The Hays Police Department responded to 8 animal calls and conducted 20 traffic stops Mon., Aug. 19, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Mental Health Call–1400 block E 29th St, Hays; 4:45 AM
Burglary/business–2500 block Vine St, Hays; 5:09 AM; 5:11 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–500 block E 15th St, Hays; 7:37 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–2200 block Vine St, Hays; 7:52 AM; 8:08 AM
Found/Lost Property–1900 block Vine St, Hays; 9:11 AM
Civil Dispute–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 9:43 AM
Animal At Large–30th and Sherman, Hays; 9:56 AM
Suspicious Activity–200 block W 15th St, Hays; 10:47 AM
Theft of Vehicle–400 block E 16th St, Hays; 12:19 PM
Pursuit/Chase–1900 block Ash St, Hays; 2:03 PM; 2:03 PM
Domestic Disturbance–2300 block Donald Dr, Hays; 2:20 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–4400 block Larned Cir, Hays; 4:02 PM
Phone/Mail Scam–2500 block Marjorie Dr, Hays; 4:27 PM
Civil Dispute–1000 block E 29th St, Hays; 4:56 PM
Harassment (All Other)–100 block Elm St, Bunker Hill; 5:09 PM
Suspicious Person–26th and General Hancock, Hays; 10:08 PM
Drug Offenses–100 block E 15th St, Hays; 11:30 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 7 animal calls and conducted 8 traffic stops Tue., Aug. 20, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1200 block E 27th St, Hays; 7:47 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–100 block W 25th St, Hays; 8:07 AM
Animal At Large–700 block Park St, Hays; 9:02 AM
Burglary/vehicle–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 11:55 AM
Found/Lost Property–1000 block Reservation Rd, Hays; 8/11 8 PM; 8/20 11:30 AM
Harassment (All Other)–2300 block Donald Dr, Hays; 12:48 PM
Dead Animal Call–1500 block Haney Dr, Hays; 1:32 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–4300 block Roth Ave, Hays; 1:45 PM
Suspicious Person–400 block E 5th St, Hays; 2:51 PM
Found/Lost Property–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 3:26 PM
Found/Lost Property–3400 block Vine St, Hays; 2/27 12 PM
Drug Offenses–2700 block Epworth St, Hays; 6:14 PM; 10:35 PM
Bicycle – Lost,Found,Stolen–1200 block Main St, Hays; 6:52 PM
Criminal Damage to Property–3200 block Vine St, Hays; 7:21 PM; 7:27 PM
Abandoned Vehicle–1800 block Eisenhower St, Hays; 8:18 PM
Civil Dispute–1200 block E 30th St, Hays; 9:38 PM
Welfare Check–1300 block Douglas Dr, Hays; 10:10 PM
Suspicious Activity–100 block W 15th St, Hays; 10:20 PM
Found/Lost Property–2700 block Epworth, Hays; 10:32 PM
Welfare Check–3700 block Vine St, Hays; 10:37 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 8 animal calls and conducted 23 traffic stops Wed., Aug. 21, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

MV Accident /DUI–700 block E 6th St, Hays; 1:13 AM
Disturbance – Noise–1700 block Sunset Trl, Hays; 2:14 AM; 2:21 AM
Theft (general)–300 block W 39th St, Hays; 10:10 AM
Assist – Other (not MV)–200 block E 7th St, Hays; 8/20
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–8th St and Allen St, Hays; 11:41 AM
Disturbance – General–3600 block Vine St, Hays; 12:27 PM
Animal Cruelty/Neglect–4300 block Vine St, Hays; 3:04 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–100 block W 12th St, Hays; 3:14 PM
Juvenile Complaint–1700 block Volga Dr, Hays; 3:51 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–1700 block Hall St, Hays; 3:50 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–1300 block Vine St, Hays; 4:40 PM
MV Accident-City Street/Alley–2700 block Canal Blvd, Hays; 6:02 PM
Animal At Large–2900 block Grant Ave, Hays; 6:38 PM
Suspicious Activity–1100 block Cedar St, Hays; 7:19 PM
Warrant Service (Fail to Appear)–300 block Indian Trl, Hays; 8:43 PM
Credit Card Violations–2900 block Vine St, Hays; 8:45 PM
Found/Lost Property–15th and Montgomery, Hays; 9:26 PM
Harassment, Telephone/FAX–400 block E 22nd St, Hays; 10:14 PM
Domestic Disturbance–1600 block E 27th St Terr, Hays; 10:29 PM

The Hays Police Department responded to 10 animal calls and conducted 20 traffic stops Thu., Aug. 22, 2019, according to the HPD Activity Log.

