By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

It was a rainy spring weekend in Hays.

Rainfall measurements recorded at the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town were 0.13 on Friday and another 0.63 Saturday evening for a weekend total of just over three-quarters of an inch.

So far in May Hays has had 3.26 inches of rain. The year-to-date moisture total is 6.89 inches.

The weather forecast from the National Weather Service in Dodge City is calling for rain through Thursday.

A Flash Flood Watch is in effect from 1 p.m. Monday through early Tuesday afternoon for Ellis and Rush counties.

OFFICE OF REP. MARSHALL

“Join me in congratulating Ethan Beckman for his winning submission for the “I Like Ike” Congressional Art Competition through my Washington, D.C. office,” said Congressman Roger Marshall (R-Great Bend) in a news release.

“Ethan, a junior at Wheatland High School in Grainfield, submitted his original piece honoring our 34th president, Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Ethan’s submission, titled “American Hero” depicts solider, Dwight D Eisenhower, in front of an American flag and will be hanging in the capitol for the next year.

“Great work, Ethan!”

 

Last week’s inspection results from the Kansas Department of Agriculture:

 

 

 

IHOP 4000 General Hays Rd., Hays – May 17

An inspection following a complaint found no violations.

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Econolodge 3503 Vine, Hays – May 15

A follow-up inspection found no violations.

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Gutch’s Bar & Grill 111 West Seventh, Hays – May 15

A joint inspection found two violations.

• In the kitchen make table, there was a container of made-in-house Dill Cream Sauce with no date of when it was made.
• In the Pepsi cooler, there was a container of commercially made cheesecake that was pulled from the freezer and did not have a date present.

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Holiday Inn Express & Suites 4650 Roth Ave., Hays – May 15

A joint inspection found one violation.

• In the drawer under the prep table, there was a rubber spatula that had imperfections present along the head of the spatula.

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City of Hays

The Hays Area Planning Commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.

The agenda is available here.

Submitted

It is often said that Kansas railroads would either make or break a town. One might wonder, what were the factors that contributed to both?

In western Kansas during the mid 1880’s, several railroad companies were seeking to provide rail service to the newly populated area along and north of the south fork of the Solomon River. One such company was the Missouri Pacific.

They had plans lay track from Salina all the way to Colorado, via the Plainville Branch. This branch was to continue west of Plainville and end at Colby, connecting via a short line to Oakley, then on west to Colorado. It was along this Plainville Branch, that Nicodemus would have been targeted to receive the railroad and a depot.

This year’s theme for the third-annual “Nicodemus Spring Chautauqua” is all about the railroads and why they by-passed Nicodemus. The event will be from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday May 25 in Nicodemus. You’ll be entertained during the day with characters from this historically pivotal past. You’ll hear from characters like the railroad surveyor and engineer, business owners, politicians, attorney, newspaper editor, frustrated homesteaders and cowboys, to  J.P. Pomeroy – Kansas railroad tycoon,  philanthropist, and Hill City founder.

The annual Chautauqua was conceived with the idea to bring life to the history of Nicodemus, through various historical periods, events, and people. Last year’s Chautauqua featured various characters and their individual stories. This year’s theme is all about the railroads and to shed light on why they by-passed Nicodemus, so the characters that are presented will be sharing their part in this dynamic story.

We often wonder what Nicodemus would have been like if the Union Pacific had laid track through the town. Would it have thrived and even surpassed the county seat of Hill City?  We wonder why the decision was to lay tracks four miles south of the Solomon River?  What was the role of Kansas railroad tycoon and philanthropist, J.P. Pomeroy and how was his influence used? 

Why were businesses lured away, and the banker did not support the decision to secure the railroad at Nicodemus?  What was the role of the newspapers and why was W.R. Hill the owner of both Nicodemus and Hill City papers? These are only a few questions that beg answers as we look at the dynamic of the railroads and their interest in laying track through Nicodemus. We hope to address these and other interesting issues during the May 25 Chautauqua.

