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HPD Activity Log April 19-20

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The Hays Police Department responded to 3 animal calls and 10 traffic stops Wed., April 19, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Found/Lost Property–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 8:25 AM
Theft (general)–400 block W 11th St, Hays; 4/18 6 PM; 4/19 9 AM
Found/Lost Property–2500 block General Lawton, Hays; 10:27 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–200 block W 6th St, Hays; 4/13 8 AM; 4/14 5 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–200 block E 8th St, Hays; 10/27/16 8 AM
Juvenile Complaint–300 block W 12th St, Hays; 12:35 PM
Disturbance – General–1900 block Vine St, Hays; 1:20 PM; 1:30 PM
Welfare Check–2700 block Hickory St, Hays; 2:16 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–4600 block Jefferson Dr, Hays; 4:26 PM
Welfare Check–2100 block Patio Dr, Hays; 4:47 PM
Suicidal Subject–2700 block Colonial St, Hays; 6:52 PM
Criminal Threat–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 8:06 PM
Criminal Trespass–2200 block Gen Custer Rd, Hays; 2:30 PM; 10:30 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 8 animal calls and 9 traffic stops Thu., April 20, 2017, according to the HPD Activity Log.

MV Accident-City Street/Alley–4100 block Vine St, Hays; 3:31 PM
MV Accident-Private Property–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 12:34 AM
Animal At Large–300 block W 27th St, Hays; 9:05 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–200 block W 21st St, Hays; 9:25 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–500 block E 18th St, Hays; 10:17 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–2200 block Gen Custer Rd, Hays; 10:26 AM
Burglary/vehicle–300 block E 16th St, Hays; 10:36 AM
Phone/Mail Scam–1700 block Copper Creek Ct, Hays; 4/14
Fraud–1300 block Golden Belt Dr, Hays; 11:41 AM
Suspicious Activity–2600 block Gen Hays Rd, Hays; 1:04 PM
Burglary/vehicle–400 block W 14th St, Hays; 2/15 10 PM; 4/20 1:15 PM
Disorderly Conduct–1500 block Vine St, Hays; 1:22 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1100 block E 27th St, Hays; 3:24 PM
Animal At Large–2200 block E 15th St, Hays; 5:23 PM
Credit Card Violations–2900 block Vine St, Hays; 7:12 PM
Drug Offenses–500 block E 20th St, Hays; 8:10 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–3300 block Vine St, Hays; 8:19 PM
Search Warrant–100 block E 16th St, Hays; 9:08 PM
Welfare Check–100 block W 15th St, Hays; 9:26 PM
Suspicious Activity–100 block W 4th St, Hays; 9:47 PM

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Melody A. Blake

Melody A. Blake, 63, of Russell, Kansas died on Wednesday, April 19, 2017, in the emergency room at the Russell Regional Hospital.

Melody was born on March 04, 1954, in Troy, Missouri, the daughter of Champ Clark Kitson, Jr. and Carol (Bell). She grew up and attended school in Troy, Missouri. She was united in marriage to Thomas E. Blake on April 02, 2000 in Byers, Colorado. She worked for Klema’s grocery as a cashier for the last few month. She enjoyed working in the yard, collecting knick knacks, milking cows, an animal lover and loving the Lord. Most of all she enjoyed spending time with her family and grandchildren.

She is survived by her husband Thomas E. Blake of the home, mother Carol Cook and husband Edgar of Philadelphia, Tennessee; sons James Crawford of Russell and Christopher Crawford and wife Danielle of Aurora, Colorado; brother Joe Jacob of Philadelphia, Tennessee and sister Maxine Schoenherr of Philadelphia, Tennessee and two grandchildren Bobby & Johnny Crawford.

She was preceded in death by her father , daughter Vanessa Hutchins and brother Dana Kitson.

A gathering service to celebrate Melody’s life will be held from 10 A.M. to 1 P.M. on Saturday, April 22, 2017, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the memorial service arrangements.

