HARVEY COUNTY — A man is dead after a weekend hunting accident south of Burrton.

The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched Saturday at 7:10 a.m. to the 8200 block of South Prairie Lake Road.

Reports indicated three people were hunting in a duck blind when one individual accidentally discharged a shotgun. The gunshot fatally wounded one hunter. No one else was injured.

Aaron Snook, 41, of Goddard, was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Sheriff’s Office has concluded its investigation, ruling the death accidental. No foul play was suspected.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573683844307.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HARVEY COUNTY — A man is dead after a weekend hunting accident south of Burrton.The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched Saturday at 7:10 a.m. to the 8200 block of South Prairie Lake Road.Reports indicated three people were hunting in a duck blind when one individual accidentally discharged a shotgun. The gunshot fatally wounded one hunter. No one else was injured.Aaron Snook, 41, of Goddard, was pronounced dead at the scene.The Sheriff’s Office has concluded its investigation, ruling the death accidental. No foul play was suspected.

UPDATE: Goddard man dies after hunting accident in Harvey County

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Police announced an arrest on sex crime charges that took place last week. 

On Wednesday, Dec. 11, detectives with Hutchinson Police Department Investigations Division, Special Operations Division, and Reno County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit arrested Johnathon T. Carson, 41-year-old of Hutchinson, for sex and drug charges.

Indecent Solicitation of a Child to Commit or Submit to an Unlawful Sexual Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child 14-15 YOA, Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Violation of Parole. 

Carson is being held in the Reno County Correctional Facility in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

This case is still under investigation. If you have information regarding it, please contact Reno County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, use your P3Tips App on your smartphone, or call the Hutchinson Police Department at 620-694-2815 and reference case number 2024-49820. 

Any further inquiries about this case should be directed to the Reno County District Attorney’s Office at 620-694-2715. All suspects are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734380497797.png" alt="Carson photo Reno Co." />
 <figcaption>Carson photo Reno Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson Police DepartmentHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Police announced an arrest on sex crime charges that took place last week. On Wednesday, Dec. 11, detectives with Hutchinson Police Department Investigations Division, Special Operations Division, and Reno County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit arrested Johnathon T. Carson, 41-year-old of Hutchinson, for sex and drug charges.Those charges include:Indecent Solicitation of a Child to Commit or Submit to an Unlawful Sexual Act, Electronic Solicitation of a Child 14-15 YOA, Sexual Exploitation of a Child, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Violation of Parole. Carson is being held in the Reno County Correctional Facility in lieu of a $100,000 bond.This case is still under investigation. If you have information regarding it, please contact Reno County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS, use your P3Tips App on your smartphone, or call the Hutchinson Police Department at 620-694-2815 and reference case number 2024-49820. Any further inquiries about this case should be directed to the Reno County District Attorney’s Office at 620-694-2715. All suspects are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

Police announce sex crime arrest

United Way of Reno County, Reno Connections and the Hutchinson Community Foundation are hosting an event that will help residents with saving money on electric bills this winter.

The free event is on Tuesday, Dec. 17 on the second floor of the Hutchinson Public Library and will go from 4 to 6 p.m.

There are several different resources that will be available, including the Hutchinson Fire Department providing winter fire safety tips, plus you can sign up for LIEAP Assistance (Low-Income Energy Assistance Program), get free warm clothing, fill our an application for Project Deserve Assistance home improvements, free weatherization kits (while supplies last) and free smoke detector sign ups.

Individuals that attend are asked to bring their photo ID, proof of income and utility bills.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734367247560.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy United Way of Reno County" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy United Way of Reno County</figcaption>
 </figure>United Way of Reno County, Reno Connections and the Hutchinson Community Foundation are hosting an event that will help residents with saving money on electric bills this winter.The free event is on Tuesday, Dec. 17 on the second floor of the Hutchinson Public Library and will go from 4 to 6 p.m.There are several different resources that will be available, including the Hutchinson Fire Department providing winter fire safety tips, plus you can sign up for LIEAP Assistance (Low-Income Energy Assistance Program), get free warm clothing, fill our an application for Project Deserve Assistance home improvements, free weatherization kits (while supplies last) and free smoke detector sign ups.Individuals that attend are asked to bring their photo ID, proof of income and utility bills.

Free event Tuesday to help with high energy bills

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Major Paul James told Hutch Post Monday morning that Tuesday is the last day to sign up at <a href="http://RegisterToRing.com">RegisterToRing.com</a> to volunteer to be part of the Chiefs Ticket drawing that will take place on Wednesday morning at 7 a.m.

Civitan service club has reached out and they will match $20 bills this week donated at the Dillons on 5th&nbsp;and Adams, and Cross Point Church’s Caffrey Grow Group is matching $20 Bills donated at the Dillons on 30th.

"We are way behind in both kettles and our overall fundraising goal," James said. "People usually wait to do most of their giving after Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving was a week later."

Please keep The Salvation Army in mind as you think of who to give to this year.&nbsp; There are many groups and organizations seeking donations this time of year, but The Salvation Army fell way short last year and they are trying to avoid that this year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731599525507.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Major Paul James told Hutch Post Monday morning that Tuesday is the last day to sign up at <a href="http://RegisterToRing.com">RegisterToRing.com</a> to volunteer to be part of the Chiefs Ticket drawing that will take place on Wednesday morning at 7 a.m.Civitan service club has reached out and they will match $20 bills this week donated at the Dillons on 5th&nbsp;and Adams, and Cross Point Church’s Caffrey Grow Group is matching $20 Bills donated at the Dillons on 30th."We are way behind in both kettles and our overall fundraising goal," James said. "People usually wait to do most of their giving after Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving was a week later."Please keep The Salvation Army in mind as you think of who to give to this year.&nbsp; There are many groups and organizations seeking donations this time of year, but The Salvation Army fell way short last year and they are trying to avoid that this year.

Salvation Army gives update

NEWTON, Kan. — The Harvey County Commission recently approved moving ahead with construction to remodel the county-owned building at 215 S. Pine St. in Newton, and there is an item on Tuesday's meeting agenda to set the amount of changes that can be approved without going through the commission process. The suggestion is that anything under $15,000 be able to be approved by staff.

The commission accepted a bid from Vogts Construction for $1,877,000 for the project. Vogts' was the lowest of four bids received. The project is anticipated to fall under budget - the commission set aside about $4.1 million in its adopted 2025 budget for the total costs of the renovation.

The county began the process to buy the three-story building in 2022. The county had rented the second floor of the facility for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HarveyCountyKSHealth?__cft__[0]=AZXgIUYG3xzZReZDwAz4x03kzEVouNyE38ppG-XL9U4J7GiRFC7K_fy8R111or3mMOvxHwb_i1w5vxykBYFWTzl0wFWC-sU7iuR6Br9O9nUoFNITVvpLTypVCb8xJD5J5K09V93YZUiC2gQMCDJXjuo6U5QJMPo4xIqFjanRyq7NWeTQG7H9QWhEdP1JSsm_NYs&amp;__tn__=-]K*F">Harvey County Health Department</a>&nbsp;since 2015, which remains in the same location after the purchase was finalized.

The Pine Street facility will be renovated to eventually move other county departments into the building. The State of Kansas directed two judgeship positions be added to the Ninth Judicial District in 2022, which will require more judicial space at the Harvey County Courthouse. Utilizing the building on Pine Street for county departments will help alleviate space concerns.

