Richard interviews the Winter sports seniors from Ness City High School
Category: Local
Sunny, breezy Sunday
Today
Sunny, with a high near 48. West wind 11 to 15 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon.
Tonight
Partly cloudy, with a low around 26. South wind 7 to 9 mph.
Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 47. South wind 6 to 9 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 25. West northwest wind 5 to 7 mph.
Christmas Day
Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. Northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming east northeast in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night
A slight chance of rain before 9pm, then rain and snow likely between 9pm and 3am, then snow likely after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Wednesday
Snow before 8am, then rain and snow between 8am and 10am, then rain after 10am. Some thunder is also possible. High near 46. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Wednesday Night
Rain before 4am, then rain and snow likely between 4am and 5am, then snow likely after 5am. Some thunder is also possible. Low around 33. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday
Rain and snow likely before 4pm, then a chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 39. Windy. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Thursday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 22. Blustery.
Friday
Mostly cloudy, with a high near 30. Blustery.
🎥 Christmas time at the Hays Senior Center
By GUY WINDHOLZ
Hays Senior Center
So what’s happening at the Hays Senior Center this month? Well, it’s Christmas and time to set aside the
pool table cues, pinochle cards, dominoes and puzzles. There was music in the air and cordially delivered to those that came. Back to back days brought the musical singing talents of two local groups that got a great reception and provided an enjoyable time of entertainment.
No strangers to the center and back by popular requests were Wayne and Tammy Lang, who have delivered their fourth performance to the average 50 plus crowds this year. Gene Autry fans were treated to the Lang’s country style of music. Tammy comes from a household of musicians known as The Barnes Family. Wayne also has a knack of inserting a funny story in between nearly every song. We are fortunate to have them appear since Wayne makes it known to all, “ their schedule is full, currently being on their world tour.”
The group called Trilogy, are brothers Jerry and Leroy Schmidtberger and local sign artist Rick Rupp who hail from Victoria. They are well known from other area public and private engagements and tally this appearance as number three for the week. It is certainly hoped for that both groups can work the Hays Senior Center into
a schedule for the next year Christmas season. Enjoy the music and come to the center for good food and great social time. The number is 785-628-6644
— Videos submitted by the Hays Senior Center
MARSHALL: Doctor’s Note Dec. 22
Friends,
Coming into this week I knew we had our work cut out for us, I did not want a government shutdown, but I also couldn’t, in good conscience ignore matters of national security. I was firm in that we should fund the $5 billion to help secure our borders.
After much back and forth, I am proud that the House voted and passed $5.7 billion in border security funds, which will fully fund President Trump’s request as the American people have demanded.
The fate of the bill is unclear as it sits in the Senate, and a partial shutdown is still possible if a final bill doesn’t reach the President’s desk by tonight. But I am fully prepared to work through the holidays to make sure border security funding is protected.
Kansas farmers back home will be working on Christmas Day, the cows have to be milked and the cattle fed. And as a physician, almost every year I delivered a Christmas baby, so I am perfectly accustomed to working through the holidays to do my job. Anyone who thinks that we are going to get a package that prioritizes border security when Nancy Pelosi takes over the House in January is delusional.
Preventing Maternal Deaths Act
Recently the House passed H.R. 1318, the Preventing Maternal Deaths Act of 2017. This legislation aims to address maternal deaths across America by improving data collection analysis. Earlier this year, I joined The Hill, a Washington-based newspaper, for an in-depth discussion focused on improving outcomes in maternal and child health in the U.S.
The number of mothers who die today from pregnancy-related causes remains far too high. According to the CDC, nationally maternal deaths have actually increased in recent years to 20.7 deaths per 100,000 live births. The good news is that Kansas has set the standard, already bucking the national trend, with maternal mortality decreasing from 19.6 to 17.7 deaths since 2016. Currently, there are gaps in identifying trends and developing
I was one of the first to cosponsor this bill and worked tirelessly with patient advocacy groups to urge Congress to pass this much-needed legislation. I am so proud that it passed through the House.
