The local Historical Society in Hays is in the early stages of planning for a new downtown museum building and is asking the public for input.
Visit www.echshays.org to take a short survey that will gauge community support for the project.
Located at 100 W. Seventh, the Ellis County Historical Society, founded in 1972, collects, preserves and exhibits items and documents that illustrate the history of Ellis County.
— Submitted
KBI
RAWLINS COUNTY – Autopsies were completed in the Feb. 1 shooting deaths of Gary E. Withers, and Danny E. Withers, from Rawlins County.
The preliminary autopsy results for Gary E. Withers, 74, revealed he died from a gunshot wound, and the manner of death was homicide.
The preliminary autopsy findings in the death of 41-year-old Daniel “Danny” E. Withers, revealed he died as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Evidence suggests that Danny Withers shot his father, Gary Withers, and then shot himself. The investigation is ongoing. Nothing further will be released at this time.
ROOKS COUNTY — The Rooks County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating a fugitive.
John Karl Swaney, 51, has felony arrest warrants for his arrest in Rooks and Phillips counties. Both warrants are for distribution of marijuana.
“Swaney was to be sentenced to prison today,” the department reported. “Swaney failed to appear in court today in Rooks County District Court and last week in Phillips County District Court. If you have any information on the whereabouts of Swaney, please contact the Rooks County Sheriff’s Office at (785) 425-6312.”
Wednesday, February 6, 2019 is National Signing Day. Fort Hays State head football coach Chris Brown held a press conference on Wednesday. Here’s the video:
Brenden Akin, 6-5, 285, DL, Mesa, Ariz. (Skyline HS)
Skyline HS: Recorded 42 tackles, eight sacks, and two pass breakups as a senior…Earned Scholar Athlete award.
Mason Baalmann, 6-2, 190, WR, Wichita, Kan. (Bishop Carroll HS)
Bishop Carroll HS: All-state honorable mention selection…All-City first team selection…Named to Kansas Top 100 list as a senior.
Ty Cooper, 6-0, 175, DB, Wamego, Kan. (Wamego HS)
Wamego HS: Two-time all-state honorable mention selection at defensive back…Named to Sports in Kansas Top 100 list two years in a row.
Alex Cordova, 5-11, 240, OL, Mount Hope, Kan. (Garden Plain HS)
Garden Plain HS: All-state honorable mention selection…Unanimous all-league first team selection…Named to Kansas Top 100 list as a senior.
Kendrick Davis, 6-3, 335, OL, West Bend, Wisc. (Iowa Western CC)
Iowa Western CC: Second-team all-region selection on the offensive line as a sophomore.
Nic Devore, 6-1, 270, OL, Wichita, Kan. (Maize HS)
Benjamin Donald, 6-1, 190, P/K, Ferney Creek, Australia (St. Joseph’s College (Australia))
St. Joseph’s College: All-region first team selection as a punter…Team’s Special Teams Player of the Year…All-conference selection at punter.
Bret Gilbert, 6-4, 225, DL, Amarillo, Texas (Amarillo HS)
Amarillo HS: All-District 2-5A Division I First Team selection on the defensive line as a senior…Academic all-district accolades…Served as team captain…As a senior, recorded 71 tackles, five sacks, and eight tackles for loss.
Ted Hessing, 6-6, 340, OL, Stuart, Fla. (Arizona Western CC)
Arizona Western: Starter on the offensive line two years at Arizona Western, helping the team to a 9-1 record in 2017 and a 6-5 mark in 2018…Helped the team to a national runner-up finish in 2017 as the team went undefeated in the regular season before falling to East Mississippi Community College in the title game.
South Fork HS: All-state third team selection as a senior…Three-time all-area selection…Participated in Florida Athletic Coaches Association All-Star Game…All-area selection in lacrosse.
Darnell Holloway, 6-3, 195, QB/WR, Russell, Kan. (Osborne HS)
Osborne HS: 8-Man Division II Offensive Player of the Year…All-state first team selection in 8-Man Division II as a senior by both the Wichita Eagle and Topeka Capital Journal…Helped team to 8-Man Division I state championship as a sophomore in 2016 and 8-Man Division II state runner-up finish as a senior in 2018…All-state honorable mention selection as a junior in 8-Man Division I…Participated in 8-Man All-Star Game…All-Area Top 11 selection…Played quarterback in high school but will likely transition to wide receiver in college.
