By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Six of the city of Hays’ 32 municipal water production wells are slated for rehabilitation this year.

Hays city commissioners are expected to award the low $67,230 bid to Layne Christensen Co., Kearney, Neb., during their Thursday meeting.

Regular maintenance is performed on all the city’s water wells, according to Jeff Crispin, water resources director, but at some point a professional well service company must be used for a more extensive procedure.

Crispin likes to compare the wells’ operation to that of a drinking straw.

“If you pinch off the bottom of that straw, or you put something in place in the bottom of that drink, it’s harder for you to get that drink up and out,” Crispin said to city commissioners.

Four of the six wells — YE-1, C-20T, S-8, S-16, S-19, and S-23 — are located in the Smoky Hill River well field south of town near Schoenchen. C-20 is located near 16th and Milner in the middle of Hays. YE-1 is in northwest Hays near Enersys.

There’s no single answer for how often a water well should be professionally rehabilitated.

“The usage, media and formation are all factors that play into how often we should have it completed,” according to Crispin. “We have some wells that we don’t use much, based on a right, and how that well performs means we may use other wells more extensively. But that doesn’t mean every year we need to come back to do six wells every year.”

Crispin plans to establish a performance baseline report with video for each of the city’s water wells similar to what has been done for sewer line cleaning.

“The city in 2013 started sewer line cleaning on a regular basis. We created a baseline video — a baseline cleaning — so we know that in 2013 this area of town was hit.

“As we move forward,  we continue this process and we make sure our wells are all performing as they should.”

Routine maintenance by city staff takes a couple of days.

“They go through the process of acidizing that well and then the next day disinfecting that well.  We’re just basically putting the fluid into the ground, pulling it back out, pushing it back in.  We’re not getting down into that well and doing methods a professional company would be able to do.”

The last major rehabilitation on the six selected wells was completed between 1998 and 2007. The Smoky well field was expanded in 2007.

Well rehabilitation is periodically required during the life of a well because groundwater contains bacteria and minerals which cause well plugging. Screens, gravel pack and formations may become blocked, reducing the capacity and efficiency of the well. The buildup reduces the amount of water that can be pumped to the surface. The contractor will pull the pumps for inspection and make repairs as needed.

“The contractor will be required to do a performance test first so you know what your baseline is,” Crispin explained as he described the process.

“A camera will be lowered into the well to inspect the screens at the bottom of the well. High pressure jetting, chemical treatment and mechanical methods will be used to clean the screens and formations at the bottom of each well. Once complete, the well will be performance tested and they will provide us an efficiency report compared to ‘like-new status.’ ”

Rehabilitating water wells extends the life of each well, reduces electricity, and the costs to produce water.

“We have enough wells that we can shut down the rehabbed wells for a few days,” Crispin assured commissioners. “Obviously, we’re not running all of our production wells at the same time.”

JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

After Ellis County officials found out last month they will not receive grant funding from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation to help pay for road improvements in the Northwest Business Corridor, the county is looking for alternative funding sources.

The county had set aside $800,000 for improvements to the more than $15 million project in hopes of leveraging that money to get additional financing from other entities. In April, the Kansas Department of Transportation announced a pledge of a $1 million grant contingent upon the county receiving the grant from the Dane G. Hansen Foundation

Initial estimates to improve sight lines and pave Feedlot Road from 230th Avenue to U.S. 183 and 230th Avenue from Feedlot Road to 55th Street are more than $15.7 million.

While the county looks for different funding sources, Alan Cobb the Kansas Chamber of Commerce President and CEO said he thinks it’s an easy project for the chamber to support. Cobb was in western Kansas on Monday and took a tour of the area and Hess Services.

“Seems pretty straightforward,” said Cobb of the project. “If we can be of help, I certainly want to do that.”

Cobb said Monday the chamber works in the statehouse with a number of goals that include expand innovation and entrepreneurship and improve business infrastructure. He said Hess Services is a great example of their goals in Kansas.

“Business infrastructure includes paving a road to get business vehicles to and from a major company, a major part of the Kansas economy,” Cobb said.

