In order to attempt to preserve a bit of history often overlooked, the Ellis High School Alumni Association Cookbook Committee is working on a special project.
The Committee is now accepting recipes from a variety of community sectors, including past and present teachers, school cooks, administrative members of the school district, graduates or EHS Class of 2019.
Recipes are being collected now and includes those who attended/taught at the old country schools, St. Mary’s School, Washington Grade School, Ellis Junior High and Ellis High School facilities. You may submit “in memory of” any EHS Alum.
To submit recipes (a limit of 4 recipes per family), you can email to: [email protected], or download a form off of our Facebook page: Ellis High School Alumni (KS), or pick up a form locally from the Ellis Review, Ellis Alliance, Trio Home Center, Ellis Golf Club, USD 388 District Office, Ellis Credit Union, Salon 816, Golden Belt Bank and Equity Bank.
Recipes can be returned to the above mentioned email address or to PO Box 212, Ellis, KS 67637. Recipes are due by May 31 in order to be put in the cookbook. Publication target date is this fall.
The Hays Friends of the Library will have a its Spring into Summer Book Sale May 2 through 5 in the Schmidt Gallery of the library.
The sale will be open to members from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 2 and 10 a.m. to noon Friday, May 3,
The sale will be open to the public noon to 4 p.m. Friday, May 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 4, and 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, May 5.
Books will be $5 per bag. If you are a Friends member and have not picked up your free reusable blue bag, you can do so. Recycled grocery sacks will be provided for non-members.
Friends memberships will be for sale for $5 per year.
Friends members will receive half off of books in the Gallery Book Store during the event.
LA CROSSE — The 53rd annual Barbed Wire Festival is set to begin in La Crosse on May 3 to 5 at the La Crosse City Auditorium. The Barbed Wire Festival was originally born out of a small display of barbed wire in the Post Rock Museum. When museum staff observed that a large number of visitors collected the unusual fencing material, they decided to bring those collectors together.
In 1967, La Crosse hosted the first ever convention of barbed wire collectors with 2,000 people in attendance giving La Crosse the distinction of being the “Barbed Wire Capital of the World™”. The Barbed Wire Swap & Sell has evolved into the Barbed Wire Festival, a family-oriented community celebration with events for the entire family. Everyone is welcome to attend.
The festivities begin on Friday, May 3 at 8:00 a.m. when the annual Barbed Wire Swap & Sell opens. Featured will be handmade items, leathercrafts, home décor, jewelry, and of course antiques and barbed wire. The “Tribute to Veterans” exhibit will again be on display with new items featuring military uniforms and collectibles from private collectors including the “Museum for the Common Soldier” also located in La Crosse.
This year, lunch will be available on Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. by Chef Lauren Schilleci’s The Kansas Cook Catering Company featuring homemade bierocks, soups, pies, and desserts and more.
On Friday night at 6:30 p.m., events move to the Barbed Wire Museum at 120 W. 1st Street with a Mexican Buffet dinner to benefit the museum’s educational mission followed by “Casino Night” games. Players receive an amount of “Barbed Bucks” that they can use in a variety of traditional casino games. Then, participants will use their “winnings” to bid on a selection of items in a live auction. Cost of the meal is $10 and there is no fee for playing the games.
Barbed Wire Swap & Sell
On Saturday, the festival begins at 8:00 a.m. with additional vendor booths open for business, city-wide garage sales, and more. The Kansas Post Rock Limestone Coalition will make their debut with information about the 18-county coalition dedicated to preserving the history and promoting tourism in this unique region in central Kansas.
At 10:00 a.m. Saturday, the Fort Hays State University Science & Mathematics Institute “Maker Van” will be onsite for kids to learn about the science and technology of bridge construction by building their own Paper Bridge. There will be no cost for the kids’ event.
The World Champion Barbed Wire Splicing Contest™ begins at noon. Contestants vie to repair a simulated broken barbed wire fence in the shortest amount of time with the tightest splice. The Splicing Contest, developed by Roy Ehly and Kansas State University Extension Service in Manhattan over 50 years ago has been a regular event at the festival. Thanks to generous support by the Bison State Bank, this year’s competition will feature a bigger and better prize selection for winners in the Men’s, Ladies, and Youth Categories.