Other related railroad stories and history will be shared, such as the killing at the Bogue Depot and the Nicodemus men who worked on the railroad as mail sorters, chefs and porters.

An exhibit of oil paintings of railroad depots along the ‘Plainville Branch’ through Rooks and Graham counties by artist Mike Boss will be on display before and during the event.  Free food and refreshments in the theme of the railroads will be provided by Walmart of Hays.

Period music will entertain you by the Hays High Plains Barbershop Chorus, and throughout the performances the New Nicodemus Old Timers will tickle your ears and maybe even motivate you to get up and dance during intermissions.

For more information, call 785-839-4233 or 785-839-8200.

Sponsored by the Nicodemus Historical Society, Nicodemus National Historic Site and Walmart of Hays.

CITY OF HAYS

The reconstruction of Elm Street between 4th and 6th Streets in Hays will begin on Mon., May 20.

Elm Street will be closed to traffic between 4th and 6th Streets for approximately three months.

This is part of the larger project to reconstruct portions of Ash Street, 4th Street and Elm Street near Lewis Field Stadium.

Signs will be in place to direct the traveling public. The traveling public should use caution and if possible avoid areas of construction.

The City of Hays regrets any inconvenience this may cause to the public.

If there are any questions, please call the Office of Project Management at 628-7350 or the contractor, Morgan Brothers Construction at 432-3104 or 394-1777.

Junior High Student Council Officers Arin Schibi, Jenna Schlyer, MyKayla Romme and Jensen Brull presented Mrs. Paula Flesher, Director of the Cancer Council of Ellis County, a check for $918.91 that the students contributed to the Coins for Cancer Campaign.

Mr. Troy Ruda, Advancement Director for TMP-Marian, received a check for $500 for the Thomas More Society from the Junior High Student Council Officers Arin Schibi, Jenna Schlyer, MyKayla Romme, and Jensen Brull (not pictured).

“Student Council worked extremely hard in order to be able to perform these acts of service to the county as well as the school,” TMP-M said on its website. “There is no greater reward than watching our students give back.”

Monday Showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 10am. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. High near 54. Windy, with an east wind 15 to 25 mph, with gusts as high as 36 mph. Chance of precipitation is 100%. New rainfall amounts between 1 and 2 inches possible.

Expected rainfall amounts for Monday afternoon and evening through Tuesday night with a flash flood watch in effect for the same time frame. pic.twitter.com/BZMDpEAcfj

— NWS Dodge City (@NWSDodgeCity) May 19, 2019

Monday Night Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some storms could be severe, with heavy rain. Low around 51. Breezy, with an east wind 16 to 24 mph, with gusts as high as 34 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.

Tuesday A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm, then a slight chance of showers between 1pm and 4pm, then a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms after 4pm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rain. Cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly sunny, with a high near 71. Very windy, with an east wind 21 to 30 mph becoming south in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 41 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%.

Tuesday Night A slight chance of thunderstorms before 7pm. Partly cloudy, with a low around 47. Windy, with a southwest wind 23 to 28 mph decreasing to 10 to 15 mph in the evening. Winds could gust as high as 38 mph. Chance of precipitation is 10%.

WednesdaySunny, with a high near 80.

Wednesday NightA 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 61.

ThursdayA 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. Breezy.

YODER — Fifty-nine new law enforcement officers graduated from the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC) on May 10. U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran was the speaker for the ceremony in KLETC’s Integrity Auditorium.

 The new officers were members of the 255th basic training class at the center. Located one mile west and one mile south of Yoder, near Hutchinson, the center is a division of University of Kansas Professional & Continuing Education.

 The graduates, who began their training Feb. 4, represented 43 municipal, county and state law enforcement agencies from across Kansas.

