The 26-year old woman who drove over a gas meter near Roosevelt School last week was later arrested on drug charges.

Hays Police Lt. Brandon Wright told Hays Post, “The woman’s car was towed from the scene and investigators found a marijuana pipe. She was later arrested on possession of hallucinogenic drug and drug paraphernalia charges. It was a first time offense and she posted bond.”

She was not charged with being under the influence of drugs for driving the car on top of the gas meter.  The result of the accident kept Roosevelt School closed on March 5.

The date has been established for the special election for Ellis County’s half-cent sales tax ballot question.

The election will be held May 14^th, and County Administrator Greg Sund says if the voters approve the tax, it will sunset when all of the costs associated with financing the project have been paid. A specific sunset date will not be set because of uncertainty about how much revenue the sales tax will bring in each year, but the sales tax will sunset when the $14.5 million in bonds are paid off.

The ballot question states that the sales tax would be collected for “the purpose of financing the costs to acquire, construct, remodel and equip improvements to the County Courthouse and Law Enforcement Center and a new EMS/Rural Fire Building.”

Sund and commissioners will visit with the city councils in Victoria and Ellis Monday, asking them to relinquish their share of the sales tax to the county. Hays already has agreed to do so.

Grocery and Convenience stores are battling to have the opportunity to sell full strength beer, wine and liquor. Now leaders of the effort have confirmed to Hays Post that they want to take hard liquor out of the proposal.

Hays Liquor storeowner Jim Steinert told Hays Post, “I figured we were going to hear that but I see the same problems as with the other proposal. I have no problem with full strength beer but I don’t want to give them wine sales. My compromise would have been to give them full strength beer and not let them come back to change the law for 20 years.”

The organization known as Uncork Kansas says they made the decision to take hard liquor from the proposal after a recent survey indicated much stronger support for changing the laws on beer and wine but not hard liquor.

A House committee will vote on the measure this week.

The cardinals who will elect a new Pope began their formal conclave today in Rome. They are trying to determine who among them is best suited to lead the Catholic church.

Is there a chance an American will be chosen? Bishop of the Salina Diocese, that also includes Hays, the

Most Reverend Edward J. Weisenburger told Hays Post, “There is always a lot of talk about front runners but they are rarely chosen.”  Weisenberger believes it’s a wide open conclave “It will come down to who the Holy Spirit settles on,” he said.

The cardinals will vote four times each day until one candidate receives a 2/3rds majority. The 115 voting cardinals are expected to finish their work before the weekend.

Hays Police  made almost three dozen arrests over the weekend and continue to investigate Sunday’s theft of a wallet from the Kwik Shop, 1301 Vine.

Police Lt. Brandon Wright told Hays Post, “We have a suspect and we anticipate making an arrest.”

A customer had reported their wallet was missing. It had reportedly been found in the Kwik Shop parking lot and placed in a drawer for safekeeping. The first call to police suggested employees may have taken the wallet.

The fire you will see near Hays Medical Center is nothing to worry about.

Starting today, the hospital is conducting controlled burns of the native grasses and nature trail areas

through March 26.