Events on Saturday will conclude with the Live Auction at 3:00 p.m. in the auditorium followed by the annual Candlelight Banquet at the La Crosse Country Club at 6:30 p.m. There are limited tickets available for the banquet and they are available by calling 785-222-2808 or visiting the registration desk during the festival.
The Barbed Wire Festival is sponsored by the Kansas Barbed Wire Collectors Association. For more information, visit our website at www.rushcounty.org/wireshow or call 785-222-2808.
Documenting history for future generations plays an important role in a community. It creates a civic record and defines the characteristics that bind us as a community. In 2019, the Trego County Historical Society celebrates its 50th anniversary as the guardians of our collective history with a year-long series of events, beginning with an open house on Sunday, May 5, 1-4:30 p.m.
Trego County Museum, WaKeeney
The History of the Museum
The Trego County Historical Society, the governing body of the museum, was established on April 23rd, 1969. The first official meeting occurred on May 5th when the Articles of Incorporation were written and nine directors were elected. The leadership team was made up of President S.W. Gibson, Vice President Ray Purinton, Secretary Alveda Adams, and Treasurer C.S. Kolacny. Other board members were Walter Tawney, Warren Hardin, Rudy Spitsnaugle, Newt Tidball and Hilda Halbleib.
With a mission to bring together people interested in the county’s history, Historical Society members vowed to discover, collect, and preserve the history of the area through articles, books, pictures, letters and artifacts.
Today’s Collections
This year, the museum will be hosting many special events and programs that will highlight the best of the Trego County Historical Society’s work. To start this anniversary year, an open house is scheduled for Sunday, May 5th, the same day the Historical Society was created fifty years ago.
During the open house you can tour the museum and see the many artifacts collected over the past five decades, including the Purinton collections in the new Kenny Hacker Gallery. Donated by Leonard & Irene Purinton and Ray & Leona Purinton, the two exhibits contain prehistoric fossils, a western tack and gun collection, tools, pottery from the Purinton Pottery Company, and an array of other artifacts.
The Trego County Mural
Also found in the gallery is a beautiful floor-to-ceiling mural that encompasses the 141 year history of Trego County. Created by local artists, the big, beautiful Western Kansas sky is the backdrop for images of our founding fathers, a steam locomotive, buffalo, and the Cheyenne tribes who roamed the land.
More Events to Come
Today’s board has planned a year-long celebration with events that will present Trego County’s history from many different perspectives.
On Sunday, June 9th, Marci Penner and WenDee Rowe of the Kansas Sampler Foundation will be presenting a fun, interactive program called “Exploring in Kansas” to tell the tales of their four years of touring 626 Kansas communities. Learn about the architecture, art, commerce, cuisine, customs, geography, history, and people they found along the thousands of miles they traveled through our state. Their recent book “Kansas Guidebook 2 for Explorers” is a guide to preserving and sustaining the rural culture of Kansas.” You can pick up a signed copy at the event.
The presentation is co-sponsored by WaKeeney Travel & Tourism and the Trego County Historical Society & Museum. Information about more events to come will be available in May.
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Trego County Historical Society on Sunday, May 5, 1-4:30 p.m. It’s a chance to step back in time to the days when our rural communities were just beginning to make their mark on this great land.
Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers with Hays Med’s Dr. Jeff Curtis April 9 in Hays.
The following remarks are from Lt. Governor Lynn Rogers regarding the results of his Rural Healthcare Tour:
Hello, thank you all for coming today.
Since launching the Office of Rural Prosperity’s Rural Healthcare tour in February, Governor Kelly, KDHE Secretary Lee Norman and I have collectively toured more than 25 healthcare facilities. We’ve met with chambers of commerce, healthcare providers, business owners, faith leaders, families and community members across the state – from Liberal to Marysville and Pittsburg to Atwood.
