McPherson Hospital announces latest 'Doc Talk' topic

McPherson Hospital announces its latest in a series of free health lectures by care providers on current health topics called “Doc Talks.” Scheduled for Thursday, June 27 at 5:15 p.m. at the McPherson YMCA is “Inside-out strength: What you should know about your pelvic floor health.” OB/GYN Dr. Bret Heskett and licensed physical therapist Sheryl Simmonds will explore this interesting and important topic.

The public is invited.

Farmers Alliance promotes Hicks

Ryan Hicks has been named Senior Vice President, Chief Insurance Officer for the Farmers Alliance Companies, effective May 22, 2019. The announcement was made by Brian D. Lopata, President and Chief Executive Officer. With this promotion, Hicks joins the companies’ Executive Management Team. 

According to Lopata, “I have the utmost confidence that Ryan has earned the trust and respect of employees across the company, and he is fully committed to leading, protecting and preserving our most valued assets: our culture and our people.” 

Hicks joined Farmers Alliance in early 2016, after several years in sales-related leadership positions. His experience has shown his focus on building strong relationships, and a commitment to caring for others.
As a member of the Executive Management Team, he will now assume additional responsibilities regarding Strategic and Operational Planning, in addition to management and direction of the Human Resources staff. 

A graduate of McPherson High School, Hicks received his Bachelor of Sciencedegree in Business Administration from Friends University in Wichita, KS. He lives 
in McPherson with his wife, Jamie, and their three children, Allie, Colson and Cooper. Hicks is also involved in the McPherson community through the McPherson Recreation Commission, First United Methodist Church, various activities with his children, and singing at community events. 

Upcoming American Red Cross blood donation opportunities

The American Red Cross launches the Missing Types campaign to raise awareness for lifesaving blood donations and urge the public to make an appointment to give blood this summer.

During the Missing Types campaign, the letters A, B and O – the letters representing the main blood groups – are disappearing from brands, social media pages, signs and websites to illustrate the critical role blood donors play in helping patients. When the letters A, B and O vanish from everyday life, the gaps are striking. And when A, B, O and AB blood types go missing from hospital shelves, patient care and medical treatments are affected.

Blood transfusion is the fourth most common inpatient hospital procedure in the U.S. Blood can only come from volunteer blood donors, yet only 3 out of 100 people in the U.S. give blood. That’s simply not enough to help patients who need transfusions.

“Just last month, the Red Cross experienced a critical shortage of type O blood. When this happens, medical procedures could be delayed because blood products are not available,” said Cliff Numark, senior vice president, Red Cross Blood Services. “That’s why we are asking those eligible to help fill the missing types by making a donation appointment today. Don’t wait for the letters A, B and O to go missing from hospital shelves again.”

Donors can help fill the missing types by making an appointment to give by visiting: RedCrossBlood.org/MissingTypes, using the Red Cross Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

Where to donate in McPherson County: 

Inman

-6/21/2019: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., St Peters United Church of Christ, 111 Pine

Lindsborg

-6/27/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Bethany Home, 321 N. Chestnut

Moundridge

-6/20/2019: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m., Grace Crossing Church, 111 Cole Street

-6/28/2019: 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., Pine Village Wellness Center, 86 22nd Ave

How to donate blood

All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Four veterans to share stories at American Legion

At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, four veterans will be sharing their stories about their military experiences at the McPherson American Legion Post, 401 N. Main. The featured guests for June will be Gene Rhue (WWII and Korea), Gene Hill (Korea), John Harper (Vietnam) and Joe Pfannenstiel (Vietnam). Friends, family, and the public are invited to attend.

Veterans will eat at 6 p.m. and veteran stories will start at 7 p.m. 

American LegionCommander Jim LaDuke began this monthly Veterans Night program in February as a way of getting to know what veterans did while serving their country during WWII, Korea and Vietnam. 

City to spray for mosquitoes

In an effort to combat a significant mosquito breeding issue created by the moisture over the last several weeks/month the City of McPherson will do a selective spraying for mosquitoes on Wednesday, June 12, Weather permitting a full spraying of the City will occur on Thursday, June 13.   

The expected break in the weather and with favorable winds fore casted this week the City of McPherson intends to spray for mosquitos.  The City will assess the need for additional spray event in the near future.  Spraying will be performed in the evening starting between 8 p. m. -12 a. m. in public areas and continue throughout the evening. 

Residents, especially those with asthma or respiratory sensitivity,  should remain indoors during spraying.  Residents should, close windows, doors, and vents and turn off fans and window-unit air conditioners (or set to recirculate) to reduce indoor exposure, remove children’s toys and outdoor furniture from outside and/or wash them before using again, wash all produce, and wash skin and hair if exposed to the pesticide.

