ELLIS — The Ellis County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday a missing Ellis man has been found.
According to Detective Brad Ricke, Elmer Lee Orosco Jr., 34, was located this evening.
While he offered no other details, Ricke said, “We are happy it ended this way, and he is well and fine.”
Orosco had been missing since Feb. 25.
Green plumbing is up for discussion at Thursday’s Hays City Commission work session.
According to Assistant City Manager Paul Briseno, city staff is recommending the adoption of new plumbing standards designed to conserve water, requiring all fixtures in new construction and remodels to be at least 20 percent more efficient than federal standards:
“In reviewing usage records, it was found that newer properties have much higher water usage than existing properties. Staff believes this is primarily driven by larger and more water-needy landscaping than the average property in town,” according to a memo to commissioners by city staff. “At the same time, there is no code to ensure that inside uses of water are as efficient as they can be.”
The city brought the proposed changes to three meetings of the Building and Trade Board for discussion, which offered revisions from a contractor standpoint.
In the midst of a water shortage, the staff said “this is one of the most important, cheapest and easiest changes the city can make for long-term water security for the city of Hays.”
The city recently declared a Stage 2 water warning, which will tighten restrictions on outside watering and block new connections to the potable water system for irrigation purposes.
Most of the water-conserving measures are considered “cost-neutral” for builders, although improvements for irrigations systems — including sensors, controller and spray head requirements — would cost approximately $500 more per system.
City commissioners will discuss the regulation changes for placement on a future regular session agenda.
By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
As statewide efforts continue this week to encourage teen seat belt compliance, Sgt. Mitch Berens of the Hays Police Department wants teens to know if they are caught driving without a seat belt, they can expect a citation — not a warning.
“Kids are a precious resource, so we are trying to get (teens) more motivated to buckle up,” Berens said. “We hate to lose kids to fatality accidents.”
Berens said teen seat belt usage across the state is increasing, but statistically, “We still have 19 percent of kids who are not buckling up.”
In 2012, 43 teens ages 13 to 19 lost their lives in vehicle accidents and, in 74 percent of those fatalities, the occupants were not properly restrained. Berens said 2013 state statistics are not yet available.
Additionally, according to the campaign’s sponsor the Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office, “Rural counties tend to produce a lower belt use rate than urban counties.”
A fact Berens agrees with: “It is typical for rural communities to have a lower seat-belt compliance rate than in metropolitan areas.”
“You know (rural teens) aren’t going a long distance,” he said, “and may not think a seat belt is important for that short of a trip — so they may decide to not to put it on.”
Peer pressure also is a factor.
“They are young and have that invincible feeling about them, so sometimes they just need that extra motivation and extra enforcement to get them buckled up, ” said Berens.
Some of that “extra motivation” comes in the size of fines.
According to Berens, if a 14- to 17-year-old is caught without a seatbelt, the fine is $60 compared to the $10 fine for an adult.
The teen seat belt enforcement campaign runs through Friday.
Berens said teens and parents can expect to see more law enforcement presence at high schools during the morning when school starts and when school ends in the afternoon.
While this week’s special enforcement focuses on teen compliance, adults who are not wearing a seat belt also will be ticketed, he added.
The Hays Police Department conducted 35 traffic stops on Friday, 23 on Saturday and seven on Sunday, according to the HPD activity log. The HPD also received seven animal calls in the three days.
Feb. 28
Possession/transport/concealed weapon incident, 100 block East Eighth, 1:21 a.m.
Motor vehicle accident/private property, 3400 block Vine, 6:55 a.m.
Criminal damage to property, 100 block East 22nd, 7 a.m.
Civil dispute, 2800 block Vine, 9:19 a.m.
Telephone harassment, 2700 block Ash, 10:08 a.m.
Credit card violations, 2700 block Fort, 1:03 p.m.
Suicidal subject, 2700 block Epworth, 1:31 p.m.
Civil dispute, 1100 block East 13th, 1:51 p.m.
Credit card violations, 1600 block East 27th Street Terrace, 2:46 p.m.
Welfare check, 1200 block Main, 2:50 p.m.
Theft, 2700 block Vine, 3:38 p.m.
Civil dispute, 4400 block Vine, 4:21 p.m.
Drug offenses, 2700 block Canal, 5:19 p.m.
Liquor offense, , 700 block Vine, 5:54 p.m.
Motor vehicle accident/private property, 4300 block Vine, 7:02 p.m.
Disturbance, 300 block West 18th, 9:31 p.m.
Found/lost property, 13th and Holmes, 10:45 p.m.
Noise disturbance, 300 block West Ninth, 11:29 p.m.
