March 3, 1923 ~ September 4, 2019
An obituary and services are pending with Koons-Russell Funeral Home.
Author: Hays Post
Kan. man avoids serious injury after fatal crash in Nebraska
SIDNEY, Neb. (AP) — Authorities say a Wyoming man died after his car collided with tanker truck on Interstate 80 in western Nebraska.
The crash occurred around 3 p.m. Tuesday, about 7 miles west of Sidney. The Nebraska State Patrol says 20-year-old Chance Seivley of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was headed west when his car ran off his lane and onto rumble strips. The patrol says Seivley overcorrected and crossed the median, striking the eastbound tanker truck driven by Monte Larson, 57, Salina.
Seivley was pronounced dead at the scene. Larson suffered only minor injuries, according to the Nebraska State Patrol.
GOVERNOR KELLY: ‘We will finally expand Medicaid in Kansas in 2020’
OFFICE OF GOVERNOR
TOPEKA – The following remarks are from Kansas Governor Laura Kelly delivered Wednesday, September 4 at the press conference on Medicaid expansion:
“Good afternoon.
“It’s hard to believe, but in just four months, another legislative session will be upon us. Every legislative session offers its own unique set of challenges and opportunities, and 2020 will be no different.
“For the last several months I’ve been working with my administration to begin planning for the year ahead.
“Many of those plans are still in development, but one piece of my 2020 agenda is a certainty:
“I am going to do everything in my power to ensure this will be the year we will finally expand Medicaid in Kansas.
“When I traveled around the state last fall, Kansans made it clear that this is a high priority. They want as many Kansans as possible to have access to affordable, high-quality health care. They want our hospitals supported, and they want the jobs Medicaid expansion will bring.
“Medicaid expansion isn’t just a matter of smart health care policy. It is smart fiscal policy. It is smart economic policy. It is smart public policy.
“I’ve stood at this podium many times over the last year explaining why Medicaid expansion makes sense for Kansas. I won’t repeat those arguments again today.
“Instead, I’m here to talk about how we can finally bring this over the finish line.
“As you all are aware, I put forward a proposal to expand Medicaid on Kansas Day last year. I continue to believe that proposal was the simplest, most commonsense path forward – a plan that includes measures that promote self-sufficiency, a plan that includes safeguards to protect against exorbitant spending, and a plan that can be implemented effectively without undue costs or administrative burden.
“The House also took a position and passed a bill very similar to the one I offered, with very few amendments.
“And this fall, the Senate will finally begin its work on the interim committee to start drafting its own plan.
“This is finally a step in the right direction.
“But one thing concerns me as this work gets underway.
“Although Medicaid expansion has been at the top of voters’ minds for several years, the issue has received no formal committee review or vetting process in well over two years. Much has changed in that time, both federally and at the state level.
“For starters, we have a new President and, therefore, a new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator. The CMS administrator gets the final say on how states can amend their Medicaid systems.
“Obviously, we have a new governor, in addition to many recently-elected legislators who are diving into this issue for the first time. Several additional states have implemented expansion, with varying degrees of success, and an abundance of new data have been collected.
“The landscape has undeniably shifted. And the one benefit Kansas can leverage as a late-expansion state is the lessons learned from those who went before us. It is critical that we do this.
“To that end, today I will sign Executive Order 19-10, creating the Governor’s Council on Medicaid Expansion.
“The Council will bring together both new and veteran voices on Medicaid expansion and will be charged with supporting legislative efforts to find the best version of Medicaid expansion for Kansas.
“This Council will not develop or endorse new legislation. Rather, I’ve asked them to study the costs and benefits associated with expansion models in other states.
“It will be facilitated by a national, nonpartisan policy expert from the National Governors Association, and they will meet three times before the end of the year to explore these issues.
“By studying other state models for expansion, I am hoping we can avoid repeating some of the expensive, unnecessary mistakes made in other states.
“While I hope the Council will be able to identify 3 to 5 guideposts or goals for responsible expansion in Kansas, it will not develop new legislation.
