We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Author: Hays Post

March blood drives in NW Kansas

Posted on

ARC

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In March, while basketball teams are fighting for the chance to be crowned champions, patients battling cancer and other illnesses are fighting for their lives. The American Red Cross is asking blood donors to help patients rebound by making a lifesaving donation this spring.

Middle school basketball player Olivia Stoy received blood and platelet transfusions during treatment for T lymphoblastic lymphoma. With the help of blood and platelet donations, the 14- year-old has returned to the basketball court and, more importantly, beat cancer.

“We are so thankful that the blood products were available to Olivia for the almost two years of her treatment. They have made it possible for Olivia to regain her strength and get back to doing the activities she loves,” said Megan Stoy, Olivia’s mother.

Donors of all blood types are needed to help ensure that the Red Cross can collect more than 13,000 blood and platelet donations needed every day for patients like Olivia.

Giving blood takes less time than it takes to watch a single basketball game. Make an appointment to donate blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

 

American Red Cross Blood Donation Center: 

Hays Blood Donation Center

208 E. 8th, Hays

Please check redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS for current blood donation centers days and hours. 

 

Other blood donation opportunities during March:

Hays
3/7/2018: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, 1701 Hall

3/8/2018: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m., Hays High School, 2300 E. 13th

Jennings

3/23/2018: 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., United Methodist Church, 202 S Topeka Ave

Ellis
3/19/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 1013 Washington

Hays
3/20/2018: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., HaysMed, 2200 Canterbury
3/27/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., St. Nicholas of Myra, 2901 E. 13th St.

Quinter
3/22/2018: 12 p.m. – 5:30 p.m., Church of the Brethren, 700 Grant

Norton
3/21/2018: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Norton High School, 513 W. Wilberforce

Logan
3/28/2018: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Logan High School, 305 N. Sherman

Palco
3/28/2018: 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Palco High School, 502 Ash

Russell
3/26/2018: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Otterbein United Methodist Church, 120 W. Wisconsin St.

Goodland
3/17/2018: 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Methodist Church, 12 N Sherman

WaKeeney
3/22/2018: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m., United Methodist Church, 500 Summit Ave.

 

How to donate blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at redcrossblood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

 

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

Prepare your family for severe weather

Posted on

SAFE KIDS KS

TOPEKA — While the threat of severe weather in Kansas is year-round, March 5-9 is Severe Weather Awareness Week in Kansas, and a good opportunity to discuss the importance of emergency preparedness with your family.

In 2017, the National Weather Service reported about 60 tornadoes statewide. Kansas also experiences numerous other high impact weather events, including blizzards, severe thunderstorms, and floods.

“When severe weather strikes you often have only a few minutes to respond and seek shelter. It is essential for you and your family to be prepared in an emergency,” said Cherie Sage, Safe Kids Kansas. Safe Kids Kansas recommends becoming familiar with the type of weather you may encounter, prepare an emergency disaster kit, and practice your emergency plan frequently with your entire family.

Many people do not understand the difference between a watch and a warning. When conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop, a severe thunderstorm or tornado WATCH is issued. Information from weather radar, spotters, and other sources is used to issue severe thunderstorm and tornado WARNINGS for areas where severe weather is imminent.

Severe weather warnings are passed to local radio and television stations, and broadcast over weather alert radios. These warnings are also relayed to local emergency management and public safety officials who then activate the local warning systems to alert communities. Remember, thunderstorms are very dangerous and can become tornadic quickly, so shelter is advised for those warnings as well.  Getting to a safe shelter in advance of a storm is especially important for families with children or individuals with a disability.

Safe Kids Kansas recommends assembling an emergency disaster kit in advance. If you determine you need to take shelter, be sure every family member puts on hard-soled footwear and take your emergency disaster kit with you. An emergency disaster kit should contain:

  • non-perishable food items and water;
  • a manual can opener if your kit contains canned food;
  • blankets or sleeping bags;
  • a change of clothing for each family member;
  • a first-aid kit;
  • prescription medications;
  • sun block;
  • a flashlight and batteries;
  • a NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) weather radio;
  • a set of car and house keys;
  • a whistle to signal for help;
  • a highway map that marks the counties to follow the storm;
  • identification and a credit card or cash;
  • and, any specific items you may need for children such as diapers or formula.

Additional supplies and equipment may be necessary for family members with disabilities or medical conditions.

Don’t forget your pets will also need supplies, including food, water, collars and leashes. For smaller animals you may want to have a crate or a cage to help keep them safe and close.

Another good preparation tool is to designate an out-of-state friend or family member as your family contact in case weather strikes while your family members are apart. “Each family member should know the phone number of the emergency contact person and call to alert them they are safe and where they are going to be,” said Sage.