Kansas Supreme Court rules on Ellis County drug case

Office of Judicial Administration

TOPEKA — An Ellis County jury convicted David Darrel Williams of distribution of methamphetamine. On appeal, Williams challenged a district court judge’s decision to allow the jury to consider an audio recording of an informant who participated in the drug buy underlying the prosecution but did not testify against Williams at his trial.

Williams was originally arrested in 2012 after selling drugs to a Kansas Bureau of Investigation undercover agent, according to court documents.

The Kansas Supreme Court agreed with Williams that the audio recording included testimonial statements by the informant – one identifying Williams and one identifying the methamphetamine. Admission of the recording violated Williams’ right to confront the witnesses against him, but the error was harmless and did not require reversal of Williams’ conviction.

Click HERE for the complete ruling.

 

Kansas gains jobs, unemployment rate hits 16-year low — 2.6% in Ellis Co.

March Unemployment map-image Kansas Dept. of Labor-click to EXPAND

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas gained 4,600 private sector jobs last month, and its unemployment rate dropped to the lowest it’s been since November 2000.

A preliminary report released Friday by the Kansas Department of Labor says the seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 3.8 percent in March from 4 percent in February. The state gained 3,600 nonfarm jobs over the year. It picked up 4,600 private-sector jobs and lost 1,000 government jobs.

In Ellis County, the jobless rate was 2.6 percent.Logan and Greeley counties posted the state’s lowest unemployment rates at 1.9 percent.

The highest rate of joblessness in northwest Kansas was in Graham County, 4.2 percent.

The national unemployment rate also dropped last month. A Friday report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics says it dropped to 4.5 percent in March from 4.7 in February. Kansas is one of 19 states with unemployment rates below the national one.

The report comes a day after officials and university economists forecasted improved tax collections , shrinking the state’s budget shortfalls.

Two NW Kan. students win drawing for scholarships

 Kaelea Stoney, Herndon, won a $100 scholarship during FHSU Foundation Awareness Day.
Kaelea Stoney, Herndon, won a $100 scholarship during FHSU Foundation Awareness Day.

FHSU University Relations and Marketing

“I can only hope that one day I will be able to help students achieve their goals just as others have helped me.”

“Scholarships mean more than our donors will ever know. A huge thank you to them for believing in our future!”

Students at Fort Hays State University are aware, and grateful, for the support that they receive from alumni and friends of the university.

FHSU’s fifth annual Student Awareness Day was held recently at FHSU’s Robbins Center — home of the FHSU Foundation, which serves as the fundraising arm of the university.

Approximately 375 current Fort Hays State students stopped by to receive a free lunch and for the opportunity to win a scholarship for the fall 2017 semester. Representatives from Astra Bank, event sponsor, drew names for some of the lucky scholarship winners.

Awareness Day was created to help educate current Tigers about the importance of private support.

“Following graduation, these students will be asked to give back to FHSU, and hopefully after learning of how crucial private support is to the university and our students, they will be more inclined to do so,” said Schuyler Coates, director of annual giving for the FHSU Foundation.

“Our generous donors help students further their education and pursue their dreams,” she said. “We hope that our students are truly aware and thankful of the support that they’ve received, and that they pay that kindness forward down the road.”

To help spread awareness, the Foundation staked lawn signs throughout campus for a week. “These signs remind students that FHSU donors and their gifts keep our great university running full-speed, and that we wouldn’t be such a strong institution today without this generosity,” said Coates.

“Ensuring that students know how FHSU is funded is an important lesson,” she said. “Fort Hays State University continues to offer the second lowest in-state tuition in the United States. The low tuition is only possible due to the number of generous alumni and friends, who understand how important it is to give the gift of education.”

“A big thank you to Astra Bank, our generous sponsor, for providing $2,000 in scholarships for us to give away throughout the Awareness Day event,” said Coates. “Also, thank you to the almost 375 students who stopped by, and congratulations to the lucky winners!”

Scholarship winners:
$1,000 Scholarship — Carson Lopez, Andover sophomore majoring in psychology.

$500 Scholarship — Evynn McGinn, Sedgwick junior majoring in communication sciences and disorders.