During this tour, there was a consistent and resounding message no matter where we traveled — Medicaid expansion would absolutely help each of their communities.
It would create new jobs, invest new money into the local economy, and would reimburse healthcare facilities for care they already provide that would otherwise be uncompensated.
Expansion would give healthcare facilities the necessary resources to upgrade diagnostic equipment to provide better local healthcare. And it would allow them to more competitively recruit and retain quality healthcare staff.
In Council Grove, hospital administrators at Morris County told me they had just lost a doctor, and that they’re afraid that if the state doesn’t expand Medicaid they could lose more.
The fear of providers leaving for higher paying jobs in nearby expansion states like Nebraska or Colorado is very real to communities on the state’s border. Goodland Regional Medical Center is just a short 30-minute drive from the hospital in Burlington, Colorado.
And healthcare facilities in southwest Kansas – like Garden City and Dodge City – told me about wanting to invest in educational facilities to address their provider shortfall but said it was a challenge while being burdened with millions in unreimbursed care.
The Governor shared a story from her tour of Horizon’s Mental Health Center in Hutchinson. The services they are providing– in their local schools, correctional facilities, and across their communities – could all be enhanced if the legislature expanded Medicaid. And you’ll get a chance to hear that first-hand from their CEO Mike Garrett here shortly.
I don’t have to remind you that four rural hospitals have closed in the past three years – each citing the state’s failure to expand Medicaid as being partially responsible for their closing. And while we cannot guarantee that Medicaid expansion will save every rural hospital, we are certain that it has the most positive and immediate benefit of anything the state can do.
The economic impact of a hospital closure is greater than a cursory glance would expect. In a rural community, healthcare accounts for 20% of a local economy, and just one physician generates 26 jobs.
Given the economic impact of healthcare, the fact that 30% of our state’s rural hospitals are considered financially vulnerable is cause for concern. Across the state over 85% of our hospitals currently have a negative operating margin.
And in the five years that Kansas has gone without expansion we have lost over $3 billion dollars in tax revenue – money Kansans have paid to the federal government, that should have been used here but has gone to other states.
We not only have an economic imperative to expand Medicaid, we have a moral imperative as well.
Nearly 150,000 Kansans fall in the coverage gap. They are hardworking – often underemployed – Kansans who don’t make enough money to afford quality health insurance but have incomes that are too high to qualify for Medicaid. And many of them live in rural Kansas.
Unfortunately, two members of Senate Leadership – both in majority urban districts I should add – are blocking a vote on expansion despite it being supported by 77% of Kansans. They are suggesting that now is the time to study the issue, and that discussion can begin next year. But after five years of discussion in Kansas and more than 300 national studies showing its effectiveness, the time for discussion is over. It is time for Kansas to join the 36 other states who have already expanded their Medicaid Programs.
This should not be a partisan fight or a means to keep a political score. It is about people’s lives.
The Senate will be back Wednesday for the annual wrap-up session.
The Governor and I are calling on the Senate to hold a vote on Medicaid expansion.
Since rolling out our plan to expand Medicaid nearly 100 days ago, we talked to Kansans — Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike – and they’ve told us that Medicaid expansion can’t wait until next year. It simply costs Kansas too much money and too many lives.
They’ve contacted their legislators, they’ve gotten engaged in the process, and they’ve said they are done waiting. It is time for the Legislature to listen to the people.
On behalf of rural Kansans, I’m asking Senate leaders to show compassion for their constituents.
Lynn Rogers (D) is the Kansas Lieutenant Governor.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Hundreds gathered in Kansas to remember a Washburn University football player who was killed in a shooting that also wounded a friend who had been drafted hours earlier by the New York Giants.
Coach Craig Schurig said at Tuesday’s vigil for 23-year-old Dwane Simmons that the football field was his “piece of heaven.” The coach compared Simmons, a junior from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, to the candles carried by mourners, saying he “shined the light on everybody.” The university plans to create a scholarship named for Simmons.
