By BECKY KISER and COOPER SLOUGH
Hays Post

A $6 million scam ring based in Great Britain. Busted. More than two dozen people arrested.

An IRS scam ring hosted in India busted within the last two months.

An Ellis resident scammed out of $2,200 Wednesday. It’s still under investigation.

“They hacked somebody’s account,” according to Ellis Police Chief Taft Yates.

“The person received a message from this friend that said ‘I was just given this grant and I’m willing to share the money with you if you send me some money first.’ The first thing the victim should have done is call that friend to verify the message, but it didn’t happen. Then the person realized they were in too deep.

“Don’t be ashamed or embarrassed to call or report it,” Yates urges, “because we’ve got to get it stopped somewhere.”

Chief Yates wants people to realize “it doesn’t matter if you are male, female, rich, poor, young or old, it can and it will happen to anybody if you’re not diligent.”

“Scammers are always evolving–their tactics, their techniques–always changing them around.”

Yates advises making your computer passwords very strong and to “change them every now and again. Alert your friends of scams that have happened.”

It can come through Facebook, your email, a popup on your computer, on your phone, in the mail, somebody at your door or even in the gas station parking lot.

The scam artist targeting travelers happened in Ellis three years ago.

“A guy comes up to you and says ‘a buddy of mine just won all this money and if you’ve got a couple bucks, you can triple your money. All you gotta do is go play this game.’ They’re smooth talkers. They get you fed into it and then all of a sudden you’re losing your money and they’re not going to give it back. Somebody calls law enforcement and when his lookout–that you didn’t know about–sees a cop car coming up, they use their signal and these guys are gone.”

Be alert of suspicious letters received in the mail saying you’ve won something, “especially if you’ve never registered to win this item. Don’t send off for it, don’t call, don’t give any information about yourself,” Yates advises.

“Some things are legitimate,” he acknowledges. “But before you give any information to anybody, you need to completely check it out and make sure it’s valid. Make sure your insurance company actually sent someone to your house to check the roof damage. Make sure your relative really did call you.

Scammers use computers to dial randomly generated phone numbers.

“We had one instance where it sounded like a young person on the phone saying ‘Grandpa, I’m stranded and need some money.’ Grandpa asks who it is and the reply is ‘This is your grandson. You know me.’ Then Grandma gets on the phone and says ‘We have 10 grandsons. Which one is this?’ Click. The caller hangs up.

“You have to be smart and don’t give any personal information over the phone. None. Period. Just don’t.

“Another person got a call saying there was a arrest warrant out for them regarding a credit card. This person has never had a credit card.”

Yates also cautions against inheritance notices. “You didn’t inherit anything from anybody in England, Egypt or anyplace else. It did not happen–unless your mama told you it happened. If your mama tells you ‘you’re inheriting this money from my aunt,’ you can take your mother’s word for it. But this person on the phone or the internet, please don’t fall for it. It did not happen. You’re going to lose–a lot.”

Classified ads are also targeted.

“We just had this happen on two Nex-Tech classified ads,” Yates recalled.

“These people were very smooth at what they did. They wrote ‘I want to buy this item from you.’ Say you’re asking $1,000 for it. They send you an invalid check for $2,000 and ask you to send them $500 back and to keep the other $500 for your inconvenience.

“What they did is send you a no-good check for $2,000 and you just gave them $500 of your money.”

If you’re scammed, don’t try to negotiate, he recommends. Report it–as soon as it happens.

“We had a case where an individual was called on the phone and told ‘Do not hang up this phone. If you do, the SWAT team is coming in your door. You know you’ve done something wrong.’

“They talked to this person for over 45 minutes and convinced them to go to various stores and buy gift cards, scratch off the card code numbers and tell the code numbers to the caller so the scammers could get the money value from them. That money could be going to ISIS, Al Qaeda, Taliban, drug cartels, or just into their own pockets.

“Reporting these scams and getting them documented is the only way we’re going to be able to focus assets at a national and international level to locate and take care of these people,” said Yates.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The current contract with Rich Guffey for management of the city’s Fort Hays Municipal Golf Course (FHMGC) Pro-Shop ends December 31, 2016.

