The Ellis County Commission will consider a conditional use permit for a burial plot and get a look at some updated equipment at Monday’s commission meeting.
The conditional use permit is for a family burial plot on Grabbe Farms property. The Planning and Zoning approved the conditional use permit at its June 18 meeting.
The commission will also get a chance to look at two new pieces of equipment purchased recently by the Public Works Department.
Monday’s meeting begins at 5 p.m. at the Ellis County Administrative Center.
Melissa Fast, a math specialist with the Kansas State Department of Education, says more Kansas high schools plan to offer a Transition to College Algebra course that launched last year. CREDIT CELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
ByCELIA LLOPIS-JEPSEN KNS
A new math class being piloted by dozens of high schools across Kansas, including Victoria, seeks to save students stress, time and money when they reach college.
Currently, about one-third of students who continue to two- and four-year colleges in Kansas don’t score high enough on placement tests to enroll directly in college algebra, a class most need in order to graduate.
Instead, they work their way up through remedial classes, a process that can take multiple semesters.
Melissa Fast, a math specialist with the Kansas State Department of Education, said that adds to the expense of higher education.
“If I had five courses and they were three hours each, that’s 15 hours,” she said. “And if they’re $100, that’s $1,500 I’m paying out of my pocket just for that class.”
Moreover, the remedial math classes — or developmental classes, as they’re also called — don’t count for college credit and can’t be paid for with student loans.
Jim Porter, chairman of the Kansas State Board of Education and a former superintendent of the Fredonia school district, expressed hope that Kansas’ new one-year class, introduced last school year, would have an impact.
“I find that unacceptable,” he said of the current remediation rates among high school graduates. “And this is an effort to address that issue.”
Last school year, more than 35 high schools piloted the Transition to College Algebra class, which involves collaboration between high school and college math teachers and is based on research conducted at the University of Texas. At least 15 other high schools will join this school year.
Fast is still in the process of gathering and comparing pre-class and post-class test results from the course’s first year. Preliminary outcomes look promising, she said.
“They’re understanding the math that they didn’t understand maybe when they took the pre-test,” Fast said. “And a lot of them are placing directly into college algebra.”
Porter said he looks forward to the state reaping enough data from the program to know with certainty whether it is effective.
“I want to know whether or not it’s working,” he said. “And if not, let’s do something else.”
For Fast, the course has an added benefit beyond helping students save time at college and avoid remediation costs.
Teenagers in the class have struggled with math and often lack confidence about their capacity for the subject. But teachers have told her the curriculum’s style — less lecturing, more class collaboration and more work tied to topics familiar to teens— seems to be helping students overcome that feeling.
“I love to see students as seniors go, ‘Huh. OK, this isn’t as hard as I thought it was,’” she said.
Celia Llopis-Jepsen is a reporter for the Kansas News Service, a collaboration of kcur.org, Kansas Public Radio and KMUW covering health, education and politics. You can reach her on Twitter @Celia_LJ.
Franklin LeRoy “Frank” Muck, age 82, passed away Saturday, July 15, 2017 at the Smith County Memorial Hospital in Smith Center, KS. He was born March 9, 1935 in Downs, KS to Nathan A. and Meriem W. (Hershey) Muck. He owned Muck Construction.
On December 27, 1953 he married Elsie A. Watkins. To this marriage were born four children, Carol, Kathy, Terry, and Lori.
Frank was a member of the Masons and the American Quarter Horse Association. He raised horses for many years. Frank drove, built, and restored horse buggies and wagons. He used his horses and wagons to do many weddings and even a funeral.
Before owning his own business, Muck Construction, Frank worked many years for Wentz Construction building dams and roads. He owned Muck Construction since the 70s and built houses, put basements under existing houses, and did remodeling and roofing. He started out building pole buildings.
After retiring Frank and two of his friends, Francis and Harlan, whom we fondly refer to as the “old geezer crew” did several small jobs in the area. He also kept busy with his wagon restoring even restoring wagons for the Fort Bissell Museum in Phillipsburg.
