The vacant position of Convention and Visitors Bureau Director for the city of Hays remains open. Rick Rekoske resigned from the job earlier this month.
It’s the second time in a little more than a year Hays is without a CVB director.
“At this point, we’re still working through the process,” said Jacob Wood, Assistant City Manager. “We haven’t actually determined how we’re going to go about searching for a new CVB Director.”
Wood anticipates it will “all be squared away in the next couple of weeks and advertisements for the job opening will be placed.”
In the meantime, Wood is filling the role of CVB Director.
“It’s a really good staff over there and they’ve been through this process before where they’ve been without a director for some time. So they know how to do it. I have a lot of confidence in the staff.
“We’ll make sure nothing falls through the cracks,” Wood said with assurance.
Rekoske was hired May 26, 2015, to replace previous CVB Director Jana Jordan, who retired Sept. 19, 2014, after 26 years with the city of Hays.
It was unseasonably hot in Hays and much of Kansas Tuesday. Several record highs were broken, including in Russell, but not for Hays.
According to official statistics from the K-State Agricultural Research Center, yesterday’s temperature in Hays reached to 97 degrees. The record high for Sept. 20 remains 103 degrees, set just 11 years ago in 2005. One year ago on Sept. 20 the daytime high was a more seasonable 87 degrees.
Today, Sept. 21, is the last official day of summer with the weather forecast is calling for another hot and windy day.
As part of Oktoberfest weekend in Hays, the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia–Kansas Round-Up of Chapters will hold its 34th annual meeting Saturday, Oct. 1, hosted by the Hays Sunflower Chapter. The day-long event, featuring speakers and programs about the history, folklore and genealogy of Germans from Russia, will be held at Whiskey Creek Restaurant, 3203 Vine Street, beginning at 8 a.m.
Dr. Tatjana Schell, North Dakota State University Dept. of English
Keynote speaker is Dr. Tatjana Schell who was born and raised in Russia. Her family is originally from the Volga German village of Seewald, where they lived until September 1941, when the entire village population was deported to the Omsk region in western Siberia. After 25 years in Siberia, the family returned to their Volga homeland and settled in the village of Frank. In the late 1990s, Schell and her family left Russia for Germany. In 2010, she moved to Fargo, North Dakota to pursue further academic education while she teaches at North Dakota State University.
Two presentations will be made by Hays residents. Dr. Yuri Yerastov, Fort Hays State University Assistant Professor and Director of Composition and Director of the Writing Center, will discuss digitization of Volga German text. He is working on a project through the Kansas Humanities Council in conjunction with the Sunflower Chapter using a local Volga German family’s letters that were received from Russia.
Guy Windholz will talk about the use of limestone by Volga Germans on the treeless Great Plains. The Volga Germans were known for the buildings they crafted from the region’s limestone. Windholz will give an overview on how this was done and show many area landmarks.
Sunflower Chapter members will present “Weihnachtzeit Im Oktober,” Volga German customs of Christmas, including some still practiced and others that have been nearly forgotten.
A newly produced video from AHSGR–“Norka: Passage in Time”–will be shown. The video features film shot in 1921 in the Volga German village of Norka.
During the past four years, three of the four clarifier basins at the Hays Water Treatment Plant, 1000 Vine Street, have been sandblasted and painted as part of regular maintenance. The east primary basin, built in 1975, will soon undergo the same work.
City commissioners will consider four bids for the project during their meeting Thu., Sept 22.
According to a memo from Jeff Crispin, Assistant Utilities Director, after years of submersion in water, the paint coatings are failing to protect the metal parts. Maintenance staff drains, power washes and cleans all surfaces yearly on all basins.
Staff is recommending the low bid of $55,000 from DEM Enterprises; $75,000 was budgeted in 2016 as part of the Capital Improvement Plan.
Other agenda items include adoption of the 2016 Uniform Public Offense Code and the 2016 Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas cities.
The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursday in Hays City Hall. See the complete agenda here.
ELLIS–Membership appointments were approved Sept. 6 by the Ellis City Council to the new Ellis Tourism Committee. Council members also approved a contract for installing WiFi in Ellis City Hall and unanimously voted to rescind the Water Warning status for the city.
The complete Sept. 6, 2016 meeting minutes follow.
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 City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, and City Attorney Olavee Raub. Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman was absent.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
Fire Chief Denis Vine’s monthly report will be moved to the September 19th council meeting. Mayor David McDaniel requested an executive session at the end of the meeting.
