FHSU University Relations
Sixteen senior graphic design students in Fort Hays State University’s Department of Art and Design are exhibiting their work in the Moss-Thorns Gallery of Art in Rarick Hall, room 102, on the FHSU campus. The students will showcase their talents in print, packaging and multimedia.
The exhibit will run through March 21.
The exhibit is free and open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The city of Hays will have a town hall meeting at 7 p.m. March 12 to discuss a series of water issues.
A continuing drought, Thursday’s declaration of a Stage 2 water warning and the development of a pipeline to deliver water to the Hays area will be among the topics.
The town hall will be at Fort Hays State University’s Sternberg Museum of Natural History.
JUNCTION CITY — Officials are pushing for a 1 percent increase to the community’s bed tax to help fund a proposed sports complex in Junction City.
The Geary County Convention and Visitors Bureau said money generated by the increase would be set aside to fund the complex.
“We felt it wise to start that process now to generate funding and also to support not only the committees belief but support of the project,” said Connie Hall, CVB Director. “The sports complex is still an on going project. This will also help give further investments and things credibility and belief in the project.”
She said the increase would generate approximately $113,000 a year and put the community’s bed tax on par with Manhattan and Abilene.
The increase has received support from the local lodging industry and the Junction City Area Chamber of Commerce.
By NICK BUDD
Hays Post
On Thursday, the Hays City Commission awarded bids for the 2014 street maintenance program. The proved include a $219,784 bid to Hi-Plains Sand for chip seal, a $124,872.16 bid to Stripe and Seal for the reconstruction of 11th Street, a $42,400 bid to Sweeney Pavement Maintenance for polypatch, and a $71,509 bid to Stripe and Seal for curb and brick repair.
By awarding the bid, the city will also allocate $75,000 for in-house work and $20,000 for the sidewalk rebate program. It will also leave approximately $44,785 for any unforeseen work or cost overruns.
Public works director I.D. Creech reported the 11th Street repairs will happen in two phases, which will benefit the business owners on the street.
“We talked to the business owners that will be effected by this project and the construction will occur in two phases; an east half and a west half.” John Braun, assistant director of Public Works said. “That was built into the bid documents, that the contractor would be required to do it so that businesses could be accessed.”
Commissioner Henry Schwaller expressed concerned there were still other streets that needed repairs in the Hays area.
“We typically spend a lot more on street repairs. This is quite small, yet our needs are pretty large.” Schwaller said. “There are streets that need a certain level of care, and if we don’t get to them, they’ll just continue to deteriorate.”
City Manager Toby Dougherty said the city usually spends extra funds from the general fund for street repairs, but the plan is to save that money for future projects such as the 13th Street repairs, the possibility of subsidies for the KDOT essential air service program, and for the final design of the airport terminal.
“We would love to have the extra money,” Dougherty said. “I would just caution that we get some of the other things wrapped up and then, assuming we don’t have to spend extra money on those other projects, we will be the first ones coming back asking for additional allocations.”
The money for the street repairs will come out of the gas tax the city collects.
By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 Board of Education have a work session at 6:30 p.m. Monday at Rockwell Administration Center, 323 W. 12th
The board will discuss an update on the E-rate process for wireless infrastructure at Washington Elementary, a USD 489 budget review and new appointments for the District Technology Committee.
According to the U.S. Department of Education, the E-Rate program “provides discounts of up to 90 percent to help eligible schools and libraries in the United States obtain affordable telecommunications and internet access.”
Other agenda items include a community assessment Head Start will be conducting soon. The Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection and Enrollment Plan is an assessment required by the state every three years. The board also will discuss authorizing the Kansas Early Head Start Grant for the Early Childhood Connections program.
The USD 489 website provides a full work session agenda.
The meeting will be held at Toepfer Board Room at Rockwell Administration Building, 323 W. 12th at 6:oo p.m.
LAWRENCE — Kansas Securities Commissioner Josh Ney announced Thursday in a news release criminal charges were being filed against Family Homes Inc. and Roderic (Rod) E. Deines, Lawrence.
Deines was charged with 11 felony counts for violating the Kansas Uniform Securities Act, including allegations of securities fraud and the selling of unregistered securities. The criminal complaint alleges that Deines committed securities fraud by unlawfully employing a scheme to defraud at least three Kansas residents by offering and selling unregistered securities in his business, Family Homes Inc., which he claimed was a house-flipping business that could produce extraordinary investment returns.
All three investors are from Russell, where Deines has had previous residence. The complaint alleges that the funds given to Deines by investors were primarily used for his personal expenses and to pay other investors. Victim losses total more than $170,000.
Chris Mann, senior staff attorney for the Kansas Securities Commissioner, urges anyone with information to contact the agency.
“If you have been approached by this individual regarding investing in Family Homes, please contact the Office of the Kansas Securities Commissioner at (785) 296-3307,” Mann said.
