Hays Daily News, Hays, KS (2025)

07/18/2025

Let’s go to the Global Entrepreneurship Congress. Thousands of people from 200 countries will gather at this event. Among those attending is a woman representing an award-winning truck stop and restaurant in rural Kansas.

Bud Erskin is the owner of Majestic Service Truck Stop and Restaurant in St. Francis. His daughter, Kary Meyer, represented the business at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress.

When Erskin got out of school in Colorado, he purchased a local Sinclair station. (That tells you this didn’t happen just yesterday.)

He later moved to St. Francis where he bought another business and did mechanic work. In 1986, he bought a gas station in a building with a big sign saying “Majestic” on the front. Erskin decided to keep the name.

Let’s go to the Global Entrepreneurship Congress. Thousands of people from 200 countries will gather at this event. Among those attending is a woman representing an award-winning truck stop and restaurant in rural Kansas.

07/18/2025

The Kansas Sheriffs’ Association (KSA) announced on July 17, 2025, that 2025 Ellis High School graduate Taegan Shannon is one of fifteen 2025 KSA $1,000 scholarship winners. Mis Taegan will be attending the University of Southern Mississippi this fall to pursue legal studies.

The KSA has been providing scholarships to qualified college students since 1991 and each year the KSA awards up to $19,000 worth of educational scholarships to eligible members or family members.

The Kansas Sheriffs’ Association (KSA) announced on July 17, 2025, that 2025 Ellis High School graduate Taegan Shannon is one of fifteen 2025 KSA $1,000 scholarship winners. Mis Taegan will be attending the University of Southern Mississippi this fall to pursue legal studies.

07/18/2025

The Hays Larks are home for the weekend, following a pair of midweek wins over the Liberal Bee Jays. This season, they have notched a 25-4-1 record and remain at the top of the Rocky Mountain Baseball League.

An all around stellar performance from both the pitching staff and the offense paved the way for the Larks’ 10-0 win over Liberal Tuesday night. Nolan Wilson went five innings for the win, Brooks Jones closing out the final two innings. The duo allowed just two hits in the contest while striking out ten to shut out their opponents.

The Hays Larks are home for the weekend, following a pair of midweek wins over the Liberal Bee Jays. This season, they have notched a 25-4-1 record and remain at the top of the Rocky Mountain Baseball League.

07/18/2025

It was gastrointestinal problems that saved Michelle Tharman’s life.

When the Long Island, Kan. woman went to the doctor to figure out her stomach pain, they discovered she had a rare form of cancer.

In the spring of 2024, she had lost 40 pounds, her stomach was always upset, and she couldn’t leave the house, always having to be near a bathroom. Doctors in Kearney, Neb. couldn’t figure out what was wrong. They tried to schedule her for a gastrointestinal specialist in Lincoln, but there were no openings.

So she and her husband Ken decided to take matters into their own hands.

They drove to Omaha to the emergency room at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

There, the medical staff fixed her gastro problem… and found a bigger problem.

Cancer.

It was gastrointestinal problems that saved Michelle Tharman’s life.

07/18/2025

A Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony will be held for the new Hays High School (HHS) on 5 p.m. Aug. 29th, prior to the HHS Maroon and Gold scrimmages.

“That'll be a big night and a fun night. We'll have a quick little ceremony and then cut the ribbon and allow people to go in and look around, when they're not watching the Maroon and Gold scrimmages, said USD489 Superintendent Ron Wilson as he announced the Ribbon-Cutting/open house date to the Board of Education (BOE) last Monday evening [July 16, 2025.]

Wilson also reported to the BOE that the district has begun moving contents into the new HHS.

A Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony will be held for the new Hays High School (HHS) on 5 p.m. Aug. 29th, prior to the HHS Maroon and Gold scrimmages.

07/18/2025

HaysMed is pleased to welcome Sarah Powers, APRN, to the DeBakey Heart Institute cardiovascular and thoracic surgery team. Sarah has been a valued member of the HaysMed team since 2010, serving in a variety of clinical roles across the organization. Most recently, she completed her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Fort Hays State University, further elevating her ability to deliver advanced, patient-centered care.

HaysMed is pleased to welcome Sarah Powers, APRN, to the DeBakey Heart Institute cardiovascular and thoracic surgery team. Sarah has been a valued member of the HaysMed team since 2010, serving in a variety of clinical roles across the organization.

07/18/2025

Former Fort Hays State running back Shane Watts was signed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL), announced on July 16, 2025. Watts played four years at Fort Hays State and wrapped his collegiate career with All-America honors as one of the top running backs in NCAA Division II in 2024.

Watts was an All-America Second Team selection in 2024 by three separate organizations, including the D2CCA, Associated Press (AP), and Don Hansen Football Committee. He was also named to the D2Football.com Elite 100 Team. He was an All-MIAA First Team selection as an all-purpose back, finishing the year with 1,303 rushing yards and 449 receiving yards for 1,752 all-purpose yards. He scored 17 touchdowns for the season, including 13 rushing and four receiving.

