An enthusiastic door-to-door vacuum salesman goes to the first house in
his new territory. He knocks, a lady opens the door, and before she has
a chance to say anything he runs inside and dumps dirt all over the
carpet.
He says, “Lady, if this vacuum cleaner doesn’t do wonders cleaning this
up, I’ll eat every bit of it.”
She turns to him with a smirk and says, “You want ketchup on that?”
The salesman says, “Why do you ask?”
She says, “We just moved in and we haven’t got the electricity turned on
yet.”
The 13th annual John Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activities Day, hosted by Fort Hays State University, will be on Wednesday, April 25, in the Memorial Union.
The day celebrates the research, scholarly and creative work conducted in varied disciplines within the university. Special activities including research presentations and exhibits will be provided.
The main events include poster presentations and a creative works exhibition featuring student and faculty work from the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship, the College of Education, the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences and the Peter Werth College of Science, Technology and Mathematics.
The creative works exhibit will be in the Memorial Union’s Black and Gold Room from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The poster presentations, with more than 130 posters by students and faculty, will be in the Memorial Union’s Fort Hays Ballroom from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Poster creators will be available from 1 to 3 p.m.
Awards will be given at 3 p.m. for poster presentations to undergraduate, graduate, faculty and staff for empirical and non-empirical research and scholarly work. Awards for creative works and “People’s Choice Awards” will also be given.
Leslie Paige, project director in the Office of Scholarships and Sponsored Projects, said the day “not only showcases the significant work being conducted by faculty and staff, but also exemplifies the opportunities FHSU students have to conduct research, engage in scholarship opportunities, and present creative works with guidance from their faculty mentors.”
Scholarly and creative activity encourages critical thinking, innovation, collaboration and leadership, she said.
“FHSU supports developing new areas of excellence in all disciplines as part of its mission to advance knowledge and further the economic growth of the state,” said Paige. “Participation provides the opportunity to clarify academic and professional goals while promoting advancement in a particular field of study.”
Dr. John Heinrichs
Named after the late Dr. John Heinrichs, who championed research at FHSU, the Scholarly and Creative Activities Day is sponsored by the FHSU Scholarship Environment Committee with support from the Office of the Provost, FHSU deans, the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science, the Graduate School and the Office of Scholarship and Sponsored Projects.
The exhibits and presentations are free and open to the public.
For FHSU faculty, staff or students interested in submitting work for the exhibits, contact Linda Ganstrom, professor of art and design, at [email protected].
The City of Hays Fire Department will be inspecting and flow testing fire hydrants on Fri., April 13 in the area of Walnut St. to Main St. between 27th St. and 33rd St.
This is part of a coordinated effort by the city of Hays to inspect all fire hydrants in the city and flush all water mains annually.
RUSSELL – Treasure seekers and bargain hunters are welcome to the Russell Community Garage Sale to be held June 2. Russell Community Theater, Advantage Realty and KRSL Russell Radio are sponsoring this year’s event and are striving to increase outreach and promotion efforts to ensure a successful day for all participants. Individuals, organizations, and local businesses are encouraged to participate in a variety of ways. Hosting a garage sale, whether individual or multi-family, gives old treasures a chance to find a new home. Organizations might consider a group garage sale or a lunch stand. Businesses may consider special sales or discounts.
Registered participants will benefit from the promotion of the big day – press releases, public presentations, social media outreach, local and area media advertising – all thanks to Russell Community Theater, Advantage Realty and KRSL Russell Radio.
Printed Garage Sale Guides will include a detailed map of all registered participants and will be available to the public starting Tuesday, May 29. The Russell County GIS & Mapping Department will create the Guide maps and Russell County Economic Development & CVB will be assisting with outreach efforts. Printing services will be provided by Office Products Inc., Russell.
All proceeds from Russell Community Garage Sale registrations directly benefit Russell Community Theater. Russell Community Theater is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit corporation that was organized in 1986. Since its inception, RCT has presented 92 full-scale theatrical productions for the education and enjoyment of its patrons.