PUBLIC PRESENT
Philip Martin, Sharon Disney, Glen Keller, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Travis Kohlrus, Dena Patee, and Sue Werth.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member John Walz moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on August 15, 2016, Bills Ordinance #2004, and the February and March manual journal entries. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Mayor David McDaniel read a brief statement clarifying the purpose of the Public Comments section of the meeting. Public Comments is where the public may speak to the governing body for up to a maximum of five minutes. The governing body listens, but normally does not interact with the speaker, as this is the speaker’s time. Any discussion on a speaker’s comments may be made at the end of the meeting or added to a future agenda.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
Sewer: Petition
Sue Werth, 502 W. 3rd Street, requested permission to tap into the City’s sewer system. Ms. Werth currently accepts City sanitation service, but not water or sewer service. City Attorney Olavee Raub noted that City Code allows residents to tap into the sewer system without having City water service. It was the consensus of the Council to allow the tap into the City’s sewer system, contingent on Ms. Werth paying the sewer tap fee.
Economic Development: Committee
Travis Kohlrus and Philip Martin updated the governing body on recent developments with the Ellis Industrial Development Corporation. Mr. Kohlrus discussed various potential development sites on the north hill with both retail and fast food establishments expressing interest in locating in Ellis. The EIDC purchased the old motel on 2nd Street earlier this year, with plans to raze the building and vacate the lot to boost interest for new development. By consensus, the Council agreed to assist with the cleanup of the property with in-kind donations of labor and materials.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
General Government: Contracts
Council discussed proposals to install WIFI at City Hall from Golden Belt Telephone and Eagle Communications. In conjunction with that discussion, Council considered the costs associated with possibly transitioning to electronic Council packets. City Clerk Amy Burton presented cost estimates for laptops and packet software. After further discussion, Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to accept the proposal from Eagle Communications for the installation of WIFI at City Hall at a cost of $20.08 per month. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 4-2, with Council members Bret Andries and Gary Luea opposed. Council directed Ms. Burton to provide more information on the BoardDocs software application and laptop proposals.
General Government: Policy
City Attorney Olavee Raub presented the revised Citizen Complaint Policy. Council member Gary Luea moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to approve the policy as presented. Upon a call for discussion, Council member Jolene Niernberger expressed concerns that anonymous complaints could be investigated, in that if a situation is serious enough to warrant investigation, then the complainant needs to be disclosed. Ms. Raub noted that investigation of anonymous complaints is discretionary and would depend on the totality of the circumstances. Ms. Niernberger also inquired about the provision to allow an appeal to the Council. Ms. Raub noted the Council would be afforded the same information as the investigatory panel in order to make an informed decision. Upon a call for the vote, the motion carried 4-2, with Council members Gary Luea and Holly Aschenbrenner voting opposed.
Water: Policy
Council discussed a proposed resolution recalling a water warning for the City. Council stressed that watering of vegetation is still prohibited between the hours of noon and 7:00 p.m. and the waste of water is still prohibited. Residents are still encouraged to practice water conversation measures. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to approve Resolution No. 530 recalling a water warning for the City. The motion carried 6-0.
NEW BUSINESS
Tourism: Committee
Mayor David McDaniel requested approval to appoint the following to the newly formed Tourism Committee: Holly Aschenbrenner, Cheryl Kinderknecht, Pauleen Edmonds, Guy Windholz, Swede Swenson, Chad Pritchett, David McDaniel, Travis Kohlrus, Glen Keller, and Art Honas. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to approve the Mayor’s appointments to the Tourism Committee. The motion carried 6-0, with Council member Holly Aschenbrenner abstaining.
Campground: Committee
Mayor McDaniel noted the City already has a Campground Committee to task with exploring the campground expansion project. Those members include Police Chief Taft Yates, Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, Grounds Maintenance Worker Travis Roland, Assistant City Clerk Charlene Weber, Mayor David McDaniel, and Mike Grogan, At-Large.
General Government: Committee
City Clerk Amy Burton reviewed a letter from the League of Kansas Municipalities providing the City an opportunity to register a voting delegate and an alternate voting delegate to represent the City at the League’s Annual Conference in October. Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to elect John Walz as the LKM voting delegate. The motion carried 6-0, with Council member John Walz abstaining. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to elect Jolene Niernberger as the LKM alternate voting delegate. The motion carried 6-0, with Council member Jolene Niernberger abstaining.