Graduates receive certificates of course completion from KLETC and Kansas law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training, the state’s law enforcement licensing authority. The training course fulfills the state requirement for law enforcement training. Classroom lectures and hands-on applications help train officers to solve the increasingly complex problems they face in the line of duty.

 Established by the Kansas Legislature in 1968, the center trains the majority of municipal, county and state law enforcement officers in Kansas and oversees the training of the remaining officers at seven authorized and certified academy programs operated by local law enforcement agencies and the Kansas Highway Patrol.

 About 300 officers enroll annually in KLETC 14-week basic training programs. The center offers continuing education and specialized training to over 10,000 Kansas officers each year.

 Graduates who granted permission to release their names are listed below by county and agency.

 Ellis County

Fort Hays State University Police Department in Hays – Eric Gerard, patrol officer

Norton County

Norton Police Department in Norton – Kaleb Tuxhorn, patrol officer

Atchison County

Atchison Police Department in Atchison – Thomas Moore, patrol officer

 Barber County

Medicine Lodge Police Department in Medicine Lodge – Jerry Swart, patrol officer

 Brown County

Iowa Tribal Police Department in White Cloud – Nicholas Hilderbrand, patrol officer

 Butler County

Rose Hill Police Department in Rose Hill – Stephen Frahm, patrol officer

Butler County Sheriff’s Office in El Dorado – Solomon Snowbarger, deputy

 Cherokee County

Galena Police Department in Galena – Kyle West, patrol officer

 Cowley County

Winfield Police Department in Winfield – Stephen Linarez, patrol officer

 Crawford County

Pittsburg Police Department in Pittsburg – Nicholas Cook and Aaron Jarvis, patrol officers

 Douglas County

University of Kansas Police Department in Lawrence – Eli Hodge, patrol officer

 Finney County

Garden City Police Department in Garden City – Ofelia Aguero and Julian Garcia, patrol officers

 Ford County

Ford County Sheriff’s Department in Dodge City – Morris Jones, deputy

Dodge City Police Department in Dodge City – Dominic Randall, patrol officer

 Franklin County

Ottawa Police Department in Ottawa – Holly Ewert, patrol officer

 Geary County

Junction City Police Department in Junction City – Zachary Mitchell, patrol officer

 Greeley County

Greeley County Sheriff’s Office in Tribune – Garrett Wright, patrol officer

 Kingman County

Kingman Police Department in Kingman – Casey Goble, patrol officer

 Kiowa County

Kiowa County Sheriff’s Department in Greensburg – Preston Capansky, deputy

 Leavenworth County

Leavenworth Police Department in Leavenworth – Jordan Green, Paul Lednicky and Joshua Parrott, patrol officers

Tonganoxie Police Department in Tonganoxie – Eric Janesko, patrol officer

 Marion County

Marion County Sheriff’s Department in Marion – Mason Hinz, deputy

 Marshall County

Blue Rapids Police Department in Blue Rapids – Christopher Flood, patrol officer

Marysville Police Department in Marysville – Bryant Frerking, patrol officer

 Miami County

Miami County Sheriff’s Office in Paola – Willis Miller, patrol officer

Miami County Sheriff’s Office in Paola – Dylan Yinger, deputy

Paola Police Department in Paola – Mitchell Gabbert and Keith Myers, patrol officers

 Mitchell County

Beloit Police Department in Beloit – Andrew Mai, patrol officer

 Montgomery County

Independence Police Department in Independence – Richard Sherley, patrol officer

 Pottawatomie County

Pottawatomie County Sheriff’s Office in Westmoreland – Cody Smith, patrol officer

 Reno County

Hutchinson Police Department in Hutchinson – Trevor Nobbs, patrol officer

 Riley County

Riley County Police Department in Manhattan – Kathryn Bunnell, Matthew Horne, Leland O’Brien, James Scotti and Raymond Springer, patrol officers

 Saline County

Salina Police Department in Salina – Joshua Groot, Alyssa Rivera and Kyle Truitt, patrol officers

Saline County Sheriff’s Office in Salina – Kevin Shankle, deputy

 Sedgwick County

Derby Police Department in Derby – Gabriel Gutierrez, patrol officer

 Shawnee County

Kansas Bureau of Investigation in Topeka – Jamie Funk, special agent

Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office in Topeka – Luke Williams, deputy

 Wyandotte County

University of Kansas Medical Center Police Department in Kansas City – Adam Drybread and Hanif Gray, patrol officers

Wyandotte County Sheriff’s Department in Kansas City – Stephen Dyer and William Green, deputies.

