Spring is in the air and spring activities are popping up all across Hays.
Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Rick Rekoske has a preview of some of the many events during March.
For an updated list of activities in Hays, or to add an event to the Events Calendar check the CVB website.
HACC
The weather was much more cooperative the second time around for the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 banquet Sunday evening.
The annual event was originally scheduled for Feb. 2, but postponed until Feb. 28 as rapidly deteriorating winter weather ultimately resulted in a blizzard, white-out conditions and electrical outages in Hays.
Those who had already purchased their tickets for the sold-out banquet regrouped in the Fort Hays State University Memorial Union and celebrated with a social hour at 5:30 p.m. followed by the 7 p.m. dinner.
Winners honored by HACC for 2016 are as follows:
Dustin Roths, Diamond R Jewelry
Rising Star Award, Sponsored by Eagle Communications
Horizon Appliance and Electronics
Small Business Achievement Award, Sponsored by James Motor Company
Joslyn Brungardt, Paisley Pear
Business Woman of the Year Award, Sponsored by Girl Scouts of Kansas Heartland
Nancy Jeter, Big Brothers/Big Sisters
Citizen of the Year Award, Sponsored by Sam’s Club
Gary Wentling, Bank of Hays
Hall of Fame Award, Sponsored by Golden Belt Bank
City of Hays
The Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, Hays city commission meeting has been canceled.
ELLIS–Despite two votes and two executive sessions Friday, the city of Ellis still has not hired a police officer candidate recommended by Police Chief Taft Yates and the hiring committee.
The minutes of the Feb. 19, 2016, Special Meeting follow.
ELLIS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING Minutes February 19, 2016
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Present were Council members Holly Aschenbrenner, Gary Luea, Heather Luea, Jolene Niernberger, Bob Redger, and John Walz. Also present were Assistant City Clerk Charlene Weber, Police Chief Taft Yates, and City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler. City Clerk Amy Burton and City Attorney Olavee Raub were absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO THE AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
None
PURPOSE OF SPECIAL MEETING
Mayor David McDaniel stated the purpose of the special meeting is to consider approval of Police Department hire, including any executive sessions, if necessary.
Personnel: Entry
Police Chief Taft Yates stated that his investigation, as requested by Council, leads him to request approval of the candidate presented for hire. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to approve the hiring of the Police Department candidate. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner questioned the need for an executive session prior to consideration of a vote. Upon a call for the vote, the motion failed 3-4, with Council members Jolene Niernberger, Bob Redger, and John Walz voting in favor of the motion, and Council members Holly Aschenbrenner, Gary Luea, and Heather Luea voting opposed. Mayor David McDaniel broke the tie by voting against the motion to allow for an executive session.
Executive Session
Mayor David McDaniel called for an executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel. A 10-minute executive session was proposed starting at 6:03 p.m. Mayor David McDaniel asked for a motion to recess. Council member Gary Luea moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to recess to executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel with Police Chief Taft Yates and City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler present. The motion carried 6-0. The Council returned to open session at 6:13 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
Post Executive Session
Council member Gary Luea asked Chief Yates why the candidate chosen was the best candidate for the position. Chief Yates responded the interview board consisted of six individuals including an officer, the Mayor, a Sheriff’s deputy, a Highway Patrol officer, and two teachers. Chief Yates was present during the interviews but was not involved in the decision on which candidate to select. Mr. Luea then re-directed his question to Mayor McDaniel. Mayor McDaniel explained the interview process which involves a written test, a physical fitness test and then an interview before the hiring committee. Council member Heather Luea stated she didn’t have confidence in the process.
Executive Session
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to recess to executive session for personnel matters of non-elected personnel for 15-minutes with the Police Chief and City Prosecutor present. The motion failed 2-4, with Council members Holly Aschenbrenner and Bob Redger voting in favor of the motion, and Council members Gary Luea, Heather Luea, Jolene Niernberger, and John Walz voting opposed.
Personnel: Entry
Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to approve the hiring of the Police Department candidate. Council member Heather Luea stated she would like more discussion before consideration of a vote. Upon a call for the vote, the motion failed 3-4, with Council members Jolene Niernberger, Bob Redger, and John Walz voting in favor of the motion, and Council members Holly Aschenbrenner, Gary Luea, and Heather Luea voting opposed. Mayor McDaniel broke the tie by voting opposed to the motion for purposes of further discussion.
Executive Session
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Heather Luea seconded a motion to recess for 15-minutes for personnel matters of non-elected personnel with the Police Chief and City Prosecutor present. The motion carried 5-1, with Council member Gary Luea opposed. The executive session started at 6:19 p.m. The Council returned to open session at 6:34 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member John Walz moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.
City of Hays
The Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, Hays city commission meeting has been canceled.
