From the president’s desk Sometimes it feels and seems as if change is slow or not happening. Truth is there is always a lot bubbling beneath the surface waiting for the appropriate time and manor in which to launch or initiate. Our community is at the occasion of great opportunity. Much of the discussion at city commission meetings these days involves a sales tax initiative. In 2006 Ottawa voters approved a half cent sales tax to offset property tax relief. The tax is to sunset in ten years so starting July 2016 the tax would no longer be collected. The dollars raised from the half cent allowed the city to reduce the mil levy all while having funds to improve streets, upgrade utilities and maintain infrastructure of our local municipality. Past and present commissions have been fiducially responsible with the funds. Looking ahead to the 2016 budgeting process (which will begin soon) present commissioners recognize the need for the half cent sales tax to remain in force. In order to continue to provide amenities our citizens expect as well as continue with a lowered mil levy these funds are essential. Complicating these discussions is the great need our community has for new industrial development ground. Our north Ottawa Industrial Park is
essentially full with no major contiguous land areas available. The best source of revenue for new land to develop is additional sales tax. Ottawa and Franklin County are neither at the top or the bottom in terms of the amount of sales tax imposed (see corresponding charts). Most consider sales tax to be less onerous and allow everyone to participate in the burden at the level in which they have the ability to make purchases. Albeit a regressive tax (meaning it is more unfair to lower income earners), it is additionally popular because it captures revenue from outside our community from those who make purchases but don’t reside here. We must continue to have the ability to recruit to our community new, high-paying employment opportunities which will sustain our quality of life by creating new jobs, new housing and new retail and restaurant opportunities. Being involved directly in economic development, I see many opportunities we do not have the chance to pursue because of the lack of available shovel-ready property. This is the crux of the commissioner’s deliberations – the best manor in which to approach voters (you) in order to continue the existing half cent and also provide additional funds for land development. How much and how best to ask the question allows
for variety of resolutions. How much additional tax usually revolves somewhere between adding a quarter to half cent. The trickier dilemma is whether to phrase it as one question or two. Most important is determining how best to pose the issue so it is understood by the people what is at stake and what elected John Coen officials are attempting to accomplish with public support. There are pros and cons to both approaches which mostly involve how best to inform and educate the electorate, what is appropriate and also when is the best time to proceed to the question(s). The one thing about which everyone should feel the most confident is the talks and considerations have been very through, contentious and deliberate. Their decision of how to proceed will be coming very soon. The final decision will ultimately be up to the voters
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Local Surgeons’ skills impact our patients How good are the best surgeons? RMH
Antibiotic discontinued within 24 hours after surgery end time Catheter removed on postoperative Day 1 or 2 Surgery Patients with temperature management in surgery Surgery patients receive a beta-blocker (if on one prior to arrival) Surgery patients receiving appropriate prevention for blood clots
Ransom Memorial Hospital (RMH) understands there is nothing routine about surgery. RMH’s talented team of surgeons, CRNA’s (Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist), nurses, and technicians are dedicated to providing each patient with a personalized experience while offering a wide range of surgical services from complex operations to minimally invasive procedures. Thanks to breakthroughs in medical technology, many surgeries that once involved major operations now can be performed through tiny incisions. The surgeons use an instrument guided by miniature cameras. As a result, the patients usually heal faster, experience less scarring, and can return to their normal activities more quickly. New technologies also enable the surgeons to perform many operations on an outpatient basis. These procedures minimize surgical trauma and the time needed for recovery so patients can return to the comfort of their own home the same day as surgery. Quality is important to RMH and the surgical team. We are always looking for ways to assure all patients receive the highest quality of care. It’s important that patients and their families are satisfied with the services they receive. Pa-
