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Primary polls open until 7 p.m. today

election 7
Voter traffic at the Hays American Legion polling place stayed steady Tuesday morning.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“Steady.”

That’s how Ellis County poll worker Sandra Bainter described the flow of voters into the Hays American Legion, 1305 Canterbury, this morning at 8:30 a.m.

“I hope it stays this way all day.”

The polls are open Aug. 2 from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. in Kansas for the primary election.

For the first time, Ellis County poll workers are using new electronic tablets to verify the identification of voters.

election 6“They’re a lot faster,” said Barbara Zimmerman, who’s worked the elections for at least five years.

The EA Tablet by Lenovo quickly scans the bar code of an inserted Kansas driver’s license or other ID. The poll worker verifies the scanned information verbally with the voter, who then signs their electronic signature on the tablet. Another machine then prints out the pertinent information about the voter, including which precinct they live in and political party affiliation. The voter hands the paper printout to another poll worker who sets the voter up at the electronic or paper ballot booth, whichever the voter prefers.

election 5
The tablet computer scans a voter’s Kansas driver’s license.

Another poll worker said the speedy process “will really make a difference in November during the general election” when there is likely to be a larger voter turnout.

Two Ellis County Commission races are being closely watched today.

There are two Republicans vying for each seat. The District 2 race features incumbent Barb Wasinger against Al Ackerman. Dean Haselhorst, District 3 incumbent, faces challenger Ron Adams.

Check with Hays Post tonight for election results and reactions of the candidates.

Hays resident Dave Barber signs in to vote.
Hays resident Dave Barber signs in to vote.

In a first, Vice President Biden officiates a gay wedding

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Joe Biden has officiated a gay wedding, a first for the early proponent of same-sex marriage.

Biden presided over the union of Joe Mahshie and Brian Mosteller, both longtime White House aides. The White House says the couple asked Biden to officiate.

Biden has never officiated a wedding before, so he got a special temporary certification from the District of Columbia to make it legal.

The afternoon ceremony took place Monday at the Naval Observatory, the vice president’s official residence, with immediate family attending.

Biden publicly backed gay marriage in 2012 in the run-up to President Barack Obama’s re-election. The announcement put pressure on Obama to declare his own support shortly after.

Kenneth Paul Schmidt

Kenneth Paul Schmidt, 76, of Salina, passed away Saturday, July 30, 2016. He was born April 8, 1940, in Hays to George and Catherine (Briet) Schmidt. The family lived in Pfeifer, Kan. When he was 12 years old his mother died and the family relocated to Salina.

He married Janet Fraser on Aug. 11, 1962 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina. They were blessed with one daughter, Lee Ann.

Kenneth worked for the City of Salina for 49 years, the Salina Fire Department from 1960 to 1990 and after retirement from the fire department he worked at the Bi Center from 1991 to 2009.

He was very proficient in wood working, winning many ribbons at the fair. He gave many items to his relatives and friends.

He was an active member of the NRA.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Lexi Ann; six sisters; four brothers; one niece; and one nephew.

Kenneth is survived by his wife, Janet of the home; daughter, Lee Ann; son-in-law, Tom; two grandsons, Trevor (Ariele) and Cash; one sister, Patty; one brother, Leroy; mother-in-law, Dora; two sister-in-laws; two brother-in-laws; 33 nieces and nephews; several great-nieces and nephews; and other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 2, with a vigil and rosary beginning at 6 p.m., all at Ryan Mortuary, Salina.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Holy Cross Charities, Attn: Allen Roth, 1313 Even Drive, Hays, KS 67601.

Hays USD 489 enrollment: What you need to know

USD 489

  • Online enrollment is currently available for parents and guardians for USD 489 students for the 2016-2017 school year. To enroll your student online, go to https://www.usd489.com/?p=5559.

On that page, parents and guardians should click on the 2016-2017 Enrollment Link. This will take you directly to the PowerSchool login screen. Enter in your PowerSchool login information. If you do not know your login, please email Amy Arnhold at [email protected].

  • New families and incoming kindergarteners are highly encouraged to enroll onsite on August 3. Please see the district website for school enrollment schedules.
  • If you are unable to enroll your new student(s) in person, please contact the school directly to make alternative arrangements.
  • If you are asked for an Access ID or Snap Code during the enrollment process, please email Amy Arnhold at [email protected].
  • Answers to general enrollment questions are available at the district enrollment page https://www.usd489.com/?p=5559. If you cannot find the answer to your question at that webpage, please call 785-623- 2400 or call your student’s school directly.
  • Lincoln Elementary 785-623- 2500
  • O’Loughlin Elementary 785-623- 2510
  • Roosevelt Elementary 785-623- 2520
  • Wilson Elementary 785-623- 2550
  • Hays Middle School 785-623- 2450
  • Hays High School 785-623- 2600
  • The Learning Center 785-623- 2426

Note to parents of Hays Middle School students:

The Board of Education voted to approve iPads to be taken home by Hays Middle School students. Parents will need to complete an acknowledgment form during the enrollment process.

