Category: Local News

By User Submitted

The National American Miss Pageant was held in Overland Park, Kansas this last week. Two girls from Haysville, Kansas were among the select few at the pageant to come home with State Titles. Teighlor Light, daughter of Eddie and Jenifer Light received a standing ovation after her spectacular performance of the Star Spangled Banner during the Talent portion of the Pageant. Teighlor’s star studded performance won her the title of Miss Kansas Pre-Teen Talent Winner for 2004. This title brought with it a very nice cash prize along with her carrying the Talent Title for the entire year. She already has a scheduled appearance at the Haysville Fall Festival where she has been asked to participate in the Festival Parade and she has also been asked to perform a 30 minute singing number along with performing the all famous Star Spangled Banner. This is not the end, there are various opportunities for her to perform throughout this entire year and hopefully this prestigious award and adventure will take her to places she has always dreamed, so watch out Christina and Britney here comes Teighlor!

Continue reading “Two Local Girls Bring Home Titles From State Pageant”

By User Submitted

Hutchinson, Kan. – Taylor Stein and Cameron Stein, sons of David and Karen Stein of Haysville, Kan., recently completed Level 3 of the Future Astronaut Training Program at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center in Hutchinson, Kan. The week-long camp, for which students may apply after successfully completing Levels 1 and 2, included a trip to Houston, Texas, to tour NASA’s Johnson Space Center.

In Houston, campers toured Building 9, which houses NASA’s space shuttle trainers and the International Space Station mock-up. The group’s behind-the-scenes visit also included a tour of both the former and current Mission Control Centers, the Mars Advanced Integration Matrix Laboratories and the Neutral Buoyancy Lab’s 6.2-million-gallon pool where astronauts to train for work in microgravity.

At a special evening banquet for the campers, NASA Systems Integration Lead Dr. Jack Bacon discussed the development of the International Space Station and the countries that participate in the partnership. Bacon’s career as a professional engineer has included work in artificial intelligence, thermonuclear fusion, space, and globalization of networks and commerce.

Before traveling to Houston, the campers trained on simulators related to both manned and unmanned spaceflight. They trained in the Centrifuge, which simulates the g-forces of a space shuttle launch, and flew in both an Advanced Flight Simulator, housed in an actual F-101 cockpit, and in an F-16 trainer acquired from the Air Force. The campers’ training culminated in an advanced space shuttle mission aboard the Cosmosphere’s state-of-the-art space shuttle simulator, the Falcon III.

As one of the country’s top residential space education programs for students entering grades 7-10, more than 8,500 participants from across the country and around the world have graduated from the Cosmosphere’s Future Astronaut Training Program since its beginning in 1985.

For more information on the Future Astronaut Training Program, call 620.662.2305 or 800.397.0330, ext. 323, or visit the Cosmosphere’s website at www.cosmo.org.

The Haysville Times
By Angie Gumm

Haysville residents and businesses looking for relief from the construction detour they have been facing for the last 10 months might have to keep waiting until February.
“As the contractor, we’re just hanging out in limbo,” said Matt Inlow, of Dondlinger and Sons Construction. “We’re not being able to do the stuff that is critical to get the job done.”
That “stuff” includes finding a solid base for the piles they have been trying to drive. The piles are currently at 86 feet, which is 28 feet more than they had expected. The designers may have to re-plan the footing on the bridge if they do not find solid ground soon, and Inlow says that has been holding them up.
“It’s just been one thing after the other,” he said. “I know it must seem to everybody that we’re the bad guys, but we’re doing everything we possibly can here. Every time we get going, something from designing that we have no control over comes up.”
“[The project] is going slower than we had hoped for,” said Mayor Bruce Armstrong. The mayor said that the latest finish date that the City has heard is February.
“We should be done before that,” Inlow said of the February date.
Businesses on Grand and Main can look for the road construction to be finished in mid-August. The City’s Shop-at-Home contest will continue until the railroad construction is over, and their Shop-at-Home banners will be put back up soon.