NCKTech
NCK Tech is pleased to announce the Dean’s Honor Roll list for the Fall 2015 semester. To qualify for the honor roll, students must achieve a 3.5 – 4.0 GPA. The students, their program of study and hometowns are as follows:
Agenda: Wesley Thompson–Agriculture Equipment Technology
Ashland: Timothy Miller–Electrical Technology
Atwood: Shawn Pochop– Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning
Axtell: Zachary Heinen–Telecommunications and Network Tech
Belleville: Sarah Talkington–Practical Nursing
Beloit: Tyler Blass–Information Tech
Beloit: Tiffany Bockover–Business Management
Beloit: Jace Campbell–Electronic Engineering Technology
Beloit: Christie Louthan–Technical Studies
Beloit: Rebecca Robison–Practical Nursing
Beloit: Christopher Sevilla–Electrical Technology
Beverly: Blaine Hayden–Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning
Beverly: Shannon Pittman–Practical Nursing
Beverly: Mackenzie Wilson–Practical Nursing
Brookville: Amy Breneman–Wolf Assoc Degree Nursing
Catharine: Alexa Brull–Business Technology
Cawker City: Katelynn Ratliff–Electrical Technology
Chase: Clayton Ingham–Electrical Technology
Claflin: Matthew Demel–Welding
Claflin: Carson Kirmer–Electrical Technology
Clay Center: Aaron Pierson–Heavy Equipment Operation
Clyde: Lucas Bulleigh–Electrical Technology
Clyde: Kenzie George–Practical Nursing
Colby: Troy Koon–Welding
Colby: Zachary Young–Undeclared
Coldwater: Nathan Brooks–Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning
Coldwater: Makena Unruh– Practical Nursing
Concordia: Austin Budreau–Agriculture Equipment Technology
Concordia: Anthony May–Business Management
Concordia: Abigail Mendenhall–Practical Nursing
Concordia: Kimberly Reed–Practical Nursing
Concordia: Jessica Tantuico-Boudreau–Practical Nursing
Concordia: Jaimie West–Practical Nursing
Courtland: Megan Worm–Practical Nursing
Damar: Maci Knipp–Technical Studies
Edwardsville: Joseph Coffman–Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning
El Dorado: Lucas Hill–Diesel Technology
Ellis: Makenzie Henman–Assoc Degree Nursing
Ellis: Rachel Keller–Pharmacy Technician
Ellsworth: Zachary Martin–Telecommunications and Network Tech
Enterprise: Cy Sprouse–Electronic Engineering Technology
Erie: Tyler Thiesing–Technical Studies
Glasco: Sarah Hines–Practical Nursing
Glasco: Connor Weis–Electrical Technology
Goodland: Stephani DeLaRosa–Technical Studies
Great Bend: Garrett Anspaugh–Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning
Great Bend: Christopher Nollette–Welding
Hays: Candace Albers–General Business
Hays: David Allaman–Electrical Technology
Hays: Aaron Begler–Assoc Degree Nursing
Hays: Samantha Brown–Pharmacy Technician
Hays: Ma-Corazon Burgos–Practical Nursing
Hays: Brian Cheslog–Carpentry-Cabinetmaking
Hays: Michelle Dehnel-Snavely–Business Management
Hays: Cathryn Doty–Business Management
Hays: Mandy Ehrlich–Business Technology
Hays: Sara Favinger–Practical Nursing
Hays: Jordan Fischer–Automotive Technology
Hays: Zachary Gibson–Business Technology
Hays: Jesus Gil–Automotive Technology
Hays: Danelle Glines–Practical Nursing
Hays: Dylan Gottschalk–Practical Nursing
Hays: Gregory Harold–Undeclared
Hays: Aubree Karlin–Practical Nursing
Hays: William Kasselman–Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning
Hays: Michael Lohrmeyer–Business Technology
Hays: William Long–Pharmacy Technician
Hays: Beth Lutters–General Business
Hays: Lea Miller–Technical Studies
Hays: Jennifer Montoya–Assoc Degree Nursing
Hays: Taylor Morgan–Practical Nursing
Hays: Kathleen Oder–Practical Nursing
Hays: Lauren Pallister– Practical Nursing
Hays: Breiton Pfannenstiel–Heavy Equipment Operation
Hays: Sydni Pfannenstiel -Practical Nursing
Hays: Regina Sipplegrimes–Business Management
Hays: Deidra Smith–Practical Nursing
Hays: Jordan Staab–Technical Studies
Hays: Lisa Ulrich–Technical Studies
Hays: Dakota Zimmerman–Automotive Technology
Hoxie: Connor Katt–Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning
Hutchinson: Garrett Schmidt–Electrical Technology
Jewell: Logan Schwerman–Agriculture Equipment Technology
LaCrosse–Kathy Bracke– Practical Nursing
Lebanon: Sara Steenson–Practical Nursing
Liebenthal: Kelly Koerner–Welding
Logan: Dorothy Becker–Business Technology
Logan: George Latt–Information Tech
Louisburg: Trenton Graves– Welding
Louisburg: Chase Green: Diesel Technology
Lucas: Steven Ammon–Automotive Technology
Mankato: Lee Simon Practical–Nursing
Marysville: Brandon Nash–Information Tech
