By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school board voted Monday to reduce the driver’s education fee by $25 for the upcoming summer session.

Driver’s education fees for in-district students will be $225 and cost for out-of district students will $275 for the summer 2019 session.

The program had a balance of about $80,000, and the administration recommended the fee change to reduce the surplus over time.

The program is also using part of the surplus to extend class time for students.

Board member Greg Schwartz, who voted against the fee resolution, asked if this is the correct time to reduce the fee with looming shortfalls in the budget.

“It is easier to leave and adjust later than to cut it and try to figure out where the money is going to come from after you have already cut the fees and now you are sitting on summer or the eve of summer and that opportunity is gone,” he said.

Superintendent John Thissen said the driver’s ed program is separate from the general budget and it was not the district’s goal for the program to be a money maker for the district.

Board member Paul Adams noted Kansas has a lack of driver’s education programs. He said he wanted to leave room for the program to grow if necessary. No college in the state is currently offering a driver’s education instructor certification program.

Adams said he thought the district should also look at reinvesting in additional driver’s ed materials. He said he wanted to ensure the program resulted in extremely safe students on the road.

“If we have a surplus, let’s put it to work in a creative and positive way,” he said.

The board also approved summer school fees, which will remain the same as 2018. Fees will be $200 for out-of-district students, $100 for in-district students and $10 for students receiving free or reduced-cost lunches.

Capital outlay

The school board heard a report from interim director of finance Keith Hall on the capital mill levy resolution.

The board has to renew the mill levy, which is now at 8 mills, every five years. The levy generates about $2.5 million per year.

The district is at the maximum it can levy for capital outlay. It can only vote to keep the levy the same or lower it.

The mill levy pays for building maintenance, lease purchases and custodial salaries. The lease purchases include items such as computers, vehicles and projects, such as the middle school HVAC system.

The board has discussed moving the custodial salaries, which are about $300,000 per year, back into the general fund.

The board will vote on the mill levy at its next meeting on Monday, Feb. 25.

In other business, the board:

• Approved contracts for Assistant Superintendent Shanna Dinkel and Director of Special Education Chris Hipp.

• Heard a report on Kansas Education Systems Accreditation survey results

• Discussed the designation of teacher negotiating agents for the board. Thissen suggested himself, Bill Jeter, board attorney, Keith Hall and perhaps a board member be appointed to the negotiating team. The board will vote on the agents at its next meeting.

USD 383

The USD 388 Board of Education has announced the selection of Corey Burton, as the new superintendent.

Burton will take the reins on July 1, 2019 after the retirement of Robert Young at the end of the 2018-2019 school year.

Burton is currently serving as the Ellis JH/SH principal and has done so for 13 years. 

Previously, Burton served as Principal at Hillsboro Middle School and as District Curriculum Coordinator for USD 410 for three years and prior to that position, he also served in Hillsboro High School as a Business/Computer Teacher for from 1994-2003.

HAYS POST

The search for a suspect wanted on an arrest warrant in connection with a reported Feb. 2 sexual assault in the 400 block of West Seventh, has been canceled by the Hays Police Department.

In a news release Tuesday night, Assistant Chief Brian Dawson said 23- year-old Tre Miekale Carrasco has been apprehended in Aurora, Colorado.

“Tre M. Carrasco was arrested last night in Aurora, Colorado, by the Aurora Police Department, and is being held on our arrest warrant. We will continue to work with the Aurora Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation on our ongoing rape investigation involving Carrasco,” the HPD said in a Wednesday news release. “The Hays Police Department would like to thank the following agencies in helping apprehend Tre M. Carrasco: The Kansas Bureau of Investigations, the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Kansas Department of Corrections, the United States Marshalls Office, the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office, the Thomas County Sheriff’s Office, the Colby Police Department, Platte County Wyoming Sheriff’s Office, the Denver Police Department, and the Aurora Colorado Police Department.

“Carrasco is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.”

On Feb. 5, police reported Carrasco had been seen in the Denver area.

