Thirteen Hays High DECA students competed in the 2019 DECA International Career Development Conference April 27-30 in Orlando, Florida.
Two students, Cassidy Prough and Shyann Schumacher, participated in Leadership Academy training.Students from all 50 states as well as Canada, Pakistan, Dominican Republic, Spain, Japan, China, and Guam competed in a variety of events.
The following students earned minimum competency meaning that they placed in the top 20% (or third or fourth in their flight) of the 180 entries in their event.
Kaydee Brin and Peyton Niernberger – Franchise Business Plan
Abigail Dickinson – Business Growth Plan
Ryan Hernandez and Jacie Robinson – Hospitality and Tourism Operations Research
Allison Hillebrand and Paige Polifka Denson – Public Relations Project
Keaton Markley, Peyton Thorell, and Connor Teget – Sports and Entertainment Marketing Operations Research
“Feel free to congratulate these students on a job well done as this is a huge accomplishment. Thank you for working with our students to accommodate them missing classes and instructing them in your classes. The evidence of the quality of instruction received at HHS reaches beyond the walls of our building!” said Shaina Prough, HHS DECA sponsor.
Prairie Garden Club plantsPrairie Garden Club will hold its annual plant giveaway Thursday at the Stone Gallery 107 1/2 W. Sixth (alley entrance).
The public is invited to come and select plants free for the taking at 8:30 a.m. Members of the Garden Club have hosted this event for 74 years. They dig up and pot perennials, small shrubs, seedlings and plants from their gardens to share with the community.
The club will also sell flower seeds and garden tools.
Last week’s inspection results from the Kansas Department of Agriculture:
Gella’s Diner/Lb. BrewingCo. 114 E 11th St., Hays – May 2
A follow-up inspection found one violation.
In the prep top cooler opposite of the grill there were two wrapped packages of sliced cheddar and swiss cheese overstocked with an internal temperature of 50 F.
Schwan’s Home Service Inc. 1915 E 7th, Hays – May 2
DSNWK will sponsor the seventh annual Dash 4 Disabilities Fun Run at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 15, on the west side of the Hays Squatic Park, Fourth and Main.
Registration will begin at 7:15 a.m. Entry fee is $10 on or before June 14 and $12 fee after the deadline.
This run will consist of your choice of a 1-mile run/walk or a 5K run/walk. The run is for people of all abilities, will not be timed, and the proceeds will go to help support the programs coordinated by the Hays Recreation Commission that support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The run helps make the programs free or inexpensive for participants.
For a registration form, map of the course or any other information, contact Steve Keil at 785-625-5678, [email protected] or Haley Nixon at 785-623-2650, [email protected].
Harvest Moon Show Cattle, Ellis, is a new member of the American Angus Association, reported Allen Moczygemba, CEO of the national breed organization headquartered in Saint Joseph, Mo.
The American Angus Association, with more than 25,000 active adult and junior members, is the largest beef breed association in the world. Its computerized records include detailed information on over 18 million registered Angus.
The Association records ancestral information and keeps production records and genomic data on individual animals to develop industry-leading selection tools for its members. The programs and services of the Association and its entities — Angus Genetics Inc., Angus Productions Inc., Certified Angus Beef LLC and the Angus Foundation — help members to advance the beef cattle business by selecting the best animals for their herds and marketing quality genetics for the beef cattle industry and quality beef for consumers.
RUSSELL — Treasure seekers and bargain hunters are welcome to spend time in the Russell area on June 1. Held annually on the first Saturday in June, the Russell Community Garage Sale allows community members, organizations and businesses to take advantage of the free outreach and promotion provided by the event sponsors.
Russell Community Theater, Advantage Realty and KRSL Russell Radio are sponsoring this year’s event and are striving to ensure a successful day for all participants. Individuals, organizations, and local businesses are encouraged to participate in a variety of ways. Hosting a garage sale, whether individual or multi-family, gives old treasures a chance to find a new home. Organizations might consider a group garage sale or a lunch stand. Businesses may consider special sales or discounts.
Registered participants will benefit from the promotion of the big day — press releases, public presentations, social media outreach, local and area media advertising — all thanks to Russell Community Theater, Advantage Realty and KRSL Russell Radio.