The Haysville Times
By Angie Gumm

Haysville will celebrate 4th of July with a bang starting next Friday at 6:15 p.m. when the Youth Fire Cracker Parade kicks off at City Hall. Children up to 12 years old will have the chance to wear costumes, deck out their bicycles and come out to participate in the annual event.
Saturday will have a full day of events. Teens and adult citizens can start celebrating at 8:00 in the morning by competing in the Coed Sand Volleyball Tournament, and the whole town can enjoy the City Parade at 9 a.m.
The All-American Fishing Derby begins at 10 a.m. at Riggs Park. This event is for kids 14 and younger, and this year, Mini-Stop has donated a bicycle for the derby winner.
After a fun day of sports and activity, hungry patriots can satisfy their appetites Saturday evening at the Pig Out in the Park starting at 5. Hamburgers, pork burgers, and hotdogs along with side dishes will be served at the event.
The evening celebration includes the Fireworks Festival, featuring a talent show, games and a tattoo parlor! The Citizen of the Year will be announced at 7 p.m., and afterwards, area favorite Against the Grain will perform until 10 o’clock. Attendants can enjoy a dish of ice cream while listening to the band.
On Sunday, with a free can of food, citizens can celebrate with a free swim at the Water Carnival at the Dewey Gunzelman pool from noon to 6 p.m.
At 9:45 that night, the Haysville skies will light up with the annual Haysville Fireworks Show over the baseball field.
“There will be activities for all ages,” said Mayor Bruce Armstrong. “People can look for a fun time.”
For more information call the City at 529-5900.

The Haysville Times
By CJ Cross

The Haysville Fall Festival will be celebrating its 20th year this October. To commemorate this special anniversary, this year the Fall Festival committee has agreed to have a medallion hunt.
The Haysville Fall Festival, Haysville Times, and Haysville Online have teamed up to host the “Haysville Fall Festival Medallion Hunt.”
How will it work? A medallion (which will be a 2-inch disk) will be hidden on Haysville public property. Clues will be posted in the Haysville Times, Haysville Online, the Library, Leekers, Channel 7 and at the Haysville Times Fall Festival booth.
The idea was the brainchild of a Haysville Online member.
The first clue will be posted the week prior to the Fall Festival in the Haysville Times and around town. Anyone is eligible to win the money or prizes that will be given away except employees of the Haysville Times, Haysville Fall Festival Committee, and Haysville Online, as well as members of their immediate households.
Hunters will not need to trespass, dig, deface or in any way damage property to find the medallion. No tools (shovels, ladders, etc.) will be needed, either. All laws must be obeyed while searching for the medallion, including park hours.
The prize, which will be announced closer to the hunt, will be given to the person who delivers the medallion to the Haysville Times booth during the Fall Festival.
Bring your ideas to the next Fall Festival meeting, June 17, at 7 p.m. at the Senior Center.

The Haysville Times
By Barb Walters

Attending classes to learn more about the history and customs of our own ancestors or even cultures we have had no connection with has become very popular. Universities are churning out cross-cultural courses that may be audited by the general public, often carrying a high tuition cost. Right here in Haysville, ongoing classes are being held at the Community Library in Native American Studies. These classes are open to everyone each Monday night from 6 – 9 PM. There is no fee for the classes.
“The program grew out of a relationship between the library and Jesse Langston, who is a longtime Haysville resident,” explained Betty Cattrell of the library. “He has helped many people verify their Indian lineage through research. When he came to us with a plan to lead these classes on Native Americans we thought it was a great idea.”
Currently, the classes focus on the Cherokee language, with certified instructor Josh Webster. Six to eight weeks will be spent on the basics, after which the class will move into Conversational Cherokee.
“We will be offering Native American Studies classes and workshops indefinitely, as long as there is interest and the library continues to allow us to meet there,” explained Langston. He has other classes and workshops on the drawing board, including history, customs, genealogy, cultures, beading, basket making and regalia. “We are getting commitments from instructors, some from out of state, to come in and share their knowledge,” he continued. Classes in the Kiowa, Choctaw and Seminole languages are also planned.
“This program is in its infancy,” said Langston. “It has the potential to include a wide variety of subjects.”
Langston and Cattrell both emphasized that this class is for anyone with an interest, regardless of heritage. The community is invited to come on Monday nights and learn about the rich history of the Native Americans. Contact the Haysville Community Library at 524-5242 for more information.

