STOCKTON — The Phillips-Rooks County Extension District has set a lecture and Q&A on legal issues resulting from livestock buyer bankruptcy at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the Nova Theatre in Stockton.
Roger McEowen, Kansas Farm Bureau professor of law and taxation at the Washburn School of Law, will give a public presentation and then answer questions.
Rachael Boyle, organizer, said the event was sparked by the bankruptcy filing of Plainville Livestock Commission. More than 40 livestock producers were left with bounced checks as part of legal filings surrounding the market agency.
Tyler Gillum, owner of Plainville Livestock Commission, was set to be in bankruptcy court in Wichita on Thursday for a hearing.
Livestock producers affected by the Plainville Livestock Commission bankruptcy are set to meet in private with McEowen on Friday morning. That session is by invitation only and is closed to the public.
Registration for the public event begins at 2:15 p.m. Friday. The lecture starts at 2:30 p.m., and a question and answer session will follow at 3:30 p.m. Pre-registration is not required, and the event is free.
For more information, contact Boyle at (785) 425-6851 or email her at [email protected].
The event is also sponsored by the Rooks and Phillips County Farm Bureaus.
The owner of a lot on the southeast corner of 22nd and Wheatland in Hays has submitted an application for rezoning of the south 60 feet of Lot 2 from Neighborhood Conservation District (NC.3) to Commercial General District (C-2).
The same rezoning was approved by the city commission in January for Lot 1 to the north plus the north 20 feet of Lot 2.
Lots to the west, across Wheatland, are already zoned C-2, while 22nd is a major collector street.
The area is identified as Medium Density Residential in the city’s current Comprehensive Plan. A 2016 update to the Unified Development Code (UDC) requires a bufferyard between C-2 and NC.3 zoning districts.
C-2 zoning allows 28 types of businesses or uses:
“You’ve heard me say this before,” Jesse Rohr, public works director, reminded city commissioners last week. “It’s important to keep in mind that once zoned, any of these uses on that list are fair game for that property. It’s important not to zone with one use in mind, even if it’s known what use is planned.”
The Planning Commission unanimously approved the rezoning request during a March 18 public hearing. All property owners within 200 feet of the subject property were notified of the public hearing.
According to Rohr, two nearby property owners spoke at the Planning Commission meeting. They wanted to know what is planned for the property. The list of permissible uses was provided to them.
One person was also concerned about what’s next.
“Are they gonna come back next month and want to go further south, this person asked.
(Click to enlarge)
“The Planning Commission was pretty adamant they’d be hard-pressed to adopt (a zoning change) going south, primarily because what (the property owner) is doing lines up with the C-2 along 22nd and to the west side of Wheatland. Going further south, they feel, would encroach into the residential neighborhood much more so than this (request) and wouldn’t have that natural break like this one has,” Rohr explained.
City commissioner Ron Mellick attended the Planning Commission public hearing.
“We never know what’s going in. I voted for this last time because it would eliminate a lot of these (permitted) things because of the lot size. It’s going to be a little bit larger now but I’m still not concerned.
“They (nearby property owners) were worried about what would happen if this (new business) closed, and we can’t predict the future… “.
National Service Recognition Day and several residents were honored by the city of Hays.
Following a proclamation reading for National Service Recognition Day by Mayor Henry Schwaller, he requested a 15-minute executive session to discuss potential acquisition of real estate.
No action was taken following the executive session.
The parishes in and around Hays will celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday with a solemn hour of prayer and benediction at 3 p.m. Sunday at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 500 E. 19th.
The service will include adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, the Divine Mercy Chaplet in song, as well as prayers, music and meditation.
Devotion for Divine Mercy began in the 1930s when Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, an uneducated Polish nun, received special communications with Jesus in which he asked her to have this image painted to spread the message of his mercy.
Under the instructions of a spiritual director, Saint Faustina, as she is known, wrote down her revelations with Jesus, which is now contained in her 600-page diary. In these writings, Saint Faustina said we are to call upon Jesus with trust, receive his mercy and let it flow through us to others.
This mercy fulfills the message in Matthew’s gospel that states, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”
Saint Faustina said in her diary that we “radiate” God’s mercy to others by our actions, our words and our prayers.
The Divine Mercy image is a painting of Jesus with two rays emerging from his heart representing the blood and water that flowed from the side of Jesus as his heart was lanced after he died upon the cross.
One is pale representing the water which makes souls righteous. The other is red for the blood, which is the life of souls.
