By BILL FIANDER Insight Kansas

Citius, Altius, Fortius.&nbsp;The original Olympic motto – translated to Faster, Higher, Stronger. – was never in more splendid display as the past few weeks in Paris. If the Olympic spirit was a religion, the athletes were its evangelists.Time after time, we were moved by sheer will or talent. A strangely inspired connection to people we didn’t know yesterday but who we scream at to go faster, higher, or stronger today.&nbsp;Maybe because Olympic ideals represent the best of our democratic ideals. Regardless of circumstances one is born into, or obscurity toiled in, the liberties and rights we share when fused with self-determination and love of something allows anyone to catch their dreams in a bottle. Sport or otherwise. Podium or not. A Jeffersonian meritocracy.&nbsp;Which made me ponder another representation of democracy. What if Kansas politics and government were in the Olympics? For aren’t they us too? Shouldn’t we be shrieking at our TV screens for them to go faster, higher, stronger? What would that look like?

A few years ago, the Olympics added “together” to the end of their motto. For you only move faster, or climb higher, or become stronger, in solidarity. Like an Olympic&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/31/sport/north-south-korea-selfie-paris-olympics-spt/index.html">North Korean and South Korean selfie</a>, will Kansas politics come together to show their best?

Bill Fiander is a lecturer at Washburn University specializing in public administration, urban planning, and state/local government. He is the former planning and development director for the City of Topeka.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708024541249.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By BILL FIANDER Insight KansasCitius, Altius, Fortius.&nbsp;The original Olympic motto – translated to Faster, Higher, Stronger. – was never in more splendid display as the past few weeks in Paris. If the Olympic spirit was a religion, the athletes were its evangelists.Time after time, we were moved by sheer will or talent. A strangely inspired connection to people we didn’t know yesterday but who we scream at to go faster, higher, or stronger today.&nbsp;Maybe because Olympic ideals represent the best of our democratic ideals. Regardless of circumstances one is born into, or obscurity toiled in, the liberties and rights we share when fused with self-determination and love of something allows anyone to catch their dreams in a bottle. Sport or otherwise. Podium or not. A Jeffersonian meritocracy.&nbsp;Which made me ponder another representation of democracy. What if Kansas politics and government were in the Olympics? For aren’t they us too? Shouldn’t we be shrieking at our TV screens for them to go faster, higher, stronger? What would that look like?<ul>
 <li>The Governor’s “Pommel-Horse Guys”&nbsp;- One of Team USA’s biggest cult heroes is the paragon of pommel-horse, Stephen Nedoroscik. The bespectacled Clark Kent of gymnasts who removes his glasses to compete helped end the men’s team medal drought by specializing in one event. A hired gun so good he can literally feel his way through a routine. Conversely, a nearsighted part-time&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/07/30/kansas-legislatures-committee-to-study-options-for-changing-state-budget-process/">legislative branch may step outside their Team Kansas lane</a>&nbsp;this fall to create their own proposed statewide budget which is an event traditionally (and statutorily) reserved for the professionally trained full-time “pommel-horse guys” in the Governor’s executive branch.&nbsp;</li><li>&nbsp;</li><li>“Ollie and Big Air” Legislators&nbsp;– In 2024, Kansas only saw two of its 165 legislators celebrate&nbsp;<a href="https://stateaffairs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/backofbook_12823.pdf">birthdays</a>&nbsp;with Gen Z vintage; a disconnect of young voices in lawmaking when 20-29 years is 14% of the state’s population and only 1% of the Legislature. But that number could double in November. Both Angel Roeser R-Manhattan and Alexis Simmons D-Topeka entertain very competitive chances to win their House seats and be synonymous with the youngest podium at the Olympics:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2024/08/06/olympic-medalists-at-womens-park-skateboarding-are-14-15-and-16/">women’s skateboarding (14-16 years)</a>. How about some Vans under the dome?</li><li>“Uncontested” is still the G.O.A.T.&nbsp;– Team USA saw their share of expected iconic dominance from swimming’s Katie Ledecky to gymnastics’ Simone Biles. But none can wear the G.O.A.T. necklace quite like “Uncontested”. This month, 80% of the Board of Education, 69% of both House and Senate, and 50% of Congressional races had&nbsp;<a href="https://ent.sos.ks.gov/Uncontested.html">NO opponents</a>! Likewise,&nbsp;<a href="https://kansasreflector.com/2024/08/12/kansas-primary-voters-were-smarter-than-megadonors-expected-but-too-many-stayed-home/?emci=501d6f34-4558-ef11-991a-6045bddbfc4b&amp;emdi=c6d8fa42-8958-ef11-991a-6045bddbfc4b&amp;ceid=125005">37% of November's Legislative races are unopposed</a>. As we painfully know when “Uncontested” enters a race, it's lights out 100% of the time for opponents. And change.</li><li>Comeback Kids&nbsp;– Nobody loves an epic comeback like America. And darned if we didn’t get two. USA’s Cole Hocker’s 1,500m and Kansas City’s Quincy Hall’s 400m? No. Independence’s Derek Schmidt and Baldwin City’s Nancy Boyda in the 2nd&nbsp;Congressional District. Democrat Boyda, seeking a return to the seat she held 15 years ago vs Schmidt, the former Republican Governor nominee, will need to dig deeper than a possessed&nbsp;<a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/S3vIeSmorzg?si=_doyBkqNGkLWAsmX">Hocker</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/3wZL_QMtqNw?si=0yXUJJK396TH6AAe">Hall</a>&nbsp;for her storybook ending in this gerrymandered district.</li>
 </ul>A few years ago, the Olympics added “together” to the end of their motto. For you only move faster, or climb higher, or become stronger, in solidarity. Like an Olympic&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/31/sport/north-south-korea-selfie-paris-olympics-spt/index.html">North Korean and South Korean selfie</a>, will Kansas politics come together to show their best?Bill Fiander is a lecturer at Washburn University specializing in public administration, urban planning, and state/local government. He is the former planning and development director for the City of Topeka.

INSIGHT KANSAS:  If Kansas politics were in the Olympics

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723824840707.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

KU announces graduates

Highlighting Fort Hays State University’s fall convocation on Wednesday was the presentation of faculty awards. Awards included the Faculty Member of the Year, John Heinrichs Outstanding Research Mentor, and the President’s Distinguished Scholar Award.

The Faculty Member of the Year award was presented to Dr. Kim Chappell, associate professor of advanced education programs. Commerce Bank provided a $1,000 stipend for Dr. Chappell in recognition of this honor. She is known as a leader who offers unwavering support to colleagues and students and resources, training, and innovative strategies to educators nationwide.

“Dr. Chappell is a highly respected colleague and a strong advocate for principals, teachers, students, and schools statewide,” said FHSU Provost Jill Arensdorf. “Her dedication and expertise continue to inspire her invaluable contribution to the field.”

The faculty member of the year is selected from the past year’s recipients of faculty awards for teaching, research and scholarly activity, and service.

The 2023-2024 award for scholarly activity went to Dr. Morgan Steele, assistant professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Angela Pool-Funai, associate professor of sociology. Outstanding service awards went to Ms. Robyn Hartman, associate professor of Forsyth Library, and Ms. Rekala Tuxhorn, assistant professor of social work. Dr. Gary Andersen, associate professor of advanced education programs, and Dr. Kim Chappell, associate professor of advanced education programs, were recognized for outstanding teaching.

John Heinrichs Outstanding Research Mentor

Dr. Christy Craig, assistant professor of sociology in the School of Criminal Justice, Leadership, and Sociology, was named the&nbsp;John Heinrichs Outstanding Research Mentor. The award is named after our esteemed former colleague, Dr. John Heinrichs, who was active in all research areas.

This award recognizes faculty members’ commitment, time, and energy in promoting undergraduate research. All current faculty and unclassified staff members at levels comparable to academic faculty are eligible. The awardee’s home department is provided $500 of budget funding to benefit the recipient.

Since joining FHSU in 2019, Dr. Craig has mentored numerous undergraduates, earning four URE grants and a reputation as a dedicated research mentor among students and faculty.

“Her advocacy extends to her peers, presenting on undergraduate mentorship at conferences and collaborating on related publications,” Dr. Arensdorf said. “Students praise her for balancing guidance with independence, leaving a lasting impact through her empathetic and supportive approach.”

