WICHITA – Law enforcement authorities in Sedgwick County have recovered the statue stolen from the Boy Scouts Headquarters on North Oliver in Wichita.
The Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office received a tip that the eagle was buried in the backyard of a residence in West Wichita and covered with a tarp and other items, according to a media release.
Sgt. Kooser and Deputy Manning of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office began conducting surveillance of the address and asked for assistance from WPD Sergeants Beard and Miller.
Officers were granted permission to search the property and located the eagle buried in the backyard.
Using a Sheriff patrol truck and towropes, officers were able to pull it out of the ground and it is in very good shape. The recovery of this stolen eagle was possible due to help from alert citizens and collective investigation by the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and the Wichita Police.
Driving defensively during the deer mating season is a must for Kansas drivers.
The reality of driving on Kansas roads and highways this time of year is the possible encounter with a deer. That can happen whether you live in Johnson County in eastern Kansas or Johnson City in the southwestern part of the state.
A 2015 report from State Farm Insurance says that Kansas has the 18th-highest frequency in deer-vehicle mishaps in the United States. The chance of a driver having a vehicle collision with a deer in Kansas this fall is 1 in 125. The national rate is 1 in 169.
The average property damage from a deer-vehicle collision jumped 6 percent this year to $4,135, according to the current nationwide study.
Mid-fall and mid-spring are likely times of the year for deer to be seen on Kansas roadways, because of breeding habits during the fall and growth of vegetation during the spring. And, sunrise and sunset are the times that deer are most active.
I urge Kansas motorists to check with your insurance agents to find out the type of vehicle accident damage coverage your policies have. Then, if a deer accident occurs, you should contact your insurance agent or company quickly to begin the claims process.
When an accident occurs, you should consider the following:
• If you do hit a deer and are uncertain whether the animal is dead, keep your distance. You might be dealing with an injured, wild animal with sharp hooves.
• If the deer is blocking the roadway and poses a danger to other motorists, you should immediately report the incident to the local law enforcement agency.
• Deer accidents are usually covered under a person’s comprehensive coverage, not collision coverage.
• Stay alert, always wear your seat belt and drive at a safe, sensible speed for conditions.
• Watch for the reflection of deer eyes and for deer silhouettes on the shoulder of the road.
• Do not rely exclusively on devices such as deer whistles, deer fences and reflectors to deter deer.
• When driving at night, use high-beam headlights when there is no opposing traffic. The high beams will illuminate the eyes of deer on or near a roadway.
• Brake firmly when you notice a deer in or near your path, but stay in your lane. Many serious accidents occur when drivers swerve to avoid a deer and hit other vehicles or lose control of their cars. Potentially, you will risk less injury by hitting the deer.
• If you see one deer, it is likely there are more nearby.
• If the deer stays on the road, stop on the shoulder, put on your hazard lights and wait for the deer to leave the roadway; do not try to go around the deer while it is on the road.
If you do have a deer encounter and need some assistance with your vehicle claim, our Consumer Assistance Representatives at the Kansas Insurance Department can help. Call us at 800-432-2484.
Ken Selzer is the Kansas Commissioner of Insurance.
ELLIS–City authorities dealt with several animal issues during the Sept. 21 Ellis city council meeting. A proposed dog park, a proposed ordinance requiring pet owners to register their cats, a skunk problem at the golf course, and the outcome of the dangerous dog trial.
Prior to the regular meeting, a public hearing was held on the Community Development Block Grant street project application. The streets set for rehabilitation under the grant include Dorrance Street (from 11th St. to 13th St.); Spruce Street (from 10th St. to Good Samaritan Drive); and Cottonwood Street (from 10th St. to 12th St.).
The complete meeting minutes follow.
ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES September 21, 2015
PUBLIC HEARING ON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT STREET PROJECT
Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to enter into the Public Hearing at 7:10 p.m. The motion carried 4-0, with Council members Walz, Niernberger, Gary Luea and Bob Redger voting in favor of the motion. Mayor David McDaniel stated the purpose of the Public Hearing was to gather input from the public on the Community Development Block Grant street project. Corina Cox, Northwest Kansas Planning and Development, stated the City is required to hold the Public Hearing as part of the grant application. The deadline for the grant application is November 2nd, and the City will be notified in late January if awarded any grant monies. The streets set for rehabilitation under the grant include Dorrance Street (from 11th St. to 13th St.); Spruce Street (from 10th St. to Good Samaritan Drive); and Cottonwood Street (from 10th St. to 12th St.). The entire project is estimated to cost $813,459, with the grant providing $400,000 of that cost. Ms. Cox reviewed the rating criteria the State uses in awarding CDBG grant applications. The CDBG is a competitive grant and not all grant applications are funded. If the City is not funded this cycle it may re-submit the same project next year, but then if not funded again, the City must wait an additional three years before re-submitting the same project for grant funding. There being no comments from the public, Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to close the public hearing at 7:27 p.m. The motion carried 4-0.
