Two of the 70 or so members of Celebration Community Church who showed up to help salvage items last night from the main sanctuary — heavily damaged by Tuesday’s severe storm that went through Hays — had also lost part of the roof on their own house.
The church’s two-year-old metal roof over the main sanctuary was peeled off by northwesterly wind gusts up to 77 mph as recorded at the Hays Regional Airport at 7:56 p.m. last night and steady northwest wind of 56 mph.
Fortunately, no one was in the church at the time.
“We have a regular Tuesday night women’s Bible study group that meets, but they canceled because of the severe weather threat,” Senior Pastor Brant Rice said Wednesday morning. “We feel blessed nobody is hurt.”
Rice, along with associate pastor Derek Mayfield and youth pastor Kael Bloom, gathered again shortly after 8 a.m. Wednesday to assess damage in the daylight. They also met with the church’s insurance agent. Other church employees and volunteers also arrived to begin the cleanup process.
“We’ve told people for so many years the church isn’t a building, it’s the people,” said Rice. “No sooner did we get up here last night that we had dozens of people from the church that were already here cleaning up stuff, getting water out of the building, moving equipment out.”
The church is located just north of the Interstate 70 157 Exit west of Hays at 5790 230th Ave.
Four portions of the roof were blown to the south. One large piece wrapped around a light pole in the parking lot. The section tossed the farthest landed just north of the I-70 westbound lanes. Piles of rain-soaked insulation littered the parking lot and were wrapped around trees.
“It looks like we’re going to have to pretty much start from metal and concrete and build it back up again. We’ve got good insurance coverage,” Mayfield added.
Mayfield was the project manager for the new sanctuary and seeing the destruction hit him hard.
“It was tough coming up here last night but as Brant said, the church is the people, not the building,” he said.
“So my sour thoughts of all the hard work that went into getting the building ready changed pretty quick when I saw how our church family and the people responded, coming up here to lend a helping hand however they could. That changed my perspective real quick,” Mayfield said with a wry smile on his face.
Volunteers arrived last night after the storm using the flashlights on their phones to light their way because the electricity was off.
“We had people moving 400-500 chairs out as quick as they could out of the worship space, pulling TVs and projectors off walls just to get things out so if the walls collapsed we salvaged what we could,” said Rice said, noting work continued until about 12:30 a.m. “We’re so proud of our church family and people from the community already who have offered their help, their equipment. We know it’s going to be good.”
“We’re going to have church this weekend, no doubt about it. I don’t know where. We’ll make it work,” Mayfield added.
“We just want to thank everyone for reaching out,” Rice said. “We know there’s damage throughout the community. Just know we’re praying for everybody that’s been affected by this.”
Celebration Community Church has a weekly Sunday service attendance of about 1,100 people during the school year. A number of members are from outside Hays and Ellis County.
Hays Celebration Community Church suffered significant damage in Tuesday night’s severe weather.
Two road signs sheared off at the I-70 157 exit
A sheared stop sign at the westbound I-70 Exit 157
A Midwest Energy transmission line downed east of the church.
A second MWE electrical transmission pole south of I-70 near the Kansas Highway Patrol building leans after the storm.
Roof insulation strewn on the ground and wrapped in trees.
Roughly 1,500 customers, mainly in Ellis Co., remain without power at this time. Crews from Hays, Colby, WaKeeney, Oakley and several contract crews are working on this, primarily in NW Hays near Celebration Church, the Highway Patrol office on the bypass, the Fairgrounds, and in east Hays off Victoria Road. We have roughly 50 poles down in the Hays district.
Additionally, we have five service crews in Hays and Ellis responding to dozens and dozens of calls about downed yard lines, limbs on wires, etc. Thanks for being patient – the guys are working through these as quickly as possible, and will stay on the job until all are done.
Great Bend area crews are busy working on 20 poles that were downed there.
Please continue to call in your outages to 1-800-222-3121 if you’ve not done so, or if you spot a dangerous condition like wires on the ground. Thank you!
Update 10:38 a.m. Cristina Janney/Hays Post
Some county roads closed due to downed trees; most to reopen today
Feedlot Road and Antonino Road were closed temporarily Tuesday night due to downed trees as where other county roads.
230th Road was closed Wednesday morning at the request of Midwest Energy as crews worked on overhead power lines.
