Leonard Rempel Goossen began his sojourn of life at Morris, Manitoba. He was born on March 6, 1948, following the birth of his twin brother. His parents were Ben and Clara Rempel Goossen. His final breath and peaceful departure, surrounded by family, was at Western Prairie Senior Living on June 3, 2024. His passing was a result of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. He was seventy-six.

Leonard’s school and teenage years were marked with happiness. He received his eight years of formal education at Clover Plains School, having the same teacher for all eight years. A sharp memory served him well in recounting his adventurous childhood.

Upon hearing the call of the Lord, Leonard surrendered his will and by faith accepted Christ as his Savior. Peace with God was always his most guarded possession. He was baptized by his Uncle Walter Goossen on February 15, 1960, into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite.

He found life’s companion in Bertha Toews. On October 18, 1970, they were united in marriage by Minister Cecil Unruh at Copeland, Ks. Their special day was shared with Leonard’s twin brother and Bertha’s sister. In June of 1974, as a young married couple dad and mom left Rosenort, Manitoba and moved to Ulysses, KS. Six children were born to this union. Our parents’ home was orderly and well structured. Dad had a keen perception of the needs of his children and grandchildren. The tender feelings he had for us was a reflection of his mellow heart. The most tragic event of our parent’s lives was the death of our sister, Marita in 1996. Their married life spanned fifty-three years.

Our father’s enthusiasm for watchmaking began as a teenager. He completed a course of study in watchmaking when he was nineteen, enabling him to make clock and watch repair the highlight of his career. Also sowing wheat in the fall of the year and the subsequent harvest reflected his love of nature.

Minister L. John Becker ordained our father into the deaconry in 1989. His deaconry path was as varied as it was fulfilling. Serving in the community, in the home congregation, or on conference boards showcased his kindness and hospitality. He shared with many life’s tools of logic. He was equally quick with a witty remark or lend an ear and give thoughtful advice. His love for people was foundational and the cornerstone for his years of unselfish service.

“The greatest gift we ever had came from God; we call him Dad.” His physical body is no longer ticking, but always a chime will ring in our hearts.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Bertha of their home; sons, Timothy and wife, Lucinda Goossen of Ronan, Montana, Warren and wife, Melanie Goossen, Lonnie and wife, Rebekah Goossen; daughters, Janell and husband, Verle Koehn, Loretta and husband, Todd Nichols, all of Ulysses; twin brother, Lloyd Goossen of Greensburg; brothers, Alvin Goossen and LeRoy Goossen; and sister, Ileen Peters all of Rosenort, Manitoba, Canada; 22 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Leonard is preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Clara Goossen; daughter, Marita Beth Goossen; and brother, Paul Goossen.

Funeral Service will be, Friday, June 7, 2024, at 10:30 AM at the Grant Mennonite Church in Ulysses, Kansas, with Minister Denton Koehn, Minister Stuart Jantzen and Minister Robert Goossen officiating. Interment will follow at the Grant Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, June 6, 2024, from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Ulysses. Memorial contributions may be given to Western Plains Christian School in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.

Leonard Rempel Goossen began his sojourn of life at Morris, Manitoba. He was born on March 6, 1948, following the birth of his twin brother. His parents were Ben and Clara Rempel Goossen. His final breath and peaceful departure, surrounded by family, was at Western Prairie Senior Living on June 3, 2024. His passing was a result of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. He was seventy-six.Leonard’s school and teenage years were marked with happiness. He received his eight years of formal education at Clover Plains School, having the same teacher for all eight years. A sharp memory served him well in recounting his adventurous childhood.Upon hearing the call of the Lord, Leonard surrendered his will and by faith accepted Christ as his Savior. Peace with God was always his most guarded possession. He was baptized by his Uncle Walter Goossen on February 15, 1960, into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite.He found life’s companion in Bertha Toews. On October 18, 1970, they were united in marriage by Minister Cecil Unruh at Copeland, Ks. Their special day was shared with Leonard’s twin brother and Bertha’s sister. In June of 1974, as a young married couple dad and mom left Rosenort, Manitoba and moved to Ulysses, KS. Six children were born to this union. Our parents’ home was orderly and well structured. Dad had a keen perception of the needs of his children and grandchildren. The tender feelings he had for us was a reflection of his mellow heart. The most tragic event of our parent’s lives was the death of our sister, Marita in 1996. Their married life spanned fifty-three years.Our father’s enthusiasm for watchmaking began as a teenager. He completed a course of study in watchmaking when he was nineteen, enabling him to make clock and watch repair the highlight of his career. Also sowing wheat in the fall of the year and the subsequent harvest reflected his love of nature.Minister L. John Becker ordained our father into the deaconry in 1989. His deaconry path was as varied as it was fulfilling. Serving in the community, in the home congregation, or on conference boards showcased his kindness and hospitality. He shared with many life’s tools of logic. He was equally quick with a witty remark or lend an ear and give thoughtful advice. His love for people was foundational and the cornerstone for his years of unselfish service.“The greatest gift we ever had came from God; we call him Dad.” His physical body is no longer ticking, but always a chime will ring in our hearts.Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Bertha of their home; sons, Timothy and wife, Lucinda Goossen of Ronan, Montana, Warren and wife, Melanie Goossen, Lonnie and wife, Rebekah Goossen; daughters, Janell and husband, Verle Koehn, Loretta and husband, Todd Nichols, all of Ulysses; twin brother, Lloyd Goossen of Greensburg; brothers, Alvin Goossen and LeRoy Goossen; and sister, Ileen Peters all of Rosenort, Manitoba, Canada; 22 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.Leonard is preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Clara Goossen; daughter, Marita Beth Goossen; and brother, Paul Goossen.Funeral Service will be, Friday, June 7, 2024, at 10:30 AM at the Grant Mennonite Church in Ulysses, Kansas, with Minister Denton Koehn, Minister Stuart Jantzen and Minister Robert Goossen officiating. Interment will follow at the Grant Mennonite Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, June 6, 2024, from 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM at Garnand Funeral Home in Ulysses. Memorial contributions may be given to Western Plains Christian School in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave, Ulysses, KS 67880. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.

Leonard Rempel Goossen

KANSAS CITY —The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday set a Sept. 24 execution date for Marcellus Williams, even as the inmate awaits a court hearing on his claim that he was not involved in the murder that landed him on death row.

The state Supreme Court set the date hours after it ruled that Republican Gov. Mike Parson was within his rights last year when he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-penalty-murder-newspaper-dna-governor-innocence-5b068258172e1cd938498e9e8361f01b">dissolved a board of inquiry</a>&nbsp;convened six years earlier by Parson's predecessor to investigate Williams' innocence claim.

Williams, 55, was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1998 death of Lisha Gayle during a robbery of her suburban St. Louis home. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2fea0cfd4d73446c8475ccae31b1ea67">hours away from execution in August 2017</a>&nbsp;when then-Gov. Eric Greitens, also a Republican, halted the process and ordered an investigation. Greitens cited DNA testing unavailable at the time of the killing showing that DNA on the knife used to stab Gayle matched someone else, not Williams.

Separately, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-death-row-inmate-dna-evidence-0a179b0aafb1a0c0a3e144f7e3592a62">filed a motion in January</a>&nbsp;to vacate the murder conviction. Bell cited the new DNA evidence and said he believed Williams was not involved in Gayle’s death.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-kansas-city-kansas-missouri-f73d1486d17a1884ff95ce84af75b00f">A 2021 Missouri law</a>&nbsp;allows prosecuting attorneys to file a motion to vacate a conviction if they believe the inmate could be innocent or was otherwise erroneously convicted. The filing prompts a hearing before a judge.

But a hearing date on Bell's motion has not been set. A spokesman for Bell said Bell's office is still “digesting the Missouri Supreme Court’s actions of today.”

Parson dissolved the inquiry board in June 2023 after it failed to reach any conclusion, saying it was time to “move forward” on the case. It wasn't clear why the board comprised of five retired judges never reached a conclusion.

The day after Parson dissolved the board, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey asked the state Supreme Court to set an execution date.

The Midwest Innocence Project filed a lawsuit on behalf of Williams in August, contending that Greitens’ order required the inquiry board to provide a report and recommendation — but Parson received neither.

The state Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling on Tuesday stated that the “Missouri Constitution vests the governor with exclusive constitutional authority to grant or deny clemency and Williams has no statutory or due process right to the board of inquiry process.”

Parson's spokesman, Johnathan Shiflett, said the governor's authority “was clear, as affirmed by the Supreme Court of Missouri today.”

Tricia Rojo Bushnell, an attorney for the Midwest Innocence Project, said in a statement that the fight will continue to prove Williams' innocence.

