Do you have a passion for design or just love the world of sales?
The Furniture Look in beautiful downtown Hays is seeking a creative, motivated individual to complete our sales staff. Full or part-time.
Please apply in person with resume at The Furniture Look, 1000 Main Street, Hays, KS.
The K-State Research and Extension Cottonwood District office in Hays will be closed on Friday and Tuesday, due to no electricity in the building because of ongoing renovations and construction.
The office, located at 601 Main, Ste. A, will reopen at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 5.
Dozens of descendants and re-enactors are assembling to make the Grand Reunion of Forsyth Scouts an historic event in itself. As sites in Kansas and Colorado partner in marking the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Beecher Island (The Fight Where Roman Nose Fell to the Cheyennes), people representing the scouts themselves and those who are the great and great-great grandchildren will walk in the footsteps of the U. S. Army officers and scouts and the Plains Tribes defending their homeland.
More than a year in planning, the events kicked off last weekend with a Friday evening reception for descendants at the Lincoln County Historical Museum, Lincoln, Kansas. Many of the original scouts came from this area and native son Mike Day presented the results of his searches of family histories including biographies of selected scouts.
On Saturday, August 25, the flag was raised over Fort Harker, Kanopolis, signaling the re-enactment of the men to sign on as scouts as their descendants are recognized. Historical presentations followed. Sunday morning featured a church service before the scouts ceremonially left for Fort Hays.
On September 1, the scouts will be adding to their ranks at Fort Hays State Historic Site. Reenactment, historians, entertainment, and educational programs will be held throughout the day. On Saturday evening, a Military and Citizens Hop (Dance) will be held to the music of Blackwolf. Period attire is welcome but not required. Sunday morning the scouts will “ride out” to Fort Wallace.
The third weekend of events will be held at the Fort Wallace Museum, Wallace, Kansas. Friday night’s activities will be a Guardians Only event open to the friends of the museum members. (To join, contact the museum.) Saturday morning events begin at 9 a.m. MDT with opening ceremonies including the unveiling of a lifelike sculpture of the Cheyenne warrior Roman Nose. Presentations will be offered throughout the day and the evening will feature Dave Zerfas in concert. Sunday morning a church service will be conducted by Chaplain Stan Copeland before the procession to the Fort Wallace Cemetery and services honoring the men who fell during the Battle of Beecher Island. For more information, call the museum at 785-891-3564.
The Beecher Island Battlefield, south of Wray, Colorado, will host events on September 15 and 16. Featuring re-enactments, entertainment, and vendors, the local community has kept the history of this site alive for decades. The story of the famed battle is also told in the Wray Museum, in downtown Wray. For more information, contact the City of Wray at 970-332-4431 or the Wray Museum at 970-332-5063.
In 1868, Gen. Phil Sheridan authorized the recruitment of civilian scouts to aid in the army’s campaign against hostile Plains Tribes. Men enlisted from northwestern Kansas and the commander was Maj. George “Sandy” Forsyth, with Lt. Fred Beecher, and Dr. John Mooers as surgeon. Forsyth was wounded and both Beecher and Mooers were killed in action as the command found itself pinned down on an island in the Arikaree River for nine days. Also killed was the Cheyenne warrior, Roman Nose. The relief column from Fort Wallace, comprised of the 10th US Cavalry (Buffalo Soldiers) found the men in a “dying state” subsisting on putrid horse and mule meat.
George Custer referred to this fight as the “greatest battle on the plains.”
Representatives from each site have been working for the past year to organize this collaborative event. Major sponsors include the TV Show Around Kansas, the Smoky Hill Trail Association, and the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism. Committee members are: Jim Gray, Greg Heller, Marla Matkin, Tatum Sprague-Kimzey, Mike Day, Ardith Hendrix, Jake Bauer, Jayne Pearce, J. D. Perry, Colby Terry, Tammy Younger, and Deb Goodrich.
For more information, find The Grand Reunion of Forsyth Scouts on Facebook.
Photo: Re-enactors kicked off the Grand Reunion of Forsyth Scouts at Fort Harker last weekend.
But, when it comes to voting, it takes a whole lotta thought to determine who’s really independent.
Ordinarily, the Kansas independent tradition of lettin’-em-alone and mindin’-your-own-business is an admirable trait. But this year’s gubernatorial race leaves no room for laissez-faire.
