The Hays Police Department responded to 6 traffic stops and 12 animal calls Tue., Dec. 20, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–500 block E 8th St, Hays; 1:57 AM
Aircraft Incidents (All)–3900 block E 8th St, Hays; 2:13 AM
Animal At Large–22nd St and Marshall Rd, Hays; 7:25 AM
MV Accident-Private Property–200 block W 29th St, Hays; 7:50 AM
Drug Offenses—1200 block Steven Dr, Hays; 9:17 AM
Animal Bite Investigation–2500 block Virginia Dr, Hays; 9:30 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–3700 block Thunderbird Dr, Hays; 12/19 9 PM; 9:15 PM
Animal At Large–2500 block Virginia Dr, Hays; 10:29 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–1700 block Sunset Trl, Hays; 11:46 AM
MV Accident-Private Property–700 block E 8th St, Hays; 11:47 AM
Violation of Restraining Order/PFA–500 block E 8th St, Hays; 11:51 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–200 block E 19th St, Hays; 11:51 AM
Identity Theft–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 12/19 12:54 PM
Animal At Large–100 block E 18th St, Hays; 1:11 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–2400 block Vine St, Hays; 8 AM; 1 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–400 block W 5th St, Hays; 12/15
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 11/21 8 AM
Dead Animal Call–300 block W 12th St, Hays; 1:44 PM
Unwanted Person–1300 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 1 PM; 2:09 PM
Harassment (All Other)–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 2:25 PM
Theft of Vehicle–1100 block Vine St, Hays; 3:19 PM; 3:21 PM
Animal At Large–500 block W 20th St, Hays; 3:27 PM
Suicide–2500 block Virginia Dr, Hays; 4:40 PM; 4:45 PM
Drug Offenses–300 block W 9th St, Hays; 4:52 PM; 5:18 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 5:28 PM; 5:35 PM
Animal At Large–3700 block Autumn Ln, Hays; 5:44 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–13th and Fort St, Hays; 8:48 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 20 traffic stops and 12 animal calls Wed., Dec. 21, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Assist – Other (not MV)–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 8:15 AM
Found/Lost Property–4000 block Gen Hays Rd, Hays; 8:17 AM
Burglary/business–600 block E 11th St, Hays; 12/20 5 PM; 12/21 9 AM
Animal At Large–100 block E 18th St, Hays; 9:39 AM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–2700 block Hall St, Hays; 10:55 AM
MV Accident-Private Property–1300 block Vine St, Hays; 11:23 AM
Dead Animal Call–11th and Elm St, Hays; 11:26 AM
Stalking–400 block Oak St, Hays; 2:51 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 3:16 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–3300 block Thunderbird Dr, Hays; 4 PM
Assault–500 block W 20th St, Hays; 4:11 PM
Drug Offenses–500 block Pine St, Hays; 5:31 PM
Driving While Suspended/Revoked–100 block W 6th St, Hays; 5:35 PM; 5:46 PM
Theft (general)–2700 block Colonial St, Hays; 7:53 PM
Shoplifting–1900 block Vine St, Hays; 8:30 PM; 8:45 PM

GOVE COUNTY – A Gove County woman was injured in an accident just before 11a.m. on Friday.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Ford F150 driven by Una Richmeier, 53, Quinter, was southbound on Castlerock Road twelve miles north of Quinter.

The driver lost control of the pickup as it struck a patch of ice and rolled into the ditch.

Richmeier was transported to Gove County Medical Center.

She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Commencement 2017 at Fort Hays State University has been revised. Master’s and education specialist graduates will be recognized in the same commencement ceremonies as undergraduate students from the same colleges.

For a third year, FHSU Commencement will be two events. Students earning graduate and undergraduate degrees from the Peter and Pamela Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics and the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences will be at 6 p.m. Friday, May 12, in Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Graduates from three colleges will be recognized in ceremonies beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 13, in Gross Coliseum: the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, the College of Education, and the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences.

This change rescinds a change in the Commencement schedule announced in November.

The Commencement schedule is on the Web at https://www.fhsu.edu/commencement/.

KHP

TOPEKA–For the 26th consecutive year, the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association of Kansas (PMCA) graciously donated gasoline to the Kansas Highway Patrol to fill up patrol cars during the holidays. Through the Holiday Highways Safety Program, the PMCA donated vouchers for 53 tanks of fuel for troopers to use as they patrol the highways from December 24 through January 1.

The PMCA of Kansas is a nonprofit organization for independent petroleum distributors, gasoline retailers, and convenience store owners.

Last year, during the 2015 Christmas and 2016 New Year’s reporting periods, the provided fuel allowed the Patrol to assist 1,494 motorists, remove 33 impaired drivers from the roadways, and issue 178 citations for occupant protection violations. The donation last year no doubt contributed to the Patrol’s efforts to keep the roadways safe during the Christmas and New Year holidays. This year, it will help further safety efforts during the holiday season.

“For many years now, PMCA’s Holiday Highways Safety Program has worked to help motorists in Kansas make it safely to their holiday destinations,” said Tom Palace, Executive Director of PMCA of Kansas. “Through their participation in this one-of-a-kind program, fuel distributors and convenience stores are voluntarily partnering with the Kansas Highway Patrol to ensure the safety of their customers, their families, and the many visitors traveling to and through Kansas over the holidays.”

