USD 489
The following USD 489 students, parents and staff received Kansas Head Start awards and scholarships.
• Dr. Michael Hattan—Family Leader of the Year Award
• Kelli Riley—Support Staff of the Year Award
• Karla Bixenman, Teacher of the Year Award
• Alexandria Hagerman—Head Start Alumni High School Senior Scholarship
• Katelyn Proberts—Head Start Parent Post Secondary Education Scholarship
DHM
LOGAN – The Dane G. Hansen Museum invites the public to their Annual Meeting, held in the Dane G. Hansen Community Room on April 14, 2019 at 2:00 p.m.
Enjoy refreshments, tour our current exhibit, then join the throng in our Community Room as Dr. Kelli Berg presents her “Travel Tales Across North America”. Actively traveling across America for her career, Dr. Berg immerses herself in the variety of cultures she encounters, taking awe-inspiring photos along the way. From the Yukon Province in Canada to Utah and Maine, Dr. Berg will share her medley of experiences with all in attendance.
Current Exhibit: Eckman Fine Art – Cast Paper Sculptures. Sculpting from their home in the Black Hills of South Dakota, Allen and Patty Eckman are internationally recognized as masters in this intricate medium.
Marine veteran Allen Eckman’s attention to his Cherokee heritage pairs wonderfully with Patty’s detailed awareness of natural beauty, especially wildlife and flowers. As Allen and Patty’s sculptures are typically unpainted, this purity lends itself wholly to the intricate detail of these exquisite pieces. In addition to this main theme, Allen has included several sculptures that reflect his military background, while Patty includes some of her oil and acrylic paintings of nature and the timeless west.
Eckman Fine Art – Cast Paper Sculptures is on display through June 2, 2019.
For more information, please contact Director Shari Buss at 785-689-4846.
The Museum is open weekdays 9-12 and 1-4; Saturdays 9-12 & 1-5; Sundays and holidays 1-5. We are closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. The Museum is handicap-accessible and thanks to the generosity of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, there is never an admission fee.
Submitted
Monica Dreiling’s fifth-grade class at Lincoln Elementary School is learning about marketing and community service.
Students have created a Beanie Babies store at Lincoln Elementary School (inside the main entrance) and have brand new with tags Beanie Babies (about 7 to 8 inches) to sell. The store will also be selling Furbies. Buy one for a quarter and get one free. All proceeds will go to the food pantry and other local organizations.
The Beanie Babies/Furby store hours are open to the community and are as follows:
Monday, March 25 – 7:30-7:45 a.m. and 3:05-3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 26 – 7:30-7:45 a.m. and 3:05-3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, March 27 – 7:30-7:45 a.m. and 3:05-3:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 28 – 7:30-7:45 a.m. and 3:05-3:30 p.m.
Friday, March 29 – 7:30-7:45 a.m. and 3:05-3:30 p.m.
FHSU University Relations
Great Bend will be the second of three free hearing screenings, funded by the Kansas Masons, offered again this spring in western Kansas communities by Fort Hays State University.
“The FHSU Herndon Clinic in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders is very fortunate to have received a large grant from the Kansas Masons to support adult speech, language and hearing services in Western Kansas,” said Marcy Beougher, speech-language pathologist and an instructor in the department.
The grant is continuing to provide numerous opportunities for individuals of all ages in western Kansas to receive important health screening services that are currently scarce or difficult to access.
“With Mason support and funding, we have visited 16 different communities in two and a half years and have screened nearly 600 people,” said Beougher. “We are thankful to the Masons for the opportunity to help provide free hearing screenings in Western Kansas and to make necessary and important medical and audiological referrals. We are also very grateful for the clinical hours these screenings provide for our graduate students.”
The screening will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, April 5, at the Barton County Health Department, 1300 Kansas Ave., Great Bend.
Appointments are encouraged to be scheduled ahead of time, but walk-ins will be welcomed on a first-come, first-served basis. Each site will have four stations, with each screening lasting approximately 15 minutes. Results, follow-up information and free ear plugs will also be provided. There will be no hearing aid sales.
Screenings are provided by graduate students from the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders. Beougher will organize the screenings.
The last screening of the spring 2019 semester will be in Belleville. Time, date and actual screening site will be announced later.
“FHSU’s CSD Department feels this is truly a win-win situation as our graduate students receive valuable clinical hours and experience serving the public at these screenings, and many individuals benefit from the knowledge they receive about their hearing, as well as helpful follow-up information,” said Beougher.