Like the guy dropped over the cliff, our original fall hurt not at all. Then came that Brownbackian sudden-stop, rude awakening at the bottom. The illusion of income-tax-free ,wild-west independence was revealed.
Now we’re wide awake, with a choice: Claw back up the cliff with Kelly, or drop into another Deep Ravine with the Raving, Ravenous Republican. A clear choice, right?
In a word, No. All this thanks to the “Independent” Oar-man, rowing us down the River, the so-called Independent, that is, the Independently Wealthy Businessman.
He’s Independent. You aren’t.
In Maine, people also have a reputation for independence. But Mainers have something we don’t. Ranked-choice voting. Under this system, they can vote for, say, a Green a Libertarian or an “Independent,” but without wasting their vote: if they don’t win, their ballot passes to whomever they marked second—in Kansas, say Laura Kelly. This opens up the system to a much wider range of views, while simultaneously encouraging people to be civil. Good deal.
But, while their system gives them a reasonable choice, ours doesn’t. So, are you listening, Independents?
The least independent (and responsible) thing you can do this November is vote for the “Independent” candidate.
Let him rag and rage on about how we’re all so dissatisfied, and both parties have sold us down the river, and he’s the savvy salesman with all the answers. This guy, who has spent not one day of his life in public office. This guy, whose miserable Don Quixote vote total will deny Kansans the right to choose the governor they want.
Independents, don’t vote for the Independent. Our Independence. Depends. On you.
David Norlin is Chairman of the Salina Planning Commission, former President of Salina Access TV, and a former College Director of Broadcasting and English Department Chair. He has twice run for Kansas State Office.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Although it’s headquarters are based in Amarillo, Texas, Bruckner’s, a Volvo and Mack truck dealership, also has 30 employees in Hays that are members of its company’s ESOP.
At least three other Hays businesses are in a group of about 4,000 companies nationwide that are 100 percent employee owned under a system known as Employee Stock Ownership Plans, or ESOPs.
These businesses include Tradehome Shoes, which is located in Big Creek Crossing; Western Supply; and Eagle Communications, which is headquartered in Hays and owns and operates Hays Post.
ESOPs are retirement plans that are allowed under federal law, according to ESOP Association. Employees of an ESOP can become vested in the stock in their company in a variety of ways, including numbers of years of service.
Employees who are vested can take the cash value of their shares when they retire, leave the company or upon death or disability.
Bruckner’s has a similar story to the other ESOPs in Hays. The company was founded in 1932 by B.M. “Bennie” Bruckner Sr. in Amarillo as a single garage.
In the early days of the company, Bruckner created a 401(k) for his employees and was putting larger than average sums into the fund. Today, most companies match 401(k) contributions. Bruckner’s automatically puts a portion of the profits into its 401(k) plan regardless of employee contribution. This is in addition to the ESOP.
The company steadily grew until the third-generation Buckner brothers decided to sell the company to its employees in the 1980s.
Today, Bruckner’s has more than 800 employees in Kansas, Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Colorado.
The company has had a location in Hays for six years and been at its current location at 2101 Commerce Parkway just off of Interstate 70 for three years. The Hays location is a Volvo and Mack dealer with full-service shop and parts counter.
Shawn Wasinger, Hays general manager and Hays native, was recruited to the company two years ago. He said the ESOP, as well as a generous 401K program, is a strong recruiting tool for the company.
“It makes it very attractive when you try to go out and get good employees and recruit strong talent to have that in you arsenal of tools,” Wasinger said. “(It) makes you more attractive to that group of individuals that you are trying to get a hold of.”
Bruckner’s contributes about 15 percent to 20 percent of its profits back to the ESOP, which is on the high side of average ESOP contributions, Wasinger said. Employees are fully vested with company after five years. Bruckner’s is also able to provide a little higher wage because of the ESOP, Wasinger said.
“(The ESOP) is very beneficial to the employees because it aligns us with the executive team,” Wasinger said. “We all become one to make our company better.”
Wasinger said a positive workplace results in better customer service.
“One of our core values is the customer service,” he said. “I am also a firm believer in treating your employees well and customer service just comes.”
ESOPs offer tax advantages to owners who are wishing to sell their companies, but they also offer a way for a family to give back to their employees.
“The ESOP is an attractive part of the company,” Wasinger said. “It shows that employees are important to them and employees come first, so that is why I think a lot of owners choose to sell the company back to the employees because it is their employees who made it for them and got it to where they are today.”
