The second suspect, Shannon Geoffrey Smith, 26, Wilmer, Alabama, in a robbery of the Casey’s General Store, 213 Washington, Ellis, pleaded no contest during his arraignment in district court Wednesday, the result of a plea deal that recommends 36 months imprisonment for the count of felony robbery.
A further search on Jan. 1 found a bundle of money totaling $317 in the area.
While the plea agreement recommends a 36-month sentence, Braun notified Smith that he is not bound to that agreement during sentencing.
Felony Robbery is a level 5 felony and can carry a sentence of up to 136 months and fines of up to $500,000, depending upon the suspect’s criminal history.
Smith could also be ordered to pay restitution to the victim and a $400 KBI lab fee.
It’s full speed ahead for USD 489 students and teachers – internet speed anyway – as they have been bumped from 200Mbps to 500Mbps by Eagle Communications to allow the district to evaluate how a higher speed would be utilized for the rest of the school year.
The Board of Education was given that information at Monday’s board meeting by Scott Summers, director of technology.
The board had been ready to vote on increasing the speed to 400Mbps during the meeting, but Summers recommended the board take no action until after the end of the year to evaluate usage. Early results have shown the 400Mbps would cover district usage, he said.
Last week, Summers added, all five days went over the current 200Mbps plan and went over 300Mbps for two.
“I really appreciate Eagle doing that,” said Sarah Rankin, board member.
After hearing the report, the board followed Summers’ recommendation and took no action on the item.
The board did, however, vote on fees for next year.
In a 4-2 vote, the board approved the fee structure recommended by the administration.
Those fees remain the same as this year, with an exception of a $0.10 lunch increase and a new Hays Middle School technology fee.
That fee would be used to cover damages on district issued technology if the board approves students the option to take tablets home at the end of the school day.
“We won’t charge it obviously if they don’t,” said Dean Katt, superintendent.
During the Hays USD 489 Board of Education meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Rockwell Administration Center, the board is set to vote on increasing internet speeds across the district.
The district’s internet service is provided by Eagle Communications, the parent company of Hays Post.
“Since we’re hitting our cap of 200Mbps this year, we’ve looked at adding additional bandwidth to avoid bottlenecks and continue to allow the technology integration of the classrooms to grow,” according to tonight’s agenda.
The board will vote on doubling internet speeds with a connection up to 400Mbps.
Doubling the speed would increase the cost to the district by $14,400 for the 2016-17 school year, with a total cost of $36,720 for the year.
That price, however, is a fraction of the total cost, as the district utilizes the E-Rate program, facilitated by the Universal Service Administration Company and funded through the FCC.
The E-Rate pays for 70 percent of the district’s internet cost.
The E-Rate would absorb $85,680 of the $122,400 total yearly cost if the speed is increased. The E-Rate currently covers $52,080 of the $74,400 yearly total.
Anticipating the need for the increase, Scott Summers, director of technology, told the board during its last work session he had already applied for the increase in order to receive the E-Rate.
“With the addition of 1:1 technology across the district this year, we experience daily hitting our cap of 200Mbps. This happens sometimes multiple times daily and sometimes for extended time periods of 30 minutes or more,” according to the agenda.
Summers said frequently hitting the peak causes frustration in the classrooms.
The board will also vote on student fees for the 2016-17 school year.
The administration has proposed keeping fees the same as this year, with the addition of a $25 Hays Middle School technology fee and a small meal cost increase.
Additional maintenance is expected if middle school students are allowed to take district-issued tablets home next year.
The fee would bring in approximately $15,075 for the district.
Lunch prices across the district would also increase by $.10. That increase is dictated by the state, according to Superintendent Dean Katt.
Tucked away in a small warehouse just off of Eighth Street, Flatlander Outlet, 614 E. Eighth, opened last month, giving shoppers an opportunity to pick up big-box retail items that normally would not be found in Hays and at a discounted price.
