Local – Page 264 – Hays Post Archive

KNOLL: The political twilight zone

Posted on March 7, 2019March 6, 2019

If one is in a twilight zone, that means a person is somewhere between reality and fantasy. I contend our government in part, all of our politics from the left, and most of media that camps out in D.C’s Disneyland, are no longer even in the twilight zone. It’s all a make believe world.

This letter to the editor is a follow up to one a few weeks ago. In my last writing titled “Disneyland on the Potomac” where our Washington D.C. government is located on a river, we have a political world that seems to be from Mars. Reality doesn’t seem to exist. Hollywood is in second place when we look at who creates the most fiction.

In my last letter I mentioned how out of touch the left is with the climate change issue and open borders for illegals. I also touched on the Trump Russia collusion story that has dominated the news daily for over two years with no evidence whatsoever that collusion occurred or that somehow Russia hacked into our election. I also hit on the fake news coming from media which I intend to address even more.

How about the following for another leftist liberal and progressive whopper! Call it science fiction. Even though real scientists have concluded life begins at conception and an unborn baby can feel pain within 8 weeks of a typical 40 week pregnancy, there are Democrats who want to make it legal to kill a baby after he or she is born and out of the mother’s womb. The epitome of insanity and – and immorality! The Senate Democrats actually killed a bill that would have made it illegal to murder.

You can’t make this stuff up, but it is happening. Call it a bad dream that Dems don’t even value the lives of newborn babies.

Most of the Democrat Party presidential hopefuls are campaigning on the replacement of capitalism in this country with socialism, and that’s at a time America has the strongest economy in the world thanks to capitalism. Socialism has never worked in the many countries that have gone that route, but “so what” is the mindset from Democrats. Did you or I ever think we would see the day when there would be a socialist proposal telling Americans that if you don’t want to work, no problems, you’ll be guaranteed an income equal to those that do work? God help us.

I bring up the fake news issue again because news by mainstream media (known as MSM) permeates all of our lives daily like none other. It is delusional for anybody to think our media is objective and non partisan when 95% of journalists and others employed in media vote Democrat. A recent poll shows that the majority of Americans believe most media purposefully presents false news for the sole purpose of misleading readers and viewers.

The hosts and contributors of political news coming from CNN, MSNBC, the big three networks of ABC, CBS, NBC are making Hollywood actors and actresses look like amateurs. Take note of this scenario. Every morning or the late evening before, there is collaboration by MSM to “manufacture” (make up) talking points for the sole purpose of misleading viewers into falsely thinking Trump is going to be in prison any day now following impeachment.

Surely readers have noticed on TV that if one person on mainstream media has a negative talking point about what Trump does, they all say the same thing. Free press? Not even in our dreams. For example, if the order of the day is to call Trump a racist they all say the same thing hundreds of times throughout the day.

What takes place in liberal mainstream media 24/7 is nothing but an act that all have rehearsed. It’s fake news. It’s spin. The American public is being duped by MSM, which is an arm of the Democrat Party. Call it brainwashing and indoctrination. In fact, one could call it “dumbing down” the public. For example, a recent report by a two year Senate Intelligence Committee of no evidence Trump colluded with Russia media continued claiming there was for some 2,040 minutes with zero minutes spent on the report saying otherwise.

Only the gullible thinks the Mueller Special Council Report, when forthcoming, will nail Trump for collusion. I guarantee you all that if witch hunter Mueller had a bombshell smoking gun he would have said something long ago to distract from the attempted coup to destroy Trump by Mueller’s friends in the FBI and DOJ. It turns out the cops and robbers are one and the same. Trump will get hammered for other things, but not collusion, even though the SC is supposed to be about collusion.

With all the successes Trump has in making America great again, how is it even possible for media to claim they are fair and balanced with wall to wall negative coverage throughout the day? One need not be a rocket scientist to figure out that does not compute logically, but then the left isn’t logical about anything.

Les Knoll lives in Victoria and Gilbert, Ariz.

Cloudy, cold Thursday

Posted on March 7, 2019March 6, 2019

Thursday Patchy fog between 8am and 9am. Areas of freezing fog between 7am and 8am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, with a high near 31. East northeast wind around 9 mph becoming north northwest in the morning.