 

FHSU University Relations

With speech and language disorders ranking among the most common disabilities in children, Fort Hays State University’s Herndon Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic encourages parents to learn the signs of trouble for May’s Better Hearing and Speech Month.

FHSU’s Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders encourages parents and caregivers to learn the signs and seek an evaluation if they have concerns about their child’s ability to communicate.

“Development of strong communication skills is extremely important, and parents anxiously await their child’s first words,” says an information bulletin from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

“Yet, common misconceptions remain. One is that children generally ‘grow out’ of speech or language difficulties, but unfortunately this mistaken impression too often delays treatment.”

Speech and language disorders are evaluated and treated by speech-language pathologists. Speech is the ability to produce speech sounds using the mouth, lips and tongue, while language is the ability to use and put words together, and to understand others’ words.

Difficulties in speech may include the child saying sounds the wrong way, repeating sounds and words, or is difficult to understand. Difficulties in language may include difficulty understanding questions, following directions or naming objects. Early speech and language treatment sets a child up for future school and social success.

“Good communication skills are critical, helping with behavior, learning, reading, social skills and friendships,” says the ASHA bulletin. “It is much easier, more effective, and less costly to treat speech and language disorders early, and May is a great time to educate parents on this important point.”

Warning signs to watch for in young children, as suggested by the Herndon Clinic:

·        Does not babble (4 to 7 months).
·        Makes only a few sounds or gestures, like pointing (7 to 12 months).
·        Does not understand what others say (7 months to 2 years).
·        Says only a few words (12 to 18 months).
·        Says p, b, m, h and w incorrectly in words (1 to 2 years).
·        Words are not easily understood (18 months to 2 years).
·        Does not put words together to make sentences (1.5 to 3 years).
·        Says k, g, f, t, d and n incorrectly in words (2 to 3 years).
·        Produces speech that is unclear, even to familiar people (2 to 3 years).
·        Repeating first sounds of words, like “b-b-b-ball” for “ball” (any age).
·        Stretching out sounds such as “ffffffarm” for “farm” (any age).

Warning signs in school-aged children:

·        Has trouble following directions.
·        Has problems reading and writing.
·        Does not always understand what others say.
·        Is not understood by others.
·        Has trouble talking about thoughts or feelings.

Tips for parents from the Herndon Clinic to encourage a child’s communication development:

For young children:

·        Talk, read and play with your child.
·        Listen and respond to what your child says.
·        Talk with your child in the language that you are most comfortable using.
·        Teach your child to speak another language, if you speak one.
·        Talk about what you do and what your child does during the day.
·        Use a lot of different words with your child.
·        Use longer sentences as your child gets older.
·        Have your child play with other children.

For elementary-aged children:

·        Have your child retell stories and talk about their day.
·        Talk with your child about what you do during the day. Give them directions to follow.
·        Talk about how things are the same and how things are different.
·        Give your child chances to write.
·        Read every day. Find books or magazines that interest your child.

“Although treatment ideally begins early – in the toddler years – it is never too late to get treatment,” said Breanna Taylor, assistant clinical coordinator of the Herndon Clinic and an instructor in the CSD Department. “The large majority of parents report significant improvement after treatment.”

For more information, visit https://IdentifytheSigns.org and www.asha.org/public.

To schedule an assessment, contact FHSU’s Herndon Clinic at 785-628-5366 or email [email protected].