President’s Distinguished Scholar Award

Dr. Robert Lloyd, associate professor of management, was announced as the 2024 President’s Distinguished Scholar. Dr. Lloyd has published seven articles in highly rated journals, has authored three books, and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles. In addition, he presented at international conferences.

Dr. Lloyd will receive a $1,500 check at the President’s Distinguished Scholar program later in the academic year.

The President’s Distinguished Scholar Award was first conferred in 1989. The evaluation of each candidate for this honor is based on an analysis of their performance in research and creative activities, service, and instruction categories. Acceptable levels of performance must be demonstrated in service and instruction, with the primary focus of this award on research and creative activities.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723671004505.png" alt="Kim Chappell,&nbsp;Christy Craig, and&nbsp;Robert Lloyd. Photos courtesy FHSU&nbsp;&nbsp;" />
 <figcaption>Kim Chappell,&nbsp;Christy Craig, and&nbsp;Robert Lloyd. Photos courtesy FHSU&nbsp;&nbsp;</figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;FHSU University RelationsHighlighting Fort Hays State University’s fall convocation on Wednesday was the presentation of faculty awards. Awards included the Faculty Member of the Year, John Heinrichs Outstanding Research Mentor, and the President’s Distinguished Scholar Award.Faculty Member of the Year AwardThe Faculty Member of the Year award was presented to Dr. Kim Chappell, associate professor of advanced education programs. Commerce Bank provided a $1,000 stipend for Dr. Chappell in recognition of this honor. She is known as a leader who offers unwavering support to colleagues and students and resources, training, and innovative strategies to educators nationwide.“Dr. Chappell is a highly respected colleague and a strong advocate for principals, teachers, students, and schools statewide,” said FHSU Provost Jill Arensdorf. “Her dedication and expertise continue to inspire her invaluable contribution to the field.”The faculty member of the year is selected from the past year’s recipients of faculty awards for teaching, research and scholarly activity, and service.The 2023-2024 award for scholarly activity went to Dr. Morgan Steele, assistant professor of criminal justice, and Dr. Angela Pool-Funai, associate professor of sociology. Outstanding service awards went to Ms. Robyn Hartman, associate professor of Forsyth Library, and Ms. Rekala Tuxhorn, assistant professor of social work. Dr. Gary Andersen, associate professor of advanced education programs, and Dr. Kim Chappell, associate professor of advanced education programs, were recognized for outstanding teaching.John Heinrichs Outstanding Research MentorDr. Christy Craig, assistant professor of sociology in the School of Criminal Justice, Leadership, and Sociology, was named the&nbsp;John Heinrichs Outstanding Research Mentor. The award is named after our esteemed former colleague, Dr. John Heinrichs, who was active in all research areas.This award recognizes faculty members’ commitment, time, and energy in promoting undergraduate research. All current faculty and unclassified staff members at levels comparable to academic faculty are eligible. The awardee’s home department is provided $500 of budget funding to benefit the recipient.Since joining FHSU in 2019, Dr. Craig has mentored numerous undergraduates, earning four URE grants and a reputation as a dedicated research mentor among students and faculty.“Her advocacy extends to her peers, presenting on undergraduate mentorship at conferences and collaborating on related publications,” Dr. Arensdorf said. “Students praise her for balancing guidance with independence, leaving a lasting impact through her empathetic and supportive approach.”President’s Distinguished Scholar AwardDr. Robert Lloyd, associate professor of management, was announced as the 2024 President’s Distinguished Scholar. Dr. Lloyd has published seven articles in highly rated journals, has authored three books, and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed articles. In addition, he presented at international conferences.Dr. Lloyd will receive a $1,500 check at the President’s Distinguished Scholar program later in the academic year.The President’s Distinguished Scholar Award was first conferred in 1989. The evaluation of each candidate for this honor is based on an analysis of their performance in research and creative activities, service, and instruction categories. Acceptable levels of performance must be demonstrated in service and instruction, with the primary focus of this award on research and creative activities.

FHSU recognizes faculty achievements at fall convocation

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays Lions Club is reaching out to child care providers to offer free eye screening to children.

Jim Huenergarde of Hays is a certified vision screener through the Kansas Lions Sight Foundation.

The Lions can provide a handheld device about the size of a digital camera that indicates within seconds whether a child might have a sight issue and needs to follow up with a complete eye exam with a doctor.

The screening is similar to having your picture taken.

Huenergarde presented about the free service to the Child Care Task Force of Ellis County during its July meeting.

The screening can't screen for all vision problems but can indicate issues, including

• lazy eye • pupil size anomalies • anisometropia, which is having one eye that is nearsighted and the other farsighted • astigmatism, which is irregularly shaped corneas or lenses that cause blurry vision • farsightedness, affecting the ability to see at close range • nearsightedness, affecting the ability to see long distances • misalignment of the eyes

The target audience for the screenings is children ages 6 months to 6 years because 95 percent of common vision problems that are caught by age 6 are correctable.

Twenty-five percent of school-age children in the United States have vision problems.

Huenergarde said ideally, vision problems could be caught before children enter school so that they would not affect their academic performance.

The Lions already screen children at Holy Family Elementary School and St. Mary's Catholic School in Ellis.

He said a group of 12 children in a home child care setting could be processed in about 30 minutes.

The results can be printed or downloaded for parents or an eye doctor.

Huenergarde travels across western Kansas to offer screenings.

Child care providers who are interested in scheduling screenings can contact&nbsp;Huenergarde at 785-639-3430 or by email at hayslion@yahoo.com.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723752851804.jpg" alt="Image courtesy of Pixabay." />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy of Pixabay.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostThe Hays Lions Club is reaching out to child care providers to offer free eye screening to children.Jim Huenergarde of Hays is a certified vision screener through the Kansas Lions Sight Foundation.The Lions can provide a handheld device about the size of a digital camera that indicates within seconds whether a child might have a sight issue and needs to follow up with a complete eye exam with a doctor.The screening is similar to having your picture taken.Huenergarde presented about the free service to the Child Care Task Force of Ellis County during its July meeting.The screening can't screen for all vision problems but can indicate issues, including• lazy eye • pupil size anomalies • anisometropia, which is having one eye that is nearsighted and the other farsighted • astigmatism, which is irregularly shaped corneas or lenses that cause blurry vision • farsightedness, affecting the ability to see at close range • nearsightedness, affecting the ability to see long distances • misalignment of the eyesThe target audience for the screenings is children ages 6 months to 6 years because 95 percent of common vision problems that are caught by age 6 are correctable.Twenty-five percent of school-age children in the United States have vision problems.Huenergarde said ideally, vision problems could be caught before children enter school so that they would not affect their academic performance.The Lions already screen children at Holy Family Elementary School and St. Mary's Catholic School in Ellis.He said a group of 12 children in a home child care setting could be processed in about 30 minutes.The results can be printed or downloaded for parents or an eye doctor.Huenergarde travels across western Kansas to offer screenings.Child care providers who are interested in scheduling screenings can contact&nbsp;Huenergarde at 785-639-3430 or by email at hayslion@yahoo.com.

Hays Lions offers free vision screenings for children in child care

By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension District

Variety selection is one of the most important decisions that a grower can make to ensure success on their farm. Now is the time when wheat producers across Kansas are reviewing yield data and making decisions about the varieties they will plant in the fall. Although yield is always a top priority, disease, and insect resistance, along with appropriate agronomic traits, can buffer against crop losses. In addition, genetic resistance to diseases and insect pests can be the most effective, economical, and environmentally sound method for control.

The Kansas Wheat Variety Guide 2024 (formerly called Wheat Variety Disease and Insect Ratings), from K-State Research and Extension, has now been released for this year. Agronomic characteristics, disease, and pest resistance information are included, as well as profiles that highlight some more common or new varieties for the state of Kansas.

Ratings in this publication represent results from field and greenhouse evaluations by public and private wheat researchers at multiple locations over multiple years.

A few other resources available to assist farmers with wheat variety selection is the Kansas Wheat Variety Performance Tests that are conducted around the state at K-State Experiment Stations and in other locations. These variety performance tests are replicated, each variety is randomly planted in four different locations in the field to increase accuracy of the yield data. That information along with all the other resources referenced in this article can be accessed from our Cottonwood Extension District web site at www.cottonwood.ksu.edu click onto the Crops and Livestock tab and look under Hot Topics for any of these resources.