Thursday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 16. North wind 5 to 9 mph.

FridayPartly sunny, with a high near 38. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 10 mph in the morning.

Friday NightA chance of rain before 9pm, then a chance of freezing rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 31. East southeast wind 10 to 15 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 40%.

SaturdayMostly sunny, with a high near 42. Windy.

Ellis Co. commissioners reject plea for additional attorney

Posted on March 6, 2019March 6, 2019

Drees: Case backlog will continue to grow

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission will not provide an additional $35,000 in budget authority for the county attorney to return his office to five full-time prosecutors.

Earlier this year, County Attorney Tom Drees asked the commission for the additional funds to bring his office back to the previous staffing levels. In November, Assistant County Attorney Chris Lyon, who was only considered a part-time employee stepped down from his position with Ellis County, leaving the county with four full-time attorneys.

Drees said the additional $35,423 would allow him to hire a fifth full-time attorney.

In February, several members of the attorney’s office and local law enforcement officials spoke in favor of re-establishing the fifth position.

At Monday’s meeting, all three commissioners acknowledged the importance of the work done in the attorney’s office but said the current budget situation made it hard for them to find the extra funds. Commissioner Butch Schlyer said the request was poor timing.

“The county’s financial situation is just really, really bad. Your timing on this is just atrocious,” said Schlyer. “I really have reservations, from my part in this, about allowing that extra $35,000 because it’s going to have to come from some other department somehow or somewhere.”

As part of his budget presentation last month, County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes presented the commission with a five-year projection that showed the county having a negative unencumbered cash balance of negative $509,000 at the end of 2021.

Smith-Hanes said they determined the county will need to reduce expenses and increase revenues by $2 million. Commission Chair Dan Haselhorst said Monday he’s not confident giving the extra money to Drees in their current situation.

“Just trying to decide where we’re going to come up with another $35,000 when we are $2 million short,” Haselhorst said.

Drees said he understands the position the commission is in and said they will continue to make do with what they are provided.

“This is reality. This is governing,” Drees said. “The commissioners have to allocate their money. We department heads take the money they’ll give and we do the best we can with it.”

But with the reduction in staff, the backlog in court cases is still expected to grow.

Drees said his office had nearly 1,500 reports last year and each prosecutor can work about 200 to 250 reports a year, so his office is left with a backlog that will continue to pile up.

He said he hopes to discuss the position during the 2020 budget process later this year.

In other business, the commission:

• Approved the sale of a 1-acre tract of land that was part of a half-section sold to a Victoria couple. The deed shows the county purchased the property in 1932 but there is no documentation as to why. The county paid $50 for it in 1932 and agreed to sell it for $800 Monday.
• Heard an update from fair officials on drainage issues at the fairgrounds.
• Approved the emergency operations plan, which lays out the responsibilities of each department in the event of a disaster.

U.S. Attorney: Woman caught with more than 20 pounds of meth in Russell Co.

Posted on March 6, 2019

Alonso-Espinoza / photo Butler County Sheriff’s Department

A Mexican citizen has been charged by federal prosecutors after allegedly being found with more than 20 pounds of methamphetamine in northwest Kansas.

Maria Alonso-Espinoza, 29, has been charged with one count of distributing methamphetamine, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.

According to court documents, the Kansas Highway Patrol stopped Alonso-Espinoza’s vehicle Feb. 26 on Interstate 70 in Russell County and found 21 pounds of meth.

If convicted, she faces a penalty of not less than 10 years and a fine up to $10 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mona Furst is prosecuting.

HaysMed: Staying close to home for medical care may be better for your health

Posted on March 6, 2019March 6, 2019

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Patients reap many benefits from staying close to home to receive medical services.

Yet, some Ellis County patients still travel outside of the county to receive medical treatment.

Hospital officials spoke to Hays Post about the factors that might lead to patients leaving home for treatment and what local providers are doing to try to change perceptions that care is better elsewhere.

HaysMed market share in Ellis County is 80 percent to 85 percent, which is good, according to Ed Herrman, HaysMed CEO.

