By DIANE GASPER O’BRIEN
FHSU University Relations

Kelsey Cohoon learned a long time ago to expect the unexpected.

A Fort Hays State University sophomore from Jetmore, Cohoon started dancing at age 2 and has been involved in cheerleading since seventh grade. One of the stunters on the FHSU cheer squad who does flying leaps as part of her routine, Cohoon knows she always has to be on her toes. One slip-up by her or her base could prove dangerous.

But nothing could have prepared Cohoon for an unforeseen happening on the first Saturday of the new year. Cohoon, who will turn 20 in March, received a New Year’s surprise when she was crowned Miss Cowboy Capital at a scholarship pageant in Dodge City on Jan. 2.

With that title, Cohoon advances to the Miss Kansas Pageant in June in Pratt. It will be the second consecutive year that an FHSU student will participate in Miss Kansas. Dakota Derstein from Dodge City was crowned Miss Dodge City a year ago.

The crowning was “totally unexpected” for Cohoon because this was her first pageant. Well, the first one she could remember, that is. Her mom, Christina Cohoon, had entered her firstborn in a Toddlers and Tiaras Pageant when Kelsey was about 18 months old.

“I’ve seen pictures of it,” Cohoon said. “But I don’t remember it at all.”

No doubt she will remember her second pageant.

Cohoon’s dance teacher, Nikki Salem from Dodge City, is a board member of the Miss Dodge City/Miss Cowboy Capital Scholarship Pageant. She works backstage at the pageant and has urged Cohoon to participate the past two years.

“She’s always been a performer,” said Salem, Cohoon’s dance teacher since Cohoon was a toddler. “She’s never been afraid of the stage. She has this poise and calmness about her. If she is nervous, she can hold it together.”

Knowing there could be some money for college involved, Cohoon, a speech-language pathology major, finally consented to participate this year.

“This was a spur-of-the-moment thing,” said Cohoon, who didn’t decide until she was back in Hays in college last fall that she would throw her name in the hat to compete. “I did it for the scholarships.”

After going through the various competitions — talent, fitness, evening gown, interview — Cohoon thought she had the top three or four girls picked out.

“After seeing the girls in the competition, I thought, ” ‘I am not going to win this,’ ” she said, “but I thought I would just do it for fun and just be myself.”

“This year’s 10 performers were pretty amazing,” Salem said. “I remember thinking, ‘I sure wouldn’t want to be a judge this year.’ ”

Before revealing the names of the Miss Cowboy Capital and Miss Dodge City in the dual pageant, an overall second runner-up and first runner-up are announced. After those two names were revealed and just before the announcement of Miss Cowboy Capital, Cohoon said, “I was thinking, ‘OK, who else is there?’ ”

That, Kelsey Cohoon, would be you.

“They called my name,” she said, “and I didn’t even know how to react.”

Salem did.

“I was thrilled,” Salem said. “It was very refreshing to think someone like Kelsey will be representing us at Miss Kansas.”

Cohoon earned a $100 scholarship for participating and another $500 for winning. Now, it’s on to the next step.

The Miss Kansas Pageant is scheduled for June 5-11 in Pratt, and Cohoon now has more responsibilities added to an already busy college schedule.

In addition to cheering for Tiger athletic events, Cohoon is a member of a social sorority on campus, volunteers for various community organizations and is involved in fundraising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“I did everything in high school,” said Cohoon, who participated in numerous sports at Hodgeman County High, in addition to cheering both for her school and on a competitive traveling cheer squad. “So I thought I might as well fill up my college life, too.”

Cohoon is accomplishing that with ease. She will make some appearances at civic events in Dodge City this semester, and she plans to try out for the Universal Cheerleading Association staff and teach youngsters at cheer camps this summer. Oh, and there’s that task of preparing for the Miss Kansas Pageant, where her platform will be “Positive Body Image.” Of course, her talent number will be a ballet dance.

The first person to introduce Cohoon to pageants all those years ago will be with her daughter every step of the way.

“I’m a little nervous,” Christina Cohoon said, “but I’m excited.”

The Cohoons won’t have far to look to ask for pointers about getting ready for Miss Kansas. There’s Derstein they can call on, and Cohoon’s cousin, Whitney Winter from Dodge City, was the 2015 Miss Cowboy Capital and got to crown Cohoon the 2016 winner.

“I’m going to get together with Dakota’s mom and get some advice,” Cohoon’s mom said. “We’re all really proud of her already. So whatever happens there will be OK. The whole preparation thing will be a lot of fun.”

