USD 383

The USD 388 Board of Education has announced the selection of Corey Burton, as the new superintendent.

Burton will take the reins on July 1, 2019 after the retirement of Robert Young at the end of the 2018-2019 school year.

Burton is currently serving as the Ellis JH/SH principal and has done so for 13 years. 

Previously, Burton served as Principal at Hillsboro Middle School and as District Curriculum Coordinator for USD 410 for three years and prior to that position, he also served in Hillsboro High School as a Business/Computer Teacher for from 1994-2003.

HAYS POST

The search for a suspect wanted on an arrest warrant in connection with a reported Feb. 2 sexual assault in the 400 block of West Seventh, has been canceled by the Hays Police Department.

In a news release Tuesday night, Assistant Chief Brian Dawson said 23- year-old Tre Miekale Carrasco has been apprehended in Aurora, Colorado.

“Tre M. Carrasco was arrested last night in Aurora, Colorado, by the Aurora Police Department, and is being held on our arrest warrant. We will continue to work with the Aurora Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation on our ongoing rape investigation involving Carrasco,” the HPD said in a Wednesday news release. “The Hays Police Department would like to thank the following agencies in helping apprehend Tre M. Carrasco: The Kansas Bureau of Investigations, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Department of Corrections, the United States Marshalls Office, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office, the Colby Police Department, Platte County Wyoming Sheriff’s Office, the Denver Police Department, and the Aurora Colorado Police Department.

“Carrasco is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

On Feb. 5, police reported Carrasco had been seen in the Denver area.

He has three previous convictions that include aggravated sexual battery and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

HCF

Ellis County could earn an additional $50,000 for charitable grants in the community through a county-wide “Twice as Nice” gift matching campaign.

In February, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation will match all public gifts to the Ellis County Legacy Fund at the Heartland Community Foundation, up to $50,000. Donations will be matched dollar for dollar, at a maximum of $5,000 per donor. If the $50,000 goal is met this year, the fund will gain a total of $100,000.

Over the past two years, the “Twice as Nice” campaign has raised over $200,000 for the Legacy Fund, which to date has granted $8,825 to charitable projects in Ellis County.

“As the Legacy Fund grows, the grants back to the county will grow as well,” said Sandy Jacobs, executive director of the Heartland Community Foundation.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Ellis County Fund, call Jacobs at 785-621-4090 or email [email protected]. Donations must be received by February 28. Learn more at www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org.

The Kansas Water Office’s (KWO) Smoky Hill-Saline Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) will have a meeting to discuss current water issues affecting the region as well as the state.

The meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Hays Welcome Center, 2700 Vine. The agenda includes several updates on regional issues such as the Kansas River Basin Study and Kanopolis Access District.

The agenda and meeting materials can be found when available at www.kwo.ks.gov or you may request copies by calling (785) 296-3185 or toll-free at (888) KAN-WATER (526-9283).

If accommodations are needed for a person with disabilities, please notify the Kansas Water Office at 900 SW Jackson Street, Suite 404, Topeka, KS 66611-1249 or call (785) 296-3185 at least five working days prior to the meeting.

HPL

The Hays Public Library is offering an incredible opportunity for five young adults.

Angie Thomas, the author of The Hate U Give, will be speaking at Kansas State University on April 11. The library will take five teens to the presentation in Manhattan for free.

The attendees will be selected through a contest that includes three parts. The teens must submit an essay, either written or visual, about what the quote “The Hate U Give Little Infants Fails Everybody” means to them. The essays should be no more than one page. The visual essays can be any medium but should be one continuous piece of paper of any size.

Applicants also must submit one question they would ask Angie Thomas if given the opportunity, and finally they must include a completed guardian permission form. All Hays teens ages 12 to 18 or in grades six through 12 are eligible to enter.

Submissions are due by March 22 and must be made in person by the applicant. Parent submissions are not allowed. The library will offer free printing for the contest.

For more information and the guardian permission form go to hayslibrary.org or call the Young Adult Department at 785-625-9014.

Holy Family Elementary announce Wednesday that Teresa Schrant, a 37-year adept educator in the classroom was recently awarded the Distinguished Teacher Award at the Kansas Association of Independent and Religious Schools Conference. Schrant maintains high expectations of her students and inspires them to go beyond their previously conceived notions.

Schrant, who began her career in 1981 when HFE was St. Joseph’s School, has dedicated her faith-filled work and initiatives over the years, bringing liturgical and cultural events that have become part of HFE’s tradition and heritage, such as the annual Pet Blessing in October, Mary’s Baby Shower in December and Pancake Races in February. Moreover, Schrant always keeps the HFE school spirituality in the forefront of her mind, she creates beautiful scenes in the school trophy case that correspond to liturgical and seasonal times of the school year. Additionally, Schrant organizes the school spelling bee annually during Catholic Schools Week.

Through her meticulous planning and exemplary high expectations of student performance Schrant not only demands excellence, but inspires students to perform at levels higher than they believed capable. Her matter-of-fact demeanor allows students to recognize where they come up short and where they need to work harder to achieve the next level of success and then each level of success is celebrated. Thoughtfully she photographs the students and special events throughout the school year and assembles a beautiful photo book of her fourth graders’ school year experience.

“Schrant is a teacher leader in our school building that supports the needs of students and staff while helping create a culture of excellence with fun and celebration sprinkled in appropriately,” stated Rachel Wentling, Principal, HFE. The KAIRS organization represents 35,000 students in Kansas and hundreds of teachers. Schrant’s award was nominated and represented the educators of the Salina Diocese of Kansas.

Schrant earned a BS in Elementary Education from Fort Hays State University in 1981. Throughout her tenure in teaching she has taught second and fourth grade. A job well done with decades of experience faith and love to guide her.

— Submitted