For the hospital’s primary service area, the market share is about 77 percent. This includes Ellis, Russell, Rooks, Rush and Trego counties. The hospital also has a secondary market that extends about 75 miles from Hays and a tertiary market that encompasses most of northwest Kansas and some of southwest Kansas.

Herrman said some patients think they will receive better care in a metro area, but bigger is not always better.

“The care is not better,” he said. “Actually in many cases, from quality outcomes, the care is not as good as we are here. In Leapfrog, we are rated an A. We are rated as high as you can be rated on quality of care in our industry. There are many of those facilities that people are going to in Wichita or another metropolitan area that are not As on Leapfrog’s grading scale.

“That is our focus — quality and the patient.”

Issued twice per year, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade empowers regular people to find a safer hospital in their community by using a A, B, C, D, F grading system.

The hospital has some of the best outcomes in the state on hip and knee surgeries, Herrman said. In orthopedics, HaysMed has a Durable Medical Equipment Accreditation and the DNV-GL Healthcare Hip and Knee Replacement Certification for Center of Excellence. It was the first in the state to obtain this certification. HaysMed also is certified in managing infection risk.

Staying at home for medical care can be better for your health, Herrman said.

“You’re close to home. Any time you don’t have to add the stressors of travel. … If you are going to have surgery, we are always going to hope the outcome is textbook and is just as they said it was going to be, but sometimes it is not that way because other things happen. We have patients and families who find themselves thinking they are going for a routine procedure who are now spending the next three or four days in a city they didn’t plan on staying in,” he said.

Staying close to home also means you are closer to care if you have a complication after a procedure.

“They are typically either in an emergency or some type of crisis, and our surgeons are not the ones who have dealt with the procedure to begin with. That always makes it a little more difficult,” Herrman said.

Staying locally also supports the local facility, he said.

“We always want to give people access to as much as possible, so they don’t have to travel, but when they are not utilizing the resources that are right here for them, it makes it much more difficult to provide all those resources in the future,” he said.

HaysMed has an especially strong oncology department, Herrman said. HaysMed follows the same protocols as the University of Kansas Medical Center and, in some instances, the Mayo Clinic.

“That is not a process of healing that you want try to have to do on the road,” he said. “It is very taxing and it is difficult and painful for those patients who are going through cancer treatment and radiation treatment.”

Herrman said the quickest way for local residents to get the care they need is to come to HaysMed.

“Because if our physicians diagnosis you with something that is not in their practice — it is not something that they do — they still already know the guys and the gals who are out there that do that speciality,” he said. “If we can’t take care of it here, we know who can, and we will set it up for you and make it easy and seamless.”

HaysMed has the advantage of being connected to the University of Kansas Medical System, which allows it to bring in more specialists and connect with specialists in the system in other parts of the state. HaysMed has been affiliated with the University of Kansas system for two years. The hospital still has its own board and manages its own strategic plan.

HaysMed is using its affiliation with the health system to increase access to specialists through telemedicine. Some of these specialties will include psychiatric and neurological evaluations, as well as oncology.

“The University of Kansas Health System is known for its oncology program,” Herrman said. “It is state of the art. It competes with the best in the nation. It gives the opportunity to get those super sub-specialists. They do things that no one else in the state or region does. It gives the ability to hopefully have access to those individuals, so people from western Kansas don’t have to drive to Kansas City to necessarily get that care or second opinion. If they don’t want to do that travel, we can set it up to do it here.”

When Colby lost its oncologist, HaysMed took over the program.

Telemedicine provides access to a limited resources. Medical schools can’t graduate doctors fast enough to replace the Baby Boomer physicians who are retiring in some specialties, Herrman said.

HaysMed was without an ENT for two years, but the University of Kansas Health System helped HaysMed secure a ENT who is at the hospital three out of four weeks a month and an advanced practice provider who works in Hays five days a week. Before that clinic was offered in Hays, patients from northwest Kansas would have had to travel to Salina or Hutchinson for treatment.

Telemedicine also helps manage a finite resources. If a specialist doesn’t have to drive or fly to a remote location, they can spend more time seeing patients.

Herrman said he saw telemedicine expanding with advances in technology.

