SMITH CENTER-   W.G. “Bill” Hawes, The Great White Hunter, age 88, 
passed away Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at the SunPorch of Smith 
Center, KS.  He was born October 9, 1931 in Wakefield, KS to Elmer and 
Evelyn (Gaston) Hawes.  He was a pharmacist.


Bill is survived by his wife Carolyn of Smith Center;   sons, Drew 
(Emily) of Kansas City and Kirk (Mary) of Atlanta, GA; sister Dea Adent;
 step-son Kelly Smith of Kensington, KS;   step daughter Crystal Roberts
 of Ashland, KS; sisters in law Connie Kelley and Linda Carnes   and 1 
granddaughter Dylan Solida.

Click <a href="https://www.simmons-rentschler.com/obituaries/William-Bill--G--Hawes?obId=11419104#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582403099157.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>SMITH CENTER- W.G. “Bill” Hawes, The Great White Hunter, age 88, 
passed away Wednesday, February 19, 2020 at the SunPorch of Smith 
Center, KS. He was born October 9, 1931 in Wakefield, KS to Elmer and 
Evelyn (Gaston) Hawes. He was a pharmacist.
Bill is survived by his wife Carolyn of Smith Center; sons, Drew 
(Emily) of Kansas City and Kirk (Mary) of Atlanta, GA; sister Dea Adent;
 step-son Kelly Smith of Kensington, KS; step daughter Crystal Roberts
 of Ashland, KS; sisters in law Connie Kelley and Linda Carnes and 1 
granddaughter Dylan Solida.Click <a href="https://www.simmons-rentschler.com/obituaries/William-Bill--G--Hawes?obId=11419104#/celebrationWall">HERE</a> for service details.

W.G. 'Bill' Hawes

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top Republican lawmaker in Kansas now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e03e4a920840426a848de304aa0d62c4">running for the U.S. Senate</a>&nbsp;sought an ambassadorship in 2018, calling it “an excellent time” to leave state politics and enlisting help from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/333b0663596ade73cc14b0025b8ff632">a billionaire casino mogul&nbsp;</a>who is a close friend of President Donald Trump.

&nbsp;Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, of Wichita, listed businessman Phil Ruffin as a reference on a resume for the White House only 10 days after&nbsp;<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li_2018/b2017_18/measures/vote_view/je_20180427183014_246387/" target="_blank">voting for</a>&nbsp;a bill that would have benefitted Ruffin’s business interests in Kansas. She expressed her interest in serving in a diplomatic post, potentially as an ambassador to Ireland, in a May 2018 email to a political operative asking that a cover letter and resume be forwarded to the White House.

Wagle campaign spokesman Matt Beynon said that like many Republicans, Wagle “was excited about the opportunity to serve in President Trump’s administration.”

“And while this opportunity never materialized, it was a good example of when one door closes another door opens to serve — now running for the United States Senate,” Beynon said in an email.

Ruffin owns long-closed dog and horse tracks in Wichita and Kansas City, Kansas, and&nbsp;<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li_2018/b2017_18/measures/documents/supp_note_sb427_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">the 2018 legislation</a>&nbsp;would have eased the way for racetrack casinos in Kansas. In voting for the bill, Wagle went against years of opposition to expanding legalized gambling in Kansas.

Wagle’s cover letter said she was “inspired by the work the president has done” as a reason for asking to be considered for an ambassadorship.

“I am willing to discuss any opening, but I am particularly interested in Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Ambassador to Belize, Ireland, Belgium or any United Nations Ambassador post,” she wrote.

In her email to the political operative, she wrote, “Even though I have two and a half years left in my Senate Presidency, I’m thinking(it’s)an excellent time to transition out of Kansas politics as we elect a new Governor.”

Democrat Laura Kelly was elected governor in 2018.

Wagle was never nominated for Trump administration position, and it’s unclear whether the White House seriously considered her.

“I think she wanted to be an ambassador, but I never took any action,” Ruffin said.

Ruffin grew up in Wichita, has long-standing ties to Trump, who was best man at Ruffin’s 2008 wedding. They co-own Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, where the president stayed this week when he visited Nevada for a campaign rally. Ruffin was also an early mega-donor to Make American Great Again PAC, which formed in 2015 to support Trump.

He has pushing Kansas&nbsp; lawmakers to allow new forms of gambling at racetracks for years and in 2014, Wagle criticized his efforts. But Beynon said in an email that Wagle’s vote in favor of the 2018 gambling bill came after she met with Ruffin and other Wichita business leaders and learned of “uneven tax treatment” for racetracks.

Ruffin gave $1,000 to Wagle’s state Senate campaign in October 2017, about six months before she cast her pro-gambling vote. Since that vote, he has donated an additional $1,000 to Wagle’s state Senate campaign and contributed $5,600, the maximum donation under federal law, to Wagle’s U.S. Senate campaign.

Ruffin dismissed the idea that Wagle’s change in position on expanded gaming led to his support, saying “we lost anyway” and that “her vote didn’t matter one way or the other.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582315141957.png" alt="Photo courtesy Susan Wagle campaign" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy Susan Wagle campaign</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top Republican lawmaker in Kansas now&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/e03e4a920840426a848de304aa0d62c4">running for the U.S. Senate</a>&nbsp;sought an ambassadorship in 2018, calling it “an excellent time” to leave state politics and enlisting help from&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/333b0663596ade73cc14b0025b8ff632">a billionaire casino mogul&nbsp;</a>who is a close friend of President Donald Trump.&nbsp;Kansas Senate President Susan Wagle, of Wichita, listed businessman Phil Ruffin as a reference on a resume for the White House only 10 days after&nbsp;<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li_2018/b2017_18/measures/vote_view/je_20180427183014_246387/" target="_blank">voting for</a>&nbsp;a bill that would have benefitted Ruffin’s business interests in Kansas. She expressed her interest in serving in a diplomatic post, potentially as an ambassador to Ireland, in a May 2018 email to a political operative asking that a cover letter and resume be forwarded to the White House.Wagle campaign spokesman Matt Beynon said that like many Republicans, Wagle “was excited about the opportunity to serve in President Trump’s administration.”“And while this opportunity never materialized, it was a good example of when one door closes another door opens to serve — now running for the United States Senate,” Beynon said in an email.Ruffin owns long-closed dog and horse tracks in Wichita and Kansas City, Kansas, and&nbsp;<a href="http://kslegislature.org/li_2018/b2017_18/measures/documents/supp_note_sb427_02_0000.pdf" target="_blank">the 2018 legislation</a>&nbsp;would have eased the way for racetrack casinos in Kansas. In voting for the bill, Wagle went against years of opposition to expanding legalized gambling in Kansas.Wagle’s cover letter said she was “inspired by the work the president has done” as a reason for asking to be considered for an ambassadorship.“I am willing to discuss any opening, but I am particularly interested in Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues, Ambassador to Belize, Ireland, Belgium or any United Nations Ambassador post,” she wrote.In her email to the political operative, she wrote, “Even though I have two and a half years left in my Senate Presidency, I’m thinking(it’s)an excellent time to transition out of Kansas politics as we elect a new Governor.”Democrat Laura Kelly was elected governor in 2018.Wagle was never nominated for Trump administration position, and it’s unclear whether the White House seriously considered her.“I think she wanted to be an ambassador, but I never took any action,” Ruffin said.Ruffin grew up in Wichita, has long-standing ties to Trump, who was best man at Ruffin’s 2008 wedding. They co-own Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, where the president stayed this week when he visited Nevada for a campaign rally. Ruffin was also an early mega-donor to Make American Great Again PAC, which formed in 2015 to support Trump.He has pushing Kansas&nbsp; lawmakers to allow new forms of gambling at racetracks for years and in 2014, Wagle criticized his efforts. But Beynon said in an email that Wagle’s vote in favor of the 2018 gambling bill came after she met with Ruffin and other Wichita business leaders and learned of “uneven tax treatment” for racetracks.Ruffin gave $1,000 to Wagle’s state Senate campaign in October 2017, about six months before she cast her pro-gambling vote. Since that vote, he has donated an additional $1,000 to Wagle’s state Senate campaign and contributed $5,600, the maximum donation under federal law, to Wagle’s U.S. Senate campaign.Ruffin dismissed the idea that Wagle’s change in position on expanded gaming led to his support, saying “we lost anyway” and that “her vote didn’t matter one way or the other.”

Kansas Senate leader wanted ambassadorship

It's been 10 years since the city of Hays began leasing the former Army Reserve building, 101 Main Street, at a minimal cost to NCK Technical College.

The vocational school uses the building as its south Hays campus - called Big Creek Technical Training Center - for student programs in carpentry, electrical technology, and plumbing, heating and air conditioning (PHAC). In exchange, NCK Tech maintains the building and completes applicable&nbsp; projects for the city as requested.