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Gary Luea, Heather Luea, Jolene Niernberger, Bob Redger, and John Walz. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, and City Attorney Olavee Raub. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Buck Driggs, Corina Cox, Kellie Begler, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Lyle Johnston, Chad Sproul, and Glen Keller.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member John Walz moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on September 14, 2015 and Bills Ordinance #1981. Council member Heather Luea seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda unanimously.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Kellie Begler urged Council to consider building a dog park, and she presented a petition with names of residents in support of the project. Ms. Begler is exploring grant opportunities to help fund the project and also plans to hold annual fundraisers to help pay for the upkeep. Volunteers would provide maintenance for the park. Ms. Begler suggested several possible locations around town to build the park.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
Streets: Grant
Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, reviewed the Project Budget Form with the estimated cost of rehabilitating each location. Corina Cox, Northwest Kansas Planning and Development, reviewed the documents required for submission with the grant application. Proposed Resolution No. 514 certifies the City is a legal entity and dedicates the $413,859 in City funds toward the grant project. The resolution also authorizes the Mayor to sign any forms related to the grant application. Proposed Resolution No. 515 assures the Kansas Department of Commerce that the City will provide sufficient funds each year for the continued operation and maintenance of the City’s streets. Ms. Cox then reviewed the proposed Administrative Consulting Agreement between the City and NWKP&D. The agreement details the services that will be provided to the City for administering the grant. The agreement is contingent upon the City being awarded CDBG funds. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve Resolution No. 514, Resolution No. 515 and the Agreement for Administrative Consulting Services with Northwest Kansas Planning and Development for administering the CDBG grant. The motion carried 5-0.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
General Government: City Code
City Attorney Olavee Raub reported that she contacted the League of Kansas Municipalities regarding options on how the Ellis Golf Club could eliminate their skunk problem. The League referred her to Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism. KDWPT stated the best course of action would be for the Golf Club to hire someone with a Nuisance Animal Damage Control Permit to rid the course of the pests. Council member Bob Redger noted he has had several phone calls from citizens stating they are not in favor of the Golf Club discharging firearms in the area. Ms. Raub and Police Chief Taft Yates explained the City cannot override State Statutes which states no discharge of firearms is allowed in the City limits, which includes pellet guns and BB guns. KDWPT also noted trapping of the skunks would be deemed illegal. City Clerk Amy Burton provided Chad Sproul, representing the Ellis Golf Club, with a list of the NADC permit holders in the area, as compiled by the State.
General Government: City Code
Council discussed a proposed ordinance requiring pet owners to register their cats with the City, in hopes of helping identify the feral cats in the City from the pet cats. Ms. Raub noted the City already has an ordinance prohibiting animals from running at large. Any cat impounded would need to be taken to Hays, as the cats would not be allowed to be housed at the dog pound. If not claimed, the City would be responsible for paying the $35 impound fee. After further discussion, the majority of the Council members felt the proposed ordinance would not produce the results desired. Council decided not to take any action on the proposed ordinance.
Public Works: Violation Notices
At Council’s request, City Clerk Amy Burton presented the various violation notices issued to residents for numerous items. Much of the wording contained in the notices follows the wording in the City Code sections. Council suggested minor modifications in two of the notices. Ms. Burton will make the modifications.
NEW BUSINESS
Parks: Event Request
Council member Gary Luea moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to approve the Public Property Permit Application and Event Request for Traffic Control from the USD 388 STUCO for the use of Memorial Park for a pep rally and the approval of the parade route in conjunction with the annual homecoming activities. The motion carried 5-0.
General Government: City Code
Council member John Walz moved to approve Ordinance No. 1390 updating the floodplain management provisions for the City. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. Upon a call for further discussion, City Clerk Amy Burton explained the revisions as directed by Steve Samuelson, Kansas Division of Water Resources. Once Ms. Burton made the modifications, the Ordinance was sent back to Mr. Samuelson for review, who then also forwarded the Ordinance to Dave Barfield, Chief Engineer for the Kansas Division of Water Resources. The Ordinance is stamped with the Division’s approval. The Ordinance must be sent to FEMA by October 1st to be in compliance with the Community Rating System program for floodplain management. Upon a call for the vote, the motion carried 5-0.
