We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Category: Local

🎥 Former Washington School may be converted to low-income apartments

Posted on

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The aging building that is the former Washington Elementary School is going to be sold by the Hays USD 489 school district and an affordable housing developer wants to buy it.

The facility at 305 Main currently houses the Early Childhood Connections (ECC) program which will be moved to the Oak Park Medical Complex, 2501 E. 13th, once that building is renovated. ECC operations in Munjor will also move to Oak Park and that former school building will be closed.

Overland Property Group, Leawood, is interested in converting the historic Washington building, which opened in 1926, into low-income apartments.

Matt Gillam, vice president of development, explained the proposed project at Monday’s school board meeting. The group built the three phases of StonePost apartments located near Washington in downtown Hays.

“The school building itself kind of lends it perfectly to our footprint and potential expansion,” said Gillam. “I’m looking to make another investment into Hays and it’s for the long term.”

Washington’s last day as an elementary school was May 19, 2015. It was then repurposed to house Early Childhood Connections. Only part of Washington school can be used for student classrooms. Washington is also not handicap accessible and has had significant infrastructure issues.

Gillim hopes to save the building and convert it to apartments using the same funding mechanism the group has used elsewhere. The federal low income housing tax credits are administered by the Kansas Housing Resource Corporation (KHRC).

“I would potentially also go after some federal historic credits if I’m able to save the school, and if at all possible, I would.”

If the historic status is not permitted, Gillam said he would come back to the board to let them know the project would be pursued as a building tear-down.

Best case scenario, construction would start at the school at the end of 2019 and into the first quarter of 2020, Gilliam said.

“The lead time for this type of funding and resources is rather long,” he acknowledged. Application for the low income housing credits would be made in February, followed by the historical credits, which is a less competitive process.

“I’ve already done some research with our historical consultant and we believe the school will qualify.”

Gillam will meet with Superintendent John Thissen to prepare more information and updates for board members to review before their next meeting on Jan. 14.

🎥 KHP: Quinter woman hospitalized after I-70 accident in Ellis County

Posted on
(Photo by Darrel Goheen)

A Quinter woman was hospitalized after an accident approximately 6 miles west of Hays in Ellis County just before 9 a.m. Wednesday.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2001 Lexus SUV driven by Linda Sue Teeter, 59, was eastbound on Interstate 70 when the driver suffered a medical event. The Lexus sideswiped a 2016 Peterbilt semi driven by Samuel Q. King, 23, Winnsboro, Texas.

The SUV left the roadway into the south ditch, continued through a KDOT fence and across a field a half-mile before striking a tree, according to the KHP.

Teeter was transported to HaysMed for treatment of a suspected minor injury. King was uninjured. Both were wearing seat belts, the KHP reported.

https://youtu.be/irszCDehNLI

EDITED 3:22 p.m. to correct the day of the incident.

🎥 Community Christmas cheer on the corner

Posted on
Handmade Christmas ornaments made by Hays youth adorn two trees north of the library.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Downtown Hays is sparkling a little bit brighter this holiday season thanks to local youth groups.

Members of Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, 4-H and Big Brothers Big Sisters hand made oversized Christmas decorations for the two “community trees” just north of the Hays Public Library on the corner of 13th and Main.

The tall evergreens sit on Ellis County property. The Ellis County Commission was “delighted” to again grant permission for the holiday decorating as it has for many years.

Seven-year-old Eva Betz and her brother Evan, 9, are members of the Gemini Juniors 4-H Club. They, along with their mom Lynette, were recently hanging the ornaments after school.

“We made snowflakes, tree ornaments and paper snowmen,” Eva said. She had some help from Evan attaching decorations to limbs she couldn’t reach.

“I climbed up on that,” Evan explained as he pointed to the limestone base of the Statue of Liberty monument located between the two trees. “And, I jumped up on trees.” Evan was able to pull down several higher branches low enough for Eva to attach them firmly with fasteners made of pipe cleaner.

Decorating the highest branches of the towering evergreens was left to the Boy Scouts of Troop 101.