“These two rays issued forth from the very depths of my tender mercy when my agonized heart was opened by a lance on the cross. These rays shield souls from the wrath of my father. Happy is the one who dwell in their shelter, for the just hand of God shall not lay hold of him.” (Diary number 299)
Saint Faustina died in 1938 at the age of 33. She was canonized a saint April 30, 2000, in Rome by Pope John Paul II. At this time, the pontiff said that the Sunday after Easter, Divine Mercy Sunday, would now be an official feast day of the Church.
SHERMAN COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 10p.m. Wednesday in Sherman County.
Photos courtesy Sherman Co. Sheriff
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Kenworth semi driven by Rogelio Morales, 46, Hialeah, FL., was eastbound on Interstate 70 four miles east of Goodland. The semi struck an eastbound KDOT truck, swerved to the right and traveled off the bridge.
Morales was not wearing a seat belt and transported to the hospital in Goodland, according to the KHP. The KDOT truck driver Karl L. Hafer, 50, Goodland, was not injured.
The 105th annual Roundup will be held Thursday, April 18, in the auditorium at the KSU Agricultural Research Center – Hays. Registration will open at 9 a.m. (CST), with the program beginning at 10 a.m (CST).
The schedule is below:
• 9:00 Registration, commercial trade show, and rolls and refreshments
• 10:00 Welcome – Dr. John Jaeger, Beef Cattle Scientist
• 10:10 New Insights into Subseasonal, Seasonal, and Interanual Variability of Weather and Climate Extremes in the Great Plains – Dr. Jeffrey Basara, University of Oklahoma, Director, Kessler Atmospheric and Ecological Field Station and Director of Research, Oklahoma Climatological Survey
• 11:05 Bovine anaplasmosis ‐ What we know/ What we want to know – Dr. Kathryn Reif, KSU Center of Excellence for VectorBorne Diseases.
• 12:00 Lunch – An offering of Smokin’ Co. BBQ wedding roast and sides – all compliments of Golden Plains Trucking, Carrico Implement, Big Creek Veterinary Service, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Elanco Animal Health
• 12:45 A Review of Limit Feeding: An old time feeding method that deserves attention in today’s feeding and environment conditions – Dr. Dale Blasi, Beef Cattle Nutrition and Management Extension Specialist
• 1:40 Rangeland Wildfire: The Road to Recovery – Dr. Keith Harmoney, Range Scientist
• 2:15 Effect of Intensive Early Stocking Cow/Calf pairs on cow performance – Dr. John Jaeger, Beef Cattle Scientist
• 3:00 Adjourn
For more information, contact John Jaeger, [email protected], 785-625-3425, Ext.211
Registration is available by contacting Milissa at 785-625-3425, Ext.200 or [email protected].
Alicia Boor is an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact her by e-mail at [email protected] or calling 620-793-1910.
Thursday A chance of rain and snow before noon, then a slight chance of rain between noon and 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 40. Very windy, with a northwest wind 31 to 36 mph, with gusts as high as 50 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Thursday Night Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 26. Very windy, with a northwest wind 26 to 31 mph decreasing to 17 to 22 mph after midnight. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph.
FridaySunny, with a high near 52. Northwest wind 13 to 17 mph.
Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 27. North northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east northeast after midnight.
SaturdayMostly cloudy, with a high near 52.
Saturday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 29.
The Kansas Department of Transportation has reopened westbound I-70 at Hays. All lanes that were previously closed are now open.
For up-to-date information on road closures and road conditions, call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside Kansas, or check travel information online at www.kandrive.org.
UPDATE Thursday 1:45 p.m.: The Kansas Department of Transportation has reopened westbound I-70 at Hays. All lanes that were previously closed are now open.
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UPDATE Thursday, 10 a.m.: The Kansas Department of Transportation has closed westbound I-70 between Hays and Oakley. Both directions continue to remain closed between WaKeeney and Oakley.
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The Kansas Department of Transportation on Thursday morning closed both directions of Interstate 70 between Oakley and WaKeeney because of multiple crashes blocking the roadway.
For up-to-date information on road closures and road conditions, call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside Kansas, or check travel information online at www.kandrive.org.
ROAD CLOSED: I-70 is closed in both directions between Oakley and WaKeeney because of multiple crashes blocking the roadway. More condition and closure updates at https://t.co/hFNgAPWzND. #kswxpic.twitter.com/owsIBwMRNk
ELLIS COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just before 5p.m. Wednesday in Ellis County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Subaru Legacy driven by Vicki F. Renninger, 65, Littleton, Co., was eastbound on Interstate 70 seven miles west of Hays.
The vehicle drifted off the left side of the road. The driver overcorrected. The vehicle traveled into the south ditch, struck an embankment and rolled into a field.
Renninger was transported to the hospital in Hays. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
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By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Just before 5 p.m. Wednesday an SUV westbound on Interstate 70 left the roadway at mile marker 152 between Hays and Ellis and rolled.
