By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

You’ll see them everywhere in Kansas this weekend.

Men wearing bright yellow and red aprons standing near store entrances and churches holding specially marked Tootsie Rolls asking for your donations to the Knights of Columbus annual Tootsie Roll Drive.

Proceeds are used to help Kansans with intellectual disabilities.

Donors get a smile and “Thank You,” and of course, a Tootsie Roll candy.

Eighty percent is returned to local Knights of Columbus councils to be donated to institutions of the council’s choice which aid people with intellectual disabilities.  The remaining 20 percent is used by the state K of C council to sponsor the annual Special Olympics basketball tournament held at Fort Hays State University each spring, and for religious education of  people with intellectual disabilities.

Hays Mayor Henry Schwaller IV recently declared Oct. 10-12 “Helping People with Intellectual Disabilities Days” in Hays.  Gov. Brownback signed a similar declaration for Kansas.

This is the 44th annual Tootsie Roll drive.

Last year, the 254 Kansas K of C councils collected more than $347,000.

Click HERE to read the Hays proclamation by Mayor Schwaller.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ellis County Extension Council elections will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday at the Ellis County Extension Office, 601 Main, Hays, and from 5 to 7 p.m. at the KSU Ag Research Center during the Farmer’s Appreciation Dinner.

Any Ellis County resident, 18 years or older, is eligible to vote.

Three representatives are publicly elected each year to serve on Extension Council program development committees for agriculture, family and consumer sciences, community development and 4-H youth development. Extension Council members work with Extension agents to identify local issues and develop educational programs to meet local needs.

All eligible voters are encouraged to cast their vote for Extension representatives. For questions or more information, call the Ellis County Extension Office at (785) 628-9430.

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Smoky Hill Pheasants Forever Chapter 424 is hosting a free opportunity to introduce or expand youth’s hunting and shooting skills while “getting the kids outside” and away from the television, according to the chapter secretary and youth coordinator Shayne Wilson.

The ninth annual Darrell Brown-Lavern Stieben Memorial Youth Upland Hunt is Oct. 18, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hays City Sportsman Gun Club,  5810 230th Ave., just off of Interstate 70, exit 157.

Wilson said the event is for youth ages 12 through 18 and intended to keep the hunting heritage of northwest Kansas alive.

“I just feel it is really important. … We need to get the youth involved in this, “Wilson said. “We have seen in the past few years that the youth have dropped off as far as hunting and this is something they go out and do with their dads or moms. (Hunting) is a family event.”

Wilson said each participant will learn gun safety skills, how to train a dog and receive the chance to shoot targets, field hunt, and learn how to clean and prepare the birds and more.

Officers from Ellis County Sheriff’s Department will also present a D.A.R.E. program.

Wilson said not to worry if your child does not have the equipment — a hunting vest, cap, ammunition and a gun will be provided.

The registration deadline is Friday, October 17.

To register, call Wilson at (785) 628-1415 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

 

 

 

 

In partnership with Tiger Media Network, Hays Post will carry live coverage of the Fort Hays State University Homecoming parade.

The parade is scheduled to step off at 1 p.m. Saturday in downtown Hays.

Tiger Media Network will be using new state-of-the-art technology — including drones — to offer up a never-before-seen view of the parade, which will be rebroadcast on Eagle Community Television Channel 14 beginning next week.

Click below to take a look at the festivities once the parade begins

HAYS- A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 9:30 p.m. on Friday in Ellis County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Honda Accord driven by Ariel R. Larrick-Bautista, 18 Overland Park, was westbound on Interstate 70 eleven miles east of Hays. The driver fell asleep, possibly hitting a semi trailer-loading bar on the rear of the trailer.

The vehicle went into the median.
A passenger in the Honda Ralph G. Bautista, 61, Overland Park, was transported to Hays Medical Center. Larrick-Bautista was not injured.

The KHP reported they were properly restrained at the time of the accident.

A nice fall day is in store with temperatures climbing to around 60 to 65 degrees and light and variable winds.

Chances for showers and thunderstorms increase again on Sunday as a storm system and associated cold front move into western Kansas during the afternoon and evening.

A few showers will affect Kansas Monday, with gusty northwest winds of 20 to 30 mph. A dry and mild weather pattern will then settle into the area for rest of next week.

We did recieve .56 of an inch of rain at the Eagle Media Center from the rain showers yesterday afternoon.

Today: Areas of frost before 10am. Otherwise, sunny, with a high near 59. Light and variable wind becoming south southeast 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 43. South wind around 8 mph.
Sunday: A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 2pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 65. South wind 9 to 14 mph.

Sunday Night: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 3am. Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low around 46. Breezy, with a north northwest wind 10 to 15 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph after midnight.

Columbus Day: Sunny, with a high near 65. Windy, with a north northwest wind 18 to 25 mph.