When plans to use a bucket truck fell through, a stepladder was quickly retrieved from the library. To reach even higher, troop leader Steve Urban and several scouts went across the street to borrow a long extension ladder from Ralph’s Electric, one of the contractors working on a historic building renovation for the new EyeSmile Vision and Dental practice.

Logan Leiker, brothers Steve and Kade Urban, Luke Montgomery, and Graysen Smith helped each other place the ladder against the sturdy trees. Kade did most of the climbing, working his way carefully step by step to place decorations about a third of the way up from the tree bases.

“Just hang them up as you go up the line, Kade,” advised troop leader Urban.

The scouts were working on their religion badges, which require community service.

“Unfortunately, there’s is no ‘Christmas Tree Decorating’ badge for the Boy Scouts,” Urban quipped.

SPONSORED: Sternberg seeking Museum Program Specialist

Posted on

Museum Program Specialist

POSITION DESCRIPTION: Full-time non-tenure track naturalist oversees the care and management of its animal collection and nature trail. The museum cares for a variety of animals including snakes, frogs, fish, turtles, lizards, arthropods, and mammals. These animals are a part of the exhibits and discovery room and are used for a number of in- house and outreach programs. The museum also operates a 23-acre nature area with trails. This area includes a stream, pond and prairie area. The trails are open to the public and are used for museum programs as well as university research projects.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Bachelor’s degree in zoology, botany or related area or related experience in these areas
  • Experience with herpetological care and husbandryPREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
  • Field experience in collection of plants and animals
  • Demonstrated skills in public speaking, writing, interpersonal and communication skills
  • Knowledge of museum practices and standards.APPLICATION DEADLINE: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Priority Deadline is January 5, 2019.

    SALARY: $15.75 per hour
    BENEFITS: Competitive benefit package https://www.fhsu.edu/humanresourceoffice/Prospective-Employees/

    RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Supervise care, handling, health and access to all museum live animals
  • Work with zoology collections manager on IACUC issues
  • Acquisition and development of museum live animal collection
  • Museum operational service
  • Maintain external partnerships with collaborative institutions
  • Supervision of students and volunteers
  • Nature trail care and development
  • Work collaboratively with museum Education and Exhibits Managers on museum programs and exhibits
  • Develop and run educational programs centered around animals, plants and nature.
  • Participate in guiding school tours
  • Oversee the museum birthday party programs
  • Participate in outreach activities
  • Develop and run animal/nature programs for preschoolers and parents
  • Other duties as assigned by the DirectorAPPLICATION PROCESS: To apply for this position, please visit https://fhsu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/CAREERS. Only electronic applications submitted through the webpage will be accepted.

    REQUIRED APPLICATION DOCUMENTS: Applicants should submit a cover letter, resume, and names and contact information for three professional references. Applicant documents should be submitted in one PDF.

    If you have questions regarding the position, please contact: Reese Barrick
    785-628-5664
    [email protected]

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

    • Bachelor’s degree in zoology, botany or related area or related experience in these areas

    Experience with herpetological care and husbandry

     

ABOUT FORT HAYS STATE UNIVERSITY:

Founded in 1902, FHSU is a leading, forward-thinking university of the Midwest, with student enrollment of more than 15,000 (including 4,600+ on the Hays campus, a unique China partnership program with enrollment of 3,500+ students, and Virtual College enrollment at over 6,800+). Over 400 faculty and more than 500 professional and staff support and guide degree and certificate programs for the associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s programs, and for the Doctorate of Nursing Practice, representing 31 departments within these academic divisions:

  • College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • W.R. and Yvonne Robbins College of Business and Entrepreneurship
  • College of Education
  • College of Health and Behavioral Sciences
  • Peter Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics
  • Graduate SchoolFort Hays State University provides exceptional opportunities for students from Kansas, the region, and the world, and the University attracts goal-oriented students who want premier learning experiences both inside and outside the classroom combined with one-to-one attention and support. FHSU students graduate with the knowledge, professional skills, and confidence to have a competitive edge in their chosen careers. Upon graduation, 95% of FHSU students find a job or placement in graduate school.

