Circle K Ranch purchase rejected

? Budget negotiators Saturday rejected again the proposed purchase of land to make a state park in west Kansas.

Kansas Wildlife and Parks Secretary Mike Hayden, a former governor who lives in Lawrence, has been pushing for purchase of the Circle K Ranch in Edwards County for the past two years.

Hayden says the 6,800 acres, owned by the cities of Hays and Russell, could be used as a water conservation project and for recreation, including hunting.

But some rural lawmakers have been vehemently opposed to the state owning the land. Some of the opposition has been personal against Hayden.

State Rep. Jim Morrison, R-Colby, said he would never vote for the project while Hayden, whom he called a “tree-hugger” was secretary.