With more than 17 programs of study, NCK Tech graduates about 300 students each year from the satellite Hays campuses and its main campus in Beloit, according to Eric Burks, NCK Tech president. He delivered his annual report to Hays city commissioners Thursday night accompanied by several lead instructors in the audience.

More than 93% of NCK Tech grads are hired almost immediately, sometimes even before they graduate.

"Some of our students couldn't attend their own graduations because they couldn't get off work," Burks noted.

"We've actually had the #1 placement in the nation for two years, in 2017 and 2018," he told the commission.

 "And more than 90% of our graduates stay in Kansas - many of them returning to their home towns - which is something people definitely like to hear as we invest local dollars."

The earned degrees and certifications are also readily portable to any other state or bigger city, Burks was quick to add.&nbsp;

The carpentry program has grown large enough it has been relocated to the main Hays campus at 2205 Wheatland Ave.

Those students, with the help of electricity and PHAC students,&nbsp; are finishing up their annual major project - building a house. The 1,920 sq. ft. single family home will be sold at auction Thu., May 14, and then moved off campus by the new homeowners.

This will be the eighth house built by the NCK Tech students.

Last year's home sold for $160,000. More than $123,548 of the building materials were purchased from Hays area businesses.

The next home built by the students may be done "on location" and nearby.

NCK Tech is in discussions with Doug Williams and Grow Hays about building affordable housing on site in the Tallgrass Addition adjacent to the school at 22nd and Wheatland.&nbsp;

"We're looking to be involved as one of the contractors," Burks said. "Our board of trustees hasn't committed to it yet but we definitely have an interest in finding if that makes sense. I think we can find a way in which everybody wins."

The school is already committed to installing the wiring and plumbing for the new Hays Fire Department Regional Fire Training Facility which is being designed and built by Fort Hays State University construction students south of Old Highway 40.

Projects done for the city in 2019 included replacing electrical switches in the restrooms of Hays parks, troubleshooting a malfunction in the Larks Park scoreboard, and fixing a mini-split air conditioner in a water well house.

Students and their instructors, who are licensed under Hays city codes, also remodeled classrooms in their building, ran a gas line inside the shop for PHAC practice on heating systems, and reconfigured and overhauled the inside and back shops.

Employees of several area trades businesses serve on the NCK Tech advisory committees, ensuring the training meets the regions's needs.

A study conducted in October 2019 by EMSI, a labor market analytics firm focused on the student-to-employment journey, showed NCK Tech has an annual economic impact of $30.7 million in its 18-county service area.

There is no direct tax burden to any county.

"We don't have a local mill levy. We're completely supported through student tuition and state reimbursement for the credit hours we generate," Burks explained.&nbsp;

Mayor Shaun Musil said he appreciates what NCK Tech is doing in helping keep kids in Kansas.

"We just had a meeting with Fort Hays State saying how important it is for kids to go back to their communities after their schooling," Musil said.

"And that's important for Hays, too. What you're doing is exactly what we need."

Ron Mellick also served on the city commission in 2009.&nbsp; "We made the right decision back then in turning that campus over to you guys," he told Burks.

"We had no idea you'd take it and run with it like you did," Mellick said. "This is fantastic."

North Central Kansas Technical College is accredited by the Kansas Board of Regents and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and School.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582265706891.jpeg" alt="Eric Burks, NCK Tech president, presented the college's 2020 report to the city of Hays Thursday." />
 <figcaption>Eric Burks, NCK Tech president, presented the college's 2020 report to the city of Hays Thursday.</figcaption>
 </figure><div>By BECKY KISER Hays Post</div>It's been 10 years since the city of Hays began leasing the former Army Reserve building, 101 Main Street, at a minimal cost to NCK Technical College.The vocational school uses the building as its south Hays campus - called Big Creek Technical Training Center - for student programs in carpentry, electrical technology, and plumbing, heating and air conditioning (PHAC). In exchange, NCK Tech maintains the building and completes applicable&nbsp; projects for the city as requested.With more than 17 programs of study, NCK Tech graduates about 300 students each year from the satellite Hays campuses and its main campus in Beloit, according to Eric Burks, NCK Tech president. He delivered his annual report to Hays city commissioners Thursday night accompanied by several lead instructors in the audience.More than 93% of NCK Tech grads are hired almost immediately, sometimes even before they graduate."Some of our students couldn't attend their own graduations because they couldn't get off work," Burks noted."We've actually had the #1 placement in the nation for two years, in 2017 and 2018," he told the commission. "And more than 90% of our graduates stay in Kansas - many of them returning to their home towns - which is something people definitely like to hear as we invest local dollars."The earned degrees and certifications are also readily portable to any other state or bigger city, Burks was quick to add.&nbsp;<figure>
 <iframe width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nI-PvV4tCBE"></iframe>
 <figcaption>Eric Burks, NCK Tech president</figcaption>
 </figure>The carpentry program has grown large enough it has been relocated to the main Hays campus at 2205 Wheatland Ave.Those students, with the help of electricity and PHAC students,&nbsp; are finishing up their annual major project - building a house. The 1,920 sq. ft. single family home will be sold at auction Thu., May 14, and then moved off campus by the new homeowners.This will be the eighth house built by the NCK Tech students.Last year's home sold for $160,000. More than $123,548 of the building materials were purchased from Hays area businesses.The next home built by the students may be done "on location" and nearby.NCK Tech is in discussions with Doug Williams and Grow Hays about building affordable housing on site in the Tallgrass Addition adjacent to the school at 22nd and Wheatland.&nbsp;"We're looking to be involved as one of the contractors," Burks said. "Our board of trustees hasn't committed to it yet but we definitely have an interest in finding if that makes sense. I think we can find a way in which everybody wins."The school is already committed to installing the wiring and plumbing for the new Hays Fire Department Regional Fire Training Facility which is being designed and built by Fort Hays State University construction students south of Old Highway 40.Projects done for the city in 2019 included replacing electrical switches in the restrooms of Hays parks, troubleshooting a malfunction in the Larks Park scoreboard, and fixing a mini-split air conditioner in a water well house.Students and their instructors, who are licensed under Hays city codes, also remodeled classrooms in their building, ran a gas line inside the shop for PHAC practice on heating systems, and reconfigured and overhauled the inside and back shops.Employees of several area trades businesses serve on the NCK Tech advisory committees, ensuring the training meets the regions's needs.A study conducted in October 2019 by EMSI, a labor market analytics firm focused on the student-to-employment journey, showed NCK Tech has an annual economic impact of $30.7 million in its 18-county service area.There is no direct tax burden to any county."We don't have a local mill levy. We're completely supported through student tuition and state reimbursement for the credit hours we generate," Burks explained.&nbsp;Mayor Shaun Musil said he appreciates what NCK Tech is doing in helping keep kids in Kansas."We just had a meeting with Fort Hays State saying how important it is for kids to go back to their communities after their schooling," Musil said."And that's important for Hays, too. What you're doing is exactly what we need."Ron Mellick also served on the city commission in 2009.&nbsp; "We made the right decision back then in turning that campus over to you guys," he told Burks."We had no idea you'd take it and run with it like you did," Mellick said. "This is fantastic."North Central Kansas Technical College is accredited by the Kansas Board of Regents and the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and School.

🎥 Commissioner Mellick on NCK Tech lease: 'We made the right decision'

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Sen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, has introduced a bill that would require the Kansas Department of Aging Disability Services to provide acute care psychiatric beds for juveniles in western Kansas.

SB-407 would require KDADS to provide 12 acute care psychiatric beds for juveniles in Hays and Garden City or the surrounding communities.

KVC Hospital-Hays closed the only juvenile acute care psychiatric beds in western Kansas in October, citing changes in regulations that would not allow youth in acute care to be housed in the same space as youth in residential care.

<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/11/04/closure-of-kvc-beds-leaves-kids-with-psychiatric-needs-hundreds-of-miles-from-treatment/">SEE RELATED STORY: Closure of KVC beds leaves kids with psychiatric needs hundreds of miles from treatment</a>

"Someone shows up in Hays, and they say, 'Sorry, we no longer have the acute care beds here. You have to go to Wichita or Kansas City.' Most of the time Wichita is full," Billinger said. "We have such a shortage of beds right now, opening these 24 up will help, but it is going to be not nearly enough beds to take care of the kids with needs."

Acute care beds are reserved for youth in need of temporary intense treatment and who may be a danger to themselves or others.

"What's happening is when these folks show up in Hays now and they say you have to go on to Kansas City, these parents are saying, 'Sorry, that is not an option,'and they are taking these children home without any treatment.

"My concern is someone hurting themselves or someone else.&nbsp; ... It would be a tragedy. We need to take care of these kids, and we are going to figure out a way to do it."

&nbsp;Walt Hill, director of High Plains Mental Health, confirmed parents and guardians are resorting to traveling to Kansas City, out of state or forgoing in-patient treatment for their children because of the lack of acute care beds.

"There is great need for this, and a great interest in this," he said. "I think it is just a matter of getting it moved on toward the finish line."

