By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

So, it turns out the two new Hays monument signs that will be erected on I-70 cannot include the word “America.”

City commissioners were considering 10 different designs for the huge limestone markers by Tobin Rupe Stoneworks in Wichita, some of which read “Hays, America” as the city location.

However, commissioners found out during their meeting Thursday night that the Kansas Department of Transportation does not allow such verbiage.

“KDOT has a policy for city-owned signs in their right-of-way, like these would be,” City Manager Toby Dougherty explained. “It (must say) ‘Welcome to The City’ or ‘The City of Blank Welcomes You’ with all or a portion of the (city’s) logo involved within it. So, yes, we think ‘Hays, America’ would be out.”

Compounding the decision difficulty, commissioners were given six more designs to consider just prior to the start of their meeting. The artwork had been submitted by Scott Gross, an artist who has done other work for the city.

After Rick Rekoske, Convention and Visitors Bureau director, reviewed all 16 designs, commissioners voted 3-1 for one of Gross’s designs, which reads simply “Welcome to Hays.”

The 18′ by 10′ welcome signs will be placed just east of Commerce Parkway on the north side of westbound I-70, and on the south side of I-70 between Exit 157 and the Hall Street bridge for eastbound traffic approaching Hays.

Tobin Rupe Stoneworks was the low bidder for the two signs for a total of $48,300, considerably less than the original budgeted amount of $90.000. The money comes from the CVB budget and is generated by the guest bed tax.

Commissioner Henry Schwaller was absent from the meeting.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Chris Heisler is nearly unstoppable. In Hays last Wednesday after driving from St. Louis, he and his service dog Major stopped to rest overnight and to visit with his friend, Bill Ring, the Ellis County Emergency Manager.

The next morning, Heisler headed out again in his specially-wrapped Chevrolet pickup with the U.S. Honor Flag securely stored in the vehicle in a biometric-lock safe.  Heisler drove west on I-70 to Denver, accompanied by Kansas law enforcement, until the “handoff” at the state line, where Heisler and Major were welcomed by Colorado law enforcement and a cascading water salute by firetrucks.

For the fifth time in less than 10 months, Heisler was taking the U.S. Honor Flag to the funeral of a law enforcement officer killed in the line of duty as the result of a felony action–this time in Denver.  “He died protecting his community and we’ll bring a national honor to him.”

(James Bell, video editor)

“It’s unfortunate,” Heisler acknowledged, “but this flag that travels all over the country in this truck is a special U.S. flag that flew during recovery effort at Ground Zero following the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City.  Since then, this flag has traveled more than seven million miles to honor fallen police officers, firefighters and soldiers.”

Those 7,000,000 miles include travel on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers, submarines, and the space shuttle’s last mission to the International Space Station.

The U.S. Honor Flag, transported by Heisler and Major, was part of 143 funerals, tributes and memorial events last year.

“It represents the selfless service of the men and women who served our communities and our country.”

Heisler is himself a disabled veteran who served in the Army’s 101st Airborne Division in Iraq.  He took the flag with him to Iraq, which had been given to Heisler by the Texas House of Representatives shortly after 9-11.  “At that point, it was just a flag we used in Iraq for promotion ceremonies, enlistment ceremonies, and memorials for soldiers who were killed,” he said.  Heisler, a Texas native, returned stateside with the flag.  In 2007, it was used during the funerals for three Midland police officers killed in the line of duty.  “When the flag went to honor them, it was done so reverently the flag has never been back to my house since.  It’s always moving.”

There is no staff for the U.S. Honor Flag network, founded by Heisler. Donations to the non-profit organization can be made on its website. It’s now a large organization operated by volunteers from across the country. “It’s an incredible group of people who just do the right thing,” he said with pride.

One of those volunteers is Salina resident Patti Payne.  She and her daughter met up with Heisler while he was in Hays. Payne volunteers as a USHF Logistics Coordinator.  She has the connections.  Payne is a dispatcher for the Kansas Highway Patrol, where she’s worked for 17 years.

Special white gloves, with USHF embroidered in blue, are worn by the honor guards hold the flag.   All-white replica gloves are Replicas are placed on the hands of the deceased heroes and are buried or cremated with them. The gloves worn by the honor guard members–only once–are given to the family after the ceremony.