Construction on the Pine Street remodel is scheduled to begin January 6, 2025. The Harvey County Commission meets Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the Harvey County Courthouse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1732048990932.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Harvey County Government on Facebook" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Harvey County Government on Facebook</figcaption>
 </figure>NEWTON, Kan. — The Harvey County Commission recently approved moving ahead with construction to remodel the county-owned building at 215 S. Pine St. in Newton, and there is an item on Tuesday's meeting agenda to set the amount of changes that can be approved without going through the commission process. The suggestion is that anything under $15,000 be able to be approved by staff.The commission accepted a bid from Vogts Construction for $1,877,000 for the project. Vogts' was the lowest of four bids received. The project is anticipated to fall under budget - the commission set aside about $4.1 million in its adopted 2025 budget for the total costs of the renovation.The county began the process to buy the three-story building in 2022. The county had rented the second floor of the facility for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/HarveyCountyKSHealth?__cft__[0]=AZXgIUYG3xzZReZDwAz4x03kzEVouNyE38ppG-XL9U4J7GiRFC7K_fy8R111or3mMOvxHwb_i1w5vxykBYFWTzl0wFWC-sU7iuR6Br9O9nUoFNITVvpLTypVCb8xJD5J5K09V93YZUiC2gQMCDJXjuo6U5QJMPo4xIqFjanRyq7NWeTQG7H9QWhEdP1JSsm_NYs&amp;__tn__=-]K*F">Harvey County Health Department</a>&nbsp;since 2015, which remains in the same location after the purchase was finalized.The Pine Street facility will be renovated to eventually move other county departments into the building. The State of Kansas directed two judgeship positions be added to the Ninth Judicial District in 2022, which will require more judicial space at the Harvey County Courthouse. Utilizing the building on Pine Street for county departments will help alleviate space concerns.Construction on the Pine Street remodel is scheduled to begin January 6, 2025. The Harvey County Commission meets Tuesday at 9 a.m. in the Harvey County Courthouse.

Harvey County Commission to discuss Pine Street change order policy

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The public hearing on the structure at 3405 East 4th Ave. in Hutchinson is scheduled for Tuesday as part of the Hutchinson City Council meeting.

According to agenda documents, on July 11, 2024, the Interim Building Official and Fire Marshal met on-site and determined that the commercial property located at 3405 East 4th Ave. was in violation of City Code and determined to be unsafe for occupancy of the structure and was determined to be detrimental to the safety of the&nbsp;public and tenant.

The building has had a partial collapse, multiple electrical hazards, improper ventilation, no emergency lighting, improper exiting, no fire extinguishers, inoperable fire alarm and suppressions systems. The present tenant also does not have a valid/approved Certificate of Occupancy to legally occupy the structure. The property is owned by Pat Deveny, with a mailing&nbsp;address in Des Moines, lowa and consists of a one-story commercial warehouse, approximately 340,000 sq. ft.

The structure has contained a worm farm, which is not what it was approved to have when the Special Use Permit was issued on it in 2010 and it hasn't had a Certificate of Occupancy for at least four years.

City staff believes that the structure located at 3405 E 4th Avenue is beyond feasible repair, is unsafe and poses a danger to the surrounding neighborhood and should be condemned as an unsafe and dangerous structure.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734191689224.jpeg" alt="Image Courtesy City of Hutchinson" />
 <figcaption>Image Courtesy City of Hutchinson</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The public hearing on the structure at 3405 East 4th Ave. in Hutchinson is scheduled for Tuesday as part of the Hutchinson City Council meeting.According to agenda documents, on July 11, 2024, the Interim Building Official and Fire Marshal met on-site and determined that the commercial property located at 3405 East 4th Ave. was in violation of City Code and determined to be unsafe for occupancy of the structure and was determined to be detrimental to the safety of the&nbsp;public and tenant.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734191730710.jpeg" alt="Image Courtesy City of Hutchinson" />
 <figcaption>Image Courtesy City of Hutchinson</figcaption>
 </figure>The building has had a partial collapse, multiple electrical hazards, improper ventilation, no emergency lighting, improper exiting, no fire extinguishers, inoperable fire alarm and suppressions systems. The present tenant also does not have a valid/approved Certificate of Occupancy to legally occupy the structure. The property is owned by Pat Deveny, with a mailing&nbsp;address in Des Moines, lowa and consists of a one-story commercial warehouse, approximately 340,000 sq. ft.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734191773358.jpeg" alt="Image Courtesy City of Hutchinson" />
 <figcaption>Image Courtesy City of Hutchinson</figcaption>
 </figure>The structure has contained a worm farm, which is not what it was approved to have when the Special Use Permit was issued on it in 2010 and it hasn't had a Certificate of Occupancy for at least four years.City staff believes that the structure located at 3405 E 4th Avenue is beyond feasible repair, is unsafe and poses a danger to the surrounding neighborhood and should be condemned as an unsafe and dangerous structure.

City council to deal with another structure problem Tuesday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Jeff Herndon with the Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita let Hutch Post know about the direct schedule clinics for both vision and audiology that are available at the center.

&nbsp;"If you're in priority groups one through five, you are immediately eligible for eyeglasses," Herndon said. "All you've got to do is call our eye clinic. Our normal number is (316) 685-2221. I realize there's still some folks out there with landlines. If you don't want to incur a long-distance charge, our toll-free number is (888) 878-6881 and then you dial extension 57100. That will connect you with our eye clinic and you can schedule an exam."

If you have low vision, they can help with that, too.

"If you are suffering from a degenerative eye disease you can immediately get enrolled into that," Herndon said. "We've got a lot of great things to supplement those issues. They make an attachment for your eyeglasses where you walk up you point at a sign and it will read that sign to you. The device will also remember up to a hundred people."

If hearing is your issue, the VA can also help.

"If you're below the age of 40, they recommend that you get a hearing exam every two to three years," Herndon said. "If you're over the age of 40, every year. But the bottom line is if you've got tinnitus, ringing in your ears or things of that nature, schedule an appointment with our audiology clinic."

The numbers again are (316) 685-2221 or (888) 878-6881. The extension for audiology is 53041.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734190552093.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Jeff Herndon with the Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita let Hutch Post know about the direct schedule clinics for both vision and audiology that are available at the center.&nbsp;"If you're in priority groups one through five, you are immediately eligible for eyeglasses," Herndon said. "All you've got to do is call our eye clinic. Our normal number is (316) 685-2221. I realize there's still some folks out there with landlines. If you don't want to incur a long-distance charge, our toll-free number is (888) 878-6881 and then you dial extension 57100. That will connect you with our eye clinic and you can schedule an exam."If you have low vision, they can help with that, too."If you are suffering from a degenerative eye disease you can immediately get enrolled into that," Herndon said. "We've got a lot of great things to supplement those issues. They make an attachment for your eyeglasses where you walk up you point at a sign and it will read that sign to you. The device will also remember up to a hundred people."If hearing is your issue, the VA can also help."If you're below the age of 40, they recommend that you get a hearing exam every two to three years," Herndon said. "If you're over the age of 40, every year. But the bottom line is if you've got tinnitus, ringing in your ears or things of that nature, schedule an appointment with our audiology clinic."The numbers again are (316) 685-2221 or (888) 878-6881. The extension for audiology is 53041.

Eye and ear appointments for Veterans in Wichita

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Erica Miller, DVM at Apple Lane Animal Hospital says even if you have an indoor pet, it's important to get them microchipped so they can be found if they ever do get away.

"Another big thing, I think we kind of forget about those holiday parties is knowing your pet, if they might be one that slips out the door easier, an escape artist," Miler said. "Some people coming over to your house may not have pets of their own or be used to like thinking, oh, I got to make sure no one sneaks out, so if your pet might be a flight risk, make sure they're either crated or in their own quiet room where they aren't going to be bothered, so you don't have to worry about them sneaking out those doors at holiday parties."

If you travel with your pet, they must be able to be identified.

"Especially if you go somewhere and you take your pet and they're not used to the surroundings, it's a new place," Miller said. "If they get out,&nbsp; heaven forbid, but having that microchip is going to be the number one way to get your pet back to you safely."

One more note, check how much medicine your pet has before we get into the holidays.

"If you are taking your pet with you, make sure you bring their medication," Miller said. "We do see here where people will be in Hutch visiting family and they forgot their medication at home, so remember to check and make sure you have enough medication to get you through the holidays, as well as bring it with you."