“We are grateful as always to the Kansas Masons, who welcome us to their communities and support this endeavor financially so we can provide this much-needed service for no charge.”
To schedule an appointment for the Great Bend screening, contact Greg King at 620-617-3634 or [email protected].
For more information, visit fhsu.edu/herndon-clinic/ or contact the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders at 785-628-5366.
TodayBy CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Neal Younger is trying to spread the word about a resources he said made all the difference to he and his wife when they lost their 16-year-old son, Cody.
Younger and his wife have been longtime members of the the Healing Hearts support group.
The Youngers joined Healing Hearts nine years ago when they lost their son, Cody, in a tragic car crash. Another teen in the car also died in the crash.
“Without this support group, I don’t know where my wife and I would be,” he said.
He said his faith, talking about Cody and talking to other people helped him get through the grief.
The Youngers joined the support group within a month of Cody’s death and have never left.
“We got to talk to people who have been in the group before us,” he said, “and it was soothing. We asked what they did — what they did in their grief as they went through the healing process. That helped us a lot and just talking about our son — not just forgetting and going on. …
“They are helping us, and now we are at the point where we are helping other people in the group who come in.”
Younger said being able to connect with other people who were experiencing the same type of loss was important. He said friends and family often have a difficult time approaching someone who has lost a child. They don’t know what to say or how to help.
When his son died, Younger said he and his wife talked to other support group members about what they wanted people to say to them as they grieved. They talked about things they did not want people to say.
“You are going to have people who are your best friends who are probably not going to be your best friends,” he said. “There will be strangers who will come up and say, ‘Did you not lose?’ … To us that was soothing. To have a stranger come (up to us), it felt like they do care.”
Younger said talking about his son really helped him and his wife through the grieving process.
Neal said his son was an ornery teenager. He loved to be outdoors and go hunting with his dad or go to the lake. In the last year before his death, Cody was following in his dad’s footsteps and becoming more involved in the farm.
“He was a good all-around kid,” he said. “I miss him … always.”
Younger acknowledged not everyone may feel comfortable talking about their deceased child.
“Everybody heals differently,” he said. “Everybody grieves differently.”
The Center for Life Experience sponsors three grief support groups — Healing Hearts for parents who have lost children, Healing After Loss of Suicide (HALOS) and Healing After Loss, which is a general grief support group.
The CLFE groups are true support groups. They are not facilitated by clinicians, but are made up of people with similar experiences.
Younger said he and his wife, who is on the CFLE board, both strongly believe the support groups need to stay in the community.
“(I want them to know) if they are struggling and not grieving to come to these groups. It would be very soothing. Everybody who is in there is in the same situation, so we can talk amongst each other and help them get through this.”
The Center for Life Experience was launched 18 years ago in the Hays First Presbyterian Church, with donor funds specified to benefit the community, not the church.
Last May, the Session of First Presbyterian determined it could no longer financially support CFLE.
In November CFLE became a stand-alone, community-based not-for-profit 501(c)(3) and in late December, CFLE moved to the second floor of the Hadley Center in downtown Hays.
Younger along with the CFLE board are seeking donations toward the long-term sustainability of the CFLE and its mission. Any donation amount is appreciated.
“All the merchants in Hays have been excellent,” Younger said. “I can’t believe it. I am just amazed how our community can kick in when needed.”
The CFLE support groups also provide an important resource for NCK Tech and FHSU students who observe the support groups as part of the their nursing or social work programs.
You can send donations to the CLFE at 205 E. Seventh, Ste. 251, Hays, KS 67601.
You can learn more about CFLE and its programs on its website.
See related story: Center for Life Experience moves; same purpose remains
Graphic courtesy CanStockPhoto.com
CHEYENNE COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 9a.m. Friday in Cheyenne County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2013 Freightliner semi driven by Horalia Cagle, 45, Holyoke, Co., was southbound on K27
The semi veered off the roadway from the right lane, continued through the west ditch until it overturned.
Cagle was transported to the hospital in St. Francis. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
NASA Expedition 59 Flight Engineers Nick Hague of Hoxie, Kansas and Anne McClain concluded their spacewalk at 1:40 p.m. CDT Friday.
During the six-hour, 39-minute spacewalk, the two NASA astronauts successfully replaced nickel-hydrogen batteries with newer, more powerful lithium-ion batteries for the power channel on one pair of the station’s solar arrays.