KDADS conducted a listening tour in western Kansas during the last several weeks, and Hill said the acute care beds has been a point of concern.

"I think those options were still wide open in those discussions, looking at different communities and different partners and they looked at different potential physical facilities," Hill said. "I am not exactly sure what the next steps are. I think that probably rests with KDADS."

The Hays Post tried to contact KDADS for comment, but a phone call was not returned.

Billinger's bill would require KDADS to provide the beds without additional funding. However, he said if that proved to be a stumbling block for the legislation, he would seek additional funding for the project.

Billinger's bill has been referred to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, but has not been scheduled for a hearing as turn around looms at the statehouse. This is the deadline for all bills to be moved to the opposite house of the Legislature for hearings.

KVC is moving forward with turning the space it was using for acute care beds into residential treatment psychiatric beds. This type of treatment generally lasts 30 to 90 days and is for youth who have been stabilized.

Kansas has about 200 children on a waiting list for residential treatment with a wait time of about five months.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostSen. Rick Billinger, R-Goodland, has introduced a bill that would require the Kansas Department of Aging Disability Services to provide acute care psychiatric beds for juveniles in western Kansas.SB-407 would require KDADS to provide 12 acute care psychiatric beds for juveniles in Hays and Garden City or the surrounding communities.KVC Hospital-Hays closed the only juvenile acute care psychiatric beds in western Kansas in October, citing changes in regulations that would not allow youth in acute care to be housed in the same space as youth in residential care.<a href="https://archive.hayspost.com/2019/11/04/closure-of-kvc-beds-leaves-kids-with-psychiatric-needs-hundreds-of-miles-from-treatment/">SEE RELATED STORY: Closure of KVC beds leaves kids with psychiatric needs hundreds of miles from treatment</a>"Someone shows up in Hays, and they say, 'Sorry, we no longer have the acute care beds here. You have to go to Wichita or Kansas City.' Most of the time Wichita is full," Billinger said. "We have such a shortage of beds right now, opening these 24 up will help, but it is going to be not nearly enough beds to take care of the kids with needs."Acute care beds are reserved for youth in need of temporary intense treatment and who may be a danger to themselves or others."What's happening is when these folks show up in Hays now and they say you have to go on to Kansas City, these parents are saying, 'Sorry, that is not an option,'and they are taking these children home without any treatment."My concern is someone hurting themselves or someone else.&nbsp; ... It would be a tragedy. We need to take care of these kids, and we are going to figure out a way to do it."&nbsp;Walt Hill, director of High Plains Mental Health, confirmed parents and guardians are resorting to traveling to Kansas City, out of state or forgoing in-patient treatment for their children because of the lack of acute care beds."There is great need for this, and a great interest in this," he said. "I think it is just a matter of getting it moved on toward the finish line."KDADS conducted a listening tour in western Kansas during the last several weeks, and Hill said the acute care beds has been a point of concern."I think those options were still wide open in those discussions, looking at different communities and different partners and they looked at different potential physical facilities," Hill said. "I am not exactly sure what the next steps are. I think that probably rests with KDADS."The Hays Post tried to contact KDADS for comment, but a phone call was not returned.Billinger's bill would require KDADS to provide the beds without additional funding. However, he said if that proved to be a stumbling block for the legislation, he would seek additional funding for the project.Billinger's bill has been referred to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, but has not been scheduled for a hearing as turn around looms at the statehouse. This is the deadline for all bills to be moved to the opposite house of the Legislature for hearings.KVC is moving forward with turning the space it was using for acute care beds into residential treatment psychiatric beds. This type of treatment generally lasts 30 to 90 days and is for youth who have been stabilized.Kansas has about 200 children on a waiting list for residential treatment with a wait time of about five months.

Bill would require juvenile acute psychiatric beds in western Kansas

LAWRENCE — Twenty-one new law enforcement officers graduated from the&nbsp;<a href="https://kletc.org/">Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center</a>&nbsp;on Feb 14. Jennifer Richner of the Edwardsville Police Department was the graduating class president, and Sheriff Andrew Dedeke from Leavenworth County was the speaker for the ceremony in KLETC’s Integrity Auditorium.

The new officers were members of the 262nd basic training class. The graduates, who began their training in October 2019, represented 14 municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas.

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.

Under a new class format that launched in fall 2019, basic training classes start more frequently and feature smaller group sizes, with a new class starting every three weeks.&nbsp;

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 University of Kansas Professional &amp; Continuing Education.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1579117666958.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LAWRENCE — Twenty-one new law enforcement officers graduated from the&nbsp;<a href="https://kletc.org/">Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center</a>&nbsp;on Feb 14. Jennifer Richner of the Edwardsville Police Department was the graduating class president, and Sheriff Andrew Dedeke from Leavenworth County was the speaker for the ceremony in KLETC’s Integrity Auditorium.The new officers were members of the 262nd basic training class. The graduates, who began their training in October 2019, represented 14 municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas.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.Under a new class format that launched in fall 2019, basic training classes start more frequently and feature smaller group sizes, with a new class starting every three weeks.&nbsp;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 University of Kansas Professional &amp; Continuing Education.Northwest Kansas graduates included:Ellis County<ol>
 <li>Andrew Sheely, Fort Hays State University Police Department</li>
 </ol>Osborne County<ol>
 <li>Matthew Pasilas, Osborne Police Department</li>
 </ol>

NW Kansas officers among newest police academy grads

Kenneth “Whitey' Joseph Struckhoff, 81, of Grinnell, died Tuesday, 
February 18, 2020 at Salina Regional Health Center. 

He was born October 
8, 1938, in Grinnell, KS, to Aloys and Regina (Ballmann) Struckhoff. 
Whitey was a 1956 graduate of Grinnell High School. Following high 
school, he proudly served his country in the United States Army 
stationed in Germany from 1958-1960.  Upon returning home, Whitey worked
 for Struckhoff &amp; Sons well drilling business. He later was 
self-employed and was a rancher and farmer until he retired. On July 16,
 1963, he married Janet Kruse in Angelus, KS. From this union, came six 
children and fifteen grandchildren who he loved and adored. “Papa” loved
 to tease and had a special nickname for each of his grandchildren. When
 he wasn’t tinkering in the garage inventing something new, he took 
great joy in spending time with his kids and grandkids doing what he 
loved most-- golfing, fishing, hunting, camping and boating, cheering on
 the Chiefs, and sitting on the patio grilling a good steak. Whitey also
 had a great love for his church and community. He was a member of the 
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Grinnell and a third degree 
member of the Knights of Columbus.  Whitey was committed to promoting 
the spirit of community.  He was a founder of the annual Grinnell After 
Harvest Festival and the Cow Paddy Golf Course. He loved to be involved 
and had a special way of inspiring others to do the same.  


Whitey was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter Katherine 
Lang, and siblings: Raymond Struckhoff, Fred Struckhoff, Charles 
Struckhoff, Sr. Kenneth Struckhoff, Bernice Hansen and Fritz Ostmeyer. 


He is survived by his wife Janet and children: Monique O’Grady, Melissa 
(John) Kuhlman, Kim (David) Lampe, Karla (Roger) Bixenman, Stacey (John)
 Lang, and Tony (Nicole) Struckhoff; sister Rita Hitt; grandchildren: 
Shawn O’Grady, Jenna O’Grady, Ryan O’Grady, Gabrielle (Kinsly) Kroetsch,
 Eli Kuhlman, Rachael (Hunter) Hewitt, Joseph Lampe, Ben Lampe, Nicholas
 (Whitney) Lampe, Shane Bixenman, Derek Bixenman, Eleanor Lang, Lucas 
Lang, Aleah Struckhoff, and numerous nieces and nephews. 


