At the close of my term as your Governor, I would like Kansans to know of my sincere gratitude for the time I have had to serve the people of this great state. I have always felt called to service, and the opportunity to do so as your governor has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life. It has been an honor to meet Kansans across our state and see the good they are doing.
On my first day in office, Caroline from Salina gave me some advice that I used during my time in office and that will continue to shape my mindset moving forward. She told me “There’s a reason they make the rearview mirror in a car small, and the windshield big. We are looking forward not backwards.”
As your Governor it has been my goal to move our state forward. During my first month in office I signed executive orders creating new policies about harassment in the workplace and transparency in government. It is my hope that these policies will continue to set the standard for many years to come. I’m also proud of what we have accomplished with the economy. Unemployment is at record lows, we have more people working than ever before, and job creation is on the rise. Truly Kansas has a brighter future because of the hard work done by so many over the past year, and we can’t go back.
In my inaugural address, I asked the people of Kansas to take up the call to serve; to look outside themselves and find ways to help their neighbors and their communities. In the past year as your Governor and the seven years before that as Lt. Governor, I have seen this happening in every corner of our state. The brightest example of this spirit of service is exhibited in our young people. It’s inspiring to see them excited to make a difference in their communities. They are our future, and they love to serve.
As I leave office, it is my hope that we will all find ways to do a little more good in the world around us. Search out opportunities to serve your fellow man and make the world, our country, and the state of Kansas a better place. I myself plan on continuing to serve my patients, the public, and my fellow Kansans. I’ve often said that Kansas is the true heart of America; you all are the reason that statement rings true. I love this state and the people who call it home. May God continue to bless you, and may God continue to bless the great state of Kansas.
Six inches of snow fell in Hays Friday evening into Saturday morning.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The year’s first snowfall in Hays measured an official 6 inches according to the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town.
The winter storm started with rain Friday morning, followed by a little bit of sleet and then developed into snow mid-afternoon, which continued for more than 12 hours. The rain/snow mix yielded 0.85 of moisture.
Minimal wind resulted in little to no drifting of the snow, still a Winter Storm Warning was in effect until 9 a.m. Saturday.
City of Hays crews were busy plowing streets Friday night, concentrating first on the emergency snow route.
Friday’s high temperature was 33°; the overnight low was 28°.
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.
Friends,
As we enter the weekend, the government will be going on its 21st day of being shut down. I want to express what I am finding in D.C. that is continually frustrating.
Too often, when we talk about the immigration issue, we are led to believe that we must choose between a binary option of either border security or compassionate immigration reform.
This is an opportune moment to quit kicking the can down the road and actually work together to couple border security priorities with long term immigration fixes. We have a chance to make historic changes and improvements to the course of our nation.
Kansans know that we can have both and that’s what I’m fighting for in Washington.
Securing our borders
We have tens of thousands of immigrants arriving at our entryways every month, and as a result, thousands of drugs, criminals, and violence spilling into our country. The crisis on our southern border is real, and we must stop refuting the facts and do our most sacred duty, protect our nation. Without secure borders, we cannot ensure our nation’s safety.
In his address to the nation this week the President stressed the urgent humanitarian crisis at our southern border. I challenge those that deny this crisis to go and see the stress on our borders first hand. I did, and it was eye-opening.
Just last year alone, there were a total of 1.7 million pounds of narcotics seized by customs and border patrol. In the same year, 17,000 adults attempted to enter our southern border with existing criminal records, and we are now averaging 60,000 illegal and inadmissible aliens a month on our Southern Border.
According to DHS and numerous border patrol agents, illegal trafficking has dropped more than 90 percent in places that walls and barriers exist. Walls work, and the $5.7 Billion that the President is asking for is an investment that will pay off for decades.
This week Caleb Wiggs from Leoti, Kansas celebrated his fifth birthday.
Caleb is grateful for many things this milestone, but perhaps one thing that many 5-year-olds overlook, he is grateful for his life. At the age of five, this condition has caused him to undergo three life-saving brain surgeries.
Caleb has been selected as one of the 2019 National Ambassador for Hydrocephalus Awareness for the Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation. As an ambassador, he will educate people across the country on this disease that so desperately needs medical advancements and treatment solutions. He will also participate in the 2019 Hydrocephalus Issues & Action Conference in Washington this August where he will meet with my fellow lawmakers.
Hydrocephalus can develop at the time of birth or later. As an obstetrician, I understand the severity of this condition from having to prepare new mothers for the challenges ahead and ensuring the best care for these newborns. Sadly, one to two of every 1,000 babies are born with hydrocephalus but there is hope. Robust medical research partnered with patient advocates like Caleb can bring new advancements to the finish line.
