DODGE CITY, Kan. – The Hays Monarchs American Legion baseball team split their doubleheader in Dodge City Wednesday at Red Demon Field, dropping the first game 3-1 then coming back to take the second 8-01.
Chase Werth had three hits including two doubles and drove in two to lead the way in the nightcap. Gavin Schumacher, Creighton Renz and Cole Zimmerman all had two hits. Luke Ruder allowed one run on five hits over five innings for the win. Tate Garcia struck out for over the final two frames for the save.
Trent Mayo gave up three runs on two hits over four innings in the first game.
The Monarchs are now 13-8. They play at a tournament in McPherson this weekend.
Demolition debris at the former Ambassador Hotel, 3603 Vine.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
A demolition permit was issued Nov. 30, 2016, for demolition and cleanup of the property at 3603 Vine Street in north Hays. Seven months later, “the property is in a very unstable and unsafe condition” according to the city of Hays.
The former Ambassador Hotel closed its doors Dec. 1, 2015, after several internal property maintenance issues. The property owner, ABEL Lodging of Dallas, chose to raze the structure for redevelopment.
Demolition work was expected to take six to eight weeks, as Carl Britz, owner of American Wrecking Services, told the city.
Little progress was noted by city staff and by March, 2017, the work had stopped for remediation of additional asbestos found in the building. 24/7 Enviro Solutions, the company hired by American Wrecking Services, was on site through March and into early April.
Since then, according to Hays Planning Inspection Enforcement Superintendent Jesse Rohr, very little if any rubble has been hauled from the site other than some scrap metal.
After seven months of “little progress and creation of a huge hazard,” staff began abatement under regulatory authority of the 2006 International Property Maintenance Code said Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood.
The situation will be presented to Hays city commissioners during their work session Thu., July 6, with a request to authorize a nuisance abatement of the property during the July 13 regular meeting. Staff has solicited proposals from various contractors and will make a determination of cost based on the amount of material left to abate after the statutorily-allowed, 10-day waiting period following formal action.
“The best course of action is for the contractor and the property owner to get the work done before we come in,” Wood said. “They still will have a little bit of time. This (abatement) process is not a quick process … it’ll be July 24 before the city would start on the process in hiring a contractor.”
“Hopefully, between now and then they can get more work done and start hauling some of that stuff off,” Wood added.
Any costs incurred by the city due to the abatement process would be charged as a lien against the real estate upon which the structure is located.
The city commission will look at another proposed abatement tonight, that of an inoperable vehicle located at 414 E 7th Street.
Also on the agenda is an overview of the draft 2018 budget by City Manager Toby Dougherty.
In other business, City Attorney John Bird will discuss proposed increases for seat belt fines and municipal court costs.
Parents of kindergarteners will not have to pay a kindergarten fee this fall.
The Hays school board heard a report on the change at its meeting Wednesday night.
The state had paid for only half day kindergarten, but the Hays School District offered full-day kindergarten.
USD 489 had charged a $150 fee to help pay for the other half day of instruction with the rest of the funds to support the program coming from the general fund.
The Kansas Legislature this year approved funding across the state for full-day kindergarten. As a part of that legislation, the state required Kansas districts to eliminate their kindergarten fees.
The Hays kindergarten fee accounted for about $21,000 but will be offset by the new funding from the state, said Tracy Kaiser, USD 489 director of finance.
The district is also considering reducing the workbook/material fee for all students from $135 to $90—a 33 percent decrease.
The decrease in the fee will equal about a $90,000 decrease in revenue but will be offset by an increase in per pupil funding from the state.
“I think that is great,” board president Lance Bickle said. “As we continue to get funding, we are going to try to continue to adjust those fees and move them in a downward direction a little bit at a time. But at least we are getting there.”
The Kansas Legislature passed a school funding formula that would increase the per pupil funding to $4,006. This could mean as much as $1 million in funds for the Hays district.
The increase in funds was due to a lawsuit by multiple school districts alleging funding to Kansas school districts was constitutionally inadequate. Read more here.
