By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

The Hays USD 489 school district is proposing a budget with a mill levy increase.

The district is proposing a .447 mill increase in the tax levy for the supplemental general fund for the 2026 fiscal year.

"Yes, the total taxes levied will go up, so we will exceed the revenue-neutral rate," Chris Hipp, assistant superintendent of business services, said. "The total mill levy crept up a little bit, but mostly because of reductions in state aid and additional costs in special ed."

The USD 489's portion of the county valuation increased by about 1.4%.

Taxes on a home valued at $239,000 will go up by about $36 per year, based on the district's mill levy and the increased assessed valuation, according to the school district.

The district is losing about $193,000 in state aid for the supplemental general fund, Hipp said, which means the net increase from that fund is only about $80,000.

Hays' overall school mill levy is slightly below the state average. That includes the bond mill levy, he said.

The 20 mills that are assessed for schools go to the state and are reallocated to local school districts based on enrollment. The state sets that mill rate, and the local school board has no control over that levy, Hipp said.

The district is predicting a smaller kindergarten class compared to last year's high school graduating class, so it is forecasting a slight decrease in enrollment, Hipp said.

"The student count is what drives everything," Hipp said. "It sets the general fund. So that 20 mills that goes to Topeka, we get back whatever portion of that in the form of state aid."

The district's capital outlay levy is being kept at 8 mills. Although the increase in valuation will bring in another $50,000, the district is losing about $106,000 in state aid, which means the net revenue for capital outlay will be negative, Hipp said.

Thanks in part to the increase in valuation, the budget calls for a slight reduction in the bond and interest mill levy from 11.262 to 11.152 mills. Hipp said the mill rate is calculated based on what the school district needs to make its next bond payment.

The district is in the midst of multiple building construction projects. The largest of those projects is a new Hays High School, which is set to open next week.

The most significant line-item increase in the supplemental general fund budget, about $1 million, is for salary increases.&nbsp;

<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/de2764c1-3767-4d5a-8353-888aa39a31cf">SEE RELATED STORY: Hays USD 489 board approves 2.5% raise for all personnel</a>

Hipp said the district is saving about $332,000 through position reductions. No one was laid off, but the district left open some positions due to retirements and resignations.

Hipp said this was made possible by smaller class sizes in the lower grades and a move to three elementary school buildings instead of four.

Lincoln Elementary School was permanently closed in the spring.

The district also saw an increase of almost $822,000 for special education. Although Hays hosts the special education cooperation, that figure only includes Hays' portion of the cooperative budget.

Hipp said the school district is facing increasing costs for special education with a decrease in contributions from the state and federal governments.

"Their expenses are set at the student level," Hipp said. "Their expenses are set when we are having individual education plan meetings and deciding on the services kids need. It's federally mandated. It's going to happen."

What is not funded by the state and federal governments has to come from local school districts. Neither the state nor the federal government is fully funding their portions of special education, which is leaving local school districts to pick up more of the tab.

"It's extremely painful across the state," Hipp said.

Hipp said the district has been trying to keep the local mill levy down by using reserve funds, but the district can't use any more reserve without risking not being able to pay its bills.

Kyle Carlin, special education co-op director, said the district has experienced increased costs for salaries, programs for disabled students, programs used by the co-op's speech pathologists and psychologists, and testing.

The state increased funding by $7 million for special education for the 2026 budget year, but that is for the entire state and is less than 1% of the state's special education budget, Carlin said.

Federal funding has been flat.&nbsp;The federal funding gap for the Hays district alone is almost $2.2 million and the state's gap is more than $1 million.

Carlin has been part of the discussions about fulfilling the state funding shortfall, and he was part of a delegation that met with the Kansas Congressional delegation in Washington, D.C., earlier this summer about closing the federal funding gap.

Carlin said he met personally with Rep. Tracey Mann, R-Kan., who said he was interested in new legislation that would fully fund the federal obligation for special education using a stair-step approach over 10 years.

Carlin said Mann expressed concern about the special education law as an unfunded mandate.