Mental Health Call–2500 block Gen Hancock Rd, Hays; 4:52 AM
Welfare Check–4400 block Vista Dr, Hays; 8/16; 8/19
Bicycle – Lost,Found,Stolen–2500 block Gen Hancock Rd, Hays; 8:50 AM
Abandoned Vehicle–100 block Ash St, Hays; 10:05 AM
Animal At Large–20th and Pine St, Hays; 10:12 AM
Found/Lost Property–1300 block 285th Ave, Ellis County; 10:42 AM
Lost Animals ONLY–1700 block Pine St, Hays; 12:10 PM
Found/Lost Property–800 block Commerce Pkwy, Hays; 12:22 PM
Burglary/residence–1000 block E 8th St, Hays; 7/25; 8/22 1 PM
Harassment (All Other)–1000 block W 27th St, Hays; 2:12 PM
Burglary/residence–1000 block E 8th St, Hays; 8/21 10 AM; 8/22 10 AM
Criminal Damage to Property–800 block Walnut St, Hays; 4:12 PM
Civil Transport–200 block E 7th St, Hays; 4:25 PM
Suicidal Subject–400 block W 12th St, Hays; 4:38 PM
Suspicious Activity–1300 block Eisenhower Rd, Hays; 5:15 PM
Credit Card Violations–Hays; 5:40 PM
Credit Card Violations–Hays; 5:42 PM
MV Accident-Private Property-Hit and Run–500 block W 27th St, Hays; 6:30 PM
Found/Lost Property–300 block W 32nd St, Hays; 8:53 PM
Drug Offenses–800 block Fort St, Hays; 8:58 PM; 9:07 PM
Burglary/residence–2700 block Walnut St, Hays; 9:32 PM
MV Accident-Hit and Run–1700 block Marjorie Dr, Hays; 10:03 PM
Lost Animals ONLY–300 block E 6th St, Hays; 10:45 PM

TOPEKA – A Hays organization has been awarded more than $77,000 in grants to provide services for victims of crime, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced in a news release Monday.

Options: Domestic and Sexual Violence Services, Inc., was awarded grants to support the following programs:

• $32,499 to provide survivor-centered services to those experiencing domestic violence, sexual assault, stalking or trafficking by providing services directly to survivors in their communities.
• $45,000 to strengthen organizational activities including direct services programming and services, and to ensure adequate financial resources that result in a stable environment.

“Organizations across Kansas do great work every day to support victims of crime,” Schmidt said. “We are proud to support these organizations through the victims services grant programs.”

The awards were made from the Protection from Abuse Fund and the State Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund. The Protection from Abuse Fund is funded by State General Fund appropriations, marriage license fees, county court costs and municipal court assessments. The State Crime Victims’ Assistance Fund is funded though the remittance of applicable fines, penalties and forfeitures from clerks of the district courts.

This year, the attorney general’s office awarded more than $2.5 million in grants to local and state crime victim assistance organizations. More information on the grant programs and the full list of award recipients is available on the attorney general’s website at www.ag.ks.gov.

KDA

MANHATTAN – The draft can be found at agriculture.ks.gov/IndustrialHemp, and comments may be submitted there or emailed to [email protected] through September 13. Following this public input stage, all feedback will be considered in revising the regulations prior to beginning the next step in the formal adoption process.

As part of the formal adoption process, the regulations will be reviewed by several entities, including the Division of Budget, Department of Administration, the Attorney General, and the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules and Regulations. In addition, they will be subject to a public hearing which will be announced in the Kansas Register 60 days prior to the hearing. The state’s Commercial Industrial Hemp Program plan also must be approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The USDA is expected to provide the “Final Rule” on the establishment of a domestic hemp production program in late August 2020.

ELLIS COUNTY

The Ellis County Public Works Department is advising that due to recent rainfall amounts, many unpaved Ellis County roads have become difficult to travel at this time. In some cases, there are roads that are impassable which has forced our department to close those locations for travel until further notice.

We are asking that only absolute necessary travel of unpaved roads in Ellis County be undertaken during these unfortunate conditions of our county road system.

If you must travel unpaved roads please slow down, use caution and be aware of current road conditions before making any travel plans. Your cooperation on this matter is truly appreciated.

If you have any questions on current road conditions or wish to report a road issue, contact the Ellis County Public Works department at (785)-628-9455. If you encounter a road related emergency contact Ellis County Dispatch at (785)-625-1011.

RUSSELL – Upcoming scrapbooking event “Let’s Flamingle!”

Friday, September 6, 3:00 p.m. through Sunday, September 8, 12 noon at the Docking and Specter Center, Fossil Creek Hotel & Suites, 1430 South Fossil, Russell.

Contact Kim Lyon for more details at 785-259-5872.

– SUBMITTED –

By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post

The annual March to Main event to welcome students to Hays will be back again this year with a new twist.