Safe Kids Kansas reminds parents to develop an emergency plan for severe weather in advance, and practice the plan often with your children, just as you do for other emergencies, such as a house fire. Be sure to include scenarios when you are at home, work, school or outdoors.

If a tornado warning is issued, your family should immediately go to your designated tornado shelter which may be a storm shelter or a basement. If you are not able to get underground, then move to an interior room, hallway, bathroom, or closet on the lowest level. If possible, get under a sturdy piece of furniture to protect you from debris, and stay away from windows.

If you are in a vehicle or mobile home, get out immediately and head to the nearest shelter. Do not try and outrun a tornado in your vehicle. If you are outside, lie flat in a low location, and cover your head with your hands. Do not take shelter under an overpass or bridge. Flash flooding causes more weather-related deaths annually, so be aware of your surroundings if you seek shelter in a ditch or ravine.

After a severe storm has passed, be careful to watch for fallen power lines and structures that may be weakened from storm damage. Use a flashlight to inspect your home. Do not use candles, matches or lighters, as there may be leaking natural gas pipes or fuel tanks nearby.

Safe Kids Kansas also recommends that your family learn basic CPR first aid and teach young children how to call 9-1-1. Severe weather can strike at any time with little or no notice. The best way to protect yourself and your family members is by being prepared in advance.

Records: State was told about Kan. boy’s abuse before death

Posted on

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Records show that the state received at least eight reports that a 3-year-old boy was being abused in the year before his body was found encased in concrete.

Evan Brewer- courtesy photo

Records from the Kansas Department of Children and Families show the agency was told that Evan Brewer’s mother was regularly high on methamphetamine and was not feeding him good meals.

The records also show that a report of detailed allegations of abuse was not forwarded to a social worker investigating the case.

The boy was never removed from the home. His body was found in early September.

The agency’s new director, Gina Meier-Hummel, said she shares the family’s outrage. She says changes to improve the system have begun and will continue.

Hays, Gorham women selected for 2018 Leadership Kansas Class

Posted on
Dr. Stacey Smith
Gina Riedel

KS CHAMBER

TOPEKA – The Kansas Chamber announced Thursday the 40 members of its 2018 Leadership Kansas Class. Leadership Kansas is a nationally recognized program focused on developing and motivating a diverse group of Kansas leaders from all four corners of the state.

Among those selected are Gina Riedel, Gorham, a coach and facilitator for Bandura Plus and Dr. Stacey Smith, Hays, chair of the Fort Hays State University Department of Applied Business Studies.

An affiliated program of the Kansas Chamber, the program celebrates its 40th year in 2018.

“The Kansas Chamber is excited to welcome the newest Leadership Kansas class. As one of the oldest and most prestigious statewide leadership programs in the country, Leadership Kansas has a long history of fostering greater awareness and understanding of statewide economic, business and political issues. The program helps develop our state leaders to make Kansas a stronger and more vibrant business engine.” said Kansas Chamber President and CEO Alan Cobb.

Each year, Leadership Kansas receives nearly 700 nominations for the program. After a thorough and thoughtful application and selection process, 40 individuals are chosen to participate. The selection committee and the Leadership Kansas Board of Trustees make every effort to ensure the class has geographic, ethnic, occupational, and gender diversity.

The 2018 program begins in late April with an orientation session in Lawrence and ends with graduation after the completion of the Topeka session in October. The host cities for this year’s program are Garden City, KC Metro, Hays, Pittsburg, South Central and Manhattan/Topeka.

Throughout the six-month program, the class interacts with a variety of experts and community leaders through three-day educational training sessions in different communities across the state. The diverse discussion topics include: business; education; agriculture; public policy; societal health; economic development; and government.

Mary Hammond

“Graduates of Leadership Kansas complete the program with a deeper understanding of our state and are better equipped to shoulder important leadership responsibilities in their communities and careers,” said Mary Hammond, Hays (Class of 2010).

Leadership Kansas has more than 1,400 alumni. Distinguished alumni include: former Kansas Governor Bill Graves; Westar Energy CEO, Mark Ruelle; C.Q. Chandler IV, President of INTRUST Bank; Pittsburg State University President, Steve Scott; retired Brig. Gen Deborah Rose; former CEO of the Kroger Company David Dillon; former Spirit AeroSystems President & CEO Jeff Turner; Murfin Drilling Company, Inc. President Dave Murfin; U.S. Senator Jerry Moran and U.S. Representatives Lynn Jenkins and Kevin Yoder, among others. John Federico (Class of ’97) serves as the Executive Director of the Leadership Kansas Program.