Bill Ring Sr, Ellis County Public Works director, said all county roads should be reopened today with the exception of road that may have to be closed temporarily for work on power lines.
Although roads were closed due to downed power lines and limbs and trees in roadways, no county road had to be closed due to wash outs, Ring said.
Road signs are down throughout the county. Ring said the county is still receiving sign damage reports. Stop signs will be replaced first. He said there is a list in the works of repairs that need to made.
RPM Speedway and the Ellis County Fairgrounds received substantial damage. Watch the Hays Post for more information on that story as it becomes available.
Update 10:27 a.m. Cristina Janney/Hays Post
Limb pick up to start Monday in Hays
The Hays Public Works Department will begin picking up limbs on Monday. Limbs must be placed at the curb. City officials urged residents to keep limbs out of streets and off of sidewalks. Limbs will not be picked up from allies.
Trees down in Ellis Photo by Scarlett Deutscher
Update: 9:39 a.m. Cristina Janney/Hays Post
Old Ellis High School damaged; trees uprooted in Ellis
Although the old Ellis High School building received substantial damage, the Ellis High/Junior School and Washington Elementary School buildings were not damaged.
School will start on time on Thursday, Aug. 22, a school official said this morning.
A school officials said a portion of the brick from a wall came down at the old high school and the wall was now bowed. She said insurance adjusters will be on site today, but it is too early to determine what will become of the building.
Limbs were also down over the school’s track and in the football practice field.
Dan Wickham, Ellis Public Works foreman, said trees were down across town, but especially on the west end of town. Some roads were initially blocked, but are open now and power is back up to the city, he said.
Memorial Park had power poles snapped and cleanup was continuing today at the Ellis campground.
Wickham said the limb burn site will remain open throughout the week and into next week. The city will pickup limbs, but they must be placed at the curb.
Update 8:50 a.m. Cristina Janney/Hays Post, video by Amy Burton
Hays Fire Department
The Hays Fire Department responded to 12 storm-related calls Tuesday night. The bulk of these calls were related to arching power lines and tree limbs on fire in power lines, Shane Preston, Hays deputy fire chief, said.
The HFD was called to a structure fire in the 2200 block of Fort Street. That ended up being a downed power line that was causing appliances in a home to short out and filling the home with smoke. No fire was discovered. No one was hurt.
The HFD responded to one person stranded by flood waters in a car on Canal Street. That person was able to escape their vehicle unhurt by the time the HFD arrived.
Preston said they had a report of water inside at least one apartment in town, but Preston did not have the exact address.
Preston said the HFD responded to no major injuries as a result of the storm. He described Tuesday night as a “fortunate night.”
Preston urged residents to be cautious during cleanup in the coming days. He encouraged property owners to be vigilant that tree limbs they are removing are not touching power lines.
“Wear long pants and gloves. Look up as you are removing trees to make sure you are not around power lines,” he said. “It is still wet. Look above as you carry off limbs to make sure you don’t get in power lines.”
UPDATE 8:30 a.m. Midwest Energy power outage report
From Midwest Energy’s Facebook page
Crews worked through the night and got power back to Ellis, most of Hays, and many rural areas. From 7,000 down at the storm’s peak, we currently have 1,800 meters without power.
If you still don’t have power, please call that in first thing today at 1-800-222-3121. We have crews from WaKeeney, Oakley and Colby coming to help, as well as several contracted crews.
As always, treat any downed wires as live; don’t move them yourself, and keep people and pets away. If you have tree branches on wires, call us and we will come assist. Stay safe, and thanks for your patience! We’ll update again later this morning.
Update 8:31 a.m. Cristina Janney/Hays Post
Ellis County Emergency Management
Darin Myers, Ellis County Emergency Management director, said no one was seriously hurt in the county in the storm last night that he was aware of.
County first responders extracted a person from a semi that was blown over o Interstate 70 near Ellis, but that person was not seriously hurt.
Myers confirmed that the multiple semis where blown over on the interstate last night, but an exact number had not yet been confirmed.
Myers said power outages in the county were widespread. County public works is compiling a list of rural rod closures. County officials said Wednesday morning that multiple stop signs had been toppled by winds that peaked at 78 miles per hour, according to the National Weather Service Tuesday night.
