Checking out Cooper, a Speckled King Snake, which eats rattle snakes.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Trick or treating at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History combines the best of Halloween traditions–candy, costumes (even on some of the exhibit animals), fun, a spooky atmosphere–with a little bit of natural history education lurking around every corner.
The annual Spooktacular is a free event sponsored by the museum, Lifetime Dental and Eagle Community Television.
Student volunteers from Fort Hays State University lead the young costumed trick-or-treaters through the tour of several Halloween-themed exhibits.
“Scooby Doo” checks out a “Freaky Frog” at the Sternberg Spooktacular
They can check out live scorpions and cockroaches, residents in the Mice Motel, the not-so-real residents of Spiders-Ville and the sitting-so-still Freaky Frogs that they don’t look alive. They are.
Jacob with Darius and Pebbles
Over at Critters in Costume, museum volunteer Jacob shows off Sternberg’s two Africa Spur Tortoises, Darius and Pebbles. The pair are surrounded by stuffed animal and bird specimens that are also decked out with Halloween headgear.
“Superman Shawn” holds Buddy, a Great Plains Rat Snake
One of the most popular stops is the Snakes Alive exhibit, where three native Kansas snakes are wrapped around volunteers Shauna and Shawn. Most of the kids can’t wait to pet the snakes–Buddy, Chubs and Cooper–asking what they eat, where they live and, most importantly, will they bite?
“No,” answers Shawn, “but the rattlesnake in the glass cage behind me will bite you, and that’s why he’s in a glass cage.”
Most of the adults accompanying the youngsters stand far away, not interested in getting a closeup lesson about Kansas snakes.
Scott Boomer interviews a Minion at the Sternberg Museum Spooktacular
After walking through the dinosaur exhibit, and hearing the T-Rex roar–which seems a little scarier on Halloween–the kids arrive at the end of the tour, stopping to chat about their Halloween costumes with KAYS Radio’s morning show team, “Boomer and Mike.”
Eagle Community TV’s Jordan Schaeffer runs the camera as costumed kids wait their turn to be interviewed.
The interviews are videotaped by Eagle Community TV and will be played back next week on Eagle Community TV Channel 14.
A fairy princess checks out her new princess toothbrush from Lifetime Dental Care.
Then, finally, it’s candy time.
It’s handed out along with toothbrushes, courtesy of Lifetime Dental, plus a flashlight to brighten up the dark during night time trick-or-treating yet to come.
Cleanup for Discovery Room manager Thea Haughen at the end of the Sternberg Spooktacular includes taking out the “tortoise turds.”
State 111th District candidates Sue Boldra and James Leiker listen to a question from moderator Dr. Joe Romance, Assistant Professor of Political Science, during a debate Thursday night at Fort Hays State University.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The two candidates for the 111th District in the Kansas House, which includes Hays, Victoria and Munjor, along with a few townships, both plan to “knock on more doors this weekend.”
Incumbent Republican Sue Boldra, 65, is seeking her second term to the Kansas House. Democratic challenger James Leiker, 31, is hoping to unseat Boldra in his first quest for state office. Both are Hays residents.
Boldra is a former longtime government teacher at Hays High School, a former small business owner and is now a Fort Hays State University instructor of teacher education. Leiker is president of the Hays USD 489 school board, the former educator at Sternberg Museum of Natural History and is now involved in a health and fitness business, Genesis Pure, with his wife, Taryn. Both candidates are active in their respective family farm interests.
Audience questions for the candidates are collected by SGA volunteers.
They squared off in a debate Thursday night hosted by the Fort Hays State University Student Government Association and the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce at the FHSU University Robbins Center. Dr. Joe Romance, FHSU assistant professor of political science, moderated the debate, then opened the floor to questions from the audience of about 80 FHSU students, staff and community members.
Asked what the “most pressing issue” is in the Kansas Statehouse, Boldra answered “the rural versus urban split among legislators.” Leiker said it was “education funding.”
The pair also disagreed about the effectiveness of Gov. Sam Brownback’s plan to gradually eliminate the state income tax.
