Hays Police Department

UPDATE: 4:30 p.m. Saturday
The Hays Police Department has canceled the “Silver Alert“ that was issued yesterday for Nancy Rogers.  Mrs. Rogers has been located and she is now safe.

The Hays Police Department and the Rogers family would like to thank everyone for their assistance in locating Nancy. The Hays Police Department will not be releasing any additional information at this time.

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The Hays Police Department is asking the public for assistance in locating 81 year old Nancy Verona Rogers. Nancy is 5’01” tall, has blue eyes, thin rimmed glasses, grayish/blond short curly hair, and weighs about 145 lbs. She may be driving a silver 2010 four door Mercury Milan with Kansas tag 629CFT.

Nancy resides in Hays, KS and was last seen driving the silver Mercury Milan north bound on Vine Street in Hays at 11:39 a.m. this morning. There is not a clothing description for Nancy. There is concern for her wellbeing and we are asking the public for help in locating her.

 

 

 

 

 

Nancy Verona Rogers – 81 yrs. old                                                                               KS tag 629CFT

If you see or have contact with Nancy Rogers please contact the Hays Police Department at (785) 625-1011.

Great Bend Post

GREAT BEND -Law enforcement blocked off 10th Street in Great Bend from Washington to Harrison on Friday night during a standoff that lasted over four hours.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation confirmed the standoff was with Chris Solida, a Woodward County man. Solida was wanted for questioning in the shooting of his wife earlier Friday. Brandy Solida was taken to an Oklahoma City hospital where her condition is unknown.

Solida fled Oklahoma after his wife was found with a gunshot wound to her head. Solida had the couple’s two young children with him in the vehicle and was armed. The two children were approximately 6 months old and 2 years old.

Law enforcement continued to negotiate with Solida who was in a vehicle in the parking lot west of the Best Western Angus Inn. Officers were finally able to get Solida to exit the vehicle and put him in custody at approximately 10:55 p.m. The two children were unharmed and went with law enforcement.

Reports say customers at The Page and Perkins were escorted into a large banquet room for protection and were being evacuated at approximately 8:51 p.m. Patrons at the KFC were also evacuated.

 

FHSU University Relations

Fort Hays State University faculty, staff and students begin a new school year in style with the 2015 edition of Tiger Gold on Friday shirts.

All are encouraged to show their support for FHSU by wearing the shirts, donated by Eagle Communications.

“Thanks to our corporate sponsor Eagle Communications for printing the shirts,” said Melissa Dixon, social media coordinator. “They really help us promote Tiger spirit.”

While faculty and staff got their shirts at Fall Convocation, students have several upcoming opportunities to grab their TGOF shirts with the back to school picnic: 4 to 7 p.m Monday, Aug. 17; the FHSU vs. Northeastern State football game, Thursday, Sept. 10; and the T-shirt exchange in the Memorial Union during Homecoming week.

Aside from showing Tiger pride, various downtown businesses offer discounts to those wearing the shirts.

“It benefits not only the consumer but the business to take advantage of the TGOF partnership,” said Marcia Tacha, administrative associate in the office of University Relations and Marketing.

After signing up on the FHSU website and agreeing to offer discounts to customers wearing gold shirts, partners will receive decals and table tents to promote their relationship with the university. FHSU social media will promote TGOF partners on random Fridays and on campus, and partners’ businesses will be listed on the university website.

Most importantly, TGOF partners provide a connection between the university and the community.

“Clients showed appreciation that we supported FHSU and were included in TGOF if they wore gold on Friday,” said Jeri Stewart, co-owner of Hairware and Company, and 2015’s TGOF community contest winner. “FHSU has a huge impact on our community and we should all be supportive.”

For more information, to view discounts, or to become a TGOF partner, visit fhsu.edu/tgof/registration.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The 2016 budget was adopted by Hays city commissioners Thursday night following a review of the highlights by City Manager Toby Dougherty and a public hearing. The 25 mill levy is the same as it has been the past seven years.

The only change made was in funding for outside agencies.

Last week, commissioners reduced the allocation for the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development at the urging of Commissioner James Meier. The commission, absent Henry Schwaller, agreed they were unhappy with the performance of the Coalition and in its communication with the city.

During the budget hearing, Schwaller recommended funding the Coalition’s entire $87,550 request, but instead “parking” the money until the Coalition “answers the commission’s concerns.”

“I think we owe it to that entity to give them time to respond to our concerns and come back with a plan that is mutually agreeable for both the Coalition and the city,” he said.

