Three-day weather outlook

HOLT COUNTY — A Skidmore teenager was seriously injured in a crash just before 9:30 a.m. Thursday in Holt County. The Missouri State Highway Patrol reported a 2000 Ford Explorer driven by Chloe M. Abrams, 17, Skidmore, was southbound on U.S. 59 five miles north of Oregon. The SUV traveled off the road, returned to the road, crossed the center line, traveled off the east side of the road and overturned. Atchison-Holt EMS transported Abrams to Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the MSHP.

Skidmore teen hospitalized after SUV overturns

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

HAYS — James Arnold has been given notice to leave the only home he knows — a makeshift encampment behind Wolf's Furniture in Hays.

If you weren't looking for it, you probably won't see it. The encampment is made out of shipping pallets, sheets of plastic and cardboard. The makeshift shelter has just enough space for James to crawl into for the night. He has a small space heater that kept his hideaway warm even as the temperature dipped into the single digits this week.

He has squirreled away a few possessions — dishes and a few household items he hoped to use to start a new life in his own apartment — in a couple truck toolboxes. He recently adopted a mother cat who took advantage of the warmth of his shelter to have her kittens. Preston Wolf, owner of Wolf Furniture and James' friend, received a letter on Oct. 30 from the City of Hays Planning Inspection and Enforcement Department saying James could no longer stay in his encampment because the area was not zoned for residential use. Wolf was given until Friday to have James out.

James, who has been homeless for 16 years, wants to stay in Hays. His face tells the tale of those years, mostly lived in similar makeshift shelters. A long white beard stretches halfway down his tall, lean frame. The heavy lines in his weather-worn face make him appear much older than his 57 years. James has been in Hays for the last year and half, working odd jobs, hoping to save up enough money to get an apartment of his own. Wolf befriended James. He helped him apply for and receive a new ID and Social Security card, which took almost a year.

Although James said he prefers his encampment, Wolf put James up in a hotel last winter at his own expense. James said he doesn't want to keep taking advantage of Wolf's kindness.

"I can stay back there and it doesn't cost him as much money. ... I'm homeless. I'm used to this stuff back here by now," James said. "The first three or four years I wouldn't have made it, but now it's been 15 years and I'm used to it. It doesn't bother me as bad. He's so nice. I'm not going to let him spend that much money on me this winter. I'd rather stay back there if he'll let me and do it cheaper and save more money.

"This guy's like a gift — like a banker, but I don't want to abuse him," James said. James said he has made a connection with people in Hays. "I have people who I like now and a lot of people I enjoy being around," he said.

James appears to have no family ties or support system outside of what Wolf has offered him here in Hays. He has mentioned an ex-wife and kids, but James' mind wanders from one grandiose topic to the next. It's hard to nail down a history and tell what is truth and what is fantasy. Wolf said he suspects he might have mental health issues.

Wolf expressed great distress about what might happen to James after Friday. James said he plans to hitchhike to another encampment up north, but Wolf has tried to dissuade him.

"It's just a field," Wolf said. James has COPD, a lung condition, which means he is winded easily. Wolf said he doesn't think James will last long out on the road.

"If he leaves here, he is probably going to die because he has no place to go and no help," Wolf said. "If there was someplace he could go where he would have a roof over his head ... We understand that is not the ideal out there."

"It's not harming me," James said of his Hays encampment. "If he ain't mad about, it ain't harming me. I have been saving a little money."

Linda Mills, director of First Call for Help, which helps transients in the community, said Hays unfortunately has little to no resources for a person in James' predicament.

"It's frustrating," Mills said. "The thought of someone sleeping outside when it was a cold as it was last night ... I couldn't do it."

There are housing programs for veterans, but the veterans have to have proof of service. Hays also has a housing program for people who have mental illness, but recipients must have a diagnosed mental illness and meet other criteria to qualify. Hays has no homeless shelter. <a href="https://www.hayspost.com/2019/07/30/first-call-for-help-launches-housing-fundraising-campaign-2/" target="_blank">First Call for Help is working on a project to build a transitional housing unit in its current building at 607 E. 13th</a>.

However, that housing will not be available anytime soon. The organization has raised $43,000 toward the renovation project. About $25,000 of that money was used to remodel the supply distribution area, which is now complete. First Call needs $215,000 to remodel the rear of its building into transitional living areas for its new First Step housing program.&nbsp;

Now that First Call has a firm bid in hand, it hopes to start applying for grants for the project. You can donate to that project by <a href="http://firstcallelliscounty.com/First-Step-Housing-Campaign" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.

Even if the transitional housing project was ready, Mills said James would likely not qualify for the program because he has not been able to hold down steady work. In addition to his COPD, which makes it difficult for him to do physical labor, his mind tends to wonder, Wolf said.

"I definitely don't mind him staying there," Wolf said. "He causes no problems. What we were trying to when we got his ID and his Social Security card, we were try to get him a job at Walmart or someplace. The ideal thing was to try to get him back into society to find a little one-bedroom apartment or something. We are trying. We just haven't got that — with the job application. I don't know if James could work eight straight hours."

Mills said James might qualify for disability, but that process can take months or even years. Initial applications are often denied and applicants have to appeal and even employ an attorney to secure disability payments.

"If he doesn't want to leave Hays, I'm not sure unless people are willing to set up a GoFundMe or something and match what he has saved up to get into an apartment," Mills said. "But even if he gets into an apartment, how is he going to pay for the rent month to month? It probably doesn't makes sense to raise money to get him into the apartment unless they are going to raise money to keep him in the apartment because he'll get evicted."

Mills said the best First Call could do for James is to offer him a bus ticket to Salina, the location of the nearest men's shelter. James said he has been in shelters in Denver and Wichita, and said they were like being in prison. He doesn't want to go.

