HAYSMED

HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, recently successfully completed an on site survey of their stroke program.   The hospital was awarded a three year extension of their certification as a Primary Stroke Center hospital by DNV Healthcare reaffirming the hospitals’ readiness to handle a full range of stroke-related medical problems.

HaysMed was the first hospital in Kansas to receive this designation in 2013 and has remained certified since that time.

The three-year certification from DNV Healthcare, a hospital accreditation organization with some of the toughest standards in health care, means HaysMed’s stroke response staff follows the best methods to fast-track patients suspected of stroke so doctors can begin brain-saving treatments immediately.

“This certification let’s our community know we have the resources and commitment to provide the best possible stroke care,” said Erin Hemphill, MD, hospitalist and medical director of the stroke program at HaysMed. “It’s a combination of the right medical teams, equipment, and training to quickly assess and treat strokes. Achieving certification validates all the effort we have put into this program to improve every life we touch.”

HaysMed stroke response includes in hospital collaboration that speeds diagnosis and treatment during a patient’s crucial first moments at the hospital. The Hospital’s Emergency Department hospitalists, neurology and critical care departments work together – sharing lab results and CT scans, examining patients and recommending treatment all within a short time of a patient’s arrival.

As part of its review, DNV inspected actual and potential patient outcomes, as well as required processes followed by the hospital’s stroke care team. DNV surveyors assessed the care provided at HaysMed, including the appropriateness of the care and hospital services within the context of the certification requirements.

Surveyors also visited the areas where stroke patients are diagnosed and treated and reviewed clinical records, staff records and other documentation to validate information gained from observations and interviews.

“HaysMed will continue to put quality processes and programs in place to provide the best health care for the people of western Kansas,” said Hemphill.  “Achieving certification shows commitment to excellence, and it demonstrates that the hospital is performing at the highest level.”

 

Today
Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Northwest wind 8 to 13 mph becoming south in the afternoon.

Tonight
A slight chance of rain between midnight and 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. South southeast wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Monday
Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 8 to 13 mph becoming northwest 15 to 20 mph in the morning. Winds could gust as high as 30 mph.

Monday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Northwest wind 6 to 11 mph.

Tuesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 56. West northwest wind 6 to 8 mph.

Tuesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 33.

Wednesday
Partly sunny, with a high near 47.

Wednesday Night
A chance of rain before midnight, then rain and snow between midnight and 2am, then snow after 2am. Low around 31. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

Thursday
Rain and snow before 10am, then rain between 10am and 5pm, then a chance of rain and snow after 5pm. High near 39. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

DANE G. HANSEN MUSEUM

LOGAN – The Dane G. Hansen Museum is pleased to present Albin Studio Exhibition, a solo exhibition of paintings by Laurie Albin. Albin, a 38-year painting veteran, has spent a significant amount of her career painting commissions in portraiture and landscapes. She is recognized as a prolific artist in multiple mediums, with an emphasis in watercolor, which is her favorite medium. Of all the painting processes, watercolor painting is known for its inherent delicacy and subtlety. Albin’s watercolors fully embody these characteristics. The Hansen Museum is delighted to host 52 of Albin Studio’s best works from October 26 – December 2, 2018.

Albin is the recipient of numerous awards of recognition and has participated in many Midwest exhibits and gallery shows. Albin is also a member of the Kansas Watercolor Society. Presently, Laurie teaches art (grades 7-12) in Hill City, Kansas, and works in her home studio in WaKeeney.

Albin Studio Exhibition opens October 26, 2018, at the Dane G. Hansen Museum located at 110 W. Main Street, Logan, Kansas. Museum hours are Monday through Friday 9-12 & 1-4; Saturday 9-12 & 1-5; Sunday & holidays 1-5. We are handicapped accessible and thanks to the generosity of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, there is never an admission fee. For more information, please contact Shari at 785-689-4846. We hope to see you at the Museum.

RACC

RUSSELL – The Russell Area Chamber of Commerce is happy to announce Wade Glenn will be accepting the role as our executive director starting November 5, 2018.

Glenn was born and raised in Russell. He has spent 20 years in California and the last 10 in Kansas City. Glenn has always held Russell as a special place in his heart and is excited to move back here.

He graduated from DeVry with a degree in Electronics Technology where he has used this field of study for most of his life. Glenn loves drumming and his English bulldogs.

We on the Chamber Board are excited to have Wade and look forward to our Russell community meeting him.

Stop by the Chamber of Commerce office, 507 N. Main St, Russell KS, on November 8 from 4:30-6:00 p.m. for drinks and refreshments. Help us welcome Wade back to Russell and congratulate him on his new position with the Chamber.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

After working with students and teaching social studies and government for more than three decades, Ellis resident Chris Rorabaugh will look to use that knowledge in the practical sense as a candidate for first district Ellis County commissioner in Tuesday’s general election.

