After showing a commercial property to a prospective buyer, a Hays real estate agent said she was “shocked” to find her vehicle had been burglarized in broad daylight.
After showing the former Home Party Club in the 200 block of West 10th on Thursday evening, Jennyfer Toepfer of Williams Real Estate said she went to her vehicle to call the owner about turning lights off in the building. She then went back inside to turn out the lights.
“During that two-minute period I was inside, she took my purse in broad daylight and my daughter’s bag,” Toepfer said. “As soon as I got back in my car, I reached for (the purse) … and I realized instantly it was gone.”
She said the incident occurred at approximately 7:20 p.m. Thursday.
“I was extremely shocked that would happen,” she added. “I consider this a safe place to live, and I’d never expect something like that.”
Toepfer said she filed a police report Thursday evening, noting the loss was in the range of “several hundred dollars.”
She is hopeful, however, that security camera footage she said captured the incident will aid in the investigation. On Friday, she submitted an excerpt of the security camera feed she shot on her smartphone while reviewing the tapes with the building owner.
“I’m sure someone out there knows who she is,” she said.
Anyone with information about this or any other criminal activity can call the Hays Police Department at (785) 625-1030.
Restaurateur “Pasta Jay” Elowsky – whose restaurant Pasta Jay’s will anchor a 12-storefront retail development at 43rd and Vine – is getting ready for his new location in Hays, set to occur mid-to-late spring.
Jay Elowsky, daughter Josie and son Jay Wyatt.
The restaurant will offer a wide variety of Italian fare and will be the fourth location for the small chain, with others located in Moab, Utah; Boulder, Colo.; and Lone Tree, Colo.
While the model will be the same as the other locations, it will also be tailored to Hays, Elowsky said.
“Steaks” came to mind, as he currently offers a 16-ounce New York strip and a 12-ounce baseball-cut sirloin in his Boulder location.
“I imagine those will be transferred down there,” he said.
But for Jay, his restaurants are more than a place for people to eat.
“We like to be involved in the community,” he said. “Customers and employees are like family.”
“Our best marketing tool is the food we service,” Jay said, noting his strong desire to make his restaurants “a place you can call home.”
The business is likely to create around 50 jobs and will be completely staffed locally after training by three or four people from outside locations, Elowsky said.
Developer Stephen Tebo of Tebo Properties is spearheading the development and originally reached out to Jay suggesting the Hays market would be a good fit for a new location.
For more on Pasta Jay’s, including company history and menus, click HERE.
Crews from area fire departments completed rescue training Monday for trench cave-in scenarios east of the Hays Water Plant, 1000 Vine. The training, sponsored by the Kansas Fire and Training Rescue Institute, covered everything from site prep, how to use equipment, and securing trench walls.
“It’s a specialized training,” said Hays Fire Department Deputy Chief Ryan Hagans. “It’s an important aspect of what we do, because this type of training can be utilized for somewhere else, say a building collapse where we have to shore up walls to make a tunnel to someone.”
According to Hagans, participants include the HFD, City of Ellis Fire Department, Ellis County Rural Fire Department, and City of Victoria Fire Department. These four groups make up the Northwest Kansas Regional Technical Rescue Team, a group responsible for rescue operations in the 17 counties of northwest Kansas.
The group meets on a quarterly basis and once a year with the KFRTI to go over certain disciplines of technical rescue.
LE SUEUR, Minn. – The Moose Lake (MN) Outlaws scored eight runs in the fifth inning then added five more in the sixth to rally past the Hays Monarchs 14-4 in six innings at the American Legion Central Plains Regional Thursday afternoon. The loss snaps the Monarchs (28-8) six-game winning streak giving them a 1-1 record in pool play. They must now wait to see if they advance to the single-elimination bracket play on Friday.
Moose Lake plays Rancho (NV) at 11:30 a.m. Friday. If Moose Lake wins, the Monarchs advance. If Rancho wins, tie-breakers will be used to determine which two teams advance out of the pool.