Small Business Lending Fairness Act
This week, Rep Velázquez (D-NY) and I introduced the “Small Business Lending Fairness Act,” bipartisan legislation that aims to put an end to the practice of small business borrowers signing an obscure legal document known as a “confession of judgment,” which essentially requires the borrower to waive their legal rights.
Shady lenders are using confessions of judgment as a weapon to take advantage of entrepreneurs and small business owners.
Closing this loophole ensures that predatory lenders are unable to seize the assets of small firms without due process and extends protections to small business owners looking to obtain a loan. I am proud to work across the aisle to end this scam.
Military Service Academy Nominees
This week our office announced the 2018 nominations for the U.S. military service academies.It’s a privilege and honor to nominate these young men and women to our nation’s esteemed military service academies.This year we had nine students from our district apply and seven were ultimately given nominations.I am so proud of these young men and women and their leadership. Below are the students who received nominations from our office:
U.S. Air Force Academy
Keaton Keoning, son of Kris and Emily Koening, from Manhattan, Kan.
Emmanuel Effiong, son of Joseph and Annie Effiong, from Fort Riley, Kan.
U.S. Naval Academy
Blaise Hayden, daughter of Curtis and Eileen Hayden, from Manhattan, Kan.
Rudolph Rodriguez, son of Matt and Kristy Rodriguez, from Salina, Kan.
Virginia Schaben, daughter of Doug and Shelley Schaben, from Ness City, Kan.
U.S. Marine Academy
Corbin Sanner, son of Troy and Judy Sanner, from Junction City, Kan.
Rudolph Rodriguez, son of Matt and Kristy Rodriguez, from Salina, Kan.
Parker Wilson, son of Jeremy and Mandy Wilson, from Manhattan, Kan.
U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Marine Academy, and U.S. Naval Academy
Rudolph Rodriguez, son of Matt and Kristy Rodriguez, from Salina, Kan.
To be nominated, applicants must meet the recommendations and standards set by each academy, complete online applications and interview with at least one Member of Congress or Senate.
President Trump Signs the Farm Bill
This week President Trump signed the 2018 Farm Bill into law. I was fortunate to be invited to join the president for this signing. It truly has been an incredible journey to see this process from start to finish. I am so proud of this Farm Bill and happy to report that we have delivered on our promise to provide farmers with five-years of certainty. This Farm Bill will be a great Christmas present to our producers across Kansas who will see many wins in this bill.
In addition to the Farm bill being signed into law, the Department of Agriculture announced that it would move a key focus of the House’s Farm Bill that was lost in the final negotiations forward, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) reform. Secretary Sonny Perdue proposed a rule to restore SNAP’s integrity.
This rule helps able-bodied Americans move off welfare and into work, and cracks down on states that are waiving the 20-hour per week work requirements. We want to help people by assisting them in finding work, and preparing them with the skills and training they need so that they can prosper. I am thrilled that the Trump administration is tackling this issue.
ACA Ruled Unconstitutional
On December 14, a federal district court in Texas ruled that the ACA was deemed unconstitutional without the individual mandate. The individual mandate, repealed under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, was a penalty as a tax that legitimized the ACA under a Supreme Court decision years ago. Without the penalty, the federal court ruled that the health care law no longer met that Constitutional test. I’m not surprised by this decision. The ACA was and is not the solution to addressing health care.
As a physician, I’ve lived the nightmare of the ACA in rural Kansas. Where one can see a success story, I can give you a failed one. I came to Congress to work proactively with my colleagues across both sides of the aisle. I understand that there is a lot of talk about what the court’s decision means.
This court decision isn’t the end all, be all. It will most likely be appealed. Until then Congress should focus its efforts on coming together to develop bipartisan health care reform that focuses on increasing transparency and consumer choice, improves quality of care, lowers costs, and protects patients with preexisting conditions.
White House Congressional Ball with my daughter, Lauren.
My daughter Lauren spent the weekend with me in D.C. We went to the Library of Congress (one of my favorite places in D.C.), and I took her with me to the White House Congressional Ball. We admired the White House Christmas decorations and enjoyed our time at the ceremony.
