A special webinar has been scheduled to discuss the upcoming “Reflections of Italy” tour, hosted by Eagle’s Mike Koerner. The webinar will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 18, and is expected to last 30 minutes.
Ask real-time questions, learn from travel experts and lose yourself in incredible images of Italy. This is the first step on what will be an amazing adventure.
Koerner will lead a group on an historic visit to some greatest cities in the world — Rome, Perugia, Florence, Venice and Milan. The days in Rome will include a trip to Vatican City that will include a trip to St. Peter’s Basilica.
We’ll spend nine wonderful days together — April 24, 2019 to May 3, 2019. We have booked this trip with professional guides to give us some behind-the-scenes looks typical tourists don’t get to see. We’ll also be eating lots of wonderful Italian food, plus you’ll have a change to break away from the group at certain times to make the trip unique to you.
Koerner
It’s been said that one of the joys of traveling is not only where you go but who you go with and who you meet along the way. This tour group will be limited to 40 local people who would love to join my wife and I as we travel Italy.
Today A 30 percent chance of rain with a slight chance of drizzle, mainly after noon. Cloudy, with a high near 53. Breezy, with a northeast wind 17 to 21 mph.
Tonight A 40 percent chance of rain. Cloudy, with a low around 44. East northeast wind 6 to 14 mph.
SaturdayA 30 percent chance of rain with a slight chance of drizzle before 1pm. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 69. East southeast wind 7 to 16 mph.
Saturday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 59. South southeast wind 11 to 13 mph.
SundayMostly sunny, with a high near 81. South wind 10 to 14 mph.
GOVE COUNTY — Two people were injured in an accident just before 1p.m. Thursday in Gove County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Ram 1500 driven by Daniel Leon Weyand, 71, Quinter, was southbound on Kansas 23 five miles south of Interstate 70.
As a 2003 Kenworth semi driven by Terry L. Marlow, 60, Quinter, pulled out from Gove County Road X, the driver attempted moved to the left lane to pass the slower Ram pickup.
The pickup then made a left turn in front of the semi. The semi struck the pickup in the driver’s side and the pickup rolled onto its top.
Weyand and Marlow were transported to Gove County Medical Center. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
A favorite Fort Hays State University homecoming activity for descendants of the Wallace and Shirley Robinson family over the years has been the 5K race.
By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN FHSU University Relations and Marketing
Homecoming at Fort Hays State University has long been special for descendants of the Wallace and Shirley Robinson family.
For years, between 10 and 20 family members gathered on Saturday morning of homecoming to run the 5K race.
This year, more than two dozen of the Robinson children, their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren are expected to be in Hays for the 2018 homecoming festivities. Not a single one is scheduled to line up for Saturday’s early-morning run, though, because this year, they have a lot of other activities on their homecoming agenda.
The Robinsons have been named the Tiger Alumni Family of the Year, a distinction which is in its second year and sponsored by the FHSU Alumni Association. Two dozen family members and their spouses attended Fort Hays State, and 16 of those graduated.
All nine of the Robinson children, who were raised in Hays, attended the hometown university, and all but two of those received bachelor’s degrees in areas ranging from speech pathology and psychology to business fields, from history to computer technology.
Wallace and Shirley Robinson grew up in east central Kansas, and both attended college in Emporia, where Wallace played football for Emporia State and Shirley attended a private school, the College of Emporia. They started a family before moving to Hays, where Wallace went into the wholesale ice cream business, King’s Quality Ice Cream, with his brother, George.
While Shirley took care of their growing family as a stay-at-home mom, Wallace helped run the business. One April day in 1964, the Robinson family’s lives changed dramatically.
Wallace filled in for one of his route drivers who was ill, and while driving the roads of northwest Kansas, the steering went out on the ice cream truck. The truck rolled, Wallace was thrown out and lost his life when he was pinned underneath the truck. Wallace was just 40 years old, and Shirley was left to raise their nine children ages 6 months to 16 years.
