December 2017 – Page 49 – Hays Post Archive

Legislative Committee: Kan. STAR Bonds Program Needs More Study

Posted on December 9, 2017

Republican state Sen. Julia Lynn, left, and Democratic state Sen. Tom Holland are members of a legislative committee studying the Kansas STAR bonds program.
photo by STEPHEN KORANDA

By Stephen Koranda

Kansas lawmakers studying economic development policies say the Legislature should consider changes to a major incentives program next year.

During a meeting Wednesday at the Statehouse, a special committee recommended more study of the STAR bonds program, and members of both parties said they want more oversight.

Sen. Julia Lynn, an Olathe Republican, said there hasn’t been enough accountability in the program. She wants the state to use formulas that determine whether proposed projects will create enough economic development to outweigh their costs.

“If they cannot prove that they can produce a positive return on investment, then either you have to go back and look at the project again or you don’t do the project,” Lynn said.

Under the STAR bonds program, local governments issue bonds to help pay for development projects. Tax collections from the development projects are diverted away from state and local governments and used to pay back the bonds.

The program has been used for some high-profile developments, including the Kansas Speedway, as well as smaller projects. The redevelopment of the Heartland Park racetrack outside Topeka is a less-successful example. A bank eventually took over the track and sold it to a new owner.

The committee also heard about changing shopping trends that are creating struggles for brick-and-mortar retailers.

Sen. Tom Holland, a Baldwin City Democrat, said legislators should consider limiting STAR bonds to tourist destination projects and avoid retail developments. He said retail developments around a tourist attraction could be financed by private developers.

“If that kills the deal, then maybe it shouldn’t have lived in the first place,” Holland said.

Rep. J.R. Claeys, a Salina Republican, was hesitant to recommend any specific changes right away. He called the STAR bonds program “wildly successful.”

Claeys said lawmakers need more information, including input from local economic development officials, before proposing changes.

“We need to have measurement,” Claeys said. “I don’t want to make recommendations that might have unintended consequences by stopping a project from going forward that has merit.”

Kansas lawmakers reauthorized the STAR bonds program earlier this year, but only for a three-year period. They also put a one-year moratorium in place on any new projects while lawmakers study the issue.

Stephen Koranda is Statehouse reporter for KPR a partner in the Kansas News Service. Follow him on Twitter @kprkoranda.

🎥 HFD: Celebrate Christmas safely to prevent fires

Posted on December 9, 2017December 5, 2017

By GARY BROWN
Hays Fire Dept. Chief

The Christmas holiday is a great time for families and friends. Unfortunately, there is also an increased risk of fire.

Christmas decorations are festive and beautiful. They may also be combustible. Christmas candles may also cause fires. Christmas tree fires are not common but when they do occur they are likely to be serious.

Here are some suggestions for a fire-safe Christmas holiday:

Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to be sure they’re working properly. Avoid the temptation to take the batteries out of the alarms to power Christmas toys.
Choose Christmas decorations that are flame-resistant or flame-retardant.
Keep candles away from decorations or other combustibles. Blow out candles before leaving the house or going to bed. Keep children and pets away from lit candles.
Use Christmas lights that are in good condition. Replace lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections. Do not overload electric circuits.
(NFPA)
Avoid blocking doors with Christmas trees or other decorations.
Make sure natural trees are fresh when selected. The needles should not fall off easily. Cut off two inches from the base of the trunk before placing the tree in the stand to allow water to be drawn up into the tree. Be sure to add water to the tree stand daily.
Keep natural Christmas trees and combustible decorations away from fireplaces and space heaters. Use fireplace screens.
Pay attention to cooking and keep combustibles away from hot stovetops.
Provide large, deep ashtrays for smokers or ask smokers to smoke outside.
Dispose of smoking materials and fireplace ashes in metal containers and away from the house.
Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors make great Christmas gifts!
Call 911 promptly if a fire or another emergency occurs.

FHSU Management Development Center to offer Facebook marketing for business

Posted on December 9, 2017December 4, 2017

FHSU University Relations

Facebook marketing will be the focus of the first two workshops of the 2018 winter series from the Management Development Center at Fort Hays State University.

