kansas – Page 18 – Hays Post Archive

‘The Addams Family’ ready to take Encore stage

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014

They’re creepy and they’re kooky — and they’re on their way to northwest Kansas.

A scene from the promotional trailer for 'The Addams Family.' — A scene from the promotional trailer for ‘The Addams Family.’

Fort Hays State University’s Encore Series will present “The Addams Family,” a musical comedy, at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center. Doors will open at 7:15 p.m.

The plot includes a now-grown Wednesday Addams bringing her boyfriend home to meet the family — a first introduction to Gomez, Morticia and the rest of the oddities of the Addams mansion.

Tickets are still available online or at the student service center in Memorial Union. “The Addams Family” is sponsored by Cedar Lodge Dental Group.

Reserved tickets are $40 for the general public; $38 for seniors and children age 5 to 17; and $31 for FHSU students. Unreserved tickets are $36 for the general public; $34 for seniors and children age 5 to 17; and $27 for FHSU students.

More information on tickets and upcoming shows is available HERE.

Ellis council OKs funds for FHSU water festival

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014

ELLIS — The city of Ellis and Fort Hays State University will team up for a water festival in the spring.

The Ellis City Council on Feb. 3 voted to spend up to $2,500 to help supply and market the event, which is designed to educate residents about the importance of water conservation.

The funds will come out of the city’s water utility fund.

In other business at the Feb. 3 meeting, the council discussed options to help revitalize the downtown business district. No action was taken, but council members discussed the possibility of requiring a special-use permit for owners wanting to use storefronts for storage only.

Here are the compete unofficial minutes of Monday’s meeting of the Ellis City Council:

• • •

DRAFT COPY NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVED BY COUNCIL

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL

REGULAR MEETING

Minutes

February 3, 2014

CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Lyle Johnston called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members John Walz, Jolene Niernberger, Loran Gottschalk and Terry Redetzke. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, and City Attorney Olavee Raub. Council members Jeff Wolf and John Leiker were absent.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA

City Clerk Amy Burton noted that due to the impending snow storm, Bartlett & West Engineers will not be present; therefore, the Special Order item on Water Exploration will be struck from the agenda.

PUBLIC PRESENT

Buck Driggs, Ryan Augustine, Brian Raub, Sean Simmons, Ron Johnson, Glen Keller, David McDaniel, Gary Luea, John LaShell, Michelle Wiesner, Henry Wiesner, Jim Carthew, and Rene Norris.

CONSENT AGENDA

Council member Jolene Niernberger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from Regular Meeting on January 20, 2014, the Minutes from Special Meeting on January 27, 2014, and Bills Ordinance #1942. Council member Terry Redetzke seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda unanimously.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

None

PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)

None

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

Capital Improvement: Repair/Maintenance

Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, reported the City should hear in the coming weeks on USDA funding for the waterline improvement project, with construction to begin in Fall 2014 or Spring 2015. With the waterline improvement project progressing, Mr. Driggs inquired of Council’s intent on moving into Phase 2 of the overall project – street improvements in the affected area. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Terry Redetzke seconded a motion to authorize the pursuit of Community Development Block Grant funds for street improvements. Motion carried 4-0.

General Government: Special Project

Ryan Augustine presented a proposed site map for the City’s website and provided suggestions for additional pages not currently included. Mr. Augustine also provided a summary of services offered and proposed fees. Council took no action.

Sewer: Repair/Maintenance

Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented two bids for rehabilitation of the St. Mary’s lift station. Council member John Walz moved to accept the low bid from Mayer Specialty Services in the amount of $8,792.30 with the hopes that mobilization costs of up to $1,500.00 may be deducted if scheduled in conjunction with other work in the area. Funds for the rehabilitation will come from the Sewer Utility Fund. Council member Loran Gottschalk seconded the motion. Motion carried 4-0.

NEW BUSINESS

Water: Special Project

The City and the Fort Hays State University Leadership 310 Team plan to hold a water festival this spring educating residents on the importance of water conservation. Council member Jolene Niernberger made a motion to approve funding for the water festival at an amount not to exceed $2,500.00 for advertising and supplies, with funds to come out of the Water Utility Fund. Council member John Walz seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously.

General Government: Building Code

The Council discussed the downtown business district and what could be done to revitalize the area. Council considered a special use permit for those owners wanting to use their storefronts solely for storage. Current owners would be grandfathered in from obtaining a permit. City Attorney Olavee Raub noted the City can require compliance with the environmental code but needs to be cognizant of the floodplain regulations as well. No action was taken.

REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS

Public Works

Water: Repair/Maintenance

Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman reported that he has received correspondence from Utility Service Company regarding a question on if the painting of the exterior of the water tower is included in their current contract with the City. He will forward the existing contract to City Attorney Olavee Raub for review.

Sewer: Disposal

Mr. Scheuerman shared with the Governing Body a memo from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment dated February 2007, regarding the possible relocation of the outfall of the Wastewater Treatment Plant to Big Creek. Last meeting, Council questioned if the City’s wells would recharge more rapidly if the effluent water from the Treatment Plant was relocated to Big Creek. In the referenced memo, KDHE was concerned that relocating the effluent water to Big Creek would cause the nutrient levels to increase, causing algal blooms and render the creek unsafe for fishing, wading or boating. Mr. Scheuerman does not feel at this time the City is capable of reducing the nutrient concentrations to an acceptable level.

Sewer: Special Project

Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman reviewed the Energy Assessment on the Wastewater Treatment Plant prepared by Wichita State University.

Sewer: License/Permit

Mr. Scheuerman reviewed with Council upcoming changes in the requirements needed for the City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant permit. Certain nutrient levels would have to be reduced in order to be compliant with the new regulations. By September 30, 2014, the City must submit to KDHE a plan and designs of any upgrades necessary to the Plant to reduce the nutrient concentrations to an acceptable level. Wilson & Company will meet with Council in March to review a draft of a proposed plan and cost assessments.

Water: Repair/Maintenance

Director Scheuerman reviewed the Comparative Water Report through December 10, 2013. Layne Christensen has tested three wells and they appear to be working well, but Mr. Scheuerman is awaiting the full report.

General Government: Building Code

At the January 20, 2014 meeting, Council asked Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman to begin inspections on the downtown buildings. Mr. Scheuerman assessed one block of the downtown area and reported that many of the buildings have environmental concerns and are unstable and in need of major repairs to ensure the safety of the occupants and pedestrians. However, in this one block the property needs to be properly surveyed to determine the legal description for the owners. City Attorney Olavee Raub will contact a surveyor to obtain a cost estimate to get the property surveyed. The City would like to collaborate with the property owners to find a solution to address the safety and environmental concerns. Council asked Mr. Scheuerman to inform the property owners of the areas that need addressed without citing them with a formal complaint at this time. Attorney Raub noted the City should consider budgeting for blight structures if property owners refuse or are unable to make the necessary repairs in the future.

Personnel: Entry

Mr. Scheuerman would like to hire Tyler Watson for the vacant sanitation position. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve the hiring of Tyler Watson for the General Public Works Employee I sanitation position at a probationary wage of $11.84 effective February 17, 2014. Motion carried 4-0.

Streets: Repair/Maintenance

Mr. Scheuerman informed Council that the 1991 Ford tandem axle truck is in need of repair. If the engine needs replaced, early estimates put the repair upwards to $15,000.00. To upgrade the truck to a newer model with 100,000-200,000 miles on it could cost the City on average $30,000.00. Mr. Scheuerman noted the City does not adequately budget contingency funds in the case of equipment failures. The truck needs to be fixed or replaced as it is vital to the City fleet, yet funds are not readily available in the Special Machinery fund. It was the consensus of Council to have Mr. Scheuerman obtain a cost estimate on what repairs are needed to fix the truck

Police

Police Chief Taft Yates presented the February officer calendar. One addition to the calendar is training on the new Enterpol records management system on February 26, 2014. Chief Yates also wanted to clarify that the annual Enterpol support fee of $1,900.00 would not start until March 2015. Officer Jon Geiger has completed his field training and will attend the KLETC reciprocity class March 3rd – 7th.

City Clerk

City Clerk Amy Burton presented the December 2013 and 4th Quarter 2013 Treasurer’s reports. The annual rabies clinic was held January 25th with thirty-one dog tags sold and immunizations administered. Ms. Burton then inquired of Council’s intent on whether to open the municipal pool this year. It was the consensus of Council to operate the pool in the 2014 season. Council member Loran Gottschalk suggested exploring an option of bussing kids over to the Hays Aquatic Park in the future. Ms. Burton reminded the Governing Body of the K-State Community Board Leadership Series later in February. She also reported she has received an email from IdeaTek regarding their interest in obtaining a franchise agreement with the City for a fiber optic build within Ellis. Ms. Burton then informed Council of Senate Bill 304 limiting the ability of cities to lease public facilities for the purpose of delivering telecommunication service to customers. The hearing on the bill has currently been postponed.

