Friday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am. Mostly sunny, with a high near 79. West southwest wind 6 to 10 mph.

Thunderstorms are possible Friday afternoon and evening. The most favored area for severe weather will be across south central Kansas. pic.twitter.com/pzJWoOHQQA

— NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) May 24, 2019

Friday Night A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. South wind around 10 mph.

Saturday A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 8am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. South wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Saturday NightShowers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 8pm and 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South southeast wind 8 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.

SundayA 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 82.

KDADS

TOPEKA – Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) Secretary Laura Howard announced today she has appointed several leadership positions to serve on the agency’s newly established State Hospital Commission.

Kimberly Lynch, currently Chief Counsel for KDADS, has been named State Hospital Commissioner. Lynch began her more than 10 years of state service in 2009 with the Kansas Attorney General’s Civil Litigation Division. She joined KDADS in 2012 and was promoted to Chief Litigation Attorney, then Senior Counsel, before being named Chief Counsel in 2017. Lynch holds a Juris Doctorate from Washburn University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washburn University, where she majored in Psychology. She recently earned a certification in Health Care Compliance from the Health Care Compliance Association. Throughout her tenure at KDADS, Lynch has represented the state hospitals and provided guidance and counsel to the superintendents and staff.

Dr. Mike Dixon has been named Deputy Commissioner of the new commission. Dr. Dixon, who was named Superintendent at Parsons State Hospital and Training Center (PSHTC) in 2017, will continue to serve as Superintendent while taking on the additional role of State Hospital Deputy Commissioner. In addition, he has served as Chief Forensic Psychologist and Program/Clinical Director for the Sexual Predator Treatment Program at Larned State Hospital (LSH). Dr. Dixon holds a Ph.D. in Community Clinical Psychology from Wichita State University and is a licensed psychologist.

KDADS’ current budget director Georgianna Correll, has also been named State Hospital Commission Deputy Commissioner. Correll joined KDADS in 2016 as the Facilities Reimbursement Manager and was promoted to Budget Director in 2017, where she has worked closely with hospital superintendents and provided guidance to the hospitals’ chief financial officers. Correll has held a variety of positions within the public sector as well, such as Director of Business Development and Client Relations, Business Analytics Manager and Sales Manager. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Friends University.

Secretary Howard announced the creation of a new state hospital commission in February this year as part of a strategic plan to develop a cohesive approach to supporting and empowering the Kansans it serves. The new commission also affords the agency the opportunity to improve communication and collaboration between state hospitals, commissions and stakeholders.

Additionally, Secretary Howard announced Acting Superintendent of Larned State Hospital, Lesia Dipman has accepted the permanent superintendent position and will continue to serve and bring continuity to the hospital staff and the Larned community.

Dipman has served the State of Kansas for 34 years, starting her career at LSH in 1984 where she has worked in various positions, including Administrative Program Director of the State Security Program. Dipman attended Fort Hays State University and Kansas State University (KSU) and earned a bachelor’s degree in social work from KSU in 1994. In 2005,  she earned a master’s degree in social work from Newman University in Wichita.

HACC

The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has hired Sarah Wasinger as the new President/CEO, replacing Tammy Wellbrock who submitted her resignation earlier this year.

Wasinger currently serves as the Board Clerk and Assistant to the Superintendent for USD 489, a role she has had since 2014. Prior to this position, she worked for RadioShack for more than eight years, serving as both District Training Store Manager and Store Manager.

“Not only does Sarah have a wealth of experience to bring to this position,” said Shane Smith, 2019 Board Chair, “she is also highly involved and informed about Chamber offerings.”

Smith said that Wasinger has been extremely involved with the Hays Area Young Professional (HAYP) program, a group under the Chamber umbrella that caters to professionals ages 21-40. Wasinger served as a member of the HAYP Advisory Council for three years and as Chair in 2018. In 2018, she was elected as an Ambassador, which serves as the public relations arm for the Chamber.

“Making Hays the best place to live, work and play is important to me because my roots run deep in Ellis County,” said Wasinger. “I have always had a servant leader’s heart and a great desire to succeed. Cultivating our community members into confident achievers and leaders is something I’m excited to help foster for ongoing success.”

During her time at USD 489, Wasinger has led or participated with many initiatives, including: establishing the USD 489 Hope Pantry; serving on the Hays Homeless Coalition; and planning the first annual Project 489 Dinner Show & Auction as part of the USD 489 Foundation for Educational Excellence.

