Gov. Laura Kelly this announced appointments to the following Kansas boards and commissions.&nbsp;

Purpose: Whenever the Governor is to make an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Court of Appeals, the Commission shall nominate three qualified applicants from whom the Governor will choose one to appoint. The Commission shall make its nominations after a robust inquiry into each applicant's qualifications.

Purpose: By law, the board shall: - Advocate for statewide library services and resources, encouraging cooperation&nbsp; among libraries and promoting and encouraging innovative library services. - Advise and counsel the state librarian on policies and management and the state&nbsp; library strategic plan. - Review and approve the annual plans of regional systems of cooperating libraries. - Promote collaboration with the state board of regents to ensure the inclusion of&nbsp; libraries on the KAN-ED network and the continued availability of statewide library&nbsp; resources.

News releaseGov. Laura Kelly this announced appointments to the following Kansas boards and commissions.&nbsp;<h2>Court of Appeals Nominating Commission</h2>Purpose: Whenever the Governor is to make an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Court of Appeals, the Commission shall nominate three qualified applicants from whom the Governor will choose one to appoint. The Commission shall make its nominations after a robust inquiry into each applicant's qualifications.<ul>
 <li>Todd Powell, Hays (reappointment)</li><li>Linda Parks, Wichita (reappointment)</li><li>Mike Fleming, Leawood (reappointment)</li>
 </ul><h2>Kansas State Library Board</h2>Purpose: By law, the board shall: - Advocate for statewide library services and resources, encouraging cooperation&nbsp; among libraries and promoting and encouraging innovative library services. - Advise and counsel the state librarian on policies and management and the state&nbsp; library strategic plan. - Review and approve the annual plans of regional systems of cooperating libraries. - Promote collaboration with the state board of regents to ensure the inclusion of&nbsp; libraries on the KAN-ED network and the continued availability of statewide library&nbsp; resources.<ul>
 <li>George Seamon, Norton</li>
 </ul>

NW Kansans appointed to state commissions, boards

RAWLINS COUNTY —A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Friday in Rawlins County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1996 International semi driven by Carlos N.&nbsp;Rodriguez, Carlos N. was eastbound on County Road B just west of County Road 18.

The vehicle became unstable causing the trailer to fishtail and then overturn on its drivers side partially blocking the roadway.

EMS transported Rodriguez to the Rawlins County Health Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

RAWLINS COUNTY —A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 7:30p.m. Friday in Rawlins County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1996 International semi driven by Carlos N.&nbsp;Rodriguez, Carlos N. was eastbound on County Road B just west of County Road 18.The vehicle became unstable causing the trailer to fishtail and then overturn on its drivers side partially blocking the roadway.EMS transported Rodriguez to the Rawlins County Health Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas man hospitalized after semi overturns

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648230751437.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

By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development

Today let’s go to Lupa Osteria Romana, a high quality restaurant in the heart of New York City. The restaurant is serving delicious pork.&nbsp;

Where was it raised? On the Good Farm, half a continent away in Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Craig and Amy Good are the owners of Good Farm, the source of this specialty pork.&nbsp;&nbsp;Craig, the son of Don and Jane Good, grew up in Manhattan. He graduated from Manhattan High and earned a degree from Kansas State in animal science. Craig met and married Amy who earned her degree in what is now called health and human sciences.&nbsp;

After graduation, Craig worked for Fred Germann, who was an innovator in producing Specific Pathogen Free hogs. After five years, with Fred’s blessing, Craig and Amy moved to a farm near Olsburg and started producing breeding stock of their own.&nbsp;

“My passion is to make the next generation of production better than the last,” Craig said. He worked hard on improving the family’s swine herd and selling quality breeding stock to other pork producers.&nbsp;

Then the hog market crashed in1998. The market dried up for Craig’s boars and gilts.&nbsp;

“We went through a brief time of blaming others,” Craig said. “We could blame the packers or blame the corporations, but the blame game serves no purpose.”&nbsp;

Craig and Amy came up with possible alternative crops for their farm and approached K-State agricultural economist Vincent Amanor-Boadu. He looked at the alternatives but ultimately said to them: “Do what you’re good at, and that is raising hogs.”&nbsp;

Amanour-Boadu connected Craig and Amy with a start-up company in Brooklyn, New York that was interested in utilizing heritage livestock breed products from independent farmers for the upscale restaurant industry.&nbsp;

That company is now known as Heritage Foods USA. The founders of Heritage Foods made a trip to Kansas to visit Craig and Amy’s farm near Olsburg, starting a relationship that is in its 19th year.&nbsp;

Heritage Foods USA sources heritage breed products for a number of upscale urban restaurants, especially on the east and west coasts. This was a totally different market than what the Goods had reached in the past.&nbsp;

“We donated a pig to a benefit event that was being held in the Hamptons for some worthy cause being promoted by Mikhail Baryshnikov,” Craig said. Heritage Foods USA continued to build a network of restaurants. “That was the start of the farm-to-table movement on the coasts. Now they buy everything we can produce.”&nbsp;

The Goods raise Duroc hogs as well as Old World breeds such as Gloucestershire Spot and Tamworth. “(The Heritage Foods USA people) have a saying,” Craig said. “They say, `To save a breed of livestock, you have to eat it.’&nbsp;&nbsp;That may sound crazy, but what it means is, if you can create consumer demand for products from that breed, then more farmers will grow them.”&nbsp;

Heritage Foods USA brought groups of chefs to Good Farm in Kansas to see Craig and Amy’s livestock production practices, and family farm firsthand.&nbsp;“Every piece of pork is traced back to the farm,” Craig said.&nbsp;

One day, Craig got a call from the folks at Grandma Hoerner’s, a nearby company that processes fruit and other products. An ice storm had knocked out their refrigeration temporarily. Seven pallets of frozen plums had thawed out to the point that they couldn’t use them, so they called Craig to see if he wanted to feed them to his hogs.&nbsp;

“I called New York and said, `How do you feel about plum-fed pork?’ They loved it,” Craig said. Then there was a neighbor with a Jersey cow who gave excess milk, so the Goods fed the hogs milk with good consumer results as well.&nbsp;

“We want to raise the best product out there,” Craig said. It’s a lofty goal for a family farm near a rural community such as Olsburg, population 219 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;

