The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce in Hays, Kansas, a vibrant city of 21,000 and a regional center for education, health care, professional services and retail, is recruiting for the position of President/CEO.
The successful candidate will provide collaborative leadership with the staff of three, the Board of Directors, 500-strong membership and other community organizations. Applicants should have executive management leadership experience in business, non-profit or chamber association, and experience leading an organization through growth and change to achieve strategic objectives. Bachelor’s degree in the area(s) of association management and/or business is required. Personal computer and excellent communication skills are required.
Occasional travel outside of Hays is required. The Hays Chamber offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits package. Please email cover letter and resume to shane.smith@commercebank.com by March 22 for priority consideration. Resumes will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.
An Eagle Communications bucket truck loaded down with bottled water for stricken communities in Nebraska
Flooding has reached record levels at 17 locations in Nebraska. Hundreds of homes have been damaged and hundreds of people are staying in shelters. Nearly 300 people have been rescued from high water across the state. In one county alone, Sarpy County, up to 500 homes have been damaged.
You can get information on how you can send donations to help here.
At that link you will find a way to text donations or send donations to Nebraska Flood Relief.
From the Fremont area this morning on the Platte. Each of those little islands has dozens of cattle on it, stranded with no place to go.
Our thoughts are with our agriculture industry as they will certainly feel the effects of this flooding. pic.twitter.com/PK8gpu2NMb
Please don’t come to closed areas to sight see. You put yourselves at risk and the first responders as well. Barricades are placed and roads are closed for safety.
Well, Kansas survived another week of extreme weather. This isn’t the topics of today’s column but it is worth a moment to discuss the “bomb cyclone” the region experienced. Winds around a low-pressure system are cyclonic. They flow in a counterclockwise direction into the low. A low-pressure system simply means the air pressure is lower than the air surrounding it. The laws of thermodynamics tell us everything must move from higher to lower energy, warmer to colder, and from more to less. So an area of low pressure has air moving into it. Nature likes equilibrium where everything is “equal” as it takes less energy. The greater the difference between the high and low pressure and the greater the pressure difference over a shorter difference, the greater the wind speed. Think of it as a staircase between floors. The staircase can descend one story over a length of 100 feet or over 10 feet. The first is a gentler and slower descent than the second. A bomb cyclone is characterized by pressure dropping at least 24 millibars in 24 hours. It may not seem like much but it is. These are not as rare as we might think but are more common in maritime regions. Now on to today’s topic.
This coming Wednesday, March 20 from 1 until 7 p.m. in the Case-New Holland lab (the NE corner of campus), Barton Community College is hold its Education and Employment Expo. The event features area employers and Barton’s short-term training opportunities focusing on agriculture, welding, scales (measurement), CDL, the natural gas transmission and measurement industry, and automotive. In addition, attending are agencies to assist with financial aid and obtaining your GED. Over 20 exhibitors will attend. This event is an opportunity for individuals to explore possible career options (this isn’t a traditional job fair), what short-term training is available to improve job prospects, and what help may be available.
So who should attend?
Anyone curious as to what careers are available and what training may be necessary. Especially those who by background or previous education never considered careers in these areas.
People who think you need a four-year degree to obtain a good career with good wages and benefits.
High school seniors looking for career opportunities but not necessarily through a traditional four-year degree.
Anyone at any age looking for a more stable career with good wages, benefits, and an opportunity for advancement.
This event is absolutely free and open to anyone interested in career opportunities able to read this column. There are door prizes and refreshments and, most importantly, an opportunity to explore careers in the area and what WTED at Barton Community College has to offer.
Mostly sunny, with a high near 54. North wind 7 to 10 mph becoming east southeast in the afternoon.
Monday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. East southeast wind around 10 mph.
Tuesday
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 51. Southeast wind 7 to 10 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.
Tuesday Night
Mostly cloudy, with a low around 33. North wind 9 to 11 mph.
Wednesday
Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. Northwest wind around 10 mph, with gusts as high as 18 mph.
Wednesday Night
Mostly clear, with a low around 33.
Thursday
Sunny, with a high near 60.
Thursday Night
A 30 percent chance of rain, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41.
Friday
A chance of rain, with thunderstorms also possible after 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Friday Night
Rain likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 1am, then a chance of rain and thunderstorms after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Chance of precipitation is 60%.
Saturday
A 40 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.
Saturday Night
A 50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 46.
Sunday
A 30 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 65.
The City of Hoisington recorded 20 bites from dogs or cats in 2018, a number that was three times higher than a year before.
For Hoisington Code Enforcement Officer Dolores Kipper that number is alarming, but could be less alarming if owners take their pets to get vaccinated.
Dolores Kipper Audio
Kipper encourages pet owners to get the vaccinations prior to March 31 because after that date the price will double. Those dog and cat owners that do not get their animals vaccinated by March 31 will receive a reminder letter from the City of Hoisington. Kipper says if owners ignore the letters, a citation will follow.
Donna Krug is the Family & Consumer Science Agent and District Director for the Cottonwood Extension District – Great Bend Office. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu
written by: Donna Krug
March 17 – 23 is noted as National Poison Prevention Week. It is the perfect time to raise awareness among families to reduce unintentional poisonings, and promote poison prevention in our corner of the world. When our kids and grandkids were quite young I probably paid more attention to this important topic. It is interesting to note though, that people of all ages are in danger of poisonings.