Major, a 16-month-old yellow Labrador and Heisel’s second service dog, also participates in the ceremonies.

“He’ll stand in formation with the officers and he does the salutes. He’s a great part of the team.” Major also accompanies Heisel on his visits to classrooms–“from kindergarten to college”-across the country to talk about the U.S. Honor Flag program.

Among the symbols and logos decorating Heisel’s transport truck is a closeup picture of gloved honor guard hands holding the U.S. Honor Flag.

Those are the hands of slain Topeka Police Cpl. Jason Harwood. Harwood was a member of the police color guard during funeral services for Topeka police Cpl. David Gogian and Officer Jeff Atherly who were shot to death on Dec. 16, 2012, in the parking lot of a Dillon’s grocery store. Hardwood was then killed Sept. 7, 2014, during a car stop in east Topeka. Harwood’s badge number–339–graces the front license plate of Heisel’s truck. It was given to him by Harwood’s brother, Jeremy Harwood, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper.

Heisler said it’s the first time one of the U.S. Honor Flag honor guard members was later killed while on duty, and then, in turn, was honored with the same flag he once carried for another law enforcement officer.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Family, friends and community members gathered Sunday night in downtown Hays to remember the two men killed in a trench collapse accident last Tuesday afternoon.

The candlelight vigil was organized by the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance and held on Main Street, just south of the Eighth Street intersection where sewer repair work had been underway March 1 in front of the Ellis County Administrative Center.

Killed when the dirt caved in from the walls of the 11-feet-deep trench were J Corp Construction Company employees Aaron Pfannenstiel, 44, and Jake Jacobs, 66, both of Hays. Pfannenstiel was the J Corp owner/operator; Jacobs was a construction supervisor. Funerals for both men were held Saturday.

One J Corp employee was rescued–Agustin Macias, who suffered a broken left arm. Macias attended Sunday’s ceremony with family.

Prayers were offered also for Macias, who attended the ceremony with family, for the emergency first responders who were at the scene, and for the Ellis County employees who offered their building to anxious family members during the rescue and recovery.

“We come together tonight to grieve and to remember,” said ECMA President Rev. Celeste Lasich, First Presbyterian Church as she welcomed the crowd, standing quietly in the middle of the block, just short of the fenced-off trench site.

“We offer prayer and support for the loving and extended Pfannenstiel and Jacobs families, for all the employees and partners of J Corp, for the emergency responders, and the city and utilities staff, the county building staff, the downtown businesses and too many people to name–all touched by this terrible tragedy,” Lasich said.

With a catch in his voice, Ellis County Commission Chairman Dean Haselhorst offered condolences.

“I realized this past week the impact J Corp had in so many communities across the state. From Atwood to Coldwater, to Hesston to Salina, to Russell to Gorham and back to Hays–the support of the elected officials and department heads that all called offered their prayers to be shared with the families. They shared stories of the times that J Corp was in and around their communities doing work or just serving others in those communities.

“For Jake and Aaron, it was building miles of roads, miles of sidewalks, countless curbs that they redid in the city of Hays for handicap accessibility, parking lots, laying pipe, doing maintenance, and all the day-to-day activity that J Corp did as a construction company.

“And on Tuesday morning when they were called to the corner of Eighth and Main again, they were serving the community of Hays, doing what they loved, and helping out where they could.

“And be assured when Aaron and Jake were greeted at the gates of heaven, our Lord told them ‘Well done, my good and faithful servants. You may now come in and rest, for this eternal kingdom is yours.'”

Hays Mayor Eber Phelps, Ellis County Commissioner Barb Wasinger and Ellis County Emergency Medical Services Director Kerry McCue also spoke to the crowd. Other prayers were offered by Deacon Scott Watford, St. Nicholas Church, and Pastor Patrick McGinnis, Dialogue Ministries.

As dusk fell, Rev. Kevin Daniels, Hays Christian Church, asked the mourners to light their candles as Chris and Ervis Dinkel, Liberty Church, led the crowd in singing “Amazing Grace.”

As the final notes faded and the candle flames flickered in the breeze, Daniels talked about the power of light.

“Sorrow, and now dark, fills the street. In this, our hour of need, we turn to light. Light offers protection. Light offers hope. Light offers life…Light gives us God’s peace,” Daniels said. “Together we have grieved, and together we move forward.”