The Colorado Wheat Trials Database decision tool provides complete access to variety information and data from university variety trials in Colorado and several other Great Plains states including Kansas. The database also includes private company trial data (Limagrain Cereal Seeds, Syngenta-Agripro). The database may be used to find up-to-date wheat variety information, display data from individual trial locations, generate summaries across multiple trial locations and years, and generate head-to-head comparisons for varieties of interest. It is an easy tool to use and very helpful!

Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681266655144.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By STACY CAMPBELL Cottonwood Extension DistrictVariety selection is one of the most important decisions that a grower can make to ensure success on their farm. Now is the time when wheat producers across Kansas are reviewing yield data and making decisions about the varieties they will plant in the fall. Although yield is always a top priority, disease, and insect resistance, along with appropriate agronomic traits, can buffer against crop losses. In addition, genetic resistance to diseases and insect pests can be the most effective, economical, and environmentally sound method for control.The Kansas Wheat Variety Guide 2024 (formerly called Wheat Variety Disease and Insect Ratings), from K-State Research and Extension, has now been released for this year. Agronomic characteristics, disease, and pest resistance information are included, as well as profiles that highlight some more common or new varieties for the state of Kansas.Ratings in this publication represent results from field and greenhouse evaluations by public and private wheat researchers at multiple locations over multiple years.A few other resources available to assist farmers with wheat variety selection is the Kansas Wheat Variety Performance Tests that are conducted around the state at K-State Experiment Stations and in other locations. These variety performance tests are replicated, each variety is randomly planted in four different locations in the field to increase accuracy of the yield data. That information along with all the other resources referenced in this article can be accessed from our Cottonwood Extension District web site at www.cottonwood.ksu.edu click onto the Crops and Livestock tab and look under Hot Topics for any of these resources.The Colorado Wheat Trials Database decision tool provides complete access to variety information and data from university variety trials in Colorado and several other Great Plains states including Kansas. The database also includes private company trial data (Limagrain Cereal Seeds, Syngenta-Agripro). The database may be used to find up-to-date wheat variety information, display data from individual trial locations, generate summaries across multiple trial locations and years, and generate head-to-head comparisons for varieties of interest. It is an easy tool to use and very helpful!Stacy Campbell is a Crop Production Extension agent in the Cottonwood District (which includes Barton and Ellis counties) for K-State Research and Extension. You can contact him by e-mail at scampbel@ksu.edu or by calling 785-628-9430.

CAMPBELL: Kansas Wheat Variety Guide 2024 is now available

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723824799520.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Area unemployment rates in northwest Kansas were up slightly again in July.&nbsp;

The Ellis County unemployment rate was 3.1% in June and 3.2% in July.

Rates in Trego, Rush, Rooks and Russell counties also were up less than a percent from the previous month.

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.2% in July. This is an increase from 3.0% in June and an increase from 2.6% in July 2023.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 1,700 from June.

Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 3,900 over the month, while government decreased by 5,600.

“Kansas employers in the private sector added jobs in July. However, this growth was offset by a decline in government jobs, which resulted in the overall decrease for total nonfarm estimates,” said labor economist Emilie Doerksen. “The private sector job growth was led by an increase in professional and business services jobs as well as a continued upward trend for trade, transportation and utilities.”

Since July 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 21,100. This change is due to an increase of 22,800 private sector jobs and a decrease of 1,700 government jobs.

<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/vosnet/gsipub/documentView.aspx?enc=O+qpCkhjA+v3dzYVbAEMjQ==">Complete Kansas labor market information for July is available here.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723817303630.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Department of LaborArea unemployment rates in northwest Kansas were up slightly again in July.&nbsp;The Ellis County unemployment rate was 3.1% in June and 3.2% in July.Rates in Trego, Rush, Rooks and Russell counties also were up less than a percent from the previous month.Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services division of the Kansas Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.2% in July. This is an increase from 3.0% in June and an increase from 2.6% in July 2023.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment decreased by 1,700 from June.Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs increased by 3,900 over the month, while government decreased by 5,600.“Kansas employers in the private sector added jobs in July. However, this growth was offset by a decline in government jobs, which resulted in the overall decrease for total nonfarm estimates,” said labor economist Emilie Doerksen. “The private sector job growth was led by an increase in professional and business services jobs as well as a continued upward trend for trade, transportation and utilities.”Since July 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 21,100. This change is due to an increase of 22,800 private sector jobs and a decrease of 1,700 government jobs.<a href="https://klic.dol.ks.gov/vosnet/gsipub/documentView.aspx?enc=O+qpCkhjA+v3dzYVbAEMjQ==">Complete Kansas labor market information for July is available here.</a>

Area unemployment rates up slightly again in July

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Fort Hays State University Head Football Coach Chris Brown.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8I8bLNFUsJ0?si=KiXW7XsN_QGroZK6" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with Fort Hays State University Head Football Coach Chris Brown.

🎤Forward Ever: FHSU Football Coach Chris Brown

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

"We're a doing, growing community," said Hays Mayor Shaun Musil at a recent joint city/Ellis County meeting.

Commissioners for the city of Hays and Ellis County met in a joint meeting Tuesday evening at Smoky Hill Country Club in Hays, where they agreed to collaborate on two road improvement projects and future economic development growth projects.&nbsp;

Much of the roads discussion focused on the intersection of Vineyard Road and 270th Avenue, part of the most highly traveled roads in the county that are not paved, said Nathan Leiker, Ellis County Commission chairman, with an acknowledgment to several people in the audience who travel those roads.

The location is at North Commerce Parkway and Vineyard Road, east of the Home Depot.&nbsp;

The city owns the right-of-way all the way to 260th Avenue.&nbsp;

"This is a forward-looking project," said Leiker, who chaired the meeting.

"It's obvious the future of Hays is developing in that direction," he said.

In 2019, the city purchased 90 acres immediately northeast of the Interstate-70 Exit 161, Commerce Parkway interchange.&nbsp;

The design of a&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5cd7c08e-168e-4f00-965c-279996563550" target="_blank">project</a>&nbsp;to extend utilities and other public infrastructure to the Exit 161 interchange, including internal infrastructure improvements to the city's property, will get underway this fall, with construction starting in 2025.

"It's a good route to the new high school and middle school (on East 13th Street)," Ellis County Commissioner Neal Younger said of accessing 13th Street from Commerce Parkway.

"It's also another good route for people up in the area of 41st Street to the interstate, plus a good bypass around Hays. ... It will be a good enticement to move forward for people wanting to do development in Hays," he said.

Sandy Jacobs, Hays vice-mayor, doesn't want the road to be considered a bypass but rather as another exit off I-70 into town.

"I want it to be inclusionary, a way to get up to the north part of town without coming all the way in," Jacobs said.&nbsp;

City and county commissioners agreed on the reconstruction's importance, and discussion quickly turned to how to pay for it.

"The longer we wait, it won't get any cheaper, especially road materials," said Mason Ruder, city commissioner.&nbsp;

Darin Myers, Ellis County administrator, said a Kansas Department of Transportation project that will resurface U.S. Highway 183 north to the county line, is scheduled for 2025.

Leiker wondered if the county and city could piggyback on that project with some cost sharing.

"Maybe we can get on with whoever the winning contractor is for some of their building materials," he suggested, "and save some money on mobilization costs."

Reconstruction could include upgrades to culverts and drainage, utility relocation, and additional right-of-way.

Commissioners talked about maintenance of the road if the project proceeds.&nbsp;

Leiker said the county intended to turn the road over to the city "because the city has the zoning and right-of-way for a lot of different areas up there."

No cost estimate was determined for the project.

Improvements to 48th Street, constructed in 2002, were discussed.&nbsp;

Recent core tests showed the asphalt road has a better-than-expected base but is riddled with cracks.

Although a county road, "the city hears complaints about it every day," Musil said.&nbsp;

Business growth continues in that area, and future housing developments are expected.

Creating a middle turn lane or right-hand turn lane, as they become needed, was discussed.

The county has twice been turned down for a matching K-DOT grant to reconstruct the road in concrete, Leiker said. That project cost is estimated at $2.4 million.&nbsp;

Jacobs suggested asking for letters of support from state representatives in the next round of grant funding.

