A grant of $22,000 from Logan’s Dane G. Hansen Foundation provided the final funding piece that enabled the Department of Applied Technology at Fort Hays State University to acquire new industrial robotic arms this spring.

The $62,000 total purchased five ScorBot ER4U educational robots to replace aging Rhino units from the 1980s.

“Small manufacturers throughout central and western Kansas are growing and now are looking for more tech savvy employees,” said Joe Chretien, associate professor of applied technology and the author of the grant.

“Manufacturers in Norton, Phillipsburg, Hays and other towns already use these technologies and are realizing their benefits,” said Chretien. “A different kind of employee is needed to operate, program and maintain these systems.”

The robotic curriculum of the department is not limited to FHSU students. FHSU faculty will also use the bench-top robotic arms to conduct workshops for high school and middle school teachers in regional communities.

“Our own KAMS students already take advantage of these types of curriculum,” said Chretien. Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science students last spring used the ScorBot platforms for research and presented their findings at the annual Scholarly and Creative Activities Day in April.

He said the department will seek one new school district or two-year institution to form a partnership to conduct the workshops and extend the reach of the training.

“We are pursuing further additions to these systems and the larger industrial robotic systems, also,” said Chretien.

The Hansen Foundation grant was supplemented by funds from the Peter and Pamela Werth STEM initiative account and the FHSU Foundation.

Hays-area garage sales

Scroll to the bottom for a map of garage sale locations. Hays Post offers FREE garage sale listings weekly. Having a garage sale next weekend? Click HERE to submit your information.

510 Sunflower Dr

Thursday July 18th 3pm to 7pm, Friday 3pm to 8pm, Sat 9Am to 12pm

Harley Items, Longaberger, Sofa Table, Dirt Devil Shampooer, Scrubs, Lots of Brand name clothing XS to Plus size clothing, Halloween and Christmas decorations and lots of Misc.

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401 East 22nd

Friday, July 19, 2019 from 3 – 7 pm

– Beautiful antique chest of drawers (4) with matching head and footboard

– Curio cabinet – New NEVER WORN men’s & women’s clothing

– Oscillating fans

– Various other household items

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3502 Hillcrest

Saturday July 20 8am

Huge sale ~ a lot of stuff need to get rid of … oak futon mattress w oak Fulton chairs …outside furniture …table …collectibles…. fishing .. tools … ele smoker…

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1352 W. Highway 40, Hays, Prairie Acres
Friday, 19th from 9A.M. -7P.M. Saturday, 20th from 9A.M.-12P.M.

new& display items books, electronics, home goods, many kids games, learning items excellent gifts items priced from $1 – $15 books are fun/collective goods items, 2002 Crown Victoria, refurbished furniture Air Conditioned Shed and outside items

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Restructuring at Eagle Communications will result in community investment

Eagle Communications on Friday announced a major structural change designed to ensure growth in the coming years in its ever-expanding broadband footprint — a move that is expected to bring significant investment in the broadband infrastructure across Eagle communities.

During the third quarter, Mega Broadband Investments will acquire the assets of Eagle’s broadband division, which operates in Kansas, Nebraska, and Colorado. Mega Broadband currently operates Northland Communications, which serves markets in the Northwest, Southeast and several markets across Texas.

Eagle’s operations will merge with those of Northland along with those of additional future acquisitions of Mega Broadband.

As part of the evolution, Eagle will become the Midwest region of Mega Broadband. Eagle employees will remain with the new company, and current Vice President of Broadband Travis Kohlrus will oversee the existing Midwest operations and its expansion.

The move is expected to result in significant investment in Eagle’s existing broadband footprint, and the new company will also be growing its operations in and around Eagle markets.

“I’m excited to lead this next generation of Eagle Broadband. We will be investing $20 million in our communities over the next 36 months to expand our footprint, upgrade our network, extend our fiber and significantly increase our internet speeds,” Kohlrus said. “This evolution will allow Eagle to expand its delivery of high-quality broadband services to meet the needs of businesses, enterprise customers and residential customers for years to come.”

