Hays Mayor Barb Wasinger taps the keg and pours the first beer Friday morning to officially open the 39th annual Hays Volga German Oktoberfest. Three Fort Hays State University exchange students from Germany joined Wasinger, FHSU President Ed Hammond, and Oktoberfest Chairman Eleanor Schippers, Victoria, for the opening ceremony in Frontier Park.
Oktoberfest is a traditional German after-harvest celebration. In Hays it also kicks off the FHSU Homecoming weekend.
Hays-based Eagle Communications has signed an agreement to purchase radio stations in Manhattan and Junction City, recently recognized by the Census Bureau as one of the fastest growing areas in the state.
An application has been submitted to the Federal Communications Commission for the purchase of 1420 AM-KJCK, Power Hits 97.5-FM- KJCK, and KQLA- Q103.5 -FM from Platinum Broadcasting.
“The stations have had long-standing, historical success and have a very talented staff, ” commented Gary Shorman, President and CEO of Eagle Communications. “This combination of stations is also a perfect complement to our portfolio of broadcast assets and their location and coverage area are ideal for our company footprint. ”
The stations, separately programmed, have a wide and varied audience appeal. KQLA’s format is adult contemporary. KJCK-FM, playing the hottest hits, has consistently outperformed competing stations in Manhattan, Salina, and Junction City over the past 3 years. KJCK-AM features a news and talk format. Each station is known for a commitment to community news and participation in local events, similar to the work for which Eagle radio stations are known.
The transaction is subject to FCC approval and the two companies anticipate it closing in 60-90 days.
Topeka – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Bureau of Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics (BEPHI) has released “Most Frequent Conditions Treated in Kansas Community Hospitals, Excluding – Maternity, The State of Kansas and the Counties, 2007-2009.”
The information identifies priority populations to inform the initiation of community health assessment activities, design public health programs and develop public health policy. Community health assessment is a process many local health departments and all non-profit hospitals are starting as part of either national health department accreditation or hospitals meeting federal requirements.
Some state level findings include:
County level rankings show:
The full report is available at https://kic.kdhe.state.ks.us/kic/OHA/hcdgb.html.
MARQUETTE — During a periodic inspection and dewatering of the outlet works at Kanopolis Reservoir on Sept. 26, officials with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers discovered an adult zebra mussel in the stilling basin. The discovery marks the 14th Kansas reservoir infested by this invasive species.
KDWPT aquatic nuisance species biologist Jason Goeckler says the spread can be prevented. “Some of the recent discoveries in eastern Kansas reservoirs were expected because zebra mussels naturally move downstream from infested lakes,” Goeckler explained. “Like the infestation at Melvern Reservoir earlier in the year, the introduction to Kanopolis could have been prevented. We can and must work together to prevent further spread of aquatic nuisance species. Lake users need to take a few minutes to follow the basic clean, drain, and dry precautions.”
Zebra mussel colonies quickly become quite dense, attaching to any hard surface, including native mussels, crayfish, turtles, boats, docks, as well as water intake structures. They even attach to other zebra mussels, creating layered colonies up to 6 inches thick.
Adult zebra mussels are filter feeders, and an infestation can dramatically disrupt a lake’s food chain by removing plankton native fish rely on. KDWPT biologists have documented decreases in body condition and abundance in several game fish species after zebra mussel infestations. Zebra mussel feeding habits may also increase the potential for blue-green algae blooms, which can be toxic to humans and animals. Dense colonies of zebra mussels make wading and swimming along shorelines dangerous because of their sharp shells. When zebra mussels die, the odor and shell fragments that wash up make any shoreline activities unpleasant.
Goeckler reminds all anglers and boaters to remember three simple rules: CLEAN, DRAIN, and DRY. Inspect vessels for any zebra mussels before leaving the boat ramp area. Drain all water from the boat’s livewell, baitwell, and sump area. Drain any bait buckets, as well — never pour live bait into the lake; dispose of it on land. Dry the boat and trailer for at least five days before putting them in another lake, or wash the boat and trailer with 140-degree water.
All un-infested Kansas waters are under continual zebra mussel surveillance by KDWPT staff. For more information about aquatic nuisance species, go to www.kdpwt.state.ks.us and click on the “STOP AQUATIC HITCHHIKERS” window on the lower right side of the homepage.
What student doesn’t want to get out of the classroom and into the great outdoors, and still get class credit?
That’s exactly what some students were doing Wednesday afternoon at the Hays K-State Ag Research Center. Hays High School F-F-A students and those in the Soils course taught by Dr. Jean Gleichsner in the Fort Hays State University Agriculture Department created rain barrels and recycle barrels. They converted empty 55 gallon plastic drums donated by Coca-Cola that once were filled with soda pop syrup.
The public is able to purchase a re-purposed barrel to collect rain water from a home’s gutter system for use later in the garden and landscape. The water collected from the roof of a house is soft water (water without any chemicals and minerals). By collecting and using rain water, households reduce dependency upon local city utilities for water, thus reducing treated tap water and stormwater runoff into local streams.
The Service-Learning project is in conjunction with the Smoky Hill River-Kanopolis Lake Watershed.
The number of elderly Americans is growing. According to the National Institute of Health, it will actually double in the next 25 years, from 40 to 80 million—people aged 62 and older. N-I-H predicts a “profound” impact on the economy.
TOPEKA-Entries are being accepted for the Annual Kansas Factual Story Contest. The annual contest, sponsored by the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas, encourages preserving, in writing, factual, unpublished happenings and anecdotes in the lives of Kansans today and yesterday. Olive Ann Beech, of Wichita, provided cash awards for winners for over 30 years. Following her death, her daughter, Mary Lynn Oliver, Wichita, has continued this support.