$100 Scholarship — Feysel Rahmeto, Omaha, Neb., senior majoring in business education.

$100 Scholarship — Kaelea Stoney, Herndon graduate student majoring in speech-language pathology.

$100 Scholarship — Levi Wolters, Ludell senior majoring in management.

$100 Scholarship — Ricardo Mendoza, Kismet junior majoring in accounting.

$100 Scholarship — Lily Sale, Arvada, Colo., freshman majoring in psychology.

To learn more about the FHSU Foundation, visit https://foundation.fhsu.edu, call (785) 628-5620 or email [email protected].

🎥 City paying $1.5M cash for 8th St. rehab; construction meeting Mon.

8th-street-reconstruction-milner-to-vineBy BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The reconstruction of 8th Street between Milner and Vine streets is scheduled to begin about May 1.

City staff will conduct an informational meeting/open house about the project Mon., April 24 at 5:30 p.m. in City Hall, 1507 Main. The contractor, Morgan Brothers Construction of LaCrosse and the project engineer, Driggs Design Group, will also be on hand to answer questions and present the plan and time schedule.

The $1.5 million dollar project involves removing and replacing all concrete pavement with concrete, along with the curb and gutter, sidewalk, driveways, and includes waterline improvements at the intersection of 8th and Riley.

It has been on the city’s Capital Improvement Plan since 2011. The bid was awarded April 13 during the city commission meeting.

Vice-Mayor James Meier wants residents to understand the Morgan bid was $1 million dollars under budget and the city is paying cash for the work, something many other governmental entities are not able to do. In 2006, Hays implemented a “pay-as-you-go” policy for large capital projects.

“You want to make the right decision for the future…I’m not pointing to this current commission. We were set up to do that by prior commissions and mostly from city staff,” Meier acknowledged. “I can’t point to any other city in the state of Kansas that’s doing stuff like that.”

“The commission before us, and Commissioner Henry Schwaller was on it, was very proactive rather than being reactive in doing stuff,” Mayor Shaun Musil said. “And we as a group have continued to do that.

“Our city is in really good shape right now. We’re doing a lot of infrastructure projects that the state and a lot of cities aren’t doing. I’m very proud of that,” Musil added.

According to Meier, the Sedgwick County Commission in Wichita recently had a discussion about “what percentage of their budget they’re going to limit themselves to paying debt service over.”

“The discussion Hays is having is what type of infrastructure do we want to put in so we get the most bang for our buck, which we’re paying cash for,” Meier said. “Our discussion is 180 degrees from what everybody else is doing.”

Grandstand lineup announced for Kansas State Fair

HUTCHINSON – The grandstand lineup for the 2017 Kansas State Fair is set. The new acts incuding Charlie Daniels, Josh Turner, Smash Mouth, Los Lonely Boys and Chevelle were announced Friday morning, according to a social media report.

 

 

 

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Josh Turner – Saturday, Sept. 9, 7:30 p.m. – Tickets $65/$40/$25*

Multi-platinum MCA Nashville recording artist Josh Turner is one of country music’s most recognizable hit-makers. With a rich, deep voice and distinctive style, Turner has sold more than 12 million units, is a disciple of traditional country music and one of the youngest members of the Grand Ole Opry.

From his 2003 platinum-selling debut “Long Black Train” to his most recent 2012 Billboard No. 1 release “Punching Bag,” Turner has garnered multiple GRAMMY, CMA and ACM nominations. Turner’s hits include “Your Man,” “Why Don’t We Just Dance,” “Firecracker,” “Would You Go with Me,” “All Over Me” and “Time Is Love,” the most played country song of 2012.

Josh has been songwriting and performing since he was a young child, and in support of music education, created The Josh Turner Scholarship Fund to assist students interested in pursuing a future in arts and music. As a high school student, Turner had very little access to music education, therefore realizes first-hand the importance of arts education in schools.

For more information on Josh Turner, visit www.JoshTurner.com.

los-lonely-boys

Los Lonely Boys – Sunday, Sept. 10, 7:30 p.m. – Tickets $40/$30/$20*

Lots of musicians compare their careers to roller-coaster rides, but Los Lonely Boys have had so many close-your-eyes-and-hang-on moments in the 14 years since they recorded their self-titled debut, they should buy an amusement park. Their strong brotherly bond helped them through those rough spots.