With Guffey’s support, city commissioners Thursday night unanimously approved a one-year contract renewal rather than the usual three-years. Guffey will be paid $24,000, an increase from $21,000 which he has received each year since 2007. Guffey has told the city he’s thinking about retiring.

The city is considering installing a new Point-Of-Sale system to keep track of inventory and expenses at the Pro-Shop, “which we have a hard time doing right now because of how it is set up,” according to Director of Parks Jeff Boyle.

“We’re using antiquated equipment out there. If we can get the new system in–which is very inexpensive–this will allow us to track not only inventory and expenses but also continue tracking all the greens fees and food sales revenue,” Boyle explained.

“We’d like to look at that mid-way through next year and get a feel for where we’re at. That would give us a good idea of what our future might be–whether that means maybe hiring city employees to run it, hire Rich Guffey for a couple more years–whatever the city commission deems necessary or desirable. It’ll give us a better feel for the inventory and expenses.”

Boyle, City Manager Toby Dougherty and the commissioners all were quick to point out they’re very pleased with Guffey’s work.

“He originally requested a three-year contract but was okay with the one-year contract and a new Point-Of-Sale system,” Boyle said.

“I think we need to see if there’s anything we can do different to possibly make it better,” said Mayor Shaun Musil.

“We have a private individual come in and contract with the city–kind of a common model. Some cities have a city employee running the golf course,” Commissioner Eber Phelps said. “I think we’re just trying to find out what kind of money goes through there and how is the best way to track that.”

The revenues from all greens fees, tournament fees, cart shed rentals, and golf course memberships come to the city. All food and beverage sales, golf cart rentals, and sales of apparel, golf balls and golf clubs go to Guffey, according to Boyle.

“We may be getting the greatest deal ever,” Phelps said, “but at the moment that’s an unknown.”

BY BECKY KISER
Hays Post

State representative Sue Boldra believes “God must have another plan for me.”

The Hays Republican incumbent was defeated in a close race Tuesday by Democrat Eber Phelps of Hays for the 111th House District seat. Four years ago, Boldra unseated Phelps who had served in the position since 1996. The district encompasses most of Ellis County.

“I don’t know what I could have changed or done differently in my re-election campaign,” she said Wednesday morning.

Boldra thinks there was a lot of “anti-Brownback sentiment” among Kansas voters which led to her ouster, although she was not in the legislature when the governor’s tax bill was passed.

“I think that happened all over the state. There were 11 of us who have been there two terms or more who lost our seats, all by about the same margins–very close,” according to Boldra.

RELATED: Brownback doesn’t see Kansas vites aimed at his policies

That margin in Ellis County was 47 percent to 53 percent. Boldra got 4,517 votes; Phelps had 5,184 votes. There are still some provisional and paper ballots to be counted but not enough to close the gap, according to Ellis County Clerk Donna Maskus. All election results remain unofficial until canvassed by Ellis County Commissioners during their meeting Mon., Nov. 14.

“I think people are upset with Gov. Sam Brownback and the state of the economy in Kansas and it showed up in the election,” Boldra concluded.

Boldra was a longtime teacher at Hays High School. She said she has met with the chairman of the Fort Hays State University Department of Teacher Education, where she is an instructor, about more work opportunities. “He commiserated with me but he also said ‘I’m glad you’re going to be here,” Boldra said with a laugh, “so that was nice.”

She was a member of the House Education Committee, something she is “very proud” to have worked on.

“I did ‘gut and go’ a bill that would have taken away all negotiation rights for teachers. I took an amendment down and we gutted that and we put in the language a compromise agreement by KNEA (Kansas National Educators Association, KASB (Kansas Association of School Boards) and the two administrators’ associations, and we saved the right to negotiate. I was very proud of that.

“I also was very proud to get rid of a bill that would have made schools spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on new materials because it had something to do with Common Core. We were able to stop that one on debate on the House floor.”

Boldra mentioned her work to help get three amendments added to the Step Therapy bill to protect Kansans with debilitating diseases so “they don’t have to go down to the very first step in prescription drugs if they already know a specific drug works for them. Our daughter has MS and that was an important bill for me.”

