Three-day weather outlook
Author: James Bell
Harvest off to slow start; yields and moisture levels encouraging
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Slowly but surely, the winter wheat harvest around Hays has begun, with early reports showing potentially high yields, due to recent cool and overcast weather following a mild winter.
Midland Marketing in Hays had two loads come in Tuesday night and three more Wednesday morning, according to Brian Witt, Hays coordinator at Midland Marketing.
“We are just getting started. There are only a few guys that can actually cut,” Witt said.
Grain that came to the elevator in Hays had been cut late Tuesday, according to Witt, with nothing being cut on Wednesday as rain threatened to hit Hays.
Through the day, however, rain would not materialize over the area — good news for farmers waiting for fields to dry from heavy spring rains.
But so far, wheat delivered into Hays is showing encouraging yields.
Moisture was running from 11.5 to 12.5, Witt said, with test weights in the lower 60s.
“Sixty-one has been the lowest I have seen so far,” Witt said, “which is really good.”
Protein tests are also on the low side at 10 to 10.5.
“The kernels currently look great,” Witt said.
The elevator in Yocemento was also reporting good wheat numbers, according to Clint Pfannenstiel, Yocemento coordinator at Midland Marketing.
“So far, we have had about 5,000 to 6,000 bushels come in,” he said.
“That wheat is testing 62 to 62.5 test weight,” he said, calling the yields “excellent.”
“Some of it could be 60-70 bushels an acre,” Pfannenstiel said. “It looks really good.”
While wheat is coming in around Hays, the harvest is not yet progressing to the south.
“South of Hays, around McCracken and Brownell, (we) did not take any grain,” Pfannenstiel said. “We are progressing quicker than they are south of here 20 or 30 miles.”
This year’s harvest has been delayed from normal, which is likely to push harvest completion into mid-July.
“Normally we say Father’s Day weekend is about an ideal consistent start,” Witt said. “Anything before or after that is either or late, at least in this area.”
The late start might be unusual, but likely welcome as the conditions that have delayed the harvest are also contributing to the exceptional results.
“The later your harvest is, the better your yield. The earlier it is, the more stress it has been through, or things have gone wrong so it dies off and doesn’t have as much growing period,” Witt said. “With cool weather and overcast skies, the wheat wasn’t drying down, which is actually good. … As far as increasing your yield, you get larger kernels. Everything generally produces better.”
Now with warm windy weather in the forecast for the weekend, both Witt and Pfannenstiel expect harvest to be in full swing by Monday at the latest.
“We want to get these couple of days of hot and windy,” Pfannenstiel said. “Another day or two of that and we will be going strong.”
While fields around Hays were generally spared from damaging storms during the spring, a few instances of crop loss were being reported in the area.
Witt said he heard reports about a strip south of Victoria where a few fields were lost, as well as a field or two southwest of Hays.
Pfannenstiel noted reports of some damage to the southwest as well.
“In that area, it was probably hit twice, with two different storms, probably 15 to 20 days apart,” Pfannenstiel said.
But it could have been much worse.
“We have been very fortunate considering how many storms we have had come through this year,” Witt said.
Expert: No need for alarm after numerous earthquakes recorded in the area
Over 22 earthquakes recorded in Ellis, Rooks and Russell counties since June 1
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
There is no need to rush to buy earthquake insurance, according to earthquake expert and Palco resident Don Steeples, despite the 22 earthquakes that were recorded by the Kansas Geological Survey through Ellis, Rooks and Russell counties since June 1.
The largest was rated a 4.5 on the Richter scale, the scale used to judge the intensity of an earthquake, in Rooks County early Saturday.
But despite the increasing frequency and intensity of late, there is little risk of a more damaging earthquake, Steeples said.
The fault lines that have caused recent earthquakes are a feature of the geological region called the central Kansas uplift, which is also responsible for the oil found in the area.
“There is a system of faults that run basically from Wichita up through this area and on up all the way through the Black Hills in South Dakota,” he said.
The recent 4.5 earthquake in Rooks County may be the largest residents have felt, but it is not the most significant earthquake known to have hit the area.
While there was no Richter scale at the time, he believes the largest earthquake in the area occurred in 1879, near Stockton, based on newspaper reports.
