The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce is introducing the first of one of their newest offerings; the Business Showcase, held quarterly throughout the year.
These quarterly events will provide a fun, high energy atmosphere for participants and attendees alike, along with offering an opportunity to “showcase” our Hays area businesses.
Please join them at The Venue, north of Thirsty’s on Vine, Thursday March 7, from 4:30 – 6 p.m. to get an up close and personal look at what the vendors have to offer. As well as a cash bar and appetizers provide by The Venue, samples, merchandise and giveaways.
In gearing up for the event, Membership Coordinator Kara Cook shared her anticipation for the launch of the event.
“These vendors and this event is not something you’ll want to miss out on,” she said. “It’s the perfect chance to meet, mingle, and hear what all they offer, as well as making that personal connection we really thrive on at the Chamber. Not only is it an opportunity to welcome a new business, but to touch-base with some of our existing, established businesses that maybe you haven’t checked on in a while. And my Mom taught me to never pass up a chance at a giveaway.”
You’ll see these vendors at the showcase: CBD American Shaman, Eagle Communications, Ozone Roofing, Potter Plastic Surgery & Med Spa, Alzheimer’s Association, Das Essen Hutte, Nex-Tech, FHSU’s Student Government Association and the Hays Academy of Hair Design.
This event is free and open to the public. For more information, or if interested in being a vendor at the next Business Showcase, contact the Chamber at 785-628-8201 or stop into the Welcome Center at 2700 Vine.
ELLIS – It’s a timely agenda item for the Ellis City Council tonight.
Council members will discuss the possible establishment of emergency snow routes and snow removal procedures. They’ll also consider a revision to the personnel policy regarding emergency call-outs.
In other business, Todd Keller with the Washington Grade School PTO will discuss a proposed community book exchange.
The complete meeting agenda follows.
AGENDA
March 4, 2019
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS
City Hall – Council Meeting Room
BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes from Regular Meeting on February 18, 2019
Bills Ordinance #2064
(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda. By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson. ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment. Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
SPECIAL ORDER
Discuss Community Book Exchange – Todd Keller, Washington Grade School PTO
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Review Bids to Replace Swimming Pool Roof
Consider Approval of Public Property Permit Application and Event Request for Traffic Control – Chrysler Car Show
Consider Revisions to Catastrophic Sick Leave Bank Policy
Review Revisions to Small Cell Aesthetic Standards
Update on Modifications to Cedar Lane Lift Station
Consider Purchase of Skid-Steer Loader
Consider Purchase of Jack Hammer Attachment for Skid-Steer Loader
NEW BUSINESS
Consider Approval of Public Property Permit Application – Kohl Family
Consider Application for New Retail Business Sales Tax Incentive – Auto Standard
Discuss Establishing Emergency Snow Route and Snow Removal Procedures
Consider Revision to Personnel Policy Regarding Emergency Call-Outs
Consider Donation for Ellis Alumni Golf Tournament
Consider Ratification of Flatlander Dirt Works Invoice
In this column, I try to remain neutral on most political issues unless I feel too strongly about something to let it slid; such is the case today. Although I’m using statistics and factual information here, please bear in mind this reflects my opinion and not the official stance of any official department.
On February 27, HB (House Bill) 2167 narrowly passed in the Kansas House. Quoting the official Kansas Dept of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism press release, “This bill would require the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism to establish a system to approve and administer the transfer of regular landowner or tenant hunt-on-your-own-land big game permits to a nonresident of the state of Kansas solely for the purpose of hunting white-tailed deer.”
To paraphrase, passage of this bill will allow landowners to sell, at any price, their landowner deer permits to nonresident hunters to hunt on their land.
