Mother Nature isn’t quite done with the spring storms yet.

The National Weather Service has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Ellis County and surrounding counties. The watch is scheduled to expire at 10 p.m.

There is a chance of thunderstorms forming Friday afternoon into the evening, the NWS said. Some storms could become severe with up to golf ball-size hail and winds more than 60 mph. An isolated tornado cannot be ruled out, the NWS added.

Chances of more storms resume Sunday through Thursday.

In case of severe weather, check Hays Post and stay tuned to your Eagle Radio stations.

By Sarah Wasinger
USD 489

John Thissen will begin serving in his new leadership role as Superintendent of Schools for Hays USD 489 on July 1. The Board of Education unanimously voted Thissen as the next Superintendent of Schools for USD 489 at the special board meeting held on May 27.

John Thissen is currently serving as Superintendent at USD 487 in Herington, Kansas.

“I am excited and eager to work within the Hays community,” Thissen said. “My experience with Herington’s community revealed how significant a group of people’s combined foresight and effort placed into the betterment of a service organization can create varied tendrils of growth for a town.”

Thissen has served in the role of Superintendent in Herington since 2007. He has also served as the Principal of McPherson Middle School, Great Bend Middle School, and Harrison Junior High School. Thissen also has experience as a college instructor at Barton County Community College and started his career as a seventh and eighth grade science teacher and boys’ and girls’ basketball and track coach at Herington.

Thissen is married to Kelli Thissen, a physical education teacher and a graduate of Fort Hays State University. The couple has two grown children, Chelsi Myer and Camron Thissen. Thissen earned his District Administration licensure from Kansas State University and obtained his Building Administration license, Curriculum and Instruction License, and Biology Sciences License from Emporia State University.

Thissen is currently a member of the Herington Civic Club and the Herington Economic Development Committee. He established the New Life for Teen Parents board in 1991 and has been a coach, YMCA board member, Boy Scout pack leader, and a supporter of his local Chamber of Commerce.

“The comprehensive, yet quick, tours I recently received of the Hays school buildings clearly identified needs, not wants. It appears that this June, or in the next couple years, the Hays community will inevitably be financially supporting some kind of facility improvement plan,” Thissen said.

“I believe the real challenge will be making sure that those people leading the process will make responsible decisions, resulting in even those not happy with increased taxes saying, in the end, that what was accomplished was good.”

“Although current media can create confusion on how much support public education receives, we are within a time of great curriculum offerings and opportunities for students,” Thissen said. “Hays Schools are positioned to prepare their children for a work world quite different from the one we now reside. It is a wonderful venture when a group of people work together in a system with the sole purpose of making children’s lives as promising as possible. I am honored and humbled to be allowed this opportunity to serve the Hays community, and I will be a loyal and committed steward of education.”

Board president Lance Bickle said, “The board is extremely pleased that Mr. John Thissen accepted the position for Superintendent of schools for USD 489. We had many great candidates that we were able to speak with but truly felt John was a great match for the district moving forward.”

“John really stood out with both the staff as well as the board with his clear vision, genuine desire, and his commitment to lead USD 489. Mr. Thissen brings experience, leadership and a great passion for our students and the community here in Hays. We are very excited to work with Mr. Thissen as we continue to focus on making USD 489 that best it can be,” Bickle said.

The USD 489 Board of Education selected Thissen out of four candidates that were interviewed by the board over the last two weeks. USD 489 is pleased to welcome John and his wife Kelli to Hays.

MANHATTAN — More than 3,650 Kansas State University students have earned semester honors for their academic performance in the spring 2016 semester.

Students earning a grade point average for the semester of 3.75 or above on at least 12 graded credit hours receive semester honors along with commendations from their deans. The honors also are recorded on their permanent academic records.

The following northwest Kansas students earned semester honors for the spring 2016 semester from Kansas State University:

Cheyenne County
St.Francis: Ross Nicklos, Tyler Raby

Decatur County
Oberlin: Molly Jansonius, Morgan Jansonius, Zachary May, Cassidy Shields, Tyler Shields

Ellis County
Ellis: Beth Augustine, Jenny Hollern

Hays: Laura Braun, Aaron Cunningham, Aubrey Dauber, Alex Delton, Mikaela Flax, Courtney Hess, Anna Hickert, Breanne Kruse, Annie Mindrup, Emily Nassif, Daniel O’Connor, Allison Pfeifer, Tanner Pfeifer, Taylor Renz, Anna Shippy, Kassidy Stecklein, Max Stieben, Hannah Talkington, Kelli Veach, Haley Wells

Victoria: Amanda Braun, Gabriel Gutierrez

Gove County
Grinnell: Heather Heier, Megan Schoendaler

Park: Brandace Goetz

Quinter: Shala Kitch, Timothy Waggoner

Graham County
Hill City: Bethany Parker

Morland: Nicole Keith

Penokee: Allison Nickelson, Samantha Nickelson

Hodgeman County
Burdett: Greta Bauer

Jetmore: David Nuss, Lindsay Wehkamp

Lane County
Dighton: Haylee Eaton, Elizabeth Heath, Katie Lingg, Sarah Mulville, Clinton Shaffer