Curtis Deines, superintendent of Planning Inspection Enforcement, said Arnold's situation was unfortunate and he hoped Arnold would be OK, but he had to follow the law. He said the city had worked with Wolf to try to resolve the situation, noting it's Wolf's obligation as the property owner to remove Arnold from the property, according to Deines.

Deines said the the city was first made aware of Arnold's encampment when police were called to the area because of a civil disturbance involving Arnold. He allegedly pulled a knife, threatened another individual and was arrested.

"I know it can seem like the city is going after somebody, and that is not the case," Deines said. "There was an unfortunate event there and that prompted the situation."

Wolf described James as mild-mannered and said he has never had any issues with him since he took up residence behind the store. James doesn't drink or use drugs. James said he just wants the city to leave him alone until summer comes and he can move to his encampment up north — home.

Wolf said, "We just don't know what to do. That's what it boils down to."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581029294224.jpeg" alt="Preston Wolf, left, helps James Arnold secure the door to his shelter outside of Wolf's Furniture in Hays." />
 <figcaption>Preston Wolf, left, helps James Arnold secure the door to his shelter outside of Wolf's Furniture in Hays.</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostHAYS — James Arnold has been given notice to leave the only home he knows — a makeshift encampment behind Wolf's Furniture in Hays.If you weren't looking for it, you probably won't see it. The encampment is made out of shipping pallets, sheets of plastic and cardboard. The makeshift shelter has just enough space for James to crawl into for the night. He has a small space heater that kept his hideaway warm even as the temperature dipped into the single digits this week.He has squirreled away a few possessions — dishes and a few household items he hoped to use to start a new life in his own apartment — in a couple truck toolboxes. He recently adopted a mother cat who took advantage of the warmth of his shelter to have her kittens. Preston Wolf, owner of Wolf Furniture and James' friend, received a letter on Oct. 30 from the City of Hays Planning Inspection and Enforcement Department saying James could no longer stay in his encampment because the area was not zoned for residential use. Wolf was given until Friday to have James out.James, who has been homeless for 16 years, wants to stay in Hays. His face tells the tale of those years, mostly lived in similar makeshift shelters. A long white beard stretches halfway down his tall, lean frame. The heavy lines in his weather-worn face make him appear much older than his 57 years. James has been in Hays for the last year and half, working odd jobs, hoping to save up enough money to get an apartment of his own. Wolf befriended James. He helped him apply for and receive a new ID and Social Security card, which took almost a year.Although James said he prefers his encampment, Wolf put James up in a hotel last winter at his own expense. James said he doesn't want to keep taking advantage of Wolf's kindness."I can stay back there and it doesn't cost him as much money. ... I'm homeless. I'm used to this stuff back here by now," James said. "The first three or four years I wouldn't have made it, but now it's been 15 years and I'm used to it. It doesn't bother me as bad. He's so nice. I'm not going to let him spend that much money on me this winter. I'd rather stay back there if he'll let me and do it cheaper and save more money."This guy's like a gift — like a banker, but I don't want to abuse him," James said. James said he has made a connection with people in Hays. "I have people who I like now and a lot of people I enjoy being around," he said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581029546052.png" alt="The inside of James' shelter. There is just enough room to crawl in and lie down." />
 <figcaption>The inside of James' shelter. There is just enough room to crawl in and lie down.</figcaption>
 </figure>James appears to have no family ties or support system outside of what Wolf has offered him here in Hays. He has mentioned an ex-wife and kids, but James' mind wanders from one grandiose topic to the next. It's hard to nail down a history and tell what is truth and what is fantasy. Wolf said he suspects he might have mental health issues.Wolf expressed great distress about what might happen to James after Friday. James said he plans to hitchhike to another encampment up north, but Wolf has tried to dissuade him."It's just a field," Wolf said. James has COPD, a lung condition, which means he is winded easily. Wolf said he doesn't think James will last long out on the road."If he leaves here, he is probably going to die because he has no place to go and no help," Wolf said. "If there was someplace he could go where he would have a roof over his head ... We understand that is not the ideal out there.""It's not harming me," James said of his Hays encampment. "If he ain't mad about, it ain't harming me. I have been saving a little money."<h2>Few resources in Hays for homeless</h2><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581029632769.png" alt="The City of Hays says James Arnold can no longer stay in this makeshift shelter behind Wolf's Furniture because it is not zoned for residential use." />
 <figcaption>The City of Hays says James Arnold can no longer stay in this makeshift shelter behind Wolf's Furniture because it is not zoned for residential use.</figcaption>
 </figure>Linda Mills, director of First Call for Help, which helps transients in the community, said Hays unfortunately has little to no resources for a person in James' predicament."It's frustrating," Mills said. "The thought of someone sleeping outside when it was a cold as it was last night ... I couldn't do it."There are housing programs for veterans, but the veterans have to have proof of service. Hays also has a housing program for people who have mental illness, but recipients must have a diagnosed mental illness and meet other criteria to qualify. Hays has no homeless shelter. <a href="https://www.hayspost.com/2019/07/30/first-call-for-help-launches-housing-fundraising-campaign-2/" target="_blank">First Call for Help is working on a project to build a transitional housing unit in its current building at 607 E. 13th</a>.However, that housing will not be available anytime soon. The organization has raised $43,000 toward the renovation project. About $25,000 of that money was used to remodel the supply distribution area, which is now complete. First Call needs $215,000 to remodel the rear of its building into transitional living areas for its new First Step housing program.&nbsp;Now that First Call has a firm bid in hand, it hopes to start applying for grants for the project. You can donate to that project by <a href="http://firstcallelliscounty.com/First-Step-Housing-Campaign" target="_blank">clicking here</a>.Even if the transitional housing project was ready, Mills said James would likely not qualify for the program because he has not been able to hold down steady work. In addition to his COPD, which makes it difficult for him to do physical labor, his mind tends to wonder, Wolf said."I definitely don't mind him staying there," Wolf said. "He causes no problems. What we were trying to when we got his ID and his Social Security card, we were try to get him a job at Walmart or someplace. The ideal thing was to try to get him back into society to find a little one-bedroom apartment or something. We are trying. We just haven't got that — with the job application. I don't know if James could work eight straight hours."Mills said James might qualify for disability, but that process can take months or even years. Initial applications are often denied and applicants have to appeal and even employ an attorney to secure disability payments."If he doesn't want to leave Hays, I'm not sure unless people are willing to set up a GoFundMe or something and match what he has saved up to get into an apartment," Mills said. "But even if he gets into an apartment, how is he going to pay for the rent month to month? It probably doesn't makes sense to raise money to get him into the apartment unless they are going to raise money to keep him in the apartment because he'll get evicted."Mills said the best First Call could do for James is to offer him a bus ticket to Salina, the location of the nearest men's shelter. James said he has been in shelters in Denver and Wichita, and said they were like being in prison. He doesn't want to go.<h2>It's the law</h2>Curtis Deines, superintendent of Planning Inspection Enforcement, said Arnold's situation was unfortunate and he hoped Arnold would be OK, but he had to follow the law. He said the city had worked with Wolf to try to resolve the situation, noting it's Wolf's obligation as the property owner to remove Arnold from the property, according to Deines.Deines said the the city was first made aware of Arnold's encampment when police were called to the area because of a civil disturbance involving Arnold. He allegedly pulled a knife, threatened another individual and was arrested."I know it can seem like the city is going after somebody, and that is not the case," Deines said. "There was an unfortunate event there and that prompted the situation."Wolf described James as mild-mannered and said he has never had any issues with him since he took up residence behind the store. James doesn't drink or use drugs. James said he just wants the city to leave him alone until summer comes and he can move to his encampment up north — home.Wolf said, "We just don't know what to do. That's what it boils down to."