“This Council will serve solely as an educational, transparent forum for public discussion, in a broader setting than can be achieved in an interim committee.
“These discussions will be an important supplement to legislative work that is already underway. The experiences of the 36 other states that already moved forward with expansion varied widely depending on what shape each state plan took – particularly in the early phases of implementation.
“That’s why this Council is necessary.
“We know not all models for expansion are created equal. We must carefully study other state approaches and outcomes so that our final Kansas plan balances our unique needs with evidence-based best practices.
“I want to thank every legislator, policy expert, advocate and community leader who has accepted our invitation. We want to hear everyone’s voice.
“We want a thorough, honest discussion.
“I am deeply committed to working with the Legislature to find a bipartisan solution. I want these Council members to ask the hard questions … to come up with a plan that works for all Kansans.
“It’s the only way to get things done, and done right.
“Let’s work together to figure out how we can best serve Kansans, get them the access they need to affordable health care, and bring Kansas dollars back to Kansas.
“I look forward to collaborating with this Council and to, finally, bring Medicaid expansion to Kansas.”
Gov. Kelly directs council to explore Medicaid expansion options
TOPEKA — Governor Laura Kelly announced the Governor’s Council on Medicaid Expansion Wednesday.
This Council of legislators, policy experts, advocates, stakeholders and community leaders will spearhead the Medicaid expansion efforts in the 2020 legislative session.
The members of the Council and their current positions are listed below:
Tom Bell – President and CEO, Kansas Hospital Association
Sen. Ed Berger – State Senator, District 34
Rep. Susan Concannon – State Representative, District 107
Denise Cyzman – CEO, Community Care Network of Kansas
Ximena Garcia M.D., Community Health Advocate
Cathy Harding – President and CEO, Wyandotte Health Foundation
Rep. Don Hineman – State Representative, District 118
April Holman – Executive Director, Alliance for a Healthy Kansas
Dave Kerr, former president of the Kansas Senate
Kyle Kessler – Executive Director, Association of Community Mental Health Centers
Sen. Carolyn McGinn – State Senator, District 31
Rep. Monica Murnan – State Representative, District 3
Dr. Lee Norman – Secretary, Kansas Department of Health and Environment
David K. Livingston – CEO, Aetna Better Health of Kansas
Sen. Pat Pettey – State Senator, District 6
Rep. Jason Probst – State Representative, District 102
Jerry Slaughter – Interim Executive Director, Kansas Medical Society
Kevin Sparks – CEO, United Health Community Plan for Kansas
Michael Stephens – President and CEO, Sunflower Health Plan
Sen. Gene Suellentrop – State Senator, District 27
Suzanne Wikle – Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Law and Social Policy
Rep. Kathy Wolfe Moore – State Representative, District 36
The Governor delivered the following remarks Wednesday on Medicaid expansion:
It’s hard to believe, but in just four months, another legislative session will be upon us. Every legislative session offers its own unique set of challenges and opportunities, and 2020 will be no different.
For the last several months I’ve been working with my administration to begin planning for the year ahead.
Many of those plans are still in development, but one piece of my 2020 agenda is a certainty:
I am going to do everything in my power to ensure this will be the year we will finally expand Medicaid in Kansas.
When I traveled around the state last fall, Kansans made it clear that this is a high priority. They want as many Kansans as possible to have access to affordable, high-quality health care. They want our hospitals supported, and they want the jobs Medicaid expansion will bring.
Medicaid expansion isn’t just a matter of smart health care policy. It is smart fiscal policy. It is smart economic policy. It is smart public policy.
I’ve stood at this podium many times over the last year explaining why Medicaid expansion makes sense for Kansas. I won’t repeat those arguments again today.
Instead, I’m here to talk about how we can finally bring this over the finish line.
As you all are aware, I put forward a proposal to expand Medicaid on Kansas Day last year. I continue to believe that proposal was the simplest, most commonsense path forward – a plan that includes measures that promote self-sufficiency, a plan that includes safeguards to protect against exorbitant spending, and a plan that can be implemented effectively without undue costs or administrative burden.
The House also took a position and passed a bill very similar to the one I offered, with very few amendments.