Dawson Hornbeck, 6-0, 250, OL, Crescent, Okla. (Crescent HS)
Crescent HS: Three-time all-district selection as an offensive lineman…Member of the Daily Oklahoman Preseason All-State Team…Four-year starter…Team captain…On the defensive side of the ball as a senior, recorded 72 tackles, five sacks, and 12 tackles for loss…Helped team to a Class A state runner-up finish in 2017.
Jonathan Hunnacutt, 5-11, 190, K, Phillipsburg, Kan. (Phillipsburg HS)
Phillipsburg HS: All-time high school kick scoring record holder in the state of Kansas with 263 points (197 PATs, 22 field goals)…All-state first team selection in Kansas Class 2A as a specialist during his senior year of 2018…Topeka Capital Journal Top 33 All-Class selection…All-Area Top 11 by Hays Daily News…Three-time all-state selection…Three-time all-league selection…Member of Kansas Class 2A state championships in 2015 as a freshman and 2018 as a senior.
Hunter Igo, 6-1, 170, DB, Derby, Kan. (Derby HS)
Derby HS: Named to Topeka Capital Journal Top 11 Team for the entire state of Kansas…All-state first team selection at defensive back as a senior…All-Metro selection at defensive back…Accounted for nearly 2,000 total yards and 30 TDs as a quarterback during senior year…Helped Derby to state championships as a sophomore in 2016 and senior in 2018.
Corbin Ingrim, 5-11, 210, LB, Augusta, Kan. (Circle HS)
Circle HS: Two-time all-league selection…Served as team captain for two years…Two-time team MVP…Named to Kansas Top 100 list as a senior…Compiled 202 tackles, seven sacks, six forced fumbles, and one interception in his prep career.
Ryan Jarmer, 6-1, 225, LB, Garden City, Kan. (Garden City HS)
Garden City HS: Two-time all-state honorable mention selection…Two-time all-conference selection…Earned team’s Golden Helmet Award and Chad Dew Spirit Award.
Blake Martin, 6-6, 230, DL, Hesston, Kan. (Hesston HS)
Hesston HS: All-district first team selection at tight end and second team selection at defensive end…All-league selection at both defensive lineman and tight end.
Myles Menges, 6-4, 210, QB/ATH, Bushton, Kan. (Central Plains HS)
Central Plains HS: All-state first team selection as a senior in Kansas Eight Man Division I…All-state honorable mention selection as a junior in 2017…Helped team to state championship in Eight Man Division I as a senior in 2018…All-league selection as a senior at both quarterback and defensive back…Named to the Top 100 seniors in Kansas list…Threw for over 1,200 yards and rushed for over 300 yards during senior year.
Tyquilo Moore, 6-4, 290, DL, Columbia, S.C. (Butler (Kan.) CC)
Butler (Kan.) CC: All-KJCCC Second Team selection at defensive tackle as a sophomore in 2018…Recorded 19 tackles, one sack, and three tackles for loss as a sophomore…Recorded 10 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss as a freshman.
White Knoll HS: All-state, all-region, and all-area selection…Team’s Defensive MVP…Selected for North/South All-Star Game.
Jack Myers, 6-0, 220, LS, Joplin, Mo. (Joplin HS)
Joplin HS: Rated a 4.5 star long snapper by Kohl’s Kicking Camps…Served as team’s long snapper for three years…Helped team to a district title as a senior and a conference championship as a junior…State medalist in powerlifting.
Matthew Redick, 6-4, 305, OL, Wichita, Kan. (Bishop Carroll HS)
Bishop Carroll HS: Helped team to a Kansas Class 5A state quarterfinal appearance as a senior…Helped team to a Class 5A state championship as a junior.
Clay Robinson, 5-9, 175, RB, Cheney, Kan. (Cheney HS)
Cheney HS: All-league selection at running back.
Shaun Ross, 6-0, 170, DB, Raytown, Mo. (Van Horn HS)
Van Horn HS: All-state selection…All-district first team selection…Also served as team’s quarterback, recording over 1,000 passing yards and 1,400 rushing yards.
Jacob Schroeder, 6-4, 290, OL, Victoria, Kan. (Victoria HS)
Xavier Slaven, 5-11, 205, DL, Colby, Kan. (Colby HS)
Colby HS: All-state honorable mention selection at defensive end as a senior…All-state honorable mention selection at offensive lineman as a junior…Two-time all-league first team selection…Named 2018 Colby High School Lifter of the Year and Thrower of the Year in Track and Field…State placer in the shot put as a junior.