Special Highway: Repair/Maintenance
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented a bid from Straight-Line Striping to stripe Cedar Lane. Two bids were solicited; however, only one bid was received. Mr. Scheuerman feels the one bid received is reasonable. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve the bid from Straight-Line Striping in the amount of $1,000 to stripe Cedar Lane, with funds to come from the Special Highway fund. The motion carried 5-0.
Municipal Court: Contract
Due to the increased volume of cases heard in Ellis Municipal Court, Municipal Judge Ross Wichman has decided to hold municipal court twice per month, rather than just once per month. City Attorney Olavee Raub stated that at just one court date per month, the dockets average 20-30 cases. In addition, the cases can easily be drawn out with having to wait four weeks for the next hearing or trial date. With that, Judge Wichman has requested a corresponding increase in his monthly fee, from $150 per month to $400 per month. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Heather Luea seconded a motion to approve the request of compensation for Municipal Judge Ross Wichman of $400 per month effective October 1, 2015. The motion carried 5-0, with Council member Bob Redger abstained due to a perceived conflict of interest.
Special Machinery: Acquisition
Police Chief Taft Yates presented bids from Lewis Ford and Marmie Motors for a new patrol car. Chief Yates is looking to replace the 2012 Dodge Charger with a 2015 Ford Taurus. Marmie Motors indicated they may not be able to still get the 2015 model, but quoted the vehicle at $24,669 less trade-in of $6,000, for a net purchase price of $18,669. Lewis Ford quoted the vehicle at $24,535 less trade-in of $10,500, for a net purchase price of $14,035. Both quotes reflect the fleet government rate. In recent months, the Charger has been in the shop for numerous repairs including the motor, alternator, water pump, radiator, and a second set of struts. The vehicle was budgeted to be replaced in 2015 at a cost of $43,000 fully equipped. In review of the accessory equipment quote, Council member Gary Luea questioned the price on some of the equipment and inquired of obtaining local bids for the equipment and installation. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Heather Luea seconded a motion to accept the bid from Lewis Ford for a 2015 Ford Taurus Police Interceptor at a net price of $14,035, including trade-in of the 2012 Dodge Charger, with funds to come from the Special Machinery fund. The motion carried 4-1, with Council member Gary Luea opposed.
Council member John Walz moved to approve the quote from Ka-Comm, Inc. for vehicle equipment and installation in the amount of $9,761.40, with funds to come out of the Special Machinery Fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. Chief Yates noted certain items will transfer from the Dodge Charger to the Ford Taurus, including the light bar, the gun racks and the cage. The motion carried 4-1, with Council member Gary Luea opposed.
Council member John Walz then moved to approve the quote from L.A.W.S. for the graphics package for the new patrol car in the amount of $1,310, and the quote from D&B Body Shop for the installation of the graphics in the amount of $1,500, with funds to come out of Special Machinery Fund. Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-1, with Council member Gary Luea opposed.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Water: Repair/Maintenance
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented the current well levels and average water use.
Sargeant Drilling is currently installing the piping for the transducers. Don’s Electric reported the components for the transducers have not arrived yet, but should arrive and be installed in the next 2-3 weeks.
Mr. Scheuerman reported the Department has been turning the water valves and documenting the locations and condition of the valves. Approximately 60-65% of the valves have been tested. Mr. Scheuerman believes the valves have not been tested in 12-15 years.
Water: Training
Mr. Scheuerman would like to attend two conferences on the future of water in Kansas. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to allow Mr. Scheuerman to attend the water meetings in Salina in October and Manhattan in November. The motion carried 5-0.
Sanitation: Special Project
Mr. Scheuerman reported the last grass pickup will be October 12th and the City-Wide Cleanup is scheduled for October 19th.
The Stockton inmates will be in town next week to help trim trees at the Cemetery.
Public Works: Training
Mr. Scheuerman reported on his progress in the online training program to become a certified building inspector. The modules are set up as a 2-year program. Council instructed Mr. Scheuerman to complete the modules in between his daily work; however, they encouraged him to set personal goals of completing certain modules in a particular time frame.