March 1
Fight, 100 block West Seventh, 12:50 a.m.
Motor vehicle accident/DUI, 33rd and Indian Trail, 3:15 a.m.
Criminal damage to property, 300 block West 48th, 7 a.m.
Motor vehicle accident/private property, 2301 block East 13th, 2:02 p.m.
Disturbance, 4000 block General Hays m, 3:26 p.m.
Unwanted person, 2700 block Vine, 5:27 p.m.
Civil transport, Larned, 6:55 p.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 200 block East 14th, 7:31 p.m.
Driving under the influence, 800 block Ash, 8 p.m.
Assist, 100 block West 12th, 9:41 p.m.
Driving under the influence, 300 block East Sixth, 11:50 p.m.
March 2
Obstruction of legal process, 700 block Park, 2:05 a.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 2500 block General Custer, 10:08 a.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 2200 block General Custer, 10:14 a.m.
Mental health call, 2000 block Patio, 10:34 a.m.
Found/lost property, 1100 block Vine, 11:32 a.m.
Driving while suspended/revoked, 2600 block Vine, 4:33 p.m.
Theft, 500 block Halladay, 7:27 p.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 300 block West 10th, 10:06 p.m.
Abandoned vehicle, 500 block Ash, 11:15 p.m.
Ellis County Administrator Greg Sund offered few details Monday about the possibility of leaving the community.
Sund was considered one of three finalists for the city manager position in Minot, N.D., and and one of four finalists for a similar position in Hood River, Ore.
Speaking Monday on KAYS Radio, Sund said he “just decided to take a shot at these two (jobs),” but declined further comment.
He also confirmed he has been eliminated from consideration for the city manager position in Minot.
Sund has served as Ellis County’s first administrator since 2010. He spent much of the last two weeks traveling to North Dakota and Oregon during the interview process for the positions.
• JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT, Hays Post
From Ellis City Clerk Amy Burton
ELLIS — Due to a change in circumstances, a quorum will be present for tonight’s regular meeting of the Ellis City Council. The council will meet at its regularly scheduled time of 7:30 p.m. at Ellis City Hall.
Last week, the meeting had been rescheduled for Wednesday because of a lack of quorum.
The agenda follows:
REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF ELLIS March 3, 2014 AGENDA
City Hall – Council Meeting Room
BILLS ORDINANCE REVIEW WORK SESSION BEGINS AT 7:00 P.M.
ROLL CALL AND MEETING CALL TO ORDER AT 7:30 P.M.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
AMENDMENTS TO AGENDA (if needed)
1) CONSENT AGENDA
a) Minutes from Regular Meeting on February 17, 2014
b) Minutes from Special Meeting on February 24, 2014
c) Bills Ordinance #1944
(Council will review for approval under one motion under the consent agenda. By majority vote of the governing body, any item may be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately)
PUBLIC COMMENTS
(Each speaker will be limited to five minutes. If several people from the group wish to speak on same subject, the group must appoint a spokesperson. ALL comments from public on agenda items must be during Public Comment. Once council begins their business meeting, no more comments from public will be allowed.)
2) PRESENTATIONS OF AWARDS, PROCLAMATIONS, REQUESTS & PETITIONS (HEARINGS)
3) SPECIAL ORDER
4) UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Consider Franchise Agreement with Wildflower Telecommunications – Will Meyer
5) NEW BUSINESS
a) Consider Approval of Volunteer Firemen
b) Consideration of Event Request for Memorial Park
c) Consider City-Wide Cleanup
d) Consider Purchase of Snow Removal Equipment
6) REPORTS FROM CITY OFFICIALS
a) Administrative
b) Public Works
(1) Comparative Water Report
(2) Water Exploration
(3) Bid for Cleaning of Tank
(4) Department Update
c) Police
(1) March Officer Calendar
(2) Seat Belt Survey
(3) Update on Applicant Search
(4) Department Update
d) City Clerk
(1) Discussion on office staffing
(2) Department Update
e) Attorney
f) Mayor/Council
7) ADJOURNMENT
By KARI BLURTON
Hays Post
High Plains Mental Health launches new services today.
The agency, which serves 20 counties in northwest Kansas, has announced services to treat individuals and their families suffering from substance abuse disorders.
According to HPMH outpatient therapist Jennifer Colby, licensed specialist in clinical social work and licensed addiction counselor, the new services are exciting because there are few facilities in northwest Kansas that can treat “co-occurring” issues.
“When someone has a problem with drugs and alcohol, but then they also maybe have anxiety and depression or (are) bipolar,” she explained, “both of them interact together and you can’t treat one of them without treating the other.”
