July 2012 – Page 11 – Hays Post Archive

Record Sales for Kansas Lottery in its 25th Year

Posted on July 18, 2012

TOPEKA, KAN. – In a year already marked with much celebration, its 25th anniversary year, the Kansas Lottery has achieved a new record for sales. Sales of Lottery products in Fiscal Year 2012, which began July 1, 2011 and ended June 30, 2012, were nearly $244 million (unaudited).

Executive Director Dennis Wilson says the Kansas Lottery will transfer $72 million to the State in FY12, the highest transfer in a single year since the Lottery started selling tickets in 1987.

Prizes paid also hit a new record mark at $137.5 million.

The recently ended fiscal year also saw the opening of two additional casinos with state-owned gaming to join Boot Hill Casino in Dodge City. Kansas Star Casino in Mulvane and Hollywood Casino at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, combined with Boot Hill to transfer $43.4 million to the Expanded Lottery Act Revenues Fund – another record for the Kansas Lottery.

The Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund and local governments will each receive records amounts also, with transfers of $3.9 and $5.9 million, respectively.

Where Does the Money Go?

Traditional lottery revenue goes into the State Gaming Revenues Fund. On a yearly basis, the first $50 million is divided by a formula which first transfers $80,000 to the Problem Gambling and Addictions Grant Fund. Then 85 percent of the balance is transferred to the Economic Development Initiatives Fund, 10 percent to the Correctional Institutions Building Fund, and 5 percent to the Juvenile Detention Facilities Fund. Any receipts in excess of $50 million must be transferred to the State General Fund.

The 2007 Kansas Expanded Lottery Act created the Expanded Lottery Act Revenues Fund (ELARF). The state’s share of revenue from state-owned and -operated casino gaming is transferred from the ELARF for purposes of reduction of state debt, state infrastructure improvements and reduction of local ad valorem tax, and/or for such other purposes as directed by the Kansas legislature.

Hays Eagles Earn Shutout Victory

Posted on July 18, 2012July 23, 2012

The Hays Senior American Legion Eagles improved to 39-8 on the summer with a 12-0 win over the Colorado Select team Wednesday morning.

The Eagles offense got it going in the very first inning scoring five runs. Hays had a 1-0 lead after Clayton Basgall scored on a throwing error by the leftfielder and then with the bases loaded Jarrett Sanders cleared the bases with a grand slam to give Hays a 5-0 lead.

In the third inning Zack Legleiter hit a two-run homer, part of a three-run inning to give the Eagles an 8-0 lead. Hays added three more in the fifth and one in the sixth on their way to the 12-0 win.

Josh Heifner earned his ninth win of the summer with seven shutout innings. The Eagles play a doubleheader with Garden City on Friday.

Junior Legion Advances To Zone Finals
The Hays Junior Eagles are 2-0 at their own Zone tournament. The Junior Legion beat Great Bend 9-1 then blanked Larned 9-0. They play in the title game tonight at 7pm at Larks Park.

“Select Rural Area” Ellis County Will Continue Population Growth

Posted on July 18, 2012

We need you. That’s the message to the Hays Association of Young Professionals (HAYP) from a leading expert in rural development.

Ron Wilson, director of the Huck Boyd National Institute for Rural Development at KSU-Manhattan, met with the group Tuesday at the Fort Hays State University Robbins Center to talk population decline in Kansas.

With a presentation involving lots of maps and lots number crunching, Wilson showed that most of Kansas is experiencing a long-term population loss and accompanying “brain drain.”

There is some good news, he says, and Ellis County is part of it.

“Considered as a ‘select rural area,’ Ellis County’s population is forecast to grow, along with the valued–added agribusiness complex in southwest Kansas, and of course, a handful of big cities in eastern Kansas,” according to Wilson.

The group talked about why someone chooses to live in rural Kansas and how to build on those assets. “We like to call them ‘ruralpreneurs’,'” he smiled.

The noon luncheon was part of the Eagle Communications Professional Development Series in cooperation with the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.

Find out more tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

SSRT Training for Hays Police Thursday

Posted on July 18, 2012

Hays High School will be surrounded by police officers Thursday, but don’t worry.

The Special Situation Response Team (SSRT) will be conducting police tactical training at Hays High School, 2300 East 13th, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

The training is part of the continuing training program for SSRT.

HPD Investigator Aaron Larson says the training will not affect traffic flow and will not pose any danger to anyone in the area.

Wind Gust Causes Truck Accident On I-70

Posted on July 18, 2012

A strong gust of wind is to blame for a truck accident near Grainfield Tuesday night.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Gregory Taylor, 54, of Thornton, Colorado was injured in the accident that occurred around 9:41 p.m. Taylor was eastbound when the wind gust blew his 2012 Kenworth over into the median, causing the rig to roll onto its driver’s side.

Taylor was taken to Gove County Medical Center. No information was released regarding his condition.

Clay Center Attorney Appointed as 21st Judicial District Judge

Posted on July 18, 2012

Topeka – Kansas Governor Sam Brownback has appointed Clay Center attorney John F. Bosch to the 21st Judicial District of the State of Kansas. Bosch will take a vacant seat on the court created by the retirement of Judge Paul E. Miller.