Printed Garage Sale Guides will include a detailed map of all registered participants and will be available to the public starting Tuesday, May 28. The Russell County GIS & Mapping Department will create the Guide maps and Russell County Economic Development & CVB will be assisting with outreach efforts. Additional printing services will be provided by Office Products Inc., Russell.
All proceeds from Russell Community Garage Sale registrations directly benefit Russell Community Theater. Russell Community Theater is a 501(c)(3), not-for-profit corporation that was organized in 1986. Since its inception, RCT has presented 95 full-scale theatrical productions for the education and enjoyment of its patrons.
To be included in the Russell Community Garage Sale Guide, pick up registration forms at Encore Antiques & Collectables (590 S. Fossil) or Russell County Economic Development & CVB (331 E. Wichita). Completed registrations and non-refundable, cash payment must be returned no later than Wednesday, May 22 to Encore Antiques & Collectables. For additional information, contact Russell Community Theater at 785-483-4057 or stop by 590 S. Fossil, Russell.
Tuesday Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly before 1pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 2pm. Cloudy, with a high near 60. North northeast wind 10 to 16 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Tuesday Night Showers and thunderstorms. Low around 51. East northeast wind 8 to 13 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%. New rainfall amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
WednesdayShowers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 1pm. Cloudy, with a high near 63. Northeast wind 8 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Wednesday NightA 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1am. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 41. North wind around 17 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.
ThursdayMostly cloudy, with a high near 56.
Thursday NightMostly cloudy, with a low around 38.
The Kansas Geological Survey reports statewide crude oil production for January of 2.8 million barrels, compared to 3.4 million last January. Barton County operators report 139-thousand barrels, Ellis County notched 217-thousand, Russell County had 130-thousand, and in Stafford County, January production was 85-thousand barrels.
State regulators report an increase in one of the key barometers of oil production in Kansas. The Kansas Corporation Commission says operators filed 106 new intent-to-drill notices in April, the most since last November There were 141 intents filed in April of last year. So far this year, operators have filed 334 intents, compared to 563 at this time last year. There are five new intents in Barton County, eight in Ellis County, none in Russell County and two in Stafford County.
Independent Oil & Gas Service reports four active drilling rigs in eastern Kansas, which is unchanged, and 25 in the western half of the state, which is down two. Drilling was underway on one lease in Ellis County.
Baker Hughes reported 990 active drilling rigs in the U.S. Friday, an increase of two oil rigs, but a decline of three exploring for natural gas. The count in Texas was down seven, while New Mexico logged an increase of two rigs. In Canada there are 61 active drilling rigs, down two for the week.
Regulators approved 21 permits for drilling at new locations in Kansas during the last week, eight of them east of Wichita and 13 in Western Kansas, including one in Ellis County. There have been 304 new drilling permits approved so far this year.
Independent Oil & Gas Service reported 34 wells completed over the last week, 12 of them in eastern Kansas, and 22 west of Wichita. That brings the year-to-date total to 551. There was one newly-completed well in Ellis County, one in Russell County, and four in Stafford County, including two dry holes.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported yet another all-time record for weekly crude oil production for the week ending April 26: 12.277 million barrels per day. That beats last week by 100-thousand barrels per day. The previous high was during the week ending April 5, at 12.184 million barrels per day.
The government said U.S. crude oil stockpiles increased 5.5 million barrels and remain roughly equal to the five year seasonal average.
Viking Energy Group announced last week that its subsidiary Mid-Con Development sold all of its oil and gas assets in Ellis and Rooks counties to an independent third party. According to the announcement, the sale price was just over four million dollars. The assets consist of working interests in some 41 oil leases. They were purchased by Mid-Con in 2017. Last year the owners arranged to deepen and perforate approximately fifteen wells, and also improve water disposal capacity, successfully increasing production and putting the company in a position to sell the assets at a premium. The Company continues to own other assets in across eastern Kansas, including in Miami, Franklin, Anderson, Woodson, Allen, Riley, Geary and Wabaunsee counties.
The hottest bidding war in the patch in decades got a little hotter last week, as the board of directors at Anadarko deliberate whether a takeover bid from Occidental Petroleum is superior to a lower but already agreed-to deal with Chevron. Bloomberg reports Warren Buffett’s company Berkshire Hathaway on Tuesday disclosed plans to inject $10 billion into Occidental in exchange for preferred stock and warrants.
