Submitted

Global manufacturer and distributor of agricultural equipment AGCO has announced its best performing dealers for 2015, naming Hays-based Lang Diesel Inc. top five in overall sales out of all North American dealerships.

The Lang family founded LDI in 1988 and since has led the company to top ten rankings for the last 16 years, now in the fifth place spot.

“Winning this award is a direct result of the continuous hard work carried out by our team in the past year to improve our relationships with our customers,” said LDI President Brian Lang. “We have a very talented team who continues to bring passion and innovation to LDI on a daily basis. It is an honor to see their hard work recognized by our industry peers.”

Brian Lang and his son Brent, general manager, accepted the award at AGCO’s annual dealer meeting last month. They say watching LDI’s continued growth and serving an increasing number of customers across the state have been even more rewarding.

“We opened as a small Hays repair shop in 1988 and started offering AGCO’s Gleaner combines in 1993. By 1998, we were the top-selling Gleaner dealer in North America and have been ever since,” Brian said. “We now offer a full line of AGCO equipment and have expanded to 12 locations across Kansas to better serve our surrounding communities.”

While the family-owned business has grown to a large-scale level, LDI’s focus on quality and commitment is key to its foundation and vision for the future.

“Brian had a strong service minded background from the start,” Brent said. “Those principles that initially shaped the heart of his business are still a strong consideration in every part of our company.”

The Lang family plans to keep LDI’s growth moving into the future by expanding its reach and discovering ways to help even more people. LDI would like to thank customers for their continued support because without it, LDI’s success would not be possible.

“As we work to continue being a top AGCO dealer, our goal will always be to give customers the best experience possible,” Brian stated.

By RANDY GONZALES
FHSU University Relations

Robert J. “Bob” Dole’s western Kansas values are a good fit for what Fort Hays State University values. The university will honor Dole at the FHSU Commencement ceremonies May 13 and 14, awarding him the university’s first-ever honorary doctorate. He will be the keynote speaker both days.

Dr. Chapman Rackaway, acting chair of the Department of Political Science, said Dole is still relevant for today’s students at FHSU. Traits like values and sacrifice and courage are synonymous with Bob Dole, who was born and raised in Russell.

“Dole was there in a time when people were willing to make sacrifices to get things done,” Rackaway said. “He sacrificed his body in World War II; he sacrificed his preferences sometimes to get things done in Congress.”

Dole, 92, learned the value of hard work growing up in the Depression, working as a soda jerk at the local drugstore. He played sports at the University of Kansas before opting to enlist in the Army in 1942. Dole was seriously wounded while serving in Italy in 1945. He spent three years recovering from injuries to his shoulder, back and right arm, which left him partially paralyzed in the arm. Dole then returned to college and earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from what was then Washburn Municipal College in Topeka.

“Just when you think you are courageous, think about a guy like Bob Dole,” Rackaway said. “He was a19-year-old kid who stepped out on European soil with a gun in his hand. That’s courage.”

While in school after the war, Dole won a Republican seat in the Kansas Legislature. After graduation he returned home to Russell to practice law. He served as county attorney before winning a Congressional seat in 1960. Dole later became a U.S. Senator in 1968 and was elected Senate majority leader in 1984 — the longest-serving Republican leader. He resigned in 1996 during his fifth term to run for President. Dole won the Republican nomination but lost to Bill Clinton in the general election. Dole also ran for Vice-President in 1976, when Gerald Ford lost to Jimmy Carter.

“He is simply one of the most important political figures in the last century of American politics, one of the more important Americans,” Rackaway said. “He is a reminder of what politics is like when it works.”

Dole was known for being able to compromise to get legislation passed.

“Let’s not discount how deft a conciliatory and compromise-driven leader he was,” Rackaway said. “I say that as a high compliment.

“No politician ever gets things done without compromise,” Rackaway added. “If you can engineer compromise, you’re a political maestro. That was one of his great gifts.”

The Washington of today, mired in gridlock, was not Dole’s Washington. With Dole, there was no backroom dealing – what you see is what you get.

“There is this very kind of perfect western Kansas attitude, which is, ‘I’ve got a job to do, let me get it done,’ ” Rackaway said.

Rackaway said it seems only right for FHSU to honor Dole, considering he grew up nearby. As well, Dole donated $100,000 to honor his sisters – Norma Jean Steele and Gloria Nelson – with plaques in the lobby of Hammond Hall to recognize their commitment to education.

