Chances for significant rainfall will increase again later this afternoon and evening as a moist unstable airmass continues in place across western Kansas and an upper level disturbance approaches from the southwest. A few strong to possibly severe storms will be possible. Rainfall of an inch or so will be possible across west central Kansas this evening.

Today A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7am, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. East wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Tonight Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between 8pm and midnight. Some storms could be severe, with heavy rain. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 61. East wind 8 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 3pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. Southeast wind 9 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Friday Night Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 4am. Cloudy, with a low around 62. Southeast wind 9 to 14 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Saturday A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 80. South wind 10 to 16 mph.
Saturday Night Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly between midnight and 4am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 62. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
Sunday A 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 81.

Related story: Wednesday front produces little in the way of moisture.

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A bi-partisan group of Ellis County residents met Tuesday evening in Hays for the organizational meeting of Ellis County Team Davis.

The group, comprised of  Democrats and Republicans, supports Paul Davis and Jill Docking in November’s election for Kansas governor and lieutenant governor.

There were the 28 people attending the initial meeting.  Henry Schwaller was  elected Ellis County chairman for the campaign; Janis Lee was elected vice-chairman.  Both are Hays residents.

The group will “focus on expanding its membership over the next month,” Schwaller said in a news release today.

“Ellis County Team Davis plans to share the candidates’ message with Ellis County voters through the November election by staffing a phone bank, participating in local events and campaigning door-to-door,” Schwaller added.

Local residents interested in more information about the candidates or joining the group may contact [email protected] or visit the group’s Facebook page.

The next Ellis County Team Davis meeting  is Tuesday, June 3.

Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, has served in the Kansas House of Representatives since 2003 and is the House minority leader.

Jill Docking, D-Wichita, is a long-time financial planner.  She served on the Kansas Board of Regents from 2007-2010.

Docking lost a bid for the U.S. Senate against Brownback in 1996. Her husband, Tom, was lieutenant governor from 1983 to 1987. His father, Robert, and his grandfather, George Docking, both served as governor.

 

WAKEENEY–Memorial Day is opening day for the WaKeeney Water Park and park playgrounds throughout town are being spruced up with new wood fiber playground mulch.  City council members approved the mulch purchase during their May 6 meeting.

The council also signed the  loan agreement renewal documents from the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida for the F-14A jet in Eisenhower Park.

The meeting included three executive sessions, two for discussion of attorney client relations and the third for discussion of non-elected personnel.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

RECORD OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE GOVERNING BODY 6 MAY 2014

The Governing Body of the City of WaKeeney, Kansas met in a regular session at City Hall 408 Russell Ave at 7:00 PM with the Mayor presiding and the following members present:

Mayor Kenneth Roy and Council Members Mary Jo Clevenger, Irene Dirks, Troy Leiker, Lynelle Shubert, and Allen Weigel

BEING ABSENT: None

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as written, printed and distributed.

GUESTS: Dennis Becking, E. Jay Deines, Addie Zeman, Mariah Brungardt, Audra Berquist, Brittany Brock, Macy Mattheyer, Colton Parker, Cedric Flax, Brandi Fritts, Kristen Hanks, Elyssa Carr, Cordell Ratliff, Brandon Schoenthaler, Corbin Schoenthaler, Tegan Sells, Hunter Folsom, Devon Ghumm, Lincoln Brungardt, Sonya Stanton, Dillon Schmidt, Ethan Stanton, Payton Nowlin, Hayden Cook, and Janelle Miller.

GUESTS: Dennis Becking with OPTIONS Domestic and Sexual Violence Services was present to request funding for their services in the city’s 2015 budget. Mr. Becking presented statistics and information concerning their services to the City Council. Mr. Becking was thanked by the Governing Body and took his leave.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR: Hardy Howard presented four quotes for wood fiber playground mulch. After a short review, Allen Weigel motioned to approve the low bid from Phillips Pinewood Mulch of Raytown, MO at a price of $24.75 per cubic yard delivered. Troy Leiker seconded. Motion carried.

The City Administrator presented loan agreement renewal documents from the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL for the F-14A in Eisenhower Park. After reviewing of the on-going requirements to keep the jet, Mary Jo Clevenger motioned to approve the renewal agreement. Lynelle Shubert seconded. Motion carried.

A quote from REIF Construction of Plainville, KS was presented for the painting of the flag pole at the City Cemetery. After a short discussion, Mary Jo Clevenger motioned to approve the quote in the amount of $1,300.00. Irene Dirks seconded. Motion carried.

The WaKeeney Water Park will open on Memorial Day, Monday, May 26, 2014.