ELLIS — Immediately preceding their meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m., Ellis City Council members will tour the municipal swimming pool with Andy Smith of Lamp Rynearson engineering.
Later in the evening during the actual meeting, the council will consider approving an engineering contract with Lamp Rynearson for swimming pool improvements.
In new business, the council will consider approvals of the purchase a computer server for the police department, of Blue Cross Blue Shield employee benefit polices, and storm sewer bids for the Lakeside Campground expansion project.
The complete Monday, May 6, agenda follows.
AGENDA
May 6, 2019
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS
City Hall – Council Meeting Room
TOUR OF SWIMMING POOL WITH ANDY SMITH, LAMP RYNEARSON AT 6:30 P.M.
BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)
CONSENT AGENDA
Minutes from Regular Meeting on April 15, 2019
Bills Ordinance #2068
Manual Journal Entries for January, February, and March
(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda. By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson. ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment. Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
Municipal Clerks Week Proclamation
SPECIAL ORDER
2019 Budget Request – Foster Grandparent and Senior Companions Programs
First Impressions Presentation – PRIDE Committee
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Consider Approval of Engineering Contract with Lamp Rynearson for Swimming Pool Improvements
Update on Cedar Lane Lift Station Project
NEW BUSINESS
Consider Approval to Purchase Computer Server for Police Department
Consider Approval of 2019 Committee Appointments
Consider Approval of Fireworks Permit Applications
Consider Approval of Blue Cross Blue Shield Employee Benefit Policies
Consider Approval to Sell Public Works Vehicles
Consider Ratification of Repairs to 1999 Ford Truck
Consider Approval of Storm Sewer Bids for Campground Expansion Project
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Administrative
Public Works
Department Update
Police
Monthly Activity Report for April
May Staff Calendar
Department Update
City Clerk
Monthly Financial Statements for January, February, and March 2019
HUTCHINSON — The Cosmosphere will be making a very long distance call that will give participants a chance to visit with Kansas astronaut Nick Hague at 9 a.m. Friday.
The museum and science center will host a conversation with Hague, who is currently aboard the international space station.
During the 20-minute conversation, Hague will take live questions from Kansas students, including students from his hometowns of Hoxie and Peabody. Before and after the conversation, which is called an In-Flight Educational Downlink, Cosmosphere will offer related educational STEM programming.
Hawley
Also attending will be astronaut Dr. Steve Hawley, who will take audience questions about living in space and his experiences as an astronaut following the conversation with Hague.
Fort Hays State University announced Monday the selection of Dr. Jill Arensdorf, current chair of the university’s Department of Leadership Studies, as its next provost and vice president for academic affairs.
“I am excited for Dr. Arensdorf to take on the challenge of leading our academic enterprise during this pivotal time in our university’s history,” said President Tisa Mason. “Her roots are in western Kansas – Hill City – so she has a firm grasp on the value of this institution to the people we serve, in Kansas and across the globe. Jill is a rising executive in higher education and has earned respect across our campus for her thoughtful, detail-oriented and innovative leadership.”
Arensdorf expressed her thanks to all those involved in the provost search.
“I want to thank the search committee and the university community for their participation in this process,” she said. “The time and energy that each of you shared not only with me, but with all candidates through the process was incredible. Thank you to President Mason and the entire university community for giving me this opportunity. I also thank my family for being incredibly supportive through this journey.”
Arensdorf holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Kansas State University, a master’s degree in agricultural education and leadership from Texas A&M University, and a bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics from Kansas State.
“Fort Hays State University is a phenomenal university that has given me and so many others opportunities to learn and grow,” said Arensdorf. “When I took an instructor position 17 years ago, I had no idea how much the university and community would impact me in such a positive way. I am so grateful and excited to serve as FHSU’s provost and vice president for academic affairs and look forward to working collaboratively with others to diligently and faithfully carry forward the mission of Fort Hays State University across the world.”
Arensdorf’s research interests include youth leadership development, service-learning, civic engagement, program assessment and leadership behaviors. She has published numerous articles on the effects of service-learning on the development of youth leadership skills and the transfer of skills to the workplace. She has been active in the civic engagement efforts at FHSU as well as co-coordinating a learning community at FHSU, L3-Live. Learn. Lead. She recently served as president of the Association of Leadership Educators.