We commend Craig and Amy Good for making a difference with niche marketing and building relationships with urban consumers. I’m glad this has produced such Good results.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648042186375.png" alt="Craig and Amy Good" />
 <figcaption>Craig and Amy Good</figcaption>
 </figure>By RON WILSON Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural DevelopmentToday let’s go to Lupa Osteria Romana, a high quality restaurant in the heart of New York City. The restaurant is serving delicious pork.&nbsp;Where was it raised? On the Good Farm, half a continent away in Kansas.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Craig and Amy Good are the owners of Good Farm, the source of this specialty pork.&nbsp;&nbsp;Craig, the son of Don and Jane Good, grew up in Manhattan. He graduated from Manhattan High and earned a degree from Kansas State in animal science. Craig met and married Amy who earned her degree in what is now called health and human sciences.&nbsp;After graduation, Craig worked for Fred Germann, who was an innovator in producing Specific Pathogen Free hogs. After five years, with Fred’s blessing, Craig and Amy moved to a farm near Olsburg and started producing breeding stock of their own.&nbsp;“My passion is to make the next generation of production better than the last,” Craig said. He worked hard on improving the family’s swine herd and selling quality breeding stock to other pork producers.&nbsp;Then the hog market crashed in1998. The market dried up for Craig’s boars and gilts.&nbsp;“We went through a brief time of blaming others,” Craig said. “We could blame the packers or blame the corporations, but the blame game serves no purpose.”&nbsp;Craig and Amy came up with possible alternative crops for their farm and approached K-State agricultural economist Vincent Amanor-Boadu. He looked at the alternatives but ultimately said to them: “Do what you’re good at, and that is raising hogs.”&nbsp;Amanour-Boadu connected Craig and Amy with a start-up company in Brooklyn, New York that was interested in utilizing heritage livestock breed products from independent farmers for the upscale restaurant industry.&nbsp;That company is now known as Heritage Foods USA. The founders of Heritage Foods made a trip to Kansas to visit Craig and Amy’s farm near Olsburg, starting a relationship that is in its 19th year.&nbsp;Heritage Foods USA sources heritage breed products for a number of upscale urban restaurants, especially on the east and west coasts. This was a totally different market than what the Goods had reached in the past.&nbsp;“We donated a pig to a benefit event that was being held in the Hamptons for some worthy cause being promoted by Mikhail Baryshnikov,” Craig said. Heritage Foods USA continued to build a network of restaurants. “That was the start of the farm-to-table movement on the coasts. Now they buy everything we can produce.”&nbsp;The Goods raise Duroc hogs as well as Old World breeds such as Gloucestershire Spot and Tamworth. “(The Heritage Foods USA people) have a saying,” Craig said. “They say, `To save a breed of livestock, you have to eat it.’&nbsp;&nbsp;That may sound crazy, but what it means is, if you can create consumer demand for products from that breed, then more farmers will grow them.”&nbsp;Heritage Foods USA brought groups of chefs to Good Farm in Kansas to see Craig and Amy’s livestock production practices, and family farm firsthand.&nbsp;“Every piece of pork is traced back to the farm,” Craig said.&nbsp;One day, Craig got a call from the folks at Grandma Hoerner’s, a nearby company that processes fruit and other products. An ice storm had knocked out their refrigeration temporarily. Seven pallets of frozen plums had thawed out to the point that they couldn’t use them, so they called Craig to see if he wanted to feed them to his hogs.&nbsp;“I called New York and said, `How do you feel about plum-fed pork?’ They loved it,” Craig said. Then there was a neighbor with a Jersey cow who gave excess milk, so the Goods fed the hogs milk with good consumer results as well.&nbsp;“We want to raise the best product out there,” Craig said. It’s a lofty goal for a family farm near a rural community such as Olsburg, population 219 people. Now, that’s rural.&nbsp;We commend Craig and Amy Good for making a difference with niche marketing and building relationships with urban consumers. I’m glad this has produced such Good results.&nbsp;

Now That’s Rural: Craig and Amy Good, Good Farms

The next Science Cafe will take a closer look at the Webb Space Telescope's "new view of the universe."

The event will be at 7 p.m. March 28 at The Venue @ Thirsty's,&nbsp;2704 Vine.

Presenter will be Dr. Paul Adams dean of the Fort Hays State University College of Education, also a Professor of Physics, Anschutz Professor of Education and NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador.

The Science Cafe is free and open to public. For more information, click <a href="http://www.facebook.com/FHSUScienceCafe">HERE</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648046588131.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The next Science Cafe will take a closer look at the Webb Space Telescope's "new view of the universe."The event will be at 7 p.m. March 28 at The Venue @ Thirsty's,&nbsp;2704 Vine.Presenter will be Dr. Paul Adams dean of the Fort Hays State University College of Education, also a Professor of Physics, Anschutz Professor of Education and NASA JPL Solar System Ambassador.The Science Cafe is free and open to public. For more information, click <a href="http://www.facebook.com/FHSUScienceCafe">HERE</a>.

Science Café  will discuss Webb telescope's 'new view'

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday revised COVID-19 case numbers in Ellis County, dropping the total by one.

It was the second straight report that decreased the total cases in Ellis County. The last time there were no new cases in Ellis County previous was late July.

<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/75f061b1-d7f1-4dba-ad9d-36bcbccc8ee8">RELATED: Drive-through testing site returns to Big Creek Crossing</a>

As of Friday morning, HaysMed reported two COVID inpatients, one active and one recovering.

On Wednesday, the Kansas Hospital Association reported 54 percent of eligible Ellis County residents (5 and older) are considered fully vaccinated — a figure that has remained constant for several weeks.

<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine-tracker">The Mayo Clinic</a>&nbsp;reported that as of Friday, just more than 65 percent of all eligible Americans and about 61 percent of eligible Kansans are considered fully vaccinated.

Since reporting began, there have been 7,131 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 79 coronavirus-related deaths.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648230630338.png" alt="KDHE" />
 <figcaption>KDHE</figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Health and Environment on Friday revised COVID-19 case numbers in Ellis County, dropping the total by one.It was the second straight report that decreased the total cases in Ellis County. The last time there were no new cases in Ellis County previous was late July.<a href="https://www.ellisco.net/97/Health">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;for information on how to receive a COVID-19 vaccination.<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/75f061b1-d7f1-4dba-ad9d-36bcbccc8ee8">RELATED: Drive-through testing site returns to Big Creek Crossing</a>As of Friday morning, HaysMed reported two COVID inpatients, one active and one recovering.On Wednesday, the Kansas Hospital Association reported 54 percent of eligible Ellis County residents (5 and older) are considered fully vaccinated — a figure that has remained constant for several weeks.<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/vaccine-tracker">The Mayo Clinic</a>&nbsp;reported that as of Friday, just more than 65 percent of all eligible Americans and about 61 percent of eligible Kansans are considered fully vaccinated.Since reporting began, there have been 7,131 cases of COVID-19 identified in Ellis County, including 79 coronavirus-related deaths.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648230857638.png" alt="Statewide COVID-19 curve" />
 <figcaption>Statewide COVID-19 curve</figcaption>
 </figure>

KDHE: Ellis Co. COVID case counts revised down again

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Hays airport director Jamie Salter.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<div><iframe title="Forward Ever: Hays airport director Jamie Salter" allowtransparency="true" height="300" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=hsgwg-11dfbf5-pb&from=pb6admin&square=1&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=3267a3&font-color=ffffff&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=3267a3&size=300" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times host Gary Shorman speaks with Hays airport director Jamie Salter.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎤Forward Ever: Hays airport director Jamie Salter

Hays police chief: 'We've criminalized mental illness'

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

A waiting list at Larned State Hospital has created what officials are calling a mental health crisis in western Kansas.

People have waited 14 hours and more in police conference rooms, days in hospital ERs and up to a week in jail cells before being transported to Larned for treatment.

Walt Hill, director of High Plains Mental Health, which is the community mental health center for 20 counties in northwest Kansas, said the waits are a burden on local resources and traumatic for the patients involved.

“If I’m here in Hays, and I have a heart attack, they’re going to have me at HaysMed and have me in a cath lab or surgery within a couple of hours," he said. "If I’m having a brain attack, which is a psychiatric crises, waiting five, six, seven days, just doesn’t make any sense. We aren’t treating people equally.”