McCook: Jaedon Willis–Automotive Technology
Meade: Landry Cordes–Assoc Degree Nursing
Minneapolis: Katelin Steinbrock–Practical Nursing
Morrowville: Tristan Miller–Electrical Technology
North Platte: Bryant Iverson–Information Tech
Norton: Wyatt Harting–Carpentry-Cabinetmaking
Osborne: Bailey Conway–Practical Nursing
Osborne: Shelby Jones–Practical Nursing
Penokee: Kelsey Keith–Practical Nursing
Pfeifer: Noah Dreiling–Carpentry-Cabinetmaking
Plainville: Brittan Chance–Welding
Plainville: Justin Holloway–Welding
Plainville: Amanda Rudman–Practical Nursing
Plainville: David Sowles–Electrical Technology
Plainville: Caitlin Wessel–Practical Nursing
Quinter: Colton Corwin–Building Construction Technology
Quinter: April Easterberg–Technical Studies
Quinter: Braden Evans–Building Construction Technology
Rexford: Jacob Antholz–Information Tech
Riley: Tyler Hageman–Agriculture Equipment Technology
Russell: Jaryn Brown–Assoc Degree Nursing
Russell: Andrew Hachmeister–Welding
Russell: Kristen Lorenc–Assoc Degree Nursing
Russell: Jori McAdoo–Practical Nursing
Russell: Shanan Ryan–Practical Nursing
Russell: Jason Suchy–Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning
Saint John: Austin White–Electrical Technology
Salina: Nathaniel Burke–Information Tech
Salina: Allie Schooley–Practical Nursing
Scott City: Colin Foos–Electrical Technology
Scott City: Hayden Webster–Diesel Technology
Seneca: Nicholas Lierz–Diesel Technology
Sharon Springs: Trevor Frasier–Culinary Arts
Sharon Springs: Dylan Nicholson–Culinary Arts
Stockton: Ryan Allen–Carpentry-Cabinetmaking
Stockton: Cayden Conyac–Bricklaying
Stockton: Amanda Morgan–Assoc Degree Nursing
Stockton: Patricia Stewart–Pharmacy Technician
Talmage: Colton England–Welding
Tribune Joanna Schneider–Assoc Degree Nursing
Utica: Dylan Nuttle–Carpentry-Cabinetmaking
Victoria: Sarah Bose–Undeclared
Victoria: John Karlin–Electrical Technology
Wilson: Randi Stoppel–Assoc Degree Nursing
Woodbine: Jessica Acheson–Assoc Degree Nursing
Rep. Troy L. Waymaster, Kansas House District 109
February 19, 2016
FY 2016 & 2017 Supplemental Bill
As I mentioned in the last newsletter on Wednesday, February 10, the House of Representatives debated and amended the supplemental budget bill for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. Thursday of last week, the Senate passed its version of the budget bill, Senate Substitute for House Bill 2365. By having a budget passed in both chambers, the next step of the budget process was that the budget committees of each chamber, House Appropriations and Senate Ways and Means, met to discuss, add, or subtract details into the final Conference Committee Report.
The most poignant changes that the conference committee members made to the report for fiscal year 2016 were: the addition of $3 million to address understaffing and recertification for Osawatomie and Larned State Hospitals; added language allowing the governor an enhanced allotment authority if the state’s general fund ending balance is projected to fall under $100 million; if there is a transfer from KPERS then a payment would be required with an assessed 8% interest rate by September 30, 2016; Prohibition of STAR Bonds in Wyandotte County for 2016 unless legislation is passed during the 2016 legislative session; and if the governor wishes to privatize either Osawatomie or Larned State Hospitals, thatt would require action by the state legislature.
Many of the items mentioned in the 2016 budget are also mentioned in the 2017 budget. Some of the differences are: deleted the transfer of Children’s Initiative Funding to the State General Fund and instead directed that money to the Children’s Cabinet for Grants; appropriated funds for a 2.5% pay increase for correctional officers; language was added to prevent the governor from transferring money from KPERS in 2017; included a provision that the debt service for the state highway fund cannot exceed 19%; stipulates that if there is any bonding over $5 million the only entity that can be used is the Kansas Developmental Finance Authority; and added $378,000 for safety net clinics in the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. The conference committee report passed the House on Wednesday, February 17, with a vote of 68-54. I voted “yes” on the conference committee report I voted “yes” on the conference committee report even though I do not particularly like some components of the budget bill, I acknowledge that we need to address the financial needs for the state of Kansas.
