DODGE CITY – The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a Winter Storm Warning until 9 a.m. Saturday.
WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST SATURDAY…
* WHAT…Heavy snow. Additional snow accumulations of 2 to 4
inches. Total snowfall will range from 6 to 8 inches.
* WHERE…Ellis, Finney and Hodgeman Counties.
* WHEN…Until 9 AM CST Saturday.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…North winds 15 to 25 mph late tonight
into Saturday morning will lead to light to moderate blowing
and drifting snow, mainly along and west of Highway 283.
Isolated snowfall amounts in excess of 6 inches will be
possible in the heaviest snow band with this storm.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather
conditions will make travel very hazardous or impossible. If you
must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your
vehicle in case of an emergency.
The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 5 1 1.
Grow Hays has announces the formation of its Pitch It entrepreneurship series. The events will be competitions for prospective startups or existing business owners to present their business idea to three judges and an audience.
The “pitch(s)” will consist of 5-minute oral presentation followed by 3 minutes of Q&A similar to a “Shark Tank” presentation. Upon the conclusion of all five presentations, the judges will determine the winner who will be awarded a $500 cash prize. The competition is open to anyone but will be limited to five participants per event.
“Developing an environment that fosters entrepreneurship in Ellis County is critical to the long term financial stability of our community. These events offer an opportunity for prospective or existing entrepreneurs to present their idea to not only a group of judges but also to an audience of potential lenders, investors and mentors. People who can help the entrepreneur make their dream a reality,” said Doug Williams, Executive Director of Grow Hays.
“Whether it is someone starting a brand new business, an existing owner looking to expand, or develop a new product, this series gives the presenter the opportunity to reach an audience they might not otherwise be able to.”
The events will be open to the public and held at BriefSpace, 219 W. 10th, Hays. The first event is set for Tuesday, Jan. 22, beginning with a social gathering at 6:30 p.m. The presentations will being promptly at 7 p.m. Those interested in making presentations should contact Grow Hays at 785.628.3102 or emailing [email protected].
The National Weather Service is now expecting between 4 and 7 inches of snowfall to fall in central and west-central Kansas beginning Friday afternoon and continuing into Saturday morning.
Rain is expected to change to snow between 2 and 4 p.m. Friday. The heaviest snowfall is predicted in the pink area of the image above.
As of 1 p.m. Friday, the NWS said the band of snowfall likely will be Highway 50 and Interstate 70.
North winds up to 25 mph also are expected to lead to blowing snow and limited visibility for drivers.
Season passes to the Hays Aquatic Park and Wilson Pool were up significantly in 2018, while general admission was down slightly.
A season financial report was presented to the Hays city commission Thursday night by Jeff Boyle, parks director, and Roger Bixenman, Hays Recreation Commission (HRC) superintendent.
The city contracts with HRC to manage the pools. Separate city general fund budgets pay for maintenance of the pools, along with the operating contract. The contract stipulates any operating loss or surplus incurred by HRC will be shared 50/50 as long as the HRC’s portion of the loss does not exceed $26,000.
The 2018 total HRC loss was $39,337.40 of which the city will pay 50 percent, or $19,668.70.
Commissioners unanimously approved the HRC reimbursement request after Shaun Musil asked what effect there would be on attendance if admission was raised by one dollar.
“I don’t think it would hurt attendance,” Bixenman responded. He noted adult admission was raised three or four years ago.
“We are affordable. We’re doing the early bird season passes now,” said Bixenman. “It’s a great place to go.”
Currently, HAP admission rates are $3 for children and $4 for adults 18 and older. Wilson’s rates are both one dollar less.
Attendance at the Hays Aquatic Park increased in 2018 with 49,670 patrons compared to 48,238 in 2017. Wilson Pool also saw an increase in attendance to 4,058 patrons in 2018 compared to 3,772 in 2017.
Attendance at Wilson during the 2018 season was the second highest in history.
RUSSELL COUNTY — An investigation that began at about 5 a.m. Friday in Russell County is now being investigated as an apparent suicide.
Law enforcement authorities initially believed the incident to be fatal hit-and-run accident.
But at approximately 1 p.m. Friday, the KHP said it was investigating the incident as an apparent suicide.
“Info will not be posted on the KHP Crash Logs,” Trooper Tod Hileman reported via social media. “We are investigating this incident as an apparent suicide, therefore I will not be releasing names at this point. Thank you all for your understanding.”