A GoFundMe T-shirt fundraiser will provide 100 percent of the proceeds for the Simmons family, according to Washburn Athletics.
The shooting early Sunday outside an off-campus party also injured cornerback Corey Ballentine, whom the Giants drafted Saturday in the sixth round. The university says Ballentine is expected to make a full recovery. No one has been arrested.
VICTORIA — Over 70 Capuchin Franciscan friars gathered for the Province Chapter at St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria, KS from April 22-26, including representatives from Rome, India and Eritrea. The purpose of a chapter is for the friars to elect new leadership, and to reflect on the integrity of their vowed life of prayer, brotherhood, poverty and service to the poor.
In a historic election, the St. Conrad Province elected Br. Mark Schenk as Provincial Minister. Schenk is a native of Olmitz. This is the first time in the history of the Province that a lay brother has been elected to this position. In addition to the role of Provincial Minister, the friars also elected four friars to serve as his counselors.
Schenk attended Thomas More Prep-Marian in Hays from 1971 to 1975, returning in 1984 to teach religion, computer science and space science. He also served as campus minister, director of the religious vocations program, registrar and residency advisor, and area vocation director.
The Provincial Council sets the direction and focus of the province for the next three years.
Br. Mark previously served the Capuchins in an international capacity as General Definitor in Rome. As a General Definitor, Br. Mark traveled to English-speaking Capuchin territories throughout the world to ensure their commitment to the Capuchin charism and to serve as an ambassador on behalf of the General Minister. At the time of his election as a General Definitor, Br. Mark was also the first lay brother to hold that position.
The chapter provided an opportunity for the friars to spend time together in prayer, fraternal recreation and, most importantly, in looking at important questions and challenges they face. For the first time in over 20 years, so many friars were present at the chapter that some members had to find lodgings at the homes of local residents. This is due in large part to the increase in vocations in recent years as well as the presence of numerous brothers from other jurisdictions who are serving and studying in the province.
Bishop Vincke celebrated Mass with the friars
Bishop Gerald Vincke of the diocese of Salina joined the Capuchins on Wednesday afternoon to answer questions and to celebrate Mass. He expressed his gratitude and enthusiasm at the presence of the Capuchins serving in his diocese and hoped that additional friars might be sent to serve in future ministries there.
The chapter also provided an opportunity to celebrate the jubilees of several friars. Br. Earl Befort and Archbishop Stephen Reichert celebrated 50 years of priestly ministry, while Br. Cyrus Gallagher celebrated 60 years of religious profession.
W. (Walter) Mark Garrett, age 90, passed away on April, 29, 2019, at his home surrounded by his family.
He was born Dec. 16, 1928, near Central City, Neb., the son of Walter B. and Frankie Virginia (Good) Garrett. He graduated from Central City High School in 1946 and attended Doane College in Crete, Neb. Mark married Marjorie Ann Peck, Nov. 28, 1948, in Archer, Neb. She preceded him in death on October 18, 2010.
After several years of employment with the B.F. Goodrich Co., he moved to Great Bend in 1959 as manager of the local B.F. Goodrich store. In 1967 he founded G-B Tires, Inc. and remained active in the business until shortly before his death.
Mark was a member of the First United Methodist Church since 1959, serving on the Board of Trustees and several committees, Chamber of Commerce, Stoneridge Country Club and the Lake Barton Golf Association, all of Great Bend.
Mark loved to play golf, making several holes-in-one through the years. He shared his love of golf with his wife and children, teaching them all how to play. Mark and Marjorie enjoyed traveling on 5 continents and managed to play a round of golf on most. He was a sports fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and KU Basketball. Above all, Mark and Marjorie were avid Nebraska Football fans and season ticket holders for over 40 years, traveling to many of their bowl games.
They treasured the fellowship and friendships that were developed while playing bridge and traveling to golf destinations and NU ball games.
