If you haven’t already subscribed to the USD 489 School Closings and Emergency Information text alert, you may want to before the winter storm moves in:
Hays Post and Eagle Radio will also have any school closings, cancellations or postponements.
Month: February 2013
Weekend Softball Slate Cancelled for Fort Hays State
The weekend slate of games this Friday, Saturday and Sunday for Fort Hays State at the NSIC/MIAA Crossover Dome Tournament in Rochester, Minn. have been cancelled due to the inclement weather forecasted throughout the central region of the United States. Fort Hays State was scheduled to play five games at the tournament.
Next on the schedule for Fort Hays State is a doubleheader against Southwestern Oklahoma State in Hays on Tuesday, February 26.
SHL Candidates Selected
The candidates have been selected for Ellis County representation on the Silver Haired Legislature. Bob Fairbank, Alberta Klaus and Janice Schwab, all from Hays, are on this year’s ballot.
The election will be March 14th and the polling sites are the nutrition sites in Ellis, Hays and Victoria and the Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging office. To vote you must be a registered voter in Ellis County and be 60 or older as of March 9th.
Absentee ballots are available by contacting the Area Agency on Aging by February 28th.
Representatives on the Silver Haired Legislature discuss and present issues of concern for the state’s senior citizen population to the Kansas Legislature and Governor.
UPDATE: WINTER STORM WARNING Starts 6 A.M. WEDNESDAY
Dodge City National Weather Service issues WINTER STORM WARNING valid at Feb 20, 6:00 AM CST for Barber, Clark, Comanche, Edwards, Ellis, Finney, Ford, Gray, Haskell, Hodgeman, Kearny, Kiowa, Lane, Meade, Ness, Pawnee, Pratt, Rush, Scott, Stafford, Trego [KS] till Feb 21, 6:00 PM CST
A major winter storm will impact southwest, west central, and south central Kansas Wednesday and Thursday.
Significant accumulations of sleet and snow are expected. 8 to 12 inches of snow are now forecast north of a Garden City to Dodge City to Saint John line with the forecast storm track adjusted slightly southward.
The storm is also forecast to move across at a slightly slower forward speed, so moderate to heavy precipitation is expected to persist longer Wednesday Night into early Thursday.
Some areas north of Highway 96 will see over a foot of snow.
There is still a significant challenge in the precipitation type south of the Arkansas River as a warm layer aloft moves northward with the low.
Sleet and freezing rain will be possible especially from Ashland to Pratt and points southeast.
Monday’s Police Activity Log
The Hays Police Department conducted seven traffic stops and received seven animal calls on Monday, according to the Police Activity Log.
Theft: The Hays Police Department investigated four theft reports on Monday. The first theft was reported in the 1700 block of Oak Street Sunday evening between 10:30 and 11:45. The second theft also occurred on Sunday evening in the 4300 block of Vine Street at 6:38. The final two theft reports were for shoplifting in the 4300 block of Vine Street Monday evening. The first shoplifting report was at 7:39 p.m. and the second was reported at 9:56 p.m.
Burglary: Officers investigated the report of the burglary of a residence in the 1600 block of Milner Street Monday afternoon at 1:14.
Drug Offenses: The Hays PD investigated a report of drug offenses in the 400 block of East 21st Street Monday night at 8:31. The Hays EMS made an ambulance run in connection with the incident.
Fight: The Hays Police Department responded to two disturbances reported on Monday evening. Both disturbances were reported in connection with fights. The first was reported at 4th and Fort Street at 7:58 Monday evening. Officers investigated the second incident as a domestic disturbance in the 1000 block of East 8th Street at 9:05 Monday evening.
Motor Vehicle Accident: Officers investigated one hit and run accident report on Monday morning. The accident was reported in the 1000 block of Fort Street at 10:56 a.m.
USD 489 Principals’ and Directors’ Contracts Renewed
Following an executive session during Monday night’s USD 489 board meeting, members approved one-year contracts for principals and directors.
Current salaries are:
* Hays High School — Michael Hester, principal, $106,487; Martin Straub, vice principal, $90,835; Tom Albers, vice principal, $88,834; and Clint Albers, vice principal/athletic director $87,546. Hester is retiring at the end of the school year, and Straub has been named HHS principal.
* Hays Middle School — Craig Pallister, principal $98,403; Shanna Dinkel, vice principal, $82,102.
* Elementary schools — Lee Keffer, Roosevelt principal, $90,664; Elaine Rohleder, Lincoln principal, $85,001; Nancy Harman, O’Loughlin principal, $85,001; Allen Park, Washington principal, $85,001; Tom Meagher, Wilson principal, $85,001.
* The Learning Center — Anita Scheve, director, $73,082.
* Early Childhood Connections — Donna Hudson-Hamilton, director, $84,093.
* Nutrition Services — Shiela Brening, director, $72,283.
