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Author: Becky Kiser

Pfannenstiel Named “All American Citizen”

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Longtime Hays businessman Verlin Pfannenstiel is the 2012 Hays All American Citizen.

The announcement was made Saturday night during the Wild West Festival by committee member Mary Karst.

Nominations are made by local residents and the winner must demonstrate “out of the ordinary service to the community,” says Karst.

Pfannenstiel has served as a board member of USD 489 and the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.  He also spearheaded Hays’ annual Festival of Faith nearly 20 years ago.

Pfannenstiel owns Heartland Building Center of Hays, Russell and Stockton, and just celebrated 50 years in business.

More Western KS Counties Eligible for Emergency CRP Grazing

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Eleven more Kansas counties now eligible for emergency grazing of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acreage because of the drought.

All of the latest counties approved by the Kansas Farmers Service Agency and the U-S-D-A are in western Kansas:   Hamilton, Kearny, Morton, Norton, Phillips, Russell, Sheridan, Smith, Stanton, Thomas, and Wichita.

Farmers should contact their local FSA office for more information.

 

Russell Imposes Tighter Water Restrictions

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The city of Russell is implementing tighter water restrictions because of the hot, dry weather.

In a special meeting Friday afternoon, council members voted to move from Stage 1 to Stage 3.

Water Production Superintendent Doug Langhofer reported the water pumps supplying Russell are near maximum load.

Stage 3 water restrictions limit residential outdoor watering to one day a week.  Outdoor watering is banned for parks, the Russell Golf Course and residential swimming pools.  Washing of motor vehicles or buildings is also prohibited.  Contractual water users must reduce consumption to 75 percent of average monthly use.

Campfire Tales Friday at Historic Fort Hays

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Songs and stories about people and events in Kansas and Old West history will be featured Friday, July 13 at Historic Fort Hays.

Musician and historian David “Zerf” Zerfas will entertain around the campfire from 8-9p.m.  His songs include “When the Smoky Runs Dry” and “Beautiful Katie (Bloody Bender).”

Admission is $5. Kansas Historical Foundation members and children five and under are admitted free. Refreshments will be provided.

Reservations are required for “Campfire Tales.”  Call 785-625-6812 for reservations.

Wild Bill Hickok Deals Faro in Hays

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Wild Bill Hickok is in Hays for the Wild West Festival.

Well, OK, not the ORIGINAL Wild Bill.

This is actually historical re-enactor Dave Wood from Fort Morgan, Colorado.  He portrays the legendary lawman, who was elected sheriff of Ellis County in 1869.

You can meet Hickok/Wood Friday and Saturday as he deals cards at the  saloon in the Ellis County Historical Society Museum.

Special programs will be made Saturday at 1p.m. and 3p.m. in the 1879 Stone Church adjacent to the main museum building.

Stockton Student Wins Kansas Poster Contest

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A Stockton sixth-grader is a state winner in the national Fight the Bite Poster Contest,  sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There were 75 entries from Kansas. The 2012 Kansas fifth-grade winner is Kassidie Womack from Lawrence, and the sixth-grade winner is Kyra Horn from Stockton.

Each winning artist received $50 and a certificate. Their posters will be used in educational materials nationwide to help motivate others to Fight the Bite.

The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced in February the invitation to all fifth- and sixth-graders in Kansas to participate.

This contest encouraged students to use art to show the ways they can protect themselves and their families from the diseases spread by mosquitoes, ticks and fleas by using avoidance behavior, proper clothing or repellent while outdoors.

 

Huge Flag Graces Russell Crossroad

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The fireworks were banned, but Russell residents still enjoyed a flag dedication ceremony Tuesday night during the town’s two-day Freedom Fireworks July 4th celebration.

A new 20’x30′ American flag is flying at the crossroad of Highway 281 and old Highway 40.  The intersection is the same location the Stars and Stripes used to hang years ago.

The flag honors  military veterans, police, firefighters, EMTs and other First Responders.