The Kansas Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case on July 18. Until that time, the Legislature’s 2017-2018 funding plan has been allowed to become law.
The school district is working on its budget now, and will have other suggestions of how to use the increase in funds at the board’s next meeting on July 24.
In other business, the board:
• Set the meeting dates for the board for 2017-2018.
• Heard a report on the mileage reimbursement rate, which will be equal to the state’s rate of 53.5 cents per mile
• Heard a report on a memorandum of understanding for Ellis County schools on cooperation with law enforcement
• Approved a bid for $61,500 from Brian’s Concrete Services of Hays for concrete replacement at Hays High School
RENO COUNTY — One of two people arrested on January 28 after a trailer was stolen in Hutchinson waived a preliminary hearing Wednesday and entered guilty pleas to three charges
Christopher Bauck, 39, admitted to burglary, possession of stolen property and felony flee and elude. As part of a plea agreement, the state dropped a charge of felony theft, interference with law enforcement and driving while suspended.
The case started with the report of an enclosed trailer being stolen on West 13th Street in Hutchinson. Law enforcement spotted the truck pulling the trailer at Hendricks and Nickerson Boulevard.
They tried to stop the truck, which led to the chase that ended near 10th and Cheyenne in the rural area of Reno county. Bauck apparently ran from the vehicle, but was quickly captured. It was learned that the truck he was driving was also stolen in Wellington.
Sentencing is scheduled for August 18. He also faces a probation violation in Barton County.
Today Sunny, with a high near 97. South southwest wind 5 to 9 mph.
Tonight Partly cloudy, with a low around 69. South wind 5 to 7 mph becoming west northwest after midnight.
Friday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Friday NightA 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. East wind 6 to 11 mph.
SaturdayA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 89. Southeast wind 7 to 10 mph.
Saturday NightA 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 66.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Highway Patrol gave more DUI and speeding tickets over the Independence Day Holiday than in 2016. The KHP reported no fatality accidents.
KHP’s holiday weekend activity. “I am thankful we avoided the needless loss of any lives over the holiday,” said COL Bruce. pic.twitter.com/Y8To3P4toa
— KS Highway Patrol (@kshighwaypatrol) July 5, 2017
The patrol assisted with 1333 motorists over the holiday. The reporting period ran from 6p.m. Friday June 30, through 11:59p.m. Tuesday July 4.
SALINA – Two people were injured in an accident in a crosswalk Wednesday morning in Salina.
Salina Police Sgt. James Feldman reported a 2002 Ford Ranger driven by Donald Weers, 82, Salina, was eastbound on Walnut Street attempting a turn north onto Santa Fe.
The pickup struck a motorized wheelchair operated by a 61-year-old woman with a 9-year-old passenger that were in the crosswalk.
The woman complained of pain in her hip, back and face and possibly had several broken ribs, according to the accident report. The boy had abrasions and a possible broken right clavicle. They were both transported to Salina Regional Health Center.
Weers was cited for failure to yield to pedestrians at a crosswalk, according to Feldman.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The family of a man who was killed during a home invasion four years ago in Topeka is offering a $25,000 reward for information that could solve the case.
Twenty-nine-year-old Juan Solis was killed in September 2013 when assailants broke into his home in the Oakland neighborhood. The Topeka Capital-Journal reports witnesses said three black men wearing masks shot Solis in the chest.
His brother, Marco Solis, says there’s been no leads in his brother’s death. He says the family wants people to remember his brother and help bring the killers to justice before they hurt someone else.
In 2015, the family used billboards to remind people of the murder.
Juan Solis was an 11-year employee of Boss Hawg’s and Pigskins restaurants and left behind a wife and three young children.
DOUGLAS COUNTY – Law enforcement authorities are investigating a fatality accident and asking the public for help.
Just after 9p.m. Sunday, a Douglas County sheriff’s deputy found a body inside a burning vehicle just northeast of Lawrence. It had apparently left the roadway and struck an unoccupied farm truck.