Their melodic mix of bluesy rock ’n’ roll and rootsy soul has long endeared Los Lonely Boys to their fiercely loyal fans. Flawless harmonies and soaring solos remain trademarks, but in these songs, they explore rhythms from conjunto “Blame It On Love” to reggae “Give A Little More,” along with rustic acoustic textures “It’s Just My Heart Talkin” and baroque pop shadings “There’s Always Tomorrow”. No. 1 single, “Heaven,” wound up selling over 2 million copies, spending 76 weeks on the Billboard Top 200 album chart and earning them a Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group.

For more information on Los Lonely Boys, visit www.loslonelyboys.com.

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The Charlie Daniels Band – Tuesday, Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. – Tickets $55/$35/$25*

From his Dove Award winning gospel albums to his genre-defining Southern rock anthems and his CMA Award-winning country hits, few artists have left a more indelible mark on America’s musical landscape than Charlie Daniels.

Charlie recorded his self-titled solo album in 1970 for Capitol Records. Two years later he formed the Charlie Daniels Band and the group scored its first hit with the top ten “Uneasy Rider.” Since then the CDB has populated radio with such memorable hits as “Long Haired Country Boy,” “The South’s Gonna Do It Again,” “In America,” “The Legend of Wooley Swamp” and of course, his signature song, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” which won a Grammy for Best Country Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group in 1979 as well as single of the year at the Country Music Association Awards.

Over the course of his career, Charlie has received numerous accolades, including his induction into the Country Music Hall of Fame (2016), the Musicians Hall of Fame and becoming a member of the Grand Ole Opry. He was presented the Pioneer Award by the Academy of Country Music and was honored as a BMI Icon in recognition of his songwriting. He also received a star on the Music City Walk of Fame.In August 2016, Charlie Daniels new album, Night Hawk, was released. Night Hawk is a reflection of stories from the trail told by cowboys around the campfire through the years.

For more information on the Charlie Daniel’s Band, visit www.charliedaniels.com.

smash-mouth

Smash Mouth – Thursday, Sept. 14, 7:30 p.m. – Tickets $45/$30/$20*

Multi-platinum and Grammy-nominated band Smash Mouth is celebrating the 20th anniversary of their debut, smash-hit album “Fush Yu Mang”. Released on July 8, 1997, “FYM” was a shocking — and industry-changing — success. Out of nowhere, the single “Walkin’ On The Sun” was an immediate international sensation. Quickly shooting to #1 on the Billboard charts, and eventually boosting “FYM” sales to over 3 million copies in the U.S. alone. In the two decades since, Smash Mouth has not slowed down. In fact, they are as vital and vibrant as ever.

Most consider their masterpiece album, “Astrolounge,” boasting three top-ten hits “All-Star,”

Then The Morning Comes,” and “Can’t Get Enough Of You Baby,” sales are nearly double those for their debut, approaching quadruple platinum status.

Smash Mouth’s third release features the first single “Pacific Coast Party” and the smash hit “I’m a Believer”. Around this time, Smash Mouth crosses over into the film world by providing the musical heart of the soundtrack for “Shrek,” and even making a cameo appearance in the movie “Rat Race.”

For more information on Smash Mouth, visit www.smashmouth.com.

chevelle

Chevelle – Saturday, Sept. 16, 7:30 p.m. – Tickets $60/$40/$25*

Winter can feel as ominous as it does endless. The blistering cold and unpredictable curtain of snow teeter between brutal and beautiful. Chevelle—brothers Pete Loeffler [guitars, vocals] and Sam Loeffler [drums] and Dean Bernardini [bass, vocals]—work well under these conditions. “The North Corridor” is sometimes how we describe the area we live in, Chicagoland,” Pete elaborates. “A lot of people joke about how the winters are so long and cold. It’s just where we live. It’s where we grew up. There’s a reason we write the way we do. I’m digging up some dark subjects within that.”

