By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It was a short work session Thursday night for Hays city commissioners. Mayor Eber Phelps had to leave early in order to participate in the opening ceremonies of the annual Special Olympics Basketball and Cheerleading Tournament at Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Phelps moved up one item on the agenda in order to participate in the discussion.

Up for review, the 2016-2018 Essential Air Service (EAS) contract for the Hays Regional Airport. The current provider, SkyWest Airlines, was one of three proposals submitted to the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), which fully funds EAS.

Also bidding were Great Lakes Aviation, the former commercial air passenger service in Hays, and Via Air.

City Manager Toby Dougherty recommended that commissioners recommend SkyWest to USDOT, even though SkyWest’s federal subsidy request was higher than the other two bids.

“They didn’t hit the numbers they thought they would,” Dougherty explained, “but they’d keep the same 12 flights per week and ask for more subsidies.”  He pointed out that when Great Lakes was in Hays, it had “about a 60 percent on-time flight record, and ended its contract early with the city–in May 2014–leaving Hays without a commercial air carrier for nearly three months.”

“I think, over the years, Great Lakes had the worst complaints I heard about any air service we ever had in Hays,” Phelps commented.

Via Air would have utilized 30-passenger ERJ jets; SkyWest uses 50-passenger jets.  Via Air would does not have code share agreements with other airlines. If checking luggage, a passenger would be required to retrieve his/her luggage in Denver, check in with the appropriate airline, and then go back through security to re-enter the terminal area.

“I think SkyWest is the best option,” Commissioner James Meier said.

The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors presented a letter of support for the selection of SkyWest to the commission.  The Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development Board is expected to do the same next week. Midwest Energy has also expressed its support of SkyWest.

Commissioners directed Dougherty to draft a letter to USDOT supporting the selection of SkyWest.

Commissioner Henry Schwaller was absent from the work session.

It will be cloudy and cold on Friday. Total snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches possible across north central Kansas.

Today Snow before 2pm, then a slight chance of rain and snow. High near 40. North northeast wind 11 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 22. North northwest wind 6 to 11 mph.
Saturday Mostly sunny, with a high near 47. North northwest wind 6 to 11 mph increasing to 12 to 17 mph in the afternoon.

Saturday Night Mostly clear, with a low around 21. North northwest wind 7 to 15 mph.

Sunday Sunny, with a high near 53. Northwest wind 8 to 10 mph.

Sunday Night Clear, with a low around 31.

Monday Sunny, with a high near 73.

KDWPT

PRATT–The Kansas BASS Nation (KBN) has been working with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism (KDWPT) to place artificial fish attractors in local waters in an effort to improve fish habitat and increase angler success. KBN Conservation Director Jesse Jordan and KDWPT Fisheries program specialist David Breth, who oversee the program, set a goal to assemble and place 300 PVC and tubing structures called “Georgia Cubes” in 2015. They not only met that goal, but are currently working towards tripling that number. Three-hundred additional cubes are already on the ground and will be placed in the coming months.

“Local B.A.S.S. clubs have been instrumental in this project, assembling the cubes from kits onsite, and then placing them using their own boats and GPS units,” Breth said. “They’ve been a great help.” In addition to the KBN, KDWPT has also received assistance from The Bass Federation and several local organizations throughout the state.

Not only have their efforts caught the attention of anglers, some of whom have already reported catching largemouth bass near the structures, but they’ve also garnered national recognition from

The Berkley Conservation Institute (BCI), of Berkley Fishing. On March 5, Jordan accepted an award from BCI on behalf of KBN and their partnership with KDWPT.

Modeled after a design originally implemented by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, the cube-like structures are comprised of a four-foot-by-four-foot-by-three-foot PVC frame. This is woven with more than 50 feet of corrugated pipe, maximizing surface area for the growth of periphyton, a mix of algae, fungi and bacteria, which attracts invertebrates and small fish, which then draw bass and other predator species. Not only are the cubes cost-effective, but they last more than three times longer than natural brush piles; and based on their use in other states, attract as many fish as natural cover without affecting water quality.

Kansas licenses fees and federal funds from the Sport Fish Restoration Program have financed the components used to assemble the cubes, but Breth said that without the help of Kansas B.A.S.S. Nation affiliated clubs, the placement process would be much slower.

To date, cubes have been added to Milford, Wilson, Melvern, Perry, El Dorado, Tuttle Creek, and Horsethief reservoirs; as well as Butler, Clark, Pottawatomie No. 1, Pottawatomie No. 2, and Meade state fishing lakes. They have also been placed in Yates Center’s South Owl and Eureka City lakes. Fisheries field staff will collect sonar and video images on how fish populations and species are using the cubes in relation to natural structures

For information on how to locate these attractors, as well as access locations of natural structures, visit www.ksoutdoors.com and click “Fishing,” then “Where to Fish in Kansas.”

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Ellis County may be in for some snow, just before spring starts on Sunday, at least according to the calendar.

The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for 1 a.m. through 10 a.m. Friday for Trego, Ellis, Lane, Ness, Rush, Pawnee, and Hodgeman counties.

Russell County is under a separate Winter Weather Advisory from 3 a.m. until 10 a.m. Friday.

Predictions are for two to four inches of wet snow–mainly on grassy surfaces–with the heaviest snow falling along the I-70 corridor during the Friday morning commute.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The 10-week-old purebred Husky puppy who was reported stolen from her backyard kennel in Hays Tuesday evening is back home tonight.

Her owner, Rhian Herl, had taken to various social media to spread the word about “ShortStop’s” disappearance after she notified the Hays Police Department and the Humane Society of the High Plains. She also posted “Missing Puppy” fliers around town.

About 10:20 p.m. Thursday night, Herl said she was at home “sitting on the couch with a two-month old baby I was babysitting.  There was a knock on the door, and a college-age man was standing there holding ShortStop. He said he ‘found her wondering around on Wednesday’. We are doubtful because she couldn’t get out of her kennel, but I am letting it go because I am just glad she is home!”

Herl said the unidentified man “left pretty quick”, too soon to ask about the $150 reward Herl was offering for ShortStop’s safe return.

“I was crying and begging for someone to take the baby so I could hold ShortStop,” Herl said. “She is super happy!”

Herl thanked the Hays community and said “without all the social media coverage of ShortStop’s disappearance and the help of my friends, I don’t believe her return would have been possible.  ShortStop was brought home safely tonight, two days after she was reported missing.”