“Introduction to Facebook Marketing for Business” will be from 8:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and “Intermediate Facebook Marketing for Business” will be from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., both on Wednesday, Jan. 10, in the Stouffer Lounge of the university’s Memorial Union. Dr. Mary Martin, professor of applied business studies at FHSU, will facilitate both workshops.

In the introductory workshop, participants will reverse-engineer a Facebook page, determine the basics of their Facebook marketing strategy, create an engaging Facebook post, and understand the analytics once the post has gone live.

In the intermediate workshop, which builds on knowledge gained in the introduction course, participants will learn about Facebook apps, promotional contests, adding email subscribers, integrating their Instagram feeds and offering customer support. Facebook Ads, Facebook Ad Manager, and analytics will also be covered in the afternoon.

Each person who completes a workshop will receive a completion certificate and will earn continuing education units.

Participants can take intro, intermediate, or both sessions. The cost for each individual session is $119 or $200 for both. A 15-percent discount applies for all Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Members on single session cost (not applicable when purchasing both courses).

Registration is available online at www.fhsu.edu/mdc. To learn more about this workshop or additional upcoming trainings, contact Sabrina William by phone at 785-628-4124 or by email to [email protected].

Comparing change in uninsured rates in Kansas and other states

Posted on December 9, 2017December 8, 2017

KHI

While Medicaid expansion is a major factor, other policy decisions made by states also influence their uninsured rate, especially among the poor and minorities. This fact sheet, entitled Comparing Change in Uninsured Rates in Kansas and Other States, compares the change in insurance coverage in Kansas to that in other non-expansion states, as well as to the change in states that expanded Medicaid.

Thirty states and the District of Columbia have expanded their Medicaid programs since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) allowed them to expand on January 1, 2014. States that have not expanded their Medicaid programs had a higher uninsured rate than expansion states even before the implementation of the ACA. Since then, states that expanded Medicaid have experienced a larger drop in the uninsured rate than non-expansion states. The drop in the uninsured rate in Kansas has been significant, but is smaller than that seen in many other non-expansion states, especially among the poor and minorities.

Tracking changes in the uninsured rate can help policymakers understand how policy decisions—in addition to Medicaid expansion—affect insurance coverage.

The Kansas Health Institute delivers credible information and research enabling policy leaders to make informed health policy decisions that enhance their effectiveness as champions for a healthier Kansas. The Kansas Health Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan health policy and research organization based in Topeka, established in 1995 with a multiyear grant from the Kansas Health Foundation.

Basketball Scores December 8th

Posted on December 8, 2017

Girls

Purple and Gold Tournament

Championship semifinals

Oakley 28 Stockton 65

Consolation Semifinals

Trego 58 Ness City 24

Amos Morris/George Stephens Classic

Championship semifinals

Nickerson 36 Central Plains 71

Keady Classic

Championship semifinals

Spearville 33 Larned 26

Fairfield Falcon Classic

Flinthills 26 Otis-Bison 56

Roundball Classic

Holcomb 55 Wichita-Trinity 60

Scott City 44 Wichita Collegiate 28

Topside Tipoff

Championship semifinals

Yuma Colo 36 Burlington Colo 52

Colby 60 Wray Colorado36

Consolation Semifinals

Wallace Co. 42 McCook Neb. 53

Goodland 36 Norton 52

Mid-Continent League

Hill City 43 TMP 49

Western Athletic Conference

*Great Bend 63 Junction City 69

Boys

Purple and Gold Tournament

Championship semifinals

Ness City 66 Stockton 37

Consolation Semifinals

Trego 32 Oakley 46

Amos Morris/George Stephens Classic

Championship semifinals

Nickerson 31 Central Plains 65

Consolation Semifinals

Ellsworth 61 Ell-Saline 53

Keady Classic

Championship semifinals

Macksville 47 Larned 39

St. John 49 Hoisington 32

Natoma Tiger Classic

Palco 38 Natoma 35

Fairfield Falcon Classic

Flinthills 39 Otis-Bison 50

Sagebrush Shootout

Championship semifinals

Logan 63 Triplains 44

Consolation Semifinals

Golden Plains 33 Cheylin 30

Lakeside Tournament

St. Johns-Tipton 58 Thunder Ridge 30

Roundball Classic

Holcomb 37 Wichita-Trinity 56

Scott City 42 Wichita Collegiate 54

Topside Tipoff

Championship semifinals

Colby 43 McCook Neb. 58

Yuma Colorado 44 Goodland 57

Consolation Semifinals

Wray Colorado Wallace Co.