Kansas restaurant owner enters plea in cocaine conspiracy

Danny's  Big Easy Restaurant- Google image
Danny’s Big Easy Restaurant- Google image

KANSAS CITY – The owner of Danny’s Big Easy Cajun restaurant pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to his role in a conspiracy to distribute cocaine, according to Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri.

Paul Danny Gosserand, 57, of Kansas City, Kan., pleaded guilty before U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays to conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Gosserand is the owner of Danny’s Big Easy Cajun at E. 18th and Vine in Kansas City, Mo.

On May 17, 2011, a confidential informant entered the restaurant at 2:30 p.m. and discussed purchasing cocaine with Jean Stephens, 63, Gosserand’s ex-wife and an employee of the restaurant. Stephens told the confidential informant the cocaine would cost $32,000 per kilogram and said the cocaine was inside her vehicle because it was too heavy for her to carry inside the restaurant. Stephens met the informant in the parking lot by her vehicle and gave him two kilograms of powder cocaine. Afterward, the informant turned over the cocaine to the agents.

At 3:54 p.m. the same day, the confidential informant returned to the restaurant and met with Gosserand to discuss the price of the two kilograms of cocaine. Gosserand said he needed the informant to pay for the cocaine, which had been fronted by Stephens, that night. Gosserand said he would be killed if payment was not made and the informant agreed to pay for the cocaine the next day.

On May 18, 2011, agents contacted Stephens at her residence at approximately 7:50 a.m. Agents searched the residence and found a briefcase with approximately two and a half kilograms of cocaine. They also found $20,480 inside a white trash bag within the briefcase. They recovered a CD case with a digital scale and $600 inside a red cloth coin bag. Agents also recovered five vacuum-wrapped bricks containing 2,465 grams of powder cocaine from inside a backpack found in Stephens’ closet. Agents recovered 10 one-ounce Vienna Philharmonic gold coins (appraised at $15,240.00), which were located on top of red cloth coin bag inside dresser.

Stephens said the cocaine belonged to Gosserand and the cash was from cocaine sales that also belonged to Gosserand. Stephens also admitted the gold coins found in her bedroom were purchased with drug proceeds as she and Gosserand believed it would be a good investment with their money. Stephens told agents that Gosserand was paranoid about keeping large sums of cash and cocaine at his residence so he often gave it to her to keep at her house and to sometimes distribute the cocaine and obtain the proceeds for him. Stephens said she believed Gosserand made more money selling cocaine than from his restaurant.

Stephens told agents that Gosserand has distributed kilogram-quantities of cocaine for the past four years. Prior to that, she said, he distributed ounce-quantities of cocaine.

Stephens pleaded guilty on Nov. 20, 2015, to her role in the conspiracy to distribute cocaine and is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 8, 2016.

Under the terms of Monday’s plea agreement, the government and Gosserand jointly recommend a sentence within the range of seven to eight years in federal prison without parole. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

The Latest: Voters begin casting ballots in Kansas primary

4-7 vote signTOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The Latest on the Kansas primary (all times local):

8:30 a.m.

Voters are casting ballots in a hot primary race that could unseat congressman Tim Huelskamp.

His contentious race against Great Bend obstetrician Roger Marshall in the 1st District is the state’s marquee congressional primary Tuesday.

Sixty-two-year-old Randy Hatch, of Alma, voted for Marshall. The retired welder said a key issue is Huelskamp’s being booted from the House Agriculture Committee in late in 2012 amid disputes with GOP leaders over farm and fiscal legislation.

He said that, “From what you hear, Huelskamp doesn’t seem to be on the farmers’ side.”

Twenty-two-year-old Joan Davy, of Alma, voted for Huelskamp and said “a lot of the farmers around here are supporting him.” The 911 dispatcher said she was put off by the negative tone of the campaign and negative radio ads attacking Huelskamp.

7:20 a.m.

Polls have opened in Kansas’ primary election.

Republican voters in western and central Kansas are deciding a hot primary race Tuesday that could unseat congressman Tim Huelskamp.

His contentious race against Great Bend obstetrician Roger Marshall in the 1st District is the state’s marquee congressional primary.

Voters are deciding whether Huelskamp’s willingness to buck party leaders in Washington reflects a much-needed streak of independence or a character flaw that prevents him from being effective.

