The Hays Police Department responded to 1 animal call and conducted 20 traffic stops Wed., Oct. 17, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Driving Under the Influence–200 block W 8th St, Hays;  12:57 AM
Drug Offenses–500 block E 11th St, Hays; 4:20 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–2100 block Elm St, Hays; 10:03 AM
Criminal Threat–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 10:11 AM
Drug Offenses–700 block 6th St, Hays; 11:10 AM
Domestic Disturbance–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 3 PM; 3:09 PM
Theft (general)–400 block W 37th St, Hays; 3 AM; 6 AM
Shoplifting–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 5:29 PM; 5:33 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–300 block E 13th St, Hays; 7:42 PM
Disturbance – General–500 block Mission Mt, Hays; 10:30 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 10 animal calls and conducted 36 traffic stops Thu., Oct. 18, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Mental Health Call–2800 block Augusta Ln, Hays; 12:53 AM
Assist – Other (not MV)–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 1:17 AM
Underage Possession of CMB/LIQ–200 block W 8th St, Hays; 2:10 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–200 block W 6th St, Hays; 2:43 AM
Mental Health Call–1900 block Holmes Rd, Hays; 5:03 AM
Violation of Restraining Order/PFA–300 block E 13th St, Hays; 6:07 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2700 block Vine St, Hays; 7:43 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–3400 block Vine St, Hays; 1/1 12:010 AM;  10/17 11:59 PM
Animal At Large–US 183 Alt Hwy and Vine St, Hays; 10:38 AM
Welfare Check–300 block E 14th St, Hays; 10/17 8 PM; 10/18 11:37 PM
Suspicious Activity–2500 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 9 AM; 10:30 AM
Animal At Large–300 block W 23rd St, Hays; 12:33 PM
Animal At Large–2500 block Haney Dr, Hays; 1:32 PM
Trash Dumping–1000 block Downing Ave, Hays; 10/17 5 PM; 10/18 5:14 PM
Disorderly Conduct–1400 block Ash St, Hays; 6:19 PM
Theft (general)–1700 block Felten Dr, Hays; 7:41 PM
Liquor Offense, sell, furnish, transport–100 block E 7th St, Hays; 10:50 PM

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The Ellis County Republican Party hosted several local leaders, state lawmakers and candidates for office Thursday as part of the inaugural Red Wave Gala fundraiser in Hays.

The event brought Ellis County residents together to hear from officials including Congressman Roger Marshall, State Sen. Rick Billinger, state Rep. Ken Rahjes and candidate for state representative Barb Wasinger.

Dustin Roths recently took over as the Ellis County Republican Party chairman and said he was pleased with Thursday’s turnout.

“When you do these things you never know how things are going to work out, especially when you’re asking for a $20 ticket,” Roths said. “Right now, it’s all about volunteers, it’s all about people getting out (and) talking to people.

“It’s just so amazing how many more people vote for you if they know who you are and get a chance to talk to you.”

Rahjes, R-Agra, said he is excited to see a revitalized Republican party in Ellis County.

“What’s great is a wide range of ages of folks that are here,” said Rahjes, who represents the 110th District. “We have a lot of young people that are excited and that’s one of the things that really makes us feel good is that young people want to be involved and involved in the party.”

Rahjes and the rest of the lawmakers used Thursday’s event to express their support for Wasinger in her race for 111th Kansas Representative against incumbent Eber Phelps, D-Hays.

“Barb’s principled, Barb’s conservative, Barb has a tremendous track record as a city commissioner and a county commissioner,” Rahjes said. “She is consistent, what she tells you is what you get.”

Wasinger said she has received a lot of support along the way.

“It was a great turnout, and I can’t thank Congressman Marshall for coming here with his wife and spending the evening with us, when he has his own campaign,” said Wasinger. “We had a great turnout with wonderful people.”

Marshall was the main speaker of the evening, and echoed the praise for Wasinger and told a jubilant crowd, “I know I have just complete confidence you’re going to win.”

“We’ve got to get people out to vote and everything else is going to take care of itself,” Marshall said.

Marshall also said he feels like the energy for the Republican party has rebounded.

“Starting back in August, Trump’s base has become engaged,” Marshall said. “I just feel the fervor as we get closer to election day.”

Marshall touted his relationship with the president the energy he has brought to the mid-term election.

“People are engaged, they’re ready to rock and roll. They’re excited about Kris Kobach, they’re excited about Barb Wasinger (and) they’re excited to take this Trump economy and keep running with it.”

NCK TECH

The team at pharmacytechnicianguide.com has ranked the Pharmacy Technician Program at NCK TECH as one of the 50 Best Schools offering a Pharmacy Technician Program across the country. Out of 496 schools, NCK TECH’s program ranked No. 33.

The criteria for assessing the program includes: average tuition cost, graduation rate, student-to-faculty ratio, loan default rate, percentage of enrolled students taking federal loans and pharmactytechnicianguide.com rating. 

“The contribution made by North Central Kansas Technical College towards the education of a pharmacy technician is applaudable,” states pharmacytechnicianguide.com.

The Pharmacy Technician Program is on the Hays Campus of NCK TECH and graduates about 10 students each year. The American Society of Health-Systems Pharmacists has nationally accredited the program since 2009.

Brian Dechant is the instructor for the program and has been with the college for over 10 years.

“We’re proud of what Mr. Dechant has done to establish his program as one of the top in the country and the work he has done to be nationally accredited,” said NCK Tech College President Eric Burks.

