The Hays city commission Thursday night unanimously approved the purchase of 19 properties for right of way acquisition within the North Vine Street Corridor Project.
Plans are to build two-lane traffic roundabouts on Vine Street at 32nd/33rd, 37th, and 41st Streets, plus a teardrop roundabout at the eastbound Interstate 70 exit ramp.
During an executive session at the end of the Sept. 12 city commission meeting, John Braun, city project manager, presented details of proposed offers to acquire right of way, easements, and the costs associated with the project.
“These are 19 properties — various small tracts — between 32nd Street and 41st and Mopar,” Braun said Wednesday afternoon. “Those will remain confidential until the project is bid out.”
Cost of the property purchases is $390,020 to be funded out of Capital Projects.
“To reiterate what the city’s project manager said, we took no action (after the executive session) and so now we’re doing that in open session,” Mayor Henry Schwaller said Thursday night.
“This will help us complete the project on north Vine Street.”
Braun has said he expects the right-of-way acquisitions to be “all wrapped up with utility clearances out of the way” in November.
By the end of this year, the entire completed plan is scheduled to be submitted to the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for an anticipated April 2020 KDOT bid letting, allowing for construction to begin in June or July 2020.
The remainder of the project cost will be paid through a two percent increase in the Transient Guest Tax (TGT). It went into effect Oct. 1, 2018, and is projected to raise $6.2 million over 20 years.
Vice-Mayor Shaun Musil was absent from the meeting.
Coldwell Banker Executive Realty of Hays is teaming up with the Humane Society of the High Plains Saturday for the Coldwell Banker “Homes for Dogs” National Adoption Weekend.
The event will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Readle Real Estate, 22nd and Vine. Animals will be available for adoption from HSHP that day.
A five-year campaign launched by Coldwell Banker Real Estate LLC and Adopt-a-Pet.com, the nationwide adoption weekend is part of the “Homes for Dogs Project,” North America’s largest nonprofit pet adoption website.
The organizations helped to facilitate more than 20,000 adoptions in the first year.
HaysMed, part of The University of Kansas Health System, is highlighting National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October with a variety of events.
Breast cancer is one of the most common kinds of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point.
The good news is that most women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. A mammogram – the screening test for breast cancer – can help detect breast cancer early allowing for earlier treatment for a longer survival rate.
On September 21, the BCC participated in the Hays Public Library Health Fair. They had representatives to talk to and cards for people to fill out to be contacted to set up a mammogram.
On September 26 the Breast Care Center (BCC) will hold “Smash Bash” for associates. The day is devoted to encouraging Associates of HaysMed to get their mammograms. The center will offer extended hours, special treats and activities.
The BCC will be participating in the Wichita Komen Race on September 28 with an informational booth.
On September 29 information on breast cancer awareness and the early detection program will be given out at the HaysMed annual Drive Thru Flu. The early detection program is an initiative that provides mammograms and pap smears to women who do not have insurance.
On October 12 the BCC will participate in the Fort Hays State University homecoming parade distributing cups to spread awareness of breast cancer awareness month.
For the entire month of October the BCC is partnering with Breathe Coffee House and Mokas utilizing specially designed coffee sleeves for customers to urge scheduling a mammogram.
The BCC at HaysMed is a comprehensive breast center that offers a variety of services including 3D digital mammography that can detect breast abnormalities earlier than standard mammograms, high risk breast cancer prevention consultations, treatment of noncancerous breast conditions, survivorship programs for long term monitoring of breast cancer survivors, and access to research trials.
The center also has a dedicated breast nurse navigator that works through the diagnostic workup and treatment phase of breast cancer to provide seamless services.
Fort Hays State University has selected its 2019 Homecoming royalty finalists. This year, there were 24 Homecoming royalty nominees representing 20 student organizations and groups. The finalists include five queens and five kings.
The Queen finalists are:
Anna Deal, Hutchinson, is a junior majoring in communication. She is the daughter of Jeff Deal and Carolyn Morris. Deal is representing the Delta Zeta Sorority.
Jacki Dougherty, Wichita, is a senior majoring in organizational leadership. She is the daughter of Marti and Milt Dougherty. Dougherty is representing the Student Government Association.
Quinn Munk, Salina, is a junior majoring in organizational leadership. She is the daughter of Rod and Cindy Munk. Munk is representing the Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority.
Emily Prine, Hays, is a senior majoring in elementary education. She is the daughter of Toby and Jenny Prine. Prine is representing the Order of Omega Greek Honor Society.
Nia Vasquez-Ward, Colorado Springs, Colo., is a senior majoring in criminal justice. She is the daughter of Anthony and Carmen Ward. Vasquez-Ward is representing the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority.
