The Hays School District will be down about 30 students for the 2018-19 school year, according to current projections.
Assistant Superintendent Shanna Dinkel gave a report on the projections at the school board meeting on Monday.
A report in the board packet estimated total K-12 enrollment at 2,912. Kindergarten through fifth-grade enrollment is estimated at 1,409. Hays Middle School enrollment is projected at 674, and Hays High enrollment is projected to be 829 students.
Both the HHS and HMS are projected to have slightly higher enrollments with enrollment across the elementary schools projected to be down slightly.
Hays enrollment was 3,047 students on its official count day on Sept. 20, 2017. Hays enrollment was 3,070 in 2016. However, Dinkel noted the Sept. 20 numbers included students in special education who receive services from USD 489, but may not attend USD 489 schools.
Enrollment numbers are important because they become part of the formula the state uses for funding.
Online enrollment for district started last week. You can access a link to enroll online on the district website at https://www.usd489.com/?p=5559
Dinkel estimated about 22 percent of students have already been enrolled online, and the district hopes more parents take advantage of this option between now and Aug. 1 and 2 when in-person enrollment will take place at the HHS cafeteria.
Board member Paul Adams requested a comparison of enrollment from previous years, and board member Greg Schwartz asked Dinkel if she could present a projection for enrollment for up to five years into the future.
Special Education
New special education director Chris Hipp gave a report to the board on several aspects of the special education cooperative.
The district will use waivers and a new apprenticeship program to fill several special education spots in the district. The waiver program allows licensed teachers who are pursing their master’s degrees in special education to teach special education. The apprenticeship program allows someone with a bachelor’s degree, who has worked at least a year as a para and who enrolls in master’s program to teach special education.
To help these new special education teachers, the coop has developed a new teacher academy. Items that will be addressed will be socialized instruction, progress monitoring and writing quality individualized education programs, which are also known as IEPs. The district is applying for a grant to help pay for the academy training.
Wilson playground
The board approved the purchase of new playground equipment for Wilson Elementary School.
Wilson has received a $5,000 grant toward the purchase of playground equipment from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. The total cost of the equipment will be about $78,000. No district funds will be used to purchase the equipment. The Wilson Home and School Association has been saving for years toward the replacement of the aging equipment and will cover the rest of the cost.
Schwartz said he was not against the purchase of the equipment, but voted against the purchase saying he did not feel there was enough time to consider the item. This was the first meeting the item appeared on the agenda.
In other business, the board:
Heard a report on board goals. A list of completed and ongoing projects that are working toward the board’s goals are available on the district website. The board will meet on Aug. 8 to review its goals and consider new goals.
Approved Kansas Association of School Boards policy recommendations
Heard a report on the annual Lewis Field agreement with Fort Hays State University. FHSU has proposed a $100 per event increase in the fee from $2,400 per use to $2,500 per use.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a robbery and asking the public for help to identify a suspect.
Security camera image courtesy Topeka Police
Just after 4p.m. Monday, police responded to a theft and aggravated battery call at Murphy’s Express, 1531 SW Wanamaker in Topeka, according to Lt. Aaron Jones.
Officers learned during a suspected theft a 58 year-old man attempted to intervene in the theft.
He was knocked to the ground by the suspect’s dark blue, late 90s Chey Cavalier in the parking lot. The victim suffered minor injuries.
Detectives are looking for the suspect and police released a security camera image. Anyone with information is asked to call Topeka Police.
Toby Flores, associate professor of art and design at Fort Hays State University, and Danielle Robinson, adjunct art faculty, were chosen by Codell to design and fabricate a 15-foot cyclone sculpture in honor of “Cyclone Day.”
“Danielle and I felt honored to be selected by the city of Codell,” said Flores. “We instantly connected with the people in charge of the project. They were easy to get along with and we were all passionate about the strange history of this event.”
For three consecutive years, in 1916, 1917 and 1918, Codell was struck by tornadoes on May 20, which community residents have now labeled “Cyclone Day.”
Codell, in Rooks County about 34 miles northeast of Hays, now has less than 100 residents.
The steel sculpture was dedicated on May 20.
Flores
“The dedication was awesome,” said Flores. “It really was a great feeling to have the project finished and to celebrate it with our families and the people of Codell.”
“It was also very emotional because this is a part of their families’ history. They lost family and friends on this day and we were also there to remember them,” he said.
About 150 people attended the dedication, which included a band, speeches by Merril Teller and Joel Russell and a cookout. People brought newspaper clippings and old photographs from the time of the original cyclones.