Healy: Mariah York

Logan County
Oakley: Austin Baalman, Levi Hefner, Brooke Hemmert, Kenzie Hemmert

Winona: Augustus Lamb

Ness County
Arnold: Braden Mishler

Bazine: Jessica Stieben

Ness City: Taylor Gabel, Griffin Kepple, Matthew McMillen

Norton County
Norton: Leif Carlson, Mariah Farber, Andrew Schrum

Osborne County
Alton: Eileen Mick

Downs: Joshua Arnoldy, Brooke Engler

Osborne: Jamie Cockerham, Lukas Sprick

Phillips County
Kirwin: Emmaline Wyrill

Logan: Kodi Van Laeys

Phillipsburg: Tanner Aherin, Regan Bartels, Brooke Boyington, Kacee Braun

Rawlins County
Atwood: Keshia Green, Lexy Leitner, Taylor Leitner, Diahonia Olson, Gabrial Skolout

Ludell: Blake Bergling

McDonald: Shayla Hubbard, Kenan Reeh

Rexford: Regent Erickson

Rooks County
Plainville: Cynthia Bressler, Madison McClellan, Brianna Moos, Allison Sears

Stockton: Audrey Green, Caitlin Lingg

Rush County

Bison: Brandon Pechane

La Crosse: Kip Keeley

Russell County
Russell: Shannon Ney, Roxanne Ochs, Janna Schulte, Brennan Walter

Scott County
Scott City: Aubrey Davis, Macy Davis, Shanaya Hoeme, Luke Minnix

Sheridan County
Hoxie: Lacie Campbell, Kathryn Haffner, Ellissa Heim, Mackenzie Mense, Christopher Weber

Sherman County
Goodland: Ian Bonsall, Sydney Winston

Smith County
Athol: Nathan Larson

Kensington: Seth Boswell, Benton Hrabe

Lebanon: Darian Allen, Megan Haresnape, Robert Strine

Smith Center: Kaitlin Albert

Thomas County
Colby: Dryden Baumfalk, Morgan Bell, David Browne, Gabrielle Browne, Matthew Dickman, Abigail Friesen, Rachel Juenemann, Joshua Matchell, John O’Brien, Matthew Ryan, Michael Schiferl, Cheyne Weis

Oakley: Kelli Ochs

Wallace County
SharonSprings: Cayden Daily, Rick Dewees, Grant Frasier, Jenna Kriegh, Clay Schemm, Zane Sloan, Hayden Walker

Wallace: Chanity Daily

Hays-area garage sales

Scroll to the bottom for a map of garage sale locations. Hays Post offers FREE garage sale listings weekly. Click HERE for details.

Address: 1408 Montgomery, Hays
Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Lots of baby/kids clothing and some misc. Please, no early birds.

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Address: 1304 E. 21st, Hays
Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon

Pack N Play, toys, girls and boys clothes ranging in size from 18 mths to 5T, PlayStation games and controllers, shoes, women’s clothes, strollers and much much more!!

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Address: 1313 Haney, Hays
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

Set of twin size mattresses, small flat-screen TV, fitness equipment and more. Everything priced to sell.

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Address: 100 W 36th St, Unit A, Hays
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday

This is a true Multi-Family Garage Sale with over 12 families being represented. There is a bit of everything at this sale from Men’s and Women’s clothes to Baby stuff. The huge pile pictured is 12 totes full of sale items and that is only from one family!!! Hunting and fishing stuff including tip-ups that were only used once! Bicycles and a bicycle trainer in case the weather doesn’t allow you to ride outside. 5 gallon bucket full of once fired trap grade high brass 12 ga. shotgun hulls great for reloading! Assorted décor, Candles, DVDs, CDs, CD/DVD carrying cases, Board games, Men’s Watch, iPod, Small bookcase/bedside table, Assorted glassware and vases, Large Sterilite storage tote. If you need it, we will have it, along with a few things you didn’t even know you needed!

Typically we only do a one day sale, but need to sell Friday as well due to so much stuff! One family is moving out of Kansas, and is very motivated to sell items!!!

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Address: 2704 Oak Street, Hays
3 to 8 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday

Multi-family garage sale including boys clothes size 6-8, women’s clothes including name brand clothing, girls clothes infant to size 3T, 2 cribs w/ mattress, exersaucer, swing, baby gate, pack-n-play, indoor/outdoor playpen, women’s coats, women’s leather jacket, books, stereo, full size comforter and sheet set, stroller, carseat, puzzles, LOTS of miscellaneous. NO EARLY BIRDS, PLEASE!

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Address: 1712 Marjorie, Hays
8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday

Estate/Garage Sale: Household items, baby items including a double stroller, jewelry, antiques (Lefton birds, carnival glass, large trunks, old dolls), LOTS of home decor, women’s (L) clothing items including Cold Water Creek clothing, girls size 7/8 and 10/12 clothing, LOTS of Christmas decor including Lefton Colonial Village (15 houses and stores with MANY pieces trees, people to complete the village.)
Something for EVERYONE!!

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Address: 1322 Golden Belt, Hays
10:30 to 7 p.m. Friday

Items for sale: Women’s clothing (XL), boys clothing (8-10/medium), Holy Family Elementary Parker clothing (M), toys, games, crafts, hundreds of sewing patterns, air hockey/ping pong table, kitchen items, computer tray stand, antiques, collectibles. This is a HUGE sale!!!! No early birds please 🙂

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Address: 1306 E. 15th, Hays
11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday

Items for sale: Three family garage sale right off of Marshall in Hays (2nd house in on 15th). Friday 11-7, Saturday 9-1. Tons of namebrand clothes and baby clothes (baby clothing 25 cents each), two like new Rockn’Plays, baby playmats, sliding glass door gate, printers, VCR, computer monitor, small gas tools including small air compressor, 110v generator, 90 amp wire welder, Queen duvet, pillow shams and two weights of fiberfill inserts–barely used, daycare or homeschool/preschool books and other items, set of luggage, household items, oak bar stools, nice laminate 2-piece computer desk for office. Much more!!!