It’s no surprise that this bill is being pushed hard by a representative from the Topeka area who also owns Ravenwood Hunting Lodge, a hunting guide service near Topeka. As a Kansas deer hunter who does not own land, I’m VERY fortunate to have a family member and friends who allow us to hunt deer on their land. You won’t have to look very far to find Kansas deer hunters who have nowhere to hunt but public land because the private land they once hunted has been leased to hunters and groups of hunters, many from out-of-state who are wealthy enough to pay huge sums annually to lease this ground.
Mike Miller, chief of information production for KDWPT told me a similar bill passed and was tried back in the early 2000’s and was a failure as it was nearly impossible to administer and police. The KDWPT opposes this bill and Miller told me he sees it as unnecessary as 97% of nonresident hunters who apply already get permits. A recent newspaper article says 24% of permitted deer hunters in Kansas are nonresidents.
As a Kansas deer hunter who has experienced trouble finding private land to hunt, I have a real problem with this bill. I don’t begrudge struggling Kansas farmers and ranchers for seeing this as a way to make some extra bucks; I only wish they’d sell them to Kansas hunters. The trouble with that goes right back to the almighty dollar, as the majority of nonresident hunters who come here to hunt deer are able to pay thousands of dollars to do so.
I’m also afraid this would do nothing to help reduce overpopulations of female deer, as hunters paying large sums to hunt Kansas deer are going to be after trophy bucks only.
As far as I’m concerned, the statement that this bill is unnecessary sums it all up. HB 2167 still has to pass the senate and get the governor’s signature, so there is still time to stop it. All you Kansas deer hunters who feel about this as I do, please go online to www.kslegislature.org and let your senators know how you feel. Let’s tell the legislature we want to keep more of Kansas deer hunting for us Kansans! …Continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors.
Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].
The Healing Kids Hearts Retreat is still taking applications.
Organizers are urging loved one to get their children’s names in for the retreat as soon as possible.
Children experience the loss of loved ones just as adults do but youngsters grieve differently than adults.
The Center for Life Experience (CFLE) in Hays is offering a special retreat March 30 for children dealing with death.
Healing Kids Hearts is in its fourth year.
The daylong retreat is for children ages 7-12 who’ve lost someone significant in their lives, whether a relative or a friend.
“They don’t talk the same way as adults,” says Ann Leiker, CFLE executive director and a licensed social worker. “They may want to grieve creatively, doing things like making a memory box with pictures and drawings.” Music and story writing is often part of the process.
Children attending past retreats have made bird houses and memory stones to place in a garden to honor loved ones. This year’s activities will include a balloon launch.
The young participants learn about grief, how to embrace it and how to cope with it so they can move forward in their journey of healing.
Each child is paired with a trained adult volunteer as a matched “buddy” for guidance and support throughout the day.
“They become friends and they just share. The kids come in pretty quiet and by the end of the day, they’re smiling and they have hope,” Leiker said. “They have memories of their loved one that they can share.”
“Healing Kids Hearts” will be held 9:45 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, March 30 at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, 3000 Sternberg Drive. The deadline for applications for participants and volunteers has been extended, but organizers would like to have applications by March 8 if possible. Applications are available on the CFLE website.
Cost is $10 per child which includes a T-shirt, tote, lunch and snacks. The cost for families with two or more children attending is $5 per child. Financial scholarships are available.
A separate session for adults will be held during the morning.
More information is available by calling or texting Leiker at 785-259-6859, or by email at [email protected].
My good friend, a single man in his 60s, didn’t like going to the medical clinic for anything, let alone a cold. His illness started with a fever, aches all over and a sudden overabundance of mucus. After one or two days of those obvious viral symptoms, for which we have no good therapy, he got better, except he acquired a new dry hacky cough.
Initially he did what he should have and stopped going to work, put a box of tissues and a waste basket next to his comfort chair, drank plenty of hot lemonade and tea, got plenty of rest and took Tylenol. After a few days and while covering his dry cough and washing his hands a lot, he went back to work. So far, so good …
On day five or six, he developed a fever again with new and profound weakness. His dry cough became productive and the mucus occasionally was streaked with blood. After one more day of fever, he developed shaking chills, and his daughter called me to explain her dad seemed to be in trouble. We got him to the emergency room where they began powerful intravenous antibiotics. He had pneumonia, a life-threatening bacterial lung infection, which invaded because the viral infection first weakened his lung defenses. The bacterial infection had also spread into his blood stream and was disseminating throughout his body. This is called sepsis and it kills unless treated very early.