Visitation will be on Sunday, February 23, 2020, at the Immaculate 
Conception Parish Center, Grinnell from 5:00-7:00 pm.  A vigil will 
follow at 7:00 pm. The funeral Mass is at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February
 24, 2020, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Grinnell. Final
 resting place will be in the Immaculate Conception Church cemetery. 
Memorials are suggested to the Cow Paddy Golf Course or the Grinnell/ 
Angelus Area Heritage Center and can be sent in care of Baalmann 
Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For information or condolences 
visit www.baalmannmortuary.com

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582216024132.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kenneth “Whitey' Joseph Struckhoff, 81, of Grinnell, died Tuesday, 
February 18, 2020 at Salina Regional Health Center. He was born October 
8, 1938, in Grinnell, KS, to Aloys and Regina (Ballmann) Struckhoff. 
Whitey was a 1956 graduate of Grinnell High School. Following high 
school, he proudly served his country in the United States Army 
stationed in Germany from 1958-1960. Upon returning home, Whitey worked
 for Struckhoff &amp; Sons well drilling business. He later was 
self-employed and was a rancher and farmer until he retired. On July 16,
 1963, he married Janet Kruse in Angelus, KS. From this union, came six 
children and fifteen grandchildren who he loved and adored. “Papa” loved
 to tease and had a special nickname for each of his grandchildren. When
 he wasn’t tinkering in the garage inventing something new, he took 
great joy in spending time with his kids and grandkids doing what he 
loved most-- golfing, fishing, hunting, camping and boating, cheering on
 the Chiefs, and sitting on the patio grilling a good steak. Whitey also
 had a great love for his church and community. He was a member of the 
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Grinnell and a third degree 
member of the Knights of Columbus. Whitey was committed to promoting 
the spirit of community. He was a founder of the annual Grinnell After 
Harvest Festival and the Cow Paddy Golf Course. He loved to be involved 
and had a special way of inspiring others to do the same. 
Whitey was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter Katherine 
Lang, and siblings: Raymond Struckhoff, Fred Struckhoff, Charles 
Struckhoff, Sr. Kenneth Struckhoff, Bernice Hansen and Fritz Ostmeyer. 
He is survived by his wife Janet and children: Monique O’Grady, Melissa 
(John) Kuhlman, Kim (David) Lampe, Karla (Roger) Bixenman, Stacey (John)
 Lang, and Tony (Nicole) Struckhoff; sister Rita Hitt; grandchildren: 
Shawn O’Grady, Jenna O’Grady, Ryan O’Grady, Gabrielle (Kinsly) Kroetsch,
 Eli Kuhlman, Rachael (Hunter) Hewitt, Joseph Lampe, Ben Lampe, Nicholas
 (Whitney) Lampe, Shane Bixenman, Derek Bixenman, Eleanor Lang, Lucas 
Lang, Aleah Struckhoff, and numerous nieces and nephews. 
Visitation will be on Sunday, February 23, 2020, at the Immaculate 
Conception Parish Center, Grinnell from 5:00-7:00 pm. A vigil will 
follow at 7:00 pm. The funeral Mass is at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, February
 24, 2020, at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Grinnell. Final
 resting place will be in the Immaculate Conception Church cemetery. 
Memorials are suggested to the Cow Paddy Golf Course or the Grinnell/ 
Angelus Area Heritage Center and can be sent in care of Baalmann 
Mortuary, PO Box 204, Oakley, KS 67748. For information or condolences 
visit www.baalmannmortuary.com

Kenneth 'Whitey' Joseph Struckhoff

With less than 1,200 people, the small western Kansas town of
Hoxie may be as far from urban as a person could get.

But after living in Seattle, a young entrepreneur decided to
return to her hometown and ultimately open a bistro that would stand out even in the
largest of cities. In doing so, she is drawing people to Hoxie from the area and showcasing
the spirit required to stem the tide of the continuing economic decline of
small-town Kansas.

Serving eclectic cuisine she describes as modern French Americana and surrounded
by history Emily Campbell, owner and executive chef of The Elephant Bistro and
Bar wanted to bring something different to her hometown when she opened the restaurant
after moving back to Hoxie with her husband and leaving behind a burgeoning career
as a chef on the west coast.

In moving back she noticed the dining experiences she was a part of in Seattle lacking in the area, so after doing catering work, she acquiesced when her friends pushed her into opening a full-fledged
restaurant.

“That was one of the reasons we started this,” Campbell
said. “Otherwise you don’t get a lot of options when you go out and eat.”

While many may have opened into an existing location, Campbell and her husband decided to create a new restaurant in one of the oldest buildings in Hoxie.

“Everything in here has a history to it,” Campbell said.

Construction began in October 2016 on the building that housed a jewelry store for over 50 years.

&nbsp;“We literally took it
down to the dirt,” Campbell said.

The plaster covering the walls was chipped off to expose
brick, a balcony level was added in the rear, an old apartment in the front was
removed and an outdoor patio was added all in the span of 18 months. The
doors opened in July 2018. 

The final project creates a warm environment that would draw attention even in Seattle or Denver, but with touches of local history sprinkled
throughout the building.

The restaurant’s wood tables are made from the old floor of
the apartment, and the bar was made from the lanes of an old Hoxie bowling alley.

There is a story behind everything, she said, a part of the
vision she had for preserving what makes her hometown special.

“Why let your main street die and build off-site when you
can preserve a little bit of the history that’s here,” Campbell said. “This is
what you see, and this is what people are attracted too.”

And the outdoor seating adds a unique touch.

“It’s a fun atmosphere on the patio,” Campbell said, noting outdoor
dining experiences are rare in the area.

The complete experience results in patrons getting everything
that you don’t see in this region, she said.

“That’s also what we are here to provide—the experience, not
just food and cocktails, a place you can come out, sit down, have fun with
friends, have a date night, whatever the case may be,” Campbell said.

“We want to be that
place for everybody.”

Even as unique as The Elephant is, Campbell said she strives
to be open to anyone that makes the trip.

“You can walk in here in your muddy cowboy boots and get a
burger, or you can come in here in your black tie and get a dry-aged steak,”
Campbell said. “We want to appeal to all different customers.” &nbsp;

So far the blend of inclusiveness and unique dining has
served the restaurant well, as their notoriety continues to grow.

“We probably couldn’t survive if it wasn’t for our regional following,”
Campbell said, noting people from a 90-mile radius often frequent the establishment.

A large part of the success of The Elephant Bistro and
Bar is the community that has stepped up to support her efforts, including a
staff made up of many part-time workers.

“If it wasn’t for community support, it wouldn’t happen,” she said.

People willing to help out staffing a day or two a week –
“You don’t get that in a big city,” she said.“That’s what I appreciate about this place."

&nbsp;Staffing is
notoriously difficult in the restaurant industry, so Campbell said she strives
to ensure her help feels appreciated.

“My No. 1 goal is to have a happy staff, I want people
to come work here,” she said. “We have such a great team atmosphere.”

In a regular week, she said she has at least 20 employees
clocking in, sometimes up to 30, including her full-time kitchen staff that she has
developed in order to spend less time in the kitchen herself.

As time has gone on she has passed on much of her formal training to the staff,
some of which have been with her since the restaurant opened. 

“To bring that out here takes a little bit of time for
people to understand the way to do things, but I have an amazing kitchen staff
that wants to learn and wants to produce high-quality food. That’s what we
are about – from scratch and we source locally. They’ve
really learned a lot,” Campbell said. 

As much as possible the restaurant supports the area economy by sourcing products from as close as they can.

Their beef is raised right outside of Hoxie, as
is the bison at the<a href="https://m.facebook.com/hiddencreekranch1/community/?ref=page_internal&amp;mt_nav=0"> Hidden Creek Ranch just 30 miles west of town.</a>

<a href="https://americasbeststeaks.com/">Dry-aged steak comes from America’s Best Steaks outside of
Bouge.</a>

<a href="https://www.4b-farms.com/">And they source lettuce and herbs from 4B farms just 40 miles
south.</a>

“I’m always looking for local,” Campbell said.

They have used produce from a community garden as well.

&nbsp;“So the community is
definitely supporting this place too, which is awesome,” Campbell said.

The menu features everything from flatbread pizzas, to
tacos, mac and cheese, Wagyu sliders, dry-aged steaks and seafood.

“We really pride ourselves on quality seafood,” Campbell
said. “I’m picky when it comes to my seafood.” She is a fan of Sockeye salmon
from the Alaskan-Seattle region and uses it regularly.

They also have vegan and gluten-free menu options, another item
rare for the area, that has proven to be a draw.

Beverages are also diverse and are not the usual fare that
would be found in the area.

“We offer such a variety of cocktails and liquors, craft
beers and wines,” Campbell said. “We wanted to bring different craft names out
here that people aren’t used to seeing.”

When Emily Campbell returned to Hoxie before opening The
Elephant Bistro and Bar she wondered, “Is this the same town I grew up in?”
noting businesses were closing and people were leaving.

Along with the help
of many from a younger generation taking a stand to keep the town economically viable
and a comfortable place to live, she hopes people outside the area see through entrepreneurship and hard work, small-town Kansas can retain and
recapture what many see as a losing proposition.

“Luckily Hoxie is getting built back up,” Campbell said,
with places like her restaurant.

“Rural Kansas, rural
America is dying and if it's not for entrepreneurs and people that want to see
it live and produce things that people need out here, it will die,” she said.

Another young Hoxie native, Karl Pratt, who returned to
Hoxie last year and works as the board liaison for the Sheridan County
Community Foundation sees Campbell’s work as a good start and is hopeful that
others like her will follow suit.

“The Elephant has been amazing, it has brought so many
people into town and continues to bring them into town coming from further and
further distances,” he said.

“I definitely believe that spirit is there,” Pratt said. “You
can come home and create a living for yourself.”

Even as retail continues to change and large chain
operations and online shopping becoming a preferred way to procure necessities,
he said there is always going to be a need for some local services and businesses. 

