ELLIS COUNTY — A Hays woman died in an accident just after 11 a.m. Monday in Ellis County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Mercury Sable driven by Luverna K. Schmeidler, 87, was westbound on the eastbound Interstate 70 Vine Street exit off ramp.

The Mercury struck a semi head-on just before the exit in the center of the lanes.

Schmeidler was transported to Hays Medical Center, where she died. The semi driver, Vladimir P. Ivanov, 48, O’Fallon, Mo., was not injured. Both drivers were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

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Public safety agencies are on the scene of an accident at the intersection of Interstate 70 and Vine Street.

While details have not been made available, authorities were attempting to clear the roadway of a semi and debris left when the vehicle crossed through the median near the northbound I-70 ramps.

A second vehicle was involved and was heavily damaged.

Check Hays Post for details as they become available.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 School board will receive information tonight on the Kansas Department of Education District Report Card.

The report card contains a variety of data that will be used for the new district accreditation process.

Among the data is postsecondary progress, graduation rates, attendance, ACT scores, teacher licensure, dropout rates, demographics, standardized test scores, comparative performance and fiscal system, and special education reports.

School fees

The board will discuss school fees tonight for the 2018-19 school year. The district dropped the workbook/materials fee for all students from $135 to $90 for 2017-18. No recommendation has been given in the report to the board on what the fees should be for 2018-19.

In other business, the board will:

• Hear a financial report.

• Consider transportation purchases.

• Hear more on the district’s enrollment numbers.

• Discuss the superintendent evaluation process.

• Hear an update on the tuition assistance program from Fort Hays State University for Ellis County teachers.

• Hear a negotiations report.

HPD

The Hays Police Department Special Situation Response Team will be conducting training on Tue., October 24, between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at 1207 Hall Street, Hays.

Police officers will be training with special tactical equipment. This training is being done with great care and safety.

As a homeowner, you may see law enforcement officers move through your area. There is no need to be alarmed. The officers are merely conducting a realistic training exercise and there is no danger to the community.

If you have any questions or concerns, you may contact the on-site supervisor (Team Commander Tim Greenwood or Team Leader Aaron Larson), or Chief Don Scheibler at 785-625-1030.

WAKEENEY–The WaKeeney American Legion Post #197, 517 1/2 Russell Ave., will host National Vice-Commander Byron Callies on his three-day tour of Kansas with a reception Tue., Oct. 24 at 4:45 p.m. American Legion members and guests are invited to attend, according to Commander Robert Funk.

Callies will be at Russell American Legion Post #99, 315 Main, Wed., Oct. 25 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. for a breakfast appearance and then travel to the Dorrance American Legion Post #334, 513 Main, for a 9:30 a.m. reception.

During his tour of the state, Callies will visit 14 American Legion Posts in Kansas.

Callies was elected National Vice-Commander of the two-million-member American Legion Aug. 24 in Reno, Nevada, during the 99th national convention of the nation’s largest veteran organization.

Callies is a member of American Legion Post #17 in Watertown, South Dakota, and is a 41-year-retired member of the South Dakota National Guard. He’s held many post-level positions including adjutant, Americanism chairman, first vice-commander and commander.

At the Legion national level, he’s a consultant for Children & Youth Committee, and has held department level offices including Americanism officer, chaplain, national vice-commander and commander (2012-2013).

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Preliminary estimates reported by the Kansas Department of Labor and Bureau of Labor Statistics show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.8 percent in September. This was down from 3.9 percent in August and down from 4.3 percent in September 2016.

“Kansas maintained a healthy labor market in September with the unemployment rate falling to 3.8% and employers adding a significant number of private sector jobs.” said Kansas Secretary of Labor, Lana Gordon.

Unemployment rates in northwest Kansas remain negligible, with only a handful of counties exceeding the 3 percent mark. Ellis County posted a 2.3 percent jobless rate, while Russell, Rush, Rooks and Graham exceeded 3 percent.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates indicate total Kansas nonfarm jobs increased by 5,000 from August. Private sector jobs, a subset of total nonfarm jobs, increased by 5,500 from the previous month.

“Kansas City and Wichita gained a significant number of jobs over the month, and Kansas posted an overall significant gain in private sector jobs from August to September by adding 5,500 jobs statewide,” said Senior Labor Economist, Tyler Tenbrink. “While this represents a notable improvement from the pace of job growth experienced so far this year, approximately 5,000 additional jobs will be needed to get back to positive growth over the year.”

Since September 2016, Kansas lost 5,100 seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs and 5,000 private sector jobs.

By RUTH FIRESTONE
Music Supporter

Woo-hoo! and Boo! It’s time for the second annual Hays Symphony Orchestra Halloween extravaganza, and it’s going to be greater than ever. Tickets are free but required, so pick them up soon as possible at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Come to the FHSU Beach-Schmidt Performing Arts Center on Sunday, Oct. 29, for “A Fairy Hallow’s Eve,” a spoof on part of Shakespeare’s “Midsummer Night’s Dream.” You’ll want to get there at about 2 p.m. for pre-concert family fun.

The first 300 children to arrive will receive trick-or-treat goodie bags after the show. Everyone should wear a costume. For the first hour, there will be an instrument petting zoo, a fairy craft station, a drumming circle, and a Halloween story time. Then, at 3 p.m. the Halloween Costume Parade around Sheridan Hall will begin. For this, young children need to be accompanied by an adult.

The concert proper will start at 3:30 p.m. with the world premiere performance of “A Fairy Hallow’s Eve” by Catherine Trieschmann, a nationally known dramatist who lives in Hays. Erin Renard of Barton Community College and FHSU will direct actors Brenda Meder, Bill Brown and other Hays favorites – even Mayor Shawn Musil will make a cameo appearance.

Guest conductor Jonathan Lane, double bass player and music educator, will lead the orchestra in musical illustrations of the action by Saint-Saens, Mozart, Tchaikovsky and others.

The combined music-drama, commissioned by the symphony, is sponsored by a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation through the Heartland Community Foundation. Thanks also go to: Keith and Sandra Gottschalk for financing the trick-or-treat goodie bags; the Hays Arts Council for providing rehearsal space; the FHSU Student Chapter of the National Association for Music Education for running the Instrument Petting Zoo and other activities; and the Hays Symphony Guild for funding and volunteer support.