My friend was very sick for about four weeks but recovered to be strong enough to go back to work again thanks to excellent medical and nursing care with effective support, antibiotics and rehabilitation. In retrospect, antibiotics would not have helped if they were started too early during the viral process. The time to attack early with antibiotics should have been at the time of the second fever. Studies show if antibiotics are given during the viral infection, a bacterial pneumonia will still follow in about the same frequency, only now there will likely be resistance to that specific antibiotic.
Take home message: Bacterial pneumonia can follow a viral respiratory infection, but, antibiotics won’t help until the bacterial infection begins;
We should all cover our coughs, wash our hands frequently and keep our fingers out of our own eyes and noses;
The flu shot saves lives by preventing the viral infection in the first place.
For free and easy access to the entire Prairie Doc® library, visit www.prairiedoc.org and follow The Prairie Doc® on Facebook, featuring On Call with the Prairie Doc® a medical Q&A show streaming live most Thursdays at 7 p.m. central.
Members of the Alpha Gamma Delta Amazing Race team interview Vera Storer at Homestead Assisted Living on Saturday.
Members of the Amazing Race teams took a step back in time Saturday during the fundraiser for First Call for Help.
Seven teams raced through Hays Saturday completing challenges for the fundraiser.
One of the challenges included interviewing residents at the Homestead Assisted Living Center.
Virgil Howe, 86, shared pieces of his life with the racers.
He grew up on a farm in northwest Missouri near St. Joseph. He always had an interest in animals. However, his parents determined because of his health, he would attend college instead of working on the farm. He ultimately studied plant pathology.
He said the person who had the most impact on his life was Dr. Irene Mueller at Iowa State University.
The Circle K International Amazing Race team packs a saddle bag at Doerfler’s Harley Davidson on Saturday.
He had just come back from the service. He had been studying pre-med, but after serving as a hospital corpsman, he decided that was not the way he wanted to go.
“This lady made plants living things to me,” he said.
The racers asked Howe what he liked to do in high school.
“Do you really want to ask me that?” he said. “I still had to work on the farm, but at night there were some very pretty girls I liked to keep the company of and there was some guys that I would get together with on Saturday and Sunday night. Occasionally, I would like to read. I read most of my life.”
He said his favorite gift was when his granddaughter made him a great-grandfather on Christmas Eve.
A member of the Crazy Kiwanis putts at Precision valley Golf during the Amazing Race Saturday.
“How could you have anything better than that?” he said.
When he was about 12 or 13, he wanted a BB gun in the worst way. He opened up all his gifts at Christmas and he had socks and jeans.
“I tried to act like that was fine,” he said.
When he went to put on the pants, his father had slid the BB gun inside the leg of the jeans.
Howe said his favorite president was fellow Missouri native Harry Truman.
“I thought he made momentous decisions and he accepted the responsibilities for them,” he said. “And then I always admired him as an ex-president. When people tried to hire him for things he was not qualified, he would always say, ‘You don’t want me. You want the president, and the president is not for sale.’
“I always thought he was a wise man even though he was defiled and criticized and poked fun at.”
He said he also admired Eisenhower and was able to meet his grandson.
The Alpha Sigma Alpha team dips ducks out of a hot tub at Pools Plus during the Amazing Race.
Howe said the happiest day of his life was when his daughter was born, but he it was also one of the longest days of his life.
His wife went into labor in the early hours of the morning, and Howe took her to the hospital. The staff at the hospital sent him home and said someone would call him when the baby was born.