Caleb, your bravery and voice will have an impact on thousands of lives, including the many families fighting this condition.
National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day
This week we celebrated National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. In honor of this, we thanked our officers that serve our communities and sacrifice so much.
I also honored my father, who was the Chief of Police and Fire Chief in El Dorado, Kansas for nearly 25 years. As the Chief he loved protecting and serving others, often getting calls on the holidays and weekends. Still, to this very day, my father always aims to help others. He is reliable, trustworthy, and an all-around leader in his community.
As a young boy, I couldn’t quite grasp the risks and dangers that he faced at his job day to day. He always seemed so calm, cool and collected. But his fellow officers would often tell me stories about his leadership and bravery while helping people at some of the most dangerous crime scenes and fires.
I want to express my sincerest gratitude to our officers for everything that they do to keep our communities safe. Thank you!
Welcome, Mike!
Kansas Governor-Elect Laura Kelly announced this week the appointment of Mike Beam to head the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
I have had the pleasure of working with Mike in his role with the Kansas Livestock Association and as the Executive Director of the Ranchland Trust of Kansas.
Mike has been a tireless advocate for Kansas agriculture and the preservation of our state’s native resources and grasslands. As I continue my work in Washington D.C. on behalf of farmers and ranchers, I look forward to working with Mike and his staff at the KDA to ensure our state’s most valuable industry has the support it needs to continue to grow.
POTUS Nominates Kansan to NTSB
This week, President Trump nominated Kansan, Michael Graham to join the National Transportation Safety Board. This is exciting news for Kansas and the Navy veteran who began his career as a Naval Aviator flying A-7’s and F/A-18’s. Graham has been at Textron Aviation, Inc., a company based in Wichita, for more than 20 years, and currently serves as their Director of Flight Operations Safety, Security and Standardization.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Graham would complete a five-year term. Graham has been a tireless advocate for aviation across Kansas. He chairs the Air Charter Safety Foundation heads the National Business Aviation Association Safety Committee Single-Pilot Safety Working Group. Graham is also a member of the General Aviation Information Analysis Team of the Aviation Safety Information Analysis & Sharing (ASIAS) program.
With his leadership and experience, I could not think of anyone better for the role. It will be great to have a Kansans serving the Administration in this capacity!
Dr. Roger Marshall, R-Great Bend, is the First District Kansas Congressman.
I have a question/comment about something in the article. In the section on Medicaid expansion, the article states, “Although the federal government pays 90 percent of Medicaid expansion, both House members expressed concerns about how the state would pay for the other 10 percent, about $30 million to $80 million annually.”
I’m wondering where you got the $30-80 million cost figures? These are not consistent with the fiscal note from last year’s Medicaid expansion bill SB38 and are an overstatement of the costs when savings and new revenue are included. And it certainly does not include the impact of economic growth generated by adding nearly $700 million per year to the Kansas economy. Opponents of expansion often use exaggerated budget estimates to argue against this policy. It behooves us to check their math and their sources when they do.
— Sheldon Weisgrau, senior policy adviser for Alliance for a Healthy Kansas
Editor’s note: Although the $30 million to $80 million figure was not directly attributed in the story mentioned in this letter. The figures came from Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, who was interviewed for the story.
JOHNSTON, Iowa — Kirk Zerr of Quinter, Kansas, recently won State Third place in the Dryland-No Till West category of the 2018 National Sorghum Producers (NSP) Yield and Management Contest. Zerr won with Pioneer hybrid 86G32, which yielded 147.93 bu/A.
Pioneer won 88 percent of the national awards and 77 percent of the state awards presented in 2018.
First-, second- and third-place national honors were awarded in each of nine categories: dryland-no till east, dryland-no till west, dryland-tillage east, dryland-tillage west, food grade, irrigated-no till east, irrigated-no till west, irrigated-tillage east and irrigated-tillage west.
“We are proud of Kirk Zerr’s accomplishment using Pioneer brand sorghum hybrids in the 2018 NSP Yield Contest,” said Liesel Flansburg, Pioneer sorghum marketing manager, Corteva Agriscience(tm), Agriculture Division of DowDuPont. “We continue to focus on sorghum research to develop products with the best yield potential and strong defensive traits, including sugarcane aphid tolerance, in a variety of growing environments and maturities. Combined with strong management practices, the winners have demonstrated how to maximize the yield potential of the sorghum products.”