Sewer: Policy
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the Fiscal Sustainability Plan for the City’s wastewater treatment plant. The Plan is required by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment as part of the financing agreement for modifications mandated by the State. The Plan establishes rate structures, reserve funding levels, and replacement schedules for plant equipment. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Gary Luea seconded a motion to approve the Fiscal Sustainability Plan as presented. The motion carried 6-0.
General Government: Repair/Maintenance
Don’s Electric recently performed an emergency repair at the dog shelter. Moles chewed through the electrical wire cutting power to the shelter. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to ratify the repair to the dog shelter by Don’s Electric & Rewind in the amount of $2,850 with funds to come from the General Fund. The motion carried 6-0.
Sewer: Contract
At the last meeting, Council approved the purchase of the Gorman Rupp sewer lift station from Haynes Equipment. City Attorney Olavee Raub recommended the Council also ratify Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman’s signature on the “Terms and Conditions” part of the contract. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Jolene Niernberger seconded a motion to ratify Mr. Scheuerman’s signature on the Haynes Equipment contract for the Gorman Rupp sewer lift station. The motion carried 6-0.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Council reviewed correspondence from Union Pacific Railroad regarding the drainage culvert at 10th Street & Spruce. Council will table further discussion until Mr. Scheuerman is available at the next meeting.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Activity Report for August and the September staff calendar. Officer Smith will graduate from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center on September 30th.
City Clerk: Financial
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the Financial Statements consisting of the Statement of Accounts, Treasurer’s Report, and Security Deposit Worksheet for February and March. The July Health Insurance Savings Report was also reviewed.
City Clerk: Training
Council member Jolene Niernberger moved and Council member Bret Andries seconded a motion to approve Ms. Burton and Assistant City Clerk Charlene Weber to attend the Municipal Clerk’s Academy in Wichita. The motion carried 6-0.
Ms. Burton reminded Council of the training workshop with Gina Smith on September 14th. The League’s Annual Conference is October 8th – 10th. The League will also be holding a course on Ethics and Civility on November 4th.
Attorney
Mayor Update and Announcements
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
Mayor David McDaniel called for an executive session to discuss property acquisition. A 10-minute executive session was proposed starting at 9:23 p.m. Mayor McDaniel called for a motion to recess. Council member John Walz moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to recess to executive session to discuss property acquisition with the City Attorney present. The motion carried 6-0. The Council returned to open session at 9:33 p.m. No action was taken in executive session.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Bob Redger moved and Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:34 p.m.
ELLIS–Ellis city council members may soon be going paperless.
During tonight’s regular meeting, the council will consider proposals for laptops and software for electronic information packets.
In other business, an update will be given about the Waterline Improvement Project by Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group. Drainage on South Walnut Street will be discussed along with improvements to sand streets.
The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. tonight in Ellis City Hall.
The complete agenda follows.
AGENDA September 19, 2016 REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS City Hall – Council Meeting Room
BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 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 September 6, 2016
b) Bills Ordinance #2005
(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)
3) SPECIAL ORDER
a) Discuss Future of Ellis Golf Club – EGC Board Representatives
b) Discuss Finish Line Lease Service Billing Issue – Dean Gottschalk
c) Update from PRIDE Committee
d) Fire Department Monthly Report – Chief Denis Vine
4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Update on Waterline Improvement Project – Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group
b) Discuss Drainage on South Walnut Street
c) Consider Laptop Proposals and Application Software for Electronic Council Packets
5) NEW BUSINESS
a) Consider Approval of Pay Estimate #3 and Authorize Mayor’s Signature on Documents for Waterline Improvement Project
b) Consider Approval of Appointments to Trades Board and Senior Advisory Committee
c) Discuss Improvements to Sand Streets
6) REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
a) Administrative
1) Public Works
(1) Comparative Water Report
(2) Discuss Union Pacific Railroad Drainage Culvert at 10th Street & Spruce
(3) Correspondence on Governor’s Water Conference
(4) Department Update
2) Police
(1) Department Update
3) City Clerk
(1) Discuss Replacement of Vinyl on City Billboard
(2) Department Update
4) Attorney
5) Mayor Update and Announcements
(1) Discuss Community Forum Event
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
7) ADJOURNMENT
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today announced the members of his 2016 Kansas Service Academy Selection Board. The 20-member board will review applications and interview candidates who are applying for admission to U.S. Service Academies. These include the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Those selected will enter the academies in June 2017.