He has three previous convictions that include aggravated sexual battery and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Inmate Name: Carrasco, Tre Miekale Total Bond: $50,000.00 Booking Number: 2019-00002063

Charge Class of Offense Bond/ Bond Type Docket/ Disposition Scheduled Release Upcoming Court Date/Location 2ND DEGREE KIDNAPPING FELONY 3 $50,000.00 CASH OR SURETY PC/APD 02/13/2019 09:30 AM DIVISION 302 FUGITIVE OF JUSTICE – WANTED BY OTHER AGENCY – FELONY FELONY FOJ/KS 02/15/2019 09:30 AM DIVISION 302 FUGITIVE OF JUSTICE – WANTED BY OTHER AGENCY – FELONY FELONY FOJ/KS 02/15/2019 09:30 AM DIVISION 302

HCF

Ellis County could earn an additional $50,000 for charitable grants in the community through a county-wide “Twice as Nice” gift matching campaign.

In February, the Dane G. Hansen Foundation will match all public gifts to the Ellis County Legacy Fund at the Heartland Community Foundation, up to $50,000. Donations will be matched dollar for dollar, at a maximum of $5,000 per donor. If the $50,000 goal is met this year, the fund will gain a total of $100,000.

Over the past two years, the “Twice as Nice” campaign has raised over $200,000 for the Legacy Fund, which to date has granted $8,825 to charitable projects in Ellis County.

“As the Legacy Fund grows, the grants back to the county will grow as well,” said Sandy Jacobs, executive director of the Heartland Community Foundation.

To make a tax-deductible donation to the Ellis County Fund, call Jacobs at 785-621-4090 or email [email protected]. Donations must be received by February 28. Learn more at www.heartlandcommunityfoundation.org.

The Kansas Water Office’s (KWO) Smoky Hill-Saline Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) will have a meeting to discuss current water issues affecting the region as well as the state.

The meeting will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, at the Hays Welcome Center, 2700 Vine. The agenda includes several updates on regional issues such as the Kansas River Basin Study and Kanopolis Access District.

The agenda and meeting materials can be found when available at www.kwo.ks.gov or you may request copies by calling (785) 296-3185 or toll-free at (888) KAN-WATER (526-9283).

If accommodations are needed for a person with disabilities, please notify the Kansas Water Office at 900 SW Jackson Street, Suite 404, Topeka, KS 66611-1249 or call (785) 296-3185 at least five working days prior to the meeting.

HPL

The Hays Public Library is offering an incredible opportunity for five young adults.

Angie Thomas, the author of The Hate U Give, will be speaking at Kansas State University on April 11. The library will take five teens to the presentation in Manhattan for free.

The attendees will be selected through a contest that includes three parts. The teens must submit an essay, either written or visual, about what the quote “The Hate U Give Little Infants Fails Everybody” means to them. The essays should be no more than one page. The visual essays can be any medium but should be one continuous piece of paper of any size.

Applicants also must submit one question they would ask Angie Thomas if given the opportunity, and finally they must include a completed guardian permission form. All Hays teens ages 12 to 18 or in grades six through 12 are eligible to enter.

Submissions are due by March 22 and must be made in person by the applicant. Parent submissions are not allowed. The library will offer free printing for the contest.

For more information and the guardian permission form go to hayslibrary.org or call the Young Adult Department at 785-625-9014.

TMP-M

Holy Family Elementary announce Wednesday that Teresa Schrant, a 37-year adept educator in the classroom was recently awarded the Distinguished Teacher Award at the Kansas Association of Independent and Religious Schools Conference. Schrant maintains high expectations of her students and inspires them to go beyond their previously conceived notions.

Schrant, who began her career in 1981 when HFE was St. Joseph’s School, has dedicated her faith-filled work and initiatives over the years, bringing liturgical and cultural events that have become part of HFE’s tradition and heritage, such as the annual Pet Blessing in October, Mary’s Baby Shower in December and Pancake Races in February. Moreover, Schrant always keeps the HFE school spirituality in the forefront of her mind, she creates beautiful scenes in the school trophy case that correspond to liturgical and seasonal times of the school year. Additionally, Schrant organizes the school spelling bee annually during Catholic Schools Week.