Cardiology
ENT
gENEral sUrgEry
gyNECology
Dr. Ravi Yarlagadda
Dr. Joel Waxman
Dr. Rodney McCalla
Dr. Sara Krueger
tient satisfaction, compared hospital to hospital, is reported through Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems as a method of determining quality of services. While doing so well on a state and national level, patient testimonials serve as another indicator that RMH surgeons are the best in the area. Dale D. Dalenberg, M.D. of Orthopedic Associates of Ottawa is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in bone, joint and spine injuries. John Knudson, a resident of Washington State drove more than 2000 miles to receive services at RMH. Knudson found an ally in his battle against degenerative joint disease, Dr. Dalenberg. “He absolutely gave me my entire life back.” Knudson said. “The difference in the doctors and facilities of previous hospitals and RMH are night and day. Dr. Dalenberg has in fact given me my retirement that I worked so hard for. I couldn’t do it without him.” RMH general surgeon, Rodney McCalla, M.D. isn’t just a talented doctor, he’s also a patient favorite. “I had a very positive experience. Dr. McCalla is #1!” Humbled by his patients’ kind words Dr. McCalla said he is the one who is blessed. “I consider myself totally blessed to be able to work and perform surgery in a state-of-the-art facility like
obsTETriCs
Dr. Dennis Spratt
Dr. Ellen Sinclair
ophThalmology
Dr. Matthew Dr. Kenneth Simmons Frank
orThopEdiCs
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RMH, but more importantly to work alongside people who share my passion to care for others as if they were our own family members.” A higher level of compassion and care is not only expected by today’s medical patients, it’s also deserved and that’s what RMH strives for every day. “As surgical care has changed, our surgeons have pushed the field forward, improving the quality of life for these patients with excellent outcomes that rank above national averages. It is not uncommon that our surgeons receive the highest praise from their patients. We are fortunate to have high quality surgeons, staff, and facilities to take care of Ottawa and the surrounding communities. I would like to thank them for putting our patients first.” Matt Heyn, RMH CEO.
State-of-the-art facility all new in 2012
paiN maNagEmENT
Dr. Dale Dr. Kenneth Dr. Mayank Dalenberg Wertzberger Gupta
If you or your loved one need surgical care, please call Ransom Memorial Hospital at 785-229-8200 or visit us at ransom.org.
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KS National
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Urology
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Close to home. Close to your heart. 3
Old, local home gets new meaning
Imagine the fear when an aging loved one wanders away from home or leaves the kitchen with something still cooking on the stove. ComfortCare Homes president Scott Schultz said a lot of times it’s a crisis event that brings families to him, seeking help for their family member with cognitive impairments like Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia. With his ComfortCare Home in Baldwin City already filled to capacity and the increasing demand for small, residential care homes, Schultz decided it was time to open another home, this time in Ottawa. The perfect place came on the market in February of 2014. Located at 27 E. Rockwood Drive, Ottawa, it was previously owned by Ottawa University. “The place was very appealing because it has 3,500 square feet of space on one level and is located on two acres,” Schultz said. “It’s probably one of the nicest homes in Ottawa that met our needs.” The home has seven bedrooms, five bathrooms and can house eight residents. “The president of Ottawa University lived here,” Schultz said, “and during semester breaks the international students stayed here and had parties here. I imagine it was as useful back then at meeting particular needs as it is now for meeting ours.” Along with the bedrooms and baths, there are two large living rooms and a generous kitchen. The two acres of land features a large and beautifully fenced backyard with a walking path, lovely landscaping, a patio with seating and a water feature, a wooded area and a large asphalt driveway that provides plenty of parking. The home’s focus will be on dementia care which is why a more intimate setting is important. “People with cognitive impairment can become easily confused in a large facility,” Schultz said. “It’s also important for us to have a higher caregiver-to-resident ratio so the residents have an easier time getting to know the staff members. There’s a nurse on staff certified as a dementia care practitioner and every person who works for us has training