Hays forces homeless man out: 'He is probably going to die,' friend says

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — A 22-year-old Texas woman who said she accidentally shot and killed her boyfriend has been sentenced to three years of probation.Gregoria Baez, of Stamford, Texas, was sentenced Tuesday for involuntary manslaughter. She was convicted in September in the death of 21-year-old Feliz Florez in Manhattan, who died in September 2018.Baez testified during her trial that she and Florez pointed guns at each other while they were joking around. She said she accidentally disengaged the grip safety and shot Florez.Before sentencing, Baez apologized and said she still loved Florez.But Jennifer Florez, Felix’s mother, said the family would get some comfort if Baez was sentenced to prison.Baez will serve her probation in Texas, where she moved after the shooting.

Woman sentenced in Manhattan boyfriend's shooting death

<img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573678548265.png">Calmes photo KDOC RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a Kansas felon on new charges after a Tuesday arrest. Just after 1p.m. Tuesday, police&nbsp;filed a report for burglary, aggravated assault and criminal damage to property in the 1400 block of Normandy Place in Manhattan, according to the Riley County Police Department Activity report. A 31-year-old man reported a known male suspect stole copper pipe and gained access to storage units in the area, causing damage. Police arrested Ryan Calmes, 30, of Manhattan in the 700 block of North Juliette on requested charges of aggravated assault, aggravated burglary and criminal damage to property.&nbsp;Calmes has previous convictions that include DUI, flee and or attempt to elude law enforcement, driving while suspended and for drugs, according to the Kansas Dept. of Corrections. In March, the RCPD arrested Calmes on drug allegation. They arrested him in September for alleged shoplifting and drugs. He is being held on a $50,000 bond.lt content

Kansas felon held on $50K bond for alleged assault, burglary

🎥 Veterans Day Ceremony 2019

🎥 Hays, Colby incidents highlight difficulty of catching ‘interstate bandits’

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test contest

Physical therapy is typically something a person does not think about until it is needed and then finding time during a workday when offices are open is often a challenge.

But&nbsp;Aimee Riegel opens to change that with her new business Fit PT and Wellness.

“What I have done is created a mobile concierge physical therapy practice where I can come to the client,” Riegel said.

And she offers different services than what you might see in a traditional physical therapy office such as working with employers to develop programs for their employees to help them before therapy is needed.

“A lot of them are simply because we sit too long during the day,” she said. “There is a lot of things I can teach people and employers to show their employees.”

Working directly with the public can be beneficial for the individual as well in both well being and pricing, she said. Not being contracted with insurance companies means she can offer a flat rate – sometimes lower than out-of-pocket costs after a traditional office setting.

“You know what you get upfront,”&nbsp;Riegel said.

Working outside of insurance she said also allows her the flexibility to work with what the client needs regardless of the mandates of an insurance company.

“We can make a plan and really follow through without having insurance dictating (care),” Riegel said.

When the range of motion is recovered, insurance companies will often stop covering treatment – that’s where her new service can come in.

Working with people to maintain a range of motion can help stop problems from occurring that can happen when not seeking treatment.

She launched the business in September and has been gaining clients through word of mouth and continues working at Progressive Physical Therapy two days a week in order for clients who are going through insurance companies to be able to use her services as well.

But through the new business, she offers flexibility in scheduling that a regular office normal will not.

“I’m available evenings. I can be available weekends. I try to be as flexible as I can for my clients,” Riegel said.

“I’ve gotten some really great responses from the community,” she said, adding many have told her this service is much needed in Hays.

And while the service is new, many will already know Riegel as she has been a long-time practitioner of physical therapy.

“I have been practicing physical therapy for about 12 years and decided I wanted to branch out into something a little different,” she said.

