Great Clips has announced the grand opening of its 4314 Vine location. The salon will open its doors Saturday at its newly built location just outside of Walmart.

The salon will be open for business seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 10a a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

RELATED: Click HERE for more on the new retail development.

The salon, owned by franchisees Christina and Brent Buller, joins a network of more than 3,800 Great Clips salons across North America.

“We are excited to bring the value and freedom that Great Clips offers to Hays and look forward to being part of this great community,” they said in a news release.

To check in online, visit www.greatclips.com or download the app for Android and iPhone.

The Hays Police Department responded to 7 animal calls and 8 traffic stops Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Assist – Other (not MV)–400 block Agnew Ln, Hays; 12:03 AM
Bicycle – Lost,Found,Stolen–3300 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 12:20 AM; 12:25 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–1400 block E 25th St, Hays; 12:34 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–3500 block Hillcrest Dr, Hays; 8:23 AM
Theft (general)–3200 block Vine St, Hays; 9:35 AM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–1200 block E 27th St, Hays; 9:47 AM
Disorderly Conduct–1600 block Oak St, Hays; 11:40 AM; 11:41 AM
Animal At Large–3400 block Summer Ln, Hays; 12:14 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–200 block W 6th St, Hays; 1:12 PM
Burglary/vehicle–500 block E 7th St, Hays; 11/11 7 PM; 11/12 4 AM
Parking Complaint–1100 block Amhurst Dr, Hays; 1:47 PM
Harassment (All Other)–2700 block Vine St, Hays; 2:52 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–200 block W 29th St, Hays; 3:05 PM
Animal At Large–3000 block Thunderbird Ct, Hays; 3:51 PM
Abandoned Vehicle–2500 block Henry Dr, Hays; 4:35 PM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 6:34 PM; 6:57 PM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 7:28 PM
Found/Lost Property–1900 block Vine St, Hays; 8:57 PM
Theft (general)–2900 block Willow St, Hays; 11/4 5:30 PM; 6 PM
Obstruction of Legal Process–500 block W 37th St, Hays; 10:25 PM; 10:40 PM
Theft (general)–2900 block Willow St, Hays; 5:15 PM; 5:20 PM
Animal At Large–300 block W 6th St, Hays; 11:37 PM
Civil Dispute–1700 block Sunset Trl, Hays; 11:42 PM

The Golden Soup Ladle & Silver Dessert Spatula are up for grabs at the inaugural People’s Choice Cook Off, which will be sponsored this weekend by the American Legion Riders Post 173.

The event is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion, 1305 Canterbury, and will be held in conjunction with the Honor Your Veteran Care and Share Event, sposnored by the Legion.

The cook off and meal will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children.

The Care and Share will be from 7 to 11 p.m. and will feature guest speakers, as well as a chance to share pictures, stories and scrapbooks to enlighten others and share veterans’ stories. A DJ will be on hand to provide musical entertainment throughout the evening.

Admission to the Care and Share will be by donation.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Most employees of the city of Hays will see a pay increase in 2016.

Commissioners Thursday night approved the 2016 pay plan and job classification which includes a $2,050 annual pay increase and increases the minimum of the pay grade by $1,500 annually.

The total amount of the pay increases is about $280,675 with $171,637 coming out of the General Fund, $52,590 from the Enterprise and Miscellaneous Funds, and Benefits at $56,448.

City Manager Toby Dougherty and some part-time, seasonal, and volunteer personnel are not included in the pay raise.

Following considerable research by the city Wage and Benefit Committee, commissioners also approved its recommendation to provide employees with a dual option health insurance plan from Aetna, with the city paying $1,719,500 out of the Employee Benefit Levy Fund.

The premium plan will be offered with the same maximum out of pocket as 2015; however, this plan will cost enrolled employees 8.31% of the premium. That will keep costs to the city within the $9,500 average per employee cap the commission set in 2010. This is the first time some city employees will have to pay a portion of the premium. The base plan will be the no-cost option and will have a higher maximum out of pocket.

Erin Giebler, director of human resources, told commissioner James Meier numerous changes were made to the city’s health insurance coverage since 2010 “in order to get the best deal for our money.”

“Part of that is the no-cost option is great for our employees. Employees will tell you ‘We still pay. We pay the deductible.’ But the ones paying the deductible and paying the higher premium plan are the ones using the insurance. The ones who aren’t using the (premium plan) insurance aren’t paying as much because they don’t have the premium cost,” Giebler said.

All the commissioners thanked Giebler for her work on the plan.

Click here to see the 2016 job classification and details of the Aetna employee health coverage plans.

In other business, the commission approved a proposal from Adams, Brown, Beran and Ball of Hays for the 2015 audit year with the option to renew the next four fiscal years. The cost is not to exceed $41,346 and will be funded from the City Clerk/Finance Professional Services budget.