"Each student brings with them their own individual needs that we have an obligation to meet," Carlin said. "Even though the feds are funding at 12% of their obligation and the state is funding at less than 70% of their obligation, we are still responsible for 100% of that law.

"Luckily, I work with districts that are committed to maintaining that and doing the best for kids."

The district's revenue-neutral rate and budget hearings are scheduled for the Sept. 8 board meeting.

Hays USD 489 proposes mill levy increase, sees special ed costs rise

RUSH COUNTY— A Kansas man is going to prison for child sex crimes.

Earlier this month, 31-year-old Tyler Whitten was sentenced to serve 27.5 years in prison, according to the Kansas Attorney General's office. In December he pleaded guilty to two counts of rape of a child under the age of 14.

The alleged acts in Pawnee County occurred at a private residence in Larned sometime between September 16, 2021, and March 1, 2023, and were discovered during an investigation by the Rush County Sheriff regarding similar allegations.

“We appreciate the hard work of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the Rush County Sheriff’s Office, whose thorough investigation provided the evidence necessary for justice in this case,” said Assistant Attorney General Nicole Southall. “We are especially grateful for the bravery of these young girls in coming forward and to their mother for her quick actions in getting her children to safety.”

Rush Co. man sentenced for sex crimes with young children

By TONY GUERRERO Hays Post

The Ellis County Commission reviewed a draft of the 2026 budget for the final time before publication during its Tuesday meeting.

The current draft of the general fund has a 1.84 mill levy increase, from 35.99 mills to 37.83. mills.

Commissioner Nathan Leiker said the mill increase serves as a precaution to help maintain essential services if grants are reduced in the future.

"It at least allows us the flexibility to be able to have a soft landing when we have federal or state grants pulled," he said. "The county, the city and the school board, we're all taking out of the same cookie jar."

During last week's commission meeting, the commission&nbsp;reduced Grow Hay's allocation from $165,000 to $160,000, with the $5,000 reallocated to the Ellis County Historical Society, bringing its total to $115,000.

Commissioner Michael Berges said Grow Hays contacted the commission after that discussion and asked that the $5,000 be reinstated.

"I hate that it looks like we're putting one [outside agency] against the others when in reality, their requests are without consideration of the others," Berges said.

During this week's meeting, the commission reinstated Grow Hays' funding request of $165,000 and also maintained the Ellis County Historical Society's allocation at $115,000.

The Fire District budget draft has an increase in the mill levy from 4 mills to 4.14 mills, with projected revenues of about $781,600 and expenses of about $892,200. The Solid Waste Enterprise Fund has revenues of $1,595,000 with expenses at about $1,576,400.

A public hearing on the revenue-neutral rate and budget is set for Sept. 9.

Request for proposal for appraisal contract services

The Ellis County Appraiser's Office received approval to enter into a consulting agreement with Equitable Solutions for income and expense analysis services.

With the contractor, the county will have better tools to determine market values of commercial and industrial properties, leading to more accurate property tax assessments,&nbsp;Eugene Rupp, county appraiser, said.

The total cost is $21,000 and will be paid in three installments. The expense will be covered from the appraiser's 2025 general fund and the appraiser's capital reserve fund.

The following year, the county appraisal staff will fully take over the analysis, eliminating the need for a contractor in 2027.

Commissioners received an update from Mike Thomas, vice president of WoodRiver Energy, on the natural gas market and the option to lock in natural gas rates for county facilities.

Thomas said in the short term, the gas market is well supplied with stable prices, but in the long term, prices may rise.&nbsp; The commission approved a two-year natural gas contract at $5.10 per million British thermal units.

The commission briefly discussed the county's involvement in a national opioid lawsuit settlement from several years ago. Darin Myers, county administrator, said the county has been receiving payments over the last several years after opting in to do so.

Myers said the county recently received new settlement offer documents related to Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family. These documents came with tight deadlines, and Myers asked permission to sign them with the intention of bringing the documents to a future meeting.

Myers said the settlement funds do not impact the general fund and go into their own.

"By law, certain things that we can use them on are training and different programs specific to opioid use and drug addiction," he said.