Using her services can help maintain motion and stay pain-free, and utilizing physical therapy prior to a specific incident is becoming more popular.

“The American Physical Therapy Association is actually pushing really hard for preventative wellness and medicine,” Riegel said.

By doing so, they hope to keep insurance costs lower, she said, by engaging people before they have an issue.

Wellness services can also more personally directed than insurance-mandated treatment.

“Its more than developing exercises for an individual. It’s very personal,” Riegel said.

She helps see how people move and can direct their treatment to address their specific concerns.

Riegel offers a free discovery consultation where she can hear problems and see if her services would be a good fit.

An initial full consultation is $150 for approximately an hour and a half and includes a full evaluation and treatment during the visit.

A regular session is $125 for wellness or physical therapy.

She also offers a half-hour session for $70 or stand-alone dry needling for $45.

Health Spending Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts can be used and if multiple sessions are needed she offers discounted rates packages.

For more about the business or to set up a consultation, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fitptandwellness.com/">www.fitptandwellness.com</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/fitptandwellness/?ref=py_chttps://www.fitptandwellness.com/?fbclid=IwAR0V-BM89HKoMLGXXgdj8sWPLiU1XAQd0g5udJu7qikZ3Ol-lHDE16a7mEw" target="_blank">Facebook</a>&nbsp;or call (785)261-1772.

By JAMES BELL Hays PostPhysical therapy is typically something a person does not think about until it is needed and then finding time during a workday when offices are open is often a challenge.But&nbsp;Aimee Riegel opens to change that with her new business Fit PT and Wellness.“What I have done is created a mobile concierge physical therapy practice where I can come to the client,” Riegel said.And she offers different services than what you might see in a traditional physical therapy office such as working with employers to develop programs for their employees to help them before therapy is needed.“A lot of them are simply because we sit too long during the day,” she said. “There is a lot of things I can teach people and employers to show their employees.”Working directly with the public can be beneficial for the individual as well in both well being and pricing, she said. Not being contracted with insurance companies means she can offer a flat rate – sometimes lower than out-of-pocket costs after a traditional office setting.“You know what you get upfront,”&nbsp;Riegel said.Working outside of insurance she said also allows her the flexibility to work with what the client needs regardless of the mandates of an insurance company.“We can make a plan and really follow through without having insurance dictating (care),” Riegel said.When the range of motion is recovered, insurance companies will often stop covering treatment – that’s where her new service can come in.Working with people to maintain a range of motion can help stop problems from occurring that can happen when not seeking treatment.She launched the business in September and has been gaining clients through word of mouth and continues working at Progressive Physical Therapy two days a week in order for clients who are going through insurance companies to be able to use her services as well.But through the new business, she offers flexibility in scheduling that a regular office normal will not.“I’m available evenings. I can be available weekends. I try to be as flexible as I can for my clients,” Riegel said.“I’ve gotten some really great responses from the community,” she said, adding many have told her this service is much needed in Hays.And while the service is new, many will already know Riegel as she has been a long-time practitioner of physical therapy.“I have been practicing physical therapy for about 12 years and decided I wanted to branch out into something a little different,” she said.Using her services can help maintain motion and stay pain-free, and utilizing physical therapy prior to a specific incident is becoming more popular.“The American Physical Therapy Association is actually pushing really hard for preventative wellness and medicine,” Riegel said.By doing so, they hope to keep insurance costs lower, she said, by engaging people before they have an issue.Wellness services can also more personally directed than insurance-mandated treatment.“Its more than developing exercises for an individual. It’s very personal,” Riegel said.She helps see how people move and can direct their treatment to address their specific concerns.Riegel offers a free discovery consultation where she can hear problems and see if her services would be a good fit.An initial full consultation is $150 for approximately an hour and a half and includes a full evaluation and treatment during the visit.A regular session is $125 for wellness or physical therapy.She also offers a half-hour session for $70 or stand-alone dry needling for $45.Health Spending Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts can be used and if multiple sessions are needed she offers discounted rates packages.For more about the business or to set up a consultation, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.fitptandwellness.com/">www.fitptandwellness.com</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/fitptandwellness/?ref=py_chttps://www.fitptandwellness.com/?fbclid=IwAR0V-BM89HKoMLGXXgdj8sWPLiU1XAQd0g5udJu7qikZ3Ol-lHDE16a7mEw" target="_blank">Facebook</a>&nbsp;or call (785)261-1772.