Noah Stanton, 6-1, 215, DL, Maize, Kan. (Maize HS)
Landon Teel, 6-2, 265, DL, McKinney, Texas (McKinney North HS)
McKinney North HS: Two-time All-District 14 5A First Team selection at defensive tackle…Team’s defensive MVP as a senior.
Senituli Teuhema, 6-2, 265, Arlington, Texas (Lamar HS)
Lamar HS: Two-time all-district selection as an offensive lineman.
Voshon Waiters, 6-2, 220, Miami, Fla. (ASA College Miami)
ASA Miami: As a freshman in 2016, threw for 1,380 yards and 18 touchdowns, while rushing for 118 yards…As a sophomore in 2017, threw for 472 yards and five touchdowns in just four games at quarterback.
Coral Gables HS: All-county selection…Participated in Dade vs. Broward All-Star Game.
Haden White, 6-2, 215, QB/TE, Mustang, Okla. (Mustang HS)
Mustang HS: All-state honorable mention selection at quarterback…Threw for over 1,000 yards with 11 touchdowns during senior year.
Hayden Wiltfong, 6-6, 230, TE, Edmond, Kan. (Norton Community HS)
Norton Community HS: All-state honorable mention selection as a senior by the Topeka Capital Journal and Wichita Eagle…Named to Hays Daily News All-Area First Team…All-state selection by the Kansas Football Coaches Association…All-league first team selection at both tight end and defensive end.
Brett Winsor, 6-3, 170, WR, Pratt, Kan. (Pratt HS)
Pratt HS: All-state honorable mention selection as both a wide receiver and defensive back…All-league first team selection…Had over 600 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns as a receiver, while recording 65 tackles and eight interceptions as a senior.
Logan Schulte, 6-4, 270, DL, Hays, Kan. (Hays HS)
Hays HS: All-state honorable mention selection by the Topeka Capital Journal and Wichita Eagle…All-league first team selection as a senior and second team selection as a junior…All-Area Second Team selection by the Hays Daily News…Recorded 71 tackles and 18 tackles for loss as a senior.
Trenton Harbur, 6-2, 225, RB, Gothenburg, Neb. (Gothenburg HS)
Gothenburg HS: Participated in the River Battle Bowl that features top high school prospects from Nebraska and Iowa…Recorded over 1,100 rushing yards his senior year…
ELLIS – The sewer system in Ellis has problems with inflow and infiltration and the city council has agreed to pay for a month-long flow monitor study to determine what’s wrong.
Alan Scheuerman, public works director, told council members Monday twice as much water is entering the sewer system than is produced, causing it to work over capacity and resulting in excess chemical cost.
Wilson & Company will conduct the flow study at a cost of $22,646 to determine the location of the infiltration.
Reporting on a water-related issue, City Attorney Olavee Raub said the real estate contracts for the Water Exploration Project have been closed and the deeds signed. The deeds have been submitted to the Ellis County Appraiser for filing.
In other business, modified site plans for the Lakeside Campground expansion project were presented by Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group. It was determined some of the historic roundhouse foundation may need to be covered with fill dirt for the project. Driggs said he and the campground committee met with the Railroad Museum board which indicated they support the project. The museum is requesting a monument sign be placed at the roundhouse site to preserve its historic significance.
The complete meeting minutes follow.
ELLIS CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
Minutes
February 4, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor David McDaniel called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m. Present were Council members Bret Andries, Holly Aschenbrenner, Steve Ferland, Martin LaBarge, Jolene Niernberger, and Bob Redger. Also present were Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman, City Clerk Amy Burton, Police Chief Taft Yates, and City Attorney Olavee Raub.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA
None
PUBLIC PRESENT
Chad Pritchett, Verda Flinn, Glen Keller, and Buck Driggs.
CONSENT AGENDA
Council member Bob Redger moved to approve the consent agenda containing the Minutes from the Regular Meeting on January 21, 2019, the Special Meeting on January 29, 2019 as revised, and Bills Ordinance #2062. Council member Martin LaBarge seconded the motion. The Council approved the consent agenda 6-0.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Chad Pritchett, Secretary for the Walter P. Chrysler Boyhood Home, discussed the financial struggles surrounding the museum. Mr. Pritchett requested the City’s assistance with tying the two electric meters together to reduce the administration fees billed by Midwest Energy, and for the City to take over responsibility for mowing the museum property. He believes the museum could realize a cost savings of $1,260 per year between the two items.
PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
None
SPECIAL ORDER
None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Campground: Special Project
Buck Driggs, Driggs Design Group, presented the modified site plans for the Campground Expansion Project. Mr. Driggs and the Campground Committee recently met with the Railroad Museum Board to discuss the historic roundhouse foundation, as some of the foundation may need to be covered with fill dirt for the project. The Museum Board plans to submit a letter in support of the project and requests a monument sign placed at the site to preserve the historic significance. The Committee has also met with the adjacent land owner who has voiced support for the project. The Committee plans to submit their grant application to the Dane G. Hansen Foundation later this month.
Water: Acquisition
Public Works Director Alan Scheuerman presented a revised quote from Metron-Farnier, LLC for electronic read water meters. The City has approximately 45 of the meters in use currently and the purchase would increase that number to 150, or roughly 12% of the total active residential meters in the City. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the purchase of electronic read water meters from Metron-Farnier, LLC in the amount of $37,855, with funds to come from the Water Depreciation Reserve fund. Council member Bob Redger seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Sewer: Repair/Maintenance
Mr. Scheuerman presented cost estimates and discussed the modifications needed to convert the Cedar Lane Lift Station from a single phase pump to a three-phase pump. The City would need to acquire the right-of-ways from the two property owners prior to the project. City Attorney Olavee Raub stated she has not been in contact with the property owners yet. It was the consensus of Council to table consideration until Ms. Raub can investigate the possibility of acquiring the right-of-ways.
NEW BUSINESS
Capital Improvement: Acquisition
Mr. Scheuerman requested ratification of the invoice from C & E Doors, LLC for the south overhead shop door. Council had approved the purchase on October 1, 2018 at a cost of $2,450, however, the door size needed to be increased which resulted in a higher cost. Council member Bob Redger moved to ratify the invoice from C & E Doors, LLC in the amount of $2,860 for the overhead shop door, with funds to come from the Capital Improvement fund. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Sewer: Special Project
Mr. Scheuerman presented a Letter of Agreement from Wilson & Company for evaluation of the City’s inflow and infiltration (I&I) into the Sewer System. The City has a serious issue with I&I that has resulted in twice as much water entering the sewer system than is produced. The system is working over capacity, straining equipment and resulting in some excess chemical cost. The City contracts annually for sewer cleaning and a small portion of the lines are videoed at that time, but to date the City has been unsuccessful in determining the source of the I&I. The proposed flow monitoring study will evaluate five flow meters placed in designated manholes for a series of four or eight weeks. The study will aid the City in determining the location of the infiltration. After further discussion, Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved to approve the Letter of Agreement from Wilson & Company for a four-week flow monitoring study at a cost of $22,646, with funds to come from the Sewer Depreciation Reserve fund. Council member Martin LaBarge seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
Sewer: Acquisition
The City is experiencing an algae growth problem at the sewer clarifier. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment prohibits the use of chemicals to reduce the algae. Mr. Scheuerman presented two bids for the purchase of a carport to shade the clarifier to help prevent the growth of the algae. The purchase was not budgeted in 2019 and would need to be funded out of cash reserves. It was the consensus of the Council to table consideration at this time and to budget the purchase in 2020.
Water: Acquisition
Mr. Scheuerman presented a bid for the purchase of a 6” team valve and five – 6” gate valves. The valves will replace current valves that do not work. The valves allow the Department to isolate areas of town during leaks, thus reducing the number of residences affected by the disruption of water service to complete the repair. Council member Bret Andries moved to approve the quote from Municipal Pipe Supply in the amount of $12,445.75 for the purchase of valves, with funds to come from the Water Depreciation Reserve Fund. Council member Steve Ferland seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0.
REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
Public Works
Mr. Scheuerman presented the Comparative Water Report for the period November 10th – December 10th and the individual Water Reports for each month in 2018. Council reviewed a letter submitted by Water Operator John Leiker concerning the presence of trihalomethanes (THM) in the water system. Residences will receive a letter explaining the presence of the by-product and how the City is mitigating the situation.