The commission unanimously agreed to allow it.

The commission approved a waived fee of about $500 in waste disposal for the upcoming Volga German Oktoberfest, scheduled for Sept. 26 and 27 in Hays.

Commissioners also approved an updated job description for the Noxious Weed Department, including the addition of a new position level. This change aligns with stricter state certification requirements and improves employee retention. No new positions will be created.

Ellis County Commission discuss final budget draft with mill levy increase

Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas

Developmental Services of Northwest Kansas, was recently announced as the recipient of a grant from the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).

This grant will be used to acquire and implement key training programs to enhance staff competency and improve service delivery within the day service model. These training programs are designed to provide staff with specialized skills and knowledge, ultimately leading to better outcomes for individuals with I/DD.

In addition, staff will have access to better training tools to help them provide effective education for individuals served. As a provider, implementing these additional curriculums, training, and certifications, DSNWK will be in better alignment with the new day service licensing expectations.

“With this grant our staff will have the additional tools needed to be skilled, knowledgeable, and prepared to provide person-centered services based on a person's desired lifestyle that promotes their independence, community inclusion, and personal growth within the new day service model,” states Jerry Michaud, president. 

“This investment in high-quality curriculum will ensure that the training is both effective and respectful of the unique needs of the individuals we serve. This will aid in helping those served having greater inclusion and independence within the community.”

DSNWK is a 501(c)3 nonprofit serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities from the counties of Cheyenne, Decatur, Ellis, Gove, Graham, Logan, Norton, Osborne, Phillips, Rawlins, Rooks, Russell, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Thomas, Trego and Wallace.

KDADS supports DSNWK with grant

Over the years, we’ve sat in a front row seat as Mother Nature pummeled western Kansans with hail, wind, snow, or rain. 

The most frightening experience was watching weather radar from Dubois, Wyoming as the 2017 hail storm descended on WaKeeney, making it look like a war zone. By phone, we encouraged Mom as she huddled in her bathtub while baseball size hail slammed into her roof, windows, and brick siding. 

On Sunday, August 3, 2025, we missed suffering a similar barrage on I-70 in Gove County only because we stopped at Cabela’s in Sidney.

After cruising with our terrier pup in a cart through our favorite outdoor store, we resumed our homeward journey and turned south at Julesburg. At Wray, we observed thunderheads building over western Kansas. 

Radio 102.5 out of Goodland monitored these storms while I watched the radar. Though it was only 2 p.m. Mountain Time, some storms lit the internet in red, pink, and purple shades. The weatherman reported half-dollar size hail and 60 mph winds in southern Sherman and Wallace counties. He warned of danger in Sheridan and Gove counties where 60 mph winds would forcefully drive 2-inch hail.

As I watched the radar, the hot pink and purple oval between Hoxie and Grinnell didn’t move. Alarming hues lingered in the same spot for an hour, confirmed by the weatherman. When the storm did inch south, it dawdled. By then, we’d reached Burlington. Storms to the south and east rapped a crazy what to do, what to do rhythm in our brains. Surely that storm at Grinnell would proceed south of I-70 by the time we reached Colby.

As we proceeded home, skies produced spine-tingling drama.

 Rising, roiling thunderheads, hail clouds, and curtains of rain held my attention as my husband steered WaKeeney-bound while listening to doom-filled weather reports. Near Colby, the weatherman announced hail and wind damage had closed eastbound I-70 at Exit 76 in Oakley. I requested a potty break in case damage required an extended closure.

Leaving Colby under sunny, calm conditions, we reached the west edge of Oakley where fine weather continued and traffic moved unimpeded.

 It wasn’t 'til a few miles down the road we spied stalled vehicles with shattered windshields parked on the shoulders awaiting tow-trucks. While most impaired autos and trucks pulled safely to the shoulder, one ended up near the fence-line across the ditch. At that point, we saw Mother Nature had annihilated recently thriving crops on either side of I-70.

All I could think of as we drove past one destroyed field after another was how those folks in Grinnell now faced another clean-up and rebuild so soon after their recent tornado. I’m sure many required another new roof, siding, window, and/or vehicle repair. Who knows how many miles of crop destruction exist.