“If I were going to guess it, in terms of Richter scale, I would guess somewhere probability 4.7 to 5,” Steeples said. “So we know that earthquakes were occurring here before there were any effects from anything that humans have done.”
While the frequency of the earthquakes in the area is unusual, he is not worried about future earthquakes.
“Anytime you get multiple earthquakes in an area, in a month, that is certainly unusual compared to what we saw 30 to 40 years ago,” Steeples said.
The earthquake network Steeples operated in Kansas from 1977 to 1989 recorded about 200 earthquakes.
While the frequency might be increasing, he said the magnitude is limited by geology.
“I would speculate that the biggest earthquake that we could get in this part of the state, with a return period of several hundred years, would be somewhere in the Richter magnitude of 5.5 to possibly approaching 6,” Steeples said. “But certainly nothing above 6.
“I can tell you I don’t have earthquake insurance and don’t intend to buy earthquake insurance,” he said.
While western Kansas might be off the hook for a large, damaging earthquake, Steeples said an earthquake with a rating of around 6 on the Richter scale is possible around Manhattan every 200 years or so, but anything larger is unlikely and he does not expect a magnitude 7 or stronger earthquake to ever occur in Kansas.
“That is based on the maximum length of the faults that are present in the subsurface,” he said.
With earthquake intensity 6 or below, damage to structures is extremely limited when using frame construction, which is common in the area.
“The same thing that you build a building to withstand a 100 mph wind is the same construction that will withstand an earthquake up to a magnitude 6,” Steeples said. “In terms of structural damage that would cause someone to need to rebuild a part of a house, you really don’t start getting into that until you get into the magnitude 6’s in the U.S.”
Even cracked plaster noticed after an earthquake report is not likely a result of any single seismic event.
“It is really difficult to pin the responsibility for a crack in the sheetrock on a particular earthquake,” he said, but instead could be noticed after and attributed to the event.
Steeples obtained a Ph.D in earthquake seismology from Stanford and prior to his retirement served as the McGee Distinguished Professor of Applied Geophysics at the University of Kansas where he specialized in near-surface, high-resolution seismic reflection research, according to his KU bio page.
Harvest off to slow start; yields and moisture levels encouraging
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
Slowly but surely, the winter wheat harvest around Hays has begun, with early reports showing potentially high yields, due to recent cool and overcast weather following a mild winter.
Midland Marketing in Hays had two loads come in Tuesday night and three more Wednesday morning, according to Brian Witt, Hays coordinator at Midland Marketing.
“We are just getting started. There are only a few guys that can actually cut,” Witt said.
Grain that came to the elevator in Hays had been cut late Tuesday, according to Witt, with nothing being cut on Wednesday as rain threatened to hit Hays.
Through the day, however, rain would not materialize over the area — good news for farmers waiting for fields to dry from heavy spring rains.
But so far, wheat delivered into Hays is showing encouraging yields.
Moisture was running from 11.5 to 12.5, Witt said, with test weights in the lower 60s.
“Sixty-one has been the lowest I have seen so far,” Witt said, “which is really good.”
Protein tests are also on the low side at 10 to 10.5.
“The kernels currently look great,” Witt said.
The elevator in Yocemento was also reporting good wheat numbers, according to Clint Pfannenstiel, Yocemento coordinator at Midland Marketing.
“So far, we have had about 5,000 to 6,000 bushels come in,” he said.
“That wheat is testing 62 to 62.5 test weight,” he said, calling the yields “excellent.”
“Some of it could be 60-70 bushels an acre,” Pfannenstiel said. “It looks really good.”
While wheat is coming in around Hays, the harvest is not yet progressing to the south.
“South of Hays, around McCracken and Brownell, (we) did not take any grain,” Pfannenstiel said. “We are progressing quicker than they are south of here 20 or 30 miles.”
This year’s harvest has been delayed from normal, which is likely to push harvest completion into mid-July.
“Normally we say Father’s Day weekend is about an ideal consistent start,” Witt said. “Anything before or after that is either or late, at least in this area.”
The late start might be unusual, but likely welcome as the conditions that have delayed the harvest are also contributing to the exceptional results.