Former Fort Hays State running back Shane Watts was signed by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL), announced on July 16, 2025. Watts played four years at Fort Hays State and wrapped his collegiate career with All-America honors as one of the top running backs in NCAA Divisi...

07/18/2025

As requested by USD489 Superintendent Ron Wilson, the Board of Education (BOE) will hold a Special Meeting at 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 21, 2025, to consider Bond Construction Change Orders Requests.

“We have some Nabholz change orders for O’Loughlin and Hays high that we need to get taken care of, but we don’t have all the pricing so we can’t take care of it tonight—I’m sorry,” Wilson said on July 14, 2025. Following a discussion of scheduling conflicts, the BOE agreed by consensus to consider Bond Construction Change Order requests at a July 21st Special Meeting.

On June 16, 2025, the USD489 Board of Education (BOE) approved (4-3) only three of the four Change Orders for the new Hays High School (HHS) Bond Construction project, presented by Nabholz Construction’s Senior Project Superintendent Brett Stevens and Project Manager Dylan Weddle.

As requested by USD489 Superintendent Ron Wilson, the Board of Education (BOE) will hold a Special Meeting at 6:30 p.m., Monday, July 21, 2025, to consider Bond Construction Change Orders Requests.

07/15/2025

Current USD489 Board of Education (BOE) President Curt Vajnar was re-elected, Ken Brooks was elected to serve as BOE Vice President on July 14, 2025. Each received a majority of four votes to serve six-month terms, respectively, until the BOE re-organizes again in January 2026 and elects BOE Officers for 12 – month terms. Meagan Zampieri-Lillpopp was also nominated for BOE President as was Jayme Goetz for Vice President.

During the June 16 meeting, BOE President Vajnar as well as fellow BOE Members Brooks and Zampieri-Lillpopp each stated they are willing to serve as either President or Vice President of the Board. All three are running for re-election this fall in the contested USD489 race, vying for three positions with BOE veteran Craig Pallister and Kelly Ancar.

Current USD489 Board of Education (BOE) President Curt Vajnar was re-elected, Ken Brooks was elected to serve as BOE Vice President on July 14, 2025. Each received a majority of four votes to serve six-month terms, respectively, until the BOE re-organizes again in January 2026 and elects BOE Officer...

07/15/2025

Ruben Schuckman appeared before the Hays City Commission on July 10, 2025, with a bucket of fireworks debris collected from his residence and asked Commissioners to reassess the City’s current Fireworks Ordinance.

Before retirement, Schuckman served as the City’s Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (CVB) Tourism & Marketing Manager for 15 years. He stated in his Citizen’s Comments that for most of the time that he promoted the City, he lived in the country between Catharine and Hays, so returning home after the holiday weekend to find his property and residence covered in fireworks debris was a new and unpleasant experience.

Schuckman also reported that he contacted Police Chief Scheibler to find out if such littering of property was allowed under the Hays Fireworks Ordinance and was told that fireworks debris and litter prevention, maintenance and/or cleanup is not addressed.

Ruben Schuckman appeared before the Hays City Commission on July 10, 2025, with a bucket of fireworks debris collected from his residence and asked Commissioners to reassess the City’s current Fireworks Ordinance.

07/15/2025

Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty confirmed at the July 10, 2025, City Commission Meeting that that President Trump’s proposed budget cuts to the Essential Air Services (EAS) program had been removed before final passage. Commissioner Shaun Musil stated that legislators and senators should be thanked for fighting for the EAS. Arkstar Group CEO Gary Foss also confirmed that, for now, funding to rural regional airports is not jeopardy.

“But we’re going to have to be vigilant. In my 40 years in the industry, there’s always been talking of cutting the EAS,” said Arkstar Group CEO Hoss.

On May 22, 2025, all Commissioners urged the community to contact legislators regarding the 52% cut in funding cut to the Essential Air Services (EAS) Program, in the proposed Federal 2026 Budget which had just been passed in the U.S. House of Representative by a small margin.

Hays City Manager Toby Dougherty confirmed at the July 10, 2025, City Commission Meeting that that President Trump’s proposed budget cuts to the Essential Air Services (EAS) program had been removed before final passage. Commissioner Shaun Musil stated that legislators and senators should be thank...

07/15/2025

Four statues stand in the rotunda of the Kansas statehouse. Three of those statues honor persons whose names are widely known: Aviatrix Amelia Earhart, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and publisher William Allen White.

Who is the fourth? Arthur Capper, a man from rural Kansas.

In his day, he was a titan of publishing, politics, and philanthropy – and he cared especially for 4-H youth and children with disabilities. Thanks to the Kansas Historical Society and the Capper Foundation websites, which are sources for this information.

Four statues stand in the rotunda of the Kansas statehouse. Three of those statues honor persons whose names are widely known: Aviatrix Amelia Earhart, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and publisher William Allen White.

Hays Daily News

07/18/2025

07/18/2025

07/18/2025

07/18/2025

07/18/2025

07/18/2025

07/18/2025

07/18/2025

07/15/2025

07/15/2025

07/15/2025

07/15/2025

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Business

Shortcuts

Share

Category