By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Rooks County is in process of purchasing the Rooks County Golf Course, but not all local residents are pleased with the purchase.

The 70-acre-golf course, which is 5 miles north of Plainville, is owned privately by a family that lives out of state. Recently, the family has been unable to care for the course.

The course has fallen into disrepair, and membership renewals and statements for cart shed rentals were not sent out this year.

“Because of the maintenance issues, people didn’t have to join,” said Roger Hrabe, director of Rooks County Economic Development. “They could just go out and golf. People were keeping their sheds out there and their carts, and no one was being paid.”

The Hambright family, which owned the course, was seeking to sell the nine-hole course, the only grass-green course in the county.

Hrabe said economic development agreed to put up the $130,000 for the purchase of the course with the county retaining ownership and providing management of the course. The county agreed to buy the course with economic development funds on a split vote with Commission Chairman John Ruder and Commissioner Larry Poore voting for the purchase and Commissioner Corky Hagan voting against. A verbal agreement has been made with the owners, and the county is waiting for the contract to be signed.

Hrabe said saving the course is a quality of life issue for the county.

“If you start looking at the percentage of people who golf out of your total county population,” Hrabe said, “it’s not high, but it is a quality of life issue that a lot of people want and a lot of people would use whether they are residents or not. If you are going to attract people, whether you are attracting younger people coming in or keeping the retired people here, it is something that is important.”

The course is currently being run by volunteers. The county’s hope is that the course will be able to regain enough paying members that the course will be self-sustaining. The county has estimated an annual operating budget of $30,000. The county has a group of five volunteers who have agreed to serve as a board for the course, Ruder said, but the county is waiting on the sale to go through to formally organize that group.

Ruder admitted the county did not have a formal business plan for the golf course, saying he thought that “was putting the cart before the horse.”

The lack of a clear business plan and questions about maintenance and operating expenses at the course drew concerns from community residents.

Shayn Balthazor, Rooks County resident and business owner, started a petition requesting that certain questions be answered about the course before the sale went through. The petition also requested the sale go to a public vote.

“I started the petition because I didn’t feel that the commissioners had done enough research or analysis into costs, overhead, condition of property and equipment or potential income,” Balthazor said.

Balthazor attended two county commission meetings to speak on the issue.

“I stated that if any other business owner or prospective business owner asked for help from economic development (where the money to purchase the golf course is coming from), they would be required to have a business plan before economic development would consider helping financially,” he said.

Balthazor raised concerns about the septic system, which had allegedly seeped in the area of the clubhouse in the past.

Ruder said the county is hoping the septic tank just needs cleaned out.

Hrabe said maintenance does need to be done at the course, specifically work on the cart sheds. Ruder said it was the county’s hope that once the county gained ownership of the course and started collecting fees again, money could be set aside for these upgrades.

Hrabe said none of the maintenance issues, including the septic system, appeared to be serious. Ruder said the course is in working order at this time. It will be staffed strictly by volunteers until further notice, Ruder said.

Balthazor also expressed concern about the property tax implications and objected to the economic development money being used for the purchase of the golf course. As county property, the golf course would be tax exempt.

“The money is coming from economic development, which receives its revenue from a mill levy,” he said. “The money is taxpayer paid money, and taxpayers pay mils on their property tax. I’d like to see this money put toward bringing new business to the county or help a private owner purchase the golf course without footing the whole purchase. I’m not sure how the county purchasing the golf course will help develop the economy in our county.”

Hrabe said if private owners could eventually be found to purchase and operate the course again, the county would support that.

Because no fees were being collected by the current owner, the number of members or potential members is in question.

Ruder said as few as 40 to 50 paid members could mean the golf course could be self-sustaining. Hrabe was optimistic, saying the course had the potential for as many as 200 members. He said the numbers are a matter of conjecture, but the county is basing membership goals on what they once were.

Balthazor said there were too many unknowns.

“I oppose the purchase. If they had done a proper business plan, knew costs, overheads and true income potential, and could know with little shadow of doubt that it would be successful, I might be (swayed) for the purchase of the golf course,” he said. “Ultimately, we the petitioners just wanted the commissioners to do their homework and then give the voters the opportunity to vote on the subject. We wanted to be informed and then decide if it would be a good investment for the county as a whole.”

Balthazor, who is a former member of the golf course, said the petition received more than 250 signatures and was presented to the county clerk within 14 days of the legal notice of sale appearing in the local newspaper. However, this was after the commission had already voted to purchase the property on June 29. Poore said the petition was not considered for this reason.

“We were not asking much,” Balthazor said, “just a say in how our tax dollars are going to be spent on a subject that isn’t a necessity to the business of running the county.”

Despite the petition, Ruder and Hrabe both said most of the feedback they had received on the purchase of the golf course has been positive.

“The folks that are talking to me are happy that the county got involved,” Ruder said. ” Our goal is to save the golf course.”