Ref. the incident this morning on I-70 at milepost 200 EB.
Info will not be posted on the KHP Crash Logs as earlier stated. We are investigating this incident as an apparent suicide, therefore I will not be releasing names at this point.
Governor-elect Laura Kelly and Lt. Governor-elect Lynn Rogers will have a day of community service across the state of Kansas on Saturday as part of the Kelly-Rogers Inaugural 2019 festivities.
Weather permitting, Ellis County residents will have two community service events on Saturday, and Governor-elect Kelly will join them.The first activity is a clean-up from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Aubel Bickel Park, 30th and Sherman Avenue, Hays, followed by non-perishable food drive and collection at the park.All donated food items will be distributed among local food pantries.
If wintry weather or rain arrives, the food drive will be moved to 1502 Vine from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Recommended food items include: canned meats, fruits, and vegetables; protein or fruit bars; dry cereal or granola; peanut butter; dried fruit; or pasta.
Anyone interested in volunteering is encouraged to join.
Girl Scouts from across the area will be participating in the event. Kelly is a Girl Scout alumni.
“Lynn and I are thrilled to share the inaugural celebrations with people across the state of Kansas, and to highlight the importance of service in our local communities,” Kelly said. “We look forward to giving back to the state that has given us both so much.”
Two registered nurses at HaysMed were honored recently at a recognition ceremony and luncheon. They completed the yearlong RN Residency Program offered at HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System.
The program began a year ago in February 2018 and the nurses spent the first three weeks in a classroom setting. The remainder of training focused on clinical experience, one on one mentorship with their preceptor, high-fidelity simulations and on the job training. Additionally, nurses received training from professionals in several departments, such as radiology, pharmacy, cardiac care, peri-op and others.
The RN Residency class included Brandell Hecker, RN, and Kristen Jones, RN.
The RN Residency Program at HaysMed is one of only two in the state and has been offered since 2008. Shari Hertel, RN, heads the program and has oversight of all the training. HaysMed also works closely with critical access hospitals in the region through a rural residency program to provide training to nurses practicing in the rural setting.
“It is so important for new nursing graduates to have a group of peers and mentors who assist them in enhancing their skills and becoming comfortable with the challenges of practice,” Hertel said. “Our program is evidence based, with positive clinical outcomes that will help not only the participating nurses, but also our patients.”
Currently there are 5 nurses scheduled in the next program which begins Feb. 5. The program is open to newly graduated RNs and RNs that have less than one year of acute care experience.
Hays Mayor James Meier Thursday voted against improvements to East 41st Street from Home Depot east to Vineyard Park, calling it a “road to nowhere” and a “project in search of a problem.”
Commissioner Ron Mellick voted with the majority for the improvements, which include grading, pavement, storm sewer and waterline. The low bid of $629,133.50 was from Paul-Wertenberger Construction, Hays, and was less than the engineer’s estimate.
“I look at this as a ‘bridge to somewhere,’ ” Mellick countered. “You can’t develop on either side of the actual road. I think this is a bridge out to where a developer can afford to put in housing or even commercial.”
Meier clarified in discussion that he respects those who intended to vote for the project but pointed out over the past few years the commission has discussed whether development or infrastructure should come first.
“It seems to me that through those conversations we’ve come to the clear conclusion that putting in streets, water and sewer does not give us development,” Meier said. “That’s exactly what we’re doing here, spending money on infrastructure in the hope that something will develop and there’s absolutely no evidence to show that’s going to happen.”
Vice Mayor Henry Schwaller recalled the Phase II development “has been planned since the beginning when we entered into the agreement with Home Depot and the developer.”
“Our goal then as it is now was to connect Vine Street to Commerce Parkway,” Schwaller said. “This isn’t a ‘road to nowhere’ because it is our intention to see growth happen to the north and particularly to the east, and that’s why we took an option on a piece of ground at the other [east] end of this road.”
“I think we were making a statement when we purchased an option on that property,” agreed Commissioner Sandy Jacobs, “and I would love to see that street go all the way from Vine Street to Commerce Parkway. Having the ability now with the funds from the TDD money is a very good way to do this.”
Finance Director Kim Rupp reviewed the financing plan for the Home Depot Transportation Development District (TDD).