If you have questions, call your veterinarian.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734102685415.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Erica Miller, DVM at Apple Lane Animal Hospital says even if you have an indoor pet, it's important to get them microchipped so they can be found if they ever do get away."Another big thing, I think we kind of forget about those holiday parties is knowing your pet, if they might be one that slips out the door easier, an escape artist," Miler said. "Some people coming over to your house may not have pets of their own or be used to like thinking, oh, I got to make sure no one sneaks out, so if your pet might be a flight risk, make sure they're either crated or in their own quiet room where they aren't going to be bothered, so you don't have to worry about them sneaking out those doors at holiday parties."If you travel with your pet, they must be able to be identified."Especially if you go somewhere and you take your pet and they're not used to the surroundings, it's a new place," Miller said. "If they get out,&nbsp; heaven forbid, but having that microchip is going to be the number one way to get your pet back to you safely."One more note, check how much medicine your pet has before we get into the holidays."If you are taking your pet with you, make sure you bring their medication," Miller said. "We do see here where people will be in Hutch visiting family and they forgot their medication at home, so remember to check and make sure you have enough medication to get you through the holidays, as well as bring it with you."If you have questions, call your veterinarian.

Vet: Get pets microchipped

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Appraiser Michael Plank told Hutch Post it's important for property owners to remember how tax policy is set.

"Go to the meetings of the taxing entities and voice your concerns there," Plank said.&nbsp; "I'm always telling people you cannot protest your taxes with the appraiser, and that's a very important distinction. You can protest, you can come in and talk to me, and you can protest the valuation or the classification which can have tax implications, we all realize that, I think, but you can't just come into our office and complain about taxes.&nbsp; There's not much I can do about that."

It's also important to note that Reno County has a tax burden that is not out of step with the rest of the state.

"In 2023, the county's mill levy of 35.762 mills was the ninth lowest in the state," Plank said. "I'm just talking about the county portion right now, okay, so that's lower than Leavenworth, Butler, which is El Dorado, Ellis, which is Hays, Salina, Manhattan, Lawrence, Ford County, lower than all those, but that's just the county portion.&nbsp; The total average mill levy in Reno County, once you add in all the other taxing districts, city, schools, college, fire, townships all that stuff the average mill levy of 153 mills ranked 58 out of 105 counties so right in the middle, but still lower than Kingman, Sumner, Pratt, Wyandotte and Ford counties to name a few. I just wanted to take that opportunity to dispel the misinformation going around that Reno County has the highest property taxes in the state, it simply just isn't even close."

It's also important that people understand that appraisal is by class of property, it isn't changed because of who owns what.

"We don't see names or ownership or anything like that when we have to select a specific value for each specific property," Plank said. "When we're doing that like we don't see names or ownership or anything like that we're just looking at the numbers available to us and the information that we have on record for that specific property."

If you have questions for the appraiser's office, give them a call at (620) 694-2915.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1733330895091.jpeg" alt="Reno County Appraiser Michael Plank. File photo by Sandra Milburn." />
 <figcaption>Reno County Appraiser Michael Plank. File photo by Sandra Milburn.</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Appraiser Michael Plank told Hutch Post it's important for property owners to remember how tax policy is set."Go to the meetings of the taxing entities and voice your concerns there," Plank said.&nbsp; "I'm always telling people you cannot protest your taxes with the appraiser, and that's a very important distinction. You can protest, you can come in and talk to me, and you can protest the valuation or the classification which can have tax implications, we all realize that, I think, but you can't just come into our office and complain about taxes.&nbsp; There's not much I can do about that."It's also important to note that Reno County has a tax burden that is not out of step with the rest of the state."In 2023, the county's mill levy of 35.762 mills was the ninth lowest in the state," Plank said. "I'm just talking about the county portion right now, okay, so that's lower than Leavenworth, Butler, which is El Dorado, Ellis, which is Hays, Salina, Manhattan, Lawrence, Ford County, lower than all those, but that's just the county portion.&nbsp; The total average mill levy in Reno County, once you add in all the other taxing districts, city, schools, college, fire, townships all that stuff the average mill levy of 153 mills ranked 58 out of 105 counties so right in the middle, but still lower than Kingman, Sumner, Pratt, Wyandotte and Ford counties to name a few. I just wanted to take that opportunity to dispel the misinformation going around that Reno County has the highest property taxes in the state, it simply just isn't even close."It's also important that people understand that appraisal is by class of property, it isn't changed because of who owns what."We don't see names or ownership or anything like that when we have to select a specific value for each specific property," Plank said. "When we're doing that like we don't see names or ownership or anything like that we're just looking at the numbers available to us and the information that we have on record for that specific property."If you have questions for the appraiser's office, give them a call at (620) 694-2915.

Appraisers set values, elected bodies levy taxes

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/category/obituaries">Click&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners</a>.

Hutch Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/35522b08-cd30-49e1-93e0-85962282628b">PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW OBITUARY POLICY.</a> Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="mailto:hutchpost@eagleradio.net">hutchpost@eagleradio.net</a>.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank"> </a>

<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573140944016.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hutchpost.com/category/obituaries">Click&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners</a>.Hutch Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/35522b08-cd30-49e1-93e0-85962282628b">PLEASE CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE NEW OBITUARY POLICY.</a> Funeral homes can send notices to <a href="mailto:hutchpost@eagleradio.net">hutchpost@eagleradio.net</a>.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank"> </a><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.

Recent obituaries and service times

Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;——————————————&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

12/15/2024 9:35 PM-Thomas	Randolph Sanders-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction); Criminal Discharge of a Firearm; Discharge Firearm upon/from any Public Road, Right-of-Way; Battery on LEO; Phys contact county/city LEO; Possession of a Firearm Under the Influence; Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant; Leave the scene of an accident; Property Damage &lt; $1000; DUI; 1st conv; incapable of safely driving

12/15/2024 4:54 PM-Michael	Raymond Sifuentes-Failure to Appear&nbsp;

12/15/2024 3:47 PM-Justin	Michael Riggs-Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry manner; Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (2nd conviction in 5 yrs); Viol protection order; Abuse order; Probation Violation&nbsp;

12/15/2024 12:54 PM-Christopher	Lee Martinez-Probation Violation; Failure to Appear&nbsp;

12/15/2024 10:11 AM-Ronald	Dean Dymond Jr.-DL Violation; No Drivers License&nbsp;

12/15/2024 8:00 AM-Destani	Michell Porter-Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500; Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant

12/15/2024 3:59 AM-Edwin	L Hoover-DUI; 1st conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+; Interference with Law Enforcement; Falsely report a Misd crime intending to obstruct&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681919611658.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;——————————————&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;12/15/2024 9:35 PM-Thomas	Randolph Sanders-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction); Criminal Discharge of a Firearm; Discharge Firearm upon/from any Public Road, Right-of-Way; Battery on LEO; Phys contact county/city LEO; Possession of a Firearm Under the Influence; Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant; Leave the scene of an accident; Property Damage &lt; $1000; DUI; 1st conv; incapable of safely driving12/15/2024 4:54 PM-Michael	Raymond Sifuentes-Failure to Appear&nbsp;12/15/2024 3:47 PM-Justin	Michael Riggs-Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry manner; Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (2nd conviction in 5 yrs); Viol protection order; Abuse order; Probation Violation&nbsp;12/15/2024 12:54 PM-Christopher	Lee Martinez-Probation Violation; Failure to Appear&nbsp;12/15/2024 10:11 AM-Ronald	Dean Dymond Jr.-DL Violation; No Drivers License&nbsp;12/15/2024 8:00 AM-Destani	Michell Porter-Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500; Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant12/15/2024 3:59 AM-Edwin	L Hoover-DUI; 1st conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+; Interference with Law Enforcement; Falsely report a Misd crime intending to obstruct&nbsp;

Daily Bookings

BOB KENYON Special to Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Net Zero home produces as much electricity as it consumes. To reach that goal, you'll need a solar system. You will need to optimize your envelope. If those steps fail to reach your goals, you’ll want to consider consuming less electricity.

Frequently, I would tell my children: There are two ways to have more money, one is to make more and the other is to spend less. The same could be said about the two ways to reach net zero: Build/remodel your home to be super insulated and airtight, add more solar panels, or use less electricity.

We all know the obvious savings: turn off lights when not in use, keep the thermostat as high as you can bear in the summer and as low as you can bear in the winter. Buy a thick wool sweater for the winter and insulated slippers. I sleep great at 55 in the winter and bought the Mrs. an electric blanket to keep the peace. A toilet seat warmer may be the next peacemaker. Close curtains to prevent sunlight entering in the summer and open them in the winter when the sun is shining.