Through her meticulous planning and exemplary high expectations of student performance Schrant not only demands excellence, but inspires students to perform at levels higher than they believed capable. Her matter-of-fact demeanor allows students to recognize where they come up short and where they need to work harder to achieve the next level of success and then each level of success is celebrated. Thoughtfully she photographs the students and special events throughout the school year and assembles a beautiful photo book of her fourth graders’ school year experience.

“Schrant is a teacher leader in our school building that supports the needs of students and staff while helping create a culture of excellence with fun and celebration sprinkled in appropriately,” stated Rachel Wentling, Principal, HFE. The KAIRS organization represents 35,000 students in Kansas and hundreds of teachers. Schrant’s award was nominated and represented the educators of the Salina Diocese of Kansas.

Schrant earned a BS in Elementary Education from Fort Hays State University in 1981. Throughout her tenure in teaching she has taught second and fourth grade. A job well done with decades of experience faith and love to guide her.

— Submitted

By CRISTINA JANNEY

Hays Post

Renovation of the former Oak Park Medical Complex is set to start as soon as next week with demolition of some of the existing walls.

Superintendent John Thissen gave a report on the renovation project to the Hays USD 489 school board at its meeting Monday night. The report included architectural plans.

The former medical complex is being renovated for use by the Early Child Connections program. The school district purchased the property for $2 million.

Thissen said the budget needs to finalized first, which should happen any day.

The district received a $1.47 million federal grant for renovation of the complex, as well as a $500,000 donation from HaysMed, which was a primary complex property owner before it was sold. A developer has signed a $500,000 contract on Washington school building, where ECC is currently housed.  The developer intends to renovate the school into low-income apartments.

In addition, the ECC program has applied for grants to pay for moving playground equipment and renovating space at the Oak Park Complex into a storm shelter. If the district receives that money, it could mean another couple hundred thousand dollars for the project. This money would be used for contingency for the project if it is received, Thissen said.

Thissen suggested using the money from the sale of the Washington property to pay down the debt for the purchase of the Oak Park Complex. This would reduce the overall interest expense for the district.

The renovation project is behind its initial time table, Thissen said. The project was delayed by the environmental site assessment. The district is under a tight schedule to complete the project. It has until June 30 to spend the federal grant money.

The district hopes to have at least three buildings in the complex open when school starts in August.

The former medical complex is made up of four buildings. One of the buildings is still in use. That portion of the complex will house the early childhood program that is now at Munjor. Thissen said that portion of the project will likely be completed last, and students may not be able to move in until later in the fall.

Because the Munjor program runs year-round, Thissen said he did not think that would be a problem.

The district plans to use as much of the existing cabinets and furnishings as possible. To maximize its budget, the district also plans to try to locate sinks and bathrooms where plumping already exists.

“One of the drivers for this was having classrooms that had space that was necessary and have some equalization from classroom to classroom,” Thissen said.

The district is still trying to work out some issues with storage, as well.

 

PLAINVILLE — After a one-year hiatus, the Rookstock meadowlark takes flight again 6 p.m. Saturday, March 30 at Steve’s Electric & Roustabout (north shop). The musical fundraising event benefits the Rooks County Healthcare Foundation. Proceeds from this year’s celebration will be contributed to the second phase of expansion at Rooks County Health Center. The two previous Rookstock galas netted over $200,000 for RCHF.

This year, Rookstock attendees will be treated to a fare of home cooked beef brisket and honey/pecan glazed chicken as well as homemade side dishes and desserts, cocktails and live music from gospel to show tunes to popular favorites from the 60s, 70s and 80s.

Original country/western songs will also be performed by a band with direct ties to Rooks County. The event includes a silent auction as well as a live auction featuring vacation getaways, premium concert tickets and more to keep the night moving at a fun, action packed pace.

Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and the event will run till midnight at Steve’s Electric and Roustabout main shop at the corner of W Road and 17 Road (Section Line), just 1 mile north of Plainville.