“Our country is fortunate to have so many intelligent, hard-working and patriotic young men and women interested in serving our country through the armed forces,” Sen. Moran said. “I know the selection board will have a difficult time narrowing the field of qualified candidates, but I value their insight and thank them for their help.”
Applications will be reviewed and selected applicants will be interviewed by the selection board on Saturday, September 24 at the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library in Abilene.
Members of the 2016 Kansas Service Academy Selection Board include:
· Dennis Butler of Ottawa – Ottawa Chief of Police, law enforcement officer of 37 years;
· Ardith Dunn, Ph.D., of Satanta – Retired high school mathematics/computer instructor, superintendent, mother of U.S. Air Force Academy graduate;
· Marche Fleming-Randle, Ph.D., of Wichita – Wichita State University College of Liberal Arts and Science Assistant Dean and Assistant to the President for Diversity;
· Sue Givens of El Dorado – USD 490 Superintendent of Schools;
· Robin Jackson, Ph.D., of Hutchinson – Central Christian College Professor of Science and Mathematics;
· Melissa Jarboe of Topeka – Military Veteran Project Founder, widow of U.S. Army service member;
· Cheryl Kerns of Overland Park – Blue Valley West High School teacher, mother of U.S. Military Academy cadet;
· Brian Kessens of Overland Park – Tortoise Capital managing director, U.S. Military Academy graduate;
· Ryan Kriegshauser of Topeka – Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner Director of Policy and Special Counsel, lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserves;
· Katrina Lewison of Manhattan – U.S. Military Academy graduate, Purple Heart recipient;
· Wendell Maddox of Kansas City – United Way of Wyandotte County President and CEO, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps veteran;
· Jill McCarthy of Overland Park – Kansas City Area Development Council Vice President of Business Development, mother of U.S. Military Academy graduate;
· John O’Leary of Wichita – Airbus Vice President of Engineering, U.S. Naval Academy graduate;
· Jayne Humphrey Pearce of Wallace –Wallace County Visitors Bureau Marketing and Tourism Director, U.S. Air Force veteran, mother of U.S. Air Force Academy graduate;
· Paula Ripple of Dodge City – Retired Dodge City High School English instructor, mother of U.S. Air Force Academy graduate;
· Sean Ritchie of Wichita – Cargill North American Operations Lead, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy graduate;
· Delbert Stanton of Hays – Retired United Methodist Church minister and grandfather of three Air Force Academy graduates;
· Andy Tompkins of Topeka – Retired CEO, Kansas Board of Regents;
· Samuel Turner of Leawood – Retired Shawnee Mission Medical Center CEO, Vietnam War veteran, U.S. Army veteran; and
· Ron Whitney of Emporia – American Legion member, Veterans of Foreign Wars member, U.S. Army veteran.
Nathan Marcucci, manager of the Hays Regional Airport, has resigned.
Assistant Hays City Manager Jacob Wood confirmed the action Tuesday afternoon.
“Nathan turned in his resignation last week. His last day will be Monday, Sept. 19,” Wood said. “He is still currently working.”
A listing on HaysHasJobs.com posted Monday afternoon shows the city of Hays seeking an Airport Manager with applications accepted until the position is filled. Initial review of applications will be on Oct. 3, according to the ad.
A trial program for limited automatic mutual aid between the Ellis County Fire Department (ECFD) and the Hays Fire Department (HFD) is being considered.
According to a memo from Hays Fire Chief Gary Brown to Hays city commissioners, the “existing mutual aid program is helpful but does not allow for the most effective operations.”
In the automatic aid program, ECFD will respond with one fire truck and crew into the city on the first alarm for all reported building fires. HFD will automatically send one fire truck and crew into a limited area surrounding Hays for reported building fires. Brown called it “the area with the most complex and urban fire problems for county fire department.”
Brown estimated ECFD will respond to assist the HFD about 70 times a year while HFD will respond outside the city limits about five times a year.
There will be some budget considerations, according to Assistant Hays City Manager Jacob Wood, particularly for Ellis County. That’s why a trial program will be tried first starting in January.