Tuesday’s event will feature the same great prizes, free food, goodie bags, discounts and annual parade from campus, but there won’t be the scavenger hunt.

“The businesses are still rolling out the red carpet for our students to make sure they feel welcome,”  Downtown Hays Development Corp. Director Sara Bloom said.

Main Street will not be closed this year for the event. For the safety of the students, the event committee opted to not have a scavenger hunt. Students will receive a raffle ticket that will automatically enter them for more than $3,000 in prizes, such as cash, TVs, headphones and Apple Watches.

Students will have two sheets of activities to do in downtown in the two weeks (until Sept. 12) following the event. They can visit 20 participating businesses to earn chances to win even more prizes.

Many of the businesses are offering deals and discounts to the students during this time, such as discounts on oil changes, free eyebrow waxes, buy a cheesecake, get a cheesecake, and $5 off a nail service.

“Hopefully, it will be a more relaxed setting instead of scavenger hunt where they are running in to grab a ticket and only spending a few seconds or a few minutes inside of a business, ” Bloom said. “We hope they will take time to come down and really check out everything and maybe schedule an appointment or two or purchase something fun to take home after.”

Lineup for the event will start at 5:30 p.m. in the FHSU quad. The parade to Main will include FHSU’s Victor E. Tiger, cheerleaders, dance team and marching band, as well as faculty, and school and elected officials. It will start at 6 p.m.

FHSU, NCK Tech and Hays Academy of Hair Design students are all welcome.

A free meal is being catered by The Press. Oversized games will be available downtown, including checkers, lawn darts and Jenga.

Miami Over Moon will play from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. under the Downtown Pavilion.

Bloom said she anticipated between 500 to 700 for the event. The event will count toward students’ first 40 day activities.

March to Main is sponsored by the DHDC, Hays Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and the three participating schools.

“If you are a student we just want to welcome you home to Hays,” Bloom said. “We hope you will join us in the quad between 5:30 and 6, and make sure you are there by 6 because that is when the march starts. This event is for you. We want you to know you are welcome here in our community, and we want you to feel connected right off the bat.”

FHSU University Relations

In the 1960s, students attending Fort Hays State University paid $125 per semester. In those days, students could often pay for their own education with part-time employment at minimum wage.

FHSU alumni like Don Reif Jr., Hoisington, understand that those days are long gone.

“I know that Fort Hays State continues to offer the lowest tuition out of the six major universities in Kansas,” said Reif.

“However, even with FHSU’s affordable tuition, college is expensive these days. It’s unfortunate to see students finish their degree programs with a mountain of debt. I hope to alleviate that debt for as many students as possible over the course of their education at Fort Hays State.”

Reif, a 1982 FHSU graduate, has established a scholarship for students studying political science with an emphasis in pre-law. Reif, a lawyer himself, has given more than $51,000 to the FHSU Foundation to create the Don E. Reif Scholarship, and plans to add to the fund over time.

Reif will have two scholarship recipients for the 2020 to 2021 academic year. As long as the students continue to meet requirements for eligibility, their scholarship may be renewable for an additional three years.

KDWPT

PRATT – In a 5-0 vote, Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KWPT) Commissioners recently approved the removal of a backcountry access pass, $50, at their August 15 meeting in Overland Park. The pass, established late last year, would have been a requirement for hikers looking to explore Kansas’ up-and-coming state park, Little Jerusalem Badlands, without a guide.

KDA

MANHATTAN — In late July, the Kansas Department of Agriculture participated in a trade mission to Argentina, where the team attended the La Exposición Rural 2019, the most prominent livestock show in the country. In addition, the Kansas delegation had the opportunity to visit six of the top ranches in central Argentina, two genetic centers, and the Liniers Market, which is the largest cattle market in the world. The group also attended a U.S. Livestock Genetics Export, Inc. (USLGE) reception hosted by U.S. Ambassador Edward C. Prado.

Representing Kansas on the trade mission were: Dr. Michael Dikeman, Dikeman Simmentals, Manhattan; Shad Marston, Wal-Mar Charolais, Canton; Brent Overmiller, Overmiller Gelbvieh and Red Angus, Smith Center; and Shirley Acedo, KDA agribusiness development coordinator.

“The KDA sponsored trip to Argentina to promote Kansas cattle genetics was very educational and interesting,” said Dikeman. “It was an opportunity to emphasize the efficiency of U.S. beef production, carcass grading, and meat marketing.”

Overmiller agreed. “The trade mission was a great experience as we had the opportunity to meet with the top ranches and bull studs in Argentina and promote our beef cattle genetics.” In the past five years, Kansas has exported roughly $1.6 million in agricultural goods to Argentina with milling products being the top export category.