“I think it’s perfectly appropriate,” Rackaway said. “Bob Dole represents the idea that people from a little town of just a few thousand people can rise to some of the great heights in the American political machine.

“Fort Hays State is the steward of western Kansas,” he added. “Both of them bear the marks of this place where we’re from. That’s a beautiful thing.”

While Dole had a long and distinguished political career, FHSU junior Rebecca Vincent is just starting out getting involved in politics. The organizational communications major joined the College Republicans club on campus just last month.

“I’ve always been super involved in politics,” Vincent said. “My family, we’ve got really strong Republican ties.”

That’s why it seemed only natural for Vincent, who is from Frederick, Colo., to join College Republicans. She hopes to attend commencement and listen to a political icon speak.

“I think it’s a great thing,” Vincent said, “not just for College Republicans but Fort Hays State in general.”

After a lifetime of public service, Dole has kept active in politics in his retirement. He has devoted time to speaking engagements and his law firm. Dole has written several books, including his memoir, “One Soldier’s Story.”

Rackaway can hardly wait to meet Dole when he comes to Hays in May.

“I’m super excited to meet him,” Rackaway said. “There aren’t too many politicians I can get a little celebrity awe-struck on. I am incredibly excited to meet Bob Dole.”

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 Board of Education met Thursday night to discuss the results of a full day of meetings Wednesday with staff, administration and patrons from Hays about the qualities desired in the district’s next superintendent.

Gary Sechrist, Kansas Association of School Boards leadership specialist, led Thursday’s meeting. The KASB was hired by the board to provide guidance during the search process, and Sechrist will help narrow the field of candidates this month, culminating with interviews with selected candidates.

During Wednesday’s meetings, 86 individuals attended various group sessions to give feedback on what qualities they would like to see in the next superintendent.

“I think that a trend did come forward,” Sechrist said.

The most desired quality, he said, is someone with a “strong backbone” who can give recommendations to the school board. Honesty, integrity and visibility were also top qualities people said they wanted.

After describing the results of the meetings, Sechrist gave several procedural recommendations as candidates are identified and interviewed.

A key portion of bringing candidates in, he said, relates to how the board presents the city and the district to the candidate, recommending a list of positive attributes be created to share with candidates.

As an example, he noted that he heard positive feedback about the use of technology throughout USD 489. He said he has been in many districts and using the tech the way USD 489 does “is exciting.”

But with positives come negatives, and Sechrist shared some feedback on challenges the next superintendent may face.

The most visible of those concerns is a $94 million bond issue that is set for a June 7 election. Regardless of whether the bond passes, Sechrist said, the next superintendent must understand facility needs is “critical.”

He also said rebuilding trust – for whatever reason – would be a challenge.

“The superintendent will need to be a healer,” Sechrist said.

In a search of this nature, it is possible two exemplary candidates emerge, and Sechrist advised a “tie-breaker” question should be developed in case the board is stuck.

During Wednesday’s meetings, a question emerged that would evaluate proven successes in a leadership position and an open-door policy. Both traits ranked high on the list of desires in a candidate.

The board will now work to compile a list of 21 questions to be used in the interview process. That list will be compiled from submissions by the entire board to be turned in Monday.

While the board is finalizing questions, Sechrist and two outside advisers will filter through applications to present to the board for a meeting at 4:45 p.m. May 16. He advised the board that calls should be made to those candidates that same evening, once the board decides who they would like for interviews.

Each candidate brought forward will have a public meeting, a meal with the board and a formal interview.

Overall, Sechrist seemed optimistic about candidates who have already expressed interest in the position.

“You have some good ones, and I’m very pleased,” he said.

FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Eighteen poster presentations were selected from more than a hundred that were submitted for judging and exhibited at Fort Hays State University’s John Heinrichs Scholarly and Creative Activities Day on Wed., April 27.

For the first time this year, two People’s Choice awards were also given, the winners selected by vote of the more than 600 students, faculty and community members who attended as presenters or visitors.

This event, which recognizes the scholarly and creative activities of students and faculty, recognizes research, scholarly and creative work conducted by varied disciplines within the university. Departments across campus sponsored special activities, including seminars and research presentations.

The main event was a poster and art exhibition in the FHSU Memorial Union Ballroom featuring student and faculty work from College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Business and Entrepreneurship, the College of Education, the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences and the College of Science, Technology and Mathematics.

Posters were divided into two categories, one for empirical research and one for non-empirical research. Each category was divided into three divisions: undergraduate students, graduate students and faculty.