Astronauts were also able to accomplish several get-ahead tasks including removing debris from outside of the station, securing a tieback for restraints on the Solar Array Blanket Box, and photographing a bag of tools for contingency repairs and the airlock thermal cover that is opened and closed for spacewalks.
These new batteries provide an improved power capacity for operations with a lighter mass and a smaller volume than the nickel-hydrogen batteries. Next week, McClain and flight engineer Christina Koch are scheduled to venture outside on the March 29 spacewalk to work on a second set of battery replacements on a different power channel in the same area of the station. This would be the first-ever spacewalk with all-female spacewalkers.
Hague and David Saint-Jacques of the Canadian Space Agency are scheduled to conduct a third spacewalk April 8 to lay out jumper cables between the Unity module and the S0 truss, at the midpoint of the station’s backbone. This work will establish a redundant path of power to the Canadian-built robotic arm, known as Canadarm2. They also will install cables to provide for more expansive wireless communications coverage outside the orbital complex, as well as for enhanced hardwired computer network capability.
Space station crew members have conducted 214 spacewalks in support of assembly and maintenance of the orbiting laboratory. This was the first spacewalk for both McClain and Hague. Spacewalkers have now spent a total of 55 days, 21 hours and 39 minutes working outside the station.
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NASA Expedition 59 Flight Engineers Nick Hague of Hoxie, Kansas and Anne McClain will begin a spacewalk outside of the International Space Station at about 7 a.m. CDT Friday, March 22. NASA Television coverage of the spacewalk will begin at 5:30 a.m., according to a media release from the space agency.
Watch the spacewalk on NASA TV and on the agency’s website.
This will be the 214th spacewalk in support of space station assembly and maintenance. McClain will be designated extravehicular crewmember 1 (EV 1), wearing the suit with red stripes. Hague will be designated extravehicular crew member 2 (EV 2), wearing the suit with no stripes.
This is the first of two battery replacement spacewalks this month. McClain and Hague will replace nickel-hydrogen batteries with newer, more powerful lithium-ion batteries for the power channel on one pair of the station’s solar arrays. The batteries were transported to the station in September aboard the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle. The spacewalking work continues the overall upgrade of the station’s power system that began with similar battery replacement during spacewalks in January 2017.
Hays Post
A Hays man was sentenced to 20 years and one month in prison Friday after he pleaded guilty earlier this year to three sex crimes involving a minor.
Andrew Bayle Claude pleaded guilty Feb. 14 in Ellis County District Court to one count each of rape, aggravated indecent liberties with a child and aggravated sexual battery.
Earlier this month, Claude’s attorney, Cheryl Stewart, filed a motion to withdraw Claude’s plea after he contested the age of one of the victims.
Claude was originally charged with five felony counts stemming from sexual contact he allegedly had with four teenage girls ages 16 and younger between November 2017 and March 2018.
In the plea agreement reached in February, the state agreed to drop two charges and but three other felonies would stand.
He also agreed to an Alford plea on the rape charge altering the age of the victim from 13 to 14. A rape conviction of a person age 13 and under is considered an “off-grid” felony and carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole for 50 years. If the victim is 14, the mandatory sentence in 155 months.
In his motion to withdraw his plea, Claude argued that the victim was actually 14.
Stewart argued, on Claude’s behalf, that if the victim was 14 at the time of the crime, he could possibly be acquitted of the charges or receive a better plea deal.
Ellis County Attorney Tom Drees argued Claude agreed that one incident happened when the victim was 13, and Drees said there was no evidence that it would have happened after the victim turned 14. He said Claude also admitted having sexual contact with a second victim who was 13.
District Judge Blake Bittel denied the motion to dismiss the plea agreement, ruling that Claude’s attorney was competent, Claude fully understood the plea agreement, and he previously agreed to the plea.
After dismissing the motion, Bittel sentenced Claude to the agreed-upon term of 241 months in prison. He was sentenced to 155 months for a rape charge, 55 months for aggravated indecent liberties with a child and 31 months for aggravated sexual battery.
Claude will also be subject to lifetime post-release supervision, and he must register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
A 17-year-old missing since March 17 has been found safe, according to family.
Hannah Widener was visiting her father in North Platte, Neb., and was planning on returning to Norton when she went missing. No other details were available.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
This is the second academic year for the Virtual Student Senate at Fort Hays State University.
Adam Schibi, on-campus FHSU Student Government Association president, says SGA is still trying to figure out the best way to conduct the election of virtual students from each of the university’s five colleges.
