The Hays Fire Department quickly doused a vehicle fire at the intersection of 27th and Donald early Sunday evening.

Just before 5:30 p.m., first responders were on the scene of the car fire, just south of 27th on Donald.

Shortly after they arrived, the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames, which were extinguished in a few moments.

The Hays Police Department and Ellis County Sheriff’s Department also were on the scene.

Related: HFD’s official report from Sunday blaze.

Kansas Department of Education

TOPEKA – The Kansas State Department of Education in partnership with Midwest Dairy Council, Harvesters, Kansas Food Bank, Second Harvest Community Food Bank and Kansas Action for Healthy Kids today announced the winners of the 2013-2014 Kansas School Breakfast Challenge. All Kansas school districts and private schools that participated in the 2012-2013 School Breakfast Program were challenged to increase student breakfast participation by a minimum of eight percent per student enrolled.

Russell USD 407, which increased participation by 13 percent, earned bronze medal designation and will receive a $1,000 cash prize.

Studies show students who eat a healthy breakfast have 1.5 fewer sick days per year, see their math scores increase by 17 percent, and are 20 percent more likely to graduate from high school.

“When you consider that something as simple as eating a healthy breakfast can improve our children’s academic success rate and then you factor in the number of children who, for whatever reason, don’t or can’t do this, you realize very quickly that our schools have a real opportunity to step in and make a difference,” said Interim Education Commissioner Brad Neuenswander. “I am so impressed with the innovative programs that schools have implemented to accommodate the nutritional needs of students.”

School Breakfast Challenge participants were grouped into six tiers based on enrollment size and Gold, Silver and Bronze medal winners were awarded cash prizes in each tier.

Gold Medal winners, receiving $4,000 cash prizes:
USD 204 Bonner Springs, increased participation by 140%
USD 292 Wheatland, increased participation by 136%
USD 448 Inman, increased participation by 116%
USD 233 Olathe, increased participation by 32 %
USD 232 De Soto, increased participation by 24%
USD 244 Burlington, increased participation by 15%

Silver Medal winners, receiving $2,500 cash prizes:
St. Benedicts, increased participation by 75%
Bishop Ward High School, increased participation by 58%
USD 503 Parsons, increased participation by 22%
USD 102 Cimarron-Ensign, increased participation by 13%
USD 500 Kansas City, increased participation by 13%

Bronze Medal winners, receiving $1,000 cash prizes:
St. Mary’s School/Preschool, increased participation by 67%
USD 411 Goessel, increased participation by 53%
USD 473 Chapman, increased participation by 20%
USD 407 Russell County, increased participation by 13%

FHSU University Relations

Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation has given Fort Hays State University’s Pre-Dental Club 1,400 toothbrush kits, including a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss, as part of the club’s local preventative oral health education program.

The education program began Oct. 1 and will run through Nov. 21. The club will visit the seven elementary schools in Ellis County: Washington Elementary in Ellis; Victoria Grade School in Victoria; and Lincoln, O’Loughlin, Roosevelt, Wilson and Washington schools in Hays.

The presentation at each school will help elementary students understand the importance of oral health and careers in dentistry and related fields.

“Western Kansas has a shortage of dental providers, and it is important that young children be taught lifelong habits for good oral health,” said Leigh Reynolds, Hays junior, FHSU Pre-Dental Club president.

Each school program will focus on teaching children preventative oral healthcare through four activity stations, each lasting 15 minutes.

Station No. 1 is devoted to nutrition. “We will use Oral Health Kansas’ traveling sugar display to show how much sugar is within common drinks such as chocolate milk or apple juice,” said Reynolds.

A model will show the difference between a healthy and an unhealthy mouth, and a display will show different diseases and conditions of the mouth.

Station No. 2 will teach basic brushing habits through the book “Dr. Rabbit Wants to Say,” by Colgate. After reading the book, the children will watch “Brushing Magic with Dudley the Dinosaur.”

The third station will use brushing puppets and mouth models to practice good brushing and flossing techniques.

For the last station, the students will dress up with scrubs, masks, safety goggles and gloves.

“Having the kids dress up like dentists will help us teach them why dentists dress they way they do. This time will also be used to talk to students about the different careers in dentistry such as: dentists, specialty dentists, lab technicians, dental assistants, and dental hygienists,” said Reynolds.

To gauge the success of the program, the children will be sent home with a weeklong brushing chart and those who complete it will be rewarded with a toy.

“Currently, the only way most of the schools teach proper oral health is when they celebrate Dental Health Month in February and they watch a short demonstrational video on how to brush and floss,” said Reynolds. “Our presentation will be much more interactive and comprehensive.”

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Hays Fire Department has smoke detectors available at no cost for qualified Hays residents.

To qualify, said firefighter Lucas Everett, you “must live within the Hays city limits, own the home in which the alarm will be installed and either have no detector present or no working detectors present.”