Projects for Phases I and II totaling $4.4 million were approved in 2004 by a TDD ordinance and a 3/4-cent sales tax was enacted April 1, 2005, both for a maximum 22 years. The city then issued $1.77 million in TDD sales tax bonds to finance Phase I.
The TDD tax outperformed projections allowing the Phase I bonds to be called early and completed in January 2018. It was determined the 3/4-cent TDD sales tax could continue until March 2027 to fund a portion of Phase II improvements.
The Home Depot Transportation Development District currently includes Home Depot, IHOP, Hampton Inn, Town Place Suites by Marriott, JT Travel Plaza, Taco Grande, and an undeveloped area for 47,000 square feet of retail space.
According to Rupp, the TDD has collected a total of $2,730,214 over the last 163 months, averaging $247,000 annually the past three years.
“We project TDD sales tax revenue to increase to $282,000 per year. Based on these provisions, we agree the current annual TDD sales tax collections would support debt service, whether a bond issue or repayment of city idle funds.”
Rupp told the commission he recommended financing with city idle funds as it would save bond issuance costs and provide for interest income to the city.
“I appreciate your recommendation on the idle funds,” said Jacobs, a retired banker. “I’m glad you analyzed it all the way around. That savings of $13,500 means a lot.”
Commissioners also voted 4-1 to adopt a resolution authorizing the improvements and providing for payment of costs.
According to the Kansas Water Office, Kansas is officially free of drought for the first time since June 2017.
The U.S. Drought Monitor released the latest maps on Thursday, showing no drought conditions in Kansas.
“Abnormally dry conditions began appearing on the (June 13, 2017) map, and DI-Moderate Drought first appeared on the map (July 18, 2017). Since that time, until (Jan. 1, 2019), drought conditions had affected various portions of KS,” the Kansas Water Office said.
Click HERE for more from the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Nursing education at Fort Hays State University has been helped by two separate grants from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan.
The university’s Department of Nursing was granted $250,000 for equipment for its simulation lab and $150,000 for a scholarship that will help place graduates of the department in northwest Kansas.
“We are so thankful for the support the Dane G. Hansen Foundation has provided for our students” said Dr. Jenny Manry, chair of the department.
Among the equipment for the simulation lab are 20 Reality Works Babies, said Manry. The babies mimic infants and track how often they are fed, have their diapers changed and cry.
Other funding was for a Pediatric Hal manikin that has facial movements, cries, sweats, suffers seizures and produces heart and lung sounds. Additional equipment included a fetal heart monitor, a 24-week newborn manikin and funding to record activities in the simulation lab.
The video system will allow students to visualize themselves in practice and get feedback on ways to improve performance.
“This equipment will allow students to practice skills and learn assessment techniques in a safe environment before graduating and practicing in rural Kansas,” said Manry.
“We have many students who graduate and practice in rural areas,” she said. “The opportunity to work with specialized pediatric simulation equipment will increase students skill level and confidence in real life situations.”
The scholarship program’s $150,000 is designed to help place graduates from the Bachelor of Science in Nursing, the Registered Nurse to BSN program, the Master of Science in Nursing and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program into positions in Northwest Kansas.
Students will be able to apply the final year of their programs by submitting letters of employment from an employer in Northwest Kansas and a letter from their academic advisers.
In addition, said Manry, students will meet with an interview committee to discuss why they desire to work in northwest Kansas. Each student accepting a scholarship must agree to work in Northwest Kansas for a minimum of two years.
“This is a great opportunity for students in Northwest Kansas who have a desire to return to school,” said Manry. “This scholarship will provide funding to help pay off student loans upon completion of the program.”
Scholarship amounts vary by program. Graduates from the undergraduate BSN pathway can receive $10,000. Undergraduate RN to BSN graduates are eligible for $7,000.
Graduates of the MSN in nursing administration track are eligible for $10,000 grants.
Doctor of Nursing Practice graduates are in two tracks. Graduates of the BSN to DNP track, the nurse practitioner licensure program, are eligible for $25,000 grants, and students who start the DNP program with MSN degrees already in hand are eligible for $12,000 grants with the two-year commitment.
The Hansen Foundation’s service area comprises the 26 Northwest Kansas counties stretching from Cheyenne down to Wallace County, east through the top three tiers of counties and then into the eight-county block from Jewell and Republic down through Ellsworth and Saline.
NWS