I so enjoyed having Lauren in town to join me for this special event.
An end of an era:
This week we said goodbye to my friend and mentor, Speaker Ryan. From day one him and Janna were so kind and welcoming to Laina and I. In his farewell address he said, “well-done is always a better than well-said.” Speaker Ryan has been great leaders, he is genuine and thoughtful and we will miss him dearly.
In Case You Missed It: Eagle Morning Show 12/17-12/21
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
Cortney joined the show to talk about medicare supplemental plans:
Best plans
You can find out more about Sunflower Senior Solutions by clicking here or visit their Facebook by clicking here. You can also give Cortney a call at 785-301-2716.
Catholic Schools Report: Holy Family Elementary Librarian Janice Collins & Catholic Charities Rep Jeanie Riedel
Mrs. Collins and Mrs. Riedel joined the show to talk about Mary’s Baby Shower which took place on Tuesday, December 18th:
Janice on what Mary’s Baby Shower is
Jeanie on Catholic Charities role
Tuesday
USD 489 Superintendent John Thissen
John Thissen and Cristina Janney were on the Eagle Morning Show to recap last night’s school board meeting:
Approval of financing Oak Park project
Discussing the search for a new superintendent
County Commission Meeting Recap: County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes and County Commissioner Marcy McClelland
Phillip and Marcy were on the show to share what was covered in the the Ellis County Commission meeting from the previous night:
$5000 check presentation to Ellis County Fire Dept. from Shawn Braun with Buckeye Wind
Vehicle Replacement Purchase for Ambulances
End-of-year Transfers
Wednesday
Cottonwood District Agriculture Agent Stacy Campbell
Stacy made his monthly visit to the show to talk about some of the upcoming programs and workshops that will be available at the beginning of the year:
Annual “Cover You Acres” Winter Conference on January 15th and 16th
If you would like to be added to the newsletter mailing list to stay informed of all programs that are upcoming, you can call 785-628-9430
Protect & Serve: FHSU Police Chief Ed Howell and Lieutenant Cliff Denny
Chief Howell and Lt. Denny were on the show to talk about the recent phone scam at Fort Hays State University:
Recent phone scam claiming to be FHSU Police
Hays Arts Council Director Brenda Meder
Brenda made her monthly visit to the Eagle Morning Show to update everyone on what’s going on at the Hays Arts Council:
The Gift Gallery in the Hays Arts Council
Deadline to sign up for the New Year’s Eve Celebration is December 27th. Visit the Hays Arts Center or go online at www.hctks.com for tickets!
Friday
Downtown Hays Development Coporation – Sara Bloom
Sara made her monthly visit on the show to recap the Frost Fest Parade!
Join us next week on the Eagle Morning Show on KAYS (94.3FM & 1400AM), on hayspost.com (KAYS tab at top of page) or on the KAYS app (available for Apple and Android)! We will be off on Christmas day but on the air every other day.
Western Kansas Corn school will be Jan. 9 in Oakley
OAKLEY — Kansas Corn and Kansas State Research and Extension’s Golden Prairie District will host the Western Kansas Corn School at the Buffalo Bill Cultural Center in Oakley on from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Jan. 9.
The school will focus on production practices, fertility considerations, weed control issues, updates on the market and legislative policy, and will also include a grower panel. CCA credits are available.
This school is open to the public and there is no cost for admission. Online registration is requested by going to kscorn.com/cornschool/
For more information about the school, call Clint Bain at 785-743-6361.
FHSU closed for semester break; Sternberg Museum open
FHSU University Relations
The Sternberg Museum of Natural History and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center will be the only two Fort Hays State University enterprises open during winter break.
The university closes at the end of business on Friday, Dec. 21, and will not reopen until Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. The main FHSU campus will be closed down for the break period except for essential services.
The University Police Department office will be closed but full patrol schedules will be maintained, and operators will remain on duty at the power plant.
Sternberg Museum, 3000 Sternberg Drive, will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day but will otherwise be open for its normal winter hours: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
The museum is closed on Mondays from Oct. 1 through March 19.
