There will be a special meeting of Ellis County Rural Water District 1-C next week in Antonino.
The board will fill both an open board position and a maintenance position.
The meeting will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13, at the Antonino church basement. Anyone interested in filling the board position is asked to attend the meeting.
The district serves areas of rural southwest Ellis County in the Antonino area and south of Munjor.
OAKLEY — 
K-State Research and Extension entities in Northwest Kansas are joining forces to offer Rancher Rules of Thumb, a workshop focused on taking a look at the rules of thumb ranchers often use to guide decisions on their operations.
The workshop, developed by the University of Wyoming in partnership with the USDA Risk Management Association, will go through rules collected over the last several years from ranchers all over the country, and help producers analyze which rules might make sense on their operation.
You’ll have three chances to catch this workshop:
All workshops will include meals.
The workshop will feature Bridger Feuz, University of Wyoming Livestock Marketing Specialist, as he takes a hard look at risk management strategies and economic rules for livestock operations.
K-State Research and Extension Specialist Keith Harmoney will present on grazing management, looking at various grazing strategies to promote sustainable pastures and increase livestock gains. Finally, Extension Specialist Justin Waggoner will present on herd management, covering information on utilizing body condition scoring as a management tool for developing rations.
Rancher Rules of Thumb is sponsored by USDA, K-State Research & Extension, Farmers State Bank – Oakley, and Farmers & Merchants Bank – Colby.
Thanks to our sponsors, all workshop locations will be free of charge. However, please RSVP to ensure a meal.
RSVP:
Oakley Location – Contact Clint Bain at (785) 743-6361 or email [email protected] or goldenprairie.ksu.edu
Atwood Location – Contact Stephanie Kramer at (785) 626-3192 or email [email protected]
Russell Location – Contact Clint Laflin at (785) 475-8121 or email [email protected]
This workshop is open to the public and there is no cost for admission. Online registration is requested by going to goldenprairie.ksu.edu
– SUBMITTED –
Hays High at Maize South
7pm Kickoff
Click below to listen:
By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
An Ellis man was sentenced to just shy of 24 years in prison for shooting another man in the back of the head during an argument.
Ryan Paul Thompson was sentenced Thursday in Ellis County District Court in the death of 26-year-old Diego Gallaway on Feb. 27 in Hays. He was also sentenced for drug distribution.
Thompson was sentenced to 272 months for second-degree intentional murder and 15 months for distribution of methamphetamine — a total of 287 months in prison. He had pleaded guilty of the counts in September.
On Feb. 27, Thompson and Kylie Waldschmidt went to the 2700 block of Indian Trail to talk with Gallaway when, according to court documents, Thompson put Gallaway in a headlock and fatally shot him in the back of the head.
Thompson was also ordered to pay the Gallaway family $13,694 in restitution for Gallaway’s funeral.
Waldschmidt has been charged with aiding and abetting felony first-degree murder. Her case is still pending in Ellis County District Court.
Alysha Meade, the woman who investigators said gave Thompson the gun used in the murder, was sentenced Monday to 15 months in prison for felony drug possession.
In September, she pleaded no contest to three misdemeanor charges: distribution of a firearm to a felon, possession of marijuana and interference with a law enforcement officer, as well as felony possession of methamphetamine.
The three misdemeanor counts total two and a half years in county jail, so if she violates her probation once she is out of jail, she can be sentenced to county jail.
CLARIFIED 3:20 p.m. Wednesday to clearly state charges.
The battle over the plant has lasted more than a decade. By the time the Kansas Supreme Court cleared the way for construction in 2017, a company involved in it called the chances it would be built “remote.”
Documents show the utility spearheading the project told regulators that “significant interest” remains in building the plant.
Hays-based Sunflower Electric Power Corp. asked for an 18-month extension of a key permit “to finalize arrangements” for its construction. State regulators renewed the permit until March 2020 and warned they would not allow more time.
Sunflower didn’t rule anything in or out this week.
Endorsement is highest designation a program can earnTOPEKA — Nineteen Parents as Teachers programs in Kansas, including Hays USD 489, have been designated Blue Ribbon Affiliates by the Parents as Teachers National Center, the Kansas State Department of Education announced.
This endorsement is the highest designation a Parents as Teachers program can earn and means the program implements the evidence-based Parents as Teachers model with fidelity and quality, according to the Parents as Teachers website.
The Parents as Teachers affiliate model includes home visits, group connections, child screenings and connections to community resources. It helps equip parents with the knowledge and resources to prepare their children for a strong start in life and greater success in school.