The patients that are on the wait list are usually under a court commitment order and have been deemed a danger to themselves or others. 

This often means patients have to be in police custody in order to make sure they are safe from themselves or safe from hurting others. However, patients who are ill and have no criminal charges can't be legally housed in the jail.

Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said the police department has had a patient who waited 14 hours in the department's interview room before they could be transferred. An officer had to be with that person that entire time for the person's safety.

"The only thing they have done is they're sick," Scheibler said. "They have a mental illness."

Patients who have a criminal charge can be held in the jail.

However, Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun said this is not the ideal place for these patients either — some of which have had to wait a week for transfer to Larned. 

In cases in which a person is suicidal, detainees with mental illness are placed in cells by themselves. They are denied anything that they might use to hurt themselves, including blankets and pillows. They are placed in smocks and fed from a rubber bowl, Braun said.

Although numbers of contacts with residents with mental illness are decreasing. There was a spike in law enforcement contacts during the pandemic, according to local law enforcement. The jail has seen as many of half of its detainees on psychiatric medication in the last two years, Braun said.

"We are not professionals," Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun said. "We have to rely on those experts, and they are at Larned State and High Plains Mental Health. We need to get them in their hands.

"The system is obviously broken," Braun said.

Frustrations run high for both offices and the patients when patients who have mental illness are being supervised by law enforcement.

"We're doing the best we can. In reality, it's very stressful for everybody, and all too often that leads to an escalation. Now we have criminal charges, and we just criminalized mental illness," Scheibler said.

"If we just had the resources, we won't be in this situation. It's terrible, we shouldn't treat anyone like that in terms of the patient."

Now the departments are taking patients to HaysMed to wait, often in the emergency room.

"Now the burden's on the medical center," Scheibler said. "We have people out there for days on the waiting list. If the person is cooperative and not resistant, just ill, we don't have to stay out there.

"But if they are violent or still in crisis — they're a danger to other people — sometimes that requires us to put a law enforcement officer [at the hospital.]"

Since the first of the year, HaysMed has averaged 25 mental health patients a month who were brought to the emergency department, Tammie Williams, HaysMed director of Emergency Nursing Services, said.

The time spent in the emergency department differs for each patient, she said. It depends on many factors, including the complexity of the case, how quickly medical and mental health assessments can be performed, the availability of openings at an appropriate mental health facility, if needed, and how quickly travel accommodations can be made. 

Only two patients in the last three months were housed over 24 hours waiting for final arrangements, she said.

"The main consequence these patients face is waiting for the proper procedures to be completed to determine how and where they will be treated,"Williams said.   "Other than the medical assessment, all other steps are dependent on outside entities.  And again, the lack of mental health resources is a major deterrent" 

Braun and Scheibler both said they have limited manpower. If an officer has to be stationed with a person who has mental illness, that means that is one less person that is available for patrol or the department has to pay an officer overtime.

When Larned is full, some patients are transferred to open beds in hospitals as far away as Kansas City. These transfers can take up two officers and are also a drain on the department, Braun said.

Hays is lucky in that it has both mental health and the hospital here in Hays to assist with these patients, the law enforcement officials said. Smaller western Kansas communities are further away from resources and have fewer personnel to deal with these crises, Scheibler said.

Hill said delaying treatment can mean poorer outcomes for patients.

“The longer you wait for treatment, the longer it takes to get better,” he said. “Often they are waiting in facilities, which aren’t designed for psychiatric care.

“If you’ve ever been in a hospital ER, there’s lots happening. They’re chaotic or they’re waiting in regular medical units, both adults and kids,” Hill said.

Hill said he feared the waits will discourage people from seeking treatment.

“Any time you have a physical or mental health crisis, there’s some trauma involved,” he said. “The longer it takes to get that addressed, the longer that drags out and the frustration ... I think it’s very traumatic for people to have to wait.

“My guess is that it would make people very reluctant to seek treatment again to have to go through that trauma,” he said.

Regina Anderson, director of the High Plains Independence, a consumer run organization in Hays, agreed with Hill.

"When you are already in a mental health crisis, and then you get traumatized because you didn't get services, that's like a double whammy," Anderson said. 

"The next time you get in crisis, you're not going to reach out like you did before because you're just going to say, 'They're just going to make me sit in the hospital or sit in a police room. They're not going to talk to me or help me.' ... then we lose another person to suicide."

The delays have been an issue since May 2020 when Larned decreased the number of open beds from 90 to 70. A combination of COVID and lack of staffing was cited for the reduction, Hill said. 

Larned serves a catchment of 59 counties that includes all of western Kansas and as far east as Newton and Hutchinson.

The Hays Post attempted to contact the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, who oversees Larned; however, calls were not returned.

Hill said he doesn't want wait times to become the new normal.

“What I believe happens is that we begin to ignore people in crisis,” Hill said, “because it becomes so complicated and difficult and delayed that natural human inclination is that you just stop seeing it."

Hill said an immediate remedy would be to open up the full 90 beds for which Larned is licensed. He said even more beds may be needed to meet the state's needs.

The state has also increased wages at Larned to try to deal with its staffing problem, but more may need to be done to increase staff recruitment and retention at the facility.

Schiebler and Bruan said the sate has also discussed opening regional crisis centers. Schiebler said this would be a return to what was the norm in the 1990s when local hospitals like Hadley Hospital in Hays had mental health units.

"The hospital is where we should deal with those severe cases," Scheibler said, "but we should be able to deal with that at a local level. It shouldn't be a long drawn-out affair. ...

"The longer they are with law enforcement, the more likely that something bad is going to happen. ...

"Every year we have challenges in law enforcement people who are in mental health crisis get injured or killed by law enforcement because we're being asked to do things we're not really qualified and trained to do."

In the last several decades, most of the nonprofit and private hospitals in the state have closed. Even if private hospitals were available, Anderson said many of those individuals who are on the wait list for the state hospital have no insurance and no money to pay for the care.

COVID relief money is being used to try to address mental health issues. However, both law enforcement officers expressed concerns if funding will continue when the COVID funds run out.

"This is a society thing," Scheibler said. "We didn't get here overnight, and we're not going to get out of it overnight. There's got to be a continued focus" 

In the mean time, Scheibler said local law enforcement officials are doing what they can to deal with the issue locally.

"In 2017, we decided to start trying to control the things that we could control," Scheibler said, "and that was better educating our people on how to handle these calls for service. We knew that they were going to continue to be a problem. We knew that they were going to be drawn out. 

"All our employees get mental health first-aid training, and we try to get 20 percent of our staff to get crisis intervention training. We're really trying to prepare our people to deal with folks in crisis."

The Sheriff's Department and Hays Police Department are both using the Columbia Suicide Rating Scale, which helps officers determine how in danger a person truly is.

"We were trying to send 21-, 22-year-old kids out to do an assessment on a mental health person," Scheibler said. "Now were giving them as many tools as we can to keep not only the officer safe, but the consumer safe. I think we've done some good work in that area."