She used her husband’s life insurance money to build a new house in Hays, designed for a preschool in the home, which she ran for 30 years. All the while, Shirley stressed that each of her children would attend college, and she took classes at Fort Hays State herself.
“It was just always a given that we would all go to college,” said Ruth Heffel, the third oldest of the Robinson siblings (and oldest girl) who was 13 years old when her father died.
“I didn’t know people didn’t go to college,” added Heffel, who earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from FHSU and worked at Fort Hays State for more than 25 years.
The Robinsons all stayed close to home to continue their education and still remain active with their alma mater. An avid sports fan, Shirley attended Tiger athletic events, as well as other university activities, into her 80s. A Foster Grandparent at FHSU, Shirley died in 2006 at the age of 83.
Shirley’s children followed her lead in becoming involved in their university, then and now.
Heffel joined the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, and her younger sisters, Sheryl Rogers and Sharon Irvin, later followed suit. So, too, did Rogers’ daughter, Kelsee Hirsch, who remains active with the sorority today along with Hirsch’s sister-in-law, Carin Rogers. Four of the Robinson brothers were members of fraternities during their college days.
“I gained sisters when I joined a sorority,” said Hirsch, who graduated with a bachelor of science in nursing in 2013.
Hirsch said that because of her experience at FHSU, her husband, Bryan, chose to attend there as a non-traditional student.
“We bragged about what a great school it was,” Hirsch said, “and Bryan’s younger brother and his brother’s wife decided to come to FHSU.”
While Fort Hays State means different things to different members of the family, Hirsch said she has “very few family members who haven’t been impacted by this institution. FHSU has been such a big part of my family’s lives and will continue to impact us for many more years.”
Hirsch, a registered nurse at HaysMed The University of Kansas Health System, said she tried to get the most out of her college experience while working toward her degree.
“I loved my experience as a student worker, nursing student, sorority girl and now an alum,” she said. “More than likely, my kids and nieces and nephew will be Tigers one day, and that makes me smile.”
Shirley Robinson surely would be smiling Saturday, knowing that nearly 30 of her family members were representing her family being honored by the FHSU Alumni Association.
“Mom would absolutely be thrilled with this,” Heffel said. “She wanted us all to go to college. We all had part-time jobs growing up, and she made it happen.”
Heffel recently retired from the HaysMed Foundation after a long, successful fundraising career. She said that while she and her siblings obviously learned a lot of responsibility growing up, she also credits her Fort Hays State education for her success.
“I believe, and I think all my siblings would agree, that the education we got at Fort Hays State was equal to, if not better than, any other university we could have gone to,” she said. “The hands-on experience we got at Fort Hays State was part of a quality education that surpassed any other. I know one of my nieces says that she would put herself up against anybody with what she learned at FHSU.”
That niece, Kayla Casey – who earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance in 2009 – and her husband, Allen, will be making the longest trip this weekend, traveling from their home in Moscow, Idaho.
The Robinsons’ oldest sibling, David, who lives in the Denver area, won’t be able to attend this year’s homecoming. But his eight younger siblings promise to fill him in on the weekend.
The other five brothers and their hometowns are: Greg, Weskan; Joel, Denver; Jamie, Topeka; and Mark, Westminster, Colo.; and Phillip, Aurora, Colo.
Heffel says her house will be “home base” for her brothers and her sisters – both who are making the trip from their farms near McCracken – and their families.
Heffel said the family always looks forward to getting together, but the alumni family honor makes it even more special this year.
“I was shocked when I heard we were chosen as the Tiger alumni family,” Heffel said. “Everybody is really looking forward to it.”
The Robinson family will ride in the 1 p.m. parade down Main Street Saturday, on a trailer behind the vehicle carrying FHSU President Tisa Mason and her husband, Bill. The Robinsons – who will range in from 1 year old to 69 – will be dressed in gold Tiger T-shirts from the alumni association.
