PLAINVILLE- Three people were injured in an accident just before 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday in Rooks County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2004 Dodge pickup driven by Michael Ray Riley, 19, Plainville, was westbound on Y Road one mile south of Plainville.

The Dodge truck failed to yield at the intersection of 20 Road and struck a 2007 Nissan Frontier in the rear passenger side.

Riley, the driver of the Nissan Jason Rathbun, 44, and a passenger Bryce P Rathbun, 14, both of Zurich, were transported to Rooks County Health Center.

They KHP reported all were properly restrained at the time of the accident.

Vehicle #1 struck vehicle #2 on rear passenger side. Vehicle #1 came to rest facing East in the intersection. Vehicle #2 came to rest facing Southwest in the West ditch

UPDATE: Due to unforeseen circumstances, Tommy Drewel has been forced to cancel his appearance in Hays. He was scheduled to speak Tuesday at the Hays American Legion for the Hays-based Vietnam Veterans Of America Chapter 939.

The event is expected to be rescheduled in August.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

With the Ellis County Commission continuing to face a budget shortfall in 2016, the county could be forced to raise taxes.

The commission held a special meeting Monday morning to continue working through the budget process, and each department once again presented the commission with their requests for 2016.

Also at the meeting was Ken Beran from Adams Brown Beran and Ball Certified Public Accountants. The group was brought in last week to help the commission with the budget process with the resignation of County Administrator Greg Sund effective at the end of the week. ABBB conducted the county’s audit and worked with previous commissions on the budget before Sund was hired.

Beran told the commission that, in 2014, the county spent $300,000 more than what was previously budgeted for, leaving the county short that amount for 2015. That is on top of the almost $2 million decline in revenue resulting from the drop in oil prices.

Beran estimated the commission would have to raise the mill levy to 38.92 from 34.2 to make up the $300,000 deficit.

The county raised $14.5 million in 2014 at the 34.2 mill levy, he said. If the mill levy remained the same, as the commission has stated as its goal, county tax revenues would be $12.7 million.

To make up that difference on the revenue side of the ledger, the county would have to raise the mill levy to at least 41 — or cut more than $2 million from its expense budget.

In the current 2016 budget draft, Beran said he saw a number of discrepancies with both expected revenues and expenditures in the proposed 2016 budget. He said there were projected increases budgeted for without any data backing up those increases. Beran was going to look over the information and projects before offering additional recommendations.

Commission Chairwoman Marcy McClelland asked if raising the mill to 38 would keep providing services at the current level

“I don’t really want to raise it, but I can’t see where we can get by without,” she said.

Commissioner Dean Haselhorst said he believes there are places within each county department’s budget that can be cut.

“If you don’t want cut anything out of your department, your mill levy is going to go up, your property tax is going to go up,” Haselhorst said. “I don’t know anybody out in the county that is going to raise their hand and jump up and down and say ‘Please raise my property tax on my house some more.’ ”

Haselhorst said the county also will have to look at reducing funding for outside agencies. Sund said outside agency funding was reduced to 2012 levels last year, with the exception of the ACCESS Transportation, which was cut at a much more dramatic level.

Beran also has issue with the amount of money the county has saved in the Capital Equipment Reserve Fund. He says as of May there was $2.9 million. EMS, the Sheriff’s Department and Road and Bridge make up the majority of the fund.

The commission instructed county department heads to get their proposed cuts to Beran by next week with the intent of having another meeting in two weeks.

In other business:

• The commission held two executive sessions regarding non-elected personnel matters. One of the sessions included Randy Gustafson, former Hays City Manager who retired in 2007.

• Appointed Haselhorst as the construction liaison to handle issues that arise with the Courthouse/LEC and Emergency Services projects. Sund handled those duties before announcing his resignation.

• Approved three construction change orders at the Courthouse/Law Enforcement Center, one allowing for an extra 10 days of contruction time. MW Builders has asked for another 48 days but the commission wants to negotiate that request.

Submitted

MANHATTAN — More than 450 young men from across the State of Kansas, all of whom will enter their senior year of high school this fall, participated in the 2015 session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy. The event, in its 78th year, was held May 31 through June 6 at Kansas State University in Manhattan.