To be included in the Russell Community Garage Sale Guide, pick up registration forms at Encore Antiques & Collectables, 590 S. Fossil in Russell. Completed registrations and non-refundable, cash payment must be submitted no later than Wednesday, May 16. For additional information, contact Russell Community Theater at 785-483-4057 or stop by 590 S. Fossil, Russell.
— Submitted
UPDATE: The groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Memorial Union Atrium.
Ground will be broken at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 14, at 404 W. Seventh St. in Hays for a new house for Fort Hays State University’s Zeta Tau Chapter of the Sigma Chi fraternity. The public is invited.
Seeking to fund as much of the home as possible through private donations, Josh Callahan, chapter advisor, has been working with the FHSU Foundation in reaching out to alumni, as well as others who are interested in the project. To date, approximately $500,000 has been raised from alumni donations and pledges to support housing scholarships for students.
Until additional fundraising is complete, the remaining amount needed to build the home will be financed via a local bank and the Sigma Chi National Foundation.
“The new home should be completed in early October and will house 24 to 32 men,” said Callahan. “Sigma Chi has a long history at Fort Hays State University – going back more than 50 consecutive years with 600-plus alumni.”
“I think it is a great sign that they are building a new home for their undergraduate members,” said Dr. Teresa Clounch, assistant vice president for student affairs at Fort Hays State.
“It is a sign of sustainability and growth for the FHSU fraternity and sorority community,” she said. “It is important to celebrate what our students and organizations are doing.”
“It’s not the role that city government should be playing,” believes a longtime Hays real estate broker.
When Doug Williams heard from an acquaintance the city of Hays was considering paying for an option to buy land at 27th Street and Commerce Parkway, he “told them they were crazy, that the city would never get into the real estate speculation business.”
“Turns out, I was wrong.”
Tami Norris, Advanced Real Estate
Williams and Tami Norris of Advanced Real Estate spoke against the idea Thursday night prior to the Hays city commission’s unanimous vote in favor of the option. Several other local realtors were in the audience but did not speak.
The city has been offered an exclusive 18-month option of $50,000 to purchase 93 acres at the northeast corner of 27th Street and Commerce Parkway north of Interstate 70. The land purchase price is $800,000.
Noting a sizable amount of empty retail space in town and the city’s support of infill over new development, Williams told commissioners he was “baffled” why the city would consider such a concept.
“This land is for sale for anybody to purchase. Why would the city buying it make any difference?” asked Williams.
“We’ve heard over and over that land prices are high. And as soon as anybody is interested in it – look at the (former) Ambassador Hotel – the land price triples. These have been consistently quoted to us by several developers as the things that are stopping development,” answered Commissioner Chris Dinkel.
“Sure. We’d like someone else to just go buy this property from the current owner and develop it…The city can get this land and have it developable for a minor fraction of what everyone else is asking for land. If land prices are truly what is keeping the town from developing, then this will develop. If this does not develop in 18 months or nobody’s on the line for it in 18 months, then land prices aren’t the issue and we need to start looking at another direction and another way to stimulate development.”
City commissioner Shaun Musil explains his support of a potential city land purchase for development.
“If land prices really are the issue, this is an excellent and affordable experiment in testing that logic for why we’re not growing,” Dinkel concluded.
Last month commissioners hired Retail Strategies of Birmingham, Alabama, to conduct a retail gap analysis and then recruit new businesses to Hays. “If the city were to have title to this piece of property, it could more easily facilitate the location of future retail in that area,” City Manager Toby Dougherty said recently.
The city would have the choice of extending nearby infrastructure and marketing the property or to work with a developer for the property.
“This is a matter of things falling in place at a certain time,” said Commissioner Sandy Jacobs. “I’ve been involved in retail all of my career and I understand development. This is a well-priced piece of property. There’s some housing area out there that could be developed. It’s another back door into the north Vine business corridor.
The city of Hays will pay $50,000 for an option to purchase 93 acres of land just north of I-70.
