An early Wednesday morning rainfall in Hays delivered an official 0.29 inches of precipitation as measured at the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town.
The Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall, had 0.23 inches. Areas in the eastern part of the city were in the tenth of an inch range.
This was the first rain in Hays during August. So far in 2017, Hays has received 20.90 inches of precipitation.
After a high Tuesday, Aug. 8, of just 79 degrees and an overnight low of 55 degrees, the weather forecast calls for warmer temperatures and chances of more rain.
There was a report of 0.34 inches in a gauge south of Ellis.
The Victoria area also received about a tenth.
Other areas of northwest Kansas received trace to minimal rainfall, although there was a report of nearly a quarter of an inch in a gauge in south-central Russell County.
The chance for more precipitation returns tonight, with a 40 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. There is a slight chance of showers or storms throughout the rest of the week and into Saturday.
Robert E. (Bob) Schmidt, Hays, passed away Aug. 8, 2017, at the age of 90.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
He was born and raised in the small Rush County town of La Crosse. Robert E. Schmidt, called Bob by his many friends and associates, lived most of his long life in Hays leaving a legacy in broadcasting and philanthropy that extends far beyond western Kansas.
The chairman of the board of Eagle Communications, Inc. and retired president/CEO, Schmidt, who celebrated his 90th birthday last month, passed away early Tuesday morning at his home in Hays.
“You look down the list of all the accomplishments Bob has, and it starts out as a college radio sportscaster at Fort Hays, and then jumping into management of KAYS Radio and TV and that leadership role, it’s just frankly amazing,” said Gary Shorman, Eagle Communications President/CEO. “What he’s done not only for over-the-air broadcasting and then into cable and broadband, he’s been involved for the full 90 years of his life. He does amazing things in the community and certainly will be missed.”
Schmidt’s illustrious career in broadcasting, which included serving as national chairman for the CBS Television Network Affiliates Association and National Associated Press Broadcasters, and state chairman of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, began at Fort Hays Kansas State College (now Fort Hays State University) as a radio sportscaster. Schmidt was “the original Voice of the Tigers,” noted Gerard Wellbrock, who has been the play-by-play “Voice of the Tigers” the past 15 years on KAYS Radio.
Schmidt (2nd from left) during his collegiate sportscast days on KAYS Radio.
Upon graduation from FHKSC in 1950 with a degree in business administration, Schmidt was appointed general manager of KAYS 1400 AM Radio, which had signed on the air just two years earlier in 1948. Schmidt purchased the Hays radio station in 1952. He was elected vice president and director of KAYS, Inc. the same year. Schmidt and Hays businessmen Ross Beach organized KAYS-TV Channel 7, which was granted a license Sept. 2, 1958. In 1989 he purchased control of the corporation (now Eagle Communications) and was elected President/CEO.
Mike Cooper was hired by Schmidt in 1967 to work at KAYS Radio and stayed there 43 years.
“He always had a really strong commitment to his people,” Cooper remembered. “When you were working for Bob, you knew you were going to have to do the job and work hard, but you also knew you were going to be treated fairly. I think maybe that’s the bottom line. That’s the reason I stayed as long as I did.”
During Schmidt’s leadership, the company built or purchased 24 radio and television stations and 12 cable systems in Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri and Colorado. In 1989, the company sold its commercial television stations. Schmidt retired as President/CEO of Eagle Communications in 1998, became chairman of the board, and began selling the majority interest in the company to its employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.
Schmidt started work at KAYS Radio in 1950 as a college student and purchased the Hays station in 1952.
“Bob really enjoyed and was behind the people in our company. He said, ‘Let’s do something different and give the company to our employees and let them grow and be a part of the community,’ ” Shorman said. “The advantage is it stays with the community. Everybody who works for that company (Eagle) is an owner, much like he started as an owner of the company (KAYS). While he wasn’t an owner any more, you couldn’t tell that by talking to him. As chairman of the board, he continued to focus on making sure we as employee-owners continued to serve our communities.”
Today, Eagle Employee/Owners wholly own and operate 28 radio stations in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska and serve 60 communities with broadband service including cable television, internet, video and telephone service in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. The company also offers wireless broadband service in many of the rural areas it serves.
