Due to the observance of Independence Day, Thursday, July 4, 2013, refuse/recycling route collection schedules will be altered as follows:
There will be no changes to Monday, July 1st, Tuesday, July 2nd, and Friday July 5th’s routes.
Collections for Wednesday, July 3, 2013 and Thursday, July 4, 2013
will be collected on Wednesday, July 3, 2013.
Although alley collections may not occur on your normal day, collections will be completed by the week’s end. It is anticipated that heavy volumes of refuse/recyclable will be encountered around the holidays. Please make sure your bags are out by 7:00 a.m. and keep in mind that the trucks have no set time schedule.
City of Hays customers that may have any questions regarding this notice should contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at 628-7357.
(AP) — A new government report finds what appears to be a significant shift in when pregnant women have C-sections.
US Cesarean Section Rate by State, 2011 Click here for a closer look at the numbers
The number of C-sections done has stopped increasing and more of the operations are happening closer to the mother’s due date.
Experts call the change great news, saying doctors and women have apparently absorbed warnings about the risks of C-sections and the importance of waiting to deliver until the baby is full-term.
A C-section is major surgery with risks, including death in very rare cases.
For decades, the operations were done in only a small fraction of births, usually only when a fetus was in danger. In 1970, the U.S. rate was 5 percent of all births.
By 2009, about a third of births were C-sections. Experts say one factor among many was the convenience of scheduling deliveries. That rate is unchanged.
Hays Police are investigating another report of vandalism in the 500 Block of Main Street in downtown Hays. According to Lt. Ron Rounkles, “Unknown person(s) spray painted a USD 489 Transportation Department building, also known as the “bus barn.”
Transportation office staff told Hays Post that this is the second time since the end of the school year someone has spray painted graffiti on the building. The first instance occurred in May.
A burglary was also reported at Hays High the week of June 10. That is still under investigation.
Hay harvesting on right-of-way along state and federal highways without a permit is illegal and is trespassing, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT).
Haying permit applications are available at KDOT District and Area offices and are good for one year or a specific haying season. From April 1 to the end of each year, permits to harvest are issued in the order for which they are received.
Permits can be canceled at any time by either party and all operations shall be in accord with requirements and guidelines set by KDOT. Any person, firm or corporation wanting to mow or bale hay will need to submit a permit application to the KDOT office in their area.
For additional information, contact the Hays Area KDOT Office: (785) 625-9718.
Moran’s Memo: Show Your Patriotism Through Service
Sen. Moran presenting the Purple Heart pin to Capt. Katrina Gier Lewison in Iraq, August 2003.
By Senator Jerry Moran
The Fourth of July is an all-American holiday – a day when communities across the country come together to wave the Red, White and Blue, and commemorate our nation’s independence with parades, fireworks and good barbecue. Every Kansas family celebrates in their own special way, but we are all united in our cause for celebration: the many blessings we enjoy as Americans and the sacrifices made in the name of our freedom.
While Independence Day traditionally honors the struggle for independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution, it is impossible to overlook the service of the current generation in our Armed Forces who continue to bravely defend freedom, liberty and the American Dream.
It has been almost 10 years since I first met Katrina Gier Lewison, then a captain in the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division. She grew up in Hutchinson, Kan., graduated from West Point, and served in Iraq as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot. Capt. Lewison’s letters home to her parents during her deployment had been published regularly by the Hutchinson News, and I took great interest in reading about the service of her battalion in the Mosul area of Iraq as they helped villagers, repaired local schools, ran engineering projects, and built a clinic.
I had the opportunity to travel to Iraq in August 2003, and told my traveling companion – General David Petraeus – that I would like to meet Capt. Lewison. Little did I know she was riding in the cockpit of our helicopter and I was shocked when she responded to me herself over the headset. During our mid-flight conversation, I learned that she had been injured just a few weeks prior by shrapnel from a grenade thrown at a Humvee she was traveling in. At that moment, Gen. Petreaus revealed to Capt. Lewison that she was to be awarded the Purple Heart for her injuries. After our helicopter landed, I had the honor of presenting the Purple Heart pin to this brave Kansan during an impromptu service that left tears in the eyes of many in attendance – including my own.
Many Kansans, like Lewison, choose military service because of their passionate faith in our nation. But you don’t have to sign up for one of the Armed Forces to serve our country. Hubert H. Humphrey, the 38th Vice President of the United States, once said, “What we need are critical lovers of America – patriots who express their faith in their country by working to improve it.”
The fact is, one individual or organization can change the course of someone’s life. Regardless of where you live, how much you earn, or how far you went in school, you can volunteer. Whether it’s visiting the sick and disabled, feeding the hungry, mentoring children or supporting your community, you can make a difference.
There are opportunities to serve our nation on the home front throughout Kansas. Here are just a few suggestions: volunteer at an after school program; serve as a Scoutmaster with your local Boy Scout of Girl Scout troop; work with your local 4-H chapter; adopt a “Little” through the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization; coach a youth sports team; or serve your church congregation. The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow, so we need to help them develop into individuals capable of dreaming big and pursuing those dreams.
As Kansans, we have witnessed first-hand the devastation caused by natural disasters like tornadoes, and many Kansans have been on the receiving end of their fellow Americans’ generosity. Another way to serve our country is by donating time, goods or money to those who have lost everything due to a natural disaster. A great resource is the American Red Cross; local chapters gather volunteers and funds to help those in need. Your support can help give your fellow citizens the courage to persevere in spite of enormous challenges. Visit redcross.org to learn more about opportunities to serve.