The ALBSKLA provides a relevant, interactive, problem-solving experience in leadership and teamwork that develops self-identity, promotes mutual respect and instills civic responsibility. Boys State is a “learning by doing” political exercise that simulates elections, political parties and government at the state, county and local levels, providing opportunities to lead under pressure, showcasing character and working effectively within a team. It’s also an opportunity to gain pride and respect for government and the price paid by members of the military to preserve democracy.

Among the highlights from the week, Bryce Johnston, a resident of Leawood, Kan., and a senior-to-be at Kansas City Christian School in Prairie Village, Kan., was elected Boys State of Kansas governor. In addition Alexander Trobough, a Kansas City, Kan., resident and a senior-to-be at Sumner Academy of Arts and Science, and Rese Wynn, also of Kansas City, Kan., from Piper High School, were elected to represent the Boys State of Kansas at Boys Nation this summer, Friday, July 17, through Friday, July 24, at Marymount University in Arlington, Va.

The 2016 American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy is scheduled to be held June 5-10 again at Kansas State University. For information on becoming a delegate, click HERE.

Delegates from northwest Kansas included (Delegates denoted with a star (*) were elected by their Kansas Boys State city as its outstanding citizen):

Smith Center
• Cody Carder, Smith Center High School, City of Gardner City Official

Wilson
• Heath Cox, Wilson High School, People for the American Way Political Action Committee

Great Bend
• Ryan Broeder, Hoisington (Kan.) High School, Pershing County Commissioner
• Josiah Caspers, Ellinwood (Kan.) High School, Department of Human Services
• Jacob Dearman, Great Bend High School, Department of Tourism and Culture
• Trey Ibarra, Great Bend High School, Bradley County Commissioner
• Christian Rivas, Great Bend High School, Department of Justice
• Benjamin Witte, Great Bend High School, Kennedy County State Representative
• Sam Witte, Great Bend High School, Department of Tourism and Culture

Hays
• Hunter Perryman, Hays High School, Highway Patrol
• * Scott Ring, Hays High School, Pershing County Commissioner

Dorrance
• Patrick Kepka, Thomas More Prep-Marian High School, Farmers Alliance Political Action Committee

Lenora
• James Berry, Norton Community High School, Secretary of Health and Environment

Natoma
• Dean Masters, Natoma High School, Assembly for the Advancement of Minorities Political Action Committee

Norton
• Kyle Bell, Norton Community High School, City of Finley City Official

Phillipsburg
• * Donovan Lumpkin, Phillipsburg High School, King County State Representative

Russell
• Jacob Sellens, Russell High School, Kennedy County Commissioner

Bird City
• Devon Janicke, Cheylin High School, MacArthur County State Representative
• Ivan Kemp, Cheylin High School, Powell County Commissioner

McDonald
• Reece Leonard, Cheylin High School (Bird City, Kan.), Secretary of Agriculture

Scott City
• Josh Becker, Scott Community High School, Kennedy County State Senator
• * Nicholas Storm, Scott Community High School, Patton County Commissioner

For more information about the American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy, click HERE.

The Hays Police Department responded to 9 animal calls and 40 traffic stops Monday, June 22, 2015, according to the HPD Activity Log.

MV Accident-Hit and Run–1300 block Vine St, Hays; 10:10 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–Hays; 8:31 AM
Animal At Large–1000 block E 41st St, Hays; 9:32 AM
Water Use Violation–3000 block E 14th St, Hays; 12:14 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 12:29 PM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 2:01 PM
Theft (general)–300 block Main St, Hays; 3:53 PM
Water Use Violation–2900 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 4:22 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2500 block Gen Hancock Rd, Hays; 5:10 PM
Animal At Large–1300 block Douglas Dr, Hays; 5:15 PM
Juvenile Complaint–200 block W 14th St, Hays; 6:46 PM
Animal At Large–500 block S Campus Dr, Hays; 8:15 PM
Found/Lost Property–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 11:35 PM

BY AMY BALTODANO
Hays Post

A 26-year-old Hays resident was arrested last Thursday evening, after a repossession attempt reportedly went awry.

Officers responded to a report of reckless driving in the 3300 block of Vine.

“The victim was attempting to repossess the vehicle and the driver of the vehicle — Coleby S. Thomas — tried to avoid having his vehicle repossessed,” Hays Police Department Lt. Brandon Wright said. “In the process, he struck the victim with his car, trying to get away from the repo agents.”

The victim’s foot was run over during the incident, although he declined medical attention.

Thomas was arrested on suspicion of aggravated battery, Wright said.