By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

A new addition at a Hays park looks at first like a colorful birdhouse, but closer inspection reveals there are no birds — just books, all kinds  of books.

The structure also has the words “Take a Book. Leave A Book” written on the front, giving anyone at the park a good idea of its purpose — it’s a Little Free Library.

“It’s a great way to expand our services,” said Lucia Bain, Hays Public Library’s Kansas Room librarian. It’s part of a national project — the Little Free Library program — intended for all 2,500 public libraries funded by the Original Carnegie Foundation.

“I just really like the fact that’s it’s another great service we can offer and makes things more convenient for people and promotes public sharing and literacy at the same time,” Bain said.

Bain said she is excited the community is using the service, pointing out the LFL was erected a little more than a month ago.

“As you can see by looking inside, most of the books initially stocked are gone, so I would really like remind the community if they have any book they want to leave in the Little Free Library, they are more than welcome to help us keep it restocked,” she said.

Bain said the project originally was intended for children’s books but says other types of books for all ages are welcome too, as long as they are appropriate.

The Little Free Library is located at Seven Hills Park in Hays, 33 Street and Canal.

Bain said HPL is planning on another Little Free Library at Hays Aquatic Park this summer or next summer. The structures themselves cost around $400 and come undecorated.  Bain said she plans to make the next Little Free Library a “group project” and will ask the community for  help with decorating.

Towed vehicle, 1200 block Canterbury, 10:16 a.m.
Criminal transport, WaKeeney, 12:29 p.m.
Theft, Schoenchen, May 7
Animal call, 100 block Village Road

The Kansas State Board of Nursing has awarded a Certificate of Excellence to North Central Kansas Technical College in recognition of the nursing program National Council Licensure Examination pass rate for the 2013 testing year.

KSBN gives the award to the state nursing programs that exceed the national pass rate for first-time test takers. The registered nurse and practical nurse programs at NCK Tech each received the honor. The registered nurse candidates achieved a 94.74 percent pass rate. The Beloit campus practical nurse candidates achieved a 100 percent pass rate, and the Hays campus practical nurse candidates achieved a 96.67 percent pass rate. The first-time pass rate for both programs exceeded state and national averages.

The NCLEX examination measures the competencies needed to perform safely and effectively as a newly licensed, entry-level nurse and is the capstone of nursing program studies. The NCK Tech nursing programs are acknowledged by state and national agencies — the Beloit campus PN program is approved by the Kansas State Board of Nursing; the Hays campus ADN and PN programs are approved by the Kansas Board of Nursing and the ADN program is accredited by Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing. Both programs also achieved the KSBN Certificate of Excellence for the 2012 testing year.

Sandy Gottschalk is the nursing program department chairwoman of the NCK Tech Hays campus, which offers both RN and PN programs. Additional nursing faculty on the Hays campus are Michele Unrein, Robin Hertel, Karen Kisner, Patricia Drees, Amy George, Beryl Dinges and Chandra Case. Patti Scott is the nursing program department chairwoman of the NCK Tech Beloit campus, which offers the PN program. Additional Nursing faculty on the Beloit campus are:  Annette Saint, Nicki Kasl, Christine Budke and Rebecca Pellant.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

A group of Hays High School students are headed to a Europe later this month, and they are holding one last fundraiser to help raise money for the trip.

Lora Gallegos-Haynes, head of the Student International Travel Club, said 11 students and two sponsors will take a 13-day trip through Europe that will include stops in Paris, Barcelona, Madrid, Saville, Costa De Sol and Morocco.

Gallegos-Haynes, a Spanish teacher at Hays High School, said the group has been raising funds to pay for the trip for the past two years by working the concession stand at Hays High, selling pizzas and baked goods and selling Hays High logo cups. This Saturday will mark the group’s second barbeque at Cerv’s at 27th and Vine.

The trip costs $4,500 through Education First Tours, which includes airfare, train tickets, tour bus, meals and entry fees.

Gallegos-Haynes said stops will include the Louvre, Prado Museum and a number of other tours. She said this is a good opportunity for students to learn about different cultures.

“We will have an opportunity to fly, ride one of the fastest trains in Europe as well as tour buses,” she said. “Many of the kids have never been on a plane, much less outside of Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska or Colorado.”

Saturday’s fundraiser is at Cerv’s is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — or whenever the group runs out of hamburgers and hot dogs.

“This is more for the kids to get the spending money. Their trip has been paid for. Now we are working on getting them some money to spend,” Gallegos-Haynes said.

The group is scheduled to leave Wichita on May 27 and return June 8. Gallegos-Haynes said this is the 10th year HHS students have taken such a trip.