Commissioners agreed to have their respective public works directors work together on the two road projects and to examine their respective capital improvement funds to determine where to begin budgeting for the upgrades.&nbsp;

Alaina Cunningham, city commissioner, wants the two governmental bodies to meet together more than annually, "especially since we're talking big budget items."

"I don't want to kick these on down the road," Leiker said.

Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, talked to the commissioners about the possibility of a more stable funding mechanism from both entities for the nonprofit group. Both bodies currently use line item funding at the commissions' discretion for outside agency funding.

"Perhaps our own mill levy," Williams suggested.&nbsp;

Leiker and Musil praised Grow Hays for its work in obtaining several large economic development grants and The Grove housing project north of HaysMed.

Williams emphasized the importance of retail growth and more housing developments for the county and city's future growth.

Grow Hays has contracted to purchase 9.1 acres of land north of Home Depot in Hays. They hope to construct a&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/68c83702-3486-4109-b74f-2a7ee851a4fe">new shopping center&nbsp;</a>on the land.

The land is north of I-70 on East 41st Street.

"We do a good job of collaboration between the city and the county," Musil said. "Our community is growing because of it."

"We're forward-thinking," said Reese Barrick, city commissioner.&nbsp; "The city has been working really hard on quality of life issues and keeping up with infrastructure improvements like roads and sewers.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"This is that next step of collaborating on things," he said. "Instead of people building houses in the middle of nowhere between Limon and Denver, they can come to our community that is willing and accepting and has infrastructure, has the quality of life.

"This is the next step to increasing retail events, bringing the jobs so that people will want to move here."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723667828169.jpeg" alt="Ellis County Administrator Darrin Myers, Hays City Commissioner Reese Barrick, Ellis County Commission Chairman Nathan Leiker, and Hays Mayor Shaun Musil at the Aug. 13 joint city/county meeting. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Ellis County Administrator Darrin Myers, Hays City Commissioner Reese Barrick, Ellis County Commission Chairman Nathan Leiker, and Hays Mayor Shaun Musil at the Aug. 13 joint city/county meeting. Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays Post"We're a doing, growing community," said Hays Mayor Shaun Musil at a recent joint city/Ellis County meeting.Commissioners for the city of Hays and Ellis County met in a joint meeting Tuesday evening at Smoky Hill Country Club in Hays, where they agreed to collaborate on two road improvement projects and future economic development growth projects.&nbsp;Much of the roads discussion focused on the intersection of Vineyard Road and 270th Avenue, part of the most highly traveled roads in the county that are not paved, said Nathan Leiker, Ellis County Commission chairman, with an acknowledgment to several people in the audience who travel those roads.The location is at North Commerce Parkway and Vineyard Road, east of the Home Depot.&nbsp;The city owns the right-of-way all the way to 260th Avenue.&nbsp;"This is a forward-looking project," said Leiker, who chaired the meeting."It's obvious the future of Hays is developing in that direction," he said.In 2019, the city purchased 90 acres immediately northeast of the Interstate-70 Exit 161, Commerce Parkway interchange.&nbsp;The design of a&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5cd7c08e-168e-4f00-965c-279996563550" target="_blank">project</a>&nbsp;to extend utilities and other public infrastructure to the Exit 161 interchange, including internal infrastructure improvements to the city's property, will get underway this fall, with construction starting in 2025."It's a good route to the new high school and middle school (on East 13th Street)," Ellis County Commissioner Neal Younger said of accessing 13th Street from Commerce Parkway."It's also another good route for people up in the area of 41st Street to the interstate, plus a good bypass around Hays. ... It will be a good enticement to move forward for people wanting to do development in Hays," he said.Sandy Jacobs, Hays vice-mayor, doesn't want the road to be considered a bypass but rather as another exit off I-70 into town."I want it to be inclusionary, a way to get up to the north part of town without coming all the way in," Jacobs said.&nbsp;City and county commissioners agreed on the reconstruction's importance, and discussion quickly turned to how to pay for it."The longer we wait, it won't get any cheaper, especially road materials," said Mason Ruder, city commissioner.&nbsp;Darin Myers, Ellis County administrator, said a Kansas Department of Transportation project that will resurface U.S. Highway 183 north to the county line, is scheduled for 2025.Leiker wondered if the county and city could piggyback on that project with some cost sharing."Maybe we can get on with whoever the winning contractor is for some of their building materials," he suggested, "and save some money on mobilization costs."Reconstruction could include upgrades to culverts and drainage, utility relocation, and additional right-of-way.Commissioners talked about maintenance of the road if the project proceeds.&nbsp;Leiker said the county intended to turn the road over to the city "because the city has the zoning and right-of-way for a lot of different areas up there."No cost estimate was determined for the project.Improvements to 48th Street, constructed in 2002, were discussed.&nbsp;Recent core tests showed the asphalt road has a better-than-expected base but is riddled with cracks.Although a county road, "the city hears complaints about it every day," Musil said.&nbsp;Business growth continues in that area, and future housing developments are expected.Creating a middle turn lane or right-hand turn lane, as they become needed, was discussed.The county has twice been turned down for a matching K-DOT grant to reconstruct the road in concrete, Leiker said. That project cost is estimated at $2.4 million.&nbsp;Jacobs suggested asking for letters of support from state representatives in the next round of grant funding.Commissioners agreed to have their respective public works directors work together on the two road projects and to examine their respective capital improvement funds to determine where to begin budgeting for the upgrades.&nbsp;Alaina Cunningham, city commissioner, wants the two governmental bodies to meet together more than annually, "especially since we're talking big budget items." "I don't want to kick these on down the road," Leiker said.Doug Williams, Grow Hays executive director, talked to the commissioners about the possibility of a more stable funding mechanism from both entities for the nonprofit group. Both bodies currently use line item funding at the commissions' discretion for outside agency funding."Perhaps our own mill levy," Williams suggested.&nbsp;Leiker and Musil praised Grow Hays for its work in obtaining several large economic development grants and The Grove housing project north of HaysMed.Williams emphasized the importance of retail growth and more housing developments for the county and city's future growth.Grow Hays has contracted to purchase 9.1 acres of land north of Home Depot in Hays. They hope to construct a&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/68c83702-3486-4109-b74f-2a7ee851a4fe">new shopping center&nbsp;</a>on the land.The land is north of I-70 on East 41st Street."We do a good job of collaboration between the city and the county," Musil said. "Our community is growing because of it.""We're forward-thinking," said Reese Barrick, city commissioner.&nbsp; "The city has been working really hard on quality of life issues and keeping up with infrastructure improvements like roads and sewers.&nbsp;&nbsp;"This is that next step of collaborating on things," he said. "Instead of people building houses in the middle of nowhere between Limon and Denver, they can come to our community that is willing and accepting and has infrastructure, has the quality of life."This is the next step to increasing retail events, bringing the jobs so that people will want to move here."

Hays, Ellis County commissioners agree to collaborate on road projects north of I-70   

— Raj Gopaldas MD FACS , Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon&nbsp;

“No matter how thin the pancake is, there’s always two sides to it.” I am a cardiothoracic surgeon at HaysMed and have been practicing here for more than a year. I was on family vacation for a couple of weeks and recently returned only to note the buzz and media attention surrounding HaysMed. Eventually I read the articles and didn’t think much of it until I noticed that several patients decided to seek care for their heart conditions elsewhere. Therefore, I felt compelled to write this letter to you.&nbsp;

To provide some background, I have been practicing cardiothoracic surgery for almost 15 years. Last summer, I was asked to provide temporary coverage for cardiothoracic surgery services (heart and lung surgery ) at the DeBakey Heart Institute in HaysMed.

At that time, I lived in Michigan and the travel to Hays was certainly neither easy nor fun. Given the location of Hays in a rural part of Kansas, I had some reservations about the place.

But when I showed up here, I realized that I was wrong and maybe negatively prejudiced. When I performed my first heart surgery here, I was rather pleasantly surprised with the caliber of the open heart surgery team, the ICU nurses, the cardiac catheterization lab team and the Cardiac Anesthesiologists - Drs. Pham and Kreisler.

I was puzzled because I didn’t expect that a hospital located almost in the middle of nowhere would have a great team with a positive attitude and sincere dedication. But clearly, something was lacking – a consistent heart surgeon. But why?&nbsp;

So here is a little perspective for the community at large to understand. There are currently about 300 job openings in hospitals across the country for a full-time heart surgeon. There are only about 20 to 30 heart surgeons&nbsp; graduating in the country that maybe competent and confident to perform heart surgeries independently.

