Leon and Janet Frank donated their tower, located five and a half miles north of Hays, to Divine Mercy Radio. The paperwork to make this transaction official was completed June 7.

Leon Frank was an original board member of Divine Mercy Radio and helped to build the station, quite inexpensively in 2010. He is an entrepreneur, patented inventor and successful businessman. Leon said that God has been good to him and Janet with successful business ventures, and he wanted to give back.

“Janet and I want to scale back,” Leon said. “We’re slowing down, and this is just one of those feel-good things.”

The 320-foot, self-supporting tower was constructed in 1963 was formerly a Southwestern Bell tower. Leon said it was part of the civil defense plan for the United States government in the early ‘60s to work with Southwestern Bell in building these strong towers. With the age of computers, the Internet and cellphones, these towers were no longer needed. In 1997, Southwestern Bell contacted Cyril Schmidt since the tower was located on his land, and they gave it to him. He then contacted Leon who purchased the tower and land from Schmidt.

Earlier this year, Divine Mercy Radio had the tower inspected, and there were a few improvements that the inspector suggested be made. Shortly after this inspection, Divine Mercy Radio was offered a grant from the Eternal Word Television Network who had some funding to help rural Catholic radio stations with improvements. Divine Mercy Radio was awarded $15,000 from EWTN to make the needed improvements to the tower and the building that houses the equipment.

“Everything fell into place,”said Donetta Robben, executive director of Divine Mercy Radio. “From the donation of the tower, to the inspection and the grant. As many times as it has happened, God continues to amaze me through the generosity of other people.

“We will forever be grateful for all Leon has done for this station, and his and Janet’s generous gift of this tower.”

Leon and Janet Frank are members of Saint Nicholas of Myra parish in Hays.

— Submitted

By GRACE CURRIE
Ad Astra Music Festival

RUSSELL –  Join the excitement of the Ad Astra Music Festival for their fifth summer of collaborative concerts and celebration of community. Tickets go on sale Friday, June 15 for the 2018 season, when musicians from all over the country join local musicians to present ten unique performances. The festival spans three weekends in July and includes both main stage and chamber music performances as well as the festival’s new Sunday Evening Series.

The four main stage performances are large-scale events featuring many world-class performers, suitable for large audiences. Tickets to each event are $10.

The main stage concerts include Brahms’ Requiem, performed by the joined forces of the Russell Community Choir, Ad Astra High School Honor Choir, and the Ad Astra Chamber Choir, Jazz at the Barn, featuring Russell native and Ft. Hays State University trumpet and jazz professor, Brad Dawson and his crew of jazz musicians in an intimate, outdoor setting, Semiconciousness, which explores music composed within the last decade that illuminates our hopes, fears, and unspoken ideas, and the dramatic and beloved Bach’s St. Matthew Passion.

Additionally, the festival’s three chamber music performances in the Deines Cultural Center place audiences intimately close to smaller casts of performers. Limited seating available. Tickets to each event are $10.

Kate Soper’s 2014 opera, Here be Sirens, The Elements, a recital featuring the 2018 Young Artists singing the music of Franz Schubert and Matthew Piatt about Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water, and Cannonballs Fly, an evening filled with musical responses to war and peace, featuring the Ad Astra String Quartet, mezzo-soprano Katelyn Mattson-Levy, tenor Michael Davidson, and pianist Matthew Piatt. The public can save $20 by buying season tickets to the seven ticketed events for only $50. Tickets will be available at the Russell Economic Development Office, Espresso Etc., and on the festival’s website: www.adastramusicfestival.org.

This year, the festival is also collaborating with local churches to offer sacred music during the festival’s new Sunday Evening Series. Three performances bring the historical music of the church home to Russell and provides an opportunity for people of all denominations to join together for these meditative events. Each performance begins at 7:00 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

The City of Hays is looking for career-minded individuals who want to serve their community by protecting its citizens as a Full Time Police Officer. Typical work schedule includes seven 12-hour shifts every two weeks which provides, on average, 3.5 days off each week. Weekends and Holidays required.

REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen & at least 21 years of age within 6 months of application. No felony or domestic violence convictions required. Valid driver’s license & High School Diploma or GED required. KLETC Certification or College Degree preferred but not required.