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

With a full room of teachers watching, the Hays USD 489 Board of Education and Hays National Education Association negotiators sparred over contract details at Wednesday night’s meeting, ending with a tentative agreement that will now be brought to the full board and the USD 489 bargaining unit for approval.

While several details were agreed upon during the meeting, including retirement health benefits and sick day accumulation payouts, one sticking point was a a point of content among the two groups – movement on the vertical pay scale – a topic that the HNEA negotiators warned might cause the contract to once again fail when it arrives at the bargaining unit.

“I think you’ll have a better chance of passing if you add a vertical salary increase,” warned Kathy Wagoner, Hays-NEA bargaining unit co-chairwoman.

The subject was not up for discussion during the meeting, but nonetheless dominated a significant portion of of talks.

“I think we are headed in the right direction,” said Superintendent Dean Katt.

In the future he said he believes the board will be in a position to offer those increases, but with state funding in question for next year, now is not the time.

“It’s our intention,” said board member Paul Adams. “Today, it’s not there.”

Money for that increase could come from the district’s contingency fund, the HNEA argued, but if that were the case, the district could once again be put into a position in which layoffs would be necessary.

“We want to make sure we have the money to make payroll,” said board member Lance Bickle said, citing the layoff of 18 employees last year when money ran out at the end of the year. “We are trying to make sure that doesn’t happen again.”

Katt also pointed out to the HNEA that concessions have been made to offset the lack of vertical movement, noting two years ago a 2 percent across-the-board raise was given in place of vertical movement.

Work day requirements were also reduced to give a concession for the lack of movement.

Katt told the negotiators during the meeting that despite the recommendation of at least a 10 percent carryover, last year the district only had 4.8 percent carryover and is anticipating a 7.4 percent carryover at the end of this academic year.

Despite the contentious debate, both groups agreed on the measures under debate during the evening.

Both groups agreed on a more simplified payout for sick day accumulation in which new teachers coming into the district could accumulate up to 80 days of payout at $45 per day, with concessions made for teachers with days already vested over the amount being paid for at least the 80 days.

A slight adjustment was also made to health benefit for teachers retiring from the district.

The HNEA will bring the new negotiated agreement to it’s bargaining unit on Jan. 28 after two information sessions next week.

The Board will then have the opportunity to ratify the agreement. They will, however, discuss the contract during executive session at Monday’s Board meeting.

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

After a couple of months in operation, Briney Motorsports will celebrate its grand opening Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m.

The celebration is set to continue through Saturday with a free lunch offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. along with drawings for free prizes.

The store is also offering specials on a variety of products through both days.

The shop is owned by Billy Briney, who brings experience from area racing, as a racer and part supplier.

“I wanted some kind of store,” he said, in an interview last October. “The first part of this year, we started thinking about opening up a shop.”

His move to open a brick-and-mortar location came from an existing parts supply business he was already operating.

“It was good for me, because I got a customer base,” Briney said.

To read more about the opening process click here, or to see the building as work was being complete watch the video below. To see some of the specials being offered, visit their Facebook page here.

Video of fall 2015 construction by Cooper Slough, Hays Post

By DAWNE LEIKER
Hays Sister Cities

The road to Santa Maria de Fe, Paraguay, reddish dirt under a pale blue sky, is “as plain as Kansas,” Max Maximov, Hays Sister Cities Committee member, told Hays City Commissioners at a December commission work session.

“The beginning of the partnership was really at the beginning of this road.”

Pointing to the video image of a dirt road projected on the wall of City Hall, Maximov highlighted discoveries he had made regarding Hays’ Paraguayan Sister City relationship during his trip there last summer. Maximov appeared before commissioners to update them regarding progress the Sister Cities Committee has made toward re-establishing connections with Santa Maria.
The Sister Cities International relationship between Hays and Santa Maria was established in 1975, primarily through the efforts of Marianna and Ross Beach. During the last 12 years, communication between Hays and Santa Maria had become non-existent. However, through Maximov and the current Sister Cities Committee’s efforts, future collaborations are in the works.

Maximov’s trip to Santa Maria was the result of months of researching potential contacts online. That research led him to Doña Cayetana Maidana, who helped him discover details about the history of the Sister City partnership. He met with Cayetana when he arrived in Santa Maria and found that she had traveled to Hays in 2002, and was presented a Golden Key to the city of Hays along with a proclamation of partnership. A large Kansas flag was displayed in her home.

