Haysville Online

The Haysville Times
By Angie Gumm

Because of an effort to reduce the mill levy, the budget of the Haysville Community Library could be up for debate at Monday’s budget workshop.
“I just want to give them a fair amount of money,” said council member Ken Hampton, who brought up the possible reduction. “Our library receives the highest mill levy in Sedgwick County.”
Hampton said that since the budget workshop this Monday he has gotten half a dozen e-mails, telling him the importance of what the library offers.
“I do know the library does offer a lot of good programs,” said Hampton. “They are improving and expanding.”
The council member says he just doesn’t think the library should be a kind of sacred cow, where its budget is beyond examination.
“I’m not for shutting anything down,” he said. “I just don’t think any group should have anything they want, anywhere they want, anytime they want it. You have to be as fair as you can to all the departments.” Continue reading “Library funding jeopardized”

The Haysville Times
By Ken Klein

In the Haysville City Council chambers, it was standing room only as a historic night unfolded that would affect many Haysville citizens. A Public Hearing for the vacation of properties from City boundaries was held, requested by the property owners – the Loibl, Norton, Mosteller, Swenson, Byers, Hying, Clark, Tilson, Knight, Benner, Glidden, Greiving, Whiteman, Valasquez, Hudson, Czajkowski, and Meadows families.
But before that, Council member Mitch Lindsay announced that effective immediately, he was resigning as Council member for the City of Haysville. “I am moving out of my Ward and can no longer represent you”, he said. He packed up his papers and took a seat alongside of the property owners.
In October of 2003, the City had unilaterally annexed the properties of those families. Only two states remain – Kansas and Nebraska – that allow cities to unilaterally annex properties. And just like that time about two years ago, the families lined up, one after the other, for an opportunity to stand behind the podium and address Mayor Armstrong and the City Council to tell them just what they thought.
Chuck Tilson addressed the Council. “Annexation should occur before people buy their homes. Other than police, we receive no extra services for that 40% increase in taxes. The bottom line is – we were forced to be annexed.” Council member Holub asked Tilson, “In future years, how could you continue to maintain your properties without annexation? I drove down near your yard. The driveway really needs attention. Do you think you can maintain it?” “Yes,” said Tilson.
To read more buy this weeks Haysville Times!

If you havent been by the Historic District lately you might want to stop by and check out the newest feature a John Deere tractor located just North of the Blacksmith shop. The bright green and yellow tractor is a nice addition to this Haysville park.

Haysville voters Tuesday approved the $49 million needed for new schools and improvements to existing schools. The results being 836 to 482 votes. For more info on how the money will be spent visit the USD 261 website.

The Haysville Times
By Angie Gumm

Cautiously optimistic” is how Superintendent Dr. John Burke feels about Tuesday’s vote on the school bond issue.
“I think it’s still hard work until the very end,” he said.
A committee that formed to support the bond was busy this week putting up 250 signs all over the district.
After months of waiting, U.S.D. 261 voters will finally have the opportunity to vote on the 49 million dollar bond issue that would bring two new schools to the area.
With every school, except for Ruth Clark Elementary, exceeding its design capacity and an average building age of 45 years old, teachers, principals, administrators and many parents have been working hard to get support for the issue.
“This is a community project,” said Burke. “Not a school board project, not a teacher project, a project for everyone. Every building except Ruth Clark gets something.”
If the bond issue passes, the district andprincipals, teachers and staff to get more input on exactly how the money will be spent. The projected division of funds, though, is pretty much set according to Burke. Continue reading “Its Time: Big Bond Vote To Be Tuesday”

+ Denotes winner

MAYOR
+ BRUCE ARMSTRONG 1,054 / 51%
GEORGE F. (JOE) \EDWARDS II 997 / 48%
WRITE-IN 10 / 0% 2 / 2%

CITY COUNCIL
Ward 1
+ JOE HOLUB 292 / 76%
WRITE-IN 4 / 14%

Ward 2
BRIAN D. EWERT 210 / 45%
+ BILL YOUNGERS 253 / 54%
WRITE-IN

Ward 3
+ PATRICIA L. EWERT 291 / 57%
BOB RARDIN 221 / 43%
WRITE-IN

Ward 4
TOM R. GIBSON 242 / 50%
+ MICHAEL L. STREETS 242 / 50%
WRITE-IN

School Board
GREG CRUM 1,257 / 16%
MARK EASTMAN 1,018 / 13%
+ PHIL HARRIS 1,407 / 18%
+ SETH KONKEL 1,742 / 23%
+ BARBARA A. WALTERS 1,521 / 20%
JEFFREY L. WILSON 652 / 9%
WRITE-IN 16 / 0%
WRITE-IN 3 / 0%
WRITE-IN 1 / 0%

Results obtained from the Sedgwick County Election Office.

Haysville has a new park and playground but this park is different than the others. Instead of the usual playground equipment of swings and slides, youll find concrete slabs, pipes and blue metal ramps. This is the playground of the skater and Haysvilles new skate park. The Old Oaks skate park is located on south Jane street behind the new Bridgewater apartments near the City Works and Water facilities. The official opening and ribbon cutting will be May 2nd at 7:00pm.
Visit our Parks Database for more info on this park.

The Haysville Times
By Angie Gumm

Sometimes bad things happen, even when you “do the right thing” and follow all the rules.
Austin Tyler Gains, a 2003 Campus graduate, was doing the right thing and following the rules last Saturday evening when he and a group of friends were riding their motorcycles on Zoo Blvd., just north of the zoo near Hoover Rd.
Although he was the only one of his group wearing a helmet, Gains was the one who was thrown off of his motorcycle, who subsequently struck a fence post, and the one who died.
“It seems unfair that someone was trying to do the right thing and this happened,” said Austins mother Pam Frieden.
“Life was just looking up for him,” she said.
In December, Austin returned home from Houston, where he had spent a year getting the second half of his two-year degree in automotive technology from the Universal Technical Institute (UTI). A month later he got a job as automotive technician at the west side Schofield Honda in Wichita.
“He loved automotive and shop-anything but the book work. I dont think he would have completed high school if it werent for those classes,” said Frieden, with a gentle laugh.
According to Matt Caton, a manager at Schofield Honda, his 20-year-old employee had found his niche.
“Everybody enjoyed working with him,” said Caton. “He was a hard worker. He liked being here and learning new things. We will definitely miss him.”
The Kmart on 47th and Broadway had employed Austin for three years while he was in high school, and his old co-workers were shocked and saddened by his sudden death.
“He was well-liked here. Everyone [at the store] is devastated,” said one former colleague.
Paola Rojas graduated from Campus with Austin and worked with him at Kmart before he went to UTI.
“He was a hard worker; he never called in sick,” said Rojas. “He was very friendly. He had a lot of friends.”
Besides his friends, Austin has left behind a family who loved him, including four nieces and nephews, who liked to spend time with their uncle.
The shy young man, who spent most of his life in Haysville, going to Rex Elementary and the Haysville Middle School, also left behind his loves of working on his own car, riding his motorcycle, skateboarding and snowboarding.
“Everything he did he wanted to do right,” said Frieden. “He was a good-hearted boy. He was quiet but he really had a big heart.”