KNHAP press release
The grassroots Kansas Nebraska Heritage Area Partnership (KNHAP), a diverse, bi-state partnership of cultural, historical, economic development and tourism organizations and individuals, has formed in hopes of establishing a National Heritage Area within 49 counties between North Central Kansas and South Central Nebraska.
The mission of the Kansas Nebraska Heritage Area Partnership is to connect communities and attractions, instill pride of place, and promote immersive experiences for residents and visitors to enhance appreciation for the region’s unique landscape and nationally significant cultural history.
Heritage tourism is considered one of the fastest-growing segments in the tourism industry and equates to a $171 billion annual spend. The National Trust defines heritage tourism as “travel to experience the places, artifacts, and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present. It includes cultural, historic and natural resources” (National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2008).
Scores turn out for Kiwanis Easter egg hunt
Hays Daily News
Approaching the grassy quad of the Fort Hays State University campus on foot Saturday morning, 5-year-old Cooper Randa observed with awe, “There’s hundreds of eggs.”
Holding hands with his grandma Sherry Dreher for the 47th annual Kiwanis Easter Egg Hunt, Cooper explained it wasn’t his first Easter egg hunt.
“I did it once before at Walmart,” he said, his grandma looking suprised. “There were lots of eggs. I found one on the roof.”
Dreher laughed. “He’s got imagination.”
Randa and Dreher were among hundreds gathered Saturday for the annual hunt, which was canceled last year by the pandemic.
City may allow side-by-sides for city streets
Hays Daily News
Side-by-side alternative vehicles may show up before long on the city streets of Hays, if enthusiasts of the small, nimble non-automobiles get their wish.
Used primarily for sport or agriculture, the smaller than standard, four-wheel vehicles are popular with farmers and with those who like to play on sand dunes and off-road.
At Thursday’s regular work session of the city commission, a group of residents asked the commissioners to approve an ordinance allowing them on the streets of Hays.
The vehicles, some of which can go upwards of 65 miles an hour, already are legal on the highways of Kansas, as well as in the towns of Ellis, Victoria, Ness City, Garden City, Dodge City and other cities in western Kansas.
Moran, bi-partisan group to craft infrastructure plan
Hays Daily News
Kansas Republican Sen. Jerry Moran said Tuesday that he supports major investments in America’s infrastructure, and is part of a bi-partisan group hoping to craft an affordable plan.
Moran made the remarks in Hays on Tuesday, prior to President Joe Biden’s announcement on Wednesday of a $2 trillion American Jobs Plan.
“I’m certainly supportive of additional investment in infrastructure, have been for a long time,” Moran said during a stop at the Hays Regional Airport. “The challenges always come in how it’s paid for. That has yet to be determined.”
Lawmakers call for Labor Dept. fix
Hays Daily News
When Kansas gets its share of Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package, one Ellis County legislator hopes some money will help the state’s hard-hit unemployment fund.
Sen. Rick Billinger, R-40th Senate District, said that before the pandemic, Kansas had close to $1 billion in the fund.
But more than $600 million in fraudulent claims, plus huge numbers of Kansans with legitimate claims, have taken a toll, he said Saturday during a virtual legislative coffee.
“That’s not state money, that’s employers’ money. That’s their fund,” Billinger said. “I’m hopeful that we will be able to help some there.”
Feedlot Road repair sparked by bridge closing
Hays Daily News
A portion of Feedlot Road will get a facelift to fix the chronic flooding that often makes the two-lane chalk road impassable two miles east of Ellis.
The fix-up is called for after a handful of rural residents on Monday protested a vote by the Ellis County Commission to close a bridge on 140th Avenue, which is their only alternative route to Feedlot.
The commissioners voted to close the bridge March 1. Locals showed up at Monday’s regular commission meeting to say that they are forced to travel 140th after even light rains to avoid flooded, muddy Feedlot Road.
Co. Appraiser: Ellis County 2021 property valuations to jump
Hays Daily News
Most Ellis County property owners will see a jump in the county’s 2021 valuation of their real estate, whether commercial, residential or agriculture.
That may or may not translate to residents paying higher property taxes, something that won’t be known until later this year, said Ellis County Appraiser Lisa Ree.
“That’s hard to say, we won’t know until all the taxing entities put in their budgets, and the clerk calculates the mill levy,” Ree said. “Typically the clerk starts working on the mill levy in October.”
City looks at almost $1M in street work for 2021 hdnews.net - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from hdnews.net Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Hays Daily News
After pausing for winter, construction to finish up the $13.2 million reconstruction of north Vine Street will start in earnest on March 15.
The three remaining roundabouts will take until November to complete, according to city of Hays project manager John Braun.
The work by Smoky Hill Construction of Salina means traffic on various spots of north Vine Street-U.S. Highway 183 will once again be down to one lane in each direction, Braun indicated at a Tuesday morning press conference in City Hall, 1507 Main. That goes for both north and south of the Interstate 70 overpass, for the next eight months, he said.
Ellis County sees sharp drop in COVID-19 disease
Hays Daily News
Ellis County continues to record a steep drop in COVID-19 cases, as the residents also log one year of living under a pandemic.
Cases have declined precipitously since Nov. 23, 2020 according to the county’s health services director Jason Kennedy.
“Actually the last five days we’ve had seven-day average cases of less than five, which is good,” said Kennedy during an update to the Ellis County Commission at its regular Monday meeting in the Ellis County Administrative Center, 718 Main.
Demonstrating with graphs the course of the disease in Ellis County in recent months, Kennedy pointed out the relationship between testing and cases, as it’s unfolded locally.