The SUV came to rest on its top, trapping the driver inside.
One woman was taken to the hospital with critical injuries, according to scanner reports.
The woman’s name has not been released.
The Interstate was not closed as a result of the accident.
Watch the Hays Post for more information as it becomes available.
HaysMed CEO Edward Herrman, Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers and Dr. Jeff Curtis talk during a tour of HaysMed on Tuesday.
By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post
Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers said Medicaid expansion is not just an economic issue, it’s a moral issue, as he made a stop at HaysMed Tuesday morning for a discussion on health care.
Medicaid expansion legislation has passed in the Kansas House, but has yet to pass in the Senate. Medicaid expansion was a central piece of Rogers’ and Gov. Laura Kelly’s campaign platform.
In Ellis County, Medicaid expansion would insure 731 more residents, create 20 new jobs and have an economic impact of almost $4.9 million.
Rogers, as well as local health care professionals, gathered for a group discussion. The majority agreed Medicaid is needed to provide preventive health care for rural Kansans and maintain rural hospitals and health care clinics.
“We know Medicaid expansion won’t necessarily save a hospital, but we know it is one of the major indicators that has created problems,” he said.
About 30 Kansas hospitals are on a very vulnerable list, two rural Kansas hospitals have closed in the last 45 days, and two more have closed in the last year.
“Really what this does is Medicaid expansion takes 150,00 Kansans away from the highest cost medical service — emergency care— and puts them into preventive care, where they can have many of their services paid for in advance,” Rogers said.
“We see it as a very budget neutral situation now that we have a $25 per person per month fee and what it saves us in other state agencies it could really mean some really good things for the state of Kansas.”
The fee for families for Medicaid expansion would be capped at $100. These fees would generate about $20 million to $25 million of the $30 million cost to the state of Kansas for Medicaid expansion. The federal government currently pays 90 percent of Medicaid expansion. The House bill also stipulates if that federal match would be eliminated, the state would end Medicaid expansion.
HaysMed CEO Edward Herrman and Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers and Dr. Jeff Curtis talk about health care during a tour of HaysMed on Tuesday.
Walt Hill, executive director of High Plains Mental Health, said Medicaid expansion would be a great boon to preventive mental health care. High Plains sees 6,000 patients per year in its coverage area. Out of a $10 million budget, $1 million a year is services provided to the uninsured.
“We have to find alternative sources of funding,” Hill said. “We often provide services on the backs of our staff who are very difficult to recruit and retain in the area.”
Rogers said in looking at mental health services in the state, the Sedgwick County jail is the third largest provider of mental health services only behind the two state mental health hospitals.
“We as taxpayers are spending $10 to $12 million on mental health services that probably would be covered under Medicaid,” he said.
Rogers and Hill both noted competition is high for health care recruiting. As Nebraska expands Medicaid, there is concern that qualified health professionals will continue to move out of state for more competitive wages.
Edward Herrman, HaysMed CEO, said although the amount rural hospitals would receive from Medicaid expansion doesn’t seem like much, it may be the difference between those hospitals breaking even.
Health care providers and local leaders gather for a discussion on health care with Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers at HaysMed on Tuesday.
“I can tell you that we know for sure that there are a few facilities that even if it is only $100,000 or $150,000 in benefit they would see, that is literally what they are missing in having a margin. …
“There are more people in the larger areas, but the actual impact is much larger in the rural areas. $100,000 in bottom line revenue means a heck of lot more to a Rush County hospital than $1.5 million on the bottom line for a St. Francis or the University of Kansas hospital.”
Herrman also noted during polls, three-quarters of Kansans said they are in favor of expansion.
Kansas is one of 14 states that has not expanded Medicaid. Kansans pay taxes to support Medicaid expansion, but the funds go to other states, he added.
“Most importantly, it is 150,000 Kansans who are falling in the gap and we are not even providing basic primary care for them,” Herrman said. “They do end up showing up in our ER in the most expensive place you can possibly receive care as well as many times not the appropriate place to receive your care.”
Bryan Brady, First Care Clinic CEO, said the clinic takes care of about 7,000 patients — 1,600 of those are uninsured. The clinic estimates about 1,000 of those patients would qualify for health insurance under Medicaid expansion.
“That would mean about $400,000 to our facility directly,” he said. “That is a huge amount. What we do is keep those patients out of the emergency room — the most expensive method of care.”
Dr. Heather Harris, family medicine provider with HaysMed, said a lack of insurance results in individuals waiting to get care until a health problem is acute and costs more to treat.