While I’m grateful our trip to Cabela’s delayed us enough to miss that storm, the future holds no guarantees. After all, we live in a town where wind-driven hail totaled nearly every roof and car parked outside in 2017 in a storm like this one. 

Western Kansans may live in paradise, but it turns on them occasionally. Destroyed vehicles and crops reminded us of that directly after it occurred on August 3rd.

Karen Madorin is a retired teacher, writer, photographer, outdoors lover, and sixth-generation Kansan.

MADORIN: No promises in paradise

<a href="https://hayspost.com/pages/state-farm-weather-window">For a full look at the weather forecast, click here.</a>

Three-day weather outlook

Lilly &amp; Marie is offering a 15% Back-to-School discount in the month of&nbsp;August&nbsp;for students and parents coming in school shopping!

Senior photos, college style, and classroom confidence—Carol Rome and her team at L&amp;M has you covered.

As students and teachers across the area gear up for a new school year, Lilly &amp; Marie invite you to make this season one to remember—and one to look and feel your best in! Whether you’re shopping for senior photos, back-to-campus outfits, or your go-to classroom staples, boutique owner and stylist Carol Rome is here to help you step into the new school year feeling confident, polished, and completely yourself.

Located on the Bricks at 113 W. 11th St., Lilly &amp; Marie is celebrating its 10th year in Downtown Hays—and with every year, Carol’s commitment to her customers only grows. “I’m so grateful for those who trust me to help them find styles that reflect who they are,” Carol says. “The pieces we wear become part of our memories, and I don’t take that lightly.”

What truly sets Lilly &amp; Marie apart is the personal attention behind every piece. Carol carefully curates each item in the boutique—she doesn’t buy in bulk, which means you won’t see your outfit on every other person in town. Instead, you’ll find thoughtfully chosen styles that blend seamlessly into your existing wardrobe. These are pieces designed to carry you through everyday moments and life’s biggest milestones—with confidence, ease, and timeless style.

If you’re the mom of a high school senior, the team at L&amp;M knows how important finding the right outfit is. It’s all about finding trendy and timeless photos that you can cherish forever, while finding pieces that photograph well.&nbsp; Carol and her team will work one-on-one with you and your daughter to create a look that feels natural, polished, but still true to your senior’s style and personality.&nbsp; Best of all, these are versatile pieces that they’ll actually want to wear again, long after the photo shoot is over.

College students will love the boutique’s blend of coastal trends and elevated basics—ideal for campus life, internships, and weekends out. And teachers can count on Lilly &amp; Marie to build a wardrobe that’s both professional and personal, with pieces that move from the classroom to your life beyond school.

Carol’s styling philosophy is simple: make it easy to look good and feel good. She believes in building a wardrobe of pieces that go the distance—items that can be worn multiple ways, layered, dressed up or down, and always fit with your lifestyle.

So whether you’re prepping for picture day or building your dream closet, stop by Lilly &amp; Marie for a one-on-one styling experience you won’t find anywhere else.

Because when your outfit makes you feel confident, you can be ready for anything this school year brings.

See more on Lilly &amp; Marie's <a href="https://lillyandmarie.square.site/">website</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/lillyandmarie">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lillyandmarie/">Instagram</a>.

Hays woman kicked out of bar allegedly pepper-sprays bouncer

Two men allegedly started a parking lot fight with three young people from Hays.

Hays Deputy Police Chief Tim Greenwood said 26-year-old Chase Hartman of Victoria and 42-year-old Jake McDiffett of Alta Vista face alleged charges of battery and aggravated endangering a child.

Greenwood said the alleged altercation occurred at 7:45 p.m. July 28 in the 3300 block of Vine Street, involving the two men and an 18-year-old man with two male juveniles ages 16 and 17.

Greenwood did not release the parking lot in which the fight allegedly occurred.

Greenwood said Hartman and McDiffett allegedly initiated the physical fight after a verbal dispute with the younger group. Officers arrived to find the parties still fighting, resulting in both men's arrests.

