ELLIS — Six candidates are vying for three open positions on the Ellis City Council. Residents will go to the polls Tuesday as local elections are held across Kansas.
Candidates for the Ellis City Council are:
• Ronald Johnson
• John R. LaShell
• Gary Luea
• David R. McDaniel
• Brian Raub
• John A. Walz (incumbent)
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 to the vacant seat.
Terms are for two years; Leiker had one year remaining.
Crystal Steckel Walton, left, received the 2014 Community Service Award recently. Photo courtesy of KRSL Russell Radio
RUSSELL — Crystal Steckel Walton received the 2014 Community Service Award from Ellsworth County Emergency Management and the Russell 911 Communications Advisory Board at a ceremony recently.
Walton works for the Russell County Sheriff’s office and is a volunteer firefighter for the City of Russell Fire Department. She also is a vital part of the Russell County Relay for Life and volunteers at the Dream Theatre.
“When she is not serving Russell County in a professional and friendly manner, she is a single mother of three girls. I feel she gives so much to our community not only as a parent, a loyal sheriff’s office employee and firefighter, but as a friend to all she comes in contact with. She treats everyone with a modicum of empathy and truly cares about doing a good job in all she does,” according to her nomination.
Don Boxberger, left, 2014 Emergency Worker/Volunteer of the Year , Photo Courtesy of KSRL, Russell
RUSSELL — Ellsworth County Emergency Management and the Russell 911 Communications Advisory Board announced recently that Russell-Grant Fire Chief Don Boxberger has been named 2014 Emergency Worker/Volunteer of the Year.
“This individual has devoted his time, energy and talents to the fire service not only in the townships that he serves and for Russell County, but also in the region and the state of Kansas,” read the announcement. “He can always be relied on to respond at all hours of the day or night.”
Boxberger started as a volunteer and took over as chief in 1982, a position he still holds. He a 10-year member and past president on the Russell County Free Fair Board, an active member of the Russell Shrine Club and a member of the Russell Masonic Lodge and ISIS Shrine since 2002 and is a 2 time past Potentate of ISIS Shrine. In addition, Boxberger is a board member for the Kansas Shrine Bowl, where he serves as secretary.
“(Boxberger) shows the true spirit of a Volunteer, one who does for others without any strings attached,” the announcement said.
Ellis Water Authority Board Chairman Ron Johnson helps Water Festival attendees spin the wheel for prizes.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
ELLIS — Ellis Water Authority Board Chairman Ron Johnson manned the “Spin the Wheel” event at Thursday night’s Ellis Water Festival. All the prizes given to attendees will help conserve water or provide information about water conservation.
Last summer, the Ellis City Council voted to ban all outdoor watering in the town, now in a “water emergency” as a result of the persistent drought.
Johnson said the Water Authority Board was created in January to help educate the community and officials about water issues and ordinances.
“We went to the Trego County Rural Water District recently and their engineers are working on a feasibility study to see if Ellis can partner with them in a search for more water,” Johnson said. “We’re waiting on a report back and then will move to the next stage.”
Ellis — like Hays, which is also looking for new water — doesn’t draw its water from the nearby Ogallala Aquifer. Both towns depend on surficial alluvial aquifers for water, and that groundwater isn’t replaced in dry years.
“We need to find another water source, and it’s going to be tough and it’s not going to be cheap,” cautioned Johnson:
Linda Wei and Valerie Ramage, FHSU Leadership Studies students, demonstrate a groundwater model during the Ellis Water Festival.
According to Johnson, the average water use per day, per person in Ellis last year was a little more than 86 gallons. Today, he said, that amount has dropped to 56 gallons per day per person.
The Water Festival, held in the Ellis High School, was coordinated by a group of Fort Hays State University Leadership Studies students and sponsored by the city of Ellis, USD 388, Ellis FFA Chapter, Ellis High School and Big Creek Middle Smoky Hill River Watersheds.
The first of five finalist candidates for president of Fort Hays State University met with the public Monday afternoon.
Many Hays residents already know Dr. Tisa Mason. She’s the current vice president of student affairs at Fort Hays State, serving in that position since 2008.
While greeting about 70 well-wishers in Stouffer Lounge, Mason talked about her priorities if selected by the Kansas Board of Regents:
The Search Committee is scheduled to present its candidate recommendations to the Board of Regents on April 22. The Regents will announce its selection the week of April 28.
The schedule has been released for the remaining presidential candidate visits to campus:
Thursday and Friday, March 27 and 28
Announcement of candidate, noon Wednesday, March 26
Public/campus reception 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 27
News conference 9:30 a.m. Friday, March 28
Tuesday and Wednesday, April 1 and 2
Announcement of candidate, noon Monday, March 31
Public/campus reception 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 1
News conference 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 2
Monday and Tuesday, April 7 and 8
Announcement of candidate, noon Sunday, April 6
Public/campus reception 4:30 p.m. Monday, April 7
News conference 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 8
Thursday and Friday, April 10 and 11
Announcement of candidate, noon Wednesday, April 9
Public/campus reception 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10
RUSSELL — A burn ban is now in effect in Russell County.
Russell County commissioners approved the resolution during their regular Tuesday meeting.
According to Emergency Manager Keith Haberer, the fire danger is “extreme” in Russell County, and there already have been several fires causing some damage.
All outdoor burning is banned, including trash, open fires and campfires, and prescribed burning of grasslands. Fireworks also are banned.