The winning posters are arranged by place (first, second and third) by category and division.

• Empirical research, graduate student:
  Keri Caudle, Hays biology major, “Phylogenetic Distribution of an Endogenous Strain of Dahlia Mosaid Virus in Members of Asteraceae.”
• Brendon McCampbell, Hays biology major, “Organismal Composition and Photosynthetic Traits of Biological Soil Crusts in Prairie Ecosystems of the Great Plains.”
• Kaitlin Moore, Concordia biology major, “Isolation of Siol Bacillus SPP with Inhibitory Activity Against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA).”

Empirical research, undergraduate student:

• Garrett Messenger, Guymon, Okla., senior majoring in geosciences, “The Spatial Distribution of Antique Car Dealerships in the Southern United States.”
• Nicole Martin, Quinter senior majoring in biology, “Effect of Sulfide Toxicity on Cytochrome C Oxidase in Liver and Muscle Tissue in Fish Species.”
• Kelci Glover, Wichita senior majoring in chemistry, “Equilibrium Studies of the Iron Exchange Reaction of Ferrioxamine B with 8hydroxyquinoline-5- Sulfonate.” Her co-investigator of Dr. Edwin G. Olmstead, assistant professor of chemistry.

Empirical research, faculty:

• Dr. Emily Breit, associate professor of economics, finance and accounting and department chair, and Dr. Samuel Schreyer, associate professor of economics, finance and accounting, “Why Are Small Business Owners Discouraged from Borrowing?”
• Dr. Hendratta Ali, assistant professor of geosciences, “Influence of Sediment Acidification on Water Quality in Carbonate Environments: A Laboratory Experiment.”
• Dr. Laura Wilson, assistant professor of geosciences, “Applications in Paleohistology: Osteohistology of Protostega Gigas.” Her co-investigators were Hannah Hutchinson, Loveland, Colo., freshman majoring in geology; Theodore Vlamis, Wichita junior majoring in geology; and Logan White, Colorado Springs, Colo., freshman majoring in geology.

Non-empirical research, graduate student:

• Jessica Barnett, LaCrosse geosciences major, “Fossil Preparation in a Small Lab: A Case Study of Preparator Training at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays, Kansas.”
• Eleanor Heimbaugh, Hays art major specializing in ceramics, “Trace-Artifacts and Specimens of the Future.”
• Brendon McCampbell, Hays biology major, “Food and Hunger Initiatives at Fort Hays State University.” His co-investigators were Luke McCampbell, Hays sociology major; Sarah Bailey, WaKeeney liberal studies major; and Shane Keller, St. John junior majoring in general studies.

Non-empirical research, undergraduate student:

• Shannon Shubert, Hays senior majoring in athletic training, “Is the New Quick-Release Attachment System more Efficient at Removing Face Masks than the Combined Tool Approach?”
• Kiley Geis, Overton, Neb., senior majoring in nursing, “The Journey to Control.”
• Erika Balint, Carrollton, Texas, senior majoring in nursing, “Make the Change: Using Disinfection Caps on Catheter Ports.”

Non-empirical research, faculty:

• Dr. Christine Hober, associate professor of nursing and chair of the department, “Leadership Development in Nursing Students: Crafting Mentoring Relationships.” Her co-investigators were Tanya Smith and Jan Harding, assistant professors of nursing.
• Dr. James “Skip” Ward, assistant professor of management, “A Proposed Business/Education Hybrid Model for Enhanced Global Readiness: U.S. and Chinese Faculty Exchange.” His co-investigators were Dr. Yaprak Dalat Ward, interim associate provost for internationalization and partnerships, and Amanda Ergun, director of the English as second language program.
• Linda Ganstrom, professor of art and design, “Value Added: Exploring Porcelain and Gold in Ceramic Art.” Her co-investigators were Jordan Brown, Concordia junior majoring in art education; Ryan Swayne, Wichita senior majoring in art education; Jessica Hayes, Abilene senior majoring in art; Kirsten Haas, Hays junior majoring in art; Chantel Bollinger, Westminster, Colo., senior majoring in art; and Amanda Wilson, Wichita junior majoring in art.

The People’s Choice Award winners were Amber Forbes, Nassau, Bahamas, sophomore majoring in communication studies for her scholarly research poster “Blood-Water Campaign: A Service Learning Project in Business and Professional Speaking,” and Chantel Bollinger, Westminster, Colo., senior, won for her creative poster “Pangolin.”