Even with little advertising, besides Facebook and word of mouth, the location has already brought in around 300 customers, despite being open only eight hours a week.
The location, which is an extension of Flatlander Pawn, 2707 Vine, is managed by recent Fort Hays State University graduate Trevor Girard.
“You’re going to find a lot more household goods and stuff for the family as opposed to the pawn shop,” he said.
Items sold at the location come from big box retailers, often sold off in bulk by the larger stores after a return or damage to packaging.
“There is a lot of reasons why it could have been put in the container,” Girard said.
As items come in, they check the items — sometimes the items may be broken or missing something, making the discount even bigger.
But that doesn’t mean they will not stand behind what they sell.
Items are checked during unpacking, checked again before they are sold to a customer and the store has a 30-day return policy in case something is missed.
Once product is sold, new shipments are brought in, sometimes without even knowing what is in them.
“As we turn stuff, we get new shipments in,” Girard said. “Ideally, every week you’re going to find something new.”
Shipments may include a wide variety of goods, including small furniture, household goods, cosmetics and occasionally even small electronics.
While the store may be new, many customers will likely recognize the staff.
“Even though it’s Flatlander Outlet, it’s still Flatlander,” Girard said. “Since it shares the Flatlander name, and I look over both of them, that gives me a pretty wide perspective,” noting the personal connection with customers is a cornerstone of both businesses.
“I want to keep a personal connection with everybody,” he said. “I want to be able to see that customer loyalty and familiarity I have at the pawn shop with people here,”
Girard began working at the pawn shop two years ago and fell in love the business. After his graduation from FHSU, the general manager position opened up and he seized the opportunity to continue working with the shop.
“I really enjoyed it. It’s just a fun atmosphere,” he said.
But when he initially signed on, he had no idea he would be running a much larger staff and two separate locations.
With the new almost 5,000-square-foot outlet, he has the opportunity to give customers more of what they are looking for.
“We have a little bit of everything. There’s a good chance I have it. If I don’t, maybe I’m going to get it. I want to know what you need so I can fulfill it for you,” Girard said. “I want this to be the place that you go to before you go to the big box place.”
The location is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The First Big Creek Crossing Farm Show is set for this weekend, bringing a large contingent of vendors and just in time for the 50th anniversary of the Fort Hays State University Rodeo.
“We’ve really been analyzing who are demographic is and who our customers are, and we know farming is a huge economic factor for our customers,” said Katie Dorzweiler, BCC property manager.
With farming being the crux of the show, many of the over 20 vendors are directly related to the industry, but others will cater to the farming lifestyle and families.
Children will also have the opportunity to interact with members of the FHSU rodeo team as they give demonstrations, hosting a meet-and-greet and horse-and-buggy rides.
There will also be a kiss-the-pig contest during the show.
With this being the first show, Dorzweiler hopes to grow in future years to “make it as big as other farm and ranch shows that people are familiar with.”
During the weekend, customers will also will have the opportunity to win tickets to the popular Country Stampede.
Customers can take any receipt from the shopping center after adding their name and phone number and enter the drawing by putting the receipt in a bin in the center court.
At noon June 1, three winners will announced.
The top prize is a three-day super party pit pass.
“It allows them to get right up to the front of the stage for all three days,” said James Younger, BCC marketing manager.
Second prize will include pit passes for Tim McGraw and third prize are tickets for the Thursday show including Dierks Bentley.
“I really wanted to reward my shoppers and give them an experience,” Younger said.
Thomas More Prep-Marian students will take the stage this weekend presenting the classic comedic play “The Man Who Came to Dinner.”
The play premiered in 1939 and tells the story of radio celebrity Sheridan Whiteside after he becomes injured in the home of the Stanleys, a well-to-do family, who then has to endure Whiteside’s outlandish requests of the family and their oddball caretakers.
George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart wrote the original play that ran on Broadway from Octtober 1939 until 1941 after 739 performances.
Over the years, the play has been adapted into a feature film, musical, radio play and several television programs.