Tradehome Shoes
Tradehome has been privately owned since it was founded by Alex Mains in 1921 with the purchase of two shoe stores in the Twin Ports of Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin. The owners of the company sold the company to the employees in 2014, and it became an ESOP.
Tradehome has 111 stores in 21 states across the Midwest. They carry over 150 brands of shoes.
You must be a full-time employee and 21 years old to participate in the Tradehome ESOP. Vesting is based in part on hours worked for the company. Tradehome in Hays has five employees.
Dan Smurawa, Hays manager, has been a manager for a little less than two years and is 20 percent vested in the company.
“Knowing that I can be an owner of a company just boosts my productivity, and I think it goes the same for a lot of Tradehome employees across the nation,” he said.
Smurawa said he saw many benefits to the ESOP.
Highly motivated employees provide better customer service, he said.
“I think I can hold my employees to a higher standard, representing us properly, going out and finding people who genuinely want to help our guests and fit them for what they need,” Smurawa said.
The ESOP is a recruiting tool for Tradehome. The starting manager salary also went up since the company became an ESOP.
“I think a lot of people look toward the future, and if there are benefits and retirement plans for them to plan for and look forward to, I think that can keep quality people too,” he said.
Smurawa is only 22, but he is already thinking about his future.
“I have been educated on compounded interest and the rule of 72,” he said. “Just looking at my parents, I think they could have benefited from early retirements and plans set in stone earlier. I think it is an important thing for our youth to be aware of and take advantage of.
“This isn’t my first retirement plan of sorts. I actually have another one. It is nothing I am in the dark about. There is always something I want to know about our ESOP and any way I can benefit myself and my family. Even at such a young time, the harder that I work now, can leave us better off sooner rather than at 65 when we are not as able to have fun and do the things we wish to do.”
Smurawa said he sees himself staying with Tradehome and building his ownership in the company. He said he is excited to hear news that the company is continuing to grow, which grows the value of the ESOP.
“Ultimately, I like to do what I do, and that is the most important thing,” he said.
Eagle Communications
The Eagle Communications ESOP started with Bob Schmidt, who founded Eagle Communications in 1948.
Originally known as KAYS, Inc. and based in Hays, Eagle Communications began in the commercial television, radio broadcasting and cable television business. In 1989, the company sold its commercial television stations, and now concentrates on radio broadcasting, television, internet and telephone services.
Today, Eagle owns and operates 28 radio stations in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska; and 60 cable systems in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado.
In 1998, Schmidt had several options when it came to the ownership of the company, but he chose to sell the company to the employees through the ESOP.
The goal was to continue the benefit of local ownership and provide a pathway for the employees of Eagle to share in the rewards of the company’s success.
An Employee Stock Ownership Trust was created to hold the shares Schmidt sold to Eagle. The trust then took out a loan from the bank in order to pay Schmidt for the shares he sold to the company. Each year, Eagle made contributions to the trust, which in turn helped repay the bank.
In December 2012, the Eagle ESOP purchased all outstanding shares from Schmidt. With this purchase, the ESOP attained a 100 percent ownership position of Eagle.
As the company continues to grow, employee-owners have the opportunity for growth and are rewarded with shares that are distributed from the trust.
Rhonda Meyerhoff, senior marketing specialist, has worked for Eagle for 13 years.
Joining Eagle is like joining a family, she said.
She recalled a time she needed to unexpectedly take time off to care for her 3-month-old grandson. Not only did the company work with her to schedule time to be with her family, but President Gary Shorman personally checked with her to make sure her grandson’s childcare was taken care of when she returned.
“To me, that said at Eagle, family came first,” she said. “That meant something to me.”
Meyerhoff has operated her own business, but at Eagle she has all the benefits of ownership without the hassles of owning a business.
“When I owned my own business, I had to hire and fire and do payroll taxes,” she said. “Now I have all the benefits and I get to concentrate on what I like to do.”
Meyerhoff compared the ESOP to owning a home instead of renting. The employees take greater care of what they own.
“We are rewarded extra when we do extra,” she said. “If the company does well because of all the extra work, we will all benefit. We work together.”
Western Supply, which is headquartered in Hutchinson and has a showroom in Hays, also has an ESOP, but did not wish to participate in this article.
By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The band blared, local leaders lead chants and hundreds of students eager for free food and prizes marched down Eighth Street for the annual March to Main event on Tuesday night.