The Monarchs scored three in the bottom of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead. Ricky Hockett and Liam Stults both drove in runs with a double. Stults later scored in a Jared Vitztum single.
Ryan Ruder takes the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings.
Bartholomew J. Daley, 34, Fort Worth, Texas, was arrested by Hays police following an incident in which an anonymous male reported a local bank branch was going to be robbed. The robbery never occurred, but Daley, accused of making the call, has a history of alleged criminal activity stretching from North Dakota to Texas.
Daley
In the last few years, according to reports, Daley has been arrested, investigated and sued in various states and counties.
Those include a case in Sedgwick County where he was found guilty of felony theft, according to Georgia Cole, spokeswomen for the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office.
Sentencing for that case is scheduled for Sept. 1.
Daley and others allegedly ran a long-term construction scam around the Wichita area, offering asphalt work at a significantly reduced price for cash up front, but rarely completed the work.
Daley has also been implicated in a civil case filed by Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt in a case stemming from complaints from Kansas consumer affairs alleging “defendants included failing to complete promised work after receiving payment in full, failing to provide consumers with a three day right to cancel the transaction as required by law, not providing consumers with refunds due and making false representations about the work that would be done. In addition, the defendants failed to respond to investigators and left the state,” according to a media release by Schmidt’s office.
The suit was filed in May in Shawnee County District Court against Daley, and others doing business as Pave All Asphalt Paving, Pave-A-Lot and Daley Contracting.
The lawsuit seeks $112,000 in civil penalties, court costs and investigative fees, and restitution for the named consumers. The attorney general alleges transactions occurred in Ellis, Gove, McPherson, Ness, Ottawa, Riley, Saline and Sedgwick counties.
Daley had been implicated in a similar scam in North Dakota in 2010, doing business as B.D. Sealcoating.
The Better Business Bureau had issued an alert for Daley this year, as well.
“This business first came to the BBB’s attention in late March 2015,” according to the BBB website. “Consumers allege that Bud Daley a/k/a Bartholomew J. Daley came to their homes and stated that he works for Pave A Lot, and wanted to do asphalt paving. Upon agreeing to the asphalt work, consumers allegedly reported that Mr. Daley persuaded them to pay funds upfront by stating that he does not have the funds to purchase needed materials since all of his additional funds are going toward the care of an ill child.”
School starts soon for local students and First Call for Help is again providing free backpacks filled with school supplies for low income families in Ellis County.
Those who registered for Backpacks for Kids, are picking them up today until 6p.m. in the Hays Hadley Center, 205 E. Seventh, on the first floor.
Coordinator Laura Shoaff expects more than 600 backpacks will be given away this year.
“We do a pre-K, a (grades) 1 through 5, a 6 through 8, and then high school backpacks. So those kids will all be getting the same supplies according to their grade level. It’ll all be age-appropriate and off the school lists in Hays, Victoria and Ellis,” Shoaff explained.
Personal hygiene items, including soap, shampoo, and toothpaste and toothbrushes, are also included.
If there are any backpacks left over Thursday, Shoaff said the remaining ones will be available for pick-up Friday morning from 8 until noon in the same location.
First Call for Help has organized the Backpacks for Kids program for more than 12 years.
Nex-Tech and Nex-Tech Wireless in Hays have jointly helped solicit donations of school supplies for the project the past eight years. Jenny Leiker, Nex-Tech senior marketing analyst and Corrina Hudsonpillar, Nex-Tech Wireless marketing supervisor, delivered two full vans of supplies to FCFH which were sorted and packed into the backpacks by other volunteers.
“When we first started doing this program, we would take the (school supplies) list and put everything on there and sometimes we would get 500 boxes of crayons and 2 sticks of glue. So the last few years we started organizing the list into the ‘Most Needed’ items and put those at the top of the list. Then we have the ‘Also Needed’ items at the bottom of the list.” Leiker said.
“They need all of it but it varies from year to year. They might have a surplus of one thing and too little of another. We work with First Call for Help each year to make the list just right for what they need that year and I think that really helps them get the right amount of supplies,” she added.
