By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

Work has begun at Long John Silver’s, 3380 Vine, in the conversion of the location into the home of both Long John Silver’s and A&W offerings.

The chain restaurant  has a long history and an international presence.

The chain began in 1919 and became the first franchise system in the country when it began selling franchise rights in 1923.

Eric Estes, owner of the location and the nearby Qdoba, is excited for the opportunity to expand in the location.

A&W is “nostalgic,” he said, and even with other fast food options in Hays A&W will add something unique to the area.

LJS will remain open, save for a few days for training, as work continues on site with an expected reopening with the A&W offerings in early September, according to Estes.

Once the remodel is complete, both sides of the business will run separate systems, with an increased work force.

While there will be separate kitchen areas, orders will be processed through one cashier, Estes said.

“Everyone will keep their basic menu,” he said.

The area between LJS and Qudoba could receive an upgrade, as well, as a pet-friendly rest area is being considered in the open area between the establishments, but those plans are still preliminary and tentative.

With the opening of both restaurants in one location, close to the interstate, and in a well traveled area of town, Estes sees no downside to the development.

“Everybody does win on this one,” he said.

Clarification: The A&W chain previously operated in Hays on Eighth Street in decades past.

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

Refine, 115 W. 10th, officially opened for business Saturday, but while shoppers will get a unique experience, they will also see something familiar.

“We have a lot of great stores in downtown Hays and throughout Hays,” said Brianne Sultzer, co-owner, “but this brings in a whole new atmosphere.”

The idea behind the shop was to bring something to Hays that isn’t currently offered.

“Big-city shopping in a small-city atmosphere,” she said. “That was my whole goal all along.”

While the shop is new, Sultzer has a long history in the industry and knows the local clientele.

Her mother and co-owner of Refine – Tonya Staab – currently operates Mam’Zelles, 2512 Vine.

“I started the business with my mother, we’re partnering together,” Sultzer said. “She has owned Mam’Zelles for a little under 30 years, and I’ve grown up with it my whole life.”

But shop ownership isn’t limited to just two generations.

“My grandmother and her started that business, so it’s been kind of grown into me,” Sultzer said.

Opening the new shop wasn’t a quick process either, as Sultzer had been looking for the right location to open at the right time.

“I’ve been putting things together for the last couple of years,” she said.

Hays photographer Leon Staab was the previous tenant of the building, but hadn’t been working out of the location, according to Sultzer.

“We always really loved the building and I liked the location and we just kind of went to him and asked him ‘What are your thoughts?’ — and he was all for it,” she said.

He helped Sultzer keep the look in the building, with only minor adjustments made.

“The limestone all was here. We just did an all new front facade, new windows, new paint,” she said. “Pretty much the interior we kept the same except little touches like lighting.”

With the location Sultzer hopes to bring something to Hays akin to larger cities, bringing in items that can’t be found anywhere else.

“I’d always wanted something that was more unique and more like a big-city style boutique,” she said. “I’ve always liked that idea and Hays didn’t have anything like that.”

A big part of setting up the shop included finding the right collections to offer customers.

“As far as clothing we carry favorite lines,” Sultzer said. “Not only clothing but everything else they would like too.”

And with the recent opening, the shop is receiving new items frequently and, as the year draws to a close, the shop will continue to offer something new to Hays.

“We have a lot of fun holiday stuff coming in,” she said.

“I’m excited,” Sultzer said. “It’s gonna be awesome.”

The location is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday to Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

In a light meeting, the Hays USD 489 Board of Education heard reports Monday night on budget and facilities maintenance that could be supported by a bond issue in the future.

Before getting into the nuts and bolts of the budget, the superintendent’s report addressed initial problems with elementary school enrollment last week, saying it was progressing well.

“I thought it would be a bigger mess than it was,” said superintendent Dean Katt.

Online enrollment would not let users log on during the first day of enrollment, but a workaround was quickly identified.

Users were enrolling online by the afternoon of the first day and enrollment was available at the schools almost immediately.

Shanna Dinkel, director of curriculum,  addressed the same issue late in the meeting, noting parents with children to be processed in the middle school and high school enrollment should have already received a code to allow access to the online system.

In the first matter of new business, board members heard a budget report from Tracy Kaiser, executive director of finance and support services.

The board addressed a few specific budget lines within the document that seemed substantially higher than previous years.

When questioned, Kaiser explained due to the block funding system established by Kansas for this upcoming year and the way funding is now allocated to the district made those numbers look higher than the most likely will be.

The budget reflects the amount the district has the budget authority to spend, but will likely spending will be in line with previous years, saving a district emergency, such as damage from a severe storm or other major catastrophe.

The budget as outlined ”in some way (are) just keeping us on an even keel,” board member Paul Adams noted.

The board approved the budget hearing, which is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Aug. 17 in the Toepfer Board Room in the Rockwell Administration Center, 323 W. 12th. Interested parties can view the budget information at the Rockwell Center prior to the meeting.

The board also heard initial reports from HTK Architects on a bond issue proposed to fund repair and upgrade of facilities throughout the district.

The report broke down each district facility and by needs and wants, but the process is far from a complete.

The board will continue to look at the plan and adjust as needed going forward.