March to Main is organized by the Downtown Hays Development Corp. along with a committee of members from the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, Fort Hays State University and North Central Kansas Technical College. The event was open to FHSU, NCK Tech and Hays Academy of Hair Design students, faculty and staff.
The leaders of the participating institutions and Hays Mayor James Meier lead the students in a spirited rally before they were treated to free food and chances to win a part of $3,000 in prizes donated by local businesses.
“We have spent the last couple of weeks saying welcome to our university, but tonight we say welcome to our community,” Tisa Mason, FHSU president, said. “Our community is not only the university, it is Hays. Hays is where we get jobs. We hire you and work with your families, and we really appreciate the total support of the community. Shop locally when you can. Have safe, responsible fun.”
Danielle Markley, owner and director of education at Hays Academy of Hair Design, said “Welcome students! We are so excited for tonight. We are excited for the school year. I just wanted to let you know how blessed we are to be in this community with three higher education choices for all of you— Hays Academy, Fort Hays and NCK Tech.”
Students said the allure of freebies plus a desire to get acquainted or reacquainted with downtown drew them to the event.
“I think we hadn’t been in a couple of years, and we both didn’t work tonight, so we thought why not see what they were going to do this year, maybe get some free food, check out some of the shops we have not been to in a while and just see what was going to happen,” said Miranda Merrill, FHSU senior from Brookville.
John Holmes, FHSU freshman from York, Nebraska, was downtown on an assignment from his freshman seminar class.
Sitting on a curb eating free sandwiches, a group of FHSU freshmen were having a girls night out.
Riley Bretton of Phillipsburg said the event was a good opportunity to spend time with friends.
Kate Steimel of Spearville said she came to March to Main, “to learn more about the town and learn what Main Street has.”
Leonard the dog greeted students as they made a stop at The Niche.
Emily Weigel, owner of The Niche, said of the event, “It’s great, because it gets kids in the door and they can see what we are all about and maybe they will feel more comfortable coming back to us later. They get to see what downtown has to offer. We have lots to do here in Hays.”
DECATUR COUNTY — Residents in Oberlin called a Kansas game warden after finding a porcupine walking up and down Main Street early Tuesday.
According to a social media report, the game warden was able to herd the porcupine to the edge of town and capture it in a barrel.
The porcupine was safely released away from town.
Today Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. North wind 7 to 9 mph becoming east in the afternoon.
Tonight A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms between 1am and 3am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 64. Southeast wind 7 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%.
Thursday Partly sunny, with a high near 90. Southeast wind 7 to 14 mph.
Thursday NightPartly cloudy, with a low around 71. South wind 11 to 13 mph.
Friday Mostly sunny, with a high near 97. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.
Friday Night A 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after 1am. Partly cloudy, with a low around 69.
TOPEKA – A man who was arrested with 471 pounds of marijuana in his van pleaded guilty today to drug trafficking, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said in a news release Tuesday.
Mark Berg, 41, Coon Rapids, Minn., pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. According to court documents, a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper noticed the van and two other vehicles traveling with it on Interstate 70 in Ellsworth County. Although one of the escort vehicles attempted to distract him, the trooper stopped the minivan Berg was driving. Berg told the trooper he had been in Las Vegas and had driven through Denver on his way home to Minnesota. After a drug dog sniffed the vehicle, investigators searched the van and found the marijuana.
Sentencing is set for Nov. 19. He faces a penalty of up to 40 years in federal prison. McAllister commended the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Skip Jacobs for their work on the case.
The Volga German Society of Ellis County and Rush County along with the Sunflower Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, and the Ellis County Historical Society welcome everyone to the 46th annual Hays Oktoberfest in Municipal Park. The event begins at 7:00 a.m. with the German Market and breakfast sold by vendors starting at 8:00 a.m. All other booths open at 9:00 a.m. The opening Ceremony begins at 11:00 a.m. and concludes with the tapping of the keg at 11:30 a.m. by Mayor James Meier.
The new German Market will operate from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the grass lot just south of North Central Technical College (NCK Tech) on Main Street, across the street from Municipal Park, where the main Oktoberfest event is held. Free coffee will be provided and NCK Tech will have hot breakfast items for sale. The German Market will be selling items such as baked goods, noodles, jams, crafts, and other traditional food and craft items. Those interested in selling items at the German Market can contact organizers on haysoktoberfest.com, email [email protected], or call 785-623-1240.