    ABOUT THE COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MATHEMATICS:

    The college was formed in 2015 by aggregating the departments of Agriculture, Applied Technology, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Geosciences, Mathematics, and Physics, as well as the Sternberg Museum of Natural History and the Kansas Wetlands Education Center. The academic units consist of approximately 70 full-time faculty, 1400 undergraduate majors, and 50 graduate students. STM departments also make significant contributions to the university’s General Education program, coursework support for the other four colleges, and to the Kansas Academy of Mathematics and Science, which is an early-college program for high-achieving high school students. A new 58,000 sq. ft. Applied Technology and Sculpture building houses new technology student learning spaces, and will complement existing state of the art facilities. Undergraduate students participate in technical, classroom, field, and lab experiences that many universities would reserve for graduate students. The wide range of academic programs are innovative, and college faculty embrace a one-on-one teaching and mentoring philosophy, while providing robust scholarship opportunities for our students.

    ABOUT HAYS, KS:

    Candidates will discover a locale where professional satisfaction and career achievement are paired with an optimal quality of life. Fort Hays State University is located in Hays, Kansas, a vibrant, growing community of over 20,000 that takes great pride in the University’s presence. Hays is a celebration of historic and contemporary contrasts, evidenced in its frontier roots highlighted throughout the city and local museums and in its redeveloped downtown area where residents enjoy one-of-a-kind restaurants, unique shopping, and a vibrant arts scene. This community’s commitment to the future inspires Hays businesses to reinvest locally.

    A welcoming and family-centered community, Hays offers premier healthcare services, a growing high-tech and retail business community, and excellent Pre-K and K–12 schools in both the private and public sectors. The City of Hays has long been known as a safe community, and the FHSU campus is recognized by the National Council for Home Safety and Security in 2018 as one of the Top 100 Safest College Campuses in America. For entertainment, recreation, education, employment, or simply for a comfortable place to live, residents of all ages will find in Hays the elements that contribute to a safe, enjoyable, and fulfilling lifestyle.

    Notice of Non-discrimination – Fort Hays State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, national origin, color, age, marital status, sexual orientation, genetic information, disability or veteran status.

    Background Check: Final candidate will have consented to and successfully completed a criminal background check.

    Notice to KPERS retirees applying for a position: Recent legislation changes working-after-retirement rules for both you and your employer if you go back to work for a KPERS employer. Please contact your KPERS representative
    or www.kpers.org for further information on how this might affect you.

Morrison Foundation gift adds exhibits, helps renovate Exhibit Hall at KWEC

Posted on
FHSU University Relations

FHSU University Relations

GREAT BEND — New exhibits are now available at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center in Great Bend, made possible through a $220,000 gift from the Dorothy M. Morrison Foundation to renovate the Koch Wetlands Exhibit Hall.

The KWEC overlooks Cheyenne Bottoms, the largest inland marsh in the United States, northeast of Great Bend. The center, 592 NE Kansas Highway 156, is managed by Fort Hays State University.

The new, interactive exhibits will allow visitors to experience and discover more about the animals and plants that call the wetlands of Cheyenne Bottoms home.

“The Dorothy M. Morrison Foundation is pleased and excited to be a part of the Exhibit Hall expansion at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center,” said Katherine Opie, foundation director.

“In less than 10 years, the KWEC has become a popular and important destination, showcasing the wildlife and wetlands unique to this region and providing educational programming for all ages,” she said. “The Morrison Foundation is proud to support this valuable community asset.”

Completed by Bang! Creative out of Carlsbad, Calif., the exhibit features 12 new exhibit pieces, including an interactive floor projection system, an augmented reality sandbox to simulate a water drainage basin, a magnifying glass table to explore aquatic macroinvertebrates, and a children’s activity area.