Victoria, Alta Vista men arrested for allegedly battering juveniles

By BECKY KISER Hays Post

Hays city commissioners  will vote on another step toward the construction of new housing in west Hays at their meeting on Thursday.

The commission will consider a resolution and an engineering services agreement to establish a benefit district for&nbsp;32 lots in the Covenant Estates First Addition.

The developer,&nbsp;Covenant&nbsp;Land &amp; Developing Inc., has petitioned the city for street, stormwater, water and&nbsp;sanitary sewer improvements through the use of a benefit district.

The engineer’s estimate for total construction costs of the improvements is $2.9 million. Seventy percent&nbsp;of the costs will be special assessed, with&nbsp;the remaining 30% being paid by the developer.&nbsp;No city capital would be expended.

A $221,000 engineering agreement with&nbsp;Sloan Engineering and Consulting, Hays, has been prepared for the infrastructure improvements in Phase 1.

Don Scheibler, police chief, will present a request from High Plains Mental Health Center for a portion of opioid settlement funds. The state distributes the opioid funds to municipalities and must be allocated for opioid and substance use disorder abatement.

City staff recommended the mental health center be granted $45,481 to purchase social detoxification treatment chairs and infusion pumps for its new&nbsp;<a href="https://hayspost.com/posts/c63c3c89-fd3c-4923-8d01-509e92168ce0">Crisis Intervention Center</a>&nbsp;under construction in Hays. The center will serve 28 western Kansas counties.&nbsp;

The complete Aug. 14 agenda is available <a href="https://haysusa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08142025-1563">here</a>.

The meeting starts at 4 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.&nbsp;

City commission to vote on next steps for new housing in west Hays

SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement are investigating a Kansas Sex Offender, with over a dozen previous convictions in Ellis County, on drug allegations after a traffic stop.

Just before 3:30p.m., August 8, a K-9 Unit with the Shawnee County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop on a black 1997 Ford F-150 pickup truck in the 3400 block of NW Frontage Road for an improper turn, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

During the investigation, the deputy found illegal narcotics.

Michael R. Anderson, 43, of Topeka, was arrested and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges that include Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic or certain stimulant Use/possess with intent to use drug paraphernalia

Anderson has been a registered sex offender since 2016 after ten convictions for sexual exploitation of a child in Ellis County, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections. He also has previous convictions for criminal threat and for drugs.

Sex offender from Ellis County jailed on new drug allegations 

&nbsp;Submit events to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:admin@hayspost.com">admin@hayspost.com</a>. Cover photo courtesy Pixabay

Special thanks to <a href="https://www.visithays.com/183/Events">The Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau</a> and<a href="https://www.fhsu.edu/"> Fort Hays State University</a> for their contributions to the community calendar.

Community Calendar

Kansas Department of Transportation

NORTON — A project to resurface a portion of Highway K-9 is underway in Norton County.

The Kansas Department of Transportation project involves milling and overlay on 12.5 miles of the highway starting at the east U.S. 283 junction and ending at the Phillips County line. 

During construction, traffic will be reduced to one lane through the areas where crews are actively working and directed by flaggers and a pilot car. Motorists should plan for delays of 15 minutes or less during daylight hours.

Project work is expected to be completed in mid-September, conditions permitting.

Venture Corporation, of Great Bend, is the primary contractor for the $1.9 million project.

For more information, please contact KDOT Area Construction Manager Dan Moore at 785-302-6205 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:daniel.moore@ks.gov">daniel.moore@ks.gov</a>.

Project to resurface portion of Highway K-9 underway in Norton County

This year’s 5th annual Hays Public Library Foundation Fundraiser will feature Kansas basketball great Jackie Stiles as guest speaker. The Wine &amp; Cheese event will be on October 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hays Public Library.

The fundraiser will begin with a wine and cheese social hour, followed by an impactful presentation from Stiles. From her hometown of Claflin, to a professional career in the WNBA, Stiles inspired millions as she rewrote the women’s basketball record books. Stiles held the NCAA women’s scoring record for 16 years and was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2016. 