“We look forward to presenting the evidence of his innocence in court alongside St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, who has filed a motion to vacate Mr. Williams’ conviction. This injustice can still be righted,” Bushnell said.

Prosecutors at the time of the crime said Williams broke a window pane to get inside Gayle’s home on Aug. 11, 1998, heard water running in the shower, and found a large butcher knife. When Gayle came downstairs, she was stabbed 43 times. Her purse and her husband’s laptop were stolen. Gayle was a social worker who previously worked as a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Authorities said Williams stole a jacket to conceal blood on his shirt. Williams’ girlfriend asked him why he would wear a jacket on such a hot day. The girlfriend said she later saw the laptop in the car and that Williams sold it a day or two later.

Prosecutors also cited testimony from Henry Cole, who shared a St. Louis cell with Williams in 1999 while Williams was jailed on unrelated charges. Cole told prosecutors Williams confessed to the killing and offered details about it.

Williams’ attorneys responded that the girlfriend and Cole were both convicted felons out for a $10,000 reward.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/6/1688086205294.png" alt="Williams photo MODOC" />
 <figcaption>Williams photo MODOC</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday set a Sept. 24 execution date for Marcellus Williams, even as the inmate awaits a court hearing on his claim that he was not involved in the murder that landed him on death row.The state Supreme Court set the date hours after it ruled that Republican Gov. Mike Parson was within his rights last year when he&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/death-penalty-murder-newspaper-dna-governor-innocence-5b068258172e1cd938498e9e8361f01b">dissolved a board of inquiry</a>&nbsp;convened six years earlier by Parson's predecessor to investigate Williams' innocence claim.Williams, 55, was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1998 death of Lisha Gayle during a robbery of her suburban St. Louis home. He was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/2fea0cfd4d73446c8475ccae31b1ea67">hours away from execution in August 2017</a>&nbsp;when then-Gov. Eric Greitens, also a Republican, halted the process and ordered an investigation. Greitens cited DNA testing unavailable at the time of the killing showing that DNA on the knife used to stab Gayle matched someone else, not Williams.Separately, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/missouri-death-row-inmate-dna-evidence-0a179b0aafb1a0c0a3e144f7e3592a62">filed a motion in January</a>&nbsp;to vacate the murder conviction. Bell cited the new DNA evidence and said he believed Williams was not involved in Gayle’s death.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/crime-kansas-city-kansas-missouri-f73d1486d17a1884ff95ce84af75b00f">A 2021 Missouri law</a>&nbsp;allows prosecuting attorneys to file a motion to vacate a conviction if they believe the inmate could be innocent or was otherwise erroneously convicted. The filing prompts a hearing before a judge.But a hearing date on Bell's motion has not been set. A spokesman for Bell said Bell's office is still “digesting the Missouri Supreme Court’s actions of today.”Parson dissolved the inquiry board in June 2023 after it failed to reach any conclusion, saying it was time to “move forward” on the case. It wasn't clear why the board comprised of five retired judges never reached a conclusion.The day after Parson dissolved the board, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey asked the state Supreme Court to set an execution date.The Midwest Innocence Project filed a lawsuit on behalf of Williams in August, contending that Greitens’ order required the inquiry board to provide a report and recommendation — but Parson received neither.The state Supreme Court’s unanimous ruling on Tuesday stated that the “Missouri Constitution vests the governor with exclusive constitutional authority to grant or deny clemency and Williams has no statutory or due process right to the board of inquiry process.”Parson's spokesman, Johnathan Shiflett, said the governor's authority “was clear, as affirmed by the Supreme Court of Missouri today.”Tricia Rojo Bushnell, an attorney for the Midwest Innocence Project, said in a statement that the fight will continue to prove Williams' innocence.“We look forward to presenting the evidence of his innocence in court alongside St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell, who has filed a motion to vacate Mr. Williams’ conviction. This injustice can still be righted,” Bushnell said.Prosecutors at the time of the crime said Williams broke a window pane to get inside Gayle’s home on Aug. 11, 1998, heard water running in the shower, and found a large butcher knife. When Gayle came downstairs, she was stabbed 43 times. Her purse and her husband’s laptop were stolen. Gayle was a social worker who previously worked as a reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.Authorities said Williams stole a jacket to conceal blood on his shirt. Williams’ girlfriend asked him why he would wear a jacket on such a hot day. The girlfriend said she later saw the laptop in the car and that Williams sold it a day or two later.Prosecutors also cited testimony from Henry Cole, who shared a St. Louis cell with Williams in 1999 while Williams was jailed on unrelated charges. Cole told prosecutors Williams confessed to the killing and offered details about it.Williams’ attorneys responded that the girlfriend and Cole were both convicted felons out for a $10,000 reward.

Execution date set for man convicted of killing newspaper reporter

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays Post

Hays received .46 inches of rain Tuesday, according to the K-State Ag Research Center.

That brings Hays to 1.21 inches of rain for the month and 7.16 inches of precipitation for the year.

Hays averages 3.38 inches of rain for June and 11.31 inches of rain by the end of June.

The Kansas Drought Monitor map will be released Thursday. It will include rain through Tuesday.

The forecast for Hays for today and Thursday is sunny, with a high of 93 degrees today and 86 degrees tomorrow.

Chances for rain return Friday afternoon and persist through the weekend, with the highest chances for evening storms.

By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostHays received .46 inches of rain Tuesday, according to the K-State Ag Research Center.That brings Hays to 1.21 inches of rain for the month and 7.16 inches of precipitation for the year.Hays averages 3.38 inches of rain for June and 11.31 inches of rain by the end of June.The Kansas Drought Monitor map will be released Thursday. It will include rain through Tuesday.The forecast for Hays for today and Thursday is sunny, with a high of 93 degrees today and 86 degrees tomorrow.Chances for rain return Friday afternoon and persist through the weekend, with the highest chances for evening storms.

Hays rain report for Tuesday; more chances for storms over weekend

The TMP-Marian Monarchs softball team had four players named
to the 2-1A all-state softball coaches team on Tuesday. Ellis had two
selections and there was one selection from Hays High.

TMP’s Brooke Koenigsman was a first-team selection, as an
infielder, for the second straight season. She posted a .640 batting average
with 21 extra base hits, including five homeruns, 64 RBI’s and 39 runs scored.
Koenigsman set five career or single season records this past season.

Koenigsman set the career record at TMP with 17 triples. She
set the single season record for hits (64) and singles (43) in a season. She
also tied her single season records for triples (7) and fewest strikeouts (1)
in a season. 

Halle Dreiling earned a second-team selection for the
Monarchs. Dreiling finished with a .430 average with a team-high 13 doubles and
37 RBI’s, 39 runs scored and 17 extra base hits.

Bria Windholz was also named to the second-team as a utility
player. She finished the season with a .402 batting average with 24 RBI’s and
24 runs scored. She also posted an 11-4 record as a pitcher with a 2.18 ERA. In
83 1/3 innings pitched she struck out 78 batters and allowed just 26 earned
runs.

TMP’s Brynn Rebel was an honorable mention selection as a
pitcher. She finished with a 10-4 record with a 4.04 ERA. She finished with 115
strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings.

Ellis had a pair of 2-1A all-state selections as well. 

Taylor Seibel was a first-team selection as an outfielder
after hitting .468 this past season with 13 doubles. 

Kaydawn Haag was a second-team selection as an infielder.
Haag hit .557 this past season with 34 total hits, 17 extra base hits, 39 runs
scored and 33 RBI’s. 

In class 5A Hays High’s Riley Dreher was named to the
honorable mention team.

Dreher post a .452 average with 38 hits, 20 extra base hits,
33 RBI’s and 27 runs scored this past season.