in that area as well.” Residents are encouraged to participate in day-to-day chores around the house, like folding laundry, feeding the birds, and casual gardening because it gives them a sense of meaning in their lives. Another important part of the ComfortCare story is its relationship with the community. “The Ottawa community has been very friendly and the Rockwood home owners association has really welcomed us,” Schultz said. Ottawa allows up to eight residents and two caregivers per residence by special permit. “Being so warmly welcomed here we look forward to our residents being able to participate in neighborhood activities like barbecues and lighting holiday luminaries,” he said. “It often times reminds the residents of activities they enjoyed in the neighborhoods they grew up in.” “It’s really the wave of the future,” Schultz said. “When a person has to leave their home they really prefer a house to a facility. A person with memory loss does better in a smaller space with fewer people. In an institution they take a wing and call it the dementia care wing. Here, we don’t have a wing, we have a real home. Everyone wants to be ‘like home.’ Here, we are home.” Ottawa
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2320 S. Oak. • Ottawa, Ks. 66067
785-242-5100
Upcoming Events Call the Chamber office at 785.242.1000 to schedule your event. Oct 23: Veterans Corner II Oct 23: Celebrate Recovery Oct 24: Chamber Ribbon Cutting for Papa’s Attic LLC Oct 25: Masonic Breakfast Oct 25: Breakfast at Trinity United Methodist Church Oct 28: Leadership Trustees Meeting Oct 29: Chamber Quarterly Member Breakfast Oct 30: Celebrate Recovery Oct 31: New Member Chamber Coffee for Pomona Friends of the Library Nov 1: Creative Writing Group Nov 6: Celebrate Recovery Nov 7: New Member Chamber Coffee for ResCare HomeCare Nov 7: Opening Ceremony for Veterans Day Celebration at Forest Park Nov 8: Homemade Holidays Craft Show Nov 8: Veterans Day Parade - Main Street Nov 13: Veterans Corner II Nov 13: Celebrate Recovery Nov 15: Creative Writing Class
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce 109 East Second Street Ottawa, KS 66067 785-242-1000
Logistics
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Silver Sponsors: Kansas State Bank & Prairie Star Catering Bronze Sponsors: Bartlett & West, Don Hardman Computer Services & Repair, Goppert State Service Bank, Ottawa Family Physicians, Peoples Bank & Walgreens
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KSJobConnect.com Connecting Job Seekers To Employment
The online job market has exploded over the past few years and is now going mobile. It’s estimated that 35 percent of job seekers are expected to search for their next job via their mobile device by the end of this year. With such a shift in job seeker behavior, it’s no surprise the internet had become a breeding ground for new job sites offering an array of options to job seekers and employers alike. With thousands of job sites to choose from it can quickly become an overwhelming, costly and time-consuming process when trying to reach the right candidate. To save employers time, money and frustration the Ottawa Herald has teamed up with KSJobConnect. com at the launch of its new job board featuring extensive and tar-
geted distribution to the most qualified professionals across a network of 1,000 job sites. With thousands of job sites to choose from, trying to decide where to spend your recruitment dollars in order to find the best talent isn’t easy,” Herald editor and publisher Jeanny Sharp said. “Our posting product, Total Talent Reach, is the only performance-based online posting product available that delivers more qualified talent from our site and from across the Web with one single post. With total Talent Reach, your posting is distributed on the largest recruitment advertising network in North America, reaching more job seekers across thousands of job sites.” Recruitment Specialist Nell King
said she’s confident employers will enjoy the onestop shop capability offered by KSJobConnect.com as well as the fast and convenient way to find candidates who have already Nell King been prescreened via their resume for the position employers are trying to fill.
“The beauty of the national outreach is the ability to connect with former Kansans who may be only passive job seekers until they see the position that matches well with the talents and skills they are utilizing within the workforce somewhere else,” King said. “Every day there are hundreds of talented people who really would like to be closer to home if the right job opportunity presented itself.” To get started and take advantage of all the new features KSJobConnect.com has to offer Sharp and King encourage those interested to go to www.ksjobconnect.com and look at the employer posting packages available and start reaching qualified candidates today.