After gathering at the Heffel home for a “tailgate party,” the Robinson family then will attend the 7 p.m. football game between the Tigers and the University of Central Oklahoma, where the family will be recognized at halftime.
Air rushed into the cabin of the Blackhawk helicopters like a sweeping inhale.
The ground slowly diminished under their feet, and Hays became a landscape of toy trucks and round bales the size of marshmallows — a familiar landscape from a very unfamiliar perspective.
National Guard airmen know this every day, but for a group of area dignitaries, educators and the media members, it was a very new and exhilarating experience.
The Kansas National Guard 108th Aviation took the group up in their UH-60 Blackhawks Wednesday as part of a session to better inform local leaders about the importance of Guard recruitment.
The Army announced Tuesday it ended its fiscal year below its authorized personnel strength for all three of its components — Army, Army Reserve and National Guard.
Retention numbers are high for the Guard, but the problem has been recruiting.
The Army Guard failed to reached its accessions goal every year since 2014. But in 2018, the drop was “significant,” said Lt. Gen. Timothy J. Kadavy, director of the Army National Guard, in a column that will appear in the October NATIONAL GUARD magazine.
To combat this, the Kansas Legislature, enacted a bill during the 2017 session, which will reimburse students 100 percent of their college tuition for undergraduate studies at state colleges. Retirement benefits have also increased for National Guard members.
The state benefits can be combined with federal Montgomery GI Bill benefits for private school or grad school.
Capt. Matthew Ayres, Bravo Company Recruiting Commander, said he used his education benefits to earn his bachelor’s degree in organizational leadership and will soon complete his master’s degree in organizational leadership.
If a service person does not use all of their education benefits, they can pass them to a spouse or dependent child. Ayres has given a portion of his unused benefits to each of his four children.
Sgt. Mikayla Nicodemus used her education benefits to recently complete culinary school through NCK-Tech. When Nicodemus is not on Guard duty, she is a stay-at-home mom. She uses her culinary background to do catering to supplement her family’s income.
Guard recruits cite education benefits as their No. 1 reason for signing up.
Ayres said the Guard encourages its personnel to go to school and increase their training, because they see those soldiers as better prepared to complete their missions.
Ayres also said the state and federal government are beginning to understand the current service of National Guardsmen and women goes beyond the one weekend a month and two weeks a year that used to be the Guard’s mantra.
The National Guard serves a dual role. It serves in cases of state emergency, including floods, snow storms and wildfires.
However, the Guard can also be federalized to serve in conflicts overseas.
Several of the guardsmen and women who were on hand for the Blackhawk flights on Wednesday had been deployed to serve overseas during their terms of service.
Maj. Patrik Goss, Blackhawk pilot and full-time guardsman, has been deployed overseas multiple times, serving in Iraq, Bosnia and Kuwait.
The Blackhawks move people, parts and equipment. The helicopters can also be outfitted with armaments for aerial assault missions during which they drop soldiers in hostile areas and then pick them up from missions.
Goss’ background was in law enforcement before he became a Guard pilot. He trained for a year to be a pilot, but your training never stops once you are a pilot.
For those young people who would like to some day fly with a Blackhawk crew, Goss said they need to stay out of trouble and finish high school.
“We have so many opportunities right now,” Goss said of Guard for young people. “One of the biggest ones is after they passed the bill that is paying for college. I am talking about all of college. It’s insane. I wish I would have had that when I was going to college.”
Goss said he loves his job and would recommend it to young people looking for a career.
“At the absolute base level, the American taxpayers let me climb into a $24-million machine and fly, and they trained me to do it,” he said. “Am I a kid at heart? Yes, I absolutely am. It is wonderful. I can’t explain it. It is the greatest roller coaster on the planet.