Hays PostThe TMP-Marian Monarchs softball team had four players named
to the 2-1A all-state softball coaches team on Tuesday. Ellis had two
selections and there was one selection from Hays High.TMP’s Brooke Koenigsman was a first-team selection, as an
infielder, for the second straight season. She posted a .640 batting average
with 21 extra base hits, including five homeruns, 64 RBI’s and 39 runs scored.
Koenigsman set five career or single season records this past season.Koenigsman set the career record at TMP with 17 triples. She
set the single season record for hits (64) and singles (43) in a season. She
also tied her single season records for triples (7) and fewest strikeouts (1)
in a season. Halle Dreiling earned a second-team selection for the
Monarchs. Dreiling finished with a .430 average with a team-high 13 doubles and
37 RBI’s, 39 runs scored and 17 extra base hits.Bria Windholz was also named to the second-team as a utility
player. She finished the season with a .402 batting average with 24 RBI’s and
24 runs scored. She also posted an 11-4 record as a pitcher with a 2.18 ERA. In
83 1/3 innings pitched she struck out 78 batters and allowed just 26 earned
runs.TMP’s Brynn Rebel was an honorable mention selection as a
pitcher. She finished with a 10-4 record with a 4.04 ERA. She finished with 115
strikeouts in 88 1/3 innings.Ellis had a pair of 2-1A all-state selections as well. Taylor Seibel was a first-team selection as an outfielder
after hitting .468 this past season with 13 doubles. Kaydawn Haag was a second-team selection as an infielder.
Haag hit .557 this past season with 34 total hits, 17 extra base hits, 39 runs
scored and 33 RBI’s. In class 5A Hays High’s Riley Dreher was named to the
honorable mention team.Dreher post a .452 average with 38 hits, 20 extra base hits,
33 RBI’s and 27 runs scored this past season.

🥎Kansas coaches select all-state teams

Grow Hays has contracted to purchase 9.1 acres of land north of Home Depot in Hays. They hope to construct a new shopping center on the land.

The land is north of Interstate 70 on East 41st Street.

Williams said Grow Hays looked at three properties north of Interstate 70 near Vine, but the owner of this property was the only one who was interested in selling.

"We have too many real estate speculators in our community and not enough real estate developers who are really sincere about doing something," Doug Williams, executive director of Grow Hays, said. "They just want to ride out the highest prices. It's their land. It's their life, but it's not necessarily positive for the community."

Williams told an audience gathered for Grow Hays' quarterly luncheon on Tuesday another developer had been in talks to bring a new shopping center to Hays.

The developer had multiple big-box retailers interested in Hays.

However, the finances did not work out for a private developer to build a new space in Hays at this time.

The average rent for new space in a community such as Hays is $16 per square foot. Construction costs would be $190 per square foot and the land would cost $15 per square foot.

The investment in a 70,000-square-foot retail space would be $15.3 million.&nbsp;

Based on the rent a developer could hope to collect, the developer would lose about $471,000 per year or more than $7 million over a 15-year leasing period.

Kanas has appropriated $4.447 million to Hays for retail development. This money can be used for land acquisition, building construction, covering rent shortfalls, or infrastructure improvements to foster retail development.

Grow Hays hopes to use all or part of the state funds for the new shopping center. A portion of the $15 million would have to be borrowed from a lender. 

Another portion could be funded through a Community Improvement District. This would impose an additional sales tax on shopping center purchases, but the funds could be used to reimburse infrastructure costs.

"To do development today like this or even residential development, you've got to have multiple streams of revenue you can use to try to cover the cost because it's so expensive," Williams said.&nbsp;

Williams estimated the new shopping center would generate $20 million in annual sales, which would generate $600,000 combined annually in additional sales tax for the city of Hays, Ellis County and the Hays USD 489 bond issue.

The city of Hays has a 9.25 percent sales tax. However, a portion of that sales tax goes toward property tax reduction. This results in the lowest city mill levy and the lowest total mill levy compared to peer cities in the state.

Wiliams said he hopes Grow Hays can finalize the sale of the property by the end of July. The project would take about 18 months to complete.

He said the shopping center could accommodate five to six new retailers and the sizes of the spaces would likely vary.

He said he envisioned the building and parking mirroring the footprint on the Home Depot lot. However, Home Depot has line-of-sight restrictions and the shopping center designers must address that issue.

Although Grow Hays will likely be the shopping center's owner initially, Williams said he thought the property would eventually be sold to a private owner.

Williams said Grow Hays continues to work with Big Creek Crossing to try to keep its space full. The mall's owners are struggling with retailers who want outside entrances.

"We do think a rising tide raises all ships, so the more retail we have, the more people will come," he said. "I think there will be residual benefit throughout the retail sector."

Williams said retailers across the region continue to face other common challenges, including competition with e-commerce, construction costs, interest rates and declining population.

Williams said Big Creek Crossing still has opportunities to lure new businesses who want to pay less per square foot than the going rate for new construction.

Williams said residents often point to growth in Garden City and question why Hays has not seen similar growth.

Within a 60-mile radius of Hays, there are about 87,000 people. Within a 60-mile radius of Garden City, there are 123,000 people.

The Garden City area has also seen a slower population decline, 2.9%, in its market area. Although Hays' population did not decrease according to the last census. The surrounding population shrank by almost 6% in a 10-year period.

Williams said Grow Hays has also been working with developers on the area to the north of 24/7 on Vine. He said he sees the Rodeway Inn as another location in need of urban renewal.

"I think these retailers are ready to make moves, and we need to strike while the iron is hot," he said.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717532003060.jpeg" alt="Proposed location of a new shopping center in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Proposed location of a new shopping center in Hays. Photo by Cristina Janney/Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By CRISTINA JANNEY Hays PostGrow Hays has contracted to purchase 9.1 acres of land north of Home Depot in Hays. They hope to construct a new shopping center on the land.The land is north of Interstate 70 on East 41st Street.Williams said Grow Hays looked at three properties north of Interstate 70 near Vine, but the owner of this property was the only one who was interested in selling."We have too many real estate speculators in our community and not enough real estate developers who are really sincere about doing something," Doug Williams, executive director of Grow Hays, said. "They just want to ride out the highest prices. It's their land. It's their life, but it's not necessarily positive for the community."Williams told an audience gathered for Grow Hays' quarterly luncheon on Tuesday another developer had been in talks to bring a new shopping center to Hays.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717529415201.jpeg" alt="Proposed location of the new shopping center north of the Home Depot in Hays. Courtesy image." />
 <figcaption>Proposed location of the new shopping center north of the Home Depot in Hays. Courtesy image.</figcaption>
 </figure>The developer had multiple big-box retailers interested in Hays.However, the finances did not work out for a private developer to build a new space in Hays at this time.The average rent for new space in a community such as Hays is $16 per square foot. Construction costs would be $190 per square foot and the land would cost $15 per square foot.The investment in a 70,000-square-foot retail space would be $15.3 million.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717529313304.jpeg" alt="Projected shopping center cost. Source: Grow Hays" />
 <figcaption>Projected shopping center cost. Source: Grow Hays</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717529352884.jpeg" alt="Projected loss for shopping center for a private investor.&nbsp;Source: Grow Hays" />
 <figcaption>Projected loss for shopping center for a private investor.&nbsp;Source: Grow Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>Based on the rent a developer could hope to collect, the developer would lose about $471,000 per year or more than $7 million over a 15-year leasing period.Kanas has appropriated $4.447 million to Hays for retail development. This money can be used for land acquisition, building construction, covering rent shortfalls, or infrastructure improvements to foster retail development.Grow Hays hopes to use all or part of the state funds for the new shopping center. A portion of the $15 million would have to be borrowed from a lender. Another portion could be funded through a Community Improvement District. This would impose an additional sales tax on shopping center purchases, but the funds could be used to reimburse infrastructure costs."To do development today like this or even residential development, you've got to have multiple streams of revenue you can use to try to cover the cost because it's so expensive," Williams said.&nbsp;Williams estimated the new shopping center would generate $20 million in annual sales, which would generate $600,000 combined annually in additional sales tax for the city of Hays, Ellis County and the Hays USD 489 bond issue.The city of Hays has a 9.25 percent sales tax. However, a portion of that sales tax goes toward property tax reduction. This results in the lowest city mill levy and the lowest total mill levy compared to peer cities in the state.See chart below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717529495235.jpeg" alt="Hays and peer cities' mill levies and sales taxes. Source: Grow Hays" />
 <figcaption>Hays and peer cities' mill levies and sales taxes. Source: Grow Hays</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717529626251.jpeg" alt="Sales tax for city of Hays. Source: Grow Hays" />
 <figcaption>Sales tax for city of Hays. Source: Grow Hays</figcaption>
 </figure>Wiliams said he hopes Grow Hays can finalize the sale of the property by the end of July. The project would take about 18 months to complete.He said the shopping center could accommodate five to six new retailers and the sizes of the spaces would likely vary.He said he envisioned the building and parking mirroring the footprint on the Home Depot lot. However, Home Depot has line-of-sight restrictions and the shopping center designers must address that issue.Although Grow Hays will likely be the shopping center's owner initially, Williams said he thought the property would eventually be sold to a private owner.Williams said Grow Hays continues to work with Big Creek Crossing to try to keep its space full. The mall's owners are struggling with retailers who want outside entrances."We do think a rising tide raises all ships, so the more retail we have, the more people will come," he said. "I think there will be residual benefit throughout the retail sector."Williams said retailers across the region continue to face other common challenges, including competition with e-commerce, construction costs, interest rates and declining population.Williams said Big Creek Crossing still has opportunities to lure new businesses who want to pay less per square foot than the going rate for new construction.Williams said residents often point to growth in Garden City and question why Hays has not seen similar growth.Within a 60-mile radius of Hays, there are about 87,000 people. Within a 60-mile radius of Garden City, there are 123,000 people.The Garden City area has also seen a slower population decline, 2.9%, in its market area. Although Hays' population did not decrease according to the last census. The surrounding population shrank by almost 6% in a 10-year period.Williams said Grow Hays has also been working with developers on the area to the north of 24/7 on Vine. He said he sees the Rodeway Inn as another location in need of urban renewal."I think these retailers are ready to make moves, and we need to strike while the iron is hot," he said.