Mid-Continent League

Hill City 40 TMP 64

Central Kansas League

*Pratt 33 Andale 51

Western Athletic Conference

* Dodge City 30 Manhattan 62

*Great Bend 39 Junction City 49

*Non-league

AP-KS–Kansas Prep Scores, 4th Ld-Writethru,1318
Friday’s Scores
By The Associated Press
BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Andale 51, Pratt 33
Andover Central 49, Goddard 39
Augusta 48, Abilene 39
Beloit 62, Republic County 41
Bishop Miege 48, McPherson 46
Buhler 59, Salina South 42
BV North 55, SM North 50
Circle 67, Wichita Independent 32
Clearwater 43, Winfield 42
Frankfort 38, Valley Heights 34
Galena 62, Commerce, Okla. 19
Garden City 53, Dumas, Texas 23
Goddard-Eisenhower 95, Andover 86
Hays-TMP-Marian 64, Hill City 40
Hooker, Okla. 52, Ulysses 50
Maize 61, Derby 59
Maize South 65, Arkansas City 56
Manhattan 81, Dodge City 63
Nemaha Central 78, Holton 36
Olathe West 70, Heritage Christian 24
Perry-Lecompton 53, Royal Valley 41
Sabetha 47, Atchison County 20
Smoky Valley 44, Concordia 37
St. Xavier 54, BV Randolph 50
Topeka Seaman 81, Lansing 48
Uniontown 46, Crest 35
Wamego 56, Jefferson West 53
Washburn Rural 68, SM Northwest 59
Wichita Collegiate 54, Scott City 42
Wichita Heights 63, Wichita West 29
Alfred Smith Tournament
Parsons 72, Coffeyville 53
Baldwin Tournament
Anderson County 56, Louisburg 54
Blue Valley Tournament
Seventh Place
Lee’s Summit, Mo. 71, KC Wyandotte 47
Fifth Place
Highland Park 60, KC Sumner 59
Third Place
Olathe South 63, Lawrence 56
Brewster (SageBrush)Tournament
Consolation Semifinal
Golden Plains 33, Cheylin 30
Caldwell Tournament
Norwich 44, Argonia 19
Cattle Trail Tournament
Consolation Semifinal
Hitchcock County, Neb. 52, Oberlin-Decatur 40
Chapman Tournament
Salina Sacred Heart 59, Rossville 35
Cimarron Tournament
Semi-Finals
South Gray 77, Moscow 42
Consolation
Meade 60, Satanta 27
Fairfield Tournament
Otis-Bison 50, Flinthills 39
Goessel Tournament
Elyria Christian 47, Hutchinson Central Christian 32
Goodland Tournament
Semifinal
McCook, Neb. 58, Colby 43
Kingman Tournament
Wichita Sunrise 71, Conway Springs 58
Lakeside Tournament
St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 58, Thunder Ridge 30
Larned Tournament
Semifinal
St. John 49, Hoisington 32
Lincoln Tournament
Consolation Semifinal
Ellsworth 61, Ell-Saline 53
Semifinal
Central Plains 65, Nickerson 31
Moundridge Tournament
Hillsboro 61, Inman 51
Natoma Tournament
Palco 38, Natoma 35
Rose Hill Tournament
Chanute 62, Garden Plain 59
Shawnee Mission East Tournament
Seventh Place
Southeast 58, Bishop Seabury Academy 24
Fifth Place
Barstow, Mo. 58, St. James Academy 46
Solomon Tournament
Halstead 62, Minneapolis 31
St. Paul Tournament
Southeast 71, Chetopa 42
Trego Tournament
Consolation Semifinal
Oakley 46, Trego 32
Semifinal
Ness City 68, Stockton 37
Udall Tournament
Cedar Vale/Dexter 54, Oxford 51, 2OT
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
Abilene 48, Augusta 43
Andale 54, Pratt 36
Andover 56, Goddard-Eisenhower 52
Beloit 59, Republic County 28
Bishop Miege 59, McPherson 51
Chase County 39, Lyndon 36
Clifton-Clyde 48, Doniphan West 42
Colby 53, Wray, Colo. 48
Concordia 47, Smoky Valley 45
Council Grove 41, Rock Creek 34
Crest 23, Uniontown 17
Derby 49, Maize 24
Frankfort 51, Valley Heights 42
Galena 50, Commerce, Okla. 25
Garden City 51, Dumas, Texas 29
Girard 41, Baxter Springs 27
Hays-TMP-Marian 49, Hill City 43
Hiawatha 40, Riverside 37
Hutchinson 41, Salina Central 35
Jackson Heights 49, Maur Hill – Mount Academy 39
Jefferson North 58, Horton 39
Jefferson West 47, Wamego 35
Junction City 69, Great Bend 63
KC Northeast, Mo. 33, KC Harmon 17
Labette County 65, Spring Hill 58