Twelve-lead ECGs to monitor the heart and an otoscope, which is used to look into your ears, can already be hooked up to smart phones. He said he sees a time in the future when families will have some of theses devices at home so they can have telemedicine visits with doctors after hours.

Despite the use of telemedicine, Herrman said the hospital would still like to sign a contract with a neurologist and rheumatologist. There is only one neurologist in all of western Kansas.

Herrman said the hospital is constantly in the recruiting process. Recruiters follow students from pre-med all the way through their residencies.

“We are making sure that we are trying to connect with them early to get them to come back to western Kansas,” he said.

Rural Kansas has assets such as good schools, opportunities to connect in the community and a work/life balance. Yet, Herrman said living and working in western Kansas is not for everyone. The hospital tries to work with physicians and their spouses to make sure Hays is the right fit for their families.

The hospital is also unwilling to compromise on quality candidates, Herrman said.

“That’s why it takes us a little more time for some positions because we are not willing to accept someone that is substandard just to have someone,” he said. “We are selling ourselves short if we do that, and we are selling the community short if we do that. We have a wonderful community, and we have a wonderful facility. We know there is always someone looking for what we have to offer.”

Shae Veach, vice president of regional operations and marketing, said the affiliation with the University of Kansas Medical System is also helping the hospital recruit physicians. He added HaysMed is well below the national turnover rate for physicians.

“I think it is so much more magnified here because of the size of the community and the size of the medical staff,” Veach said. “One physician might leave, and everyone feels it.”

Former Russell coach and teacher named to national hall of fame

Posted on March 6, 2019March 6, 2019

KSHSAA

INDIANAPOLIS — The National Federation of High School Associations announced on Tuesday that Kansan Ginny Honomichl will be inducted into the NFHS Hall of Fame. The longtime teacher and coach in the Sunflower State will join 11 others this summer in Indianapolis for the induction ceremony.

Honomichl was a teacher and coach at two Kansas high schools for 38 years (1970- 2008), but that’s only a portion of her achievements and contributions. Beyond her 16 years at Russell High School and 22 years at Baldwin City High School as a teacher and multi-sport coach, Honomichl was a trailblazer, role model, mentor and adviser at the local, state and national levels. She was the first female president of the Kansas Coaches Association and the first female president of the NFHS Coaches Association Board of Directors.

She was the first classroom teacher or coach to serve on the Kansas State High School Activities Association Executive Board (1994-98), and she is in her sixth year (first female) as the executive director of the Kansas Coaches Association. Honomichl served on numerous KSHSAA and NFHS committees, and she hosted numerous KSHSAA state tennis tournaments.

“Ginny is a gifted leader and has helped make Kansas interscholastic activities more significant for our stakeholders. With students, coaches, administrators and school communities it has been broad and deep, and she is certainly a worthy selection into the prestigious NFHS Hall of Fame. We are proud of Ginny, and grateful for her faithful service,” said Bill Faflick, KSHSAA Executive Director.

Ginny was inducted into the KSHSAA Hall of Fame in 2012. In addition to her work with KCA, Ginny served nationally on the NFICA board as the Section 5 representative, holding numerous leadership positions. She served on the Coaches Education Review Committee for nine years (chairperson three years) and also on the Sportsmanship, Ethics & Integrity Committee. She served two terms on the KSHSAA Board of Directors and was a member of the Executive Board for four years and was on the Summer Coaching Study Committee.

Among her numerous honors: Kansas and Class 4A Coach of the Year (boys and girls tennis and softball), NFICA Kansas Softball Coach of the Year and Section 5 NFICA Distinguished Service Award. She was selected as one of three honorees nationwide for the Disney Channel “American Teacher Award.”

Honomichl becomes the 11th Kansan to be inducted to the NFHS Hall of Fame: Walt Shublom (Coach—1982), Jim Ryun (Athlete—1983), Ralph Miller (Athlete—1989), Lynette Woodard (Athlete—1989), Nolan Cromwell (Athlete—1991), Brice Durbin (National Administrator—1993), Nelson Hartman (State Administrator—1998), Susan True (National Administrator— 2003), Joan Wells (Coach—2007), and most recently Jackie Stiles (Athlete—2015).

