Roosevelt Spelling Bee winners (L-R): First place, Dakota Maier, second place, Ella Pfeifer, third place Kamryn Daniels, fourth place/alternate Olivia Goetz. Competitors will spell again at the county bee in January. Courtesy photo
Submitted
Friday after seven rounds, a spelling bee champion at Roosevelt Elementary was crowned.
Third-grade student Dakota Maier spelled the word penalty correctly to take home first place. Third grade student Ella Pfeifer took second place.
There was an exciting five-round spell-off to determine third place and the alternate. Fifth-grade student Kamryn Daniels won the spell-off to win third, and fifth-grade student Olivia Goetz won fourth and is the alternate. The competitors will continue to sharpen their skills in order to compete at the county spelling bee in January.
If you would like to see your school represented on the Hays Post, email information and/or photos to [email protected].
Drs. Jarrod and Stacey Jones, Courtesy photoBy CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post
Stacy and Jarrod Jones are leaving their respective practices to start a new practice, EyeSmile Vision and Dental at 1300 Main.
The building, which is in the Chestnut Street Historic District, was built in 1932 and for many years was used as a service station. The station was known as Nep’s Super Service and then Jep’s. The Joneses are remodeling it back to its 1950s footprint.
The building was constructed by the father of the two brothers who ran the service station. The father also built Thomas More Prep-Marian school and the Lamar Hotel.
“When we were deciding we wanted to go together, we were looking for different potential locations,” Stacey Jones said. “Driving around town, we looked at two or three other locations and came across that one and just kept going back to it, thinking it was really going to be a fun place. We liked the idea of being downtown. It had good parking options, which we really like. We just a had a vision for how it could be separated into two different spaces fairly easily.”
Renovation of the future EyeSmile building at 1300 Main St. in Hays.
Renovating a building in a historic district had its challenges. The Joneses were all set to begin construction in May, when work on the project was halted by the state. Preservationists insisted the footprint of the building more closely follow the 1950s building.
The Joneses had to go back to plans on file with the Hays Fire Department from the 1940s. They scrapped their plans and started over. This pushed the construction start back to August.
“The interesting thing about the building was allowing it to reveal itself to us,” Stacey Jones said. “That has been a really fun adventure for us.”
The Joneses were also required to keep the exterior looking like a filling station, which Stacey Jones said she thinks it does. There is history inside the building as well. You will see a terrazzo floor, brick walls, a plaster ceiling and a fireplace that were original to the building.
Both the Joneses said they look forward to relocating downtown.
“It feels like a sense of community we’ve noticed,” Stacey Jones said. “We both grew up in small towns and had that sense of community, and downtown certainly gives us that feel of small town community with the businesses and the activities that happen on Main Street with the parades and the art walks and the functions that have happened. The Downtown (Hays) Development Corp. has really been supportive as well.”
The building will have more than 6,000 square feet of usable space once the renovation is complete.
The original garage bay will be the guest lounge, and the service desk area will be the reception area in the clinic. The front-office staff will be shared. On the optometry side, there will be two exam rooms, and there will be eight exam rooms on the dental side.
Jarrod Jones, a Hays dentist for 15 years, is now located in Cedar Lodge on Vine Street and was a partner with his brother Dr. Paul Jones. Jarrod Jones is a graduate of the University of Texas-Houston. He practices general dentistry and does everything from filings to implants.
Jarrod Jones started to operate as EyeSmile on Oct. 1. His brother and Dr. Ross Kee will remain at Cedar Lodge when Jarrod Jones starts seeing patients at the new location on Jan. 7. He will see his last patients at Cedar Lodge on Dec. 20 to facilitate the move to the new building.
Stacey Jones also graduated from the University of Texas-Houston and has been an optometrist for 15 years. She is an associate of Dr. Kendall Krug, 2203 Canterbury. She will be leaving that practice to partner with her husband on Dec. 31. Stacey Jones works with general eye health for people of all ages. She hopes the optical side of the building will be ready for her by the end of January.
Dr. Krug will continue to see patients as a solo practitioner after Jones’ departure.