Survivors include two sons, Rickard Garrett and wife Karen and Timothy Garrett both of Great Bend; two daughters, Deborah McGreevy and husband Bob of Pratt and Penelope Pinkston and husband Chris of St. John; brother, David Garrett; 9 Grandchildren, Tina Lamb, Tiffany Dick and husband Bob, Jason Pinkston and wife Beth, Haley Kern and husband Peter, Brandon Garrett and wife Amanda, Jennifer Garrett, Kelsey Scheuerman and husband Todd, Abby Hinman and husband Jeff, Logan Garrett and wife Dru; and 22 Great Grand Children, Dalton Lamb, Dylan Lamb, D.J. Lamb, Micah Dick, Kaitlyn Dick, Mckenna Kern, Jaidyn Pinkston, Darrin Lamb, Grady Pinkston, Keirstin Pinkston, Leah Pinkston, Konnor Garrett, Garrett Kern, Tyler Scheuerman, Kamryn Garrett, Madilyn Scheuerman, Cooper Garrett, Stanley Kern, Hudson Hinman, Meadow Phillips, Kynslee Garrett and Hazel Hinman; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Marjorie; daughter-in-law, Lynda Garrett; grandson-in-law, Scott Lamb; brothers, Warren and Wesley Garrett; sisters, Virginia Stalker, Helen Hoffman, Muriel Schroyer and Mary Fritz.
Funeral Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday, May 2, 2019, at First United Methodist Church, Great Bend, with Pastor Morita Truman officiating. A private family interment will be in Great Bend Cemetery. Visitation will be from Noon until 9:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 1, at Bryant Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Memorial contributions can be made to First United Methodist Church or Golden Belt Home Health and Hospice of Great Bend in care of Bryant Funeral Home.
Ellen E. (Kogl) Dewey, 84, of McDonald, died Monday, April 29, 2019. She was born the middle child to William and Helen (Barenburg) Kogl on September 20, 1934 in Herndon, Kansas. She attended grade school through the 3rd Grade in Herndon before their family moved to the Southwest part of Rawlins County. She then attended Mirage Township Country School and Atwood High School. She helped her family on the farm and was active in 4H. After High School, she moved to Atwood where she worked for Doc and Doris Warta.
She met the love of her life Otis P. Dewey in 1952 and they were married on February 28, 1962. She always said it was the coldest day of the year on this day. She settled down to be a wonderful Homemaker, most days she was the Ranch Wife, Parts Runner, Book Keeper and biggest supporter of her family and friends. She loved every moment of spending time with her Grand Children, no matter if it were their special Saturday mornings or being their biggest fans at all their activities. She also cherished the time she spent with her many nieces and nephews throughout the years.
Ellen enjoyed raising large vegetable gardens and just loved working outside. She was an incredible cook and there was always room at their table for anyone. She said she would just add a little water to the gravy. She also made some of the best pies around. Ellen was an active member of the Sacred Heart Christian Mothers Alter Society and worked the Mirage Township Elections for many years.
Preceding in her death were her parents; her husband, Otis P. Dewey; sister Agnita Kogl; brothers, Ronald and Wilbert Kogl; brothers-in-law, Harry Craig and Chauncey Dewey JR and sister-in-law Betty Kogl.
Those left to mourn and to celebrate her life are her son Tom and wife Kelly; daughter Linda Hahn and husband JR; grandchildren, Tayten and Tru Dewey; brother Edmund Kogl (Elaine); sister Laura Craig; sisters-in-law Deanna Dewey and Ella Kogl; many nieces and nephews; her special “daughter” Bobi Robles; her lifelong friend Delphine Dozbaba and many family and friends.
Visitation is 4-7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 2, 2019, at Baalmann Mortuary, Atwood, with a Vigil at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 3, 2019, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Atwood. In Lieu of Flowers memorials are suggested to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, for the Kitchen Remodel or the McDonald American Legion in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For condolences or information visit www.baalmannmortuary.com
Mildred Marlaine “Mid” (Fuller) Keller, age 98 of Ellis, Kansas passed away Saturday, April 27, 2019 at Hays Medical Center. She was born August 4, 1920 in Ellis to Fred and Lucia (Walker) Fuller. She was a graduate of Ellis High School in 1938. On February 24, 1952 she married Henry Keller in Ellis. He preceded her in death on July 14, 2004.