Police
Police Chief Taft Yates presented the Monthly Activity Report for January and the February Staff Calendar. The Department will participate in their annual Taser certification and officers will receive narcotics investigation training.
City Clerk
City Clerk Amy Burton presented the draft minutes from the recent Campground Committee meeting and the 2018 Safety Report. There were significantly more accidents in 2018 than in prior years, resulting in the City paying $6,248 in worker’s compensation claims. Ms. Burton also reviewed the annual Catastrophic Sick Leave Bank summary. The Bank has met its calculated cap due to the retirement of a long-term City employee. The Swimming Pool Committee will meet with the engineer from Larkin Aquatics on February 5th to discuss concept plans for the Community Development Block Grant application.
Attorney
City Attorney Olavee Raub reported the real estate contracts for the Water Exploration Project have been closed and the deeds signed. The deeds have been submitted to the Ellis County Appraiser for filing.
Mayor Update and Announcements
Mayor David McDaniel recently attended the League of Kansas Municipalities Local Government Day in Topeka. Some of the topics discussed affecting cities were the re-amortization of KPERS and how medical marijuana can affect random drug testing.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS
Mayor David McDaniel asked for a motion to recess into executive session. Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved for City Council to recess into executive session for 10 minutes to discuss contract negotiations pursuant to the attorney-client privilege exception, K.S.A. 75-4319 (b)(2) with City Attorney Olavee Raub present. The open meeting will resume at 9:17 p.m. Council member Bret Andries seconded the motion. The motion carried 6-0. No action was taken in executive session and the open meeting resumed.
ADJOURNMENT
Council member Holly Aschenbrenner moved and Council member Bob Redger seconded a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried 6-0. The meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.
USD 489
Michael Gower will be interviewing for the position of superintendent with the USD 489 Board of Education on the evening of Wednesday, Feb. 6.
Gower is the third of four candidates the USD 489 Hays Board of Education will be interviewing. Keith Hall, USD 489 interim director of finance, and Jamie Wetig, Ashland superintendent, interviewed for the job last week. One more candidate will interview with the board on Thursday. The school board is set to vote on its selection at the school board meeting on Monday.
Candidates were selected for interviews based on their fit with desired characteristics that were developed with input from focus groups that were utilized throughout the search process.
Gower is currently serving as the Superintendent of Phillipsburg Schools in USD 325 and Logan Schools in USD 326. Gower is in his ninth year in the position at Phillipsburg and sixth year at Logan. In 2017 Gower became an adjunct professor in the College of Education at Fort Hays State University and continues to serve in that capacity.
The community is invited to meet the candidate from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Toepfer Board Room at the Rockwell Administration Center.
Schedule February 6, 2019
9 a.m. Arrive at Rockwell Administration Center
9:05 – 9:20 a.m. Meet with Superintendent Thissen
Receive schedule and information for the day
9:30 – 10:00 a.m. Roosevelt Elementary School – facility tour and meet and greet
10:15 – 11:00 am Drive to Lincoln, O’Loughlin, and Early Childhood Connections
11 – 11:45 a.m. Hays High School – facility tour and meet and greet
Noon – 1:15 p.m. Lunch with building administrators
1:30 – 2:15 p.m. Hays Middle School (drive by Wilson) – facility tour and meet and greet
2:30 – 3:15 p.m.Rockwell Administration Center – facility tour and meet and greet
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Community and parent meet and greet – Toepfer Board Room
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Free time for the candidate (the district will provide transportation to and from the motel for the candidate and/or guest.
5:30 p.m. Dinner with board, candidate and guest, central administrative team
6:15 p.m. Formal Interview
Ellis USD 388
ELLIS — Corey Burton will interview for the position of superintendent with the board of education Wednesday.
Burton is the second of three candidates that the USD 388 Ellis Board of Education will interview. Candidates were selected for interviews based on their fit with desired characteristics that were developed with input from a focus survey which were utilized throughout the search process.
Burton is currently serving as Ellis High School principal. He is in his 12th year in that position. 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.
Corey Burton’s Schedule
3:30 pm Corey’s video presentation shared with the public online and by email
5:30 -6:30 Dinner @ district office
6:30 – 9:30 Formal interview, Special BOE meeting in executive session @ district office
The board of education will conclude interviews on Feb. 7.