Grow Hays announces new shopping center project north of I-70

By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays Post

Classic cars, trucks, motorcycles and antique tractors will
once again rumble the street of downtown Hays when the annual Thunder
on the Plains Car, Truck and Cycle Show returns to Municipal Park on June 7 and 8.

Last year, the annual event returned to its roots, returning
to downtown Hays and Municipal Park. This year’s ninth-annual event is debuting on a new date after dealing with several conflicting events in the fall.

“September is such a busy time in the city where there are so
many activities going on that we just had a hard time finding a permanent
location,” Jackie Lang, Thunder on the Plains secretary and treasurer, said.
“But going forward, it will always be the second Saturday, the second weekend
of June.”

The event, which brought in 250 cars last year, kicks off
Friday, June 7, with the cruise-in, and the car show is Saturday, June 8.

Everyone wanting to participate in the cruise-in can meet at
Big Creek Crossing before 6 p.m.&nbsp; 

"We'll leave the mall by 6 p.m., and we do have a police
escort from the mall to Municipal Park," Lang said. "If people want to come down
to Main Street, they can watch all the cars drive by and then come down to the
park. We'll have music down there and the barbecue."

The Lions Club will also sell beer throughout the Friday night and Saturday event.

Registration for Saturday’s show runs from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Municipal Park.

Lang said they have had good feedback from participants and
the community about the event being at Municipal Park and earlier on the calendar.

"We've had positive responses, people saying that they think
that the date changes is good," Lang said. "It's early in the year, so people
are anxious to get their cars out."

They are once again encouraging local vehicle owners to get
out their vehicles and bring them to the show, no matter what the condition.

"Hopefully, people will dust off their vehicles and get them
out of the garage," Committee Member Shelby Doty said. "Some may feel that
their vehicles aren't good enough to bring to a car show, but there are all years, makes, models (and) conditions. So, we welcome anything."

"If somebody wants to bring out their car that they feel
like isn't showroom ready yet, but they're working on it, we like that class,"
Lang said. "We're making a push to get those cars out there."

They will give away more than 50 awards Saturday afternoon
including for the Best Paint, Interior and Motor. Cash prizes will be given to
the Best of Show, Car, Truck, Motorcycle and Tractor.

The award ceremony is scheduled to start at 2
p.m. on Saturday.

The registration fee is $30. Anyone who registers by May
25 will get a 2024 T-shirt.

As big as the car show is, one of the group's accomplishments is the funds raised to be given to those in need
locally.

Thunder on the Plains has raised
more than $100,000 through its annual
action over the last seven years. 

Each year they host a live auction. That will start at 12:30
p.m. Saturday this year.

Items included this year are a recliner, pub table, a tool
set and a lot of gift certificates.

One of the big items this year is a 1955 Chevy couch made
from the tail end of a 1955 Chevy.

Mark Lang, Jackie’s husband, passed away unexpectedly in
December. Mark started working on the couch. After he passed away, a group came together to ensure the couch was finished for this year’s
auction.

They are also selling raffle tickets for a 48-inch propane grill donated by Olham Sales in Mark’s memory. The tickets are $50 and can be purchased online.

All auction items will be on display during the car show, and
anyone is welcome to participate in the auction. 100% of the proceeds from the
auction will go to Make-A-Wish. 

Knowing the region's need for
Make-A-Wish children and Mark’s affinity for the charity, the group wanted to partner to
raise funds for the nonprofit organization.

"Mark was an integral part of the car group," Doty said, "so
we wanted to do this in his honor, as well as helping some local families."

The couch, grill and many other auction items are on display inside Big Creek Crossing at the old Hallmark Store location.

Lang said there are three local children who are waiting for their wishes to be granted.

"Our donations, our funds are going to be going to the local
kids, and that's what we specified to them when we partnered up with them," Lang
said. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694998259977.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT Hays PostClassic cars, trucks, motorcycles and antique tractors will
once again rumble the street of downtown Hays when the annual Thunder
on the Plains Car, Truck and Cycle Show returns to Municipal Park on June 7 and 8.Last year, the annual event returned to its roots, returning
to downtown Hays and Municipal Park. This year’s ninth-annual event is debuting on a new date after dealing with several conflicting events in the fall.“September is such a busy time in the city where there are so
many activities going on that we just had a hard time finding a permanent
location,” Jackie Lang, Thunder on the Plains secretary and treasurer, said.
“But going forward, it will always be the second Saturday, the second weekend
of June.”The event, which brought in 250 cars last year, kicks off
Friday, June 7, with the cruise-in, and the car show is Saturday, June 8.Everyone wanting to participate in the cruise-in can meet at
Big Creek Crossing before 6 p.m.&nbsp; "We'll leave the mall by 6 p.m., and we do have a police
escort from the mall to Municipal Park," Lang said. "If people want to come down
to Main Street, they can watch all the cars drive by and then come down to the
park. We'll have music down there and the barbecue."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694998270107.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>The Lions Club will also sell beer throughout the Friday night and Saturday event.Registration for Saturday’s show runs from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Municipal Park.Lang said they have had good feedback from participants and
the community about the event being at Municipal Park and earlier on the calendar."We've had positive responses, people saying that they think
that the date changes is good," Lang said. "It's early in the year, so people
are anxious to get their cars out."They are once again encouraging local vehicle owners to get
out their vehicles and bring them to the show, no matter what the condition."Hopefully, people will dust off their vehicles and get them
out of the garage," Committee Member Shelby Doty said. "Some may feel that
their vehicles aren't good enough to bring to a car show, but there are all years, makes, models (and) conditions. So, we welcome anything."Lang said the event has a Project Class."If somebody wants to bring out their car that they feel
like isn't showroom ready yet, but they're working on it, we like that class,"
Lang said. "We're making a push to get those cars out there."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1694998045060.jpeg" alt="File photo" />
 <figcaption>File photo</figcaption>
 </figure>They will give away more than 50 awards Saturday afternoon
including for the Best Paint, Interior and Motor. Cash prizes will be given to
the Best of Show, Car, Truck, Motorcycle and Tractor.The award ceremony is scheduled to start at 2
p.m. on Saturday.The registration fee is $30. Anyone who registers by May
25 will get a 2024 T-shirt.As big as the car show is, one of the group's accomplishments is the funds raised to be given to those in need
locally.Thunder on the Plains has raised
more than $100,000 through its annual
action over the last seven years. Each year they host a live auction. That will start at 12:30
p.m. Saturday this year.Items included this year are a recliner, pub table, a tool
set and a lot of gift certificates.One of the big items this year is a 1955 Chevy couch made
from the tail end of a 1955 Chevy.Mark Lang, Jackie’s husband, passed away unexpectedly in
December. Mark started working on the couch. After he passed away, a group came together to ensure the couch was finished for this year’s
auction.They are also selling raffle tickets for a 48-inch propane grill donated by Olham Sales in Mark’s memory. The tickets are $50 and can be purchased online.All auction items will be on display during the car show, and
anyone is welcome to participate in the auction. 100% of the proceeds from the
auction will go to Make-A-Wish. Knowing the region's need for
Make-A-Wish children and Mark’s affinity for the charity, the group wanted to partner to
raise funds for the nonprofit organization."Mark was an integral part of the car group," Doty said, "so
we wanted to do this in his honor, as well as helping some local families."The couch, grill and many other auction items are on display inside Big Creek Crossing at the old Hallmark Store location.Lang said there are three local children who are waiting for their wishes to be granted."Our donations, our funds are going to be going to the local
kids, and that's what we specified to them when we partnered up with them," Lang
said.

Thunder on the Plains car show Friday, Saturday

NEW YORK (AP) — San Diego Padres infielder&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tucupita-marcano">Tucupita Marcano</a>&nbsp;was banned from baseball for life for betting on the sport and four others were suspended for one year by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">Major League Baseball</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday in the game’s biggest gambling scandal in decades.