“Obviously, some students might come on for a semester and then not come back. Some might be on for long term, some might be much shorter,” Schibi said.
There are upwards of 15 virtual student senators at any time. Currently, elections are held in the fall.
“Students can apply. They put their name up for election. All virtual students vote on them and they’re put into the positions. They meet monthly with me.”
The FHSU virtual students can reach out to their own representatives as well as the on-campus executive staff with any concerns or questions and suggestions they might have.
They also discuss topics important to their learning and how SGA can better that experience.
“One thing that is kind of being talked about now by a couple of students is online proctoring of exams. They’ve voiced their concerns about it and some of the experiences they had,” said Schibi.
“It’s obviously very difficult, as they can be in various parts of the country and the world, to have lines of communication.
“Sending us an email is probably the best way of to make sure we have information from them. I think that’s one of the best ways we can still make an impact on those students.”
The Virtual Student Senate’s last meeting with Schibi was at the end of February.
“It’s interesting to hear some of the things they have to say in comparison to on-campus students. It’s always a good ear for us to have.”
In Oct. 2018, the Kansas Board of Regents confirmed 7,005 students enrolled in the FHSU Virtual College.
Medicaid Expansion Passes the House
On Wednesday, March 20, we were planning to debate House Bill 2066, which would have updated the regulations for Advanced Practical Registered Nurses. However, in a process referred to as a “gut and go” an amendment was used to strip all of the language from HB 2066 and insert the policy for Medicaid Expansion.
This amendment provides coverage for individuals who are 138% below the Federal poverty level. The idea for states in implement Medicaid Expansion derived from Affordable Care Act (ACA) because a segment of the population did not qualify for Medicaid or ACA due to their income level. The cost to the state of Kansas is expected to be $47 million annually since there is a cost share mechanism with the Federal government providing 90% of the funding and Kansas will be responsible for the remaining 10%. I did present an amendment to help with these costs, which passed, that would require a monthly fee for those in Medicaid Expansion of $25 each month or $100 maximum for families. My amendment stipulates that if the Federal government ever would reduce the amount of funding below the 90%, the state of Kansas “shall” be able to opt out of Medicaid Expansion. Even with my amendment passed, I have continually said that I could not vote in favor of Medicaid Expansion in amendment form. This needs to be vetted and worked as a bill in the Health and Human Services committee. Since it came as an amendment, I could not support HB 2066. The bill did pass the House, 69-54.
Budget Bill
The Appropriations committee passed out the budget bill for fiscal years 2019 and 2020 late in the afternoon on Wednesday, March 20. We had a lengthy deliberation on the budget that was submitted by Governor Kelly, requests from the many state departments and agencies, and the recommendations of the budget committees that report to the Appropriations committee. Some of the details of the budget bill address the many needs of social services across the state of Kansas, increasing the number of social workers for the next two years for the Department of Children and Families, reinstating funding for the Kansas Main Street Program, a 2.5% pay increase for state employees, and continuing to make our obligations to the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System (KPERS). We are planning to debate the budget bill on the House floor on Monday, March 25.
House Bill 2369 – Transportation Tolling
In addition to passing the budget out of the Appropriations committee, we also deliberated on some details for the future transportation plan. During the interim, I served on the Joint Legislative Transportation Task Force, where we addressed the future needs for the Kansas transportation infrastructure. One of the recommendations from that task force dealt with tolling in the state of Kansas and how we could address infrastructure needs by tolling.
House Bill 2369, authorizes the Secretary of the Kansas Department of Transportation to construct new toll projects or designate existing highways as toll roads. This bill expands this authority for the Secretary, although, she would need to be granted approval by the Kansas Turnpike Authority Board and the State Finance Council, of which I am a member, for each new tolling project. The intent is also for the local communities to have a decision on the new tolling projects, as well. This bill was discussed and passed out of the Appropriations committee Thursday morning and hope to debate it next week on the floor.
Contact Information
As always, if you have any concerns, feel free to contact me (785) 296-7672, follow on twitter at @waymaster4house, visit www.troywaymaster.com or email me at [email protected]. Also, if you happen to visit the statehouse, please let my office know.
It is a distinct honor to serve as your representative for the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns, and questions. I always appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas, as well.
Troy Waymaster (R-Bunker Hill) is the 109th Dist. state representative and chairman of the House Appropriations committee. The 109th District includes Osborne, Russell, and Smith counties and portions of Barton, Jewell, Lincoln and Rush counties.