Eagle’s 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri will continue to operate as-is under the leadership of longtime Eagle CEO Gary Shorman.

“Eagle Radio has been broadcasting since 1948, and we look forward to many more years of providing listeners with quality programming and advertisers the most effective marketing solutions,” Shorman said.

Founded in 1948, Eagle Communications Inc. is a Hays-based broadband services and media company with over 280 employee-owners. The company operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri, as well as broadband systems in 60 Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado communities. The company also offers e-business solutions, web hosting, telephone service, high-speed internet, wireless internet and video production.

“This truly is a great opportunity for our company that will ensure Eagle continues serving our communities well  into the future. As transition officer, I’ll be working with our employees to see our new structure is implemented seamlessly – which given that we will be operating with the same leadership and the same great employees, it just shouldn’t seem like much of a change at all,” said Eagle COO Kurt David.

Officials from both the broadband and radio divisions of the company called the change, which is expected to be finalized in the third quarter, “the next step in the evolution of Eagle.”

Eagle Communications, Inc. is a Kansas-based Broadband Services and Media Company with over 280 employee-owners. The company operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Nebraska, and Missouri as well as broadband systems in 60 Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado communities. The company also offers e-business solutions, web hosting, telephone service, high-speed internet, and wireless internet in most service areas. For more information, visit www.eaglecom.net.

Eagle Communications is the parent company of Hays Post.

TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment, in conjunction with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, has issued a public health warning for the Colby City Pond (Villa High Lake) in Thomas County, in addition to other advisories issued July 18.

Other Warnings Still In Effect:

Big Eleven Lake, Wyandotte County (unchanged)
Jerry Ivey Pond, Saline County (unchanged)
Marion County Lake, Marion County (unchanged)
Gathering Pond near Milford (Hatchery Supply Pond), Geary County (unchanged)
Hiawatha City Lake, Brown County (unchanged)
Lovewell Reservoir, Jewell County (unchanged)
South Lake, Johnson County (new 7/18)

When a warning is issued, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Lake water is not safe to drink for pets or livestock.
• Lake water, regardless of blue-green algae status, should never be consumed by humans.
• Water contact should be avoided.
• Fish may be eaten if they are rinsed with clean water and only the fillet portion is consumed, while all other parts are discarded.
• Do not allow pets to eat dried algae.
• If lake water contacts skin, wash with clean water as soon as possible.
• Avoid areas of visible algae accumulation. 

Watches Still In Effect:

Lake Shawnee, Shawnee County (unchanged)
Marion Reservoir, Marion County (unchanged)
Keith Sebelius Reservoir, Norton County (unchanged)
Rock Garden Pond (Gage Park), Shawnee County (unchanged)

A watch means that blue-green algae have been detected and a harmful algal bloom is present or likely to develop.  People are encouraged to avoid areas of algae accumulation and keep pets and livestock away from the water.

During the watch status, KDHE recommends the following precautions be taken:

• Signage will be posted at all public access locations
• Water may be unsafe for humans/animals
• Avoid areas of algae accumulation and do not let people/pets eat dried algae or drink contaminated water.
• Swimming, wading, skiing, and jet skiing are discouraged near visible blooms
• Boating and fishing are safe. However, inhalation of the spray may affect some individuals. Avoid direct contact with water, and wash with clean water after any contact.
• Clean fish well with potable water and eat fillet portion only.

KDHE samples publicly-accessible bodies of water for blue-green algae when the agency receives reports of potential algae blooms in Kansas lakes. Based on sampling results, KDHE reports on potentially harmful conditions.

Kansans should be aware that blooms are unpredictable. They can develop rapidly and may float around the lake, requiring visitors to exercise their best judgment. If there is scum, a paint-like surface or the water is bright green, avoid contact and keep pets away. These are indications that a harmful bloom may be present. Pet owners should be aware that animals that swim in or drink water affected by a harmful algal bloom or eat dried algae along the shore may become seriously ill or die.

For information on blue-green algae and reporting potential harmful algal blooms, please visitwww.kdheks.gov/algae-illness/index.htm.