Kansas Day is Sunday and Hays area elementary schools are celebrating with music.

Hays Arts Council Kansas Day Music Residency Artist Aaron Fowler of Wichita brings alive Kansas history and music for the youngsters with interactive songs.

Fowler is a Wolf Trap Early Childhood teaching specialist who uses familiar songs such as “Home on the Range” to illustrate life on the Kansas prairies in the mid-1880s.

Fowler is making 14 appearances this week at schools in Hays, Plainville, Russell, Victoria and Ellis.  His final appearance is a public concert Thursday at 7p.m. in the Hays Public Library.

Nicodemus National Historic Site will host The Politicians of Nicodemus and The Struggle for Civil Rights in Kansas  Saturday,  January 28 at the Nicodemus Township Hall/Visitor Center starting at 4p.m.

Keynote speaker is Gretchen Cassel Eick, who will discuss the Struggle of Civil Rights in Kansas.  Following her presentation, several descendants will portray local historic personalities such as Rev. Roundtree, John Niles, Edward P. McCabe, and Abram Hall.

Gretchen Eick is a professor of History at Friends University in Wichita. Her presentation will consider how individuals and communities battled segregation, altering state and local policies and giving rise to national civil right laws.

The presentation is part of the Kansas Humanities Council’s Kansas 150 Speakers Bureau commemorating the Kansas Sesquicentennial.

To learn more, contact Nicodemus National Historic Site at 785-839-4233 or visit the website at www.nps.gov/nico.  The park is located on Highway 24, 13 miles east of Hill City and 19 miles west of Stockton.

The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce will commence the 2012 Eggs & Issues Legislative Forum series Saturday, January 28 at 8:30 a.m. in the Sternberg Museum of Natural History.

Hays Democratic Representative and House Minority Whip Eber Phelps, Republican Representative Dan Collins of Plainville and Hays Democratic Senator Allen Schmidt will be the featured speakers.

The forum will include a light breakfast.  The event is free, however RSVPs are requested to the Chamber office by calling 628-8201 or emailing [email protected].

The Eggs & Issues Legislative Forums are a series of meetings with state legislators that provide area residents the opportunity to learn more about legislative issues.

Eggs & Issues is sponsored by AT&T.

Please be advised that beginning Monday, January 23, 2012, 12^th street from Oak to Main will be closed for storm sewer replacement. Repairs should be completed in approximately six weeks. 

Access to local businesses will be maintained including the Emprise Bank parking lot. Signs will be in place to direct the traveling public. The traveling public should use caution in this area.

The City of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public. If there are any questions, please contact the Public Works Planning, Inspection, and Enforcement Division at 628-7310.

The United Way of Ellis County has met the 2011 campaign goal of $475,000.  Chairman Lance Albin made the announcement today in a news release.

The campaign kicked off in June 2011  and continued through December 3..

United Way currently supports 14 agencies in Ellis County, diverse organizations dedicated to improving the community and making a difference in the lives of resident.

A WaKeeney man has been charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child.

Shane A. Hammond, 30,  is free on $150,000 bond.  He’s scheduled to appear in Trego County District Court for a preliminary hearing February 22.  Hammond was arrested December 23.

According to WaKeeney Police Chief Terry Eberle who investigated the case, the child involved is four-years-old.

Hays resident Tom Pitner has been confirmed to the Kansas State Banking Board for a three-year-term.

Pitner has been serving as a non-official board member since August.  The Kansas Senate made the unanimous confirmation Tuesday.

The nine-member board represents public interest in the regulation, operation and control of state banks and trust companies.

Pitner is director and loan committee member at Bank of Hays, and has worked in the banking industry for more than 40 years.

Is there a need for Adult Day Care in Hays?

Community Task Force members presented preliminary ideas and asked for public input during a meeting this afternoon at the Hadley Center.

Attendees completed a short questionnaire.  The information will be compiled and used in an assessment of the need for Adult Day Care.

Mark Schulte,  administrator of the Good Samaritan Society, Ellis, and Good Samaritan Society Home Health of Central Kansas, is coordinating the meetings along with Dave VanDoren of the Hadley Development Corporation.

Another session will be held tonight at 7:30 in the Heritage Center Room.

Water conservation efforts have been a priority for the city of Hays for nearly 20 years.

Education, legislation, incentives and better infrastructure management have all been used to help curb water use by residents and businesses, says Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno.

Four major incentive programs have been implemented:  Energy-star washer rebates, low-flow shower head programs, low-flow toilet-rebates and a turf-replacement program.

As the city looks at Circle K Ranch in Edwards County for a long-term water supply, additional opportunities for water savings are also being explored. That includes possible implementation of a new city position, a water conservation specialist.  Commissioners will discuss the idea during their Thursday night work session.

Watch Street Beat ECTV Channel 14 tonight for more.