“For the 26th consecutive year, PMCA of Kansas has graciously provided tanks of fuel to the Kansas Highway Patrol. This fuel will go towards our personnel who are working the Christmas and New Year’s holidays, and who are committed to keeping Kansas roadways safe,” said Lieutenant Adam Winters, KHP public information officer.

“One of the most important things during the holiday season is getting the opportunity to spend time with friends and loved ones. The donation received from the PMCA of Kansas has definitely helped us to assist motorists in those efforts. As always, we want to thank PMCA for their continued support of our agency.”

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

You know you’re in western Kansas, and Hays, when your Friday morning kicks off with snow on the ground and a big bright rainbow in the west sky.

A Freezing Rain advisory expired at 8 a.m. Here’s the updated forecast from the National Weather Service in Dodge City:

(Spoiler alert–No white Christmas in Hays, but Santa and his reindeer might still get wet.)

Today–Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 51. South wind 10 to 13 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.
Tonight–Mostly clear, with a low around 21. West northwest wind 5 to 9 mph becoming light after midnight.

Saturday–Sunny, with a high near 49. Light south southwest wind becoming southeast 6 to 11 mph in the afternoon.
Saturday Night–A 40 percent chance of showers after 1am. Increasing clouds, with a low around 38. Southeast wind 9 to 11 mph.

Christmas Day–A chance of showers before 7am, then showers and thunderstorms likely between 7am and 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 59. Very windy, with a south southeast wind 13 to 18 mph becoming southwest 26 to 31 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Sunday Night–Mostly clear, with a low around 23. Breezy.

Monday–Sunny, with a high near 41.

SHERMAN COUNTY – Three people were injured in an accident just before 3:30 a.m. on Friday in Sherman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chevy Silverado driven by Erik Manuel Perez, 32, Wichita, was westbound on Interstate 70 three miles west of Goodland.

The driver lost control of the vehicle and drove across the passing lane into the median.

The pickup traveled up a hump in the median and rolled.

Perez and passengers Magdelena Gomez-Zavala, 24; Mateo Perez, 4, both of Wichita were transported to the hospital in Goodland.

Two other children in the pickup were not injured and they were not wearing seat belts, according to the KHP.

Christmas is my favorite holiday – since I was a child. It has never been about the gifts, but about the excitement and joy in the air, family gatherings, and the religious significance – all in one holiday!

When I was young, my parents would load up my sister (Rhonda) and I, pack the car full of clothes and gifts, and trek the however many miles to my grandparent’s home in Fort Worth, Texas. Though we lived in various places, the trip was never less than six hours. It was a long trip for two little kids, and only increased the anticipation.

My grandparents (my Mom’s parents), lived in Fort Worth, Texas. There was a bend in the road to their home. Rhonda and I would realize we were getting close, and would begin leaning over the front seat to catch the view of my grandparent’s home. Always, no matter how late in the night, it would be fully lit with Christmas lights in the yard and on the house. In the center of the picture window, there was always a huge Christmas tree, beckoning us home. It was adorned with corny ornaments accumulated over the years. On top of the tree was the same angel.

When we entered the house, my grandmother’s cooking efforts were obvious – pecan pie, German chocolate cake, and macaroni and cheese, as well as other delicacies.

We would then be smothered by kisses and hugs from my grandparents. My grandmother would gush over how “pretty” we were; my grandfather would exclaim he could hardly recognize us, we had grown so much.

The next few days were wonderful. We usually opened our gifts Christmas Eve. Many times, it was quite late before we did. My grandfather was Assistant Chief of Police. He always agreed to work the late shift, so the younger police officers could be with their young children. It was always exciting and remarkable when my 6’2” grandfather finally came home on Christmas Eve, dressed so properly in his police uniform, so striking and so handsome.

Christmas Day was always best. Dinner was always roasted turkey, cornbread dressing (I have the recipe), cranberry sauce, rolls, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, and of course, giblet gravy – followed by pecan and chocolate pies.

It was the warmth of that dinner table that was the most special. Stories were told to catch up events in each other’s lives; stories were told of the past; stories were told of our history.

As a child, I absorbed it all.

My children have been fortunate. As my family members have passed away, my wife’s family took up the holiday tradition. My children have enjoyed the amazement of Christmas, just like I did. Each year it begins with a special Christmas service at the Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church, capped with a candle lit singing of Silent Night – an event that still gives me goosebumps, even after all these years.

At Christmas, I have this rush of emotions, especially about those that were with us last Christmas or other Christmas’ past, but are not now. I am also thankful for those who are still with us and the special opportunity we have to be together.

My wish for all of you is that you look around at who you have, appreciate your opportunities, appreciate the gifts the Good Lord has given you, and think of your family and all of your special friendships.

Merry Christmas from all of us at Clinkscales Elder Law Practice. Thank you for warming our hearts.

Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To contact him, please send an email to [email protected]. Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.

Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 51. South wind 9 to 13 mph becoming west northwest in the afternoon.

Friday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 21. West northwest wind 5 to 7 mph becoming light and variable after midnight.

Saturday Sunny, with a high near 49. Light south southwest wind becoming southeast 6 to 11 mph in the morning.

Saturday Night A 40 percent chance of showers after midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38. South southeast wind 9 to 13 mph.

Christmas DayShowers and thunderstorms likely before noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 59. Very windy. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.

Sunday NightMostly clear, with a low around 23.

MondaySunny, with a high near 41.