“This is the 11th year for this prestigious event,” said Leslie Paige, coordinator of the Office of Scholarship and Sponsored Projects. “It not only showcases the significant work being conducted by faculty and staff, but also exemplifies the opportunities that FHSU students have to conduct research, engage in scholarship and to produce creative works with guidance from their faculty mentors.”

Scholarly and creative activity encourages critical thinking, innovation, collaboration and leadership. Participation provides the opportunity to clarify academic and professional goals while promoting advancement in a particular field of study. Fort Hays State supports developing new areas of excellence in all disciplines as part of its mission to advance knowledge and further the economic growth of the state.

Named after the late Dr. John Heinrichs, who championed research at FHSU, Scholarly and Creative Activities Day is sponsored by the FHSU Scholarship Environment Committee with support from the Office of the Provost, the deans, the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science, the Graduate School, the Department of Criminal Justice and the Office of Scholarship and Sponsored Projects.

Door prizes were donated by Commerce Bank, Bank of Hays, Body & Soul Day Spa and Beauty Lounge, Gella’s, Great Clips, Eagle Communications, Nex-Tech Wireless, Sunflower Bank, Wal-Mart of Hays, FHSU Book Store, FHSU University Relations and Marketing, and the FHSU Foundation.

 

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By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Law enforcement officials at locations across the country, including Hays will be collecting unused leftover medications for safe disposal during this weekend’s National Drug Take-Back Day.

The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office along with the Hays Police Department will hold collections at two sites this Saturday in Hays as part of a nationwide effort to safely dispose of leftover medications to prevent accidental or intentional misuse.

Detective Chuck White with the Ellis County Sheriff’s Department said they will have collection sites at the Good Samaritan Center at 2700 Canal and in the north parking lot of the sheriff’s office at 105 W. 12th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

White said, “It’s just a good way for one to get rid of meds that are expired, no longer needed and that they don’t want lying around that house.”

They will take capsules, tablets, liquids – in their containers with a lid and powders. The only things they will not take, according to White, is inhalers – aerosols – and syringes.

The are more overdoses from prescription and over the counter medications than from all other illegal drugs combined. White said this is, “another great reason to get these out of your home, out of your office, out of your medicine cabinets.”

The Kansas Attorney General’s Office said, “Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.”

The sheriff’s office has taken part in the event every year since the program began in 2010, collection thousands of pounds of medications.

The drop-offs are completely anonymously and once all the medications are gathered up they are sent to the Drug Enforcement Agency to be destroyed.

Ellis County is also planning to install a permanent drop-off location inside the law enforcement center. White said they have purchased, with the use of forfeited funds from the Drug Enforcement Unit, a MedReturn lockbox that will allow people to drop-off unused medications anytime.

Soroptimist International of Hays, a volunteer organization for business and professional women, held its annual awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 19, at the Stouffer Lounge in the FHSU Memorial Union.

The club recognized three women and made a donation of $1,250 to Options Domestic and Sexual Violence Services.

Cathleen Kroeger, Hays, received the Ruby Award. The Soroptimist Ruby Award: Women Helping Women honors ordinary women, who through their professional or personal activities, make extraordinary efforts on behalf of women and girls. It also provides a $500 award, which the recipient can donate to the charity of her choice.

Kroeger plans to donate her $500 award to the Ellis County Breastfeeding Coalition. Kroeger currently works for the Hays Public Library and has helped to create a breastfeeding-friendly location in the library.

Stacy Denning, Great Bend, received the Live Your Dream Award. Soroptimist International of Hays is one of 1,300 clubs that make up Soroptimist International of the Americas, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. The Live Your Dream Award program provides women who serve as the primary wage earners for their families with the financial resources to offset costs associated with their efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. The award can be used for tuition, books, childcare, carfare or any other education-related expense.

Denning will use the cash award to obtain her Bachelor’s degree in General Studies, Organizational Leadership at FHSU. Denning is currently employed at the Central Kansas Breast and Surgery Clinic in Great Bend. Denning says, “Going back to school has given me the confidence to know things will be better.”

Rebecca Bange, Hays, is the Live Your Dream Award runner-up. She plans to use the cash award to obtain a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture at FHSU. Bange says, “I would like to help the community by producing a more effective way to grow our crops in a drought by having a more drought resistant crop.”

FHSU University Relations and Marketing

Students from approximately 30 schools from around the state will converge on Fort Hays State University’s Gross Memorial Coliseum Friday, April 29, for the 57th annual Western Kansas Technology Education Fair.