Whilst visiting my brother, I inquired if there was something wrong with his water heater because when I took a shower, I used 100% hot water and didn’t need to add cold water to be comfortable. He was an engineer and thinks very much like an engineer. He reasoned it made no sense to pay to heat the water to a temperature that requires you add cold to lower the temperature. I hadn’t thought about that - you wouldn’t heat your home to be too hot then run the air conditioning to make it comfortable. 

Turn down your water heater so you use only 100% hot water for your shower. Or better yet, heat the&nbsp;water only when you need it - why pay to keep water hot 24/7 when you only need it to shower and wash dishes- 20 minutes a day at most. We have good results washing clothes in cold water. Put your hot water heater on vacation mode when you are gone for extended periods. Instant hot water heaters are worthy of consideration.

A 50- to 60-gallon storage tank is fine for up to three people, an 80-gallon tank for up to&nbsp;four people, and a larger one for as many as six people. A typical shower uses about 10 gallons of hot water, but the amount can range from 3 to 25 gallons depending on the length of the shower and the flow rate of the shower head. A 5-minute shower with a low-flow shower head uses about 10 gallons, while a 5-minute shower with a standard shower head uses about 12.5 gallons. An 8-minute shower with a water-saving shower head uses about 15 gallons. For just the two of us, a 40 gallon Energy Star tank should be fine. Seems to me heating 40 gallons would be half as much as heating 80 gallons. Rheem offers a tank connected to WiFi so you can turn off the tank when you go on vacation and turn it back on when you’re driving home with your smartphone.

Instant hot water heater: Rather than maintaining a 50 gallon tank of hot water 24/7, consider a tankless hot water heater. These only heat water when you need it. With a traditional water tank you have to run the faucet long enough to remove all the cold water between the faucet and the tank. Wasting water should be avoided. When you turn the faucet off, all the hot water from the faucet to the tank just sits in the pipe and cools off. The tankless heater is right at the sink or shower. The upfront cost is a bit higher, however, the U.S. Department of Energy reports a tankless water heater is 24% to 34% more energy-efficient than storage tank water heaters.

LED (Light Emitting Diode) light bulbs: Save money on your electric bill by switching to energy saving, bright LED lights. LED lighting products produce light up to 90% more efficiently than incandescent light bulbs. We grew up knowing that a 100 watt lightbulb was bright, 60 watt was medium and 40 watt was dim. Since we are familiar with those units, they are still used - sort of. A “100 watt” LED bulb actually only uses 16 watts - an 84% savings. While they are more expensive, they should last up to 22 years! We may never change a lightbulb again! You can also buy smart light bulbs which allow you to tell Alexa or Google Home to turn off the light or change colors.

Induction stove: This new technology uses much less electricity. An induction cooktop is a stove top that uses electromagnetic energy to interact with compatible pots and pans and turns them into their own heat source. This electromagnetic current passes through coiled copper wire underneath the surface of the cooktop which creates a magnetic current within the cookware, heating it up. You can actually touch the stove and will not burn yourself. The burner is off the moment you pick up that pan. Certain pans will not work with this stove though most will. If a magnet sticks to your pan, it will&nbsp;work. Cooking is much faster so a little experimentation would be wise. When you turn your cooktop on, a current begins to flow through a copper coil under the ceramic glass, creating a magnetic field around it. When an induction compatible pot is placed on the&nbsp;cooktop, the magnetic field creates electrical currents inside the pan, turning the cookware into a “heater.” One of the most significant benefits of this type of electric cooktop is that it produces a rapid rise and fall in temperature. So not only will food and water come to temperature quickly, the cooktop cools off rapidly when the pan is removed from the surface.

Smart power strips/leakage: You might be surprised how much energy you use when you believe everything is off. Some power strips have a light to indicate it’s plugged in.

My coffee pot keeps water hot 24/7 (not giving up my Bunn coffee maker). The clock on your oven takes some electricity. Smart power strips automatically turn off electricity to&nbsp;all the things you don't need--when you turn off your TV, a smart power strip turns off power to DVD players, home theater components, cable boxes, game consoles and so&nbsp;on. Chances are you have upwards of 25 appliances in your house that suck power&nbsp;from your system whether they are on or not, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Some call&nbsp;those appliances energy vampires. The new generation of Power Strips has quietly evolved to confront the energy vampire problem head-on, without losing any of those old winning personality traits, like lots of outlets and surge protection.

Heat pump/geothermal: The temperature of soil 3 or 4 feet down maintains a constant 55 degrees fahrenheit. An unheated basement stays far warmer than the air on a cold winter day. A traditional heat pump pulls heat out of the outside air in the winter and pulls cools out of the air in the summer. If you’ve walked by your refrigerator with bare feet, you’ll notice the warm air coming out of the bottom. The refrigerator pulls heat out of the inside. As you might imagine, it’s hard to pull heat out of winter air. A geothermal heat pump circulates water through pipes 4 feet below the surface. The water will stay 55 degrees year round. It’s much easier to pull heat from 55 degree water than 10 degree winter air. Likewise it’s easier to pull cool from 55 degree water than 100 degree summer air.

Math: So how do you know how much electricity you’re using? You could just look at your electric bill or do the calculations yourself. Unsurprisingly, an incandescent 100 watt lightbulb uses 100 watts per hour. Assume it’s on for 8 hours per day for 365 days.That’s 292,000 watts. Divide by 1,000 and that’s 292 kilowatts. If your electric company charges 7 cents per kWh, that’s $20.44 per year. The same LED 100 watt equiv uses 16 watts per hour for an annual total of $3.27 saving you $17.17 per light&nbsp;bulb! If the bulb cost $10, it paid for itself a little over a half a year and will last up to 22 years. Play the long game - replace your bulbs with LED, or minimally, when they go out.

Anyone enjoy a cold craft brew? The Sandhills Brewery has solar on their roof and a free EV charger. Came for the charge, stayed for the beer.

<a href="mailto:BobKenyon@gmail.com">BobKenyon@gmail.com</a>

● <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/babd9a2b-58cc-49ad-b60c-0b1a9267c84b">What I Learned in First Two Months of EV Ownership</a>

● <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/44660603-db16-46b7-839b-e0711869eabd">Did I just buy a Net Zero House?</a>

● <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/420e2432-973a-4e26-b036-e6e3b120a21f">Net Zero: Optimize Your Envelope</a>