The King finalists are:
Bradley DeMers, Osceola, Neb., is a junior majoring in political science. He is the son of Mark and Barb DeMers. DeMers is representing the Student Government Association.
Derek Dreher, Hutchinson, is a junior majoring in information networking and telecommunications. He is the son of Steve and Kerri Dreher. Dreher is representing the Cybersecurity Club.
Bryson Homman, Solomon, is a junior majoring in art. He is the son of Brad and Michelle Homman. Homman is representing the Sigma Chi Fraternity.
Eiran Saucedo-Rodarte, Wichita, is a junior majoring in general studies. He is the son of Luis Saucedo and Mitzi Rodarte. Saucedo-Rodarte is representing the Hispanic Leadership Organization.
Conrad Vajnar, Hays, is a junior majoring in accounting. He is the son of Curt and Mary Ella Vajnar. Vajnar is representing the Criminal Justice Club.
The student body vote will run from 9 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, until noon Friday, Oct. 11, on TigerLink. Students can also vote in the Memorial Union from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m on Oct. 9 and 10.
The King and Queen will be announced at halftime of the Homecoming football game on Saturday, Oct. 12. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
Corrected, 12 p.m. Friday to clarify date of football game.
H. Edward Flentje is professor emeritus at Wichita State University.
A couple weeks ago Governor Laura Kelly made good on her commitment to initiate a comprehensive review of the Kansas tax structure by establishing a Council on Tax Reform, co-chaired by two former state senators, Republican Steve Morris of Hugoton and Democrat Janis Lee of Kensington.
Kelly called on the Tax Council to consider reforms that advance “adequacy, equity, and stability” in taxes and “return to the ‘three-legged stool’…a sensible balance of income, sales, and property tax revenue.” The Council met for the first time earlier this week and is scheduled to deliver an interim report to the 2020 legislative session and a final report to the 2021 legislative session.
Kelly’s action follows up on her veto of multi-million dollar tax cuts favoring big business interests during the recent legislative session and successfully blocking an attempt to override her veto. She immediately drew flak from tax-cutters who claimed that the Council would become a vehicle for tax increases.
So, what is the best path forward on tax policy?
As its first order of business, the Council should affirm the wisdom of the “three-legged stool” of Kansas tax policy, as Kelly prescribed. Balance and diversity in taxes assure lower tax rates overall, reduce competition with other states, and promote fairness based on income.
Actions taken by lawmakers from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s achieved near-perfect balance in state tax structure by the turn of the century. However, the reckless tax experiment threw tax policy out of balance beginning in 2013. Lawmakers moved to rectify the resulting financial mess by abandoning the experiment in 2017, but restoring that balance should guide recommendations of the Tax Council.
The Council should adopt “revenue neutrality” as its second order of business. In other words, current revenues and realistic projections of current revenues should establish an overall cap on recommended revenue adjustments. Revenue neutrality will never mollify the tax-cutting crowd but should help the Council and Kelly establish credibility with the public.
The Council should embrace as its third principle the long-standing benchmark for tax reform espoused by the conservative Tax Foundation, that is, “broaden the tax base and cut tax rates,” which according to the Foundation, simplifies the tax code, removes unfair tax preferences, and creates economic growth.
Easier said, than done, of course.
However, members of the Tax Council should have as required reading the “Tax Expenditure Report,” prepared by the Kansas Department of Revenue. This 30-page report lists nearly $10 billion in various deductions, credits, and exemptions that narrow Kansas tax bases, primarily sales and income tax bases. Many of these make economic sense, but others have outlived their usefulness. Separating the wheat from the chaff among these provisions will require difficult work as each has a political constituency but could open ways forward on tax policy.
Finally, the Tax Council should tell the real “windfall” story and bury the issue for Kelly. Many businesses were gifted their first windfall with total exemptions from state income taxes during the discredited tax experiment, 2013 through 2017, and then their second windfall through trillion-dollar tax cuts at the national level in 2017.
No such businesses should be awarded a third $100 million windfall as the Kansas State Chamber and its dark money allies now shamelessly propose. Their advocacy of more corporate welfare serves neither tax fairness nor economic growth.
H. Edward Flentje is emeritus professor at Wichita State University and served with former Kansas Governors Bennett and Hayden.
Fort Hays State Athletics will welcome seven new members into the Tiger Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, October 26, 2019. The inductees include Marvin Andrews (men’s basketball), Kent Bauer (men’s track and field), Chris (Biser) Drea (women’s basketball), Bill Hall (baseball), Jack Harms (men’s cross country/track and field), Maddie Holub (softball), and Kelly (Skidmore) Gunning (volleyball). The induction ceremony will take place the morning of October 26 at the Memorial Union Ballroom on the campus of Fort Hays State University at 9:30 am. The inductees will be recognized at halftime of the football game vs. Nebraska-Kearney at 2:00 pm.