Renovations also include a new donor recognition wall exhibit. Two exhibits remain – Cheyenne Bottoms Timeline and A Panorama of Birds for All Seasons. They were originally installed in 2009 through a gift from the Fred C. and Mary R. Koch Foundation.

“We are so thankful to the Dorothy M. Morrison Foundation for allowing us the opportunity to turn a great nature center visit into an unforgettable experience, and one that visitors will want to return to over and over again,” said Curtis Wolf, director of the KWEC.

KWEC’s ultimate goal with the new exhibits is to provide the experiences that can trigger more people to become invested stewards of natural resources and local wetlands.

“The exhibit hall renovation will give everyone a chance to rediscover all of the fun and exciting events that happen at KWEC,” said Dixie Divis, board president of Friends of Cheyenne Bottoms.

“There is always something new to see and learn with each visit, and the renovations highlight this,” she said.

For more information about the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, go to www.wetlandscenter.fhsu.edu.

To learn how you can support the KWEC, contact the Fort Hays State University Foundation by calling 785-628-5620 or emailing [email protected]. To make a gift to the KWEC, visit https://foundation.fhsu.edu/donate, select “Other” in the dropdown menu under “Designation,” and type “Kansas Wetlands Education Center” as the area of designation.

Mild, windy Thursday

Posted on

Today Sunny, with a high near 50. Very windy, with a north northwest wind 20 to 25 mph increasing to 26 to 31 mph in the afternoon. Winds could gust as high as 45 mph.

Tonight Clear, with a low around 24. Northwest wind 12 to 17 mph decreasing to 6 to 11 mph after midnight.

Friday Sunny, with a high near 56. West wind 5 to 15 mph becoming south in the afternoon.
Friday Night Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming clear, with a low around 29. South wind 8 to 10 mph becoming north northwest after midnight.

SaturdayMostly sunny, with a high near 47. North northwest wind 8 to 13 mph.

Saturday NightA slight chance of rain and snow before 8pm, then a slight chance of snow between 8pm and midnight. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 25. Chance of precipitation is 20%.

SundayMostly sunny, with a high near 46.

Ellis County projects it will end year under budget

Posted on

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission is projecting it will end the year under budget and approved a series of transfers of the unused funds Monday.

The county intends to keep $2.925 million in unencumbered cash in its general fund account. This is about 15 percent of the county’s expenditures less transfers, Phillip Smith-Hanes, county administrator, said.

Smith explained the county’s general fund is like the county’s checking account, and the unencumbered cash is extra money to help with the county’s cash flow and to use in case of emergencies.

The two departments that had the largest surpluses in 2018 were the Road and Bridge, and Sheriff’s departments. Road and Bridge saved money because the cost of diesel was less than budgeted. The department also spent less than expected on road commodities.

The jail had days this summer when its prisoner population was low. This meant the Sheriff’s Department didn’t have to spend as much money on housing prisoners in other counties.

By Dec. 31, the county will transfer $1.729 million back to departments’ capital funds for the purchase of equipment or building repairs. Up to another $900,000 will be transferred to departments if it is available after the county audit.

Although the county expects to come in under budget this year, it faces some difficult choices ahead, Smith-Hanes said.

Oil and gas tax revenues continue to decline. The county’s assessed valuation is the same as it was seven years ago, but the county’s costs continue to increase.

“I think long term the county has some challenges we’ve talked to about in terms of the future,” Smith-Hanes said, “but we are doing well right now and making responsible decisions and trying to forestall those future problems.

“If you look at our five-year outlook, the commission is going to face some decisions in the future on whether they adjust taxes rates or reduce services, because we have reached the end of our limits of what we can do with our reserve.”

In other business, the county commission:

• Approved a $5,000 grant for the Heartland Community Foundation.
• Approved a salary resolution for elected officials. This is done on an annual basis, and none of the salaries changed
• Approved a policy on purchase cards.
• Allowed EMS to distribute requests for proposals for two new ambulances.