Stiles continues to reach people of all ages through personal training, basketball camps, and public speaking.

The Hays Public Library Foundation was established in 2001 to serve as a source for funding emergent and unexpected needs and events associated with the library. Most recently the Foundation’s fundraising efforts covered the cost to remodel the Kansas Room, which was completed this spring.

Tickets cost $30 and can be purchased at the library or online at <a href="https://hayslibrary.org/shop/wine-and-cheese-event-ticket/">hayslibrary.org/event</a> beginning August 11. There are a limited number of tickets. Businesses interested in sponsoring the event or providing items for the silent auction or raffle are encouraged to contact Callie Kolacny at ckolacny@hayslibrary.org.

You can find out more about this and other library programs online at <a href="https://hayslibrary.org/">hayslibrary.org</a> or by calling 785-625-9014.

Kansas basketball great to speak at Hays Public Library Foundation fundraiser

Grow Hays, in association with the Network Kansas E-Community Partnership, announces the ‘Think Like an Entrepreneur’ - Ice House Entrepreneurship Program offered in Ellis County. Sessions will be held over eight weeks, Wednesdays from September 17 through November 6. The goal of the course is to teach participants to develop an entrepreneurial mindset.

Taught by Kris Munsch, a certified Ice House facilitator, this interactive 8-week program provides practical entrepreneurial lessons through first-hand experiences of successful, real-life entrepreneurs. 

Based on the book,&nbsp;Who Owns the Ice House, this curriculum consists of case studies along with individual assignments, assessments, and discussion topics. This popular course is offered only a handful of times per year across the state and Grow Hays is excited to have local resident Kris Munsch teaching the course.

The program fee runs $150 for adults and $75 for students and covers catered meals. We are offering an early bird price of $100 if signed up and paid by September 5. Registration is limited, and in-county attendees will have priority to fill the course. Out-of-county attendees are welcome to register but may be put on a waiting list. 

The deadline to register is Thursday, September 11, 2025.

To register for the&nbsp;Think Like an Entrepreneur&nbsp;program online, visit:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://briefspace.proximity.app/">https://briefspace.proximity.app/</a>

For more information contact James Robben at 785.628.3102 or&nbsp;<a href="mailto:james@growhays.com">james@growhays.com</a>.

'Think Like an Entrepreneur/Ice House' program launches in September

Join us for Game Day at the Fox Theatre in Hays!&nbsp;The Heartland Catbackers are teaming up with the Fox Theatre to host a&nbsp;K-State vs. Iowa State&nbsp;football watch party on&nbsp;Saturday, August 23!

Location: The Fox Theatre, 1200 Main, Hays Kickoff:&nbsp;11:00 a.m. Doors Open:&nbsp;10:30 a.m.

Bring your friends and family to cheer on the Wildcats in style—on the Fox’s&nbsp;massive 25-foot big screen.

This is a&nbsp;free, family-friendly event&nbsp;and&nbsp;open to the public.

Enjoy delicious BBQ from&nbsp;The Pfonz, provided courtesy of the Heartland Catbackers.

For more details, visit the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/678382011894547/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22surface%22%3A%22home%22%7D%2C%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22attachment%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22newsfeed%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D">Heartland Catbackers Facebook</a> event page or check out HeartlandCatbackers.org.

Let’s pack the Fox with purple!&nbsp; &nbsp;

Heartland Catbackers host free watch party Aug. 23 at Fox Theatre

Grow Hays welcomes the public to the Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center grand opening and ribbon cutting at&nbsp; 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 29. The Community Center is located at 2510 Canterbury Drive, Hays.

The Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center is a visionary more than 14,300 square foot facility designed to serve as a multigenerational hub for the Hays community. This state-of-the-art center is also home to Bright Minds Academy's third childcare location and the Hays Senior Center, providing essential services and fostering a sense of community for residents of all ages.&nbsp;

"We are excited to see this project come to completion," said Doug Williams, executive director of Grow Hays, Inc. "The Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center will be a cornerstone for Hays, offering valuable resources and a welcoming space for both our youngest and senior citizens."