The play also enjoyed a brief revival on Broadway in the early 2000s, featuring Nathan Lane and Jean Smart.
Performances begin at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and a matinee is scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday.
Tickets cost $7 and are available at www.tmp-m.org and the Fine Arts Ticket Line at 785-621-5478. Wheelchair access and seating available. All performances are at the TMP Dreiling Theater, 1701 Hall.
TMP’s The Man Who Came to Dinner cast:
Mrs. Ernest W. Stanley – Hannah Michaud Miss Preen – Elly Lang Roxanne Stanley – Lizzie Leiker June Stanley – Madison Foss Joan – Gracie Schmidt Sarah – Katy Walters Mrs. Dexter/Actress/Choir – Allison Helget Mrs. McCutcheon/Actress/Choir – Lauren Moeder Mrs. Olson/Actress/Choir – Kaitlyn Burd Mrs. Harris/Actress/Choir – Alexandra Herrman Mr. Stanley – Matthew Moeder Maggie Cutler – Taylor Dinkel Dr. Bradley – Trae Megaffin Sheridan Whiteside – Justyce Briney Harriet Stanley – Allison Campbell Bert Jefferson – John Drees Professor Metz/Radio Man – Ethan Rohr Lorraine Sheldon – Anna Speno Sandy – Jacob Roth Beverly Carlton – Mark Loftus Wescott – Jagryd Briney Banjo – Paul Brull Expressman/Actor – Logan Olmstead Choir – Addie Roth, Jasmine Robles, Avin Inlow Deputies/Expressmen/Luncheon Guests – Tate Garcia, Creighton Renz, Adam Gottschalk
The next event in the Fort Hays State University Sebelius Lecture Series is set to begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center, promising to bring a unique experience to attendees as they hear from NASA astronauts James Lovell and Fred Haise along with mission control flight director Gene Krantz.
As astronauts during the Apollo program, Lovell and Haise were already well-known figures in the space program during the 1960s but their exploits during the failed Apollo 13 mission that were retold in the 1995 film “Apollo 13” brought all three into the national consciousness once again.
“I think we are going to see a lot of people interested,” said Vince Bowhay, assistant director of the Memorial Union for special events and student activities. “Several generations watched it happen live on TV, while another generation watched it be portrayed in a movie with Tom Hanks.”
The mission would have been the third to land people on the moon, but a rupture in an oxygen tank crippled the service module on the craft — 200,000 miles from earth.
The three men will recount their experiences during the lecture while also discussing the future of the U.S. space program.
“I think there is always a fascination with space and what our next steps in space are,” Bowhay said.
The Sebelius Lecture Series is named for former U.S. Rep Keith Sebelius, one of the most notable FHSU alumni, and is sponsored by approximately 200 patrons.
For more about the speakers, the series or Sebelius click here.
Starbucks fans rejoice — the wait is over. Starbucks, located in the Vine Street Dillons, opened Tuesday to a steady stream of traffic.
And the coffee shop is not the only thing shoppers in the location can look forward to, as a sushi bar, expanded deli and pharmacy have also been completed in the remodel that began in January.
But work continues throughout the store with products expected to be moved throughout the location on May 2 according to Don Koerner, store manager.
In the meantime, many portions of the remodel are complete and can be seen in new cooling units, expanded offerings and a new entrance on the south side of the building.
The south side entrance is expected to become the main entrance for the building, which opens to the expanded deli, Starbucks, sushi bar and floral department.
The area will also have seating for about 18 people and a larger selection of grab-and-go items.
It will be “very inviting,” Koerner said.
Work on the north entrance is expected to begin next week, he said, and will create a straight entrance into the store, similar to the new south entrance.
Near the north enterence is the pharmacy department, where work has been completed as well. Customers will now access the pharmacy from a wrap-around counter facing the west. They also have access to a new pharmacist consultation room.
While not there yet, the replacement of tile with polished concrete removes the need to use floor wax, and perishable items are donated rather than thrown away after they are removed from shelves for sale.