“Bob Schmidt was an inspiration to all of us at Eagle. As a leader, he challenged us to be better each day and every year. As a broadcaster, he focused on being connected to our local community. As a friend and mentor, he inspired us to do great things,” Shorman added.
Tony Schmidt remembered his father as “an early pioneer broadcaster.”
“Dad brought TV to Hays so we could watch ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ as kids. He started the cable system here and in Wichita so we could watch ‘Bonanza’ on NBC, and he actually knew William Paley, the founder of CBS Radio & Television,” Tony said.
Tony calls his father “a consummate broadcaster and keeper of the public airwaves.”
Bob (Class of 1950) and Pat Schmidt were enshrined into the FHSU Tiger Sports Hall of Fame October 23, 2010, for their contributions to the athletics programs. (Photo courtesy FHSU)
Schmidt and his wife, Pat, who passed away in August 2015, were well-known for their philanthropy through their Robert E. and Pat Schmidt Foundation, which was chaired by Bob. The Schmidt name is visible throughout Hays, most notably at the FHSU Beach-Schmidt Performing Arts Center and the Schmidt-Bickle Training Facility, the Dreiling-Schmidt Cancer Center at HaysMed and the city-owned Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex.
“He cost me a lot of money,” joked Schmidt’s longtime friend Don Bickle Sr., the two names tied together on several Hays facilities funded by their financial donations. Bickle is the owner of S & W Supply in Hays.
The two local businessmen started their lives in humble circumstances.
“There was nobody poorer than the Schmidts and the Bickles,” Don Bickle declared.
He remembered how the two friends first met. Bickle was on the Hoisington High School track team and Schmidt ran track for La Crosse High School. Both schools were to participate in a regional tournament at Fort Hays.
“Our school bus went through La Crosse on the way to Hays, and we saw Bob hitchhiking his way to Hays, so we picked him up,” Bickle recalled. They went their separate ways to college, Schmidt to Fort Hays and Bickle to Kansas State, reconnecting in Hays after graduation.
The Schmidts were generous donors to many local and area non-profit organizations supporting the arts, culture and education.
“We’ve been blessed with an awful lot and we respond by giving back,” Schmidt said in an interview shortly after his wife passed away. “My wife and I believe it’s obligatory, in all aspects.
For the 2015 United Way of Ellis County campaign fundraiser video, Schmidt talked about why he and some other businessmen in Hays decided it was important to establish the organization many years ago.
“We just felt something was needed and we did it,” Schmidt said matter-of-factly. “Those needs don’t go away.”
He also believed it was important for Eagle Communications and its employees to be involved in the United Way.
“I’ve always felt the Eagle radio stations and our cable systems needed to be leaders in the community,” Schmidt emphasized. “We were granted some privileges. Those privileges need to be met. If we provided the leadership for any of the United Way endeavors, it would also be beneficial to us.”
And then, there was that voice, perfect for a broadcaster. Bob Schmidt had a sonorous deep bass voice that was unmistakable when heard in person or over the air.
“Boy, that was recognizable. It didn’t take two words,” Cooper chuckled. “People would always ask Bob to voice their commercials or their public service announcements.”
Schmidt served in the Navy in the Philippines during WWII. (Photo courtesy Tony Schmidt)
“I heard him on the radio not that long ago doing a promotion about veterans,” Shorman said. “Bob was a World War II navy veteran. Every time that voice would come on, you’d just stop and think, ‘Wow, how cool is that?’ ”
Schmidt was also managing partner of Eagle Farm & Ranch, supervising the management of Sweetwater Ranch near Hays, and actively involved in numerous business projects including real estate, stocks/bonds, and oil and gas development.
He served as chair of the Kansas State Chamber of Commerce and was honored locally by the Hays Chamber of Commerce as “Outstanding Young Man of the Year Award” in 1956. In 2003, he was inducted into the Hays Chamber’s Hall of Fame and also was named the city’s “Most Valuable Citizen” in 1989.
“He was a wonderful, wonderful, wonderful person,” Bickle added, reflecting on his years-long relationship with Schmidt. “He believed in God and country. It’s just been a wonderful, wonderful trip with him.”