111th District Rep. Sue Boldra, R-Hays
“Yes, I believe with improved small businesses and the growing economy we’ve seen, I think it will take care of itself,” Boldra said. “I think if more people have more money in their pockets they’re going to spend it here. They’re going to buy things for themselves and for other people. That’s what needs to happen. Right now, the average income across Kansas is 10.6 percent higher than it was two years ago, so our people really are doing better.”
111th District candidate James Leiker, D-Hays
Leiker countered.
“No one I’ve talked to (in the 111th district) has said ‘I’m thankful for my income tax cut from the state,’ ” he said.
He challenged constituents to people to “look it up. Get the nonpartisan study and numbers from Wichita State (Prof. Ed Flentje’s research) and make that decision for yourself. I stand very against it.
“Wiping out 42 percent of your budget, your income taxes, is going to take a lot of sales taxes to make up. What it does it help the people at the top first. We need to look out for everybody, not just the 1 or 2 percent at the top. We need to find out what are the consequences of these tax breaks,” Leiker said.
In her closing statement, Boldra called herself a “common person, making less than $100,000 a year.” She described Leiker as “probably the poster child of entrepreneurial excellence in Kansas. His Facebook page says he made a quarter million dollars the first year they put their business on the Internet. That’s great and I applaud him and his family. That means Brownback’s policies are probably working.”
Leiker’s closing statement came before Boldra’s.
“The people you elect to office really hold the future. Educate yourself on all the issues — get to know your candidates. A lot of times you put people in office who say they’re going to do one thing and they turn right around and do something else,” he said. “I give you my word tonight as I look you in the eye, that I will represent you. I’m not in this race for myself. I’m concerned about the future, especially for my two children. I’m running for this office because I believe it’s the right thing to do. It’s time for change.”
After the forum, Leiker wrote on his Facebook page in response to Boldra calling him “the poster child of entrepreneurial excellence in Kansas.”
“I was of the understanding that people want leaders who can manage money, spend wisely and who are successful and driven,” posted Leiker.
First Congressional candidate Jim Sherow, D-Manhattan, prepares for his portion of the candidate forum Thursday at FHSU.
First District Congressional candidate Jim Sherow, D-Manhattan, the former mayor of Manhattan and a Kansas State University history professor, also participated in the second portion of the forum.
Incumbent Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler, was not present. His campaign statement was read by Romance. Huelskamp was in Hays on Thursday morning with the Kansas GOP Clean Sweep bus tour which traveled on to eastern Kansas.
Tuesday’s ballot for patrons of Ellis USD 308 includes an $8.9 million bond issue to finance school improvements.
A $10 million bond issue proposal last year was voted down by the school district patrons, which includes residents in western Ellis and eastern Trego counties.
Although “nobody wants to pay more in taxes, the community needs to understand how much education needs have changed,” said USD 388 Superintendent Bob Young.
Ellis USD 388 Superintendent Bob Young
“We used to prepare kids to work in factories, to stand still and focus on one mundane task. Today we’re trying to train our kids to be problem-solvers and to think on their feet. That requires a whole different skill set — no sitting in desks in neat rows and listening to the same teacher talk for seven hours,” Young told Eagle.
“It also requires different space needs. Community members can get into the classrooms and see what’s being taught, how much education has changed.”
The list of improvements included in the bond issue is similar to last year’s, according to Young, with 5 priorities agreed upon by USD 388 staff and Board of Education:
1. Pay off existing high interest rate energy loan
2. Combine Junior High with High School for more efficient use of staff and student learning time
3. Address heating and air conditioning needs of Washington Grade School
4. Improve gymnasium space for mandated Physical Education as well as team sports
5. Improve the District Stadium for both track and football facilities
Details of the USD 388 bond proposal are available on the school district’s website.
Sandy Gottschalk, Dean of North Central Kansas Technical College-Hays Campus
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
A new dean has been named of the Hays campus of North Central Kansas Technical College.
Sandy Gottschalk has been serving as the interim dean since May, following the resignation of Don Benjamin.
The announcement was made Monday evening after a meeting of the NCK Tech board in Hays.