<h2>Hays police chief: 'We've criminalized mental illness'</h2>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostA waiting list at Larned State Hospital has created what officials are calling a mental health crisis in western Kansas.People have waited 14 hours and more in police conference rooms, days in hospital ERs and up to a week in jail cells before being transported to Larned for treatment.Walt Hill, director of High Plains Mental Health, which is the community mental health center for 20 counties in northwest Kansas, said the waits are a burden on local resources and traumatic for the patients involved.“If I’m here in Hays, and I have a heart attack, they’re going to have me at HaysMed and have me in a cath lab or surgery within a couple of hours," he said. "If I’m having a brain attack, which is a psychiatric crises, waiting five, six, seven days, just doesn’t make any sense. We aren’t treating people equally.”<h2>Patients in law enforcement custody</h2>The patients that are on the wait list are usually under a court commitment order and have been deemed a danger to themselves or others. This often means patients have to be in police custody in order to make sure they are safe from themselves or safe from hurting others. However, patients who are ill and have no criminal charges can't be legally housed in the jail. Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler said the police department has had a patient who waited 14 hours in the department's interview room before they could be transferred. An officer had to be with that person that entire time for the person's safety."The only thing they have done is they're sick," Scheibler said. "They have a mental illness." Patients who have a criminal charge can be held in the jail.However, Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun said this is not the ideal place for these patients either — some of which have had to wait a week for transfer to Larned. In cases in which a person is suicidal, detainees with mental illness are placed in cells by themselves. They are denied anything that they might use to hurt themselves, including blankets and pillows. They are placed in smocks and fed from a rubber bowl, Braun said. <h2>'We're not professionals'</h2>Although numbers of contacts with residents with mental illness are decreasing. There was a spike in law enforcement contacts during the pandemic, according to local law enforcement. The jail has seen as many of half of its detainees on psychiatric medication in the last two years, Braun said. "We are not professionals," Ellis County Sheriff Scott Braun said. "We have to rely on those experts, and they are at Larned State and High Plains Mental Health. We need to get them in their hands."The system is obviously broken," Braun said. Frustrations run high for both offices and the patients when patients who have mental illness are being supervised by law enforcement. "We're doing the best we can. In reality, it's very stressful for everybody, and all too often that leads to an escalation. Now we have criminal charges, and we just criminalized mental illness," Scheibler said."If we just had the resources, we won't be in this situation. It's terrible, we shouldn't treat anyone like that in terms of the patient."<h2>Waiting in the ER</h2>Now the departments are taking patients to HaysMed to wait, often in the emergency room."Now the burden's on the medical center," Scheibler said. "We have people out there for days on the waiting list. If the person is cooperative and not resistant, just ill, we don't have to stay out there."But if they are violent or still in crisis — they're a danger to other people — sometimes that requires us to put a law enforcement officer [at the hospital.]"Since the first of the year, HaysMed has averaged 25 mental health patients a month who were brought to the emergency department, Tammie Williams, HaysMed director of Emergency Nursing Services, said.The time spent in the emergency department differs for each patient, she said. It depends on many factors, including the complexity of the case, how quickly medical and mental health assessments can be performed, the availability of openings at an appropriate mental health facility, if needed, and how quickly travel accommodations can be made. Only two patients in the last three months were housed over 24 hours waiting for final arrangements, she said. "The main consequence these patients face is waiting for the proper procedures to be completed to determine how and where they will be treated,"Williams said. "Other than the medical assessment, all other steps are dependent on outside entities. And again, the lack of mental health resources is a major deterrent" <h2>Law enforcement off the streets</h2>Braun and Scheibler both said they have limited manpower. If an officer has to be stationed with a person who has mental illness, that means that is one less person that is available for patrol or the department has to pay an officer overtime. When Larned is full, some patients are transferred to open beds in hospitals as far away as Kansas City. These transfers can take up two officers and are also a drain on the department, Braun said.Hays is lucky in that it has both mental health and the hospital here in Hays to assist with these patients, the law enforcement officials said. Smaller western Kansas communities are further away from resources and have fewer personnel to deal with these crises, Scheibler said.<h2>Waits traumatize </h2>Hill said delaying treatment can mean poorer outcomes for patients. “The longer you wait for treatment, the longer it takes to get better,” he said. “Often they are waiting in facilities, which aren’t designed for psychiatric care.“If you’ve ever been in a hospital ER, there’s lots happening. They’re chaotic or they’re waiting in regular medical units, both adults and kids,” Hill said.Hill said he feared the waits will discourage people from seeking treatment.“Any time you have a physical or mental health crisis, there’s some trauma involved,” he said. “The longer it takes to get that addressed, the longer that drags out and the frustration ... I think it’s very traumatic for people to have to wait.“My guess is that it would make people very reluctant to seek treatment again to have to go through that trauma,” he said.Regina Anderson, director of the High Plains Independence, a consumer run organization in Hays, agreed with Hill. "When you are already in a mental health crisis, and then you get traumatized because you didn't get services, that's like a double whammy," Anderson said. "The next time you get in crisis, you're not going to reach out like you did before because you're just going to say, 'They're just going to make me sit in the hospital or sit in a police room. They're not going to talk to me or help me.' ... then we lose another person to suicide." <h2>Why the wait times</h2>The delays have been an issue since May 2020 when Larned decreased the number of open beds from 90 to 70. A combination of COVID and lack of staffing was cited for the reduction, Hill said. Larned serves a catchment of 59 counties that includes all of western Kansas and as far east as Newton and Hutchinson.The Hays Post attempted to contact the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services, who oversees Larned; however, calls were not returned.Hill said he doesn't want wait times to become the new normal.“What I believe happens is that we begin to ignore people in crisis,” Hill said, “because it becomes so complicated and difficult and delayed that natural human inclination is that you just stop seeing it."<h2>Fixing a broken system</h2>Hill said an immediate remedy would be to open up the full 90 beds for which Larned is licensed. He said even more beds may be needed to meet the state's needs.The state has also increased wages at Larned to try to deal with its staffing problem, but more may need to be done to increase staff recruitment and retention at the facility. Schiebler and Bruan said the sate has also discussed opening regional crisis centers. Schiebler said this would be a return to what was the norm in the 1990s when local hospitals like Hadley Hospital in Hays had mental health units."The hospital is where we should deal with those severe cases," Scheibler said, "but we should be able to deal with that at a local level. It shouldn't be a long drawn-out affair. ..."The longer they are with law enforcement, the more likely that something bad is going to happen. ..."Every year we have challenges in law enforcement people who are in mental health crisis get injured or killed by law enforcement because we're being asked to do things we're not really qualified and trained to do."In the last several decades, most of the nonprofit and private hospitals in the state have closed. Even if private hospitals were available, Anderson said many of those individuals who are on the wait list for the state hospital have no insurance and no money to pay for the care. COVID relief money is being used to try to address mental health issues. However, both law enforcement officers expressed concerns if funding will continue when the COVID funds run out."This is a society thing," Scheibler said. "We didn't get here overnight, and we're not going to get out of it overnight. There's got to be a continued focus" <h2>Local efforts to deal with the crisis</h2>In the mean time, Scheibler said local law enforcement officials are doing what they can to deal with the issue locally."In 2017, we decided to start trying to control the things that we could control," Scheibler said, "and that was better educating our people on how to handle these calls for service. We knew that they were going to continue to be a problem. We knew that they were going to be drawn out. "All our employees get mental health first-aid training, and we try to get 20 percent of our staff to get crisis intervention training. We're really trying to prepare our people to deal with folks in crisis."The Sheriff's Department and Hays Police Department are both using the Columbia Suicide Rating Scale, which helps officers determine how in danger a person truly is."We were trying to send 21-, 22-year-old kids out to do an assessment on a mental health person," Scheibler said. "Now were giving them as many tools as we can to keep not only the officer safe, but the consumer safe. I think we've done some good work in that area."

