A stuffed animal toy can be a real comfort and friend to a frightened child.  In honor of her daughter, Ana, Lori Hertel, Hays,  continues the annual stuffed animal drive “Ana’s Gift:  Returning Children’s Smiles” started by Ana herself.

Ana was born with a rare neurological disorder and later developed a spinal cord injury.  She was often hospitalized or rushed to the emergency room where the gift of a stuffed animal to hug also calmed her.

Anna began collecting stuffed animals for other children, but died February 11, 2010, shortly after starting the campaign.  Now her family continues it in her memory.

The cuddly toys are distributed to Ellis County First Responders and the Hays Med Emergency Room, who give them to  children they meet in traumatic situations.

Volunteers from the Hays Fire and Police Departments, Ellis County Sheriff and Emergency Medical Services, and the Kansas Highway Patrol spent Saturday afternoon collecting barrels full of new stuffed animals donated by customers at Wal-Mart and the Hays Mall.

One mother told her two daughters that eight pounds is “too much candy, girls!  Holy cow!”

Yet that’s not even close to the biggest amount of Halloween candy turned in Monday to “Cash for Candy” at Lifetime Dental Care in Hays.

Office Manager Jana Lowe says one of her first customers was a group of siblings who brought in 25 pounds of excess Halloween goodies.  “They told me they trick or treated from 3:30 to 8:30 that night,” she laughs.

The kids get one dollar per pound, cash, of Halloween candy that they turn in, plus a brand new toothbrush.  “It’s also an opportunity for us to talk to them and their parents about eating well for overall health, ” says Lowe.

The collected candy, minus the chocolate which would melt, will be shipped to Kansas Army troops serving overseas.

See more tonight on Eagle Local News, ECTV Channel 14.

Kansas nurses now can advance their careers at home, thanks to an agreement between 18 Kansas community colleges, including North Central Kansas Tech in Hays,  and the University of Kansas School of Nursing.

The agreement allows nurses with an associate’s degree to easily transition to receive their bachelor of science in nursing through a KU online program.

NCK Tech Nursing Director Sandra Gottschalk says the national Institute of Medicine recommends the majority of the Registered Nurses  workforce have their bachelor’s degree that by the year 2020.

The November 20, 2012 Hays City Commission meeting has been canceled due to a lack of items requiring formal action at this time.

Additionally, because it is a fifth Thursday, there will not be a Hays City Commission Work Session on November 29, 2012.

Many parents who waited in line to vote Tuesday morning in Hays brought along their children to participate in Kids Vote USA.

Niki Clark is one of the community volunteer coordinators for the national program, which is available to schools for their social studies curriculum.  “It’s a non-profit organization which helps K-12 students learn about the electoral process and voting,” she explains.

The Kids Voting polls are open before school from 7-8:30a.m. and again after school 3-7p.m.

The youngsters also get an “I Voted” sticker, and something the adults don’t, a McDonald’s restaurant coupon good for a free Happy Meal.

Balloting results in Ellis County will be counted by Hays High School students and reported to the media.

See the story tonight on Eagle Local News, ECTV Channel 14.

Hays resident Donetta Robben waited in line 30 minutes Tuesday morning to cast her ballot at the American Legion.

It’s the first time she’s ever had to do that, yet she didn’t mind at all and thinks it’s  “awesome” so many people have turned out to vote in the 2012 general election.

Some early-morning Victoria residents reported waiting up to 40 minutes to vote.

Ellis County Clerk Alberta Klaus says the advance voting in the county was “quite high” and is predicting a countywide voter turnout of “right at 70%.”

Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is estimating a 68% voter turnout statewide.

Election results will be available on Hays Post tonight beginning at 8p.m.

The polls close at 7p.m.

See more tonight on Eagle Local News, ECTV Channel 14.

UPDATE:  Hays firefighters responded to a building fire at 3:11a.m. Monday at K’s Diner, 3402 Vine Street, site of the former Village Inn Restaurant.

According to Fire Chief Gary Brown, a fire was burning in the rear of the building, which received heavy fire, heat and smoke damage throughout.

The fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshal, Hays Police and Hays Fire Departments.

 

8:00 A.M.:   Hays firefighters responded to a fire about 3:20 Monday morning at K’s Diner, 3402 Vine Street.

One Ellis County Rural Fire truck was called in for mutual aide.

The fire marshal is investigating.

 

 

 

Hays City Commissioners are considering giving or perhaps leasing Larks Park baseball field to Fort Hays State University.

Larks Park is owned by the city of Hays and operated by Fort Hays State University.  It’s also used by the Hays Baseball Association.

The city currently pays FHSU about $7,000 a year for mowing, cleaning and upkeep of the stadium.  Commissioners recently approved a $170,000 cost share with FHSU for turf replacement.

The proposal will be discussed during the city commission’s Thursday night work session.

Two American Red Cross volunteers from Hays and Salina are heading east to help people affected by Superstorm Sandy.

Pete Peterson, Hays, left late Wednesday morning to pick up another volunteer in Salina.  They’re driving the ARC Western Kansas Chapter’s ERV–Emergency Response Vehicle, which is based in Hays.

The two volunteers will be in North Brunswick, NJ, for about two weeks, according to Hays Service Center Manager Meagan Carver.

“While there, the volunteers will be delivering meals and supplies to people that were affected by Hurricane Sandy,” says Carver.

It was sunny but still about 25 degrees in Hays at 9 o’clock Saturday morning as the 15th annual Coat Drive opened for business.

An estimated 1,200 coats of all colors and sizes were wheeled out to the driveways of Top Notch Cleaners and Master Cleaners in downtown Hays where an eager crowd waited.

“All the coats are donated by the public, we clean them, and then they’re given away to anybody who needs one,” according to Amy Smith at Top Notch.  “Within the first half-hour, probably half of the coats were already taken!”

The free coats are available until 2 this afternoon, or until they’re all gone.

“If there are any leftover, they’ll be donated to the Russell Food Pantry,” says Smith.  “We’ve already give three full sacks of coats to Judge Bigge in Rooks County, where they’ll be distributed to children and adults who need them.”

It’s deer rutting season and they are on the move.

In Kansas, half of all deer/vehicle collisions occur between mid-October and December, according to  Kansas Highway Patrol Technical Trooper Tod Hileman, Troop D-Hays.

“Always when you’re driving at night slow down, use the bright headlights as much as possible, and know that if you see one deer, they’re probably more right behind it, ” says Hileman.

“The deer are most often going to be concentrated near creeks and where there are lots of trees,” Hileman says.  Deer crossing warning signs are posted along roadsides where numerous deer/vehicle crashes have occurred.

Don’t try to avoid an animal on the road recommends Hileman.  “That’s when most accidents and fatalities occur.  It’s safest to hit the deer and then call 9-1-1.”