Gottschalk, a native of Hays, started teaching nursing classes at the Hays campus 25 years ago, and has served as the nursing department director the past 16 years.
According to Mari Tucker, NCK-Tech Marketing/Foundation Director, a new director of nursing will be hired.
“If I had to wake up and worry about something, it’s probably not going to be about getting Ebola, especially in Hays, Kansas.” Hays Med Chief Medical Officer Dr. Larry Watts
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Americans are much more likely to contract the flu virus than Ebola, according to officials at Hays Medical Center.
The flu virus is airborne, making it much easier to transmit. Ebola is transmitted only through contact with bodily fluids.
Hays Med Chief Medical Officer Dr. Larry Watts said the hospital is “prepared to provide safe patient care to individuals who have symptoms or diagnosed with Ebola.”
“As we get experience with it (in the U.S.), we’ll get better at treating it. The question is, will we even get it here to get experience? Right now, you basically have to go to Africa to get really get experience and training in treating Ebola,” he said. “The doctors and nurses who have gone over there to treat it aren’t dying. If (health care workers) follow good technique, the possibility of getting it is small.”
“If I had to wake up and worry about something, it’s probably not going to be about getting Ebola, especially in Hays, Kansas,” Watts added.
Just four Americans have been diagnosed with Ebola in the United States — none are in Kansas. One Dallas man died; the other three, all health care professionals, have recovered.
The city of Hays is becoming about as water efficient as it can be, according to officials.
Commissioners Henry Schwaller, Eber Phelps and Shaun Musil attended a regional water conference in Las Vegas earlier this month.
Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno, who had to stay behind, said this is one of several water seminars city officials have attended over the years.
“It’s a great opportunity to get more ideas for ‘best management practices’ used across the country, and even throughout the world, in conserving water,” according to Briseno.
“After last year’s trip, a number of initiatives came forward. We implemented several programs for water conservation — as you can tell from the budget — anything from education and marketing, to incentives, regulations and legislation,” he said. “We are becoming about as water efficient as we can. Our citizens are among the best users of water in Kansas — an average 95 gallons of water use per Hays resident per day.
“Sooner or later we’ll get to that place where we can’t get any more efficient, so our education component will be stepped up,” Briseno added.
Low-flow toilet installation is eligible for a rebate from the city of Hays.
“Education is just as important as incentives, rules and regulations,” Briseno emphasized. “Within the next month or so, Jason Riegel, city of Hays Water Conservation Specialist, will start working with our local schools to get that information to the students.”
Even though there have been good rains in 2014, a water watch remains in effect with Hays in the fourth year of a drought.
There aren’t many things you can’t get rid of during the annual Hays Alley Cleanup, according to Solid Waste Supervisor Marvin Honas.
No household hazardous waste — you can discard that for free at the Ellis County landfill. No medical waste will be picked up, nor tires or batteries.
“We don’t have a limit to the amount of unwanted stuff you can put out, but there is a time limit at each collection location,” cautioned Honas.
“We try not to spend more than 20 minutes at any one residence. If we see a pile set out that looks like it may take longer than that, we’ll talk to the customer and let them know it might not all get picked up:”
“If you have too many of those 20 minute stops, you don’t get very many collections made in a day,” Honas explained.
He said the free annual cleanup averages 800,000 pounds of junk each year.
The alley cleanup starts Monday with curbside collections.
O’Loughlin students and staff get ready for their “Pinwheels for Peace” photo Wednesday afternoon.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
O’Loughlin Elementary School was awash in orange Wednesday.
The students and staff weren’t celebrating an early Halloween — they were celebrating “Kansas Kindness Day” by wearing orange in support of October’s National Bullying Prevention Month.
“We wanted to flip (the theme),” said Principal Nancy Harman, “and concentrate on the ‘being kind’ aspect.”
The students also made “Pinwheels for Peace” — brightly decorated paper wheels attached to pencils. They had planned to “plant” the 400 or so pinwheels in the school’s front lawn following an afternoon school assembly, but light rain and wind forced the postponement until Thursday, just in time for parent-teacher conferences.
