By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The four tennis courts in Hays Municipal Park need to be resurfaced. It hasn’t been done since 2004.

City commissioners will consider a low bid Thursday for the work, which includes converting one court to two pickleball courts.

“We have a lot of people interested in pickleball,” said Jeff Boyle, director of parks. “Hays Rec actually has tournaments there. It’s very popular and I think it’s a good thing for us to try.”

Pickleball is similar to tennis but uses a Wiffle Ball and small paddles on shorter courts. An eight-foot-high net will divide the fourth Municipal Park tennis court into two pickleball courts.

“As you get older it’s really a good sport to stay active because you can play it to any level you want,” said Commissioner Sandy Jacobs. “But I’ve noticed there’s a lot of young people getting involved as well, so I think it’s pretty cool.”

Commissioner Eber Phelps, a tennis player, was not as enthusiastic.

“Not to rain on your parade, but I’m just gonna call your attention to what’s going to happen,” he said.

“You bring in a new activity. Then you’re gonna have all your tennis players complaining.

“I’ve played on those courts for years. People come down there and want to play tennis using a volleyball. They wanna play tennis using Frisbees, or whatever. It’s lit up at night and it’s a great place to come skateboard, rollerblade, drive remote control cars.

“They really don’t understand tennis court etiquette.

“I’m not gonna put down the pickleball, but I’ll bet you, you get that going down there and you’re gonna have some issues between the two,” Phelps predicted.

Boyle said his staff discussed whether the change would “put out the tennis players.”

“There’ve been times where all four courts have been played on, and there’s been times when it’s just one court,” Boyle noted. “Tennis seems to have dropped off dramatically. I’m not discarding the sport. It sure seems we have plenty of courts when I go by.”

Other agenda items for the July 25 city commission meeting include a final review of the proposed 2020 budget and setting a public hearing date.

The 2019 Water$mart Landscape awards will also be presented.

The agenda is available here.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

On Tuesday, Brenda Culbertson, NASA/JPL solar system ambassador, was at the Hays Public Library presenting highlights from the Apollo 11 mission that sent Americans to the surface of the moon 50 years ago.

A longtime observational astronomer, Culbertson ran the Washburn planetarium for over 20 years and has taught astrophotography.

She uses those skills in the ambassador program setting up observation sessions in locations across the state.

“That’s probably what I do most,” Culbertson said.

But while in Hays, she stepped away from the telescope to present three sessions at the Hays Public Library recapping the first manned lunar mission.

She believes sharing the story of the mission is important to get children interested in exploring their potential.

“When you are wondering ‘Can I really do this?’ and you look back and see other people have done harder things, I think that encourages them to try for it,” Culbertson said. “They learn from history and, if history is taught correctly and you are given a good taste of it, I think it will encourage them to go forward.”

She noted the tragedy of Apollo 1 as an example of how learning from history can be a powerful tool.

“NASA learned from it greatly,” she said. “From there, OK, we have to be more careful and more thorough.”

The lesson learned from that failure still resonates today.

“If they are taught and shown, I think it is important for them to learn this kind of thing,” Culbertson said. “You learn from failure.” she said.

With the knowledge of history, Culbertson hopes students can push forward and reach their potential.

“We give them a little bit of the tragedy as well as the success and maybe it will spark something in them to go forward.”

 

About the Solar System Ambassadors Program

“The Solar System Ambassadors Program is a public engagement effort that works with motivated volunteers across the nation to communicate the science and excitement of NASA’s space exploration missions and discoveries in their communities,” according to the program’s website. “The program — which started in 1997 — currently consists of 730 ambassadors who conduct approximately 2,400 annual events that, reach about 500,000 people directly, with millions reached via publications, social media, TV and radio.”

KHRC

Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County is one of 11 Habitat for Humanity affiliates in Kansas that benefited from a $165,000 grant from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation (KHRC). Funds supported technology upgrades, marketing, and tools and equipment so volunteers can better partner with homeowners to achieve the strength, stability and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families.

“We are so thankful for the $12,000 grant awarded to us from the KHRC. We used the funding to increase our visibility in Ellis County with ads featured on HaysPost.com through Eagle Communications,” said Leslie Wyatt, executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Ellis County.

“We purchased signage for our ReStore location at the Big Creek Crossing Mall and fixed the heater in the main section of the building. Our volunteers and customers were much more comfortable this past winter. We were able to purchase and gift our dedicated volunteers with HFHEC t-shirts and sweatshirts which was really great too.”

In addition, the grant allowed Kansas to be represented at the 2019 Habitat for Humanity International Affiliate Conference in Atlanta in March. This biennial conference provided affiliates from all over the country the opportunity to share ideas and gain insight into developing national campaigns that will increase affordable housing opportunities. Some of the funding also will cover a portion of the administrative costs.

“This is the second year that KHRC has granted Kansas Habitat for Humanity affiliates with funds that allow us to expand our impact on affordable housing opportunities in Kansas,” said Shawna Dennett, advancement director at Wichita Habitat for Humanity and administrator of the KHRC grant. “We are so thankful that the KHRC recognizes the work done by Habitat for Humanity in Kansas and is willing to provide funds that will allow us the opportunity to serve more people in our community with affordable housing and home repairs, as well as provide financial literacy and homeownership education to homebuyers and homeowners in 13 counties. Affiliates have been meeting together annually to share ideas and resources and this grant will allow us to develop stronger connections with smaller affiliates, providing the support they need to increase their ability to build homes, communities, and hope across Kansas.”

Kansas Housing Resources Corporation is a self-supporting, public corporation serving as the primary administrator of federal housing programs for the state of Kansas. Its mission is to increase the availability of affordable, decent and accessible housing for lower-income Kansans. KHRS collaborates with lenders, developers, builders, real estate agents, service providers, homeless advocates, non-profit organizations and government agencies.

Please visit Home – Kansas Housing Resources Corporation to learn more.

HAYSMED

HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, is proud to announce the certification of its cardiovascular/pulmonary rehabilitation program by the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR). This certification is recognition HaysMed’s commitment to improving the quality of life of patients by enhancing standards of care.

Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation programs are designed to help people with cardiovascular problems (e.g., heart attacks, coronary artery bypass graft surgery) and pulmonary problems (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], respiratory symptoms) recover faster and live healthier. Both programs include exercise, education, counseling and support for patients and their families.

To earn accreditation, HaysMed’s cardiovascular/pulmonary rehabilitation program participated in an application process that requires extensive documentation of the program’s practices. AACVPR Program Certification is the only peer-review accreditation process designed to review individual programs for adherence to standards and guidelines developed and published by AACVPR and other related professional societies. Each program’s application is reviewed by the AACVPR Program Certification Committee, and certification is awarded by the AACVPR Board of Directors.

In 2018, AACVPR moved to an outcomes-based process with performance measurements that represent more meaningful outcomes. Therefore, AACVPR-certified programs are leaders in the cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation field because they offer the most advanced practices available and have proven track records of high quality patient care. AACVPR Program Certification is valid for three years.

About AACVPR

Founded in 1985, the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation is a multidisciplinary organization dedicated to the mission of reducing morbidity, mortality and disability

from cardiovascular and pulmonary disease through education, prevention, rehabilitation, research and disease management. Central to the core mission is improving the quality of life for patients and their families. Learn more about AACVPR at www.aacvpr.org.