“I don’t want the city getting involved in this kind of thing any more than anybody else does. But I think this is an opportunity, not from a political standpoint but from doing what is right for the community of Hays, that we take this chance. And there is risk. We admit that. But it’s a small risk in terms of what the reward could be.”
Williams thinks “there’s a lot better chance to fill the 150,000 square feet of empty building space and some north Vine Street property” than the city’s possible land purchase.
“We built a street (Commerce Parkway) and created an industrial park. We created a non-profit entity that developed land for a scaffolding company, a call center, Glassman Corporation, the Army Reserve Center.
“The city has been in the real estate business for 50-some years,” Schwaller said. “So this isn’t new.”
The option money will be paid from the Commission Capital Reserve Fund, as would the land purchase.
RENO COUNTY— Two Kansas women arrested for making an alleged swatting call to police were back in court Thursday.
Twenty-two-year-old Chassity Nicholson and 20-year-old Tatumn Watkins both of Hutchinson were charged with Giving False Alarm for violent activity or threat.
The state alleges the women knowingly gave false information to authorities.
Nicholson and Watkins claimed Michael Kirk battered two family members in the 1200 block of East 7th. According to the women, Kirk said he didn’t want to go back to prison. The women told authorities Kirk had a gun and was waiting for officers to arrive.
Nicholson-photo Reno Co.
Nicholson called police earlier in the day and said Michael Kirk had taken their child. She wanted the child back.
Once on the scene, officers were told Kirk was hiding in the garage. Officers, along with sheriff’s deputies, had guns drawn when they ordered him from the garage. He came out with the 3-month-old child in his arms. Kirk was not armed and was merely taking care of the child.
In court, Nicholson asked the judge to lift the no contact order so she could see her child. Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen denied that request and noted this incident could have been much worse.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating two suspects on burglary and other charges.
Lewis-photo Shawnee Co.
Just before 5am. Thursday, officers responded Orscheln Farm & Home, 1133 SW Wanamaker for an alarm at the business, according to Lt. Chris Heaven.
Upon Officers arrival they located Jerry Lewis., on the property. He was walking away from a silver Ford SUV. A field interview of Lewis revealed he had a city warrant and upon arrest was found to have items consistent with and recognized to be burglary tools in his possession.
Upon a more detailed interview by Detectives it was found that Lewis had cut the security cable in an attempt to take lawn mowers. Estimated damage is $10,000.
Hale-photo Shawnee Co.
Police also located Ashley Hale, 28, at the scene. She was arrested for 2 city warrants.
4:15 p.m. Interstate 70 closed by Colorado DOT westbound at the state line.
3:26 p.m. Interstate 70 is closed at Burlington, Colorado, due to road conditions/visibility
12:32 p.m. Friday: The Kansas Department of Transportation has closed K-27 from the west U.S. 36 junction to the Nebraska border because of winter weather conditions.
11:57 p.m. Friday: The Kansas Department of Transportation has closed U.S. 36 from St. Francis to the Colorado border because of winter weather conditions.
For up-to-date information on road closures and road conditions, call 511 in Kansas or 866-511-5368 outside Kansas, or check travel information online at www.kandrive.org.
Today A 30 percent chance of showers, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a temperature rising to near 55 by 11am, then falling to around 48 during the remainder of the day. Breezy, with a west wind 11 to 16 mph increasing to 18 to 23 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph.
Tonight A chance of rain before 9pm, then a chance of rain and snow between 9pm and 11pm, then snow likely after 11pm. Widespread blowing snow, mainly after 4am. Cloudy, with a low around 25. Very windy, with a northwest wind 29 to 34 mph increasing to 38 to 43 mph after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches possible.
Saturday A chance of snow before 3pm, then a chance of rain and snow. Widespread blowing snow before 10am. Cloudy, with a high near 36. Very windy, with a north northwest wind around 34 mph, with gusts as high as 47 mph. Chance of precipitation is 40%.
Saturday Night A 30 percent chance of rain before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 20. Very windy, with a north northwest wind 25 to 30 mph decreasing to 15 to 20 mph after midnight.
