By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“It’s a huge thing to try and tackle, and there is no easy solution,” according to Jeff Boyle, director of the Hays Parks Department.

His crew has been battling a mosquito problem this summer thanks to more rain than usual.

The city does not “fog” for mosquitoes, a chemical spray process considered to be “unsatisfactory for the most part,” Boyle said.

Instead, his crews treat areas of standing water with chemical briquets, designed to kill mosquitoes in the larvae stage. But the city only treats areas on public property such as the draws on Skyline Drive and Canal Boulevard.

“There’s likely more standing water on private property in Hays, and residents need to get rid of that,” encouraged Boyle:

“Buckets of water sitting around in your yard, tire swings, plugged rain gutters, old marine tarps on the ground with water caught in the folds are all examples of where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Look around for these things. By emptying the water out, you’ll help control the mosquito population in Hays.”

Hays received an official 0.30 inches of rain overnight Wednesday. The weather forecast calls for a chance of additional showers late Thursday, continuing into Friday morning.

ELLIS–The Ellis Booster Club is looking for new members.  Businesses, individuals and families are welcome and encouraged to join.

“There will be some changes and exciting projects for the upcoming school year,” co-president Shelly Hensley said in a news release.

Booster Club will continue to recognize honor roll students and athletes as well as support other school-related successes.

“Instead of having raffle tables and asking community members to bring items, we’re asking for support in donating and assisting with completion of some special projects identified by community members and our coaches,” Hensley said.

The projects include funding the following items:

1. Button machine to make buttons for honor roll recipients and pictures of athletes that can be worn at athletic and other school events.

2. Water cooler cart that holds a 10-gallon cooler with storage underneath for the football team.

3. A Fisher Sideline Track Protector that will be placed on the track to protect it from football cleats and will be a visual enhancement featuring the Ellis logo.

4. An aluminum sign with an “E” to be displayed on the press box at the football field. School personnel are assisting the Booster Club in painting the press box.

5. Fence cups for the tennis court chain-link fence that will read “Railer Pride” and for the football field gate area that will read “Ellis Railers.”

6. Banner to be displayed on the front of the football stands and in the high school gym during volleyball, basketball and wrestling. The banner will be 4’ X 24” and will say “Home of the Railers.”  Donors’ names will also be displayed on this banner. It will be a quality banner to be used for several years.

7. Warm-ups for the girls basketball team to wear.

8. Plastic footballs that will be thrown out at home football games.  We are looking for two business donors that could have the opportunity to have their names listed on the footballs.

Click Ellis Booster Club donation form for a  membership/donation form explaining the projects.

“We feel these will add to our existing facilities and add to school spirit and community pride,” Hensley added.

Contact the following Ellis Booster Club officers with questions or suggestions of  other projects for the Booster Club to consider:

• Co-Presidents: Shelly Hensley ( 650-9963) and Gina Smith (650-1495)
• Vice-President: Audrey Schoenberger (726-1021)
• Treasurer: Toni Younger (650-7740)

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A 25-year-old Hays man was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of multiple incidents of electronic solicitation and sexual exploitation of a child.

According to Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler, Chance Charles Keiswetter, 25, is accused of two counts of electronic solicitation and seven counts of sexual exploitation of a child. He is being held in the Ellis County jail.

“Keiswetter was in possession of child pornography,” said Scheibler, “and we have confirmed Keiswetter’s content was being shared outside of Ellis County.”

Scheibler added the case came to the attention of the Hays Police Department after a phone call from a concerned parent who found “inappropriate content on a child’s social media.”

“Had this parent not called us, we would not have known about it, and it could have been going on forever,” he said. “We know it is happening in this area. … It’s the duty of parents to monitor all of the social media used by their children. If a parent finds something worrisome, we want them to notify us.”

The investigation is continuing.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Voter turnout in Ellis County for Tuesday’s primary election was 17.43 percent. County Clerk Donna Maskus was “hoping for 20 percent.”

Of the 17,667 total Ellis County registered voters, 3,079 people cast ballots.

More Republicans voted than Democrats–73 percent and 26 percent. The results are unofficial until canvassed by the Ellis County Commission Monday morning.

Click here for unofficial Ellis County results in  the national and state races according to the Kansas Secretary of State’s office.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

VICTORIA — “It’s too much fun!” That’s the slogan of the annual Victoria Herzogfest — and most attendees will agree.

On Friday and Saturday, Victoria hosts its 32nd Herzogfest with plenty of fun and games, German food, and music.

The family-oriented event in Honey Braun Park  is one of the largest free celebrations in western Kansas.

Bring some cash, though. Marge Rome, Herzogfest board of directors president, is sure you’ll want to purchase some of the homemade food.