Liberty Church Pastor Steve Dinkel then asked those holding candles to blow them out and for everyone to “join hands and draw strength from each other” during the closing prayer.

“We’ve experienced such a loss in our community, Lord,” Dinkel prayed, “and it reminds us to slow down and do the things that matter. To give one more hug hello or goodbye, and to appreciate each other.”

The memorial services lasted little more than half an hour. Thirty minutes later, the tears were still falling, the hugs were still heartfelt, and the mourners still stared down at the now-filled trench.

APAC-Hays contractors will resume completion of the sewer line repairs Monday.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The Ellis County Ministerial Alliance is organizing a community candlelight vigil Sunday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m. following Tuesday’s tragedy in Hays when a sewer trench collapse killed two men and injured a third.

“This is a time for our community to come together to grieve and support each other in the aftermath of the tragic trench accident,” said Celeste Lasich, ECMA president. “ECMA is working with the city of Hays, Ellis County and Ellis County EMS,” she added.

The ceremony will be held in front of the Ellis County Administrative Center, 718 Main Street. The accident occurred on Main Street just in front of the Center.

Two J Corp Construction Company employees died–44-year-old Aaron Pfannenstiel, the owner/operator of J Corp, and 66-year-old James “Jake” Jacobs, a construction supervisor at J Corp. A third J Corp employee was rescued and transported to HaysMed.

According to Lasich, the pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Hays, guest speakers will include Kerry McCue, Ellis County EMS director. McCue was at the accident scene throughout the rescue and recovery search. Hays Mayor Eber Phelps will also participate. Representing the staff and employees who work in the Ellis County Administrative Center will be Ellis County Commissioners Dean Haselhorst and Barb Wasinger.

The vigil will include familiar hymns and special music.

Some candles will be provided, but Lasich suggested attendees bring their own.

A memorial fund for the Pfannenstiel family has been organized on gofundme.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays city commissioners ended their Thursday night work session with somber thoughts and prayers for the families and friends of the two Hays men killed Tuesday afternoon while working in a sewer trench on Main Street. A third man was injured and taken to Hays Medical Center.

All three men were employees of J Corp Construction Company in Hays.

Owner/operator Aaron “A.P.” Pfannenstiel, 44, and construction supervisor James “Jake” Jacobs, 66, both died. The other employee was rescued soon after the 911 call at 1:36 p.m. and was taken to Hays Medical Center.

Mayor Eber Phelps also noted that Jacobs was the brother of Hays City Clerk Brenda Kitchen.

Phelps, City Manager Toby Dougherty and Commissioner Shaun Musil were at the scene in front of the Ellis County Administrative Center, along with Utilities Director Johnny O’Conner, Public Works Director Greg Sund, Assistant Public Works Director John Braun and Finance Director Kim Rupp, the city’s Public Information Officer.

“It’s also a big loss for the community,” said Commissioner Henry Schwaller. “We’ve not had an accident like this in a hundred years–when we lost two firefighters–again, a century ago. So this is very serious for all of us and it’s uncommon.”

Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil also expressed his thanks to “all the firefighters and everyone else who was down there helping out and doing everything they could.”

Funerals for both Pfannenstiel and Jacobs will held Saturday in Hays.

A community candlelight vigil organized by the Ellis County Ministerial Alliance will be held Sunday, March 6, at 6:30 p.m. in front of the Administrative Center, 718 Main.

From Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler:

On Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 1:36 p.m. the emergency communications center received a 911 call of a trench collapse in the 700 block of Main Street. Three J Corp workers were in the trench at the time of the collapse. Emergency personnel responded to the scene and one worker was rescued from the trench. Two other victims were trapped in the trench and rescue efforts were unsuccessful.

Hays Fire Department and the Ellis County Rural Fire Department were assisted by APAC Inc. in the recovery of the victims. The victims have been identified as James “Jake” Jacobs, 67, and Aaron Pfannenstiel, 45. Jacobs and Pfannenstiel were pronounced dead at the scene.

Downtown traffic was diverted for several hours as a safety precaution and to allow responders to work the scene. The scene is still under investigation and we ask that the public stays out of the work area.

On behalf of the Hays Police Department and the City of Hays, our condolences go out to J Corp and the families of the deceased.