“If you love your hometown, what better place to come back
and do it in,” Pratt said. “Good places to eat and entertainment, you have to
have those aspects in your life,”

Through entrepreneurship, small towns like Hoxie can thrive and the purveyors can develop as well.

“It’s neat how it changes you and how you grow,” Pratt said.
“You become a scrappy person and do what needs to be done.”

When walking through the small town, it’s clear many have
taken up that ideal.

“It’s a hopping place,” Pratt said. &nbsp;“The people want to live here and they want to
improve the quality of life.”

But reenergizing a community takes more than just one or a
few people, Pratt said, it is truly a community effort. He said he hopes more people
will realize small-town life can be as rich and rewarding as one in a big
city.

“It definitely takes a village to make it happen, but it has
happened and continues to happen,” he said. “We’ve got everything you need,
everything in a big town scaled to us, and that’s because of the people living
here.”

“I was so proud moving home,” Pratt said.

As for The Elephant, even if it takes a while to get there,
Campbell said it is worth the trip.

“Come experience something out of the ordinary,” she said.

The Elephant Bistro and Bar is located at 732 Main St. in
Hoxie and is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from 11
a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more about the restaurant visit <a href="https://theelephantbistrobar.com/">their
webpage</a> or their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theelephantbistrobar/">facebook page.</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582050410333.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JAMES BELL Hays PostWith less than 1,200 people, the small western Kansas town of
Hoxie may be as far from urban as a person could get.But after living in Seattle, a young entrepreneur decided to
return to her hometown and ultimately open a bistro that would stand out even in the
largest of cities. In doing so, she is drawing people to Hoxie from the area and showcasing
the spirit required to stem the tide of the continuing economic decline of
small-town Kansas.Serving eclectic cuisine she describes as modern French Americana and surrounded
by history Emily Campbell, owner and executive chef of The Elephant Bistro and
Bar wanted to bring something different to her hometown when she opened the restaurant
after moving back to Hoxie with her husband and leaving behind a burgeoning career
as a chef on the west coast.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582050449876.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>In moving back she noticed the dining experiences she was a part of in Seattle lacking in the area, so after doing catering work, she acquiesced when her friends pushed her into opening a full-fledged
restaurant.“That was one of the reasons we started this,” Campbell
said. “Otherwise you don’t get a lot of options when you go out and eat.”While many may have opened into an existing location, Campbell and her husband decided to create a new restaurant in one of the oldest buildings in Hoxie.“Everything in here has a history to it,” Campbell said.Construction began in October 2016 on the building that housed a jewelry store for over 50 years.&nbsp;“We literally took it
down to the dirt,” Campbell said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582050481179.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The plaster covering the walls was chipped off to expose
brick, a balcony level was added in the rear, an old apartment in the front was
removed and an outdoor patio was added all in the span of 18 months. The
doors opened in July 2018. The final project creates a warm environment that would draw attention even in Seattle or Denver, but with touches of local history sprinkled
throughout the building.The restaurant’s wood tables are made from the old floor of
the apartment, and the bar was made from the lanes of an old Hoxie bowling alley.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582050603227.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>There is a story behind everything, she said, a part of the
vision she had for preserving what makes her hometown special.“Why let your main street die and build off-site when you
can preserve a little bit of the history that’s here,” Campbell said. “This is
what you see, and this is what people are attracted too.”And the outdoor seating adds a unique touch.“It’s a fun atmosphere on the patio,” Campbell said, noting outdoor
dining experiences are rare in the area.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582050575979.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The complete experience results in patrons getting everything
that you don’t see in this region, she said.“That’s also what we are here to provide—the experience, not
just food and cocktails, a place you can come out, sit down, have fun with
friends, have a date night, whatever the case may be,” Campbell said.<h2>“We want to be that
place for everybody.”</h2>Even as unique as The Elephant is, Campbell said she strives
to be open to anyone that makes the trip.“You can walk in here in your muddy cowboy boots and get a
burger, or you can come in here in your black tie and get a dry-aged steak,”
Campbell said. “We want to appeal to all different customers.” &nbsp;So far the blend of inclusiveness and unique dining has
served the restaurant well, as their notoriety continues to grow.“We probably couldn’t survive if it wasn’t for our regional following,”
Campbell said, noting people from a 90-mile radius often frequent the establishment.<h2>Local, Local, Local</h2>A large part of the success of The Elephant Bistro and
Bar is the community that has stepped up to support her efforts, including a
staff made up of many part-time workers.“If it wasn’t for community support, it wouldn’t happen,” she said.People willing to help out staffing a day or two a week –
“You don’t get that in a big city,” she said.“That’s what I appreciate about this place."&nbsp;Staffing is
notoriously difficult in the restaurant industry, so Campbell said she strives
to ensure her help feels appreciated.“My No. 1 goal is to have a happy staff, I want people
to come work here,” she said. “We have such a great team atmosphere.”In a regular week, she said she has at least 20 employees
clocking in, sometimes up to 30, including her full-time kitchen staff that she has
developed in order to spend less time in the kitchen herself.As time has gone on she has passed on much of her formal training to the staff,
some of which have been with her since the restaurant opened. “To bring that out here takes a little bit of time for
people to understand the way to do things, but I have an amazing kitchen staff
that wants to learn and wants to produce high-quality food. That’s what we
are about – from scratch and we source locally. They’ve
really learned a lot,” Campbell said. <figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582050840051.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>As much as possible the restaurant supports the area economy by sourcing products from as close as they can.Their beef is raised right outside of Hoxie, as
is the bison at the<a href="https://m.facebook.com/hiddencreekranch1/community/?ref=page_internal&amp;mt_nav=0"> Hidden Creek Ranch just 30 miles west of town.</a><a href="https://americasbeststeaks.com/">Dry-aged steak comes from America’s Best Steaks outside of
Bouge.</a><a href="https://www.4b-farms.com/">And they source lettuce and herbs from 4B farms just 40 miles
south.</a>“I’m always looking for local,” Campbell said.They have used produce from a community garden as well.&nbsp;“So the community is
definitely supporting this place too, which is awesome,” Campbell said.The menu features everything from flatbread pizzas, to
tacos, mac and cheese, Wagyu sliders, dry-aged steaks and seafood.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582050549732.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>“We really pride ourselves on quality seafood,” Campbell
said. “I’m picky when it comes to my seafood.” She is a fan of Sockeye salmon
from the Alaskan-Seattle region and uses it regularly.They also have vegan and gluten-free menu options, another item
rare for the area, that has proven to be a draw.Beverages are also diverse and are not the usual fare that
would be found in the area.“We offer such a variety of cocktails and liquors, craft
beers and wines,” Campbell said. “We wanted to bring different craft names out
here that people aren’t used to seeing.”<h2>New life in an old town</h2>When Emily Campbell returned to Hoxie before opening The
Elephant Bistro and Bar she wondered, “Is this the same town I grew up in?”
noting businesses were closing and people were leaving.Along with the help
of many from a younger generation taking a stand to keep the town economically viable
and a comfortable place to live, she hopes people outside the area see through entrepreneurship and hard work, small-town Kansas can retain and
recapture what many see as a losing proposition.“Luckily Hoxie is getting built back up,” Campbell said,
with places like her restaurant.“Rural Kansas, rural
America is dying and if it's not for entrepreneurs and people that want to see
it live and produce things that people need out here, it will die,” she said.Another young Hoxie native, Karl Pratt, who returned to
Hoxie last year and works as the board liaison for the Sheridan County
Community Foundation sees Campbell’s work as a good start and is hopeful that
others like her will follow suit.“The Elephant has been amazing, it has brought so many
people into town and continues to bring them into town coming from further and
further distances,” he said.“I definitely believe that spirit is there,” Pratt said. “You
can come home and create a living for yourself.”Even as retail continues to change and large chain
operations and online shopping becoming a preferred way to procure necessities,
he said there is always going to be a need for some local services and businesses. That is where entrepreneurs can step up.“If you love your hometown, what better place to come back
and do it in,” Pratt said. “Good places to eat and entertainment, you have to
have those aspects in your life,”Through entrepreneurship, small towns like Hoxie can thrive and the purveyors can develop as well.“It’s neat how it changes you and how you grow,” Pratt said.
“You become a scrappy person and do what needs to be done.”When walking through the small town, it’s clear many have
taken up that ideal.“It’s a hopping place,” Pratt said. &nbsp;“The people want to live here and they want to
improve the quality of life.”But reenergizing a community takes more than just one or a
few people, Pratt said, it is truly a community effort. He said he hopes more people
will realize small-town life can be as rich and rewarding as one in a big
city.“It definitely takes a village to make it happen, but it has
happened and continues to happen,” he said. “We’ve got everything you need,
everything in a big town scaled to us, and that’s because of the people living
here.”“I was so proud moving home,” Pratt said.As for The Elephant, even if it takes a while to get there,
Campbell said it is worth the trip.“Come experience something out of the ordinary,” she said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582050202411.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Elephant Bistro and Bar is located at 732 Main St. in
Hoxie and is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from 11
a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. For more about the restaurant visit <a href="https://theelephantbistrobar.com/">their
webpage</a> or their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theelephantbistrobar/">facebook page.</a>

The Elephant a showpiece of entrepreneurial spirit in western Kansas

Three Asian countries are promising economic stimulus to offset the impact of the coronavirus. Bloomberg reports the move by China, Hong Kong and Singapore could buoy crude-oil demand. Beijing could even go so far as to lower corporate taxes. Worries about the economic impact of the virus waned last week, and crude prices recovered more than five percent, the biggest gain since September.&nbsp;

Kansas Comnon crude at CHS in McPherson gained 50 cents on Friday to start the week at $42.25 per barrel. That's nearly two dollars higher than a week ago, but is down more than two dollars from last year at this time.

