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Category: Local
🎥 UPDATE: Portion of Old U.S. 40 reopened after heat damage
According to Ellis County Public Works Director Bill Ring, crews have repaired a section of Old U.S. 40 after extreme heat caused a portion of the road to lift to lift Wednesday, leading to a lane closure.
The highway was limited to one lane just east of Victoria, Ring said, but reopened Wednesday evening in both directions.
Open class entries accepted by Ellis County Fair through July 9
The Ellis County Fair is right around the corner.
Entry in the open class division is open to everyone. You can find a link to the fairbook with all the divisions, classes, and requirements at https://www.elliscountyfair.com/4H.html.
Entering exhibits is easy. Go to fairentry.com and search for the Ellis County Fair. All open class and 4-H exhibits will be entered through the online system by midnight on July 9. If you need assistance, please contact the Cottonwood Extension District.
“We are excited for the upcoming fair and want to see your projects,” organizers said in a news release.
For a full schedule of events, go to elliscountyfair.com. This will provide a listing of when exhibits should be entered and picked up.
SPONSORED: City of Hays seeking maintenance workers
MAINTENANCE WORKER
The City of Hays is looking for dependable Maintenance Workers in the Water Resources, Parks and Street Departments. Duties include manual labor, equipment operations, snow removal and minor construction projects. Specialized duties dependent on department may include concrete, asphalt, street and alley maintenance, or turf, tree, and landscape maintenance or reading meters, pipe repairs, and maintenance duties.
Working days include Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. but depending on the department, hours may change to 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. during the summer months. This position is subject to call outs and may be required to work a flexible work schedule as needed.
*Part Time Positions with flexible hours available as well.*
REQUIREMENTS
Valid driver’s license required. Paid on-the-job training for the right candidate. A working knowledge of general construction, plumbing, and equipment preferred but not required.
Exposure to hazardous chemicals, machinery, excessive noise and all types of weather conditions is expected. This position requires a CDL Class B and has a residency requirement of 40 minute response time within 6 months of employment.
COMPENSATION
2018 Starting Pay: $12.35 with additional pay available for experience. Plenty of room for advancement to a Maintenance Worker II and Equipment Operator position. Starting wage based on experience. The City of Hays offers great benefits including health insurance, KPERS, Paid Time Off & Holidays. Visit www.haysusa.com for more about the benefits.
HOW TO APPLY
Applications will be accepted in City Hall, 1507 Main, Hays, KS or online at www.haysusa.com. Position opened until filled. Questions about the position may be sent to Human Resources at [email protected] or by calling 785-628-7320. EOE
Allen Street intersection closures change Thursday
CITY OF HAYS
Beginning Thursday, June 28, 2018, the intersection of 20th and Allen Street in Hays will be opened and the intersection of 18th and Allen will be closed. Allen Street will be closed from north of 17th Street to south of 20th Street. The intersection of 19th and Allen remains closed.
This work is part of the Allen Street Reconstruction Project.
Signs will be in place to direct the traveling public. Motorists should use caution in these areas.
The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350 or the contractor Paul-Wertenberger Construction at 785-625-8220.
CLINKSCALES: Doing a little thing
About three years ago, my father was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis. I did not know much about the disease. I went to see him in Texas. I realized that the disease process had progressed to the point that he was tethered to an oxygen hose.
Yet, he was still working. He was a real estate broker. He had his own office. He had done that since 1963. He lived in a small town, and he was just one of a handful of brokers for the whole town. Everyone knew him.
Hauling around a big oxygen tank was embarrassing for him. He had one installed behind the backseat of his pickup. He had one installed behind the desk in his office. Many times when he would see one of his clients, he would try to take off the oxygen and make it through the meeting.
Shortly after I saw him, he had a major episode, similar to a stroke. We simply did not think he was going to make it, but he did.
In the course of my conversation with him after the stroke, he was really wanting to get back to work. I asked him why he did not use a portable oxygen machine. According to him and my stepmother, he would get anxious when he would go to the doctor and his oxygen level demands would get too high, higher than a portable oxygen machine would put out for him. Apparently, the oxygen machine, which compresses the air without a tank, could not go beyond eight pounds per hour. He was recommended to have higher than that.
After our conversation I got on the phone and started calling around. I finally got a hold of a representative at a company and told her what was going on. I told her that every time we went to the doctor, he would get anxious and his need for oxygen would go up. She acted like her hands were tied.
After a couple of more phone calls, she relented. She agreed to send the oxygen machine to me rather than my dad. I, in turn, took it and provided it to my dad.
I cannot tell you how happy it made him. If he had won the lottery, he would not have been happier. He was so proud of his little machine. Right away, I got a photograph of him sitting on his back porch with the machine sitting on the table and him enjoying the backyard. He would take his machine, go to the office, draft his contracts, close his deals, and see his clients. He was back on track.
About three months after my dad got the machine, he passed away.
I want to share this story with you because sometimes we do little things that can mean so much to people. I have friends that go to nursing homes just to visit with people who do not have families. I have other friends through our church that visit people in their homes that might not otherwise get out.