“Sarah’s vast understanding about the community as well as her connections with many area businesses and organizations is impressive,” said Smith. “On behalf of the Board of Directors, we thank Tammy Wellbrock for her leadership and believe that Sarah will continue to expand upon this strong foundation that supports our many Chamber members.”

Smith said meet-and-greet opportunities will be planned for the community when Wasinger is on board, which is slated for the first of July.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Lori Hertel, a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist, has filed for election to the Hays USD 489 school board.

Hertel joins Luke Oborny, who has filed for re-election, and Tammy Wellbrock in running for four open seats on the board.

Hertel applied to fill the seat vacated by Sarah Rankin in August 2017, but the board voted to fill that position with Greg Schwartz.

“I have some time that I want to devote to some more children’s-type of activities,” Hertel said. “This position came up on the school board, and I thought this would be an opportunity for me to be able to make a difference in children’s lives, so I decided to go ahead and run.”

Hertel, 58, has extensive background working with children and families.

She was involved in the founding of both CASA and Big Brothers and Big Sisters in Ellis County. Hertel served as the first CASA director and later as president of the CASA board as well as president of the board of BBBS.

For years, she has done psychological evaluations with a parenting emphasis for the court in custody and child in need of care cases. She worked as a therapist in her own counseling agency as well as for High Plains Mental Health.

She currently works with children and families at Serenity Psychological Services in Hays.

She received her bachelor’s degree in sociology and a master’s degree in resource counseling from Fort Hays State University, and is working on her PhD in health psychology through Walden University.

Her daughter, Ana, attended Hays public schools before her death from a childhood muscular disease. Her daughter was in the special education program, and Hertel said she is very familiar with that program.

“I am familiar with a lot of different areas of the school district and feel that I can be an asset to all of those areas,” she said.

Hertel has collected stuffed animals in her daughter’s name for first responders to give to children in crisis in program she calls Ana’s Gift. She has also donated books to the school district and spearheaded efforts to bring the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program to Hays. The program provides free monthly books for Ellis County children birth through age 5.

Most recently, she donated to the ARC Park, accessible park project, also in her daughter’s Ana’s name.

For her work with children, she was awarded the Woman of Distinction Award by Soroptimist International.

“I am mostly wanting to focus on programming, staff and people who can make a difference for children,” Hertel said of her goals if elected.

She said she thought the current school board is doing a good job and she wants to continue with that positive work.

Hertel said she has supported past bond issues. The school district had failed bond issues in 2016 and 2017 and has discussed a third try for a bond to address facility needs in the district.

“I have served on a site council and have seen the facilities and some of the maintenance that needs to be done in the facilities,” she said.

However, she said she would need more information before making any decisions on facilities as a board member.

The Hays school board has clashed with the teacher’s union in the past. The board and Hays NEA reached impasse during negotiations last year.

“I think I am a very open person,” Hertel said. “My education, experience, etc. has always been in working with people, trying to resolve problems, conflicts, so I think I would be good at coming up with some good resolutions.”

The deadline to file for the school board election is noon Monday, June 3. The USD 489 positions that are up for election include those held by Oborny, Mandy Fox, Paul Adams and Greg Schwartz. All candidate filings need to be handled through the Ellis County Clerk’s office at 718 Main St., Hays.

School board and city elections will be on Tuesday, Nov. 5. If nine or more candidates file for the USD 489 school board, a primary election will be on Tuesday, Aug. 6.

Brian Shannon has filed to run for the school board in Ellis USD 388. Don Pruitt has filed for in Victoria USD 432. Four positions are open in each of those races.

A portion of USD 403, USD 399 and USD 407 all are in Ellis County.

Justin Frye and Kristin Lyle have filed in the Paradise USD 399 election, and Kathy Wallert has filed for election in Russell County USD 407.

No one has filed as of Thursday for the open positions on the school board for Otis-Bison USD 403.

After a day’s reprieve from rain, much of northwest Kansas can expect potentially severe weather Thursday afternoon.

The National Weather Service is predicting severe hail and wind across a swath of Kansas from Hugoton to Hays. There is a low to moderate risk for tornados southeast of Dodge City and Larned, as well.