Sunday Sunny, with a high near 49. North northwest wind around 16 mph.
TOPEKA–The Kansas Department of Revenue has announced extended tax season telephone hours to offer assistance for Kansans before the April 17th filing deadline, including extended hours this Saturday.
Sales, Withholding, Income Tax and Homestead telephone lines will have the following extended hours:
9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 14th
Additionally, Income tax telephone lines will be extended until 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17th, the income tax filing deadline.
“The Department is committed to offering excellent customer service to Kansas taxpayers,” said Secretary of Revenue Sam Williams. “Extending our telephone hours allows us to accommodate Kansans with the resources needed to help them meet the filing deadline.”
The telephone number for these extended hours are (785) 368-8222 with the following options. Option 4 is Individual Income Tax/Homestead; Option 5 – 2 is Sales Tax; Option 5 – 5 is Withholding.
For assistance with electronic filings or electronic payment of any taxes, call (785) 296-6993.
The Department will resume regular telephone hours after the income tax filing deadline on April 17th. These normal operating hours are 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday.
HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped both ends of Thursday’s doubleheader with Northeastern State (April 12), coming up short in game one, 13-9, before falling in the nightcap, 15-7. The Tigers are now 13-25 on the year and 5-19 in MIAA play, while the RiverHawks improve to 21-16 overall and 12-12 in league action.
A whopping 12 home runs were tallied on the day, including four for the Tigers and two for Alex Weiss. It is the second day in a row the senior has swatted a pair of home runs.
Game One: Northeastern State 13, Fort Hays State 9
The Tigers fell behind early in the opener before rallying to take the lead in the third inning. Trailing 4-1, Weiss led things off in that frame with a solo shot to left center. Dayton Pomeroy and Ryan Grasser followed with singles before Jordan Wilkerson cleared the scoreboard in right field with the second home run in the inning, putting the Tigers in front, 5-4.
Fort Hays State maintained the lead until the RiverHawks went back in front for good with six runs in the sixth inning. The Tigers clawed back with a single run in the sixth and three more in the ninth thanks to Ryan Grasser’s three-run home run, but it was too little, too late as the NSU bullpen slammed the door by retiring the next two batters.
Pomeroy collected a game-high four hits, scoring one run. Weiss and Grasser collected three base knocks each, with Weiss scoring three runs and driving in two and Grasser totaling three RBI and two runs scored. Easton Palmer (1-1) took the loss after allowing the go-ahead run to score, allowing two runs over 1.1 inning of relief. Starter Ben Ramberg struck out three batters over four innings of work, giving up four runs.
Game Two: Northeastern State 15, Fort Hays State 7
Northeastern State never gave up the lead after taking advantage of a leadoff double and jumping in front 1-0 in the top of the first. After stretching the lead to 4-0 by the third inning, Clayton Basgall helped the Tigers close the gap to three after sending a double the other way to right field, plating Bryce Whitchurch.
The visitors responded by extending their advantage to 10-1, but the Tigers battled back within three with six runs in the fifth and sixth innings combined. Whitchurch worked a walk to lead things off in the fifth before Addison Kaasch and Basgall singled in consecutive at-bats. Alex Weiss followed with his second long ball of the evening, this time going the other way to right. Kaasch came through with a two-run double in the sixth inning to put the tying run in the on deck circle, placing an outside pitch just inside the right field line.
Basgall collected three of Fort Hays State’s 15 hits in the nightcap, driving in two runs. Weiss drove in a game-high three RBI after collecting two hits. Whitchurch scored two runs after finishing 2-for-3 with a walk. Ryan Ruder (4-5) took the loss after striking out five over four-plus innings of work. Zach Rothert pitched well out of the bullpen, ultimately giving up five runs in 4.2 innings of work, with all the runs scoring in his final two innings of work.
The Tigers and RiverHawks will meet one final time this season on Friday (April 13), with first pitch set for 2 p.m. from Larks Park.
Eating Off The Carpet
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2016 Harley Davidson driven by Donald Attebery, 59, Shawnee, was northbound on Interstate 435.
