The Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and conducted 26 traffic stops Mon., Aug. 5, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Civil Transport–2200 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 12:35 AM
Found/Lost Property–800 block Vine St, Hays; 8:15 AM
Found/Lost Property–800 block Vine St, Hays; 8:18 AM
Found/Lost Property–800 block Vine St, Hays; 8:20 AM
Theft (general)–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 7/30 10:22 AM; 8/1 11:30 AM
Found/Lost Property–1300 block Harvest Rd, Hays; 1:54 PM
Search Warrant–2700 block Epworth St; 2:50 PM
Urinating in Public–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 4:45 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–1300 block Eisenhower Rd, Hays; 5:40 PM
Animal Call–1300 block Lawrence Dr, Hays; 8:09 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–100 block Ash St, Hays; 11:33 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 8 animal calls and conducted 17 traffic stops Tue., Aug. 6, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

MV Accident-City Street/Alley–29th St and Vine St, Hays; 5:46 PM
Domestic Disturbance–100 block E 18th St, Hays; 2:25 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–500 block W 24th St, Hays; 6:59 AM
Animal At Large–2200 block Downing Ave, Hays; 7:05 AM
Shoplifting–500 block W 36th St, Hays; 7:32 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–2400 block Lincoln Dr, Hays; 8:35 AM
Animal At Large–3400 block Summer Ln, Hays; 9:40 AM
Phone/Mail Scam–1300 block Schwaller Ave, Hays; 9:50 AM
Water Use Violation–1700 block Marjorie Dr, Hays; 2:10 PM
Found/Lost Property–1100 block E 8th St, Hays; 3:01 PM
Suspicious Activity–2000 block Vine St, Hays; 3 PM; 3:08 PM
Bicycle – Lost,Found,Stolen–27th and Walnut, Hays; 3:21 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–Hays; 12 PM; 12:05 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 5:58 PM
Urinating in Public–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 6:03 PM
Battery – simple–2500 block Vine St, Hays; 7 PM; 7:20 PM
Suspicious Activity–3300 block Skyline Dr, Hays; 8:54 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 7 animal calls and conducted 22 traffic stops Wed., Aug. 7, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–1100 block Cody Ave, Hays; 12:56 AM
Animal At Large–500 block E 19th St, Hays; 7:49 AM
Animal Call–300 block E 18th St, Hays; 8:28 AM
Animal At Large–400 block W 19th St, Hays; 8:43 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–200 block Circle Dr, Hays; 9:18 AM
MV Accident-Personal Injury–2000 block E 22nd, Hays; 10 AM
Drug Offenses–Hays; 8/6 11:50 AM
Water Use Violation–500 block W 32nd St, Hays; 12:44 PM
Disorderly Conduct–500 block Commerce Pkwy, Hays; 8/6 12 PM; 12:30 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–3800 block Hall St, Hays; 2:03 PM
Traffic/Driving Complaint–Hays; 4:09 PM
Parking Complaint–2500 block Pine St, Hays; 4:09 PM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 5:56 PM
Drug Offenses–2000 block MacArthur Rd, Hays; 7:01 PM

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

New secure entrances have been constructed at Hays High and Hays Middle School.

Each school now has a breezeway through which visitors will enter the school during school hours. The breezeways funnel visitors through the schools’ offices.

At the middle school, visitors will have to ring a door bell at the far left door of the main entrance, which is located on the south side of the building. HMS Principal Tom Albers said eventually the school will install a camera in the breezeway. Visitors will enter the breezeway and be buzzed into the office.

Beginning this fall, the middle school will require all students to enter through the west gymnasium door in the morning. Albers said this will allow him to greet students in the morning and better control students’ movement through the building.

Parents can still drop students off in the morning on the south side of the building, but the students will need to walk around to the west side to enter the school.

Albers said for fire safety, students and staff can exit through doors throughout the building, but they are not accessible to people entering the buildings and they lock behind the person exiting the building.

