The Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and 27 traffic stops Thursday, March 17, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–200 block E 9th St, Hays; 1:02 AM
Driving Under the Influence–300 block W 7th St, Hays; 2:13 AM
Driving Under the Influence–2900 block Indian Trl, Hays; 3:03 AM
Credit Card Violations–1900 block Eisenhower Rd, Hays; 3/11 12 AM; 3/14 11:59 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–1000 block Fort St, Hays; 11:31 AM
Disturbance – Noise–1300 block Donald Dr, Hays; 12:24 PM
Animal At Large–3500 block Fort St, Hays; 12:47 PM
MV Accident-Property Damage–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 2:45 PM; 2:46 PM
Abandoned Vehicle–400 block Ash St, Hays; 3:09 PM
Disturbance – Noise–500 block E 20th St, Hays; 5:15 PM
Suspicious Person–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 5:36 PM
Animal At Large–1700 block Western Plains Dr, Hays; 5:50 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–400 block E 18th St, Hays; 6:54 PM
Intoxicated Subject–2000 block Eisenhower Rd, Hays; 10:15 PM
Driving Under the Influence–300 block W 8th St, Hays; 11:36 PM

HFD

The Hays Fire Department will be inspecting fire hydrants and flushing water mains on Friday, March 18, in the area south of 8th Street to 4th Street between Main Street and Allen Street, then south of 13th Street to Highway 40 between Canterbury and Commerce Parkway.

This is part of a coordinated effort by the city of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually.

NPS

NICODEMUS–Nicodemus National Historic Site is pleased to host the Women of Nicodemus program on Sat., March 19th at 1:00 p.m. in the Township Hall in Nicodemus.

The program will consist of reenactments of four iconic women of Nicodemus – Emma Williams (Johnella Holmes) first woman to travel to Nicodemus and gave birth to the first male baby born in Nicodemus, Lula Craig (Angela Bates) first historian, Effie Moore (Twillia Berry) smoked a piped and grew cane, providing sorghum to the community, and Nettie Craig (Cecelia Crocket) first African American female to receive a PhD and former resident and music teacher of Nicodemus. The reenactors will present musical performances of the Nicodemus famous gospel singers – The Williams Sisters.

Historical photos and other memorabilia will be on display. The event is free and open to the public. Everyone is invited to stop in to enjoy the program the Women of Nicodemus, visit with the reenactors, and enjoy the refreshments.

The town of Nicodemus is symbolic of the pioneer spirit of African Americans. They dared to leave the only region they had been familiar with to seek personal freedom and the opportunity to develop their talents and capabilities.

Nicodemus National Historic Site represents the western expansion and settlement of the Great Plains, and includes five buildings: The First Baptist Church, St. Francis Hotel, Nicodemus School District Number One, African Episcopal Church, and Township Hall.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It was a short work session Thursday night for Hays city commissioners. Mayor Eber Phelps had to leave early in order to participate in the opening ceremonies of the annual Special Olympics Basketball and Cheerleading Tournament at Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Phelps moved up one item on the agenda in order to participate in the discussion.

Up for review, the 2016-2018 Essential Air Service (EAS) contract for the Hays Regional Airport. The current provider, SkyWest Airlines, was one of three proposals submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), which fully funds EAS.

Also bidding were Great Lakes Aviation, the former commercial air passenger service in Hays, and Via Air.

City Manager Toby Dougherty recommended that commissioners recommend SkyWest to USDOT, even though SkyWest’s federal subsidy request was higher than the other two bids.

“They didn’t hit the numbers they thought they would,” Dougherty explained, “but they’d keep the same 12 flights per week and ask for more subsidies.”  He pointed out that when Great Lakes was in Hays, it had “about a 60 percent on-time flight record, and ended its contract early with the city–in May 2014–leaving Hays without a commercial air carrier for nearly three months.”

“I think, over the years, Great Lakes had the worst complaints I heard about any air service we ever had in Hays,” Phelps commented.

Via Air would have utilized 30-passenger ERJ jets; SkyWest uses 50-passenger jets.  Via Air would does not have code share agreements with other airlines. If checking luggage, a passenger would be required to retrieve his/her luggage in Denver, check in with the appropriate airline, and then go back through security to re-enter the terminal area.

“I think SkyWest is the best option,” Commissioner James Meier said.

The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors presented a letter of support for the selection of SkyWest to the commission.  The Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development Board is expected to do the same next week. Midwest Energy has also expressed its support of SkyWest.

Commissioners directed Dougherty to draft a letter to USDOT supporting the selection of SkyWest.

Commissioner Henry Schwaller was absent from the work session.

It will be cloudy and cold on Friday. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches possible across north central Kansas.

Today Snow before 2pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow. High near 40. North northeast wind 11 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 22. North northwest wind 6 to 11 mph.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. North northwest wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 12 to 17 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 21. North northwest wind 7 to 15 mph.

Sunday Sunny, with a high near 53. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph.

Sunday Night Clear, with a low around 31.

Monday Sunny, with a high near 73.

KDWPT

PRATT–The Kansas BASS Nation (KBN) has been working with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) to place artificial fish attractors in local waters in an effort to improve fish habitat and increase angler success. KBN Conservation Director Jesse Jordan and KDWPT Fisheries program specialist David Breth, who oversee the program, set a goal to assemble and place 300 PVC and tubing structures called “Georgia Cubes” in 2015. They not only met that goal, but are currently working towards tripling that number. Three-hundred additional cubes are already on the ground and will be placed in the coming months.

“Local B.A.S.S. clubs have been instrumental in this project, assembling the cubes from kits onsite, and then placing them using their own boats and GPS units,” Breth said. “They’ve been a great help.” In addition to the KBN, KDWPT has also received assistance from The Bass Federation and several local organizations throughout the state.

Not only have their efforts caught the attention of anglers, some of whom have already reported catching largemouth bass near the structures, but they’ve also garnered national recognition from

The Berkley Conservation Institute (BCI), of Berkley Fishing. On March 5, Jordan accepted an award from BCI on behalf of KBN and their partnership with KDWPT.

Modeled after a design originally implemented by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the cube-like structures are comprised of a four-foot-by-four-foot-by-three-foot PVC frame. This is woven with more than 50 feet of corrugated pipe, maximizing surface area for the growth of periphyton, a mix of algae, fungi and bacteria, which attracts invertebrates and small fish, which then draw bass and other predator species. Not only are the cubes cost-effective, but they last more than three times longer than natural brush piles; and based on their use in other states, attract as many fish as natural cover without affecting water quality.

Kansas licenses fees and federal funds from the Sport Fish Restoration Program have financed the components used to assemble the cubes, but Breth said that without the help of Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation affiliated clubs, the placement process would be much slower.

To date, cubes have been added to Milford, Wilson, Melvern, Perry, El Dorado, Tuttle Creek, and Horsethief reservoirs; as well as Butler, Clark, Pottawatomie No. 1, Pottawatomie No. 2, and Meade state fishing lakes. They have also been placed in Yates Center’s South Owl and Eureka City lakes. Fisheries field staff will collect sonar and video images on how fish populations and species are using the cubes in relation to natural structures

For information on how to locate these attractors, as well as access locations of natural structures, visit www.ksoutdoors.com and click “Fishing,” then “Where to Fish in Kansas.”