“The later your harvest is, the better your yield. The earlier it is, the more stress it has been through, or things have gone wrong so it dies off and doesn’t have as much growing period,” Witt said. “With cool weather and overcast skies, the wheat wasn’t drying down, which is actually good. … As far as increasing your yield, you get larger kernels. Everything generally produces better.”
Now with warm windy weather in the forecast for the weekend, both Witt and Pfannenstiel expect harvest to be in full swing by Monday at the latest.
“We want to get these couple of days of hot and windy,” Pfannenstiel said. “Another day or two of that and we will be going strong.”
While fields around Hays were generally spared from damaging storms during the spring, a few instances of crop loss were being reported in the area.
Witt said he heard reports about a strip south of Victoria where a few fields were lost, as well as a field or two southwest of Hays.
Pfannenstiel noted reports of some damage to the southwest as well.
“In that area, it was probably hit twice, with two different storms, probably 15 to 20 days apart,” Pfannenstiel said.
But it could have been much worse.
“We have been very fortunate considering how many storms we have had come through this year,” Witt said.
Expert: No need for alarm after numerous earthquakes recorded in the area
Over 22 earthquakes recorded in Ellis, Rooks and Russell counties since June 1
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
There is no need to rush to buy earthquake insurance, according to earthquake expert and Palco resident Don Steeples, despite the 22 earthquakes that were recorded by the Kansas Geological Survey through Ellis, Rooks and Russell counties since June 1.
The largest was rated a 4.5 on the Richter scale, the scale used to judge the intensity of an earthquake, in Rooks County early Saturday.
But despite the increasing frequency and intensity of late, there is little risk of a more damaging earthquake, Steeples said.
The fault lines that have caused recent earthquakes are a feature of the geological region called the central Kansas uplift, which is also responsible for the oil found in the area.
“There is a system of faults that run basically from Wichita up through this area and on up all the way through the Black Hills in South Dakota,” he said.
The recent 4.5 earthquake in Rooks County may be the largest residents have felt, but it is not the most significant earthquake known to have hit the area.
While there was no Richter scale at the time, he believes the largest earthquake in the area occurred in 1879, near Stockton, based on newspaper reports.
“If I were going to guess it, in terms of Richter scale, I would guess somewhere probability 4.7 to 5,” Steeples said. “So we know that earthquakes were occurring here before there were any effects from anything that humans have done.”
While the frequency of the earthquakes in the area is unusual, he is not worried about future earthquakes.
“Anytime you get multiple earthquakes in an area, in a month, that is certainly unusual compared to what we saw 30 to 40 years ago,” Steeples said.
The earthquake network Steeples operated in Kansas from 1977 to 1989 recorded about 200 earthquakes.
While the frequency might be increasing, he said the magnitude is limited by geology.
“I would speculate that the biggest earthquake that we could get in this part of the state, with a return period of several hundred years, would be somewhere in the Richter magnitude of 5.5 to possibly approaching 6,” Steeples said. “But certainly nothing above 6.
“I can tell you I don’t have earthquake insurance and don’t intend to buy earthquake insurance,” he said.
While western Kansas might be off the hook for a large, damaging earthquake, Steeples said an earthquake with a rating of around 6 on the Richter scale is possible around Manhattan every 200 years or so, but anything larger is unlikely and he does not expect a magnitude 7 or stronger earthquake to ever occur in Kansas.
“That is based on the maximum length of the faults that are present in the subsurface,” he said.
With earthquake intensity 6 or below, damage to structures is extremely limited when using frame construction, which is common in the area.
“The same thing that you build a building to withstand a 100 mph wind is the same construction that will withstand an earthquake up to a magnitude 6,” Steeples said. “In terms of structural damage that would cause someone to need to rebuild a part of a house, you really don’t start getting into that until you get into the magnitude 6’s in the U.S.”
Even cracked plaster noticed after an earthquake report is not likely a result of any single seismic event.
“It is really difficult to pin the responsibility for a crack in the sheetrock on a particular earthquake,” he said, but instead could be noticed after and attributed to the event.
Steeples obtained a Ph.D in earthquake seismology from Stanford and prior to his retirement served as the McGee Distinguished Professor of Applied Geophysics at the University of Kansas where he specialized in near-surface, high-resolution seismic reflection research, according to his KU bio page.