And this fall, the Senate will finally begin its work on the interim committee to start drafting its own plan.
This is finally a step in the right direction.
But one thing concerns me as this work gets underway.
Although Medicaid expansion has been at the top of voters’ minds for several years, the issue has received no formal committee review or vetting process in well over two years. Much has changed in that time, both federally and at the state level.
For starters, we have a new President and, therefore, a new Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator. The CMS administrator gets the final say on how states can amend their Medicaid systems.
Obviously, we have a new governor, in addition to many recently-elected legislators who are diving into this issue for the first time. Several additional states have implemented expansion, with varying degrees of success, and an abundance of new data have been collected.
The landscape has undeniably shifted. And the one benefit Kansas can leverage as a late-expansion state is the lessons learned from those who went before us. It is critical that we do this.
To that end, today I will sign Executive Order 19-10, creating the Governor’s Council on Medicaid Expansion.
The Council will bring together both new and veteran voices on Medicaid expansion and will be charged with supporting legislative efforts to find the best version of Medicaid expansion for Kansas.
This Council will not develop or endorse new legislation. Rather, I’ve asked them to study the costs and benefits associated with expansion models in other states.
It will be facilitated by a national, nonpartisan policy expert from the National Governors Association, and they will meet three times before the end of the year to explore these issues.
By studying other state models for expansion, I am hoping we can avoid repeating some of the expensive, unnecessary mistakes made in other states.
While I hope the Council will be able to identify 3 to 5 guideposts or goals for responsible expansion in Kansas, it will not develop new legislation.
This Council will serve solely as an educational, transparent forum for public discussion, in a broader setting than can be achieved in an interim committee.
These discussions will be an important supplement to legislative work that is already underway. The experiences of the 36 other states that already moved forward with expansion varied widely depending on what shape each state plan took – particularly in the early phases of implementation.
That’s why this Council is necessary.
We know not all models for expansion are created equal. We must carefully study other state approaches and outcomes so that our final Kansas plan balances our unique needs with evidence-based best practices.
I want to thank every legislator, policy expert, advocate and community leader who has accepted our invitation. We want to hear everyone’s voice.
We want a thorough, honest discussion.
I am deeply committed to working with the Legislature to find a bipartisan solution. I want these Council members to ask the hard questions … to come up with a plan that works for all Kansans.
It’s the only way to get things done, and done right.
Let’s work together to figure out how we can best serve Kansans, get them the access they need to affordable health care, and bring Kansas dollars back to Kansas.
I look forward to collaborating with this Council and to, finally, bring Medicaid expansion to Kansas.
Grid Iron Glory by Wolf Furniture Galleries
Click HERE to enter to win weekly and season prizes.
The local grand prize will be a living room set from Wolf Furniture Galleries.
Contestants play weekly to earn points that culminate in a grand prize winner. Each week, the highest point total wins the weekly prize, Fort Hays State University football tickets.
The national grand prize winner will win a trip for two to Hawaii.
Kansas Farm Bureau Insight: The Farm Bureau family
Kansas Farm Bureau
For John and Berna Mae Stegman, the recent loss of their son, Bernard, in an accident has brought heartache and grief. It’s also underscored the fact that family extends beyond kinship.
John was surprised by the number of cards, calls and visitors his family received from his connections made in Kansas Farm Bureau in the wake of Bernard’s death. The volume of condolences was almost overwhelming,
“I just want to thank all the people who took the time to send a card, give me a call or whatever,” John said.
Bernard didn’t just reside in Spearville, he helped cultivate a community there with his wife, Debra, and their three sons. Farming was all he ever wanted to do – so much so that he opted to stay close to home for college so he could work on the farm in the afternoons. He graduated from St. Mary of the Plains in Dodge City.
“His life was farming,” John said. “He started when he was a little guy saying, “‘I’m going to be your partner. I’m going to be your partner.’ We had probably 48 good years together – working together. It’s tough to lose someone like that. I know I’m not the only one that’s happened to.”