Campground: Special Project
Council discussed the completion of the dock at Big Creek. Mr. Scheuerman is going to check with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism regarding possible grants to help complete the project. Reconstruction of the dock is a joint project between the City and Rotary.
Mr. Scheuerman then inquired about interest in expanding the campground. The project has been discussed off and on for several years. If interested, Mr. Scheuerman would like to get some trees planted. Council directed Mr. Scheuerman to get cost estimates on extending the water and electric lines. Council also discussed the possibility of installing individual sewer drops to the expansion sites.
Mr. Scheuerman reported the Department will return to regular hours the week of September 28th.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates reported on upcoming training for his Department.
City Clerk
The annual flu shot clinic will be held September 28th from 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall.
City Clerk: Training
City Clerk Amy Burton requested approval to attend the Municipal Clerks Certification Institute in November. This will be her final year to attend Institute and she will graduate at the banquet ceremony. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve Ms. Burton’s attendance at the Clerk’s Institute in November in Wichita. The motion carried 5-0.
Ms. Burton reported she will be applying for a scholarship to attend the IIMC National Conference in Omaha in May 2016.
Ms. Burton reminded Council of the League of Kansas Municipalities annual conference October 10th – 12th and the League Regional Supper on October 21st in Goodland.
Tourism: Repair/Maintenance
At the last Council meeting, Council inquired about replacement costs of the vinyl on each of the City’s billboard panels. Ms. Burton presented pricing for each of the boards and also reviewed with Council the last vinyl replacement of each board.
Parks: Committee
Ms. Burton reported the Safety Committee performed inspections of the playground equipment at Playworld and Chrysler Parks and made several recommendations to increase safety for the patrons at the parks.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub provided an update on the dangerous dog trial held September 18th. The defendant failed to appear and was found guilty of all charges. The defendant has 5 days from the date of being served to pay the impound costs and fines in order to retain possession of the dogs. However, the dogs are not allowed to live within the City limits. If not paid in 5 days, the dogs will be destroyed. If the dogs are moved to another City, Ms. Raub will notify that community of the demeanor of the dogs while in Ellis.
Mayor/Council
Council member Gary Luea questioned the difference between a car dealership and a junk yard. Ms. Raub explained that a dealership usually has operational vehicles and any junk accumulation would revert to the zoning code, under which the owner could be cited.
Council member Bob Redger inquired on the zoning classification of the Old Power Plant. Ms. Raub stated that the City consultants applied existing zoning codes when updating the classifications. Utilities may be maintained in a residential classification.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Heather Luea seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 9:44 p.m.
Less than one inch of rainfall in the last two months in the Hays area is taking its toll on trees in and around Hays. Mike Cooper visits with Holly Dickman about proper watering techniques for trees and lawns.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Education Department says there’s been another drop in the percentage of people who are defaulting on their student loans in the first years they are due.
More than 5.1 million borrowers began paying back their loans in the 2012 budget year, and about 611,000 defaulted — about 11.8 percent.
The rate was 13.7 percent in 2011 and 14.7 percent for 2010.
The drop was seen across all sectors of higher education — public, private and for-profit institutions.
Schools with high default rates can lose eligibility to take part in federal financial aid programs.
Steven Harkness, age 66, of Hays passed away Friday, September 25, 2015 in Hays. He was born June 17, 1949 in Ransom, Kansas to Vance and Lois (Wyrill) Harkness.
He was a self-employed artist by trade.
He is survived by two daughters, Michelle Harkness, Kansas City, MO and Amanda Harkness, Hays, KS; a Brother Gary Harkness, and wife Linda Harkness, Larned, KS and a sister Jane Spiess, and husband Jim Spiess, Wichita KS.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Funeral services will be 2 PM Saturday, October 3, 2015 at the Ransom United Methodist Church in Ransom, KS. with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be 1 PM until service time at the church.
Arrangements in care of Brock’s Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Donations are being sought for a middle school counselor who underwent a quadruple amputation after a shooting at a south-central Kansas store.
The Wichita Eagle reports that about $28,000 has been raised so far for Julie Dombo. The 61-year-old was wounded in August during a robbery at a Derby AT&T store.
Because of oxygen deprivation to her limbs while in the hospital, her hands and legs required amputation in early September.
A blood drive was held in Dombo’s honor on Labor Day, and a run/walk was held on Sunday as a fundraiser for her medical bills as well. Money also is being raised through a GoFundMe page.
At 9 a.m. today, it became official — the building that has been known simply as The Mall will take on a new persona as Big Creek Crossing.