Paid on-the-job training for the right candidate. All Police Officers are required to live within a 40-mile radius of the City of Hays within 180 days of employment. Job offers contingent on pre-employment tests.

***Tattoos allowed with approval of the Chief of Police.***

COMPENSATIONS & BENEFITS

2018 Base pay range: $39,106 – $61,098. Additional wages for overtime and holidays. Placement in the pay range depends on experience & certification. Lateral transfers accepted. The City of Hays offers great benefits. Visit www.haysusa.com for a full list of the benefits provided.

HOW TO APPLY

Applications will be accepted online at www.haysusa.com. Questions about the position may be sent to Human Resources at [email protected] or by calling 785-628-7320.

Aptitude and Physical Test Date

The test date is set for June 23. Interested applicants must attend this test date after completing their online application in order to continue on in the hiring process. Applicants will receive more information about the testing process after the application is received.

OFFICE OF REP. MARSHALL

WASHINGTON, D.C.- First District Congressman Roger Marshall (R-Great Bend) welcomed the announcement by the Department of Transportation (DOT) that $7.4 million worth of grants will be awarded to Kansas First District airports.

DOT Secretary Elaine Chao announced the distribution of $677 million in airport infrastructure grants June 8. Rep Marshall’s district received grants for 16 airports, with Salina Regional Airport receiving the largest single grant for a replacement aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicle to assist in meeting safety requirements. This is the DOT’s first allotment of the total $3.18 billion in Airport Improvement Program (AIP) funding for airports across the United States.

“Kansas has long-standing ties to the aviation industry, but in order to stay competitive, we must go further than maintaining our airport infrastructure,” Rep. Marshall said. “These grants will not just help our local airports remain efficient and safe, but will help with longer term planning for future development projectsthat keepour rural communities competitive. I am thankful the DOT is keeping our aviation industry robust for years to come.”

Airports that received funding:

Beloit- $150,000

Concordia- $247,447

Salina- $886,500

Syracuse- $301,000

Ulysses- $486,000

Smith Center- $423,000

Liberal (2 airports)- $1,558,222

Phillipsburg- $463,973

Leoti- $600,000

Manhattan- $450,000

Herington- $219,141

Hill City- $559,346

Russell- $405,000

Colby- $243,757

Emporia- $360,000

Read more on the projects in focus at these airports: HERE

The Hays Police Department responded to 5 animal calls and conducted 16 traffic stops Mon., June 11, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Mental Health Call–400 block W 3rd St, Hays; 12:23 AM
Suspicious Activity–200 block W 6th St, Hays; 1:10 AM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–300 block E 23rd St, Hays; 12 AM
Suicidal Subject–2200 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 11:36 AM
Animal At Large–25th St and Oak St, Hays; 1:30 PM
Intoxicated Subject–3800 block Vine St, Hays; 2:25 PM
Unattended Death–700 block Vine St, Hays; 3:24 PM
Suspicious Activity–2200 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 4:18 PM
Theft (general)–3300 block Country Ln, Hays; 6/9 9:30 AM; 6/11 4:20 PM
Animal Injured–2400 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 6:28 PM
Battery – simple–1900 block Main St, Hays; 9:39 PM; 9:49 PM
Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 10:34 PM
Disturbance – Noise–2900 block Walnut St, Hays; 10:45 PM
Overdose–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 11:21 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–3200 block Vine St, Hays; 11:49 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 7 animal calls and conducted 12 traffic stops Tue., June 12, 2018, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Abandoned Vehicle–500 block W 31st St, Hays; 1:53 AM
Animal At Large–500 block W 12th St, Hays; 9:01 AM
Phone/Mail Scam–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 10:16 AM
MV Accident-Private Property–2200 block Canterbury Dr, Hays; 10:40 AM
Missing Person–200 block E 7th St, Hays; 10:44 AM
Overdose–1100 block E 17th St, Hays; 12:02 PM
Theft (general)–4500 block  Vista Dr, Hays; 12:43 PM
Aggravated Battery–1500 block Marjorie Dr, Hays; 2:40 PM
Welfare Check–200 block E 13th St, Hays; 2:43 PM
Sex Offense–200 block W 16th St, Hays; 3:23 PM
Water Use Violation–2900 block Vine St, Hays; 4:40 PM; 5 PM
Theft (general)–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 4 PM; 4:55 PM
Theft (general)–2000 block Vine St, Hays; 6:24 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–200 block E 21st St, Hays; 6:25 PM
Welfare Check–200 block W 16th St, Hays; 8 PM
Suicidal Subject–1700 block Volga Dr, Hays; 8 PM
Welfare Check–2800 block Augusta Ln, Hays; 9:31 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 10:29 PM
Assist – Other (not MV)–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 11:24 PM
Intoxicated Subject–200 block W 6th St, Hays; 11:17 PM

