Hays Post

Two significant power outages Thursday led to a busy day for Midwest Energy crews.

According to Midwest spokesman Mike Morley, the first outage, which occurred just after 2:30 a.m., was the result of a line burning down. The line took out power to about 8,000 customers in eastern Hays, Victoria and eastern Ellis County. The power was restored before the work day began for most customers, Midwest said.

At about 3 p.m. Thursday, a lightning arrester failed at a substation, causing about 2,000 customers to be without power in Hays and the surrounding area. The hour-long outage caused street lights on Vine to go dark for a short period of time.

“Midwest Energy apologizes for the inconveniences caused by both service interruptions,” said Patrick Parke, Midwest Energy vice president of customer service.

The status of outages can be monitored HERE.

By GARRETT SAGER
Hays Post

Breakfast hotspot The Golden Griddle, 230 W. Ninth, has added one more resource for breakfast lovers with an online app.

The Golden Griddle app can be downloaded free of charge through both Google Play and Apple Store.

“We’ve got confident enough in our process here that we felt we can expand on that,” said Dane Crawford, kitchen manager.

The app launched two weeks ago and gives customers the chance to have access to the full menu, to order online and to pay online.

“We’ve had a pretty good response, but I would say in large most people simply do not know about the app,” Crawford said.

The Golden Griddle is an extension of the Golden Q’s, and the app was developed by the same company, Simply LLC.

Crawford notices a lot of similarities to the launch of the Golden Griddle app and the launch of the Golden Q Sports Bar and Grill app.

“The Q app was a slow grower, and we are noticing that with this app, as well,” Crawford said.

The app itself is similar to the Q app, which launched in 2015.

“The platform for the app and how the process operates is very similar to the Q app,” Crawford said.

Customers will receive a text message when the Golden Griddle has received your order, as well as an approximate time of completion.

Customers then are notified when the order has been started and when it is nearly ready.

“This is to make sure that the food is as fresh as possible,” Crawford said.

The Golden Griddle has also expanded to a new fully operational drive-though window with the launch of the new app.

“This is a streamlined process now. You can pick it up at the back window. It’s just faster,” Crawford said.

Customers who order online also have the option to come inside Golden Griddle to pick up their food, but that is not much of a selling point to some people in the winter, Crawford said.

“We’ll work with you either way, its not a big deal,” Crawford said.

The Golden Griddle has also made changes to its hours and its menu.

“All changes are positive changes, ” Crawford said.

The menu was adjusted by taking off items that were not big sellers and moving up more items that were, along with revamping the daily specials, Crawford said.

“As far as the menu, we tried to broaden it out as much as possible, introducing new sandwiches and breakfast casseroles to give it a more homey taste,” he said.

The Golden Griddle is now open on Mondays and they open up earlier at 6 a.m. compared to 7 a.m.

“Between those two changes, we’ve seen an increase in our numbers,” Crawford said.

The Golden Griddle also expanded the drink selection by introducing their own bar area as well will be implementing a limited bakery selection area in the coming weeks.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The new manager of the Hays Regional Airport officially introduced himself to Hays city commissioners during their meeting Thursday night.

Ovid Seifers grew up in nearby Wilson in Russell County, and said “it’s like coming home. I love Hays and the area.”

After serving four years in the Air Force, Seifers worked 38 years for the Kansas City, Missouri, aviation department at Kansas City International Airport, Kansas City Downtown Airport, and Richards Gebaur Air Force Base. His duties included maintenance manager, airport manager, and systems operation manager.

Seifers spent the past 13 years working at Eagle County Regional Airport near Vail, Colorado.

“I love the airport management field,” he told commissioners. “Always have, always will.

“Hays is a small airport but there are greater challenges than in the bigger ones,” Seifers said.

He has already faced one of those challenges, according to Public Works Director Greg Sund.

“Ovid helped us almost immediately. We had a problem with our automatic weather observer went down. He worked with SkyWest and we didn’t have to go looking all over the region for a weather observer. They were willing to take the weather observations Ovid took and it saved us a lot of time and effort,” Sund told the commissioners.

“That was a great way to start. The last couple days he’s got us through our Part 139 inspection with the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) which is an annual process,” Sund added.

Seifers replaces Nathan Marcucci, who resigned his position with the city in September.

Click here to see an in-depth interview with Seifers on the ECTV  Forum and Gary Shorman.

KHS

TOPEKA–First grader Asher Cook of Olathe loves taking pictures. His photograph of a beautiful field of wildflowers received first place in last year’s Happy Birthday, Kansas! student photo contest. He won an iPad for his work. Asher’s was one of approximately 250 contest entries and he was one of 24 students to receive awards.

For the third year, students will have the opportunity to photograph activities that inspire them and enter that work in the Happy Birthday, Kansas! photo contest. This year’s theme is Making a Difference in Your Kansas Community.

L. W. Halbe was an early 20th century student who made a similar impact in his community. With a small box camera, the 15-year-old captured photos of Dorrance and left a remarkable pictorial history, which is preserved at the Kansas Historical Society.

Today’s young photographers are encouraged to make similar contributions to provide a permanent record of the activities they find important.

The contest, for first through 12th grade students, ends December 16, 2016. Winners will be announced as part of the state’s 156th birthday commemoration at the Kansas State Capitol on January 27, 2017. Twelve first place and 12 second place prizes will be awarded. First place prizes are iPads; second place prizes are Kindles. For more information and a complete list of contest rules, visit happybirthdayks.org.

The contest is sponsored by the Kansas legislative spouses in conjunction with the Kansas Historical Society.