Mid worked for many years for her brother at Fuller Brothers Drug Store in Ellis and later worked at Hallmark and Kuhn’s jewelers in Hays. She was a faithful member of Christ Lutheran Church where she enjoyed teaching the young children during Vacation Bible School. Her memberships included Young Matron’s Club, VFW Ladies Auxiliary and Bridge Club.
She is survived by many loving nieces and nephews.
Thanks to her devoted family, friends, and caregivers Mid was able to live in her home until her passing.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Frank and Fred Fuller; sisters, Lucille Rowland, Anna Frances Fitzgerald, Marjorie Steel, Helen Dawson and Jean Richards.
Funeral services will be 11 AM Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Christ Lutheran Church in Ellis. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery in Ellis.
Visitation will be 6:30 PM – 8 :00 PM Friday, May 3, 2019 at Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E 17th Ellis, KS 67637.
Memorial contributions are suggested to Christ Lutheran Church.
Condolences may be left by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]
Morris Brack, age 84, of Ellis, Kansas passed away Saturday, April 27, 2019 at the Edwards County Hospital in Kinsley, Kansas. He was born May 18, 1934 in Ellis County, Kansas to Issac and Bertha (Schumm) Brack. He graduated from Ellis High School in 1952. On October 5, 1963 he married Margaret Keller in Ellis at St. Mary’s Church.
Morris worked for the Ellis County Highway department for 39 years operating a High Loader. He was a US Army veteran serving in Germany in 1957 and 1958. He was a member of St. Mary’s Church and the Ellis Knights of Columbus. He was an avid sports fan, enjoyed visiting with friends at Love’s and his pride and joy was the farm.
He is survived by his wife Margaret of 55 years of Ellis; a son, Mark Brack (Gail) of Ellis; two daughters, Maryl Gottschalk (Tim) of Ellis and Margo Brack of Ellis; a brother, Adair Brack of Ellis; grandchildren, Jerome Gottschalk (Jenni), Kimberly Gottschalk, Keisha Ghumm (Ethan), Kaishen Brack; step grandchildren, Sarah Dreiling (Joe), Todd Walker, Christy Schoenthaler (Devin), great grandchildren, Julian Gottschalk, Braxton Ghumm; great step grandchildren, Elizabeth Dreiling, Eli Dreiling, Emmett Dreiling and Easton Schoenthaler.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Vada Lacore and brothers, Gilbert, Raymond, Marvin and Palmer Brack.
Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, May 4, 2019 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Ellis.
Memorial visitation will be Saturday 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM with a rosary service at 10:00 AM all at St. Mary’s Church.
Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Mary’s Church.
Arrangements in care of Keithley Funeral Chapel 400 E. 17th Ellis, KS 67637. Condolences may be sent by guest book at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com or by email at [email protected]
Members of the Ellis County Commission toured approximately 50 of the nearly 1,500 miles of Ellis County roads Monday as part of their annual road tour.
Along the way, commissioners and members of the Public Works Department took a look at bridges in need of repair, areas that have been flooded or washed out due to recent rains, and the condition of the asphalt on Feedlot Road — one of the key routes of the Northwest Business Corridor.
Ellis County Public Works Director Bill Ring said Monday the annual road tour is something that has been going on for several years and is an opportunity for the commissioners to see first-hand some of the infrastructure issues Public Works crews see on a daily basis. It is also a public meeting, which allows all three commissioners to take part in the tour together.
“We can openly discuss and have interaction with the three commissioners at the same time,” Ring said. “We can point out repairs, (and) we can point out potential issues.”
Commissioner Dean Haselhorst said this was his ninth road tour, but it was the first for new commissioners Butch Schlyer and Dustin Roths.
Several areas of Feedlot Rd. are deteriorating and in need of repair
“Commissioner Schlyer is a former county department head but he wasn’t out in the county that much because of his position running the Health Department and Commissioner Roths is brand new also,” Ring said. “He hasn’t had a lot of time in the county on the roads we went today.”