Click here to see a complete list of the 2018 Leadership Kansas class.

‘American Pickers’ looking for sites for upcoming Kansas visit

Posted on
Click for details

Submitted

Mike Wolfe, Frank Fritz and their team are excited to return to Kansas. They plan to film episodes of the hit series “American Pickers” throughout the area this May.

“American Pickers” is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking” on history. The hit show follows Mike and Frank, two of the most skilled pickers in the business, as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques. They are always excited to find sizable, unique collections or accumulations and learn the interesting stories behind them.

As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, Mike and Frank are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, the Pickers want to meet characters with remarkable and exceptional items. The pair hopes to give historically significant objects a new lease on life, while learning a thing or two about America’s past along the way.

Mike and Frank have seen a lot of rusty gold over the years and are always looking to discover something they’ve never seen before. They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them.

“American Pickers” is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you or someone you know has a large, private collection or accumulation of antiques that the Pickers can spend the better part of the day looking through, send us your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to [email protected] or call 855-OLD-RUST.

Ellis High School choir ready for dinner theater

Posted on

BY JAYLINN PFEIFER
For Hays Post

ELLIS — On Tuesday, the Ellis High School choir will be putting on a dinner theater. The theme for the dinner theater this year is Disney. The show will include singing and dancing with a delicious dinner before the show.

The dinner will be lasagna with sides of garlic bread and a chef’s salad, along with a dessert. The dinner will start at 6 p.m. with the show at 7 p.m. Dinner and the show tickets are $15 and, for just the show, tickets can be purchased at the door for $10. VIP tickets are available for $20.

“I am so proud of all the work and effort the students have been putting into the show, from choreographing the songs to decorating the stage. Every student has added something special to this show, and I can’t wait to have people come and see all of the students’ hard work pay off,” said Chandler Dohe, Ellis High School choir director.

Tickets can be purchased through Ellis High School by calling 785-726-3151. There are no refunds and the dinner will be done serving at 6:30 p.m.

Kan. Gov. Mum On Reinstating LGBT Worker Protections

Posted on

By STEPHEN KORANDA

Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer has made a point to say he will not accept harassment and discrimination in his administration. But he won’t say if he’ll reinstate an executive order that would bar discrimination against LGBT state workers.

Gov. Jeff Colyer hasn’t said whether he’d reverse action taken by his predecessor on LGBT issues.
STEPHEN KORANDA / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE

“What I have said is that we will not tolerate discrimination. If there’s an issue of discrimination, come to me,” Colyer said. “We’ll deal with it. It’s not tolerated by our administration, period.”

Former Gov. Sam Brownback rescinded the executive order that had protected gay, lesbian and transgender workers in 2015. He said protections should be created by lawmakers, not through executive action.

Tom Witt, with the group Equality Kansas, said Colyer’s words are not enough.

“If the governor is serious about rooting out discrimination in his administration, he’ll put it in writing,” Witt said. “We had it in writing.”

Some Democrats in the U.S. Senate cited Brownback’s reversal of the order as the reason they voted against his confirmation as religious freedom ambassador. That opposition nearly cost Brownback his new diplomatic post. He was confirmed after Vice President Pence cast a tie-breaking vote.

Colyer’s first executive order as governor made sexual harassment training mandatory for all executive branch employees.

Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for KPR, a partner in the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda. 

Police: Woman shot in the head at SW Kan. motel

Posted on

FORD COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder and have a suspect in custody.

Just after 10:30 a.m. Sunday, deputies with the Ford County Sheriff’s Office received information about a possible homicide inside a Dodge City motel, according to a media release from police.

Members of the Dodge City Police and Ford County Sheriff’s Office located the motel and discovered the body of a 27-year-old female from Howell, KS with a single gunshot wound to the head.

Officers arrested an 18-year-old man from Dodge City for the alleged crime of first degree murder and aggravated robbery.

Police will file the charges with the Ford County Attorney’s Office Monday. Police did not release the name of the victim or the teen suspect.

Anyone with information regarding this case is asked to call Dodge City Police.

Kan. woman embezzled $10M; withdrew cash at casinos

Posted on

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Prosecutors say a Kansas woman has been sentenced to five years in prison for embezzling millions of dollars from the credit union where she worked.

The U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release that Nita Rae Nirschl of Parsons was ordered Monday to pay more than $10 million in restitution.

The 66-year-old woman was an officer and employee at the Parsons Pittsburg Credit Union. She pleaded guilty in December to one count each of embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion.