MASON: Reasons for the season — blessings, purpose and aspiration

Posted on

Dr. Tisa Mason
I love the holiday season! This year is extra special with our return to Hays, providing the opportunity to revisit the familiar traditions and experience new traditions. I love the church services, the outdoor lights, and the Christmas trees – I have four in the president’s residence, one in my office, one in the outer office, and so many more throughout the building, campus and city. Bill and I drive around at night and look at all of the beautiful outdoor lights.

I especially love the holiday season because it creates so many special moments for us to gather with our friends and family and to think a bit about our blessings, purpose, and aspirations. I always think of the holiday season as inclusive of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. The three events seem to transition both thematically and rapidly – signaling, paradoxically, both a time of heightened activity as well as a meaningful time for personal reflection.

Thanksgiving is such a great time for communities and families to come together to give thanks for their many blessings. Returning to Hays America has reminded me about the strong relationships and good people who call this area home. Clearly, a hallmark of this university is a strong town and gown relationship. Fort Hays State is blessed by a long legacy of strong leaders, extremely talented faculty, staff who care deeply about our students, and a community that rallies its support around the university in a myriad of ways.

My Thanksgiving blessings list may have been longer than Santa’s list. The Reader’s Digest version of my list included our generous donors, our students who choose FHSU, legislators who believe in higher education, and the quality of the innovative education our faculty deliver. A few blessings witnessed this fall include an 18th consecutive year of record enrollment growth, partial restoration of higher education base funding, top passing rates on national exams, and a $100 million Journey Campaign – which was supposed to be a stretch goal – outpacing the timeline.

And then, Christmas!

Christmas – a time to enjoy more beautiful decorations, holiday music, and even the snow. A time to again express our gratitude for the people in our lives as we exchange cards, gifts, and encouraging words. I also appreciate the fact that both the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday facilitate a little extra generosity as we often provide a little extra food, gifts, and other treasures to those in need. I am so happy to be part of a community who actively engages in philanthropy and service to others all year round.

I really appreciate the person responsible for coining the phrase: the reason for the season. For me, Christmas is such a great opportunity to think deeply about my purpose – do I live my life as I have been called to do? What changes do I need to make? As I ponder about the life I lead, I realize a new year is quickly approaching.

A new year always brings new hopes, dreams, and aspirations. I once read that at the most basic level, our dreams, hopes, and wishes determine how we live our lives. Our aspirations are rooted in a strong desire to achieve something noble. Authors Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner share that if we live each day as if we matter, we offer up our unique legacy. By offering up our own unique legacy, we make the world we inhabit a better place than we found it.

This is precisely why the holiday season is the perfect time to say “thank you” not only to our donors, who have changed the lives of generations of students, but also to everyone whose aspirations lead to a better world. In Hays America I experience a community brimming with people who live their lives generously and with kindness, who change lives, offer hope and live with integrity, and who inspire me every day to live more generously.

20 students, 2 adults hospitalized after Ness Co. school bus crash

Posted on

NESS COUNTY — Twenty students and two adults were injured in an accident just after 9:15p.m. Tuesday in Ness County.

The accident on Kansas 96 Highway at Ness County J Road involved a Dodge pickup pulling a trailer and a Ness City High School USD 303 activity bus with approximately 40 students, according to Ness County Sheriff Brandon Mitchell.

Sheriff’s deputies responded and were on scene within one minute of the report. Kansas Highway Patrol, Ness County EMS and Ness County Fire units also responded and began assisting in injury assessments.

Twenty-two individuals, including 20 students and 2 adults, were transported to the Ness County Hospital in Ness City, according to Mitchell.

The sheriff’s department did not have details on the extent of injuries early Wednesday.

Kansas Highway Patrol continues to investigate the accident that briefly shut down K96 Highway.

———–

A crash involving a bus from the Ness City school district closed a portion of K-96 in both directions Tuesday night.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, the bus was carrying basketball players from Ness City High School’s games in Dighton. A Kansas Highway Patrol dispatcher said no one was seriously injured in the crash, but there were minor injuries. The dispatcher could not confirm how many people were hurt.