“It felt good to have the support of the people who live in that community or once lived there,” said Flores. “It was a great day.”
Flores and Robinson have created four local public sculptures together, including St. Nicholas at the St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church, the golfers at the Smoky Hill Country Club and the historical door stops at the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau building.
“All of these projects have special meaning, but this one was my favorite,” he said. “The people of Codell made it a very special project from beginning to end.”
“It takes a certain amount of bravery to erect a public piece of art anywhere, but especially in a small western Kansas town.”
Martin HawverWell, there’s this election coming up for Republicans to choose their nominee for governor of Kansas, and so far, it appears to be not quite what we’ve come to expect for the last decade or two.
The standard GOP approach is for candidates to present themselves as “hard-right” conservatives on issues, and if they win the primary election, they tend to settle down a bit.
It’s hard-right in the primary, centrist conservative in the general election where the candidate faces a Democrat who virtually is assured to be more moderate—even liberal on occasion—on social issues, schools and the like than the Republican candidate.
Well…this year it looks a little different on the GOP side of the fence.
The top two candidates for the GOP crown are Secretary of State Kris Kobach and Gov. Jeff Colyer, the at-least-for-now most conservatives who have the standard patter down well.
But, then there’s Kansas Insurance Commissioner Ken Selzer. He’s talking all business, efficiency in government, being a “full-time” governor, oh, and conservative. And then there’s former State Sen. Jim Barnett, who is the moderate among the top candidates, talking school funding, expanding Medicaid (KanCare) to allow more Kansans to have health-care coverage—and, incidentally, to likely keep some small rural Kansas hospitals alive.
There are some other GOP candidates who will be on the gubernatorial primary election ballot, Joseph Tutera and Tyler Ruzich, and Patrick Kucera, who are actually doing some campaigning, but basically, well, you hope they have a good time and maybe take photos to show their grandchildren at some point…
Will Republicans take the hint that the primary election isn’t just a scrap between factions of the party but also the selection of the candidate who will also face a Democrat who wants to grow up to be governor?
This might be a test of just what President Donald Trump has done to/for the GOP in Kansas. He’s popular, he carried the state over Democrat Hillary Clinton, but not in all legislative districts. The Trump campaign was the traditional far-right which, surprisingly, he didn’t have to moderate to more centrist issues to win the Electoral College which is where the president is ultimately chosen.
So, what happens in Kansas?
Count on Kobach, if he wins the primary, to not do a lot of back-tracking on his conservative stance on issues ranging from taxes to schools to immigration, and count on Colyer, should he be the nominee, to move just a dab to the center. Selzer? He’s going to talk business—he was the one at a recent debate who instead of promising to eliminate in-state tuition for foreign students noted that while that tuition cost the state about $3 million in lost revenues, it also generated about $10 million in revenues.
And Barnett? He’s continually talked about health care for the state’s poor, for fully funding public K-12 schools, for returning money to the state pension system and taking a look at infrastructure and its effect on the economy.
Just who winds up on the general election ballot from the GOP? And this year, with the effects of Trump’s tariff war just being felt at the grain elevator, and most Kansans not yet seeing the increase in price on imports, just how Trump-linked does a candidate headed for the general election want to be?
Now, there’s the chance that by fall, after the primary, Kansans will start thinking about taxes, about health care, about schools and roads and such, but then again, maybe not…
We might be able to tell after the GOP primary. Maybe…
Syndicated by Hawver News Company LLC of Topeka; Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report—to learn more about this nonpartisan statewide political news service, visit the website at www.hawvernews.com
Just as the sun rises each morning, Kansas farmers and ranchers begin each day dedicated to providing food and providing the best for their families. Simultaneously, and with each new generation, non-farm folks become further and further removed from the farm.
It’s easy to understand why so many people in our state, and this country, understand less and less about agriculture and where their food comes from. Most have forgotten, or may have never known, that individual farmers and ranchers supply the necessary food for their diets.
Many people believe there will never be a food shortage in our country just as long as the doors remain open on their neighborhood supermarket and quick shops. All the while, farmers and ranchers come under closer scrutiny and sometimes unfounded attacks.
Some of the most intense voices in this anti-agriculture movement are driven by questionable—and even extreme—personal and emotional beliefs. This is particularly true when it comes to the future role of food animals. The intent of some of these social media messages, campaigns and advertisements is ill-considered, unnecessarily divisive and, in some cases, unscientific.