Under that partnership, the farming operation flourished from “a small acreage to a considerable size now,” in addition to growing a herd of registered Angus. Bernard also found the time to serve the Spearville community through his church, the local school board and professional groups.
Bernard also is the reason John was able to serve on Kansas Farm Bureau’s board of directors, representing 11 counties in southwest Kansas.
“I spent 20 years on that Farm Bureau board, and it was because Bernie was at home and he took care of everything when I wasn’t there,” John said. “He was just my best friend and my buddy. He knew everything about the farm.”
John’s tenure on the Farm Bureau board ended in 2010, but the connections are still strong.
“The amount of people you meet in 20 years is just unbelievable,” John said. “We get these cards from all over the state. We had some of the past directors come out (for the funeral). I didn’t get to see everybody because the church was full, the parish center was full.”
There are smaller injustices in Bernard’s death, like the new barn he’d recently completed, the culmination of years of work to make the farm as productive as possible.
“He just about had everything the way he wanted it, but he doesn’t get to enjoy it,” John said.
Instead, John said he’s going to embark on a new partnership with his three grandsons who all desire to be back on the farm.
“We’ll have to see if we can make this thing work so that everybody’s got some income – can make a decent living.”
With the numerous relationships John has built through Kansas Farm Bureau, there’s plenty of family standing by ready to help.
“Insight” is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state’s largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.
Voss leadership scholars for 2019-20 at Fort Hays State
FHSU University Relations
The Department of Leadership Studies at Fort Hays State University has selected its 2019-2020 scholars for the Voss Advanced Leadership Undergraduate Experience.
To complete the program, students will plan and implement a project in either civic and non-profit leadership, corporate leadership or leadership research. Mentors will coach students throughout the academic year. Scholars are awarded a $500 stipend each semester.
VALUE is a year-long, co-curricular experience designed to challenge and develop leadership skills in upperclassmen.
The program has two objectives: 1) to teach students how to put ideas into action and implement, execute and transform a vision into reality; and 2) to promote teamwork and collaborative skills in order to be successful.
Applicants must be juniors or seniors in good academic standing who have completed the leadership studies certificate and are willing to commit themselves to a deep degree of scholarship and service. Faculty and staff can also make nominations.
Scholars are listed alphabetically by hometown:
LIBERAL: Charlotte Peterson is a senior majoring in organizational leadership.
OMAHA, Neb.: Caden Frank is a junior majoring in organizational leadership.
SALINA: Quinn Munk is a junior majoring in organizational leadership.
ULYSSES: Tyra Hayden is a senior majoring in general studies.
WACO, Texas: Alexandria Kultgen is a senior majoring in organizational leadership and minoring in political science.
WICHITA (67226): Jacki Dougherty is a senior majoring in organizational leadership.
WOODBINE: Jaryth Barten is a junior majoring in organizational leadership and communication studies.
About VALUE
The Voss Advanced Leadership Undergraduate Experience is designed to develop the most promising undergraduates into powerful agents for good following their educational experience at Fort Hays State University.
To learn more about the VALUE program and this year’s scholars, visit https://www.fhsu.edu/leadership/value/.
Three-day weather outlook
Police make arrest for alleged prostitution at Kan. massage parlor
HUTCHINSON, Kan. —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a business in Hutchinson that may have been offering sexual favors.
Officers with the Hutchinson Police Department’s Repeat Offender Unit and Detective Division conducted a search warrant at The Spring Spa, 1509 N. Lorraine Street after receiving numerous reports of sexual acts being offered as part of the service, according to a media release.
An undercover operation was conducted and a detective was offered a sexual act, which he declined. The offer confirmed previous reports.
During a search of the building, officers located numerous items consistent with prostitution. Authorities arrested 54-year-old Yu Jun Fang on suspicion of promoting the sale of sexual relations, maintaining an establishment, and one count of promoting the sale of sexual relations. Her bond is set at $3,000.
Police say the investigation continues into Fang’s possible involvement within a larger organization.
