Two northwest Kansas restaurants — one in Hays and another in Phillipsburg — have been recognized by online ranker OnlyInYourState.com as “Unassuming Restaurants To Add To Your Kansas Dining Bucket List.”

The “don’t judge a book by its cover” list includes El Dos De Oros in Hays and The Chubby Pickle in Phillipsburg.

Click HERE for the entire listing.

What’s your favorite hidden gem in northwest Kansas? Comment below!

BY JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

In a brief meeting Monday, the Ellis County Commission approved a three-party lease agreement with the Fair Association and RPM Speedway to continue leasing space at the fairgrounds to RPM for the racetrack.

According to County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes, the agreement is the same as in previous years, but they have had complaints about the noise late at night, so a new section was added to the contract that stating the promoter of RPM will attempt to end all races by 11 p.m. If the races run past 11 p.m., the promoter will then contact the county and Fair Association the next day.

The agreement expired in 2015, so the new agreement retroactively covers the 2016 season. It is a three-year agreement with two two-year extensions.

In other business, the commission approved a resolution to sell the property located at 209 W. 12th in Hays, known as the Tholen Building.

The building had been used as storage and, after a number of offices moved to the Administrative Center on Main Street, there is no longer a need for the building.

The commission also met in an executive session to discuss possible land acquisition. No action was taken.

The Hays Police Department responded to 53 traffic stops and 9 animal calls Fri., Sept. 30, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Aggravated Battery–400 block W 7th St, Hays; 2 AM; 2:10 AM
Disturbance – Noise–700 block W 12th St, Hays; 4:58 AM
Phone/Mail Scam–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 7:53 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–400 block W 7th St, Hays; 9/29 7:30 PM; 9/30 8 AM
Criminal Damage to Property-400 block W 7th St, Hays; 9/29 7:30 PM; 9/30 8 AM
Criminal Damage to Property-400 block W 7th St, Hays; 9/29 7:30 PM; 9/30 8 AM
Animal At Large–100 block W 18th St, Hays; 9:35 AM
Theft (general)–2000 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 12/31/15 3 PM; 9/30/16 9:50 AM
Disturbance – Noise–400 block W 21st St, Hays; 10:33 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–200 block W 7th St, Hays; 12:49 PM
Animal Cruelty/Neglect–100 block Main St, Hays; 1:46 PM
Probation/Parole Violation–100 block Main St, Hays; 2:01 PM
Drug Offenses–2000 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 2:09 PM
Harassment (All Other)–1000 block W 28th St, Hays; 3:17 PM
Suspicious Activity–2700 block Thunderbird Cir, Hays; 5:53 PM
Drug Offenses–2200 block Gen Custer Rd, Hays; 6:12 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–200 block Elm St, Hays; 6:50 PM
Driving Under the Influence–100 block Main St, Hays; 7 PM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–600 block Ash St, Hays; 7:54 PM
Driving Under the Influence–700 block Park St, Hays; 8:47 PM
Pursuit/Chase–1900 block Vine St, Hays; 8:51 PM; 9:26 PM
Driving Under the Influence–100 block W 10th St, Hays; 10:39 PM
Disturbance – Noise–1300 block Douglas Dr, Hays; 10 PM; 10:45 PM
Disorderly Conduct–300 block W 7th St, Hays; 11:23 PM
Domestic Disturbance–100 block E 12th St, Hays; 11:53 PM; 11:56 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 68 traffic stops and 3 animal calls Sat., Oct. 1, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Drug Offenses–700 block Fort St, Hays; 12:03 AM
Driving Under the Influence–500 block Elm St, Hays; 12:08 AM; 12:31 AM
Water Use Violation–1000 block W 27th St, Hays; 12:33 AM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–500 block Walnut St, Hays; 12:38 AM
Liquor Offense, sell, furnish, transport–500 block Walnut St, Hays; 1:01 AM
Disorderly Conduct–1000 block E 8th St, Hays; 1:01 AM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–200 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:32 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–600 block Park St, Hays; 1:57 AM
Driving Under the Influence–700 block Fort St, Hays; 2:45 AM
Driving Under the Influence–200 block W 9th St, Hays; 2:59 AM; 3:22 AM
Drug Offenses–400 block W 13th St, Hays; 3:11 AM
Drug Offenses–600 block Park St, Hays; 3:39 AM
Burglary/vehicle–100 block E 8th St, Hays; 4:03 AM; 4:04 AM
Assist – Other (not MV)–100 block W 21st St, Hays; 4:44 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–1000 block W 37th St, Hays; 9:03 AM
Battery – simple–400 block W 7th St, Hays; 9/30 9 PM; 10 PM
Animal At Large–23rd St and Elm St, Hays; 11:54 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–700 block E 13th St, Hays; 1:36 PM
Criminal Threat–Hays; 1:40 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–1900 block Vine St, Hays; 2:06 PM
Theft (general)–100 block W 6th St, Hays; 2:30 PM
Disturbance – Noise–100 block E 16th St, Hays; 2:59 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–500 block W 6th St, Hays; 4:22 PM
Theft of Vehicle–200 block Main St, Hays; 2:30 PM; 5 PM
Disturbance – General; 200 block W 8th St, Hays; 5:37 PM
Drug Offenses–1900 block Holmes Rd, Hays; 6:36 PM
Civil Dispute–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 7:55 PM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–5th St and Elm St, Hays; 8:36 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–200 block W 4th St, Hays; 9:22 PM; 9:30 PM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–700 block Elm St, Hays; 9:51 PM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–400 block W 7th St, Hays; 10:15 PM
Disturbance – Noise–1400 block Fort St, Hays; 8:30 PM; 10:35 PM
Disturbance – Noise–400 block  W 7th St, Hays; 10:55 PM
Obstruction of Legal Process–100 block W 7th St, Hays; 11:17 PM
Driving Under the Influence–200 block of W 8th St, Hays; 11:27 PM
Civil Dispute–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 11:20 PM; 11:30 PM
Found/Lost Property–7th & Fort, Hays; 11:48 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–300 block E 20th St, Hays; 11:40 PM; 11:42 PM
Disturbance – General–500 block Ash St, Hays; 11:59 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 27 traffic stops and 4 animal calls Sun., Oct. 2, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