Boldra also helped get the David Carter Memorial Interchange–the interchange of Interstate 70 and Commerce Parkway in Hays–signed into law. She said monies are still being raised for the road marker to honor the Hays native who was killed in 2011 while serving in Afghanistan.

Boldra was insistent she “doesn’t know where this new path is going to take me.”

“I’ve had a lot of calls from people who are still going to be in the statehouse, a lot of calls and text messages from friends–a lot of people who are still supporting me and would support me again,” Boldra added.

 

ELLIS–Ellis police officers will soon have new Tasers to replace those the department are currently using. According to Police Chief Taft Yates, the average life of a Taser is five years. The EPD Tasers are now eight years old and no longer under warranty.

City council members voted unanimously at their Mon., Nov. 7 meeting to the purchase of five new Tasers at a cost of $6,179.30.

In other business, the council agreed to a recommendation by the Planning Commission to maintain the current boundaries of the city’s Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction Zone area, commonly called the 3-mile zone.

The complete meeting minutes follow.

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
Minutes November 7, 2016

CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Bret Andries, Holly Aschenbrenner, Gary Luea, Jolene Niernberger, Bob Redger, and John Walz. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, and City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler. City Attorney Olavee Raub was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Dena Patee, Sharon Disney, Glen Keller, Cheryl Kinderknecht, and Nan Brown (arrived at 7:43 p.m.)
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member John Walz moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on October 17, 2016, Bills Ordinance #2008, and the manual journal entries for April, May, and June. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
None
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
NEW BUSINESS
General Government: Zoning
Council discussed the Planning Commission’s recommendation to maintain the current boundaries of the City’s Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction Zone area. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to accept the Planning Commission’s recommendation to not make any changes to the City’s “3-mile” zone. The motion carried 6-0.
Water: Special Project
City Clerk Amy Burton presented Contractor’s Pay Estimates #4 and #5 for work completed to date on the Waterline Improvement Project. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to approve Contractor’s Pay Estimate #4 to APAC in the amount of $24,913.66. The motion carried 6-0.
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member John Walz seconded a motion to approve Contractor’s Pay Estimate #5 to APAC in the amount of $35,914.51. The motion carried 6-0.
Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to authorize the Mayor to sign the approved pay estimates. The motion carried 6-0.
Campground: Repair/Maintenance
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented two bids for trimming trees at Lakeside Campground. Council member Bob Redger moved to accept the low bid from CCR & Landscaping in the amount of $1,250, with funds to come from the Campground fund. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Police: Acquisition
Police Chief Taft Yates presented proposals from TASER International for two different payment plans to upgrade the Department’s Tasers. The life expectancy for the equipment is approximately five years; however, the Department’s Tasers are eight years old and no longer under warranty. The City could either purchase the Tasers outright at a cost of $6,768.20, or enter into the Taser 60 Plan where annual payments are made over the next five years at a total cost of $6,179.30. There is no penalty for early payoff. Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to purchase five Tasers under the Taser 60 Plan, contingent on verification of product warranty, with the first payment to come out of the Special Machinery fund when due, and the remaining balance to come out of the Police Department budget as the budget allows. The motion carried 6-0.
General Government: License/Permit
Council member John Walz moved to approve the Application for License to Sell Cereal Malt Beverages from Casey’s General Store. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
General Government: Committee
Council members Holly Aschenbrenner and Bob Redger updated Council on correspondence with the Ellis Golf Club. Both Council members have reached out to different Ellis Golf Club board members to set up a meeting, but neither Ms. Aschenbrenner nor Mr. Redger received a response back that the members were interested in meeting with City representatives.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Mr. Scheuerman presented the Comparative Water Report for the period September 10th to October 10th. The inside of the water tower is scheduled to be power washed on November 9th; however, the Department is having trouble getting one of the valves to shut down properly. Council member Jolene Niernberger inquired about putting a spotlight on “Ellis” on the water tower. Council directed Mr. Scheuerman to check into adding the spotlights.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Monthly Activity Report for October and the November Staff calendar. The Department recently hosted a seminar at Ellis High School with speakers covering topics on situational awareness, overcoming adversities, and goal-setting.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the draft minutes from the October meeting of the Planning Commission/Board of Zoning Appeals. The financial reports consisting of the Statement of Accounts, Treasurer’s Report, and Security Deposit worksheet were reviewed for April, May, and June. Ms. Burton also reviewed the 3rd quarter recycling report. The USDA General Obligation bond issue related to the Waterline Improvement project closed on October 28th. Ms. Burton reported that our insurance provider responded to the questions posed at the last meeting regarding the installation of a swimming pool slide and allowing archery hunters at the Police shooting range. The underwriter stated that a pool slide would not increase liability to the City as long as it was installed to specifications. However, the underwriter also stated that they do not want unsupervised “non-police” individuals at the shooting range.
Attorney
City Prosecutor Cassy Zeigler updated Council on the status of outstanding code violation issues, including a guttering complaint at 1016 and 1018 Washington Street. Trial is set on November 18th regarding the property at 1024 Washington Street. Ms. Zeigler also reported she has just received an investigation packet on the car lot on 10th Street.
Mayor Update and Announcements
Mayor David McDaniel reminded everyone to vote November 8th.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Gary Luea moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:42 p.m.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