Most will bring with them projects they have been working on throughout the school year.

Students in FHSU’s Technology and Engineering Educators Collegiate Association run the entire fair. They volunteer in different aspects of the event, such as project placement, assisting judges, helping tag ribbons and medals to winning entries, and running various contests.

“It’s so large, we absolutely have to have our students volunteer to help,” said Kim Stewart, chair of the Department of Applied Technology. “They do a great job of volunteering. They realize this is a really big event, not only for our department, but a big event for the middle schoolers and high schoolers and their teachers to be able to bring projects to have evaluated by judges.”

The fair includes several mediums of technology education, including woods, metals, drafting and multi-pupil projects. Contests include communication, metric 500 racing, tech challenge (quiz bowl) and problem solving.

Students come from as far away as Dexter in southeast Kansas — a four-hour trip from Hays — to participate.

“This is the only project- and contest-based technology fair that I know of,” Stewart said. “Here, they can see the results of students’ year-long projects.”

Students begin bringing projects to GMC Thursday, and the fair is free and open to the public beginning 8 a.m. Friday.

An awards ceremony concludes the day at 4 p.m.

                                              Video by Cooper Slough

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

Eagle Communications customers are about to see a big change as the Hays-based supplier of broadband services – including TV, internet and phone in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado – is set to move its Customer Care Center into a new facility in Hays.

The move was precipitated by the need for more space as the company expands and the recent closure of their location in the Vine Street Dillons, part of the grocery store’s own major remodel.

“We like our location. The Eagle Business Plaza has been like a, but we’ve been growing and expanding. That’s requiring us to need more space,” said Travis Kohlrus, Eagle Communications Broadband General Manager.

The new center will remain in the Eagle Business Plaza at 27th and Hall, but moves to a larger space at 1007 W. 27th that will be easier for customers to access. It will also provide a storefront on a major thoroughfare in Hays, with ample parking and a 27th Street-facing entrance.

“We created a nice space where customers can come in, ask questions about services, order services, get a little bit of training on services and be able to demonstrate those services there,” Kohlrus said. “When you walk in, you know you are part of a cool, advanced technology company.”

The location will be high-tech and high-touch, giving customers the ability to interact with the company’s broadband offerings.

“It will create a really nice environment similar to what we had in our Dillons location,” Kohlrus said.

The location will also serve as the payment center for the company, offering a welcoming space for customers who prefer to drop off payments in person.

In conjunction with the Customer Care Center, the new facility also will house the company’s marketing team.

“Those two groups work together tremendously to create the products that Eagle Communications offers for cable TV, internet and telephone,” Kohlrus said.

The new space will provide both groups access to conference rooms and training facilities that are needed as the company grows.

“As our company continues to grow, space is an ongoing challenge,” Kohlrus said. “Having this additional space will be helpful and beneficial to us.”

Eagle is excited to welcome customers at the new location on May 2.

For more on Eagle Communications, click HERE.

Disclosure: Eagle Communications is the parent company of Hays Post.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The crowd let out a collective groan at Thursday’s Arbor Day observance in the Hays Kiwanis Park, especially the Wilson School second graders, when they found out there would be no tree planting that day.

Although they were disappointed, it was for what might be the best reason possible–rainwater still pooled from last week’s spring storms.

“Fortunately, it rained really good this last weekend,” said Jeff Boyle, director of parks. “Unfortunately, it’s really muddy where we want to plant the trees. The first part of next week the city Parks Department crew will come out here and plant these trees.”

Three Accolade Elms will be planted behind the new restroom facility.  A nearby tree that is dying will also be removed, according to department employees. The trees, still in plastic tubs, were placed in view of the students just outside the shelter where the Arbor Day ceremony was held.

Boyle credited the Hays Kiwanis Club for helping the city create the park at 17th and Harvest Road in the 1990s.

“All the trees you see in this park were planted several years ago, most of the in the early 1990s.  That’s when the Kiwanis Club came to the city and said ‘we’d like to build a park out there and make it right.’  Look what we have now,” Boyle said with a sweep of his arm pointing to the park’s many features.

“So by planting these new trees we’re adding to the future of this park and for future generations to have nice park areas.”

Last year the Hays Kiwanis Club contributed $40,000 for the new restroom and new play unit.  Club member Michael Drees told the crowd “more is coming.”

