Ellis County students in grades kindergarten through high school were honored with Creative Writing Awards by the Hays Arts Council during a ceremony April 29.

Below are the winner.

2018 Creative Writing Awards “‘ Poetry

2018 Creative Writing Awards ,–.; Prose

The Hays Police Department responded to 6 animal calls and conducted 30 traffic stops Wed., May 9, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Suspicious Vehicle–2800 block Canal Blvd, Hays;  2 AM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–1300 block E 17th St, Hays; 1:59 AM
Found/Lost Property–3900 block E 8th St, Hays; 6:11 AM
Traffic/Driving Complaint–200 block W 17th St, Hays; 8:29 AM
Phone/Mail Scam–200 block E 15th St, Hays; 9:38 AM
Missing Person–2700 block Plaza Ave, Hays; 10:11 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–2500 block Marjorie, Hays; 11:02 AM
Animal Call–2200 block Henry Dr, Hays; 11:25 AM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–1100 block Cody Ave, Hays; 3:40 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–1800 block Fort St, Hays; 3:21 PM; 3:22 PM
Welfare Check–400 block W 32nd St, Hays; 3:49 PM
MV Accident-Personal Injury–700 block Pine St, Hays; 4:11 PM
Found/Lost Property–2700 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 6:31 PM
Suicidal Subject–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 8:50 PM
Battery – simple–2500 block Vine St, Hays; 9:20 PM; 9:29 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–2900 block Vine St, Hays; 8:30 PM; 10:30 PM

Full Time Help Wanted – APPLIANCE INSTALLATION

We are a well-established family-owned and operated appliance sales & service company, and seeking a full-time Appliance Installation person.

Must be able to work Monday thru Saturday and be able to lift heavy items. You will need to have a current driver’s license with a clean driving record and submit to a background check and pre-employment drug screening.
We offer medical, dental and life insurance, a 401 K retirement plan, paid holidays & vacation time, and a fantastic employee discount, after a 30-day probation period.

If you think you would like to join this great team, stop in and apply today!

GENUINE APPLIANCE CENTER
1224 E. 27th Street, Hays, KS
785/625-3278

OFFICE OF KS U.S. ATTORNEY

KANSAS CITY – Two Mexican nationals were indicted Wednesday on charges of possessing hundreds of false identification documents, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Sergio Alberto Torres Adame, 37, and Lilia Ivonne Jaquez Arratia, 35, both of Juarez, Mexico, are charged with one count of unlawful possession of identification documents.

In court documents, it is alleged the two were carrying hundreds of false documents when a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper stopped them for speeding on Highway 54 in Liberal, Kan. In the car, the trooper found:

• An envelope with 30 counterfeit Social Security cards in numerous names and 30 counterfeit birth certificates in numerous names and states including Colorado, Texas, Nevada and California.
• An envelope with 31 counterfeit birth certificates and 32 Social Security cards.
• An envelope with 30 counterfeit birth certificates and 30 Social Security cards.
• An envelope with 29 counterfeit social security cards and 29 counterfeit birth certificates.
• An envelope with 15 genuine Social Security Cards and 12 possibly counterfeit state birth certificates.
• An envelope with 100 blank counterfeit Social Security cards.

If convicted, they face up to five years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000. The Kansas Highway Patrol and U.S. Secret Service investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger is prosecuting.

After moving to their new home late last month, Ellis County Health Department officials will show off the new location with a ribbon cutting Thursday afternoon.

Last June, the Ellis County Commission approved the purchase of the former Post Rock building at 2507 Canterbury Drive and, after renovations, Health Department officials finished moving into the new space last month.

Thursday’s ribbon cutting will be at 4 p.m. with tours to follow at the 2507 Canterbury location.

— Hays Post

Throughout its history, Fort Hays State University has been fortunate to have many accomplished and dedicated faculty members. Dr. Marcia Bannister is a retired FHSU professor and chair of the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders who stands out through all she has done and continues to do for the university.

Bannister also plans to support Fort Hays State after her passing.

At the time of her retirement in 2004, her four sons and her colleagues created the Marcia Bannister Fund for Excellence in recognition of her leadership and dedication to the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Herndon Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic. She earned many awards and honors during her career and, along with her colleagues, brought accreditation to the speech-language pathology program.

“The expansion of the Marcia Bannister Fund for Excellence, celebrated today, is indicative of her thoughtfulness for those she has served for all of these years,” said Dr. Jeff Briggs, interim provost and vice president for academic affairs.

“These resources will support faculty and staff development, graduate students in the form of scholarships and assistantships, and the funds will support the region, as our graduates enter the field better prepared to serve the needs of western Kansas and beyond.”

Bannister graduated from FHSU with a B.S. in elementary education in 1961 and an M.S. in 1962 majoring in speech therapy and minoring in psychology. Currently, she serves on the FHSU Foundation Board of Trustees and stays informed on advancements throughout the university.

Bannister’s planned giving initiative will provide supplemental financial resources to enhance the exceptionality of the speech-language program. Her altruism will allow the speech-language pathology program and the Herndon Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic to fulfill their needs and realize their goals.

Working closely with the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders and the Herndon Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic, she specified certain parameters for how the chair of the Communication Sciences and Disorders Department may allocate the annual earnings from the endowed fund.

Bannister recounted the history of the program from its days in a small area of the Picken Hall basement to an academic department with spacious accommodations in Albertson Hall. Her own history included the mentorship of founder Geneva Herndon.

“I think you can see that my career as a speech-language pathologist has touched my heart and soul, and now my pocketbook,” she said. “I want to help the program educate students in an exceptional manner.”

“The speech-language pathology program will continue to touch many lives in the future,” she said. “It will prepare students for careers in assisting clients young and old. It will benefit from additional financial resources. Thus my gift. With the continued support of the FHSU administration, our quality will shine out!”

Bannister established her planned gift in working with the Fort Hays State University Foundation. The majority of the retirement account she built during her 35-year tenure at FHSU will go to the Marcia Bannister Fund for Excellence. Beginning this year, 73 percent of the minimum annual distribution from the retirement account will go into the Marcia Bannister Fund for Excellence. Upon her passing, the same percentage of what remains in the retirement account will be gifted to the FHSU fund.

“I want to thank Dr. Marcia Bannister for telling us the history – it’s so important because it not only shapes who we are, but also who we’re becoming,” said FHSU President Tisa Mason. “You epitomize all that Fort Hays State University stands for. As a student at FHSU, you found a mentor, a dream and a vision – or in your words, you found your heart and your soul – and that’s what we want for all of our students.”

“Throughout your career,” she said, “you paid it forward with grace and compassion, and you’re continuing that today with a magnificent gift, and we cannot thank you enough.”

With this gift to Fort Hays State, Bannister becomes a member of the FHSU Foundation’s Wooster Society, which honors those who ensure the future and strength of the university through planned giving.

“Gifts like this don’t happen every day,” said Jason Williby, president and CEO of the FHSU Foundation. “Our Fort Hays State Foundation benefits greatly from the leadership of individuals like Marcia, who have stepped forward and allowed us to share their story.”

“In Marcia’s case,” he said, “she’s leaving a legacy via her retirement account, but for others it may be a cash gift, a life estate reserve, a gift of oil, land or property.”

To learn more about the FHSU Foundation and planned giving, visit https://foundation.fhsu.edu, call 785-628-5620 or email [email protected].

Beginning Monday, access to the west Vine Street frontage road will be closed in the 2700 block of Vine for repairs. This work should be completed in approximately three weeks.

Signs will be in place to direct the traveling public. Motorists should use caution in these areas.

For more information, call the Public Works Department at 628-7350.