The Joneses have considered combining their practices since they were newlyweds.
“It was something that was always in the back of our minds as a possibility and a good melding of having the two practices together under one roof,” Stacey Jones said.
The Joneses said they think their patients will benefit from having both services under one roof.
Some patients might be able to book a dental cleaning and an eye exam on the same day. However, this will depend on the doctors’ schedules. One member of a family might be able to have their glasses adjusted while they wait on another family member who is having an eye exam or dental exam.
Stacey Jones will have an eyewear boutique at the practice. She is bring in frames from Spain, New York, L.A., Chicago, Seattle and Kansas City that can’t be ordered online.
You can learn more about the practice on Facebook. You can make appointments at 785-621-4242. A new website for the practices will available soon. Both practitioners will be accepting new patients.
Downtown Hays Development Corp. has announced the addition of Megan Ball to its board of directors.
After graduating high school in Dodge City, Ball attended and graduated from FHSU in accounting.
She then accepted full-time employment at Sunflower Electric Power Corp. as the human resources and benefits administrator.
She continued her education at Fort Hays, receiving her M.B.A.
Ball is married to Hays native Jason Ball.
Ball is an active member of the Western Kansas Human Resource Management Association, where she has served for three years on the board of directors.
She has received professional HR certification (SHRM-SCP) and continues to support Fort Hays’ HR educational programs and speaking to the Total Compensation class each semester.
Michael Leiker, Hays artist, holds one of his drawings that will be featured in an art exhibit during the Winter Art Walk on Friday.
You may not know Michael Leiker by name, but you would likely know him if you saw him.
Leiker, who is developmentally disabled, doesn’t drive, so he walks everywhere he goes, bringing with him big smiles for the people he meets. He is often seen downtown at his favorite places — the ARC or the library.
Brent Kaiser, ARC activities director, described Michael as one of the most caring people he knows.
“If he sees someone is having a bad or they are struggling, he has little words to encourage them, a pat on the back or a hug,” Kaiser said. “Michael is the go to guy for those type of things.”
Not only does Leiker participate in Special Olympics basketball, track and cheerleading, he is a noted artist as well.
Leiker will make his art debut during an exhibit from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the Winter Art Walk in the conference room of the Downtown Hays Development Corp., 1200 Main St.
Leiker, 31, already has art honors under his belt, winning prizes in past years at the Ness County Fair.
He started to draw when he was about 18 and he said art helps him relax. He hasn’t had art classes. He is self-taught. His pictures are pencil or ink drawings, some of which he adds color to with markers or paint.
He just picks subjects that he likes — superheroes, a human heart, a leopard, monster trucks. One drawing depicts the skyline of New York before 9-11 reflected in an eye.
“I am in awe,” Kaiser said. “He is so talented. He has created stuff for me. I have different pieces that he has made for me in my office. I have a giving rock with my name on it. I have a Special Olympics picture with the flame. Whenever I look at it, it makes me smile.
“When I saw what they were doing [with this exhibit], it almost brought tears to my eyes. He works so hard and puts so much into his art. It is one of his passions. It is one of the things he likes to do, so I was super excited and happy for him.”
On Friday, Leiker will have his art for sale for the first time.
Kaiser is already planning to purchase a piece that is to be placed on permanent display at the ARC office in Hays.
Michael said he was a little nervous about the exhibit, but added, “It sounds exciting.”
Options Inc. has announce three new advocates: Catherine Flipse, Sarah Mick, and Sarah Zerr.
They will join the shelter team, providing much-needed advocacy to our survivors in what is possibly the most difficult time in their lives.
Options continues to grow, as does the need for services.
“While it is unfortunate to see domestic and sexual violence claim such a prominent place in our community, we are never short of energetic, compassionate people who provide survivor-centered services day in and day out,” Options Inc. said in a news release.
For more information on how you can get involved, or if you or someone you know has been affected by domestic or sexual violence, call Options at 1-800-794-4294.
This year’s Winter Art Walk will be anchored by the 35th annual 5 State Photography Exhibition at the Hays Arts Center.