Patients in crisis wait up to a week for admittance to Larned State Hospital

At approximately 7:53 p.m. Wednesday, units were dispatched to a call of an infant not breathing. While officers were en route, they learned the infant was a four-week-old premature baby. Sgt. Jason Bonczynski was the first to arrive on scene at approximately 7:56 p.m.

Bonczynski entered the home and found the infant was unresponsive and still not breathing. He immediately grabbed the child and began giving CPR. After over two minutes of CPR, the child began to show signs of life. By the time EMS arrived on scene, the child was breathing on his own. The child was transported to Hays Medical Center and later life-watched to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. The family has informed us that the child continues to breathe on his own and is doing much better.

Bonczynski is 23-year veteran with the Hays Police Department, and he currently serves as a patrol sergeant, as a supervisor in  the Field Training Officer Program and a Taser instructor. He is also a member of the Special Situation Response Team. 

"We are extremely proud of  Jason and his quick response in providing life-saving medical care to the child," the HPD said in a news release. "Please join us as we continue to pray for the child’s quick and full recovery."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648175402065.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HPDAt approximately 7:53 p.m. Wednesday, units were dispatched to a call of an infant not breathing. While officers were en route, they learned the infant was a four-week-old premature baby. Sgt. Jason Bonczynski was the first to arrive on scene at approximately 7:56 p.m.Bonczynski entered the home and found the infant was unresponsive and still not breathing. He immediately grabbed the child and began giving CPR. After over two minutes of CPR, the child began to show signs of life. By the time EMS arrived on scene, the child was breathing on his own. The child was transported to Hays Medical Center and later life-watched to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita. The family has informed us that the child continues to breathe on his own and is doing much better.Bonczynski is 23-year veteran with the Hays Police Department, and he currently serves as a patrol sergeant, as a supervisor in the Field Training Officer Program and a Taser instructor. He is also a member of the Special Situation Response Team. "We are extremely proud of Jason and his quick response in providing life-saving medical care to the child," the HPD said in a news release. "Please join us as we continue to pray for the child’s quick and full recovery."

Hays officer gives CPR to 4-week-year-old baby who is 'doing much better'

UPDATE: 7:45 a.m.: The Hays Police Department has reported&nbsp;Camaron Daughhetee, 14, has been found safe after being reported missing overnight in Hays.&nbsp;

The Hays Police Department is asking the public for help in finding a missing child that has Autism. 

Camaron Daughhetee, 14, was last seen on a child’s scooter around 7:45pm near the intersection of 14th &amp; Hall Street. 

Camaron was wearing a black &amp; green bicycle helmet, a green sweatshirt, black jeans, and black crocs. 

Camaron is 5’04”  tall, weighs 107 lbs., has blonde hair, green eyes, and wears glasses. 

 Anyone with information is asked to call the Hays Police Department at (785) 625-1011.

UPDATE: 7:45 a.m.: The Hays Police Department has reported&nbsp;Camaron Daughhetee, 14, has been found safe after being reported missing overnight in Hays.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648209499946.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hays Police DepartmentThe Hays Police Department is asking the public for help in finding a missing child that has Autism. Camaron Daughhetee, 14, was last seen on a child’s scooter around 7:45pm near the intersection of 14th &amp; Hall Street. Camaron was wearing a black &amp; green bicycle helmet, a green sweatshirt, black jeans, and black crocs. Camaron is 5’04” tall, weighs 107 lbs., has blonde hair, green eyes, and wears glasses. Anyone with information is asked to call the Hays Police Department at (785) 625-1011.

UPDATE: Missing Hays teen found safe

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

The city of Hays' financial report for February 2022 presented to the city commission last night contained a lot of positives, including a unique milestone.

"We've been doing this (monthly) report since 2011," said Kim Rupp, city finance director, "and never have I had a report where all the general fund sales tax collection categories had an increase. I've always had at least one category that had a trending negative."

The report of top ten quarter-to-date (QTD) city sales tax
collections by classification was up $421,139 or 19 percent.

The largest percentage
increases were in electronic (internet) shopping at 142 percent, accommodation at 85 percent, and
restaurants at 24 percent. The top ten categories represent 73 percent of the total sales tax
collections for the running quarter.&nbsp;

"This is the first report where all the categories were positive trends," Rup reported.&nbsp;

Notable areas of increased revenue compared to February 2021 included:&nbsp;

* Transient guest tax for the CVB was up $116,000 or 44 percent. * Golf revenue continued an increase up $25,000. * Miscellaneous revenue for new equipment reserves rose&nbsp;$13,800 due&nbsp;to police department vehicles and other equipment sold on Purple Wave. *&nbsp;Month-to-date general fund sales tax collections were at $846,477, an&nbsp; &nbsp;increase of $133,616 or 19 percent as compared to last year. *&nbsp;Year-to-date, general fund sales tax is at $1,581,008, up $229,414 or 17 percent from a year ago. *&nbsp;Month-to-date county sales tax collections were at $102,606, up $16,000 or 18 percent from a year ago.

While the commission was pleased with the report, Shaun Musil wondered how much of the increased city sales tax collection is a result of current inflation factors.

"Is there any way to tell, with prices going up, what that percent is of the overall increase?" Musil asked. 

"We could maybe do some looking at inflation and apply that," Rupp replied. "But the problem with that is you can't factor in how much of that is really just increased shopping locally.

"I think it's a lot of things that have contributed to those increases."&nbsp;

Inflation is a major factor, he agreed.&nbsp;

"Next year at this time if you could show 18 percent growth compared to this year, now that will be something," Reese Barrick, commissioner, said with a smile.

One area of decreased revenue "that we're probably all happy about is the fact that water use was down," Barrick added. "That's actually a very good thing."

"Especially for as dry as it is," Musil agreed.&nbsp;

Compared to one year ago in February,&nbsp;residential water consumption was down 3.5 percent and business was&nbsp;down 24 percent for a total decrease of 14 percent. The result is a drop in total water revenue of 10 percent or $47,000.

In a 4-1 vote, commissioners agreed to modify the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5ffb5e45-86a0-4bc8-a325-1d4c165a7e5e">one-cent sales tax CID (Community Improvement District) agreement</a> between Hays Mall LLC, owner of Big Creek Crossing shopping center, and the city.

The amendment allows the Big Creek Crossing owner to be reimbursed for up to $1 million of improvements they are currently making to the facility for the incoming Ollie's Bargain Outlet.

The November 13, 2014 agreement required Phase 2 improvements for a large retailer to be completed by Dec. 31, 2016. That deadline was missed.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The resolution now gives the property owner up to 18 months to submit&nbsp;invoices for reimbursement.