Lansing 46, Topeka Seaman 34
Maize South 52, Arkansas City 37
Manhattan 62, Dodge City 30
Marysville 59, Clay Center 48
Nemaha Central 46, Holton 44
Newton 54, Wichita Campus 20
Norton 43, Goodland 24
Olathe West 70, Heritage Christian 20
Pittsburg Colgan 37, McDonald County, Mo. 26
Sabetha 54, Atchison County 35
Salina South 57, Buhler 39
Savannah, Mo. 64, Atchison 45
Scott City 59, Wichita Collegiate 45
Shawnee Heights 47, Topeka West 22
Smith Center 51, Pike Valley 18
St. James Academy 55, Bonner Springs 25
Tonganoxie 45, Ottawa 28
Topeka Hayden 59, Basehor-Linwood 56
Valley Falls 51, Oskaloosa 36
Wetmore 42, Linn 33
Wichita Bishop Carroll 53, Wichita Northwest 49, 2OT
Wichita Heights 73, Wichita West 32
Wichita South 66, Wichita North 3
Winfield 46, Clearwater 25
Alfred Smith Tournament
Emporia 40, Independence 38
Parsons 45, Coffeyville 26
Baldwin Tournament
Baldwin 66, Burlington 40
Baldwin Tournament
Louisburg 54, Anderson County 32
Blue and Red Tournament
Consolation Semifinal
Guymon, Okla. 64, Lakin 47
Brewster (Sagebrush) Tournament
Consolation
Wichita County 43, Triplains-Brewster 32
Semifinal
Golden Plains 48, Logan 22
St. Francis 46, Cheylin 43
Caldwell Tournament
Argonia 43, Norwich 33
Caldwell 53, Burden Central 21
Cattle Trail Tournament
Semifinal
Dundy County-Stratton, Neb. 57, Oberlin-Decatur 32
Central Heights Tournament
Fifth Place
Metro Academy 44, Central Heights 35
Chapman Tournament
Chapman 63, El Dorado 29
Rossville 43, Salina Sacred Heart 41
Circle Tournament
Circle 39, Wichita Independent 28
DeSoto Tournament
Seventh Place
KC Turner 54, Excelsior Springs, Mo. 45
Eudora Tournament
Championship
KC Piper 59, Wellsville 42
Fairfield Tournament
South Haven 67, Fairfield 57
Goessel Tournament
Elyria Christian 47, Hutchinson Central Christian 32
Herington Tournament
Centre 40, Lebo 36
Rural Vista 48, Herington 18
Kingman Tournament
Conway Springs 54, Wichita Sunrise 39
Kingman 41, Valley Center 35
Lakeside Tournament
Lakeside 40, Osborne 27
Thunder Ridge 56, St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 41
Larned Tournament
Semifinal
Kiowa County 41, Kinsley 35
Spearville 33, Larned 26
Lincoln Tournament
Consolation Semifinal
Ellsworth 53, Ell-Saline 23
Semifinal
Central Plains 71, Nickerson 36
Russell 75, Plainville 61
Marion Tournament
Berean Academy 39, Eureka 29
Marion 41, Wichita Home School 26
Marmaton Valley Tournament
Madison/Hamilton 39, Northeast-Arma 26
West Elk 49, Marmaton Valley 20
Moundridge Tournament
Hillsboro 42, Inman 34
Moundridge 45, Lyons 31
Natoma tournament
Palco 41, Natoma 26
Olathe East Tournament
Fifth Place
Barstow, Mo. 50, BV Northwest 47
Third Place
Liberty, Mo. 61, Blue Valley 44
Quinter Tournament
Hoxie 54, Rawlins County 18
Quinter 47, Wheatland-Grinnell 30
Rose Hill Tournament
Chanute 62, Garden Plain 48
Hesston 63, Rose Hill 40
Skyline Tournament
Cunningham 60, Medicine Lodge 31
Pretty Prairie 49, Pratt Skyline 46
Solomon Tournament
Bennington 31, Solomon 24
Halstead 47, Minneapolis 31
St Paul Tournament
St. Paul 59, Columbus 36
St. Mary’s Tournament
Olpe 61, St. Mary’s 39
Syracuse Tournament
Holly, Colo. 46, Elkhart 42
McClave, Colo. 28, Greeley County 27
Stanton County 59, Granada, Colo. 39
Trego Tournament
Consolation Semifinal
Trego 58, Ness City 24
Semifinal
Stockton 65, Oakley 28
Udall Tournament
Cedar Vale/Dexter 38, Oxford 34
Yates Center Tournament
Seventh Place
Cherryvale 61, Altoona-Midway 8
Fifth Place
Sedan 48, Marais des Cygnes Valley 34
Third Place
Hartford 35, Southern Coffey 29
Championship
Yates Center 40, Bluestem 37
POSTPONEMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS
6:00 pm
St. Xavier vs. BV Randolph, ppd.

