Interim USD 489 Superintendent Dean Katt attended his first school board work session Monday night.

Although Katt moved to Hays from Ottawa, he spent a portion of his youth in Ellis, graduated from Fort Hays State University, and has been a teacher and administrator in several western Kansas schools, including Esbon, Deerfield, Holcomb and Scott City.

His 13-month contract began September 1:

You can find out more about how Katt views his temporary job on an upcoming edition of  “The Forum” with host Gary Shorman on Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

A very successful weekend fundraiser for Friends of the Hays Dog Park puts the group well on the way to funding for Phase 2 of the park.

Vice President, Laurie Mortinger said Tuesday the garage sale, plus the raffles and silent auction, netted $8,600.

A total of  $49,859 has now been raised for the dog park to be built at the Bickle Schmidt Sports Complex.

About $35,000 will be used to build Phase 1.

The group expects to meet with Hays City Commissioners next month to request permission to start construction of the 1-acre area for small dogs, with a 6-foot tall perimeter fence, plus the road, parking lot, staging area, water lines, a message center, some people seating and signage.

A new Executive Director of the Downtown Hays Development Corporation (DHDC) has been hired.

Megan Colson joins the DHDC from her recent position as Projects Coordinator with the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.

Colson is originally from Medicine Lodge and graduated from FHSU in December 2012 with a degree in communication studies and a minor in leadership. She spent the spring of 2013 completing an internship with Red Frog Events in Chicago, one of the fastest growing active entertainment companies in the country.

Colson begins her position with the DHDC on Monday, September 23.

Traci Stanford announced her resignation as DHDC Executive Director earlier this month in order to join her husband at his new job in Kentucky.

Ellis County, at the request of Gove County, is joining the Kansas Natural Resource Coalition.

County commissioners voted in favor of the action during their regular meeting Monday night.

Administrator Greg Sund says the Kansas group plans to form a partnership with the federal government for the purpose of addressing Endangered Species Act proposals:

Initial costs to Ellis County will be $2,687  to help cover the expense of developing a plan addressing  the lesser prairie chicken.

A candlelight vigil Wednesday and a day of remembrance Friday will mark the 9-11 anniversary at Fort Hays State University.

The public is invited to the vigil beginning at 8:30 p.m. September 11 on the university’s Memorial Union patio.

Student Government Association President Chris Roberts is the featured speaker.  The National Guard will present the colors.

During Friday’s Day of Service, students will volunteer with the United Way of Ellis County, delivering fund drive information to local businesses.

The 9-11 remembrance projects are sponsored by Fort Hays State’s American Democracy Project and Tigers in Service.

The Ellis County Public Building Commission met Monday night prior to the regular Ellis County Commission meeting.

Sheriff Ed Harbin explains the upcoming jail renovation and expansion will provide improved security and safety:

Bids for the jail project will go out in March with 10 months anticipated for construction.

“It will be a hectic time,” says Harbin.

Inmates will have to be moved to other counties, although there will be temporary housing for new arrestees.  Jail employees will also have to be temporarily relocated.

Hays Firefighters are participating in hazardous materials training this week.

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings from 9a.m. until noon, the fire department is conducting training for the initial response to a hazardous materials spill.

Fire Chief Gary Brown says the training starts each day with a short classroom review, and then moves to hands-on training at the Kiwanis Park on Harvest Drive.

The public is  invited to watch the exercises.

Proceeds from this weekend’s garage sale will kick-start Phase 2 fundraising for a dog park at the Bickle Schmidt Sports Complex in Hays.

The money for Phase 1, about $32,000, is in place, says Friends of the Hays Dog Park board member Laurie Mortinger:

Phase 1 will be the fencing for the small dogs 1 acre area, plus the road, parking lot, staging area, water lines, a message center, some seating, and signage.

Phase 2, estimated to cost $42,269, will be fencing for the larger dogs 5 acres area, more seating, signage, and another water station.

Phase 3 will be primarily shelters and seating.

Mortinger says all the fencing will be six-foot high and made with industrial grade materials.

The FHDP garage sale is open Saturday, 8a.m.-1p.m.,  in the south end of the Hays Mall.

The bargains will be even bigger than what they were Friday, says Mortinger.

“We’re going to have a ‘sack sale’ to help clear everything out.”

Another huge garage sale fundraiser for Friends of the Hays Dog Park has something for just about everyone, and their dogs.

Gently used treasures along with some new items are being brought in by donors tonight until 10p.m. to the south end of the Hays Mall.

The sale is from 1-8p.m. Friday and Saturday 8a.m.-1p.m.

“We are so excited about this garage sale,” says FHDP officer Laurie Mortinger.

“The money for Phase 1 of the dog park, about $32,000, has already been raised.  We have a tentative date to go in front of the Hays City Commission in late October to request permission to begin building.  The funds we raise this weekend will put us well on the way to financing Phase 2 , about $42,000.”

From furniture and household goods, to collectibles and Christmas lights, there are a lot of bargains to be had.

Local businesses have donated numerous new items to be raffled and there are silent auctions for a brand new dog house, donated by Fur Is Flying, and a puppy sculpture made by limestone artist Pete Felten.

Hungry and naked.  That’s where we’d be without agriculture.

Most of the USD 489 fourth-graders attending Kids Ag Day have no idea what that means.  They do now.

Thursday’s 15th annual Kids Ag Day at the at the Harold Kraus Farm south of Hays, included information about sunflowers, corn, soybeans and wheat, along with the farm equipment it takes to plant and harvest those crops.

At least two of the 23 Lincoln Grade School fourth-graders are living on a working farm, according to their teacher Amanda Callahan.  Most have never been in the country.

” It’s a fantastic learning experience for all the class, and even me,” she laughs.

This is Callahan’s third year to take her fourth-grade class to Kids Ag Day, hosted by the Ellis County Farm Bureau Association.

Landowner Harold Kraus, a longtime farmer and former Kansas Soybean Commission board member, demonstrated a rain simulator which depicts soil erosion.

“That’s one of the first science lessons we’re studying in class,” says Callahan.

“Seeing the ground actually erode in this demonstration brings the lecture to life.  The kids can better understand the concept and will remember it longer.”

See more tonight on Hays Post Eagle Community TV Channel 14.