The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) has selected a new director to head the Northern Parole Region (NPR), overseeing the 10 regional parole offices and the more than 2,500 offenders paroled in the northern half of the state.

Having served as acting director of the region for the past several months, Mark Keating has been selected to fill that role permanently.  Keating assumed the duties of Director Peggy Lero when she was named to the state’s Prisoner Review Board in May. The main office of the NPR is located in Topeka.

Kansas’ Parole Services supervises offenders released from Kansas correctional facilities on parole, post-release supervision or conditional release. The division also manages offenders released from other states, who are on probation or parole, and for whom Kansas has accepted supervision responsibility.

Keating has been employed by the KDOC since 1999, having worked in the Kansas City Parole Office, as well as having served as Director of Sex Offender Management in the KDOC central office in Topeka. Before filling the vacancy left by Lero, Keating was the deputy director of the Northern Parole Region.

A graduate of Shawnee Mission South High School and Baylor University in Waco, Texas, Keating holds a master’s degree in Criminology from Indiana State University.

The U.S. Department of Justice has awarded public safety grants totaling almost $1 million to two Kansas Indian tribes, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.

The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation has been granted $777,096. Another Kansas tribe, the Sac And Fox Nation of Missouri, has been granted $222,799.

“We’re increasing our efforts to support tribal communities and to build and sustain tribal justice systems,” Grissom said.

The grant to the Prairie Band Potawatomi from the Justice Department’s Office On Violence Against Women is targeted to help decrease the incidence of violent crime against Indian women and to ensure that perpetrators of violent crimes committed against Indian women are held accountable.

“Violence against native women continues at alarming rates and children in Indian country encounter violence far too often,” Grissom said.

The grant to the Sac And Fox Nation comes from the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Program overseen by the Office of Justice Programs. Tribes were encouraged to apply for funds to enhance tribal justice systems and support alcohol and substance abuse programs.

Grissom is attending a meeting of Attorney General Eric Holder’s Native American Issues Subcommittee in Celilo Village, Ore., where the grants were announced. The Justice Department awarded 192 grants to 110 American Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, tribal consortia and tribal designated non-profits. The grants will provide more than $90 million to enhance law enforcement practices and sustain crime prevention efforts.

 

 

 

Lt. Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D., will testify Wednesday about  the challenges of implementing the Affordable Care Act at the state level.

Colyer, a practicing physician, will testify before the Joint Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Job Creation and Regulatory Affairs and Energy Policy, Health Care and Entitlements.  The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. central (10 a.m. eastern) in the Rayburn House Office Building.

“There is no question that states will be affected by the implementation of the Affordable Care Act,” said Dr. Colyer.  “The issues are profound and detrimental to our citizens.  It is important that the concerns of state governments are heard and understood as we approach the federal implementation of the Affordable Care Act.”

The hearing will be live streamed at https://1.usa.gov/161feFv.  Follow the Lt. Governor’s testimony on Twitter (@govsambrownback).

The full text of the Lt. Governor’s testimony  may be found at https://governor.ks.gov/frontpagenews/2013/09/17/lt.-governor-to-testify-on-challenges-of-implementing-the-affordable-care-act-at-the-state-level

Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, Inc., (formerly known as Promise Regional Medical Center – Hutchinson, Inc.) has agreed to pay $853,651 to the United States to settle allegations that the hospital submitted false claims to the Medicare program, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom announced today.

This payment is in addition to amounts the hospital previously refunded to the Medicare program for the claimed services. The payments to the United States total over $1.7 million.

The hospital also entered into a corporate integrity agreement with the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General.

The settlement resolves allegations by the United States concerning the hospital’s claims to Medicare for hyperbaric oxygen wound therapy services.

The United States contended that from March 23, 2007, through January 31, 2011, the hospital submitted claims to Medicare for hyperbaric oxygen wound therapy services that were not medically necessary or that lacked adequate documentation of medical necessity. The government also alleged that the claims resulted from kickback arrangements between the hospital, at least one of its physicians, and the company that supplied the chambers.

The hospital denied the allegations and, according to the terms of the agreement, the hospital does not admit any wrongdoing.