For more information on the Pharmacy Technician program, visit NCK TECH’s website at www.ncktc.edu.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays artist Dennis Schiel has expectations of $30,000 to $40,000 in private monies towards the historic mural he plans to paint on the Sternberg water tower.

“I’ve talked to people who want to donate money but $40,000 is just a drop in the bucket,” he acknowledged to the Hays City Commission Thursday night.

Schiel first presented his large design to commissioners in early March. The estimated cost is $268,000. Thursday he presented two more smaller designs with fewer pictures that would be less expensive.

Schiel plans to apply for a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, Logan, but told commissioners he would feel more confident if he first had a monetary contribution from the city.

Commissioner Sandy Jacobs told Schiel she believes the foundation is more interested in grassroots fundraising, volunteerism and community letters of support. Jacobs has worked closely with Hansen in her role as director of the Heartland Community Foundation.

Although all the commissioners expressed their support of the project, Mayor James Meier also said he’s concerned about funds for the city’s infrastructure needs.

“For me, the fund I would look to is CVB (Convention and Visitors Bureau) because that’s what it’s for. With the discussions we’ve been having lately and how we can better utilize that fund for infrastructure needs, it changes the nature of that fund for me,” Meier said.

He cited 27th Street between Hall and Vine, and 22nd Street as “needing attention.”

“Certain things that we would have expended that fund for I don’t think is necessarily appropriate any more.”

Commissioner Ron Mellick pointed out the city can use transient guest taxes collected for the Convention and Visitors Bureau to promote Hays “and that money is paid by out of town guests. Nobody local is going to see their taxes go up for this.”

Mellick said he favors the largest mural on the 1 million gallon water tower adjacent to the Sternberg Museum of History and just south of Interstate 70.

“Go big or go home.”

“This is a promotion for the city of Hays that would last 20 years. You take one of our billboards, they average 10 by 30 feet. This mural is almost 38 times larger than that billboard,” said Mellick.

“If you’re driving down I-70 and you look down, you miss that billboard. Those billboards cost about $4,200 average just for the rental, for 300 square feet. In 20 years, you put $84,00 into that one billboard.”

Mellick said with costs of the other billboards and signage “basically there’s only $10,00 difference and this is something when you’re driving you won’t miss it.”

The mural would include William Cody, Wild Bill Hickok and General George Custer. Depending on the design selected, the scene would also include a buffalo and possibly a train.

The commission urged Schiel to next apply for a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation and also promised to write a letter of support for the project.

Commissioner Shaun Musil was absent from the work session.

FHSU University Relations

A personal story of learning to live according to what is significant and a special Entrepreneur Direct speaker will appear at Fort Hays State University in the same week in November.

Both presentations are free and open to the public.

The first speaker, Pete Smith, an internationally known speaker and coach in the fields of leadership, management, personal growth and development, will deliver an address titled “Dare to Matter: Rising to the Level of Significance” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, in the Memorial Union’s Black and Gold Room. His appearance is sponsored by the university’s Management Development Center and community partners.

On Thursday, Nov. 8, Entrepreneur Direct, a speaker series conducted by Fort Hays State’s Center for Entrepreneurship, will feature entrepreneur Peter J. Werth, FHSU alumnus and founder and CEO of ChemWerth Inc., from 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. in the Robbin’s Center’s Eagle Communication Hall. FHSU’s Peter Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics is named for him.

Pete Smith developed his guiding principles in answer to the question, “If you disappeared today, what impact would you leave on the world?” He asked himself that question during his recovery from a stroke he suffered in 2010. The stroke changed the direction of his life.

In the aftermath, he says, he thought, “Is this really how I’m going to go out? Did I change anyone’s life? Did I do anything memorable?” He has since used this experience to inspire, educate, and entertain audiences throughout the world on the importance of pursuing significance in their personal and professional lives.

His energetic, edgy, and interactive style is complemented by his ability to provide practical takeaways that actually work, while having a little fun in the process.

Formerly, Smith worked in education as a director of high school programs. He took historically underperforming Mid-Atlantic regional schools to No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 rankings. Earlier in his career, he taught history at the ninth- and 11th-grade levels, and was a Career counselor at the high school level for four years.

The FHSU Management Development Center has partnered with the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce, Sunflower Electric Power Corporation, and FHSU’s Society for Human Resource Management Student Chapter to bring Smith to Hays.

The address begins at 7 p.m.

The day after his presentation, Smith will facilitate two workshops on leadership training.

For more information, contact Hanna Hilker at the MDC, 785-628-4121.

Peter J. Werth’s company, ChemWerth Inc., is a privately held, Connecticut-based corporation founded in 1982. It is a full-service generic drug development and supply company providing high quality active pharmaceutical ingredients to regulated markets worldwide.

Along with his family, he has established the Werth Family Foundation to support various philanthropic causes, specifically in educational, cultural, and medical-related initiatives globally. Werth earned a B.S. degree in chemistry and math from Fort Hays State and an M.S. degree in organic chemistry from Stanford University.

Entrepreneur Direct is a free speaker series conducted by the Center for Entrepreneurship that features successful entrepreneurs in an informal setting accessible to students, faculty and the public. The program is intended to connect students with successful entrepreneurs who have stories and advice to share. A panel asks questions about entrepreneurship and encourages questions and interaction with the audience.

The presentation begins at 10:30 a.m.