BY JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post
The Ellis County Fire Department responded to 320 calls for service in 2018, a slight decrease from the year before but they still spent more than 6,600 hours on emergency incidents in and around the county.
Director of Fire and Emergency Management Darin Myers presented the commission with the departments 2018 annual report Monday.
According to information Myers presented to the commission, the 320 calls were a 5 percent decrease from 2017 but, from 2016 to 2017, the calls increased by 23 percent.
Of those calls, 38.8 percent were fire related and 27.8 percent were rescue and Emergency Medical Services calls.
The response times within the county continue to improve, according to Myers. He said in 2018 the average on-scene time within Ellis County was 9 minutes, 34 seconds.
“We also plan that it takes about three minutes for firefighters to get to the station before they report out and are responding in an emergency vehicle,” Myers said. “That’s pretty good timing for the volunteers to be able to get back to their station and start responding.”
Recently, the number of volunteer emergency personnel has been trending downward, according to Myers.
“Luckily, over the last four years, we’ve steadily increased,” he said. “I wouldn’t say we ever have enough, just because of the time of day the incident happens. Usually between 8 a.m. and 5p.m. is when the firefighters are working their primary jobs.”
There are currently 83 paid-per-call firefighters in six companies after two recent retirements.
The department still had an average of 12 firefighters who respond to each call. Myers said, on average, 33 firefighters respond to structure fires within the county.
Myers also highlighted 2018 accomplishments that included the improvement of the department’s Public Protection Classification, the purchase of new radio equipment and the installation of new outdoor warning sirens.
In other business, the commission elected to leave in place the county-wide burn ban resolution.
The resolution allows Myers to implement the ban unilaterally, without the commission’s approval, although Myers said he does not intend to implement the ban at this time.
The commission also approved an employee pay plan that adjusts wages for employees with more than five years of service and provides a 2 percent increase to all other employees.
FHSU University Relations
A volunteer opportunity at the Via Christi Village in Hays with Tigers In Service is among the events in February provided by Fort Hays State University’s Center for Civic Leadership.
“This event is great for both the volunteers and the residents because it gives them both a chance to share really amazing stories and experiences with other people they may have never met before,” said Devan Flegler, project coordinator for the Center for Civic Leadership.
The Via Christi Residential Painting begins at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb 6. Volunteers will assist residents in painting a Valentine’s Day themed painting.
Highlights of events in February are listed chronologically.
Monday, February 11: Valentine’s week table
12:30 to 2 p.m. – Tigers In Service will have a table in Memorial Union so that students will be able to fill out cute, kindness notes and deliver them to the person of their choosing.
Tuesday, February 12: Red Hand Day
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – FHSU’s American Democracy Project and the Global Leadership Project will host Red Hand Day, dedicated to raising awareness of child soldiers forced into war around the world. Participants will dip their hands in red ink and place them on a picture that will be hung in the Memorial Union.
Thursday, February 14: “Love Doesn’t Hurt”
11 a.m. to 2 p.m. – This presentation by the Women’s Leadership Project in the Memorial Union will dispel myths around common “red flags” in relationships.
Wednesday, February 20: Times Talk: “Online Security”
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. – The American Democracy Project and Forsyth Library will host Jessica States of the Office of Technology Services, who will present on avoiding compromised information online. The presentation will be in the South Study Space of Forsyth Library.
Monday, February 25: Table for Volunteer Opportunities
12:30 to 2 p.m. – Tigers In Service will have a table in the Memorial Union with information about upcoming volunteer opportunities around the Hays community, alternative weekend breaks and alternative spring break.
Many adults are unaware that teens experience dating violence. Yet in 2010, the U.S. Congress enhanced what had been Teen Dating Violence Awareness Week to Teen Dating Violence Awareness month, based on the rising number of incidents in teens ages 11-17 across the country.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that nearly 1 in 9 female teens and approximately 1 in 13 male teens report having experienced physical dating violence. In addition, over 1 in 7 female teens and 1 in 19 male teens report having experienced sexual dating violence. 23% of women and 14% of men first experienced these or other forms of violence by a partner before age 18. (CDC 2017)
Teens who experience relationship violence are at risk for additional difficulties such as depression, substance abuse and suicide. Victims are also at greater risk of experiencing the same patterns of violence later in life.
As a community, we have a responsibility to make dating and domestic violence an intolerable act – anytime, anywhere.