“This was just phase one,” Drees said, as he thanked Boyle for guiding the club through what was needed and the type of playground equipment to purchase.  “Hopefully, you kids will have more equipment here soon.”

The highlight of the event, other than playing on the equipment and eating picnic lunches in the shelter, was recognition of the Smokey Bear Poster Contest winners by  Prairie Garden Club. member Brenda Slaughter.

• First Place–Taylor Tutak
• Second Place–Brett Stieben
• Third Place–Makayla Ward

All three winners are second grade students at Wilson Elementary School. Their posters will be displayed at Tri-Central Office Supply, 1101 Main, next Friday, April 29, as part of the Hays Arts Council Spring Gallery Art Walk.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

This year’s annual observation and celebration of Arbor Day in Hays at Kiwanis Park, 17th and Harvest Ave., included designation as a “Tree City USA” for 2015.

According to Jim Strine of the Hays Beautification Committee, this is the 37th year the city has been so recognized The program was started just 40 years ago by the Arbor Day Foundation.

Strine told Thursday’s crowd, which included the Wilson School second graders, that four core standards must be met in the program.

“The city has to have a tree board or advisory committee to advise on tree care in the city. That’s one of the things the Hays Beautification Committee does, working with the Parks Department to improve the tree situation in Hays.   There must be a city ordinance that talks about how trees are cared for.  You have to have an Arbor Day program just like we’re doing here today.  And the fourth one, the city has to spend two dollars for every Hays resident each year (on a community forestry program.)”

Strine then presented the Tree City USA flag to Hays Mayor Eber Phelps. “I think it’s really great the city has been committed to 37 years for improving the tree situation in Hays,” Strine said.

Hays is one of 100 communities in Kansas to be designated as a “Tree City USA” in 2015.

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

Hays pet owners have a reason to celebrate as Petsense has announced Hays as one of its 12 locations currently under development.

Petsense is a pet supply store and groomer akin to Petco or Pet Smart.

The store will be located in the Centennial Plaza, 2510 Vine, moving into a 9,500 square-foot space once occupied by Sears.

“They are going to totally remodel and refurbish that whole store, so it will be like brand new,” said Gina Stern, plaza owner.

Work on the space is expected to start in early to mid-May, according to Stern, and will continue through early summer, with a July opening expected.

“We are over the moon that they have chosen us,” Stern said, noting the store is expected to bring a significant increase in traffic to the plaza.

“There’s nothing like this in the community,” Stern said.

The location will be the first in the small chain to be in Kansas, although a second Kansas location is planned for Pittsburg.

Petsense has locations in Oklahoma, Nebraska and across the nation.

Centennial Plaza is a 52,243 square-foot retail shopping center, currently home to Jalisco Mexican Restaurant, Brown’s Shoe Store, Sherwin Williams and other local tenants.

The plaza has benefited from facility improvements over recent years, including a new facade and the addition of Petsense will likely add to the effort.

“They’re going to make the space look absolutely incredible,” Stern said.

For more on the plaza, visit their Facebook page here or Petsense, here.

 

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Firefighters from all across the state, including Ellis County, responded to the call for help to fight last month’s Anderson Creek Fire that burned more than 230,000 acres in Barber County.

According to a report from the Kansas Forest Service, firefighters from every corner of the state were among the more than 184 organizations that responded to help fight the blaze in Barber and Comanche counties.

Ellis County Rural Fire Director Darin Myers said two crews of 10 firefighters from Ellis County went to help fight the fire. The firefighters were from Hays, Ellis, Victoria and Catharine. They worked 12-hour operational periods.

Myers said it was a good opportunity for those who went to help fight the fire learn the science behind fighting a much larger fire.

“Instead of always just trying to put the fire out, you have to pay attention to wind directions and then back burning,” Myers said “That way when you look at the projections for winds speeds the next day, you try to let it burn in certain locations so then it will burn back into itself and burn itself out.”

The terrain was another unique experience for the Ellis County crews. Myers said that area of the state is somewhat similar to the northern part of Ellis County. It is a region that has a lot more hills, making it more difficult to cover the area. He said often times they would have to travel 5 miles to get to their destination just a mile away.

The group also applauded the fire official’s efforts in Barber County. Myers said they had cots set up for the firefighters in the gym and brought in food services set up for volunteers.

In Hays, Dillons donated six cases of water for the firefighters to take with them, he added.

The Forest Service said the blaze started March 22 in Woods County, Okla., and spread into Barber and Comanche counties in Kansas burn more than 230,000 acres in Barber County.