MLB said Marcano placed 387 baseball bets totaling more than $150,000 in October 2022 and from last July through November with a legal sportsbook. He became the first active player in a century banned for life because of gambling.

Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly was suspended for one year for betting on baseball while in the minor leagues and a three minor leaguers also were banned for one year for betting on big league games: pitchers Jay Groome of San Diego and Andrew Saalfrank of Arizona, and infielder José Rodríguez of Philadelphia. Each of those four players wagered under $1,000.

“The strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules and policies governing gambling conduct is a critical component of upholding our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “The longstanding prohibition against betting on Major League Baseball games by those in the sport has been a bedrock principle for over a century. We have been clear that the privilege of playing in baseball comes with a responsibility to refrain from engaging in certain types of behavior that are legal for other people.”

Marcano was the first active major leaguer banned for life under the sport's gambling provision since New York Giants outfielder Jimmy O'Connell in 1924. Pete Rose, baseball's career hits leader, agreed to a lifetime ban in 1989 after an investigation concluded he bet on Cincinnati Reds games while managing the team.

Major League Rule 21, posted in every clubhouse, states betting on any baseball game in which a player, umpire, league official or team employee has no duty to perform results in a one-year suspension. Betting on a game in which the person has a duty to perform results in a lifetime ban.

Marcano became the second North American athlete banned for gambling in recent months.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-jontay-porter-banned-265ad5cb703d9483347037762ee90a8f#">The NBA gave Toronto's Jontay Porter a lifetime ban in April</a>&nbsp;after concluding he disclosed confidential information to bettors and wagered on games, including on the Raptors to lose.

MLB said it was tipped off about the betting activity by a legal sports betting operator. None of the players punished played in any games on which they wagered, and all players denied to MLB they had inside information relevant to their bets or the games they gambled on – testimonies that MLB says align with the data received from the sportsbook.

In its announcement, MLB detailed the bets alleged for each player,

Marcano’s 387 baseball bets included 231 MLB-related wagers for $87,319 between Oct. 16, 2022, and last Nov. 1. Twenty-five of those bets included wagers on Pirates games while he was on the team’s major league roster. Now 24, Marcano, has not played since tearing his right ACL last July 24 and was receiving medical treatment at PNC Park last year.

Marcano bet almost exclusively on the outcomes of games and lost all of his parlay bets involving the Pirates, winning just 4.3% of all of his MLB-related bets.

Marcano made his major league debut on April 1, 2021, and has a .217 average with five homers, 34 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 149 games. He has played in both the infield and outfield.

The other four players did not bet on games involving their assigned teams.

Kelly placed 10 bets on nine major league games from Oct. 5-17, 2021, while a minor league player assigned to Houston's Triple-A Sugar Land farm team. The bets included wagers on outcomes, over/under on runs and an individual pitcher’s strikeout total. Three of the nine games involved the major league Astros. His wagers totaled $99.22 and resulted in $28.30 of winnings.

Kelly, 31, was 3-2 with a 2.59 ERA in 28 games this season, last pitching on Saturday at Atlanta. The former first-round draft pick appeared in 46 games over the past three seasons.

Groome, a 25-year-old who had been on a minor league injured list since mid-April, placed 32 MLB-related bets from July 22, 2020, through July 24, 2021, including 24 on the Boston Red Sox major league team while he was assigned to Boston's High-A team in Greenville, South Carolina. The sport detailed he wagered $453.74 on 30 MLB games and had a net loss of $433.54, receiving payouts on only two wagers. His betting included parlays.

Rodríguez, 23, has been at Double-A Reading this season. He placed 31 bets on baseball on Sept. 30, 2021, and from June 5 through July 30 in 2022, including 28 on MLB and three on college baseball. The total included seven involving the Chicago White Sox at the time he was assigned to their Double-A team in Birmingham, Alabama. Two of the White Sox bets involved outcomes and the others were on runs scored. He bet $749.09 on baseball, of which $724.09 was on MLB-related bets that included parlays.

Saalfrank, 26, pitched in 21 games for Arizona last year between the regular season and postseason, including three World Series games, and two this year before he was optioned to Triple-A Reno on May 1. He placed 29 baseball bets from Sept. 9 through Oct. 29 in 2021 and on March 9, 2022, including 28 on MLB and one parlay on college baseball. He placed four bets on the big league Diamondbacks while on the injured list of their Low A farm team. His baseball bets totaled $445.87 on baseball, including $444.07 on MLB, and lost $272.64 on MLB bets and $1.80 on the college wager. He won just five of 28 MLB bets, which included outcomes, runs and pitcher strikeouts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717513899838.png" alt="Marcano photo courtesy San Diego Patres" />
 <figcaption>Marcano photo courtesy San Diego Patres</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — San Diego Padres infielder&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/tucupita-marcano">Tucupita Marcano</a>&nbsp;was banned from baseball for life for betting on the sport and four others were suspended for one year by&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/mlb">Major League Baseball</a>&nbsp;on Tuesday in the game’s biggest gambling scandal in decades.MLB said Marcano placed 387 baseball bets totaling more than $150,000 in October 2022 and from last July through November with a legal sportsbook. He became the first active player in a century banned for life because of gambling.Oakland Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly was suspended for one year for betting on baseball while in the minor leagues and a three minor leaguers also were banned for one year for betting on big league games: pitchers Jay Groome of San Diego and Andrew Saalfrank of Arizona, and infielder José Rodríguez of Philadelphia. Each of those four players wagered under $1,000.“The strict enforcement of Major League Baseball’s rules and policies governing gambling conduct is a critical component of upholding our most important priority: protecting the integrity of our games for the fans,” baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement. “The longstanding prohibition against betting on Major League Baseball games by those in the sport has been a bedrock principle for over a century. We have been clear that the privilege of playing in baseball comes with a responsibility to refrain from engaging in certain types of behavior that are legal for other people.”Marcano was the first active major leaguer banned for life under the sport's gambling provision since New York Giants outfielder Jimmy O'Connell in 1924. Pete Rose, baseball's career hits leader, agreed to a lifetime ban in 1989 after an investigation concluded he bet on Cincinnati Reds games while managing the team.Major League Rule 21, posted in every clubhouse, states betting on any baseball game in which a player, umpire, league official or team employee has no duty to perform results in a one-year suspension. Betting on a game in which the person has a duty to perform results in a lifetime ban.Marcano became the second North American athlete banned for gambling in recent months.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/nba-jontay-porter-banned-265ad5cb703d9483347037762ee90a8f#">The NBA gave Toronto's Jontay Porter a lifetime ban in April</a>&nbsp;after concluding he disclosed confidential information to bettors and wagered on games, including on the Raptors to lose.MLB said it was tipped off about the betting activity by a legal sports betting operator. None of the players punished played in any games on which they wagered, and all players denied to MLB they had inside information relevant to their bets or the games they gambled on – testimonies that MLB says align with the data received from the sportsbook.In its announcement, MLB detailed the bets alleged for each player,Marcano’s 387 baseball bets included 231 MLB-related wagers for $87,319 between Oct. 16, 2022, and last Nov. 1. Twenty-five of those bets included wagers on Pirates games while he was on the team’s major league roster. Now 24, Marcano, has not played since tearing his right ACL last July 24 and was receiving medical treatment at PNC Park last year.Marcano bet almost exclusively on the outcomes of games and lost all of his parlay bets involving the Pirates, winning just 4.3% of all of his MLB-related bets.Marcano made his major league debut on April 1, 2021, and has a .217 average with five homers, 34 RBIs and seven stolen bases in 149 games. He has played in both the infield and outfield.The other four players did not bet on games involving their assigned teams.Kelly placed 10 bets on nine major league games from Oct. 5-17, 2021, while a minor league player assigned to Houston's Triple-A Sugar Land farm team. The bets included wagers on outcomes, over/under on runs and an individual pitcher’s strikeout total. Three of the nine games involved the major league Astros. His wagers totaled $99.22 and resulted in $28.30 of winnings.Kelly, 31, was 3-2 with a 2.59 ERA in 28 games this season, last pitching on Saturday at Atlanta. The former first-round draft pick appeared in 46 games over the past three seasons.Groome, a 25-year-old who had been on a minor league injured list since mid-April, placed 32 MLB-related bets from July 22, 2020, through July 24, 2021, including 24 on the Boston Red Sox major league team while he was assigned to Boston's High-A team in Greenville, South Carolina. The sport detailed he wagered $453.74 on 30 MLB games and had a net loss of $433.54, receiving payouts on only two wagers. His betting included parlays.Rodríguez, 23, has been at Double-A Reading this season. He placed 31 bets on baseball on Sept. 30, 2021, and from June 5 through July 30 in 2022, including 28 on MLB and three on college baseball. The total included seven involving the Chicago White Sox at the time he was assigned to their Double-A team in Birmingham, Alabama. Two of the White Sox bets involved outcomes and the others were on runs scored. He bet $749.09 on baseball, of which $724.09 was on MLB-related bets that included parlays.Saalfrank, 26, pitched in 21 games for Arizona last year between the regular season and postseason, including three World Series games, and two this year before he was optioned to Triple-A Reno on May 1. He placed 29 baseball bets from Sept. 9 through Oct. 29 in 2021 and on March 9, 2022, including 28 on MLB and one parlay on college baseball. He placed four bets on the big league Diamondbacks while on the injured list of their Low A farm team. His baseball bets totaled $445.87 on baseball, including $444.07 on MLB, and lost $272.64 on MLB bets and $1.80 on the college wager. He won just five of 28 MLB bets, which included outcomes, runs and pitcher strikeouts.