Almost every hospital in a major city is looking for a heart surgeon today. The average age of the cardiac surgeon in the United States is about 60 years old, and there are approximately 60 to 70 of them retiring every year.

This has resulted in a dire shortage of heart surgeons and, therefore, plenty of opportunities for practicing heart surgeons to pick a job anywhere they like. For hospitals located in rural communities such as Hays, it’s an even bigger struggle because many families, including mine, would not want to move to small communities but rather seek the conveniences that the bigger cities have to offer.&nbsp;

Furthermore, let me share my first hand experience at one of my previous jobs as a full-time heart surgeon.

At one of my prior employments elsewhere, I experienced on a first-hand basis an utter lack of competence, responsibility and accountability in the realm of heart surgery - Yes, in the United States - which is NOT a third world country.

My two associates at that time were trained at Mayo Clinic, and we were a complement of three highly trained heart surgeons. We had to on a day-to-day basis endure inexperienced ICU nurses, hospital-wide inefficiencies, grossly incompetent scrub technicians in the operating room, lack of any cardiac surgery PA to assist us, and above all we had to perform the majority of heart surgeries without a qualified cardiac anesthesiologist - something which is NOT THE STANDARD OF CARE in this millennium.

Between dealing with nurses connecting cardiac catheters backwards, nurses providing anesthesia for majority of the heart surgery procedure with almost no anesthesiologist supervision, administration pressuring us to do high risk and minimally invasive surgeries and heart surgery patients complaining that the ICU was like a frat house at the wee hours of the night ( I can go on and on) - we had enough!

And so I parted ways with a hospital system that was purportedly financially strong. Despite lucrative contracts, my two colleague surgeons departed as well in a short span of time, leaving the hospital with almost no permanent heart surgeons, leading the hospital to almost shut down all the cardiac surgeries

Why? Because - no surgeon or physician would or should practice in an environment that jeopardizes the safety and well being of the patient.&nbsp;

And then I come to HaysMed - and lo and behold, I notice that during the entire heart surgery - the cardiac anesthesiologist physicians are performing all the anesthesia duties and watching over these patients like a hawk, there are two highly seasoned circulating nurses in the operating room on every surgery and two scrub techs on every case, a cardiac surgery PA assisting on most of the surgeries and a perfusionist trained from the renowned Texas Heart Institute who runs the heart-lung machine.

Furthermore, the patients are co-managed in the ICU by two highly experienced pulmonary critical care physicians, Drs. Tangel and Biring, along with an entire team of hospitalists. Thus, I learned, “Never judge a book by its cover.”&nbsp;

As time went on, I realized that the DeBakey Heart Institute had even more to offer - the cath lab nurses were like a band of brothers/sisters, the ICU nurses were quite competent and dedicated despite some of them being only two years out from graduation, the clinic staff and nurses ran logistics like a well-oiled machine and the cardiology nurse practitioners were quite skilled and diligent.

The vetting process that this hospital has before allowing any ICU to take care of our cardiac surgery patients is rather stringent and thorough, which is clearly reflected in the way they care for our very sick patients. 

Above all, the cardiologists are highly compassionate and competent. Between Drs. Crawley, Gleed, Wagle - I don’t know if I can pick one over the other. The three interventional cardiologists - Drs. Janif, Sedhadri and Okuhara are technically superb.

Dr. Seshadri built the TAVR program here and many of our rural patients have benefitted tremendously from this procedure. Dr. Crawley has been a strong leader for the specialty, and Dr. Janif was a doyen in the field for this community.

It became evident that the Debakey Heart Institute was in need of a consistent heart surgeon, and, above all, the community at large needed it. Many patients had to travel hundreds of miles to seek open heart surgery due to the lack of a consistent heart surgeon.

I could see the staff in the operating rooms and ICU longing to have a strong heart surgery program. And so I was faced with this difficult decision - how do I commit more to this place?

Given our previous negative experience at a hospital in a midsize town, my family was clearly unwilling to move to any small city. But there had to be a way and a door opened when Dr. Roberto Cervera decided to be the other surgeon to partner with me and HaysMed in the winter of last year. 

Dr. Cervera and I trained together at Texas Heart Institute/Baylor College of Medicine in Houston almost 15 years ago. We decided to split the time at Hays between us so that the hospital would have a full complement of heart and lung surgery services 24/7 at any point in time. This would also allow us to alternate our time with our families.&nbsp;

Through 2024, our program has advanced significantly. The collaboration between cardiology, vascular surgery and cardiac surgery has been at its best. Dr. Seshadri and I performed the first transcatheter implantation of the mitral valve here.

Drs. Cervera and Seshadri performed the first detour procedure - a minimally invasive procedure for rerouting blood. We also started the minimally invasive heart valve program here and have recently performed in our community the first mitral valve surgery through keyhole incisions without cracking the patients breast bone unlike conventional open heart surgery.

Dr. Gleed has performed numerous minimally invasive watchman procedures and ablations for atrial fibrillation. The DeBakey Heart Institute has been firing on all cylinders.

I can say confidently that the patients have been receiving utmost care for their heart conditions from our physicians, practitioners and staff with compassion, empathy and dedication. And then when I see the news article and the opinions on social media that seemingly portrays our hospital in different light, I am rather disappointed.&nbsp;

We live in a world where everyone is entitled to an opinion that is promulgated by the power of social media.

Sure - anyone can have an opinion. Einstein had an opinion, so did President Reagan, so did President Lincoln, so do our next door neighbors. Even an inmate in prison has an opinion.

The question is: can I trust that opinion ? Is that opinion just speculative or it based on facts or is it complimented with foundational knowledge? Let us not forget that in the previous century, the opinions of a handful of prejudiced people with extreme ideologies led to two world wars and the deaths of millions of innocent humans. Opinions have consequences. 

This is why I am compelled to write this letter to you. I had come to notice that patients who need cardiac care are now canceling their appointments/ procedures and seeking care elsewhere. Now they will be traveling a couple of hundred miles to other hospitals. In circumstances where these heart patients need urgent care, this could be rather detrimental and unsafe to their health.

They will be seeking care from physicians they have never met before and there will be a break in the continuity of their care - something that has been known to be detrimental to better clinical outcomes.

The Debakey Heart Institute has been delivering the best care for its patients all throughout, and it is rather unfair that these patients are now going to suffer and be collateral damage of what I perceive to be a “social media lynching” of one of the best community hospitals I have worked at. Why do these patients have to face the consequences and suffer?&nbsp;

I’m not contesting the opinions of a urologist or a dermatologist or whoever it might be. It is not my place and I certainly am not privy to what had happened - so I am not in a position to judge or opine. 

Every hospital has its challenges and difficulties, which have been aggravated since COVID. But I feel it is important for the community at large to understand that these generalized opinions have nothing to do with the DeBakey Heart Institute at HaysMed in any form.

I have worked at a few hospitals in my career, and I have covered emergency cardiac surgery services at other hospitals in Kansas, Colorado, Michigan, and Minnesota. I could pen volumes about how some of these places shouldn’t be even performing heart surgery in the United States.

Furthermore, I would like to caution that the opinion of a physician who has not been in practice every day for several months or that of a physician whose area of practice is primarily restricted to outpatients simply cannot be extrapolated in general terms- it would be rather preposterous to correlate this with the performance of high-level inpatient services.

When a patient undergoes heart surgery or a cardiology procedure, their care in the hospital is resource intensive. Majority of patients undergoing these procedures at the DeBakey Heart Institute have done well given their risks and comorbidities.

For example, when I perform a heart surgery, there is a battalion of people involved in the care of the patient ranging from the cardiac anesthesiologist, the cardiologist, the hospitalist, the pulmonologist and critical care physicians, the circulating nurses in the operating room, the Perfusionist, Scrub Techs, the ICU nurses, the lab technicians, the respiratory therapist, the physical therapist and the social workers.

All these people have put their blood, sweat and soul every day in taking care of these very sick patients who undergo heart surgery and cardiac procedures.

Our former patients will speak to the level of care they have received at our facility here in Hays, Kansas. Clearly these staff at the hospital didn’t come from thin air - someone hired them here and who is that “someone?"