Frank loved being with his family and especially enjoyed spending time with all of his grandchildren. Every family get-together you could find him playing pitch with several family members. He also played several mornings during the week after retiring.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Carol Muhsmann, a brother Bill Muck, sisters Adelia Muck, Helen Chase and Korliss Zimmerman and grandson Eric Muck.
Survivors include his wife Elsie of Gaylord, KS; son Terry (Nancy) of Gaylord, KS; daughters Kathy (Gayle) Shockley and Lori (Marty) Baetz of Smith Center, KS; brothers Jim (Donna) Muck, David Horning & Gene (Mary) Casteel all of Gaylord, KS and Karl (Denise) Zimmerman of Tecumseh, KS; sisters Hazel (Kendall) Nichols of Smith Center, KS, Lily Wilcoxson of Derby, KS, Francis Muck of Garden City, KS and Doris Dice of Blue Rapids, KS; 6 grandchildren, Jennifer (Doug) Beilby of Grand Island, NE, Michaela (Scott) Catalena of Bryan, TX, Tiffany (Nathan) Garcia of Roeland Park, KS, James (Renee) Muhsmann of Pueblo, CO, Nathan and Dan Baetz of Smith Center, KS; 5 great grandchildren, Haley Muhsmann of Smith Center, KS, Reid & Samantha Beilby of Grand Island, NE, Skyler & Sean Muhsmann of Davenport, IA and 2 step great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
VISITATION
Tuesday, July 18 –5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Simmons-Rentschler Mortuary, 116 W. First Street, Smith Center, KS 66967
CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICES
Wednesday, July 19–10:00 AM
Simmons-Rentschler Mortuary, 116 W. First Street, Smith Center, KS 66967
GRAVESIDE
Wednesday, July 19–10:45 AM
Gaylord Cemetery, M Road, Gaylord, KS 67638
MEMORIALS TO:
Gaylord Community Church, 504 5th Street , Gaylord, Kansas 67638
Frances Nadine Maier, 86, of Russell, Kansas, died on Saturday, July 15, 2017, at the Clara Barton Hospital in Hoisington, Kansas.
A celebration of Frances’ life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, July 20, 2017, at the Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary in Russell, Kansas, with Pastor Jim Strausser officiating. Burial will follow the service at the St. John Lutheran Cemetery in Russell.
Visitation will be from 9 A.M. to 8 P.M. on Wednesday, July 19, 2017, at the mortuary with family to greet guests from 6 P.M. to 7 P.M. Wednesday evening. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.
GREENWOOD COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on drug and gun charges.
Over the weekend, a deputy with the Greenwood County Sheriff’s department performed a traffic stop on a vehicle on US 400 for a traffic violation.
During the course of the traffic stop, the deputy observed indicators of possible drug activity and requested the Greenwood County K-9 unit to respond to the scene.
The K-9 arrived and conducted an exterior sniff of the vehicle at which time the K-9 indicated the presence of an illegal substance within the vehicle.
Based on this alert, deputies conducted a vehicle search and recovered a significant quantity of methamphetamine as well as drug paraphernalia. Further searching uncovered a loaded handgun and the precursors for a clandestine methamphetamine lab including anhydrous ammonia.
The chemicals present in the vehicle are extremely hazardous and as a result of the discovery, KBI’s clandestine lab response team was contacted and requested to come to the scene to safely remove the chemicals.
Deputies arrested the two occupants of the vehicle were arrested. Both were charged with distribution of methamphetamine, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of anhydrous in an unapproved container.
One of the occupants was also charged with criminal possession of a firearm. Both occupants are being held on $250,000 bond, however due to ongoing investigation their names were not released.
Harold Everett Hall, 97, Manhattan, formerly of Hays, died Friday, July 14, 2017 at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community, Wroten House, in Manhattan.