At this time an ordinance making appropriation for the payment of claims for the month of April 2014 was read, whereupon, Irene Dirks motioned to approve claims in the amount of $280,417.12 Lynelle Shubert seconded. Motion carried. Warrant #9969, #9994, #10001 was reviewed prior to approval.

MAYOR: Kenneth Roy presented his annual mayoral appointments to various city boards and administrative offices including Keeney Village, Travel & Tourism, Library, Planning Commission, Tree Board and Fire Department. A motion was made by Mary Jo Clevenger to approve the list of appointments as presented. Allen Weigel seconded. Motion carried.

A motion was made by Allen Weigel and seconded by Irene Dirks to elect Troy Leiker as Council President. Motion carried.

The Governing Body discussed Chapter 5, Article I of the City Code concerning business licenses. It was the consensus of the Governing Body to repeal this section of the City Code. A repealing ordinance will be presented at a future City Council meeting.

A motion was made by Troy Leiker and seconded by Lynelle Shubert to adjourn into an executive session for a period of 30 minutes for the discussion of attorney client relations. Those remaining in the executive session included Mayor Roy, City Council, City Attorney E. Jay Deines, and City Administrator Howard.

The session ended within the allotted time period.

A motion was made by Lynelle Shubert and seconded by Irene Dirks to adjourn into an executive session for a period of 20 minutes for the discussion of attorney client relations. Those remaining in the executive session included Mayor Roy, City Council, City Attorney E. Jay Deines, and City Administrator Howard.

The session ended within the allotted time period.

A motion was made by Allen Weigel and seconded by Lynelle Shubert to adjourn into an executive session for a period of 20 minutes for the discussion of non-elected personnel. Those remaining in the executive session included Mayor Roy and City Council.

The session ended within the allotted time period.

No further business appearing, the meeting was adjourned.

 

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Rebuilding trust within the Hays USD 489 school district and looking to the future were topics discussed at Tuesday’s special meeting between administrators and board of education members.

As principals went around the room presenting building reports and operational plans after staff reductions, all talked about how difficult the year has been for their staff, a year that began with the hiring of Superintendent Dean Katt.

Hays High School Principal Marty Straub remarked how after he got to know Katt, he would go back and tell his staff, “He’s a good dude.”

But the discovery of a $1 million-plus budget shortfall and funding cuts by the Legislature resulted in what board member Josh Waddell described as constant “water-cooler” talk. The resulting proposed budget cuts created uneasiness among the staff throughout the year, he said.

Despite the challenges, principals remarked on how proud they were of their staff. Through it all, they said, teachers managed to stay positive and put their students’ education first.

However, new board member Susan Rankin said she has heard trust is an issue.

“When I hear about mistrust from teachers for the board, we have to make sure between principals and staff that trust (for the board) is there,” she said.

“I don’t want anyone to be afraid to come to us for anything,” board member Marty Patterson added.

President Greg Schwartz said he hopes to never see staff cuts before the board again.

“My goal is personnel transactions are not on our agenda anymore,” Schwartz said. “I don’t want to be part of your teacher evaluations. I want it to be the superintendent’s decision. It is his job to fight for you all.

“In the past, a lot of was happening within the centralized staff (at Rockwell). As me move forward, our goal is to have a more organized approach,” said Schwartz, referring to past practice of relying upon one person to tell the board the budget was balanced.

“We need to heal. We have 2,800 hundred students, 600 staff members,” said Mark Hauptman, assistant superintendent for special services. “We need to move forward. … We need action. That is what helps healing.”

Principals told the board the top two priorities are reducing classroom size among the elementary grades and building a technology infrastructure that works — so teachers and students do not waste valuable classroom time logging in to a system only to be kicked out.

Board members have said if the upcoming LOB election is passed in June, an extra $200,000 would be added to the budget to bring back teachers in the elementary grades.

Hays Middle School Principal Craig Pallister feels positive the LOB will pass.

“Our teachers are really mad at our government and Legislature,” he said, referring to state funding cuts to education beginning 10 years ago.

Board member Josh Waddell said board members received input from teaching staff on how principals handled the process throughout the year.

“While things may have been tense, still teachers had a lot of good things to say about you all,” he said, nodding to the principals seated at the the table.

In the end, principals said if the LOB is not passed, teachers will do what needs to done to ensure students do not suffer.

“Teachers will adapt and do more with less,” said HMS Assistant Principal Shannon Demel.

O’Loughlin Elementary principal Nancy Harmon agreed.

“It will take a toll though, and I worry about my teachers because it will be more difficult,” she said, “but they will do what needs to be done because they care so much about their students.”