In other business, the commission approved low bids for five projects:

* Sidewalk installation along West 27th Street between Thunderbird and Englewood; J Corp, $56,000 * Additional curb and brick repair; J Corp, $243,760 *Sanitary sewer point repairs; Utility Solutions, $300,000 * Replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus equipment for the fire department; Conrad Fire Equipment, $262,022 * Installation of parking lot in East Frontier Park; J Corp, $26,700&nbsp;

At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Mason Ruder commended Hays Police&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7b90c38f-215f-47c7-a614-a526f150f3de">Sgt. Jason Bonczynski for his "heroic" actions</a>&nbsp;Wednesday night in helping save the life of a local four-week old baby who was not breathing.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648176286563.jpeg" alt="Kim Rupp, Hays Finance Director (Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post)" />
 <figcaption>Kim Rupp, Hays Finance Director (Photo by Becky Kiser/Hays Post)</figcaption>
 </figure>By BECKY KISER Hays PostThe city of Hays' financial report for February 2022 presented to the city commission last night contained a lot of positives, including a unique milestone."We've been doing this (monthly) report since 2011," said Kim Rupp, city finance director, "and never have I had a report where all the general fund sales tax collection categories had an increase. I've always had at least one category that had a trending negative."The report of top ten quarter-to-date (QTD) city sales tax
collections by classification was up $421,139 or 19 percent. The largest percentage
increases were in electronic (internet) shopping at 142 percent, accommodation at 85 percent, and
restaurants at 24 percent. The top ten categories represent 73 percent of the total sales tax
collections for the running quarter.&nbsp;"This is the first report where all the categories were positive trends," Rup reported.&nbsp;Notable areas of increased revenue compared to February 2021 included:&nbsp;* Transient guest tax for the CVB was up $116,000 or 44 percent. * Golf revenue continued an increase up $25,000. * Miscellaneous revenue for new equipment reserves rose&nbsp;$13,800 due&nbsp;to police department vehicles and other equipment sold on Purple Wave. *&nbsp;Month-to-date general fund sales tax collections were at $846,477, an&nbsp; &nbsp;increase of $133,616 or 19 percent as compared to last year. *&nbsp;Year-to-date, general fund sales tax is at $1,581,008, up $229,414 or 17 percent from a year ago. *&nbsp;Month-to-date county sales tax collections were at $102,606, up $16,000 or 18 percent from a year ago. While the commission was pleased with the report, Shaun Musil wondered how much of the increased city sales tax collection is a result of current inflation factors."Is there any way to tell, with prices going up, what that percent is of the overall increase?" Musil asked. "We could maybe do some looking at inflation and apply that," Rupp replied. "But the problem with that is you can't factor in how much of that is really just increased shopping locally."I think it's a lot of things that have contributed to those increases."&nbsp;Inflation is a major factor, he agreed.&nbsp;"Next year at this time if you could show 18 percent growth compared to this year, now that will be something," Reese Barrick, commissioner, said with a smile.One area of decreased revenue "that we're probably all happy about is the fact that water use was down," Barrick added. "That's actually a very good thing.""Especially for as dry as it is," Musil agreed.&nbsp;Compared to one year ago in February,&nbsp;residential water consumption was down 3.5 percent and business was&nbsp;down 24 percent for a total decrease of 14 percent. The result is a drop in total water revenue of 10 percent or $47,000.In a 4-1 vote, commissioners agreed to modify the <a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/5ffb5e45-86a0-4bc8-a325-1d4c165a7e5e">one-cent sales tax CID (Community Improvement District) agreement</a> between Hays Mall LLC, owner of Big Creek Crossing shopping center, and the city.The amendment allows the Big Creek Crossing owner to be reimbursed for up to $1 million of improvements they are currently making to the facility for the incoming Ollie's Bargain Outlet.The November 13, 2014 agreement required Phase 2 improvements for a large retailer to be completed by Dec. 31, 2016. That deadline was missed.&nbsp;&nbsp;The resolution now gives the property owner up to 18 months to submit&nbsp;invoices for reimbursement.Musil voted against the amendment.&nbsp;In other business, the commission approved low bids for five projects:* Sidewalk installation along West 27th Street between Thunderbird and Englewood; J Corp, $56,000 * Additional curb and brick repair; J Corp, $243,760 *Sanitary sewer point repairs; Utility Solutions, $300,000 * Replacement of self-contained breathing apparatus equipment for the fire department; Conrad Fire Equipment, $262,022 * Installation of parking lot in East Frontier Park; J Corp, $26,700&nbsp;At the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Mason Ruder commended Hays Police&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/7b90c38f-215f-47c7-a614-a526f150f3de">Sgt. Jason Bonczynski for his "heroic" actions</a>&nbsp;Wednesday night in helping save the life of a local four-week old baby who was not breathing.&nbsp;

FINANCE DIR.: First time in 11 years all city general fund revenues trend positive   

Virtual ceremonies scheduled for Saturday, Sunday

Kansas State Department of Education

What:&nbsp;Recognition of teachers nominated for 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year program and announcement of semifinalists and finalists for the program.

The mission of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program is to build and utilize a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in the improvement of schools, student performance and the teaching profession.

This year, 109 educators from across the state were nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction. Nominations are made in each of the four congressional districts in the state. The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), sponsor of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program, appoints regional selection panels comprised of teachers, education administrators and higher education representatives to select semifinalists and finalists from each region.

Each panel selects six semifinalists – three elementary teachers and three secondary teachers. From those semifinalists, the panel in each region then selects one elementary finalist and one secondary finalist. The Kansas Teacher of the Year is selected from among the state’s eight regional finalists. The 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year State Awards Banquet will be Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at the Wichita Marriott Hotel.

The 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year Regional Award Events will take place virtually. All events may be viewed live through YouTube. Links are provided below.

When:&nbsp;Saturday, March 26, and Sunday, March 27.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Saturday, March 26:

YouTube link for live coverage of the Region 1 event&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/1yRLn2Lg5h8">https://youtu.be/1yRLn2Lg5h8</a>

YouTube link for live coverage of the Region 4 event:&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/Xlt99l_NefE">https://youtu.be/Xlt99l_NefE</a>

YouTube link for live coverage of the Region 2 event:&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/bssEMiPbEH0">https://youtu.be/bssEMiPbEH0</a>

YouTube link for live coverage of the Region 3 event:

<a href="https://youtu.be/2Bd6mJ0d7xw">https://youtu.be/2Bd6mJ0d7xw</a>

Andrea Dix, math and science, Stockton Elementary School, Stockton USD 271.

Abraham Marintzer, fifth grade, North Elementary School, Goodland USD 352.

Dara Touslee, kindergarten, Park Elementary School, Great Bend USD 428.

Joseph Bliven, science, Great Bend Middle School, Great Bend USD 428.

Megan Riener, vocal and instrumental music, Stockton High School, Stockton USD 271.

