TMP-Marian

Thomas More Prep-Marian chess players came home with a trophy from Saturday’s Valley Center tournament, but a third-place version instead of the first place they were able to claim in November at Wichita North.

The Erie team, absent from last month’s competition, put up 16 points to finish first. Valley Center, trailing TMP’s chessplayers by a point going into the final round, made up the difference and more to post 14.5 points.

The final talley showed TMP with an even 14 points.

Junior Patrick Kepka led the way for the Monarchs, winning five of his six games and earning the second place individual trophy in a field of 47 competitors. Senior Russell Krug contributed 3.5 points (17th), junior Justyce Briney managed 3.0 points (24th), and freshman Alex Lenser (32nd) contributed 2.5 points to the team score. Freshmen Ian Lenser, Ethan Rohr, and Jason Kepka each scored 2.0 points. The four highest individual scores are used to calculate the team score.

Eighth graders Nicholas Zimmerman and Paul Brull were the only junior high competitors to make the trip, but they made up in quality what they lacked in quantity. Each achieved 4.0 points of a possible six; individually they placed 7 and 8 in a field of 48.

The next competition for the Monarch chess players will be in the new year, with a pair of January tournaments: Wichita North and Onaga on the 17th and 31st respectively.

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

The list of dual-credit classes offered by North Central Kansas Technical College for Hays High School is expected to grow this evening when the Hays USD 489 Board of Education votes on Hays High School curriculum guide changes for 2015-16.

According to HHS Principal Marty Straub, thanks to a policy change by the Kansas Board of Regents and NCK Tech adding dual-credit classes, sociology can be added to the growing list of transferable college classes offered locally.

“Until relatively recently, the  Board of Regents did not require other universities to take their credits, so we were having kids (across the state) investing in courses that could not transfer to Fort Hays State, K-State, KU,” he said. “Now the classes (from all technical schools and community colleges) will transfer.”

The USD BOE meeting begins at Monday evening at  6:30 p.m. at Rockwell Administration Building, 323 W. 12th.

A full agenda is located HERE.

By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post

Someone has expressed interest in buying a piece of land owned by Hays USD 489.

Superintendent Dean Katt told board members at last week’s work session he had recently been approached by a real estate agent who wanted to buy a small parcel of land located south of the bus barn, 508 Main.

“It is the section between Main Street and some houses,” Katt said, explaining the district owns less than half of the empty lot.

Board member Greg Schwartz said, at one point, the district had looked at buying the other piece of land but the owner “had no interest in selling.”

“Somebody had made headway on getting the person to sell,” Schwartz said. “Maybe for some kind of apartments.”

Schwartz said when the district last looked at the price of the lot, its part was worth less than $20,000.

The board advised Katt to look into the proposal further.

The BOE meets Monday evening at 6:30 p.m. at the Rockwell Administration Center, 323 W. 12th.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., today thanked Nathan Yunker of Hays for serving as a U.S. Senate intern in his Washington office this fall.

“Nathan has been doing important work for Kansans and gaining valuable experience that will help him in the future,” Moran said. “I was an intern myself — it’s what got me interested in public service. Interns continue to prove to me that there are a lot of great, young people across our state who have an interest in making a difference in the lives of others. Young people like Nathan give me confidence that good things are going to happen in this country and especially in Kansas because our kids are growing up to become impressive and hardworking young adults.”

Yunker is a 2008 Hays High School graduate. Immediately following graduation, he studied at Nicolaus Kusanus Gymnasium in Cologne, Germany, where he received a certificate in German. Yunker is currently a senior at Fort Hays State University working toward a bachelor’s degree in political science, as well as minoring in foreign languages. After graduation, Yunker would like to join the U.S. Foreign Service.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity to intern in Senator Moran’s office,” Yunker said. “It has been an excellent opportunity to see firsthand how our federal government works. During my time here, I’ve gained valuable experience – all while getting to work with an excellent team of professionals who are dedicated to helping and serving Kansans.”

During his time working in the U.S. Senate, Yunker assisted Moran with legislative and administrative duties on behalf of the state of Kansas.

Kansans interested in applying for U.S. Senate Internships in Washington, Hays, Manhattan, Pittsburg, Wichita or Olathe can learn more by visiting https://www.moran.senate.gov.