New Hays business brings traditional office therapies to the door

<a href="https://www.hayspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/WashburnTech7.jpg" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.hayspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/WashburnTech7.jpg" width="800" height="534"></a> Chris Neal / For the Kansas News Service By CELIA LLOPIS-JENSEN<a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/kansans-have-more-options-ever-2020-aca-marketplace-read-fine-print" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Kansas News Service</a> TOPEKA — The <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2020 federal marketplace</a> for individual health insurance includes more options than ever for Kansas, and premiums for some of those plans are less expensive than 2019. But for the second year in a row, all of the plans will leave consumers footing the full bill for most out-of-network care. The silver lining: Two new insurance companies have jumped into Kansas this year, offering health plans in some of the state’s most populous counties. A third insurer that’s already active in Kansas City and its suburbs is expanding to 12 more southeast and central Kansas counties. Statewide, five insurers are offering 82 plans for 2020 — the most insurers since 2015 and the most plans since the marketplace launched in 2014. Though availability varies by county, it’s a significant change from this year (three insurers, 23 plans). Enrollment starts Nov. 1 and runs through Dec. 15 for insurance policies that start on Jan. 1. For Kansans with questions about all the options, dozens of trained counselors and navigators across the state offer free guidance on comparing plans and applying. “It is relatively easy to compare plans, but you still have to do a lot of legwork,” said University of Kansas professor Jean Hall, who directs the Institute for Health and Disability Policy Studies. “I strongly recommend that people work with the navigators.” <blockquote>Check for federally designated counselors and navigators near you <a href="http://coverks.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Programs-and-Initiatives/Health-Insurance-Marketplaces/Downloads/2019-Navigator-Grant-Recipients.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.&nbsp;Search for the health insurance plans available in your county <a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</blockquote> Pro tip from Hall: Sometimes online information from insurers about their networks is out of date, so consider calling to confirm whether specific health care providers are still included in a given plan. No PPOs in 2020 Preferred provider organization (PPO) plans have disappeared from the marketplace across Kansas and much of the country, according to Katherine Hempstead, a senior policy adviser at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in New Jersey. Kansas also mirrors the national trend with the addition of more insurers and plans this year. Hempstead describes companies as “bullish” right now. “They’re entering the market in more places and they’re offering more things,” she said. “There’s a lot of optimism.” But the lack of PPOs can be especially bad for people who need specialized care, Hall said. “If people have different types of chronic conditions,” she said, “one of their specialists may be in network but the other one may not be. And that can be a real problem.” In 2020, most plans are exclusive provider organization (EPO) options, but some Kansans can also pick from health maintenance organization (HMO) plans. Unlike PPOs that often cost more and help with out-of-network bills, <a href="https://khn.org/news/hows-a-consumer-to-know-what-health-plan-is-best/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HMOs and EPOs</a> restrict coverage to their networks. Some networks include more doctors and specialists than others. HMO plans generally require customers to go through a primary care provider to access specialists. New options include some cheaper plans with small networks, as well as zero-deductible plans that make you pay more in cost-sharing, Hempstead said. The new insurers on this year’s market are Oscar Insurance Company and Cigna Health &amp; Life Insurance. They join Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, Ambetter (a.k.a. Centene subsidiary Sunflower State Health Plan) and Medica. Ambetter will expand to southeast and central Kansas. Premiums and income-based discounts Many Kansans will see lower rates in 2020. The benchmark silver plan for a 27-year-old is dropping $40 to an average premium of $412 in 2020, according to the <a href="https://www.cms.gov/CCIIO/Resources/Data-Resources/QHP-Choice-Premiums.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services</a>. Ambetter rates in particular will drop more than 8% after the company <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/health-insurers-have-give-back-14-billion-and-kansans-get-fattest-checks#stream/0" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">gave hefty rebates</a> this fall to customers who overpaid on 2018 premiums. Many people may not realize they qualify for discounts. Last year, more than 85% of people got income-based tax credits, <a href="https://www.khi.org/policy/article/19-32" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">the Kansas Health Institute* says</a>. With those, the institute pegs a net average premium at $76 a month. <blockquote><a href="https://www.healthcare.gov/lower-costs/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">This federal tool checks whether you might qualify for tax credits and other help.</a></blockquote> Navigators and other ACA help Navigators, who help people choose plans, used to be more common, but the Trump administration cut most funding for them. Still, there are dozens of certified application counselors across the state that serve the same function without the navigator label. Healthcare.gov also operates a hotline (1-800-318-2596). Shannon Little-Haines, who oversees navigators at Ascension Via Christi in Wichita, recommends people bring plenty of specifics to the conversation. “We generally ask that they bring a list of their medications, any specialists and doctors that they see,” she said. “Then we can compare the plans side-by-side.” *The Kansas Health Institute receives support from the Kansas Health Foundation, a funder of the Kansas News Service.Celia Llopis-Jepsen reports on consumer health and education for the Kansas News Service. You can follow her on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/Celia_LJ" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@Celia_LJ</a> or email her at celia@kcur.org. The Kansas News Service is a collaboration of KCUR, Kansas Public Radio, KMUW and High Plains Public Radio focused on the health and well-being of Kansans, their communities and civic life.

Kansans have more options than ever on ACA marketplace, but read the fine print

One-hundred thirty-nine years ago, a man laid a large cut stone onto the empty dusty plain. He had a dream, not only of a house but of a culture, a town and a university —&nbsp;a dream that wouldn’t be fulfilled in his lifetime, but after 139 years, we are all living in the realization of that vision.

That man was Martin Allen, and brick by brick, just like his home, Hays City would take shape, modeled after his vision. But much like the city, his home would see decades of prosperity, dampened by periods of grief.

Allen built his home a mile north of the few hundred residents that called Hays City home, a stalwart of modernity in an area that was anything but.

Accounts over the years attribute many dates to the home’s construction, but recent research by the Ellis County Historical Society, verified by contemporary news stories say work on the house began in 1877. At the time, Hays City had not yet been incorporated, and still mostly devoid of the Volga Germans that in the following years would leave an indelible mark on the area.

Originally, the home was known as Contest Grove, a moniker given after the battle to secure the land and home by Allen, but for most people today it is known as the Cody House, named for a man who is a local legend in his own right.

By the time Cody secured ownership, the colorful name had been dropped in favor of a pedestrian-sounding address, 2704 Woodrow Court, but his impact on the historic house remains to this day.

“Our family moved to hays in 1965,” said Loren Shaiken, daughter of the late Dr. John Cody, who recalls moving into the home at around 9 years old, after a summer of staying with friends of the family while the young family was looking for a&nbsp;permanent residence.

“At that point, it was in, as I recall, quite disrepair,” she said.

Before ownership by the Cody family, the home had been rented out by the Miller family. They obtained ownership and, by most reports, cared little for the house or its history.

But Cody would quickly bring the house back into shape adding a wrap-around porch and garage with a workshop above.

He would use that space as his studio over the years painting and writing on various topics, work that would make him known worldwide.

Cody also tore out the attic, adding an upstairs bedroom —&nbsp;accessed by a spiral staircase in the center of the room —&nbsp;and finished the basement, adding another bedroom and bathroom, completing that work by 1970. Until recently, that was the last time major work had been done on the home.