The KWEC, 592 NR. K-156 Highway, Great Bend, about 12 miles northeast of the city, will also be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day but will otherwise be open for its normal winter hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
The Wetlands Center’s winter hours are from Nov. 1 through March 31.
Cloudy, cool Saturday, chance of rain
Today
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 5pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 46. North northwest wind 8 to 15 mph.
Tonight
A chance of rain and snow before 9pm, then a chance of snow between 9pm and midnight. Cloudy during the early evening, then gradual clearing, with a low around 24. West northwest wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%.
Sunday
Sunny, with a high near 48. West wind 8 to 11 mph becoming south southwest in the afternoon.
Sunday Night
Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 27. South southwest wind 7 to 9 mph.
Monday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. Southwest wind 5 to 7 mph.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 27.
Christmas Day
Partly sunny, with a high near 45.
Tuesday Night
Rain likely before 1am, then rain and snow likely between 1am and 3am, then snow likely after 3am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 34. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.
Wednesday
Rain and snow showers likely before 8am, then rain showers. Some thunder is also possible. High near 47. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
JAG-K points HHS students toward careers
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Hays High senior Karina Carrillo is looking forward to graduation. She is passing all of her courses, and she looks forward to studying nursing next year.
“I want to help people,” Carrillo said.
Carrillo is in her second year of Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas. She spent a year in the Salina program before transferring to HHS. She said she really struggled in school before the JAG-K program.
“I passed my junior year because of JAG,” she said.
She also said she had no idea what she wanted to do for a job after graduation before she connected with JAG-K.
This year, Carrillo is the president of the HHS JAG-K Career Association.
The JAG-K program, which is new at HHS this year, provides assistance to students who have risk factors that might put them in jeopardy of not graduating. The program also focuses on preparing for careers after high school. Thirty-eight students in grades 10-12 participated in the program first semester and several more will likely be added in the spring.
The JAG-K students visited NCK Tech this semester and teacher Johnny Matlock said several students said they were interested in study nursing through the NCK-Tech program after that visit, including Carrillo.
“I think we had several students who for the first time really had a direction for the career they are interested in,” Matlock said. “When we came back, I was hooking students up with KansasWorks for students who were interested in going to culinary school or getting their CNA, so we were looking at funding for that. It was neat to see them pumped up about doing that.”
Aihxel Alcaya and Hayden Giebler also said they were interested in studying nursing.
Giebler said he thought the JAG-K program is preparing him to go on to nursing school.
“It has taught us a lot of communication skills,” he said. “I feel like you need that to go anywhere in life. … And leadership skills. We have learned a lot by going out to the ropes course at Fort Hays, and we have been working together in teams.”
Alcaya and Giebler, along with Cydney Howell were working as a team Monday to sign up students, teachers and staff to donate blood during the upcoming Battle of the Badges during the week after Christmas and the first week in January.
None of students had participated in a community service project before.
Matlock said the project has helped the students learn how to talk to people on the phone as well as in person — good practice for when they will be interviewing for jobs. The students did presentations on their Battle of the Badges project to Hays Police, Fire and EMS departments. They have also made a commercial for the Tribe radio station.
Howell said every year she failed at least one course, but this year she is passing all of courses and has a 3.6 GPA thanks to the help of Matlock and the JAG-K program.
Howell wants to be a tattoo artist and hopes to intern with a professional through her connections with JAG-K.
In addition to NCK-Tech, the JAG-K students toured businesses in the community and will tour more in the spring as well as participate in job shadowing.
“It think it opens their eyes to what is out there,” Matlock said.
Learning about potential careers is motivating the students in their high school studies, he said.
“I think it is connecting the dots that this does have meaning,” he said. “This is a step they need to go through in order to get to that post graduation goal they are interested in.”
Matlock continued, “I think already we have had some lightbulb moments. I can look at their attendance. I can see what it was last year and see what it is this year, and their attendance has improved. It think we will really see results after our program has been up and running for a year or two.”
The Kansas Trio program of Great Bend will make visits to the HHS this spring as well. Trio focuses on job skills, financial literacy and career exploration. It will help college-bound students fill out financial aid forms and work with the students on test anxiety among other workshops.