MAYOR/COUNCIL

Council member John Walz thanked Henry and Helen Fischer and the Alumni Association for allowing the City the opportunity to consider the vacant building on 2nd Street. Mr. Walz provided a brochure to the Governing Body on the Kansas PRIDE program. The focus of the program is to build community pride by meeting with residents to determine what they would like to see to better the community, and then collaborate with City organizations to take action. Mr. Walz would like to schedule a separate meeting with interested parties to review the program.

Council member Jolene Niernberger responded to a resident’s concern at the last Council meeting that a previous Council had already approved the payoff of the fire truck. Ms. Niernberger could not find evidence that a motion to that effect had been recorded in the official minutes for that time frame; therefore, the current Council did the right thing in taking action. Ms. Niernberger also wanted to thank Police Chief Taft Yates for his recent presentation to a group of Vietnam veterans in Hays.

ADJOURNMENT

Council member Terry Redetzke moved and Council member Loran Gottschalk seconded a motion to adjourn. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:27 p.m.

Hutch man in court Wednesday on child sex charges

Posted on February 12, 2014February 12, 2014

Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON — A 25-year-old Hutchinson man facing child sex charges is scheduled to be in court Wednesday for a preliminary hearing.

Michael Wayne Stahl is charged with four counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, two counts of electronic solicitation and one count of attempted indecent liberties with a child. Two of the counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child are alternate counts, meaning the state has different theories of the crimes.

Stahl is alleged to have been communicating with two 13-year-old girls through Facebook and text. Authorities say that led to him meeting the girls and then the sexual encounters occurring.

Police became involved in the case after two reports. A detective reportedly posed as a 14-year-old girl, which led to Stahl showing up at an abandoned residence where thought he was meeting the 14-year-old. He instead met police instead.

FHSU students take part in research day at Capitol

Posted on February 11, 2014February 11, 2014

FHSU University Relations

Fort Hays State University students will join their peers from other Kansas Board of Regents public four-year universities in Topeka for the second annual Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol and the inaugural Kansas Master’s Research Day at the Capitol from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Capitol rotunda.

Participating students will present their research projects to legislators and the public. The purpose is to demonstrate the unique opportunities undergraduate and graduate students have to participate with faculty members in research at KBOR universities.

The Council of Chief Research Officers of the Kansas Board of Regents organizes the Kansas Undergraduate Research Day at the Capitol. This event showcases the work of up to 80 Kansas undergraduate students representing each of the state’s eight public four-year institutions. This event also emphasizes higher education’s role in developing educated citizens and preparing a workforce with the necessary skills to further the economic growth of the state.

The Kansas Council of Graduate Deans of the Regents is also sponsoring the inaugural Kansas Master’s Research Day at the Capitol to share students’ research experiences with state lawmakers in Topeka. This event showcases the work of up to 40 Kansas graduate students representing the state’s eight public institutions.

FHSU undergraduate student presenters and their presentations:

Keri L. Caudle, a Hays senior majoring in biology; “Effects of Extreme Drought on Photosynthesis and Water Potential of Andropogon Gerardii (Big Bluestem) Ecotypes in Common Gardens Across Kansas” investigated how drought affects prairie grasses; research mentor: Dr. Brian Maricle, Department of Biological Sciences.

Michael Cory, a Wichita sophomore from Andover High School and the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science (KAMS); “The Effects of Copper Exposure on Mammal Cells” examined the way copper leads to cell death; research mentor: Dr.Thomas J. Wiese, Department of Chemistry.

Kayce Feldkamp, a Seneca freshman from Nemaha Valley High School and KAMS: “Effect of Nine Volt Direct Current Charge Applied to Radishes and their Growth” investigated the effect of electricity on radishes; research mentor: Dr. Paul Adams, Departments of Physics and Teacher Education.

Seth Gooding, a Hays senior majoring in chemistry; “Implications of Local Cultural Variations for the Strategic Use of Legal Flexibilities in China” interviewed international managers and lawyers in China; research mentors: Dr. Justin Evans and Dr. Tony Gable, College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

Jessica Havice, an Abilene senior majoring in communication disorders; “Sound Intensity Measurements of a University Marching Band During Rehearsals” found that prolonged exposure to the sound levels generated by the marching band may cause hearing loss; research mentor: Dr. Fred Britten, Department of Communication Disorders.