Commissioner Corky Hagan was out of state and unable to speak to the Hays Post before publication.

 

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Whether it was grieving with a group of singers after the suicide of a fellow student or helping a young woman find confidence, Johnny Matlock has spent 30 years doing more than teaching students how to read music.

He has taught them how to be successful human beings, something he hopes to continue in his new job.

After more than 30 years in music education, Johnny Matlock, choir director at Hays High School, is taking on a new role.

Matlock will be the new Jobs for America’s Graduates-Kansas instructor at HHS. The program, which is also known as JAG-K, was approved by the school board in March and will ramp up for its first year starting next week.

The program helps students graduate high school, work on career planning, enhances leadership skills and develop job skills. Students will visit workplaces and colleges, participate in a career club and perform 10 hours of community service.

“I have been very fortunate for all my life, really, to do something I am passionate about and that I love doing, and music has been that avenue for me,” Matlock said of his career in music education.

“It is still very, very important to me. I knew if I was every going to make a change, it was going to have to be something I was equally passionate about, so when this opportunity came along with this job with Jobs for America’s Graduates, I think it is a program that I believe in. I think it is going to offer students a lot. It is something I can be passionate about, and it just seemed the right time in our lives to do it. Change is a good thing,” he said.

Matlock spent 10 years teaching music in the Bonner Springs school district, before moving to Hays, where he has spent the last 20 years. Matlock taught choir at both HHS and HMS, as well as directed school musicals for many years.

Matlock said he had many wonderful moments teaching choir, and he fell in love with whatever piece of music or musical he was working on at the time.

Matlock said music brings much to a child’s education.

“They tell us that students who are involved in extra curricular activities do better in school—do better in academics,” he said. “Music has a lot to back that up just in terms of brain development and thinking skills. Music has a big connection with math. … I think their confidence, and I believe music has an ability to touch us in very special ways—in ways that other things do not.”

Matlock came from a musical family. He grew up taking private piano lessons, but his school in rural Arkansas had no music program.

“I went to college and was going to be a piano and composition major. That is what I wanted to do,” he said. “[I] heard the choirs rehearsing in the halls, and thought, ‘Wow, I want to be part of that.’ That was a life-change moment. I changed directions.”

The music he picked for his students allowed him to discuss delicate topics with them. The students performed a large piece by Dan Forrest called “A Requiem for the Living.” He said the piece allowed the students to talk about the legacy they leave, the way they influence people and the importance of life.

“Just about being human beings. … I think it deepened their thoughts about those things,” he said. “Music challenges us in that way.”

A student at Hays High School committed suicide during the last school year. She was a choir member.

“It was during that time, we were doing a song from ‘Dear Evan Hansen,’ a musical, called ‘You Will Be Found,’ ” he said. “I remember coming back into the classroom on the morning that we found out about it, and I had Chamber Singers that day. We really didn’t need to talk about anything, but that is the song they wanted to sing.

“It talks about people who have just reached the bottom. There is no way out, and it was a piece that gave them hope and our responsibility to reach out to others. It was a very neat moment.”

One of Matlock’s former students Rachelle Lumpkins said Matlock encouraged her when she most needed it. She joined the musical her freshman year, but people were making fun of her size. Matlock read a self-effacing comment she had made about herself in her email signature line. 

He mailed back a list of Lumpkins’ positive attributes ending with, “And you are beautiful!! God made you in HIS image!  Music is the universal language transcending bias and what is bad in our  world … the world needs your voice. You make a difference!”

Lumpkins kept that email as a positive reminder of her teacher’s encouragement. Matlock continued to encourage Lumpkins to follow her dream of becoming a music educator.

“He really encouraged me when I didn’t even expect him to read my signature,” she said. “I knew from that day on that he was a genuine guy who cared deeply for his students.”

Matlock started the Full Chord Press, an all boys musical group about seven years ago. The group started with about seven boys and ended with 40 to 50 boys in sixth through 12th grades.

“I am very proud of that program because of what it does for those young men,” he said, “not just musically, but the mentoring of them and helping them to become leaders and seeing them grow.”

Another of Matlock’s goals was to elevate the concert choir to the level of the Chamber Signers.

“I think over the last couple of years through the scores they were receiving at contest, I think we accomplished that,” he said. “That group at state large group even got a standing ovation from the people in the audience.”

Matlock takes his Chamber Singers on a trip every other year. This summer, the students went to New York and sang at the United Nations for his last performance with them.

The HHS group of 27 performed a selection of a cappella pieces in the entryway to the UN. The pieces were themed around music’s effects on people’s lives. One of the songs, “Even When He Is Silent,” is based on an anonymous poem that was found on a concentration camp wall.

“We were singing about a piece of hope and how love can make a difference,” he said. “It was very meaningful singing that in the UN and making the connection, at least I thought it was, with the world. You know that we are all human beings.”