The art walk will be 7 to 9 p.m. Friday.
One hundred sixty-one photographs were selected out of 325 entries for the photography exhibit.
“The beauty of it is the numbers fluctuate a little bit, but the caliber stays really, really strong,” said Brenda Meder, director of the Hays Arts Council. “I am very, very pleased again with the show and the diversity of the subject matter and the processes and the sizes and the ages and the experiencial ranges of the artists who submitted them.”
Artists competed for honors in three categories: nature, people and open. In each category $500 was divided among four winners. The contest also awards eight to 12 jurors recognition honorable mention awards.
This is the largest Winter Art Walk staged by the Hays Arts Council, Meder said. Twenty-three sites are showcasing 30 artists or groups.
“It is very diverse,” she said. “I also feel this is probably the most diverse art walk that I think I have ever put together. I say that because we have art work on display from elementary, middle and secondary arts students in USD 489. Elementary work is at the library. Middle school is at A2Z Escape. High school art is at Breathe Coffee House. They are all exemplary. We have amazing art teachers, who are really getting some really amazing things from their art students.”
Two exhibits feature artists who have intellectual disabilities. This will include paintings and drawings by Michael Leiker at the Downtown Visitor’s Center, 1200 Main, and the holiday creations of the men of Bethesda Place, which will be at the Artists@Work Studio, 717 Main.
Two local businessmen will be featured in the art walk as well, Tim Chapman and Randy Schlitter.
The Hays Arts Center Annex will feature Tim Chapman and Bruce Burkholder. Chapman recently took a seat on the Hays Arts Council board, but people in the community may know him better for his work with Fort Hays State University Foundation.
Chapman does both 2-D art in acrylic and oil as well a bronze sculpture. Meder said Chapman has a certain amount of whimsy as well as movement in his art.
Schlitter, founder and CEO of the Rans Corporation, will exhibit the “1,000 Cards Project” in acrylic, pencil and mixed media at L&M, 113 W. 11th.
“First and foremost, the first parts of their lives they were driven by a passion for art,” Meder said of these men.
Although the art walk will open in all locations at 7 p.m., some locations will be open early. See the schedule below for details.
One of the sites that will be open early is the Sternberg Museum. Free admission will be offered between 4 and 6 p.m. Friday to view “Botswana and the Okavango Delta: A Photographic Safari to Wild Africa” by Marilyn Wasinger.
All three locations on the FHSU campus: the Moss Thorns Gallery, FHSU painting lab and Center for Applied Technology and Sculpture will also open early 6 p.m.
Styles Dance Centre, 1501 Main St., will present an arts showcase for Jana’s Campaign, which will start at 6 p.m. Jana’s Campaign seeks to increase awareness of gender and relationship violence
“[This is] another unique and wonderful statement about the arts,” Meder said. “That is a performing, literary and visual arts showcase, but it is not the arts for the art’s sake. It is utilizing and showcasing and bringing the arts to the forefront as a an incredible tool for awareness of a very important issue.”
Johnny and Sherri Matlock will open their new 809 Studio for the Hays High Chamber Singers, 809 studio performances, piano by Jaewon Sohn and Peter Lee as well as art from the FHSU Kansas Academy of Mathematics & Science students.
“Again an incredible rich diversity of the arts community, the business community, the education community and awareness of causes in the community and service all coming together in a cohesive fashion for a night where arts is central to any and all of these things,” Meder said.
Munsch Fitness’ expansion will allow it to add more exercise machines and weights.
By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post
Munsch Fitness is undergoing an expansion that will add mixed martial arts classes and other services.
Munsch, which has been at is current location, 1104 E. 22nd, since January 2015, has expanded into the back 2,000 square feet of its building. That space had been occupied by Lisa’s Custom Interiors, which moved to 420 E. 11th.
Prophecy MMA will move into one of the rooms in the addition from La Crosse. Prophecy will offer cardio kick, women’s self-defense and mixed martial arts classes for an additional $30 fee.
Alex Munsch, Munsch Fitness CEO, said MMA will be offered for all levels from people who just want to take fitness classes to those who want to do UFC fights.