The name was announced at a naming celebration in the mall’s central court.
The process began in early March as Katie Dorzweiler, property manager, and Cody Dale, marketing director, began discussions on what the shopping center’s new image should be.
“On March 4, 2015, Cody Dale and I had an opportunity to sit down with our parent company’s management and marketing team with one goal in mind: to create a new name for The Mall in Hays, Kansas,” Dorzweiler said in an open letter to the community.
After seeing a trend in feedback about the shopping center, the team saw a need to adjust everything about the center.
The community “felt deflated, let down and frustrated,” Dorzweiler said. And so mall managers moved forward with “a group of experienced retail management minds” to work on how to make the property relevant again.
That group worked “to make this name stand for something to our community, something that they could be proud of again,” Dorzweiler said.
Through exploring why area residents shop at the Hays mall, the desired experience, demographics and comparative analysis a theme came through to the team.
“As we thought about our community, we kept coming back to words such as ‘neighborhood’ and ‘family’,” Dorzweiler said. “Our families actively invest in their children and they value traditions and togetherness. We aspire to include families in our activities and our family focused leasing strategies will continue to add backing to our brand. We want our shoppers to know and feel that this is their mall; their place to shop.”
With the new name the team developed a new brand promise.
“A friendly face, a warm smile, a person you know and that is a big deal. A new perspective on life, afresh look at who we are, where we fit and where we live and that is a big deal. A big part of the conversation is ‘We are your mall, your place to shop with family and friends, we are your neighborhood,’ ” she said.
Beside the change in attitude location also played a big part of the naming decision.
“The property itself is centrally located between the intersection of U.S. Highway 183 and Interstate 70,” Dorzweiler said. “While we still have our small town values, we are well aware of the mark we can leave on visitors to our neighborhood. We can be the destination for family activities and family fashion, for you and other surrounding communities.
“So it is with great honor and pride that we not only present to you a new name, but a new perspective, a new persona and a new way to experience shopping with your family,” she added. “We wanted this name to tie back to the strong values and tradition Hays is based on, but even more than that, we want Big Creek Crossing to be where you return to shop and make memories with your family.”
I am writing to invite your readers to hear Greg Page, Cargill Inc. Executive Chairman, talk about the economic impact of climate change on the world’s food production.
As many know, the world’s population is expected to balloon to 9.6 billion people by the year 2050. The world’s farmers will have to produce as much food in the next 35 to 40 years as they have in the entire history of the world.
Page will present ‘Climate Change and the Future of Food Production’ at 7 p.m., Monday, Oct. 12 in McCain Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.
Page is a member of the Risky Business Project, a national committee formed in 2014 to prepare American companies for climate change. In his role, Page is encouraging American business and government leaders to have serious conversations about accommodating climate change scenarios in the future.
Page’s lecture at Kansas State University is the second in the Henry C. Gardiner Global Food Systems Lecture series. Robert Fraley, the Chief Technology Officer for the Monsanto Company, presented the inaugural lecture in January.
This is an important topic that certainly will impact American agriculture in the future. If we are to continue to be the most productive food system in the history of mankind, these are the types of conversations we need to have. As the country’s oldest land-grant institution, and considering our agricultural heritage, Kansas State University is a great place for this discussion to take place.
Please come join us on Monday, Oct. 12. Click HERE for more information.
Sincerely,
John Floros, Dean
College of Agriculture
Kansas State University
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — One of two northeast Kansas twin brothers has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in a multistate marijuana-trafficking operation.
The Lawrence Journal-World reports 33-year-old Los Rovell Dahda was sentenced Wednesday and fined almost $17 million. Dahda and his brother Roosevelt Rico Dahda, both of Lawrence, were found guilty last year of conspiracy. They were among 43 people accused in Kansas and California in connection with the trafficking ring.
Authorities say the ring brought 8,000 pounds of marijuana, much of it from California, into Lawrence and the Kansas City area over seven years until 2012.
Investigators say they seized almost $17 million in drug proceeds in the case.
Roosevelt Rico Dahda was sentenced to more than 19 years in federal prison on Tuesday.
Residential life at Fort Hays State University is about to see big changes as this weekend ground-breaking will begin on the first of many projects aimed at improving on-campus housing at the university.
The 31-bed facility is expected to be ready for students in the fall of 2016 and seeks to serve enterprising students in an inclusive environment to foster entrepreneurship.