Marvin Andrews (Men’s Basketball, 1951-55) Posthumous
Marvin Andrews, a native of Formoso, Kansas, is one of 20 players in FHSU men’s basketball history to score over 1,000 points in his career. Playing from 1951 to 1955, Andrews was a three-time All-CIC selection for the Tigers, earning second-team honors as a sophomore, and first-team honors as a junior and senior. He and teammate Merlyn “Bud” Moeckel were the first two Tigers to reach 1,000 points in a career, occurring during the 1955 season. Andrews transferred to Fort Hays State from Kansas State University after his first semester of college and played for the Tigers in the second semester of his freshman year. He broke the single-season FHSU scoring record as a junior with 357 points, averaging 17.0 points per game over a 21-game season. He broke his own single-season scoring record as a senior in 1955 with 374 points, averaging 18.7 points per game over a 20-game season. Andrews finished with 1,054 points in his three and a half-year career at FHSU, averaging 14.4 points per game in 73 games played. Andrews held the school’s career scoring record for nine years until Sam McDowell passed the mark in 1964, reaching 1,220 points. Beyond his days at FHSU, Andrews taught and coached for one year and then was drafted to the U.S. Army. While in the Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma he played basketball in the Special Services. His team won the Fourth Army Championship and participated in the All-Army Tournament at Port Monmouth, New Jersey. After his years in the service, Andrews returned to coaching and teaching. He finished a master’s degree in 1968 and then went on to serve as a junior high school principal in Cheney, Kansas until his death in 1980.
Kent Bauer (Track and Field, 1959-62)
Kent Bauer, a native of Radium, Kansas, was a member of the FHSU Track and Field squad for four years from 1959 to 1962. Bauer was the NAIA National Champion in the pole vault as a senior in 1962, clearing a height of 14 feet, 1 inch. Bauer was a two-time All-America performer at Fort Hays State, also finishing third in the nation as a freshman in 1959. He was the CIC Champion in the pole vault his final two years as a Tiger. He set the school record at the time in 1962 at 14-feet, 6.5-inches by tying for first at the Missouri Valley AAU meet. Bauer was a recipient of the FHSU Busch Gross Award. Upon graduation from Fort Hays State University and then Wichita State University, Bauer worked as an aircraft engineer and was named Boeing Wichita Engineer of the Year. He still resides in Wichita, Kansas today.
Chris (Biser) Drea (Women’s Basketball, 1986-90)
A native of Plain, Wisconsin, Chris Biser was a three-time All-CSIC performer in women’s basketball, playing from 1986 to 1990. She set the FHSU Women’s Basketball career rebounding record for the program with 901 in 1990, only to be topped a year later when Annette Wiles pushed the record to 961 and then eventually Kate Lehman set a new record of 1,109 in 2015. Biser is one of 20 1,000-point scorers in the program’s history, ranking ninth on the all-time scoring list with 1,321 points, but ranked third on the list at the end of her career. She ranks seventh on the all-time list at FHSU in field goals made with 548 and seventh in blocked shots with 64. She led the team in rebounding three of four years, including an impressive 10.0 rebounds per game as a freshman in 1986-87. She averaged 7.5 per game as a junior and 8.0 per game as a senior to lead the squad. In 1989-90, Biser was an All-District 10 selection and would have easily been an all-conference performer for a fourth straight year, but FHSU did not have a conference that season in its transition from the CSIC to the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Beyond her days at FHSU, Biser went on to have a successful coaching career of over 25 years, earning college and high school conference coach of the year honors in her home state of Wisconsin. Currently, she serves as the Director of Community Relations and Marketing at The Richland Hospital in Richland Center, Wisconsin, but resides in her hometown of Plain, Wisconsin.
Jack Harms (Cross Country/Track and Field, 1963-66)
A native of Ellinwood, Kansas, Jack Harms competed for the FHSU cross country and track and field squads from 1963 to 1966. Harms was the NAIA indoor national champion in the 880-yard run in 1966 in a time of 1:55.9. He finished third in the event at nationals during the outdoor season, earning All-America honors for both indoor and outdoor that year. He helped the team to an outdoor conference championship that year, while finishing second at indoor nationals and third at outdoor nationals. Overall, Harms was a four-time All-America performer in track and field and was a member of the FHSU national champion cross country teams in 1963 and 1965. Harms was a member of the mile relay team that placed second nationally in 1965, and a member of the two-mile relay team that placed third nationally during the indoor season of 1966. Along with being part of two national championship teams, he also helped cross country to a second-place finish at nationals in 1964 and a pair of conference championships in his time wearing the black and gold. Now living in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Harms is retired from the British Petroleum Controller’s Department and he also worked for PriceWaterhouseCoopers and the IBM Global Business Group earlier in his career.