While living in the home, Cody founded the High Plains Mental Health Center&nbsp;and became world renowned as the Audobon of Moths.

He also spent time teaching at Fort Hays State University, a school that was first dreamed by Allen. Cody’s wife Dorothy&nbsp;was also affiliated with the university, serving as its first physician.

Cody had worked as a medical illustrator early in his career, a talent that can be seen in the murals in the upstairs bedrooms with knights and princess painted with meticulous precision.

“He’s a remarkable man, probably the most interesting man that ever lived in Hays,” said Hays resident Pete Felton, also known worldwide for his unique stone sculptures.

As with all things, the Cody’s long ownership of the home came to pass in June of last year and the home went on the market, again&nbsp;sparking interest in the home and its unique history.

“The history alone of that house makes it very desirable,” said Kris Munsch, assistant professor in the Department of Applied Technology at FHSU, who calls himself and old house “connoisseur.”

“When you look around and you imagine in your mind, whoever’s lived there over the years, coming in you think of the days when it was horse and carriage up to the last people that lived there. All the stories those walls tell. I hope that isn’t lost in that house, whoever buys it,” Munsch said. “That’s important because it’s so historical to our community, to our university. It just tells such a story. That’s why it’s worth the time and effort to rebuild.”

If the home could share its story, it would likely tell of its stretch as a solitary pillar overseeing Hays as the town crept toward it, eventually enveloping it within its boundaries. Empty space around the home, in fact, is still in the memories of longtime Hays residents.

“When I was a kid, it would be in 1943, during World War II, I went out there with a friend of mine and there was nothing there. I mean the house was bare, there was no grass, there was no trees, no plants, nothing,” Felten said.

Looking back, he said, he wishes he had taken a picture to contrast with what is there now.

From the time of that old memory, until the Cody’s ownership, building in the area began. When Shaiken lived in the home, Wilson Elementary School was already nearby and homes began to surround the house.

“At that time 32nd Street was the very last street. After that, is was fields,” Shaiken said. “That was pretty rural out that direction.”

“The problem was, after World War II, Realtors starting building houses on everybody’s front lawn,” Felten said. “All the big lawns are gone. It was out there pretty much by itself after the war, and then they said we have all this space, let’s build houses around it — so it became crowded. It’s a shame, but it happens all the time.

“Now it’s just crowded onto a little street there and you have to find it.”

“It was just like this stone house that nobody was tending to when my parents bought it,” Shaiken said.”It was really a desolate looking place,” she said of the big two-story stone structure with ranch style homes all around. “I remember a sense of pride&nbsp;because the house had been so neglected when we bought it and then pretty quickly my parents did a lot to it.

“This house is so much a part of my life.”

A home of any age needs constant repair, and even a home made from 3-foot-thick cut stone has, over the years, become wanting of some exterior work.

Many of the limestone lintels have fallen out over the years, cracks along the exterior walls have grown larger as parts of the house are settling faster than others, and plaster and woodwork inside shows its age.

But, structurally, it is sound and, despite many cosmetically unappealing aspects, the house still stands ready to be a home.

“That house is absolutely worth saving. That house has sat there for over 100 years with a limestone foundation. It’s not going to go anywhere if some steps are taken to make sure it can last another 100 years,” Munsch said.

He received a call last year to evaluate the home with a couple that was interested in purchasing the property.

The deal ultimately did not go through, but it left him full of ideas of what could be done with the house, through renovation or restoration.

To the outside renovation and restoration may be the same, but Munsch notes there is a very big distinction.

“There’s been some things have been done to that house over the years that they’re cool, but they don’t fit the period,” he said.

If the home were his project, he said, there are some things he would take out to return the house to its original look.

“There’s a fine line that you draw that becomes too modern and with a house like that. I hope that somebody can get that house and do a combination of restoration/renovation,” Munsch said.

“So let’s say a couple that has moderate skills go in there. They could hire some of the major work done,” he said, noting a major project like a new roof and installing drainage systems would likely need to be hired out.

“What you have got to really do look at the mechanical. Those things that are going to save the house. … It doesn’t do a lot of good to have nice pretty cabinets if the roof is leaking,” he said.

Despite that, Munsch said the house is in livable condition and could last another 500 years if proper repairs take place, but modern conveniences must be considered, as well.

“It’s kind of like somebody that restores an old vehicle. It doesn’t have a purpose because it’s too nice. I would never want that house to be so nice you can’t live in it. It’s the same thing with cars — you want a car that you can take out and use,” Munsch said.

Shaiken also equated the home to an antique vehicle.

“It’s like the chassis of a classic car. You would like somebody to come in and put a motor under the hood and still have that beautiful classic car on the outside,” she said.

The cost of bringing the home into the modern age&nbsp;depends on the difference of restoration or renovation he said.

“If a person was going to go in there and make it a renovation project, you may spend a little less because you may not do the things that I would do.”

Many of the additions over the years, Munsch noted, are not in line with the original build, but the historical aspect of the tenants after Allen should be considered in renovation or restoration plans.

“The Codys are just as important as the Martin Allens because of their history with the house. You don’t want just eliminate them out of the middle,” he said. “You want to keep that historical part of them living there as well, so I think there is a lot of combinations that could be done over the years.”

The main reason the home still stands in solid shape is the material with which it was built. While homes today are built with wood, at the time of construction, the stone bricks were a more practical solution that would be difficult to reproduce.

“It would be possible,” to build a house like this today, Munsch said, but difficult.

“Where would you find a mason that is willing to set those kinds of stones? You’re not going to find it.”

The building materials would also be hard to find on the market today.

“You could get the limestone probably, but you’re not going to find limestone with that character,” he said.