Although that last trip was bittersweet for Matlock and his students, he said he has confident his students will continue to be successful.

“I have no doubt with the new person coming in—Alex Underwood. He is just awesome—that they are going to pick up right where we left off, and they are going to be the bearers of the tradition and they are going to make sure that the bar stays high,” Matlock said.

Matlock will not be stepping completely away from music. He will still be the Chancel Choir director at the First United Methodist Church. He also will be opening a piano and voice studio at 809 Main St. in Hays. He and his wife are living above the studio.

Matlock will be teaching group piano lessons with up to six students in a class.

“My goal is to teach them piano skills, sure I want to teach them to read music, but I want them to want to go home and sit down at the piano and play,” he said.

Matlock’s studio Facebook page is still in the works, but you will be able to find him online at matlockmusicworks.com.

Judi Pape was the grand prize winner of the 2017 Nissan Versa in the Big Brothers Big Sisters Duck Derby Wednesday night at Hays Aquatic Center.

Pape was not at the aquatic center to claim her prize but will be contacted about her prize.

The Duck Derby is the major fundraiser for BBBS and supports youth matches with adult mentors in the community.

“Tonight was a great success,” said Jenny Bates, BBBS of Ellis County executive director, “We had over 5,000 ducks race around the river and over 1,000 ducks in the kids Duck Dash race and we had 15 boats race entries. It was a ton of fun. There were lots of people out here to watch and enjoying the night.”

Fifteen cardboard boats competed in the Western Well Regatta. Teams of two rowers raced in the large lap pool at the aquatic center.

Auto World was the winner of the Regatta, taking the third heat in the fastest overall time of 36.5 seconds.

High Plains Baptist Church placed second in a time of 39.45, and APAC placed third with a time of 49.5 seconds.

The Glassman team won  Best in Show. Hobby Shop took home the Spirit Award, and Great Clips won the Titanic award after sinking at the starting line.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Norman and Sandy Keller have embarked on a new adventure.

They purchased Regeena’s Flowers as of June 1 and recently opened at a new location at 1013 Main St.

Norman Keller has more than 30 years of floral experience. He is one of 21 people in the state who is a member of the American Institute of Floral Designers.

Norman studied art at Fort Hays State University. He started at his first floral shop as a delivery driver, but was soon moved to the design floor to help during holidays.

Norman said he will continue to deliver top-quality arrangements as he and Sandy move from being employees to owners.

Norman said it is hard to put a finger on his style.

“Everybody I talk to even at the hospital, they are like, ‘When we see flowers come in, we know that one had to be from Regeena’s.’ For some reason, I don’t know what we do different,” he said. “Something we do has a definite visual stamp of our own that we have created. I don’t know if it’s my combination of attention to the detail and texture and color or combinations of types of flowers. It was a God-given thing. I just kind of do what I love.”

Norman said his favorite aspect of floral arranging is giving back.

“My favorite part is probably the fact that no matter what I am doing the end result is that it is going to brighten or make a difference in someone’s day whether it be a simple birthday bouquet or a just because or to brighten your day. I love my brides. There is nothing like seeing their faces when you walk in the room and bring their bouquets to them. Sometimes I make them cry … but it is a good cry.”

“Even the sympathy part of it—the words that I have coming from clients after the funeral. We have lots of people come in and they are like, ‘The flowers were beautiful, and it was so comforting. What you created was perfect.’ It spoke to them, and it said exactly in flowers who that person was.”

Norman said he also enjoys working with a quality product. The store orders flowers from all over the world, including Holland, Ecuador and Kansas.

Sandy and Norman said they were excited to be downtown with more space to showcase their wares. Sandy said they have had a warm welcome to The Bricks. They were open during the recent Bazaar on The Bricks and look forward to participating in more downtown events.

The business has added a flower cooler, so customers can pick up last-minute, pre-made floral arrangements for special occasions, such as birthdays, anniversaries, or get well gifts. Norman said the arrangements cover different price ranges.

The business also takes orders for special events including weddings and funerals.

“Basically anybody who needs anything floral-related, we can make it,” Sandy said. “If they have a picture or some idea of what they want, somehow we will make a way to make it.”

Flower crowns for senior pictures and baby and pregnancy photo shoots are a new trend the business has been taking orders for.

Regeena’s also offers faux flower arrangements, and Norman said faux flowers for funerals is another trend.

The family can have something they can take home and have with them as long as they like, he said.

Regeena’s also carries other gift items, such as candles, fragrances and home decor.

“We want it to be ever-evolving, ever-changing as far as that part of the business goes, so people always have to come in to see ‘What the heck do they have in now,’ in addition to the flowers,” Norman said. “We think that is a necessary part of retail and always wanting your customers to come back to see what we are offering.”

Customers may also be greeted by the store’s mascots. The Kellers sometimes bring their Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Sophie and Jackson to the store.

Regeena’s is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays or by special appointment for weddings and funerals.