RELATED: May rain in Hays is already nearly double the average

Pea-sized hail already was being reported Thursday morning in Sheridan County.

In the event of severe weather, tune into Eagle Radio of Hays stations for the latest up-to-date information.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

LIEBENTHAL — A crew from Roofmasters is working more than 150 feet in the air to repair the steeple on the 114-year-old St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Liebenthal.

Roofmasters Roofing and Sheet Metal workers have begun removing the copper from the steeple, which is 167 feet at the top of its highest cross. The company estimates the work will take about a month to complete.

St. Joseph’s was established by Volga Germans in 1876, and the current church building was was dedicated on May 28, 1905. Although the steeple has had repairs many times over the years, it has not had a major renovation for 55 years.

In March 2018, the steeple sustained significant storm damage, and the parish immediately began fundraising for a major overhaul.

In addition to water-damaged wood, the church was gutted by fire in 1917 and 1959. Some work will also likely need to be done to the steeple’s masonry.

The wood as well as the cooper covering will be replaced. The old copper that is being removed will be recycled.

There are four copper crosses on top of the tower that holds the church’s single steeple. Project foreman Andy Littrel will handcraft duplicate crosses to replace the originals that have been damaged by years of harsh Kansas weather.

The church is still fundraising for the steeple project. Insurance only paid $13,000 of the $80,000 needed for the copper work. The church was able to raise another $19,000 through donations, memorials and fundraisers.

The church continues to fundraise in hopes it will not have to dip into its savings to finish the project, Judy Hoffman, church secretary, said.

“I don’t know what we can do next because you fundraise your people to death,” she said.

The congregation is small, with only 50 registered individual parishioners and families. A typical Sunday Mass attracts 70 to 90 people, Hoffman said.

The parishioners had to dig deep into their pockets for the amount that has been raised thus far for the steeple renovations. This was on top of a costly renovation in 2014 during which the interior walls were restored and repainted. Leaks in the steeple have been dripping into the choir loft and damaging the latest interior renovation and paint.

Students from the Fort Hays State University Nursing Department threw a potluck fundraiser for the church’s steeple project last year, raising $200.

“That might not sound like a big deal, but to me, it was big. To us, it was big,” Hoffman said. “It was somebody outside the parish who cared enough to put some effort in to helping us fund this project. Those kinds of things are welcome if anyone wants to try that.”

St. Joseph’s has managed to stay open as many other small, rural Catholic churches have closed, including Loretta, Pfeifer and McCracken.

“Many of those people have come over to our church, and even if they haven’t registered, they are in the pew fairly often,” Hoffman said.

Hoffman attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Hays as a child, but started attending the church in Liebenthal when she moved back to the area as an adult.

“Oh, I really love it there in Liebenthal a lot,” she said.

Anyone wishing to donate to the steeple project can do so directly through the church’s website. Go to rushcountycatholicchurches.com and click on the St. Joseph Parish Giving icon.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Hays city commission will discuss a portion of the North Vine Corridor Improvements project during their meeting tonight, specifically the 37th/Skyline/41st connection.

Staff will present a detailed review of the connection to Vine Street, the options explored and the underlying factors that led to the choice.

During last week’s work session, Commissioner Sandy Jacobs, who lives in the area, suggested an alternative to the current plan.

“I’ve been driving the area, looking for some possibilities,” Jacobs said, adding that she has talked to City Manager Toby Dougherty about her idea. “There’s two sets of stop signs up there, one at 35th and Fort and one at 37th and Fort. They actually stop north/south traffic.

“I think it would be a good idea to consider changing the direction of those stop signs.”

Jacobs said she and the other commissioners have heard from residents in that area.

“I think their concerns about traffic going through their [neighborhood] quickly can be waylaid if [traffic on 37th] has to stop at Willow, then they have to stop at Fort, then they have to stop at Skyline,” she said.

“If I were driving it, I would route myself around 41st where there is no stop sign,” Jacobs said. “I’d like to recommend that we look into that and possibly move forward with that.”

“They [stop signs] can easily be switched around,” said Dougherty.

Four traffic roundabouts are to be constructed on Vine Street/U.S. Highway 183 at 32nd/33rd, 37th, 41st Streets, and a partial roundabout  at the eastbound exit ramp of Interstate 70.