By User Submitted

Four Haysville girls have been selected as State Finalists in the National American Miss Pageant. Madison Light will be competing for the Jr. Teen Kansas Title, Teighlor Light will be competing for the Pre-Teen Kansas Title, Chandler Light will be competing for the Princess Kansas Title, and Alexandria VanSickle will be competing for the Jr. Pre-Teen Kansas Title. One of the remarkable things is that all three sisters of the Light household made it to the State Finals. All four girls have an opportunity to represent the state of Kansas since they are competing in separate categories and are attending the Pageant representing our hometown of Haysville Kansas.

This pageant is not your typical “Beauty Pageant” the girls were not selected based on their outer appearance, rather they were selected as State Finalists based on their academic accomplishments and extracurricular involvement and achievements. All four girls are straight “A” students and excel in numerous subject areas academically. Madison has been/currently involved in volleyball, track, and softball now for many years. Teighlor excels in singing and is one of the youngest members of one of the most prestigious Vocal Choirs in the state. Chandler excels in all subject areas and is involved in a variety of activities. Alexandria has been s Continue reading “Four Local Girls On Their Way To Compete For State Title”

The Haysville Times
By Patricia Barkley

Diania Pile has finished off her first year at Freeman Elementary with quite a bit of fanfare. In order to recognize the work she has done, she was nominated for the Haysville Times’ Teacher of the Year contest. She received the most nominations and was surprised with the award on Tuesday, May 11, in her classroom, by Times owner and publisher, C.J. Cross. Her students and fellow teachers have been very excited for her.
Pile has always been a Haysville person. She was born on December 17, 1976, in a Wellington hospital and grew up in Haysville, where she has lived her whole life. She attended Haysville schools, including her current place of employment back when it was a middle school, housing the fifth and sixth grades. She graduated from Campus High School in 1996 and went on to college to study elementary education. She had been inspired by her own elementary teachers, some of whom are still at Freeman, where she works now. Continue reading “Diania Pile Wins Teacher of the Year”

The Haysville Times – May 6, 2004 – 10:32 AM
By Angie Gumm
Anyone looking for a goodtime this weekend, should head on over to the Spring Show.
“We’re going to have a car show, craft and commercial booths, horseshoes, a kid’s fishing tournament, lots of food and entertainment,” said Clem Dickerson, one of the festival’s organizers.
The annual event will celebrate its 3rd year on Saturday at Riggs Park. In its first two years, the Spring Show was held the first Saturday in May. This year it was moved to the second Saturday, so it wouldn’t conflict with the Optimist Club’s Car Seat Check.
“We’re hoping it will be a good one,” said Dickerson. “I think [attendants] can have a great time. It’s a relaxing day at the park.”
He also said a lot of people are impressed by the car show, which is hosted by the Haysville Street Rod Association. “You really get an appreciation for how much work people put into their cars.”
“We had, I think, 79 cars come last year, and we’re expecting as many or more this year,” Dickerson said.
“The kids fishing tournament is very popular,” he added. “We seem to have more entries in the horseshoe tournament every year.”
Anyone can register for the events tomorrow. Fishing registration is from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.; horseshoe registration is from 11 a.m. to noon.; and the car show registration 7:30 a.m.
It costs $10 to enter the horseshoe tournament or the car show. There is no cost to attend the show.
“Come have lunch, look at cars, and bring the kids,” said Dickerson. There will be some fun for everyone at the Spring Show.

The Haysville Times – May 3, 2004 – 1:25 PM
By Barb Walters
Five years ago on May 3 the people of Haysville were putting away the dinner dishes and helping children on with their pajamas. The air was still and the sky an eerie yellow –green. Suddenly, a storm ripped through the heart of the city, taking lives, destroying homes, and forever changing the landscape.
The debris has been cleared, wounds have healed and homes have been rebuilt. Nevertheless scars will forever remain on the hearts of those touched by the storm’s fury. Historically significant buildings were wiped out as well as precious mementos, photos and heirlooms.
At the time of the 1999 tornado, Sedgwick County Commissioner Tim Norton was Mayor of Haysville. Before the devastation occurred, Norton recalled, “Like any other good Kansas man, I was standing out on my front steps with the family in the basement.” As the weather got worse, however, he joined his family downstairs. “I remember the lights going out and of feeling that something really bad had happened. Then the phone rang and the city dispatcher said, ‘Oh, Mayor, the Total station is gone.’ I put on a jacket and got in my Blazer to go to the City Building and the rest, as they say, is history.” Continue reading “Five Years Already”