Meanwhile, moderate Republicans are making the election a referendum on the state’s budget problems and education funding as they try to oust conservative incumbents from the Legislature.

More than two dozen GOP legislators face primary opponents Tuesday. Most are allies of Republican Gov. Sam Brownback.

Polls are to remain open until 7 p.m. local time.

___

5:55 a.m.

Republican voters in western and central Kansas are deciding a hot primary race that could unseat congressman Tim Huelskamp.

They were deciding Tuesday whether Huelskamp’s willingness to buck party leaders in Washington reflects a much-needed streak of independence or a character flaw that prevents him from being effective.

His contentious race against Great Bend obstetrician Roger Marshall in the 1st District is the state’s marquee congressional primary. A central issue is Huelskamp’s being booted from the House Agriculture Committee late in 2012 amid disputes with GOP leaders over farm and fiscal legislation.

U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran and U.S. Rep. Kevin Yoder in the 3rd District in the Kansas City area also face challengers in the Republican primary. But they were expected to defeat their relatively unknown opponents easily.

___

5:55 a.m.

Moderate Republicans are making Kansas’ primary election a referendum on the state’s budget problems and education funding as they try to oust conservative incumbents.

More than two dozen GOP legislators face primary opponents Tuesday. Most are allies of Republican Gov. Sam Brownback and continue to support his experiment in cutting state income taxes to stimulate the economy.

They included Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce.

The voting occurs against the backdrop not only of the state’s fiscal woes but ongoing legal and political disputes over funding for public schools.

The state Supreme Court could rule by the end of the year on whether the Legislature is shorting schools on their state aid by hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

Polls are open until 7 p.m. local time.

FHSU prof elected to KS Humanities Council Board

Dr. Kim Perez
Dr. Kim Perez, chair of the FHSU Department of History

FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Dr. Kim Perez, chair of the Department of History at Fort Hays State University, has been elected to the Kansas Humanities Council Board of Directors.

“I have previously worked with the KHC as a grant recipient and project consultant, so when the opportunity to serve on the board arose, I jumped at it,” said Perez. She was nominated by Emporia State University colleague and current KHC board member Dr. Ellen Hansen.

Perez received a mini-grant from the KHC in 2008 in collaboration with the Downtown Hays Development Corp. and the Ellis County Historical Society for a project on the historic Chestnut Street District in downtown Hays. The grant helped develop a historical narrative and two-dimensional display of 10 historical businesses in the Chestnut Street District.

Perez was also asked by the KHC to moderate a viewing of the documentary “The Waters of Kansas” in 2015.

ks humanities council logoOver the course of her involvement with the KHC, she said, “I came to learn more about the organization and their mission to advocate and advance the humanities in Kansas. That is a mission that I am pleased to be involved with.”

She said that her job as an educator is to create an interest in history. Along with her love for her subject, she said, it is important to promote “an understanding and appreciation” for the cultural life of Hays to students.

“I am a historian who has cultivated an interest in local history since I moved to Hays,” she said. “This is how I became involved in KHC. I have served on the board of directors of the Ellis County Historical Society, so I have experience with organizations tasked with spreading a love for the humanities.”

History is just one part of the KHC’s mission, Perez said, but it is the one that she is most passionate about. In researching the history of Hays, she found that the citizens have always had a strong interest in the history of their city.

“I strongly believe that our town and our state has an incredibly rich history, and it is my goal to spread this appreciation,” Perez said.

55th Street closed for road improvements

road closed sign squareECPW

ELLIS COUNTY–The Ellis County Public Works Road and Bridge Division will be placing an asphalt overlay on 55th Street from Highway 183 west to Hall Street beginning Tue., August 2, 2016, at 8 a.m.

This project will require closing of the road. Access to business and residents may be restricted at times. Local traffic will also be restricted at times due to shooting TAC oil.

This area should be opened to traffic late on Wed. evening, Aug. 3.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. If you have any questions or concerns and/or special needs, please call Curt Hoffman, Road and Bridge Supervisor at (785) 628-9455.

SCHLAGECK: Don’t mess with perfection

John Schlageck writes for the Kansas Farm Bureau.
John Schlageck writes for the Kansas Farm Bureau.

Since I first bit into my first Buffalo wing in the early ‘70s I’ve loved eating the spicy, tasty treat. I was back east visiting an old Army buddy, Steve Devaux, who lives in New York. He took me to a bar that served the wings up right.

You know, like the originals first prepared at the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, N.Y., by Teressa Belissimo, who owned this establishment along with her husband Frank.