 

As part of September’s Kansas Emergency Preparedness Month, the Kansas Division of Emergency Management is hosting two free emergency preparedness webinars.

Both presentations may be accessed on the appropriate day from the home page of KSReady.gov (www.ksready.gov). The call-in number is (866) 620-7326, conference code 8551008957. Participants will need to call in to the number and will then be asked to enter the code to be connected.

“Prepared Pet” webinar will be presented from 12:15-12:45 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17. This webinar will feature information on how to make sure your pet is prepared in the event of an emergency.

The presenter is Midge Grinstead, Kansas state director, Humane Society of the United States. Grinstead is currently a board member of Lawrence and Douglas County Local Emergency Planning Committee, the Kansas State Animal Response Team, acting director for Northeast Kansas Animal Response Team and current board member for Kansas Animal Control Association. She has been the executive director at Lawrence Humane Society for more than 14 years and is a co-founder of the Humane Kansas Legislative Network.

The second webinar, “Family Preparedness Food Storage,” will be presented Tuesday, Sept. 24 from 10-11 a.m. and again from 6:30-7:30 p.m. During this presentation, participants can learn good choices for foods to put in their home emergency kit and techniques for storing them to insure long shelf life.

The presenter is Renee Aldrich, Regional Emergency Services coordinator for the American Red Cross. She has deployed to seven national disasters including Greensburg and Reading. She was a Red Cross volunteer for 25 years until hired in August 2011. She is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and oversees all women in the congregation, teaching self-reliance principles and classes in food storage, canning and preparedness planning for families. Aldrich received her Cannery Supervisor Certification from University of Wisconsin. She is a Boy Scout emergency preparedness counselor for scouts seeking the badge.

Miss Kansas Theresa Vail says she wants to break the stereotype that women with visible tattoos don’t compete in pageants.

So during the swimsuit portion of the Miss America competition on Tuesday, Vail revealed two tattoos — the Serenity Prayer on her right side and the insignia of the U.S. Army Dental Corps on her left shoulder.

Vail is a 22-year-old senior at Kansas State University. She also is a member of the Army National Guard who wants to become a military dentist.

Her platform is helping women overcome stereotypes and break barriers.

Given her platform, she wrote on her blog last month: “What a hypocrite I would be if I covered the ink.”

The Miss America pageant is back in Atlantic City, N.J., after a six-year absence. The finale will be Sunday night.

Vail began the talent portion of the competition Wednesday by singing an operatic piece from Puccini.

Whether photography is your passion, your hobby or just an occasional pastime, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) invites Kansans to participate in the third annual Kansas Green Teams photo contest, celebrating the beauty and unique character of our state.

Winning photos will be displayed on the home page of the Kansas Green Teams website on a rotating basis. Both amateur and professional photographers are welcome to participate.

All photos must be in color and taken in Kansas within the last three years. The photo subject must be relevant to Kansas in one of the following contest categories:

• Landscape
• Wildlife
• Recreation
• Historical Buildings and Monuments
• Weather

Photos may be submitted as prints or in digital format; see contest rules for details. Visit https://www.kansasgreenteams.org/photography-contest-2013 for rules and submission information. Entries for the contest must be postmarked or received by Oct 10.

The Kansas Green Teams program began in 2007 to promote and support environmentally responsible practices in your daily routine at work and at school.

 

The I-70 westbound rest area facilities located east of Russell are now open to the traveling public.

The facilities were closed Sunday, September 8, in order to make repairs to a broken water line, according to KDOT Area Three Engineer Kevin Zimmer.

Although the restroom facilities were closed, the parking lot, dump station, and picnic areas remained open.

The Kansas Department of Commerce violated state law by extending about $1.5 million more in incentives through an economic development program than is allowed, according to a state audit released Wednesday.

Auditors told a House-Senate Committee that the commerce department authorized $7.5 million in incentives through the Promoting Employment Across Kansas, or PEAK, program in the current fiscal year, above the $6 million cap.

Republicans on the Legislative Post Audit Committee said the administration was doing a good job of using the economic development programs to create employment opportunities and bring companies to Kansas. PEAK allows companies that create 100 new jobs within two years to keep 95 percent of employee withholding taxes for up to 10 years.