The ceremony will feature remarks from key community leaders and project stakeholders, celebrating the collaborative effort that has brought this project to fruition.

We invite all members of the Hays community and the surrounding areas to join us for this momentous occasion. 

Attendees are encouraged to park along the new streets in The Grove development and the Hays Medical Center for Health Improvement parking lot.

Public invited to grand opening of Bob & Pat Schmidt Community Center

Beginning Tuesday, August 12, the intersection of 13th Street and Canterbury Drive will become a 4-way stop as this intersection will be getting traffic light upgrades and modifications. 

 Temporary stop signs will be utilized at this intersection. 

We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Public Works office 785-628-7350.

13th & Canterbury intersection to be temporary 4-way stop in Hays starting Tuesday

Join our new Hays Post Newsletter and receive the top news stories from your community every morning in your email inbox plus one-click access to the latest obituaries.&nbsp;

Sign up for free Hays Post Newsletter

 The Bricks in Downtown Hays invites the community to Sip, Stroll, and&nbsp;Support The Bricks at the return of&nbsp;Wines &amp; Steins, presented by Prospectively Healthy &amp; Wellness Clinic.

Tickets are on sale now for the event, which will take place on Saturday, September 6, from 6:00 to 9:30 p.m.

This 21+ ticketed event offers guests the opportunity to enjoy carefully curated wine and beer pairings at 12&nbsp;unique “stroll stops” throughout Downtown Hays. Each stop features thoughtfully paired hors d’oeuvres from&nbsp;local restaurants and caterers — all while highlighting the vibrant businesses and cultural atmosphere of The&nbsp;Bricks.

This year’s presenting sponsor, Prospectively Healthy &amp; Wellness Clinic, is also the exclusive glassware&nbsp;sponsor. All attendees will receive a commemorative tasting glass as part of their experience.

New for 2025, each guest will also receive an interactive tasting passport that includes pairing notes, vendor&nbsp;highlights, exclusive coupons, and space to rate your favorite sips and stops. 

Additional fundraising features this&nbsp;year include a gift card pull and a 50/50 raffle to support ongoing initiatives.

Tickets are $75 and available now at <a href="https://www.downtownhays.com/wines-steins">downtownhays.com/wines-steins</a>.

Only 250 tickets will be sold. With the&nbsp;cancellation of Brews on The Bricks this year, this event is expected to sell out — early ticket purchases are&nbsp;highly encouraged.

All proceeds support The Bricks in Downtown Hays, a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing the&nbsp;economic and cultural vibrancy of the downtown district through events, beautification, and community&nbsp;partnerships.

“Wines &amp; Steins is a community favorite that celebrates Downtown Hays,” said Lee Ann June, executive&nbsp;director of The Bricks. “It brings people together in a meaningful and delicious way. We’re thrilled to partner&nbsp;with Prospectively Healthy &amp; Wellness Clinic this year and can’t wait to welcome both new and returning&nbsp;guests to sip, stroll, and support The Bricks.”

For sponsorship information, contact the director at TheBricks@downtownhays.com or call 785-621-4171.

Tickets on sale now for Wines & Steins: A night of pairings and purpose in Downtown Hays

Beginning Monday evening, Aug. 11, the Vine Street roundabouts in Hays will be getting new pavement markings installed. 

This work will be done during the evening hours as to limit daytime traffic interruptions. 

Please use caution in these areas as traffic control devices will be used. We apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. If you have any questions or concerns please contact Public Works office 785-628-7350.

Hays roundabouts to get new pavement markings Monday night 

SEDGWICK COUNTY—A Kansas man accused in a fatal motel shooting will return to court Thursday.

Craig Steele, 34, will appear before Judge Roger Woods for a preliminary hearing, according to the Sedgwick County District Attorney's office.

In April, police asked the public for help to locate Steele in connection with death of Eric Lopez-Morales, which occurred on April 17, in the 1600 block of S. Broadway in Wichita.&nbsp; A few hours later, police reported they had Steele in custody for questioning regarding this case.&nbsp;

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