Efficiency Study: General Government Budget Committee
On Tuesday, the General Government Budget Committee, which I serve as chairman, conducted a briefing with the personnel from the auditing firm of Alvarez & Marsal, which is the firm that was contracted to complete the efficiency study. Some of the suggestions that were discussed varied from the way that the state of Kansas conducts its purchasing agreements, the selling of surplus property that is currently owned by the state of Kansas, negotiations with our vendors on making our payments on a longer payout structure and with discounts if the state would choose to pay them earlier, reduction and centralization of our fleet vehicles, and printing. Since the budget bill has now passed, in the month of March the committee will use it’s time to identify additional savings for the state.
Bills Debated in the House Last Week
In addition to the supplemental budget bill for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, the Kansas House of Representatives debated and voted on nearly twenty other bills. Here are some details of the bills that we deliberated on this past week:
• House Bill 2480 from the committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources makes a number of technical changes to the existing law regarding livestock brands. The bill passed 98-23. I voted “yes”.
• House Bill 2490 is another bill that came through the committee on Agriculture and Natural Resources which makes some changes to current statute and specifies that the Secretary of Agriculture has the allowance to expand the definition of plants, include toxicants in the list of plant pests, and expand the scope of plant pests to include those which can cause a threat to public health. This bill passed the House by a vote of 109-13. I voted “yes” on this bill, as well.
• House Bill 2518 would require that all death or stillbirth certificates and medical certifications be filed electronically with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, beginning January 1, 2017. The House vote was 111-11, again, I voted “yes.”
• Substitute for House Bill 2289 would require that it be certified that prior to stopping the person operating or attempting to operate a vehicle, the law enforcement officer had reasonable grounds to suspect the person was committing or had committed a crime or traffic infraction, or was involved in an accident resulting in property damage or injury. HB 2289 passed out of the House, 115-7, and I voted “yes.”
• The final bill I will mention is House Bill 2503 which would require all vehicle registration applicants to pay a $2 non-refundable surcharge for each vehicle being registered and that surcharge would be credited to the Kansas Highway Patrol Staffing and Training Fund. We will vote on this bill on Monday.
Session Calendar and Contact Information
On Monday, the Speaker of the House’s office made us aware that there were going to be some alterations to the session calendar.
The new session calendar has shortened our legislative session before the April break. The last day that morning and afternoon committees may meet will now be February 18, Turn Around Day has been has been moved forward to February 23 and we will be out of session from February 24 through March 1. The new session calendar also accelerates our schedule by having the date of first adjournment on March 25. The Legislature would then be on break for most of April and would return for veto session on April 27.
If you have any concerns, feel free to contact my office at (785) 296-7672, visit www.troywaymaster.com or email me at [email protected].
The honor to serve you in the 109th Kansas House District and the state of Kansas is one I do not take lightly. Do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts, concerns and questions. I appreciate hearing from the residents of the 109th House District and others from the state of Kansas.
Troy L. Waymaster,
State Representative
109th Kansas House
300 SW 10th
Topeka, KS 66612
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The Hays Fire Department responded to a call about a house fire at 2522 General Lawton at 8 a.m. Monday morning.
According to Chris Stegman, shift commander at the scene, the building was filled with smoke when firefighters arrived. Stegman said a woman and her husband were home when a smoke alarm went off. The couple was not injured.
Firefighters initially were unable to find the source of the smoke. Stegman said a couple of crews will remain on the scene for awhile.
KCAIC
TOPEKA–The Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission (KCAIC) has announced 25 grant awards totaling $120,811. The grants were awarded by the Commission on Jan. 15 through the Strategic Investment and Arts Integration programs and adjudicated through a peer panel review process. KCAIC programs are designed to promote partnerships, enhance community and economic development, encourage risk and innovation, maximize statewide impact and highlight the role the arts play in all areas of community life. Grantees are selected by the KCAIC through an application and review process.
The Strategic Investment Program (SIP) recognizes the important role individual artists and creative organizations play in building and sustaining cultural and economic vibrancy in Kansas. By funding a variety of professional and organizational development opportunities that impact cultural programming, these grants support initiatives that use the arts to enhance community vitality, revitalize neighborhoods, generate local business, create and preserve job opportunities and impact tourism.
The Arts Integration Program (AIP) grants support the role the arts play in all levels of education, community service and workforce development. This program provides funding for educational institutions, arts organizations and community service non-profits to use the arts to increase student success, foster creative thinking, develop critical job skills and enhance community development.
The final deadline to apply for the Strategic Investment or Arts Integration programs in FY16 is Feb. 19. To learn more about KCAIC programs, please visit KansasCommerce.com/CAICPrograms.
A list of grant awards follows.
Strategic Investment Program
Friends of Garden of Eden, Lucas, $2,438 – Organizational Development
The Friends of Garden of Eden will engage a consultant to conduct a 2-day board development retreat and produce a guiding document that will include an updated mission and vision statement; defined roles of the Garden staff, board members, and advisory committee; and an outline of governing processes and an annual calendar of deadlines.