● <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/814217c0-0ac6-4533-82e0-0184495ab78f">Net Zero: Solar 101</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729690809614.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>BOB KENYON Special to Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Net Zero home produces as much electricity as it consumes. To reach that goal, you'll need a solar system. You will need to optimize your envelope. If those steps fail to reach your goals, you’ll want to consider consuming less electricity.Frequently, I would tell my children: There are two ways to have more money, one is to make more and the other is to spend less. The same could be said about the two ways to reach net zero: Build/remodel your home to be super insulated and airtight, add more solar panels, or use less electricity.We all know the obvious savings: turn off lights when not in use, keep the thermostat as high as you can bear in the summer and as low as you can bear in the winter. Buy a thick wool sweater for the winter and insulated slippers. I sleep great at 55 in the winter and bought the Mrs. an electric blanket to keep the peace. A toilet seat warmer may be the next peacemaker. Close curtains to prevent sunlight entering in the summer and open them in the winter when the sun is shining.Whilst visiting my brother, I inquired if there was something wrong with his water heater because when I took a shower, I used 100% hot water and didn’t need to add cold water to be comfortable. He was an engineer and thinks very much like an engineer. He reasoned it made no sense to pay to heat the water to a temperature that requires you add cold to lower the temperature. I hadn’t thought about that - you wouldn’t heat your home to be too hot then run the air conditioning to make it comfortable. Turn down your water heater so you use only 100% hot water for your shower. Or better yet, heat the&nbsp;water only when you need it - why pay to keep water hot 24/7 when you only need it to shower and wash dishes- 20 minutes a day at most. We have good results washing clothes in cold water. Put your hot water heater on vacation mode when you are gone for extended periods. Instant hot water heaters are worthy of consideration.A 50- to 60-gallon storage tank is fine for up to three people, an 80-gallon tank for up to&nbsp;four people, and a larger one for as many as six people. A typical shower uses about 10 gallons of hot water, but the amount can range from 3 to 25 gallons depending on the length of the shower and the flow rate of the shower head. A 5-minute shower with a low-flow shower head uses about 10 gallons, while a 5-minute shower with a standard shower head uses about 12.5 gallons. An 8-minute shower with a water-saving shower head uses about 15 gallons. For just the two of us, a 40 gallon Energy Star tank should be fine. Seems to me heating 40 gallons would be half as much as heating 80 gallons. Rheem offers a tank connected to WiFi so you can turn off the tank when you go on vacation and turn it back on when you’re driving home with your smartphone.Instant hot water heater: Rather than maintaining a 50 gallon tank of hot water 24/7, consider a tankless hot water heater. These only heat water when you need it. With a traditional water tank you have to run the faucet long enough to remove all the cold water between the faucet and the tank. Wasting water should be avoided. When you turn the faucet off, all the hot water from the faucet to the tank just sits in the pipe and cools off. The tankless heater is right at the sink or shower. The upfront cost is a bit higher, however, the U.S. Department of Energy reports a tankless water heater is 24% to 34% more energy-efficient than storage tank water heaters.LED (Light Emitting Diode) light bulbs: Save money on your electric bill by switching to energy saving, bright LED lights. LED lighting products produce light up to 90% more efficiently than incandescent light bulbs. We grew up knowing that a 100 watt lightbulb was bright, 60 watt was medium and 40 watt was dim. Since we are familiar with those units, they are still used - sort of. A “100 watt” LED bulb actually only uses 16 watts - an 84% savings. While they are more expensive, they should last up to 22 years! We may never change a lightbulb again! You can also buy smart light bulbs which allow you to tell Alexa or Google Home to turn off the light or change colors.Induction stove: This new technology uses much less electricity. An induction cooktop is a stove top that uses electromagnetic energy to interact with compatible pots and pans and turns them into their own heat source. This electromagnetic current passes through coiled copper wire underneath the surface of the cooktop which creates a magnetic current within the cookware, heating it up. You can actually touch the stove and will not burn yourself. The burner is off the moment you pick up that pan. Certain pans will not work with this stove though most will. If a magnet sticks to your pan, it will&nbsp;work. Cooking is much faster so a little experimentation would be wise. When you turn your cooktop on, a current begins to flow through a copper coil under the ceramic glass, creating a magnetic field around it. When an induction compatible pot is placed on the&nbsp;cooktop, the magnetic field creates electrical currents inside the pan, turning the cookware into a “heater.” One of the most significant benefits of this type of electric cooktop is that it produces a rapid rise and fall in temperature. So not only will food and water come to temperature quickly, the cooktop cools off rapidly when the pan is removed from the surface.Smart power strips/leakage: You might be surprised how much energy you use when you believe everything is off. Some power strips have a light to indicate it’s plugged in.My coffee pot keeps water hot 24/7 (not giving up my Bunn coffee maker). The clock on your oven takes some electricity. Smart power strips automatically turn off electricity to&nbsp;all the things you don't need--when you turn off your TV, a smart power strip turns off power to DVD players, home theater components, cable boxes, game consoles and so&nbsp;on. Chances are you have upwards of 25 appliances in your house that suck power&nbsp;from your system whether they are on or not, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Some call&nbsp;those appliances energy vampires. The new generation of Power Strips has quietly evolved to confront the energy vampire problem head-on, without losing any of those old winning personality traits, like lots of outlets and surge protection.Heat pump/geothermal: The temperature of soil 3 or 4 feet down maintains a constant 55 degrees fahrenheit. An unheated basement stays far warmer than the air on a cold winter day. A traditional heat pump pulls heat out of the outside air in the winter and pulls cools out of the air in the summer. If you’ve walked by your refrigerator with bare feet, you’ll notice the warm air coming out of the bottom. The refrigerator pulls heat out of the inside. As you might imagine, it’s hard to pull heat out of winter air. A geothermal heat pump circulates water through pipes 4 feet below the surface. The water will stay 55 degrees year round. It’s much easier to pull heat from 55 degree water than 10 degree winter air. Likewise it’s easier to pull cool from 55 degree water than 100 degree summer air.Math: So how do you know how much electricity you’re using? You could just look at your electric bill or do the calculations yourself. Unsurprisingly, an incandescent 100 watt lightbulb uses 100 watts per hour. Assume it’s on for 8 hours per day for 365 days.That’s 292,000 watts. Divide by 1,000 and that’s 292 kilowatts. If your electric company charges 7 cents per kWh, that’s $20.44 per year. The same LED 100 watt equiv uses 16 watts per hour for an annual total of $3.27 saving you $17.17 per light&nbsp;bulb! If the bulb cost $10, it paid for itself a little over a half a year and will last up to 22 years. Play the long game - replace your bulbs with LED, or minimally, when they go out.Anyone enjoy a cold craft brew? The Sandhills Brewery has solar on their roof and a free EV charger. Came for the charge, stayed for the beer.Comments? Questions? Drop me a line.<a href="mailto:BobKenyon@gmail.com">BobKenyon@gmail.com</a>Previous articles:● <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/babd9a2b-58cc-49ad-b60c-0b1a9267c84b">What I Learned in First Two Months of EV Ownership</a>● <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/44660603-db16-46b7-839b-e0711869eabd">Did I just buy a Net Zero House?</a>● <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/420e2432-973a-4e26-b036-e6e3b120a21f">Net Zero: Optimize Your Envelope</a>● <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/814217c0-0ac6-4533-82e0-0184495ab78f">Net Zero: Solar 101</a>

Net Zero: Consume less

KINGMAN COUNTY, Kan. — Traffic on U.S. 54 in Kingman County is scheduled to be switched onto newly constructed pavement on Monday, Dec. 16, as part of the ongoing reconstruction project.

The Kansas Department of Transportation project involves full-depth pavement reconstruction, grading and replacement of bridge decks over the K-14 interchange. The project spans just over 7 miles, from K-14 east to the Sedgwick County line.

Work will continue over the winter on this project, and traffic on the four-lane highway will continue to be restricted to one lane each way, with traffic shifted to the same side of the&nbsp;highway. Motorists should be prepared to drive at reduced speeds. At the K-14 interchange, ramp closures may occur intermittently, with traffic redirected to nearby interchanges as needed.

Emery Sapp &amp; Sons of Columbia, Missouri, is the primary contractor for the $35,970,827 project.

For updated information on this and other KDOT highway projects and road conditions across the state, go to <a href="http://www.kandrive.gov">www.kandrive.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734186137042.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>J.B. WILSON KDOTKINGMAN COUNTY, Kan. — Traffic on U.S. 54 in Kingman County is scheduled to be switched onto newly constructed pavement on Monday, Dec. 16, as part of the ongoing reconstruction project.The Kansas Department of Transportation project involves full-depth pavement reconstruction, grading and replacement of bridge decks over the K-14 interchange. The project spans just over 7 miles, from K-14 east to the Sedgwick County line.Work will continue over the winter on this project, and traffic on the four-lane highway will continue to be restricted to one lane each way, with traffic shifted to the same side of the&nbsp;highway. Motorists should be prepared to drive at reduced speeds. At the K-14 interchange, ramp closures may occur intermittently, with traffic redirected to nearby interchanges as needed.Emery Sapp &amp; Sons of Columbia, Missouri, is the primary contractor for the $35,970,827 project.For updated information on this and other KDOT highway projects and road conditions across the state, go to <a href="http://www.kandrive.gov">www.kandrive.gov</a>.

U.S. 54 traffic switch starts Dec. 16 in Kingman County

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; Hutchinson Human Relations Officer J.K. Vann let Hutch Post know the schedule of events for the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. observance has been released.&nbsp;

If you have questions or want to become a vendor for the January 18 fair, call Vann at the Human Relations Office at (620) 694-2608.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734133527722.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; Hutchinson Human Relations Officer J.K. Vann let Hutch Post know the schedule of events for the 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. observance has been released.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734133577174.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734133603353.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>If you have questions or want to become a vendor for the January 18 fair, call Vann at the Human Relations Office at (620) 694-2608.