TMP takes two from Hill City

Posted on December 8, 2017

Girls: TMP 49, Hill City 43

HAYS, Kan.-The TMP Lady Monarchs were happy to get back home on Friday night and it showed as they raced out to a 9-0 lead against Hill City at Al Billinger Fieldhouse. Hill City did not panic as they would close the quarter on an 8-2 run to make it a one possession game at 11-8. TMP scored the first two points of the second quarter and that’s when the Lady Ringnecks came to life and closed the half on a 13-6 run to take a 21-19 lead at the break.

TMP was able to chip away at the Hill City advantage in the third quarter as the two teams exchanged leads throughout the period with the Lady Monarchs holding the 34-28 advantage. TMP would not give up that lead as the pick up the 49-43 victory. Kayla Vitztum scored a team high 18 points for the Lady Monarchs and Jillian Lowe added 14, seven of those in the first quarter. Ellie Keener was the only Lady Ringneck in double figures as she scored 14.

Hill City drops to 1-1 on the year and 1-1 in the Mid Continent League. TMP is not 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in the MCL. They will host Victoria on Tuesday.

GIRLS HIGHLIGHTS

ROSE MCFARLAND INTERVIEW

Boys: TMP 64, Hill City 40

HAYS, Kan.-TMP and Hill City had a hard time getting their respective offenses going early as the Ringnecks used a 8-0 spurt to take a 12-10 first quarter lead. The Monarchs turned the tables in the second quarter. With the game tied at 15 points each TMP scored the next 14 points to take command of the Mid Continent League matchup. Led by nine points apiece from David McFarland and Creighton Renz TMP grabbed a 31-19 lead that they would not give up the rest of the way.