Jana’s Campaign is thrilled that Hays and surrounding communities recognize this is a social issue that can be eradicated, and are willing to do the work involved in that process. We are extremely thankful to the hundreds of people who believe in the #PowerOfPrevention, who help support and fund our work.
We believe education is the most powerful instrument of social change and development. We believe through education, we can change and improve social attitudes, behaviors, customs, interactions, relations and social norms.
Since 2013, Jana’s Campaign has worked with nearly 550 middle and high schools educating about and preventing against gender and relationship violence. We commend these schools for understanding the importance of talking to their students about healthy– and unhealthy–relationships.
Throughout February and beyond, please join our efforts to educate and raise awareness about the hidden social disease of gender and relationship violence – dating and domestic violence, sexual violence and stalking. We ask you to encourage your local school or organization to invite us in for a presentation about these important issues!
Learn more about Teen Dating Violence and Jana’s Campaign at www.janascampaign.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
Kim Cebula
Jana’s Campaign Executive Director
Hays
KCC
Kansas high school and middle school students will compete in the ultimate wind energy learning experience beginning next week. They have done their homework when it comes to wind power and used that knowledge to build, test and fine-tune their turbines.
Now it is time to see how they stack up against the competition. Each team’s turbine will be put to the test in a 48″ × 48″ wind tunnel at a wind speed of approximately 3.5-5 m/s.
Four regional competitions are scheduled. The winning teams from each age group (4-8 and 9-12 grades) will advance to the state finals for a chance to represent Kansas in the national competition in Houston, Texas during the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) conference on May 20-23.
Registrations are still being accepted. The schedule of events appears below.
Region Date Location Time
Southwest February 7 Dodge City 9 am – 3 pm
Northeast February 14 Manhattan 9 am – 3 pm
Southeast March 1 Burlington 9 am – 3 pm
Northwest March 7 Oakley 9 am – 3 pm
(NW Kansas Educational Service Center)
State Finals March 30 Topeka 9 am – 3 pm
Kansas KidWind has been expanded from one event last year to five to make it easier for teams from all regions of the state to participate. This year there are currently 43 teams registered compared to 17 last year.
In 2018, students showcased their creativity with wind turbines constructed using everything from soda cans to vinyl records. The 2018 team from Oxford Middle School, Overland Park, went on to place first in the national KidWind competition in Chicago.
More information about KidWind can be found at https://kansasenergyprogram.org/kidwindchallenge.
KidWind sponsors include the Kansas Corporation Commission (KCC), Enel Green Power North America, Westar Energy, and NextEra Energy.
The certified public accounting firm of Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chartered (ABBB) is pleased to announce Meagan Wellbrock, CPA has been promoted to partner.
“Meagan has served the firm and our clients well throughout her tenure,” said Brian Staats, CPA, CGMA, managing partner of ABBB. “Congratulations on this achievement, Meagan! We look forward to your continued leadership and appreciate your dedication to the firm.”
Wellbrock began her career at ABBB as an intern and joined the firm full-time in 2007. As the Audit and Attestation (A&A) Service Line leader, she focuses on providing A&A services, managing a variety of audit engagements, and consulting on managerial and operational concerns.
Wellbrock graduated summa cum laude from Fort Hays State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration and also holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification. In addition to being a member of the FHSU Alumni Association, she is affiliated with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Kansas Society of Certified Public Accountants (KSCPA), where she also serves on the Audit and Assurance Tax Force.
Wellbrock was named the AICPA/KSCPA Women to Watch Emerging Leader in 2015 and has graduated from both the AICPA Leadership Academy and the KSCPA’s “20 up to 40” leadership program.
She serves as treasurer for CASA of the High Plains, a board member of the Victoria USD 432 Foundation, and was previously a board member for the United Way of Ellis County. She resides in her hometown of Victoria with her husband, Scott.
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RUSSELL — The Russell Area Chamber of Commerce annual awards banquet is scheduled for Fe. 28 at the Russell VFW.
The social hour begins at 6 p.m., with the dinner starting at 7 p.m.
Guest speaker will be state Rep. Troy Waymaster, R-Bunker Hill, who represents the 109th District in the Kansas House.
Annual awards to be presented include business of the year, nonprofit of the year, community service award, citizen of the year and lifetime achievement award.
Tickets can be reserved by calling (785) 483-6960 or stopping at the chamber office at 507 N. Main.
