handlers must immediately restrain their dog and/or leave the park when instructed to do so by a law enforcement officer of by an employee of the city of Hays.
This is a city park.
18. Violation or disregard of these rules can result in removal from the park temporarily or permanently.
This is a city park.
19. Serious animal bites should be reported to the Hays Police Department at 628-1011 or if it is an emergency dial 911.
The dog park will rely on the Friends of the Hays Dog Park to keep it clean, maintained, and safe. If you see anything suspicious or there is an emergency, please contact the Police Department.
The new dog park is located in the northeast corner of the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex, north of the FHSU soccer complex. Access the park by entering on the main entrance road and turn east at the maintenance building. Proceed on the gravel road to reach the parking lot for the dog park.
Young storytellers listen to professional storyteller Joyce Slater, Kansas City, during the #mystory workshop in Downs.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
DOWNS — Cellphones were silenced and the focus was on telling their own stories for 10 students who recently participated in the first #mystory workshop. It was sponsored by the Kansas Storytelling Festival in Downs.
Coordinator Glennys Doane and other supporters of the annual Kansas Storytelling Festival want to encourage and mentor young storytellers.
“This outreach is a natural extension of continuing the storytelling tradition from one generation to another,” Doane said.
The pilot session was taught by Joyce Slater, a professional storyteller from Kansas City who has appeared at the annual Kansas Storytelling Festival and has extensive experience working with young storytellers in schools and libraries.
The afternoon clinic mixed games with teaching the elements of storytelling such as using descriptive adjectives, experimenting with puppets and different voices, and taking silent cues from body language.
Simple stories told and retold through the ages and around the world were read and rewritten.
“Joyce was a wonderful clinician to help jump start imaginations and to provide so many basic storytelling tools for the students’ performance toolbox,” Doane said.
Personal, original stories were written, and then the stories were told.
The audience enjoys the storytellers’ evening performance.
The public was invited to hear the young storytellers give an evening performance utilizing the tools they had practiced in the afternoon.
“The festival is pleased that young people are interested in continuing the tradition of passing along their slant on the world through the eyes and voices of storytelling,” Doane said.
Son and mother Republican duo Heath Kohl, Lawrence, and Elane Adams, Hays
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Elaine Adams, chairwoman of the Ellis County Republican Party, has attended a number of Kansas Republicans state conventions, including this past weekend in Wichita.
Her son, Heath Kohl, Lawrence, was also there. Not as a delegate, though, but as new political director for the Kansas GOP.
“The Kansas Republican Convention in Wichita was a complete success,” said Kohl, a native of Ellis and graduate of Fort Hays State University.
His mother agreed.
“The attendance was higher than we have seen in a very long time,” Adams said.
“We were sold out at every meal. I don’t recall that being an issue in the past, at least since 2007 when I started attending these,” Kohl added.
In addition to helping organize the event, Kohl presented campaign training programs for the attendees, who will use the tactics in their home districts.
Guest speakers at the Kansas convention included Rep. Tom Cotton, R-Ark.; Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C.; Gov. Sam Brownback, R Kansas; and Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kansas.
There were a lot of new faces at this year’s convention, according to Kohl and Adams.
“I believe this shows people of Kansas are looking for real government change and Kansas solutions, rather than the results of higher taxes and higher government spending we are seeing from the Obama administration and the Democrat Party,” said Kohl.
Ellis County Republicans at the Kansas Republican Convention, from left: Ron Adams, Hays;
Sen. Ralph Ostmeyer, R-Grinnell; Ellis County Republican Chairwoman Elaine Adams, Hays; Rep. Travis Couture-Lovelady, R-Palco; Rep. Sue Boldra, R-Hays; Carl Boldra, Hays; and Ellis County GOP Vice Chairman John Pyle, Hays.
Gov. Sam Brownback with Ellis County Republican chairwoman Elaine Adams
Ellis County Republican Party Chairwoman Elaine Adams, Hays, is pictured with Lt. Gov. Jeff Colyer, a Hays native, and 111th District Rep. Sue Boldra, R-Hays.
New treatment rooms offer semi-private and private areas with a view.
Hays Medical Center physicians hope the just-completed expansion and renovation of the Dreiling-Schmidt Cancer Center will help patients feel more comfortable.
The 4,000-square-foot expansion provides four more treatment rooms, expanded exam rooms, a consultation center, more windows and a soothing decor. Director of Pharmacology and Oncology Services Willy Cadoret said the enhanced privacy and comfort make a difference:
The exterior of the Dreiling-Schmidt Cancer Center also received a significant facelift.
Partial funding of the renovation came from contributions given to the HaysMed Foundation capital campaign, Beyond Medicine.
Cadoret said the cancer treatment and trials available in Hays means patients and their families don’t have to drive to Denver or Kansas City hospitals for advanced care.
Hays Med is affiliated with the University of Kansas and the Midwest Cancer Alliance as a clinical research partner.