Ellis County Commissioner Dustin Roths, who invited Cobb to Monday’s meeting and toured the area northwest of Hays with him, said he reached out to Cobb during a Leadership Kansas meeting. Roths is a member of the 2019 Leadership Kansas class.

He said Monday the improvements won’t only benefit Hess Services.

“We have a feedlot that wants to expand. We also have a new travel plaza that will be coming in,” Roths said. “It’s taking care of businesses that are already there and expanding what we have for the future.”

Cobb said there are some examples similar projects to the one purposed by Ellis County. Last year, then-Gov. Jeff Colyer helped spearhead an $18 million project on Kansas Highway 99 from Interstate 70 to Wamego.

The improvements were seen as a way to help future development in that area and also benefit the Caterpillar plant in Wamego. Cobb said the project will make it easier for Caterpillar to get their products to market.

Commissioner Dean Haselhorst also said that Hess Services is in need of employees. but Cobb said that is an issue statewide, noting part of the problem is an “education infrastructure issue.”

“That’s not an uncommon issue all over the country and it’s not an uncommon issue all over for all over Kansas,” Cobb said. “They’re challenged in finding a productive workforce, from all levels.”

County Administrator Phillip Smith-Hanes told the commission Monday there is no single funding source for the project and a county bond will probably be needed.

After talking with the county’s bond counsel, he suggested the county work with a financial adviser.

“To actually develop a financial plan for the funding and there would be several possibilities,” Smith-Hanes said. “(It) would not all have to be in the form of a bond.”

The commission gave Smith-Hanes the go-ahead to take the needed to steps to hire a financial adviser.

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

Fort Hays Disabled Veterans are hosting a concert Friday and the DAV Vintage Bike Show on Saturday to raise money for a new van to transport veterans to medical appointments in Hays and Wichita.

The DAV’s current van has excessive miles and needs to be replaced. It runs three days a week across northwest Kansas to Hays CBOC VA medical facility and two days a weeks takes veterans from Hays to the Bob Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita. The service offers free rides to personnel from all branches of the armed services.

On trips to Wichita, the van also picks up veterans in communities in between such as Great Bend and McPherson until the van is full, said Galen Jamison, Hays DAV commander. He said the van is the only way some disabled veterans have of getting to their appointments.

“We have veterans from WWII, Korean and Vietnam,” Jamison said. “Some have no legs and some can’t see. This is a service to help all veterans.”

The Hays DAV needs to raise $15,000, and then the national DAV will make sure the van is replaced.

Some donations have already been made, but the events this weekend will be the first real push to raise the funds for the van.

Anthony and the Animals will open for Jimmy Dee and the Fabulous Destinations on Friday night at the Hays VFW, 2106 Vine. Cost is $10 per person. Music will be from 8 to 11 p.m.

The Vintage Bike Show and Swap meet will be 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the National Guard Armory, 200 S. Main. Both events are open to the public. Entry to bike show is $10 per person.

Any motorcycle made before 1984 is eligible for the show. Entry cost for the first bike is $25. Each addition entry is $20.

Awards will be given in American and foreign categories as well as People’s Choice and Best in Show.

Cost for vendors is $10 each.

Weaver’s BBQ will be serving food. Proceeds will go to the DAV van fundraiser. The Free Tomorrow Motorcycle Club will run a beer garden and a portion of those proceeds will also go to the van fundraiser.

You can register for the bike show or donate directly to the DAV through its PayPal account at www.forthaysdavbikeshow.com.

Due to the recent heavy rains, the Bethesda Place Garden Day will be relocated to Hays.

The sale will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday in the parking lot of High Plains Baptist Church, 2700 Canterbury.

For sale will be fresh eggs, homegrown spring veggies (asparagus, radishes, spinach, lettuce, rhubarb), as well as potted flowers, succulents, garden vegetables and herbs.

City of Hays

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

A rainy Tuesday in Hays resulted in 0.95 of moisture as officially measured at the K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town.

An even 1 inch of rain fell at the Eagle Media Center, 2300 Hall.