It was another busy week on the KAYS Eagle Morning Show. Here’s what you missed last week!
Monday
Sunflower Senior Solutions President & CEO Cortney Dale
Working on reviews
Catholic Schools Report: TMP-Marian Principal Chad Meitner
Mr. Meitner joined the Eagle Morning Show to talk about what’s going on at TMP-Marian:
Folk Chorus Reunited
Scholar’s Bowl
Tuesday
County Commission Report with Jonathan Zweygardt and commissioner Barb Wasinger
Commissioner Wasinger joined Jonathan on the Eagle Morning Show one last time as a commissioner to recap this week’s Ellis County Commission meeting:
2019 county agreement to treat noxious weeds for Kansas Department of Transportation (Weed Supervisor Gary Haas)
Advanced practice registered nurse position (Health Services Director Kerry McCue)
Kansas Board of EMS revolving & assistance fund grant application (Health Services Director Kerry McCue)
Wednesday
Protect & Serve: Animal Control Officer Nikki Hausler
City pet tags are on sale. Make sure to get your pets registered through the city! Take your rabies certificate paper work to 1507 Main Street in Hays.
Best ways to protect your pets from the cold. Don’t use blankets in the dog house!
Thursday
Smoky Hills Public Television Marketing Director Amanda Smith
Amanda joined the show for the first time to talk about what’s going on with Smoky Hills Public Television:
Programming Highlights. Upcoming shows and programs to watch!
Upcoming Kid’s Writers Contest
Streaming services
If you would like to become a member, an underwriter, or donate to Smoky Hills Public Television give them a call at (785) 483-6990.
USD 489 Report: Roosevelt Principal Paula Rice and Lincoln Principal Kerri Lacy
The principals from Roosevelt and Lincoln elementary joined the show to talk about the upcoming kindergarten round-up.
What is Kindergarten Roundup?
The meeting is Thursday, March 7th at the Hays High School Cafeteria.
Friday
K-State Western Kansas Agriculture Research Center Department Head Bob Gillen
Bob made his monthly visit to the show to talk about alternative crops:
Bob explains alternative crops.
What some alternative crops are and the market for these crops.
Barriers to developing these crops.
The Eagle Morning Show airs LIVE on KAYS (1400 AM/94.3 FM), Eagle Channel 14 & 614, and on the KAYS App or TuneIn from 7-9am on weekday mornings. Here’s what’s coming up next week on the Eagle Morning Show:
THOMAS COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just after 1:30a.m. Saturday in Thomas County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2010 Hyundai Accent driven by Preston James Thompson, 22, Longview, TX., was southbound on Franklin Avenue.
The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at Willow. The vehicle jumped the curb and landed in the north ditch of Intestate 70 at Country Club Drive.
Thompson and a passenger Jake A Wayne Johnson, 24, Jefferson, TX., were transported to the hospital in Colby. Both were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Two workshops will be offered during January by the Management Development Center at Fort Hays State University – one on organizational culture and another on social media marketing. Both are full-day workshops, and each will begin at 9 a.m. on the Fort Hays State campus.
“Organizational Culture: A Leadership and Social Psychology Toolkit” will be presented on Thursday, Jan. 17, in the Memorial Union’s Stouffer Lounge. “Social Media Marketing” will be Thursday, Jan. 24, in the union’s Trails Room.
A thorough understanding of organizational culture is key to personal and collective success in any organization – no matter how big or small or whether it is corporate, government, military, education, healthcare, nonprofit or religious.
“When you understand how and why an organization behaves the way it does, you can begin to unlock the keys to maximizing strengths and mitigating weaknesses at the individual and leadership level,” say the facilitators of this workshop, Dr. Whitney Whitaker, assistant professor of psychology, and Dr. Jeni McRay, assistant professor of leadership studies, both at Fort Hays State.
In this workshop, participants will learn how to understand organizational culture through a four-dimensional diversity wheel, explore personality styles in an organizational context, discover how underlying assumptions, groupthink, generational differences, and core values intersect to form organizational culture.
Participants will also be taught how to analyze their own organizational cultures to discover how well they fit into them, and much more. During this workshop, participants will create an individual action plan to build a new or adapt an existing organizational culture in an informed and intentional way.
Each person who completes the workshop will receive a completion certificate and will earn 7.0 continuing education units (CEUs).
Registration and contact information is below.
Teaching community leaders how to use social media instead of merely being present on social media is the focus of the second workshop, in which participants will be able to learn how to develop a social media marketing strategy and use their social media channels effectively to engage with customers and drive business. Dr. Mary Martin, professor of applied business studies in marketing at FHSU, will facilitate.