Xining Li, a KAMS freshman from China; “Terminal Velocity of Meteorite” used a wind tunnel to compare the shapes of meteorites with the greatest terminal velocity; research mentor: Dr. Paul Adams, Departments of Physics and Teacher Education.

Xiaoying Lin, a KAMS freshman from China; “The Impact of Population Density on the Intensity of Urban Heat Island Effect in Manhattan, New York, and Saratoga Springs, New York, from 1960 to 2012” explored the relationship between population density and historical temperature data; research mentors: Dr. Paul Adams, Departments of Physics and Teacher Education, and the late Dr. John Heinrichs, Department of Geosciences.

Leah Piper, a St. Marys senior majoring in communication studies; “A Closer Look at the Costa Concordia” analyzed the types of image restoration strategies used following the cruise ship disaster; research mentor: Dr. Leslie Reynard, Washburn.

MaRyka Smith, a Hoyt freshman from Royal Valley High School and KAMS; “The Relationship of the California Horse Population and Grassland in the Sierra Nevada Eco Region” investigated the relationship between wild horses and grassland environment; research mentors: Dr. Paul Adams, Departments of Physics and Teacher Education, and the late Dr. John Heinrichs, Department of Geosciences.

Adam Wilbur, a Wichita senior majoring in graphic design; ““The Role of the Entrepreneurial Lawyer in Small Firms in China” analyzed the legal environment in China for small firms; research mentors Dr. Justin Evans and Dr. Tony Gable, College of Business and Entrepreneurship.

FHSU graduate student presenters and their presentations:

Clinton Helms, Hays, biology; Hays; “Nest Survival of Wet Meadow Breeding Birds at the Nature Conservancy’s Cheyenne Bottoms Preserve” investigated the effects of adaptive rotational grazing treatments versus traditional season-long grazing treatments on grassland nesting species; research mentor: Dr. Jordana LaFantasie, Department of Biological Science.

Aubray Magnusson, Hays, communication disorders; “The Relationship between Oral and Written Narratives” examined the relationship between oral and written narratives in overall language development for children 7-10 years of age; research mentor: Dr. Jayne Brandel, Department of Communication Disorders.

Brooke Mann, Hays, psychology; “The Role of Sex and Body Image on Online Shopping” investigated sex differences of body image satisfaction and online shopping; research mentor: Dr. Jenn Bonds-Raacke, Department of Psychology.

Steven S. Reed, Hays, geosciences; “Tying 3D Seismic Data with Well Logs to Correlate the Time/Depth Relationship of the Stone Corral Formation in Kansas” examined the relationship between 3D seismic data and sonic well log data to potentially increase the success rate of 3D seismic prospecting in Kansas; research mentor: Dr. Hendratta Ali, Department of Geosciences.

The public is invited to view the posters and talk with the student researchers.

Fort Hays State University provides accessible quality education to Kansas, the nation, and the world through an innovative community of teacher-scholars and professionals to develop engaged global citizen-leaders.

Garden woman changes jobs to comply with insurance mandate

Posted on February 11, 2014February 11, 2014

By DAVE RANNEY
KHI News Service

GARDEN CITY — Until recently, 50-year-old Tammy Ryan had never had health insurance.

“I kept hearing about how everybody was going to have to have insurance,” she said, referring to the onset of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. “So I quit my waitressing job, which didn’t have insurance that I could afford, and took a job with the school district. I’m making less money now, but I have insurance.”

Ryan said she isn’t sure what her new policy will cover.

“I have a doctor’s appointment in a couple weeks, I’ll find out then,” she said. “There’s a lot I don’t know because up until now, I’ve never gone to see a doctor unless I was really, really sick.”

Ryan is a single mother who reared three children and now cares for three grandchildren. She said she’s been told she has heart disease. She may have diabetes, too.

“My mother, my youngest daughter, my brother and my sister all have diabetes,” she said. “I might have it, I don’t know. I feel alright now.”

Though she’s in relatively good health, Ryan said she has more than $10,000 in medical bills.

“I don’t have that kind of money, so I just kind of ignore them,” she said. “I know they’re there, but I don’t know what else to do. I’m barely making it as it is.”

Ryan said she expects to earn between $9,000 and $10,000 annually at her new job, which involves preparing and transporting school lunches. She works 35 hours a week.