Covered stoves, fireplaces and barbecue grills are still allowed.
The burn ban remains in effect until repealed by the Russell County Commission.
RUSSELL— Russell County residents will go to the polls April 1 to decide whether to renew the county’s half-cent sales tax for economic development and capital improvements.
The sales tax was first approved by voters 10 years ago.
“Originally, economic development was funded by levied tax dollars, ” said Janae Talbott, executive director of Russell County Economic Development and Convention and Visitors Bureau. “Now, funding is through this sales tax so it applies equally to everyone.”
“Each incorporated city in Russell County receives a portion of the half-cent sales tax, depending on the amount of sales tax received in that city for that year,” Talbott added. “Each city can utilize the money for local economic development programs or capital improvements.”
The Russell County Eco Devo Micro-Loan Program, funded by the sales tax, has provided more than $339,000 to Russell County businesses for startup, expansion or retention, Talbott said.
“I’m proud to say our micro-loan program has helped create or retain more than 100 jobs in Russell County,” she said.
“Some of the capital improvements we’ve made include the purchase of the EMS and Economic Development/CVB buildings, and buying land near the 4-H Building at the fairgrounds. We also expect to help with the expenses of the proposed courthouse addition,” Talbott said.
ELLIS — The city of Ellis has banned all outdoor watering as it looks for additional water supplies. To educate residents how to better conserve water, the city will host a Water Festival Thursday at Ellis High School.
Fort Hays State University Leadership Studies student Valerie Ramage is one of the organizers:
The Ellis Water Festival also will include rain barrels. The free event will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday.
To register for the rain barrel event, contact Kansas State University Research and Extension watershed specialist Stacie Minson at (785) 769-3297 or [email protected]. For more information about the Water Festival, call the Ellis City Clerk’s office at (785) 726-4812.
Jean Schodorf, Wichita, Democratic candidate for Kansas Secretary of State
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
“The Kansas Secretary of State’s office is in shambles because of inattention and a personal agenda by the current secretary of state.”
That’s the premise of Jean Schodorf, a Democratic candidate hoping to unseat Republican incumbent Kris Kobach.
Schodorf, a former state senator serving from 2001 to 2013 and former Wichita school board member, campaigned in Hays on Thursday. She was a guest at the Hays Optimist Club noon lunch and, that evening, hosted a meet-and-greet event at Thirsty’s.
Schodorf switched her party affiliation from Republican to Democrat early in 2013 after she was defeated in the 2012 Republican primary by conservative challenger Michael O’Donnell.
She’s running on a three-point platform.
“I want to be a full-time secretary of state, not moonlighting in Arizona or Texas,” Schodorf said, a reference to Kobach’s work to help craft legal framework for stricter immigration laws in Arizona, Texas and elsewhere.
“You can solve Kansas problems if you’re here working,” she added.
One of those problems, contends Schodorf, is an unreliable, complicated office for new businesses to register to do business in the state.
“Everywhere I go to talk to Kansans, the issue is raised,” and it was brought up at the Hays meeting by local CPA Ken Beran on behalf of a client:
Schodorf also considers the current voter registration system broken, noting “many Kansans, including seniors and veterans, are losing their right to vote. There are 14,000 people on the ‘suspense’ list, unable to vote, although that number is down from the 20,000 it started with.”
Schodorf has another meet-and-greet” Friday morning beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Burger King, 13th and Vine.
Jim Sherow, Manhattan, Democratic candidate for Kansas 1st Congressional District
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Former Manhattan mayor and Kansas State University Kansas history professor Jim Sherow is spending his spring break campaigning for the Democratic Party’s nomination for the U.S. House seat held by Republican incumbent Tim Huelskamp.
Sherow was in Hays on Thursday as a guest of the Hays Optimist Club.
He’s a fourth-generation Kansan, Hutchinson native, Air Force veteran and specialist in the water developments and conflicts between western Kansas and Colorado. He’s also authored five books about Kansas grasslands.
“K-State is the recipient of a lot of federal dollars for agricultural research, but it doesn’t help when the federal government is shut down, and your Congressman (Huelskamp) won’t work with his own party leadership and is removed from the house agriculture committee,” Sherow said. “He certainly won’t cross party lines.”
Sherow says he learned how to reach across the aisle and create a collaborative and inclusive commission while serving as a Manhattan city commissioner and mayor from 2007 to 2012.
“We need good relationships and to keep the doors open between Washington and the Big First District,” added Sherow. He plans to take that attitude to D.C. and join the growing group of Congressional “No Labels”:
Sherow appeared at the Hays Optimist Club lunch with secretary of state Democratic candidate Jean Schodorf, a former state senator and Wichita school board member.
Hays city officials are working with the new air passenger service provider SkyWest to determine how soon people will be able to book a flight online.
The two-year contract with SkyWest begins July 1. The current contract with Great Lakes Airlines ends May 1, leaving a two-month gap.
City Manager Toby Dougherty says Hays is working with the U.S. Department of Transportation to determine if SkyWest can begin operating before July 1 at the Hays Regional Airport:
The Ellis volunteer fire department and the Trego County rural fire department have been responding to and assisting with the rash of 18 suspicious fires just outside of Hays the past two weeks.
The city of Hays fire department has not helped.
Fire Chief Gary Brown explains the “city is not equipped for firefighting in rugged country:”
Brown says there have not been any suspicious fires in Hays, noting all the fires occurred outside the city limits.
By BECKY KISER