“The second I met her, I knew everything was going to be okay and my visit would have a purpose,” Maximov said. “I would get information and I would meet some people.”

Santa Maria de Fe, population approximately 4,000, is located in the southern part of Paraguay, some 160 miles from the country’s capital Asuncion. Santa Maria was established as a Jesuit mission in the 1600s. Just eight of the original 30 missions remain in today’s Paraguay. During his visit to the plaza in Santa Maria, Maximov discovered visible traces of the Hays-Santa Maria partnership, including: a plaque which had been created with funds from the city of Hays in celebration of 25 years of the Sister Cities partnership, and a street named “Hays City Street.”

Santa Maria’s unique wooden statues were instrumental in sparking Marianna Beach’s involvement with the Paraguayan community in the 1970s. Statutes depicting saints, carved by indigenous people of Santa Maria in the 1600s, are housed in a museum funded largely by the Beaches.

“The Jesuits brought the art of carving to the natives there,” Maximov said. “But they would carve the saints with the faces, with appearances of the indigenous people there in Paraguay, which is quite unique and fascinating.”

The original church of Santa Maria, which burned down about 100 years ago, had housed the art prior to the creation of the museum. Residents of the mission preserved the statues by hiding them in their homes. The Sister Cities Committee hopes to assist the museum in the future by sending a local artist to Santa Maria to create a website or catalog for the museum to increase its visibility and promote tourism.

The museum was dedicated Oct. 25, 1979, and a document which was on display, signed by former Hays Mayor Dan Rupp, was read by Maximov.

“On the glorious occasion of the dedication of the museum of Santa Maria, the citizens of Hays send their heartfelt congratulations to the people of Santa Maria for the success of our joint efforts to preserve the priceless religious artifacts of Santa Maria.”

While in Santa Maria, Maximov was received by the mayor and held a presentation in front of the city commission meeting and, later, joined a brainstorming session with town leaders where they discussed collaborative opportunities, some of which included agriculture and education initiatives. During the time of his visit, the commissioners of Santa Maria voted to reinstate its Sister Cities relationship with Hays.

Although the residents of Santa Maria are not accustomed to tourists, Maximov said they were “extremely welcoming and friendly.” He was introduced to a cooperative of impoverished women who produce hand-stitched fabric artwork, which is marketed online at https://www.santamariadefe.com.

After Maximov concluded his presentation for Hays City Commissioners, Mayor Eber Phelps said he appreciated Maximov’s efforts in working to reestablish relationships with Santa Maria.

“The main thing that I’m interested in is that we revive that (partnership),” Phelps said.

Rekindling collaboration with Santa Maria is one of several initiatives currently being undertaken by the Sister Cities Committee. Other projects include an upcoming Chinese delegation visit to Hays from Xinzheng, Hays’ Sister City in China, and planning for events that work toward making Hays a more inclusive community.

“I’m so excited to see the progress that the committee has made over the past year,” said Sister Cities President Ann Leiker. “We are progressing, not just in building our Sister Cities relationships internationally, but also in celebrating diversity in the Hays community.”

More information regarding Hays Sister Cities partnerships and photos of Santa Maria, Paraguay, are available on Facebook by searching Sister Cities of Hays.

By COOPER SLOUGH
Hays Post

The Hays Arts Council is bringing “The BFG” — Big Friendly Giant — to the Beach-Schmidt Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Jan. 16, at 2 p.m. Put on by the Dallas Children’s Theater, Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book will come to life with puppets, people and a multitude of special effects.

“We don’t get to do as many wonderful, big, spectacular theater productions for youth and family as I wish we could,” said Brenda Meder, director of the Hays Arts Council, “so we make sure what we do bring in are really good productions.”

The story follows a young orphaned girl named Sophie, living in a girl’s orphanage run by the grouchy Mrs. Clonkers. One night, Sophie sees a cloaked giant blowing something via a trumpet-like object into a bedroom window down the street. Upon investigation the giant snatches her up and carries her to his homeland of Giant Country, where the adventure begins.

Sponsors for the production include the Robert and Patricia Schmidt Foundation, the Heartland Community Foundation and Midwest energy.

The box office opens at 1:15 p.m. on the day of the show, and tickets are $5 for children and $7 for adults.

“Our goal is to provide the opportunity, the experiences and the outreach,” Meder said, “for quality arts experiences for families and young audiences.”

For more information on the Hays Arts Council, visit their website, or call (785) 625-7522.

