A core group of local dog lovers has organized into the Friends of the Hays Dog Park.  Serving as president is Kim Perez, a history professor at Fort Hays State University.  She’s been working on the project for some time and presented her research Tuesday night to more than 30 people gathered at the Hays Public Library.

Building a basic dog park with two separate areas for big dogs and little dogs, will cost about 38-thousand dollars.  Perez suggests the dog park be established near Kiwanis Park in east Hays, where the city grows alfalfa.

Friends of the Hays Dog Park is now raising funds for the project.  Donations marked “Hays Dog Park” can be mailed to the Hays City Clerk’s office.  The group hopes to raise about half the money before presenting the proposal to Hays City Commissioners September 1st.  Perez said the city would be responsible for gathering trash from the park bins.  The dog owners would be responsible for picking up their pet’s waste.

 

BEFORE Wednesday’s storm hit Ellis, and BEFORE the temperature hit a record high 105 degrees, more than 50 residents and even some tourists hit the downtown Ellis sidewalks to “Rock and Chalk.”  The event, sponsored by the Ellis Chamber of Commerce and the Public Library, decorated the sidewalks with rocket-themed art.

“3-2-1 Blast Off’ is the theme of this year’s Ellis Junior Free Fair and also ties in with the popular rocket building program hosted at the library.  The Big Creek Rockets launch is part of Thursday night’s activities at the fair, along with children’s games.  The City Council declared Ellis “Rocket Town” for Thursday.

 

 

There are a lot of people in Hays who know people in Germany because they’re Volga-German descendants.  Teresa Boos has German relatives, and now, a new German friend, who saved Teresa’s life with a bone marrow donation five years ago.

Teresa’s donor Sandra Drews and her husband Stefan of Berlin, are visiting the Boos family.   Teresa Boos was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia and underwent a bone marrow transplant December 5, 2006.  She just recently returned to work full-time.  Boos and Drews are a perfect DNA match for bone marrow markers.

More information about becoming a bone marrow donor is available online at www.marrow.org.

 

 

 

 

Main Street in Hays used to be called Chestnut Street.  That’s the history behind the name of the Downtown Hays Chestnut Street District.  A ribbon cutting Wednesday morning marks the newest Chestnut Street Gateway marker, at 8^th and Oak.  Another marker is already in place at 8^th and Main.  The limestone markers are the work of Hays artist Pete Felten.

The Downtown Hays Development Corporation was formed 11 years ago to facilitate the restoration of downtown.

 

 

Ellis County is in the midst of preparing its first-ever Comprehensive Plan.  But with just a handful of residents attending the stakeholders meeting Tuesday night, Ellis County Administrator Greg Sund wonders why people aren’t taking interest.

Sund says rural residents in particular should give their input about the “land use” part of the new comprehensive plan.  Two of the cities in Ellis County have a 3 mile zoning ordinance surrounding the towns.

Sund encourages residents to fill out the survey online at the county’s website–www.ellisco.org or pick up a paper copy  at Midland Marketing, Farm Service Agency, Ellis County Extension Office or Ellis County Courthouse.

Another stakeholder meeting will be held within a month.  Sund expects a plan implementation draft to be complete in December.

 

A Hays businessman has been named to the newly created Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors.  Jim Lewis of Lewis Automotive Group is a representative of the Services Sector on the Council, which Governor Brownback will chair.  The Council will have three main responsibilities:  coordinate strategic planning and economic development resources; evaluate state policies and agencies performances; and conduct research about Kansas’ basic industries, tax competitiveness, and regulatory structure.

Options,  Domestic and Sexual Violence Crisis Intervention Services for northwest Kansas and based in Hays,  has been awarded a $60,650 grant from the Federal Family Violence Prevention and Services Act Grant Program  FVPSA funds pay for support group activities for women and children, child care, prevention education in schools and communities, information and referral services, advocacy in obtaining protection from abuse and stalking orders, court accompaniment, and  outreach into rural counties.

FVPSA supports services that  are provided 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week and are free to domestic violence victims and their children.

Governor Brownback announced Thursday Options also has received monies from the State General Fund Grant Program for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Agencies.  The $143,946 state grant will be  used  as matching funds for federal formula grant requirements to support sexual and domestic violence services and to enhance services to underserved areas of the state.

It’s now officially open with an official name. The two miles of nature trails just east of Sternberg Museum in the new eco-classroom is called “Doctor Howard Reynolds Nature Trails.” The Hays Optimist Club member, and Fort Hays State University Plant Taxonomy Professor Emeritus, was honored Thursday by his fellow club members. As a service project, the Optimist members will maintain the trails.

The collaborative project will be dedicated August 13.

Former state senator Larry Salmans of Hanston has been appointed to the Kansas Behavioral Sciences Board by Governor Sam Brownback.   After graduating from Baylor University with a double major in Psychology and Biology, he became a pilot and flew Rescue missions overseas.  He later earned his Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling and established a volunteer Fire Department and EMS.  Salmans served as a state senator, 37^thSenate Seat, from 1996-2004.

The Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board consists of 11 members: two licensed psychologists, two licensed social workers, one professional counselor, one marriage family therapist, one licensed masters level psychologist, and four members from the general public.  All Board members are appointed by the Governor and serve four-year terms.

The hot, dry weather has prompted Russell County to enact a burn ban.

Russell County Commissioners made the declaration Monday  the request of all the fire chiefs in Russell County.   All outdoor burning is prohibited until further notice.

Russell County is among the Kansas counties declared by Governor Brownback to be in a Drought Warning.

The judge from Downs had his days mixed up, so Hays horse trainer Tatum Kimsey stepped in to judge this morning’s 4-H Horse Show at the Ellis County Fair.  More from the fair all this week on Street Beat Eagle Community TV Channel 14