The Hays Area Job Fair is scheduled for April 30 at The Mall in Hays. The event is open to veterans/military and their family from 3 to 4 p.m. and to the general public from 4 to 6 p.m.
A variety of businesses representing Ellis, Barton, Gove, Rooks, Russell, Rush and Trego counties are scheduled to take part in the job fair. If you are an employer and would like to attend, call (785) 628-3102 before April 28.
The job fair is sponsored by APAC-KansasInc. Shears Division, Hays Has Jobs, The Mall, ESGR and Hero2Hired, KansasWorks and WorkforceOne.
The city of Hays on Thursday delegated the authority over private wells within city limits by the state of Kansas.
Similar to city water customers, private well owners cannot water outdoors between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. Violators are subject to citations from the Hays Police Department.
Stormwater/Water Conservation Division Superintended Nick Willis says this designation is a first for the city of Hays:
It remains illegal to allow water to escape private property.
The city of Hays is in a Water Warning. The outdoor watering ban remains in effect until rescinded by the city commission.
There are 50 children on a waiting list for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County — Littles hoping to be matched with Bigs. And there are “more all the time,” according to BBBS Executive Director Nancy Jeter.
And one of the organization’s biggest fundraisers, Bowl for Kids Sake, will be May 5 at Centennial Lanes, 2400 Vine.
This year’s theme is “Go Big or Go Home.”
Last year, 349 children were served by BBBS — nearly 1,200 children have been part of the Ellis County program in its 14-year history.
“We now have kids in college who we thought wouldn’t even graduate high school,” Jeter said.
During a recent fundraising kick-off lunch, Jeter talked about the home lives of some of the program participants, relating stories of neglect, filthy living conditions, hunger and physical abuse.
“Every child has a story,” she said:
To schedule a team or for more information, call (785) 625.6672.
Teachers wanting to learn more about technology and how to use resources in the classroom are the focus of the upcoming Wild West CLOUD Fest at Fort Hays State University.
Teacher Education Specialist Kevin Splichal in the College of Education and Technology says this tech fair demonstrates what kind of “technology is at everyone’s fingertips — on the Internet and in the Cloud.”
Featured speaker for the April 21 event is Michael Graham, a Google Apps for Education Certified Trainer:
Spichal says his FHSU Teacher Education program plans for classes to be “textbook-free” starting in August with the fall semester.
Registration for the Wild West CLOUD Fest is open through next Monday, April 14.
Leuenberger, 34, went from meeting to meeting Thursday, greeting Options staff and volunteers in the office building, and then it was on to community supporters in Hays. Next week, she’ll be traveling throughout the northwest Kansas counties Options serves with a satellite office in Colby.
Her on-the-job training continues through June 30 under the direction of Charlotte Linsner who remains executive director until July 1. Linsner then will continue mentoring Leuenberger for another year.
Leuenberger has a degree in family studies and human services from Kansas State University and most recently was coordinator of KU Medical Center Area Health Education in Hays.
“I’ve always wanted to help people,” said Leuenberger, “and with the board of director’s vision, I now have the chance to help Options services grow”:
In order to accommodate the completion of ongoing construction work in Al Billinger Fieldhouse, the 2014 TMP-Marian high school baccalaureate mass and commencement exercises will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, 1805 Vine.
In November, the state fire marshal notified TMP the fieldhouse needed to increase the number and location of fire exits to maintain occupancy capacities necessary to host the public events that traditionally held there.
Construction began in early December, and the addition of a new, fire-rated hallway from the gym floor out the east side of the fieldhouse through the wrestling room has adequately addressed the need for increased egress capacity from the floor area. School officials were notified by local authorities that planned events could, once again, be held on the floor of the fieldhouse which now has an occupancy load of 500 persons with tables and chairs, and up to 680 persons with chairs alone.
“This will allow us to, once again, host Mother’s Day Mass and the Auction for Christian Education as scheduled as neither of these events require seating in the bleacher area,” said Advancement Director Jeff Brull.
It was hoped that all work would be completed in time to host several of the scheduled home basketball games in late February, but design changes and availability of necessary components pushed the schedule back. When it became apparent that commencement day may be affected, Principal Kathy Taylor addressed the seniors directly.
“Graduation is very important to me. It’s not something you do for 25 years and not feel a great deal of responsibility for,” she said. As former counselor for the school, Taylor was in charge of most aspects of the planning and execution of commencement for many years.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, one of the stewardship parishes that directly supports Catholic education in Hays, will host the 2014 baccalaureate mass and graduation ceremony for TMP-Marian on May 25.
After making many phone calls, Taylor determined the optimal location to hold baccalaureate mass and the graduation ceremony this year would be Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays. IHM is a member of the Heartland Parishes that support Catholic education at Holy Family Elementary and TMP-Marian through stewardship and resource sharing. IHM Pastor Kevin Weber has been working with Taylor on the details. At a meeting with senior parents earlier this week, Taylor communicated the plan that had been formulated to that point and asked parents to contribute their thoughts on scheduling and other logistics that would make the day memorable for the graduates.
Graduation day will be held on Sunday, May 25 as initially planned, but event times will change slightly. The baccalaureate mass will be held at noon. The noon Spanish mass ordinarily held by IHM on Sundays will be pushed back to 6 p.m. The graduation ceremony will take place in IHM church at 2 p.m.
Graduation announcements are being reprinted through the generosity of several benefactors so neither the families, nor the school will incur any additional cost. The reprinted announcements will be available to the families of the seniors who ordered them within two weeks.