Although last night’s storm was reported to have only contained straight-line winds. 78 mph winds rival an EF-0 tornado, which includes winds of 68-85 mph. The winds would also be equal to a category one hurricane.
Weather information from the Hays Regional Airport shows the squall coming through with a peak wind gust of 77 mph at 7:56 p.m. Tuesday.
The official weather report from K-State Extension was of 1.34 inches of rain Tuesday night.
Rainfall at the Hays Regional Airport was measured at 0.92. Other reports from Hays residents range from (1.55 to 2.5 inches)
Donna K. Spreier, 82, passed away August 13, 2019 at Hodgeman County Health Center, Jetmore.
She was born June 9, 1937, in Macon, MO, the daughter of Wayne and Dora Keister Rhoades. A lifetime area resident, she was an office manager for Dodge City COOP, Jetmore branch, for 39 years.
She was of the Methodist faith and was a big supporter for the community and various organizations and enjoyed gambling.
On November 26, 1955, she married Marlin L. Spreier in Dodge City, KS. He survives.
Other survivors include: three daughters, Shelvie (Alfonso) Batres, Alexandria, VA, Kyleen Stimpert, Dodge City, KS, Lanese (Todd) Wherry, Lenexa, KS; brother, Donald Rhoades, Jetmore; three sisters, Deanna Fagen, Spearville, Darla Mueting, Dodge City, KS, Dixie Stengle, Oklahoma City, OK; six grandchildren, Chad Lampe, Megan Schartz, Ashton Wherry, Christian Stimpert, Alyssa Wherry, Andrew Wherry and three great grandchildren, Alyjah Maciel, Austin Maciel, Brynlee Stimpert.
She was preceded in death by her parents;
Funeral will be 10 a.m., Saturday, August 17, 2019 at United Methodist Church, Jetmore, with Rev. Peter Mtuamwari presiding. Family requests casual dress. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Beckwith Funeral Home, Jetmore. Burial will be in the Fairmount Cemetery, Jetmore.
Memorials may be given to Hodgeman County EMS or Sons of the American Legion in care of Beckwith Funeral Home, Box 663 Jetmore, KS 67854. Condolences may be left at www.beckwithfuneralhome.com.
SHAWNEE COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a shooting and searching for suspects.
Police on the scene of the Tuesday traffic stop photo by Rick Felsburg courtesy WIBW TV
Just before 4:30 p.m., Tuesday, police in the area of the 800 Block of SE Rice in Topeka heard several gunshots, according to Lt. Robert Simmons.
A few moments later, police stopped a vehicle at Interstate 70 and SE Rice Road with an adult male passenger with a gunshot wound that was determined to be life threatening by medical personnel.
The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment of his injuries.
Police have not reported an arrest and have not identified the victim.
The Hays Chamber of Commerce and United of Way of Ellis County are organizing volunteers to assist in cleanup from the storm that hit Hays and Ellis County Tuesday night.
The agencies announced the volunteer opportunity through the new volunteer website sponsored by United Way, nwksvolunteers.org.
Contact the Hays Chamber at 628-8201 or United Way of Ellis County at 628-8281 for volunteer opportunities in helping storm victims.
The organizations will be posting specific businesses/homes needing help, the groups said on the volunteer website.
Volunteers must should wear appropriate work attire, including pants, close-toed shoes (no flip flops), and bring work gloves.
Check out the website for other volunteer opportunities in the region.
Members of the Hays High football team are lending a hand with cleanup efforts around the Hays community Wednesday.
Head coach Tony Crough said several members of the football team spread throughout the community early Wednesday morning to various locations in and around Hays.
“We realized the community is in need, and we thought we could surely help since we’re not in school today” Crough said.
Crough said he more than 50 members of the team were helping in the morning and anticipated more players would be helping out.
They have already received several messages from people around Hays looking for help.
“We’ve got four or five different crews of kids around town,” Crough said.
The kids were already helping Wednesday morning move furniture from flooded areas, helping to cleanup a shed that was destroyed by the wind and move bleachers that were blown over at Hays Middle School.
Damage at the middle school forced officials to push the start of the school year back a day in the USD 489 district.
If you need help cleaning up, you can reach out to the Hays High football team through their Twitter account, which can be found HERE.
Crough said people can also reach out to a Hays High staff member or football player.