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., who previously lived in Hays issued a statement Tuesday saying “Robba and I are deeply saddened by the news of Bob Schmidt’s passing. Bob was among a few of our hometown’s most significant citizens – no one has made more of a difference in the well-being of our part of the state than Bob. From his service in the Navy to his time at Fort Hays State University to his work growing KAYS Radio into Eagle Communications, his natural leadership and generous spirit were clear to all who knew him. I’m grateful for our many years of friendship, and my family’s thoughts and prayers are with Bob’s loved ones today. We will miss him greatly.”
“I’m so happy I got to spend time with him in recent weeks, ” said his son Tony, who lives in Lawrence. “He’s with my Mom now, who left us two years ago. He loved his family and he loved the people of western Kansas.”
Schmidt’s funeral will be Sat., Aug. 12. Hays Memorial Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
Tonight’s meeting of the Hays USD 489 school board has been postponed due to lack of a quorum, according to Sarah Wasinger, board clerk.
The Aug. 7 meeting will be rescheduled at a later date.
Among other agenda items, the board was scheduled to meet with the four applicants vying for the open seat vacated July 6 by Sarah Rankin who moved out of state.
ELLIS–Ellis city council members will consider adopting the 2018 budget during their meeting Mon., Aug. 7
Other agenda items include consideration of bids for concrete work at 11th Street and Dorrance, and for demolition of a structure on 12th Street, as well as a final change order from Driggs Design Group for the street improvement project.
AGENDA
August 7, 2017
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS
City Hall – Council Meeting Room
PUBLIC HEARING – 2018 BUDGET DOCUMENT – 7:00 P.M.
BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:15 P.M.
ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)
1) CONSENT AGENDA
a) Minutes from Regular Meeting on July 17, 2017
b) Bills Ordinance #2026
c) Manual Journal Entries for April, May, and June
(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda. By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson. ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment. Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)
2) PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
a) Consider Acceptance of Gift of Swimming Pool Slide from Ellis Community Foundation
3) SPECIAL ORDER
4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Consider Approval of 2018 Budget Document
b) Consider Contractor Bids on Concrete Work at 11th Street & Dorrance
c) Consider Approval of Final Change Order for Street Improvement Project – Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group
d) Consider Bids on Demolition of Structure on 12th Street
e) Consider Revisions to Museum Lease Agreements
5) NEW BUSINESS
a) Consider Approval of Resolution Adjusting the Fixed Percentage Increase to Utility Rates
b) Consider Approval of Ordinance Adopting the 2017 Edition of the Standard Traffic Ordinance
c) Consider Approval of Ordinance Adopting the 2017 Edition of the Uniform Public Offense Code
d) Registration of League of Kansas Municipalities Voting Delegates
6) REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
a) Administrative
1) Public Works
(1) Department Update
2) Police
(1) Monthly Activity Report for July
(2) August Staff Calendar
(3) SMART Visit to Ellis
(4) Department Update
3) City Clerk
(1) Monthly Financial Statements for April, May, and June
(2) Draft Minutes from Committee Meetings
(3) Department Update
4) Attorney
(1) Update on Status of Code Violation Cases
(2) Update on Citizen Claim for Damages
5) Mayor Update and Announcements
(1) Announcement of Annual League Conference
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
7) ADJOURNMENT
Kidney donor Cassie Hickel, Hays, is the reigning Mrs. Kansas and will compete for the Mrs. America title in Las Vegas.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Cassie Hickel, a 27-year-old Hays wife and mother of three, decided to enter the 2017 Mrs. Kansas pageant because “it’s very platform-based.” She has never participated in any type of pageant but was motivated by a life-changing event.
Much to her surprise, she won the state contest and will be competing in the national Mrs. America Pageant August 19-26 in Las Vegas.
Hickel’s platform is living organ donation and she’s sharing her first-hand experience as a live kidney donor to an Iowa man she had never met before.
Hays City Commissioner Sandy Jacobs was so impressed with Hickel’s story she recently asked Cassie to share it the other commissioners.
“This past December I actually donated a kidney to a gentleman from Iowa,” Hickel told commissioners.