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The discharge of fireworks will be allowed in the unincorporated areas of Ellis County this Fourth of July holiday.

At Monday’s Ellis County Commission meeting, the commission approved a resolution that keeps in place a ban on the sale, purchase and discharge of fireworks in the unincorporated areas of Ellis County. But it relaxes the ban on the discharge of fireworks on July 2-4 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The city of Hays already allows the sale and discharge of fireworks for July 2-4 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.

According to information provided to the commission, the city of Ellis allows fireworks July 3-5 from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.

The city of Victoria has not approved the discharge of fireworks yet for 2018.

In other business, the commission approved the donation of six old emergency radios to the Gorham Fire District.

The Ellis County Fire Department and the Gorham Fire District work together in a number of emergency situations each year and Director of Fire and Emergency Management Darin Myers said this will allow the two departments to communicate better.

The Gorham Fire District also covers approximately 35 square miles in east-central Ellis County.

According to Myers the Gorham Fire District only has one 800 MHz mobile radio and one portable radio.

Ellis County was going to sell the radios to a company in Great Bend for $1,200 to help off-set the cost of the new radios recently purchased by Ellis County.

The commission also heard budget requests from 12 outside agencies that Ellis County helps to fund. In 2018 Ellis County appropriated $1.07 million to those agencies.

• High Plains Mental Health Center – requested $281,646
  • High Plains is a mental health community based in Hays that serves 20 Kansas counties
• Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas – requested $240,000
  • DSNWK serves individuals in 18 counties in northwest Kansas
• Hays Area Children’s Center – requested $135,000
  • Money requested goes toward infant toddler special services
• Ellis County Council on Aging Recommendations for Senior Citizens’ Agencies – $134,475
  • Hays Nutrition Center/Hays Senior Center – request is same as last year
  • Ellis Nutrition Center – request is same as last year
  • Senior Companion Programs/Foster Grandparents – request is same as last year
  • Northwest Kansas Area Agency on Aging – requested $14,500
    • The request is an increase of $2,412
      • They are able receive matching grants for those funds
    • Victoria meal site – requested a $15 increase over last year
      • They are trying to improve the utilization of the Victoria Senior Meal Plan
    • Ellis County Historical Society – requested $96,767
      • They have expanded the services they offer including taking part in the annual Art Walk
        • They are also working on a new fundraiser and ways to increase memberships
      • Soil Conservation District – requested $75,000
        • They work on the local level on conservation projects and programs
      • ACCESS Transportation – requested $60,000
        • They are planning on increasing rates to $2 a ride inside the city and $4 in the county
      • CASA of the High Plains – requested $9,000
        • Provides court appointed volunteers to assist with abused or neglected children in the court system
      • Humane Society of the High Plains – requested $4,500
        • All the money goes to cover care for animals that are brought to the shelter from the county
      • Ellis Alliance – requested $4,835
        • The Alliance represents the Ellis Chamber of Commerce, Community Foundation of Ellis, Ellis Industrial Development Corporation and Travel and Tourism
      • Hays Arts Council – requested $3,385
      • Junior Free Fair – requested $5,000
        • They are using the money to finish the horse area and for upkeep of facilities

County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes said all agencies were told to keep their request the same as before. The only group that requested an increase was the Ellis County Council on Aging recommendations for senior citizens’ agencies.

There is one more outside agency that will submit their budget request to the commission at a later date.

The commission will hold a special budget work session on Thursday at 9 a.m. at the Ellis County Courthouse. Members of several county departments will present their budget requests.