Colby, one of two new substance abuse therapists at the clinic, said HPMH offered substance abuse treatment “many years ago,” and the facility is excited to provide the services again as the guidelines for substance abuse treatment is changing.
“There is a big push to integrated treatment in which people with substance abuse use and mental health (needs) really need treatment together,” she said. “So this is kind of exciting, because people can get treatment under one roof.”
Colby said the department offers individual and group therapy and help for anyone with substance abuse concerns, including family members of a person with substance abuse issues who want support.
The department also offers personal alcohol and drug assessments. According to community prevention, education and outreach manager Ken Loos the assessments are not for court purposes but to assist with treatment planning.
For more information, call (785) 628-2871 or visit the agency’s website.
GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — In a news release Monday, Bosselman Energy Inc. announced the completion of the acquisition of Schreiner’s Inc.’s propane business in WaKeeney.
The move is part of Bosselman’s expansion of its propane and transportation business. Schreiner’s sells approximately 1.7 million gallons of propane annually, a news release said.
This is the third Kansas acquisition made by the Grand Island-based company in the past four months. In northwest Kansas, Bosselman also recently completed the acquisition of Turnbull Oil in Plainville and Basinger Inc. in Utica.
“The acquisition fits our strategy of growth into the Kansas market. We are very happy to welcome Schreiner to our team,” said Fred Bosselman, Bosselman chief executive officer.
It’s time to knock down pins in hopes of raising up youngsters in need.
Big Brother Big Sisters of Ellis County will have its annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake on May 5 at Centennial Lanes.
A kickoff luncheon for the fundraiser will be at noon March 12 at Thirsty’s. RSVPs are requested today by calling (785) 625-6672.
The organization is seeking teams to participate in the event and lane sponsors.
The Hays chamber is ready to tee off.
The fifth annual Hays Area Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament, presented by Eagle Communications, will be May 2 at Smoky Hill Country Club.
Registration for the four-person scramble will begin at 8 a.m., with a tee time of 9 a.m.
For more information on the tournament or sponsorship opportunities, call Celeste at (785) 628-8201.
Hays Medical Center announced Monday in a news release that Dale Montgomery, vice president for support services, will retire effective June 30.
Montgomery began his career at HaysMed in 1966 at Hadley Hospital as a certified nursing aide in the in-patient rehabilitation department working evening and nights as he was still in high school. He later earned certification as a physical therapy technician.
In 1973, he moved to a purchasing agent position in the purchasing department and became department head in 1983. While in that position, he led the automation and centralization of all procurement for the medical center and eventually became director of materials management.
A year after Hadley Regional Medical Center and Saint Anthony Hospital merged in 1991, Montgomery assumed the director duties for plant services, which included not only purchasing but also maintenance, grounds, environmental services and dietary. In 1993, he joined the administrative team as vice president of support services.
“Dale has been a solid resource for us for many years,” said Dr. John Jeter, president and CEO of HaysMed. “He has overseen all the major building projects at HaysMed. His expertise and contributions in all areas of the hospital will be sorely missed.”
Montgomery will be spending his retirement time with his wife, children and grandchildren and traveling with friends. He also plans to continue working with a foundation he helped start 22 years ago — the Project Perfect World Foundation, which delivers orthopedic and spine surgery to needy children in Third World countries. In addition, he will continue to be active in the community, maintain his ties with the NCK Technical College board and assist with the Health Care Supply Chain of Kansas.
MANHATTAN — A north-central Kansas student and northwest Kansas publisher will have roles in the 2014 National Newspaper Association Foundation’s News Fellow program, K-State announced today.
Jena Sauber, Salina, was one of the students chosen for the program. The Kansas State University senior journalism major is managing editor of the Collegian, the university’s student-run newspaper.
Her participation in the NNA program is sponsored by the Kansas Press Association.
The fellows will convene in Washington on March 12 and will focus on National Security Agency surveillance.
Steven Haynes, past president of NNA and publisher of Nor’West Newspapers, will serve as one of several mentors for the fellowship program. Haynes publishes newspapers in Bird City, Colby, Goodland, Oberlin, Norton and Saint Francis.
FHSU University Relations
Fort Hays State University’s fraternities will host the sixth annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” event to raise awareness for the victims of sexual and domestic abuse. Proceeds will go to Jana’s Campaign and Options Domestic & Sexual Violence Services, two local organizations dedicated to fighting and exposing domestic abuse.
The pageant will be at 6 p.m. today at FHSU’s Memorial Union and will feature speakers from Jana’s Campaign and Options before the culmination of the night when the men from FHSU Greek Life, student organizations, faculty, staff and athletic teams will literally walk 1 mile in women’s shoes.