Auditors said it was difficult to assess the benefits of PEAK because the commerce department is more than a year behind in reporting outcomes to the Legislature, the Kansas Department of Revenue’s tax incentive information was incomplete and the department did not follow up with companies that didn’t submit reports.

Commerce department officials said they believed the cap was a cumulative amount that increased by $6 million each year. Commerce Secretary Pat George said the agency disagreed with some of the audit findings but he acknowledged some shortcomings.

“While Commerce disagrees with several of the characterizations and findings,” George said, “I hope the report will lead to improved administrative processes for the state’s economic development programs.”

Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas has received an $80,000 grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.

DSNWK president Jerry Michaud says the award will be used to replace the roof at Pioneer Developmental Center in Russell.

“We are forever grateful to the Hansen Foundation for their tremendous support of DSNWK and other organizations throughout northwest Kansas,” said Michaud.

Developmental Services is a private, not for profit organization serving more than 500 individuals with developmental disabilities in the 18 counties of northwest Kansas.

 

 

 

RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE GOVERNING BODY 20 AUGUST 2013

The Governing Body of the City of WaKeeney, Kansas met in a regular session at City Hall 408 Russell Ave at 7:00 PM with the Mayor presiding and the following members present:

Mayor Kenneth Roy and Council Members Mary Jo Clevenger, Irene Dirks, Troy Leiker, Lynelle Shubert, and Allen Weigel

BEING ABSENT: None

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written, printed and distributed.

GUESTS:  Shaylee Flax, Abraham Pfannenstiel, Vic Kinderknecht, Diane Wagner, Jerry Boxberger, Wanda Boxberger, Dave Hendricks, Mary Ruth Hendricks, Charlie Knoll, Terry Eberle, and Janelle Miller

A public hearing for the city’s 2014 budget was held at 7:00 PM.  After receiving comments from the public in attendance, Irene Dirks motioned to approve the 2014 budget as presented.  Troy Leiker seconded. Motion carried.  In addition, a motion was made by Mary Jo Clevenger and seconded by Allen Weigel to approve ordinance #1431 attesting to the increase in property taxes for the 2014 budget.  Motion carried.

Vic Kinderknecht, 116 N. 6^th Street, addressed the Governing Body over concerns related to building codes, zoning regulations and drying trees.  Vic was thanked by the City Council and took his leave.

Diane Wagner, 1100 Easter Ave, addressed the Governing Body over concerns in her neighborhood ranging from weeds and sandburrs to junk vehicles and miscellaneous junk.  After a lengthy debate, Irene Dirks motioned to seek legal action to abate the environmental conditions on the east half of Block 3, Original City (Osborn, Monroe, Henkel Subdivision) owned by Ray & Bernice Stithem.  Lynelle Shubert seconded. Motion carried.

CHIEF OF POLICE:  Terry Eberle provided his monthly departmental report.  Chief Eberle also discussed with the City Council mailboxes on sidewalks, allowing ATVs, golf carts, and worksite vehicles within the city, and crosswalks on N. 13^th Street and Barclay Ave.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR:  City Administrator Hardy Howard informed City Council that the construction plans for the access road at the new Triplett 24/7 Truck Plaza / McDonald’s had been released for bid and that the bid letting would be help September 4, 2013.

A policy allowing for the reservation of the new shelter at the Pool Park was presented and reviewed by the Governing Body.  After one change, Troy Leiker motioned to approve the policy as amended.  Irene Dirks seconded. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Irene Dirks and seconded by Mary Jo Clevenger to approve the Title VI Civil Rights Notice for the General Transportation Bus as required by federal law.  Motion carried.

A motion was made by Irene Dirks and seconded by Lynelle Shubert to allow the city to re-join the Kansas Rural Water Association with payment of dues for 2014.  Motion carried.

A motion was made by Troy Leiker and seconded by Lynelle Shubert to adjourn into executive session for a period of 30 minutes for the discussion of non-elected personnel.  Those remaining in the executive session included Mayor Roy, City Council, and Chief of Police Eberle.

The session ended within the allotted time period

No further business appearing, the meeting was adjourned.