ELLIS–Two new faces will front the Ellis City Council following Tuesday’s election.

Newcomers Dena Patee and Susan Eaton were first and third respectively, in the balloting for three open seats on the city council. Incumbent Jolene Niernberger came in second.

Incumbents Gary Luea and John Walz were fifth and sixth in the vote-getting and will leave the council at the end of their terms. Seven residents ran for the three positions.

Below are the final results from the Ellis County Clerk which are unofficial until canvassed by the Ellis County Commission Mon., Nov. 14. Countywide voter turnout for the general election was 65.16 percent.

ELLIS CITY COUNCIL-Vote for three

Dena Patee–447; 18.53%
Jolene Niernberger (I)–403; 16.71%
Susan Eaton–351; 14.55%
Martin V. LaBarge–327; 13.56%
Gary Luea (I)–306; 12.69%
John Walz (I)–288; 11.94%
Nan Brown–287; 11.90%
Write-in–3; 0.12%

The three winning candidates will be sworn into office at the Jan. 9, 2017 council meeting, according to Ellis City Clerk Amy Burton.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Although it was “not what I was hoping for,” Ellis County Treasurer Ann Pfeifer wished good luck to Republican Lisa Schlegel who defeated Pfeifer, a Democrat, in Tuesday’s election.

In a statement at the Ellis County Democrat headquarters Tuesday night, Pfeifer first thanked her family and supporters and said “it has been an honor to serve Ellis County.

“I would like to wish your new treasurer-elect the best of luck in her first term. I plan to finish serving my term and I appreciate all the opportunities and the people I have met during my time at the county,” Pfeifer added.

Pfeifer’s four-year term as Ellis County treasurer began in Oct., 2013 and will end in Oct., 2017. According to Pfeifer, Schlegel will begin her term the second Tuesday in October 2017.

Pfeifer is especially proud of one accomplishment during her public service as treasurer which she believes has been very helpful to citizens of Ellis County.

“When we got the tax rolls from the county clerk’s office, it used to take us two to three weeks to get it out in the mail, with the use of overtime (pay to county employees.) Now, we’ve actually partnered with a local vendor–Northwestern Printers of Hays–to help us with that mailing process. We’ve gotten that down to where it only takes us about a week to a week and a half to get it to the taxpayers,” she explained. “That’s pretty amazing when you think about the 33,000 tax statements plus the 8,000 mortgage companies’ statements that we have come through our office which all have to be printed, stuffed and sent.”

It was a close race between incumbent Pfeifer and newcomer Schlegel.

With 5,833 votes, Schlegel edged out Pfeifer who received 5,567 votes. Provisional and paper ballots are still to be counted and all vote results are unofficial until canvassed by the Ellis County Commission Monday, Oct. 14.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Democrat Eber Phelps believes his intensive door-to-door campaign the past two months is what led to his win Tuesday over incumbent Republican Sue Boldra in the race for the state’s 111th District.

The Kansas House District covers most of Ellis County, including Hays and Victoria. Both candidates are long-time Hays residents.

“We knew we had to do the social media, television, radio and newspaper advertising, along with getting our yard signs out. But at the same time, we embarked on our door-to-door campaigning.” Phelps remarked he was still out walking at 9:30 p.m. Monday–the night before the election–with volunteer Michael Raven.

