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Ellis Co. restaurant and lodging inspections, 9/16 – 9/22

Last week’s inspection results from the Kansas Department of Agriculture:

Hays Middle School 29th and Fort, Hays – Sept. 20

A routine inspection found four violations.

  • In the dry-goods storage area, there were six food-grade plastic containers that had imperfections and deep cracks along the corners and sides of the containers.
  • Hot water is not available at any location in the establishment. Hot water heater/boiler is not working appropriately.
  • Hot water from the handwashing station tested at 74 F. Hot water heater is not working at this time and a temporary handwashing station has been set up.
  • The licensee did not cease operations and notify KDA of the imminent health hazard of water service with no hot water.

Housman Distributing 2005 General Custer Rd., Unit 46, Hays – Sept. 17

A routine inspection found no violations.


Wheatland Foods 2270 East Eighth, Hays – Sept. 17

An FDA contract inspection found no violations.


Whiskey Creek 3203 Vine, Hays – Sept. 17

A routine inspection found seven violations.

  • On the kitchen line, there is a Turbo Air single refrigerator that had three reduced oxygen packaged salmon filets without a cut in the plastic.
  • In the walk-in cooler, there was a container with the lid of a 3/4 log of prime rib.
  • In the walk-in cooler, there were two pans of fully cooked potatoes with no date of when they were cooked.  In the walk-in cooler, there was a container of cooked prime rib that had no date of when it was cooked. In the walk-in cooler, there was a pan of fully cooked chicken with no date of when they were cooked.
  • In the walk-in refrigerator, there was an opened container of lettuce that had no label of when it was opened. In the walk-in cooler, there was an opened container of hard-boiled eggs with no dates of when it was opened.
  • In the ware washing storage area there were four of 10 food-grade plastic containers that had deep cracks along the corners and sides of the containers.
  • In the chemical storage area, there were two spray bottles of a clear liquid present. Liquid had suds when the bottle was shook. The person in charge did not know what the chemical was.
  • In the bar area, there was a spray bottle of stainless steel polish that was being stored directly next to and pointing towards eight clean empty food storage containers. No evidence of leaking was observed.

 

 

More than an inch of rain in Hays Saturday

HAYS POST

Saturday evening’s thunderstorms in Hays yielded an official 1.12 inches of rain as measured at the K-State Agricultural Center south of town.

So far in September, Hays has received 1.49 inches of rain.

Year-to-date moisture is 26.67 inches, nearly 7 inches above the average total of 19.91 inches by the end of September.

Fredrick Oliver Mitchell, Sr.

Fred Mitchell

Fredrick Oliver Mitchell, Sr., 82, of Great Bend, Kansas, died on Thursday, September 19, 2019, at the Ellinwood Hospital in Ellinwood, Kansas.

Fred was born on October 30, 1936, in rural Russell, Kansas, on the family farm, the son of Oscar Rolland and Zelda Beatrice (Carroll) Mitchell. He grew up on the farm in Russell and attended local schools. He joined the United States Army and served during the Korean war. He met, fell in love and was united in marriage to Virginia Ann Hill on January 29, 1961, in Russell, Kansas.

He was self-employed installing irrigation systems and later worked in the oilfield. He was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Great Bend, Kansas. He enjoyed farming, fishing, playing cards, preaching the word of God and spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife Virginia of the home, sons Fredrick O. Mitchell, Jr. and Martin Mitchell and wife Kathey all of Great Bend, Kansas; brother Stanley M. Mitchell and wife Earlene of Garden City, Kansas; sisters Glenna Pascal and Marceline Bender both of Russell, Kansas; 3 grandchildren: Trinity Mitchell, Ashley Stanley, and Chelsea Mitchell; and 3 great grandchildren Charlotte, Peter & Claire Stanley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Jason John Mitchell; brothers Kenneth and Charles Mitchell, Gail Terry and Oscar B. Mitchell; sisters Margaret Kennedy and Daisy Pfannenstiel.

A celebration of Fred’s life will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, September 26, 2019, at the First Church of the Nazarene in Great Bend, Kansas with Pastor Josh Foster officiating. Family will greet guests the day of the service from 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. at the church. No visitation will take place at the mortuary. The family will host a funeral dinner at the church immediately following the church service. A graveside service will be held at 2 P.M. Thursday afternoon at the Russell City Cemetery in Russell, Kansas.

Memorials can be given to the First Church of the Nazarene and sent in care of the mortuary. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the funeral service arrangements.

Police: Gay pride flag allegedly burned at Kan. home

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Authorities are investigating the burning of a gay pride rainbow flag that had been hanging on the front porch of a Wichita home.

Wichita police say the flag was burned between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. Saturday. At the time, a man, woman and 11-year-old girl were inside the home. It is in the city’s Riverside neighborhood, which is located near the Wichita Art Museum and a botanical garden.

Police are investigating the incident as an aggravated and a hate crime. Anyone with information is urged to call police.

5 shot, wounded at Kansas City area swingers club

KANSAS CITY (AP) — Authorities say five people were shot and wounded at a swingers club near Kansas City.

Police on the scene of the weekend shooting photo courtesy Fox4Kansas City

Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forte said in a tweet that deputies responded around 3:30 a.m. Sunday to the shooting at The SPOTT Lifestyle and Swingers Club. It is located in an unincorporated area less than 10 miles east of downtown Kansas City.