Parents as Teachers affiliates are required to engage in a quality endorsement and improvement process in their fourth year of implementation and every five years thereafter, according to parentsasteachers.org. To earn the quality endorsement, affiliates must complete a comprehensive self-study and review process that demonstrates they are meeting or exceeding Parents as Teachers essential requirements, along with at least 75 of the 100 quality standards.
“Programs that earn the Quality Endorsement are recognized by the national Parents as Teachers office as exemplary Blue Ribbon Affiliates, delivering high-quality services to children and families,” the Parents as Teachers website states.
The 2019-2020 Kansas Parents as Teachers Blue Ribbon Affiliates are:
o Also serving Turner USD 202, Fort Leavenworth USD 207, Leavenworth USD 453 and Kansas City USD 500.
o Also serving Rock Hills USD 107, Waconda USD 272, Lincoln USD 298 and Sylvan Grove USD 299.
o Also serving Washington County USD 108, Republic County USD 109, Clifton-Clyde USD 224 and Pike Valley USD 426.
o Also serving Halstead USD 440 and Hesston USD 460.
o Serving Doniphan West USD 111, Prairie Hills USD 113, Riverside USD 114, Holton USD 336, Valley Falls USD 338, Jefferson County North USD 339, Oskaloosa USD 341, McLouth USD 342, Perry USD 343, Seaman USD 345, Atchison County USD 377, Atchison USD 409, Troy USD 429, Easton USD 449, Shawnee Heights USD 450, Tonganoxie USD 464 and Eudora USD 491.
o Serving Erie-Galesburg USD 101, Piper-Kansas City USD 203, Spring Hill USD 230, Fort Scott USD 234, Uniontown USD 235, Lebo-Waverly USD 243, Burlington USD 244, LeRoy-Gridley USD 245, Northeast USD 246, Cherokee USD 247, Girard USD 248, Frontenac USD 249, Pittsburg USD 250, North Lyon County USD 251, Southern Lyon County USD 252, Emporia USD 253, Marmaton Valley USD 256, Iola USD 257, Humboldt USD 258, Chase County USD 284, Ottawa USD 290, Woodson USD 366, Riverton USD 404, Chanute USD 413, Morris County USD 417, Osage City USD 420, Santa Fe Trail USD 434, Caney Valley USD 436, Independence USD 446, Cherryvale USD 447, Burlingame USD 454, Marais Des Cygnes Valley USD 456, Neodesha USD 461, Crest USD 479, Fredonia USD 484, Columbus USD 493, Galena USD 499, Parsons USD 503, Oswego USD 504, Labette County USD 506 and Baxter Springs USD 508.
— Kansas State Department of Education
Hays Post
Ellis County has been awarded a $6.5 million grant to help fund the proposed Northwest Business Corridor, according to the office of Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Hays.
The county submitted an application for the U.S. Department of Transportation grant in July. The project will reconstruct and improve approximately 4 miles of 230th and Feedlot Road and construct a new curved section where the roads meet. The project primarily is designed to give large-load vehicles an alternate route around Hays.
The project would also address the width and steepness of the hills in the road.
The total project cost is just less than $11 million. Ellis County has set aside $900,000 for the project from its Special Road and Bridge Fund. Hess Services, which sits on the route, has pledged $300,000 to the project, while the Kansas Department of Transportation has pledged $1 million in matching funds.
Midwest Energy’s Goodman Energy Center is also located on the route.
The city of Hays also received a $6 million-plus BUILD grant to fund its Vine Street reconstruction.
“I am pleased to announce that I have helped secure a BUILD grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation that will provide new resources to improve the Northwest Business Corridor,” Moran said. “Congratulations to county officials and those across Ellis County for their commitment and dedication to the project. The resources provided in this grant will allow for increased economic development in the region and help existing businesses expand through improved infrastructure that has the capacity for more freight. I look forward to continuing to work in close partnership with officials in Ellis County to see the corridor project through completion for the future of the community and all of northwest Kansas.”
Moran toured the area with local officials in August to learn more about the project.
Check Hays Post for more as details become available.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
A tale as old as time debuts tonight at Thomas More Prep-Marian’s Dreiling Theatre with the performance of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”
Travis Grizzell, director, said this year’s fall musical has been so popular the school has added an extra performance. Show times will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday.
Madelyn Seiler, TMP-M sophomore, is playing the female lead of Belle. Grizzell said she has already had many years of experience in musical theater.
“I usually have singers who act or actors who sing, but she does both really well and has great stage instincts and is always prepared and well rehearsed,” he said. “She’s an amazing Belle!”
