Category: Local
Crews respond to structure fire on 14th Street
Hays Fire Department crews and other emergency responders were on the scene of a structure fire Wednesday morning in the 500 block of West 14th.
According to the Hays Police Department, nearby O’Loughlin Elementary School was not in danger.
Check Hays Post for more as information becomes available.
HaysMed celebrates 1,500th robotic surgery
HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, will be celebrate the 1500th Robotic Surgery on September 25, 2018. A special Chamber ribbon cutting will be held at 8 am at Entrance C and the public is invited to attend. In addition a mobile robotics unit will be on site and available from 8 am to 5 pm for people to try out the robot and see how the technology works.
The Robotic Surgery program, the first in Western Kansas, was launched in April of 2014. HaysMed offers robotic surgery for a wide range of surgical procedures. The surgeons use a surgical robot to minimize surgical incision and trauma, improve surgical visualization and improve surgical accuracy. Throughout the surgery the surgeon not only controls every aspect of the surgery in real time but sees it clearly via high definition that results in pinpoint accuracy for greater precision.
Robotic surgery is another form of minimally invasive surgery that offers many advantages to patients. Because of the smaller incisions patients usually see less pain, shorter hospital stays, less scarring, reduced risk of infection and a quicker recovery and return to regular activity.
Robotic surgery is available for general surgeries including gallbladder, hernia, colon resection and bariatrics, women’s surgeries including hysterectomies, prostate/urological surgeries and thoracic/lung surgeries.
In 2016 the hospital added single site surgeries for several procedures. The single site technology allows surgeons to perform the surgery through a small incision in the belly button virtually eliminating scarring.
Currently 11 physicians at HaysMed are trained in robotic surgery: Samuel Durham, MD, Cardiovascular Surgeon, general surgeons Charles Schulz, MD, Paul Teget, DO, Zurab Tsereteli, MD and Jerod Grove, MD, OB/GYN physicians Joel Fort, MD, Lee Hodny, MD, and Timothy Hospkins, MD and Urologists Ernesto Lopez-Corona, MD, Kevin McDonald, MD and Srinivas Samavedi, MD.
“Bringing innovative surgical technology to Western Kansas is something we are very proud of.” said Bryce Young, Chief Operating Officer at HaysMed. “We are committed to providing quality healthcare to our patients.”
— HaysMed
DSNWK to launch inaugural capital campaign next month
During this year’s Fall Fest celebration, Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas will announce the launch of its first capital campaign at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2 at the Ellis County Fairgrounds Unrein Building, 1344 Fairgrounds Rd.
Fall Fest is an annual DSNWK event where individuals served from across 18 counties gather to socialize and play games. This year’s celebration includes live music by Jimmy Dee and the Fabulous Destinations.
Following the campaign announcement, staff and volunteers will travel to DSNWK locations in Russell, Stockton, Hill City, Hoxie, Atwood and Norton, where they will announce the campaign locally. Click the image above for the schedule.
DSNWK is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to advocate with persons with disabilities and those who care about them by planning a supporting a life of dignity, independence and personal satisfaction in the community.
— Submitted
Construction preview of newest academic building at FHSU set for Homecoming week
FHSU University Relations
The construction progress of another new academic building will be recognized at Fort Hays State University’s 2018 Homecoming activities.
A public preview of the new $14.2 million art and design building is set for 9 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, on the northeast patio of the Memorial Union. The public is welcome to attend.
Completion of the building in summer 2019 will feature the second new academic building at FHSU in three years. The Center for Applied Technology across the street west of the art and design building was dedicated in 2017.
Completion of the CAT building cleared the way for the demolition of applied technology’s previous home, Davis Hall – and the groundbreaking of the art and design building on Davis Hall site.
The new two-story, 43,000-square-foot facility will be home to all Department of Art and Design programs, with the exception of its sculpture program, which is housed in the CAT building. It will connect to the 5,000-square foot former power plant, which will be renovated to provide gallery space.