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Dr. Greg Moore Joins Business Faculty
Home Court Reunion
A one-time college basketball player at Baker University has found a new team in Internal Medicine Associates of Ottawa. Dr. Charisse Symmonds has been seeing patients since late July at the internal medicine office in Suite 4 of the Franklin County Office Annex, 1428 S. Main St., Ottawa. Internal Medicine Associates of Ottawa is a service of Ransom Memorial Hospital, 1301 S. Main St., Ottawa. “I am very impressed with the hospital, and the staff has been very welcoming and friendly,” Symmonds, 31, said. “I think it’s been a positive experience for everybody – patients and families.” Symmonds has found that some of her new patients wanted to stay in Ottawa for their medical care rather than drive to Lawrence or Kansas City, she said. Symmonds thinks Ransom Memorial Hospital with its recent facility renovations and expansion of equipment and services is well positioned to meet the area’s needs, she said. She earned her medical doctorate at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences and did her residency at Northside Hospi-
tal in St. Petersburg, Fla., where she was the chief resident her final year. “I wanted to move back to Kansas to be close to family,” Symmonds said. “I contemplated going back to Emporia, but I liked Ottawa and the area and it’s close to family and friends.” A general practitioner in internal medicine, Symmonds provides such services as wellness exams for men and women, treatment of high blood pressure and diabetes, screenings for cancer, stroke and heart attacks and a variety of other medical services with her emphasis being in adult medicine.
With almost 10 years of experience as a financial analyst and planner, more than 17 years in the corporate investment industry, and several years in the classroom as a graduate and undergraduate adjunct professor, assistant Professor of Finance Dr. Greg Moore brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the finance program at Ottawa University. “Dr. Moore is both a welcome and a long overdue addition to our faculty,” says Director of Business Programs and Assistant Professor of Business Tom Edwards. “Professors with the requisite number of graduate credits in finance are hard to find. Those with both the graduate hours and professional experience in finance are even more rare. But to find a professor who has the graduate requisite hours, the professional experience and the ability to teach is nigh unto impossible. Greg has all three. We were blessed the day Dr. Moore agreed to join the Angell Snyder School of Business faculty.”
Come See the Possibilities!
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Dr. Symmonds has set aside certain days to see patients after 5 p.m.
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YOU ARE INVITED! a welcome reception for ARE INVITED! toto a welcome reception for
to a welcome reception for to a welcome to reception a welcome for reception for
Dr. Matthew Simmons
WHEN WHEN
Friday, November 7, 2014 Friday, November 7, 2014 4:30 P.M. - 6 P.M. 4:30 PM - 6 PM
WHERE WHERE
Franklin Co. Annex Room Franklin Co. Annex Meeting Meeting Room (back(back of Annex Building) of Annex Building) 1418 S. Main Street in Ottawa
L to R: Claudia Caylor and Vanessa Hoang
1418 S. Main Street in Ottawa
South
Appetizers will be served!
1540 S. Main St., Ottawa, KS 66067
785-224-0977
to a welcome reception for
Appetizers will be served! Ottawa Family Physicians is pleased to
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Mon - Fri: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. • Sat: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
FAMILY MEDICINE OB/GYN LAB PEDIATRICS X-RAY INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE
announce the addition of Dr. Matthew Ottawa Family Physicians pleased to announce Simmons to its team is of medical professionals. Dr. Simmons specializes the addition of Dr. Matthew Simmons to its team of in Family Medicine and Obstetrics. medical professionals. Dr. Simmons specializes in Dr. Simmons is now accepting patients. Family Medicine and Obstetrics.
Dr. Simmons is now accepting patients.
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785-242-1620 FAMILY MEDICINE • OB/GYN 1418 S. Main PEDIATRICSSponsored • LAB by Ransom Memorial Hospital in conjunction with Ottawa Family Physicians. Ottawa, KS 66067 X-RAY • INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE ottawafamilyphysicians.com Sponsored by Ransom Memorial Hospital in conjunction with Ottawa Family Physicians.