I feel that it is a disservice to these highly dedicated staff and physicians when an opinion rendered by a physician who doesn’t even witness or use these intensive services at the hospital on a day-to-day basis goes viral on social media and negatively impacts the community as well as the staff that serves the community.

This has real consequences. If patients choose not to seek their cardiac care here, our procedural volumes will decrease - which means more physicians would leave and consequently staff will leave as well. 

Reimbursements to hospitals are dictated by insurance companies who for the most part do not differentiate between competent and incompetent care - all get paid the same.

The community deserves a good hospital, and HaysMed is a good hospital. Is it perfect ? - maybe it is or may be it is not, but no hospital I have worked at is perfect by any stretch of the imagination! But compared to few of the other hospitals I have worked it, HaysMed is staffed with sincere, competent and compassionate people and delivers good clinical services. These staff take pride in their work to serve this community - they certainly deserve credit and appreciation.&nbsp;

On a closing note - while many have harnessed the power of social media and press to express opinions and concerns whether it is right or wrong or true or untrue - I would like to use this opportunity to ask the community at large to help us.

We are constantly faced with shortage of blood and especially blood products such as platelets, which some of the sick patients are in dire need of.

Sometimes, we have to cancel procedures due to the lack of these blood products in our region. Donating blood helps us tremendously- but more importantly you are helping a fellow citizen.

So if you can find a nearby blood bank or a hospital and donate blood, it would be for a noble cause. Let us live with integrity, compassion and empathy.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694017880043.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>— Raj Gopaldas MD FACS , Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeon&nbsp;“No matter how thin the pancake is, there’s always two sides to it.” I am a cardiothoracic surgeon at HaysMed and have been practicing here for more than a year. I was on family vacation for a couple of weeks and recently returned only to note the buzz and media attention surrounding HaysMed. Eventually I read the articles and didn’t think much of it until I noticed that several patients decided to seek care for their heart conditions elsewhere. Therefore, I felt compelled to write this letter to you.&nbsp;To provide some background, I have been practicing cardiothoracic surgery for almost 15 years. Last summer, I was asked to provide temporary coverage for cardiothoracic surgery services (heart and lung surgery ) at the DeBakey Heart Institute in HaysMed.At that time, I lived in Michigan and the travel to Hays was certainly neither easy nor fun. Given the location of Hays in a rural part of Kansas, I had some reservations about the place.But when I showed up here, I realized that I was wrong and maybe negatively prejudiced. When I performed my first heart surgery here, I was rather pleasantly surprised with the caliber of the open heart surgery team, the ICU nurses, the cardiac catheterization lab team and the Cardiac Anesthesiologists - Drs. Pham and Kreisler.I was puzzled because I didn’t expect that a hospital located almost in the middle of nowhere would have a great team with a positive attitude and sincere dedication. But clearly, something was lacking – a consistent heart surgeon. But why?&nbsp;So here is a little perspective for the community at large to understand. There are currently about 300 job openings in hospitals across the country for a full-time heart surgeon. There are only about 20 to 30 heart surgeons&nbsp; graduating in the country that maybe competent and confident to perform heart surgeries independently.Almost every hospital in a major city is looking for a heart surgeon today. The average age of the cardiac surgeon in the United States is about 60 years old, and there are approximately 60 to 70 of them retiring every year.This has resulted in a dire shortage of heart surgeons and, therefore, plenty of opportunities for practicing heart surgeons to pick a job anywhere they like. For hospitals located in rural communities such as Hays, it’s an even bigger struggle because many families, including mine, would not want to move to small communities but rather seek the conveniences that the bigger cities have to offer.&nbsp;Furthermore, let me share my first hand experience at one of my previous jobs as a full-time heart surgeon.At one of my prior employments elsewhere, I experienced on a first-hand basis an utter lack of competence, responsibility and accountability in the realm of heart surgery - Yes, in the United States - which is NOT a third world country.My two associates at that time were trained at Mayo Clinic, and we were a complement of three highly trained heart surgeons. We had to on a day-to-day basis endure inexperienced ICU nurses, hospital-wide inefficiencies, grossly incompetent scrub technicians in the operating room, lack of any cardiac surgery PA to assist us, and above all we had to perform the majority of heart surgeries without a qualified cardiac anesthesiologist - something which is NOT THE STANDARD OF CARE in this millennium.Between dealing with nurses connecting cardiac catheters backwards, nurses providing anesthesia for majority of the heart surgery procedure with almost no anesthesiologist supervision, administration pressuring us to do high risk and minimally invasive surgeries and heart surgery patients complaining that the ICU was like a frat house at the wee hours of the night ( I can go on and on) - we had enough!And so I parted ways with a hospital system that was purportedly financially strong. Despite lucrative contracts, my two colleague surgeons departed as well in a short span of time, leaving the hospital with almost no permanent heart surgeons, leading the hospital to almost shut down all the cardiac surgeriesWhy? Because - no surgeon or physician would or should practice in an environment that jeopardizes the safety and well being of the patient.&nbsp;And then I come to HaysMed - and lo and behold, I notice that during the entire heart surgery - the cardiac anesthesiologist physicians are performing all the anesthesia duties and watching over these patients like a hawk, there are two highly seasoned circulating nurses in the operating room on every surgery and two scrub techs on every case, a cardiac surgery PA assisting on most of the surgeries and a perfusionist trained from the renowned Texas Heart Institute who runs the heart-lung machine.Furthermore, the patients are co-managed in the ICU by two highly experienced pulmonary critical care physicians, Drs. Tangel and Biring, along with an entire team of hospitalists. Thus, I learned, “Never judge a book by its cover.”&nbsp;As time went on, I realized that the DeBakey Heart Institute had even more to offer - the cath lab nurses were like a band of brothers/sisters, the ICU nurses were quite competent and dedicated despite some of them being only two years out from graduation, the clinic staff and nurses ran logistics like a well-oiled machine and the cardiology nurse practitioners were quite skilled and diligent.The vetting process that this hospital has before allowing any ICU to take care of our cardiac surgery patients is rather stringent and thorough, which is clearly reflected in the way they care for our very sick patients. Above all, the cardiologists are highly compassionate and competent. Between Drs. Crawley, Gleed, Wagle - I don’t know if I can pick one over the other. The three interventional cardiologists - Drs. Janif, Sedhadri and Okuhara are technically superb.Dr. Seshadri built the TAVR program here and many of our rural patients have benefitted tremendously from this procedure. Dr. Crawley has been a strong leader for the specialty, and Dr. Janif was a doyen in the field for this community.It became evident that the Debakey Heart Institute was in need of a consistent heart surgeon, and, above all, the community at large needed it. Many patients had to travel hundreds of miles to seek open heart surgery due to the lack of a consistent heart surgeon.I could see the staff in the operating rooms and ICU longing to have a strong heart surgery program. And so I was faced with this difficult decision - how do I commit more to this place?Given our previous negative experience at a hospital in a midsize town, my family was clearly unwilling to move to any small city. But there had to be a way and a door opened when Dr. Roberto Cervera decided to be the other surgeon to partner with me and HaysMed in the winter of last year. Dr. Cervera and I trained together at Texas Heart Institute/Baylor College of Medicine in Houston almost 15 years ago. We decided to split the time at Hays between us so that the hospital would have a full complement of heart and lung surgery services 24/7 at any point in time. This would also allow us to alternate our time with our families.&nbsp;Through 2024, our program has advanced significantly. The collaboration between cardiology, vascular surgery and cardiac surgery has been at its best. Dr. Seshadri and I performed the first transcatheter implantation of the mitral valve here.Drs. Cervera and Seshadri performed the first detour procedure - a minimally invasive procedure for rerouting blood. We also started the minimally invasive heart valve program here and have recently performed in our community the first mitral valve surgery through keyhole incisions without cracking the patients breast bone unlike conventional open heart surgery.Dr. Gleed has performed numerous minimally invasive watchman procedures and ablations for atrial fibrillation. The DeBakey Heart Institute has been firing on all cylinders.I can say confidently that the patients have been receiving utmost care for their heart conditions from our physicians, practitioners and staff with compassion, empathy and dedication. And then when I see the news article and the opinions on social media that seemingly portrays our hospital in different light, I am rather disappointed.&nbsp;We live in a world where everyone is entitled to an opinion that is promulgated by the power of social media.Sure - anyone can have an opinion. Einstein had an opinion, so did President Reagan, so did President Lincoln, so do our next door neighbors. Even an inmate in prison has an opinion.The question is: can I trust that opinion ? Is that opinion just speculative or it based on facts or is it complimented with foundational knowledge? Let us not forget that in the previous century, the opinions of a handful of prejudiced people with extreme ideologies led to two world wars and the deaths of millions of innocent humans. Opinions have consequences. This is why I am compelled to write this letter to you. I had come to notice that patients who need cardiac care are now canceling their appointments/ procedures and seeking care elsewhere. Now they will be traveling a couple of hundred miles to other hospitals. In circumstances where these heart patients need urgent care, this could be rather detrimental and unsafe to their health.They will be seeking care from physicians they have never met before and there will be a break in the continuity of their care - something that has been known to be detrimental to better clinical outcomes.The Debakey Heart Institute has been delivering the best care for its patients all throughout, and it is rather unfair that these patients are now going to suffer and be collateral damage of what I perceive to be a “social media lynching” of one of the best community hospitals I have worked at. Why do these patients have to face the consequences and suffer?&nbsp;I’m not contesting the opinions of a urologist or a dermatologist or whoever it might be. It is not my place and I certainly am not privy to what had happened - so I am not in a position to judge or opine. Every hospital has its challenges and difficulties, which have been aggravated since COVID. But I feel it is important for the community at large to understand that these generalized opinions have nothing to do with the DeBakey Heart Institute at HaysMed in any form.I have worked at a few hospitals in my career, and I have covered emergency cardiac surgery services at other hospitals in Kansas, Colorado, Michigan, and Minnesota. I could pen volumes about how some of these places shouldn’t be even performing heart surgery in the United States.Furthermore, I would like to caution that the opinion of a physician who has not been in practice every day for several months or that of a physician whose area of practice is primarily restricted to outpatients simply cannot be extrapolated in general terms- it would be rather preposterous to correlate this with the performance of high-level inpatient services.When a patient undergoes heart surgery or a cardiology procedure, their care in the hospital is resource intensive. Majority of patients undergoing these procedures at the DeBakey Heart Institute have done well given their risks and comorbidities.For example, when I perform a heart surgery, there is a battalion of people involved in the care of the patient ranging from the cardiac anesthesiologist, the cardiologist, the hospitalist, the pulmonologist and critical care physicians, the circulating nurses in the operating room, the Perfusionist, Scrub Techs, the ICU nurses, the lab technicians, the respiratory therapist, the physical therapist and the social workers.All these people have put their blood, sweat and soul every day in taking care of these very sick patients who undergo heart surgery and cardiac procedures.Our former patients will speak to the level of care they have received at our facility here in Hays, Kansas. Clearly these staff at the hospital didn’t come from thin air - someone hired them here and who is that “someone?"I feel that it is a disservice to these highly dedicated staff and physicians when an opinion rendered by a physician who doesn’t even witness or use these intensive services at the hospital on a day-to-day basis goes viral on social media and negatively impacts the community as well as the staff that serves the community.This has real consequences. If patients choose not to seek their cardiac care here, our procedural volumes will decrease - which means more physicians would leave and consequently staff will leave as well. Reimbursements to hospitals are dictated by insurance companies who for the most part do not differentiate between competent and incompetent care - all get paid the same.The community deserves a good hospital, and HaysMed is a good hospital. Is it perfect ? - maybe it is or may be it is not, but no hospital I have worked at is perfect by any stretch of the imagination! But compared to few of the other hospitals I have worked it, HaysMed is staffed with sincere, competent and compassionate people and delivers good clinical services. These staff take pride in their work to serve this community - they certainly deserve credit and appreciation.&nbsp;On a closing note - while many have harnessed the power of social media and press to express opinions and concerns whether it is right or wrong or true or untrue - I would like to use this opportunity to ask the community at large to help us.We are constantly faced with shortage of blood and especially blood products such as platelets, which some of the sick patients are in dire need of.Sometimes, we have to cancel procedures due to the lack of these blood products in our region. Donating blood helps us tremendously- but more importantly you are helping a fellow citizen.So if you can find a nearby blood bank or a hospital and donate blood, it would be for a noble cause. Let us live with integrity, compassion and empathy.&nbsp;Life is precious, time is valuable!