Bill Hall (Baseball, 1974-76)
A native of Hays, Kansas, Bill Hall played baseball two years at Fort Hays State from 1973-1974 as a right fielder. He was a two-time all-conference and All-District 10 performer, while claiming All-America honors as a senior in 1974. He led FHSU in batting average as a junior in 1973 at .350, while recording 8 doubles, 1 home run, and 26 RBIs, earning all-conference first team and all-district honorable mention. As a senior in 1974, Hall produced a .316 batting average with 16 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs, 33 RBIs, and 35 runs scored. He earned All-District 10, All-Area 3, and All-America honors that season. Hall helped the Tigers to an NAIA National Tournament Appearances both years, including an appearance at the championship site in 1974 after the team was champions of Area 3. Hall now resides in Missoula, Montana, where he is a General Agent Manager for Old American Insurance.
Kelly (Skidmore) Gunning (Volleyball, 2002-05)
A native of Aurora, Colorado, Kelly Skidmore played volleyball at Fort Hays State from 2002 to 2005. Skidmore was a two-time All-America selection for the Tiger Volleyball team as a libero. The defensive specialist earned third team honors as a junior in 2004 and second team honors as a senior in 2005, while earning All-Region and All-RMAC First Team honors each year. She was the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year three times from 2003 to 2005. Skidmore owns the FHSU career record for digs at 2,421, the only player in the program’s NCAA Division II history with at least 2,000. She averaged 5.17 digs per set in her career, the only player in the program’s Division II history with an average of 5.0 or better. With 777 digs in 2005 (6.64 per set) and 756 in 2004 (6.15 per set), she owns the two-highest dig totals for a season in the rally scoring era at FHSU. She helped the team to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances in 2003 and 2004. The 2004 team was the most successful in program history, reaching the finals of the NCAA Regional (round of 16), finishing at 31-5 overall. Skidmore now lives in Parker, Colorado with her husband and two children.
Maddie Holub (Softball, 2010-13)
A native of Hays, Kansas, Maddie Holub, is the most decorated player in Fort Hays State Softball history, playing from 2010-2013. At the end of her career in 2013, Holub owned 34 FHSU records (19 pitching, 15 offensive) – career, single-season, and single-game combined, and still owns the majority of those records today. Holub was an NFCA and Daktronics All-America First Team selection in her senior year of 2013, as one of the most dominant players in the nation both in the pitching circle and offensively. For pitching, she finished the year with a 29-4 record, a 1.03 ERA, 26 complete games, 13 shutouts, and 345 strikeouts in 224 innings pitched. She threw six no-hitters that season, including back-to-back perfect games, the first player ever throw perfect games in consecutive starts at any NCAA level. Offensively, she finished with a .426 batting average, 32 extra-bast hits (including 19 home runs), 56 RBIs, 62 runs scored, and 10 stolen bases. For her efforts in 2013, Holub was named both the MIAA Player and Pitcher of the Year, the first player in conference history to earn both in the same year. She was a three-time all-region selection and four-time All-MIAA selection. She threw seven career no-hitters individually and had a hand in a combined no-hitter. For her career, Holub had a 1.97 ERA with 77 wins, 93 complete games, 25 shutouts, 974 strikeouts, and seven saves in the pitching circle, while posting a .372 batting average with 255 hits, 46 home runs, 42 doubles, 7 triples, 160 RBIs, 183 runs scored, and 35 stolen bases. She was also solid in the classroom, earning CoSIDA Academic All-America honors. Holub went on to play professionally in Italy and in her first game, threw a perfect game in a six-inning contest. Holub went on to throw another no-hitter later that year and finished the season with a 0.78 ERA for Labadini Collecchio. Holub has gone on to a successful coaching career in softball beyond her playing days at FHSU, earning NFCA Assistant Coach of the Year for NCAA Division II at St. Leo (Fla.) University in 2015 and helping the team to regional championship and NCAA Division II World Series appearance in 2018. She coached four years at St. Leo before taking the pitching coach position at Marshall University, where she currently coaches today.
Western Plains Arts Association announces that it is among a select group of regional artists and organizations to receive a Mid-America Arts Alliance Regional Touring grant.