As the story goes, the unannounced, late-night arrival of their son, Dominic, with several of his friends from college, necessitated Teressa prepare a fast and easy snack to present to her hungry guests. It was then that she came up with the idea of deep frying chicken wings (normally thrown away or reserved for stock) and tossing them in cayenne hot sauce.

And that’s exactly how I like mine – the spicier, the better. So last weekend I was crushed when my wife brought home some, “Boneless Buffalo Wings.” Without looking closely, she picked up what looked like real hot wings from the deli section of her favorite supermarket.

I wonder how often this happens to consumers all across this country?

Just one look at the clear plastic container told me these weren’t the wings I was looking to sink my teeth into. The 10 or so pieces of plump, heavily breaded, processed chicken looked like something I’ve vowed to never enter my mouth – chicken nuggets. Uuugh.

A real Buffalo wing or hot wing is made from a real chicken wing section, the drumette or flat part of the bird. It is fried, unbreaded and coated in sauce. Classic Buffalo-style chicken wing sauce is composed of a vinegar-based cayenne pepper hot sauce and butter.

Looking closer at the label, I read… “Chicken breasts with rib meat containing up to 20 percent of a solution of water, salt, salt sodium…” That was more than enough for me.

The texture of the food we eat is every bit as important as the taste and smell. There’s a ton of difference between the texture of a chicken wing and the breast meat of a chicken, especially when you grind this breast meat with rib meat and add 20 percent water, salt and salt sodium. Now you have a mushy ball of less-than-tasty processed food that tastes nothing like the real thing.

Sadly, today we have two and three generations of young people as well as older adults who eat such processed food and don’t know the difference.

I returned the processed chicken and rib mystery meat and came home with a box of the traditional Buffalo hot wings. I pulled a couple of stalks of celery from the fridge, washed and cut them and poured a small bowl of blue cheese dressing.

Next, I popped the top of one of my favorite micro brews, poured it into a frosted mug from the freezer and sat down to a real feast. You just can’t improve on perfection and real food.

John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.

LETTER: Outside agency funding raises questions

opinion letterTwo “Outside Agencies” the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development and the Downtown Hays Development Corp. have received millions of dollars from Hays, and Ellis County taxpayers over their 15-year existence.
Both have yearly expense accounts that together exceed $350,000 (June 2 Commission Agenda packet).

Their expense accounts contain fees for everything from their salaries and wages, health insurance, pension funds, to items like fees for taxi rides, airfares, and meal allowances. These are just a few of the expenses listed that city and county taxpayers are paying these two highly paid “Outside” agency directors. I also believe millions of dollars are being taken from the Transient Guest Tax to fund the renovations of old vacant downtown buildings through another “Outside” agency in Plainville.

The DHDC’s board has hired a new executive director, the fifth or sixth (?), in their 15 years of existence. So far the new director Bloom has succeeded in changing the downtown area name “Chestnut District” to “The Bricks”. Hundreds of thousands of dollars that was spent on downtown “Chestnut District” signage and gateway monuments now meaningless and confusing. New director Bloom is again bringing up the need for a downtown Pavilion with attached public restrooms adjacent to the train tracks on very isolated property owned by Union Pacific. This was previously denied approval for lease by Union Pacific two years earlier in 2014. The DHDC’s new director also wants to add more outside alcohol street events on the “The Bricks” that along with the Pavilion and Public Restrooms will surely increase safety issues and police patrolling, city maintenance, and leasing costs for ourselves and our grandchildren. Please, explain to me how the above new proposed DHDC projects will add revenue to our city? Three current City Commissioners have had close affiliations with DHDC that even included the position of treasurer of DHDC, thus guaranteeing DHDC will continue to receive annual funding. After millions of taxpayer dollars invested in this “Outside” agency, many downtown buildings restored or otherwise still remain vacant!

The ECCED executive director White and his unnamed board of directors one and only accomplishment to my knowledge was to convince three commissioners Phelps, Musil and Mellick to vote to implement a 1 cent sales tax on shoppers at the Mall, now called Big Creek Crossing. This 1 cent sale tax will be given to Mall landlords to make renovations and repairs to their property. Shouldn’t they have been doing this all along as any responsible landlord should do? Some Mall businesses are still closed to this day because of roof collapses and water leaks that still continue to occur every time it rains. The side and rear parking lots still remain a hazard for vehicles and pedestrians. A little research of the Mall owners past caretaking should have set off alarms to White and commissioners.

Changing the names of downtown Hays and the Mall didn’t produce different results. City sales tax revenues are down! These two Economic expert “Outside” agencies still can’t fund their own existence after 15 years of taxpayer support.