At 6 that evening, he still hadn’t received a phone call. He went back to the hospital, and the nurse said he thought his wife had given birth that afternoon.
“I was a basket case,” he said.
He went to the hospital and saw his wife. She said they had a daughter.
He went to the nursery and recognized his daughter immediately based on her light-colored hair, just like his.
Another team interviewed Vera Storer, 83.
Store grew up in Garnett, Kansas, on a farm.
She said her favorite subject in school was biology. She went on to become a nurse.
She said she enjoyed going to basketball games when she was in high school. The FHSU students on the team asked her if she played basketball, and the Store explained her school did not have girls basketball when she went to school. The girls played for fun over the noon hour, but only half court.
She said her favorite gift was her wedding ring.
She said her mother had the most impact on her life. She raised six children mostly by herself because her husband was away working in the oil fields. The family did not have much money.
“She was a strong person,” Storer said.
President George HW Bush was her favorite president.
She said the happiest days of her life was when she got married and when she graduated from nursing school.
Storer, who has four children, said if she could have done anything differently, she would have enjoyed life, taken more trips and played with her kids more.
“I was a nurse. I was working. My husband was a teacher. We were busy, busy, busy,” she said.
Other challenges included throwing darts, counting money at Sunflower Bank, tasting popcorn at Popt, putting at Precision Valley Golf, stacking a pallet of cookies at the Girl Scouts of the Kansas Heartland office, identifying juice flavors at Otter Juice Company, gathering numbered duck from a hot tub at Pools Plus, shopping for school supplies at Walmart for the First Call for Help Backpack for Kids program, packing food boxes at St. Joe’s Food Pantry, gathering food for the First Call food pantry and packing a saddle bag at Doerfler’s Harley Davidson.
Teams included the Krazy Kiwanis Springer Style, Teddy Bears from the Kansas Highway Patrol, Circle K. International, Alpha Gamma Delta, People Be Crazy, Courage Caring Hearts and Alpha Sigma Alpha.
The Kiwanis were honored as the top fundraisers. Team members included Chris Springer, Ashley Springer, Jonathan Springer and Michele Springer.
The Hays Kiwanis Club donated $1,500 toward the Race, which sponsored four teams: Krazy Kiwanis Springer Style, The Circle K International Racers and two FHSU sororities: Alpha Gamma Delta and the Alpha Sigma Alpha Team.
Best costume/uniform went toPeople Be Crazy . Members on that team were Cassy Zeigler, Olavee Raub, Jamie Wolbert and Jen Schield. The team was sponsored by Raub & Zeigler LLC in Ellis.
Quickest time was People Be Crazy.
All the money raised will go toward First Call for Help’s rent and utility assistance program.
“Thanks also to the numerous volunteers who helped make this Race a success,” Laura Shoaff of First Call for Help said. “We would like to extend a huge thank you to the business locations listed below, who hosted a challenge this year and donated $25 or more to First Call For Help. Thanks also to the community members who donated food to the racers during our ‘Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood mini food drive challenge’ to benefit our First Call For Help food pantry. Thank you so much to all the businesses who also donated prizes to be handed out to the contestants and volunteers following the Race.”
For more information on First Call for Help, see its website.
Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood has ended the Winter Storm Traffic Emergency plan for the city of Hays. People who live or work along emergency snow routes can now return to their normal routine of parking on the snow routes.
The city of Hays Public Works Department will continue with snow removal operations throughout the evening. Tonight the crews will focus on removing snow from the downtown area.
While the worst of the winter storm is over, the Hays Police Department is asking that motorists limit their travel if at all possible. Those that must travel are advised to do so with caution, and are encouraged to give themselves extra time to reach their destination. Please remember to drive slow, pay attention to vehicles in front of you, and allow for extra stopping distance.
The law in Kansas states that, essentially, you need to be more than a good driver to take the wheel of an ambulance.
Makes sense enough. A single medically trained pro riding in the back could be sketchy. It’s easy enough to imagine a medical emergency where having a second certified person could be the difference between life and death.