See more tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

 

UPDATE: Russell Authorities Searching for Stolen Pickup

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UPDATE:  Shortly after 1p.m. Thursday, the Russell Police Department reports the stolen pickup has been recovered and a suspect is in custody.

The Russell Police Department is looking for a stolen pickup.

It was reported to the RPD Thursday morning. The vehicle  was last seen at 10 p.m.  Wednesday night, July 4.

It is a black 1990 GMC pickup truck with a white stripe and has KS license plate 000EBY.

If you see this vehicle, police ask that you call 911 immediately.

Ellis County Approved for Emergency Grazing of CRP Land

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Ellis County is among seven counties approved June 29 for emergency grazing of land enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program.

Also approved by the USDA Farm Service Agency are Graham, Lane, Trego, Osborne, Rooks and Wallace counties.

Tuesday, Governor Sam Brownback updated the state drought declarations, moving 36 Kansas counties to a drought emergency status, 55 to the drought warning status and 14 to the drought watch status.

The update includes all 105 counties either in an emergency, warning or watch status.

The action was recommended by Tracy Streeter, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team.

Fireworks Spectacular Set Up Underway

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Crews arrived Monday to begin setting up the Hays Wild West Festival Fireworks Spectacular.

The free fireworks display is staged on the southwest edge of the FHSU campus.

The show is still on as scheduled for 10p.m.  July 4.

Mayor Troy Hickman banned the sale and use of fireworks in Hays Friday afternoon.  The ban is also in effect for unincorporated areas of Ellis County.

WWF Performance Stage Going Up in Municipal Park

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Trying to beat the heat and the clock, about 50 volunteers began setting up the concert stage, lighting and sound systems at 7a.m. Tuesday in the Hays Municipal Park for this week’s Wild West Festival.

Some crew members were recruited by Hays High School’s Music Director Johnny Matlock.  The money they earn will go towards a fundraiser for the school’s 12th Street Auditorium

“Our students from the Hays High Singers, the musical and the Chamber group have helped set up the stage equipment for their own performances, so we have a little bit of experience (doing this),” laughed Matlock.

The recruits are working with the professionals, Sure Sound and Lighting of Grand Island, Nebraska, who oversee the swarm of people working at mid-day to set up trusses and rigging, in preparation to hoist the lights.

The crew is working every day this week.  One perk is getting to see all the performances on stage each night.

And then, when the 18th annual Wild West Festival is over,  it’s time to “strike the set,”  bright and early Sunday morning at 8 o’clock.

See more tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

FHSU Dwight Drive Extension Now Open

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A newly extended road at Fort Hays State University  just east of Big Creek opens a new path through the campus.

Dwight Drive now curves northwest around the levee and connects with Gustad Drive, the road connecting the main campus to Gross Memorial Coliseum.

Although other vehicles were already parked on the new pavement, University Police Chief Ed Howell got behind the wheel of his black police cruiser and had the  honor of being the first to officially drive across the road extension.

During Tuesday morning’s opening ceremony, FHSU President Dr. Ed Hammond said the road also marks completion of the university’s old master plan.

“This is also a transition to a new plan for the future and Dwight Drive will provide access to a new academic building, the Center for Networked Learning, ”  Hammond said.  Final design presentation of the new building is scheduled  for July 10.

The Dwight Drive extension project cost was $500,000.  It was built by APAC-Kansas Inc. of Hays.

Watch more from the opening ceremony tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

Historic Fort Hays Independence Day Celebration

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Friends of Historic Fort Hays will host the 24th annual Independence Day Celebration at Fort Hays State Historic Site July 4.

Activities begin at 6:30 p.m. with a picnic of hot dogs, potato chips, and iced tea, for a suggested $2 donation to the Friends of Historic Fort Hays.

At 7 p.m. the Hays City Summer Band will perform an hour-long  selection of patriotic music in its final 2012 concert.  Those attending are encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets for seating.

Fireworks are not permitted on the historic site property.

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