By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It’s official now. Hays has won the MoKan Take Charge Challenge for commercial businesses.

A $10,000 check was presented to the TCC Leadership Team Thursday evening by Cassie Reimer with the  Hutchinson-based Climate and Energy Project.

Hays beat out Hutchinson, Kansas City, Kan., and Warrensburg, Mo., in the competition to reduce energy and water use.  Eighteen Hays businesses and schools participated.

Northwestern Printers is the local winner. Two of the many changes made in the company’s two buildings directly affect the printing business, according to Green Team member Howard Droegemeier.  Humidity control keeps static electricity from developing as paper runs through presses; overhead lighting is critical for color control:

Northwestern Printers owners Marvin and Jennifer Rack were presented a $5,000 check from Midwest Energy’s Mike Voelker.

The Racks immediately handed it over to Kathy Taylor, principal of TMP-Marian High School.  Then, the couple made a $5,000 personal donation to Holy Family Elementary School and principal Rachel Wentling.

TMP came in second in the Hays MoKan competition; HFE was third. Both school principals were surprised by the donations from the Racks.

“We may get a new water-efficient dishwasher for our cafeteria,” Taylor said. “I know our cooks would be thrilled.”

“Completely blown away” is how Wentling described her reaction to the unexpected donation.

“Our bathroom urinals are from the 1950s. We’re probably going to look at taking advantage of the city of Hays’ rebates to replace them with more water-efficient urinals,” she said.

The Rack children attend the local Catholic schools.

“We will be saving money, realizing savings, in our business from here on out,” Jennifer Rack said. “Marvin and I want to pass it along.”

The Hays MoKan Leadership Team voted to split the $10,000 winnings three ways.

• LED lights for the city of Hays downtown Christmas lights and decorations-$2,000
• LED lights for the Hays Arts Council galleries-$1,000
• New bicycle racks throughout Hays-$7,000

Disclosure:  Becky Kiser is a member of the Hays MoKan Take Charge Challenge Leadership Team.

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The waterline replacement on Fort Street between 20^th and 27^th Streets started Monday in Hays.  Assistant Public Works Director John Braun says the project will continue through summer:

Other street repairs are underway in the 1900 block of Walnut.  Crews began work Tuesday.  Traffic is reduced to one lane for pavement repairs.  The job is expected to be completed Friday, weather permitting.

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Firefighters remain on the scene of a house fire at 1910 Fort in Hays.

The fire started shortly before 3 p.m. at the corner of 20th and Fort streets. Crews from Hays, Victoria and Ellis County Rural Fire responded. Traffic around the area was blocked by the Hays Police Department.

According to the Hays Fire Department, fire crews found a fire burning in the basement. Because the first-floor had sustained damage from the fire, it was determined to be unsafe. Firefighters cut through the walls and floors in several locations to reach the fire from the outside.

Witnesses at the scene reported seeing smoke coming from the basement and windows of the two-story house, although they did not see any flames. As firefighters on the ladder truck poked a hole in the roof, more smoke poured out of the building.

The fire was under control by 5:10 p.m., although as of 8 p.m., a truck and crew remained on scene to ensure the fire did not rekindle. The interior of the home sustained heavy damage, the HFD reported.

The occupant was not at home at the time of the fire, which is under investigation by city officials and the Kansas State Fire Marshal.

The fire forced Hays USD 489 officials to notify parents of Lincoln School students to pick up their students after classes in front of Lincoln School on Ash Street.

No information is yet available from the Hays Fire Department.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The turnaround built by USD 489 as a  temporary solution to joint use of Victory Road by Thomas More Prep Marian and O’Loughlin Elementary Schools is too small.

Victory Road is owned by the Capuchin Province of  Mid-America in Denver.  They and TMP have given permission to USD 489 for its use by hundreds of parents each day to drop off and pick up students at O’Loughlin.