Post Rock Opportunities Foundation, $5,000 – Organizational Development
Post Rock Opportunities Foundation will much needed enhancements and upgrades to their Kansas Originals website to increase financial and marketing features, including shipping, secure payment services and reporting functions, to local artists and craftsmen.
Theatre Atchison, Atchison, $1,647 – Equipment & Technology
Theatre Atchison will make needed upgrades to serve the organization’s technical needs to increase organizational efficiency and safety, enhance production value, and support additional quality programming including scene shop and paint shop equipment, stock scenery flats and platforms; technical booth computer and a video camera for educational workshops.
The Culture House, Olathe, $3,400 – Equipment & Technology
The Culture House will upgrade their current computer equipment to effectively support students in the enrollment process and other organizational tasks, including donation and grant tracking, off-site ticketing for performances, and improved marketing materials through enhanced graphic design.
Wichita Grand Opera, Wichita, $5000 – Equipment & Technology
WGO will undertake a number of infrastructure upgrades to improve operational effectiveness including the replacement of obsolete computer, communication, accounting, and server systems.
Theatre Lawrence, Lawrence, $5000 – Equipment & Technology
Theatre Lawrence will acquire professional cameras and related technology support systems, including computers and charging carts, for multiple program purposes including youth and adult programs, archival performances and special productions; promotional videos ; actor rehearsals; volunteer training and professional development; and enhanced technical and audio/visual operations.
Leavenworth County Historical Society, Leavenworth, $2,176 – Equipment & Technology
The Leavenworth County Historical Society will purchase equipment necessary to preserve and professionally display oversized prints from the Everhard Glass Plate Negative Collection, a collection of negatives taken by four Leavenworth pioneer photographers during the first century of the towns founding a depicting rare , irreplaceable images of Leavenworth residents and street scenes dating back to the 1860s.
Vernon Filley Art Museum, Pratt, $5,000 – New & Expanded Works
Vernon Filley Art Museum will purchase new exhibit signage, stands, barriers/stanchions, and produce promotion literature in order to properly and safely display and the works of internationally renowned sculptor John DeAndrea and realist painter Ariel DeAndrea. The program will involve the DeAndrea exhibit and an opening community reception with the artists, who will spend several days in Pratt during the exhibit. Promotional materials will be used to expand audiences and enhance the reputation of the community amongst high caliber artists and exhibition equipment will be used to support future programs.
Lucas Arts & Humanities Council, Lucas, $5,000 – New & Expanded Works
The Grassroots Art Center will create a new program entitled, “To Hail and Back.” The project will engage local professional filmmakers to produce a documentary featuring personal, intimate stories from local underserved residents of the catastrophic hail storm that occurred, April 24, 2015 in Lucas through an archival film featuring. The film will screen at a public showing in Lucas featuring in conjunction with a “Hail Therapy Tea Party” featuring the newly donated one-of-a-kind tea pots from visionary, self-taught artist, Jim Matthews of Garden City. The film will be used to create a new category of the next annual Lid-Off Film Festival in Lucas titled “Community Challenge” comprised of locally sourced films featuring Kansas communities.
Chamber Music at the Barn, Maize, $5,000– New & Expanded Works
In honor of its 20th Anniversary, Chamber Music at the Barn will commission a new work for chamber music by Grammy Award winning cellist and native Kansan, Eugene Friesen. This new work, based on Carl Sandburg’s 1918 poem, Prairie, will be produced and presented in two public concerts featuring Trio Globo with Kansas musicians (an instrumental string quartet and female vocal quintet ) with additional performance opportunities in the future in other small venues. In addition, the 2016 performance will be used as an invitational showcase opportunity for larger symphonies to hear the work toward possible future full-scale presentations of the work.
Fisch Bowl, Inc., Wichita, $3,700– New & Expanded Works
Fisch Bowl, Inc. will introduce an annual scholarship and exhibition program, entitled Neighborhood Superstar; an award that recognizes creatives who are actively practicing in underserved communities and celebrates the essential nature of creative work that has germinated independently of the spotlight to not only highlight the accomplishments of deserving artists, but to also create new relationships and opportunities that will encourage the existing arts infrastructure to support similarly obscure, yet meritorious, projects. In its inaugural year, the 2016 Neighborhood Superstar Award will honor the contributions of grassroots Wichita filmmaker RG Miller through a variety of exhibition and opportunities to support the selected artist’s ongoing practice including community film screenings, a formal gallery show of Miller’s props and cinematic ephemera, interactive workshops, and in-person engagement with the artist, thus enabling an interdisciplinary exploration of work that has only barely been introduced to the mainstream. Fisch Bowl believes that showcasing his work, and subsequently the work of other Neighborhood Superstars, will provide underserved communities the opportunity to engage and explore a shared creative language that fosters free-flowing creativity and healthy cross-cultural arts collaboration.