The victims were taken to hospitals in private vehicles. None of the injuries were life-threatening. Forte says three of the victims walked away from a hospital without giving statements to detectives.

Forte says the motive is unknown.

No suspect information was released. The investigation is ongoing.

Biden makes campaign stop in Kansas City, meets with striking auto workers

KANSAS CITY — Former Vice President Joe Biden brought his campaign for president to Kansas City Sunday. Biden met with workers in Kansas City who are on strike against General Motors.

Biden speaks to UAW workers Sunday in Kansas City -photo courtesy Joe Biden campaign

“Today, I proudly stood alongside UAW members on strike in Kansas City as they fight for a fair contract. Everything that defines a middle class life is because of unions fighting for worker protections. I stand with you, and America stands with you”

The strike against General Motors by 49,000 auto workers is now in it’s 8th day.

A poll released over the weekend by he Des Moines Register, CNN and Mediacom, found Senator Elizabeth Warren running about even with Biden for the democrat nomination for presidet. Biden led their last poll in June.

 

TMP-M dedicates new learning commons

Bishop Gerald Vincke acknowledges Fr. Blaine Burkey during the dedication of the new TMP Learning Commons, which is named for Burkey. Burkey is a former TMP teacher.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Thomas More Prep-Marian unveiled its new Learning Commons during a Hays Area Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday.

Principal Chad Meitner said the school is undergoing a complete renovation of its interior, and this is just one stage of what will be a lengthy process.

School officials realized, he said, the school’s old library was antiquated and not being used by teachers or students.

Fr. Blaine Burkey prepares to speak at the dedication of the new Learning Commons at TMP that was named for him.

“We realized that we needed to do the space differently,” he said, “organize it and stack it with flexible furniture, with materials that are meaningful for what the students are needing to research and learn and study. That required a complete new beginning and a new space.”

The new 3,600-square-foot space on the main floor of the building, includes shelves full of books, study areas, a conference room and a pull-down screen for multimedia presentations.

Students are being asked to work more in groups, give presentations and do more in-depth research than just a Google search. Meitner said he thought the Learning Commons would be a space conducive to that type of learning.

You can still check out a book, but also receive help with digital research, Meitner said.

“It’s a space for others too,” he said. “If there is a group that would like to reserve it because they have a reception or a speaker and they want to have a good, conducive setting to have an event, let us know. … We are open to listening to how we can share it with others.”

The Learning Commons ribbon cutting.

The former library on the third floor has been renovated into a junior high classroom and high school study hall.

The commons was named for Fr. Blaine Burkey, who served at TMP-M for 27 years. As the director for the Center for Research, he believed in the value of the written word and significance of preserving historical knowledge. He now resides at a friary in Denver, but was on hand Friday for the dedication.

“The word ‘commons’ means it is a place for everybody — learning for everybody,” Burkey said. “I thought that was pretty good.”

Bishop Gerald Vincke was also on hand to bless the commons.

“We listen to the news, and there is so much bad news,” he said. “This is great news. This is the desire of the Lord for this to happen. We are thankful to God for this day and this opportunity to bless this Learning Commons.”

A new study area in the Learning Commons doubles as a serving table during its dedication.

 

Police: Kan. man jailed after shooting during large group of teens fighting

SHAWNEE COUNTY— Law enforcement authorities are investigating shooting and have a suspect in custody.

Akins-Bomhoff photo Shawnee Co.

Just after 8:00 p.m.Saturday, police were called to the report of a large group of teens fighting in the area of Huntoon and Tyler in Topeka, according to Lt. Shane Hilton.’

The caller also reported hearing gunshots. Upon arrival, one female was found to have non-life threatening gunshots wounds and transported by ambulance to the hospital. Another female later arrived at the hospital, also with non-life threatening gunshot wounds.

As a result of the investigation, police arrested Anthony Eugene Akins-Bomhoff was on requested charges of Attempted 1st Degree Homicide and Aggravated Battery.

A 17-year-old boy was also arrested for Discharging a firearm in City Limits, Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer, Possession of stolen property, Criminal Use of a Firearm, Disobeying a Lawful Police Order, and Interference with a Law Enforcement Officer.

Portion of 280th will be closed for culvert repair project

Beginning at 9 a.m. Monday, the 1100 block of 280th Avenue (just south of Old U.S. 40) will be closed for a culvert repair project, the Ellis County Public Works Road & Bridge Division reported.

That portion of the roadway will remain closed until the project is completed, which is expected to be 4 p.m. Thursday. Motorists traveling in the affected closure area should use alternate routes of travel until the project is completed.

For more information, call 785-628-9455.

— Ellis County

21st annual Western Summit set for Oct. 10 in Hays

The Annual Western Summit, sponsored by the Hays chapter of AARP, will be from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Oct. 10 at the Rose Garden Banquet Hall, 2350 E. Eighth.

Registration of $11 can be paid at the door and includes the luncheon. Information will focus on areas of concern for seniors and how to decrease susceptibility to these concerns.

While enjoying coffee and doughnuts from 8 to 9 a.m., there will be a number of tables for participants to peruse information on what’s available for seniors. Some vendors will have free giveaways or door prizes. There will be door prizes to give away at the end of the summit.

To register, call (785) 625-6896 or (785) 623-7412 by Oct. 3.

You do not have to be an AARP member to attend.

— AARP

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