On Monday, Hays received 0.59 of rain, according to the research center.

Two inches of rain has fallen in the first week of May, with 5.63 inches of moisture in Hays so far in 2019.

Wednesday’s weather forecast is calling for more rain.

The Ellis area also received about an inch of rain, and up to 1.2 inches fell in the Victoria area, according to reports.

Most of Russell County received more than an inch of rain, with the heaviest falling in the southeast portion of the county, where there was a report of 2.45 inches in the gauge.

Cause of fire official ‘undetermined’

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

At 9:31 p.m. Tuesday, Ellis County fire crews responded to a structure fire at 1125 Fairground Road.

The structure was described as a mobile home by law enforcement on scene.

“Upon arrival, the home was found fully engulfed in flames,” according to a news release from Ellis County Fire and Emergency Management.

Within 19 minutes, the fire was contained, but the home was a complete loss.

“One one occupant was transported to Hays Medical Center by Ellis County EMS,” the release said.

Crews remained on scene until 1:18 a.m. ensuring the fire was out and to begin an investigation.

The Ellis County Fire Department was assisted by Ellis County EMS and sheriff’s deputies, along with six firefighters from the Hays Fire Department.

The location is within the automatic aid response area.

Detectives believe the fire was caused by lighting, according to a press release from the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, but the cause will be officially listed as undetermined.

No injuries were reported.

Anyone with information about the fire is encouraged to contact the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office at 785-625-1040.

-This story was updated to include the results of the investigation.

OAKLEY — Two people were injured in an accident just after 9:30 p.m. Tuesday in Thomas County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Chevy Silverado driven by Dalton M. Graves, 21, Abilene, was eastbound on Interstate 70 just west of the Oakley U.S. 83 exit. The pickup rear-ended a 2011 Toyota Camry driven by Robert A. Kuhn, 61, Victoria.

Kuhn and a passenger, Deborah K. Kuhn, 62, Victoria, were transported to Citizen’s Medical Center. Graves was not wearing a seat belt and not transported for treatment, according to the KHP.

Shopping center will undergo significant layout changes to accommodate new retailer

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

The location is now set and the work scheduled to begin as Harbor Freight has found a home in Big Creek Crossing, 2918 Vine.

“It has taken us quite a while, but it finally comes to fruition,” said James Younger, Big Creek Crossing property manager.

The company announced in April a location was scheduled to come to Hays. 

Moving the retailer into the shopping center will require major changes to the facility with the retailer moving into a 15,364-square-foot space on the south side of the facility.

Construction is set to begin June 3.

“We will losing both entrances on the south end … access to Harbor Freight will only be the exterior facing Vine,” said Branson Hoffman, Big Creek Crossing marketing director.

“It definitely is a difficult thing, but we felt it best to serve an exterior entrance at this time. … It serves us a better option for future development,” Younger said.

Moving the entrances and changing the flow of traffic will be a challenge, but there will be signs around the facility to help make sure people know where to go, Younger said.

Restrooms and office space will be permanently relocated on the north side of the building, a move seen as positive by the center’s management.

“It gives us a little bit more of a better location,” Younger said.

During construction, a temporary restroom will be placed in the former Vanity location, while the new office and restrooms are being built in the former Regis space, Younger said.

But the moves are seen as generally positive, if inconvenient in the short term.

“You can expect little things like that, but it’s nothing that we are not able to work around,” Younger said, noting occasionally construction may impact traffic flow.

“While there may be a few growing pains here and there, we definitely think that the pros in this situation outweigh the cons.”

The addition will also create a major change to the layout of the facility, but Younger said it will be beneficial to Big Creek Crossing.

“We are adding a little more value to our shopping center. As anybody can tell you, the retail environment has been evolving and has been changing here over the past decade and with those changes we are adopting as well,” he said.

According to the Harbor Freight, the company is currently adding two new stores every week and Younger said it doesn’t just bring value to Big Creek Crossing, but to the community as well.