Truth be known, today’s farmer or rancher is a planning specialist who understands marketing and using the incentives of free enterprise. To remain in business, our farmers reach deeper into their pockets to pay for crop and livestock inputs that continue to skyrocket, and machinery and other technology that allows them to remain competitive in today’s global economy.
In a recent visit with a young farmer from Haskell County, Hayes Kelman, I asked what inspires him about farming?
Hayes zeroed in on the experience and the satisfaction of building on his family heritage. He knows at the end of the day, everything that happens, and every good or bad change is his responsibility.
This young farmer cherishes the opportunity to make his own way – with support and input from his family. While numbers on a ledger sheet are important to him, farming is much more than this.
“I hope I never forget the thrill of the first truckload of wheat to go into the elevator,” Kelman says.
The sweet success of producing food for hungry people remains something the Haskell County farmer will never take for granted. Farmers farm because their vocation remains part of the divine magic of life that renews itself every year.
No matter how many times he’s done it, the young farmer still marvels that a seed planted in the earth can grow and produce food.
“Some people spend their whole lives in church and never see as much proof of the grace of God as I see every day,” Hayes says. “I can’t imagine walking through a field that I’ve prayed and sweated over, only to reduce this whole miracle to dollars and cents.”
Safeguarding agriculture as a necessary, noble profession remains in the best interests of farmers, ranchers, agribusiness and all of us. This is critical because the contribution agriculture makes to the health and prosperity of this country cannot be measured.
It’s key for consumers, along with farmers and ranchers to understand and respect one another. This country and the world cannot hope to feed its people sustainably without the support of the many thousands of family farms and ranches across the country.
Without this health in agriculture, there is no way to ensure prosperity in our economy and producers like Hayes Kelman will not be able to produce the food we take so much for granted in our lives each day.
John Schlageck, a Hoxie native, is a leading commentator on agriculture and rural Kansas.
I know all you K State fans love your “Royal Purple”, and KU fans adore your red and blue, and those colors are just the ticket to adorn T shirts, umbrellas and ball caps in support of your chosen team. But when the waters of your favorite lake take on those same hues, lookout!
Recent blurbs on the local evening news remind me its algae bloom season again in Kansas. This period of summer runs from May through October, the months sporting the longest days of sunlight and the warmest water temperatures, and unfortunately this time frame also encompasses the three holidays when our lakes are used the most, Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. Blue-Green Algae are bacteria with a scientific name as long as a yardstick, that exist naturally in rivers, lakes and ponds and all aquatic ecosystems here in Kansas. When certain conditions align, such as exceptionally high nutrient content in the water, and long hot days with lots of sunlight, those bacteria can reproduce more rapidly than usual, causing a dense growth of algae known as “a bloom.” Some algae blooms are harmless, but when the blooming organisms contain toxins, noxious chemicals or pathogens in levels harmful to humans and animals, it is declared to be a “Harmful Algae Bloom,” and warnings or advisories are issued by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, (KDHE.) These blue-green algae blooms can be blue, bright green, brown or even red, and may look like foam or a thick frothy slurry. Some blooms, however may not even affect the appearance of the water.
When KDHE receives notice from anyone that a harmful algae bloom is noticed or suspected, they take water samples at the most frequently used locations at the site, such as swim beaches and boat docks. The samples are analyzed, and according to the density of the algae found, either a Public Health Watch or a Public Health Warning is issued for that water impoundment.
A Public Health Watch
Notifies the public that a hazardous condition MAY exist
Signs MAY be posted at all public access locations
Water MAY be unsafe for humans/animals
Contact with the water is discouraged
There are no current public health watches for any Kansas lakes.
A Public Health Warning
Notifies the public that condition ARE unsafe
Signs WILL be posted at public access locations
Contact with the water SHOULD NOT OCCUR
There are currently no Public Health Watches issued for any Kansas lakes, but there are Public Health Warnings at the following lakes; Atchison County Park Lake, Carbondale West Lake (Osage County), Central Park Lake (Pond) and Clarion Woods Park Lake (Shawnee County), Jerry Ivey Pond (Saline County), Lake Afton (Sedgwick County), Melvern Outlet Pond and Swim Pond (Osage County), Rooks County State Fishing Lake and Webster Lake, both in Rooks County. Keep abreast of current algae watches and warnings on www.ksoutdoors.com.