Just taking a meal over to someone’s house when they are dealing with a crisis, or a health issue, or a loss, can mean so much. It is a little bit of joy in a time when perhaps there is none.
That oxygen machine cost me about three or four phone calls. That is it. But, it made my dad feel like he had worth; it let him enjoy his last days; and it made me feel like I had done something important for him.
If you have somebody in your life, whether it is a friend, a relative, or even someone that you know is alone that has no one else or someone who is going through a crisis, take some time to say hello; make a cake; or just spend time with them. Sometimes it is the little things that make all the difference in someone’s life.
Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To contact him, please send an email to [email protected]. Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.
MARSHALL: Men’s Health Month a reminder of early detection
Fortunately, the most commonly diagnosed cancers in men—prostate, lung and colorectal cancers—can often be prevented or detected early. June is Men’s Health Month, and there’s no better time to make an appointment with your health care professional or encourage the men in your life to schedule theirs. Make the most of the visit by learning your cancer risk factors (including family history) and screening recommendations before you go.
Aside from skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in American men, affecting mainly those ages 65 and older. African-American men are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as any other racial or ethnic group. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing may help detect prostate cancer early, but you should talk to your health care professional about the benefits and harms of screening.
Lung cancer is the most deadly form of cancer for both men and women. About 80 percent of cases are attributed to smoking, but nonsmokers are at risk through secondhand smoke and environmental exposure to radon or other carcinogens, which could be found in your home or office building. If you’re a heavy smoker or former smoker, that has smoked two packs of cigarettes per day for 15 years, low-dose CT screening can help find lung cancer early, when successful treatment is more likely.
Colorectal cancer is most common in those ages 50 and over, but rates in younger people are increasing. Risk factors include inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease, a family history of colorectal cancer or colorectal polyps, smoking, being overweight or obese, consuming alcohol in excess and eating a lot of red or processed meats. Screening is recommended for those at average risk beginning at age 50 and can detect pre-cancerous polyps or cancer cells early, when they can be removed or treated more easily.
Visiting a health care professional and getting recommended screenings are important parts of cancer prevention, but you can also reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, not smoking, limiting alcohol intake and eating a nutritious diet. To learn more about cancer prevention and early detection, visit www.preventcancer.org.
Laina Marshall is the spouse of Representative Roger Marshall, MD and a member of the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program. Statistics provided by the American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Cancer Institute.
🎥 New city commissioner to be appointed tonight
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The appointment of a new Hays city commissioner is scheduled to be announced Thu., June 28, during tonight’s regular commission meeting.
A seat opened earlier this month when Chris Dinkel announced his resignation. He and his family will be moving to New York City where Dinkel will attend Columbia Law School this fall.
Dinkel said he was announcing his resignation early so the new commissioner could be involved in the 2019 budget review. According to Hays City Clerk Brenda Kitchen, Dinkel’s term ends in 2020.
Persons interested in filling the vacancy were urged to contact a Hays city commissioner.
Other agenda items include a proposal to purchase the Elevations aquatic feature for the Hays Aquatic Park (HAP) for $185,000 from the Pool Reserve Funds.
During last week’s work session, commissioners discussed whether a more extensive plan should be in place to revitalize HAP and increase attendance.
Commissioners will also consider authorizing the city manager to execute a $75,000 contract with Covenant Builders, Hays, for construction of King’s Gate Park improvements. All costs will be assessed to the benefit district. The 10-year assessment would begin upon project completion.
King’s Gate Addition is located north of 41st Street and just east of the Highway 40 bypass. It was platted and began development in 2010.
The small neighborhood park at the north end of the development will include a basketball court, shelter house, play structure, swing set, a BBQ grill, and benches. Sidewalk will be placed in various areas throughout the park.
The project was bid with an alternate for wood or rubber mulch. Commissioners last week said they prefer the rubber mulch, which was a higher bid of $94,000.
Parks Director Jeff Boyle told the commission his department is “trying to convert city parks play areas over to rubber if we can afford it.”
Although the initial cost for rubber mulch is more, wood chips “turn into dirt,” he explained. “They decompose and then you have to go in and remove all the dirt and wood chips after about six to eight years and start over. If it gets dry enough, the wood much turns into splinters. We’ve had complaints about that.”
The parks department began changing to the rubber mulch about five years ago. “It doesn’t deteriorate. It doesn’t go anywhere unless the kids throw it and then you just rake it back in,” said Boyle. “It’s a little more costly upfront but it never goes bad.”
According to Boyle, Aubel-Bickle Park, 30th and Sherman, and the Hays Rotary Club Park in east Frontier Park have already been converted from wood chip to rubber mulch playgrounds. Lincoln Elementary School has also changed its playground cover to rubber mulch.
The commission will also:
- Vote on a ordinance amending the Hilton Garden Inn and Conference Center CID Start Date and Development Agreement to reflect a new CID start date of July 1, 2020. The developer realized the 22 year clock on the approved CID would begin prior to his
project completion. - Authorize the city manager to renew the 2018/2019 commercial insurance coverages with MPR
- Hear an update on the reconstruction of the wastewater treatment plant
The complete agenda is available here.
