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Author: Becky Kiser

Hays 2012 Budget in Brief Available

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Even the city of Hays employees who deal with the town’s budget each year find reading the report somewhat tedious.

So to make it a little easier to absorb and understand for both employees and residents, the city’s 200-page budget document for 2012 is prefaced with a 7-page “budget in brief.”

The 2012 budget is a balanced budget, according to Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno.  There are no increases in the mill levy nor fees for city services.

Major sections of the budget in brief are marked with bullet points referring the reader to a specific page in the full budget for detailed information.

Copies of the city of Hays 2012 budget are available online at the city’s website, at City Hall and the Hays Public Library.

Luminaries Added to FHSU Annual Christmas Lighting Ceremony

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The Christmas season has officially kicked off at Fort Hays State University with Tuesday night’s traditional tree lighting ceremony in front of Sheridan Hall.

 

For the first time, luminaries representing all the home countries of FHSU students have also been lit.

 

The Dickens Carolers, led by  Dr. Terry Crull,  Assistant Professor of Music, entertained the crowd prior to the lighting countdown.

Winners of the annual children’s Christmas coloring contest, sponsored by Wendy’s Restaurant, were recognized and awarded stuffed animals.  All 500 entries will be displayed in Gross Memorial Coliseum beginning December 7.

The event, sponsored by the FHSU Fraternity/Sorority Community also included hot chocolate and cookies, hayrack rides, and a special visit from Santa Claus,  who posed for pictures with those whispering in his ear their Christmas wishes.

Look for more Wednesday night on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14.

 

Skyline Draw Re-Engineered as Bio-Retention System

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With some federal funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Skyline Draw in Hays has been re-constructed into an engineered bio-retention system that treats stormwater runoff.

KSU Watershed Specialist Stacie Minson says Skyline Draw plays a key role in helping reduce the pollutant load of stormwater runoff from commercial development and residential properties north of 33rd Street before it reaches the local water supply.

Native Kansas vegetation has also been allowed to grow in the draw bottom which helps filter and prevent pollutants from running downstream.

The stormwater runoff pollutants include E. coli, nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment.  According to Minson, they can be harmful to human health and the aquatic environment if concentrations get too high.

Watch Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14 tonight for more.

Nominations Underway for Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award

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TOPEKA–The Kansas Department of Commerce is accepting nominations for the 2012 Governor’s Exporter of the Year Award, which is presented to a single Kansas business for excellence in international trade and marketing.

 Nominated companies will be evaluated on the totality of their international efforts, specifically:

·         increase in jobs because of international activities.

·         innovations in global marketing.

·         number of countries exported to.

·         effective use of international distributors.

·         long-range international strategies and prospects for future growth.

·         commitment to the state and local community.

The winner will be announced in the summer 2012. 

Kansas Commerce Secretary Pat George says competition for this recognition has significantly increased over the years, which is the direct result of more Kansas companies having success in international trade.

Businesses can nominate themselves or be nominated by any other organization or individual. Forms are available at www.kansascommerce.com/exporteroftheyear.

The nomination deadline is Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2012.

 

TMP-Marian Wins High School Math Relays

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TMP-Marian captured first place in the class 3-2-1A division at the Fort Hays State University High School Math Relays earlier this month.

 

The 137 point total amassed by the team was the highest of all 46 schools competing, regardless of classification.

 

This is the third time in the past five years the Monarchs have had the highest point total of any participating school.

FSHU Adds Online Graduate Psychology Programs

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Fort Hays State University is adding two more online graduate degree programs.

The master of science in school psychology and the education specialist in psychology will go online in fall 2012 through FHSU’s Virtual College.

 
Psychology instructor Betsy Leeds says a lot of people who are interested in the psychology degrees have full-time jobs in education, so they’re not  able to come to campus.

Enrollment priority deadline is March 1, though enrollment will be open until April 15.

 

Longtime Hays Educator Ken Haas Dies

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Veteran Hays teacher Ken Haas, 69, died Friday at his home after battling lung cancer for two years.  Haas’ career in education spanned 42 years at both USD 489 and Thomas More Prep-Marian High School.

He began his career as an industrial arts and physical education teacher at Kennedy Middle School in 1964, before working as a school guidance counselor for 26 years.

Haas then served as TMP-Marian High School principal from 1999 until his retirement in 2006.  He  continued his involvement in education as a substitute teacher and helping at athletic events.

Haas and his wife, Cheri, a 1965 graduate of Marian High School,  were named Points of Light at TMP-Marian in 2007.

Funeral services are Friday, December 2 at 10a.m. in St. Joseph’s Church, Hays.

 

Hays Fire Department Ride-Along Program Initiated

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When they’re not fighting fires, what do firemen do?  A lot, as the public has the chance to learn in the Hays Fire Department’s new Citizen Ride-Along program.

The program is open to all adult residents of Hays who will experience the firefighters’ work during a typical 24-hour shift. That may include responding to alarms, various types of training, fire house life, and fire safety inspections.

Citizens may ride with the fire department any day between the hours of 7a.m. and 10p.m.  The hours are flexible to accommodate the participant’s schedule and may include spending the night.