“Several years ago, Kroger joined the EPA’s Waste Wise Program and adopted the EPA’s ‘zero waste’ definition for our company-wide sustainability efforts,” according to the Kroger 2015 sustainability report. “Our goal is to ultimately meet and exceed the EPA’s ‘zero waste’ threshold of 90 percent in all our facilities.”
Even with new offerings throughout the store and as work continues, Koerner said customers can expect the “same great customer service” throughout the location.
Work at the location is expected to be completed this summer.
WAKEENEY — It may seem like just fun and games, but the Cardboard Sports Car Derby at Trego Grade School did more than get kindergarteners racing through the halls, it taught the students valuable language skills while showcasing their creative talents.
“This started the first year I started teaching in WaKeeney,” said Jane Lang, kindergarten teacher, who facilitated the event, including a march around the school and the “races,” which even brought out local police using radar to judge speed as the children ran the length of the school’s gym.
The event was the culmination of lessons the children had been learning.
“We are learning about letters and their sounds all year,” Lang said. “We have come to the point that we’re learning about ‘R’ controlled vowels.”
Those vowels include ar, er, ir, or, ur with several those sounds fitting perfectly with the name of the derby.
“What a perfect thing to do, a Cardboard Sports Car Derby,” Lang said.
She said she had the idea for the derby after visiting an arts event.
“I had seen cardboard cars featured at a art exhibit in Lawerence, Kansas, at the arts center,” she said.
She then wanted to incorporate that idea into the classroom.
“We started working on ‘r’ controlled vowels and it all just came together.”
In conjunction with the derby the students study a book that illustrates the power of imagination called “Not a Box” by Antoinette Portis.
In that story, a rabbit who has adventures with what others see as a cardboard box, but is much more for the imaginative rabbit.
To get ready for the derby, the children all received a box to take home and had a week to build their car.
While the derby featured the students racing through the gym, Lang said it’s not for a prize rather it is simply for the joy of sharing their creations.
And if the excitement shown by the children during the event is any indication, the joy of the day will make the accompanying lessons hard to forget.
The Hays USD 489 Board of Education met over lunch Monday with Gary Sechrist, Kansas Association of School Boards leadership specialist, to begin the search for the next superintendent for the district.
Dean Katt, current superintendent for the district, will step down at the end of the school year.
During the meeting, board members Paul Adams, Sarah Rankin, Luke Oborny and board president Lance Bickle discussed with Sechrist details of the search process, including using the KASB to assist in the search at a cost of $5,250 plus travel.
Using the KASB would be cheaper than doing the search independently, according to Katt.
The truncated time available for the search also creates a sense of urgency to begin the process.
Normally, the process is scheduled over six weeks, but due to the timing, the search will be compressed to a four-week process.
“We’re a little late,” Sechrist said. “I’m a little nervous about that.”
With the little time available, the board completed the first phase of the search during the meeting, deciding on preliminary timing for search processes.
The board agreed to allow Sechrist to produce brochures for the position that would be sent to superintendents throughout the area that could be produced in as little as two weeks.
The brochure will cost the district an additional $350.
The position would also be listed on the KASB website and teachingjobs.com, and the brochure would be sent to 286 school district offices.
A routine portion of the search and the next step that will be taken by the district is to schedule meetings for district employees and members of the community to receive input into what is wanted in the next superintendent.
Similar meetings were held for the search at the end of 2013, but as the district has faced undergone changes since that time, the board agreed it is important to once again get input.
“You’re probably safer to do it,” Sechrist said.
Groups likely to be scheduled for 45-minute meetings include teachers, parent organizations and community members.
During the last search, seven meetings were held over the course of two days.
At the April 28 board meeting, the findings of those meetings will be reviewed with Sechrist.
Following that meeting, Sechrist recommends an application deadline of May 10.
Sechrist and two other area superintendents will screen candidates based on what the board decides to look for in a candidate and will recommend candidates to the board the following week.
