Bus company opens its doors

By PHYLLIS J. ZORN

Hays Daily News

JENNINGS — Area residents got to see the new use of an old building Saturday when Bus and Coach International held an open house in the former Jennings school.

The company bought the former school in August and has been remodeling the building to make it suitable for its headquarters.

On Saturday afternoon, BCI held an open house so the public could see the renovation of the building and get a look at the 2007 BCI Falcon 45 Motor Coach luxury touring coach.

According to Jennings Mayor Bob Jones, the Falcon is an impressive vehicle.

“I got to see it here the other day, and it's an awesome piece of equipment,” Jones said.

The coach is loaded with safety equipment, such as a sudden-impact warning system that alerts the driver when the vehicle is too close to something else, Jones said.

The bus is manufactured in China and Australia, then shipped to Kansas for display and sales, Jones said.

“As soon as they finish this, they're headed to the show in Louisiana,” Jones noted.

He said work on the building has progressed steadily since August.

“They have taken a 1922 brick building and brought it up to the 21st century,” Jones said.

Jones noted that BCI gutted much of the building before adding bathrooms and sheet rocking in office space. It has also been rewired to serve the company's Internet and electrical needs.

Reporter Phyllis Zorn can be reached at (785) 628-1081,

Ext. 137, or by e-mail at phylz@dailynews.net.