Among the areas the commission toured Monday was Feedlot Road from U.S. Highway 183 west to 210th Avenue.
The Northwest Business Corridor has been designated as the route between Feedlot Road from 230th Avenue to U.S. 183 and 230th Avenue between Interstate 70 and Feedlot Road.
In February, the commission approved $800,000 toward improvements in that area in hopes that other entities would also provide funds through grants and state funding. The county estimates it will cost more than $15.7 million to complete all three phases of the project.
In April, following a tour of the area the Kansas Department of Transportation pledged $1 million in matching funds for the project, contingent upon a grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation.
The commissioners confirmed Monday the Dane G. Hansen Foundation denied the county’s $2.2 million grant request, forcing a search for other funding sources.
Haselhorst said he believes the county should approach the city of Hays about helping fund improvements.
Feedlot Road is paved in the area of the business corridor, but the pavement is beginning to show serious signs of disrepair. Public Works staff said it will only get worse when construction of roundabouts on Vine Street begins in the near future. Traffic is expected to increase in the area with motorists attempting to detour around construction to reach Interstate 70 and the west side of Hays.
Haselhorst also said the county needs to contact U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran about the project after he helped the city of Hays get funding for the roundabouts project on Vine.
The area is home to Hess Services, an oilfield supply company that employs more than 200, Midwest Energy’s Goodman Energy Center and several other businesses.
Haselhorst said Monday that Hess Services is expanding and, after talking with the new owners of the feedlot, located between 210th and 200th avenues, he expects the feedlot to expand its operations in the coming months.
That will also result in an increase in truck traffic on Feedlot Road.
Curt Hoffman, the county’s road and bridge supervisor, presented the commission with two repair options to consider for Feedlot Road.
The first would be to mill the surface back to a dirt road and maintain it as needed for approximately $21,000. But he added he wasn’t sure how the residents in the area would like that because they would lose their paved road.
The other option presented to the commission was a prime and seal that would cost between $65,000 and $104,000.
Hoffman said a similar reclamation project was done in 2009 for $371,000. In the last two years, Hoffman said the county has spent more than $19,500 a year to patch the roadway.
During the tour, the commission also traveled to Victoria to look at Cathedral Avenue. The county is responsible for both Cathedral Avenue. and Washington Street in Ellis because they are main thoroughfares in the communities of less than 5,000 people.
Road and Bridge Supervisor Curt Hoffman shows Commissioners Dustin Roths and Butch Schlyer the underneath side of a stone arch bridge
Cathedral is experience significant “crowning,” where the middle of the street is higher than the edges. The city of Victoria received a grant from the USDA to replace waterlines, and the lines run under and around Cathedral. Ellis County officials expect that when the lines are replaced, the county will have to do some work on Cathedral.
Two other stops along the tour included a stone arch bridge that is in need of repair and one that has been repaired. The bridges are built out of limestone and, when water gets into the areas of the bridge it will deteriorate. Crews use galvanized steel in the arches to repair the damage on the underside of the bridge, and a cap is put on the sides of the top where needed.
The commission also observed areas where residents have planted crops or placed items in the county’s rights of way. Public Works Director Bill Ring said if they are going to enforce the regulation that nothing is allowed in rights of way, then it must be done countywide. That includes trees, mailboxes and fences.
Both Schlyer and Roths also planned on touring other part of the county they were unable to get to Monday.
Three drunks hail a taxi. The driver, seeing that they’re wasted, decides to pull a fast one. He switches the engine on, then quickly switches it off and announces, ” We’re here!”
The first guy hands him the fare, the second guy says, “Thanks,” but the third guy angrily smacks the cabbie’s head.
“What was that for?” asks the cabbie, afraid he’s been caught.
“That,” says the third passenger, “Is for driving so fast!”
In order to attempt to preserve a bit of history often overlooked, the Ellis High School Alumni Association Cookbook Committee is working on a special project.
