It’s been 29 years, and Ellis County school officials are still asking for the paperback dictionaries donated annually by the Hays Optimist Club.

It’s a book many students have kept into their adult lives.

The 196 Hays Middle School sixth-graders were first on the distribution list this morning.  At 8a.m. sharp in the HMS gymnasium, principal Craig Pallister began the introduction of Optimists members Gary Wentling, John Sjoholm and Duane Steffen.

Wentling, the project chairman and an Optimist Club member since 1978, said the Optimists have given out nearly 11,000 dictionaries.

“You are the future,” he told the students:

Philip Ramirez admits he’s not the world’s best speller.  “I think it (dictionary) will really help me,” he said after accepting his book from Steffen.

A total of 313 Merriam Webster dictionaries were given to sixth-graders at HMS, Holy Family and Maranatha in Hays, Washington and St. Mary’s in Ellis, and Victoria Grade School.

The dictionary project is funded by the annual sales of natural Christmas trees by the Optimist Club.  The lot will open the day after Thanksgiving, November 29, in the Hays Wal-Mart parking lot.

See more of the event tonight on Hays Post, Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

 

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS)  has taken a lot of criticism for his vote to end the federal government shutdown.

But  he believes the result is to just “kick the can down the road.”

During a recent visit with the Hays Rotary Club, the former Hays resident said Congress “must have the battle about the debt ceiling.”

Sen. Moran will be in Hays again November 16 to address entrepreneurs during the inaugural “Startup Weekend” at Fort Hays State University.

If the trick-or-treaters at your house brought home too much sugary candy, here’s an option offered by Lifetime Dental Care in Hays:

Lifetime Dental provided toothbrushes to the trick-or-treaters during Thursday’s Spooktacular at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History.

You can see the kids in their costumes as they talk to Mike Koerner and Scott Boomer on the Spooktacular program airing next week on Eagle Community TV Channel 14 at 3p.m. and 8p.m.

It’s a book many students have kept into their adult lives.

For the 29th year,  Hays Optimist Club members are distributing free paperback dictionaries to Ellis County sixth graders and their teachers.

Project chairman Gary Wentling says 313 Merriam Webster dictionaries will be handed out Monday, November 4, to sixth graders in Hays, Ellis and Victoria schools.

“We’ve given out more than 10,700 dictionaries,” says Wentling.  “Our project is funded by the annual sales of natural Christmas trees by the Optimist Club.”

The lot will open the day after Thanksgiving, November 29, in the Hays Wal-Mart parking lot.

There are more treats lining the shelves of the Community Assistance Center (CAC) in Hays once again.

Trick-or-treaters were out last night  collecting candy for themselves.  Earlier this month, many volunteers canvassed Ellis County during “Trick or Treat So Others Can Eat,” collecting canned food items to fill the nearly empty pantry at CAC.

The final count is in, according to CAC Director Teresa Hill.

“Hays, Schoenchen, Ellis and Victoria have completed their drives, and the total is 13,131 non-perishable food items,” says Hill.

Volunteers from more than 25 organizations went door-to-door collecting the food donations.

The annual event is organized by the Hays High School DECA Club and advisor Shaina Prough.

 

Spiders. Rats. Bats. Frogs. Snakes. Toads. Cockroaches, and a unicorn.

A mad scientist.  A haunted forest.

It’s all part of the Spooktacular underway at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History.

Trick-or-treaters get to talk to Mike Koerner and Scott Boomer of  Eagle Communications and show off their costumes.  The costume parade will air next week on Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

Museum employees and volunteers, along with Fort Hays State University student volunteers as tour guides, are hosting the event which is sponsored by Eagle Communications.

Members of the House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means committees toured Fort Hays State University this week as part of  a statewide fact-finding tour.

FHSU President Dr. Ed Hammond is very pleased with the outcome:

(Video courtesy FHSU Tiger Media Network)

 

Area legislators Representative Sue Boldra of Hays (R-111th Dist.) and Senator Ralph Ostmeyer of Grinnell (R-40th Dist.) also attended.

The Legislature voted to reduce higher education funding for the current fiscal year, against the desire of Gov.  Sam Brownback.  It translates to an $845,000 cut for FHSU.

Hays Medical Center is one of the founding members of Midwest Cancer Alliance (MCA).  

At the core, is the University of Kansas Cancer Center.  Director Roy Jensen, M.D., who was in Hays recently, says there are three goals of MCA.

