By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

One young student and one longtime staff member from Hays USD 489 are the district’s first recipients of the Best of the Best Awards announced at Monday’s board of education meeting.

O’Loughlin Elementary third-grader Mahala Gregg won the Best of the Best student award and O’Loughlin fourth-grade teacher Sonya Herl was chosen as the district’s Best of the Best staff  member.

Mahala was nominated by her teacher, Amy Wasinger, and not, as Wasinger said, for the “traditional” reasons such as excellence in academics or sports, but for her kindness.

“(Mahala) has a huge heart. We went on a field trip earlier this year, and she opened up her little hand and had quarters she had taken out of her piggy bank because she wanted to make sure no students missed the field trip because they didn’t have any money,” Wasinger said, adding Mahala is the first to help somebody in need and the first to reach out to students who need a friend.

Mahala displayed a shy smile when she received her gift certificate and trophy and then proceeded to shake hands with Superintendent Dean Katt and all seven board members.

Mahala told Hays Post she was happy to receive the award.

“I feel very excited. I feel like I am going to keep on doing it, and I am just so thankful,” Mahala said.

O’Loughlin Principal Nancy Harman nominated Herl, a teacher for 24 years,  for the Best of Best staff member award.

Harmon said Herl “brings the joy of learning for herself and her students that has a lasting impact” that goes beyond the classroom.

“I feel like I am in the Best of the Best school,” Herl said as she thanked the board for choosing her from among several nominations. “Everyone around me during the school day makes me want to challenge myself and be good because we have an excellent staff and a principal who leads.”

“I just like being around children and seeing them blossom and become whatever they want to be,” she added.

Nomination forms for November’s Best of the Best awards can be found HERE.

The Hays Police Department conducted seven traffic stops and received eight animal calls on Monday, Oct. 27, according to the HPD activity log.

Criminal damage to property, 1000 block Reservation Road, 8:19 a.m.
Motor vehicle accident, Seventh and Fort, 9:57 a.m.
Animal at large, 2400 block Pershing, 11:10 a.m.
Violation of restraining order, 2100 block East 21st, Oct. 17 to 25
Domestic battery, 400 block West 14th, 11:30 a.m.
Identity theft, 1300 block West 43rd, 11:43 a.m.
Animal at large, 3900 block Fairway, 12:41 p.m.
Burglary/vehicle, 1000 block Old U.S. 40 Bypass, 1:26 p.m.
Custody dispute, 200 block Ash, 2:41 p.m.
Child in need of care, 2700 block Plaza, 5:16 p.m.
Animal call, 2900 block Trinity, 3:47 p.m.
Lost animals, 2200 block Henry, 3:51:32 p.m.
Juvenile complaint, 1200 block Main, 4:02 p.m.
Burglary/residence, 200 block East 17th, 4:23 p.m.
Criminal transport, Larned, 4:27 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident, 700 block Main, 4:40 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident, 13th and Allen, 5:31 p.m.
Mental health call, 2500 block Sherman, 6:47 p.m.

Oct. 24
Motor vehicle accident, 600 block East Fifth, 5:20 a.m.
Warrant service/failure to appear, 200 block East 17th, Aug. 5
Warrant service/failure to appear, 100 block West 12th, Sept. 23

Oct. 25
Civil transport/welfare check, 300 block East 14th, 7:58 a.m.
Burglary/storage unit, 800 block 270th Avenue, 10:54 p.m.
Cattle out, Interstate 70, 12:56 p.m.
Assist/ambulance run, 2100 block 250th Avenue, 7:52 p.m.

Oct. 26
Driving under the influence, Ellis, 10:34 p.m.
Suspicious activity, 1500 block West 27th, 12:32 a.m.
Stray livestock, Mount Pleasant and 270th Avenue, 11:09 a.m.
Cattle out, 2500 block 250th Avenue, 6:37 p.m.

Oct. 27
Criminal transport, WaKeeney, 9:16 a.m.
Transport, WaKeeney, 11:26 a.m.
Suspicious activity, 2900 block East Seventh, 4:24 p.m.

Celebrate Health, a ministry of Celebration Community Church, will offer “Baby Basics” tonight.

The session will help answer questions about pregnancy, labor and how to care for a newborn.

Registered nurse Avry St. Peter will lead the session, scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the church.

The session will be the first of a series of classes offered by St. Peter.

For more information, email [email protected].

SCHOENCHEN — The annual Shopping in Schoenchen Craft and Vendor Extravaganza is scheduled for next month.

The event will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 9 at the Schoenchen Community Center, with the Altar Society serving lunch.

The first 30 customers will receive a goodie bag full of coupons, vendor samples and more.

Mostly sunny skies today with highs up into the 60s this afternoon.

Today Sunny, with a high near 66. West northwest wind 6 to 14 mph.
Tonight Patchy frost after 5am. Otherwise, clear, with a low around 34. Northwest wind 3 to 5 mph.
Wednesday Patchy frost before 8am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 71. Light and variable wind becoming south southwest 9 to 14 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 43. South wind around 9 mph becoming west after midnight.
Thursday Sunny, with a high near 67. North wind 9 to 14 mph.
Thursday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 37.
Friday Sunny, with a high near 58.
Friday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 42.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 64. Breezy.