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

After being informed the Hays City Commission would not support a public vote on a sales tax that would be used to offset the cost of a proposed $94 million bond, the Hays USD 489 Board of Education discussed taking the measure directly to the voters at Monday’s work session.

“That is not something the city commissioners are going to vote on,” Superintendent Dean Katt said.

If the board were to collect approximately 1,227 signatures from eligible voters, the measure could be put on the ballot, giving the proposed increase to the voters. Taking this action, however, could push the bond election from April to a later date.

“It’s going to take a lot of time to get those signatures,” said Bill Jeter, board attorney, warning the board if they proceed with that route they might not be able to put the bond measure to voters before May.

While the sales tax question is still under consideration, the board will still vote next week to begin the process to hold the special election in April at the board meeting next Monday.

As more information about the bond election is being shared with the public, the board has begun receiving questions about the necessity of the measure and why the full $94 million bond is needed at this time.

Josh Waddell told the board he felt positive, as questions to him are coming in about the specifics of the plan and its necessity.

“Our schools need this,” he said. “This is not a bailout. … This is a forward future-moving request.”

As the process continues, Katt said the administration is finalizing presentations for community and school groups and presentations will begin next month.

                                      Video by Cooper Slough

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

A stereotypical doctor visit is something almost no one enjoys — time in a sterile white-walled waiting room reading old magazines, uncomfortable chairs in the patient rooms, with the same posters on the walls dating back years,  and the lack of privacy and inconvenience as test are performed and samples are taken.

All of these things were considered when Dr. Tonya Knoll decided to build a new facility at 1100 E. 22nd in Hays, and the result is an office with cutting-edge tech surrounded by comfortable furnishings in a facility decorated more like a home than a doctor’s office.

“I wanted to go with a very contemporary, homey theme,” Knoll said. She bought the artwork for the facility over the last couple of years in anticipation of moving into the new space.

Along with the art, a large chandelier dominates the eyeline of the waiting room

“The chandelier just kind of followed the flow of the architecture of the ceiling,” Knoll said. “I really love the contemporary feel and the homey feel and that’s the kind of thing patients are telling me when they’re coming in is that it feels very homey and new and state-of-the-art.”

As is often the case with design, the building centered around a single piece — in this case, a bathroom sink.

“The whole entire theme of everything started in here. The sink was the very first thing I bought a year and a half ago, and the entire place was based on that sink,” Knoll said.

But the contemporary design didn’t end there, as the space feels open with the addition of large glass windows and mirrors.

“I love windows. I think they make places look bigger. It opens things up, lets you see what going on,” Knoll said.

In conjunction with the visual elements comes state-of-the-art technology integrated into the facility, including large interactive information screens.

“We had a company come in and they offer some neat technology for our patients — iPads that they can (use to) tap the particular disease process that they have or that they want to learn about,” Knoll said. “This way when they are waiting in the waiting room … they have something to do other than a standard magazine.”

Digital displays are also placed in patient rooms.

“That way, we don’t have to have paper posters, with corners always ripping and curling on the walls. It keeps it neat,” Knoll said.

The technology isn’t just for show either. The move to the new facility brought many new services, including walk-ins being accepted on Mondays and Fridays.

“If that works well and I see a continued need, that may be something we open up to where we are a walk-in clinic at all times,” Knoll said. “I feel that it’s better to get in here than have to go the emergency room and wait in a long line and incur a huge bill.”

Services Knoll provides include treatment of lacerations, allergy testing, diabetic care, INR testing, osteoporosis care, physicals, well child checks, immunizations, dermatological procedures and others.

Other tests can be done from blood drawn in office that will be sent to area labs.

For services that cannot be addressed in the clinic, Knoll takes care in sending patients to trusted physicians.

“If things get a little beyond our realm of expertise, that’s when we start the referral process. I have the freedom of referring anywhere, because I’m not locked into a certain system,” Knoll said. “I make sure that I do not send or refer my patients to any physician I would not go to.”

With the building being much larger than need for Knoll the majority of the building is open for other practitioners.

“I only use a third of this building,” Knoll said. “For the other two-thirds, the plan is to rent them out to other physicians, massage therapists, physical therapists — some kind of business that would work well in this type of facility.”

The available space includes several offices, practitioner spaces and a full nursing station.

Knoll said some interest has been shown in the spaces, but no one has yet moved in.

The entire project has been a dream of Knoll’s since medical school, one that she now gets to live, with her husband, who works as the office manager.