“On the professional level, it paid for my master’s degree, allowed me to command troops both in combat and in Kansas. It allows us to go out and help the citizens whenever we are called upon and provide a tool that we can take almost anywhere.”
Goss is a lifelong Kansan and is now stationed in Salina. He has also served at home during floods, in northwest Kansas last year and this spring dumping water on wildfires. His crew also spots stranded motorists during snow storms.
“Kansas has been home my whole life,” he said. “It is no different than when I was a police officer. People call and you have the ability to go out and help where others can’t. You can’t explain that feeling. The gratitude is overwhelming, and the feeling when you go home and tell your kids what you did that day is pretty inspiring.”
Sandra Gottschalk, dean of the Hays NCK-Tech campus, said meeting the Guardsmen and riding on the Blackhawk helped open her eyes about how the Guard and the college can better work together.
The Guard offers training in many technical skills that relate back to jobs in the community, including welding, truck driving, construction, computer science, health care and many more.
“Definitely it opens eyes,” she said, “the educator eyes at the colleges and universities. At the technical college, we do a lot of the same things, so it would be a good partnership.”
Sen. Elaine Bowers, R-Concordia, said she could see how the education bill the Legislature passed last spring was assisting people in the state.
“I am very happy to know they are working with our local high schools, community colleges and vocation schools,” she said. “It think that is very key.”
Bowers said it was a thrill to ride in the Blackhawk, but it was important to see that the Guardsmen were well-trained and could execute their maneuvers safely.
For more information about joining the National Guard, contact SSG. Enrique Martinez, recruiting and retention NCO in Hays, at 785-806-2123 or by email at [email protected]. Find more information on education benefits by calling 1-785-646-0155 or go to the National Guard website.
KANSAS CITY (AP) — A 23-year-old man was sentenced to eight years in prison without parole for his role in a kidnapping conspiracy.
Watson -photo Johnson Co.
Justin Watson was sentenced Thursday for conspiracy to commit kidnapping and brandishing a firearm during a violent crime.
Watson admitted that he and his co-conspirators kidnapped a victim identified as “N.J.” in March 2017. They drove to Colorado and used the victim’s credit card in stops across Kansas.
During the drive west, the conspirators discussed killing the victim. Instead, they stopped near Russell.
They left the victim, bound and gagged, and then drove away, leaving the victim in the field. The victims removed his bindings and went to the Russell Police Department.
AG Derek Schmidt charges 10 with Medicaid fraud, related crimes
TOPEKA – Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt this week announced that his office has charged 10 individuals in seven counties with Medicaid fraud and related charges as part of an enforcement sweep.
The criminal charges against the 10 defendants allege that while working as a nurse, a Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) or a Certified Medication Aide (CMA), the individuals committed Medicaid fraud, stole narcotics and/or mistreated dependent adults while the defendants were working in health care facilities or board-and-care facilities that receive Medicaid funding. The cases filed were as follows:
State v. Jamie Rodriguez; Sedgwick County Case No. 2018-CR-002624-FE; Charged with one count of Medicaid fraud, one count of theft, two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance, one count of felony making a false information and one count of felony mistreatment of a dependent adult.
State v. Catherine Mary Santaniello; Johnson County Case No. 18-CR-02641; Charged with one count of Medicaid fraud, one count of battery and two counts of felony mistreatment of a dependent adult.
State v. Ashley Elizabeth Chavez; Norton County Case No. 18-CR-000058; Charged with one count of Medicaid fraud, one count of theft, two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance and one count of felony mistreatment of a dependent adult.
State v. Janelle Lynn Sakakihara; Doniphan County Case No. 2018-CR-000076; Charged with one count of Medicaid fraud, three counts of felony mistreatment of a dependent adult and three counts of battery.
State v. Jennifer Lynn Jones; Wyandotte County Case No. 2018-CR-000988; Charged with one count of Medicaid fraud, one count of theft, one count of felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and one count of felony making a false information.