“We’re delighted Rookstock can boast such an array of music from Rooks County’s own talented musicians,” said Eric Sumearll, RCHF Executive Director. “This year’s music lineup will feature different styles and genres that will appeal to everyone. We’re also planning on some audience participation, which highlights what Rookstock is all about, how great things happen when everyone in a community comes together for a common cause.”

The evening’s purpose is to raise funds for Phase 2 of the expansion at RCH, which is the construction of an 11,000 square foot, dedicated rehabilitation facility on the north side of the hospital. Two main components of the project will be a zero-entry hydrotherapy pool to enhance and speed up recovery, and an indoor walking track to encourage cardio exercise for a healthier lifestyle.

“RCH’s Physical Therapy department has dramatically improved the health and physical capabilities of so many people, young and old, in our area,” said Sumearll. “With the growing need, we’re going to make sure that the staff has the space and resources in this dedicated rehab facility to continue their work making valuable contributions to people’s lives.”

Live and silent auctions held throughout the evening contribute to the night’s diversions. Just a few of the live auction items include stays at a rustic cabin in Almont Colorado, 4 box seat tickets and hotel accommodation to see Kenny Chesney in Wichita, along with an array of handmade items, gift certificates and baskets that will also be up for bid.

Tickets are required in advance and seating is limited. “We typically sell out well in advance of the event, so please plan early to buy your tickets,” commented Sumearll. Tickets are available at Rooks County Health Center or by calling Sumearll at 785.688.4428. For more information, visit www.Rookstock.com.

— Submitted

KPA executive director refers to ‘amazing work’

Submitted by the Phillips County Review

Last month, readers of the Phillips County Review — a frequent contributor to Hays Post — saw it reported on the pages of that newspaper that it had just won a large number of Kansas Press Association Awards of Excellence.

What was not known at the time, either by those readers or even the Phillips County Review staff itself, was exactly how well the newspaper fared in comparison to the 200+ other newspapers across the state of Kansas.

That question was answered with a bang last weekend during the course of the annual Kansas Press Association Convention at the Capitol Plaza in Topeka.

With the Convention getting underway on Thursday, the grand finale was at a ceremony on Saturday, during which previously announced winners of Awards of Excellence were recognized and presented with plaques and certificates commemorating their achievements.

With publishers, editors and reporters from large newspapers such as the Kansas City Star and Wichita Eagle rubbing elbows with their counterparts from mid-level dailies and small town weeklies, hundreds of individuals present were able to finally see how well each did in contrast to their peers.

As the first place winners in various categories were named one by one during Saturday’s ceremony, they then marched up to the spotlight for a brief moment, got their hands shaken, collected their award plaques, and then returned to their seats; only to head back up to the podium a bit later to be recognized again should they have won multiple first place awards. (Second and third place winners were mentioned by name on a large screen that filled the wall flanking the podium.)

Editor Kirby Ross, Phillipsburg, was in Topeka representing the Phillips County Review, and walked up to the podium ten times for the hand shake and plaque during the course of the afternoon (the Review also won another eight second and third place awards).

As the presentations were concluding, Kansas Press Association Executive Director Emily Bradbury, the emcee of the program, began ratcheting up suspense for the most anticipated part of the entire three-day convention — the announcement of which publications surpassed the others in awards.

Each year winners of this part of the ceremony claim the KPA’s ‘Sweepstakes Award’ and get bragging rights as being the best newspapers in the state of Kansas.

This part of the convention is always more than a little fun, with observers hooting and hawing and whistling in the background, hoping their newspapers will be announced.

Executive Director Bradbury began this portion of the event by stating, “And now we come to the moment we have all been waiting for.”

Bradbury continued with an explanation of the impending big announcements’ selection process, and stated how each individual win receives a score, with the scores for individual first place, second place, and third place being added together. Then these total tallies for each newspaper are compared across the board to determine the best of the best among Kansas publications in the same circulation class.
After that build up and with the tension high, Bradbury paused, and then flashed the name of the Phillips County Review on the big screen beside her.