“When I had my taxes done last year I got a note that said I should apply for Medicaid because I was probably eligible,” she said. “I went ahead and applied, but they said I made too much money.”

Ryan said the grandchildren, ages 5, 7 and 8, have lived with her “since they was babies.”

Ryan said she tries not to think too much about her family’s health care.

“I just hope and pray that things work out. I take everything day by day,” she said. “But when I do think about it I get angry. I’ve been a single mom most of my life. I raised my kids all by myself, and now I’m raising my grandkids. And then I see people who have more kids than I do and who aren’t working, and they’re on Medicaid and they’re getting food stamps. It doesn’t seem fair to me. It angers me.”

Body of man found in freezer in Kansas City, Kan.

Posted on February 11, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — Kansas City, Kan., police say the body of a man was found in a freezer in a detached garage behind a home.

The body was found Sunday afternoon in a top-loading freezer. A woman who was cleaning found the body.

The coroner’s office said Monday the body was intact but a full autopsy could not be performed until the body thawed.

The police department’s major case unit is investigating the case but the death has not been ruled a homicide.

Derby company ordered to cease and desist for securities violations

Posted on February 10, 2014February 10, 2014

WICHITA (AP) — Kansas Securities Commissioner Josh Ney has ordered Derby-based Proud Veterans and its chief executive officer to stop selling securities in violation of state laws.

The agency on Monday announced preliminary findings that the company and CEO Nick Gnemi committed securities fraud by selling an unregistered security, making untrue statements and omitting material statements about the security.

At issue are investments toward stock and commodities of grain and milk that would be delivered to foreign countries.

Gnemi says Proud Veterans is primarily an agricultural, engineering and construction company that had solicited a couple of investors to work with it.

He says the service-disabled veterans’ company did not understand the state’s requirements and acknowledged that as a business it would do whatever is required to comply.

Larned schools closed as plane crash victims are laid to rest

Posted on February 10, 2014February 10, 2014

Great Bend Post

LARNED — Schools in the Larned district will be closed Tuesday in order to allow students and families to attend the funerals of the Mull and Harter families, killed last week in a plane crash in Tennessee.

All activities have also been canceled, including Tuesday night’s basketball games between Larned and Thomas More Prep-Marian High School. The games have been rescheduled to Feb. 20.

Glen Mull and his wife, Elaine, their daughter, Amy Harter, and Amy’s daughter, Samantha, was a student at Larned High School, all perished in the Feb. 3 crash.

The family was traveling to the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Trade Show in Nashville, Tenn., in a Gulfstream 690C when it crashed in suburban Nashville while trying to land. They had taken off from the Great Bend Municipal Airport.

Memorial services for Glen and Elaine Mull will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Assembly of God Church, Great Bend. A memorial service for Amy and Samantha Mull will be held at the church at 2 p.m.

Obituary information for the family can be found here.

Ellis County Commission to discuss EMS/Rural Fire costs

Posted on February 10, 2014February 10, 2014

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission will discuss possible changes to the EMS/Rural Fire Building, aimed at saving money, at the weekly meeting at 5 p.m. Monday at the Ellis County Courthouse.

Commissioners have been provided a list of potential changes to the design so they can bring the project within budget. According to the county commission packet, the architect presented the commission with a list of changes that will cut costs and also recommended changes if they choose to go with a metal building.

In his memo previewing the meeting County Administrator Greg Sund said once the commissioners agree on a direction, the project can get back on track.

In other action:

The commission will consider endorsing an economic development tax exemption for Hays Fire & Rescue Sales and Services, LLC.
Commissioners will get a monthly report from the Ellis County Extension office.
The commission will hold an executive session with County Counselor Bill Jeter.

Goldie Barker

Posted on February 6, 2014

Former Prairie View resident Goldie Barker, Hays, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, at Via Christi Village, Hays, at the age of 98.

She was born Feb. 10, 1915, in Prairie View to William Van Diest and Dora (Harbers) Van Diest. Her husband, Clarence Barker, preceded her in death.

She is survived by her sons, Bill of Hays, Steve of Kearney, Neb., and Dave of Ottawa; her sister, Wilma Holmes, of Columbia, Mo.; three grandchildren, one great-grandchild, five step-grandchildren and 12 step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 8, at 10:30 a.m. in the Prairie View Reformed Church, Prairie View. Burial will follow in the Prairie View Cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel in Phillipsburg.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Prairie View Reformed Church, Prairie View Senior Center or the Prairie View Library. Online condolences may be sent to www.olliffboeve.com.

Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel, Phillipsburg, is in charge of arrangements.

Area woman’s family sues Pa. hospital over hepatitis C case

Posted on January 30, 2014January 30, 2014

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — The family of a Natoma woman is suing UPMC Presbyterian and two other medical staffing companies because, the family claims, they failed to notify law enforcement or health authorities when they found an employee stealing narcotics and injecting himself with them.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the lawsuit in a Jan. 24 story.

Eleanor Y. Murphy, 89, Natoma, died at Hays Medical Center on Nov. 6, 2012, according to the complaint, which said she contracted hepatitis C after being treated by David Kwiatkowski, who worked at HaysMed when she was hospitalized there in June and July 2010.

According to the complaint, a UPMC employee saw Kwiatkowski in May 2008 enter an operating room at UPMC and hide a syringe in his pants. The hospital discovered a short time later that fentanyl, a painkiller, was missing. When Kwiatkowski was confronted, hospital personnel found three empty fentanyl syringes on him.

Kwiatkowski no longer was allowed to work at the hospital, the lawsuit said, but UPMC took no action to report Kwiatkowski’s behavior to law enforcement or medical licensing facilities.

Because of that, the complaint continued, he was permitted to continue working at a number of hospitals across the country for four more years.

The lawsuit, which includes claims for negligence and seeks punitive damages, also names as defendants Maxim Healthcare Services Inc. and Medical Solutions LLC, which placed employees in health care jobs.

Kwiatkowski pleaded guilty in August in New Hampshire to 16 federal counts and was sentenced to 39 years in prison. Prosecutors said he was responsible for infecting at least 45 hospital patients with hepatitis C by contaminating their syringes.

Shae Veach, HaysMed vice president of regional operations and marketing, said Tuesday he wasn’t aware of the lawsuit, and said the hospital’s focus during the two-year ordeal has been patient education.

“We haven’t had any patients come in and be tested for a number of months,” he said. “Our focus has been and continues to be on our patients and the community of western Kansas. … Delivering a high quality of care, a great deal of education and seeking the right level of understanding” when it comes to hepatitis C.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment played the lead role in testing hundreds of patients who were possibly in contact with Kwiatkowski during his time in Hays. KDHE spokeswoman Miranda Steele said the department considers the incident “at this point, an investigation that is complete.”

D. Charles Hunt, Kansas state epidemiologist, told Hays Post that 396 HaysMed patients were tested after the Kwiatkowski case became public in early July 2012. By October 2012, nearly all patients potentially affected had been tested.

Six patients were found to be genetically linked to the strain Kwiatkowski carried. Hunt said he could not comment on patient outcomes.

Information reprinted with permission from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Hays Post contributed to this story.

Ellis searches for new water supply (VIDEO)

Posted on January 29, 2014January 29, 2014

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

ELLIS — The city of Ellis remains in a Stage 3 water restriction, which means no outdoor watering of any kind.

“It’s tough, but residents have adjusted well,” said Mayor Lyle Johnston. “I’ve seen people hauling water in to water their grass.”

The city also is offering a free low-flow showerhead exchange program.

Johnston acknowledged these are short-term fixes:

The city has created a five member Water Advisory Board, which is spearheading the effort of looking for a new long-term water supply.

“They’ll advise the city on when and how to go for a different water source,” Johnston said.

You can find out more about the Ellis water situation on the ECTV Forum this week on Eagle Community TV Channel 14 following Hays Post News at 6 p.m.

Community is celebrated during Catholic Schools Week

Posted on January 27, 2014January 27, 2014

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

It’s National Catholic Schools Appreciation Week and, according to Thomas More Prep-Marian Principal Kathy Taylor, the week will be a busy one for Catholic schools in Ellis County.

For the first time the week has a national theme — “Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.” Each day of the week will honor that theme. For instance, Monday’s theme, “Appreciating our Local Community,” is about service to the community.

According to the National Catholic Educational Association’s website, having a national theme for the week is a new initiative.

“The 2014 theme was developed in response to member requests for a theme and logo that would last more than a year, the new theme will be used for at least three years,” the organization said.

Taylor said the week culminates with an all-county Catholic school Mass at 10 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Heart of Mary. Students from TMP, Holy Family Elementary and St. Mary’s School in Ellis will attend the Mass presided by Bishop Edward Weisenberger.

Taylor said Mass is usually the students favorite part of the week.

“It is just amazing to see the church just packed to the limit,” she said.