Inaugural Turkey Bash co-ed softball tourney set for Nov. 10
Speaker, author Garrett Kahrs to launch debut book in October
Garrett Kahrs, author and Forge Firebrand Itinerant speaker, will launch the release of his debut book “#Relationshipgoals” from 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 4, at Celebration Community Church.
In “#Relationshipgoals,” Kahrs invites individuals to share his personal journey in encountering a relationship with God he never knew was possible. The book takes a fresh, unique and scriptural approach in seeing God’s desire for a relationship with us and ways to say “yes” to the life and love He’s always intended.
Kahrs describes how every day, social media pages are filled with millions of people sharing their desire for a relationship that will bring joy and depth to their life. “#Relationshipgoals” shows God’s desire for a relationship with all individuals dating back to the beginning of time and long before the invention of the internet. His book depicts the relational revolution that can happen as individuals discover God’s desire and design for a relationship with Him.
“Many young people are walking away from their faith,” explains Kahrs, “this book records the journey from me being a statistic of walking away from my faith, and how I began to return back to it.”
“#Relationshipgoals: Discovering God’s Desire and Design for a Relationship with Him” is available now for preorder on Amazon.
Rooks County K9 called in to assist Phillips Co. drug arrest
PHILLIPSBURG — A traffic stop Tuesday resulted in the arrest of Zachariah W. Larison, 31, Phillipsburg.
Police said Larison had altered the license tag on his motorcycle to make it appear valid when it was not. He was wearing a backpack when stopped and refused consent to search it during the traffic stop.
Assistance was requested from Rooks County Sheriff’s Office. K9 Deputy Koda responded and confirmed the officer’s suspicions that the bag likely contained drugs and/or drug paraphernalia. A subsequent search of the bag confirmed the presence of both, according to a release issued via social media.
Larison is currently confined in the Phillips County jail pending charges of unlawful registration, no proof of liability insurance, possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia, no drug tax stamp and criminal use of a firearm. He is being held without bond.
“In Larison’s defense, he recently moved to Phillipsburg and wasn’t aware that such activity isn’t welcome here,” said Undersheriff Gary Stephen.
— Phillips County Sheriff’s Office
CLINKSCALES: Lessons from vacation … ‘Money can’t buy you love’
My wife and I took a couple of weeks off in late August. We went to Colorado and over the two weeks, we had various family and friends come out to visit us. It was very relaxing with no television (and all the noise and anxiety that it creates).
I always find that when I go on vacation it gives me more of a chance to reflect on recent events and happenings. Sometimes, things pop up while on vacation that inspire me.
Just as we were about to leave for vacation, I received a very kind, though heartbreaking, letter from an older woman (in her 80’s). She told me how much she enjoyed my articles, but then went on to tell me about some family members (a child and a grandchild) who had “borrowed” money from her. When she ran low on money, they became angry, quit contacting her, and have now alienated themselves from her. She is both angry and heartbroken.
Unfortunately, there are scams everywhere. Sometimes, they are sophisticated scams by third parties. It could be giving out your Social Security number over the telephone, or learning that you have won $10 million if you only send $5,000 and your bank account number. The list goes on and on.
More insidious to me are those scams by family members. “Grandma, if you love me, will you loan me $50,000 to start my business?” “Mom, if you love me, just help me pay a few bills.”
Sometimes, it is the pity train: Poor little me, if I only had someone to help me. Then, mom, dad, or the grandparents step up.
I am a lawyer that started practicing in 1980. In the mid-80’s in Hays, we went through a terrible financial downturn, with a loss of a major manufacturer, collapsing oil prices, low crop prices, and spiraling interest rates. I had a front-row seat of watching parents and grandparents filing bankruptcy because they tried to save a child or a grandchild from financial ruin. One wealthy client bankrupt himself trying to save his son. He passed away a poor man.
Scams are not restricted to third parties on the telephone; or to internet scams. Scams can be your own family.