Tell City and County Commissioners to quit using taxpayer money to fund these two “Outside” agencies so they can speculate their wants and dreams! Businesses that provide customer satisfaction and quality service will survive as many downtown and other businesses throughout Hays have done for years without the existence of these two agencies.

John Basso
Hays

Duffy has 16 Ks in 8 innings, Royals beat Rays 3-0

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Danny Duffy pitched eight innings of one-hit ball and had a franchise-record 16 strikeouts to lead the Kansas City Royals to a 3-0 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night.

Duffy flirted with the Royals’ first no-hitter in nearly 25 years before giving up a line-drive double to Desmond Jennings leading off the Tampa Bay eighth.

Jennings came off the disabled list Monday after missing all of July with a strained hamstring.

Kendrys Morales’ 18th home run, a towering shot over the center field wall off Rays starter Chris Archer, got the Royals on the scoreboard in the seventh.

Kelvin Herrera pitched the ninth for his second save.

Alcides Escobar and Lorenzo Cain drove in runs in the eighth for the Royals, who won for only the second time in 10 games.

🎥 Use it or lose it; city encourages more passenger boardings on SkyWest

united express sky west at hays airport 2
City officials are encouraging the public to ‘Fly Hays’ as much as possible in order to increase passenger boardings. A survey is underway to get input about use of the Hays Regional Airport. (Photos by Nathan Marcucci)

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

SkyWest was re-selected by the U.S. Dept. of Transportation (USDOT) June 22 to provide Essential Air Service (EAS) at the Hays Regional Airport for another two years beginning Aug. 1, 2016 through July 31, 2018. The annual EAS subsidy from USDOT to SkyWest is $3,482,353.

But city officials are concerned about low passenger numbers that could mean the loss of SkyWest air service in the next contract period.

“We’re extremely happy the Department of Transportation selected SkyWest,” said Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty. “They’re a good carrier. They have good equipment. They’re very reliable, They do a good job and we’ve heard nothing but good things about SkyWest from passengers.”

SkyWest was not meeting its projected number of passengers in the just-completed two year contract and that was reflected in its higher bid to continue as the Hays air carrier.

Two years ago the SkyWest EAS bid for the Hays to Denver round trip route–12 flight a week–was $2.2 million with an estimated 15,000 passengers each year.

According to Dougherty, the actual passenger numbers were well below estimates.

“They were on track to hit 9,500 passengers this year (ending July 31). They were in the 8,000’s last year,” Dougherty said, “and so that is reflected in their bid of $3.4 million to fly the same number of flights back and forth (for the next two years.) I’ve said this many times–the ridership does not reflect the level of convenience and service at this airport.

“The reality is, it costs a lot of money to fly a jet between Hays and Denver twice a day.”

The $3.4 million SkyWest bid could have been a lot higher and it might be next time around.

“It’s a reflection of low oil prices right now. If the low oil prices were in a more normalized range right now, the bid probably would have been a lot higher and I don’t know if DOT could have taken it,” Dougherty said shaking his head.

“It would be nice to see more utilization of the airport. We know it’s not always going to be most affordable option. We know it’s not always going to be the most convenient option. But, in a lot of instances, it is very affordable. It is convenient, ” he said.

City Commissioner James Meier asked Dougherty if it would be a “fair statement to say that in two years, when the city is going through this process again, if oil goes up and our ridership stays the same, we may not even get a bid from SkyWest?”

“We could reach a point where the subsidy amount per passenger could get us out of the program,” Dougherty warned.

There are limits per passenger on the EAS subsidy from USDOT.

Commissioner Meier pointed out that Great Bend was on the list two years ago to receive an EAS subsidy, then was dropped this year. “In the late ’90s, there was another community that was on this list that’s no longer on this list, and that’s Goodland,” noted Meier.

Late last week the Ellis Co. Coalition for Economic Development and the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce began conducting an online survey to get the public’s feedback on their Hays airport usage and experiences.

fly hays logo with clouds“We have a two-year window with a great carrier (SkyWest), with good equipment and reliable, dependable service,” Dougherty said emphatically, “and I’m asking the flying public to please check the Hays Regional Airport (at Fly Hays) before you make accommodations somewhere else.”

 

Hot election day with a chance for thunderstorms

Today A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 3pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96. South wind 7 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

Screen Shot 2016-08-02 at 5.25.36 AMTonight A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind 6 to 9 mph.

WednesdayMostly sunny, with a high near 96. South southeast wind 6 to 15 mph.

Wednesday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 72. South wind 10 to 13 mph.

ThursdayA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 96.

Thursday NightA 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.

FridayA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 87.

Friday NightA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67.

SaturdayA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly sunny, with a high near 91.

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