Theatre for Young America, Mission, $5,000– New & Expanded Works
Theatre for Young America will expand their interactive show “The Toughest Kid in the World”, which focuses on anti-bullying and anti-violence, to include a larger group of middle school students through touring on-site performances of the main-stage production at Kansas schools in the Kansas City area. Along with the performance of the show and subsequent Q&A, TYA has developed very successful workshops detailing conflict-resolution and anti-bullying. Actors in the production lead these workshops in small classroom settings with direct interaction with students and teachers. Teachers learn theater techniques that they can then use in the classroom after the TYA program is completed.
Arts Integration Program
Graham County Arts Council, Hill City, $2,000 – Visiting Artists
Graham County Arts Council will bring multi-Instrumentalist Todd Green to Hill City to perform a public concert and evening lecture focused on breaking down the barriers that divide our culture from others by experiencing insight through their music and visit Hill City Elementary School and Hill City Junior/Senior High School to perform on over 30 acoustic string, flute and percussion instruments from all over the world that takes students a tour of many countries and their diverse styles of music through performance and informative explanations of the music and the instruments.
Brown Grand Theatre, Concordia, $1,400 – Visiting Artists
Brown Grand Theatre will bring Kansas Touring Roster artists Opera Kansas to Concordia for a public performance of “On the Road in Alsace: two Offenbach one act comic operas” and to present a master class to choir students at Concordia High School and Cloud County Community College as well as members of local community theatre group The Brown Grand Players.
Marshall County Arts Cooperative, Marysville, $2,500 – Visiting Artists
Marshall County Arts Cooperative will bring accomplished pianist and vocalist Martyn Lucas to Waterville and Frankfort for two public concerts and to conduct local all-day vocal clinics for students in the Valley Heights and Marysville school districts where he will share his vocal techniques and musical strategies culminating in a student performance for the community.
Wichita County Arts Alliance, Leoti, $1,800 – Visiting Artists
Wichita County Arts Alliance will bring The Richard Pena band to Leoti for a public performance and community talk at the Wichita County High School about his experiences featured in many documentaries about the Andes Survivors including: “Stranded” and History Channel’s “I am Alive: Surviving the Andes Plane Crash” where he served as an expert on the topic.
Western Plains Arts Association, Colby, $3,600 – Visiting Artists
Western Plains Arts Association will bring Kansas Touring Roster artists The Diamond Wranglers to Oakley for a public performance, a presentation for seniors living at the Logan County Manor, and a student presentation at Oakley High School featuring a discussion and demonstration of their instruments and musical style.
Lied Center of Kansas, Lawrence, $3,000 – Visiting Artists
Lied Center of Kansas will bring the Working Group Theatre to Lawrence for a public performance of “Out of Bounds” followed by a 20-minute Q&A forum, three middle school performances, a post-performance twitter engagement event where students will be encouraged to tweet positive thoughts, experiences, and actions plans inspired by the issues and themes that were presented using the hashtag #OutofBounds, and a school workshop for counselors and students focused on how students and counselors can be empowered to create safe environments in their schools and help reduce and prevent bullying.
Art That Touches Your Heart Foundation, Wichita, $4,650 – Visiting Artists
Art That Touches Your Heart Foundation, in partnership with Wichita State University and USD 259, will bring visual artists including Frank Frasier, Randy Leger, and Lucky Easterwood to Wichita for an exhibition, a charitable youth art show, mentorship, and awards program, and three high school visits, focused on developing and encouraging young African American students in art classes and careers by researching the history and display the cultural journey of the African American race from 1877 to 1977.
Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, $5,000 – Integrated Arts Education
Johnson County Community College will offer the third phase of a multi-phase initiative to train Kansas artists to serve as teaching artists who will provide professional development for educators on arts integration throughout the curriculum. Phase 3 will continue offering arts-integrated curriculum to reinforce learning and strengthen the teaching skills of local teaching artists, but adds a focus on moving the professional development model to schools outside of Johnson County. Running the model outside of Johnson County with local teaching artists trained by JCCC Arts Education ongoing workshops, is a new piece of the existing program using the following criteria to identify future locations: 1) evidence of little or no arts curricula, 2) areas where professional development is limited, and 3) schools with underprivileged students.
Center for Living Education, Matfield Green, $10,000 – Innovative Partnerships
Partners: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Matfield Station, The Gallery at Pioneer Bluffs, Marianna Kistler Beach Museum of Art, Kansas State University Prairie Studies Initiative.
The Center for Living Education and partners will bring artists from across the North American prairie region to Chase County for 2-week residency periods in 2016. The goal of this residency program is to spread awareness of the prairie as an ecosystem worth protecting by inviting artists from diverse communities to contribute their voices to a conversation about place. Resident artists will be provided accommodations for 10 nights and VIP access to the Tallgrass Preserve during their stay. Each artist will give a public presentation — in the form of a talk, demonstration or open studio during their stay. A group exhibition of work from resident artists will take place in Matfield Green, and a summit talk with all participating artists will be held at the Beach Museum in Manhattan, KS. This event will be available to remote locations via live stream.
