Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters (KSBBBS) serving Ellis, Russell, Trego, Rush, and Rooks Counties is proud to celebrate BBBS Month this September by shining a light on its urgent need for volunteer mentors (Bigs) with the goal of matching 30 youth by the end of the year who are currently waiting for a Big.
On Sept. 9, 2024, following two separate Public Hearings and discussions, the USD489 Board of Education (BOE) approved both a Resolution to Exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate (RNR) and the district’s published proposed $21,860, 557 2024-2025 Budget with a mill levy tax rate of 52.723.
The USD489 Board of Education (BOE) on Sept. 9, 2024, approved 6-1 the closing of Lincoln Elementary School as a school facility on May 23, 2025. No residents of the community commented during the Public Hearing on the matter held prior to the vote.
USD489 Board of Education (BOE) Member Ruth Ruder stated that she had requested Security Resource Officer (SRO) Austin Spencer be placed on the Sept. 9, 2024 BOE Meeting Agenda to provide an update on the benefits of a having an SRO and in order to learn what SRO Spencer deals with in his position.
Ellis High School has announced their 2024 Homecoming Royalty including (Back row, L to R) Chance Jimenez, son of Javi and Jessica Jimenez; Kamden Keller, son of Todd and Amy Keller; Toby Honas, son of Randy and Wendy Honas; (Front Row L to R): Brooke Starns, daughter of Eric and Libby Starns; Isabella Eck, daughter of Mark and Sarah Eck; Natalee North, daughter of Travis and Ava North.
The Hays City Commission is expected at their next meeting to adopt by ordinance the 2024 revised versions of the Uniform Public Offense Code for Kansas Cities (UPOC) and the Traffic Ordinance for Kansas Cities (STO) for use within the City of Hays. The measures were unanimously moved forward for formal vote on Sept. 12, 2024 following Police Chief Don Scheibler’s presentation of this year’s revisions during the Commission’s Sept. 5, 2024 Work Session.
From 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 15, the Hays Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) is hosting a free Kite Show for the community at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex. Back by popular demand, this is the third year the CVB, with Great American Kites & Events, has hosted the Hays Prairie Winds Kite Show.
According to U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency’s website (fema.gov) FEMA announced in July 2024 the award of 93 Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Direct Technical Assistance (BRIC DTA) grants.
The inaugural Kansas Landowner Conference took place in 2023, helping landowners removed from agriculture learn more about managing their properties and developing relationships with tenants.