Thirty-seven projects totaling $15.4 million in overall cost and $6.8 million in state funds have been selected for funding under the Kansas Department of Transportation’s 2013 KLINK resurfacing program.

The following projects in northwest Kansas were accepted:

* Hays: U.S. Highway 183 from 13th Street to 18th Street, $200,000

* Russell: U.S. Highway 40 from the U.S. Highway 281 junction to the east city limits, $200,000.

* Colby: U.S. Highway 24 from Franklin Avenue to the east city limits, $200,000.

According to KDOT Secretary Deb Miller, through the Local Partnership Program, the state’s participation in the cost of the project is 75 percent for cities with a population of less than 10,000 or 50 percent for cities with a population of 10,000 or greater, up to a maximum of $200,000.

The Hays Fire Department responded to a house fire in the 1800 block of Fort Street about 9p.m. Wednesday.

Chief Gary Brown says initially it appears the fire was on the house exterior and did not invade the interior.  Residents were allowed back into the home about 9:40p.m.

The fire remains under investigation.

Hays police are investigating the report of a robbery about 7:30 Thursday night at the Hays Love’s Country Store on Vine Street.  Officers are searching the area by vehicle and foot.

The  suspect is described as a white male  in his early 20s, 5 foot 8 inches or shorter, wearing a blue bandana as a doo rag and second black bandana over his face.

He was also wearing a sweatshirt, baggy blue jeans, and black shoes with white lettering or a white emblem.

The suspect was last seen fleeing from the scene on foot.

Two statewide coalitions representing a broad cross-section of Kansans are sponsoring a town hall meeting Thursday evening at 6:30 in the Hays Public Library concerning state budget decisions and their impact on communities.

The Big Tent Coalition is an association of organizations and individual advocates who believe in enhancing choices for Kansans with disabilities, the elderly, and those with mental illness.

Kansans for Quality Communities is a coalition of organizations representing education, health care, people with disabilities, and state employees, working to keep Kansas communities strong and healthy.

Kathy Rome with the Hays chapter of  Kansas National Education Association and Bob Barker of Hays with Western Kansas Association on Concerns of the Disabled, encourage concerned residents to attend.

Area legislators participating in Thursday’s meeting include 111th District Representative Eber Phelps (D-Hays), 110th District Rep. Dan Collins (R-Plainville) and 36th District Sen. Allen Schmidt (D-Hays).

The meeting will be webcast live below:

A memorial to the late Reverend Bill Miller will be dedicated Sunday morning outside the Hays First United Methodist Church where he served from 1967 to 1982.

Miller left Hays for a short time before retiring.  He then returned to served as chaplain at Hadley Regional Medical Center and then Hays Medical Center.  Miller, an active and popular community member,  died January 28 at age 88.

The life-size bronze sculpture, “Children of the Heavenly Father,” depicts children dancing in a circle.   An anonymous group has  coordinated the statue’s creation by a California artist

The dedication will be at 9:30 a.m. Sunday at First United Methodist Church, 305 W. Seventh.

Hundreds of area veterans enjoyed a free dinner Monday night at the Hays Golden Corral.  The “Military Monday” meal was offered nationwide by the restaurant.

Community volunteers, including 111th Dist. State Representative Eber Phelps-D-Hays, Eagle Communications employees and  local Boy Scouts, helped refill drinks and clean the tables.

The veterans, their families and friends were greeted at the door by members of the local chapter of Disabled American Veterans.  President Mike Dreiling, Victoria, was just elected Department Commander of the DAV Department of Kansas.

A corroded and eroded 280-foot section of storm sewer pipe in the 100 block of East 12th Street in Hays will be replaced.

City commissioners Thursday night accepted the low bid of $154,563 from APAC-Kansas.

Stormwater Superintendent Nick Willis is inspecting all the city’s sewer lines, and will come up with a pro-active replacement plan. The pipes are in varying states of decay.

The project is slated to begin January 9 and be complete within 30 working days.

A new fire hydrant for improved downtown fire protection will be installed while the street is closed for construction.

Trego County Commissioner Dean Papes has entered a six-month diversion agreement on a social hosting charge, stemming from a May 15 graduation party on his property near WaKeeney.

In addition to the $225 diversion fee, Papes will also pay a $200 fine and perform 20 hours of community service.

Papes was charged August 15 with one misdemeanor count of social hosting–allowing his property to be used by a minor who possessed or consumed alcohol.

The diversion agreement, in effect through April 27,  requires Papes not violate any state laws.  He must also notify the Kansas Attorney General’s office if he will host a party of 10 or more people, where alcoholic beverages would be served and minors would be present.