But at the time of the homes construction, the stones used would have been easy to acquire, and the most cost-effective material of the day.

In 1872, a&nbsp;quarry was opened about a mile west of the college, and it quickly became in high demand because lumber was very expensive, according to Felton.

The stone was used to build homes, business in the area, including the college.

Those local quarries are no longer in operation, so stone would need shipped – a costly proposition in itself — and the stone now has become expensive.

“It’s an expensive material instead of a cheap material,” Felten said.

The skills need to build a home out of stone, however, are relatively simple.

A builder during the time of the home’s construction would often begin by placing stones directly on the ground.

“It was a technique that was low-tech and a lot of the people around here had some experience. You can learn about all there is to know about it in one day,” Felten said.

He recalls a story of a man who worked at the nearby quarry and would bring a brick or two home every day. In five years, he had a house.

That building still stands as is currently used as a dentist office in Hays. And work on those old homes requires little training, as well.

“If somebody hasn’t already fixed it up, it’s going to be a burden, but kind of a fun thing because you can always do it yourself. It’s not complicated,” Felten said.

Despite the time and effort required a home made with stone offers something rare in new construction.

“They are really great, because if you have a stone house, you don’t feel the wind. It just protects you from the wind all of the time,” Felten said. “They’re really nice for calmness. … They feel secure.”

The truly unique history of the house is felt by every resident in the area. When Martin Allen arrived in Hays City, there was little in the area outside of the nearby military fort, but quickly it became more — in no small part to his efforts as a real estate agent, horticulturist and champion for the university that would later become Fort Hays State University.

“Martin Allen was really influential in Hays, in order to promote himself a little bit he gave land for the courthouse in Hays,” Felten said.

Although that gift wasn’t entirely altruistic —&nbsp;he owned land around the area and wanted to sell it — the courthouse became, and remains the&nbsp;center of government for Ellis County.

While buildings and the school are impressive reminders of his vision, one of the more pressing issues facing early settlers was finding a stable source of food.

“He tried to grow everything he can find. He said if you’re gonna live out here on the plains, you gotta learn what grows,” Felten said.

Allen planted a large number of plants and trees around his home, meticulously testing suitable plants for the area. A bit of that legacy can even be seen today, with many trees still lining Fort Street having been planted by Allen himself.

His most lasting legacy, however, is none other than the university that has grown into a regional center for higher learning. Now called Fort Hays State University, when the idea was presented it was known simply as “Allen’s Folly.”

“When the word came out they were going to sell the land that the old Fort Hays was on, he ran for the Legislature to prevent that. So they could keep it in one piece and start an agriculture experiment station,” Felten said.

That land is still used by the university, with another large parcel becoming Frontier Park.

While the idea for the college directly came directly from Allen, he would be forced off of his land by mortgage holders in 1898 and soon moved to land owned by his son in Colorado. He would die months later, four years before the founding of the university.

His efforts, however, did not go completely unrecognized as one of the first buildings on the campus was named in his honor – a name that remains to this day.

His name is also attached to another well-known, but less cheerful piece of property in Hays – Mount Allen cemetery.

One of his daughters, Clara, died of scarlet fever in 1874, leaving Allen to search for a final resting place.

“He wasn’t about to bury her on Boot Hill, where all the desperados were, so he gave a piece of land to the city and they named it Mount Allen and it became our cemetery,” Felten said.

Clara would be the first burial in the cemetery, and his wife, Elizabeth would also be laid to rest there.

As the home sat empty after John and&nbsp;Dorothy Cody relocated, several ideas were floated. Munsch hoped FHSU would purchase the home to be renovated by students as a project, then used as a&nbsp;home by the university. The Ellis County Historical Society thought it could be a museum to share the history of the area.

Ultimately, fate stepped in and the house will continue as a private residence, just as it was intended so long ago.

As Jayson van Wooten was searching for a home he noted a listing that he believed to be the Cody home, not immediately recognizing the house with the overgrowth of plants and trees that had popped up over the years.

He had been searching for homes within his price range and, as a designer, wanted to find a home he could renovate, but loved the idea of a house with history attached to it.

“All of a sudden, this one popped up,” he said.

After realizing it was the Cody house, he immediately texted his real estate agent and was anxious to tour the property.

“I have to come see it,” he told her. “It’s mine. I knew instantly this is gonna be the house.”

History lives here: The story of 2704 Woodrow Court

It’s been 95 years since the Hays Fire Department bought its first motorized fire truck, but for those who saw the fully restored 1921 REO Speedwagon over the weekend in Hays, it might not have seemed so long ago.

The fully restored vehicle was brought to Hays by Brad Corley, retired captain in the Wichita Falls, Texas, fire department and president Wichita Falls Fire and Police museum, who purchased the vehicle while in the process of searching for a fire truck for the Wichita Falls Firefighter’s museum.

“About four years ago, our museum had the opportunity to go to a private museum in Lawton, Oklahoma. While we were there, we were offered a couple of fire trucks,” Corley said.

They had 14 trucks, and while looking for a truck for the museum, he bought the REO for his own collection.

Little did Corley know Richard Shubert, a retired member of the Hays Fire Department, had been searching for the truck for over 30 years.

“Never could find it. It found me actually,” Shubert said.

He said he felt relieved after Corley contacted him while searching for the history of the truck after his long search.

After writing the history of the HFD and finding other original trucks from the department, the REO remained missing. Shubert followed the purchase history through several Kansas fire departments, until it was bought by someone in Oklahoma through a cash sale and the trail ran cold.

Traveling several times through Oklahoma, stopping at fire museums through the state, he thought maybe the truck had been lost to history, as many from that era had been destroyed in the war effort of World War II.

But the truck escaped the fate of many others and not only was the truck spared, it had been brought back to life through an intensive restoration.