According to a social media report, deputies are attempting to contact the white male driver of a red pick-up truck involved in a verbal conflict with two young men driving a blue Hyundai Sonata on Sunday July 02, 2017, between the hours of 6pm and 9pm in the North Lawrence area.
The Sonata was involved in the accident later in the evening and deputies are attempting to establish a timeline of the events and need to speak to the driver of the red truck.
Please contact Lt. Stacy Simmons at 785-424-4396 with any information.
Authorities have not released the identity of the body or determined what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway.
Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) speaks to residents at Hays Medical Center June 4 during a town hall meeting.
SEN. MORAN
U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) announced that he will visit Palco as part of his Kansas Listening Tour on Thursday, July 6.
Area residents are encouraged to attend and share feedback with Sen. Moran on the critical issues facing Kansas and the nation. The issues Sen. Moran focuses on and the work he does in Washington, D.C., are largely based on the conversations he has with Kansans during these town hall meetings.
When: Thursday, July 6
11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Where: McKenna Youth and Activity Center
311 Main Street
Palco, KS 67657
Fort Hays State University and the American Red Cross are hosting an upcoming blood drive. Please join our lifesaving mission and schedule an appointment today! Walk-ins are also welcome!
Drive Details:
Site: Comeau Campus Center
Address: 506 W. 6th, Comeau Campus Center, Hays, KS, 67601
Room Name: Activity Center
Date: Fri., Jul 7, 2017
Time: 11:30 AM – 5:15: PM
Coordinator Name: Bill Dinkel
Coordinator Phone Number: 785-656-4202
Click here to make an appointment
The American Red Cross is facing a critical blood shortage and is issuing an emergency call for eligible blood donors of all blood types to give now and help save lives. Blood donations have fallen short of expectations for the past two months, resulting in about 61,000 fewer donations than needed and causing a significant draw down of the Red Cross blood supply.
The Hays Taco Shop, 333 W. 8th, is generously donating a coupon for a free taco for all who present to donate at this drive.
The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in our community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds and most of us will need blood in our lifetime.
Thank you for supporting the American Red Cross blood program!
Download the Red Cross Blood Donor App on the App Store, Google Play or text BLOODAPP to 90999. Schedule appointments, get rewards and invite friends to join you on a lifesaving team.
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The latest government report shows the winter wheat harvest is wrapping up in many parts of the state.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Wednesday that about 73 percent of the wheat in Kansas had been harvested. The report covers the week that ended Sunday.
Areas in Kansas where the harvest began were nearly done with harvest activity. Wheat crops in south-central Kansas were 97 percent cut, while southeast Kansas was 94 percent finished.
Northwest Kansas where cutting begins much later was just 21 percent done while just 47 percent of wheat crops in west-central Kansas were cut.
For wheat still in the field, the report rated 47 percent in excellent to good condition with 31 percent in fair shape. About 22 percent was in poor to very poor condition.
SALINE COUNTY- Three people are recovering from injuries in an accident just after 7p.m. Tuesday in rural Saline County.
Tuesday evening accident sent 3 to the hospital-Photo Saline County Sheriff
A 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 driven by 30-year-old Ashley Stern, Salina, was westbound on Schilling Road, according to Saline County Sheriff Roger Soldan.
The pickup clipped an eastbound Chevy Silverado driven by Kyle Came, 18, Salina, at the on a hill at intersection of Brownhill Road. The collision caused the Chevy to roll onto its top in the road.
Came was transported for treatment of broken bones in his back, according to Soldan. A passenger in the Chevy Macala Base, 15, Salina, had a broken collar bone.
Sterns told authorities that due to the glare of the sun, she did not see the oncoming truck until the last second when she tried to avoid the accident. She was transported to treatment of arm pain, according to Soldan.
RENO COUNTY — One of two people arrested on January 28 after a trailer was stolen in Hutchinson waived a preliminary hearing Wednesday and entered guilty pleas to three charges
Friday A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 94. West northwest wind 5 to 10 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