He was born December 13, 1919 in Hays, Kansas the son of Frank John and Elsie Elizabeth (Giinther) Hall, who were pioneer families in Ellis County. He is the third generation of Halls in the area. He attended Saline Valley School and graduated from Hays High School in 1939. He attended Fort Hays State College for one year then moved to Wichita where he was employed at Boeing Aircraft.
He met his future wife, Helen, in Wichita on Pearl Harbor Day, December 7, 1941. They were united in marriage on May 17, 1942 in Argonia, Kansas. He entered the Army Air Force and served from September of 1942 until February of 1946. Helen followed him while he served in Kearns, Utah, Rapid City, South Dakota, and Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Following his military service, the couple settled on the family ranch in Ellis County. In 1972, they moved to Hays, after which time Harold became co-owner of Pioneer Farm and Ranch Supply, Inc. in Abilene, Kansas. Harold moved to Manhattan, Kansas in 2012 to live near his son.
He enjoyed many years of hunting, fishing, and traveling throughout the United States. He participated in a mobile barbecue business called Fire, Smoke, and Flavor with several friends after his retirement. In later years he enjoyed long rides through the countryside, both around Hays and through the Flint Hills.
Harold’s accomplishments include being on the Natoma COOP Board, member of Kansas Farm Bureau, Township Director of the Saline Valley Township, member of the Saline Valley School Board, member of the American Legion, Eastern Star, and a seventy five year member of the Hays Masonic Lodge. He is also a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Hays, Kansas.
Harold was preceded in death by his wife Helen (Garber) in 1999, his sister Dorothy Shumaker, and his parents. Survivors include his brother; Warren Hall of Hays, his son; Steven Wayne Hall and wife Linda of Manhattan, his daughter; Donna Marie Frenzl and husband Ron of Olathe, three grandchildren; Aimee Corrigan, Kara Harris, and Paul Houser, three great grandchildren; Lorelai, Zoe, and Annalee. He is also survived by three step-grandchildren, twelve step-great-grandchildren and special friends Martha Leonhardt and Vaughn McMurtrie.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2703 Fort Street. Burial will follow in Fort Hays Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm until 7:00 on Monday at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine, and from 1:00 pm until service time on Tuesday at the church. Memorials are suggested in Harold’s memory to Esther’s Place in Hays, Kansas or to Meadowlark Hills Good Samaritan Fund in Manhattan, all in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the family at www.haysmemorial.com
ELLIS–The days and hours allowing use of fireworks in Ellis may change. This year, fireworks were allowed to be sold and discharged in Ellis for four days, July 2-5.
City council members will discuss the issue during their meeting tonight starting at 7:30 p.m.
Fire Chief Dustin Vine will address the potential approval of the Ellis County Fire Rescue Mutual Aid Agreement and Ellis County Fire Chief and Emergency Manager Darrin Myers will discuss the replacement of storm warning sirens.
The council will also hear an update on the water exploration project from Gary Luea of the Water Advisory Committee.
The complete Monday, July 17 agenda follows.