Thanks to the many sponsors, even the concerts are completely free:

“The Wes Windholz Band kicks everything off Friday evening at 5 o’clock, followed by the welcome ceremony. Traditionally, the welcome has been on Saturday morning following the parade,” Rome said, “but we’re trying something new this year, and there is no parade.”

Also taking the stage Friday night are D.O.C. and Granger Smith. Saturday evening’s concerts are Hot Shots Band and Paramount.

A long-ago feature of the Herzogfest returns this year, the “Dive-In Movie” in the city swimming pool Saturday night at 9:30 p.m. Free swimming is offered both days.

A full list of Herzogfest activities is available online.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Marcy McClelland is the Republican candidate for Ellis County Commission District 1.

McClelland defeated Lyle Johnston, R-Ellis, by a vote of 456 to 293, 61 percent to 39 percent, in Tuesday’s primary election.

The 70-year-old Hays resident has never held political office before:

“I just can’t believe it,” she said Tuesday night after checking the unofficial results at the Ellis County courthouse. “I want to thank everybody who voted for me.”

Since her retirement in 2006 from Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, McClelland has been regularly attending Ellis County Commission meetings.

McClelland is a member of the Ellis County Joint Planning Commission and Ellis County Farm Bureau board. She owns farm ground northwest of Hays, which is in the Buckeye Wind Project.

McClelland took a break from hosting a party for her supporters at the American Legion to check the returns.

“We’re going to celebrate a little more and then I’m ready to go to work for the county,” she said.

“I would like to see some of these projects finished that have been in the works–the courthouse remodel, the new administration center, the new EMS/Rural Fire building.  Let’s hope we can put them together to everyone’s satisfaction.”

McClelland admitted she’s a “little bit nervous” about the road ahead, but added she “appreciates a challenge.”

Incumbent Swede Holmgren, R-Ellis, did not run for re-election.  There was no Democratic candidate for the primary election.

Voter turnout was 17.43% according to Ellis County Clerk Donna Maskus.  Results are unofficial until canvassed Monday morning by the Ellis County Commission.

The general election is November 4.

 

 

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Dennis Anderson, a Democrat from Overland Park, is one of several candidates for Kansas insurance commissioner. Republican incumbent Sandy Praeger is not running for re-election.

Anderson, who is from Smith Center, started an insurance education business with his parents and sisters in 1979. The business focuses on training insurance providers for licensing exams and to meet continuing education requirements.

The insurance industry is highly regulated, and it should be, said Anderson. He wants to make sure the state insurance department has “qualified” employees:

“You can’t second-guess what goes on in someone else’s job, but I hear of slow approval rates,” Anderson said.

“I also hear that a significant number of employees are of retirement age. These people have backgrounds in law, accounting, statistics and actuarial science. KDI employees need some specialized training.

“I think the first issue the department has is a need to visit with each employee, find out what their role is and what the workflow is, then determine if we’re staffed correctly.  How do we attract good employees to the state insurance department and how do we retain good employees?” Anderson said.

The Kansas Insurance Office is responsible for regulating insurance compliance, educating and protecting consumers, and overseeing insurance agents.

Anderson is the sole Democratic candidate.

The primary election is Tuesday. Polls in Hays are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Check Hays Post for results.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“There’s a definite need for shade.”

According to Kim Perez, president of Friends of the Hays Dog Park, Phase 3 funding is underway to purchase shelters for shade at the park located in the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.

Three shelters will be installed, providing a place for people to relax and stay out of the sunshine while their dogs exercise and socialize.

Cost for the shelters and concrete pads is approximately $7,500.

Once the shelters are installed, other improvements will be discussed by FHDP.

“We need to raise $10,000 for an endowed account for park maintenance,” Perez said.

Donations are now being accepted for the Friends of the Hays Dog Park Annual Garage Sale fundraiser to be held Aug. 15 and 16 in The Mall.

Items in good condition, except for clothing and shoes, can be brought to the former Fashion Bug location from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 13 and 14.

If donors need to bring their items sooner, call Laurie Mortinger at (785)-635-5616 to make different arrangements.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Jet passenger service is now flying in and out of the Hays Regional Airport.

The inaugural SkyWest flight early Friday afternoon from Denver drew more than 100 community members to watch and applaud the historic event.

The 50-passenger jet touched down in Hays at 1:08 p.m., 15 minutes early, and taxied to the terminal where SkyWest employees were waiting on the tarmac.

Within a 30-minute turnaround, the jet, with 28 passengers and a crew of three aboard, was back in the air headed to Denver.

Two Hays city commissioners, Shaun Musil and Kent Steward, were among those on the plane, along with interim airport manager I.D. Creech. They would return to Hays at 10:08 p.m., the last flight of the day.

“Some of us, though, had to work,” lamented commissioner Eber Phelps, who stayed behind to talk with local supporters:”

“All the communities Hays has talked to who have SkyWest as their carrier are reporting a doubling and even tripling of their airport boardings,” said Phelps.