But what if your ambulance covers the state’s back roads in a county with a shrinking population and it’s hard enough to find a reliable volunteer driver, much less someone certified for emergency medical services?
So now some of the people trying to keep their ambulance operations alive are asking the state to relax the rules. Let an ambulance driver be just a driver.
Similarly, there’s a push to let nurses with certain advanced training operate without oversight contracts that link them to physicians. Again, it’s of particular interest in rural parts of Kansas where doctors, like volunteer drivers with emergency medical certification, are in short supply.
Resistance will come from people who represent medically trained ambulance drivers and physicians. They’ll argue sincerely that patients could suffer. But they’ll also be motivated at some level by a threat to their abilities to make a living.
The second consecutive Saturday snow storm in Hays.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The latest winter storm dropped 4 inches of snow in Hays Saturday, yielding 0.30 inch of moisture, according to the official report from the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town. With some snow still on the ground from last weekend, there’s an average of 7 inches now in Hays.
The Hays Regional Airport recorded 5.5 inches.
So far in the snow season, Hays has had 29.80 inches of snow. Moisture to date in 2019 measures 1.95 inches.
The overnight low dropped to 0 degrees. That’s cold, but not a record for March 2. In 1960, the temperature fell to -15 degrees on March 2.
It was a lot warmer one year ago when the high soared to 72 degrees.
Saturday’s high in Hays was 27 degrees. Sunday’s forecast is calling for very cold temperatures with a high of just 6 degrees. Wind chill values will be as low as -20 degrees.
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.
Friends,
After 30 years as an obstetrician, never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined that my most difficult work to protect unborn children would be in the halls of Congress, rather than in the delivery room. We have now asked Democrats 11 times to bring the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to a vote in the House. They have said no every single time.
This commonsense legislation provides protection for babies that are born alive following a botched abortion, and demands they receive adequate medical care. This week, 44 Senate Democrats voted against providing this care to newborns. Yes, you read that right.
Just a little over a month ago, I rallied with more than 200,000 pro-life Americans from all over the country, and I was thrilled to meet dozens of Kansans who traveled by bus to attend. Their dedication and strong voice inspired me and helped provide many of my colleagues and me with the motivation to continue this fight.
With you fighting beside me, I will continue to share my stories and life’s work with my colleagues, and demonstrate the importance of this movement.
On a trade front, last weekend President Trump announced that he would be extending the deadline that would have escalated tariffs on Chinese imports that were set to take effect on March 1st. In a gesture of goodwill, the Chinese trade delegation agreed to purchase 10 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans, with more good news hopefully still to come as the negotiations continue to play out. Although some challenges still remain, this news is a positive step in the right direction towards reducing trade barriers with one of the world’s largest markets for Agricultural goods including: wheat, sorghum, soybeans, and beef.
I look forward to a resolution soon and applaud the work that President Trump and his team are doing to ensure that our farmers and producers have access to the export markets we so desperately need.
True Blue award
Pro-Life and Pro-Family Voting Record, 100 Percent
This week I was presented with the “True Blue” award from the Family Research Council Action President Tony Perkins. This award recognizes members who fight to protect life, families and religious liberties for all Americans. I will continue to be unapologetically pro-life, and a leading advocate for family, faith, and freedom. I applaud FRC Action for working so hard to keep these issues in the spotlight, and I look forward to continuing to promote these fundamental American values.
This week on the Hill, House Republicans stood up to Democrats that blocked the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, a bill that ask for infants that survive a botched abortion, to receive medical care. Killing a baby born alive is infanticide. We should all be able to agree that, once born, every baby deserves protection.
Education Policy Discussions with KU and KSU Students
This week I had the privilege of meeting with the Student Body Government from KSU and KU. It was wonderful to see students so passionate about current issues in our government and our education system. Our discussion centered around the Higher Ed Reauthorization Act, Title IX, and Open Educational Resources. I love having so many passionate, young, Kansas advocates visit our D.C. office!