Chief Gary Brown says the Hays Fire Department is the residents’ fire department, and most people don’t think about it until they need emergency help.

Street Beat’s Casey McAvoy kicks off a four-part series Monday on Eagle Community TV Channel 14 about his experience as  a Fire Observer with host Firefighter Justin Choitz and driver Firefighter  Lucas Everett.

Kansas Marks 100 Years of Vital Statistics

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Topeka –This year marks the 100th anniversary of the state’s civil registration system known as Kansas Vital Statistics.

The Kansas legislature passed a law in 1911 mandating the collection of births and deaths occurring in the state. Late in 1911, the new Division of Vital Statistics began the registration, compilation and preservation of birth and death certificates. Marriage records were added in 1913 and divorces in 1951.

The early years of Kansas vital statistics involved the collection of records through a system of local registrars, who frequently were the city clerks. The first state registrar, W.J.V. Deacon, appointed 478 local registrars, one for each incorporated city.

The major reasons for recording deaths were: the tracking of demographics of Kansas, legal purposes, and what Deacon described as the “Sanitary value, which teaches where the plague spots are and gives opportunity for the installation of preventive measures.”  Data from vital records remain a foundation of public health statistics today and are used to identify, assess and improve the health of Kansans.

“Establishing the age of persons being sent to prison was given as a reason in 1911 for birth certificates, along with inheritance, insurance and other documentary purposes,” says  Robert Moser, M.D., Secretary of KDHE and State Health Officer.

In 1911, the three leading causes of death were heart disease, tuberculosis and kidney disease. One hundred years later, the three leading causes are chronic diseases: cancer, heart disease and chronic lower respiratory disease.

One hundred years ago, there were about 3,000 infant deaths. In 2010, there were 253. Kansans are also living longer. In 1911, the average age of death was 47 years compared with 74 today.

Collection of vital records has changed also. As automation became more prominent, local registration ended in favor of registration of the records from hospitals and funeral homes directly to KDHE. Today’s system is a Web-based electronic one.

The Office of Vital Statistics registers more than 100,000 vital events and issues approximately 365,000 copies of vital records certificates each year.

Bright Friday Tree Lighting in Downtown Hays

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It’s now officially the Christmas season.  Hays Mayor Barbara Wasinger presided over the “Bright Friday” Christmas tree lighting ceremony in the downtown Union Pacific Park at dusk Friday evening.

Wearing red Santa hats, dancers from the Jackie Creamer Dance Studio first entertained the audience with a holiday theme dance and got a rousing cheer as they lined up to kick dance Rockette-style.

A special guest appearance was made by Santa and Mrs. Claus, who brought along their reindeer and elf friends.  On hand to greet them was Chilly the Penguin, the new mascot of the Hays Public Library, who handed out copies of his new book “Swept Up in Snowflakes.”

The event was organized by the Downtown Hays Development Corporation and historic Chestnut Street District.

Site of 1958 Dockum Drug Store Sit-In Among National Register Nominations

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TOPEKA, KS—The Kansas Historical Society Board of Review has voted to list four properties in the Register of Historic Kansas Places and to forward 14 nominations to the office of the Keeper of the National Register of Historic Places in Washington, D.C.  If they concur with the board’s findings, the properties will be included in the National Register.

One of the nominated properties is the Union National Bank building in Wichita, site of the historic 1958 Dockum Drug Store sit-in by young African Americans protesting discriminatory policies.

Two area residents serve on the KSHS Board of Review:  Craig Crosswhite, Ness City, Chair and Leo Oliva, Stockton.

The National Register of Historic Places is the country’s official list of historically significant properties.

Record Crowd Enjoys ECMA Community Thanksgiving Dinner

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An estimated 500 people gathered at noon Thanksgiving Day for the annual community Thanksgiving Dinner sponsored by the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance.

More than 100 volunteers of all ages served up the traditional turkey and trimmings, plus pie for dessert, all cooked by Pam Burgardt, co-owner of the Bakery Shop Catering Company.

Event co-chair Leslie Radius, Trinity Lutheran Church pastor, says 300 grocery bags filled with  donated non-perishable foods, were given to the attendees as they left the dinner at the Hays National Guard Armory.  More donated food, fillings two vans, will be given to the Community Assistance Center.

For the second year, to-go dinners were taken to people unable to come to the Armory.

Be watching Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14 for more.

Chilly the Penguin Gives New Book to Kids

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It was unseasonably warm Wednesday as Chilly the Penguin greeted fans in the Eagle Communications Dillons Customer Service Center.

Chilly stars in the new children’s book “Swept Up in Snowflakes” written by Brandon Hines, the Hays Public Library Youth Services Director.  Other HPL staff members contributed to the story and Brandon’s wife Carrie Hines is the book illustrator.

Four-thousand copies of the soft-bound book have been printed by Northwestern Printers, Hays.  They’re being given away to young readers.

Chilly even has a new theme song written and performed by Randy Sauer, the music teacher at Holy Family Elementary School.

Chilly will participate in Friday evening’s Bright Friday tree lighting ceremony in the downtown Hays Union Pacific Railroad Park.

Tune in to Street Beat tonight to find out more about Chilly.

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