When I work with someone, and they tell me they are going to loan a child or a grandchild some money, I ask them just to think of it as a gift. Just assume it will never be paid back. If it does, it is manna from heaven.
I myself saw this affect my family. My grandmother would fall for every organization that said it was raising money for law enforcement (my grandfather had been a policeman). There were many evangelical TV ministers that she gave to, only to have them break her heart when they were caught in some scandal.
But more hurtful was that my grandmother gave a “friend” over $30,000. Though I was helping my grandmother, I did not realize what was going on until the person that she was giving money to died. He had been helping her with her books. Only then did I realize what had occurred, the emotional impact that on my grandmother, and the risk it put her in financially.
If something smells funny, or too good to be true, please consult with an attorney. If you are a client of my firm, always feel free to pick up the phone and ask our advice if something feels like a scam. But more especially, be careful with those family loans.
Scams come in many forms. It is not just strangers; it can be family and friends as well.
I know that many times, the emotional play is “if you love me.” But as the Beatles recognized long ago, “Money can’t buy you love.” As soon as the money is gone, so is the “love.”
Hot, windy Wednesday
Today Sunny, with a high near 94. Breezy, with a south wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 17 to 22 mph in the afternoon.
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 72. Breezy, with a south wind 17 to 20 mph.
Thursday Showers and thunderstorms likely after 1pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Increasing clouds, with a high near 87. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 16 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Thursday NightA 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. West wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east southeast after midnight.
FridayA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 72. North northeast wind 11 to 14 mph.
Friday NightMostly clear, with a low around 50.
SaturdaySunny, with a high near 73.
🎥 FHSU football holds weekly football press conference
Fort Hays State Weekly Football Press Conference
September 18th, 2018
Fort Hays State head coach Chris Brown conducted his weekly press conference in advance of the Tiger’s game with Missouri Southern Saturday night in Joplin, Missouri. Brown and select players met with the media inside Lewis Field on Tuesday, a session that can be seen by clicking on the video below.
(00:00 Head Coach Chris Brown, 11:00 Kicker/Punter Dante Brown, 14:30 Defensive End Sheldon Schmidt, 16:22 Tight End Jacoby Williams)
TMP-M announces 2018 Homecoming Court
TMP-M
Thomas More Prep-Marian, along with the TMP-M Alumni Association have announced this year’s homecoming candidates.
Thursday, Sept. 20, kicks off homecoming with the Hot Dog Feed & Bake Sale/Bonfire. The homecoming crowning will take place at halftime of the football game vs. Hoisington of Friday, Sept. 21. Events will continue through the weekend and wrap up at the homecoming banquet on Saturday, September 22.
Click HERE for the full itinerary of homecoming events.
Grant Ginther and Emily Schippers – Grant is the son of Doug & Melissa Ginther and Emily is the daughter of Troy & Geralyn Schippers.
Ethan Lang and Aubry Appelhans – Ethan is the son of Greg (Class of 1994) and LaNae (Class of 1994) Lang and Aubry is the daughter of Chris & Lori Appelhans.
Bryce Hickman and Jillian Lowe – Bryce is the son of Troy Hickman and Mary Hickman and Jillian is the daughter of Jeff & Jana Lowe.
Cameron Rozean and Tiffany Pfeifer – Cameron is the son of Travis & Jill (Class of 1996) Rozean and Tiffany is the daughter of Gerald & Marcia Pfeifer.
Sheldon Weber and Leanne Rack – Sheldon is the son of Bill & Tiffany Weber and Leanne is the daughter of Marvin & Jennifer Rack.
Hays High offers warning of potential scam
Hays High School issued a statement to parents Tuesday morning warning of a potential scam.
“We … want to make you aware of a series of phone calls that were recently received at many local businesses from a company claiming to be ‘working with Hays High School boys and girls basketball teams’ ” the email message read. “They go on to ask for money to sponsor our teams. HANG UP! HHS does not ask companies to contact parents or businesses for sponsorships; it is a scam. When needed, we make our own contacts from HHS.”