We ❤️ Rural Hospitals
Hospitals in rural Kansas face unique financial challenges as they struggle to keep their doors open to residents in the community. Hillsboro Community Hospital, like other rural hospitals across America, are facing such challenges.
Hillsboro
Despite this, the community has banded together, especially the Hillsboro Elementary students! Their elementary class showed their support by asking the city’s administrator to courier their artwork and message to me. I am so proud to see the next generation of Kansas taking initiative and supporting their community.
Defending Our Second Amendment Rights
Here in Washington, I’m fighting hard against the latest gun control legislation, HR 8, that would do nothing to stop criminals from getting firearms, but instead, comes after law-abiding patriots.It is apparent that some people up here need to be reminded of our guaranteed rights outlined in the U.S. Constitution. Democrats think by using the term ‘background checks’ it will get full support- it doesn’t take but two seconds to see what this bill actually does, make criminals out of registered gun owners.
I will fight day-in and day-out to make sure our second amendment rights and freedoms are not undermined by unconstitutional legislation that targets America’s gun owners.
Click the link below to watch my video on H.R. 8.
BIOKansas
BioKansas
I had the pleasure of meeting with BIOKansas this week! One of the many things we discussed was the importance of ensuring that any medical device that was designated by the FDA as a breakthrough product will be covered by CMS. In addition, we discussed how Obamacare’s medical device tax would have negative effects both to the companies and to consumers. I am proud to cosponsor legislation that would repeal this harmful tax and have voted to repeal it in the 115th Congress. I am excited to continue my work with BIOKansas and collaborate on initiatives that will benefit Kansans.
Debbie’s Dream Foundation
Susan McDonald with Debbie’s Dream Foundation, a non-profit that raises awareness for stomach cancer, came by our office to discuss research funding. Susan McDonald is a stomach cancer survivor herself, and her story inspired us. Her main concern is sustaining funding from the Department of Defense’s Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program for the next year. I look forward to seeing how this non-profit will impact patients, families, and caregivers.
Pres. Trump Helps with Kansas Flood Recovery
As many of you are aware, parts of Kansas were rocked by severe storms several months ago, and the damage from those storms still remain. This week, in recognition of that damage, President Trump approved the Kansas State of Disaster declaration that addresses the impact that the severe flooding has had on so many of our communities. This declaration will make federal funding available to aid our affected counties to help with the costs of rebuilding.
House Agriculture Committee Hearing on the State of the Rural Economy
Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of welcoming Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to the House Agriculture Committee for a hearing on “The State of the Rural Economy.” Members of the committee had the opportunity to speak with and question the Secretary about a wide range of issues including: implementation of the recently passed Farm Bill, immigration reform, trade, tariffs, low commodity prices, conservation, nutrition, and many other topics. I always enjoy interacting with Secretary Perdue and look forward to continuing to support his efforts as he and his team at USDA continue working hard for farmers, ranchers, and families in Kansas and across the country.
Dan Hess leads a tour of Hess Services with 1stDist. Congressman Roger Marshall, state representative Ken Rahjes of Agra, Ellis Co. Commissioner Dean Haselhorst and county public works director Bill Ring, immediately behind him. (Photo by Hays Post)
Ellis County Infrastructure Tour
I recently had the honor of joining local and state elected officials, business leaders and economic development professionals to discuss the infrastructure needs of Ellis County. Hays is home to many thriving businesses, but the significant infrastructure improvement needs have limited the growth and development opportunities along the community’s Northwest Business Corridor Route.
The tour, which was organized by Kansas State Rep. Barbara Wasinger, included stops at Midwest Energy and Hess Services and highlighted the need for new infrastructure funding and the economic impact strategic investments can have on a community.
The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce is introducing the first of one of their newest offerings; the Business Showcase, held quarterly throughout the year. 
