It was a long wait.  86 year old William “Edward” Froelich of Victoria is now proudly wearing his Purple Heart,  presented recently to the World War II navy veteran by U-S Senator Jerry Moran.  Froelich was a hospital corpsman in the U-S Navy and Marines from 1943 to 1946.   His daughter-in-law Darla Fraylick worked with Moran’s office to get the awards due him for 66 years.  Fraylick was drafted at age 18. 

The Purple Heart award dates back to General George Washington who is depicted on the medal.

 

 

 

 

You can look, even have your picture taken, but NO TOUCHING the National Guard custom motorcycle created by Orange County Choppers of the hit TV show American Chopper.

The $25,000 bike is on display at the Ellis County Fair through Thursday.  It’s one of four total and two that regularly travel the country as a recruiting aid for the National Guard.

For a closeup look, watch Street Beat tonight on Eagle Community TV Channel 14

 

Kennedy Middle School in Hays will close after the upcoming academic year.   Principal Lee Keffer won’t be there.  He’s moving across town to become the new principal of Roosevelt Elementary School.  This fall Keffer will replace Janci Kugler-Mills, who’s leaving for the superintendent’s job in Brewster.   Keffer has been at Kennedy for 20 years and started his teaching career at the elementary level.  There are about 250 students at Kennedy.  Roosevelt, Hays’ largest elementary school, has nearly 400 students.

An announcement is expected soon about who will lead Kennedy Middle School in its final year.  All Hays middle school students will be moved to Felten Middle School in fall 2012.

Following a public meeting Thursday, the U.S. Postal Service has terminated its contract at the Liebenthal post office and will close it July 16th. A U-S-P-S spokesperson says there have been “contractual irregularities” at the Rush County facility.

Delivery and retail services will be provided by a rural mail carrier out of the LaCrosse post office. Flags have been placed along roadsides where customers may install mailboxes for rural mail delivery.

Hays-based Northwest Kansas Community Corrections is among the grant recipients of the  2012 Federal Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program announced Monday by Governor Sam Brownback.  JAG funding helps strengthen partnerships for safe communities and enhances the state’s capacity to prevent, solve and control crime.  Local and statewide criminal justice agencies will receive $3,680,658 for their criminal justice projects.

The Kansas Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (KCJCC) oversees the criminal justice federal funding made available to Kansas through the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance. The KCJCC includes the Governor, Attorney General, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Secretary of Corrections, Superintendent of the Kansas Highway Patrol, Commissioner of the Juvenile Justice Authority and Director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

“This critical funding helps our efforts in responding to crime and is essential in providing for the state’s security and safety.” Attorney General Derek Schmidt and KCJCC Chair said.

Among the 2012 JAG grant recipients is:

Ellis County, Northwest Kansas Community Corrections: $91,673

Northwest Kansas Community Corrections will utilize grant funds for surveillance officers, drug testing and drug and alcohol evaluations and treatment.

 

She’s one of the youngest directors of a twirl academy.  Sixteen-year-old Shelby Schumacher started the Hays Twirl Academy a year ago, and already her young students are winning awards.  Shelby herself has multiple national awards; she’s been twirling since age 2.  She’s practicing for her sixth appearance in the national competition at Notre Dame  in late July.  Shelby is the featured twirler for the Hays High School marching band.  She and her 12 summer class students will march in Saturday’s Wild West Festival Parade in downtown Hays.

The Ellis Public Library is closed until sometime next week due to a sewer line collapse. Library Director Steve Arthur anticipates reopening next Wednesday.

The Liebenthal Post Office is closed, although residents don’t know why. The U.S. Postal Service says its inspection services division is conducting an inquiry into operations at the post office.

Pat Carver, owner of Pat’s Beef Jerky in Liebenthal, found out about the closing last week. About a third of the jerky Carver sells is mailed out, and for now Liebenthal residents must use the LaCrosse post office, 8 miles south.

The Liebenthal Post Office is operated by a contractor.

Improvements are underway at Hays’ Ekey Park, 19th and Holmes, thanks to the Hays Sunrise Rotary Club.  The group made a $2450 donation which has been matched by the city.

Director of Parks Jeff Boyle says more trees are being planted and will be watered by a new irrigation system.  This is the first time the city is using its tree spade to transplant mature trees from its new tree farm which was started two years ago.  More bench seating will also be added.

The Rotary Club members will spend Saturday morning assembling some new equipment they helped purchase.