MLB gambling scandal: Padres infielder banned for life

The races for the fall elections are set after Monday’s
filing deadline, and there are only a few&nbsp;contested races.

According to the Ellis County Election office, the only
major contested local race will feature Republican incumbent County Clerk Bobbi
Dreiling against Democrat challenger Laura Allen.

They will face off in the November General Election.

Locally, the only other contested races are for various Precinct Committee
positions and one township treasurer position.

There are three candidates in the race for the First District of the U.S. House of
Representatives.

Republican incumbent Tracey Mann will face Republican challenger
Eric Bloom. The winner will take on Democrat Paul Buskirk in the November
General Election.

In the statewide races, Representative Ken Rahjes, R-Agra,
will face Democratic challenger Ellace Henderson, Phillipsburg, in November in the 110th District race.

In the race for the 111th District in the Kansas
House, Republican incumbent Barb Wasinger will face Democrat challenger Joseph
Burt Lantz IV in November.

There is also a contested race for the District Magistrate
position No. 3 in the 23rd Judicial District.

Democratic incumbent Richard Flax will take on Republican challenger
Travis Phillips in the General Election in November.

You can find the list of local and statewide elections
below.

County Commissioner 2nd District&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neal Younger&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Republican County Commissioner 3rd District&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nathan D. Leiker&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Republican

County Clerk Bobbi L
Dreiling&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Laura
Allen&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Democrat County Treasurer&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vern Ruder Jr&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Republican County Register of Deeds&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Rebecca A Herzog&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican County Sheriff&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Scott J
Braun&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Republican County Attorney&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Aaron J Cunningham&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Republican

Ellis City Councilmember Postion at Large - three positions - General Election only &nbsp;Dava Gaschler Jolene Niernberger Martin
V LaBarge Trevor
LaBarge

Trustee Big Creek Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; James
(Jamie) Graham&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Trustee Buckeye Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Joe
Wilkerson&nbsp; Republican Trustee Freedom Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Trustee Herzog Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Treasurer Big Creek Township Casey
Herrman&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Treasurer Buckeye Township David
Rupp&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Allen
Schmidt&nbsp; Republican Treasurer Freedom Township&nbsp; Florian
Dome&nbsp; Democrat Treasurer Herzog Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 1-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 1-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 2-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 2-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 2-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 2-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 2-5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 3-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 3-2 Robert
B. Bergman&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat Mark
Allan Ricketts&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeeman - Hays 3-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 3-4 John
Pyle&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Eber
Phelps&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat

Prec Committeeman - Hays 4-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 4-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman -Hays 4-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 4-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Adam
Peters&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeeman - Hays 4-5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Ellis City&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Coady Heit&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Devin
D Henderson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeeman - EBC Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - NBC Township John T Bird&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat Prec Committeeman - SBC Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - WBC Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Buckeye Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Joe Wilkerson&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeeman - West Buckeye Township&nbsp; &nbsp;William P Ring Republican Prec Committeeman - Freedom Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - West Freedom Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Herzog Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Hays 1-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Hays 1-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Hays 2-1 Wendy Beougher&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat Samantha
Kelly&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat Prec Committeewoman - Hays 2-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Michelle A Armstrong Democrat Prec Committeewoman - Hays 2-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shirley Ney&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeewoman - Hays 2-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Eugenia C. Spady&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeewoman - Hays 2-5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Hays 3-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Hays 3-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amy C. Bergman&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat Prec Committeewoman - Hays 3-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mary Schlyer&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeewoman - Hays 3-4 Becky Pyle&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Janis
Lee&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat Prec Committeewoman - Hays 4-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Hays 4-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman -Hays 4-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Hays 4-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amanda Schlyer&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeewoman - Hays 4-5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ruth Legleiter Republican Prec Committeewoman - Ellis City&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kelsey Heit&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeewoman - EBC Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - NBC Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; P JoAnn Jennings&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat Prec Committeewoman - SBC Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - WBC Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Buckeye Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - West Buckeye Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Freedom Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - West Freedom Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Herzog Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

United States House of Representatives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Paul
Buskirk, Democrat United States House of Representatives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Eric
Bloom, Republican United States House of Representatives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tracey
Mann, Republican

Kansas Senate 40&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Richard (Rick) Billinger, Republican

Kansas House of Representatives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 110&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ellace Henderson, Democrat Kansas House of Representatives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 110&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ken Rahjes, Republican

Kansas House of Representatives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 111&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Joseph Burt
Lantz IV, Democrat Kansas House of Representatives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 111&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Barb Wasinger, Republican

District Court Judge&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 23&nbsp; &nbsp; 1&nbsp; &nbsp; Thomas J. Drees, Republican

District Court Judge&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 23&nbsp; &nbsp; 2&nbsp; &nbsp; Curtis Brown, Republican

District Magistrate Judge&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 23&nbsp; &nbsp; 2&nbsp; &nbsp; Douglas E. (Doug) Bigge, Republican

District Magistrate Judge&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 23&nbsp; &nbsp; 3&nbsp; &nbsp; Richard A. Flax, Democrat District Magistrate Judge&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 23&nbsp; &nbsp; 3&nbsp; &nbsp; Travis Phillips, Republican