“Our city firefighters are here (at the fire station) all the time anyway, so an additional call to something outside the city isn’t going to make any huge impact on us,” Wood pointed out. “The county firefighters are volunteers and get paid on a by-case basis and per training hour. If there are more calls in the city they’re responding to that they wouldn’t typically, there would be some (financial) impact there.
“How much that is, is hard to say.”
The benefits, Wood said, would be more firefighters responding to certain building fires and more mutual training of the city and county fire departments.
The proposal will be discussed at Thursday’s Hays City Commission work session.
Other agenda items include sandblasting and painting of the east primary clarifier at the water treatment plant and a update of the 2016 Uniform Pubic Offense Code/2016 Standard Traffic Ordinance.
The Hays Area Board of Zoning Appeals will meet Wed., Sept. 14 to consider a variance request by Eric Augustine to construct a detached garage at 404 W. 20th Street.
Board members will also review an update on the rewrite of the Unified Development Code (UDC).
The meeting begins at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday in Hays City Hall. The agenda can be seen here.
Hays artist Dennis Schiel is painting a mural depicting Ellis County history on the Fox Pavilion north side.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Hays artist Dennis Schiel is working on another large historical mural.
This one, in collaboration with the Hays Arts Council, features the 2017 Sesquicentennial–the 150th anniversary–of Ellis County, and this mural will stay right in Hays.
It has to.
Schiel is painting his public art project on the north side of the downtown Fox Pavilion, 1202 Main. The colorful mural will be about 35-by-60 feet and will include images of Volga-German farmers, Fort Hays, Boot Hill, a buffalo and Fort Hays State University.
Originally, Schiel had planned to paint the mural on the abandoned grain elevators east of the Union Pacific Railroad Park, 10th and Main. But UPPR decided to tear down the dilapidated structure.
“So, I had to come up with another place to paint this,” Schiel said. “We looked around and found three spots. Midland Marketing gave us permission to use their elevator but it’s not quite the right location. Then we looked at the Fox Theatre and the city water tower out by Sternberg Museum–the bottom portion of it.
The Fox Theatre, also called the Fox Pavilion, was selected and Schiel started painting.
He hopes to also paint another mural on the east water tower next year. That depiction of “The Three Amigos”– Lt. Col. George Custer, Wild Bill Hickok and Buffalo Bill Cody–would be a nod to the history of Hays.
“This is really fun,” claims Schiel. “A lot of times I work on just itty-bitty one-inch-by-three-inch painting that needs to be done for a historical mural or something like that. This is just sloppin’ paint on. It’s just kinda fun to take the strokes.”
The work is going faster than he thought it would.
“I figured it would take at least four months to do it. I might be able to get it done in two-and-a-half months.
Schiel started by gridding out his design so he would know where certain points are on the massive mural.
“I knew I needed to start three foot down and two feet over on that first panel with the Volga German (farmer) threshing wheat. The next panel will be a change. It’ll have (Hays limestone sculptor) Pete Felten’s buffalo and part of (historic) Fort Hays. But, it’s going to change a little from what I planned, so I’ll just find another point and start again,” he said with a chuckle.
Schiel has always wanted to be an artist.
“I tried the corporate world for about seven years, and then I got tired of that and decided I can do this on my own.”
In addition to his state mural displayed in the state capitol building in Topeka, Schiel recently finished a piece for Kansas State University as well as a historical mural for St. John’s Military School in Salina.
“It’s in my garage, weighs about 700 pounds. It’s just huge.”
Schiel has also painted historical murals for many families throughout Kansas.
He said he’s been working nearly every day since moving to Kansas from Colorado nine years ago. “I did a lot of construction work out there to pay the bills,” laughed Schiel. “But out here, it’s been almost non-stop.”
Alanna Hansen, HHS senior, organized an all-school assembly to remember Sunday’s 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
She was just two years old on Sept. 11, 2001, when terrorist attacks hit America in New York City, Washington, D.C., and rural Shanksville, Pa. More than 3,000 people died.
Fifteen years later, Hays High School senior Alanna Hansen, 17, organized an all-school assembly in remembrance of that tragic day.
She knows most of the HHS students were only 3 years old or younger — or not even yet born then, “like my sister who is a freshman.” But Hansen says it’s important to learn about “something that was such an impact on America and was unexpected and it wasn’t about a certain race or religion. It was America as a whole. We were attacked and then during that time, we just kind of came together,” said Hansen.
It seems different today, she believes.
