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Author: Becky Kiser

BBBS Bowl for Kids’ Sake at Hays Centennial Lanes

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The Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl for Kids’ Sake is one of five annual  fundraisers for the Ellis County chapter.

Teams are bowling Thursday at Hays’ Centennial Lanes, starting at noon for those on their lunch hour.

Bowling resumes at 5:30 in the evening when Littles often join their Bigs.  They know best what it means to be matched, and that’s how the money is used.  BBBS Program Manager Jenny Bates says each match and the related paperwork processing costs about $1,000.

There are currently about 150 matches.   About about 40 more Littles are waiting to be matched with a Big, , says Bates,  hoping for that caring adult volunteer who takes a special interest in the child’s life.

See the story tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

Hays Lender and FHSU KSBDC Win SBA Awards

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The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Wichita District Office has named Josh Dreher of the Bank of Hays and the Fort Hays State University Kansas Small Business Development Center as winners of two of SBA’s 2012 Small Business Week awards.

Dreher, assistant vice president and commercial loan officer at the Bank of Hays and a 2009 FHSU graduate, is the Financial Services Champion of the Year for the state of Kansas. The award recognizes his achievements and contributions in driving economic growth in his community. Dreher’s enthusiasm for entrepreneurship, leadership in small business lending and personal commitment to his small business customers have helped many entrepreneurs start, grow and succeed.

Dreher has furthered his career education through several commercial lending courses specific to the SBA’s guaranty loan programs.

FHSU’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) has been named the recipient of SBA’s Small Business Development Center Excellence and Innovation Award for the Wichita District.

Director Ron Newman and his staff provide entrepreneurial outreach to 21 counties in northwest Kansas, including the cities of Hays and Russell. The SBDC offers existing and future entrepreneurs free one-on-one business consulting and low-cost training seminars.

Dreher and the FHSU SBDC staff will be honored and receive their awards at a reception at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 24, at the Hays Area Chamber of Commerce.

Final HACC Eggs and Issues Postponed One Week

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The final Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues Legislative Session scheduled for Saturday, May 12 has been postponed until Saturday, May19.
According to HACC Executive Director Tammy Wellbrock, it will be held at the Hays Welcome Center, 2700 Vine Street, at 8:30 am.
There is no cost to attend, although RSVPs are requested by Thursday, May 17 for breakfast.

Kids Learn to Make Their Own Fun at Pioneer Day

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Prairie pioneer children had to make their own fun, and it didn’t involve video games!

That’s what area elementary school students found out as they participated in Wednesday’s 11th annual Pioneer Day at the Ellis County Historical Society in Hays.

The educational event includes demonstrations by volunteers and hands-on activities showing the intensive labor that was required in everyday living on the prairies.

They watched as a saddle maker made repairs to well-worn leather, then took turns churning butter and cleaning clothes by hand, using a metal washboard in a big metal washtub.

Most of the kids already knew a proper lady always wore a full-length dress,  even as  as she did her housework.   They didn’t realize the family house was usually just one room.

The students also toured the new Hays Fire Department Museum, the Volga German Haus and the Younker Harness Shop, all part of the ECHS Museum plaza.

Explosion and Fire Under Investigation at Wilson Lake Marina

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Authorities are investigating a 9-1-1 call to Russell County late Monday afternoon about an explosion and fire at the Wilson Lake Marina.
Units responded at 4:39p.m. from Russell County Sheriff’s Office, Russell County EMS, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Russell City Fire Rescue, Dorrance, Lucas and Sylvan Grove Fire Departments and the Kansas Highway Patrol.
According to a news release from the Russell County Sheriff’s Office, the fire was located on one boat storage dock and contained to five boat slips.  At least two boats were completely destroyed and several others damaged.
No injuries were reported due to the fire or explosion.
The Kansas State Fire Marshal Office has been called in to help with an investigation of the incident by the KDWPT.

Hays Event Celebrates Older Americans Month

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In keeping with the theme “Never Too Old to Play,” the Hays AARP chapter hosted bingo games with plenty of fun and prizes during Saturday’s 2012 Seniors Celebration in the Hays Mall.

May is National Older Americans Month and Elder Law Month.

The sixth annual event drew several hundred area senior citizens who enjoyed other entertainment with live music from “The Monday Night Gals” and Wes Windholz, as well as vocalist Walt Pennington, who was also the emcee.

Twenty-five booths lined the center and north end of The Mall interior offering information and giveaways of particular interest to people ages 55 and older.

The Kansas Lions Sight Foundation mobile screening unit in the parking lot offered hearing, vision, blood pressure and blood sugar screenings.

President John F. Kennedy designated May as Senior Citizens Month in 1963.

Kansan Appointed to FCC

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WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Kansan Ajit Pai was confirmed by the U.S. Senate Monday as a Commissioner to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Pai is the second Kansan ever to serve on the FCC, and the first since Bob Wells served on the Commission from 1969 to 1971.

A native of Parsons, Pai is currently a partner at Jenner & Block law firm, and previously worked in the Office of the General Counsel of the FCC, where he served as Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel, and Special Advisor to the General Counsel.

Prior to joining the FCC, Mr. Pai served as Chief Counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights, when then-Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) served as Chairman.

Pai also served as Senior Counsel in the Office of Legal Policy at the U.S. Department of Justice and began his public sector career with the Telecommunications Task Force of the United States Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. In addition,  Pai has served as Associate General Counsel at Verizon. He holds a B.A. from Harvard University and a J.D. from the University of Chicago.

The FCC is directed by five Commissioners, which are appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate for 5-year terms.

15,000 Third Graders Participate in KS Kids’ Fitness & Safety Day

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About 15 percent of Kansas kids are obese.  A 2004 study by the Kansas Department of Health and Education also finds about 60 percent of Kansas students kindergarten through 8th grade are not getting the recommended amount of daily exercise.