“We are extremely excited about Harbor Freight moving in. The fact that we are bringing more employment opportunities, more tax revenue to the city is something that we like to do. It’s definitely a big deal.”

Younger hopes to the location will drive even more regional traffic to Hays.

“We feel this entity is something that would be in high demand here in western Kansas,” he said. “We feel that there is going to be immense support from the public.”

Other Big Creek Crossing tenants are eager to see how this will increase traffic to the facility, even as it is a departure from what they are familiar with.

“Our tenants are excited about another tenant moving in,” Younger said. It is a little unorthodox compared to what they are used to but, “It is our brave step into the ever-evolving world of the shopping center.”

This announcement is another feather in the cap in the rehabilitation of the center in recent years.

“When we really look at how far we have been able to come here, especially in the past two to three years, between the Starbucks and the HaysMed location that we have built,” Younger said. “The first Glik’s in the state was opened in our center back in 2016, with the addition of Gordman’s, the addition of Dollar Tree, now the addition of Harbor Freight, we are definitely making progress and we are very excited about that, in a community mindset as well, just being able to bring in that extra tax revenue, to bring in that extra employment and extra places of draw for individuals out in western Kansas to stop here in Hays. That’s a very big win for everybody.

“We definitely take it as a victory, but there is a lot more work that we recognize that we need to do,” he added. “We will take a moment and celebrate this addition to our center, but the work definitely goes on.”

“The 15,000-square-foot store will stock tools and accessories in categories including automotive, air and power tools, storage, outdoor power equipment, generators, welding supplies, shop equipment, hand tools, and more,” the company said in a news release Tuesday.

“The timeline is tentative, but we are extremely hopeful for a July 30 grand opening,” Younger said.

More information about Harbor Freight can be found at harborfreight.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

 

Submitted

Kimberly Schneweis, a longtime Hays Middle School art educator and KNEA member for the past 30 years, received the Kansas NEA Teaching Excellence award at the spring KNEA Representative Assembly in Topeka for her dedication to students and the teaching profession.

“It is important for teachers to advocate for their students beyond the classroom walls,” Schneweis said. “Their success depends on access to excellent teachers. We must work to make sure our profession is able to attract a bright new supply of teachers to continue our important work.”

Schneweis was chosen by a committee comprised of KNEA president Mark Farr, members of the KNEA board of directors and other distinguished educators.

“I would love to have been a student in Kim’s class,” Farr said. “She never just teaches the content. She is the epitome of of what we need in our classrooms: creative in her approach to teaching, committed to continual learning and improving her practice, serving as a role model in the Hays community. She is truly interested in each individual student’s life and success.”

Schneweis, a leader in the Hays NEA, Kansas NEA and National Education Association, will represent Kansas as an eligible recipient of the 2020 National Education Association Foundation Award for Teaching Excellence.

The KNEA and NEA Foundation teaching excellence awards are based on the same five criteria: 1) professional practice, 2) advocacy for the profession, 3) community engagement, 4) leadership in professional development and 5) attention to diversity.

By JAMES BELL
Hays Post

On Saturday, Big Creek Crossing, 2918 Vine, will host “Thank You Mom For Helping Me Grow,” allowing area children an opportunity to plant a flower as a gift to moms.

The free come-and-go event is scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the south side of the Kaw Valley Greenhouse.

The event is an opportunity for “kids to come out and say thank you, mom, for all you do,” said Branson Hoffman, marketing director.

Big Creek Crossing is also preparing for its annual Spring Craft Fair on May 25.

Vendor applications can be submitted through the event page on Facebook or in the BCC office. Booth rentals start at $50.

James Younger, property manager, said events like these are designed to benefit the community.

The “promo budget is made and spent here,” he said of the revenue generated by their events.

All revenue generated by events at Big Creek crossing goes directly back into promoting and running other events through the year he said.

“We feel it is a vital part of the community,” Younger said. “It’s events that help people come together.”

The events provide a way to keep the shopping center and its tenants involved in the community as well as benefiting the mall’s tenants.

Events make “our mall a little bit more up to date, a little bit more modern,” Hoffman said.