As we celebrate the 237th Birthday of our great nation, we should be mindful that with freedom comes responsibility. Great sacrifices have been made by many, including Katrina Gier Lewison, so we can live in freedom. We must continue to work to uphold the ideals of the Declaration of Independence – life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – and work to make certain the United States of America remains the land of opportunity. As Americans, we are called upon to better our communities and nation through patriotic service, and I hope you are compelled to answer that call.
Phase 3 of the Vine Street Reconstruction Project will begin on Monday.
The contractor will switch the traffic control on Vine Street from 13th to 22nd Street. The north bound and south bound lanes will be moved to the outside north bound and south bound lanes closing off the inside lanes and center lane for construction. Motorists are encouraged to use side streets and adjacent entrances to access businesses along Vine Street.
Phase 3 is expected to last 2 weeks, which will complete the project.
Traffic control markings and signage will be in place to direct drivers.
The Hays Larks used three solo home runs to battle back from an early three-run deficit, but Wellington answered with two in the seventh and one in the eighth and defeats the Larks 6-5 in the first game of their three-game Jayhawk League series at Larks Park. The loss ends Hays’ four-game win streak and drops their record to 19-4 and 13-4 in league play. The Heat improve to 13-9 and 9-9 in league play.
Jason Zgardowski (3-1) struggled early, giving up three runs, one earned, in the first inning. The right hander from Midland Community College then held the Heat scoreless until the seventh when they scored twice to break the 3-3 tie.
The Larks lose despite hitting four home runs, giving them seven in their last two games. Jake Placzek’s solo shot in the fourth got them on the board. Brett Lang and Cody Daily hit back-to-back shots in the fifth to tie the game 3-3. Down to their final out, Daily hit a two-run blast to left to pull Hays within a run. Desmond Roberts would ground out to first to end the rally and the game.
Update The road near Highway 50 in Reno County is open again today following Saturday’s grass fire. A camper traveling down the highway sparked numerous fires. The highway between Partridge and Abbyville was temporarily closed. Some homes were threatened. The camper and the truck pulling it were seriously damaged. No one was injured.
Multiple grass fires have closed a road near the south-central Kansas town of Partridge in Reno County.
The fires were burning Saturday between Partridge and Abbyville.
Reports that some of the fires have threatened homes, but no structures have burned. No one is injured.
The crowds are indeed big at this year’s Country Stampede. Click on the pictures for a closer look. Casey James, Scott Mccreery, and Trace Adkins were featured on Saturday night. Cross Country, Morgan Frazier, Randy Houser and Miranda Lambert will wrap up the scheduled entertainment on Sunday.
Salina held its first ever Gay Pride event at the Ramada Inn and Convention Center on Saturday. Local performers “The Dirty Martinis” were among the entertainment along with the Salina Community Theater’s rendition of “Legally Blonde”.
Executive Director of the Kansas Equality Coalition Thomas Witt told the Salina Post,”The turn out is incredible for a small city in Kansas.” Thomas also explained the gay pride roots that go back to the Stonewall riots on June 28th, 1969. The riots started after New York P.D. raided a gay bar and physically assaulted the customers. Those riots went on for two nights. Thomas also said it is not official whether or not this event will be annually.
Congressman Tim Huelskamp (R-Kansas) joins NBC network television host David Gregory for tomorrow’s weekly edition of Meet the Press sometime after 8:00 a.m. CT on Eagle Channel 2 and Channel 602 in HD. They are expected to discuss Rep. Huelskamp’s Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA) to amend the U.S. Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman in the wake of this week’s Supreme Court decisions concerning the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8.
The FMA has not been introduced in more than two years and has not gotten a floor vote since 2006. 95% of those House Republicans, e.g., Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Cantor, still serving in the 113th Congress voted for it. Rep. Huelskamp is the only Member of Congress who, as a state legislator, authored one of the thirty state constitutional amendments that prohibit homosexual marriage and polygamous marriage. In 2005, 70% of Kansas voters voted for the state constitutional amendment authored by then-state Senator Huelskamp.
Also on Sunday’s show will be House Democratic Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Texas state Senator Wendy Davis. This week, the Supreme Court rekindled debates at the heart of American politics. Meet the Press guests will talk about the role of the Court and discuss whether these debates, as well as clashes over abortion rights and immigration, signify a return of the culture wars. The roundtable will include MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow; Faith and Freedom Coalition Chairman Ralph Reed; Georgetown University professor Michael Eric Dyson; Heritage Foundation President Jim DeMint; and NBC’s Pete Williams.
The Hays Monarchs had a 6-2 lead after three innings Friday night in their game with the Hays Eagles Senior American Legion at Larks Park, but the Eagles came roaring back with three in the fourth and two in then two in the fifth to take the lead. They would add another run in the sixth for the 9-6 victory. The Eagles improve to 13-11 while the Monarchs have their three-game win streak snapped and fall to 7-6.
Clayton Basgall homered and tripled and drove in three to lead the Eagles. Hayden Hutchison had four hits including a home run and a double and drove in one.
Cameron Klaus pitched 2 2/3 inings of relief and picks up the win for the Eagles. Layne Downing pitched the final four innings of relief and picks up the save.
Shane Zimmerman pitched seven innings for the Monarchs, striking out nine but takes the loss.
(AP) — A second suspect in a marijuana bust at a northeast Kansas airport has pleaded guilty.
Colorado resident Lance Thompson was one of five people arrested in April when a small airplane from Colorado carrying about 42 pounds of marijuana landed at Amelia Earhart Airport in Atchison. Some of the suspects were on the plane, the others in a vehicle waiting to meet it.
Thompson pleaded guilty Thursday in Atchison County District Court to possessing marijuana with intent to distribute. Other charges were dropped in exchange for the plea.
Another defendant, Daniel Brown, pleaded guilty earlier. The others are still facing court proceedings.
Police put the value of the marijuana at more than $100,000.