The City has been and will also be using Mosquito Dunks, larvicide tablets that can be dropped in standing water areas throughout public drainage areas across the City of McPherson. We appreciate the cooperation of citizens as we try to address any issues related to mosquitoes. 

If there are question on the Mosquito Spraying process contact Park Department Supervisor at (620) 245-2535 or by E-mail at [email protected]

Traffic Stop Tuesday – Pedestrian on Highways

June is National Safety Month, and our focus this week is on Pedestrians on Highways. Walking and running are great ways to increase your personal wellness, but there are a few restrictions you should know to increase your personal safety before you get started.

Standard Traffic Ordinance 68 Pedestrians on Highways, states a) Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway. b) Where a sidewalk is not available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk only on a shoulder, as far as practicable from the edge of the roadway. c) Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is available, any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall walk as near as practicable to an outside edge of the roadway, and, if on a two-way roadway, shall walk only on the left side of the roadway. d) Except as otherwise provided in this article, any pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway. 

For your safety, in addition to the requirements of the Standard Traffic Ordinance, we strongly encourage wearing bright colored - highly reflective clothing, and walking or running against the flow of traffic if you have to do either on a roadway.

Click It or Ticket Enforcement Campaign completed

During the Click It or Ticket Campaign, which was just completed, Officers with McPherson Police Department conducted overtime saturation patrols and aggressively enforced Kansas occupant restraint, texting, impaired driving, and other traffic laws.  During the campaign, officers wrote 152 safety belt citations, 1 child restraint citation, and 1 speeding citation, 3 texting while driving citations, 2 other citations, and 2 arrests.  162 vehicle stops were made during the campaign.

According to Traffic Sergeant Olbricht, “Stops and tickets are primarily meant to teach.  If you were stopped, you, hopefully, learned from your experience.  If so, we have made the roads a little safer for you and those you share the road with.  We will continue to do that because, while the Click It or Ticket campaign may be over, traffic enforcement never is.”  

Click It or Ticket was supported by a grant to the McPherson Police Department from the Kansas Department of Transportation.

City appoints Golden as Interim Police Chief

The city of McPherson appointed Mikel Golden, Assistant Police Chief, to the position of Interim Police Chief effective June 17. Golden will be replacing Chief Robert McClarty, who announced his retirement on June 3.

Golden joined the McPherson Police Department in 2006 as a Patrol Officer. In 2008, he was promoted to Detective in the Investigations Bureau and Assistant Team Leader on their Department's Emergency Response Team. While in the Investigations Bureau, he worked on the Drug Task Force from 2010 to 2016. In 2016, he was promoted to Lieutenant in the Patrol Bureau, where he served until his appointment to Assistant Chief of Police in April of 2018.

He was born and raised in New York, and served in the United States Navy for 8 years prior to joining the Department. While in the Navy, he married his wife of 16 years, Tina, and they have two daughters, Alanna and Kylie.

Public Works Report June 10

Street Department: Replacement of the School Beacon on Euclid Street

Motion to approve the purchase of a new school beacon assembly with a 15 foot pole from Gades Sales, Wichita, for a cost not to exceed $2,200.00 delivered.

The wind storm on May 25th/26th destroyed the school beacon assembly on Euclid.  We have received a quote from Gades Sales Co. Inc. in the amount of $1,990, plus an estimated $200.00 shipping.  The school beacon will be installed by the Street Department. 

WWTP: Helisieve Repair (Stevens Contractors, Inc.)

Motion to approve payment to Stevens Contractors, Salina for labor and equipment for the Helisieve repair at the WWTF on May 21, 2019, for an amount not to exceed $1,263.00.

During the recent incident at the WWTF, where the spiral shaft in the helisieve broke, we called Stevens Contractors to aid in the repair.  We recently received an invoice in the amount of $1,263.00.

Brown, McClarty represent McPherson at tour of Smoky Hill Bombing Range

In an effort to build community partnerships and showcase the professional Airmen of the 184th Intelligence Wing McConnell Air Force Base, Mayor Thomas Brown and McPherson Police Chief Robert McClarty, along with 14 other community leaders from Wichita, Derby and Salina, attended a behind the scenes tour of the Smoky Hill Bombing Range and Crisis City on June 5.

The tour included an overview of the Fighting Jayhawks technology, special operators and tactical capabilities, along with a demonstration showcasing the professional Airmen of the 184th Intelligence Wing, the USAF and the Kansas Air & Army National Guards, working symbiotically to generate superior lethality. The two were then provided a tour of the Bombing Range and Crisis City by Bus & Blackhawk helicopter.