Cars can turn around easily, but USD 489 Superintendent Dean Katt says the turnaround doesn’t  have a big enough radius for larger vehicles:

TMP officials say the turnaround is used by their school patrons primarily during after-school activities.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

ELLIS — The Ellis Thrift Store opened seven years ago with a two-fold purpose — to sell gently used items in its storefront and use the proceeds to benefit the community.  Ellis Thrift Ltd. was formed and the grant committee awarded its first matching grant last week.

A $10,000 matching grant was presented Friday to Bob Young, USD 388 superintendent.  The grant money will be used for a new sound system at the Ellis High School auditorium.

“They received this grant because the sound system fits the giving criteria of Ellis Thrift Ltd. It will impact and be used by a large number of community members in Ellis and will used for many years to come,” said board secretary-treasurer Vera Haver.

“Our board of directors is thrilled about giving back to the community of Ellis in a big way, and this amazing opportunity follows through with our mission to rebuild, reuse and recycle in Ellis,” she added. “We want to thank everyone for supporting what we call the ‘Ellis CommUNITY Thrift Shop.’ ”

The next round of grants will be awarded July 31.  Information is available at the Ellis Thrift Shop.

 

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post News

ELLIS— Ellis mayor Lyle Johnston plans to accept the resignation of council member John Leiker during tonight’s Ellis City Council meeting.

“John has expressed interest in the open street maintenance position we have within the Public Works Department,” Johnston explained this morning.

“After consulting with our city attorney Olavee Raub, he was advised it’s inappropriate for him to be on the council while applying to be a city employee.  So John has decided to resign his council position,” said Johnston.

There are only three Ellis City Council meetings remaining before the April 1 primary election.

“Six people are running for the three open seats,” Johnston said.  “My plan is to appoint the person with the fourth highest number of votes to the vacant seat.”

Candidates on the April Ellis city council election ballot are Ron Johnson, John LaShell, Gary Luea, David McDaniel, Brian Raub and John Walz (incumbent).

Terms are for two years; Leiker has one year remaining in his term.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Gene Zimmer touched the lives of many students during his 46 years as a math and algebra teacher.  The past 35 of those years were in Hays — at Kennedy Middle School  for 23 years and then at Thomas More Prep-Marian High School for 12 years.

Zimmer, 70, died Wednesday, Feb. 12, at  Hays Medical Center. View a full obituary HERE.

Zimmer was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis in 2012, which developed into ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. He was forced to retire from his math teaching job at TMP before the start of the 2012-13 school year.

Gene and his wife, Mary, were honored as Points of Lights during TMP’s homecoming activities last September.

“Gene’s legacy will continue through the thousands of students whose lives he has touched,” said TMP Development Director Jeff Brull in a statement issued Thursday evening.

“We are honored to have had Gene as a part of the TMP-Marian family. Even after his retirement, brought on by his medical condition, he found ways to be involved and to inspire us. He is a faithful servant of God, education and the Church, and we know he will forever continue his intercessions on behalf of his students,” Brull said.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 17, at the St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Monday, all at the Hays Memorial Chapel Funeral Home, 1906 Pine. A parish vigil service will be at 7 p.m. followed by a Knights of Columbus rosary, both on Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to TMP-Marian High School, St. Nicholas of Myra Catholic Church or to family wishes, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left for the Zimmer family at www.haysmemorial.com.

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A water emergency back in 1991, when the wells ran dry, forced the city of Hays to begin a water conservation program.

Various local ordinances were implemented between 1992 and 1994 that determined allotments of water, water use restrictions and violation penalties as well as the implementation of low water use building codes.

Since then, according to the city’s new water conservation specialist Jason Riegel, Hays has invested money in several projects to reduce the need for new water supplies:

Riegel added that years of water line replacement projects have resulted in few water main breaks and leaks reaching the ground surface.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

In planning for the 2015 budget, Ellis County Commissioners have made water their top priority — water resources and water use within the county.

Speaking recently to the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce, County Administrator Greg Sund said Ellis County doesn’t operate a water utility as the city of Hays does, “but that doesn’t mean we can’t promote efficient water use throughout the county.”

Sund said commissioners will look at conservation programs such as the low-flow showerhead exchanges already in use by the cities of Hays and Ellis.