MV Accident-City Street/Alley–300 block E 14th St, Hays; 12:38 AM; 12:45 AM
Domestic Disturbance–300 block Mopar Dr, Hays; 12:40 AM; 12:56 AM
Theft (general)–200 block W 17th St, Hays; 9/30 2:10 PM; 10/2 12:30 AM
Theft (general)–400 block W 6th St, Hays; 12:02 AM; 12:45 AM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–500 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:15 AM
Contempt of Court/Fail to Pay–100 block W 8th St, Hays; 1:18 AM
Found/Lost Property–500 block Walnut St, Hays; 1:40 AM
Driving Under the Influence–300 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:48 AM
Driving Under the Influence–100 block E 13th St, Hays; 2:18 AM
Suicidal Subject–4200 block Sherman Ave, Hays; 2:31 AM
Disturbance – Noise–3400 block Vine St, Hays; 2:31 AM
Driving Under the Influence–600 block Fort St, Hays; 2:40 AM
Civil Transport–1300 block Kansas Highway 264, Larned; 5:42 AM
Suspicious Person–200 block W 4th St, Hays; 7:22 AM
Juvenile Complaint–1700 block Volga Dr, Hays; 10:29 AM
Found/Lost Property–6th St and Ash St, Hays; 11:11 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–4100 block Covenant Dr, Hays; 12:09 PM
Found/Lost Property–6th St and Ash St, Hays; 12:59 PM
Found/Lost Property–100 block W 7th St, Hays; 1:46 PM
Driving While Suspended/Revoked–400 block W 5th St, Hays; 3:14 PM
Disturbance – General–2000 block Walnut St, Hays; 5:11 PM
Domestic Disturbance–600 block E 5th St, Hays; 10/1 11; 11:30 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 6:50 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–1100 block Vine St, Hays; 7:27 PM
Drug Offenses–1400 block Milner St, Hays; 9:20 PM; 9:42 PM
Found/Lost Property–300 block W 11th St, Hays; 9:53 PM
Violation of Restraining Order/PFA–500 block Oak St, Hays; 3:35 AM; 3:37 AM