Kansas City Community College, Kansas City, $7,600 – Innovative Partnerships
Partners: Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department, Country Club Bank, Downtown Shareholders Association
Kansas City Community College will expand the Sheriff’s Arts Program through the guidance of Todd Meier, art professor, and Charlie Leader, theatre professor, and with the support of Kimberley Holm, Program Director of Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department. College students in the visual and performing arts will offer classes at the Adult Detention Center in drawing, painting, and improvisation. Artwork and improvisational productions created by detainees will be displayed in a number of facilities. An art show date will be scheduled for May on the college campus for the inmates’ families and the general public. Improvisation classes will provide detailed instruction in techniques useful to detainees as they are released and begin seeking employment. This program provides teaching opportunity for students interested in visual and performing arts education, experience with therapeutic effects of visual and performing arts instruction for an institutionalized population, exposure to entrepreneurship through sales of created artwork, and enhances employability skills upon detainees’ release.
Opera Kansas, Wichita, $9,500 – Innovative Partnerships
Partners: Century 21 A.R.T.S Afterschool Program, USD 259, Woodland United Methodist Church, Several additional Wichita area schools and senior living facilities.
Opera Kansas will integrate 10 different one act opera performances and educational lecture programs into several community locations as part of their Operation Education program including new program presentations, new curriculum content, additional schools, and a Senior Living Outreach program. The mission and goal is to integrate opera into facilities that match plot to place and/or content area that either enhance non-music curriculum content area, including history, civics, geography, citizenship, literature, mathematics, science and music or reflect the location in which the opera is set. The program will introduce new audiences to opera both young and old; enhance appreciation and understanding of the art form through Opera 101 lectures, enhance the quality of life and education for participants, and provide intimate performances in the community.
City of Fort Scott, Fort Scott, $7,000 – Innovative Partnerships
Partners: Bourbon County Arts Council, Fort Scott Community College, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, Beaux Arts Center, Young Professionals League of Bourbon County, Small Business Development Center of SEK, Bourbon County Schools
The City of Fort Scott and partners will create and produce The 2nd Story Festival of Arts & Ideas, an annual weekend event that brings together creative individuals and encourages the community to engage in the arts and innovative thinking. Following a Thursday evening performance by Branford Marsalis, the event will highlight the arts and innovation through panel discussions, break-out sessions, and workshops and will celebrate Fort Scott as a regional hub for the arts and entrepreneurship. Long-term goals for the event include a renovated downtown building to serve as a year-round center for the arts, an increase of public art throughout the city, an economic boost to the local economy and the perception of Fort Scott as a compelling place to live for creative individuals from the region.
Lawrence Arts Center, Lawrence, $15,000 – Innovative Partnerships
Partners: City of Lawrence’s Solid Waste Management Division, the University of Kansas School of the Arts, Friends of the Kaw
The Lawrence Arts Center and partners will bring artist Aurora Robson, who is known for transforming plastic waste into large and intricate sculptures as well as for her advocacy work in ocean and river cleanup, to Lawrence. Robson will oversee the collaborative expansion of her piece “Withdrawal” by University of Kansas students in a public exhibition space as part of a KU summer course based on Robson’s Project Vortex curriculum “Sculpture + Intercepting the Waste Stream”; conduct a free, hands-on workshop for local artists and art students about using discarded objects and other waste materials provided by the City of Lawrence’s Solid Waste Management Division, and present an updated version of her TED talk “Trash + Love”. In addition, Robson will share her art and artistic process at the 2016 Free State Festival, an annual multi-disciplinary arts festival, which brings the very best in independent film, music, art, and ideas to over 20,000 people in Lawrence each June. Complementary activities include a panel presentation on local recycling practices, including composting, water conservation, and the city’s recycling facilities, led by speakers from Solid Waste Management; a Kaw River cleanup volunteer opportunity led by Friends of the Kaw; and arts education workshops for children and families about using discarded packaging materials as art supplies.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Those attending baseball games in Larks Park will enjoy major improvements to the concession stand this year.
Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty recently updated city commissioners about the activity that’s been going on at the facility on
“The Larks Park concession area is very undersized,” said Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty, “and when you’re at a game, it can be quite congested. They’re trying to do a lot of things in a very small building.”
“For many years we’ve had a group of concerned residents that truly take an interest in Larks baseball, and Hays baseball in general, as well as Fort Hays State University, wanting to do something different with that facility.”
Larks Park is home to the FHSU baseball team. The park, built in 1940 as part of a Work Projects Administration project, is owned by the city of Hays and operated by the FHSU Athletic Department. The facility hosts many college and high school baseball regular season games and tournaments as well as the Hays Larks semi-pro summer league team.
“There’ve been a lot of ideas for volunteer projects and group projects–none of them have ever seemed to get traction,” Dougherty recalled, until a year ago. An interested group had some money to match city money for improvements. Then they ran into a roadblock–the flood plain.