Lucas Kraus, who is playing the Beast, unfortunately has had laryngitis. He practiced in costume with the cast on Tuesday night with Grizzell voicing his parts. He was off vocal rest just in time for the cast’s first performance for Holy Family Elementary on Wednesday.
“He’s done an amazing job of preparing, so I knew he’d be fine,” Grizzell said.
Grizzell added “There are plenty of scene stealers in this one. The enchanted objects, the vain villain, his lackey, the bumbling but golden-hearted father or the macabre asylum director … they’re all here.”
The tale of “Beauty and the Beast” is a fable. The story tells of a vain prince who is turned into the Beast. The spell can only be broken by someone finding true love in him, Grizzell explained.
A trip to see Salina Community Theatre’s performance of “Beauty and the Beast” might have finally been the inspiration for Grizzell to tackle such an ambitious project.
“I took my drama class to Salina Community Theatre’s production, and it definitely got my ideas going as far as set and costumes if we tackled it one day,” he said. “I look at about every show imaginable each year before picking one, and I kept coming back to B&B and could really start to see this group making it happen.”
Grizzell said costumes where one of the biggest challenges for this production.
Lumiere’s candles light up, and Cogsworth’s hands and gears spin. The school rented a few of the costumes, some of which have been used on Broadway. Grizzell’s wife, Pam, has been among the crew helping with costumes.
” ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a show I’ve looked at for years and I finally gave in,” he said. “The costuming and set are major challenges, plus you’re up against a very well-known film and its iconic characters. Through very generous donations of time and money and talent, we’re in a position to pull it off, I think.”
Tickets can be ordered online by clicking here. Tickets can also be reserved by leaving a message at the Fine Arts Ticket Line: 785-621-5478. Tickets cost $8 each.
Lane Werth – Lumiere
Aakash Patel – Gaston
Tessa Befort
Ashley Steiner has joined NCK Tech as the student experience coordinator on the Hays campus. Her primary function will be to help current and prospective students at with their college experience.
“Ashley is highly energetic and a true team player,” said Sandy Gottschalk, vice president of the Hays campus. “The faculty and staff at NCK Tech are fortunate to have someone of her caliber onboard.”
Steiner holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from Fort Hays State University. She has extensive education experience including Kennedy Middle School, Roosevelt Elementary and, most recently, as the communications and marketing manager at Thomas More Prep-Marian.
— NCK-Tech
FHSU University Relations
The combined jazz ensembles of Fort Hays State University will perform in a concert of big band jazz in its annual Fall Jazz Concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, in the Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.
Playing music written for the Buddy Rich Band, Stan Kenton, Count Basie and several others, the ensembles will take audience members through the history of big band jazz. Music from the swing era as well as music written in the 21st century for contemporary bands will be played.
“This concert features a wide variety of big band music from bands at the beginning of the era to contemporary bands,” said Bradley Dawson, assistant professor of music at FHSU. “It is really an adventure in big band jazz history.”
Big band jazz has been around since before swing, which started in the mid 1930s and became popular with people always dancing to it across the United States. Some of the famous bands and leaders of the time included Basie, Kenton, Benny Goodman and Glen Miller, said Dawson.
“This music is purely American,” he said. “Jazz began in America with European, African and Latin American influences.”
During the concert, both drummers in Jazz 1, Brandon Jones, senior from Abiliene majoring in music, and August Phlieger, junior from Natoma majoring in information networking and telecommunications, will be featured. Other members of the bands will also have solos throughout the concert.
“We’ve had lots of students graduate in the last few years, so there are a lot of new, young musicians in the band,” said Dawson. “They are very promising and getting better all the time.”
Admission to the concert is free.
“This is a great opportunity for jazz fans to hear music that they rarely get to hear live,” said Dawson. “If you went to hear the Falconaires and enjoyed their music, then you should come hear our band!”
By JAMES BELL
Hays Post
A La Crosse man was arrested in Hays after reportedly threatening to cut the throat of a local resident and kill his dog after being asked to leave his property.
Just before 1 a.m. Nov. 3, officers were dispatched to the 400 block of East 12th for a report of a disturbance, according to Hays Police Chief Don Scheibler.
The resident reported two males were wrestling in the front yard of the home. When he asked them to leave, one of the men — later identified as Christian D. Suppes-Trimmer, 18, La Crosse, allegedly threatened cut the property owners throat and kill his dog.
When officers arrived, they searched the area and located Suppes-Trimmer, who then fled the scene.
After briefly losing sight of him, officers located him near the railroad tracks, but he refused to comply with police commands, Scheibler said.