The Hays Police Department responded to 13 traffic stops and 6 animal calls Mon., Oct. 3, 2016, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Water Use Violation–1700 block Vine St, Hays; 4:29 AM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear); US Hwy 40 and 220th Ave, Hays; 10/1 9:06 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–4th and Main St, Hays; 8:12 AM
Found/Lost Property–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 8:28 AM
Bicycle – Lost,Found,Stolen–1500 block Elm St, Hays; 9:08 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–11th and Vine St, Hays; 9:15 AM
Drug Offenses–1900 block Holmes Rd, Hays; 9:11 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–1700 block Donald Dr, Hays; 9:44 AM
Civil Dispute–3600 block Hall St, Hays; 10:07 AM
Phone/Mail Scam–2900 block Willow St, Hays; 10:27 AM
Contempt of Court/Fail to Pay–1200 block Fort St, Hays; 11:12 AM
Drug Offenses–300 block E 18th St, Hays; 11:52 AM; 1:24 PM
Domestic Disturbance–3600 block Hall St, Hays; 12:42 PM
Found/Lost Property–500 block W 20th St, Hays; 1:21 PM
Disturbance – General–45th and Roth Ave, Hays; 1:41 PM
Juvenile Complaint–300 block W 12th St, Hays; 2:04 PM
Abandoned Vehicle–400 block Oak St, Hays; 3:09 PM
Animal At Large–27th and Elm St, Hays; 3:16 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley– Main St and US 183 Alternate Hwy, Hays; 3:22 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1000 block W 27th St, Hays; 4:37 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–1300 block Vine St, Hays; 4:40 PM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 10:19 PM
Drug Offenses–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 10:15 PM; 10:20 PM

HaysMed

HaysMed Hospice will be conducting a volunteer training session on Tuesday, Oct. 18, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no cost for the training and no obligation for attending. Lunch and all materials will be provided. Volunteers must complete the entire session to meet the volunteer requirements.

Hospice offers comfort care through supportive services and pain and symptom management. Hospice volunteer duties may include providing companionship, listening, reading, running errands, helping with simple tasks and supporting patients and families.

Volunteers are the heart of hospice work, and without volunteers HaysMed Hospice could not provide the many facets of physical, social, psychological and spiritual care that make hospice so special. The HaysMed Hospice team provides care for those in Ellis, Rooks, Rush and Russell counties.

Registration for training is required and participants need to register by October 12. To register or for more information, call 785-623-6200 or 1-800-248-0073 or email at [email protected].

USD 489

Hays USD 489 will have six early release days for the 2016-17 school year that will allow teachers to have time for collaboration and professional development. Lunch will be served to students on these days. Students will be dismissed at 1:00 pm on these days. The following are the scheduled early release days:

• October 5, 2016
• November 2, 2016
• February 1, 2017
• March 1, 2017
• April 5, 2017

In an effort to accommodate students and families on those early release days, USD #489 has made the following arrangements at each of the schools:

Hays High School
Students will be told to exit the building. Bussing will begin at 1:00 pm. Athletic practices will be scheduled at their regular after school time. Students should report back to the school then. Call the school with any questions regarding early release days at 785-623-2600.

Hays Middle School
Students will be told to exit the building. Bussing will begin at 1:00 pm. Parents can call Hays Middle School to make arrangements for after school care on September 2nd. After school care will begin at 1:00 pm and end at 3:04 pm. $8.00 will be charged per student, and a snack will be provided. After school care for the first early release day on September 7, 2016 will be available. After school care for the remaining early release dates will be dependent upon the utilization of the program on the first early release day. Call the school with any questions regarding early release days at 785- 623-2450.

Elementary Schools
Bussing will begin at 1:00 pm. Each elementary school will have the afterschool program on early release days. The afterschool programs will start as soon as the students are released, with the normal ending time still being in effect. The cost for the program on these days will be $12.00 per child. Contact your school with afterschool program questions.

SMITH CENTER — The Smith County Memorial Hospital, The University of Kansas Hospital and The University of Kansas Medical Center Area Health Education Center West have partnered to offer the Emergency Nursing Pediatric Course on Oct. 24 and 25 at the Nazarene Church, 117 E. New York, Smith Center.

This two-day course is designed to assist nurses in gaining core-level pediatric knowledge and the skills to positively affect pediatric patient outcomes in the emergency setting. Some of the topics to be covered include: Initial Assessment, Respiratory Emergencies, Trauma, Behavioral Emergencies, Disaster, Child Maltreatment, and many more. At the end of the course, participants will be tested on the content covered during the course.

Registration is now open and is limited to the first 18 participants. Registrations must be made by October 10, 2016. After this date registrations will not be accepted. The registration fee includes ENPC Book and membership fee. To register online or download a registration form visit https://bit.ly/2d1YqdV. Registration may also be made by calling the KU Area Health Education Center’s Statewide Office at (620) 235-4040 or by faxing a completed registration form to (620) 235-4041.

For more information about this program, contact the KU Area Health Education Center West at (785) 628-6128.