The lobby will be moved to the back of the building, so the area that faces 22nd Street can be used to add more weights, cable machines, squat racks and bench presses.
Munsch Fitness will be the new home of Prophecy MMA starting Jan. 1.
Munsch said the gym has started to get crowded during its peak hours in the evening.
“The main point is that we will be adding more equipment,” Munsch said. “There will be more space inside the actual gym area.”
The fitness center also will add more tanning rooms, as well as red light therapy. It also offers a message therapist.
Red light therapy is a long wavelength light that helps rejuvenate skin by increasing collagen. It is used to treat wrinkles and scars.
Some providers use a gun to provide the light to a small area of the skin. Munsch will have a device that looks like a tanning bed and treats the whole body. The red light therapy will be included in membership.
Synergy Supplements moved into the gym from its location on Vine Street a week and a half ago.
Synergy Supplements also moved into the gym from its location on Vine Street a week and a half ago.
Bryan Zollinger, Synergy Supplements owner, said he thought the gym and the Synergy will be good fit.
“They have an established membership, and there is a lot of foot traffic in and out of here every day,” Zollinger said. “It is people who are interested in their health already anyway.”
The business carries body building supplements, CBD oil and general health supplements, such as vitamins, minerals and fish oil. Synergy will also offer energy drinks, healthy snacks, smoothies and coffee.
“I think it is good for the business and good for the gym, and I think we can offer a service to clients here that they can get everything they need in one stop,” Zollinger said.
In addition, Revive Massage and Movement relocated to the building on Oct. 1. Massage therapist Jessica Lang offers Swedish, deep tissue and sports massages, as well as assisted stretching, trigger point therapy and cupping therapy.
Lang can be contacted via Facebook or by phone at (785) 639-5913.
Munsch said he hopes to have the renovation complete by Jan. 1. Sign-up for classes can be done online. Check out the gym’s Facebook page for more information.
The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators has announced that O’Loughlin Elementary School has been named a National ESEA Distinguished School by the state education agency in Kansas.
O’Loughlin is one of up to 100 schools throughout the country that is being nationally recognized for exceptional student achievement in 2018.
A project of the NAESPA, the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program publicly recognizes qualifying federally funded schools for the outstanding academic achievements of their students.
It highlights the efforts of schools across the country making significant improvements for their students.
The program has been in place since 1996, showcasing the success of hundreds of schools in one of three categories:
• Category 1: Exceptional student performance for two consecutive years
• Category 2: Closing the achievement gap between student groups
• Category 3: Excellence in serving special populations of students
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provides additional resources for vulnerable students and federal grants to state educational agencies to improve the quality of public elementary and secondary education.
The association is a membership organization made up of state ESEA program administrators, and their staff from each of the states and territories, charged with managing their state federal education program.
They ensure compliance with federal regulations, but more importantly work to see that all children — especially those living in economically disadvantaged conditions — have the opportunity to receive a high quality education.
NAESPA implements the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program to highlight selected schools that have successfully used their ESEA federal funds to improve the education for all students, including economically disadvantaged students.
More information about all National ESEA Distinguished Schools is available on the ESEA Network website: www.ESEAnetwork.org.
Monica Dreiling’s fifth-grade class at Lincoln Elementary School is learning about marketing and community service.
Students have created a Beanie Babies store at Lincoln Elementary School (inside the main entrance) and have 844 brand new Beanie Babies to sell.
Small Beanie Babies (about 4 inches in size) are 25 cents and large Beanie Babies (about 7-8 inches in size) are $1.
With the proceeds, students will go shopping at the grocery store and purchase food items for a local food pantry.
The Beanie Babies store hours are open to the community and are as follows:
Monday, Dec. 3- 7:30-7:45 a.m. and 3:05-3:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 4- 7:30-7:45 a.m. and 3:05-3:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 5- 7:30-7:45 a.m. and 3:05-3:30 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 6- 7:30-7:45 a.m. and 3:05-3:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 7- 7:30-7:45 a.m. and 3:05-3:30 p.m.