TMP quickly escalated the lead to 20 and as high as 30 in the third quarter. The Monarchs led 55-28 at the close of the third quarter and cruised to a 64-40 victory. Garrett Handley led Hill City with 19 points and David McFarland countered with 19 to lead TMP.

Hill City falls to 0-2 on the season with both of those losses in league play. TMP is now 2-2 and 1-0 in the MCL as they will face off with former MCL member Victoria on Tuesday in Hays.

BOYS HIGHLIGHTS

JOE HERTEL INTERVIEW

Kansas City man charged with wounding girl in Snapchat sex ambush

Posted on December 8, 2017December 8, 2017

KANSAS CITY (AP) – A Kansas City man is charged with accidentally wounding a 15-year-old girl while attempting to rob a man who had arranged through Snapchat to meet up with the girl for sex.

The Kansas City Star reports that 20-year-old David Williams is charged with robbery and armed criminal action in the failed attack Wednesday in Independence. Bond is set at $50,000. No attorney is listed for him in online court records.

Court records say the robbery victim told police that an armed man appeared after the girl got into his car. He said she began taking his wallet and cell phone. Court records say Williams then fired his gun when the man tried to flee, hitting the girl in the arm and leg. She fled in the victim’s car with Williams.

Filing: Men accused in Kansas bomb plot want Trump voters on jury

Posted on December 8, 2017

Wright, Allen and Stein-photos Sedgwick Co.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Three men accused of plotting to bomb an apartment complex housing Somali refugees have asked a federal judge to pull prospective jurors from rural Kansas because they are twice as likely to have voted for President Donald Trump.

A defense motion filed Friday argues plans to issue summons only to citizens in the more urban counties closest to the federal courthouse is a discriminatory practice that excludes rural and conservative jurors. The trial begins March 19 in Wichita.

Gavin Wright, Patrick Stein and Curtis Allen are charged with conspiring to detonate the day after the 2016 election truck bombs at a mosque and apartment complex in the meatpacking town of Garden City. They have pleaded not guilty.

Worker dies from injuries suffered at Kansas plant

Posted on December 8, 2017

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Spirit AeroSystems says an employee who was injured in an accident Nov. 3 at its Wichita plant has died.

Spirit officials confirmed the death of Sammy Barnett in a statement Friday.

The company has not said how Barnett was injured.

An investigation is ongoing and Spirit said in its statement that it will use any findings from the investigation to improve its procedures.

Hays school board to discuss failed bond Monday

Posted on December 8, 2017December 6, 2017

By CRISTINA JANNEY

Hays Post

Members of the Hays USD 489 school board will discuss the district’s failed bond issue at its meeting Monday night.

The district proposed a $78.5 million bond issue in November that would have built two new elementary schools, remodeled two more and also provided money for additions and renovations to the Hays Middle School and High School.

The 30-year bond would have raised taxes on a $150,000 by $16.43 per month.

60 percent of voters voted against the measure.

This is the second recent Hays school bond to fail.

The district floated a $94 million bond in 2016.

Following the vote Superintendent John Thissen said Hays schools still need many repairs. He said he supported another attempt at a bond, sooner rather than later.

It will be up to the school board how to proceed from here. Sarah Wasigner of the USD 489 said Wednesday there would be open board discussion Monday on the bond.

Despite the bond’s failure, the district has committed to moving forward with a major work on Hays High School’s HVAC system.

The district has received a bid from Building Controls and Services for $778,000 for improvements to HVAC for the main gym, auxiliary gym and wrestling room. This is part of a multi-phase project.

Also Monday, the district will be ready for a vote on a program that would help Hays teachers earn master’s degrees through Fort Hays State University.

In other business: the board will:

• Hear about HHS curriculum guide changes

• Hear a Kansas Education Systems Accreditation update

• Consider revisions to the Classified Handbook

Wichita developer announces Hays conference center project

Posted on December 8, 2017December 13, 2017

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

A Wichita developer announced today the intent to build a new 500-seat, 8,400-square-foot conference center and hotel west of the Hays Walmart.

The Hilton Garden Inn will have 100 beds and contain a small restaurant and bar. It would employ the equivalent of about 35 full-time employees.