A few years ago an Extension Agent in a neighboring county shared the educational program titled, “Dangerous look-a-likes.” That information has stuck in my mind, so I will share a few of the things I remember.
Many household cleaners are the color of Kool-aid or sports drinks. Some even smell like citrus, so it could be very dangerous to have these cleaners left in a space that is accessible by young children. Another important rule here is to make sure you leave cleaners in their original container. If you do put them in another spray bottle, make sure it is clearly marked.
Look inside your medicine cabinet. Many pills look so much like red hots or other small candies. Children do not know the difference so make sure medicines and supplements are kept far out of reach of young children. Do not refer to medicine or vitamins as candy and do not involve children as helpers with your medication.
If a person of any age ingests something that is poisonous contact the Poison Control Center at this number (1-800-222-1222) The phone number is manned 24 hours a day.
More than 2 million poisonings are reported each year to the 57 poison control centers across the country. More than 90 percent of these poisonings occur in the home. The majority of non-fatal poisonings occur in children younger than six years old. If a product label says, “Keep out of reach of children” there is a reason. Keep those dangerous things up high and in a locked cabinet. Almost half of poison exposures for children under the age of 5 are caused by medicine.
Children have faster metabolisms than adults so anything they ingest will be absorbed into the bloodstream very quickly. Take a few minutes and do a visual check around your house to make sure you have any poisons out of reach of young children.
Donna Krug is the Family and Consumer Science Agent and District Director for the Cottonwood Extension District. You may reach her at: (620)793-1910 or dkrug@ksu.edu
With the heavy winds the state received this past week, any object that had a chance to blow away…did.
Hoisington Code Enforcement Officer Dolores Kipper saw a decent amount of issues with trash bins getting blown over and releasing trash to be carried throughout town.
The City of Hoisington ordinance allows residents to place their garbage bins near the curb 24 hours prior to pick up. The bins need to be pulled away from the curb and properly stored 24 hours after pickup.
Dolores Kipper Audio
The east side of Hoisington has their trash picked up on Thursday while the west side has their trash removed on Friday. Kipper says when she sees any trash bin next to the curb Sunday through Tuesday it is a clear violation of city code.
Kipper added she mailed many warning notices to residents that failed to comply with the ordinance last week during the windy weather.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – member of the Senate Appropriations Committee – today announced he will support H. J. Res. 46, the Emergency Declaration Resolution of Disapproval.
“President Trump is correct, there is a need for better border security,” wrote Sen. Moran. “…I have introduced legislation and voted many times for greater funding for border security, including President Trump’s border wall.”
“Upon my election to public office, I take one oath – to uphold the Constitution of the United States,” continued Sen. Moran. “I believe the use of emergency powers in this circumstance violates the Constitution. Allowing the use of such power establishes a precedent for future presidents to further act against laws and appropriations approved by Congress. This continues our country down the path of all powerful executive – something those who wrote the Constitution were fearful of.”
Sen. Moran’s full written thoughts can be found here and below.
President Trump is correct, there is a need for better border security.
Our borders are a matter of national sovereignty and control over who enters our country is vital in our fight against terrorism and battle against drugs and human trafficking.
Many Americans and most Kansans agree with the President that this is an important issue and must be dealt with.
The President has not been fairly treated by Democrats in Congress – a wall is not immoral and democrats have previously supported funding border barriers.
I have introduced legislation and voted many times for greater funding for border security, including President Trump’s border wall.
The President can advance the building of a wall with the funding just approved by Congress and can increase the funds available by reprogramming other accounts.
Therefore, the declaration of an emergency is not necessary.
The declaration of an emergency under these circumstances is a violation of the U.S. Constitution. The laws passed by Congress years ago allowing the president emergency powers is flawed and needs to be repealed or amended.
In high school government class we all learned about our Founding Fathers and the three separate, but equal branches of government. This concept is one of the most significant in protecting America as a republic and maintaining citizen freedoms & liberties. Both government structure and the Bill of Rights matter.
Upon my election to public office, I take one oath – to uphold the Constitution of the United States. I believe the use of emergency powers in this circumstance violates the Constitution.
Allowing the use of such power establishes a precedent for future presidents to further act against laws and appropriations approved by Congress. This continues our country down the path of all powerful executive – something those who wrote the Constitution were fearful of.
Kansans have criticized President Obama for abuse of executive orders, ignoring the laws and avoiding the requirements of negotiating a treaty when dealing with foreign powers. I agree and fought it.
I aggressively opposed the overreach of past presidents and believe that I can not pick and choose to now look the other way.
If the Constitution means one thing in the Obama administration and another in the Trump administration, the enduring value of the Constitution disappears and another generation of Americans will be less free.
The number one responsibility we have as American citizens is to pass to the next generation of Americans our constitutionally guaranteed liberties. There are days where it seems clear we are failing greatly.
How we do things – even good things – matters. We were raised that the ends don’t justify the means.
To find a loop hole on this issue and to vote another way might be an easier course. But my gut, my intellect, my understanding of history, tells me use of emergency powers is wrong. It can’t be an option to support something I believe wrong.
This country is filled with people who care, who are patriots, who served in our military. I try never to let anyone down. On my watch I always want to do right as I see it.
The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce in Hays, Kansas, a vibrant city of 21,000 and a regional center for education, health care, professional services and retail, is recruiting for the position of President/CEO.
Monday
AGENDA OF SPECIAL MEETING — March 18, 2019 5:30 p.m.