Five athletes and three coaches, along with one contest official, two state association administrator and one state contributor, will be inducted into the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National High School Hall of Fame June 30 at the JW Marriott Indianapolis in Indianapolis. The 37th Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be a part of the 100th annual NFHS Summer Meeting.

Free public CPR training at HaysMed

Posted on March 6, 2019March 5, 2019

HAYSMED

It may take only a few minutes, but for the victim of sudden cardiac arrest, it can be the event of a lifetime.

Sudden cardiac arrest strikes about 250,000 adults in the United States annually. More than 95 percent of its victims die before reaching a hospital – many because they don’t receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation in time. Defibrillation is a process in which an electronic device gives an electric shock to the heart to help restore the heart’s normal rhythm.

To help improve those odds, the HaysMed DeBakey Heart Institute and the Hays Medical Center Foundation will hold its 18th annual Staying Alive Hands Only CPR Training on Saturday, March 23, at the Center for Health Improvement at Hays Medical Center. The one and one half hour class is designed for members of the general public, eight years and older; and is not for those seeking professional certification. More than 30 certified instructors and volunteers will donate their time to the event.

Classes in adult and pediatric CPR will be offered at 10:00 am. To register, call 1-800-248-0073, ext 5500 or 785-623-5500 or go to www.haysmed.com/education/.

When performed immediately, CPR may double a cardiac arrest victim’s chances of survival by adding critical minutes to a patient’s life. With CPR, breathing and chest compressions circulate oxygenated blood to the brain, heart and other vital organs until defibrillation is performed.

Cardiac arrest survival is directly linked to the amount of time between the onset of sudden cardiac arrest and defibrillation. Chances of survival drop 7-10 percent with every minute of delay. Brain death starts to occur in just four to six minutes.

Seventy-five to 80 percent of all sudden cardiac arrests happen at home, so knowing how to perform (CPR) can mean the difference between life and death for a loved one, according to the American Heart Association.

Fire hydrant testing Wednesday in Hays

Posted on March 6, 2019March 6, 2019

HFD

The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants (weather permitting) on Wed., March 6 in the area of north of 41st St. and west of Hall St.

This is part of a coordinated effort by the city of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually.

Inspecting fire hydrants ensures that the valves operate properly and that there is no damage or obstructions that will prevent or interfere with the prompt use of fire hydrants in an emergency. Firefighters are also checking the pressure and volume of water mains in each neighborhood for firefighting purposes.

The associated flushing of water mains allows chlorine to be distributed throughout the system to eliminate bio-filming in the water mains.

Slight discoloration of the water supply may be encountered although there will be no health risks to the consumer. All reasonable efforts will be taken to minimize the inconvenience to the public. Drivers are asked to avoid driving through water discharging from a fire hydrant during the short flushing period.

For more information please contact the Hays Fire Department at 785-628-7330.

FHSU’s Student Government Association seeking project for Big Event

Posted on March 6, 2019March 5, 2019

The Student Government Association of Fort Hays State University, in partnership with the FHSU Foundation, is gearing up for its ninth annual Big Event, scheduled for Saturday, April 13, as part of I Love FHSU Week.

The purpose of the Big Event is to give back to the community that so greatly supports its students throughout the year. Last year, Fort Hays State University students participated in a multitude of service projects all over Hays. The projects included painting, gardening, community clean up, sorting clothes, etc. This year SGA hopes to reach more people and increase the amount of projects around the Hays community.

The group is now accepting project proposals. Submissions for projects will be accepted until April 1. Projects will be performed by teams comprised of student and staff volunteers, with shifts available in the morning and/or afternoon. Project proposal submission can be done HERE.

For more information, email [email protected] or call 785-628-5311.

New checkout system in place at Hays Public Library

Posted on March 6, 2019March 4, 2019

HPL

The Hays Public Library is introducing a new checkout system. Using RFID technology, radio frequency identification, patrons are now able to check items out at checkout kiosks available on each floor.