LETTER: HaysMed heart surgeon praises hospital, staff

PHILLIPS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Thursday in Phillips County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Hayden J.&nbsp;Gottstine, 18, Logan, was&nbsp;westbound on Kansas 9 approximately six miles west of U.S. 183.&nbsp; The motorcycle struck a deer that entered the roadway.&nbsp; The motorcycle came to rest in the eastbound lane facing south.&nbsp;

EMS transported&nbsp;Gottstine to&nbsp;Phillips County Hospital. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

PHILLIPS COUNTY —One person was injured in an accident just after 8:30p.m. Thursday in Phillips County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Harley Davidson motorcycle driven by Hayden J.&nbsp;Gottstine, 18, Logan, was&nbsp;westbound on Kansas 9 approximately six miles west of U.S. 183.&nbsp; The motorcycle struck a deer that entered the roadway.&nbsp; The motorcycle came to rest in the eastbound lane facing south.&nbsp;EMS transported&nbsp;Gottstine to&nbsp;Phillips County Hospital. He was not wearing a helmet, according to the KHP.

NW Kan. teen hospitalized after motorcycle strikes a deer

The Hays Striders track team sent 17 athletes to the 2024 AAU Junior Olympic games in Greensboro, North Carolina from July 27 through August 3.

The meet was highlighted by four Striders earning All-American awards and a National Champion performance by Riley Leiker. Leiker took the gold medal in the 9 year old girls shot put throwing 23’11 ¼.” The multi-talented Strider also found herself on the podium with a 6th place finish in the 800 (2:41.72). Battling a nagging hip injury all year, she toughed out the 400 meter dash finishing 11th (1:09.67).

Also on the girl's side and on the podium was Danica Vap who took the bronze medal and an All-American award in discus throwing an impressive 100.00’ The La Crosse native also placed 19th in the shot put (33’11 ¼”) Her sister, Cheyenne Vap, placed 19th in her first Junior Olympic meet throwing 18’1.”

Sydney Lewallen took an All-American award by taking the bronze medal in the 14 year old girls Pentathlon. The day-long event encompasses the 100 meter hurdles, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 800 meter run. Lewallen, also a standout athlete for Hays Middle School, scored 2707 points. Lewallen had a busy week also competing in the shot put, placing 28th (33’3”), 400

meter dash finishing 68th (1:06.76), and the 800, placing 41st (2:35.75).

Tayte Lewallen took 29th place in the 12 year old boys 4 x 100 meter Relay (55.08) along with teammates Chris Grady, Gavyn Wolf, and Casen Flax. Flax also competed in the high jump, placing 28th and jumping 4’7”.

Tayte Lewallen also ran the 80 meter hurdles, taking 41st (14.93), and the 800 meter run, placing 70th (2:42.74).

The fourth All-American award for the Striders was earned by Emery Zimmerman, last year's National Champion in the 3000 meter run. In the 12 year old boys 3000 this year, Zimmerman placed 5th (10:11.98). He also competed in the boys Pentathlon, taking a 7th place medal (2237 points); the 800 meter run, placing 12th (2:18.39) and the 1500 meter run, finishing 11th (4:48.31).

Running in his first Junior Olympic meet, 8 year old Finley Zimmerman finished 41st in the boys 1500 meter run (6:10.04).

First year Strider Jessie Wright high jumped her way to a 26th place finish and at 4’3 ¼” in the 12 year old girls division.

Lyndi Zimmerman threw the shot put 32’9 ¾” in the 15-16 year old girls division for 27th place, and ran the 100 meter hurdles in 15.49 seconds for 38th. Newcomer Lakin Scott threw the shot put in his first Junior

Olympic meet 16’9” taking 50th place in the 8 year old boys division.

Tucker Schmidt ran his best 800 of the year in the 9 year old boys division, finishing 28th (2:42.89).

In a very competitive field, Caleb Englert tossed his shot put 41’1 ¾” good for a 20th place finish in the boys 15-16 division.

Ranked third nationally coming into the meet and throwing over 111 feet, Jacob Leiker threw in a rain flooded discus ring, placing 43rd and finishing with a 71’ toss. He also threw the javelin 84’11” for a 21st place finish, and the shot put 34’ ¾” for 24th.