Afterwards Kirby Ross spoke of that moment.

“I was stunned. I didn’t see this one coming and wasn’t sure what to do. She finally motioned towards me that I was to come up and be recognized. Going in we knew what individual awards we had won and that we had done really well again this year. But to be named as being at the very top of our field among Kansas newspapers is overwhelming. What an honor, what an honor, and we owe it all to the incredible work done by all our staff and all our contributors.”

Commenting on the big award, on Monday morning KPA Executive Director Bradbury sent a note to Ross that included the following: “We always look forward to seeing you and watching you be awarded for your amazing work. The look on your face when your name was announced as winner of a sweepstakes award was priceless! Congratulations!”

As originally reported in the Jan. 16 issue of the Phillips County Review, below are the individual wins that led to last weekend’s larger overall win by the Review:

FIRST PLACE
•Best Investigative Reporting
•Best Government and Political Reporting
•Best Feature Story
•Best Sports Reporting
•Best Sports Pages
•Best Headline Writing
•Best Editorial Pages
•Best Political Ad
•Best House Ad
•Best Community Event Ad
SECOND PLACE
•Best Series of News Reporting
•Best Health Story
•Best Sports Photo
•Best Investigative Reporting
•Best Community Event Ad
THIRD PLACE
•Best Column Writing
•Design and Layout Excellence
•News and Writing Excellence

 

HAYS POST

The search for a suspect wanted on an arrest warrant in connection with a reported Feb. 2 sexual assault in the 400 block of West Seventh, has been canceled by the Hays Police Department.

In a news release Tuesday night, Assistant Chief Brian Dawson said 23- year-old Tre Miekale Carrasco has been apprehended in Aurora, Colorado.

On Feb. 5, police reported Carrasco had been seen in the Denver area.

He has three previous convictions that include aggravated sexual battery and aggravated battery, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.

Inmate Name: Carrasco, Tre Miekale Total Bond: $50,000.00 Booking Number: 2019-00002063

Charge Class of Offense Bond/ Bond Type Docket/ Disposition Scheduled Release Upcoming Court Date/Location 2ND DEGREE KIDNAPPING FELONY 3 $50,000.00 CASH OR SURETY PC/APD 02/13/2019 09:30 AM DIVISION 302 FUGITIVE OF JUSTICE – WANTED BY OTHER AGENCY – FELONY FELONY FOJ/KS 02/15/2019 09:30 AM DIVISION 302 FUGITIVE OF JUSTICE – WANTED BY OTHER AGENCY – FELONY FELONY FOJ/KS 02/15/2019 09:30 AM DIVISION 302

Hays Area Chamber of Commerce The Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors accepted the resignation of Executive Director Tammy Wellbrock after eight years in this role. Wellbrock will remain in her position through July, to aide in the transition of leadership. The Board will begin the executive search process immediately, with more details forthcoming as they develop. Wellbrock joined the Chamber as executive director in January 2011, after serving two years as a board director. Throughout her tenure with the Chamber, Wellbrock has worked continuously to build community and economic prosperity in Hays by promoting and representing businesses; she has helped the Chamber advance their position as a leading business organization in the community.   In her resignation letter to the Board, Wellbrock shared her plans are to launch her own professional training business. “While I’m excited about this new opportunity, it is difficult leaving you and the wonderful work we do together,” she said. “What we have accomplished over the last several years has fundamentally improved area businesses and impacted our local economy in a positive profound manner. I’m proud of all that we have achieved and thank you for this opportunity to have served with and for you.”  2019 Board Chairman Shane Smith said, “During Tammy’s time with the Chamber, we have experienced tremendous growth and enhanced visibility in the community. We intend to continue building on that momentum and to keep moving forward. We are grateful for her visionary leadership and transformative effect on our great organization.”  The Board of Directors is working with Wellbrock to manage the transition effectively. The executive search process has begun and interested parties are asked to contact 2019 Board Chairman Shane Smith directly at [email protected] for more information.