Rorabaugh, D-Ellis, faces Republican Butch Schlyer and independent candidate John Walz.

Why are you running for County Commission?
Rorabaugh said that while teaching many of his students would push him to run for office and it’s something he had always thought about doing. When the first district seat on the county commission opened this election cycle, he decided he would give it a try.

“I always thought I wanted to try it (run for public office) and really wasn’t sure what I wanted to try,” Rorabaugh said. “I really didn’t want to stick around to the school board and city council stuff because that’s too close to home.”

Employee morale
Rorabaugh said they after talking with employees he believes there is a morale problem within the county right now.

“I would like to get out and see what people are doing and show that I care and see if there’s some improvements or maybe we do need to cut somewhere,” he said.

He said he doesn’t want to micromanage and believes County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes does a great job leading the department heads. But he added there are a lot of departments and he would like to talk with them about the issues they are facing.

“There’s good things going on in Ellis County and I think the public needs to know that. Maybe we need to get that stuff on social media a little more,” Rorabaugh said.

Are you in favor of a county-wide sales tax?
He also called the budget one of the key issues facing the county heading into the next term.

Rorabaugh said he believes it will have to take a little bit of everything to improve the county’s financial situation. That would include possibly raising property taxes, (although he said he’s just like every other resident and isn’t a fan of higher taxes), cutting services or implementing a county-wide sales tax.

The county’s half-cent sales tax used to pay for renovations to the Law Enforcement Center and the jail and the construction of the Emergency Management Services building was allowed to sunset at the end of September.

“I was told it raises a little over a million dollars a year and it’s not real invasive in your life. You don’t really notice it compared to property tax,” Rorabaugh said.

He said when talking with constituents he did not get any negative feedback about the possibility of implementing a sales taxes as compared to the pushback when discussing an increase in property tax. Rorabaugh said it’s something he definitely wants to look at if elected.

A proposed county-wide sales tax would have to be approved by Ellis County voters.

Commission salary and employee benefits
Rorabaugh said he if in favor of cutting the salary the commissioners receive and eliminating benefits they receive.

“These are part-time positions, and I don’t feel like they should get health insurance, period, and I don’t feel like they should get KPERS retirement,” Rorabaugh said.

He acknowledged that the job might take up more time than it just being part-time but said that he isn’t afraid to work the needed hours.

“I don’t think the commissioners deserve that fringe benefit.”

In 2018, the commission budgeted $54,786 for insurance for the three commissioners and another $5,276 for KPERS withholdings. For the three commissioners’ salaries, they budgeted $124,017.

Rorabaugh said cutting the health insurance and KPERS and a 50-percent cut in commissioner salaries wouldn’t solve the county’s budget issue, but it would be a good start.

“I think the commissioners can show some leadership, saying hey we’ll take a hit if your guys (other county employees) will take a smaller hit on your health insurance,” Rorabaugh said. “I don’t think cutting their salary 5 percent is going to go anything.”

He said they might also have to look at having the county employees pay more of their insurance in the future.

Wind
Rorabaugh continues to be a big proponent of continuing to development wind energy in Ellis County. He said he would be interested in the county looking at a recruiting firm to help to continue wind development.

He said it seems like everywhere you go across the plains there are wind turbines and wind farms being developed and said he would like for Ellis County to benefit from that development as well.

“It’s not going to happen overnight obviously, it’s probably going to take another six to eight to 10 years,” Rorabaugh said. “But whoever got this going six to eight years ago, thank heavens for them.”

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

With Ellis County facing the potential for significant budget issues, first district Ellis County Commission candidate Robert “Butch” Schlyer believes his experience makes his best suited for the job.

Schlyer, R-Hays, defeated incumbent Marcy McClelland in the August Republican primary and faces Democratic challenger Chris Rorabaugh and independent John Walz in Tuesday’s primary election.

Schlyer served as Ellis County Health Administrator for 23 before retiring in 2016.

Why are you running for county commission?
Schlyer said he decided to run for election because of his knowledge of the county. He said while serving as the Health Administrator, he met with the other department heads to discuss issues within the county and he was able to learn a lot from those collaborations, which he believes will help him succeed as a commissioner.

“It really put every department head in touch with what the other department heads were doing,” Schlyer said. “I have developed a respect for department heads, their professional knowledge and judgement, and I believe they’ve developed the same for me.”

As the commission begins working on the fiscal year 2020 budget, it is expected to face a potentially significant budget deficit, and Schlyer said he believes the relationships he has already built will help right away.