Albers said he liked having the breezeway at the main entrance to the building. Students who need to stay after school for an activity or homework help can wait in the breezeway out of the weather and can watch out the front windows for someone to pick them up at the front of the school.

At the high school, all of the doors will be unlocked as students arrive in the morning. While school is in session, all of the doors will be locked except the far left door at main west entrance. Visitors will enter the breezeway, and then they will be buzzed in by office staff and enter the school through the office. The high school is also in the process of upgrading its camera system at the front entrance.

The school board approved the project in April. The district received more than $86,000 in grants for the secure entrances project. The district’s portion was $16,693.

Both principals said they thought the new entrance configurations will improve safety at the schools.

“We have so many, whether it is UPS or FedEx or students coming in from off campus. We have a lot kids who go to NCK. We have a few kids who take advanced classes at Fort Hays. We have parents bringing up shoes for practice — any number of situations,” Martin Straub, HHS principal, said. “Almost always people have good intentions, but if one out of a million is not a good intention, it will allow us to screen them before that person is allowed in. I think it is a good step in the right direction.

“I think it will definitely change the way we do business, but that is not a bad thing either.”

Straub asked visitors to be patient with the school staff as they adjust to the new routine.

Albers said, “It is much more safe because we have controlled access to our building. … Now you have to go through a direct entryway to our building. From that standpoint, it makes it much more secure for us.”

HMS parents and guardians should have received an email about the entrance change. They will receive a notice by mail if they do not have email.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

As back-to-school traffic picks up later this month in Hays, drivers and pedestrians on Hall Street near Thomas More Prep-Marian school will need to pay extra attention.

A new pedestrian crosswalk with flashing lights has been installed on Hall at the intersection of 19th Street.

A Kansas Department of Transportation Traffic Engineering Assistance Program study was awarded several years ago to the city of Hays. TEAP awards provide engineering services for small areas with things such as access problems or pedestrian issues.

The city looked at Hall Street between O’Loughlin Elementary School at the 14th Street intersection and TMP-M at 19th.

“We have a challenge at certain times of the day with pedestrians, with cars, with overloading access when people are dropping off or picking up their kids at O’Loughlin, and when school is getting out at TMP. There are short-term congestion problems,” City Manager Toby Dougherty said.

One of the suggestions made in the TEAP study was a pedestrian crosswalk.

The city met a while ago with TMP-M administrative staff and both groups agreed to the 19th Street location.

“We think that’s the best option right now. I think they’re very happy with the outcome,” Dougherty added.

TMP-M Principal Chad Meitner is so happy about the crosswalk he went to a Hays City Commission meeting to tell them about it.

“John Braun (Hays project manager) had worked with us and the administration at O’Loughlin … The (TEAP) findings made us look at how we could make the traffic flow there safer for the students, the families, and just for citizens in general going through that area especially in the mornings and afternoons,” said Meitner. “I thank the city for installing the crosswalk. It looks great. We’re excited not only for our students but even the folks who use the campus for walking their dogs or jogging (who) can now cross there.”

The TMP location was chosen for the crosswalk because O’Loughlin uses a staffed crosswalk when the school day opens and closes.

“The majority of those kids crossing Hall Street are doing so under controlled circumstances,” Dougherty said, “but TMP doesn’t have anybody posted there … so this actually gives them some kind of controlled access.”

The new pedestrian crosswalk is similar to the one further north on Hall Street in front of Cervs convenience store and another on 22nd Street near Roosevelt Elementary School. Each is activated by pedestrians.

“They’re very bright flashing lights that will get the attention of the vehicles so they can slow down and yield to the people in the crosswalk. … Traffic is usually pretty good about stopping for the kids. … But you never know with people on their phones not paying attention. That flasher adds another (safety) measure.”

Dougherty said he believes the city will look at installing a crosswalk at O’Loughlin sometime in the future, “but given the fact that they have no intention of doing away with their crossing guard right now, we feel it’s protected.”

There is no crossing guard station at Roosevelt.

Classes at TMP-Marian start Monday, Aug. 19. Hays USD 489 classes start Wednesday, Aug. 14.