A Hays run this weekend will be dedicated to the memory of a teenager who lost her life in a 2009 accident.

The Free Spirit 5K and 10K will be Saturday beginning at Dusty Glassman Ballpark. Registration begins at 9:15 a.m., with the race beginning at 10 a.m.

The run is held in memory of Jordyn Claiborn, who was killed at age 16 in a September 2009 accident that also claimed the life of Cody Younger, 16, Munjor.

Proceeds from the race will go to the Free Spirit Award at Hays High School and the Jordyn Claiborn Memorial Scholarship at the Fort Hays State University Herndon Clinic for Speech and Language.

For more information, call the Hays Recreation Commission at (785) 623-2650.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

An early Monday morning incident at a Hays convenience store led to the arrest of a South Carolina man on a number of allegations including robbery.

According to Hays Assistant Chief of Police Brian Dawson, officers were called to the Golden Ox, 3610 Vine, at 3:56 a.m. Monday for the report of a man threatening the store clerk and another person inside the store.

The man, Christopher Jermaine Clark, 30, Greenwood, S.C., was apparently left by the bus that stops at the Golden Ox. He became upset and, according to Dawson, began acting in a threatening manner and walked out of the store with items without paying.

Dawson said when officers arrived on the scene, the man began threatening officers, creating a dangerous situation for both the suspect and the officers.

Clark was arrested on suspicion of robbery, theft and assault on a law enforcement official. Dawson said the Ellis County attorney’s office is reviewing the incident and additional charges could be filed.

He is currently being held in the Graham County jail.

Hays caught the edge of a cold front that rushed through the area early Thursday evening, a storm that brought some hail and rain to the area.

Reports from Hays were in the 0.16 range, while areas east of Hays in Ellis County  received up to an inch of rain.

In Ellis, just 0.05 inches fell. A report near Russell showed 1.6 inches in the gauge on Friday morning. Osborne County also had a report of 1.15 inches.

The heart of the storm moved through Riley County, where rain totals exceeded 3 inches in some areas.

The storms resulted in hail in wind damage in several counties. Click HERE for more.

The front brought with it much cooler air, with the mercury in the low 50s as Friday began. Lows tonight are expected to dip to 51 degrees with a high of just 78 today.

Click HERE for the complete weekend forecast.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Street, water, storm water and sanitary sewer improvements will move forward in the King’s Gate Addition, Phase 2, after unanimous approval by the Hays City Commission Thursday night. The new housing area is located north of 41st Street and west of Hall Street.

Commissioners authorized a contract with APAC for $639,403.83 to be paid by the developer, Covenant Land and Development, Inc., and by special assessments to the benefit district.

APAC’s bid was higher than that of the other bidder, J Corp, which bid $637,957.70. The developer actually asked for approval of the more expensive bid because APAC can start to work sooner, explained Jesse Rohr, Hays Planning, Inspection and Enforcement superintendent.

“J Corp’s proposal indicated a start date of April 1, 2016, whereas APAC’s proposal indicated a start date of November 30, 2015.  Since the difference in the price between J Corp’s bid  using concrete pavement and APAC’s bid using asphalt pavement is only $1,446, the developer requested awarding the bid to APAC to achieve the earlier start date,” Rohr said.  The adjacent street pavement is asphalt,

APAC is already working in Hays on the 13th Street reconstruction between Main and Milner Streets.  That project is behind schedule.

Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil questioned whether the 13th Street project would be adversely affected by the King’s Gate project.

“The first phase of King’s Gate is the sanitary sewer.  APAC has indicated they would bring one of their crews up from Dodge City which only does underground infrastructure,” Rohr answered.  “They’ve told us it would not pull crews off the 13th Street project.”  “It better not,” interjected Commissioner Henry Schwaller.

The developer will fund 30 percent of the project.  The remaining 70 percent will be paid by the 23 property owners–assessed $22,013.59 each–to be paid at $152.02 per month for 15 years at three percent interest.

A request for placement of an island median and subdivision entrance sign at the entrance to King’s Gate Drive was also approved. The 12’x12’x5′ masonry sign would be similar to the Sternberg Museum entrance sign at 27th and Sternberg Drive. Covenant will maintain the sign.

This project follows the plan that has been set forth and constructed in phases over the last five years and will complete the connection of King’s Gate Drive to 41st Street.

K-State Research and Extension

At an upcoming field day, farmers and ranchers can see the results of different herbicide treatments to control honey locust trees in pastures.

In 2012 and 2013, treatments were made to almost 400 thorny locust trees in a pasture to test which products and treatments yielded the best results. Both tests were evaluated for two consecutive years to see if re-sprouting of trees occurred.

View the results on Tuesday, Sept. 15, at the field day that begins at 6:30 p.m. and concludes around 7:45 p.m. The site is located approximately 6 miles north of Hays at the intersection of U.S. 183 and Locust Grove Road, which is 1 mile south of Buckeye Road on the west side of the highway.

If time allows, discussion on yucca control and musk thistle also will be presented.

No RSVP is necessary. Refreshments will be provided by K-State Ellis County Extension Office. For more information, call (785) 628-9430.

Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 75. North wind 9 to 14 mph.

Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 51. Northeast wind 5 to 11 mph becoming southeast after midnight.

SaturdayMostly sunny, with a high near 78. South wind 5 to 14 mph.

Saturday NightMostly clear, with a low around 53. South southeast wind 9 to 14 mph.

SundaySunny, with a high near 85. Breezy, with a south wind 9 to 14 mph increasing to 16 to 21 mph in the afternoon.

Sunday NightMostly clear, with a low around 62.

MondaySunny, with a high near 91. Breezy