Springtime is storm time in Kansas.  Do you have your disaster kit ready? 

Meagan Carver, American Red Cross Service Center Manager, Hays, has some tips:

More information is available at: American Red Cross and Ready.gov

The votes, which had to be hand-counted, were tallied by 8:40p.m. Tuesday in the Ellis County courthouse.

The $10 million bond issue for USD 388/Ellis has been soundly defeated:

YES 275

NO  424

All but one precinct in Ellis and the three in Trego County which are part of USD 388, voted against the measure.

There were 701 votes cast: 59% opposed, 41% in favor.

The bond issue would have been used for new athletic facilities, major repairs at Washington Grade School and a new Junior High wing at Ellis High School.

The results are unofficial until canvassed Monday by Ellis County Commissioners.

Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) Director Jana Jordan talks about activities in Hays during June:

Every year the city of Hays Utilities Department plans to clean about one-third, or 40 miles, of the sewer system.

Realistically, that rarely happens, says Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno. So the city plans to hire a contractor to finish the job.

During their Thursday night work session, Hays City Commissioners will review three bids for the project, which is not to exceed $120,000.

“We were in their shoes.”

Maybe that should be “in their swim fins.”

Olympic gold medalist swimmers Ian Crocker and Alyssa Anderson were in Hays Friday for a Mutual of Omaha Breakout Swim Clinic.

Despite some travel snafus and starting the clinic three hours late, the host team Hays Hurricanes and more than 80 other young swimmers from western Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle, were thrilled to finally meet and work with Anderson and Crocker.

“I was actually here last year, and I think they’ve improved since then,” said Crocker.  “It was awesome.”

22-year-old Alyssa Anderson, Granite Bay, California, has just joined the breakout clinics, and won her first Olympic gold medal last year in London.

30-year-old Ian Crocker, Austin, Texas, is a three-time Olympian with five Olympic medals.  He participates in breakout clinics around the country nearly every weekend.

The clinic participants practiced champion performance techniques of all four swim strokes in the Fort Hays State University Cunningham Hall pool.

After all their hard work, the young swimmers got to pose for pictures with their idols and even don their Olympic gold.

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

Polls are open until 7 p.m. for voters deciding the $10 million school bond for USD 388, Ellis.

Supervising Judge Karen Day says 55 voters were in before 7:50 this morning, many more than usual.  She predicts a high voter turnout.

The 100 or so USD 388 registered voters who live in Trego County are also voting at the Ellis VFW, the only polling place for this election.

All ballots will be counted at the Ellis County Courthouse.

Check back with Hays Post tonight for the results.

The new no-kill animal shelter just east of Ellis celebrated its grand opening Saturday evening.

Activities at the Western Plains Animal Refuge, 1750 130th Avenue, included a reception, followed by dinner and live music.

Executive Director Brendon McCampbell says it’s taken some time for the public to realize the non-profit shelter opened this spring.

“I’m now getting calls every day about people wanting to adopt a pet or volunteer to help in some way,” says McCampbell.

WPAR  is run by volunteers and provides shelter, foster, rehabilitation, adoption, and outreach services.

About 15 animals, including Andrew the bunny, are up for adoption currently, waiting for their “forever homes,” he says.

The shelter is open afternoons Monday-Thursday. Call 785-726-2500 for more information.

They may have come in without a smile, but they certainly left with one.

Twenty-four children ages 5 to 12 were treated to free dental care Friday during the second annual “Give Kids a Smile Day” at Lifetime Dental Care in Hays.

“They got a checkup and cleaning and then any necessary restorative work,” said Jana Lowe, Lifetime Dental Care CFO.

“We also give the kids toothbrushes and toothpaste to take home, and talk about how important it is to brush their teeth regularly.”

Kortney Khan, Hays,  brought in her two oldest children, who were both seeing the dentist for the first time.

“As a nurse, I know how important dental health is to your overall general physical health,” she said.

Khan and Lowe both pointed out it’s also a good idea to limit snacks and sugar intake, and adults should set the example.

“Young children won’t have access to pop and sugary snacks if parents don’t buy that stuff,” said Lowe.

Nearly $11,000 worth of dentistry work was performed Friday by Dr. Jeff Lowe and his staff.