Trooper Mike Racy with the Kansas Highway Patrol tweeted early Wednesday that all lanes of K-96 in the area of the wreck are now open.

Driver hospitalized after being ejected when car rolls on I-70

Posted on

ELLIS COUNTY— One person was injured in an accident just before 4:30p.m. Tuesday in Ellis County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by  Matthew David Zaleski, 43, Southfield, MI., was westbound on Interstate 70 just west of Toulon Avenue.

The driver lost control of the vehicle. It entered into the median and rolled, came back onto the roadway in the east bound lanes and rolled three times crossing the east bound lanes.

The vehicle came to rest on its wheels in the south ditch. The driver was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from the vehicle.

Zaleski was transported to Hays Medical Center.

CLINKSCALES: Christmas — It is worth the effort

Posted on

Randy Clinkscales

I am like most people.  I tend to do the same things the same way, over and over. Even in church, I gravitate to the east side, sitting in about the same pew each Sunday.

Sunday (December 9) I was running a little late. So as to disturb as few people as possible, I slipped in on the west side of the United Methodist Church, and sat in a west side pew.  

Many of you know that the Hays Methodist Church has beautiful stained glass windows. By moving to a new location, I was able to see a set of windows that I do not ordinarily see—the east windows.

This was not the first time I had this view.  While the view was the same as it was on those rare other occasions, it was just as spectacular, as if it was a new sight.

As I sat there, with the church decorated for Christmas, I thought about Christmas past and my family.

I always lived miles from my grandparents—the closest being 250 miles, the longest, 560 miles.  But as a child, regardless of the distance, my parents packed us up and we headed to Fort Worth for our annual celebration.  Even after my parents divorced, my mom and step-father continued the tradition.  

And every time, every time, we were greeted with my grandparents coming out of their house, whether early morning or late at night.  My grandmother would pull me into her, hugging and kissing me, telling me how “handsome” I was.  My sister would go to my grandfather, “Poppa”, who would pick her up in his giant arms and call her “sissy.”  Then we switched.  In the house we were met with smells of macaroni and cheese, pumpkin pie, turkey dressing, and much more.

After I married Barbara, we had three sons.  Barb’s parents lived in Wichita.  They had their own traditions for Christmas.  When we went to their home, we were met with the bustle of preparations for a large gathering.  Many foods and their smells were of Mennonite origin, including bohne-beroggi and pfeffernusse. Soon a turkey would be placed in the smoker, and Barb’s dad and I would check it throughout the night to be sure it was ready for the noon meal the next day.  Tradition.  

After we married, each year Barbara and I coordinated visits between my grandparents and my wife’s parents.  Many times it saw us on the road on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or the day after Christmas.  And it was with three little active boys in the Suburban for hours!  But we made it to both places, every year.  
Gosh, it was hard.  And it was special and wonderful and meaningful. It was just another Christmas.

Sunday, as I sat in church, all those memories rushed at me.  Barb’s parents, and my grandparents and parents, are now gone.  I wish I had one more Christmas with all of them—just another Christmas. But our memories, and those of my sons, are still here.  They still warm me.  

As I was looking out the east windows of our church, through the stained glass, with the sun streaming in, we sang a song “People, Look to the East.”  Just as we finished the last line of the song, the dark shadow of several birds flew by the windows headed to the North.  I felt like it was my grandparents, my parents, and Barb’s parents, flying free, but letting me know they are still with us.

Christmas is here again.  As the stain glass windows, it is the same.  But I hope you will look at it from a different angle and see how spectacular it is.  I hope you will appreciate that all the effort you put in to be together is worth it. Now and for generations to come.

Merry Christmas.  

Randy Clinkscales of Clinkscales Elder Law Practice, PA, Hays, Kansas, is an elder care attorney, practicing in western Kansas. To contact him, please send an email to [email protected]. Disclaimer: The information in the column is for general information purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Each case is different and outcomes depend on the fact of each case and the then applicable law. For specific questions, you should contact a qualified attorney.

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File