Call the Hays Fire Department at (785) 628-7330 to make an appointment for a firefighter to install the detector.

“While we’re in your home, we’ll explain the function and purpose of the smoke detector and answer any fire safety questions you may have,” said Everett.

“If you do have working smoke detectors present in your home, the Hays Fire Department will also check and change the batteries, if you can’t do it yourself or if you don’t know how to do that.”

Everett also reminded everyone to change batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. The Hays Fire Department recommends doing this twice a year in connection with Daylight Saving Time.

The smoke detectors being given away were donated by the Office of the State Fire Marshal through the program “Saving Lives of Kansans, One Home at a Time.”

Trinity Lutheran Church, 2703 Fort, will have a benefit barbecue for the Fort Hays State University and Hays High food pantries from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 19.

The meal will feature a choice of first-rate smoked meats, baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad, and a variety of delectable desserts. A freewill offering will be collected, with all proceeds benefiting the food pantries. 

The funds raised will help the FHSU food pantry continue its Fresh Food Friday program, to bring fresh food to the campus community. Funds also will help the HHS pantry maintain a stock of food, hygiene items and school supplies, which are dispersed to students in need.

FHSU University Relations

Once upon a time in Tigerland, five princesses and five princes competed to be Queen and King.

Ten finalists for Fort Hays State University’s 2014 Homecoming court (the Homecoming theme is “Once upon a time in Tigerland”) were announced Oct. 2 at a Homecoming press conference after nearly 700 students voted in the preliminary election.

“This year we had 35 candidates nominated for royalty, representing 20 different student organizations,” said Jacob Ternes, Homecoming Committee chair. “It was an extremely close race.”

The Homecoming court is listed in the pairs in which they will appear at homecoming events. The queen candidate is listed first.

Erica Skiles and Tre Giles are sponsored by VIP Student Ambassadors. Skiles, Sedgwick junior, daughter of Randy and Linda Skiles, is majoring in nursing. Giles, Colorado Springs, Colo., senior, son of Tammy Giles, is majoring in organizational leadership.

Arin Powers is sponsored by the Student Government Association and Dylan Hogan is sponsored by the University Activities Board. Powers, Mooreland, Okla., junior, daughter of Larry and Rena Powers, is majoring in business management. Hogan, Winfield senior, son of Jzohn and Angie Hogan, is majoring in computer science.

Jade Singleton-Reich and Brandon Taylor are sponsored by Tigers4Ever. Singleton-Reich, Denver, Colo., junior, daughter of Patrick Reich and Maegan Singleton, is majoring in nursing. Taylor, Greensburg senior, son of Kenton and Nancy Taylor, is majoring in business management.

Brenna Briggs and Jared Helfrich are sponsored by the Catholic Disciples. Briggs, Dodge City junior, daughter of Justin and Tracee Briggs, is majoring in elementary education. Helfrich, Dodge City senior, son of Brian and Kate Helfrich, is majoring in agricultural business.

Kaylie Towles and Trevor Henningsen are sponsored by Stripes for St. Jude. Towles, Wichita junior, daughter of Oliver Towles and Amy Johnson, is majoring in nursing. Henningsen, Hays senior, son of Russ and Sandra Henningsen, plans a career in organizational leadership.

Students will vote for the King and Queen online through Tiger[Link] on Wednesday, Oct. 8, and Thursday, Oct. 9.

King and Queen will be announced during halftime on Saturday, Oct. 11, when the Tigers take on the Griffons of Western Missouri. Kick-off is 7 p.m.

FHSU University Relations

Homecoming 2014 at Fort Hays State University will officially begin with a bonfire at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, sponsored by Tigers4Ever and Greek Life.

The Victor E. march through campus to the bonfire site will begin at 7 p.m. at Stadium Place apartments, make its way past the residence halls, proceed to Hammond Hall, where the band will join, and continue to the Robbins Center.

Festivities, east of the Robbins Center, will include speeches by the coaches and appearances by the FHSU cheerleaders, Tiger Debs, President Mirta M. Martin and Victor E. Tiger.

Tigers4Ever and Greek Life will hold a canned food drive and asks participants to bring a canned food item for the FHSU Tiger Food Exchange. Drop off-boxes will be located in the Robbins Center, the Center for Student Involvement Office in the Memorial Union and at the bonfire. In addition to collecting food, Tigers4Ever and Greek Life students will collect monetary donations during the bonfire, which will be used to purchase items for the food exchange.

To promote school spirit, the Tiger Gold on Friday committee will provide TGOF T-shirts for a shirt exchange for the first 100 Tiger fans. A table will be on the Memorial Union patio from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, and Wednesday, Oct. 8. To receive a T-shirt, fans must bring a T-shirt from another college. Shirts in good condition will be donated. Others will be added to the bonfire stack to be burned.