Pinwheels for Peace
Special guests at the all-school assembly included Fort Hays State University baseball players, along with mascot Victor E. Tiger. The players talked about the importance of teamwork and helping each other out, especially when someone makes an error.
Pitcher Giles Fox, a junior from Ashland, asked the students to think about making a mistake — “Let’s say you messed up. What do you want your friends to do when you make a mistake? Do you want them to blame you?”
“NO!” the crowd answered loudly as Victor E. Tiger shook his head.
“Me neither,” Fox agreed. “Do you want them to support you, to say ‘You’ll get it next time’?” Fox asked.
“YES!” said the students with enthusiasm as Victor nodded his head vigorously.
“Right,” agreed Fox again. “That’s what we do on the (FHSU) baseball team.
“We all want support. That’s what being a good teammate is all about about … picking someone up when they make a mistake, telling them they’ll get it next time, and saying ‘I’m going to do all I can to make sure it doesn’t happen again.’ ”
USD 489 Superintendent Dean Katt issues a “kindness” challenge.
USD 489 Superintendent Dean Katt challenged the assembled group to “perform two random acts of kindness each day, from here on out. Soon, it will become a lifelong habit.” He also urged everyone to “keep a smile on your face.”
“We are so fortunate to have these people join us,” Harman said. “They really support our students.”
FHSU Singers are “Happy”
The assembly kicked off with an a Capella version of Pharrell Williams’ hit song “Happy” sung by an all-male quintet from the FHSU singers along with Choral Director Dr. Terry Crull.
Six classes were made even happier as they accepted awards of fresh oranges and orange juice boxes for 100 percent classroom participation in the Pinwheels for Peace project.
In a videotaped message, Hays mayor Henry Schwaller, who attended Wilson Elementary School, read his official Decree of Kindness Day in Hays.
Hays Mayor Henry Schwaller reads his “Kansas Kindness Day” proclamation in a videotaped message. O’Loughlin Elementary School principal Nancy Harman, right, shows the decree to students.
Schwaller told the O’Loughlin students that “people who are different from us make our lives better. They give us new experiences, new thoughts, new ideas. It’s important to be kind to everyone and treat them with respect.”
Finally, the group posed for a picture, dressed in their orange and holding their pinwheels high. The photo will be displayed in O’Loughlin along with the mayoral proclamation.
The Pinwheels for Peace Project was created in 2005 by two art teachers in Florida. Their goal was to give their students a chance to express their feelings through a visual representation.
This year’s annual alley cleanup in Hays starts Monday, with curbside collections first. Then it’s on to the alleys.
City workers will be removing items not collected during normal trash pickup.
Unwanted items for pickup should be separated into four categories, according to Hays Solid Waste Supervisor Marvin Honas.
“The ‘metals’ pile includes appliances … all refrigerators, washers, dryers, etc.,” Honas explained. “The freon does not have to be drained from the refrigerators or any other appliance with a compressor. The employees at the Ellis County Landfill will do it for (the city). We do ask that you remove refrigerator doors before placing them in your collection area, so that children don’t get trapped inside.”
“Only one sweep will be made across the city, and unwanted items should be in place no later than early Monday morning,” Honas emphasized.
The forecast is not calling for “coat weather” Saturday — but you know it’s just around the corner. That’s why for 17 years, the annual coat drive in Hays has been scheduled for late October.
This Saturday, the annual coat giveaway will be underway from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Top Notch Cleaners and Master Cleaners, Eighth and Fort, in downtown Hays.
Hundreds of coats of all types and sizes for adults and children have been donated by the public, with minor repairs and cleaning donated by Top Notch and Master.
“Get here early if you need kids’ coats,” advised Amy Smith, co-owner of Top Notch Cleaners. “They’re always the first to go.”
Donation boxes were set up at both cleaners, the McDonald’s restaurants and in the Hays schools.
“These coats, along with some gloves and hats, are free to anybody who needs them. There’s no paperwork, no income guidelines, no questions asked,” Smith added.
TOPEKA — The Roberts for Senate campaign announced the launch of a bus tour through Kansas’ First Congressional District, commonly known as the “Big First.” The tour will begin on Thursday.