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The Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce had 33 travelers from all over the state of Kansas, Missouri and Texas join them on the 2014 Chamber Sponsored trip to Austria and Germany September 29-October 7th. If you’re interested in future trip, please contact the Chamber of Commerce at 785-242-1000. Top Row Left to Right: Linda Carson, Andrea Melanson, Cherry Coen, Rex Browning, Jean Browning, Bev Deardorff, Janet Broers, Sue Gossett, Diane Wagner, Marlene Weishaar, Mary Jane Dodd 2nd Row Left to Right: Bob Lawrence, Jean Lakin, Bob Greenfield, Roger Carson, Harley Broers, John Coen, Lyle Wingate, Mark Gibbs, John Harrison, Ruth Winterscheidt, Don Everhart, David Tyler. 3rd Row Left to Right: Ernestene Hallman, Carol Young, Anita Wingate, Edith Shoemaker, Betty Harrison, Cheryl Everhart, Sherri Lund Front Row Left to Right: Bibian Machos, Margaret Edes, Joyce O’Leary
School board taps firm for potential bond issue project COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
“The facilities committee’s goal An Overland Park architectural was really to assess our facilities firm that specializes in K-12 projects Vision Team Meetings #1-2 – October 9, 22 and determine what type of things has been selected to guide the OttaFacilities Tours we needed to do so our kids would wa school district through its faciliVision Team Meetings #3-5 - November 5, 19; be college and career ready when ties improvement initiative in the December 3 they graduated from Ottawa High coming months. Assess Progress School,” Stroh said in a recent inter The Ottawa school board voted view. “So we did [facility] tours and 7-0 to hire DLR Group for the projCommunity Meeting #1 - December 4 numerous activities and principals ect’s pre-bond services. DLR regathered information from parents ceived the nod over two other finaland staff, and at the end of April ists. All three firms recently made Vision Team Meeting #6 - December 17 and beginning of May the committee project proposals to the Ottawa went through the process to deterschool board that did not address mine what were the most important specific budget costs but focused Community Meeting #2 - January 5 things that they felt were needed in more on their experience, concepTelephone Poll this school district.” tual ideas to address the district’s Vision Team Meeting #7 - January 7 School board members in early needs and the services they bring to June discussed the facilities comthe table. mittee’s list of needs, which includ DLR Group noted in its proposRecommendation to Board ed a new elementary school as well al that the firm had completed 500 as addressed needs at each existing K-12 projects in the past five years. building. The proposal talked about the imCall Election - January 15 The list at the high school was portance of engaging stakeholders extensive, Stroh said, and included — community, parents, teachers and such items as a new science wing, students. DLR Group has worked OTTAWA updated 10.13.14 USD 290 updates to the office and career with Frontier League schools Spring technical education facilities, deHill, Baldwin City, Eudora and Paola veloping a performing arts center, in the past, its proposal said. K-12 education.” “I am thrilled that the Board of Education A facilities committee comprised of repre- reconfiguring the trapezoid classrooms in Hall selected DLR,” Jeanne Stroh, Ottawa superin- sentatives from various segments of the Ottawa 200 to make better use of space, upgrading an air tendent, said. “I have no doubt that any of the community — formed in fall 2013 by Stroh and conditioning system that is at the projected end three firms could have done the job. I am very the school board — identified the need for a new of its lifespan, and making improvements to outimpressed with the synergy, passion, and skills elementary school, several major upgrades at dated locker rooms and bathrooms. Improving safety and security at all the disDLR brings to the table. They have an outstand- the high school and improved security and safety ing reputation. They have designed great spaces measures at all schools as some of the key facility trict’s school buildings was of paramount importance to the committee, Stroh said. for kids. In fact, DLR Group focuses full time on needs at present.
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