MLK Jr. events scheduled

MARION COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 10 p.m. Saturday in Marion County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Toyota Camry driven by Alicia D.&nbsp;Warwick, 38, Peabody, was northbound on Kansas 15 at U.S. 56 seven miles west of Hillsboro. 

The driver failed to stop at the stop sign and the car struck the trailer of an eastbound 2021 Freightliner semi driven by Alfred S. Johnson, 34, Hockley, Texas.

Warwick was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported Jost Funeral Home. EMS transported two passengers in the car 14-year-old Jason Ortiz and 14-year-old Gabe Glenn to Wesley Medical Center. The KHP did not reported the hometowns of the teens. All four were properly restrained, according to the KHP.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704897105967.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MARION COUNTY — One person died in an accident just before 10 p.m. Saturday in Marion County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Toyota Camry driven by Alicia D.&nbsp;Warwick, 38, Peabody, was northbound on Kansas 15 at U.S. 56 seven miles west of Hillsboro. The driver failed to stop at the stop sign and the car struck the trailer of an eastbound 2021 Freightliner semi driven by Alfred S. Johnson, 34, Hockley, Texas.Warwick was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported Jost Funeral Home. EMS transported two passengers in the car 14-year-old Jason Ortiz and 14-year-old Gabe Glenn to Wesley Medical Center. The KHP did not reported the hometowns of the teens. All four were properly restrained, according to the KHP.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Kan. woman dead, 2 boys hospitalized after car strikes semi's trailer

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The official bids for Phase II of the Woodie Seat Freeway project have come in and are up for approval by the Hutchinson City Council at the council's meeting on Tuesday.

According to agenda documents,&nbsp;Phase II will consist of: bridge demolition at Ave A and Ave B, removal of the elevated roadway including the trumpet on-ramp, and excavation and hauling of dirt spoils. Ave A will be&nbsp;reconstructed with an at-grade roundabout interchange with Woodie Seat Freeway, and new concrete pavement roadway from Adams St. to Madison St., this section will also include installing a new water main. Traffic signal improvements at Ave A and Adams St. will modernize the intersection with Camera Detection. New multi-use trails will be installed connecting Ave C to Ave A, with an extension north to Sherman St.

This project was designed by WSP, JEO, and the City of Hutchinson Engineering Division. WSP designed the roadway reconstruction plan set, Street (Set 1 of 2). Engineering staff designed the new water main plan set with review and seal by JEO, Waterline (Set 2 of 2). This project has an anticipated construction completion date of January 31, 2026.

Ave C Bridge repairs are not included in this contract. The repairs are expected to be congruent with the Woodie Seat Freeway - Phase II project consisting of full depth repairs to the center median and outside barriers. The bridge deck will receive patching and a Portland Cement Concrete Overlay. The Ave C Bridge plan set is currently in review with WATCO Railway.

The low bid on the Phase II project is from&nbsp;Dondlinger &amp; Sons Construction Co., Inc. in the amount of $3,929,106.90. The Hutchinson City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734194086845.jpeg" alt="Image Courtesy City of Hutchinson" />
 <figcaption>Image Courtesy City of Hutchinson</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The official bids for Phase II of the Woodie Seat Freeway project have come in and are up for approval by the Hutchinson City Council at the council's meeting on Tuesday.According to agenda documents,&nbsp;Phase II will consist of: bridge demolition at Ave A and Ave B, removal of the elevated roadway including the trumpet on-ramp, and excavation and hauling of dirt spoils. Ave A will be&nbsp;reconstructed with an at-grade roundabout interchange with Woodie Seat Freeway, and new concrete pavement roadway from Adams St. to Madison St., this section will also include installing a new water main. Traffic signal improvements at Ave A and Adams St. will modernize the intersection with Camera Detection. New multi-use trails will be installed connecting Ave C to Ave A, with an extension north to Sherman St.This project was designed by WSP, JEO, and the City of Hutchinson Engineering Division. WSP designed the roadway reconstruction plan set, Street (Set 1 of 2). Engineering staff designed the new water main plan set with review and seal by JEO, Waterline (Set 2 of 2). This project has an anticipated construction completion date of January 31, 2026.Ave C Bridge repairs are not included in this contract. The repairs are expected to be congruent with the Woodie Seat Freeway - Phase II project consisting of full depth repairs to the center median and outside barriers. The bridge deck will receive patching and a Portland Cement Concrete Overlay. The Ave C Bridge plan set is currently in review with WATCO Railway.The low bid on the Phase II project is from&nbsp;Dondlinger &amp; Sons Construction Co., Inc. in the amount of $3,929,106.90. The Hutchinson City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.&nbsp;

Official bids for Woodie Seat project on Tuesday agenda

Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;——————————————&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

12/15/2024 12:56 AM-Jordan	Daniel Palmateer-Failure to Appear

12/14/2024 9:20 PM-Mary	Elizabeth Fisher-Failure to Appear

12/14/2024 9:06 PM-Nolan	Chance White-Indecent Solicitation of a Child; Unknown Circumstances; Electronic Solicitation; Believes Child to be 14-15YOA&nbsp;

12/14/2024 10:09 AM-Richard	Robert Knapp-Probation Violation

12/14/2024 9:08 AM-Jasmine	Dawn Espinoza-Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

12/14/2024 4:11 AM-Brock	Ethan Neill-DUI; 1st conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+; Possess, Consume, Purchase Alcoholic Liquor/CMB by 18-20 YOA; 1st Conviction&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681919634177.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;——————————————&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;12/15/2024 12:56 AM-Jordan	Daniel Palmateer-Failure to Appear12/14/2024 9:20 PM-Mary	Elizabeth Fisher-Failure to Appear12/14/2024 9:06 PM-Nolan	Chance White-Indecent Solicitation of a Child; Unknown Circumstances; Electronic Solicitation; Believes Child to be 14-15YOA&nbsp;12/14/2024 10:09 AM-Richard	Robert Knapp-Probation Violation12/14/2024 9:08 AM-Jasmine	Dawn Espinoza-Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv12/14/2024 4:11 AM-Brock	Ethan Neill-DUI; 1st conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+; Possess, Consume, Purchase Alcoholic Liquor/CMB by 18-20 YOA; 1st Conviction&nbsp;

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — For over 30 years, New Beginnings has been helping individuals transition out of homelessness and poverty. 

Now, they’re taking a bold step forward with the Small House Project, a unique initiative that combines affordable housing, job training, and environmental sustainability. 

The project features regenerative housing that revitalizes vacant lots, reduces labor costs by 55%, and increases energy efficiency by 60%—all while offering affordable homes to those in need. The first two homes, built using SIPs (Structurally Insulated Panels), are designed for individuals and small families, providing them with a fresh start and an opportunity for homeownership. 

Thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), this project is not just about housing—it’s about creating long-term community impact, from workforce development to economic opportunity. 

With plans for future panel manufacturing and local job training, this is just the beginning! Learn more about this exciting project and how it’s helping build a brighter, more sustainable future!&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

See the video on the New Beginnings project <a href="https://www.renocountyhousing.com/post/new-beginnings-creates-unique-small-house-project-for-affordable-housing">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734176342950.jpeg" alt="New Beginnings-Image Courtesy Reno County Housing" />
 <figcaption>New Beginnings-Image Courtesy Reno County Housing</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HutchinsonHUTCHINSON, Kan. — For over 30 years, New Beginnings has been helping individuals transition out of homelessness and poverty. Now, they’re taking a bold step forward with the Small House Project, a unique initiative that combines affordable housing, job training, and environmental sustainability. The project features regenerative housing that revitalizes vacant lots, reduces labor costs by 55%, and increases energy efficiency by 60%—all while offering affordable homes to those in need. The first two homes, built using SIPs (Structurally Insulated Panels), are designed for individuals and small families, providing them with a fresh start and an opportunity for homeownership. Thanks to funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), this project is not just about housing—it’s about creating long-term community impact, from workforce development to economic opportunity. With plans for future panel manufacturing and local job training, this is just the beginning! Learn more about this exciting project and how it’s helping build a brighter, more sustainable future!&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;See the video on the New Beginnings project <a href="https://www.renocountyhousing.com/post/new-beginnings-creates-unique-small-house-project-for-affordable-housing">here</a>.

