Sen. Jerry Moran makes three stops during visit to scorching hot Salina

Senator Jerry Moran braved 100-plus degree temperatures while making a trio of visits Monday in Salina, including celebrating recent successes in the community.

Moran — whose most recent visit was in late June to honor the career and retirement of Tim Rogers from the Salina Airport Authority — joined health care, government and business leaders during this visit.

The senator made his way to three locations across the community, including two in downtown Salina and a final stop in the heat of Hangar 626 at the Salina Regional Airport.

Moran hears from Salina doctors and health care leaders

First on the senator's agenda was a stop at the Salina Regional Healthcare Center, where he was welcomed by chief medical officer Robert Freelove, CEO and president Joel Phelps, and Kansas Hospital Association president Chad Austin. Moran then took a short tour of the emergency department.

While touring the department, Moran spoke with Phelps, three ER doctors and the lead nurse about the current state of emergency care in the community and Kansas.

Phelps said the emergency department at any given time has at least 10 patient who should be moved to beds in patient care but can't because staffing levels aren't where they should be at the hospital.

Moran said he was impressed by and saw as a positive for the hospital was that people want to come here and stay here, particularly after he heard that all three of the doctors he visited with were raised in Kansas.

"Thank you for practicing your profession here," Moran told each of the medical staff.

After touring the department, Phelps, Freelove and Austin spoke to the senator more about some of the overall needs of health care in the state and in particular how places like Salina Regional and its system of providers fit into the care of Kansans.

Celebration of years-long project also on Jerry Moran's docket

Moran wasted no time in Salina, leaving the hospital and immediately heading to the other end of downtown to the Salina Public Library, where he spoke before the City of Salina and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers signed a cost-share agreement for the Smoky Hill River Renewal Project.

The senator has been a major proponent of the project, advocating for federal tax dollars to come to the community for it. He said he is thankful for those in the community who have advocated as well.

"Throughout all this time, there's been (people) who have been faithful and attentive to trying to make sure that the Smoky Hill River (flows)," Moran said.

After some remarks by Salina Mayor Bill Longbine and Col. Travis Rayfield, district commander for the Corps of Engineers Kansas City District, Moran joined the two while they signed the agreement, cementing the commitment between the two parties.

Moran said this ceremony was particularly special for Rayfield, who has been working with his team, the city and others for years on this project.

"The colonel leaves us in Kansas City as the district commander, this week," Moran said.

The senator led everyone in attendance with a round of applause for Rayfield as a show of appreciation to his service to this community, the state of Kansas and the district.

Senator commends Salina's leadership in Kansas aviation

Finally, Moran headed to the Salina Regional Airport to celebrate the establishment of Hangar 626 as the location of a joint partnership with 1 Vision Aviation and Garmin, as well as a permanent classroom for the Aviation Innovation and Maintenance Center of Excellence.

Moran was excited to see two important areas within the aviation industry combined under one roof.

"We have the building, the space, the opportunity and the physical structures for businesses that they need," Moran said. "The thing we have to make certain we have and have into the future is the other part of what is going to take place here, the education and training of a workforce."

Moran said he is heading to the Farnborough International Airshow in London next week, and he is excited to tell the worldwide aviation industry about his home state.

"(I'm going) to brag about Kansas, the Air Capital of the World," Moran said. "We said and often we think about Wichita (only), but when we talk about it, we talk about the state, from Olathe to Salina to Wichita and everything in between."

Moran ended his day by joining 1 Vision, Garmin and the airport to cut a ribbon to officially open Hangar 626.