It’s also the next natural step for the trio, continuing a journey that began in 1999 with their full-length debut “Point No. 1”. Since then, their 2002 platinum-certified “Wonder What’s Next” spawned hits including “The Red” and “Send The Pain Below,” and 2004’s gold-selling “This Type of Thinking Could Do Us In” yielded “Vitamin R (Leading Us Along).” Following the acclaimed “Vena Sera” in 2007 and 2009’s “Sci-Fi Crimes.” The single “ Hats Off to the Bull” bowed at #9 on the Billboard Top 200 in 2011 bolstered by the smash “Face to the Floor”. Most recently, 2014’s “La Gárgola” earned the band’s highest debut on the Billboard Top 200 at #3, and garnering features from Billboard, Chicago SunTimes, Rolling Stone, Premier Guitar, DRUM! Magazine and more.

For more information on Chevelle, visit www.getmorechevelle.com.

Tickets go on sale April 28 at 8 a.m. and can be purchased at the Kansas State Fair Ticket Office or by calling 800-362-3247 or go www.kansasstatefair.com. Unless otherwise noted, Grandstand tickets include gate admission when purchased through Aug. 20.

Want to buy your tickets before everyone else? Join the Fair Fan Club to purchase tickets prior to the public on-sale date. In addition, Fan Club members receive advance notification of concert announcements. Memberships are on sale now and can be purchased online; by phone at 800-362-3247 or 620-669-3600; or at the Administration Building on the Fairgrounds. Fair

Fan Club members can purchase concert tickets first, starting at 8 a.m. on April 24. For more information on joining the club, visit https://bit.ly/FAIRFAN.

Gold Level Memberships are $100 per fair and include the opportunity to purchase up to six tickets to each concert prior to the public on-sale date, one coupon book with over $500 worth of savings and Fan Club parking right across the street from the Nex-Tech Wireless® Grandstand. One parking pass per membership for each concert purchased.

Diamond Level Memberships are $75 per fair and include the opportunity to purchase up to six tickets to each concert prior to the public on-sale date, one coupon book with over $500 worth of savings.

Free children’s concert Friday at Hays Public Library

fieldsign_smHPL

Children’s musician and author Dino O’Dell will be at the Hays Public Library Friday at 4 PM for a free concert.

Before 2003, Dino was an elementary music and drama teacher by day and a folk-rock and reggae musician by night. Now, with over a decade of experience as a family entertainer, his live shows and studio recordings reflect his time as both an educator and a performer; Dino is a master at tricking kids into learning.

“We learn best when we are engaged and we are engaged best when the medium is interactive,” Dino said. A”nd whether it’s a counting song, fill-in-the-blank lyric writing or a sing-a-long, stories and music tap into our innate desire to comprehend, communicate and connect.”

For more information on Dino O’Dell, visit dinoodell.com. To learn more about this and other Hays Public Library programs, visit hayspublib.org.

Alfred Joseph Walters

screen-shot-2017-04-21-at-8-03-00-amAlfred Joseph Walters, age 83, of Wichita, passed away Tuesday, April 18, 2017 at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita. He was born June 14, 1933 in Catharine, Kansas to Alois and Dorothea (Meis) Walters. He married Erma Lee Gabel in Munjor, Kansas on May 2, 1959. Together, they enjoyed 42 blessed and happy years in marriage before she preceded him in death on June 24, 2001.

He was a retired banker working for Security Pacific Bank. He was a US Navy veteran serving in the Korean War aboard the USS Skagit. He was a member of St. Francis Church, 4th degree Knights of Columbus, The American Legion and the VFW. Alfred was an avid golfer and sports enthusiast.

He is survived by a daughter, Lee Ann Hendricks and husband Troy of Wichita; a son, Alan Walters and wife Deborah of Chicago; grandchildren, Thomas Hendricks and wife Jennifer of Wichita, Emily Manning and husband Paul of Wichita, Alexis Walters and Luke Walters of Chicago. He was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters Hilaria McGuire, Marcellus Walter, Albert Walter, Alvin Walter, Seraphin Walter, Richard Walter, Leona Schwarzenberger, Aloysius Walters, Eleanore Marzano, Archibald Walters, Cecilia Basgall and Lorraine Wasinger.