The trade mission was organized by KDA and the USLGE. KDA strives to encourage and enhance economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy by exploring and expanding both domestic and international marketing opportunities. The Kansas Ag Growth Project identified beef as a key component for state growth.

KDA is offering two upcoming opportunities to Kansas farmers, ranchers and agribusinesses to participate in State Trade Expansion Program (STEP) grant trade missions planned for 2020: VICTAM Asia/Petfood Forum Asia, Bangkok, Thailand, March 24-26; and NAMPO Harvest Day, Bothaville, South Africa, May 12-15. Interested persons should contact Suzanne Ryan-Numrich at [email protected] or 785-564-6704.

 

By LESLIE KIMBELL
Russell Community Theater

RUSSELL – Four Old Broads may wrap up the Russell Community Theater 2019 Season, but it also kicks off a countdown to celebration. RCT’s first production, God’s Favorite, was presented in 1986. With three productions in the planning stages for 2020, RCT will be celebrating its 100th production next fall.

RCT volunteer, Crystal Craig, is seated in the director’s chair for this fall’s production.

The cast of seven includes Teressa Roe, Sheryl Krug and Debora Kreutzer, all veteran RCT actors/volunteers. Becky Anschutz and Nikki Kuntzsch are returning to the RCT stage, while Georganna McCrary and Rob Williams are making their RCT debut.

In Four Old Broads, retired burlesque queen Beatrice (Teressa Roe) needs a vacation from Magnolia Place Assisted Living. A Sassy Seniors Cruise sounds perfect if she can convince her best friend, Eaddy Mae (Becky Anschutz), to join her. Other residents are facing their own issues – including Imogene (Sheryl Krug) and her memory loss, Maude (Georganna McCrary) and her soap opera obsession, and Sam (Rob Williams) and his never ending search for love. And things just haven’t been the same since Nurse Pat (Debora Kreutzer) began working there. Hopefully, Ruby Sue (Nikki Kuntzsch) can get her nose out of her book long enough to lend a hand. Adventures unfold as the gals try to outsmart the evil Nurse Pat and solve a multitude of mysteries. Hilarity ensues as they try to throw Nurse Pat off their trail and make it to the cruise ship after all.

Performances run Tuesday through Saturday, October 8-12 at the RCT Playhouse (5th and Kansas, Russell). Show time is 8:00 p.m. Admission is $12 or by season ticket.

Four Old Broads is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. Russell Community Theater is a non-profit theater company in Russell, Kansas.

The sole purpose of RCT is to produce theater for the community and the surrounding area. Completely volunteer-driven, RCT is supported financially solely through ticket admissions and gifts from those supportive of community theater. Since its inception in 1986, RCT has presented 96 full-scale theatrical productions. For more information, call 785-483-4057. Please find us on Facebook.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Another night, another thunderstorm slamming through Hays.

Saturday’s severe weather arrived in Hays about 10:30 p.m., with several storms coming through into early Sunday morning.

The K-State Agricultural Research Center south of town measured a peak wind gust of 66 mph at 10:40 p.m. with continued high wind for about 30 minutes. There was no measurable hail.

The official rainfall amount was 1.51 inches with a total so far in August of 9.77 inches. Average precipitation during August in Hays is 2.97 inches.

According to Joe Becker, research center weather record keeper, the 2019 accumulated moisture amount on Friday had already exceeded the total yearly average for Hays.

Year-to-date moisture is 24.31 inches. Average moisture total by the end of August is 17.57 inches.

Rainfall at the Hays Regional Airport measured 2.03 inches, with a peak wind gust of 66 mph.

A Flood Warning is in effect for Ellis County until 7 a.m. Monday.

NWS

DODGE CITY – The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a

* Flood Warning for…
Northeastern Trego County in west central Kansas…
Pawnee County in south central Kansas…
Stafford County in south central Kansas…
Rush County in central Kansas…
Ellis County in central Kansas…

* Until 730 AM CDT Monday.

* At 735 AM CDT, Doppler radar indicated heavy rain that will cause
flooding. RAINFALL AMOUNTS of 3 to as much as 7 inches of rain
have fallen as estimated from radar.

* Some locations that will experience flooding include…
Hays, Larned, Ellis, La Crosse, St. John, Victoria, Stafford,
Walker, Catherine, Otis, Bison, Schoenchen, Garfield, Ogallah, Rush
Center, Hudson, Liebenthal, Timken, Seward and Ash Valley.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

Excessive runoff from heavy rainfall will cause flooding of small
creeks and streams, country roads, farmland, and other low lying
spots.

In hilly terrain there are hundreds of low water crossings which are
potentially dangerous in heavy rain. Do not attempt to cross flooded
roads. Find an alternate route.