The Latest: Concerns reported to Kan. agency before toddler’s death
In response to a records request from The Associated Press, the Kansas Department of Children and Families released a summary Tuesday of its involvement with 2-year-old Zayden JayNesahkluah. He is at least the ninth child age 5 or younger since 2017 to die in the Wichita area under suspicious circumstances, several of them after state welfare officials had contact with the family.
Zayden’s mother, 23-year-old Kimberly Compass , was charged last month with first-degree murder following her son’s overdose of the addiction treatment medication. She previously has denied any wrongdoing. Her attorney, Casey Cotton, didn’t immediately return a phone message Wednesday.
The child welfare agency says Compass was assigned to a program designed to keep the family intact almost continuously from August 2016 to September 2018, although the state contractor working with Compass lost contact with her during the second year after she moved. It was unclear from the summary why she was participating in the program. But Mike Deines, a spokesman for the Kansas Department for Children and Families, said her participation was voluntarily.
The agency says it then received reports in December 2018 and January 2019 about neglect and lack of supervision. Later, the agency received reports that Compass’ then-partner was physically abusive, and that Compass was neglectful and failed to provide supervision. At one point, Compass refused a drug test, the summary shows.
——————
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas child welfare officials say they received repeated reports about a toddler before he died of an overdose of the addiction treatment medication methadone.
The Kansas Department of Children and Families released a summary Tuesday of its involvement with 2-year-old Zayden Jay Nesahkluah of Wichita in response to a records request from The Associated Press.
Zayden’s mother, 23-year-old Kimberly Compass, was charged last month with first-degree murder.
The agency says the initial reports in December 2018 and January 2019 were about neglect and lack of supervision. Later, the agency received reports that Compass’ then-partner was physically abusive, and more that Compass was neglectful.
Although the reports weren’t substantiated, Compass received a mental health referral. The agency says a service provider attempted to contact her on May 31, the day Zayden was found dead at a motel.
Kan. teens jailed for alleged burglary, battering store employee
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and have two suspects in custody.
Just before 6:30p.m. Tuesday, police responded to strong arm robbery call at the US Gas in the 2600 Block of North Hillside in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
At the scene, police found a 49-year-old employee with minor injuries from the robbery.
Investigators have learned that at 5:45p.m., a 15 and a 16-year-old came to the store and purchased drinks. Employees asked the boys to leave because they were loitering and didn’t have guardians with them, according to Davidson.
The teens later returned to the store and battered the employee and damaged property in the store.
Officers responded and searched the area and located the teens in Grove Park and took them into custody, according to Davidson.
Police later learned the boys had been involved in a burglary at 1:30a.m. Tuesday at a market in the 2400 Block of South Seneca. Through that investigation, police learned that a third teen was involved in the earlier burglary. They located him and made an arrest, according to Davidson.
One 16-year-old boy is being held in juvenile detention on requested charges of aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, destruction of property and burglary. The 15-year-old is in juvenile detention on requested charges of aggravated robbery, destruction of property, shoplifting and burglary. The third 16-year-old was arrested on requested charges of burglary.
Judge: Kan. farmer’s online review of Branson attraction not defamatory
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that a Kansas cattle farmer did not defame a Branson attraction by leaving a three-star TripAdvisor review.
Owners of Bigfoot on the Strip sued Randy Winchester and his daughter in June 2018, claiming the review was libelous and defamatory.
Winchester had written that he was disappointed by a tour of Bigfoot Farms and its cattle. Owners of the attraction contended some of the details in Winchester’s review were inaccurate.
Winchester said after tour owner’s contacted him to complain, he changed it to a one-star review.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Beth Phillips ruled late last month that Winchester’s statements were factually correct and/or didn’t diminish the company’s reputation in the community.
An attorney representing Bigfoot’s owners did not return a call seeking comment.
Teen from Victoria hospitalized after pickup rolls
ELLIS COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 3:30p.m. Wednesday in Ellis County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported 2006 Chevy S10 pickup driven by Vance L. Hockersmith, 15, Victoria, was southbound on 370th one mile west of Walker.
The driver lost control and rolled the vehicle into the north ditch.
EMS transported Hockersmith to Hays Medical Center. He was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.