During the three-day Big First Bus Tour Senator Pat Roberts will make seven stops around the First District visiting with voters.
Roberts will be in Hays Saturday at 10:30a.m. at the Hays VFW Post 9076, 2106 Vine, for a “meet and greet.”
Ellis County Republican Party chairman Elaine Adams said Sen. Roberts is expected to be at the VFW for about an hour.
Roberts is then scheduled to be in Russell at 11:45 a.m. at Meridy’s Restaurant, 1220 S. Fossil, according to the Russell Area Chamber of Commerce.
The schedule is below.
Thursday, October 23
Event: Great Bend Ice Cream Social
Time: 5:15pm CT
Location: Front Door Community Center; 1615 10th St.; Great Bent, KS
Friday, October 24
Event: Dodge City Breakfast
Time: 7:45am CT
Location: Casey’s Cowtown; 503 E Trail St.; Dodge City, KS
Event: Liberal Lunch
Time: 11:45am CT
Location: Historic Rock Island Depot; 4 Rock Island Rd.; Liberal, KS
Event: Garden City Meet and Greet
Time: 3:45pm CT
Location: 801 Campus Drive; Garden City, KS
Event: Cowley County GOP HQ Stop with Senator Tom Coburn
Time: 5:30pm MT
Location: High Plains Museum; 1717 Cherry Ave; Goodland, KS
Saturday, October 25
Event: Colby Meet and Greet
Time: 7:45am CT
Location: Prairie Museum of Art & History; 1905 S Franklin; Colby, KS
Six prominent women politicians in Kansas — three Democrats and three Republicans — have come together in a grassroots coalition to “Reroute The Roadmap.”
They say Gov. Sam Brownback’s four-year “Roadmap For Kansas,” which phases out the state income tax, has put Kansas in financial trouble.
One of the six charter members of “Reroute The Roadmap,” Joan Wagnon is a former Kansas Revenue Secretary and now chairs the Kansas Democratic Party. Wagnon has been traveling across Kansas to “try to wake people up.”
According to Wagnon, “Right now there is a gap of about $300 million in every budget year that doesn’t come in to match what spending is right now.”
Those numbers come from former longtime state budget director, Duane Gosseen, who now writes the blog “The Kansas Budget.”
Closing the gap, Wagnon said, would require a doubling of the state sales tax.
“Faced with losing all the income tax, you have two choices — cut spending or find other revenue sources.
“What happens when the state doesn’t fund something is that it (the funding source) gets pushed down to the local level and that raises the property tax, or if they have the capacity, a local option sales tax (is implemented.) But if we were to replace all the state income tax, we would have to double it. Right now it’s 6.15 percent; we would have to double it to 13 percent.”
Wagnon added “whoever is elected governor Nov. 4 will have to make some difficult decisions.” More information is available on the group’s website www.rerouteroadmap.org.
Ellis County Commissioner Dean Haselhorst, Chairman Barb Wasinger, Commissioner Swede Holmgren
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The Ellis County Commission decided not to hire a construction manager to oversee the county’s three major building projects underway.
“It’s not a good use of taxpayer dollars,” Chairwoman Barb Wasinger said during Monday night’s regular commission meeting.
“We already have architects hired for these projects,” agreed commissioner Swede Holmgren, “and the county needs to enforce our relationship with them.”
Wasinger directed county administrator Greg Sund to add the county to the construction meeting minutes distribution list. Sund told commissioners the meetings are “occurring about every three weeks, although early October rains caused delays in construction.”
Future home of the Ellis County Emergency Services building
Ellis County is in the midst of a courthouse/Law Enforcement Center remodel, adapting the former Commerce Bank on Main Street for administrative offices and constructing a new Emergency Services station at 22nd Street and General Hays Road.
Sund also reviewed eight change orders for the Administrative Center remodel as proposed by the contractor, Paul-Wertenberger.
“These are situations encountered by the contractor that could not be anticipated until after demolition was conducted in some areas of the building and additional needs identified following the bid letting process,” Sund explained.