“We are local companies and this is just one way we can give back to this community and the people that we serve,” said Hudson-Pillar.
“I’m really excited about the donations we’ve received,” said Shoaff. “We’ve also had a lot of churches that have helped supply things for us. Dentists and orthodontists in the area have been very gracious in donating most of the toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss for the hygiene packs that go in the backpacks.” Area service clubs also made cash donations.
“Having the new supplies like everyone else has puts everybody on the same playing level, and helps those kids get excited in families that might be struggling right now and not have the money for new school supplies.
“It’s very appreciated by the kids and families,” Shoaff said.
Donations to Nex-Tech and Nex-Tech Wireless are delivered.
HENDERSON, Minn. — The Hays Monarchs Sr. American Legion scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to break a 2-2 tie and beat the Rancho (Nev.) Post 8 Rams 7-2 in their opener Thursday morning at the American Legion Central Plains Regional in Henderson.
Jared Vitztum opened the big inning with a double and scored the go-ahead run on Justin Pfeifer’s RBI double. Braiden Werth followed with a two-run double, then Jordan Gottschalk hit a two-run homer.
Kameron Schmidt went the distance for the win, allowing two runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts and two walks.
Vitztum led the Monarchs 13-hit attack by going 3-for-4 with three runs scored. Gottschalk, Ryan Schippers and Ryan Ruder all had two hits.
The Monarchs have now won six straight and 13 of their last 14 to improve to 28-7 on the season. They can secure a spot in Friday’s bracket play with a win in their final pool play game against the Moose Lake (Minn.) Outlaws, which is scheduled for 1:30 Thursday afternoon.
You can hear the game on KFIX (96.9-FM) or by clicking on the following link. Listen live
The game also will be streamed live on HaysPost.com.
Dr. Sambhundh “Sam” Panichabhongse of Russell, at far left, is pictured at the Thai embassy in Chicago on July 25, receiving the silver medal of the Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn. Pictured at center is another Thai physician; and, at far right, is the Thai consul. Courtesy photo.
Russell County News
RUSSELL — On July 25, Russell Regional Hospital physician Dr. Sambhundh Panichabhongse, Russell, who is a native of Thailand, was awarded the silver medal of the Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn.
The medal was presented to Dr. Sam by the Thai consul at the Thai Embassy in Chicago by royal decree of King Rama IX of Thailand for Dr. Sam’s “Devotional Service to the Kingdom.”
Since 1998, Dr. Sam has been traveling to Thailand to perform medical missionary work for the people there. His many years of such service were recognized by King Rama IX as worthy of the medal.
The Most Admirable Order of the Direkgunabhorn was established by King Rama IX, July 22, 1991, to be bestowed upon those who have rendered devotional services to the Kingdom of Thailand.
There are seven classes of medals which are awarded by King Rama IX to those people deemed worthy of this honor. Dr. Sam received a silver medal of the seventh class.
Dr. Sam, during his missionary visits to Thailand, has performed many kinds of medical service, including surgery and work to improve sanitation in the schools.
Dr. Sam was accompanied to Chicago by his wife, Ladamard; daughter Pearl Panichpong Limson and husband Melvin Limson; Pearl’s daughter, Cataleeya; Bonnie Thompson, nurse at the Russell Regional Hospital Physician’s Clinic; and Michele Pellant, director of health information management at Russell Regional Hospital.
At 9:38 a.m. July 29, the Hays Police Department received an anonymous phone call from a male informing the department that a Hays Sunflower Bank branch, 4720 Roth, was going to be robbed by two males.
Officers responded to the call to secure the bank and the area, according to HPD Chief Don Scheibler.
During the investigation, Bartholomew J. Daley, 34, Fort Worth, Texas, was arrested in the 4600 block of Roth at 10:16 a.m. July 29 for a warrant out of Greenwood County and later found to be the source of the call, according to Scheibler.
Daley was arrested on suspicion of interference with law enforcement, Scheibler said.
