Three Million Lbs of Frozen Pizza, Other Snacks Recalled  On April 5, 2013, Rich Products Corporation, a Buffalo, New York firm, expanded its recall to include all products produced at its Waycross, Georgia plant between July 1, 2011 and March 29, 2013 due to possible contamination with E. coli O121. The expanded recall is in addition to products recalled on March 28, 2013. The Farm Rich, Market Day, and Schwan’s brand frozen food products included in the recall had “Best By” dates ranging from January 1, 2013 to September 29, 2014.

The Farm Rich, Market Day, and Schwan’s brand frozen products were distributed nationwide to retail stores including Dillons, Apple Markets, and Country Marts in Kansas and select foodservice distribution customers.

Rich Products Corporation has notified all of its distributors and customers who have received the recalled products, and has directed them to remove and destroy the affected product. All other affected product under Rich’s control has been quarantined and will be destroyed.

Today will be sunny and breezy, behind a weakening cool front, with another day with much above normal temperatures.

An upper level disturbance will arrive Sunday, bringing an increase in clouds, and scattered showers.

This area of low pressure will pull a warm front north into western Kansas by Monday afternoon. This will result in a chance for thunderstorms. An extreme gradient in temperatures is expected Tuesday. Wednesday will be blustery and colder, followed by a warming trend.

-Today:  Mostly sunny, with a high near 73. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 15 to 23 mph.

-Tonight:  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 47. North wind 5 to 8 mph becoming south after midnight.

-Sunday:  Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 1pm and 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.  Light and variable wind becoming east 5 to 10 mph in the morning. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

-Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 2am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 48. East southeast wind 5 to 7 mph becoming calm after midnight.

-Monday: A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 71.
Light east wind becoming east southeast 9 to 14 mph in the morning.

-Monday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 10pm and 3am.  Some of the storms could be severe. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 50. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

-Tuesday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 60.

District Three – Northwest

 The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects in Kansas. The letting took place March 20 in Topeka.  The following  projects are for District 3, Northwest Kansas.

Graham – 283-33 KA‑2777‑01 – Bridge #045 on U.S. 283 located 11.10 miles north of U.S. 24, bridge overlay,PCIROADS LLC, Saint Michael, Minn., $189,092.40.

 

Rooks – 18-82 KA‑2800‑01 – Bridges on K‑18; #034 located 3.14 miles west of Osborne County line, #035 located 2.02 miles west of Osborne County line, bridge overlay, PCIROADS LLC, Saint Michael, Minn., $351,520.08

Statewide – 106 KA‑3168‑01 – Various locations on I‑70 and US‑81 in Ellsworth, Lincoln, Saline, Cloud and Republic counties, milling, 49.4 miles, Penhall Company and Subsidiaries, Anaheim, Calif., $135,413.00.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Longtime Hays police officer Bill Lovewell has just ended his first week of retirement.

Lovewell was thanked by for his 32 years of service by Police Chief Don Scheibler during a reception last week in the Ellis County Law Enforcement Center.

“Bill was hired by Chief (Lawrence) Younger September 12, 1982 .  Among the officers we have on the street today, 11 of them weren’t even born yet, ” smiled Scheibler as he congratulated Lovewell.

Lovewell has been an investigator for the Hays Police Department the past 11 years.

The Ellis County Commission has scheduled six public meetings to answer questions about the purposed county sales tax that will be on the ballot in May.

The special election is May 14th and voters will vote on a 0.5-percent sales tax for the building of an EMS and Rural Fire Building as well as renovations to the county jail, courthouse and Law Enforcement Center.

Commission Chairman Dean Haselhorst said he encourages everyone to attend any or all of the scheduled presentations on the Sales Tax Questions.

Below is a schedule of the meetings:

April 16th in Hays at the VFW
April 18th in Victoria at the Knights of Columbus Hall
April 23rd in Hays at the American Legion
April 25th in Ellis at the VFW

May 8th in Hays at the VFW
May 9th in Hays at the American Legion

All of the meetings start at 7:00 p.m.

Why should you vote for Midwest Energy to become self regulated?  The energy company held a meeting in Hays Thursday night to explain why you should vote for self regulation.

As a cooperative, customers have the opportunity to give their opinions by voting. Westar Energy is not a coop and customers do not have that option.

A spokesman for the Kansas Corporation Commission told Hays Post “Even if members vote to return most decision making authority from the KCC, the members would still have an opportunity to appeal rate changes with the KCC.  However, since there is an open docket before the commission on the issue, they are not able to say more.

Ballots are in the mail and need to be returned next month.  What do you think of think of the issue?  Tell us in the comments section below.

The Hays Police Department conducted 22 traffic received four animal calls on Thursday, according to the Police Activity Log.

Theft: The Hays Police Department investigated two theft reports on Thursday. The first theft occurred on Sunday, March 31st at 7:07 p.m. in the 4300 block of Vine Street. The second theft was reported in the 1900 block of Vine Street at 6:31 Thursday evening.

Burglary: Officers investigated a burglary in connection with a civil dispute in the 500 block of East 20th Street at 11:03 Thursday morning.

Drug Offenses: Officers conducted two drug related offense investigations on Thursday. The first drug offense was in connection with a driving under the influence stop conducted in the 2200 block of Canterbury Drive Thursday morning at 2:53. The second drug offense was reported in the 2900 block of Sherman Avenue at 4:00 Thursday afternoon.

Missing Person: The Hays PD received a missing person report Thursday afternoon in the 500 block of East 12th Street.

Removal of Unwanted Person: Officers responded to the 4300 block of Vine Street at 8:47 p.m. Thursday for the report of an unwanted person.

Motor Vehicle Accidents: The Hays PD responded to five motor vehicle accidents on Thursday. Three of the accidents involved private property. The first was reported in the 3600 block of Vine Street at 7:20 Thursday evening. The second was reported in the 300 block of West 8th Street at 7:51 p.m. The third accident was a hit and run accident in the 1700 block of Hall Street at 9:30 Thursday evening.