The hall is a small piece of the overall upgrades to FHSU’s student housing. The university is also planning to replace Weist Hall and build themed housing on campus – all within the next two years.
“It’s themed housing, and themed is the important word, because it’s not just Greek row,” said Joey Linn, vice president of the Division of Student Affairs.
“By naming this a themed housing plan, we have flexibility in what we want to do,” Linn said.
Right now, this area serves as extra parking, but within the next two years themed housing will be the dominant feature of the area.
Although the building will be open to other groups, fraternities and sororities will be the first to take advantage of the housing, with two sororities and one fraternity having already signed housing agreements.
The Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority were the first two groups to sign on.
“Neither of those groups had a current house off campus. I think it was a pretty easy decision for them,” said Jacob Ternes, coordinator of Student Involvement and Greek Life.
The Delta Zeta sorority has also signed on, moving from their current off-campus house.
“We’re excited about the opportunities it’s going to give our students,” said Becky Peterson, director of Residential Life.
With three of the four units already occupied, another building nearby can be easily added.
“We have an opportunity with building one,” Linn said. “We could put another building up there,” in the footprint of the area if more are needed.
“That’s not just the Greek need, but if there is additional needs we see on campus for special groups,” Linn said.
The building will have four units, with 21 beds per unit.
The housing will not only increase housing at FHSU, but might also help make fraternity and sorority life more appealing to students.
“It’s going to relive some of that housing burden from the advisers,” Ternes said, allowing the advisers to focus less on housing issues on more on Greek life.
“I think we’re going to see our students get more connected,” Peterson said.
The last decade hit local fraternities and sororities hard, but FHSU hopes the housing will help kick off a revival of a traditional part of campus life.
“The 2005 to 2008 years were a pretty low spot for our community here,” Ternes said. “But since then, our sororities have been growing exponentially.”
FHSU currently has three sororities and four fraternities, but more are coming back to FHSU.
“This spring, we’re adding Alpha Kappa Lamda fraternity,” Ternes said. “In 2017, we’ve got an agreement with Alpha Sigma Alpha to come back.”
“After 2017, we’ll have nine,” he said.
One of the newer housing developments at FHSU, Stadium Place, will soon have a new neighbor – Themed Housing.
“I think there’s is demand for it on this campus. We’re currently about 5 percent of the on-campus student population,” he added. “If you look at Emporia or Pittsburg State, we could grow that to 10 percent of the on-campus population and be comparable.”
While students in the housing will likely benefit from the university oversight, questions still remain as to exactly how policies will be implemented, but in general,FHSU housing rules will apply to member of fraternities and sororities that live in themed housing.
“We’re still in conversations figuring out what the policy will be like, but our expectation is that the baseline will be residential life policies,” Ternes said. “It’s kind of a blended model between self policing and residential life oversight. Our goal is to train one of the members living in there as a resident assistant.”
Another large piece of the picture is the replacement of Weist Hall, which is happening in conjunction with the building of the themed housing.
While “it’s still in the construction document stage,” Barnett said, a spring or late spring ground-breaking is expected.
Both are expected to be ready for move in fall 2017.
“The new building will be in front of Weist, where it exists right now,” he said.
Building in front of the current building will allow it to be occupied during construction, with demolition planed after the new building is occupied.
Following the demolition of Weist, McMindes Hall will be the oldest residence hall on the FHSU campus.
Funding for the project will mostly come from bonds, but residential life and and university funds will also contribute to the $34 million budget including parking and the two buildings.
The replacement for Weist Hall will have 405 beds and with themed housing the university is looking at a gain in available housing overall.
“Once we get these projects competed, I think our student residential life facilities are from top to bottom are going to be first class,” Linn said. “I would put our facilities up against anyone in the Midwest.”
The Kansas Historical Society of Germans from Russia is set to host this year’s chapter round-up in Hays on Saturday, Oct. 3, at Whiskey Creek, 3203 Vine. Registration opens at 8 a.m., with the meeting and presenters to begin at 9 a.m., and a keynote banquet to be held at 6 p.m.
Registration is $10 for members and $15 for non-members, with an additional fee of $25 for the lunch and banquet.
The KHSGR also encourages attendees to join them on Friday, Oct. 2, for the Oktoberfest festivities. The tapping of the keg will be at 11:30 a.m., and a gathering of round-up attendees will be held that evening at Whiskey Creek for sandwiches, snacks and drinks.
For more information, contact Kevin Rupp at (785) 656-0329.