In 1985, the owner fully restored the truck, one of the few examples still in existence from the era.

“One of the things that makes this rare is that it has its original&nbsp;engine and original&nbsp;frame. Everything’s original,” Corley said.

He estimated there are only five left in the country, and the Hays truck is in the second best condition.

While the previous owner had diligently worked to restore the truck to its original condition, a few details, including paint on the truck, are slightly different than when it was used in Hays.

The truck had been hand painted in a process that took months to complete.

“It makes it unique, but it doesn’t make it exactly as it came from the factory,” Corley said.

After Corley purchased the truck, he spent over two years again working to get the truck in running condition, including rewiring the truck and searched for its&nbsp;original department.

“When you buy a truck, you want all the history you can find,” he said, “but that history is what makes the trucks special.

“The department, the guys that rode it, the fires it went to, it’s your history and Hays’ history was missing one part.”

Now that history is complete as Shubert has located the original trucks from the department, including the first equipment, a hand-pulled fire cart nicknamed the Prairie Bell.

That cart, however, is in a precarious location — buried by the city in a pit behind the city shop, likely after the REO was purchased, Shubert said.

“We’ve got all of the trucks, except the Prairie Bell,” he said.

Sharing the historic truck was important for Corley&nbsp;and the full restoration was a treat for Shubert and&nbsp;Tim Detrixhe, president of&nbsp;Hays Firemen’s Relief Association.

“To have this where they came come touch it and see it means a lot for the community,” Corley said.

“It’s a muesum piece. It’s beautiful,” Detrixhe said. “The work and the love that’s gone into rebuilding this truck is amazing. The attention to detail and the care that Brad and the people that have gone before him have put into this truck over the years to make it that, in 2016, a 1921 truck runs like a top.”

While finding the truck in such good condition was a surprise, he said, maintaining equipment is a part of the firefighter’s ethos.

“Theses trucks are like an extension of ourselves in a way. Without our trucks, we can’t do our job and, without us, they can’t do their job,” Detrixhe said. “It speaks to the firefighters’ nature about preserving things and keeping them in top working order.”

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HOGKjgCmqj4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> Video by Cooper Slough</div>By JAMES BELL Hays PostIt’s been 95 years since the Hays Fire Department bought its first motorized fire truck, but for those who saw the fully restored 1921 REO Speedwagon over the weekend in Hays, it might not have seemed so long ago.The fully restored vehicle was brought to Hays by Brad Corley, retired captain in the Wichita Falls, Texas, fire department and president Wichita Falls Fire and Police museum, who purchased the vehicle while in the process of searching for a fire truck for the Wichita Falls Firefighter’s museum.“About four years ago, our museum had the opportunity to go to a private museum in Lawton, Oklahoma. While we were there, we were offered a couple of fire trucks,” Corley said.They had 14 trucks, and while looking for a truck for the museum, he bought the REO for his own collection.Little did Corley know Richard Shubert, a retired member of the Hays Fire Department, had been searching for the truck for over 30 years.“Never could find it. It found me actually,” Shubert said.He said he felt relieved after Corley contacted him while searching for the history of the truck after his long search.After writing the history of the HFD and finding other original trucks from the department, the REO remained missing. Shubert followed the purchase history through several Kansas fire departments, until it was bought by someone in Oklahoma through a cash sale and the trail ran cold.Traveling several times through Oklahoma, stopping at fire museums through the state, he thought maybe the truck had been lost to history, as many from that era had been destroyed in the war effort of World War II.But the truck escaped the fate of many others and not only was the truck spared, it had been brought back to life through an intensive restoration.In 1985, the owner fully restored the truck, one of the few examples still in existence from the era.“One of the things that makes this rare is that it has its original&nbsp;engine and original&nbsp;frame. Everything’s original,” Corley said.He estimated there are only five left in the country, and the Hays truck is in the second best condition.While the previous owner had diligently worked to restore the truck to its original condition, a few details, including paint on the truck, are slightly different than when it was used in Hays.The truck had been hand painted in a process that took months to complete.“It makes it unique, but it doesn’t make it exactly as it came from the factory,” Corley said.After Corley purchased the truck, he spent over two years again working to get the truck in running condition, including rewiring the truck and searched for its&nbsp;original department.“When you buy a truck, you want all the history you can find,” he said, “but that history is what makes the trucks special.“The department, the guys that rode it, the fires it went to, it’s your history and Hays’ history was missing one part.”Now that history is complete as Shubert has located the original trucks from the department, including the first equipment, a hand-pulled fire cart nicknamed the Prairie Bell.That cart, however, is in a precarious location — buried by the city in a pit behind the city shop, likely after the REO was purchased, Shubert said.“We’ve got all of the trucks, except the Prairie Bell,” he said.Sharing the historic truck was important for Corley&nbsp;and the full restoration was a treat for Shubert and&nbsp;Tim Detrixhe, president of&nbsp;Hays Firemen’s Relief Association.“To have this where they came come touch it and see it means a lot for the community,” Corley said.“It’s a muesum piece. It’s beautiful,” Detrixhe said. “The work and the love that’s gone into rebuilding this truck is amazing. The attention to detail and the care that Brad and the people that have gone before him have put into this truck over the years to make it that, in 2016, a 1921 truck runs like a top.”While finding the truck in such good condition was a surprise, he said, maintaining equipment is a part of the firefighter’s ethos.“Theses trucks are like an extension of ourselves in a way. Without our trucks, we can’t do our job and, without us, they can’t do their job,” Detrixhe said. “It speaks to the firefighters’ nature about preserving things and keeping them in top working order.”

🎥 Historic Hays fire truck makes its return

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Flood watch continues for Ellis County, area until 7 p.m. 

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UPDATE: Ellis County in severe thunderstorm warning until 5:30 p.m.

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