Kamani Jones had a rough meet fouling all attempts in the 17-18 young men’s triple jump.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723662243298.jpeg" alt="(Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>(Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>SubmittedThe Hays Striders track team sent 17 athletes to the 2024 AAU Junior Olympic games in Greensboro, North Carolina from July 27 through August 3.The meet was highlighted by four Striders earning All-American awards and a National Champion performance by Riley Leiker. Leiker took the gold medal in the 9 year old girls shot put throwing 23’11 ¼.” The multi-talented Strider also found herself on the podium with a 6th place finish in the 800 (2:41.72). Battling a nagging hip injury all year, she toughed out the 400 meter dash finishing 11th (1:09.67).Also on the girl's side and on the podium was Danica Vap who took the bronze medal and an All-American award in discus throwing an impressive 100.00’ The La Crosse native also placed 19th in the shot put (33’11 ¼”) Her sister, Cheyenne Vap, placed 19th in her first Junior Olympic meet throwing 18’1.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723662228419.jpeg" alt="(Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>(Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>Sydney Lewallen took an All-American award by taking the bronze medal in the 14 year old girls Pentathlon. The day-long event encompasses the 100 meter hurdles, long jump, shot put, high jump, and 800 meter run. Lewallen, also a standout athlete for Hays Middle School, scored 2707 points. Lewallen had a busy week also competing in the shot put, placing 28th (33’3”), 400meter dash finishing 68th (1:06.76), and the 800, placing 41st (2:35.75).Tayte Lewallen took 29th place in the 12 year old boys 4 x 100 meter Relay (55.08) along with teammates Chris Grady, Gavyn Wolf, and Casen Flax. Flax also competed in the high jump, placing 28th and jumping 4’7”.Tayte Lewallen also ran the 80 meter hurdles, taking 41st (14.93), and the 800 meter run, placing 70th (2:42.74).The fourth All-American award for the Striders was earned by Emery Zimmerman, last year's National Champion in the 3000 meter run. In the 12 year old boys 3000 this year, Zimmerman placed 5th (10:11.98). He also competed in the boys Pentathlon, taking a 7th place medal (2237 points); the 800 meter run, placing 12th (2:18.39) and the 1500 meter run, finishing 11th (4:48.31).Running in his first Junior Olympic meet, 8 year old Finley Zimmerman finished 41st in the boys 1500 meter run (6:10.04).First year Strider Jessie Wright high jumped her way to a 26th place finish and at 4’3 ¼” in the 12 year old girls division.Lyndi Zimmerman threw the shot put 32’9 ¾” in the 15-16 year old girls division for 27th place, and ran the 100 meter hurdles in 15.49 seconds for 38th. Newcomer Lakin Scott threw the shot put in his first JuniorOlympic meet 16’9” taking 50th place in the 8 year old boys division.Tucker Schmidt ran his best 800 of the year in the 9 year old boys division, finishing 28th (2:42.89).In a very competitive field, Caleb Englert tossed his shot put 41’1 ¾” good for a 20th place finish in the boys 15-16 division.Ranked third nationally coming into the meet and throwing over 111 feet, Jacob Leiker threw in a rain flooded discus ring, placing 43rd and finishing with a 71’ toss. He also threw the javelin 84’11” for a 21st place finish, and the shot put 34’ ¾” for 24th.Kamani Jones had a rough meet fouling all attempts in the 17-18 young men’s triple jump.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1723662268262.jpeg" alt="(Courtesy photo)" />
 <figcaption>(Courtesy photo)</figcaption>
 </figure>

Hays Striders compete at AAU Junior Olympics

By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University President

At Fort Hays State University, our commitment to student success is not just a goal but a fundamental part of our identity. It is ingrained in our DNA and is a central focus of Goal Two: Student Success in our strategic plan. This goal is about creating opportunities for all students and empowering them to identify, evaluate, and achieve their goals as they become engaged global citizens. This commitment is a testament to our value for every student.

While we enthusiastically embraced delivering on this goal and relentlessly focused on nurturing our students to success, we had no idea that a global pandemic would change the nature of education and support.

Under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Feldstein, Assistant Provost of Teaching Innovation and Learning Technologies, and Dr. Taylor Kriley, FHSU’s former Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, the Goal Two team demonstrated remarkable vision, adaptability, and commitment while overcoming previously unforeseen challenges. FHSU’s experience and unmatched strength in delivering high-quality online learning experiences proved essential in the innovations the Goal Two team delivered, including the creation of faculty and staff-led student care teams and new forms of outreach that kept our students enrolled, engaged, and learning throughout the pandemic and beyond.

The pandemic highlighted the disparities between on-campus and online student experiences, the need for data-driven decision-making, and a heightened focus on student engagement in virtual settings. The importance of support services and consistent course design took center stage, prompting a shift in focus towards identifying disparities, enhancing connections, and fortifying learning outcomes.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1575301942236.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By TISA MASON Fort Hays State University PresidentAt Fort Hays State University, our commitment to student success is not just a goal but a fundamental part of our identity. It is ingrained in our DNA and is a central focus of Goal Two: Student Success in our strategic plan. This goal is about creating opportunities for all students and empowering them to identify, evaluate, and achieve their goals as they become engaged global citizens. This commitment is a testament to our value for every student.While we enthusiastically embraced delivering on this goal and relentlessly focused on nurturing our students to success, we had no idea that a global pandemic would change the nature of education and support.Under the leadership of Dr. Andrew Feldstein, Assistant Provost of Teaching Innovation and Learning Technologies, and Dr. Taylor Kriley, FHSU’s former Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, the Goal Two team demonstrated remarkable vision, adaptability, and commitment while overcoming previously unforeseen challenges. FHSU’s experience and unmatched strength in delivering high-quality online learning experiences proved essential in the innovations the Goal Two team delivered, including the creation of faculty and staff-led student care teams and new forms of outreach that kept our students enrolled, engaged, and learning throughout the pandemic and beyond.The pandemic highlighted the disparities between on-campus and online student experiences, the need for data-driven decision-making, and a heightened focus on student engagement in virtual settings. The importance of support services and consistent course design took center stage, prompting a shift in focus towards identifying disparities, enhancing connections, and fortifying learning outcomes.Another focal point was a review of our academic advising system. This thorough review and the subsequent adoption of a centralized advising model not only streamlined academic guidance but also paved the way for a new faculty mentoring plan, a beacon of support and mentorship for students inaugurated in the fall of 2024.Our work in the advising area also led to technology enhancements and a better balance in advisory caseloads that provided optimal student support. Academic plans were revised, program changes were aligned, and general education requirements were updated to create deliberate pathways for students to navigate and excel in their chosen fields.The transformation extended into the digital realm with the development of student success data analytics. The Goal Two team’s work will continue into the next strategic plan as we implement comprehensive data systems and explore innovative technologies, including generative AI, to enhance course delivery. This approach aims to create a rich feedback environment, enhancing students' academic progress and engagement.FHSU’s commitment to fostering a culture of belonging was exemplified by cultivating regular and substantive interactions within and outside courses. The Tiger-2-Tiger Online Student Community, created in response to pandemic-driven student needs, flourished, fortifying peer connections and nurturing a sense of belonging. These initiatives, combined with tailored support and guidance, enhance students' academic progress and engagement, ensuring they can successfully navigate their educational journey across all delivery modes.All our strategies and initiatives were designed to increase the persistence (year-to-year continuing enrollment) and graduation rates of all degree-seeking students by an average of 4 percentage points. While we await our final data, which will be available after the September census date, I am pleased to report that we will exceed our goals on both 4- and 6-year graduation rates. The student success strategies we developed align by design with the student success goals found in the Kansas Board of Regents' “Building a Future” strategic plan.Provost Jill Arensdorf lauded the collaborative efforts from student services and academic units that significantly improved student persistence and graduation rates.“We created a dynamic roadmap that we believe will guide our students to achieving their full potential as engaged global citizen leaders,” Dr. Arensdorf said. “The driving force of our efforts was a keen focus on improving the experience of our most vital stakeholders, our students. Looking back now, it is clear to see that our efforts united the FHSU community.”Looking ahead to the next chapter in FHSU's strategic journey, the groundwork laid by the 2019-2024 plan positions the university well for continued success in helping our students unlock their untapped potential. I am proud of our work and look forward to sharing our progress and reflections on goal three, strategic growth, in my next column.

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