She admits some people might think “it’s a little bit crazy how it all came about.”
“I was scrolling through my Facebook feed in July 2015 and one of my friends had shared Richard’s story. It said Richard was in kidney failure. He was O positive blood type and needed a living kidney donor, preferably, because that’s much more compatible than a deceased donor most of the time,” Hickel explained.
Hickel read the post and said she felt “led to reach out. It was just a total God thing, not something I would have done otherwise,” she laughed.
“I had total peace about the entire situation.”
Hickel went through much of the pre-operative medical testing in Hays. “Once we got to the point where we were double-checking that my family medical history was fine, and I was completely compatible with Richard from the inside-out, I went to Iowa for further testing.”
In Oct. 2016, all the tests were finally done and Hickel and Richard Klim found out she was 98 percent compatible with him. “That’s basically unheard of when it comes to a donor who is not a family member, not a blood relative,” said Hickel.
The kidney surgeries were done Dec. 8, 2016. “Both of us are doing super well,” Hickel reported.
Since then, she’s been working with the National Kidney Foundation (NKF). Becoming active with the NKF Advocacy Action Center soon lead to Hickel’s interest in the platform-based Mrs. Kansas pageant.
According to NKF, there are 2,983 Kansans on kidney dialysis with 293 patients on the transplant wait list. In 2016, 21 Kansans died while waiting for a kidney donation.
“I’ve had the opportunity to share not only my story, but also several other people’s stories through working with the National Kidney Foundation and now as Mrs. Kansas.” Hickel will also share those special stories during the upcoming Mrs. America competition as she continues her advocacy of live kidney donation while reigning as Mrs. Kansas.
She thanked the commissioners for the support she’s received from the city of Hays as well as the state of Kansas.
“I look forward to representing you all in August in Vegas,” she added.
Jacobs thanked Hickel for sharing her story. “We’re very, very proud of you and good, good luck from all of us in Hays,” Jacobs told Hickel.
The 2017 Water$mart stone plaques await presentation to the winners.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Two Hays residents were recently recognized by the city for their work in implementing water-conserving turf and landscaping on their properties.
The Hays Beautification Committee and the city of Hays implemented a program called the Water $mart Landscape Awards last year. The principles of the program include planning and design, low-water use plants, practical turf areas, efficient irrigation, soil amendment, use of proper mulch and maintenance.
Winners of the 2017 Water $mart Landscape Awards are Laura and Ryan Hafner for their residential property at 4412 Larned Circle and Dr. Don Tillman of Great Plains Dermatology for his business property at 2708 Sternberg Drive.
Hays Parks Superintendent Chris Smith congratulates Water $mart Landscape Residential Winner Laura Hafner.
Chris Smith, superintendent of parks, showed pictures of the Hafner’s lawn during a presentation at the July 27 Hays city commission meeting.
“Laura’s front yard has an excellent stand of buffalo grass. She’s got drought-resistant perennial plants, all low-water use and basically native to this area. They do really well in our climate. She has switch grass and yarrow in there, some black-eyed Susans, a really nice lawn that’s well-designed. We appreciate the effort you put into it,” Smith told Laura Hafner.
“For a business location, it’s very impressive,” Smith said of Great Plains Dermatology’s landscaping pictures. “Dr. Tillman has implemented all kinds of water conservation efforts. It’s excellent landscaping and excellent choice of plants.”
Dr. Don Tillman (L), Great Plains Dermatology, was the Water $mart Landscape Business Winner.
Smith showed pictures of the business award winner which has buffalo grass planted throughout the landscape with several large decorative rock features.
Limestone recognition markers were presented by Mayor Shaun Musil to Hafner and Tillman.
Nominees must be within the city limits of Hays, the landscape must be visible to the public and must be installed, established and maintained for at least one full year. All nominations received are reviewed and voted upon by the Hays Beautification Committee at their June meeting.
The Arc of the Central Plains softball teams took home two gold medals from the Special Olympics state tournament in Wichita. (Click to enlarge)
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Last weekend was an exciting one for members of The Arc of Central Plains Special Olympics softball teams. It was also a record-setting weekend.