New Beginnings launches Small House Project

Country 102.9's&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/patjames/">Pat James</a>&nbsp;brings you some ideas on events to attend this weekend around the Hutchinson area. Click the play button to listen.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://hutchpost.com/category/podcasts">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to listen to more Hutch Post podcasts on demand! <a target="_blank" href="https://hutchpost.com/pages/community-calendar">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to submit an event for this podcast or to see area events listed on the Visit Hutch Event Calendar.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701449832848.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Country 102.9's&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/patjames/">Pat James</a>&nbsp;brings you some ideas on events to attend this weekend around the Hutchinson area. Click the play button to listen.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <div><iframe title="🎧 LISTEN: 'Happening Around Hutch' this weekend (Dec 14-15)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=rtqrk-176a37b-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe></div><a target="_blank" href="https://hutchpost.com/category/podcasts">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to listen to more Hutch Post podcasts on demand! <a target="_blank" href="https://hutchpost.com/pages/community-calendar">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to submit an event for this podcast or to see area events listed on the Visit Hutch Event Calendar.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎧 LISTEN: 'Happening Around Hutch' this weekend 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; The results are in! Last week’s $20 Bill Challenge resulted in (92) $20 Bills, which totals $1,840.

This also resulted in our largest daily kettle total of the season, which helps The Salvation Army to get closer to the pace of where they need to be to reach their kettle goal.

“Typically, we only have around $300-$500 in $20 Bills and it definitely made it a lot more exciting while counting buckets. However, we’re excited, because we only matched $1,840 of the $8,000 match that donors gave”, said Major James. Those donors have agreed to continue to encourage the community again for the next two Saturdays.

This Saturday will be another $20 Bill Challenge where every $20 bill is matched, but it will also be The National “I’ll Fight Day” Challenge.

The name “I’ll Fight Day” is in honor of the final sermon given by William Booth, co-founder of The Salvation Army. As he stood at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England to over 7,000 Salvationists, Booth's final words summed up the heart and mission of The Salvation Army.

“While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight;

While children go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight;

While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight;

While there is a poor lost girl upon the streets,

While there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight;

“We generally think about the hundreds of families who come to The Salvation Army for Christmas Food Boxes and well over 1100 children who will receive toys this year, but we actually help over 12% of the community as they come through our doors over the course of a year.

Most who come to The Salvation Army are facing decisions of whether to pay rent, utilities, or buy food and clothing for their family, and this year has been more difficult than most years”, said Major James.

The challenge of “I’ll Fight Day” is for others to come along side of The Salvation Army to fight for Hope in the lives of our community members. Currently, The Salvation Army is down quite a bit due to Thanksgiving being a week later in the year, and people are just really starting to give. The Salvation Army has also had to spend more towards non-perishables than they have in years past. “It’s a great feeling to be able to make it possible for families to provide for their loved ones. We just hope people will join the fight as we are struggling with our budget.”, said Major James.

You can help The Salvation Army “Fight” by your generous financial donations, as The Salvation Army is well behind it’s budgeted needs this year. 

This can also be done through volunteering to ring bells by going to <a href="http://registertoring.com">registertoring.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731599525507.png" alt="salvation army kettle.png" />
 <figcaption>salvation army kettle.png</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson Salvation ArmyHUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; The results are in! Last week’s $20 Bill Challenge resulted in (92) $20 Bills, which totals $1,840.This also resulted in our largest daily kettle total of the season, which helps The Salvation Army to get closer to the pace of where they need to be to reach their kettle goal.“Typically, we only have around $300-$500 in $20 Bills and it definitely made it a lot more exciting while counting buckets. However, we’re excited, because we only matched $1,840 of the $8,000 match that donors gave”, said Major James. Those donors have agreed to continue to encourage the community again for the next two Saturdays.This Saturday will be another $20 Bill Challenge where every $20 bill is matched, but it will also be The National “I’ll Fight Day” Challenge.The name “I’ll Fight Day” is in honor of the final sermon given by William Booth, co-founder of The Salvation Army. As he stood at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England to over 7,000 Salvationists, Booth's final words summed up the heart and mission of The Salvation Army.“While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight;While children go hungry, as they do now, I'll fight;While men go to prison, in and out, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight;While there is a poor lost girl upon the streets,While there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I'll fight;I'll fight to the very end!”“We generally think about the hundreds of families who come to The Salvation Army for Christmas Food Boxes and well over 1100 children who will receive toys this year, but we actually help over 12% of the community as they come through our doors over the course of a year.Most who come to The Salvation Army are facing decisions of whether to pay rent, utilities, or buy food and clothing for their family, and this year has been more difficult than most years”, said Major James.Doing the Most GoodThe challenge of “I’ll Fight Day” is for others to come along side of The Salvation Army to fight for Hope in the lives of our community members. Currently, The Salvation Army is down quite a bit due to Thanksgiving being a week later in the year, and people are just really starting to give. The Salvation Army has also had to spend more towards non-perishables than they have in years past. “It’s a great feeling to be able to make it possible for families to provide for their loved ones. We just hope people will join the fight as we are struggling with our budget.”, said Major James.You can help The Salvation Army “Fight” by your generous financial donations, as The Salvation Army is well behind it’s budgeted needs this year. This can also be done through volunteering to ring bells by going to <a href="http://registertoring.com">registertoring.com</a>.

Salvation Army's "I'll Fight" Day Saturday

NEWTON, Kan. — The 2025 Choose Newton Calendars are in and available for pick-up. 

The calendar features many wonderful photos from the Newton area as well as amazing community events that you won't want to miss. Make sure to pick up your copy of the calendar at City Hall, Newton Chamber, Newton Public Library, Newton Rec Center, YMCA, and the Health Ministries Clinic.