State v. Jessica Jo Washington; Sedgwick County Case No. 2018-CR-002617-FE: Charged with two counts of Medicaid fraud, one count of theft, one count of felony possession of a controlled substance and one count of felony mistreatment of a dependent adult.
State v. Melissa Ann Seiber: Sedgwick County Case No. 2018-CR-002623-FE: Charged with one count of Medicaid fraud, one count of theft and one count of felony possession of a controlled substance.
State v. Jillian Mallory McCorkendale; Miami County Case No. 2018-CR-000158: Charged with one count of Medicaid fraud, one count of theft, one count of felony possession of a controlled substance and one count of felony mistreatment of a dependent adult.
State v. Nicole Pechanec: Butler County Case No. 2018-CR-000440: Charged with one count of Medicaid fraud, one count of theft, one count of felony possession of a controlled substance, one count of felony mistreatment of a dependent adult and one count of forgery.
State v. Erin Grae Whitlow; Wyandotte County Case No. 2018-CR-000996: Charged with one count of Medicaid fraud, one count of felony possession of a controlled substance and two counts of felony mistreatment of a dependent adult.
All criminal charges are merely accusations. Individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
The cases were filed as part of a statewide sweep by the attorney general’s office cracking down on illegal and harmful activity in Kansas facilities that receive Medicaid funding.
By Dr. Stacie Smith, Chair FHSU Dept. of Applied Business Studies
The Fort Hays State University Tourism and Hospitality Management (THM) degree is celebrating its 10th year as an academic program in conjunction with FHSU’s 2018 Homecoming festivities.
In 2008, the THM program started under the direction of associate professor, Dr. Stacey Smith. Dr. Karen Thal, assistant professor, and many adjuncts have been added to support the growth of the program. The program continues to expand and gives students real-world experience by requiring an internship before graduation and providing hands-on learning through externships and study abroad opportunities.
The program has received numerous badge recognitions over the years including recognition as a 2017 Best Online Program in Hospitality Management by BestColleges.com; Best Online Hotel Management Degree by ACOnline.com; and Best Online Hospitality Management by AffordableCollegesOnline.org.
The program has added two student organizations. Eta Sigma Delta is an honorary society that recognizes THM students for high academic achievement. The THM Travel Club has planned two externships to Kansas City, MO, and Dallas, TX, where students experienced a week-long networking immersion with industry professionals. The Travel Club also planned a study abroad experience to Budapest, Hungary, in partnership with Budapest Metropolitan University over the topic of Spa Management. The Travel Club is currently planning another study abroad experience to Costa Rica and Ecuador for January 2019 over the topic of Sustainable Tourism.
Virtual students have also traveled to campus to be inducted into the honor society and have joined in the study abroad experiences. The program continues to build partnerships both domestically and internationally. THM alumni currently have careers in a broad range of business areas spanning many sectors of the industry including event planning, hotels, cruise ships, restaurants, travel companies, casinos, managed services, convention and visitors’ bureaus, vacation ownership, theme parks, and more.
The celebration begins on Friday evening at 6:30 at The Venue in Thirsty’s Pub and Grill, 2704 Vine Street #B, with a social gathering consisting of appetizers and networking. Also, be sure to stop and say hello to greet students and alumni at the tailgate prior to the football game beginning at 3 p.m. Tailgate spots are #130 and #131.
Alumni, friends, supporters, and current students alike are invited to the festivities on Friday and Saturday.
If you are interested in attending, would like to learn more about the program or have any questions, please contact:
Dr. Stacey Smith, Chair
Department of Applied Business Studies
Fort Hays State University
785.628.4772 [email protected]
Congressman Marshall has successfully led an effort to protect vulnerable patients from abusive behavior by air ambulance companies. In both Kansas and across the country emergency patients are being slammed with crippling and unforeseen bills from air ambulance companies who refuse to contract with the most common health insurance providers.