“Not only do they not come in for acute things, but they wouldn’t dream of coming in for anything preventive,” she said. …
“They come in late. They can’t afford the medicines. We have trouble giving them the education they need about food and exercise and smoking. If you can treat the parents, you can hope you will have healthier kids. It is just this continued trend. You can barely get them well for their acute things. You are never going to get them preventive care.”
Rogers said keeping people healthy, productive and employed benefits the state of Kansas.
First Care Clinic Medical Director Christine Fisher said Medicaid expansion would help the working poor.
“These are productive people, God help them, who are trying really hard, but they just need that extra bit of help that will make them even more productive members of society,” she said. “By making them healthier, you will only increase productivity and what you gain from the health care aspect will be very far reaching. If you give a person insurance, they will get their preventive care done, and if you don’t, they simply will not.
“If you don’t do primary care and preventive care, health care is extremely expensive down stream.”
HaysMed Cardiologist Dr. Jeff Curtis described himself as a “red doctor,” but he said he supports Medicaid expansion as a people issue and a patient issue.
“In the short term, I am in favor of Medicaid expansion, not just for our hospital, but for everything in western Kansas. It is a Band Aid until we can figure something else out. If we don’t get it and we don’t have it and we see all the other states around us getting it, that means people in our state are suffering.
“If we have it, we can expand the services in our bigger hospital — new equipment and new services — so patients don’t have to go to Kansas City, Wichita, Denver or Kearny. It helps us attract high quality health care workers, which is a challenge out here.”
The Hays Police Department will be conducting training from 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at 2736 Colonial.
Police officers will be training with special tactical equipment. This training is being done with great care and safety.
As a home or business owner, you may see law enforcement officers move through your area. There is no need to be alarmed. The officers are merely conducting a realistic training exercise and there is no danger to the community.
If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the on-site supervisor, Team Leader Aaron Larson, or Chief Don Scheibler at 785-625-1030.
Walmart plans estimated $49.7M in Kansas store improvements in 2019
WICHITA — Building on its commitment to save customers time and money in new ways, Walmart expects to spend an estimated $49.7 million this year in Kansas through the remodeling of 10 stores, as well as the launch and continued expansion of several customer-focused innovations.
“In addition to saving customers money every day, Walmart has been committed to making the shopping experience fast and convenient for our Kansas customers,” said David Carmon, Walmart regional general manager. “That commitment will continue this year by enhancing our stores and adding innovative technology, such as Pickup Towers and Online Grocery Pickup, that will give customers even more choices and transform the way they shop.”
2019 Walmart Remodels in Kansas
Walmart plans to remodel stores in the following locations:
1920 US-73, Atchison, Kan.
2700 S Santa Fe Avenue, Chanute, Kan.
1863 5300 Road, Coffeyville, Kan. (remodeled in March)
2020 Nelson Drive, Derby, Kan. (remodeled in March)
3503 10th Street, Great Bend, Kan.
2301 Industrial Road, Emporia, Kan.
4301 Vine Street, Hays, Kan.
205 Centennial Drive, McPherson, Kan.
1701 South Kansas Road, Newton, Kan. (remodeled in March)
Busy customers love Walmart’s grocery pickup option. It gives them the convenience of shopping online and the ease of quickly picking up groceries without having to leave their cars. The best part: it’s all at no additional cost. Walmart plans to expand the popular program to 19 stores across the state by the end of the year. The company also recently introduced Walmart Voice Order, which allows customers to simply say “Hey Google, talk to Walmart” and the Google Assistant will add items directly to their Walmart Grocery cart.
Walmart Pickup Towers are 16-feet tall, high-tech vending machines capable of fulfilling a customer’s online order in less than a minute once they arrive at the store. It’s easy to do– once the order is ready, step up to the Pickup Tower and scan the barcode sent to your smartphone to retrieve your item. This year, Walmart plans to add 12 Pickup Towers to stores across the state.
(4) FAST Unloader
Today, product is unloaded as it arrives at the store through a complex, highly manual process that has seen little innovation over the last 50 years – until now. A new system in Walmart backrooms– known as FAST-automatically scans and sorts items that come off trucks based on priority and department, allowing associates to spend less time unloading in the backroom and more time on the sales floor with customers. This year, Walmart plans to expand the technology to 16 stores across the state.
(5) Autonomous Floor Scrubber
The autonomous floor scrubber uses assisted autonomy technology to perform the task of cleaning and scrubbing the concrete floors in stores. The company plans to expand the technology to 20 stores across the state this year.
STOCKTON — The Phillips-Rooks County Extension District has set a lecture and Q&A on legal issues resulting from livestock buyer bankruptcy at 2:30 p.m. Friday in the Nova Theatre in Stockton.