Wet track creates slick conditions, exciting racing at RPM Speedway
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
All night Saturday, drivers struggled to stay on the track at Rolling Plains Motorspeedway as recent rains created a slick track and exciting racing.
CRAZY CRUISERS
Sponsored by
RADKE IMPLEMENT
On the first lap of the feature the 14, driven by Nathan Baumann, Russell, spun causing a caution that would start an exciting night of racing. Only two laps later, the 10-4, driven by Brennen Nech, Kensington spun bringing out another caution followed by a spin a few laps later by the 89 driven by Justin Yarmer, Russell, just before the halfway point.
After the restart, the 14 started putting pressure on the 89 taking the high side, while the 89 stayed low. The two cars battled for first until with a few laps to go the 14 went over the edge of the backstretch bringing out the caution.
After getting back on the track with one to go, the 14 went high, but could not catch the 89, who would win the race for the second time in a row at RPM.
“They (the 14) were making us work for it,” Yarmer said after the race.
Final results
| Pos | Start | Driver | Hometown | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | Justin Yarmer | Russell, KS | 89 |
| 2 | 3 | Nathan Baumann | Smith Center, KS | 14 |
| 3 | 2 | Shaun Woods | Dorrance, KS | 300 |
| 4 (DNF) | 1 | Brennen Nech | Kensington, KS | 10-4 |
IMCA SPORT COMPACTS
Sponsored by
SIMPSON FARMS
In the Sport Compacts feature event, the 18h, driven by Weston Groth, Hays, took the lead on lap one. On lap two the T21, driven by Ted Trumbo, St. Francis, would almost go over the backstretch, but recovered.
The 26, driven by Jesse McClurg, Logan, would not be able to keep the car on the track and goes over the edge of the backstretch a lap later as the 18H held the lead.
Around the halfway point, the 16, driven by Jakob Schwien, Russell started putting some pressure on the 18H going neck and neck until pushing into the lead while the 76 slid into second.
The 76 would stay right on the 16 until the last lap when the 16 pulled away for the win by a car length.
“Man that was fun,” Schwien said. “You could race anywhere on the track.”
Final Results
| Pos | Start | Driver | Hometown | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Jakob Schwien | Russell, KS | 16 |
| 2 | 8 | Toby Schwien | Russell, KS | 76 |
| 3 | 1 | Weston Groth | Hays, KS | 18H |
| 4 | 6 | Monte Honas | Ellis, KS | 19X |
| 5 | 5 | Brianna Maughlin | Dighton, KS | 17M |
| 6 | 4 | Art Herzog | Hays, KS | 9H |
| 7 | 3 | Jesse McClurg | Logan, KS | 26 |
| 8 | 2 | Ted Trumbo | St. Francis, KS | T21 |
IMCA SPORTMOD
Sponsored by
WALT’S REPAIR AND MACHINE
In the Sport Modified feature, the 11C quickly pulled several car lengths ahead of the pack quickly the rest of the group fought for position until lap three when the 2BA, driven by Jacey Archer, Quinter, spun after contact.
After the restart, the 3, driven by Adam Weber, WaKeeney, would go over the edge of the backstretch bringing out another caution.
On the next restart, with 17 to go the 1S, driven by Cody Stefanski, Great Bend, would slip into the infield while the 83, driven by Tracy Holloway, Osborne, would go low to take the lead.
But it would not hold with the 08, driven by Dakota Sproul, Hays, pulling the same move to take the lead only a lap later.
After race-ending trouble with the 77W, driven by Tyler Watts, Beloit, bringing out the caution, the 19, driven by Terry Collins, Ellinwood, would fail to start on the restart bringing on a caution.
During the next restart the 2BA, would spin, once again bringing out the yellow.
With 15 to go, the restarts went to single file after five cautions in only the first five laps of the race.
After the restart, the 08 would get low of the 11C for second and would later get high of the 83 taking the lead.
Following the halfway mark, the 08 would take a commanding lead finishing the almost a quarter of the track ahead of the 83.
For the second event in a row at RPM, the 08 would take the checkered flag.
Sproul would say after the event that after two years of driving the car he is very comfortable with it.
“We got this thing really tuned.”