“We’re quite excited about that because we do rely on Essential Air Service (federal) funding,” he explained. “We’d like to get 10,000 boardings in here annually and I think we’re going to be able to do that with this new carrier.”

That number of boardings would qualify Hays for a $1 million grant from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Phelps pointed out the airport has already finished improvements to the main  runway and upgrades to the terminal are underway.

“The former carrier used 19-seat turboprop planes. SkyWest is flying 50-passenger jets so the TSA holding area needs to be expanded and we’ll also be adding restrooms there,” said Phelps.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the terminal expansion will be held Tuesday, August 5, at 10 a.m. The project is expected to take about six months.

There are two flights each weekday between Hays and Denver and one flight Saturday and Sunday. Denver International Airport offers more than 800 flights to 165 non-stop destinations.

Flights can be booked online at www.united.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

WAKEENEY — This week marks the 104th year of the Trego County Fair in WaKeeney, and according to fair board member Sara Dunn, the committee works hard year round to make it a true “family event”:

“We actually call it ‘Something for Everybody,’ ” Dunn said. “We try to get something for everyone, from the youngsters and tweens to the oldest generation. Even our 26 vendors, which I’m in charge of recruiting, reflect those different interests. We’re really excited.”

Friday night’s headline entertainment at the Trego County Fair is concert performances by Bryan White and Wade Hayes.

Saturday’s highlights include the parade at 10 a.m. through downtown WaKeeney and the 4-H food auction at noon in the fairgrounds.

The fair continues through Sunday. A complete list of activities is available on the Trego County fair website.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Ellis Mayor Lyle Johnston is running for Ellis County Commission District 1.

He is being challenged in the Aug. 5 primary by another Republican, Hays resident Marcy McClelland. The seat is currently held by Ellis Republican Swede Holmgren, who did not file for re-election but has considered running as an independent in the November general election.

Johnston, 40, grew up in Ellis. His family moved to South Carolina where he graduated from high school. Johnston returned to Ellis County to attend Fort Hays State University and work on the family farm. He also works for Trego County Rural Water District No. 2.

“I’ve always had an interest in politics,” Johnson said. “I understand the issues surrounding agriculture and water which are so important to this area, and I believe I have good leadership experience by serving on the Ellis City Council.”

“I already have a role in leadership on the Ellis City Council for three years now,” Johnston explained, “and about 90 percent of what you do with any issue is a ‘no-win situation.’

“You read up on it to make an educated guess about it. Some (constituents) are going to love it; some are going to hate it. The important thing is to move forward.”

Johnston said he is a supporter of the fledgling Buckeye Wind Energy Project in Ellis County and “wishes it was already up and running.”

Although he praised the current Ellis County Commission for trimming the 2015 budget by $1.7 million, Johnston also said “realistically, the county will have to look at a permanent countywide sales tax to plan for future funding of major road and bridge projects.”

Polling locations in Ellis County will be open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 5. Advance voting is underway at the Ellis County Courthouse until noon Aug. 4.

Check Hays Post for election results as they become available.

Related story: Meet Marcy McClelland.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

As of  July 28, rainfall records for Hays indicate the city is 0.66 of an inch of precipitation above normal for the year.

Hays city commissioners get an update of the city’s water well levels each Monday.  According to commissioner Ron Mellick, the Smoky Hill water wells near Schoenchen have a “good recharge”:

“The levels of our Smoky Hill water wells near Schoenchen haven’t been this good since June 2011,” Mellick said.

“But the Big Creek wells in Hays are still on the lower end of normal operation. They haven’t gained as much, but they also don’t go down as fast (as the Smoky wells.)”

This is the fourth year of drought in western Kansas.

Official precipitation records from the K-State Agricultural Research Center from January 2011 through July 28 show Hays is still 12.66 inches below normal precipitation.

Although Hays recently downgraded from a Water Warning to a Water Watch, Mellick reminded residents it’s still important to “use water efficiently.”

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

ELLIS — The city of Ellis had nearly 15 inches of rain during the first two weeks of June, and water was again flowing through Big Creek.

But, like much of western Kansas, Ellis is in the fourth year of drought, and the city is looking for a new long-term water source, according to mayor Lyle Johnston.

“We’re still in Stage 3 Water Status — no outdoor watering is allowed. There was some talk of downgrading to Stage 2 with the recent rains, but our city water well levels haven’t come up where they should be,” Johnston said.

“Ellis is now working with an engineer to look for a new source of water in Trego County,” he added.

The city gets its water from the Big Creek alluvium.

“The project cost is roughly estimated at $1.7 million,” Johnston said. City staff and council members have talked about the “possibility of a bond issue” to pay for it.

“We’re already socking away the monies Ellis gets from Ellis County half-cent sales tax,” he said. “That money is dedicated to a water exploration fund long-term.”