“I’ve had this dream. … One day, we can move back to Hays, which is where we are both from,” she said. “The way the pieces fell, it just happened. … We started little and now we’re here. This is what I wanted, ultimately.”

For more information about the clinic and to stay informed about their latest happenings, visit their Facebook page here.

 

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The city of Hays is not interested in supporting a sales tax ballot requested by Hays USD 489 to offset a proposed $94 million bond issue for school district facility improvements.

Superintendent Dean Katt, along with school board members Lance Bickle and Sarah Rankin, and Dustin Avey of Piper Jaffray, the school district’s financial adviser, presented four funding scenarios during Thursday night’s city commission work session.

Avey explained how each proposal would use a city sales tax or a special tax to help pay off a 20- or 25-year bond issue early, saving millions of dollars in interest. The tax increase, as well as the bond issue — which would raise property taxes — would have to be approved by voters.

Nearly 60 percent of the monies would be used for safety and security improvements, deferred maintenance and renovations at each attendance center.

“If this were all to pass, it will set us up for 25 years,” said Katt. “We know if this doesn’t pass, we’ll have to piecemeal improvements for years.”

“It’s going to be a tough sell,” Vice Mayor Shaun Musil said. “Nobody wants a sales tax.”

“We have to pursue this,” replied Rankin, “and we believe the best chance we have with the voters of Hays is to partner with a portion of it being a sales tax. If we go after a property-tax-only impact, it’s overwhelming to voters, which leaves us with a failed bond.

“So what do we do? Do we shrink it? What do we cut? Do we cut out a storm shelter when there was 83 more tornadoes this year in Kansas than last year? Do we cut out a secure entrance and run the risk of a shooter walking into Hays Middle School?” she asked.

Hays is the only city in Kansas that does not levy property taxes for its general fund, according to City Manager Toby Dougherty.

“We’re the only one that totally relies on the sales tax,” he pointed out.

Commissioner James Meier was opposed to the request.

“You’re asking us to give up the last quarter-percent of the 2 percent we have for a sales tax (for potential future city projects),” he said.

“I understand sacrifices have to be made,” Rankin said. “We’ll go out and campaign to try and get it passed, but at least give us a chance to put it before the voters and let them decide.”

“I have no issue with putting this in front of the voters,” replied Commissioner Lance Jones, “but if we were to do this, we’re putting a lot at jeopardy (for the city budget).”

Commissioner Henry Schwaller declared outright he would not support the request, citing declining revenues for the state and Ellis County, which may be made up with more sales taxes.

“I’ve talked with our county commissioners and, indeed, their half-cent sales tax will sunset with the special projects (emergency services building and law enforcement center remodel) are paid for,” Schwaller said. “But because of the declining price of oil and other considerations, their revenue is down severely and they are in a box worse than both of us put together, and they are contemplating asking for another half-cent sales tax.”

Commissioners declined to move the request forward to next week’s city commission meeting. School board members are expected to talk about the facilities improvement plan again at their work session Monday, Jan. 11.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The R9 Ranch water rights transfer application was filed Thursday by the cities of Hays and Russell with the Kansas Division of Water Resources.

The go-ahead to proceed with the long-term water development project in Edwards County was approved by Hays city commissioners 23 months ago.

“It was February of 2014 we started the regulatory process,” said City Manager Toby Dougherty. “I remember at that meeting, then-commissioner Kent Steward asked how long it would take. I said ‘probably 18 to 24 months, but I hope it doesn’t take that long.'”

It did.

Dougherty told commissioners Thursday night that city staff and the city of Russell worked “very diligently. We weren’t dragging our feet.”

“The change applications (from agricultural use to municipal use) were filed in June. They’ve been received by DWR; they’re going through the process. The transfer application (from thirty water rights on the R9 to Schoenchen and then on to Hays and Russell) was the last piece that needed to be filed. It was posted on the city’s website today so anybody can read it.”

City Attorney John Bird recommended against reading the 6,000 pages of exhibits.

“However, the 85 pages of the application are actually pretty good–a really good review of how Hays got to where we are, and what we’re doing.  We know people will ask a lot of questions and this application does a good job of addressing those,” Bird said.

“Now, the ball is in the state’s court,” Dougherty said.  “We are in a reactionary mode, waiting  for them to set the hearings and go forth from there.”

The estimated cost to develop the R9 is $72 million.

