If you want to make it big in country music, move to Nashville.

 

That’s the advice of “Love and Theft,” an American Country Music Award-nominated duo, the headline act kicking off Wild West Fest tonight in Hays:

Love and Theft are Stephen Barker Liles and Eric Gunderson.  They’ve just released their second studio album and say,  “Our sound will always be driven by harmonies.”

You can see the interview with Love and Theft Monday on Hays Post News, Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

 

 

 

Longtime Ellis resident Celeste Johnson needs a kidney transplant.

After battling the autoimmune disorder lupus for years, Johnson entered end-stage renal failure in 2008.  She’s been undergoing dialysis in Hays 30 hours a week for five years.

Johnson is a single mom of two young teenage girls and has been very active in the Ellis community.  She’s a former teacher, and helped develop the Alliance Foundation and Growing Ellis Parks.

A special fundraiser weekend filled with activities in Ellis will help pay for Johnson’s medical costs.  Sunday’s events included the first ever 5-K Color Run in western Kansas.

Johnson says her life has been on hold the past five years as she awaits a kidney.  Finally, she’s nearly there:

She will have more tests performed this week at the University of Kansas Hospital, Kansas City, and undergo a heart catherization July 17th.

“Then, they tell me, it should be two to three weeks until I get my new kidney from my brother,” says Johnson.

Watch the story tonight on Hays Post News, Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

 

 

City of Hays firefighters and EMTs are practicing water rescue procedures this week.

The training is taking place Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at the Hays Aquatic Park from 9 to 11, before the pool opens for the day at noon.

Working with the Hays Recreation Commission lifeguards, the firefighters are practicing surface water rescue and swimming pool rescue procedure:

AGENDA

July 1, 2013

REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS

City Hall – Council Meeting Room

 

BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.

ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)

1)            CONSENT AGENDA

a)            Minutes from Regular Meeting on June 17, 2013

b)            Bills Ordinance #1928

c)            April and May monthly manual journal entries

(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda.  By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)

PUBLIC COMMENTS

(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes.  If several people from group speak on same subject, must appoint a spokesperson.  ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment.  Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)

2)            PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)

3)            SPECIAL ORDER

4)            UNFINISHED BUSINESS

a)            Update on Waterline Improvement Project – Driggs Design Group

b)            Consideration of bid on servicing well – Layne Christensen

5)            NEW BUSINESS

a)            Request to use water well irrigation system – KM Hospitality

b)            Consideration of Credit Card Resolution

c)            Consideration of GAAP Waiver Resolution

d)            Consider Billboard Repairs

6)            REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS

a)            Administrative

1)            Public Works

(1)          Consideration of Computer System at Water Treatment Plant

(2)          Department Update

2)            Police

(1)          July schedule

(2)          Update on KBI audit

(3)          Department Update

3)            City Clerk

(1)          April and May Monthly financial statements

(2)          Budget Work Session

(3)          Department update

4)            Attorney

(1)          Update on placement of cemetery memorial

(2)          CDBG Rehabilitation Agreement

5)            Mayor/Council

7)            ADJOURNMENT

 

Wheat farmers and custom cutting crews are always racing against Mother Nature, but those huge combines, grain carts and wheat trucks are not racing on the road.

Ellis County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian Shannon reminds other drivers to watch out for slower ones:

Shannon says the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department usually responds to three or four traffic accidents every year during wheat harvest.

Work began Monday on this year’s curb and brick repair project in Hays.

Various areas from 5th to 15th Streets between Pine to Elm Streets will have restricted driving lanes.

The project, which is expected to take about three weeks to complete, is part of the city ‘s 2013 street maintenance project.

Tomorrow, June 27th, is National HIV Testing Day.

Communities observe the day to raise awareness that HIV and AIDS affect people from all demographics, regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation.

Many Kansas organizations will offer HIV testing events.

The Ellis County Health Department will not have any special promotion.

“Most of (the national) criteria doesn’t mesh well with the demographics of the county, ” says Ellis County Health Administrator Butch Schlyer.

HIV tests are available at the Ellis County Health Department by making an appointment.

In 2010, there were a total of 2,750 people in Kansas living with HIV/AIDS, according to Brenda Walker, Director, KDHE’s Bureau of Disease Control and Prevention.

 

The city of Hays is concerned its water resources could run dry.

Despite some spring rains and the water release from Cedar Bluff Reservoir in early March, Utilities Director Bernie Kitten says Hays residents can expect a water warning or water emergency by fall:

Kitten reviewed the city’s current water supply status with Hays City Commissioners last week.  City officials used the work session to discuss a number of water issues, including an update to the drought response plan.

 

The Kansas wheat harvest is about 50 percent complete.

Ellis County is in full swing, according to KSU Extension Agriculture Agent Stacy Campbell:

“Everybody’s cutting is in full swing, but we’re not bumper crop busy.”

That’s the assessment of Midland Marketing’s Brian Witt, coordinator of the Hays grain elevator, where harvested wheat was coming in slowly late Tuesday morning.

The southern part of Ellis County received less moisture than the northern portion of the county, and the southern area was also hit by hail recently:

 

“I’ve seen test weights from 55 to 63 pounds,” says Witt.  “It’s all dry, nothing’s over 12% moisture.”

Summer is officially here and many children, as well as adults are riding their bicycles.

The Hays Police Department reminds us of some basic safety rules:

The show must go on.  And it did, along with the Ellis ice cream social.

Tuesday evening’s rain and flash flood warning for west-central Ellis County didn’t put a damper on the annual Hays City Band concert/Ellis P.E.O. fundraiser.  Organizers simply moved everything from in front of Washington Grade School to inside the school.

P.E.O. members and other volunteers set up their sales stand in the hallway where concert-goers could purchase an ice cream float before the music started.

Proceeds help fund scholarships for one Ellis High School senior girl each year.  Becca Ashenbrenner is this year’s $500 Leona Shepard Memorial Scholarship winner.