Participants will learn about current social media trends and how to develop a comprehensive social media marketing strategy. An overview of marketing on the most popular social media platforms will be provided, including blogging, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube, along with each platform’s important metrics.
Participants will also acquire and practice social media posting skills, as well as learn how to manage multiple social media platforms.
Each person who completes the workshop will receive a completion certificate and will earn 7.0 CEUs.
For either workshop, the cost for registration is $219. A 15-percent discount applies for all Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Members on a single session cost.
Registration is available online through the Registration link in the sidebar on the page at www.fhsu.edu/mdc. To learn more about this workshop or additional upcoming trainings, contact Hannah Hilker by phone at 785-628-4121 or by email at [email protected].
A 50 percent chance of snow, mainly before 11am. Patchy blowing snow before 8am. Cloudy, with a high near 32. Breezy, with a north wind 13 to 20 mph. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.
Tonight
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. North wind 5 to 13 mph.
Sunday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 32. North wind around 5 mph becoming light and variable in the morning.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Southwest wind 3 to 7 mph.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 38. Southwest wind 7 to 9 mph.
Because of the federal government shutdown, Hays resident Kathay Johnson is in a holding pattern as she and her husband try to purchase a new home.
The women Kathay and her husband are buying their home from had bought the house through a Rural Development program. The seller needs to clear the sale through that federal department before it can be completed, but the department is closed.
“We have agreed on everything else,” Johnson said. “We are just hanging out waiting until everything opens back up. It is super, super annoying and bad timing.”
The Johnsons moved to Hays in the fall from Boulder County, Colorado, with the express desire to purchase their first home.
“It is a huge reason why we came out here,” she said. “We got to the point where we were really excited. We were like, ‘Wow, it is actually going to happen. We’re going to do it.’ And now we are just sitting here watching the news everyday, waiting for this stuff to end.”
While they are waiting for this final paperwork to go through, they are living with relatives in Hays and have most of their possessions in storage.
Johnson’s husband is an artist and all of his supplies are storage. His work is at a standstill until they can get moved into the new house, which is currently sitting vacant.
Johnson said she is very thankful her family is letting them longer than anticipated.
“We are kind of cramped, and I am sure they would like their house back at some point,” she said.
Despite her frustration, Johnson said she still sees herself as lucky. She has a friend who lives in Kansas City and is federal employee who is currently furloughed without pay.
“If there was a good answer for it,” she said of the shutdown, “we wouldn’t be in this situation. But [Congress] is still getting paid. It would be nice if they weren’t still getting paid, then it would be fixed much faster. I get why we are halted.”
The Rural Development housing program is a division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has been shuttered by the shutdown. No one answered when Hays Post called the Hays office.
The USDA posted the following message on its website.
The shutdown has not closed all federal services locally. Some employees are working without pay and funding for other departments was passed before the shutdown.
The Hays Regional Airport has both full- and part-time TSA employees on staff to screen boarding passengers.
Those employees are working, although without pay.
The closest office for the Department of Housing and Urban Development in Kansas City is closed because of the shutdown. However, Kathy Nelson, executive director of the Hays Housing Authority, said payments for Section 8 housing have been funded through February.
If the shutdown goes beyond February, Nelson said she did not know what the status of funding might be. She said the local housing authority has not had any questions from program participants yet, but she said she had concerns about funding if the shutdown would extend past February.
The U.S. Corps of Engineers is a federally funded. However, its budget is under the Department of Defense. Congress approved that budget before the shutdown. All operations at Wilson Lake and Kanopolis lakes are proceeding as normal, said Dan Hays, operations project manager at Wilson and Kanopolis lakes.
“Although it is somewhat comforting for us, our thoughts go out to federal partners who have not been so fortunate,” Hays said.
John Pyle, veterans service representative, said veterans have been able to receive services and benefits.
“There have been no issues,” he said. “Everything is being processed. Veterans are still able to go VA clinics. They are still able to file claims. I have not heard of any veterans who are not receiving their disability benefits.”
BARTON COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 5p.m. Friday in Barton County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Toyota 4-runner driven by Kyle A. Urban, 31, Ellis,
was west bound on Kansas 156 two miles east of Hoisington. Vehicle was Eastbound on K4 and due to snowy/slushy roadway,
The driver lost control of the SUV on the slushy roadway. It rolled and came to rest on its top.
A passenger in the Toyota Travis M. Schmidt, 30, Ellis, was transported to the hospital in Hoisington. Urban and both passengers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
Today