Interviews will then be scheduled with the full board. Sechrist recommends the full board be present during the candidate interviews and also recommends the candidates be given the opportunity to tour the district and the city of Hays.
While the search is ongoing, the board continue to discussions during its work session and board meetings.
The next board meeting is scheduled for April 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the Rockwell Administration Center, 323 W. 12th.
From 0 to 99, kids of all ages will gather for the Hays Toy Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 16, at Big Creek Shopping Center.
The show is co-organized by Clint Straub, who has a pretty impressive collection.
“I usually sell toys and take that money and put it back into toys,” he said.
The show will feature vendors from across the U.S., people Straub refers to as a family.
“All these vendors are like family to all of us. A great group of people is what they are,” he said.
“They come from everywhere,” he said, but many will come from within Kansas for the local event.
Those vendors according to Straub frequently travel to shows, including the smaller Hays show, that feature toys of all kinds including tractors, Tonka trucks, dolls, antique toys, models, trains and homemade toys.
“It’s all kinds of toys. And then you could say plus,” he said.
While buying and selling toys brings adult collectors to the shows, children are also an integral part of the show.
“We need more kids there, because they are future collectors and that’s what is going to keep this going,” Straub said.
For Struab and many others, toy collecting starts early and lasts a lifetime.
“It’s just a taste. It’s kind of like farming. It’s in your blood,” he said.
He started as a collector in high school, something he said is common.
“If you’re going to collect, you’re going to collect at a young age,” Straub said. “I’ve always liked toys, even as a kid. I’ve never outgrown that and I never will.”
The show is open to the public. The cost of admission is $3.
Westbound traffic on Interstate 70 just east of exit 157 was slowed around 3 p.m. following an injury accident involving two vehicles.
Members of the Kansas High Patrol, Ellis County Sheriff, Ellis County Emergency Medical Services and Hays Police Department responded to the scene, slowing traffic around the accident and assisting the vehicle occupants.
While the cause of the accident is unknown, at this time, both vehicles came to rest facing east, one on each side of the westbound lane.
At around 3:30 p.m. both vehicles were being removed from the scene.
The condition of the vehicle occupants is unknown at this time.
On Saturday members of the Fort Hays State University community gathered near Lewis Field to celebrate the ground breaking of the new themed housing on the FHSU campus.
Joey Linn, vice president for student affairs, began the celebration by speaking about the project.
“This upcoming new building is just one of many project that are taking place on our beautiful campus,” he said. “Like the others, this project will change the footprint of Fort Hays State University.”
Mirta Martin, Fort Hays State University president also spoke at the celebration.
“Today marks the beginning of a new era at Fort Hays State University,” she said, welcoming Greek organizations back to the campus.
“You symbolize everything that Fort Hays symbolizes,” she said. “The importance of scholarship, the importance of leadership, the importance of service, the importance of sisterhood and brotherhood.”
Also speaking were leaders from the FHSU Greek system, Rebecca Vincent, president of Panhellenic Council and Charlie Murphy, Interfraternity Council president.
Vincent said without the support of FHSU leadership the organizations would not have had the recent successes in recruitment. The recruitment has brought two Greek organizations back to FHSU.
The Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity and Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority will be returning to the campus by next year.
“This has been Panhellenic’s best recruitment yet,” Vincent said. “Each of our chapters excelled much beyond our expectations, which led us to the welcoming of 51 new Panhellenic sisters at the conclusion of fall recruitment.”
Panhellenic membership totals 133 this year, according to Vincent, and 99 in the fraternity community, according to Murphy.
“We are confident that this themed housing development will better cultivate the Greek spirit,” Murphy said.
The building will have four units, with 21 beds per unit, initially housing the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, the Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and the Delta Zeta sorority.
The building is expected to be open for the fall 2017 semester.
By JAMES BELL
Starbucks fans rejoice — the wait is over. Starbucks, located in the Vine Street Dillons, opened Tuesday to a steady stream of traffic.