“When you’re constructing projects in the flood plain, it’s extremely difficult,” Dougherty explained, “and what they wanted to do was demolish the existing facility and rebuild. That would require adhering to National Flood Protection Act standards and Flood Plain standards, very difficult to do.
“So I challenged city staff to sit down with this group and figure out what their goals and expected outcomes are and see if we can make this work within the constraints of the flood plain regulations.
“We sat down with Parks staff, Planning, Inspection and Enforcement staff and the people interested in this project and they were able to come up with a plan of action that accomplished all of the needs of the Hays Baseball Association, Fort Hays, and the city. They put together a project that was approved by the city.
“It was done in a very economical manner with a lot of volunteer effort, a lot of people donating services and labor in kind,” he pointed out.
“When it’s done, as an attendee of either Hays baseball or Fort Hays events, you will see the concessions area much improved—enlarged with better seating and the foot traffic should move through there a lot better.
“We’re very happy with the project. It was a good effort, kind of indicative of what happens in Hays. We have a lot of community first-minded people and this is a good example of that.”
Dougherty said the Director of Parks, Jeff Boyle, and the volunteers will present a 
full report about the improvements to city commissioners when the project is completed.
One year has already passed since I took over as the Director of Downtown Hays Development Corporation and what a year it was! It was a year of change,
growth, and new adventures and 2016 will be no different.
DHDC was established 15 years ago and since its onset has felt the need to locate our office in Downtown Hays. We had not been successful in locating a property of the right size and price until now.
We are happy to announce our new address as of February 1 is 109 West 11th Street.
The need to locate Downtown was not one of discontent with our current location. We have appreciated the synergy/partnership we have shared with our Welcome Center building mates, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Heartland Community Foundation, Hays Area Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition for Economic Development, but we serve Downtown. I have made a commitment that despite our move Downtown, I will continue to collaborate with each of these entities and continue consistent conversations with all.
Our goal is to continually bring awareness to what’s happening on The Bricks of Downtown Hays. We want to see Downtown become a gathering place, an environment that enhances the quality of life, and an area that is an economic driver for our community. I feel DHDC can’t fully commit to these goals unless we are located in the area we serve.
The new location will allow us to improve connections with downtown merchants as well as local and out of town patrons, provide an avenue to focus on development opportunities, and room for growth.
You probably hear this all the time now. The Bricks in Downtown Hays is home to shopping, dining, arts, entertainment, and the historic Chestnut Street District. Now it’s finally our home too.
I hope you can all be excited with us and visit us in our new home soon because Downtown belongs to all of you as too. Your contributions have helped make Downtown Hays the premier shopping district in Northwest Kansas. We are so grateful to you for helping to create and support the heart and soul of our community.
Our work in Downtown Hays is never done. We promise to continue to work for the betterment of our community. We will be accountable to the coming generations who will be the judges of what we do today, and we will not disappoint. If you’d like to know more about the difference DHDC makes or partner in our efforts please don’t ever hesitate to call or email me. Thank you for supporting our mission.
Sara D. Bloom
Executive Director, DHDC
O. 785-621-4171
C. 785-639-6671
109 E 11th, Hays, KS 67601
www.downtownhays.com
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The Bargain Hut in downtown Hays, an expansion of the Ellis Thrift Shop, will celebrate two years of operation April 1.
The Ellis Thrift Shop, opened in 2007 by the local “Live to Give” ministry, is operated by volunteers with a mission to “Recycle, Reuse, Rebuild.”
Phase Three of the mission, “Rebuild,” has also been very successful at Bargain Hut, 125 E. Eighth. The Hays store has set up a nonprofit organization and begun giving grants to community groups.
“Due to the overwhelming generosity of the community of Hays and the surrounding communities, we are pleased to let everyone know that we have given out over $11,300 in cash donations in 2015,” said Vera Haver, ministry member.
According to Haver, the local non-profit groups receiving donations include Ellis Food Bank, DSNWK, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bethesda Place, Hosea’s Heart, Your Voice Through Cancer, CASA, OH4F, Random Ministries and Samaritan’s Purse.
Donated items and goods from Bargain Hut have been shared with other local agencies including Backpacks For Kids, Options, First Call For Help and the Salvation Army.
“Thanks everyone very much for your donations and for shopping with us,” Haver added.
Donations are accepted at the Bargain Hut warehouse just east of the store.
For more information, call (785) 621-4654.
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Yep, it was unseasonably hot in Hays Thursday–warm enough to set a new record high of 91 degrees for Feb. 18.
According to official statistics from the K-State Agriculture Research Center, that absolutely melted the old 1930 record of 78 degrees.
And, as Official Weather Guy Joe Becker pointed out, just 18 days ago Hays had six inches of snow on the ground.
A few melting mounds of dirty snow can still be seen around town, piled in the corners of large parking lots.