Hays Oktoberfest promotes the rich heritage of the Volga German and Bukovina Germans who settled in Ellis County, Kansas. It also celebrates the history of early settlers in Ellis County, which was created in 1867. The event is held on Fort Hays State University Homecoming weekend. The booths at the Hays Oktoberfest all support non-for-profit organizations.
Entertainment this year will feature polka music of the Joe Dolezal Band from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and the Ron Werth Band from 2:00 p.m. to close. The Hays Community Theater will provide historical reenactors and skits throughout the day.
Booths will feature food, crafts, and goods for purchase. The NCK Tech Culinary Arts will host the drive. Defiance, Budweiser, and Coors beer will be back again. For those wishing to participate in drinking a $2 band fee is required.
This is the seventh year the Volga German Society of Ellis and Rush County, the Sunflower Chapter of the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, and the Ellis County Historical Society have partnered together in celebrating a full day of Heritage and History in Ellis County. The three organizations along with the Oktoberfest Committee are made up of community members who have continuously worked to improve the Oktoberfest in Hays and promote the heritage and history of Ellis County.
Follow “Hays Oktoberfest” on Facebook and visit the website at haysoktoberfest.com.
For more information about Hays Oktoberfest, email [email protected].
— Hays CVB
HAYS – The Ellis County Public Works Department will conduct an asphalt overlay on a portion of Toulon Ave. Tuesday.
Crews will begin working at the south ramp of the intersection of Toulon Ave. and Interstate 70 and continue south for a half-mail at the intersection of Toulon Ave and Victoria Rd.
This half-mile stretch of Toulon Ave. will be closed to through traffic beginning at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday and is expected to be completed by the end of the day.
Motorists traveling in the area should use alternate routes of travel until the project is complete.
Please direct any questions to the Ellis County Public Works Department at (785)-628-9455.
Submitted
LOGAN—The Dane G. Hansen Museum’s Continuing Education Program is excited to have local artist, Staci Hartman teach a 2-day oil painting workshop at the Dane G. Hansen Museum Sept. 7 and 8.
At this workshop, Staci will introduce oil painting basics, demonstrate techniques, and guide students in color development. This workshop is ideal for beginners as well as more advanced painters.
Students will work on value changes in a landscape; learn to add drama to their work, and take their painting from a representation of a photo to a work of art.
Cost of the workshop is $120 with discounts available for patron and sustaining Hansen Museum members. Artists may call 785-689-4846 for more information.
Hartman is a signature member of Oil Painters of America. She has been privileged to study with nationally recognized artists Kaye Franklin, Howard Friedland and David Vollbracht.
Museum hours are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays; 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturdays; and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays and holidays. The museum is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. The museum is handicapped accessible and admission is always free thanks to the generous support of the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. For more information about this and other exhibits, contact Shari Buss at 785-689-4846.
After 12 years as the executive director of The HaysMed Foundation, Ruth Heffel has announced her retirement set for August 31.
Heffel has guided The Foundation through major growth and established processes that will continue to offer structured expansion opportunities for generations to come.
“I have been so blessed with the opportunity to meet and work with exceptionally skilled and dedicated doctors, nurses, and staff at the medical center. Their concern for our patients is truly heartfelt. The Foundation has also been extremely fortunate to have passionate, influential board members whose mission is to help HaysMed thrive. Their work has assisted people of all ages, from newborns to seniors, who have had their health restored here. To them I offer my sincerest thanks,” Heffel said.
Stepping into the executive director’s office will be Jeff Brull, who joined the team last September as a development officer.
Brull has Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees in Communications from Fort Hays State University and served most recently as Advancement Director at Thomas More Prep-Marian Junior-Senior High in Hays. He is married to Julie Brull, and together they have three children.
“I am excited by the challenges before us because of the opportunities they represent to serve the region through the work of the HaysMed Foundation. I am passionate about western Kansas and will continue to build on the legacy established under Ruth’s leadership through the HaysMed Foundation Board of Directors and the many generous donors and advocates who make life better for us all,” said Brull.
The Foundation provides vital philanthropic support to help fund life-saving equipment, special projects and programs for HaysMed that will positively impact the health of our region. Examples include spearheading capital construction projects and vital medical equipment purchases that expand or improve medical services, providing resources for associate improvement through certification and conference opportunities, and by underwriting programs like the annual community flu vaccination drive, community CPR training, scholarships, and more.