Emily Stefan, vocal music teacher, Goodland Junior-Senior High School, Goodland USD 352.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648147964008.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Virtual ceremonies scheduled for Saturday, Sunday</h2>Kansas State Department of EducationWhat:&nbsp;Recognition of teachers nominated for 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year program and announcement of semifinalists and finalists for the program.The mission of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program is to build and utilize a network of exemplary teachers who are leaders in the improvement of schools, student performance and the teaching profession.This year, 109 educators from across the state were nominated for the Kansas Teacher of the Year distinction. Nominations are made in each of the four congressional districts in the state. The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE), sponsor of the Kansas Teacher of the Year program, appoints regional selection panels comprised of teachers, education administrators and higher education representatives to select semifinalists and finalists from each region.Each panel selects six semifinalists – three elementary teachers and three secondary teachers. From those semifinalists, the panel in each region then selects one elementary finalist and one secondary finalist. The Kansas Teacher of the Year is selected from among the state’s eight regional finalists. The 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year State Awards Banquet will be Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at the Wichita Marriott Hotel.The 2023 Kansas Teacher of the Year Regional Award Events will take place virtually. All events may be viewed live through YouTube. Links are provided below.When:&nbsp;Saturday, March 26, and Sunday, March 27.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Saturday, March 26:<ul>
 <li>Region 1 – Awards Event 1-3 p.m.</li>
 </ul>YouTube link for live coverage of the Region 1 event&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/1yRLn2Lg5h8">https://youtu.be/1yRLn2Lg5h8</a><ul>
 <li>Region 4 – Awards Event 4-6 p.m.</li>
 </ul>YouTube link for live coverage of the Region 4 event:&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/Xlt99l_NefE">https://youtu.be/Xlt99l_NefE</a>&nbsp;Sunday, March 27:<ul>
 <li>Region 2 - Awards Event 1-3 p.m.</li>
 </ul>YouTube link for live coverage of the Region 2 event:&nbsp;<a href="https://youtu.be/bssEMiPbEH0">https://youtu.be/bssEMiPbEH0</a><ul>
 <li>Region 3 - Awards Event 4-6 p.m.</li>
 </ul>YouTube link for live coverage of the Region 3 event:<a href="https://youtu.be/2Bd6mJ0d7xw">https://youtu.be/2Bd6mJ0d7xw</a>Region 1 NomineesElementary:Andrea Dix, math and science, Stockton Elementary School, Stockton USD 271.Abraham Marintzer, fifth grade, North Elementary School, Goodland USD 352.Dara Touslee, kindergarten, Park Elementary School, Great Bend USD 428.Secondary:Joseph Bliven, science, Great Bend Middle School, Great Bend USD 428.Megan Riener, vocal and instrumental music, Stockton High School, Stockton USD 271.Emily Stefan, vocal music teacher, Goodland Junior-Senior High School, Goodland USD 352.

NW Kan. teachers to be honored for Teacher of the Year nominations

HUTCHINSON — Nineteen new law enforcement officers graduated from the&nbsp;<a href="https://hubs.la/H0_gKHD0">Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center</a>&nbsp;on March 18 at a ceremony held in the KLETC Integrity Auditorium.

Officer Daniel Fulks of the Eudora Police Department was the graduating class president. The speaker for the ceremony was Wes Lovett, chief of police for the Eudora Police Department. James Buettgenbach, KLETC senior instructor of police, was the class coordinator for the 290th Basic Training Class.

Jon Miles of the Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office was recognized during the ceremony for his firearms proficiency as the class “Top Shot.”

Graduates receive certificates of course completion from KLETC and Kansas law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the state’s law enforcement licensing authority. The training course fulfills the state requirement for law enforcement training. Classroom lectures and hands-on applications help train officers to solve the increasingly complex problems they face in the line of duty.

Established by the Kansas Legislature in 1968, KLETC trains the majority of municipal, county and state law enforcement officers in Kansas and oversees the training of the remaining officers at seven authorized and certified academy programs operated by local law enforcement agencies and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

About 300 officers enroll annually in KLETC 14-week basic training programs. KLETC offers continuing education and specialized training to over 10,000 Kansas officers each year. KLETC is located one mile west and one mile south of Yoder, near Hutchinson, and is a division of the&nbsp;<a href="https://lpe.ku.edu/">University of Kansas Lifelong &amp; Professional Education.</a>

The graduates, who began their training in November 2021, represented multiple municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas. Northwest Kansas graduates are listed below by county and agency:

Ellis Rosa Medrano, Ellis County Sheriff’s Office

Ness Earnest Obanion, Ness County Sheriff's Office

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647955464597.png" alt="Courtesy&nbsp;KLETC" />
 <figcaption>Courtesy&nbsp;KLETC</figcaption>
 </figure>KLETCHUTCHINSON — Nineteen new law enforcement officers graduated from the&nbsp;<a href="https://hubs.la/H0_gKHD0">Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center</a>&nbsp;on March 18 at a ceremony held in the KLETC Integrity Auditorium.Officer Daniel Fulks of the Eudora Police Department was the graduating class president. The speaker for the ceremony was Wes Lovett, chief of police for the Eudora Police Department. James Buettgenbach, KLETC senior instructor of police, was the class coordinator for the 290th Basic Training Class.Jon Miles of the Leavenworth County Sheriff's Office was recognized during the ceremony for his firearms proficiency as the class “Top Shot.”Graduates receive certificates of course completion from KLETC and Kansas law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the state’s law enforcement licensing authority. The training course fulfills the state requirement for law enforcement training. Classroom lectures and hands-on applications help train officers to solve the increasingly complex problems they face in the line of duty.Established by the Kansas Legislature in 1968, KLETC trains the majority of municipal, county and state law enforcement officers in Kansas and oversees the training of the remaining officers at seven authorized and certified academy programs operated by local law enforcement agencies and the Kansas Highway Patrol.About 300 officers enroll annually in KLETC 14-week basic training programs. KLETC offers continuing education and specialized training to over 10,000 Kansas officers each year. KLETC is located one mile west and one mile south of Yoder, near Hutchinson, and is a division of the&nbsp;<a href="https://lpe.ku.edu/">University of Kansas Lifelong &amp; Professional Education.</a>The graduates, who began their training in November 2021, represented multiple municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas. Northwest Kansas graduates are listed below by county and agency:Ellis Rosa Medrano, Ellis County Sheriff’s OfficeNess Earnest Obanion, Ness County Sheriff's Office

NW Kansas officers among newest police academy graduates

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1648156976062.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>

Before National Nutrition Month comes to an&nbsp;end,&nbsp;I want to&nbsp;share one more pep talk about making healthy food choices. The presentation I shared earlier this month about the Mediterranean and DASH diets&nbsp;turned out to be a popular topic.&nbsp;I will be sharing the same information in Ellis County as part of the Walk KS celebration&nbsp;on Thursday, May 26th, at noon. More details will be shared closer to the date.

National Nutrition Month, created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, puts valuable and credible nutrition information at our fingertips. The focus is always to encourage people to make informed choices and develop sound eating and physical activity habits.

Sometimes it can be tough&nbsp;to know exactly where to start; there are so many messages in the news and some&nbsp;messages contradict what was reported by a different source on a different day. One thing I have always appreciated with my connection to K-State Research and Extension is that I have access to up-to-date&nbsp;research-based&nbsp;information at the click of a mouse.