Many Ellis County rural residents and businesses get their water from the Trego County Rural Water District:

The city of Ellis is considering a partnership with the Trego County Rural Water District in searching  for a new water supply.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

“Washington changes you.”

That’s the belief of Dr. Milton Wolf, a Kansas City radiologist who is challenging longtime U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan.

The 43-year-old Lyons native announced his campaign in October and proudly considers himself “very conservative.”

He was the guest speaker at Tuesday night’s monthly meeting of the Big First Tea Party in Hays.

Wolf is a second cousin to President Barack Obama and has never run for public office. It’s his vehement opposition to ObamaCare that led Wolf to enter the political arena.  He also believes Roberts is “not a true conservative” and considers Roberts’ 27 years in Washington “too long.”

The Republican Party itself is “not doing well,” contends Wolf, and “needs to be saved from itself.”

If elected, Wolf pledged he would serve “no more than two terms.”

The crowd of about 50 people applauded each of his position statements which “re-embrace the Constitution and the American idea individual liberty, limited government and free-market values.”

More information about Wolf is available on his website.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The city of Hays has been in a Water Watch since 2012. Water customers are asked to voluntarily conserve water inside and outside their homes and businesses.

Jason Riegel was hired by the city approximately three months ago as its first water conservation specialist.

Hays and much of western Kansas is in its third consecutive year of drought. The city is considering two changes to better conserve water supplies into the future, including the amount of irrigated landscape allowed on new developments and a green plumbing code.

Riegel explained:

Hays has two main water supplies, the Smoky Hill River and Big Creek. A large well relocation project has been completed on the Smoky Hill River aquifer that gives the city more in-ground storage. According to Riegel, the storage is now being used because the Smoky Hill River has been dry for two and half years.

The releases of water from Cedar Bluff Reservoir in Trego County early last year refilled the Smoky Hill aquifer.  For now, the city of Hays is not entitled to another release.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Crews from three utilities were at work Friday morning repairing damage caused by an allegedly impaired driver on Eighth Street.

According to Hays Police Lt. Brandon Wright, the incident occurred about 3 a.m. Friday.

Police reported a Ford F-150 pickup driven by Joel S. Scott, 23, was traveling east on Eighth Street when the vehicle left the roadway, struck an AT&T pole, a street light pole, and at least two vehicles in the Auto World parking lot, 722 E. Eighth.

The wooden phone pole was sheared off and resting against other line wires; the metal street light pole was pushed down to the ground.

Scott was arrested for driving under the influence. His truck was towed from the site. There were no reports of injuries.

There was no electrical outage, according to Midwest Energy spokesman Mike Morley, but the street light pole will have to be replaced.

The AT&T pole also will be replaced, said crew member Bill Keazer.

It’s a pole shared with Eagle Communications. Broadband Distribution Technician Adam Blurton said crews from Eagle and Midwest Energy sawed up the downed pole and hauled it away. A contractor is expected to replace the pole next week. Blurton said there were no interruptions in Eagle cable, Internet or phone services.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The director of an upcoming television commercial for Coca-Cola wants to shoot it in Kansas.

According Marci Penner, executive director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, Zach Lowry is a New York City-based director wanting to come to Kansas to shoot a Coca-Cola commercial late May or June.

“They are seeking an old, vintage barn surrounded by wheat fields,” said Penner in a news release Thursday.

Here are Lowry’s preferences:

– Wooden barn (first choice red but can be any color or no paint)
– Probably wooden roof
– Weathered
– Located right beside or with wheat all around it
– Interior dimensions 30-by-30 feet or wide enough to fit a 1965 Mustang inside of the barn sitting at a diagonal
– Preferably ceilings of 20 feet or higher
– Windows and slits in the side of the barn for light rays to poke through

Anyone with access to such a Kansas barn is encouraged to get in contact with Lowry at [email protected] or call (610) 710.5245.

“It would be great to send him pictures of the barn and proximity to or in the field, and the interior,” said Penner.

The mission of the Kansas Sampler Foundation is to help preserve and sustain rural culture.