In the spring of 2012, she received the Pilot Award as the year’s outstanding faculty member. In the spring of 2005, she received the Navigator Award as the outstanding student advisor. She is actively involved in community leadership as an executive board member and a volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ellis County and on the FHSU Foundation Board of Trustees.
Later this summer, Arensdorf will replace Interim Provost Dr. Jeffrey Briggs, who has served in this role since 2017. “I am immensely grateful to Dr. Briggs,” said President Mason. “His leadership has been essential to keeping this university moving forward through a period of dramatic change on our campus.”
The search committee was led by Deborah Ludwig, dean of Forsyth Library.
“In terms of the sheer effort and the collaborative, spirited discussion required by the search process, I was privileged to work with a phenomenal team of people,” said Ludwig.
The search committee included 16 people, appointed by President Mason, with FHSU faculty from Hays and China, staff from all divisions, and a representative from the Student Government Association. The committee worked from January to early May to screen a pool of over 40 candidates, conduct intermediate online interviews, and to bring finalists to campus for three-day meetings with all constituents.
Open forums were video recorded and an anonymous stakeholder survey was used to ensure a complete review of the potential candidates. In addition to a final committee report, each individual committee member provided the president with an extensive personal report of the strengths and weaknesses of each candidate.
Elm Street between 5th and 6th Street will be closed to traffic during business hours Tuesday and Wednesday.
M&D Excavating will be removing trees associated with the planned reconstruction of Elm Street later this summer.
Elm Street is part of the city’s upcoming major street reconstruction project that also includes sections of Ash Street and 4th Street near Fort Hays State University’s Lewis Field Stadium.
According to Project Manager John Braun, the work is budgeted for $1.64 million in the 2019 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and will include upgrade and replacement of storm sewer inlets, the old water main from four inches to eight inches as well as new water services along Ash Street. Pavement will be replaced along with any failed curb and gutter, and sidewalks and/or ADA curb ramp issues will be fixed. The total project length is approximately 3,100 linear feet.
FHSU requested the reconfiguration of parking along a portion of Elm Street south of Lewis Drive. The cost to add approximately 15 angled spaces along the west side of Elm Street will be reimbursed by FHSU.
Morgan Brothers Construction, La Crosse, was awarded the $1,338,054.93 low bid for the reconstruction project. The current schedule calls for construction to begin in May and be completed within 180 calendar days, with the Elm Street portion of the project to be completed prior to Aug. 20.
Hays Mayor Henry Schwaller, who is a business instructor at FHSU, noted classes start Aug. 19 and students will likely begin moving in Aug. 14.
“They’ll need that road (Elm Street) to get to the dorms. So do we have five days wiggle room?” Schwaller asked Braun.
“I think so,” Braun responded.
Although Elm will be entirely shut down, there will still be a way for traffic to access campus.
“There’s a paved alley that is aligned up across from the parking lot behind the Comeau Catholic Campus Center and the United Methodist Campus Center. …which will help with the efficiency.
“We do anticipate that part being done well in advance of the deadline.”
The entire project is scheduled to be done in November.
Water Resources Dir. Jeff Crispin hands departing city commissioner James Meier his name plate.
By BECKY KISER Hays Post
Last week was the last Hays city commission meeting for James Meier. He is moving to Wichita to become the in-patient pharmacy manager at Saint Francis hospital.
Meier was given a plaque and key to the city in thanks for his service as a commissioner.
“I have really appreciated serving with all of you and previous commissioners too,” Meier said, “and also the city staff. They’re the folks that don’t get a lot of attention but they really do make all of us look really good. They’re very thoughtful.”
The city commission will appoint a replacement to Meier’s unexpired term at their Thursday meeting. Hays Mayor Henry Schwaller says several interested residents have contacted commissioners.
Also departing is Assistant City Manager Jacob Wood whose last day with the city was April 26. Wood is the new deputy city manager for Salina.
City Manager Toby Dougherty says no selection process is yet in motion for Wood’s replacement.
“The position will be vacant for a period until I determine it’s time to open the position up publicly, and at this time I haven’t determined when that’s going to be.”