Seating capacity at IHM accommodates around 1,100 people without any additional chairs set up, so the space is well-equipped to handle the expected audience at both events. Added benefits include air conditioning, more comfortable seating, accessibility, and parking. While some expressed disappointment about the change in venue as a break from tradition, Taylor has received much support and looks forward to a day the seniors can recount with happy memories.
‘Fr. Kevin and Immaculate Heart have been very gracious to open their parish to host these events,” said Taylor. “We will do everything possible to bring the spirit and traditions of our graduation ceremony into Immaculate Heart for this amazing and resilient senior class.”
As the spring temperatures warm up and lawns begin to green up, more Hays residents are watering their grass.
The city is in a water warning, and outdoor watering is prohibited between 10 a.m. and 9 p.m. It’s also unlawful to allow water to run off private or business property.
Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno said the enforcement of water use violations starts with a warning from the Hays Police Department and increases with each additional offense, from $50 to $250. Ultimately, the city has the authority to shut off water:
ELLIS — Six people were vying for the three open Ellis City Council seats during today’s local election, and incumbent John A. Walz and former mayor David McDaniel have been re-elected to the council, joined by Gary Luea.
The unofficial results follow.
Ronald Johnson–164
John R. LaShell–109 Gary Luea–179 David R. McDaniel–238
Brian Raub–108 John A. Walz–177 (I)
A fourth seat is vacant on the council following the resignation last month of John Leiker. Ellis Mayor Lyle Johnston has said he plans to appoint the person with the fourth highest number of votes, Ronald Johnson, to the vacant seat. Terms are for two years; Leiker had one year remaining.
The results are unofficial until canvassed Monday by the Ellis County Commission. A total 346 ballots were cast, 24.66% of registered voters.
Johnston said the newly elected winners are scheduled to be sworn in at Monday night’s regular Ellis City Council meeting.
RUSSELL — Russell County voters cast their ballots today as local elections were held across Kansas.
The half-cent countywide sales tax has been renewed again for another five years by an overwhelming 75 percent of the voters: Yes-737; No-252.
According to Russell County Economic Development and Convention and Visitors Bureau Director Janae Talbott, each incorporated city in Russell County receives a portion of the half-cent sales tax, which can be utilized for local economic development and capital improvements.
Luray residents agreed to implement a 1-cent citywide sales tax beginning Jan. 1, 2015. It will be used to finance general operations and public infrastructure projects in Luray. The sales tax will remain in place until repealed.
Results for contested city council races follow.
Luray City Council Position 4 Adam R. Baker 122
Tamara K. Seirer 43
Russell City Council Ward 1
Teresa L. Shaffer 33 Michelle B. Wagner 94 (I)
Russell City Council Ward 3
Peter Cochran 63 Jim A. Cross 69
The total number of ballots cast was 1,007. Results are unofficial pending canvassing Monday by the Russell County Commission.
A fire destroys two combines and a shed south of Gorham late Monday afternoon. Photo courtesy Mandi Blundon
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
GORHAM — A fire late Monday afternoon south of Gorham destroyed two combines and a metal shed owned by Gorham Fire Chief Glen Blundon.
Russell County Emergency Manager Keith Haberer told Hays Post Tuesday he was one of the first responders at 5:55 p.m. to the fire at 17953 Fairfield Road, about 5 miles south of Gorham.
According to Haberer, the blaze started during welding maintenance on the John Deere combines. As Blundon and others worked to move a second combine out of the shed, the fuel tank on the first caught fire. The welding machinery and other tools in the shed also were destroyed.
There were no injuries.
Firefighters from Gorham, Milberger, Bunker Hill, Russell Grant, Russell City, Victoria and Dorrance responded, along with units from Russell County EMS, Sheriff and Emergency Management. Haberer said the fire was out by about 9:30 p.m.
Damage estimates are more than $300,000.
Haberer actually suited up to fight the fire. Blundon’s son, Gary, was at the scene when the fire started and also is on the Gorham Fire Department. A recent knee surgery kept Gary Blundon from fighting the fire, so Haberer donned the extra gear and helped battle the blaze.
RUSSELL — Voters across Kansas will go to the polls Tuesday for local elections.
In Russell County, there are two contested races for Russell City Council seats.
Ward I candidates are Teresa L. Shaffer and incumbent Michelle B. Wagner. The two candidates for Russell’s Ward III are Peter Cochran and Jim A. Cross.
In Luray, two people are running for council position four — Adam R. Baker and Tamara K. Seirer. Luray residents will also vote whether to implement a 1-cent city sales tax
Russell County residents will go to the polls to decide whether to renew the county’s half-cent sales tax another five years.
The Ellis Thrift Shop, opened seven years ago by the local “Live to Give” ministry, is so successful in its mission of “Recycle, Reuse, Rebuild” the program is expanding to Hays.
“Bargain Hut” will open its doors Tuesday at 125 E. Eighth.
“No fooling,” manager Michele Eiland said of the April 1 opening.
The Ellis group recently distributed $10,000 in grants to local nonprofit groups.
“We’re in phase three of our mission to rebuild, and we expect a minimum of $20,000 to be distributed within Ellis this year,” manager Vera Haver said.
Eiland said she considers Haver her mentor, and Haver said the program is a “second-hand store with more”:
Store manager Michele Eiland arranges inventory Bargain Hut.
Similar to what’s occurred in Ellis, Haver said the Hays store eventually will set up a nonprofit organization and begin giving grants to community groups from Bargain Hut proceeds.
Volunteers will operate Bargain Hut, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Donations are accepted at the warehouse just east of the store.
For more information, call (785) 621-4654.
LIKE Hays Post on Facebook to get all the latest news, delivered to your mobile device or computer as it happens.