Final Results
| Pos | Start | Driver | Hometown | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | Dakota Sproul | Hays, KS | 08 |
| 2 | 4 | Tracy Holloway | Osborne, KS | 83 |
| 3 | 6 | Shay Simoneau | Damar, KS | 22SS |
| 4 | 10 | Blaine Walt | Collyer, KS | 14W |
| 5 | 1 | Cory McGann | Ellis, KS | 11C |
| 6 | 12 | Brett Berry | Colby, KS | 09X |
| 7 | 8 | Brandon Wise | Hays, KS | 1K |
| 8 | 5 | Ben Boland | Hays, KS | 27 |
| 9 | 7 | Mitch Boesel | Denver, CO | 177 |
| 10 | 11 | Luke Stallbaumer | Tecumseh, KS | L26 |
| 11 | 20 | Travis Burger | Manhattan, KS | 6B |
| 12 | 21 | Toby Witthuhn | Ness City, KS | 10T |
| 13 | 18 | Terry Collins | Ellinwood, KS | 19 |
| 14 | 2 | Lloyd Stover | Bird City, KS | 7P |
| 15 | 15 | CJ Pfannenstiel | Wakeeney, KS | 4 |
| 16 | 17 | Shawn Ward | Great Bend, KS | F97 |
| 17 (DNF) | 14 | Jacob Huse | Kinsley, KS | 55 |
| 18 (DNF) | 19 | Jacey Archer | Quinter, KS | 2BA |
| 19 (DNF) | 16 | Tyler Watts | Beloit, KS | 77W |
| 20 (DNF) | 3 | Adam Weber | Wakeeney, KS | 3 |
| 21 (DNF) | 13 | Cody Stefanski | Great Bend, KS | 1S |
IMCA STOCK CAR
Sponsored by
ADVANTAGE GLASS PLUS
Right out of the gate, the stocks went three wide, as the 57, driven by Dalton Bauer, Ness City, would push through for the lead as the battle for second would heat up going three wide on lap 4.
Following a caution caused by contact between the 38, driven by Shaylon Holloway, Osborne, and the 16, driven by William Bauer, Ness City, the 37, driven by Jason Rogers, Selden, would challenge the 57 for the lead.
The two would go back and forth until a caution was brought out after the 54P driven by Kyle Pfeifer, Hill City, made contact with the 57.
With five to go, the 37 would take the lead on the restart and would pull away from the rest of the pack while the 54P and 57 would fight for second.
The 37, who finished third during the last RPM event, would win the race.
“I didn’t know if I was going to get it done or not,” Rogers said following the race and said the track was typically Hays with “a lot of character.”
Final Results
| Pos | Start | Driver | Hometown | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Jason Rogers | Selden, KS | 37 |
| 2 | 2 | Dalton Bauer | Ness City, KS | 57 |
| 3 | 7 | Kyle Pfeifer | Hill City, KS | 54P |
| 4 | 6 | Mike Petersilie | Hoisington, KS | 25P |
| 5 | 3 | Shaylon Holloway | Osborne, KS | 38 |
| 6 | 4 | Trenton Kleweno | Hays, KS | 13 |
| 7 | 11 | Troy Burkhart | Hays, KS | 25X |
| 8 | 1 | Marty Clark | Russell, KS | 8 |
| 9 | 5 | William Bauer | Ness City, KS | 16 |
| 10 | 10 | Cody Zimmerman | Dighton, KS | 2Z |
| 11 (DNF) | 9 | Barrett Wagoner | Colby, KS | 51W |
IMCA HOBBY STOCKS
Sponsored by
STOCK GOLDEN PLAINS TRUCKING
After the green flag drop the 29, driven by Skyler Wissman, Hays, would pull into the lead as the 77, driven by Cody Williams, Minneapolis, and the 22R, driven by Lyle Russell, Hays would battle hard for second, but by the next lap the 77 would pull ahead until the 54B, driven by Brennen Nech, Kensington would spin in turn four bringing out the caution.
On the restart, the 77 would take the lead staying high while the 711, driven by Brady Bencken, Oakley, would go low.
Within a lap, the two were side-by-side with the 711 slowly pulling ahead for the lead.