After a brief foot chase, Suppes-Trimmer stopped running and turned toward the officers, but still refused to get on the ground.
Officers pulled tasers and informed Suppes-Trimmer they would be used if he continued to ignore commands.
He then allowed officers to approach, but as they attempted to secure him with handcuffs he once again began to struggle, Scheibler said.
He was then placed under arrest without further incident on suspicion of criminal threat, interference with a law enforcement officer, battery on a law enforcement officer, and possession of alcohol by a minor.
The other individual at the scene was cooperative with police and was not arrested.
“The Hays Police Department is thankful to the Ellis County Sheriff’s office for assistance during the investigation,” Scheibler said, noting suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
I am also very grateful for the strong military focus of Fort Hays State University. We not only serve members of every branch of the military, but through the efforts of Dr. Seth Kastle, (retired Army Reserve) of our faculty, and Kelsi Broadway, a Navy veteran and a member of the university staff, we have a clear understanding of the needs and responsibilities of our men and women in uniform. In fact, we have been named a Top Military-Friendly University for both our undergraduate and graduate programs.
A great example of our exemplary military-friendly initiatives is our Associate of Applied Science in Technology and Leadership, with an emphasis in leadership studies. This is the only degree of its kind specifically developed for service members. Developed in partnership with the U.S. Army and the Kansas Board of Regents Credit for Military Alignment initiative, FHSU offers enough course credit for training and experience that service members may only be required to take as few as eight classes to earn this degree.
In one year, service members can earn both an associate’s degree and simultaneously a Certificate in Leadership Studies. Once completed, a Bachelor of Science in Organizational Leadership can be earned in two additional years, and a Master of Professional Studies with a concentration in leadership studies in a fourth year. This program provides the opportunity for our service members to earn four credentials in four years!
As a student-focused university, we are always thinking about ways to be more effective in supporting our students. The Green Zone Initiative is an excellent example. This faculty and staff professional development program educates participants about the challenges and at-risk behaviors of student veterans. Our Military Focus Committee works to improve the military-connected student experience at FHSU by seeking out new ways to support the unique needs of this student population. In all aspects of student life, from financial support services to counseling and mentoring, the Military Focus Committee strives to enrich the student experience for the FHSU military-connected community.
Additionally, our military-friendly policies protect enrolled students from financial hardship should they be required to deploy or are activated. We are pioneers in using the Kansas Board of Regents Credit for Military Alignment Initiative, which increases the amount of military training and experience that directly translates to major-specific hours in many degree programs.
Our specialized staff are trained to assist with federal and state tuition assistance, VA benefits, and unofficial transcript analysis before students apply for admission. This promotes informed decision making and guides navigation through the admission, application, and degree processes. We also understand the sacrifices made by family members and offer services and support to meet their educational needs. For more information about military student services please visit our web site: https://www.fhsu.edu/military/index.
We also have a very active Student Veterans Association. One of its top priorities is to fund scholarships for military students. The SVA also works to unite the military-connected students at FHSU and to provide support and camaraderie among its members.
Last month we opened a new office on campus for the Kansas Army National Guard. This office will provide members of the Fort Hays State community with information on the educational and professional benefits of enlisting in the Kansas National Guard.
Our care and commitment go deeper than just working with enrolled students. The Community Access Point, for example, is a partnership between FHSU and the Manhattan Area Veteran Center. This partnership allows any military-connected person within commutable distance from Hays to seek out free behavioral health, mental health, or marriage counseling without having to be a part of the VA system or affiliated with FHSU.
Of course, as a leader in distance education, our strong online programming allows service members to take classes anywhere with an internet connection. In fact, I once took a call from a student in the Navy calling me from a submarine off the coast of Japan!
I am looking forward to the Veterans Day celebration on campus in the Memorial Union’s Sunset Atrium at 11:11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 11. The program will include student veteran speaker Joe Gunderson, a Hays graduate student. Taps will be played by university band member Abbey Hirsch, a senior from Abilene. Refreshments will be served.
I also urge you to think about other meaningful ways to express your gratitude to our veterans, including hanging a flag in your yard; adopting a military family for the holidays; thank veterans for their service – perhaps serve them a treat; ask a veteran about their time in their military; ask them to share with you the song that most takes them back; gather with friends and watch a patriotic movie; take flowers to a veteran’s grave; or simply say a silent prayer for those who will spend their day serving all of us.
At Fort Hays State University, we don’t simply enroll military students, we embrace them, learn from them, and serve them. My brother would be proud of our commitment to serve those who serve us and to help enrich their lives as they have enriched ours.
