“Mutton Bustin'” fun Tuesday night at the 2013 Ellis County Fair Rodeo, with “play by play” announcer Monte Williams, Alliance, Nebraska.

Sheep provided by McClain’s Mutton Busting, Republican City, Nebraska.

The Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) reports the non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged from last month at 5.8 percent and down from 6 percent one year ago. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.8 percent, up from 5.7 percent in May 2013 and the same as in June 2012.  The unemployment rate in Ellis County for June was 3.2%, up from 2.7% in April and the same percentage as in March.

The labor market posted a noteworthy increase in jobs over the month of  June. Non-seasonally adjusted private sector jobs

increased by 10,000 in the last month in Kansas. Approximately half of the gain in jobs over the month was due to seasonal factors. Non-seasonally adjusted job gains for June came from nine of the 11 major industries. Leisure and hospitality gained 3,000 jobs; trade, transportation and utilities gained 2,900 jobs; and manufacturing grew by 1,500 jobs where gains were in both durable and non-durable goods.

Two major industries, government and other services, reported over-the-month job losses.

“The estimate of average weekly hours worked increased in June to 35.1 hours. This is a rebound from the previous five months which only averaged 34.4,” said Tyler Tenbrink, Senior Labor Economist. “Part of the change over the month was seasonal and not unusual for June, however, this is an early sign that may lead to job growth if it continues on this trend.”

The non-seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged from last month at 5.8 percent and down from 6 percent one year ago. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.8 percent, up from 5.7 percent in May 2013 and the same as in June 2012.

“Initial unemployment claims were down 2,064 from May and down 2,333 from last year, ” said Lana Gordon, Secretary of Labor. “Fewer people coming into the unemployment system means more Kansans finding work and staying employed.”

USD 489 School board has called a special meeting for Monday. The meeting was originally a scheduled work session. Board President Greg Schwartz told Hays

Post in an email, “We need to finish the insurance issue and a couple of other issues before school starts.”

Monday’s agenda includes a discussion on renewal of the district’s multi-peril insurance coverage.

“We do not have a grace period (on the insurance) per se,” said Schwartz. “We have not received a bill yet, it is my understanding Until we receive that we do not need to take action, but if we wait, we could receive a cancellation notice giving us ten days to pay. Until the 10-day notice and that time runs we have coverage under our policies.”

According to the agenda for Monday’s meeting, “The school district received the new quote for Multi-Peril Insurance and Worker’s Comp Insurance from Insurance Planning (IPI) for 2013-14. Larry Caspers of IPI reported that Liberty Mutual was going to cancel the district’s Worker’s Comp insurance, forcing the district to the Kansas State insurance pool at an even higher cost.

Caspers negotiated with Liberty Mutual to keep the policy and lower the original premium proposal.

According to Casper, the reason for the increase was the school district’s 77% ratio of premiums to claims paid. The district still pays more premiums than amount paid out in claims. However, work Comp Insurance Co.’s feel they must stay at or below 60% to make money after considering their administrative costs.

Work Comp Insurance Co.’s by State law are also allowed to include an increased amount of claims (up from $5,000 per claim to $10,000 per claim) into their experience ratio. This increase per claim allowed in the experience ration will continue over the next 3 years. The school district’s property insurance increased because of recent national disasters (tornados, floods, East Coast Hurricane, etc.) and adding on the six new classrooms at Hays Middle School, the Hays High baseball field Astroturf, and new transportation vehicles, etc. “

USD 489 Administration is recommending the approval of Multi-peril Insurance and Worker’s Compensation Insurance from Insurance Planning in the amount of $454,516, for the 2013-14 school year.

O’loughlin’s alternative to the closing of VictoryDrive, the Roosevelt Air Conditioning Compressor, and the Financing agreement with Astra Bank are also on Monday night’s agenda.

A FREE Bootcamp Workout will be held this Saturday from 9:00 am – 10:00 am in conjunction with Bargains on the Bricks. The Center for Health Improvement will provide a fun workout for participants ages 10 and over.

Participants are asked to meet on 10th Street near the Furniture Look.

Hays will play host to a western expert and author this weekend.  Jeff Barnes from Omaha, NE will be in Hays as a guest speaker and to sign copies of his 2^nd book “The Great Plains Guide to Custer”  Saturday July 20^th at the Ellis County Historical Society on 100 West 7th Street.

Barnes’s latest book is organized chronologically, starting with Custer’s crossing of the Mississippi down in Louisiana through his arrival at Little Bighorn.  The first historical travel guide to the locations visited by George Armstrong Custer in the region, it features 85 sites, some of which are in Hays and the surrounding area.

True West magazine says of the book “for anyone driving out to the Little Big Horn there can be no better companion on the seat beside you.”

Barnes will use historical maps, rarely seen photographs and images to highlight his talk.

Admission is free for everyone; the event begins at 3:00 pm.