“As we look at the tough issues facing the county, I’m in a better position to sit down with department heads that I already know and respect and say, ‘We need to sit down and negotiate some of these issues,’ ” he said. “I think they would receive that better from someone who knows what’s going on, than from someone who doesn’t.”

Budget the biggest issue
Schlyer said the budget is currently the biggest issue affecting Ellis County and he believes the next commissioner is going to have to make difficult decisions.

“In the short term, we’re going to have to try and reduce expenses and increase some revenues, probably through some tax increases,” said Schlyer.

He said they are going to have to look at doing things differently. He said department heads are not overspending; they are spending at a level that keeps everything running as they are now but that is going to have to change. That could lead to a reduction or changes in services.

“The public’s going to have to accept some change,” Schlyer said. “If we keep running the county the same way we’re running the county now, it’s going to hit the county real hard.”

He said no one is in favor of seeing their property taxes increase but it could come down to a reduction of some services or higher property taxes.

Are you in favor of a county-wide sales tax?
The idea of implementing a county-wide sales tax to help fund county government was raised during a recent candidate forum, and Schlyer said he would be in favor of an sales tax if it is limited to just funding essential services. That would include law enforcement, Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Management.

“Things like public safety, public health need to be above politics, (and) the county has to fund those because people can get sick, injured or die if we don’t fund those budgets adequately,” Schlyer said.

He said a reduction to some of the other departments may be an inconvenience to the public but no one wants to close an ambulance service or compromise law enforcement officers who are trying to protect the public.

Schlyer said he also believes Ellis County residents may be more inclined to support a sales county-wide sales tax as opposed to paying higher property tax.

The county’s half-cent sales tax to help finance construction of the Emergency Services Building and remodel the Law Enforcement Center and jail was allowed to sunset at the end of September.

Politics leading to divide
Schlyer said he has been surprised to hear about the divisiveness currently going on in politics.

He said even though he is running for a seat on the Ellis County Commission, he heard from a lot of people that they are upset with what’s happening in politics in general.

“You try to look at the issues affecting the county, we’re not going to pass any resolutions that affect the social issues that you see at the state or federal,” Schlyer said. “I don’t know why it has to be a partisan election when it really doesn’t apply that way.”

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Lifelong Ellis County resident and independent candidate for the first district seat on the Ellis County Commission John Walz said, after serving on several other boards and commissions over the years, he is ready for the challenges ahead as a county commissioner.

Walz, an independent from Ellis, has worked in a variety of jobs in Ellis County, including owning the Taco House and working in law enforcement for Ellis Police Department, the Fort Hays State Police Department and currently as jail security for Ellis County Sheriff’s Department — a position he would give up if elected.

He faces Democrat Chris Rorabaugh and Republican Butch Schlyer in Tuesday’s general election.

Why are you running for County Commission?
Walz said he has served on similar boards in the past, including the Ellis City Council for 11 years and the Ellis Recreation Commission for 10 years. He is still a member of the Ellis County Historical Society board.

“I enjoy doing it,” Walz said. “I enjoy giving back to the community that has given me so much. I appreciated the job opportunities that have been offered to me here in Ellis County. I feel very fortunate.”

He also said he work on other boards was very similar to working on the commission.

As a member of the city council and the recreation commission, he had to work through the budgeting process as well.

“I’ve enjoyed all the jobs I’ve had, I’ve enjoyed all the boards I’ve been on and I enjoy trying to give back to the community,” Walz said.

Dealing with the budget
Walz identified the potential budget shortfall as one of the biggest issues facing the county.

He said that right now there isn’t a good answer to solve the county’s budget issues and potential for budget deficit.

“First of all, I really don’t want to raise property taxes at all,” Walz said. “It’s possible, in the end no matter who the commissioner is, (property taxes) may get raised some because we have to balance the budget.”

While a cut in services have been brought up as a way to reduce the budget, Walz said he doesn’t know how the residents of Ellis County would react to a cut in services.

“Most of these services are mandated by state statute so they have to be offered, (but) they can be reduced,” Walz said.

He said a reduction or slowdown of services will mean that the county won’t be offering the same quality of services as it has in the past.

“All the offices are already running with less people than what they had previously, so they’ve already cut back a bunch,” Walz said.

He said he wants the commission to reach out to citizens and ask them what services they would be willing to have cut or where they would be OK with seeing reductions.

Are you in favor of a county-wide sales tax?
Walz said that he is in favor of a sales tax that would pay for county services. The previous half-cent sales tax for Ellis County sunset at the end of September. It was approved by voters in 2013 to pay for renovations at the Law Enforcement Center and jail and the building of the Emergency Services Building.