Ground could be broken as soon as April on the new $12 million to $14 million facility with the center opening in 12 to 14 months, developer Raju Sheth said.

The project will be located in the Ottley Addition, which is being considered for annexation by the city. City staff recommended the annexation to the city commission during a work session Thursday night, saying it was contiguous with the current city limits, was a likely location for future development and was readily accessible to the extension of city services.

The Hays Area Planning Commission is scheduled to have a public hearing on rezoning the land from Agricultural to C-2 Commercial on Dec. 18. The property is surrounded by existing Commercial (C-2) zoning, Walmart, Carrico Implement and Mid Kansas Auto Auction. Ottley is the owner of Mid Kansas Auto Auction.

The preliminary plat of the Ottley Addition was approved Nov. 20.

The city commissioners had no questions on the project Thursday night.

Sheth said Hays is in need of conference space, and the developers would like to get the project off the ground sooner rather than later.

“It makes the most sense in Hays,” he said. “There is no space for big weddings or small conventions to fit other than the university.”

Sheth said he thought the new space would be complimentary to Fort Hays State University and might be used by the school to bring in future events. The center will include the latest in video and audio equipment.

In addition to the hotel and conference center, the development will have space for a new stand-alone restaurant and strip mall.

Developers have included plans for additional parking as well as work on 43rd Street.

Aaron White, executive director of the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development, said the Coalition and the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau have been trying to get a convention center in Hays since at least 2011. White has been working with this developer since this summer.

“We are very excited to see this project go forward,” he said. “A product with a full-service hotel and conference center has great potential, and we are glad to see it happening.”

Multiple conferences over the years have expressed interest in staging in Hays, but there was not space for them, White said. One of these has included the Kansas Department of Commerce Rural Opportunities Conference, which draws about 200 to 250 attendees.

The economic impact of a facility such as this does not just come from the taxes generated by the center but by the secondary spending by people who use the center on things such as gas, restaurants and shopping while they are here.

Research indicates Hays has room for another hotel, White said. If a community has 30 or more days per year in which all the hotel rooms are full, market research indicates there is room for more hotel rooms. Hays is averaging about 50 days full per year.

Even though the rooms at the now demolished former Ramada Inn were sub-standard, their removal left a 200-bed void in the city’s hotel stock, White said. The new Hilton Garden and another hotel going in next to JT Travel Plaza is merely replacing the rooms that were lost, White said.

Man pleads guilty to killing Kansas woman, 4-year-old girl

Posted on December 8, 2017

NEWTON, Kan. (AP) — A transient who killed a Newton woman and her 4-year-old daughter pleaded guilty to capital murder but will not face the death penalty.

Twenty-year-old Keith Hawkins will serve life in prison without parole after entering the plea deal Friday. He admitted killing 24-year-old Alyssa Runyon and her daughter, Zaylynn Paz, in August at their duplex in Newton.

Investigators have said Runyon apparently was strangled and her daughter was stabbed.

Hawkins was a homeless man who was visiting Runyon. He was arrested in Texas in August.

Harvey County Attorney David Yoder said the victims’ families agreed to the plea deal.

Hawkins was a sex offender but his prior conviction was not placed on the public offender registry.

KBI identifies body of woman found near Kan. camping area

Posted on December 8, 2017

MONTGOMERY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a murder and have identified the victim.

On Thursday deputies and Investigators were dispatched to the Card Creek camping area in Montgomery County to meet with hunters who had discovered what they thought was a deceased female floating in the water approximately a quarter of a mile south of the boat ramp, according to a media release.

Deputies from MGSO and Paramedics from Independence Fire and EMS boarded the hunter’s boat and were taken to the location where the woman was last seen.

Paramedics loaded the woman later identified as Cindy “Pinky” Ann Easom, 33, Miami, Oklahoma, into the boat and transported her to Labbette Health Hospital in Independence where she was pronounced dead.

Investigators from the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Kansas Bureau of Investigations are currently investigating the incident as a homicide.

Anyone who has information about the incident is asked to call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.