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. tonight in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.
Hot, windy Thursday
Today Sunny and hot, with a high near 104. Breezy, with a south southwest wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon.
Hot and windy conditions are forecast today, with temperatures soaring to 101-104 degree range and SW winds 20-25 mph, higher gusts #kswx pic.twitter.com/ymAcOYRCUK
— NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) June 28, 2018
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 76. South wind 14 to 18 mph, with gusts as high as 28 mph.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 99. Breezy, with a south wind 16 to 23 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph.
Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 74. Breezy, with a south wind 14 to 21 mph.
SaturdayA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 93. South southwest wind 13 to 16 mph.
Saturday Night A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65.
SundayMostly sunny, with a high near 88.
Mechanical failure forces overnight street closures for microsurfacing
CITY OF HAYS
Due to mechanical failure, microsurfacing of 20th Street from Ash to Main and 29th Street from Willow to Oak were not completed on Wednesday (June 27). They must remain closed overnight.
The first layer of Micro-surface will be applied Thursday, June 28. The streets will be opened Thursday afternoon and through the night.
They will be closed again Friday morning for the second layer.
The city of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please call the Office of Project Management at 785-628-7350 or the contractor, Vance Brothers at 816-564-3507.
Heat Advisory until 7 p.m. in Hays, use caution
KDHE
TOPEKA – The National Weather Service issued a Heat Advisory Wednesday afternoon until 7 p.m. for Hays.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) advises people to use caution during the extreme heat that is anticipated to last for several days.
“The best defense against heat-related illness is prevention,” said KDHE Chief Medical Officer Dr. Greg Lakin. “Staying cool and making simple changes in fluid intake, activities and clothing during hot weather can help you remain safe and healthy.”
According to the National Weather Service, heath indices are forecasted to be from 100 to 109 degrees in many parts of Kansas through Saturday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that more than 600 people in the United States are killed by extreme heat every year.
People who face the highest risk of heat-related illness include infants and young children up to four years of age, adults over age 65, people who have chronic medical conditions (such as heart disease or obesity), those taking certain medications and people who work or exercise in extreme heat.
The CDC has some tips for preventing heat-related illness, including:
Stay Cool: Choose lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing. Stay in an air-conditioned place as much as possible. Taking a cool shower or bath or moving to an air-conditioned place is a good way to cool off. Use your stove and oven less to maintain a cooler temperature in your home.
Schedule Outdoor Activities Carefully: Try to limit your outdoor activity to when it’s coolest, like morning and evening hours. Rest often in shady areas so that your body has a chance to recover.
Pace Yourself: Cut down on exercise during the heat. If exertion in the heat makes your heart pound and leaves you gasping for breath, STOP all activity. Get into a cool area or into the shade, and rest, especially if you become lightheaded, confused, weak or faint.
Wear Sunscreen: Sunburn affects your body’s ability to cool down and can make you dehydrated. If you must go outdoors, protect yourself from the sun by wearing a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses, and by putting on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes prior to going out. Continue to reapply it according to the package directions.
Do Not Leave Children in Cars: Cars can quickly heat up to dangerous temperatures, even with a window cracked open. While anyone left in a parked car is at risk, children are especially at risk of getting heat stroke or dying.
Drink Plenty of Fluids: Drink more fluids, regardless of how active you are. Don’t wait until you’re thirsty to drink. Avoid sugary or alcoholic drinks—these cause you to lose more body fluid. Also avoid very cold drinks, because they can cause stomach cramps.
Replace Salt and Minerals: Heavy sweating removes salt and minerals from the body that need to be replaced. A sports drink can replace the salt and minerals you lose in sweat. If you are on a low-salt diet, have diabetes, high blood pressure, or other chronic conditions, talk with your doctor before drinking a sports beverage or taking salt tablets.
Keep Your Pets Hydrated: Provide plenty of fresh water for your pets and leave the water in a shady area.
Know the Signs: Learn the signs and symptoms of heat-related illnesses and how to treat them.
Use a Buddy System: When working in the heat, monitor the condition of your co-workers and have someone do the same for you. Heat-induced illness can cause a person to become confused or lose consciousness. If you are 65 years of age or older, have a friend or relative call to check on you twice a day during a heat wave. If you know someone in this age group, check on them at least twice a day.
For more information on dealing with extreme summer hear, visit the CDC web site at https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/extremeheat
Juvenile safe after incident that shut down portion of Eighth
By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
Local emergency personnel responded to KVC Wheatland Hospital on Tuesday after a patient threatened to jump off the roof.
According to the Hays Police Department, emergency responders were dispatched, just before 8 p.m. to the 200 block of West Seventh, to reports of a juvenile threatening to jump off the roof.
The Hays Police Department responded, along with personnel from the Hays Fire Department, Ellis County EMS, Ellis County Sheriff’s Office and the Fort Hays State Police Department.
KVC staff were able to gain the cooperation of the 17-year-old female and she returned to the hospital uninjured at approximately 8:37 p.m., according to the Hays PD.
The 200 block of Eighth was shut down for approximately 40 minutes during the incident.
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