Hays, which owns 82 percent of the ranch it purchased in 1995, enacted a sales tax in the mid-1990s to help fund the project. The city of Russell owns 18 percent of the R9 Ranch.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

In addition to an update of the 2015 activities of the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development, Hays city commissioners will discuss modifications to the city’s economic development policy during tonight’s work session.

The 2016 budget for the city of Hays does not contain a direct allocation for the ECC. The allocation is listed as “Economic Development.” No funds will be released to the Coalition until approved by the city commission. ECCED Executive Director Aaron White is scheduled to present the activity update.

During consideration of a travel plaza development proposal, and subsequent economic development request by NWK Investments last year, the city commission suggested the economic development policy be revised to more clearly define the role of the Coalition. City staff met with White and the city’s bond counsel to develop the suggested revisions.

The result of those meetings, according to Assistant City Manager Jacob Woods, is the addition of a proposed new section, a “Statement of Process” to streamline the application process and make it consistent for all potential developers.

“If you’re somebody that wants to bring in a business to Hays, you’ll know exactly what the expectations are,” Woods explained. “It also will clarify the role of the Economic Development Coalition as far as what role they play in the policy.”

You can see the proposed Statement of Process and the entire Jan. 7 work session agenda here.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays USD 489 will ask the city of Hays for possible approval of a sales tax ballot to supplement a $94 million bond issue for planned facility improvements. Superintendent Dean Katt and Dustin Avey of Piper Jaffray, the school district’s financial advisor, are scheduled to meet with the city commission during their Jan. 7 work session.

As Assistant City Manager Jacob Woods explained, Kansas school districts do not have the legal authority to place sales tax questions on local ballots, and therefore need a city or county to facilitate the process.

“There are two ways to do that,” he said. “One way is the city passes an ordinance that puts the question on the ballot and then the people vote. The other way is to get signatures on a petition of ten percent of the registered voters which the county clerk would make sure it’s valid and certified, and then the vote would go on.”

There are also two types of sales taxes that could be utilized, according to Woods.

“The city is authorized to do two different kinds,” he said. “One is a general purpose tax and one is a special sales tax. The general purpose tax can go on for longer periods of time. A special sales tax is for a specific project and that can go on for a maximum of ten years.”

In a memo to commissioners, City Manager Toby Dougherty listed the pros and cons of a new sales tax in Hays.

If voters were to approve a proposed sales tax on behalf of USD 489, it can help keep property taxes lower in Hays, according to Dougherty, and also allow the USD 489 debt to be paid off faster. However, it could also limit the city’s future ability to utilize a special sales tax.

“At this time, city staff does not have plans to recommend any sort of special purpose sales tax to the city commission,” Dougherty wrote, “but the planning horizon is relatively short, and most likely shorter than the period the USD 489’s special purpose tax would be in place.”

Dougherty also suggested that language be inserted in any sort of a sales tax question that ties the enactment of a sales tax to the property tax question, meaning the sales tax could only be imposed if the property tax question is passed by voters.

The USD 489 financing information and facility improvement plan can be seen here.

 

Online ranker Zippia.com has named Hays one of the top cities in Kansas to achieve work-life balance.

The ranking was based on factors that included commute time, hours worked per week, household size, poverty rate and unemployment rate.

Click HERE for the complete listing and to see where Hays ranked.

By COOPER SLOUGH
Hays Post

The Ellis County chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters soon will be under new leadership after longtime director Nancy Jeter announced her retirement last month during the nonprofit’s annual telethon.

BBBS is entering its 16th year in Ellis County, and Jeter said it’s fascinating to see some of their original “Littles” again now that they’ve grown up.

“A lot of them have gone on to get married and become parents themselves,” Jeter said, “and I’m so proud of them because they’re wonderful parents. The things they learned from their Big Brother or Big Sister, just having that role model, helped them to become the parents they are today. It’s extremely rewarding.”

Jeter served on the original board of directors in 1999 and has since held several positions within BBBS before becoming executive director of Ellis, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Sheridan and Trego counties.

“I think sometimes people are surprised to learn that there’s such a need for the program in the community,” she explained. “Rural communities are not immune to the problems that plague cities. We have the same problems.”

Since its inception, the Ellis County chapter of BBBS has helped over 1,600 at-risk youth, and Jeter said although she is officially retiring, she won’t be leaving the office any time soon.

“You know, it’s been a great ride,” she said. “I have loved this job, and because of that,I plan to continue volunteering in the office. There’s still a lot of work to be done, and I want to be a part of it.”

For more information about the Ellis County BBBS, visit their website or call (785) 625-6672.