To reinforce the fun and health benefits of noncompetitive physical activities, the Governor’s Council on Fitness co-sponsors the annual Kansas Kids’ Fitness and Safety Day.  More than 15,000 third-graders joined Friday’s 22nd annual event at 30 sites across the state.

Hays O’Loughlin third grader Olivia Rankin was among the 400 or so participating at Fort Hays State University’s Moeckel Field.  Olivia knows exercise is important for a strong healthy body.  She says she’s been active in dance and soccer for many years, and took up track last year.

All the participants in Kansas were each given jump ropes and popper balls to encourage ongoing physical activity.

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

 

Edible Books “Everest” Entry Requires Mountain of Frosting

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Some people like to read books, and some people like to eat books.  Of course, not all books are edible, although the entries in the sixth annual Edible Books Contest at the Hays Public Library certainly are.

The challenge–depict your favorite book, using your cooking and decorating skills, and it must be comprised of all-edible ingredients.

Two fifth graders at Roosevelt Elementary School took honors in the youth category.

Tony Malleck read “Triumph on Everest,”  using lots of Rice Krispies cereal to create the mountain top which was surrounded by frosting clouds and complete with struggling climbers  who strained against their licorice ropes.

Classmate Alexa Morell read “The Star Fisher.”  She and her kitchen crew also used Rice Krispies to create the story’s family-owned laundry facility, with their living quarters in the back of the building.

“Edible Landscapes” by Ellis County Master Gardener Linda Stahlman was selected as the adult category winner by the judges,  Hays artist Kris Kuksi  and Beau Dealy, a Hays food writer.

All the winners were awarded cookbooks, and after the judging, the crowd got to eat the literal literary entries.

 

Fox Pavilion Slated for Foreclosure Auction

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The Fox Pavilion will be sold at a sheriff’s auction Tuesday morning.

The downtown Hays landmark is in foreclosure after the property owner, Brooks Kellogg, was sentenced to six years in federal prison for charges related to murder-for-hire in October, 2010.

Records show a petition to foreclose was filed in January in Ellis County District Court by First National Bank of Hays for $658,000.  No payments have been made since September 2010.

The property is for sale by Coldwell Banker Executive Realty.

Kansas Drought Map Updated

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Topeka – The winter conditions and spring climate for Kansas led Governor Sam Brownback to update the Drought Declaration for Kansas counties Friday.  The update involves 91 counties either in a warning or watch status.

The updated drought declaration has 16 counties in a warning status and 75 in watch status. This action was recommended by Tracy Streeter, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team.

“While 14 counties have been removed from the monitor, the overall total moisture for the past year is below normal and temperatures are projected to be above normal this year again,” said Tracy Streeter. “It is important we monitor conditions for the state as they could deteriorate quickly with no reserves.”

For more detailed information about current conditions, see the Kansas Climate Summary and Drought Report on the Kansas Water Office website at: www.kwo.org

County Drought Stage Declarations:

 Drought Warning:

Barber, Clark, Comanche, Finney, Grant, Gray, Haskell, Kearny, Kiowa, Meade, Morton, Pratt, Seward, Stafford, Stanton, Stevens

Drought Watch:

Allen, Anderson, Barton, Bourbon, Butler, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Clay, Cloud, Coffey, Cowley, Crawford, Decatur, Dickinson, Edwards, Elk, Ellis, Ellsworth, Ford, Franklin, Geary, Gove, Graham, Greeley, Greenwood, Hamilton, Harper, Harvey, Hodgeman, Jewel, Kingman, Labette, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Logan, Lyon, Marion, McPherson, Miami, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morris, Neosho, Ness, Norton, Osage, Osborne, Ottawa, Pawnee, Phillips, Rawlins, Reno, Republic, Rice, Riley, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Saline, Scott, Sedgwick, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Sumner, Thomas, Trego, Wallace, Washington, Wichita, Wilson, Woodson

Vision Screening Tests for Preschoolers Uses New Portable Technology

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Staff at First Care Clinic in Hays saw a need to conduct more vision screenings of their youngest patients, who are often squirmy and can’t communicate well with the eye-care professional

The clinic received a grant from the United Way of Ellis County and additional funding from  the Hays Lions Club  for a portable “SureSight” vision screener.

Two staff members used it for the first time with about a dozen preschoolers at Good Beginnings Daycare.   It takes just a few seconds per eye with the hand-held screener to test for common eye problems.  If an abnormality is detected,  says nurse practitioner Amanda Bickle, it can be followed up in the office for more extensive work.

Good Beginnings Daycare owner Jessica Normandin is a neighbor to an employee at First Care Clinic who suggested the checkups.  Normandin is happy the parents of her preschoolers agreed to have the children undergo the testing.  “I think it’s really important to have these screenings at this early age because usually parents won’t take the time to do it until they’re older and in kindergarten, ” she says.

Also helping out with the screening was Sylvia Reinhardt, a nurse and a member of the Kansas Lions Sight Foundation.  The  service club’s Statewide Low Vision Program, is the first-ever recipient of the Lions Clubs International Foundation grant for low-vision services.

There’s more tonight on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

Small 4-H Livestock Readying for Ellis County Fair

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The bleating and squeals coming from the Ellis County Fairgrounds Wednesday night are just a preview of sounds and sights that will fill the air at this year’s Ellis County Fair.

Ellis County 4-H members who plan to show goats, feeder calves, sheep or swine at the fair brought their animals in for an official weigh-in by the Ag Livestock committee.

An alternate weigh-in will be held during Sunday’s Spring Livestock Show at the fairgrounds.

The 2012 Ellis County Fair is July 14-21 in Hays.

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