A proposal for a new travel plaza off Interstate 70 in Hays was removed from the Hays City Commission work session agenda Wednesday.
According to Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty, the agenda item was pulled at the developers’ request due to potential changes in the application.
If the change in minor and easily explainable, Dougherty said the item could resurface at the Aug. 20 work session. If it is more substantial, the proposal would likely be pushed back to the Sept. 3 commission work session.
Click HERE for details of the project as they appeared on the initial agenda for Thursday evening’s work session and HERE for the revised agenda.
Hays city commissioners will review a development proposal Thursday evening for the Big Creek Travel Plaza.
Michael Woofter of NWK Investments, Colby, wants to develop 23 acres of land at the northwest corner of 230th Avenue and 55th Street. The area would have to be annexed into the city and also have municipal infrastructure extended to it.
The developer wants the city to allow two funding incentives—a Tax Increment Finance (TIF) district and a Community Improvement District (CID)–to help finance the $28 million project, and to create the necessary water, sewer, and street infrastructure.
According to Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty, the requested incentives may amount to $21 million over 22 years. The developer has offered to finance, construct, and oversize the infrastructure.
Dougherty said city staff has given the proposal a favorable recommendation to commissioners.
“If this project is developed as it is presented, the city will receive added sales tax monies. We looked at direct costs and direct revenues and the project does pan out even with the incentives,” Dougherty said.
The project would create a travel plaza, restaurants and hotel on the property.
In addition to increased sales taxes, Dougherty said there are other benefits to the community at large with the proposed water main improvements, which would create additional water sales tax. Transient guest tax revenues would also increase.
The new property taxes would be used for the TIF for the first few years, Dougherty added.
NWK Investments expects the project would create 69 full-time and 46 part-time jobs.
Click here to read the proposal for Big Creek Travel Plaza.
The Ellis County Department of Emergency Management hosted a basic public information officer training course last Wednesday at the Ellis County Emergency Operations Center. The day-long course, designed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is intended to allow new PIOs the opportunity to get an understanding of proper media relations and information disclosure procedures.
PIOs span a wide range of professions, from hospital spokespeople to law enforcement and public safety personnel.
Along with the curriculum, students were also visited by a panel of media professionals. Becky Kiser of Eagle Communications/Hays Post; Mike Corn of the Hays Daily News newspaper; and Callie Kolacny, former Eagle Radio reporter and current director of marketing with Smoky Hills Public Television, met with PIOs from across the region to address concerns about media needs and expectations.
“We always appreciate the local media coming to participate,” said Bill Ring, Ellis County Emergency Management Coordinator. “It’s nice to have that interaction away from the scene (of an emergency).”
The Ellis County course takes place once a year, catering mostly to PIOs from northwest Kansas. Courses are offered statewide year-round.
Work has begun at Long John Silver’s, 3380 Vine, in the conversion of the location into the home of both Long John Silver’s and A&W offerings.
The chain restaurant has a long history and an international presence.
The chain began in 1919 and became the first franchise system in the country when it began selling franchise rights in 1923.
Eric Estes, owner of the location and the nearby Qdoba, is excited for the opportunity to expand in the location.
A&W is “nostalgic,” he said, and even with other fast food options in Hays A&W will add something unique to the area.
LJS will remain open, save for a few days for training, as work continues on site with an expected reopening with the A&W offerings in early September, according to Estes.
Once the remodel is complete, both sides of the business will run separate systems, with an increased work force.
While there will be separate kitchen areas, orders will be processed through one cashier, Estes said.
“Everyone will keep their basic menu,” he said.
The area between LJS and Qudoba could receive an upgrade, as well, as a pet-friendly rest area is being considered in the open area between the establishments, but those plans are still preliminary and tentative.
With the opening of both restaurants in one location, close to the interstate, and in a well traveled area of town, Estes sees no downside to the development.
“Everybody does win on this one,” he said.
Clarification: The A&W chain previously operated in Hays on Eighth Street in decades past.