“Especially now, everybody’s kind of separating, and I think remembering days like this where we can be united again and be proud to be an American, is something that’s very important,” she said.
Some of the Ellis Co. first responders awaiting the start of Friday’s assembly.
She also wanted to recognize and thank local first responders and military veterans for their service.
Hansen approached HHS Principal Marty Straub last December to ask permission to work on the 9/11 project. With Straub’s support, Hansen spent the past nine months planning the event.
Kiwanis Club members placed U.S. flags around Hays High School early Friday morning.
“At first, I thought it was just gonna be something little — like a moment of silence after the announcements came on,” Hansen said. “And then I thought it was going to be maybe 20 minutes. But now, it’s come to be an hour,” she said while standing outside the school where a huge American flag was flying from Hess Crane Services in the parking lot and more U.S. flags, placed by Hays Kiwanis members, lined the sidewalks.
“It really became such a great thing and I’m so excited about today. I just want to thank everyone, especially my principal. It’s amazing what the community of Hays has brought to this,” she said with a big smile. “There’s no way I could have done this without them.”
Seth Kastle, U.S. Army Reserve-Retired, was the featured speaker.
Friday morning, HHS Gym A was filled with students and faculty, local first responders and military members, city dignitaries and state legislators who heard from guest speaker Seth Kastle, a Leadership Studies instructor at Fort Hays State University and a military veteran.
Kastle retired after 15 years from the Army Reserve as a First Sergeant in July 2014. He served substantial time in Germany, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Iraq, and spent 24 months in combat zones. He deals with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and has written two children’s books about PTSD for military families.
“When we talk about the word sacrifice, we usually just think of our men and women serving in the military. But that’s not all. Men and women in law enforcement, fire departments, emergency medical services, first responders — all of these people sacrifice on a daily basis to preserve our way of life. … They’re putting themselves in harm’s way for our safety and security,” Kastle said, looking directly at the large contingent of first responders sitting in front of him.
Hansen and Straub visit with some of the invited guests.
“I’m here today to tell you America is great because of one word — freedom.
“It’s because men and women in public service make it so. We get to live in a land that is free from oppression. If you don’t think so, I would challenge you to speak to someone who comes from a less fortunate country. I’m sure they would gladly tell you how much better their life is here,” Kastle said.
“My dad, Trent Hansen, works at Fort Hays with him (Kastle) and went to AIT (Advanced Individual Training) with him after basic training–we kind of have connections. I asked him if he would talk and he said ‘Sure,'” Hansen explained.
Hansen’s grandfather, Elden Hammerschmidt was the Hays Public Works Director, attending a work conference in Philadelphia on Sept 11, 2001.
Hansen showed video interviews with people remembering where they were on that fateful day, including her grandfather Elden Hammerschmidt. He was the Hays Public Works Director at that time and attending a work-related conference in Philadelphia.
“There was a military presence on all street corners. All the planes were grounded. We had a rental car and drove it 24 hours straight from Philadelphia back home to Hays,” Hammerschmidt recalled.
Another video showed ABC’s Good Morning America live coverage as the news anchors scrambled to make sense of what they were seeing at the Twin Towers in New York City.
HHS students clap three times in recognition as each first responder’s name is read.
In the audience sat members of the Hays Police Department, Hays and Ellis Co. Rural Fire Departments, Ellis Co. Sheriff’s Dept., Ellis Co. Emergency Medical Services, and the Kansas Highway Patrol, along with local military personnel and veterans. As their names were called out by Hansen and Straub, each stood and was recognized by three quick claps from the crowd.
Military recruiters were also invited to the assembly and to speak to interested students afterwards. SSgt. Aaron Darden is a U.S. Air Force recruiter based in Salina and covers much of western Kansas, including Hays.
SSgt. Aaron Darden, USAF Recruiter, Salina
“Awesome,” is how he described the assembly afterwards.
“An amazing amount of effort, time and thought went into this, keeping the memories fresh in the minds of these young adults.” Darden was in an 8th grade PE class in Franklin, Va., on Sept. 11, 2001. “We knew something tragic had happened, but had no idea of its magnitude and how America changed.
“The terrorist attacks are one reason why I serve,” Darden said.
The assembly opened with a Hays VFW color guard posting the colors, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Hansen. It ended with the national anthem sang by Hays High School’s elite Chamber Singers under the direction of Johnny Matlock.