This award will support Jana Jae and her band at the Cultural Arts Center in Colby on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 3 p.m. CDT. Jana Jae will also be involved in an outreach works-shop which will be held in the CCC Choir Room at 1 p.m., Oct. 13.
Funding for Jana Jae through the M-AAA Regional Touring grant is drawn from generous underwriting by the National Endowment for the Arts, the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, and foundations, corporations, and individuals throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas.
Mid-America Arts Alliance is the nation’s oldest regional arts organization and was founded in 1972 for cultural growth in heartland communities. Mid-America Arts Alliance strengthens and supports artists, cultural organizations, and communities throughout our region and beyond. They are especially committed to enriching the cultural life of underserved communities by providing high quality, meaningful, and accessible arts and cultural programs and services.
Todd Stein, M-AAA Chief Executive Officer, and Western Plains Arts Association is to be commended for their commitment to serving the northwest Kansas community with this distinctive event. Audiences in northwest Kansas will have the opportunity to see the exciting work of Jana Jae, many for the first time. Mid-America Arts Alliance is proud to help support this work.
For further Western Plains Arts Association event information, check www.wpaa.us.
For more information about Mid-America Arts Alliance, visit them online at www.maaa.org.
This Saturday’s Fort Hays State University football game against Missouri Southern starts at 7 p.m. at Lewis Field.
Reserved tickets on the west side cost $16, general admission tickets on the east side or behind the end zones cost $12, and kids K-12th grade general admission tickets cost $5.
Tickets can be purchased at the door, online at fhsuathletics.com, or in the Athletic Department located in Cunningham Hall 138.
Once the game is over, there will be a 10 minute countdown until the lights are turned off and the fireworks show will start behind the south end zone.
Sponsors of this year’s show are the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau, Horizon Appliance and Electronics, and J.DAY Fireworks.
U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on Thursday recognized 362 schools as National Blue Ribbon Schools for 2019. The recognition is based on a school’s overall academic performance or progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups.
“We recognize and honor your important work in preparing students for successful careers and meaningful lives” said U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in a video message to the honorees. “As a National Blue Ribbon School, your school demonstrates what is possible when committed educators hold all students and staff to high standards and create vibrant, innovative cultures of teaching and learning.”
O’Loughlin Elementary School, 1401 Hall, was among the honorees in the exemplary high-performing schools category and one of only six Kansas schools receiving the designation.
The other Kansas schools are Central Plains Elementary School, Holyrood; Clear Creek Elementary School, De Soto; Corinth Elementary School, Shawnee Mission; Lakewood Elementary School, Blue Valley; and Holy Rosary-Wea Catholic School, Bucyrus.
The coveted National Blue Ribbon Schools award affirms the hard work of educators, families and communities in creating safe and welcoming schools where students master challenging and engaging content.
Now in its 37th year, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program has bestowed recognition on more than 9,000 schools. On November 14 and 15, the Secretary and the Department of Education will celebrate with 312 public and 50 non-public school honorees at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.
The Department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, student subgroup scores and graduation rates:
Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools as measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.
Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.
Up to 420 schools may be nominated each year. The Department invites National Blue Ribbon School nominations from the top education official in all states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, the Department of Defense Education Activity, and the Bureau of Indian Education. Private schools are nominated by The Council for American Private Education (CAPE).
Shyanne Hughes, fourth grader at Roosevelt Elementary School, was honored with the USD 489 Student Spotlight Award for showing kindness to a fellow student who was struggling.
By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post
Shyanne Hughes, fourth grader at Roosevelt Elementary School, was honored Monday with the USD 489 Student Spotlight Award.
Superintendent Ron Wilson said at Monday’s school board meeting one of the guidelines for success at Roosevelt is compassion.
“Shyanne has compassion — has it in spades,” Wilson said.
Early in the year, Hughes noticed her counselor working with a kindergarten student, who was struggling to regulate her emotions each morning. When she saw her counselor being drawn in many directions, Hughes jumped in. She offered to help the student and take her to breakfast.
“Not only did it work, but breakfast with Shyanne has become a daily ritual, which helps the other student have a better day every day,” Wilson said.
Wilson thanked her for being such a great student.
Braun has said he expects the right-of-way acquisitions to be “all wrapped up with utility clearances out of the way” in November.
Marvin Andrews (Men’s Basketball, 1951-55) Posthumous
Kent Bauer (Track and Field, 1959-62)
Chris (Biser) Drea (Women’s Basketball, 1986-90)
Jack Harms (Cross Country/Track and Field, 1963-66)
Bill Hall (Baseball, 1974-76)
Kelly (Skidmore) Gunning (Volleyball, 2002-05)
Maddie Holub (Softball, 2010-13)