“So in lieu of just giving them that money, we will park that money in a Economic Development Activities account.  If we get our differences resolved — and I think we will — it will be allocated to them,” Schwaller said.  “If we don’t get our differences resolved — I don’t think that will happen — then we take the money and do something else with it.”

The city has a voting representative on the board, currently Schwaller, and the city manager also has a seat at the table as a non-voting member. One Ellis County commission and the county administrator also are on the board in a similar fashion.

Kurt David, chairman of the board for the Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development, came to the podium to thank the commission for returning its full funding.

“There’s been a number of discussions, fruitful and timely, since last Thursday,” David reported. “I think we’ve made a lot of progress, and I’m happy to tell you the two groups (Coalition and city) are working together in some meetings for us to start creating the job description and creating the strategic plan that needs to happen to meet your requirements.”

Meier thanked David for meeting with him and other members of the ECCED board Wednesday.

“I think everybody understood there’s issues and that we can work through it.  That’s why I’m comfortable restoring the funding but putting it in a ‘holding pattern’ until we do come to some kind of resolutions,” Meier said.

“We’re happy with that, and I’m confident we’ll meet your expectations,” David replied.

Vice Mayor Shaun Musil told David he would like to see Coalition Executive Director Aaron White and board members to appear before the commission a couple times a year to update the commission on what’s going on.

“I know Aaron gives us a good recap, but I just think it’s something we all need to know about — what’s going on in the community,” Musil said.

“That will happen,” said David.

Commissioners denied increases requested by Fort Hays State University Scholarship Program, Ellis County Historical Society and Hays Arts Council.

Also at Schwaller’s suggestion, the commission agreed to move the Sister Cities Advisory Board under the “umbrella of the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau and call it Community Relations.” Sister Cities will remain a volunteer organization, he clarified, and it will elect new board officers.

“I want to have a more hands-on role,” Schwaller explained. “I think they’re looking to us for some leadership.

“We will provide direction whether the commission wants to go forward  with our Sister Cities relationships or if we are interested in promoting a diversity community–this ‘inclusiveness’ message,” he added. “That way they’re in an area that promotes the community. They’re either promoting it by developing relationships with other cities or promoting the fact that we’re a ‘friendly community.’ ”

“I think those can work hand-in-hand,” said Mayor Eber Phelps, as the other commissioners nodded in agreement. “Sister Cities is a committee formed by the city some years ago, and I think it deserves to be a line item in the city budget.”

Hays Post

On just the second day of school, the discovery of bedbugs in a student book bag at Hays High School will lead to pest control treatments through the school over the weekend.

According to HHS Principal Marty Straub, the bedbugs were discovered Friday by the school nurse. The book bag was immediately double-bagged in plastic.

Straub said the parents of the student were made aware of the situation and are addressing it. The student also was sent home.

“This weekend, we will treat each room and adjacent area,” Straub said Friday afternoon.

An email was sent to all parents informing them of the situation.

“USD 489 has consulted with professionals regarding control measures and will implement appropriate actions to treat affected areas,” Straub said in that email.

Clarification: An earlier story regarding the incident incorrectly used the word “fumigation” when referring to pest control treatments. Hays Post apologizes for the error.

RELATED: District details six early release days of 2015-16.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Sewer rates for Hays residents will begin going up substantially starting September 1 with a 17 percent hike.

Hays city commissioners voted four to one Thursday night to approve the increases recommended by Springsted, the company hired by the city to conduct a comprehensive study to determine the new rates.

The city plans a $30 million rebuild of the wastewater treatment plant as well as replacement of aging sewer lines—some are 75 to 100 years old. The upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant are mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and must be in place by Jan. 1, 2018.

The average residential customer’s monthly bill will go from the current $13.83 to $36.44 a month over a six year period.

Commissioner Henry Schwaller’s motion for the second option–which started with a 15.5 percent hike the first year and allowed the sewer fund to dip below $500,000–was voted down.

“The ending balance will work itself out. It is on the edge of the city’s comfort level, but these are things (useage) we cannot predict. It meets the obligation for the state revolving loan fund and it gives us enough money to do the maintenance we need to do,” Schwaller said.

“There’s a certain amount our ratepayers can pay and a certain amount they cannot pay. Hitting them so hard up front is, I think, unconscionable and very difficult, and that’s why I will not support Option 1 under any circumstances, and I’m holding my nose on Option 2.

“I’d rather spread this out over a longer period of time. I understand the consequences of paying higher interest on the bonds–and it is pretty significant–but again, $2 million dollars 10 years from now is a lot less, particularly if we have inflation,” he concluded.