The original indictment said she deposited money stolen from the credit union into her personal accounts. She withdrew the funds as cash from ATMs at Harrah’s North Kansas City casino, the Buffalo Run casino in Miami, Okla., the Stables casino in Miami, Okla., the Downstream casino in Quapaw, Okla., Harrah’s News Orleans casino and Harrah’s Lake Tahoe casino.

Prosecutors say she used the stolen money to buy a car, house and other items.

After an audit found the credit union was insolvent, it was placed in conservatorship and ultimately liquidated in March 2014.

Nirshal began working for the credit union in 2000 and was fired in 2014.

Esther Kathryn Beard

Posted on

Longtime Goodland, Kansas, resident Esther Kathryn Beard, 99, passed away on Friday, March 2, 2018 at the Goodland Regional Medical Center in Goodland.
Esther was born on February 24, 1919 in Beaver City, Nebraska, to John William and Mary Ellen (Cameron) Garey. She was an only child. She grew up in Beaver City and graduated from Beaver City High School in 1937.

On April 18, 1942, Esther married Almo Lee Beard in Beaver City. To this union, three children; Margaret, John and David were born. The family lived in Beaver City and Bertrand until 1957, when they then moved to Benkelman, Nebraska. In 1998, Esther moved from Benkelman, to Goodland.

Esther enjoyed traveling, quilting, card games, jigsaw puzzles, and most of all spending time with all her grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her parents, and her husband Almo.

She is survived by her three children; Margaret Kaufman of Goodland, KS, John (Sandy) Beard of Apache Junction, AZ, and David (Jaci) Beard of Aurora, CO. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, seventeen great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild as well as a host of friends.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at 2:00 PM MT at the Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland, with Pastor Zach Anderson officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date at the Beaver City Cemetery in Beaver City, Nebraska.

Memorial contributions are designated to the Esther Beard Memorial Fund and may be left at the services or mailed to Koons-Russell Funeral Home, 211 N. Main Ave., Goodland, KS 67735.

Online condolences may be left at www.koonsrussellfuneralhome.com.

Service arrangements are entrusted to Koons-Russell Funeral Home in Goodland.

GMD 4 approves plan for water conservation in northwest Kansas

Posted on

 

KDA

MANHATTAN – This spring will see the first district-wide Local Enhanced Management Area, or LEMA, in place in Kansas, as Northwest Kansas Groundwater Management District 4’s LEMA plan has been approved and will be effective for the period 2018-2022. On Thursday, March 1, the board of directors for GMD 4 in northwest Kansas voted unanimously to approve the chief engineer’s proposed modifications to their LEMA proposal. GMD 4 includes all or parts of 10 counties and covers just over 3 million acres in northwest Kansas.

A LEMA is a tool that allows GMDs to set goals and control measures to aid in water conservation, at the approval of the chief engineer. One of the guiding principles of the state’s Water Vision is that locally driven solutions have the highest opportunity for long-term success, and LEMAs were created to give local stakeholders a tool to act on their shared commitment to ensuring a reliable water supply. This region’s priority goal within the Water Vision was to develop and adopt a water conservation plan that provides maximum flexibility while reducing overall actual use in declining areas, in concert with GMD 4, to extend the aquifer life and long-term economic well-being of the region.

GMD 4, headquartered in Colby, submitted its LEMA proposal to the chief engineer of the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources in June 2017, with the goal of reducing decline rates and extending the life of the Ogallala Aquifer in northwest Kansas. The LEMA sets water right allocations in townships of the district based on the rate of decline, and establishes enhanced compliance guidelines. Areas with the greatest rate of decline in the aquifer have the most significant restrictions; townships showing little to no decline will not be affected. GMD 4 will host educational meetings over the next few weeks to help clarify how the LEMA’s restrictions will affect water users.

After an extended public hearing process, the chief engineer returned the proposal to the GMD 4 board with modifications in late February, and the modified proposal was accepted by the board. The final step in the process is for the chief engineer to issue an order of designation, which is anticipated by mid-April.

The GMD 4 LEMA will be the second LEMA in Kansas, and was motivated by the notable successes achieved by the first LEMA.

(Click to enlarge)

The Sheridan 6 LEMA within GMD 4 was established in 2013 with the goal of reducing water use by 20 percent. In 2017, new data collected showed that indeed the 99-square-mile area included in the LEMA has seen notable reductions in the rate of water-level decline. In fact, in the decade prior to the establishment of the LEMA, the rate of decline in the area was about 23 inches per year; in the first three years of the LEMA, the rate of decline was reduced to a little under 5 inches per year. The Sheridan 6 LEMA has been extended for an additional five years.

For more information about the LEMA approval process, go to agriculture.ks.gov/LEMA. For specific questions about the GMD 4 LEMA, call the GMD office at 785-462-3915.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File