In the meantime, with the closure and repurposing of Washington Elementary, the plan will need changed before HTK can dial in the expected cost of the complete project, which will keep facilities in the district current for an expected 20 some years.

HTK representative Zach Snethen said the update was intended to keep the board informed of the state of the facilities as they continue looking forward.

While there are some issues plaguing the district currently, like a lack of sufficient space in storm shelters, an auditorium that often overflows, and equipment that has hit the limit of its effective life – causing repairs to be difficult – the bond issue that would potentially fund the maintenance is likely quite a way down the road.

The current plan would include over $100 million in needed maintenance.

“Yeah, it’s a big number,” Snethen said.

The budget can be found here.

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

Holliann Stramel, 24, Hays, was in court Friday afternoon on a second bond hearing stemming from a alleged hit-and-run accident that killed John Befort on July 18.

After failing to meet the requirements of her original bonded release, Ellis County Attorney Thomas Drees argued today that full-time tracking and alcohol monitoring be ordered and administered by Community Corrections.

Stramel’s attorney, Ian Clark of Wichita, was not opposed.

“I think she is going to comply to every order of this court,” he said. “I don’t think she is a public safety concern.”

Clark also said he felt she is not a flight risk, but her mother, Karen Stramel, testified in the proceeding that she felt otherwise.

“She has stated very clearly that she will not stay with me or her father,” Karen Stramel said. “I don’t want to be involved in this bond anymore.”

Stramel put up the original bond for her daughter through a local bondsman.

Despite Holliann Stramel’s original bond being forfeited after failing to appear last week, District Judge Glenn Braun ordered the bond be reinstated and Stramel monitored through SOBERLINK, which will notify law enforcement if she leaves Ellis County or consumes alcohol.

While Stramel waits to be processed through Community Corrections, she will remain in the custody of the Ellis County Sheriff. That processing may take until Thursday.

Braun warned Stramel that after her processing, she must comply with every order of the court, including travel restrictions, no drug or alcohol use and no contact of any kind – including intermediary or electronic means – with Trevor Calvin, who was also charged today with allegedly helping Stramel cover up the incident.

Stramel will be responsible for the $12 daily charge for the monitoring.

Charges Filed in Case Friday; Stramel Faces Over 11 Years Incarceration

Charges in the case were also filed today in the District Court.

Stramel is being charged on three counts: failure to stop and render aid at a fatality accident, concealing/altering evidence of a crime/interference with law enforcement, and vehicular homicide.

The first two counts are felonies in Kansas and the third is a Class A misdemeanor.

Under Kansas sentencing guidelines the three counts together carry a punishment of 38 to 129 months in a state penitentiary, fines up to $402,500 and up to a year in county jail.

The case will proceed with a preliminary hearing – in order to determine if there is probable cause in the case – to be set a later date.

Video by Ricky Kerr

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

From skating to painting, 810 Main, formerly White Chocolate, is now home to Paint the Towne, offering paint parties — and the owners want everyone to know, in the Hays house party tradition, the business is exclusively BYOB.

“We have two locations open in Wichita. This is our first location outside of Wichita,” said Carly Miller, co-owner of Paint the Towne and Hays resident.

The business will be something unique to Hays for both children and adults.

The concept is simple, get people together and paint pictures as a part of any type of celebration.

“You get a group of friends together, you come on in, pick a painting in advance and then our instructor walks you through that painting step by step,” Miller said.

With their guided parties, the venue can be more than just an experience, it can also save time and give a location outside of the home where children and adults can have fun.

“We provide aprons, paper towels, everything needed to complete the painting,” Miller said.

After the hour-long painting session, time is also provided afterward for celebration, such as cake for children’s events or adult beverages for adult events.

“So they have plenty of time for party, leave the mess and then you go home with the painting,” Miller said. “We’ve been looking in Hays for a while now, just waiting to see what was available, see what came up and then this spot opened up, so I felt like we really needed to get on it because this is a really great spot in downtown.”

The business also will cater to singles or couples who want to join others to paint the image of the night or can travel for large groups.

“We do field trips and off-site parties,” said Jessie Sterling, co-owner. “Anything where you have a larger group and it would be easier to come to you.”

Prices for off-site events start at $8 per person, adult parties in-store start at $25 per person with a minimum of 10 participants, and children’s parties start at $15, with a minimum of 6.

Open parties are $20 to $35, depending on the night.

The owners are excited to become a staple of downtown Hays.

“It’s a really neat area downtown here. I really like it,” Sterling said.

The business is set to open next week, with reservations available after Aug. 6 on their website and the first open class being held Tuesday.

More on the business can be found on their Facebook page or website.

Along with the rash of recent restaurant openings in Hays comes big news to fans of traditional fast-food chains.

Aaron White, Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development executive director, has confirmed the Long John Silver’s, 3380 Vine, will be expanding to include an A&W within the location.

Work has began on the conversion, with an expected completion of late August.

Check back with Hays Post as more details become available.

At 9:34 a.m. Wednesday, the Hays Police Department received an anonymous phone call from a male informing the department that a Hays Sunflower Bank branch, 4720 Roth Ave., was going to be robbed by two males.

Officers responded to the call to secure the bank and the area according to Don Scheibler, chief of police at the Hays Police Department.

No other information is available at this time, but Scheibler said the incident is under investigation.

Check Hays Post for more details as they come available.