He said while people are always critical of just continuing the sales tax and never allowing it to sunset, this would be a way to help to fund the county and county services.

“We’re so limited on options as a county,” Walz said. “You can keep robbing stuff. What we’ve seen from the state of Kansas, you start taking from all these funds and then you don’t have any savings left for the future.”

He said he believes a sales tax could be one of the key options to improving the fiscal health in Ellis County.

The citizens would have to vote to approve any sales tax.

Employee morale
Walz said he’s also concerned about the morale of the employees of Ellis County. One of the ways the current commission is attempting to save money is by not replacing employees who retire. He said when someone leaves, that extra work is then absorbed by others.

“You’re using less people to do the same amount of work and someone’s going to have to attempt to try to get that amount of work done and that puts a lot more pressure on the people doing it and they’re probably not going to be able to get as much done,” Walz said.

He said this can lead to a decline in job quality and morale and that can cause people to find a different job.

“We want to keep quality people working for the county,” Walz said. “Out in the private sector, these folks would make more money.”

He said if the commission chooses to cut benefits to employees or doesn’t continue to improve the salaries county, employees could leave for other jobs.

“You want to take care of your people that are working for you.”

A group of Fort Hays State students in the Leadership 310 class have partnered with Breathe Coffee House, 703 Main, for the Pay It Forward project.

The team consists of Hannah Haury, Denice Lastra Blanco, Quinn Munk, and Allison Muth.

“The whole purpose of this project is communication and making sure individuals become a part of something bigger than themselves by completing a small act of kindness” Muth said.

The project includes a total of six baskets entering the Hays community to promote communication and kindness. Two baskets were placed on the Fort Hays State University campus, one with a Fort Hays State University student organization, and three at different downtown businesses. The group has also successfully served free Breathe coffee for students on the Quad at Fort Hays State University to promote the initiative, and plan to have multiple other events on campus throughout the semester as well.

“We were excited to partner with Pat McGinnis to help create a fun and connected community,” Munk said.

Although the team is running a 16-week course, the ultimate goal is for the Hays community to continue this project and to launch their own as well.

“We envision for people from all aspects of the community to be inspired by this initiative and to pay it forward in their everyday lives, not just with our baskets,” Haury said.

Lastra Blanco said the project “is not only connecting the Hays community but is integrating multiple generations to become unified or supported.”

The Pay It Forward project opens up the opportunity for local businesses, schools, organizations and academic departments to become supportive of one another instead of competing. This project is more than just a basket, it is a reason to care for someone else.

For more information on the project, contact Breathe Coffee House at [email protected].

— Submitted

The City of Hays Water Resources Department has contracted with Pro-Pipe to conduct sewer line cleaning and inspections at the locations shown on the attached map. Cleaning will begin Monday. Pro-Pipe should be completed with the entire project on Friday, Dec. 14.

Door hanger notices will be placed on homes and businesses affected before the cleaning.

See the map above for detailed locations.

During this process, residents may experience a rumbling sound, in addition to the possibility of water entering your sink, bathtub and/or toilet. Sewer lines can develop air pressure or a partial vacuum from the cleaning process. Usually any excess air pressure or vacuum will dissipate through the plumbing vents, but occasionally there are facilities with inadequate plumbing vents (i.e.: no vents, undersized vents or obstructed vents). In this case of inadequate venting, air pressure could escape through the toilet, floor, sink, tub or shower drains, causing water to splash out or a vacuum could draw the water out of the fixture traps allowing unpleasant odors.

If you will not be home or on vacation during the time of sewer line cleaning, please protect your home by keeping your toilet lids down.

The City of Hays apologizes for any inconvenience this may impose. Performing this preventative maintenance by cleaning the sanitary sewer will improve the sewer’s performance and significantly reduce the chance for future sewer backups and related problems.

Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Water Resources Office at 785-628-7380 or via email [email protected].

If you have a concern that your child may have a developmental delay or be in need of special education services, call for a developmental screening.

Children from the ages of 3 to school age that live in Ellis or Rush counties are eligible to be screened. Speech, language, vision, hearing, thinking, self-help, behavior and motor development will be checked.

The screenings will be held on Friday, Nov. 9.Call 785-625-3257 to set up a free developmental screening appointment for your child.

These developmental screenings are offered monthly and sponsored by the Hays Interagency Coordinating Council and USD 489.

Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior High students have published the most recent version of the Monarch Messenger, which tells stories of TMP-M’s seventh- and eighth-grade students.

Click HERE to read the Monarch Messenger.

Editors are students Laeh Hunt and Drew Werth, and Carol Brull serves as the adviser.