Funeral services will be 10 AM on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Munjor, Kansas. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military honors by the Hays VFW Honor Guard.

Visitation will be Friday 5 PM – 8:00 PM with a combined parish vigil and 4th degree K of C rosary service at 7:30 PM all at Brock’s-Keithley Funeral Chapel and Crematory 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.

Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or emailed to [email protected]

Murder victim was sister of Kan. girl abducted, killed in 1999

Law enforcement on the scene of Wednesday night’s fatal shooting-photo courtesy KCTV

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A woman shot to death in Kansas City, Kansas, has been identified as the sister of a girl who was kidnapped 17 years ago while playing outside, driven to Missouri and killed.

The Kansas City Star reports that police said Thursday that 34-year-old Casey Eaton was the person shot to death late Wednesday night. Her body was found in a vehicle.

Her sister was Pamela Butler, who was 10 in 1999 when she was kidnapped while roller-skating near her Kansas City, Kansas, home. Her body was later found east of Kansas City in a wooded Grain Valley, Missouri, field. Keith Nelson was later prosecuted in federal court and sentenced to death for Pamela’s killing.

Police are investigating Eaton’s death and urging anyone with information to call a tips hotline.

Jerry L. Smith

screen-shot-2017-04-21-at-7-58-43-amJerry L. Smith, age 87, passed away on Monday, April 10, 2017 at the Greeley County Long Term Care Center.

He was born on August 12, 1929 in Moran, Kansas, the son of Andrew Raymond Smith and Sarah Elizabeth Geneva.

Jerry attended and graduated from the Kansas University School of Law. He also played on the KU Jayhawk Mens Basketball team.

He has been a resident of Tribune, Kansas since 2002, having moved from Flagstaff, Arizona.

He was a member of the Elks, VFW, Rotary, Trial Lawyers Association, Arizona Bar, Kansas Bar, Coconino County Sheriff Possey, the Coconino County Attorney Association, and the First United Methodist Church of Tribune.

On June 16, 1951 he married Elinor Rice in Wichita, Kansas. She survives.

Other survivors include:

Two Daughters Julianne Herring of Tribune, Kansas

Susan Lee & Richard Compau of Flagstaff, Arizona

Two Granddaughters Laura Jeanne Burrows of of Tucson, Arizona

Allison Paige McNelly of Flagstaff, Arizona

One Great Great Granddaughter LolahGrace Hoffman of Moab, Arizona

One Great Great Grandson Mason Anthony Burrows of Tucson, Arizona

He was preceded in death by a granddaughter Katherine Elizabeth Herring.

Jerry was a loving husband, father, and grandfather! We will miss him terribly! He left a lasting imprint upon our hearts.

Memorial Services will be held at a later date.

Private family interment will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Church in care of Price & Sons Funeral Home.

Ellis County Commission meets with Victoria City Council

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

VICTORIA — The Ellis County Commission met with the Victoria City Council in a special meeting Monday to discuss a number of issues facing the city and the county.

Among the topics for discussion was the condition of Cathedral Street in Victoria. The crown in the middle of the street is very noticeable and is getting worse. The west side of the roadway appears to be sinking, which is causing an increase in the crown.

Leroy Schmidtberger, Council President, said they have been asking for quite some time for someone to look into the roadway and that the crown “just keeps getting worse, worse and worse.” He said the worst area is from approximately Sixth Street north.

According to Victoria city officials, an engineering study was conducted approximately eight year ago and it was unable to determine why the street was settling.

County Commissioner Dean Haselhorst said they are aware of the issue with the road and it was one of the county roads the commission looked at during its annual road tour earlier this year. Haselhorst estimated it was a 2-foot drop from the center of the street to the curb.

The difference makes it difficult to clear the roadway of snow during the winter months.

County Public Works Director Bill Ring said they need to find out why the west side of the state has settled but, according to officials, they have not received any reports of houses on that side of the street settling.