Health effects can occur when surface scum or water containing high levels of blue-green algal toxins are swallowed or have contact with exposed skin, or when airborne droplets containing toxins are inhaled while swimming, boating or skiing. Most people report the effects as “allergic” type reactions like intestinal or respiratory problems or skin irritations. Animal reactions may range from general weakness and lethargy, to vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing or even convulsion. Algae blooms don’t usually envelope an entire lake,so places can still be found to fish on lakes underblue-green algae watches and warnings, and according to the folks in-the-know at the Kansas Dept of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, fish caught from affected lakes can still be safely eaten, just wash the meat thoroughly.My friend used to say “Everybody always tells me – Cheer up, things could be worse. So I cheered up, and sure enough – things got worse!” Sorry to say that health warnings at area lakes because of toxic algae blooms will probably get more numerous before they get better. So I guess your options are to sell the boat, skis and fishing poles, or just drive a little farther to a lake where no warnings exist, and continue to Explore Kansas Outdoors!
Steve Gilliland, Inman, can be contacted by email at [email protected].
SEDGWICK COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an aggravated battery and are asking the public for help with more information.
Just after 4:30p.m. Saturday, police responded to a disturbance with weapons, shots fired at a residence in the 700 Block of South Greenwood in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson. At the scene, officers found numerous shell casings and blood in the street. Police did not find anyone at the home.
An investigation revealed a disturbance occurred where a 29-year-old woman was stabbed. Police did contact her at a local hospital where she was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, according to Davidson. She was uncooperative with investigators.
After the disturbance an unknown suspect fired numerous shots that struck a residence occupied by 6 individuals on South Greenwood. There were no injuries reported. Gunfire also hit an unoccupied 2006 Black Nissan Sentra.
The investigating did allow officers to locate and seize 25 pounds of marijuana and marijuana edibles, cash, a handgun and other drug paraphernalia, according to Davidson. Police have not reported an arrest.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Wichita Police.
Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 88. East southeast wind 5 to 8 mph.
There is a good chance of t-storms Wednesday night through Saturday night. Highs will generally be cooler than average with the exception of pic.twitter.com/esrbNGZBxH
Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 66. East southeast wind 5 to 8 mph.
Wednesday Sunny, with a high near 94. South wind 7 to 14 mph.
Wednesday Night Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind 7 to 13 mph becoming north northeast after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a half and three quarters of an inch possible.
Thursday A 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mainly before 1pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. Northeast wind 8 to 13 mph.
Thursday Night Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.
NORWALK, Conn. (AP) — Pepperidge Farm is voluntarily recalling four varieties of Goldfish Crackers because of fears they could potentially have salmonella.
Image courtesy Pepperidge Farm
The company on Monday took the action after one of its ingredient suppliers notified it that whey powder used in a seasoning may be contaminated. The products were distributed in the United States and no illnesses have been reported.
The Goldfish recall covers Flavor Blasted Xtra Cheddar, Flavor Blasted Sour Cream & Onion, Goldfish Baked with Whole Grain Xtra Cheddar and Goldfish Mix Xtra Cheddar + Pretzel. The company has posted a chart with the product codes on its website.
The products can be returned to place of purchase for a refund.
Consumers can call customer service at 800-679-1791.
KANSAS CITY – A Kansas City man was sentenced Monday to 65 months in federal prison for robbing a bank in Bonner Springs, according to U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister.
Security camera image of Karpovich
Timothy Karpovich, 39, Kansas City, Mo., pleaded guilty to one count of bank robbery. An affidavit filed in the case alleged that Karpovich robbed the KCB Bank at 13010 Commercial in Bonner Springs.
He gave the teller a handwritten note that read, “This is a robbery.” After the teller complied with the demand, Karpovich took the money, and fled the bank on foot.
Police received a tip that the robber gambled regularly at Harrah’s Casino in North Kansas City, Missouri. Casino employees identified Karpovich from a bank surveillance photo. He was arrested without incident at the casino.
SALINE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect in custody after a two-county chase.
Denio-photo Saline Co.
Just before 8p.m. Sunday, a Saline County Sheriff’s deputy attempted to pull over a Ford Escort station wagon in the 2600 block of West Waterwell Road for giving an improper signal and having an expired tag, according to Sheriff Roger Soldan.
The driver identified as Cody Denio, 24, fled the scene traveling at high rates of speed on rural roads throughout Saline County.
Denio left the vehicle and fled on foot into a field near the intersection of Twelfth and Pawnee in McPherson County, according to Soldan.
Deputies found him early Monday morning while he was walking along a rural road in McPherson County.
Denio faces charges in Saline County that include fleeing and eluding, expired registration, no proof of insurance, driving while suspended, and multiple traffic infractions, according to Soldan.
Denio has previous convictions for theft and burglary, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