“Keeping patients close to their homes during treatment is really critical.  We also promote access to leading-edge diagnostics, care, and prevention and survivorship strategies.  Finally, we are enhancing cancer care across the region through collaborative research,” he says.

The Dreiling Schmidt Cancer Institute at Hays Med and Dr. Anne O’Dea are involved with trials combining two drugs, Abraxane and Herceptin, that show promise in patients with high cell growth factor:

According to Dr.  Jensen,  the five-year survival rate for cancer patients is about 67%.

“It’s a big improvement from decades ago, but that also means for about one-third of my patients, I have no answer when they walk through the door.”

“Clinical research must continue so we have something more (drugs) to offer than what’s currently on the pharmacy shelf,” says Jensen.

You can watch all of Mike Cooper’s interview with Dr. Ray Jensen this week on “Community Connection” on Eagle Community TV Channel 14 at 9a.m. 3p.m. and 8 p.m.

 

 

Traffic signals at 13th and Vine were de-activated shortly before 9 o’clock this morning in order to change out the signals for the new 3-lane traffic.

Don Stejskal, the Hays Service Division Supervisor says the work was scheduled for Tuesday, but a steady drizzle postponed the project until today.

“We waited until the morning rush-hour was over and then the Hays Police Department came in to direct traffic while these lights are out.  It’ll probably take an hour or so to make the change,” estimates Stejskal.

13th Street from Milner east to Canterbury is now three lanes instead of four, with a designated turning lane.  Bike lanes have been added between Vine Street and Canterbury.

Technician Steve Schorr with Gades Sales, from which the city purchased the new signal dog houses, is working with Hays employees to get the new lights wired into the traffic box.

The intersection will now be similar to 27th and Vine, with protected left turns.

Stejskal says the old signals will be stored for backup parts.

Fort Hays State University president Dr. Ed Hammond plans to help with the transition of new leadership next academic year.

Hammond announced in a morning news conference he will retire as president June 30, 2014.

He’s been in talks with the Kansas Board of Regents about his plans for more than a year:

(Video courtesy FHSU Tiger Media Network)

Several Regents members were on hand for today’s announcement including Robba Moran, formerly of Hays and now living in Manhattan;  Shane Bangerter, Dodge City; KBOR chairman Fred Logan, Leawood; and KBOR President/CEO Andy Tompkins of Topeka.

President Ed Hammond’s announcement Wednesday of his upcoming retirement is the second major change among the Fort Hays State University administration in less than two weeks.

The longtime provost, Dr. Larry Gould, resigned his position October 18.

Gould started teaching political science 33 years ago at FHSU and has served as provost the past 16 years.

Mike Cooper, host of “Community Connection” on Eagle Cable TV Channel 14, asked Gould why he resigned:

Gould is still on campus and plans to return to classroom teaching.

The assistant provost, Dr. Chris Crawford, is now the interim provost while a national search is conducted to find a permanent replacement.

You can watch all of Mike Cooper’s interview with Larry Gould this week on Community Connection on Eagle Cable TV Channel 14 at 9a.m., 3p.m., and 8p.m.

 

An Affordable Care Act Certified Navigator in Hays is postponing appointments with the  public because of the technical glitches in the HealthCare.gov website, where millions of uninsured Americans are trying to sign up for mandatory health insurance coverage.

Sayre Shuck is based at First Care Clinic, although you don’t have to be a clinic patient to utilize Shuck’s free assistance:

Shuck talks more about the website on “Forum,” which airs after Hays Post on Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

The federal official who oversees new health-insurance exchanges apologized Tuesday for the troubled launch of the Web site.

Marilyn Tavenner, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said during her testimony at a hearing of the House Ways and Means committee the problems are “fixable” and pledged that the site will soon work as promised.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, the former governor and insurance commissioner of Kansas, is scheduled to testify before the House Energy and Commerce Committee Wednesday as part of a series of House hearings.

 

 

“It’s a terrible law and the consequences are dramatic.  If I could find a way to undo what we’ve done, I’d be at the front of the line.”

That’s what U-S Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) thinks of the Affordable Care Act, commonly called “Obamacare.”

The former Hays resident was in Hays Monday as a guest of the Rotary Club.

Moran shared stories about three Kansas business owners he’s visited who are changing their business plans because of the new mandatory national healthcare:

The Obama administration said Wednesday night it will give Americans who buy health insurance through new online marketplaces an extra six weeks, until March 31, to obtain coverage before they risk a penalty.