The guests of honor were invited to join HHS students and staff for spaghetti in the school lunch room. As people filed out of the gymnasium, they were offered colorful red, white and blue wrist bands that read “9-11-2001 Freedom Is Not Free.”
Alanna Hansen is thanked by Hays Fire Chief Gary Brown for organizing the assembly.
Alanna Hansen will be 18 in February and graduate from Hays High in May. She plans to attend FHSU where she will major in wildlife biology and minor in criminal justice. She wants to become a game warden.
“I’m in government class right now and we’ve talked about 9/11. I wasn’t even thinking about this project to get class credit or anything,” she laughed.
This Flag of Honor, listing the names of the 3,092 people killed on Sept. 11, 2001, is used by Sue Boldra in classes she teaches at FHSU. State Rep. Boldra is a former HHS government teacher.
“I’ve been a proud American and patriotic since I was really little.
“I just like being able to show and share with my fellow classmates that we’re proud after 9/11, especially in Kansas,” Hansen said. “We’re not on one of the coasts. We’re right in the middle of the United States, showing people that we’re proud in tiny town Hays. It’s just awesome, I think. It’s incredible.”
Shaun Musil gavels open his first meeting as the mayor of Hays.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
The audience was larger than usual for Thursday night’s Hays city commission meeting. In addition to a few city employees and interested residents, the room was mostly filled with members of Shaun Musil’s family.
They were there in support of Musil as he conducted his first meeting as the Hays mayor.
The governing body was reorganized as Eber Phelps stepped down as mayor and Musil became the new mayor after serving as vice-mayor since April 23, 2015. James Meier was named the new vice-mayor of Hays. Musil noted the city commission formerly reorganized in April but will now do so in September to comply with recent changes in state election law.
Musil thanked Phelps for his service as mayor and joked he had no practice running a meeting because Phelps had never missed a commission meeting as mayor. “I enjoyed being your vice-mayor,” Musil said to Phelps. “You never let me do much, but that’s all right,” Musil added as all the commissioners laughed.
Outgoing mayor Eber Phelps shakes hands with new Vice-Mayor James Meier.
A long list of major city accomplishments during Phelps’ turn as mayor was read by Musil who then presented Phelps with a recognition plaque.
Phelps recalled his first term on the Hays city commission was in 1995, the year Hays was named an “All-America City.” He noted the three ‘platform programs’ the city submitted to the national competition–volunteerism, curbside recycling and water conservation–are still thriving today.
“All three of those things we kind of rode to glory on 20 some years ago,” Phelps recalled. “And as you know, volunteerism in this community is unbelievable, (such as) our parks, that continues to this day.
“The recycling program still has 80 percent-plus participation. Our recycling center is a very busy place. It’s very efficient. You ca drive down the streets, look down the alleys, and you will see all the blue bags lined up and the cardboard.
“Our long-term water efforts–we’ve put in the applications to the state Department of Water Resources for the Water Transfer Act (for the R9 Ranch in Edwards County).
“The water conservation education programs continue to this day. That was not a one-time shot. It became part of our lifestyle. Contrary to when we implemented water conservation, everybody didn’t move from Hays and people continue to move here today. It was a bold move,” he declared.
“I’m just happy to see those three things that made us an All-America City, continue to this day. I think I can safely say Hays is still an All-America City in my view,” Phelps added, “and we’ve got great citizens here and I’ve enjoyed working with so many of them.”
By BECKY KISER
By BECKY KISER
ELLIS–Membership appointments were approved Sept. 6 by the Ellis City Council to the new Ellis Tourism Committee. Council members also approved a contract for installing WiFi in Ellis City Hall and unanimously voted to rescind the Water Warning status for the city.
ELLIS–Ellis city council members may soon be going paperless. 
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) today announced the members of his 2016 Kansas Service Academy Selection Board. The 20-member board will review applications and interview candidates who are applying for admission to U.S. Service Academies. These include the U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Those selected will enter the academies in June 2017.
By BECKY KISER
City of Hays
The Fox Theatre, also called the Fox Pavilion, was selected and Schiel started painting.
Schiel started by gridding out his design so he would know where certain points are on the massive mural.
He said he’s been working nearly every day since moving to Kansas from Colorado nine years ago. “I did a lot of construction work out there to pay the bills,” laughed Schiel. “But out here, it’s been almost non-stop.”