By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
Officials at the Hays Police Department continue their investigation of what appears to be a hoax of a disturbance involving firearms in the 2500 block of Pine.
The call forced police responding to the incident to close portions of streets near Pine beginning at approximately 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and lasting about an hour.
According to Lt. Brandon Wright, police still are investigating what he called a “false report.”
“We do not know where the call originated from at this time, and the investigation is still active,” he said.
No additional details were available Thursday morning.
By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
The Hays Police Department is investigating a rash of tire slashings Thursday morning, according to Lt. Brandon Wright.
Wright said the department has already received eight reports of tire slashing, and all are believed to have occurred overnight.
The slashings occurred in the same general area of Hays — the 2200 block of Drum, 2400 block of Centennial, 2300 block of General Custer, 2200 block of General Custer, 1700 block of Eisenhower. One more report was received from a resident on Cody.
If anyone has any information on the incidents, they are encouraged to call the the HPD at (785) 625-1077
By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
The city of Hays plans to hold a town hall meeting soon to discuss water issues and the possibility of having to declare a Water Warning, which would severely limit outdoor water use.
Commissioner Eber Phelps says it’s a “pre-emptive move as opposed to a reactionary situation, which could be unpleasant for residents who’ve already purchased plants and lawn seed for spring planting:”
Phelps and Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty recently attended the 2014 Land and Water Summit in Albuquerque, N.M. Phelps expects Hays to take a closer look at several ideas including more education about xeriscaping and use of gray water irrigation.
FHSU University Relations
The Big Event promises Fort Hays State University students a night of celebration, prizes, food, head-shaving and, most importantly, awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. FHSU’s Up ’til Dawn will hold the Big Event from midnight to 6 a.m. Saturday in the Memorial Union on the FHSU campus.
Up ’til Dawn is a nationwide organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for St. Jude. The funds raised help benefit the children of St. Jude, their families and cancer research. So far, FHSU has raised nearly $14,000.
Students are encouraged to raise at least $10 for St. Jude to gain entrance to the Big Event. Registration begins at 11:30 p.m. Friday in the Memorial Union.
During the Big Event, “Shave for the Brave” will raise even more money for the children. Participants will choose one student to have his or her hair completely buzzed. Five FHSU students have agreed to shed their hair in honor of the children at St. Jude. Each of the five students will have a jar and whichever jar receives the most donations, that student will have his or her head shaved by the end of the night.
Students participating in the Big Event will also have a chance to win big prizes, including a Keurig coffee system, flat screen TV, tablet computer, digital camera, grill, gift cards and other great prizes.
One week later, Up ’til Dawn will partner with the FHSU soccer teams and the Hays Recreation Commission to hold a youth soccer camp, with proceeds benefitting St. Jude from 1 to 3 p.m. March 8 at the FHSU Soccer Stadium.
Children ages 5 to 14 are welcome to participate and are encouraged to bring their soccer practice gear including practice clothes and shin guards. Soccer balls will be provided.
Registration is $20 and includes a T-shirt. The deadline for registration is March 3. Late registrations will be accepted, but there will be limited T-shirts available.
ELLIS — The American Red Cross is hosting a blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. March 19 at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 1013 Washington.
Appointments can be made online by clicking HERE.
The need for blood is constant and only volunteer donors can fulfill that need for patients in the community. Nationwide, someone needs a unit of blood every 2 to 3 seconds — and most people will need blood during their lifetime.
On Monday, weather permitting, a resurfacing project will begin on a 22 mile stretch of Kansas 147 from the Ness/Trego County line to Ogallah.
The scope of the project, according to the Kansas Department of Transportation, is to mill the existing pavement and overlay with 1.5-inches of new asphalt material.
Traffic will be reduced to one lane and controlled by flaggers and a pilot car during daylight hours. Minor delays should be expected during construction, not exceeding 15 minutes.
The Kansas Department of Transportation urges all motorists to be alert, obey the warning signs, and “Give ‘Em a Brake!” when approaching and driving through the construction zone.
KDOT awarded the $1,759,990 contract to Venture, Corp., Great Bend. The scheduled completion date for the project is late April.
At Thursday’s Hays City Commission meeting, commissioners will consider awarding bids for a series of street repair projects.
The 2014 street maintenance projects include 6 miles of asphalt streets; patch and repair at various locations in town; reconstruction of 11th Street from Cedar to Vine; and repairs on brick streets.
The city staff is recommending the following bids be approved:
• Hi-Plains Sand, $219,784 for chip seal;
• Stripe and Seal, $124,872 for 11th Street;
• Sweeney Pavement Maintenance, $42,400 for patching;
• Stripe and Seal, $71,509 for curb and brick repair.
The city budgeted $495,000 for the work, and bids came in more than $36,400 lower than anticipated.
The commission will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall.
For a complete agenda, click HERE.