The 711 would hold the lead after a caution caused by the B20, driven by Brock Lehman, Abilene, getting turned around.
The B20 would spin again on the restart but did not bring out a caution.
The 711 would continue to hold the lead until another caution flag after the 37, driven by Bingston Rodger, Selden, would spin on the track.
Following the restart, the 711 would begin dominating the field pulling 3 car lengths ahead of the 77 by the halfway mark.
Just after halfway through the feature, the 18M, driven by Austin Meis, Hays, would spin into the infield bringing out another caution.
On the restart with six to go, to the 711 would slide back into the lead and stay in front to win.
“Starting that far back, I didn’t know what would happen,” Bencken said.
Final results
| Pos | Start | Driver | Hometown | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | Brady Bencken | Oakley, KS | 711 |
| 2 | 10 | Tathan Burkhart | Hays, KS | 250 |
| 3 | 4 | Cody Williams | Minneapolis, KS | 77 |
| 4 | 5 | Lyle Russell | Hays, KS | 22R |
| 5 | 9 | Brendon Stigge | Fairbury, NE | 69 |
| 6 | 7 | Daniel Irwin | Hays, KS | 7I |
| 7 | 8 | Josh Barnhart | Colby, KS | 5150 |
| 8 | 13 | Braxton Berry | Colby, KS | 15B |
| 9 | 6 | Spencer Hilbrink | Stockton, KS | 81H |
| 10 | 17 | Cody Ghumm | Wakeeney, KS | 1C |
| 11 | 12 | Wyatt Forshee | Glasco , KS | 34 |
| 12 | 1 | Devon Ghumm | Wakeeney, KS | 11D |
| 13 | 2 | Skyler Wissman | Hays, KS | 29 |
| 14 | 16 | Brooke Russell | Hays, KS | 12R |
| 15 | 18 | Adam Wasserman | Fairbury, NE | 41 |
| 16 | 22 | Brennen Nech | Kensington, KS | 54B |
| 17 | 20 | Brock Lehman | Abilene, KS | B20 |
| 18 | 23 | Austin Meis | Hays, KS | 18M |
| 19 | 14 | Kyle Thompson | Glen Elder, KS | 53KT |
| 20 | 3 | Garrett Kuhlmann | Smith Center, KS | 2K |
| 21 (DNF) | 15 | Bingston Rogers | Selden, KS | 37 |
| 22 (DNF) | 21 | Justin Meserve | Ellis, KS | 99 |
| DNS | – | Michael Smith | Hays, KS | 17S |
IMCA MODIFIED
Sponsored by
BRINEY MOTORSPORTS
The leaders would go three wide at the drop of the green, until the 0, driven by Kyle Rohleder, WaKeeney would push through for the lead after a lap until a spin by the 727, driven by Todd Schwarz, Colby would bring out a caution.
On the restart, the 0 would once again get ahead of the fray, as the pack remained bunched up behind.
Within five laps, the 0 would be at least 10 car lengths ahead of the group until a caution with 6 to go.
The 0 would continue dominating the race on the restart and would take the checkered.
“I knew with the competition that was here we had to get to the front and hold them off,” Rohleder said.
Final Results
| Pos | Start | Driver | Hometown | Car |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | Kyle Rohleder | Wakeeney, KS | 0 |
| 2 | 4 | Tanner Black | Otis, KS | 44T |
| 3 | 9 | Daniel Gottschalk | Ellis, KS | 3D |
| 4 | 5 | Dylan Sherfick | Wakeeney, KS | 66D |
| 5 | 7 | Clay Sellard | Bucklin, KS | 85C |
| 6 | 11 | Anthony Roth | Columbus, NE | 60IV |
| 7 | 3 | Ryan Heger | Hugoton, KS | 3H |
| 8 | 12 | Brendon Gemmill | Wichita, KS | G3 |
| 9 | 6 | Mike Petersilie | Hoisington, KS | 25P |
| 10 | 10 | Clay Money | Penokee, KS | 7 |
| 11 | 14 | Ronnie Hill | Sharon Springs, KS | 41 |
| 12 | 2 | Tim Watts | Beloit, KS | 11W |
| 13 | 16 | Jeremy Zorn | Russell, KS | 16Z |
| 14 | 20 | Curtis Barnes | Lindsborg, KS | 7B |
| 15 | 15 | Anthony Tanner | Topeka, KS | 7T |
| 16 | 17 | Jake Schroeder | Haven, KS | 17 |
| 17 | 19 | Todd Schwarz | Colby, KS | 727 |
| 18 | 18 | David Solberg | Larned, KS | 7S |
| 19 | 21 | Rich Tegethoff | Kirwin, KS | 87 |
| 20 (DNF) | 1 | Don Geist | Burlington, CO | 10G |
| 21 (DNF) | 13 | Brian Calhoon | Beloit, KS | 43 |
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RPM Speedway to host events Saturday
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
On Saturday, the Rolling Plains Motor Speedway, 1344 Fairground Road, will host its next event — the Speedway Motors IMCA Weekly Racing Series.