“If we don’t solve that, we don’t want to put a Band-Aid on something,” he said.

Ring said they can take some core samples of the roadway and a few of the side roads and send those to be examined.

The last overlay was approximately eight years ago, but Ring said they laid a very thin layer as to not increase the crown.

There is also a concern with what utilities run under the roadway. The original water lines from the 1920s and sewer lines from the 1960s run under the road and, if crews work to replace the roads, it would also be cost-effective to replace the utilities. The would not want to tear up a new road if something were to happen to the old lines.

But without knowing the next steps, cost will be an issue. Ring said at the meeting that Kansas Department of Transportation funding has dried up.

“Its not that we don’t want to do something right away, but every little bit is being squeezed out of that stone,” County Commissioner Barb Wasinger said.

Jerry Brungardt, Victoria City Councilman, said if the city of Victoria is going to be responsible for any of the costs of the project, they will have to budget for those in the future.

Ring said they are hoping that things will change in Washington and there will be more funding put back into infrastructure and that money would make its way to the local level.

In other business, the City Council said they are not interested in a so called “3-mile zone” around the city. The 3-mile zone, or extraterritorial jurisdiction, allows governments to have authority over a space beyond their city limits.

Ellis has already stated they want the current boundary to remain the same. The area around Hays will be a topic of discussion with the Hays City Commission and the County Commission meet next Tuesday.

The County Commission reaffirmed to the council they are not planning to cut an ambulance from Victoria. That was brought up in prior years as a possible way to save money but never gained traction. EMS Director Kerry McCue said Monday its vital to the County EMS system.

The two governing bodies also talked about the county giving Railroad Cemetery to the city of Victoria. Those who were killed while working on the railroad are buried in the approximately 5-acre cemetery. The city maintains the property already.

Administrator Smith-Hanes, Clerk Donna Maskus and County Counselor Bill Jeter will work with Victoria officials on transferring the property.

The county commission has already met with the city of Ellis and has a joint meeting planned for next Tuesday with the Hays City Commission.

Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority returning to Fort Hays State University

alpha-sigma-alpha-logoFHSU University Relations and Marketing

Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority will be rejoining Fort Hays State University as the fourth National Panhellenic Conference organization on campus, alongside Alpha Gamma Delta, Delta Zeta and Sigma Sigma Sigma.

Alpha Sigma Alpha was founded on Nov. 15, 1901, at Longwood University in Farmville, Va., to foster close friendships between members and develop women of poise and purpose.

This will be Alpha Sigma Alpha’s third active collegiate chapter in Kansas, joining Emporia State University and Pittsburg State University. Nearby alumnae chapters of Alpha Sigma Alpha include the Kansas City Alumnae Chapter, Pittsburg Alumnae Chapter, Topeka Alumnae Association and the Alva, Okla., Alumnae Chapter.

“Alpha Sigma Alpha is thrilled to return to the fraternity and sorority community at Fort Hays State University. Our Tau Tau Chapter has a rich history here,” said Melissa Merriam, Alpha Sigma Alpha national president.

“With both entities striving to develop commitment to service and leadership, we feel this partnership will foster a positive impact on the campus and beyond. Alpha Sigma Alpha looks forward to developing women of poise and purpose at FHSU.”

The Alpha Sigma Alpha recruitment team will be on campus in late August and early September looking for exceptional Tigers to be founding members of Alpha Sigma Alpha. Alpha Sigma Alpha is searching for women who want to lead, serve and make a difference.

With excellent leadership development opportunities and a national philanthropic partner nearby, the Sorority is excited to provide FHSU women with the tools to be engaged and passionate leaders within the community.

Representatives from ASA national headquarters will be on campus from Sunday, April 23, to Tuesday, April 25, to meet with current fraternity and sorority students, prospective students, area alumnae and university staff.

For more information about Alpha Sigma Alpha or to recommend a standout student, email [email protected]. Alpha Sigma Alpha also has a website specific to FHSU, www.AlphaSigmaAlpha.org/FHSU.

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