Beech Memorial Cash Awards are: 1st place, $175; 2nd place, $125; 3rd place, $100; and $50 each for two honorable mentions. Entrants are asked to keep copies of their entries; none will be returned. The Kansas Historical Society may preserve all stories in their collections.
Stories should have taken place in Kansas; be limited to 750 words; be true and not have been published. The contest is open to anyone, anywhere. Only one story may be submitted per person. Entries must be submitted electronically by e-mail no later than November 18, 2011. Send entries to: Terry Marmet, Kansas Historical Foundation, via e-mail to: [email protected]. In the subject are of the email put “Beech Memorial Contest.” The author’s name, mailing address, and phone number must be included on the essay.
A panel from the Kansas Historical Society and the Foundation will judge entries. Winners will be announced and recognized at the annual meeting of the Native Sons and Daughters of Kansas in Topeka, Friday, January 27, 2012. The Kansan of the Year, Distinguished Kansan, and other honorees may be featured at the banquet.
Hays residents have already begun piling unwanted junk for the annual alley cleanup that starts Monday. Solid Waste Superintendent Marin Honas asks participants to sort the discarded items into four separate piles: Tree Limbs and Brush; Construction and Demolition Debris; White Goods/Metals; Municipal Waste & E-Waste. Tires, batteries, hazardous waste and medical waste will not be collected.
Honas says if there’s something near your refuse collection area you don’t want picked up, be sure to mark it as such. There is no charge for the alley cleanup. Crews will make just one sweep through town starting with curbside refuse customers, followed by alley customers.
If you have questions, call the City of Hays Solid Waste Division at 785.628.7357.
A retired Fort Hays State University biology professor has been chosen as one of 150 Kansas scientists to be recognized for their contributions to science. Professor Emeritus Dr. Joseph Thomasson taught for 29 years at the university and retired earlier this year. He’s being honored by Ad Astra Kansas during the state’s 150th anniversary year.
Thomasson is still the curator of botany and paleontology at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History. He also continues to conduct research on fossil grass evolution in Kansas. Some of his work was featured in the PBS NOVA production “Buried in Ash.”
October 2-8 is National 4-H Week. 4-H is the largest youth development organization in the nation with more than 7 million young people. 4-H in Kansas is the largest youth education organization, with 132,000 participants plus 19,500 volunteers. It’s part of the Kansas State University Cooperative Extension Service.
Ellis County 4-H members have a display in the south end of the Hays Mall this week featuring some of this year’s projects taken all the way to the Kansas State Fair. There are eight 4-H clubs in Ellis County with more than 200 members and more than 100 volunteers: Big Creek Astros, Bits & Spurs, Buckeye Junior Farmers, Ellis Sunflowers, Gemini Juniors, Good Hope, Shooting Sports and Victoria Vikings.
Topeka – The State of Kansas launched the Kansas Walk of Honor Friday with the unveiling of a plaque recognizing the contributions made by Sen. Bob Dole on a state and national level. More than 100 family, friends and fellow Kansans joined Sen. Dole, his wife Elizabeth, Gov. Sam Brownback and First Lady Mary Brownback
Born in Russell, KS in 1923, Dole served as a combat infantry officer in Italy during WWII and was wounded twice. He graduated from Washburn University Law School. Highlights of Sen. Dole’s long public service career include county attorney of Russell County; Kansas House of Representatives; U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. He was the GOP nominee for the vice-presidency in 1976, serving as Gerald Ford’s running mate and was the party’s presidential nominee in 1996.
Sen. Dole said his debt to those Kansans who elected him to serve will never be repaid. “But it can be honored – every time I try, in some small way, to emulate the compassion and generosity of my friends and neighbors in Russell, multiplied over the years by countless acts of kindness, and culminating today in this ceremony,” Sen. Dole said.
U.S. Senator Pat Roberts recalled Dole’s many accomplishments in Washington, including the Hospice Care Act (1981); numerous farm bills; Social Security Reform (1983); Americans with Disability Act (1990), Voting Rights Act (1965); and Bayh-Dole Act (1980).
The Kansas Historical Foundation, a 501(c)(3), will serve as the caretakers of funds for the Kansas Walk of Honor. The Historical Foundation, which supports the Kansas Historical Society, a state agency, will establish the Walk fund so that people can offer donations to cover the cost of plaques. The cost for each plaque is $2,000 including shipping.
The plan is for up to three plaques to be added each year to the Walk. The 25 Notable Kansans recently announced will be among the first to be placed on the Walk. Kansans also may submit names of others to be considered for future plaques to the Kansas Historical Foundation. A small committee will be appointed that will make nominations and selections.
About 100 volunteers from Hays Rotary Club, FHSU, Hays High School and local churches gathered at three low-income homes for a Paint-a-Thon Saturday sponsored by the Rotary Club. Exteriors were painted and yards spruced up.
Project leader Tom Kotch helped review 10 applications. Three single female homeowners were selected. Kotch hopes it becomes an annual event.
The Hays Public Library is asking the public to help expand its digital photo collection. Local residents brought in their personal photos for the first Community Photo Scan Day Saturday, with memories from Rush, Trego and Ellis Counties. The pictures are scanned for the HPL digital archive and also onto a flash drive for the photo owner to keep.
Kansas Room Librarian Mary Ann Thompson is the project caretaker and is looking for photographs of family, early businesses, farms, homes and events, along with any information known about each scene.
One participant Saturday morning brought several pictures taken in 1946 of students at Wheatland School southeast of Munjor.
There are three more upcoming Photo Scan Days: October 22, November 19 and December17.