Green flag is scheduled to drop at 7 p.m.
During the event, RPM will run IMCA Modifieds sponsored by Briney Motorsports, IMCA SportMods sponsored by Walt’s Repair and Machine, IMCA Stock Cars sponsored by Advantage Glass Plus, IMCA Hobby Stocks sponsored by Golden Plains Trucking, IMCA Sport Compacts sponsored by Simpson Farms and Crazy Cruisers sponsored by Radke Implement.
General admission tickets are $10, with free admission for children under 12.
Pit tickets are $25 and $10 for children under 12 with an adult ticket.
Pits will open at 4 p.m., grandstands open at 5 p.m. and hot laps will start at 6 p.m.
After Saturday, RPM’s next event is the Ellis County Fair Championships and Kansas Antique Racers on July 13 and 14.
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‘Life’s a Beach … and Then You Die’ tickets available now
Hays Community Theatre mystery dinner theater right around the corner
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
On Friday, June 28, and Saturday, June 29, the Hays Community Theatre, 121 E. Eighth, will host its next murder mystery dinner theater, “Life’s a Beach…and Then You Die.”
“It is beachy and island-based,” said Sharona Fondoble, HCT board member. “We wanted something to go with the summer.”
Ticketing will close Tuesday, June 25, and tickets cost $25.
Local Hays restaurant Hickok’s Steakhouse, 3402 Vine. will provide dinner.
Alcoholic beverages available will be available, but not included in the ticket price.
“It’s a fun time, good meal and entertainment,” Fondoble said.
While the entire event is expected to last about three hours, she said usually some people stick around after the mystery is solved.
During the event, participants will become a part of the show after dinner is completed working to solve a mystery.
“With this particular one, when you walk in, you will be assigned a character,” Fondoble said.
Unlike previous shows where background information was provided prior to the dinner, attendees will get all the information during the event.
“On this one, we are doing it much simpler,” Fondoble said. “You draw a name out of the hat, that’s who you are. When you visit down at the table, you will be given some basic information about the evening and how it will proceed, so you know what to prepare for.”
During the event, attendees will also work as a team.
“Each table will be separated as a team, and you will function as a team to go with the clues,” Fondoble said.
As clues or riddles are solved, another will present itself until the mystery is solved.
With the murder mysteries, organizers encourage attendees to dress for the show, something that is a part of the plan when coming up with show ideas, Fondoble said.
“It’s not a requirement, but it makes it more fun for everyone,” he said.
The show ideas are a collaboration and put together by a group of writers that works closely with the theater.
“We have a local group of writers, the Ink Blots, that write all of our murder mysteries and they also do our script for haunted tours,” Fondoble said.
After an idea is developed, the HCT coordinates with the writers to ensure the size of the venue and number of anticipated guests to accommodate the story.
“We decided on a theme and they made up the show for us with a pirate-y lost treasure kind of thing,” Fondoble said.
In order to keep the event spontaneous and keep the mystery alive, details of the story are not shared before the event.
“We try to keep it hush-hush, we don’t know a whole lot more than we put out there, that way nobody spills the beans on anything,” Fondoble said.
This is the fourth storyline the HCT has presented, with past dinner theater stories being used on multiple nights.
Typically, Fondoble said, the shows sell out.
Doors for both nights will open at 6:30 p.m.
Tickets for Friday’s show can be found by clicking here.
Tickets for Saturday’s show can be found by clicking here.