Hays PostThe races for the fall elections are set after Monday’s
filing deadline, and there are only a few&nbsp;contested races.According to the Ellis County Election office, the only
major contested local race will feature Republican incumbent County Clerk Bobbi
Dreiling against Democrat challenger Laura Allen.They will face off in the November General Election.Locally, the only other contested races are for various Precinct Committee
positions and one township treasurer position.There are three candidates in the race for the First District of the U.S. House of
Representatives.Republican incumbent Tracey Mann will face Republican challenger
Eric Bloom. The winner will take on Democrat Paul Buskirk in the November
General Election.In the statewide races, Representative Ken Rahjes, R-Agra,
will face Democratic challenger Ellace Henderson, Phillipsburg, in November in the 110th District race.In the race for the 111th District in the Kansas
House, Republican incumbent Barb Wasinger will face Democrat challenger Joseph
Burt Lantz IV in November.There is also a contested race for the District Magistrate
position No. 3 in the 23rd Judicial District.Democratic incumbent Richard Flax will take on Republican challenger
Travis Phillips in the General Election in November.You can find the list of local and statewide elections
below.County Commissioner 2nd District&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Neal Younger&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Republican County Commissioner 3rd District&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Nathan D. Leiker&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;RepublicanCounty Clerk Bobbi L
Dreiling&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Laura
Allen&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Democrat County Treasurer&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Vern Ruder Jr&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Republican County Register of Deeds&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Rebecca A Herzog&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican County Sheriff&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Scott J
Braun&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Republican County Attorney&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Aaron J Cunningham&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; RepublicanEllis City Councilmember Postion at Large - three positions - General Election only &nbsp;Dava Gaschler Jolene Niernberger Martin
V LaBarge Trevor
LaBargeTrustee Big Creek Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; James
(Jamie) Graham&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Trustee Buckeye Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Joe
Wilkerson&nbsp; Republican Trustee Freedom Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Trustee Herzog Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Treasurer Big Creek Township Casey
Herrman&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Treasurer Buckeye Township David
Rupp&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Allen
Schmidt&nbsp; Republican Treasurer Freedom Township&nbsp; Florian
Dome&nbsp; Democrat Treasurer Herzog Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 1-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 1-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 2-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 2-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 2-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 2-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 2-5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 3-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 3-2 Robert
B. Bergman&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat Mark
Allan Ricketts&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeeman - Hays 3-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 3-4 John
Pyle&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Eber
Phelps&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; DemocratPrec Committeeman - Hays 4-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 4-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman -Hays 4-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Hays 4-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Adam
Peters&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeeman - Hays 4-5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Ellis City&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Coady Heit&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Devin
D Henderson&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeeman - EBC Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - NBC Township John T Bird&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat Prec Committeeman - SBC Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - WBC Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Buckeye Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Joe Wilkerson&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeeman - West Buckeye Township&nbsp; &nbsp;William P Ring Republican Prec Committeeman - Freedom Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - West Freedom Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeeman - Herzog Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Hays 1-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Hays 1-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Hays 2-1 Wendy Beougher&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat Samantha
Kelly&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat Prec Committeewoman - Hays 2-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Michelle A Armstrong Democrat Prec Committeewoman - Hays 2-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Shirley Ney&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeewoman - Hays 2-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Eugenia C. Spady&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeewoman - Hays 2-5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Hays 3-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Hays 3-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amy C. Bergman&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat Prec Committeewoman - Hays 3-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mary Schlyer&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeewoman - Hays 3-4 Becky Pyle&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Janis
Lee&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat Prec Committeewoman - Hays 4-1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Hays 4-2&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman -Hays 4-3&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Hays 4-4&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amanda Schlyer&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeewoman - Hays 4-5&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ruth Legleiter Republican Prec Committeewoman - Ellis City&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Kelsey Heit&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Republican Prec Committeewoman - EBC Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - NBC Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; P JoAnn Jennings&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Democrat Prec Committeewoman - SBC Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - WBC Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Buckeye Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - West Buckeye Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Freedom Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - West Freedom Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Prec Committeewoman - Herzog Township&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; United States House of Representatives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Paul
Buskirk, Democrat United States House of Representatives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Eric
Bloom, Republican United States House of Representatives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 1&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tracey
Mann, RepublicanKansas Senate 40&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Richard (Rick) Billinger, RepublicanKansas House of Representatives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 110&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ellace Henderson, Democrat Kansas House of Representatives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 110&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ken Rahjes, RepublicanKansas House of Representatives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 111&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Joseph Burt
Lantz IV, Democrat Kansas House of Representatives&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 111&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Barb Wasinger, RepublicanDistrict Court Judge&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 23&nbsp; &nbsp; 1&nbsp; &nbsp; Thomas J. Drees, RepublicanDistrict Court Judge&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 23&nbsp; &nbsp; 2&nbsp; &nbsp; Curtis Brown, RepublicanDistrict Magistrate Judge&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 23&nbsp; &nbsp; 2&nbsp; &nbsp; Douglas E. (Doug) Bigge, RepublicanDistrict Magistrate Judge&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 23&nbsp; &nbsp; 3&nbsp; &nbsp; Richard A. Flax, Democrat District Magistrate Judge&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 23&nbsp; &nbsp; 3&nbsp; &nbsp; Travis Phillips, Republican

Ellis County, area candidates set for fall election

By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN Special to Hays Post

Thomas More Prep-Marian will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Al Billinger Fieldhouse in 2026.

The Hays Catholic junior-senior high school received an early anniversary gift last week.

Technicians from Insane Impact—a company out of Des Moines, Iowa, that installs premier LED displays—were in Hays installing a new scoreboard and video board in the historic building.

Thanks to the generosity of Sunrise AgriBusiness Solutions of Hays, fans will be able to enjoy a luxury not afforded many schools the size of TMP.

A 6-by-8-foot digital scoreboard now hangs from the ceiling of the southeast corner of the fieldhouse, directly across the court from a large video board that stretches almost 12 feet wide in the northwest corner.

<a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/VCaQDnUUfF0?si=tGr1AT-7Y13n3rx6">See a video of the old scoreboard coming down.</a>

TMP-M Athletic Director James Harris thinks the new additions will have a huge impact for many.

"We have a great home-court advantage because of the unique building and the atmosphere with our outstanding band and amazing student support," Harris said of the "pit." "This is going to be another way to take pride in our school, give support to our advertisers and get the community more involved."

Sunrise founder and CEO Travis Brunner said the $50,000 donation is part of his vow to provide a service that isn’t available in western Kansas.

“TMP hosts a lot of the communities that Sunrise serves,” said Brunner, whose company does business in eight states with Hays as its headquarters.

“The old scoreboards in the fieldhouse were absolutely outdated,” added Brunner, who has three children attending TMP, “and this is an opportunity to not only update those but to feature a lot of those other communities, too.”

The video board will be able to show videos and advertisements and the score and time of games simultaneously.

“This will give us the chance to recognize students more frequently and dynamically,” said Chad Meitner, TMP principal. “We are really excited about this and are so grateful to Sunrise for their donation.”

Meitner said TMP-M chose Insane Impact because of its reputation, and he wasn’t disappointed.

The company usually takes at least a week to install the boards, so technicians faced the challenge of completing the job in a shortened workweek because of Memorial Day.

They also learned early on this would be no ordinary installation because of the unique setting in the fieldhouse.

The technicians said they usually install the digital boards on walls or on steel beams above unfinished ceilings. Since the fieldhouse's ceiling is finished, the boards were raised to the ceiling and hung from support beams above.

The basketball court in the fieldhouse, built in 1951, is surrounded by a cement wall, forming a pit with cement bleachers above.

The installers were pleased when they learned that TMP owned a Genie scissors lift, saving them a lot of time building scaffolding.

Nonetheless, they still made several trips around town to purchase ropes, wenches and even washers that did not come with the shipped product.

“You just never know what issue we might run into,” said Derek Cunningham, assistant project manager for Insane Impact. “So, yeah, I’d say improvising is something we do all the time.”

The video board was shipped in two large crates, and the technicians built it on-site.

Following two full days of pulling and lifting, assembling and discussing —and improvising—Cunningham gave Meitner a crash course on the use of the boards Friday morning before his return trip back to Iowa.

Cunningham said the company would send TMP-M a necessary adapter for the boards, and an Insane Impact technician plans to visit the school this summer.

Meitner said he and other school personnel will make tweaks throughout the summer so that the video board and scoreboard are fully operational at the start of school in August.&nbsp;

TMP plans to form a student media team to operate the board during games and create content.

“Students are very good at media development these days,” Harris said. “They will be able to have an ownership in this and take pride in their work. This will give us a platform to recognize a lot of organizations and accomplishments.”

“We will be able to recognize students and teams and groups more frequently and dynamically,” he said. “On the learning side of it, (Advancement Director) Mason Ruder will work with students on how to display advertising. This is going to be such a win-win situation for all involved.”

The two new boards replace scoreboards that TMP administrators believe were installed in the 1990s. Those had replaced a four-sided board in the middle of the court that most agree hung “way too low.”

Alan Billinger is a former girls’ basketball and softball coach at TMP and the son of the legendary coach for whom the building is named.

A graduate of St. Joseph Military Academy, TMP’s predecessor, Alan Billinger has either played or coached in games in the fieldhouse from the late 1950s until his retirement from coaching in 2012. He even remembers going to practice with his dad long before he donned a St. Joseph Cadets uniform.