JAG-K is a national program and offers regional, state and national career development conferences. The HHS students will be able to compete in eight events in the spring, some of which include public speaking, math skills, employability and entrepreneurship. Carrillo won a second place in the regional competition in employability last year.
Matlock said he sees the program growing as community awareness grows.
“I think we are going to see more and more opportunities open up for the program as we make those community connections and business connections and as people learn about the program,” he said.
Battle of the Badges
You can assist JAG-K in their work to recruit blood donors during the holiday season by donating during the Red Cross Battle of the Badges. Times, dates and locations are listed below.
• Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m at the Ellis County Administrative Center, 718 Main St.
• Thursday, Dec. 27, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Midwest Energy, 1330 Canterbury Drive.
• Saturday, Dec. 29, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday and Saturday Jan. 4 and 5 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Big Creek Crossing, 2918 Vine St.
Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information.
As a special thank-you for helping meet the urgent need, those who come to give Dec. 20 through Jan. 6 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last.
Survey results will help give direction to Ellis Co. comprehensive plan
Ellis County has been working with Marvin Planning Consultants Inc. of David City, Neb., and MSA Professional Services of Ankeny, Iowa, since September. The project is now undergoing the countywide public participation phase of the project.
The countywide public participation phase is where the public has multiple opinions for guiding the process with their thoughts and vision. As of Thursday, an online survey is available for people to answer. If you are unable to go online, hard copies of the survey are available at the Ellis County Administration Building, City of Hays (City Hall), the City Halls of Ellis and Victoria.
The digital survey via this link https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EllisCountyCompPlan. Also, there are postcards and posters around the county, and if you have a QR code scanner, you can do the survey on a smartphone or tablet/iPad.
Besides the survey, the planning consultants will be in Ellis County the week of Jan. 28. Check Hays Post for more information on opportunities to comment, discuss and ask questions.
Pasta Jay’s closes the doors of Hays location
Pasta Jay’s in Hays is closed as of Friday.
The Italian restaurant reportedly announced to its employees Thursday night that the location would be closed, effective immediately.
A sign posted on the front door of the restaurant thanked customers for their patronage.
Representatives from Pasta Jay’s and Tebo Properties have been contacted for more information on the closure and the future of the site at 4310 Vine.
Pasta Jay’s opened in Tebo Village in 2016.
Check Hays Post for more as details become available.
Jobless rate flat in Ellis County, extremely low in western two-thirds of Kan.
The unemployment rate in Ellis County remained unchanged from October to November, according to data released by the state Friday.
The 2.1 unemployment rate in Ellis County among the lowest in the state, with only four far-western Kansas counties posting lower rates. Just 356 people were categorized as unemployed in Ellis County.
Only four counties west of Interstate 35 — Barton, Reno, Morton and Seward — posted a jobless rate of 3 percent or higher.
Statewide, preliminary estimates reported by the Kansas Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.2 percent in November. This was down from 3.3 in October and down from 3.5 percent in November 2017.
“Kansas is heading for a strong finish to 2018 as the number of private sector jobs in November reached 1,169,200, a new all-time high,” said Secretary Lana Gordon.
Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 1,500 from October. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 1,500 from the previous month.
“Labor market conditions continued to improve in November with a notable increase in real wages and stronger hiring among retailers than last year at this time,” said Senior Labor Economist, Tyler Tenbrink.
Since November 2017, Kansas gained 19,700 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 16,900 private sector jobs.
No White Christmas in Hays — but snow could arrive shortly after
Don’t expect a White Christmas in Hays — but there is a chance the days immediately after Christmas might bring some snow.
The National Weather Service is calling for mostly sunny skies on Christmas Day, with a high temperature in the mid-40s. As Christmas Day passes, however, there will be a chance of rain and snow after midnight.
On Wednesday, the chance of precipitation is 70 percent. Low temperatures are expected to dip to the mid-20s Wednesday night. The chance of rain and snow continue Thursday, with the chance of precipitation at 60 percent.
Check Hays Post for detailed weather information as the busy holiday travel season continues.