By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

The 2012 Comprehensive Plan Update identified 13th Street from Main Street to Milner as an entry corridor to downtown that needs improvement.

Hays City Commissioners voted 4-1 Thursday night to authorize solicitation of engineering design services for street reconstruction, storm sewer improvements, water service upgrades, and the following five alternates:

A – Additional Curb, Sidewalk & Parking $204,000
B – Brick Street from Main to Oak $150,480
C – Brick Crosswalks at all intersections $13,500
E – Monument Sign $10,200
G – Decorative Street Lights $142,200

Although he dislikes some of the alternate designs and voted against the measure, Mayor Henry Schwaller described the section of 13th Street as “shot” and pointed out it has not been upgraded since the 1970s:

The base bid cost, including engineering, is $1,498,208, for which the city has budgeted $1.5 million. It would replace only driving lanes and intersections, leaving most parking, curb and sidewalk in place. A 5-foot-wide bike lane would be placed on both sides of the street.

An additional $302,198 would be required for the storm sewer improvements and would be funded from the stormwater management fund. The preliminary cost estimate to upgrade water services is $39,688, which would come from the water/sewer capital fund.

By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

ELLIS — Citations still are pending against the driver in a high-speed crash May 1 in Ellis, according to Ellis Police Chief Taft Yates.

Although the accident occurred just outside city limits in the 700 block of West Sixth Street, Yates said the Ellis Police Department and EMS responded to the scene at approximately 9 p.m.

The driver of a 2003 Camaro, Augustus Kortmeir, 18, Ellis, lost control of the vehicle, which went into a ditch, became airborne, rolled and flipped, striking a brick barn twice before it finally came to a stop. Both Kortmeir and a juvenile female passenger, who were not wearing seat belts, were ejected.

“The girl was pinned under the front of the car,” Yates said. “A police officer and first responder actually lifted the car to get the girl out.”

She was treated and released within a few hours from Hays Medical Center.

Kortmeier was transported to Hays Medical Center with more serious injuries including broken bones and lacerations.

“All the first responders did a tremendous job,” Yates said. “It could easily have been a tragic situation.”

Teachers in Hays and in communities across the nation will be in the spotlight today, National Teacher Appreciation Day, as their communities honor the daily work they do to make public schools great for every student.

To celebrate teachers and support staff and show appreciation for the important work they do every day, USD 489 Board of Education members spent the morning visiting schools and programs and talking with educators — sharing their appreciation and a treat.

“Few other professions make such an impact in so many lives, as teaching,” said Greg Schwartz, board president. “This seemed like the perfect opportunity for our board to share a small gesture of thanks for those people that make that positive impact every day.”

USD 489 reminds the community that we all have to work together to make our schools better, even during the tough times. Public schools are at the heart of any community and the teachers make that heart beat strong. Tell a teacher today, this week, and every day thank you for all they do.

• Submitted by Hays USD 489

FHSU University Relations

In a national survey conducted by TheBestSchools.org, Fort Hays State University once again has been recognized for its reasonable price and quality education, this time in the field of hospitality and tourism.

FHSU’s online Bachelor of Science in business administration and Master of Business Administration in tourism and hospitality management have both been recognized as Wise Choices for students pursuing degrees in those fields. According to TheBestSchools.org, “Fort Hays State’s tourism and hospitality degrees are among the most affordable on our list.”

According to the website, degree holders can skip straight to management in jobs ranging from restaurant and hotel operations to planning travel accommodations for sports clubs.

Other positives listed on the website, aside from affordability, include accepting transfer credits, a comprehensive curriculum covering key aspects of business theories and practices and, for the MBA, the ability to take time off for personal reasons and come back for the degree without penalties.

With the procedural requirements met to implement staff cuts in the 2014-15 school year, the Hays USD 489 Board of Education now will continue discussions of how to boost revenue.

New and increased fees for students are on the agenda for Monday’s work session, proposed hikes that could range from enrollment/workbook, busing, kindergarten and “pay-to-participate.”

Facing a $1.3 million budget shortfall in 2014-15, the district is estimating the proposed staff cuts, which have yet to be finalized, will save the district approximately $975,000 in expenses.

A kindergarten fee in the table for discussion purposes would generate approximately $54,800, according to estimates. The proposed fee of $400 would not include students who qualify for free lunches, who would continue to pay no fee. Those qualifying for reduced lunches — approximately 10 percent of the expected kindergarten class — would pay a $200 fee.

The proposed $30 increase in workbook/enrollment fees would generate an estimated $53,370. Students qualifying for free lunch — nearly 39 percent of the student body — would not be affected by the proposed increase.

Discussion of the fees are included on a heavy board agenda, which also will include discussion of the agenda of an upcoming board retreat, scheduled for May 20. Agenda topics are expected to include reports from building principals, budget and technology updates, and a board self-evaluation.

The board also will hear from Katt as the district attempts to craft specific talking points to be used for a community-wide speaking tour touting the need for an increase in the local option budget. The district will have a mail-in referendum asking voters to approve a 1 percent increase in the LOB, a change expected to generate approximately $200,000.

For a complete agenda, click HERE. The work session is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Rockwell Administration Center.

Related story: USD 489 issues statement about expected class sizes in 2014-15.

FHSU University Relations

Are you strong enough to carry water? Between 50 and 75 people recently experienced on the Fort Hays State University Quad what many African and Asian women and children have to go through to obtain the minimum amount of water needed to survive.

Students in the Global Environmental Issues Class sponsored the two-day “Are You Strong Enough to Carry Water?”

“In the class, we look at the factors that lead to the world’s environmental issues,” said Dr. Greg Farley, professor of biological sciences. “Half of the class are international students. This is really good because it is important to understand that we all look at the world through different lenses. Someone from Saudi Arabia or China will view the world differently than someone from the United States.”

The event aimed to raise awareness of the lack of portable water available in developing countries.

“People easily take water for granted,” said Amber (Honig) Lane, Onaga senior.  “This event is a creative but powerful way to remind people how nice it is to have portable water.”

Participants carried 5-gallon water jugs, representing the amount of water people in developing countries carry on a daily basis, from the Memorial Union to Picken Hall — a distance of 0.2 miles — up the steps and back.

The United State Environmental Protection Agency estimates the average American family uses more than 300 gallons of water per day.

The World Water Organization reports that at least 1 billion people must walk three or more hours to obtain drinking water and some can walk up to 10 hours to collect water before spending hours boiling it to make it drinkable.

“I was originally hesitant about water as a topic,” said Farley.  “It is a topic that is brought up every year, but what this group did was, instead of just telling us about the problem, they are having us experience the problem.

“When you think about it, a gallon of water is about 8 pounds, and if you knew that you had to walk two miles to get that water, you would be figuring out how to conserve.”

“In the end, we all come out better informed,” said Farley. “I learn from my students just as much as they learn from each other and me.”

“I have learned how much water we use on a regular basis and how easy it is to conserve even a few gallons of water a day,” said Lane.

“Are You Strong Enough to Carry Water?” coincided with Global Leadership Project’s Earth Day events.

WICHITA — Two California men were indicted Tuesday on drug charges for an incident that allegedly occurred earlier this month in Thomas County, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said in a news release.

Jose Ambriz-Lara, 20, El Monte, Calif., and Magellan Jimenez, 19, El Monte, Calif., are charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. The crime is alleged to have occurred April 11 in Thomas County.

If convicted, they face a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $1 million. The Drug Enforcement Administration investigated, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Jacobs is prosecuting.