“That’s quite the building, and it’s great to see upgrades on it,” Billinger said. “What a tremendous donation from Sunrise and Travis Brunner. For someone to come up with that idea itself is amazing. It shows the kind&nbsp;of support the community has for TMP-Marian.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717433067626.jpeg" alt="A new video board and digital scoreboard were installed in Thomas More Prep-Marian’s Al Billinger Fieldhouse last week. Photos by Diane Gasper-O’Brien/Special to Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>A new video board and digital scoreboard were installed in Thomas More Prep-Marian’s Al Billinger Fieldhouse last week. Photos by Diane Gasper-O’Brien/Special to Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN Special to Hays PostThomas More Prep-Marian will celebrate the 75th anniversary of Al Billinger Fieldhouse in 2026.The Hays Catholic junior-senior high school received an early anniversary gift last week.Technicians from Insane Impact—a company out of Des Moines, Iowa, that installs premier LED displays—were in Hays installing a new scoreboard and video board in the historic building.Thanks to the generosity of Sunrise AgriBusiness Solutions of Hays, fans will be able to enjoy a luxury not afforded many schools the size of TMP.A 6-by-8-foot digital scoreboard now hangs from the ceiling of the southeast corner of the fieldhouse, directly across the court from a large video board that stretches almost 12 feet wide in the northwest corner.<a href="https://youtube.com/shorts/VCaQDnUUfF0?si=tGr1AT-7Y13n3rx6">See a video of the old scoreboard coming down.</a>TMP-M Athletic Director James Harris thinks the new additions will have a huge impact for many."We have a great home-court advantage because of the unique building and the atmosphere with our outstanding band and amazing student support," Harris said of the "pit." "This is going to be another way to take pride in our school, give support to our advertisers and get the community more involved."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717433160254.jpeg" alt="The scoreboard installers made good use of TMP’s scissors lift from the get-go, maneuvering their way close to the old scoreboards hanging above the cement bleachers. Photos by Diane Gasper-O’Brien/Special to Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The scoreboard installers made good use of TMP’s scissors lift from the get-go, maneuvering their way close to the old scoreboards hanging above the cement bleachers. Photos by Diane Gasper-O’Brien/Special to Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>Sunrise founder and CEO Travis Brunner said the $50,000 donation is part of his vow to provide a service that isn’t available in western Kansas.“TMP hosts a lot of the communities that Sunrise serves,” said Brunner, whose company does business in eight states with Hays as its headquarters.“The old scoreboards in the fieldhouse were absolutely outdated,” added Brunner, who has three children attending TMP, “and this is an opportunity to not only update those but to feature a lot of those other communities, too.”The video board will be able to show videos and advertisements and the score and time of games simultaneously.“This will give us the chance to recognize students more frequently and dynamically,” said Chad Meitner, TMP principal. “We are really excited about this and are so grateful to Sunrise for their donation.”Meitner said TMP-M chose Insane Impact because of its reputation, and he wasn’t disappointed.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717433275106.jpeg" alt="Insane Impact technicians built the video board piece by piece. Photos by Diane Gasper-O’Brien/Special to Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>Insane Impact technicians built the video board piece by piece. Photos by Diane Gasper-O’Brien/Special to Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Masters of improvisation</h2>The company usually takes at least a week to install the boards, so technicians faced the challenge of completing the job in a shortened workweek because of Memorial Day.They also learned early on this would be no ordinary installation because of the unique setting in the fieldhouse.The technicians said they usually install the digital boards on walls or on steel beams above unfinished ceilings. Since the fieldhouse's ceiling is finished, the boards were raised to the ceiling and hung from support beams above.The basketball court in the fieldhouse, built in 1951, is surrounded by a cement wall, forming a pit with cement bleachers above.The installers were pleased when they learned that TMP owned a Genie scissors lift, saving them a lot of time building scaffolding.Nonetheless, they still made several trips around town to purchase ropes, wenches and even washers that did not come with the shipped product.“You just never know what issue we might run into,” said Derek Cunningham, assistant project manager for Insane Impact. “So, yeah, I’d say improvising is something we do all the time.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717433323356.jpeg" alt="TMP-M Director of Operations Tom Kisner and Principal Chad Meitner discuss the exact placement of the video board with Insane Impact’s Zach Styles. Photos by Diane Gasper-O’Brien/Special to Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>TMP-M Director of Operations Tom Kisner and Principal Chad Meitner discuss the exact placement of the video board with Insane Impact’s Zach Styles. Photos by Diane Gasper-O’Brien/Special to Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure>The video board was shipped in two large crates, and the technicians built it on-site.Following two full days of pulling and lifting, assembling and discussing —and improvising—Cunningham gave Meitner a crash course on the use of the boards Friday morning before his return trip back to Iowa.Cunningham said the company would send TMP-M a necessary adapter for the boards, and an Insane Impact technician plans to visit the school this summer.Meitner said he and other school personnel will make tweaks throughout the summer so that the video board and scoreboard are fully operational at the start of school in August.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717433376355.jpeg" alt="TMP Principal Chad Meitner, left, takes notes during a quick training session on the new boards with Insane Impact’s Derek Cunningham. Photos by Diane Gasper-O’Brien/Special to Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>TMP Principal Chad Meitner, left, takes notes during a quick training session on the new boards with Insane Impact’s Derek Cunningham. Photos by Diane Gasper-O’Brien/Special to Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>More student involvement</h2>TMP plans to form a student media team to operate the board during games and create content.“Students are very good at media development these days,” Harris said. “They will be able to have an ownership in this and take pride in their work. This will give us a platform to recognize a lot of organizations and accomplishments.”Meitner agreed.“We will be able to recognize students and teams and groups more frequently and dynamically,” he said. “On the learning side of it, (Advancement Director) Mason Ruder will work with students on how to display advertising. This is going to be such a win-win situation for all involved.”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1717433435805.jpeg" alt="The video board, which hangs in the northwest corner of Al Billinger Fieldhouse, can simultaneously display a video and the score and time of a game. Photos by Diane Gasper-O’Brien/Special to Hays Post" />
 <figcaption>The video board, which hangs in the northwest corner of Al Billinger Fieldhouse, can simultaneously display a video and the score and time of a game. Photos by Diane Gasper-O’Brien/Special to Hays Post</figcaption>
 </figure><h2>Change is part of history</h2>The two new boards replace scoreboards that TMP administrators believe were installed in the 1990s. Those had replaced a four-sided board in the middle of the court that most agree hung “way too low.”Alan Billinger is a former girls’ basketball and softball coach at TMP and the son of the legendary coach for whom the building is named.A graduate of St. Joseph Military Academy, TMP’s predecessor, Alan Billinger has either played or coached in games in the fieldhouse from the late 1950s until his retirement from coaching in 2012. He even remembers going to practice with his dad long before he donned a St. Joseph Cadets uniform.“That’s quite the building, and it’s great to see upgrades on it,” Billinger said. “What a tremendous donation from Sunrise and Travis Brunner. For someone to come up with that idea itself is amazing. It shows the kind&nbsp;of support the community has for TMP-Marian.”

Insane Impact installs new video board at TMP's Al Billinger Fieldhouse

By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays Post

As the calendar turns to June, that means the summer
tradition of Hays Larks baseball is here.

The Larks open the 2024 campaign in Dodge City Tuesday before returning home for a rematch the following night. 

The Larks will play 36 games this
summer with 23 of them in the friendly confines of Larks Park.

Frank Leo begins his 42nd season as the Larks manager and
said he’s looking forward to the new team and season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1717183089670.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By GERARD WELLBROCK Hays PostAs the calendar turns to June, that means the summer
tradition of Hays Larks baseball is here.The Larks open the 2024 campaign in Dodge City Tuesday before returning home for a rematch the following night. The Larks will play 36 games this
summer with 23 of them in the friendly confines of Larks Park.Frank Leo begins his 42nd season as the Larks manager and
said he’s looking forward to the new team and season.“I love the challenge of putting a team together and trying
to get them together as a team as quick as you can, particularly this season
with the World Series starting a week earlier it’s going to be bam, bam, bam.”
Leo said.This year's squad boasts a mix of returning veterans from last year's team that finished 39-8 as well as some exciting newcomers. Injuries have ended the season of a couple of key position players before the season even started. Notably absent are standout outfielder
Damian Ruiz, who set a Larks single-season record for runs scored and stolen
bases last summer. Also missing is catcher Dylan LaRue, the younger brother of former
Larks standout Tyler LaRue. Both will miss the season due to injuries in the last month of their collegiate season.Despite the setbacks, Leo feels this year’s squad will be
similar to last year's team which stole 152 bases in 46 games.”We’re going to be guys who can run the bases. We had some
guys with 20 or better stolen bases (in college this spring).” Leo said. “Of
course, you have to get on base to make it happen, but I think the speed game
will be prevalent.” &nbsp;Leo will once again be joined buy longtime assistant Keith Harper who will begin his 20th season as
Larks pitching coach,. The two are dealing with injuries to the pitching staff. Normally
they would carry 14 pitchers on the roster but will start the 2024 campaign
with only 11.“What you’re going to get is young arms that are going need
some work in the summertime.” Leo said. “You’ve got to kind of develop your
staff. You’re hoping that when you get them in here, get them on the mound, fix
them a little bit and kind of piece games together.” Leo said.The Larks were counting on returners Ben Baker-Livingston and
Kam Walton to lead the pitching staff this summer but both are out with labrum injuries.Click <a href="https://hayslarks.org/roster/">here</a> for the 2024 Larks roster.This will mark the Larks fifth season in the Rocky Mountain Baseball
League. They’ve won the league title in each of the previous four seasons. The
RMBL will have a slightly different look this summer. Liberal and Dodge City
are back for a second season. The Western Nebraska Pioneers, who played a league
schedule last summer, are now fully-fledged member. The Fort Collins Foxes are
also returning under new management.Admission to Larks games will again be free this season thanks
to local businesses. Among the highlights are First Responders Night, Military Appreciation Night, Larkstoberfest, Educators Night and Stand Up 2 Cancer
Night.Click <a href="https://hayslarks.org/schedule/">here</a> for the full schedule and game information.The NBC World Series is scheduled for July 25-August 3 at Eck
Stadium in Wichita.