By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Part of the 2018 Street Maintenance Project in Hays will include restriping a portion of Canterbury Drive from four lanes to three lanes.

The diamond grinding work, awarded to Diamond Surfaces Inc. of Rogers, Minnesota, includes grinding Canterbury Drive from 13th to 27th Street. Restriping of 27th Street will remain the same four lanes. However, Canterbury will be reduced to three lanes.

Hays Projects Director John Braun says the change will provide a safer driving environment and will allow the traffic signal at 22nd and Canterbury to function properly.

“It will be similar to what we did on 13th Street and Hall Street in the recent past,” Braun told city commissioners last week. “It aligns the north and south through-lanes at 13th Street.”

Braun called the “how and why of the 22nd and Canterbury traffic signal operation still a bit of a mystery” in terms of engineering and design.

“It was readily apparent shortly after the light was installed that in order to get opposing green left turn arrows from both directions at the same time you can’t have the two lanes going through.”

Braun said staff talked several times about reducing the traffic pattern to one lane in each direction at the 22nd and Canterbury intersection with left turn lanes.

“What we opted to do was to only give the green arrow westbound because that’s where the majority of the left turns were going,” he explained. “You can’t provide protected turns with two through-lanes without having a dedicated left turn lane.”

Mayor James Meier pointed out the situation is similar to 13th and Vine as it was prior to 13th being restriped to three lanes.

“I’ve had this discussion with a lot of people who want us to just turn the left turn light on to fix it. But I don’t think they’re remembering how 13th and Vine used to function,” Meier said.

Previously, 13th and Vine operated with “split phasing,” according to Braun.

“That’s where northbound traffic on Vine would get a green light and green left turn arrow and they’d go. Then they would have to stop and southbound on Vine would get the two green lights, whether they were turning left or not,” Braun recalled.

“I personally think 13th and Vine functions much, much better now than it did before,” Meier added.

Commissioner Shaun Musil expressed concern about the change to three lanes on Canterbury, particularly at the 13th Street intersection used by many young drivers going to and from Hays High School. “I don’t agree with it but I do trust staff and you believe it will work better,” Musil said. “I drive that street every day and don’t see big problems with it. This really makes me nervous what we’re doing there. But we’ll see.”

Commissioner Henry Schwaller IV pointed out traffic accidents on south Hall Street, which passes three schools, were reduced after Hall was restriped to three lanes.

Musil remained worried about Canterbury. “I think there’s going to be issues. I hope I’m wrong,” he said.

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

WAKEENEY — Terry Eberle, the former WaKeeney police chief, will serve 12 months probation after pleading guilty Monday to official misconduct/perjury.

Eberle initially was charged with 10 different felony counts that included two perjury counts and making false information.

The charges stem from testimony by Eberle in which he claimed not to have recorded conversations and interviews on several occasions.

Under the sentencing guidelines, Eberle faced 18 months of probation on the official misconduct charge, but the judge agreed to a downward departure of 12 months.

In court documents filed Monday in court, Trego County Attorney Chris Lyon presented testimony from the 2014 case of the State of Kansas v. Scott Bollig, in which Eberle said he did not record an interview with Bollig.

But, according to testimony from a Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent, evidence of a recording either made by Eberle or that he was aware of was found.

There were cases in 2007, 2010, 2013 and 2014 where Eberle was present while interviews were being conducted and recorded with a webcam.

The diversion agreement is for five years but, if Eberle is convicted of a felony, misdemeanor or traffic infraction during that time, he could face additional penalties on the perjury charge.

Under the plea, Eberle is also not allowed to run for public office or work in law enforcement.

ABBB

The certified public accounting firm of Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chartered (ABBB) is pleased to announce that James Marsicek has completed the necessary requirements to earn the Kansas Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation. Marsicek joined ABBB in 2012 and currently serves as a staff accountant in the firm’s Hays office.

“Earning the CPA designation is a significant milestone for an accounting professional,” said Brian Staats, CPA, CGMA, managing partner of ABBB. “We are all very proud of James and congratulate him on this accomplishment.”

Marsicek attended Doane University, graduating in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and business administration. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Kansas Society of CPAs (KSCPA), Optimist International, and Pheasants Forever. Marsicek currently resides in Hays.

Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chartered provides a wide range of traditional and non-traditional CPA and consulting services to clients throughout Kansas, including agriculture organizations, construction companies, feed yards, financial institutions, governmental and not-for-profit organizations, manufacturers, medical practices, oil and gas companies, professional service firms, real estate companies and small businesses. Founded in 1945, today the firm maintains 15 office locations throughout the state. For more information about Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, please visit www.abbb.com.

RCT

RUSSELL – Auditions for “Cheating Cheaters” by John Patrick to be directed by Bob Roe will be Wednesday and Thursday, February 28 and March 1 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Russell Community Theater (RCT) Playhouse, 140 East 5th Street, Russell. The RCT Playhouse is the former First Baptist Church located at the corner of 4th and Kansas Streets.

The show requires two men and three women. Age groups from 18 to 80 will be considered. Prepared material is not required – just show up and be willing to have a good time. For additional information, call 785-483-4057.

The production will be held April 17-21.

Russell Community Theater is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit, corporation that was organized in 1986. Its ultimate governing body is its stockholders. The theater’s Board of Directors is elected annually by the stockholders. The sole purpose of RCT is to produce theater for the community and surrounding area. The theater is supported financially solely through the sale of tickets to its productions and by gifts and grants from those supportive of community theater and the arts generally. RCT has a performance space at the corner of 5th and Kansas Streets, Russell. It also has offices, a warehouse, and scene shop located at 839 Main, Russell. Please find us on Facebook.