The two Hays teams competed July 28-30 at the Special Olympics State Softball Tournament in Wichita. Both teams came home with gold medals. The wins were even more special because this is the first year Arc of the Central Plains has competed in softball.
Starting a softball program was the idea of Brent Kaiser, the new director of programs and activities.
Thirty-four teams completed in the two-day tourney which is in its 43rd year.
Durham School Services in Salina donated the transportation for the Hays athletes, according to Kathy McAdoo, Executive Director of The Arc of Central Plains. “We are so grateful for their generosity and continued support.”
Health education was offered for the first time at the SOKS State Softball and Golf Tournament.
According to John Lair, president/CEO of Special Olympics Kansas, 115 athletes received information about sun safety, hydration and nutrition. The athletes received t-shirts, water bottles, sunscreen and bags for participating in the tournament.
Local nursing mothers and their babies are invited to join The Global BIG Latch On in Hays Sat., Aug. 5 at 10:30 a.m. in Aubel Bickle Park, 30th and Sherman Avenue.
Global BIG Latch On events take place at registered locations around the world, where women gather together to breastfeed and offer peer support to each other. Their friends, family and community join the celebration to promote and support breastfeeding.
Cathleen Kroeger chairs the Ellis County Breastfeeding Coalition which is hosting Saturday’s free event.
She recommends getting there a little early to register.
“That’s because the babies will ‘latch on’ exactly at 10:30 a.m. as they will all over the world, in 120 countries. The hope is to set a record for the number of babies being nursed simultaneously,” Kroeger explained.
Following the Latch On, participants are invited to participate in a Stroll-A-Thon. “Bring your strollers, baby carriers and wagons for a walk around the park,” encouraged Kroeger. “Bring your older children, family and supporters. They’re all welcome.”
City commissioners review changes in the 2018 draft budget July 27 with Asst. City Manager Jacob Wood (at left).
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Hays city commissioners were able to come to a consensus last week regarding the city’s 2018 budget and don’t need to meet tonight for what would have been a final opportunity to tweak the draft version.
There was continued discussion July 27 about city funding to outside agencies, specifically to the Fort Hays State University scholarship fund and the Downtown Hays Development Corporation.
Dougherty had also recommended a 10 percent reduction, or $10,000, for FHSU.
The cuts were recommended, in part, to help fund a four percent pay increase for all city employees in 2018. They did not receive a pay hike in 2017. Department heads were also asked to tighten their budgets to help finance the pay increases. Operating expenditures are projected to be $155,000 lower than in 2017, despite budgeting for the raises.
Both Mayor Shaun Musil and Commissioner Sandy Jacobs said cutting dollars for FHSU “sends the wrong message.” Musil also noted recent on-campus freshman enrollment was the largest ever. “We would definitely make that money back (in sales taxes), probably in week one,” he suggested.
Commissioner Lance Jones, who was absent for two prior meetings because of military training, said “what’s in the (draft) budget is perfectly fine with me.”
“I listened to the audio from those meetings and I thought Commissioner (James) Meier made some very good points about our departments and our department heads making the necessary cuts. I think it sends a bad message to our employees and department heads to say you’re doing your part to make cuts, but the outside agencies are not making those cuts.”
Without a consensus and Commissioner Henry Schwaller absent, the 10 percent allocation cut to Fort Hays State University remains in place. The city funding for FHSU in 2018 will be $90,000.
The commission will meet again in regular session Aug. 10 and conduct a public hearing for the 2018 budget.
The mill levy remains at 25.000, as it has for about 12 years, according to Dougherty. Sales tax revenues are projected to remain flat in 2018. Hays is the only city in Kansas to use sales taxes to finance a its General Fund.
Sponsored by The Vine
East Frontier Park, Hays
August 5 | 8 – 11 p.m.
Bring lawn chairs, friends, and family to the park for a showing of Disney’s Moana. Enjoy free popcorn and soda provided by The Vine. Be sure to come a little early to find a good spot!
Free performance at the Hays Public Library
August 3 | 6 – 8 p.m.
The Hollands! are seasoned concert performers, engaging audiences and rousing a sing-a-long with their intimate merrymaking. By the end of their performance, audiences will feel like they are part of the band.
By BECKY KISER