Commissioners last night also accepted the wastewater facility plan presented by HDR engineering.

The city will apply for a Kansas Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund Loan in the full amount for the project of $30,260,000 with a 20 year amortization and interest/fees ranging from 2.15 to 2.25 percent.

By DIANE GASPER O’BRIEN
FHSU University Relations and Marketing

What’s the best way to move your child to college when you have to cross two state lines?

Rent a U-Haul trailer — that way, you can move two students at once.

That’s what Dean and Rebecca Dickson, Wray, Colo., did when their daughter Nicole picked Fort Hays State University as her destination of choice.

The Dicksons, moving a child to college for the first time, learned firsthand just how challenging that can be, whether it be searching for their resident assistant to pick up their room keys or waiting in line for an elevator.

They were among the hubbub on campus Thursday as students emptied their vehicles and were greeted by volunteers who helped carry their belongings into residence halls.

Nicole, a nursing major, brought along her friend and roommate, Morgan Buck, and the two freshmen-to-be were giddy as they started to arrange their room on the fourth floor of McMindes Hall.

The girls became friends their senior year in high school and visited FHSU together. Both applied at other colleges but chose FHSU.

“We were kind of set on this last October,” Nicole said. “So here we are.”

They won’t have much chance to get homesick. Several more of their classmates also live in McMindes and a couple more in Wiest Hall. In fact, more than a dozen students from the last two graduating classes in Wray are now FHSU Tigers.

Ryan Glogau, Lawrence, is already considering Fort Hays State to pursue his education when he graduates from Lawrence Free State High School in 2017. That’s because he liked what he saw when his older brother, Eric, visited FHSU.

Ryan and his dad, Lee, were on hand Thursday to help Eric move into McMindes. Eric, who will be a freshman, wants to become a park ranger or game warden someday, and he plans to major in agriculture. Ryan is “into computer science.”

“He got to take a peek at that department when Eric came to visit, and he was impressed,” the Glogaus’ dad said. “Ryan also does marching band, so we’ll see.”

Like Nicole Dickson, Ky Smith from Dodge City knows several current Fort Hays State students.

She is a transfer from Dodge City Community College, and she and her mom, Amy Smith, were busy getting her settled into her room Thursday.

“I have a lot of friends who go here, and I visited and liked it,” said Ky, an education major. “I heard good things about the education department. I’m excited.”

While Ky appeared to be totally comfortable with the transition, Amy wasn’t so sure. An only child, Ky lived at home while attending DCCC.

“She’ll probably love it, and I’ll probably hate it,” Amy said. “I’m glad we’re not very far away.”

After the busy morning, new students were to begin participating that evening in Tiger Impact Fall Orientation Weekend, which features a variety of get-to-know-each-other activities.

“I’m excited,” Nicole Dickson said. “Hays has a small-town feel, but there’s still a lot to do.”

The full Tiger Impact schedule can be found online at www.fhsu.edu/fye/tiger-impact.

Photos: JAMES BELL, Hays Post

Video: RICKY KERR, Hays Post

Move-in day at Fort Hays State University began Wednesday, with members of the university faculty, staff and student workers helping get everyone organized and into their home for the next nine months. View some images and video from the day below.

Photos: JAMES BELL, Hays Post

Video: RICKY KERR, Hays Post

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

The streets of many Kansas communities will once again be buzzing this week with buses and kids on their way to back to school — and the Hays Police Department is reminding people to slow down, have patience and be on the lookout in school zones.

School Resource Officer Tim Dreiling with the Hays Police Department said during traffic times before and after school, police are encouraging motorists to pay extra attention for children getting on and off the bus and riding or walking to school.

“We have a lot of traffic that wasn’t on the road all summer,” Dreiling said “Now between 7:30 in the morning and 9, they’re delivering kids to school. Afternoon hours, it gets busy after 2:30 p.m.”

Dreiling added there will be many kids walking and biking to school early in the school year. And with the newly painted bike lanes, he anticpates more bicycle traffic on the roadways.

The bike path between 24th and 27th on Fort Street is one to pay particular attention to, according to Dreiling. The path is marked to allow bike traffic to travel in both directions.

“Be aware there could be a bicycle along that east curb coming in the other direction,” Dreiling said.

It is also illegal to pass a school bus that has the stop sign extended and its lights flashing.

Dreiling said school bus drivers will report motorists who break the law to the police.

For people dropping off their children at school, Dreiling said it’s important to drop them off at the curb so they do not have to walk across traffic.