“We actually had a good time,” Phelps said.

At the Ellis County Democrats headquarters Tuesday night, Phelps thanked his supporters who offered enthusiastic applause and congratulations. Phelps defeated Boldra 5,184 to 4,517 although provisional and paper ballots must still be counted. Four years ago, it was newcomer Boldra defeating Phelps, who was first elected to the House in 1996.

“We were very much aware that we have a constituency out there that has really been paying attention and that was my whole take-away from the door-to-door experience. People are quite aware that there are some things awry in Topeka and some real wrong has happened down there. They were looking for a change of course and obviously, anybody who’s been in the governor’s corner the past three or four years was definitely targeted.”

That process, according to Phelps, started with the state primary in August when a number of conservative Republicans “carrying the governor’s agenda lost their races to more moderate-thinking Republicans. We also saw some Democrats taking over those positions.

“You’re going to see more of a collaboration between Democrats and Republicans,” Phelps thinks, “something that was missing the final two years of my last legislative term but was there when I first went into the legislature.”

He recalled the “thrill” of working closely with the late 110th Dist. state representative Dan Johnson, a Republican from rural Ellis County. “We were always huddling up talking about various issues important to Ellis County and rural Kansas.”

“That type of collaborative spirit was missing my last two years I thought, and I hope we regain that because that’s our only hope in getting all this rectified in Kansas,” he said.

Phelps likened the hoped-for collaboration at the state level to what he sees at the local level among the current Hays city commissioners.

“I thoroughly enjoy being on the city commission,” he emphasized. “I work with four wonderful other people that have that spirit I’m talking about where we’re trying to do what’s best for this community.

“I hope I see that in the legislature–where we can get in there and try to get the state on better footing, both financially and with a lot of policy changes.”

Phelps pointed out state law prohibits him from serving on both the city commission and the state legislature at the same time.

He plans to do the same as he did back in 1996, resign his commission seat at the end of the calendar year and head to Topeka in January. Phelps is employed by Glassman Corporation.

The Ellis County Commission will canvass all votes at their meeting Mon., Nov. 14.

.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Some are calling it the most important presidential election in their lifetime.

It’s the first presidential election in the lifetime of 19-year-old Brooks Barber of Hays.

The Fort Hays State University freshman marketing major voted at the Hays American Legion, 1305 Canterbury, after his morning class was unexpectedly canceled.

“I voted in the Hays school district bond issue in June and the August primary election, but this is my first ‘big vote’–for president of the United States,” Barber said. “I’ve always been interested in politics so it’s kind of cool to finally be able to participate in democracy.”

He said it felt “kind of crazy” pushing all of those buttons on the electronic ballot for presidential, state and local races. “It’s our duty as citizens to do this and I’m glad to do it.”

He was dressed for the occasion, wearing a black T-shirt with a slogan ‘Vote America’ emblazoned over a U.S. map. Barber talked about his future as a young American and the significance of the presidential election.

“I think it’s important to have a president that’s a good role model for the people,” said Barber, who voted for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. “I believe we need a president that’s going to be a president for the people rather than just working for politics in (Washington) D.C.”

As a marketing major, Barber found the role of social media “amazing” in the presidential race. “Both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump had their own special ways of promoting themselves.” He was also impressed with the use of social media to encourage people to vote. “It’s been neat to see how that’s been integrated into Google and Facebook. I don’t think we’ve ever seen that before.”

Social media is how Barber said he “found out all about who was running. It’s a great platform for everything these days to get the word out about something that you want people to know about.”

He added a caution in view of all the negative online advertisements and campaigning. “You really have to watch what you put out there,” Barber said. “Once it’s out there, it’s out there forever.

“Just get out and vote, no matter who you’re voting for,” Barber urged. “It’s a very important election all across the ballot.”

Poll worker Marcy McClelland, who is also an Ellis County Commissioner, said she was “very pleased” by the early morning turnout. “It’s been good, very good. By 10:30 a.m. we had 434 of 2,300 eligible voters who had cast ballots.”

An estimated 24.4 million Americans voted before today’s presidential election.

Check Hays Post for local election returns after the polls close at 7 p.m.