The Kansas Geological Survey reports last year's total statewide crude-oil production through October reached 27.7 million barrels. Barton County pumped 133,000 barrels, bringing the total through October to 1.35 million barrels. Ellis County operators added 209,000 in October, bringing the total to 2.1 million barrels. Russell County operators produced over 124,000 barrels for the month, for a running total of 1.25 million barrels. Stafford County checked in with nearly 91,000 barrels (862,000 year-to-date).

The statewide rig count in Kansas was down one. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 14 active rigs in Western Kansas, down one, and six east of Wichita, which is unchanged from last week. Drilling is underway on one lease in Ellis County and one in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reports 790 active drilling rigs across the U.S., an increase of two oil rigs. The count in Texas was up three and New Mexico was up one.

Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 16 new well completions for the week, 162 so far this year. There were six in eastern Kansas and ten west of Wichita, including one newly-completed well in Stafford County.

Kansas regulators posted eight new drilling permits last week, two east of Wichita and six out west. There are 85 new drilling permits so far this year.

U.S. operators set another weekly crude-production record last week. The government reports total production for the week ending February 7 of 12.987 million barrels per day. That's up 102,000 barrels per day from the week before.

The Energy Information Administration reported U.S. crude inventories of 442.5 million barrels, an increase of seven and a half million barrels. Stockpiles are about two percent below the five-year seasonal average. The government report on Wednesday marked a slightly higher increase than the American Petroleum Institute's estimate the day before.

EIA says U.S. crude oil imports averaged 7.0 million barrels per day last week, up by 363,000 barrels per day from the previous week. Over the past four weeks, crude oil imports averaged about 6.7 million barrels per day, 6.8% less than the same four-week period last year.

Oil by rail in the U.S. is up two-tenths of one percent from levels reported during last year's spike. The Association of American Railroads says the spike in Canada continues, increasing more than 72 percent from year-ago levels.

Kuwait and Saudi Arabia will start trial oil production from their jointly-operated oilfields in what has become known as the "Neutral Zone" between the two countries. Kuwait’s oil minister said trial production from the two fields will increase gradually till it reaches its normal levels, and expects production from the fields to reach 550,000 barrels per day before the end of the year. Production from the zone is divided between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The two countries agreed last year to end a five-year dispute over the border area, allowing production to resume.&nbsp; &nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574099516454.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By JOHN P. TRETBARThree Asian countries are promising economic stimulus to offset the impact of the coronavirus. Bloomberg reports the move by China, Hong Kong and Singapore could buoy crude-oil demand. Beijing could even go so far as to lower corporate taxes. Worries about the economic impact of the virus waned last week, and crude prices recovered more than five percent, the biggest gain since September.&nbsp;Kansas Comnon crude at CHS in McPherson gained 50 cents on Friday to start the week at $42.25 per barrel. That's nearly two dollars higher than a week ago, but is down more than two dollars from last year at this time.The Kansas Geological Survey reports last year's total statewide crude-oil production through October reached 27.7 million barrels. Barton County pumped 133,000 barrels, bringing the total through October to 1.35 million barrels. Ellis County operators added 209,000 in October, bringing the total to 2.1 million barrels. Russell County operators produced over 124,000 barrels for the month, for a running total of 1.25 million barrels. Stafford County checked in with nearly 91,000 barrels (862,000 year-to-date).The statewide rig count in Kansas was down one. Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 14 active rigs in Western Kansas, down one, and six east of Wichita, which is unchanged from last week. Drilling is underway on one lease in Ellis County and one in Stafford County. Baker Hughes reports 790 active drilling rigs across the U.S., an increase of two oil rigs. The count in Texas was up three and New Mexico was up one.Independent Oil &amp; Gas Service reports 16 new well completions for the week, 162 so far this year. There were six in eastern Kansas and ten west of Wichita, including one newly-completed well in Stafford County.Kansas regulators posted eight new drilling permits last week, two east of Wichita and six out west. There are 85 new drilling permits so far this year.U.S. operators set another weekly crude-production record last week. The government reports total production for the week ending February 7 of 12.987 million barrels per day. That's up 102,000 barrels per day from the week before.The Energy Information Administration reported U.S. crude inventories of 442.5 million barrels, an increase of seven and a half million barrels. Stockpiles are about two percent below the five-year seasonal average. The government report on Wednesday marked a slightly higher increase than the American Petroleum Institute's estimate the day before.EIA says U.S. crude oil imports averaged 7.0 million barrels per day last week, up by 363,000 barrels per day from the previous week. Over the past four weeks, crude oil imports averaged about 6.7 million barrels per day, 6.8% less than the same four-week period last year.Oil by rail in the U.S. is up two-tenths of one percent from levels reported during last year's spike. The Association of American Railroads says the spike in Canada continues, increasing more than 72 percent from year-ago levels.Kuwait and Saudi Arabia will start trial oil production from their jointly-operated oilfields in what has become known as the "Neutral Zone" between the two countries. Kuwait’s oil minister said trial production from the two fields will increase gradually till it reaches its normal levels, and expects production from the fields to reach 550,000 barrels per day before the end of the year. Production from the zone is divided between Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The two countries agreed last year to end a five-year dispute over the border area, allowing production to resume.&nbsp; &nbsp;

News From the Oil Patch, Feb. 17

TUSCUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A former seventh-grade science teacher at School of the Osage has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after he provided academic help to female students in exchange for being allowed to have sexual contact with them.

Mark Edwards, 46, of Eldon was originally charged with four counts of inappropriate sexual behavior with a student but pleaded guilty in November to to one count of statutory sodomy. He was sentenced Friday, The Jefferson City News-Tribune&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newstribune.com/news/local/story/2020/feb/14/former-school-osage-teacher-gets-20-years-sodomy/816650/">reported.</a>

As part of the plea, a charge of child molestation was dropped and two counts of sexual contact with a student were sent to an associate court for later action.

Edwards was accused of providing female students with answers to tests and assignments in exchange for being allowed to look down their shirts and touch them, or to make sexually explicit or suggestive comments and sexually abuse and assault them, prosecutors said.

Edwards also is subject to lifetime supervision as a sexual predator.

A student and the student's family are suing Edwards, the school district and district officials. The case is scheduled to go to a jury trail in October, according to federal court records.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581979556110.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Edwards photo Miller County SheriffTUSCUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — A former seventh-grade science teacher at School of the Osage has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after he provided academic help to female students in exchange for being allowed to have sexual contact with them.Mark Edwards, 46, of Eldon was originally charged with four counts of inappropriate sexual behavior with a student but pleaded guilty in November to to one count of statutory sodomy. He was sentenced Friday, The Jefferson City News-Tribune&nbsp;<a href="https://www.newstribune.com/news/local/story/2020/feb/14/former-school-osage-teacher-gets-20-years-sodomy/816650/">reported.</a>As part of the plea, a charge of child molestation was dropped and two counts of sexual contact with a student were sent to an associate court for later action.Edwards was accused of providing female students with answers to tests and assignments in exchange for being allowed to look down their shirts and touch them, or to make sexually explicit or suggestive comments and sexually abuse and assault them, prosecutors said.Edwards also is subject to lifetime supervision as a sexual predator.A student and the student's family are suing Edwards, the school district and district officials. The case is scheduled to go to a jury trail in October, according to federal court records.

Former teacher sentenced for trading test answers for sex 

Scene of the fatal 2017 crash photo courtesy&nbsp; KSHB

Kansas City (AP) — A man who killed a friend by crashing a car into a house has been given 15 years in prison.

&nbsp;Jacob Mustoe was sentenced last week in Clay County Circuit Court in Liberty. He'd pleaded guilty in October to voluntary manslaughter for the June 25, 2017, death of Jake Wehmeyer. Both were 17 at the time, authorities have said.

The two got into a fight among teenagers that broke out during a party at Wehmeyer's home. Mustoe told police later that he was high on psilocybin mushrooms when he left, got into his car and started it and then drove it toward Wehmeyer's house and ran into a neighbor's yard.

That's when he saw Wehmeyer standing in the neighbor’s yard trying to get him to slow down and stop, Mustoe said. Mustoe's car hit Wehmeyer and crashed into a garage door.