AGENDA July 17, 2017 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS
City Hall – Council Meeting Room
BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)
1) CONSENT AGENDA
a) Minutes from Regular Meeting on July 3, 2017
b) Bills Ordinance #2025
c) Manual Journal Entries for March 2017
(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda. By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson. ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment. Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)
2) PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
3) SPECIAL ORDER
a) Discuss Replacement of Storm Sirens – Darin Myers, Ellis County Emergency Manager
b) Fire Department Monthly Update – Chief Dustin Vine
c) Consider Approval of Ellis County Fire Rescue Mutual Aid Agreement – Chief Dustin Vine
d) Update on Water Exploration Project – Gary Luea, Water Advisory Committee
e) Discuss Roof at Railroad Museum – Glen Keller, Chair, Museum Board
4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Consider Approval of 2016 Audit Report
b) Review Preliminary Engineering Report for 2018 Waterline Improvement Project – Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group
c) Update on Street Improvement Project – Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group
5) NEW BUSINESS
a) Consider Approval of Contractor’s Pay Estimate #4, Request #4 for Payment of CDBG Funds, and Authorize Mayor to Sign Documents
b) Consider Approval of Request for Reimbursement #8 to KDHE for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Project
c) Discuss Possible Condemnation of Destroyed Structure – Cassy Zeigler, City Prosecutor
d) Consider Approval of Certificate of Destruction of Public Records
e) Consider Ratification of Invoice for Fire Department Pump Tests
f) Consider Approval of Quote to Remove Sludge at Wastewater Treatment Plant
g) Consider Approval for Purchase of Chlorine for Water Treatment Plant
h) Consider Approval to Purchase Mower for Parks Department
i) Consider Approval of Repair Bill for Chrysler Museum
j) Discuss Provisions under Entity Lease Agreements Regarding Repairs
k) Discuss Discharge Dates for Fireworks
6) REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
a) Administrative
1) Public Works
(1) Discuss Dorrance Street Bridge
(2) Department Update
2) Police
(1) Department Update
3) City Clerk
(1) Health Insurance Savings Report for June
(2) Financial Reports for March 2017
(3) Department Update
4) Attorney
(1) Update on Status of Code Violation Cases
5) Mayor Update and Announcements
(1) Update on EIDC Waiver of Landfill Fee Request
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
7) ADJOURNMENT
The Hays Public Library took people on a trip back in time during historic downtown tours Friday night.
Tours started every half hour from the library and traveled through Hays’ Chestnut District. The original name for Hays’ Main Street was Chestnut Street.
The tour began at the Hays Public Library, which was built in 1911. The Women’s Literary Club, which was organized in 1899, raised money for the library. However, the bulk of the $8,108.25 for the construction of the original library came from a gift from Andrew Carnegie.
A new larger building was constructed in 1968 at a cost of $440,000, and the most recent renovation and addition to the building was completed in 2004 at a cost of $700,000, said Samanthan Dean, adult librarian.
The Wiesner Builging is one of the oldest buildings in the Hays, which was built in 1913 by AA Wiesner.
The Wiesner Building is one of the oldest buildings in the Hays. It was built in 1913 by AA Wiesner, a Volga German. He worked in a couple of grocery stores before borrowing $500 from his uncle to open his own store. He made $2 on his opening day in 1879. The store remained open until 1991.
“One of things I wanted to hit on is I talked to a lot of locals in doing research on these buildings and every single one of the locals I spoke to said this is one of the most iconic buildings they feel in the Chestnut Street District because they remember shopping here when they were kids,” Dean said. “It is one of the buildings they cherish the most and they want to see talked about and preserved.”
The Philip Hardware Store, 719 Main St., was built in 1874. However, it did not become a hardware store until 1896. Before that it housed a U.S. Public Land Office in 1875. The store was operated as a hardware store until 1997. It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since the 1970s.
The Philip Hardware Store, 719 Main St., was built in 1874.
Most downtown Hays business owners were Volga German, but Philip was from Scotland.
Down the block at 715 Main, there was a carpentry store in the 1890s. The fire department was located in that block until 1911. Dr. Hugo Kohl, the army surgeon at Fort Hays, moved to Hays from Victoria and set up his apothecary in that same block in 1894. An apothecary was the drug store of its time, Dean said.
715 Main St. housed Harkins Pharmacy at one time.
Charles Harkins fell in love with the boss’s daughter and would eventually take over the business. The business was originally at 1111 Main before it was moved. Harkins Pharmacy also had a soda fountain and on Saturdays sold banana splits for 29 cents. It was moved to the 715 Main location in 1960s and was closed in 1974.
What is now called the Chestnut Building, 1200 Main, was originally the Lamar Hotel, which was built in 1930 by CW Lamar. The Lamar family had other hotels in the area, and the family worked in and lived in the hotel, Dean said.
Shirley Temple stayed in the building in the 1930s. In 1966, the building was purchased by First National Bank. Hall Street was named for the first president of the First National Bank, Andrew S. Hall. The bank was remodeled into a Williamsburg style building, which is how the exterior appears today. In 1989 the bank changed its name to Emprise Bank.