There are many excellent publications related to healthy food choices that are available on our K-State Research and Extension website. I helped update the “Healthy Choices when Eating Out” fact sheet a couple of years ago. Eating away from your home kitchen can create challenges, because many menu items have added fat or sugar and may be high in sodium. Becoming familiar with the terms of the way food is prepared can help you make healthier choices.&nbsp;

Another fact sheet I authored a few years ago is titled, “Healthy Cooking Styles.” Thisfact sheet highlights five different cooking styles that focus on creating tasty and healthy grain and vegetable dishes. Too often I hear&nbsp;people&nbsp;say how hard it is to eat healthy. In my mind it is not hard at all. And the health benefits you will notice by incorporating more whole grains and vegetables into your daily menus&nbsp;will&nbsp;help&nbsp;keep you motivated. Many people with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and various autoimmune diseases have been able to alleviate their symptoms by eating more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes,&nbsp;nuts,&nbsp;and seeds, and consuming fewer solid and added fats, added&nbsp;sugars,&nbsp;and refined grains.&nbsp;As a follow-up to the fact sheet, I&nbsp;created&nbsp;a 30-minute&nbsp;Extension Ed talk&nbsp;utube&nbsp;video about healthy cooking styles. You can find the link to it and other Extension Ed talks on our Cottonwood website.&nbsp;

If you would like a copy of&nbsp;any of the&nbsp;fact&nbsp;sheets&nbsp;I have&nbsp;mentioned in this article,&nbsp;simply&nbsp;drop by either&nbsp;of our&nbsp;Extension offices&nbsp;in Great Bend or Hays&nbsp;or look for&nbsp;them&nbsp;on the KSRE web site, following the link to the bookstore&nbsp;and search by title.

Donna Krug is the&nbsp;District Director and&nbsp;Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent&nbsp;-&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend Office. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573141404420.png" alt="Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent - Cottonwood Extension District." />
 <figcaption>Donna Krug is the District Director and Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent - Cottonwood Extension District.</figcaption>
 </figure>Before National Nutrition Month comes to an&nbsp;end,&nbsp;I want to&nbsp;share one more pep talk about making healthy food choices. The presentation I shared earlier this month about the Mediterranean and DASH diets&nbsp;turned out to be a popular topic.&nbsp;I will be sharing the same information in Ellis County as part of the Walk KS celebration&nbsp;on Thursday, May 26th, at noon. More details will be shared closer to the date.National Nutrition Month, created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, puts valuable and credible nutrition information at our fingertips. The focus is always to encourage people to make informed choices and develop sound eating and physical activity habits.Sometimes it can be tough&nbsp;to know exactly where to start; there are so many messages in the news and some&nbsp;messages contradict what was reported by a different source on a different day. One thing I have always appreciated with my connection to K-State Research and Extension is that I have access to up-to-date&nbsp;research-based&nbsp;information at the click of a mouse.There are many excellent publications related to healthy food choices that are available on our K-State Research and Extension website. I helped update the “Healthy Choices when Eating Out” fact sheet a couple of years ago. Eating away from your home kitchen can create challenges, because many menu items have added fat or sugar and may be high in sodium. Becoming familiar with the terms of the way food is prepared can help you make healthier choices.&nbsp;Another fact sheet I authored a few years ago is titled, “Healthy Cooking Styles.” Thisfact sheet highlights five different cooking styles that focus on creating tasty and healthy grain and vegetable dishes. Too often I hear&nbsp;people&nbsp;say how hard it is to eat healthy. In my mind it is not hard at all. And the health benefits you will notice by incorporating more whole grains and vegetables into your daily menus&nbsp;will&nbsp;help&nbsp;keep you motivated. Many people with heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and various autoimmune diseases have been able to alleviate their symptoms by eating more whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes,&nbsp;nuts,&nbsp;and seeds, and consuming fewer solid and added fats, added&nbsp;sugars,&nbsp;and refined grains.&nbsp;As a follow-up to the fact sheet, I&nbsp;created&nbsp;a 30-minute&nbsp;Extension Ed talk&nbsp;utube&nbsp;video about healthy cooking styles. You can find the link to it and other Extension Ed talks on our Cottonwood website.&nbsp;If you would like a copy of&nbsp;any of the&nbsp;fact&nbsp;sheets&nbsp;I have&nbsp;mentioned in this article,&nbsp;simply&nbsp;drop by either&nbsp;of our&nbsp;Extension offices&nbsp;in Great Bend or Hays&nbsp;or look for&nbsp;them&nbsp;on the KSRE web site, following the link to the bookstore&nbsp;and search by title.Donna Krug is the&nbsp;District Director and&nbsp;Family &amp; Consumer Science Agent&nbsp;-&nbsp;Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend Office. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:dkrug@ksu.edu">dkrug@ksu.edu</a>

KRUG: Healthy food choices can make a difference

KVC HOSPITALS/HAYS SEEKING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TECHNICIANS, LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES AND R.N'S

KVC HOSPITALS HAYS, PROVIDING CHILDREN'S PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT IS LOOKING FOR COMPASSIONATE AND QUALIFIED TEAM MEMBERS. KVC IS HIRING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TECHNICIANS, LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES, REGISTERED NURSES AND MORE POSITIONS. KVC HAS A SUPPORTIVE AND INCLUSIVE CULTURE WITH COMPETITIVE BENEFITS INCLUDING MEDICAL INSURANCE, FREE DENTAL, A 2.5 PERCENT RETIREMENT SAVINGS MATCH, AND GENEROUS PAID TIME OFF. MOST OF ALL, KVC HAS AN INSPIRING MISSION – FIND YOUR PURPOSE WITH A MEANINGFUL CAREER. APPLY TODAY ONLINE AT KVC.ORG AND SEARCH CAREERS AND JOIN THE KVC TEAM.&nbsp; KVC HOSPITALS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

* Inspiring mission – make your career meaningful!

* KVC pays 76% of medical insurance costs for employees

* Generous policies for parental leave, paid time off and holidays

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/3/1647899492930.png" alt="" />
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 </figure>KVC HOSPITALS/HAYS SEEKING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TECHNICIANS, LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES AND R.N'SKVC HOSPITALS HAYS, PROVIDING CHILDREN'S PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT IS LOOKING FOR COMPASSIONATE AND QUALIFIED TEAM MEMBERS. KVC IS HIRING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TECHNICIANS, LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES, REGISTERED NURSES AND MORE POSITIONS. KVC HAS A SUPPORTIVE AND INCLUSIVE CULTURE WITH COMPETITIVE BENEFITS INCLUDING MEDICAL INSURANCE, FREE DENTAL, A 2.5 PERCENT RETIREMENT SAVINGS MATCH, AND GENEROUS PAID TIME OFF. MOST OF ALL, KVC HAS AN INSPIRING MISSION – FIND YOUR PURPOSE WITH A MEANINGFUL CAREER. APPLY TODAY ONLINE AT KVC.ORG AND SEARCH CAREERS AND JOIN THE KVC TEAM.&nbsp; KVC HOSPITALS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYERKVC BENEFITS:* Inspiring mission – make your career meaningful!* Competitive pay for the industry* KVC pays 76% of medical insurance costs for employees* Free dental insurance* Generous policies for parental leave, paid time off and holidays* 403(b) retirement savings plan with 2.5% company match* A positive, supportive culture where employee opinions count* A strong focus on promoting internally* Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion* Fun employee celebrations including meals, parties and casual &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; get-togethers* Ongoing training and learning opportunitiesAND MUCH MORE!