In addition, the corridor project calls for W. 37th to be extended west to the new development area and for West 41st — the west frontage road — to be realigned to meet West 37th further west than the existing intersection location. A new public street would be constructed south of the new intersection to maintain access to the existing gas station south of West 37th.

Nearby homeowners spoke to the commission last month about their opposition to the proposed 37th Street extension, citing concerns about increased traffic and the possibility of falling property values.

Other agenda items for May 23 include:

• Award of bid and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant application for a new airport truck and snow plow
  • Bruckner Truck Sales Inc., Hays, presented the low bid of $271,039 for a Mack Granite 42FR truck and a 16 foot snow plow. The bid award is contingent upon an FAA grant for federal funding which would decrease the total city share to $27,103.90.
• Award of bid for sewer cleaning and video inspection of lines
  • Pro-Pipe, Denver, has the low bid of   $97,854.51 to perform light cleaning and video inspection of 105,759 linear feet of sanitary sewer .
• Award of bid for a dump truck for the Water Resources Department
  • The low bid is $101,717 from Summit Truck Group, Salina, for a 2019 HV607 International Truck with the Henderson Mark E body.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hal, 1507 Main.

The Hays American Legion Post #173 will conduct a Memorial Day observance Mon., May 27 at Veterans Park (behind the former Legion building) at 1305 Canterbury.

Activities begin at 10 a.m.

• Rifle salute and the playing of Taps by the VFW Color Guard
• National anthem will be sung by Bob Dreiling
• Pledge of Allegiance, invocation and the laying of the wreath by the local American Legion Ladies Auxiliary
• Recognition of military branches
• Reading of service members who did not return
• Roll call of honored veterans who gave their all
• Veterans Tribute with keynote speaker LTC Molly Gillock, Hays Army National Guard
• Flag folding ceremony by Marine Corps League under leadership of Bob Munsch
• Singing of “Till the Last Shot’s Fired” by Bob Dreiling

Following the ceremony, The Society of 40 Men and 8 Horses Voiture 1543 will have the Kansas Merci Boxcar and Museum open for tours in Veterans Park.

Eagle Community TV will videotape the observance for playback on ECTV channels 14 and 614 as well as on Hays Post.

– SUBMITTED –

DECATUR COUNTY — One person died in an accident just after 11:30 a.m. Wednesday in Decatur County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Chevy Colorado driven by Thomas D. Bauer, 69, Almena, was northbound on 170^thRoad six miles east of Oberlin. The driver failed to stop at a stop sign at K-Lane.

A westbound 2018 Ford F250 driven by Tyrel R. Prideaux, 39, Atwood struck the Chevy.

Bauer was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Paul’s Funeral Home. Prideaux was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

New leader brings more than 35 years of health care experience to new role

NORTON — Daniel McCormick will become the next President and CEO of Valley Hope, the Board of Directors announced today. McCormick will begin his new duties on June 1.

McCormick has a distinguished career serving as a senior executive and business advisor for more than 35 years. Most recently, he was a managing partner of The Chancellor Group LLC in Minneapolis, Minn., a full-service consulting firm that specializes in various strategic, operational and financial issues within the healthcare industry, focusing on behavioral health, addiction treatment and recovery services.

“We are excited to have Dan’s expertise to lead Valley Hope at this critical time in our organization’s history,” said Patti Yaussi, Board of Directors chairwoman. “Dan is highly accomplished healthcare executive who has successfully led various health care organizations at different stages of their lives, from startups to turnarounds to growth and sustainability. We look forward to what he can bring to Valley Hope.”

The search for a new CEO began more than nine months ago when former president and CEO Pat George decided to step away from the organization.

“It is a privilege to be able to join an organization with Valley Hope’s history of service and innovation in the addiction treatment industry,” McCormick said. “In a time of increasing competition and changes within the industry, it is important to position Valley Hope to remain at the forefront of addiction treatment for the next 50 years.”

McCormick’s previous experience includes serving as CEO of the Hazelden Foundation, a national addiction treatment organization based in Minneapolis, Minn. He also was president and CEO of ETR Associates in Scotts Valley, Calif., a nonprofit leader in behavioral health design providing health education, training, research and consulting solutions to a national clientele. In addition, McCormick was senior vice president and executive director at Phoenix House New England, a behavioral health organization based in Providence, R.I. He earned a bachelor of science in finance and a master’s degree in health care administration, both from the University of Minnesota.

— Valley Hope