Bosch is the owner of Bosch Law Office, P.A. in Clay Center and served as the Clay County Attorney from 1983 to 1991.

He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1981.

The state’s 105 counties are organized into 31 Judicial Districts. The district courts serve as the trial courts for the state, overseeing all civil and criminal cases. The 21st Judicial District manages Riley and Clay Counties.

First Time 4-H Project Earns Blue Ribbons

Posted on July 18, 2012

Yep, there are always a lot of pigs at the Ellis County Fair.

New this year, “Pig 1” and “Pig 2,” raised by Coby Fischer, 10, of the Ellis Sunflowers 4-H Club.

Coby says the hard work starts at home. “We put them on a self-feeder and make sure they don’t get too fat, and we make a mudhole so they don’t get sunburn and don’t get overheated.”

Finally, Coby and his pigs were ready and in the ring Wednesday morning for the swine show. Getting them to walk the right way for the judge is the hardest, according to Coby, and, “I have to hit them a little bit (with my crop.”)

Do his pigs walk the right way? “Sometimes, ” Coby answers.

And this time they did walk the right way.

“Pig 1,” Pig 2″ and Coby took home blue ribbons. First time participants, first place winners.

You can see Coby and his pigs tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

Have a smart phone?

Posted on July 18, 2012July 18, 2012

Fill in the blank: One way my smartphone has made my life easier is ________.

Leave us a comment on our facebook page.

: 339 East 8th Street, Hays, KS Phone: (785) 650-0693 www.insuringhays.com

City Manager Toby Dougherty had an update on the water situation in the City of Hays…

In Western Kansas there are a few certainties. One certainty is that in the summer it will get hot and dry. This year is abnormally hotter and drier than most and everyone is feeling the impacts. Pastures are brown, crops are withering, and people’s yards and gardens are struggling to survive. Many have wondered how the drought has impacted the City of Hays and its ability to provide water to its citizens.

The City of Hays has three sources of water. The two major sources are wellfields located along the Smoky Hill River and along Big Creek. A smaller wellfield is located southwest of town taps in to the Dakota aquifer. The City has created a very detailed wellfield operation plan and pumps water from these wellfields in a manner that ensures the most efficient usage.

At this time our sources are stressed, but holding up. The Big Creek wellfield has seen the biggest impact of the drought. A few years ago the City reconfigured the Smoky Hill wellfield in order to make it more drought-resistant. Those improvements have paid off and that wellfield has held up quite well during this extended dry period.

Many people have noticed other cities implementing water restrictions as a reaction to the drought and have wondered if Hays is going to do the same. We have water conservation measures in our water plan, but do not have any short term plans to implement them. In reality the day-to-day attitude regarding water in the City of Hays is the same as other cities phase one or two water warnings. As a city we simply operate with a much greater awareness than most of how we utilize water.

Several years ago the City made a concerted effort to implement water conservation measures city-wide. Water saving fixtures were promoted, and incentivized, and required as part of our building code. Water rates were restructured, and bans were placed on outdoor watering during certain times of the day. Residents were educated on the benefits of conservation.

The result is that Hays is the top city in the State of Kansas when it comes to water conservation. Residents of Hays consume 95 gallons of water per capita per day. As a comparison, residents of Garden City consume 190 gallons. Dodge City residents consume 203 gallons and Goodland residents consume 302 gallons per capita per day. Hays also performs well when measured against desert cities that are very innovative in their water savings. Las Vegas consumes 165 gallons per capita per day and Tucson consumed 151.

Water conservation is part of our culture in Hays. The City of Hays has provided over $150,000 for low-flow toilets, and $80,000 for high-efficiency washing machine rebates. The City has given away over 8,000 low-flow shower heads. Kansas State University has distributed rain barrels at little or no cost to our residents. At this time the City irrigates several ball fields, soccer fields, the Bickle/Schmidt Sports Complex, and the Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course with effluent water. People have learned that removing a portion of their irrigated yard and replacing it with xeriscaping will have a substantial impact on their water usage. People are also migrating back to warm season grasses such as buffalo and bermuda as they require substantially less water.

In summation, the City of Hays is able to provide water to its residents, even during this drought. But we depend on our residents to be prudent with that water. I am confident our positive attitude towards water conservation will serve us well until this drought breaks.

Hays Post Archive

Month: July 2012

Record Sales for Kansas Lottery in its 25th Year

Hays Eagles Earn Shutout Victory

“Select Rural Area” Ellis County Will Continue Population Growth

SSRT Training for Hays Police Thursday

Wind Gust Causes Truck Accident On I-70

Clay Center Attorney Appointed as 21st Judicial District Judge

First Time 4-H Project Earns Blue Ribbons

Have a smart phone?

Economic Recovery? Builders Start Most New Homes In Four Years

Hays City Manager: Water Sources Stressed, but Holding Up

Over 30 Teams to Compete in Blues & BBQ

Hot With Isolated Thunderstorms Possible

Home Runs Lift Larks Past Dodge City