Jennifer Colby, EllisJennifer Colby, EllisJennifer Colby, EllisJennifer Colby, EllisJeff PrattTina Mills / In and around McCrackenTina Mills / In and around McCrackenTina Mills / In and around McCrackenTina Mills / In and around McCrackenTina Mills / In and around McCrackenTina Mills / In and around McCrackenTina Mills / In and around McCrackenTina Mills / In and around McCrackenTina Mills / In and around McCrackenTina Mills / In and around McCrackenTina Mills / In and around McCrackenTina Mills / In and around McCrackenCasey EdmondsJessica GoodaleShawna BloedornLucy Beilman, EllisErin HernandezKimberly ChavezRachelle PfanenstielTim GohlErica GensickeCamper in the front yard on 46th St. / Katie ParsonWest 14th St. Katie ParsonWest 12th St. / Katie ParsonLincoln Draw / Katie ParsonMain Street / Katie ParsonEthan StantonCedar Bluff Estates. Trego County. Glen Pfeifer photoTook this picture 5 minutes before the storm hit. Just north of Wal-Mart. Notice the Hays water tower to the right to see the scale of the storm. Jessi JacobsSharol WilkinsSouth of Cedar Bluff lake at Brownell. A view just before the storm came through. Rashell McCartyTracy SummersMegan Hoss
Tree limbs will be collected by the city of Hays at curbside only starting Mon., Aug. 19. This damage is at 27th and Cottonwood. (Photo by Hays Post)
CITY OF HAYS
Please be advised that beginning Monday, August 19, Hays city crews will be doing a one-time collection of downed tree limbs as a result of the recent wind storm.
All limbs are to be placed curbside. Limbs will not be collected from alleys. Please do not pile limbs on sidewalks or streets.
Collection will start Monday, August 19 and continue until a sweep of the city is complete.
Crews will not come onto private property to collect limbs. If a resident has a large tree or limb on their property, they can utilize the services of a professional tree trimmer to either have the tree removed or moved to the curb.
As a reminder, city residents can haul their limbs to the Ellis County Sanitary Landfill for disposal free of charge. Limbs can’t be taken to the city compost site.
Landfill hours are Monday-Friday 8-5 and Saturday 9-4. Limbs CANNOT be taken to the city compost site.
Any questions should be directed to the City of Hays Public Works office at (785) 628-7350.
Trash pickup may be delayed due to storm
The City of Hays issued the following notice today “Due to the storm Tuesday night, regular collection of Wednesday’s refuse and recycling may be delayed. In the event your refuse and/or recycling is not collected today, it will be collected by the end of the week. Thursday’s refuse collection may also be collected later than usual. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause our customers.”
City of Hays customers who have any questions regarding this notice should contact the Solid Waste Division of the Public Works Department at 628-7350.
Please make sure your polycarts are out by 7:00 AM and keep in mind the trucks have no set time schedule.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — A Tennessee man faces several felonies after allegedly leading sheriff’s deputies on a 3.5-mile chase with a baby and loaded guns in his truck.
Leedom photo Douglas Co.
Kenneth Jeremy Leedom, 32, Woodbury, Tennessee was charged Monday with aggravated battery against a law enforcement officer, aggravated endangering of a child, attempting to elude a police officer and possession of stolen property.
His defense attorney did not immediately return a call Tuesday seeking comment.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office says Leedom was arrested Sunday after driving off from a traffic stop. He allegedly rammed a patrol vehicle as deputies were trying to stop him.
The charges indicate the boy with him was 9 months old. A woman also was in the truck.
Tuesday night’s storm caused significant damage on campus and in Hays, but crews worked all night and Fort Hays State University is open today and ready to welcome new Tigers for move-in day at the residence halls.
Power was off on portions of campus for a short period of time before the university’s backup generators kicked in and restored power to campus until Midwest Energy repaired damage to the main feeder lines to campus, said University Police Chief Ed Howell.
The major damage was a wall at the university’s Akers Energy Center that was blown in, but by this morning the debris had been removed and cleanup was nearly complete.
Howell said campus personnel checked inside all buildings overnight but found no obvious damage. A more extensive check of campus facilities is under way.
— FHSU University Relations
The damaged wall of FHSU Akers Energy Center shortly after the storm abated. (Photo by Ruth Dreher, FHSU)