* Transportation — Russ Henningsen, director, $50,008.
* Board of Education — Cheryl Shubert, clerk/director of accounting, $50,000.
Each of these employees also receives a single health insurance benefit at a cost of $7,636.32, according to Assistant Superintendent Richard Cain.
KHAZ Country Music News: Luke Bryan: “There’s No Better Feeling” than Playing a Sold-Out Show
Luke Bryan knew he was ready to headline arenas on this year’s Dirt Road Diaries tour, and it looks like the fans were ready for him too. Luke sold out all 21 shows on the first leg of the trek before he ever stepped on stage last month. That kind of turnout is something Luke has dreamed of ever since moving to Nashville.
“It’s like an inner peace that I’ve been searching for as an artist to roll into town, and it’s like, you know it’s sold out,” Luke says. “There’s no better feeling.”
With his opening acts Florida Georgia Line and Thompson Square warming up the crowd, Luke feels his tour has a great overall vibe for the fans.
He says, “It’s just a fun three hours for fans, and I never would have imagined they would be selling out this quick.”
Luke is scheduled to continue the Dirt Road Diaries tour well into the fall, but he’s actually looking forward to singing his songs night after night for the fans. Unlike some stars who grow to hate their biggest hits, Luke says, “Every time I look on my set list and see what song I have next, I’m like, ‘Ooh, ooh. This is gonna be fun.’ And that’s such a blessing for me.”
Luke’s hard work on the road has paid off with an Entertainer of the Year nomination at the 48th Annual ACM Awards. He’s also set to co-host the show with Blake Shelton Sunday, April 7 broadcasting live on CBS from Las Vegas.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio
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Internet Filters for Students, Library Patrons?
A bill aimed at preventing children from seeing obscene or harmful images while using the Internet in schools and public libraries is coming up for debate in the Kansas Senate.
Senators planned to discuss the measure Tuesday, only a day after their Education Committee endorsed it.
The bill initially would have required schools and libraries to have technology installed on computers, such as filters or content blockers, to prevent children from viewing child pornography or other obscene or harmful material.
The committee amended the bill so that in addition to technology, schools and libraries can have a process for filtering Internet content. Committee members said the change gives local officials more flexibility in meeting the bill’s goal without facing additional costs.
Interlocal Agreement on Tax Revenues Moves Forward
The Ellis County Commission Monday night approved the interlocal agreement passed by the Hays City Commission last week. Under the agreement, if the voters approve a half-cent sales tax for county building projects, the City of Hays will turn its share over to the county. Commissioner Barbara Wasinger attended last week’s city meeting and says she appreciates their cooperation.
The county administrator and a commissioner plan to attend the council meetings in Ellis and Victoria to ask for their support.
With the interlocal agreement the county will not pursue legislative approval for a dedicated sales tax.
Breaking News Update: Attempt to Locate
While arrests have been made, an attempt to locate continues for 3 suspects from Hutchinson in connection with an overnight home invasion that sent one to the hospital.
The first is a white male, 5’ 11”, 155 lbs.
The second is a black male, 6’6” 250 pounds, and
The 3rd is a black male, 5’7”, 150 pounds.
The suspects are driving a silver 2010 Chrysler Sebring. They are wanted for questioning with a home invasion and stabbing overnight in Hutchinson. If you see these suspects, please contact local law enforcement. Stay tuned to Eagle Radio and Hays Post for more information as it becomes available.
489 Committee Says New Building Not Needed
The USD 489 Facilities Needs Committee has determined that at least for now, a new building is not needed. Committee member Todd Powell presented the latest report to the board of education Monday night.
The committee does recognize that there are needs and wants both short term and long term in each building. They have asked for lists of those items and want information from all of the stakeholders. The committee’s next meeting is March 8th.
‘Talking With Todd’ & Guest Bruce Burkholder
On this edition, Todd talks with Area Artist Bruce Burkholder.
If the video doesn’t appear below, you may watch it here.
The following is an unrehearsed, unedited conversation on film.
Todd Nelson is a 30 year communications veteran who has spent the last 23 years with Eagle Communications in Hays, KS.
He currently serves as the Social Media Sales Director for Eagle Communications.
If you would like to see someone specific interviewed, please reply below with your suggestion.
Assignment for Teachers: Question Climate Change
A bill introduced in the Kansas House would require the state’s schools to provide evidence in classrooms questioning the existence of climate change.
The bill, introduced last week, says instruction about scientific controversies should include evidence for and against the theory. The only controversy identified in the bill is “climate science.”
The Topeka Capital-Journal reports no hearings have been scheduled for the bill before the House Education Committee.
The bill comes at the same time the Kansas State Board of Education is preparing to vote on new science standards, which are still being developed.
Another bill currently in the Education Committee would require the State Board of Education to replace and English standards that it adopted in 2010.