The kiosks, which were installed last week, will make the checkout process quick and easy. After scanning a library card, approximately six to eight books or three CDs or DVDs can be placed on a pad at the same time. The pad will check out the items and turn off the security. The entire process is incredibly fast and easy. Patrons can also access their accounts to see the items they have checked out and renew items at the kiosk.

While the checkout kiosks will be the most notable and visual change for patrons, the RFID conversion was driven by the need to update security as well as the capability of RFID technology to revolutionize collection management of the 140,000 items at the library. The old security system was outdated and no longer effective. New security gates have been installed that can immediately notify staff of an item passing through the gates that isn’t checked out.

Some library patrons have expressed concern that staff members will lose their jobs and many say they value interaction with the staff during library visits.

“The new system will not result in staff layoffs or negatively impact service,” said Library Director Brandon Hines. “An exceptional patron experience is very important to the Hays Public Library Board and Staff. The efficiency of RFID will allow us to improve and extend the services we offer the community.”

“We know some people are skeptical and uncomfortable with new technology,” he added. “Library staff will always be available to walk patrons through the checkout process or do it for them if needed.”

More information about the checkout system, including an RFID Frequently Asked Questions document, is available at https://hayslibrary.org or by calling (785) 625-9014.

Fish pond management meeting will be this month in Hays

Posted on March 6, 2019March 4, 2019

Ponds can provide water for livestock but, if managed properly, they can also provide outdoor recreation for the family and friends by stocking them with fish.

There are challenges in taking care of ponds to ensure that the fish thrive and that aquatic weeds don’t take over.

The Cottonwood Extension District is offering a “Fish Pond Management” program from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 14, at the Agricultural Research Center in Hays.

Charlie Lee, K-State Extension Wildlife specialist, will present information and tips on managing fish ponds–including aquatic weed control, pond problems and solutions and as always there will be time for Q&A.

There is no cost to attend this program and all interested people are invited. Snacks & refreshments will be provided so RSVP is not necessary but appreciated by calling the Cottonwood Extension Office at 785-628-9430.

— Cottonwood Extension District. Cover photo courtesy KDWPT

FHSU’s Department of Social Work cohort program to begin fall 2019

Posted on March 6, 2019March 4, 2019

FHSU University Relations

Thanks to a $95,000 grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Fort Hays State University’s social work cohort program is expanding into Northwest Kansas.

The cohort program provides an opportunity for individuals in Northwest Kansas to complete a Bachelor of Social Work degree after earning an associate’s degree through Colby Community College.

With support from Valley Hope Inc. and Colby Community College’s outreach center, the program will also be available in Norton.

“This provides an option for western Kansans to earn an FHSU Bachelor of Social Work degree, fully accredited by the Council of Social Work Education, in their local communities,” said Dr. Tim Davis, chair of the department.

Classes, evening at the community college and online, are completed over a three-year period. Students take courses from both core faculty members at FHSU and local professional social workers serving as adjuncts. A full-time cohort coordinator is hired to provide for student recruitment, advisement, and to coordinate the ongoing needs of an offsite location.

Students in a cohort start and go through the three-year cycle together. FHSU commits to provide all three years of cohort education on site so that students who start can also finish in the same location.

FHSU’s Department of Social Work offers the development of skills and knowledge that enables individuals to help others. The department offers significant resources for students including various student organizations and research support. Hands-on experiences through service and internship opportunities are also available.

For more information about the program or to apply, contact Rekala Tuxhorn, cohort coordinator, at [email protected] or visit https://www.fhsu.edu/socialwork/Academic-Programs.

Partly sunny, cold Wednesday

Posted on March 6, 2019March 5, 2019

Wednesday Partly sunny, with a high near 35. Wind chill values as low as -9. South southeast wind 7 to 11 mph.

Wednesday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 20. East wind around 10 mph.

ThursdayMostly cloudy, with a high near 32. North wind 8 to 10 mph.

Thursday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 18. North northeast wind 5 to 8 mph.

FridayPartly sunny, with a high near 36.

Friday NightA chance of rain between 7pm and 1am, then snow likely. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 32. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

SaturdaySnow likely before 7am. Partly sunny, with a high near 45. Breezy. Chance of precipitation is 70%.