Arriving officers found Wehmeyer lying partially under the car in the driveway.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581940733234.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Scene of the fatal 2017 crash photo courtesy&nbsp; KSHBKansas City (AP) — A man who killed a friend by crashing a car into a house has been given 15 years in prison.&nbsp;Jacob Mustoe was sentenced last week in Clay County Circuit Court in Liberty. He'd pleaded guilty in October to voluntary manslaughter for the June 25, 2017, death of Jake Wehmeyer. Both were 17 at the time, authorities have said.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581941010664.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Mustoe photo Clay Co.The two got into a fight among teenagers that broke out during a party at Wehmeyer's home. Mustoe told police later that he was high on psilocybin mushrooms when he left, got into his car and started it and then drove it toward Wehmeyer's house and ran into a neighbor's yard.That's when he saw Wehmeyer standing in the neighbor’s yard trying to get him to slow down and stop, Mustoe said. Mustoe's car hit Wehmeyer and crashed into a garage door.Arriving officers found Wehmeyer lying partially under the car in the driveway.

KC-area man sentenced for crash into house that killed friend

By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/two-patients-died-after-surgery-overland-park-hospital-their-families-want-answers#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>

On Feb. 6, 2018, Travis Claussen had his right hip replaced at Blue Valley Hospital in Overland Park.

The
 40-year-old resident of Lawson, Missouri, had been experiencing severe 
back pain for years. Before then, he’d been a physical fitness buff who 
was into off-road motorcycle racing.

His back pain got so bad 
that, other than helping out his mother with her small T-shirt and sign 
business, he’d been unable to work for the previous five years.

Claussen
 was considered a poor candidate for back surgery because, at 
six-feet-one-inches tall and 240 pounds, he was considered obese. But 
one of the doctors at Blue Valley thought he was sufficiently young and 
healthy to undergo hip replacement surgery.

Claussen went ahead 
with the procedure, but following his discharge from the hospital he 
developed a surgical site infection. He returned to the hospital 13 days
 after his discharge and was treated with pain medications, intravenous 
antibiotics and a wound dressing to promote healing.

He was 
discharged again a week later but readmitted several more times over the
 following weeks when it became clear the infection wasn’t clearing up. 
On April 9, 2018, the surgeon removed Claussen’s hip implants. During 
the procedure, Claussen’s right femur fractured.

Medical records show that over the next 24 or so hours, he was given 
large quantities of narcotics, including fentanyl and oxycodone, and 
sedatives, including Valium and Ativan. At 3:50 a.m. on April 11, a 
nurse found him unresponsive. He was transported about 50 minutes later 
just down the road to Saint Luke’s South Hospital but it was too late. 
Claussen was dead.

He wasn’t the first patient at privately owned
 Blue Valley Hospital, which was renamed Pinnacle Regional Hospital in 
2018 and on Wednesday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, to die following 
surgery there.

Joseph Metz, who had endured back pain for years, 
underwent spinal fusion surgery at Blue Valley on Dec. 22, 2017. He was 
discharged four days later, although his temperature was elevated and an
 autopsy subsequently showed he had pneumonia. The following day he was 
discovered unresponsive in bed at home. He was pronounced dead at 4:43 
that morning. Metz was 36 years old.

The two men’s deaths came 
during a time when the hospital was in peril of losing its Medicare 
certification because it didn’t have a sufficient number of inpatients. 
In fact, a hospital staffer told CMS inspectors in 2017 that it was 
performing “a lot of extra surgeries to get the numbers we needed.”&nbsp;

Andrea
 Carabetta, the pharmacy director at Blue Valley Hospital for nearly 
three years before she left in the fall of 2018, told KCUR that Claussen
 should have been transferred to another hospital with a higher level of
 care.

“I feel like they killed him,” she said.

In
 October, Metz’s two minor children and the personal representative of 
his estate sued the hospital and two of its physicians for medical 
malpractice, alleging they were negligent in their treatment of Metz. 
The defendants have denied the allegations, claiming the plaintiffs’ 
injuries “were the direct and unavoidable consequence of Joseph Metz’s 
pre-existing condition.”

Claussen’s family filed their own lawsuit against the hospital, two 
of its physicians and a nurse practitioner on Thursday. Like the Metz 
family's lawsuit, it alleges the defendants were negligent in their 
treatment of their son and seeks unspecified damages.

A ‘more intimate hospital experience’

The
 hospital, which is located at 128th Street and Metcalf Avenue, is owned
 by businessman Douglas Palzer, who opened it in 2010 as a seven-bed 
facility with two operating rooms. Palzer, who lives part of the time in
 Las Vegas and could not be reached for comment, had previously owned a 
nearby ambulatory surgical center specializing in weight loss surgery.

A
 news release announcing the hospital’s opening said that while it was 
designed with weight-loss surgery in mind, “it is expanding its range of
 specialties and procedures.”

“We offer a more intimate hospital 
experience than what many people expect,” Palzer was quoted in the 
release as saying. “With only three outpatient and four inpatient beds, 
our patients get a lot of personal attention.”

Federal records 
obtained by KCUR, however, show they may not have gotten enough. In June
 2018, regulators issued a statement of deficiencies report about the 
hospital containing an “immediate jeopardy” finding – or a situation 
where patients could be at risk of injury or even death.