When driving is not quick enough for a patient in an emergency, one of three air ambulance companies are the only option for Kansans to get to the emergency treatment they need. But depending on which air ambulance company is called, the charge to the patient can vary by literally tens of thousands of dollars.
Just this year the Kansas Insurance Department has received more than 70 complaints from Kansans about air ambulance companies balance-billing more than $35,000 per emergency transport.
“For 30 years, I made patients and their care my top priority as a physician,” Marshall said. “These air ambulance operators who refuse to contract with hospitals or insurance companies are conning vulnerable patients. Leaving them in a position of choosing lifesaving care or an uncovered bill that could bankrupt them. This is simply unacceptable and immoral.”
Congressman Marshall’s bipartisan letter asked for the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization Act to include provisions authored by Rep. Woodall (R-GA) that work to address these egregious concerns.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the conference report today, which included a great first step in addressing this issue. The legislation establishes an air advisory committee to focus on improving transparency and protecting consumers and allows the Department of Transportation to investigate and shut down unfair air ambulance practices.
“I was proud to see the conference report retain provisions that protect these patients, however this issue is far from rectified, and I look forward to continuing to advocate on their behalf.”
The USD 489 Foundation will have volunteers at the Hays High School football game from 6 p.m. until half time Friday to sell raffle tickets that will benefit Project 489.
Tickets can also be purchased at the district office at 323 W. 12th St. or over the phone with a credit card.
All proceeds from the tickets sold will help benefit the safety and security improvements in all of Hays public schools.
The Ellis County and City of Hays Public Works Departments will be conducting an asphalt road sealing project on west 27th Street on Thursday.
Crews will begin working beginning at the intersection of west 27th St. and US 183 Bypass and work east for three-fourths of a mile ending at the intersection of west 27th and Englewood St.
This portion of west 27th St. will be closed to thru traffic beginning at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.
Work is expected to be completed by 3:00 p.m. the same day.
Motorists traveling in the affected closure area should use alternate routes of travel until the project is complete.
Direct any questions to the Ellis County Public Works Department at (785)-628-9455 or the City of Hays Public Works Department at (785)-628-7350.
Fort Hays State University’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History and Dr. Laura Wilson received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services for $24,478 to support the geology collection housed at Sternberg.
Grant recipients were announced at the beginning of September. The project will begin on Dec. 1 with a nine-month completion timeline.
During this time, Wilson, curator of paleontology at the Sternberg Museum and an associate professor of geosciences, and Christina Byrd, paleontology and geology collections manager, will work with an undergraduate assistant to bring the museum’s geology collection up to current collection management standards. The geology collection is where specimens are stored when they are not on display.
“Recent improvements to the paleontology collection have emphasized the need to improve the conditions of the geology collection,” said Wilson.
To bring the collection up to new standards, the Sternberg Museum will digitally archive specimen data, upgrade the storage space, and securely store specimens for long-term preservation. The museum will also add 84 specimens to the collection from a recent donation.
“With specimens and specimen data more accessible, we can more successfully incorporate geology specimens into educational programming,” said Wilson.
Keri Maricle, Thomas More Prep-Marian biology instructor, has involved students in an ongoing aquatic ecology research project.
Carlos Schwindt, Nathan Stark and Ben Pfannenstiel conducted the first field measures for an ongoing research project focusing on water quality of Big Creek. Three field sites were established along Big Creek and water samples were taken to determine phosphate, nitrate, pH and other concentrations in the water. Researchers also took samples of aquatic organisms to examine in the lab later.
Maricle’s students plan on taking regular measurements at these sites for the next several months. The plan is to accumulate enough data to present at a few conferences next year and publish results in a scientific journal.
For each collection period, new students will be attending so that everyone may have the experience in participating in this field research.
“The students are definitely excited to be a part of something so interesting! For example, we discovered Big Creek has extremely high phosphate concentrations potentially due to runoff from agricultural fields,” Maricle said.