The
 report by inspectors for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
 (CMS) found that both Claussen’s and Metz’s deaths resulted from 
multiple failures by hospital staff to comply with conditions for 
getting Medicare and Medicaid funding.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581619424617.jpeg" alt=" Pinnacle Regional Hospital, at 128th Street and Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park, was previously known as Blue Valley Hospital. Dan Margolies / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption> Pinnacle Regional Hospital, at 128th Street and Metcalf Avenue in Overland Park, was previously known as Blue Valley Hospital. Dan Margolies / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>By DAN MARGOLIES <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/two-patients-died-after-surgery-overland-park-hospital-their-families-want-answers#stream/0">Kansas News Service</a>On Feb. 6, 2018, Travis Claussen had his right hip replaced at Blue Valley Hospital in Overland Park.The
 40-year-old resident of Lawson, Missouri, had been experiencing severe 
back pain for years. Before then, he’d been a physical fitness buff who 
was into off-road motorcycle racing.His back pain got so bad 
that, other than helping out his mother with her small T-shirt and sign 
business, he’d been unable to work for the previous five years.Claussen
 was considered a poor candidate for back surgery because, at 
six-feet-one-inches tall and 240 pounds, he was considered obese. But 
one of the doctors at Blue Valley thought he was sufficiently young and 
healthy to undergo hip replacement surgery.Claussen went ahead 
with the procedure, but following his discharge from the hospital he 
developed a surgical site infection. He returned to the hospital 13 days
 after his discharge and was treated with pain medications, intravenous 
antibiotics and a wound dressing to promote healing.He was 
discharged again a week later but readmitted several more times over the
 following weeks when it became clear the infection wasn’t clearing up. 
On April 9, 2018, the surgeon removed Claussen’s hip implants. During 
the procedure, Claussen’s right femur fractured.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581619478474.jpeg" alt=" Travis Claussen was 40 years old when he died. Credit Claussen family" />
 <figcaption> Travis Claussen was 40 years old when he died. Credit Claussen family</figcaption>
 </figure>Medical records show that over the next 24 or so hours, he was given 
large quantities of narcotics, including fentanyl and oxycodone, and 
sedatives, including Valium and Ativan. At 3:50 a.m. on April 11, a 
nurse found him unresponsive. He was transported about 50 minutes later 
just down the road to Saint Luke’s South Hospital but it was too late. 
Claussen was dead.He wasn’t the first patient at privately owned
 Blue Valley Hospital, which was renamed Pinnacle Regional Hospital in 
2018 and on Wednesday filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, to die following 
surgery there.Joseph Metz, who had endured back pain for years, 
underwent spinal fusion surgery at Blue Valley on Dec. 22, 2017. He was 
discharged four days later, although his temperature was elevated and an
 autopsy subsequently showed he had pneumonia. The following day he was 
discovered unresponsive in bed at home. He was pronounced dead at 4:43 
that morning. Metz was 36 years old.The two men’s deaths came 
during a time when the hospital was in peril of losing its Medicare 
certification because it didn’t have a sufficient number of inpatients. 
In fact, a hospital staffer told CMS inspectors in 2017 that it was 
performing “a lot of extra surgeries to get the numbers we needed.”&nbsp;Andrea
 Carabetta, the pharmacy director at Blue Valley Hospital for nearly 
three years before she left in the fall of 2018, told KCUR that Claussen
 should have been transferred to another hospital with a higher level of
 care.“I feel like they killed him,” she said.<h2>Families sue</h2>In
 October, Metz’s two minor children and the personal representative of 
his estate sued the hospital and two of its physicians for medical 
malpractice, alleging they were negligent in their treatment of Metz. 
The defendants have denied the allegations, claiming the plaintiffs’ 
injuries “were the direct and unavoidable consequence of Joseph Metz’s 
pre-existing condition.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581619507576.jpeg" alt=" Travis Claussen's parents, Debra and Herm Claussen, say they never got a word of apology from the hospital. Credit Dan Margolies / KCUR 89.3" />
 <figcaption> Travis Claussen's parents, Debra and Herm Claussen, say they never got a word of apology from the hospital. Credit Dan Margolies / KCUR 89.3</figcaption>
 </figure>Claussen’s family filed their own lawsuit against the hospital, two 
of its physicians and a nurse practitioner on Thursday. Like the Metz 
family's lawsuit, it alleges the defendants were negligent in their 
treatment of their son and seeks unspecified damages.<h2>A ‘more intimate hospital experience’</h2>The
 hospital, which is located at 128th Street and Metcalf Avenue, is owned
 by businessman Douglas Palzer, who opened it in 2010 as a seven-bed 
facility with two operating rooms. Palzer, who lives part of the time in
 Las Vegas and could not be reached for comment, had previously owned a 
nearby ambulatory surgical center specializing in weight loss surgery.A
 news release announcing the hospital’s opening said that while it was 
designed with weight-loss surgery in mind, “it is expanding its range of
 specialties and procedures.”“We offer a more intimate hospital 
experience than what many people expect,” Palzer was quoted in the 
release as saying. “With only three outpatient and four inpatient beds, 
our patients get a lot of personal attention.”Federal records 
obtained by KCUR, however, show they may not have gotten enough. In June
 2018, regulators issued a statement of deficiencies report about the 
hospital containing an “immediate jeopardy” finding – or a situation 
where patients could be at risk of injury or even death.<h2>‘Screamed of overdose’ </h2>The
 report by inspectors for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
 (CMS) found that both Claussen’s and Metz’s deaths resulted from 
multiple failures by hospital staff to comply with conditions for 
getting Medicare and Medicaid funding.As part of their 
investigation, the inspectors interviewed members of the hospital’s 
staff, including physicians and nurses. The report, as is customary with
 statements of deficiencies, does not identify the staff members by 
name, but some of their statements are damning.One said that 
after Claussen (who is identified in the report as Patient 10) was found
 unresponsive, they reviewed the crash cart and discovered that no 
Narcan, epinephrine or any emergency drugs were used.“We gave 
Patient 10 a lot of narcotics and I believe anyone with experience would
 have recognized a potential for narcotic overdose and would have tried 
at least one dose of Narcan,” the staff member said, referring to a drug
 used to treat narcotic overdoses.Another staff member said that
 Claussen’s symptoms “screamed of overdose to me. Patient 10 should have
 gotten Narcan. We do stock Narcan here, so it was available.”The
 CMS report said Claussen’s autopsy report indicated the cause of death 
as coronary artery disease with fentanyl intoxication as a contributing 
factor.The report said that “oxycodone intoxication,” along with
 underlying medical conditions, likewise contributed to Metz’s death. 
Citing the autopsy report, it said the concentration of oxycodone found 
in Metz, who is identified as Patient 3, was “above the expected 
therapeutic range and within the potentially fatal range.”<h2>‘Blame game’</h2>A
 hospital staff member told the CMS inspectors that following Metz’s 
death, hospital staff fought over having the reason for his death 
changed. The staff member said “there is a lot of the blame game going 
on …”At the time, Blue Valley was trying to boost the number of surgeries it performed.CMS
 had concluded the hospital did not “primarily engage” in providing 
services to inpatients – a requirement for participation in Medicare – 
and said it was going to end Blue Valley’s eligibility for Medicare 
reimbursements. Hospitals that don’t average at least two inpatients per
 day and at least two night average length of stay are considered 
same-day surgical centers, which are reimbursed differently.Carabetta,
 the pharmacy director who left in the fall of 2018, told KCUR she 
believed Claussen had been kept at the hospital instead of being 
transferred “to keep the patient census up to meet CMS requirements.”“I took my oath to provide good quality care and I didn’t feel I was living that oath,” she said.A spokeswoman for the hospital did not return phone calls seeking comment.<h2>‘No one expressed any sympathy’</h2>Still
 grieving over their loss, the Claussens are angry and upset over what 
they describe as the hospital’s cavalier response to their son’s death.“The
 doctor never acted like he was sorry this happened. He sure never said 
he was sorry this happened. The hospitalist never said he was sorry. The
 director of nursing never said she was sorry this happened,” says Debra
 Claussen, Travis’ mother.“Even after he died, nobody in 
management expressed any sympathy or regret. And I know that’s because 
they’re expecting a lawsuit and they’ve got to be careful what they 
say.”Money was clearly on the minds of the hospital’s administrators over the last few years.Before
 it lost its Medicare certification, Blue Valley claimed to perform 35% 
of all Missouri Medicaid bariatric surgeries, a procedure performed on 
obese patients. Seeking to restore its Medicare funding, Blue Valley 
filed a <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/overland-park-weight-loss-hospital-sues-after-government-cuts-medicare-funding#stream/0">lawsuit in which it claimed that its</a>
 termination from the program would likely result in the loss of 
Medicaid and commercial coverage as well, which would financially 
cripple it.<h2>‘Extra surgeries’</h2>In
 an April 2018 statement of deficiencies finding Blue Valley did not 
qualify for participation in Medicare, CMS inspectors said a hospital 
staff member – from the context, it appears to be one of the hospital’s 
executives – told them the hospital performed “a lot of extra surgeries 
to get the numbers we needed.”“So, I offered a new benefit to 
all employees and their families,” the staff member told the inspectors,
 according to the report. “I told them for those that medically qualify 
for a gastric sleeve, we would pay what insurance didn’t. Our staff has 
requested it for years because the insurance we have won’t cover the 
costs for the surgery here. Unfortunately, I have a lot of obese 
employees and they wanted this surgery. So it was something that could 
help us both. We have done about 50-60 employee/family surgeries to date
 with about 70 more that want it.”Although <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/overland-park-weight-loss-hospital-loses-bid-regain-its-medicare-funding#stream/0">a federal judge dismissed Blue Valley’s lawsuit</a> on procedural grounds – <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/overland-park-weight-loss-hospital-struggles-regain-its-medicare-certification#stream/0">a decision upheld by a federal appeals court</a>
 – Palzer, the hospital’s owner, managed to get around CMS’ termination 
of its participation in Medicare by buying Cooper County Memorial 
Hospital in Boonville, Missouri, in 2018.After the purchase, he renamed the Boonville and Overland Park facilities Pinnacle Regional Hospital.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1581619542408.jpeg" alt=" Pinnacle Regional Hospital in Boonville, Missouri, closed its doors last month, although its CEO says it plans to reopen as part of a bankruptcy reorganization. Credit Sebastian Martinez Valdivia / Side Effects Public Media" />
 <figcaption> Pinnacle Regional Hospital in Boonville, Missouri, closed its doors last month, although its CEO says it plans to reopen as part of a bankruptcy reorganization. Credit Sebastian Martinez Valdivia / Side Effects Public Media</figcaption>
 </figure>But last month, about two years after he purchased it, <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/pinnacle-regional-hospital-boonville-missouri-shuts-down-operations#stream/0">Palzer closed down the Boonville hospital</a>. In a statement, Pinnacle CEO Joseph Conigliaro said that Missouri regulators’ <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/boonville-missouri-hospital-ordered-stop-performing-surgery#stream/0">demand that the hospital upgrade its sterile processing procedures</a> would have proved too costly.By then Pinnacle was already <a href="https://www.kcur.org/post/shuttered-boonville-hospital-s-financial-woes-had-been-piling-year#stream/0">in serious financial trouble</a>.
 Vendors were suing for nonpayment and Pinnacle’s lender, Great Western 
Bank, claimed it was owed more than $24 million in unpaid loans, 
interest, late fees and other charges.In a lawsuit filed last 
month, Great Western said that both the Boonville and Overland Park 
businesses were “collapsing” and asked the court to appoint a receiver 
to oversee them and assess whether a sale would maximize their value.Seeking
 to restructure their debts, Pinnacle and its parent company, Pinnacle 
Healthcare System Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization 
on Wednesday. The companies said they hope to emerge from the proceeding
 as more stable, viable businesses.In astatement Thursday 
announcing the filing, Pinnacle CEO Joe Conigliaro said the Overland 
Park hospital would remain open and the Boonville hospital would be 
reopened.The Chapter 11 filing, Conigliaro said, will allow the 
companies “to restructure our debts and ensure stable, stronger, and 
viable business operations now and when we emerge from Chapter 11”“The
 reorganization proceedings will enable our companies to continue our 
mission of providing high quality and cost effective medical and 
surgical services in our communities,” Conigliaro said.Dan Margolies is a senior reporter and editor at KCUR. You can reach him on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/DanMargolies">@DanMargolies</a>.