1st Place - Kayak's Refuge by Chuck Haines

3rd Place - Scenic Drive by Mark Alexander

People's Choice - Sand Creek Storm Clouds by Wendy Nugent

Blue Sky Winter Wonderland by Mark Alexander

People's Choice - River Run by Kelly Nachtigal

Under Water at the Splash Park by Wendy Nugent

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/2/1676121604581.jpeg" alt="Choose Newton Logo" />
 <figcaption>Choose Newton Logo</figcaption>
 </figure>Choose NewtonNEWTON, Kan. — The 2025 Choose Newton Calendars are in and available for pick-up. The calendar features many wonderful photos from the Newton area as well as amazing community events that you won't want to miss. Make sure to pick up your copy of the calendar at City Hall, Newton Chamber, Newton Public Library, Newton Rec Center, YMCA, and the Health Ministries Clinic.The winners are below.Open Category1st Place - Kayak's Refuge by Chuck Haines<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734104671314.jpeg" alt="Kayak's Refuge by Chuck Haines - 1st Place in the Open Category" />
 <figcaption>Kayak's Refuge by Chuck Haines - 1st Place in the Open Category</figcaption>
 </figure>2nd Place - Barn by Michele Clark<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734104713705.jpeg" alt="Barn by Michele Clark - 2nd Place in the Open Category" />
 <figcaption>Barn by Michele Clark - 2nd Place in the Open Category</figcaption>
 </figure>3rd Place - Scenic Drive by Mark Alexander<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734104760713.jpeg" alt="Scenic Drive by Mark Alexander - 3rd Place in the Open Category" />
 <figcaption>Scenic Drive by Mark Alexander - 3rd Place in the Open Category</figcaption>
 </figure>People's Choice - Sand Creek Storm Clouds by Wendy Nugent<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734104810857.jpeg" alt="Sand Creek Storm Clouds by Wendy Nugent - People's Choice Award in the Open Category" />
 <figcaption>Sand Creek Storm Clouds by Wendy Nugent - People's Choice Award in the Open Category</figcaption>
 </figure>Honorable MentionsGray Heron by Andre Swartley<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734104863752.jpeg" alt="Gray Heron by Andre Swartley - Honorable Mention in the Open Category" />
 <figcaption>Gray Heron by Andre Swartley - Honorable Mention in the Open Category</figcaption>
 </figure>Inner Beauty by Jes Yoder<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734104926720.jpeg" alt="Inner Beauty by Jes Yoder - Honorable Mention in the Open Category" />
 <figcaption>Inner Beauty by Jes Yoder - Honorable Mention in the Open Category</figcaption>
 </figure>Blue Sky Winter Wonderland by Mark Alexander<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734104980799.jpeg" alt="Blue Sky Winter Wonderland by Mark Alexander - Honorable Mention in the Open Category" />
 <figcaption>Blue Sky Winter Wonderland by Mark Alexander - Honorable Mention in the Open Category</figcaption>
 </figure>People Category1st Place - SEAK by Michele Clark<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734105026431.jpeg" alt="SEAK by Michele Clark - 1st Place in the People Category" />
 <figcaption>SEAK by Michele Clark - 1st Place in the People Category</figcaption>
 </figure>2nd Place - Bliss by Michele Clark<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734105073695.jpeg" alt="Bliss by Michele Clark - 2nd Place in the People Category" />
 <figcaption>Bliss by Michele Clark - 2nd Place in the People Category</figcaption>
 </figure>3rd Place - Rodeo by Michele Clark<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734105118910.jpeg" alt="Rodeo by Michele Clark - 3rd Place in the People Category" />
 <figcaption>Rodeo by Michele Clark - 3rd Place in the People Category</figcaption>
 </figure>People's Choice - River Run by Kelly Nachtigal<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734105175686.jpeg" alt="River Run by Kelly Nachtigal - People's Choice in the People Category" />
 <figcaption>River Run by Kelly Nachtigal - People's Choice in the People Category</figcaption>
 </figure>Honorable MentionsOuch! by Michele Clark<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734105229693.jpeg" alt="Ouch! by Michele Clark - Honorable Mention in the People Category" />
 <figcaption>Ouch! by Michele Clark - Honorable Mention in the People Category</figcaption>
 </figure>Pool Day by Michelle Voth<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734105285997.jpeg" alt="Pool Day by Michelle Voth - Honorable Mention in the People Category" />
 <figcaption>Pool Day by Michelle Voth - Honorable Mention in the People Category</figcaption>
 </figure>Flying High by Sean Tomlinson<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734105328645.jpeg" alt="Flying High by Sean Tomlinson - Honorable Mention in the People Category" />
 <figcaption>Flying High by Sean Tomlinson - Honorable Mention in the People Category</figcaption>
 </figure>Honk for Jesus by Wendy Nugent<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734105364364.jpeg" alt="Honk for Jesus by Wendy Nugent - Honorable Mention in the People Category" />
 <figcaption>Honk for Jesus by Wendy Nugent - Honorable Mention in the People Category</figcaption>
 </figure>Under Water at the Splash Park by Wendy Nugent<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734105432676.jpeg" alt="Under Water at the Splash Park by Wendy Nugent - Honorable Mention in the People Category" />
 <figcaption>Under Water at the Splash Park by Wendy Nugent - Honorable Mention in the People Category</figcaption>
 </figure>

Choose Newton calendar winners announced

12/14/2024 1:28 AM-Latrell	Davion Clay-Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;

12/13/2024 9:47 PM-Sam	Wayne Norton-Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant; Driver's Licenses; Drive while License Suspended/Cancelled/Revoked

12/13/2024 7:56 PM-Melissa	Ann Bell-DUI; 2nd Conviction; BAC .08 or more within 2 hrs

12/13/2024 7:36 PM-Marco	Antonio Reyes-Failure to Appear

12/13/2024 7:30 PM-Jamie	Michelle Windmeyer-Criminal Use of Weapons; Criminal Carrying; Knowingly carry Pistol, Revolver or other Firearm&nbsp;

12/13/2024 7:26 PM-Joshua	David Harter-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

12/13/2024 7:04 PM-Eric	Alan Harper-DUI; 2nd conv; drugs or combination of drugs

12/13/2024 7:03 PM-Amanda	Kay McCue-Probation Violation

12/13/2024 6:20 PM-Johnathan	Patrick Kelley-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Poss of marijuana; 1 prior conviction; Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500; Forgery; Making, altering, endorsing&nbsp;

12/13/2024 6:09 PM-Ricardo	Kevin Alvarez-Operate a MV w/o a valid license&nbsp;

12/13/2024 4:46 PM-Christopher	Allen Rasmussen-Probation Violation; Failure to Appear

12/13/2024 3:28 PM-Bret	Lee Fallis-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

12/13/2024 3:14 PM-Hailey	Anne Kenani Lewis-Failure to Appear; Agg endangering a child;Reckless &lt;18;Bodily harm&nbsp;

12/13/2024 2:11 PM-Codee	Jakob Stevens-DUI; BAC .08 within 3 hours; 1st Offense; Passenger Under 14 YOA&nbsp;

12/13/2024 12:09 PM-Matthew	Alexander Epperson-Ignition Interlock Device; Operate MV without device during restriction; Reckless driving; unknown conviction

12/13/2024 9:39 AM-Levi	Charles Trammell-Viol protection order; Pre-trial order; Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction); Criminal Trespass; Defiance of Order

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681919611658.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;——————————————&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;12/14/2024 1:28 AM-Latrell	Davion Clay-Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;12/13/2024 9:47 PM-Sam	Wayne Norton-Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant; Driver's Licenses; Drive while License Suspended/Cancelled/Revoked12/13/2024 7:56 PM-Melissa	Ann Bell-DUI; 2nd Conviction; BAC .08 or more within 2 hrs12/13/2024 7:36 PM-Marco	Antonio Reyes-Failure to Appear12/13/2024 7:30 PM-Jamie	Michelle Windmeyer-Criminal Use of Weapons; Criminal Carrying; Knowingly carry Pistol, Revolver or other Firearm&nbsp;12/13/2024 7:26 PM-Joshua	David Harter-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant12/13/2024 7:04 PM-Eric	Alan Harper-DUI; 2nd conv; drugs or combination of drugs12/13/2024 7:03 PM-Amanda	Kay McCue-Probation Violation12/13/2024 6:20 PM-Johnathan	Patrick Kelley-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Poss of marijuana; 1 prior conviction; Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500; Forgery; Making, altering, endorsing&nbsp;12/13/2024 6:09 PM-Ricardo	Kevin Alvarez-Operate a MV w/o a valid license&nbsp;12/13/2024 4:46 PM-Christopher	Allen Rasmussen-Probation Violation; Failure to Appear12/13/2024 3:28 PM-Bret	Lee Fallis-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body12/13/2024 3:14 PM-Hailey	Anne Kenani Lewis-Failure to Appear; Agg endangering a child;Reckless &lt;18;Bodily harm&nbsp;12/13/2024 2:11 PM-Codee	Jakob Stevens-DUI; BAC .08 within 3 hours; 1st Offense; Passenger Under 14 YOA&nbsp;12/13/2024 12:09 PM-Matthew	Alexander Epperson-Ignition Interlock Device; Operate MV without device during restriction; Reckless driving; unknown conviction12/13/2024 9:39 AM-Levi	Charles Trammell-Viol protection order; Pre-trial order; Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction); Criminal Trespass; Defiance of Order

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — EAGLE Media and Vermeer Great Plains came together on Friday evening for the 2024 Adopt a Child turn in party.&nbsp;

Throughout the holiday season, Country 102.9 and the Hutchinson EAGLE Media stations called on the community to adopt 208 children from Reno, Harvey and McPherson counties whose families needed assistance to give them a better Christmas. The stations were given the names thanks to the Kansas Department of Children and Families.

"We are so blessed to have the help of the community and Vermeer Great Plains to let us help kids in need in 2024," said organizer and Country 102.9 Program Director, Randy McKay. "The generosity of EAGLE Media listeners is always so humbling. We are happy to be able to help this year and every year."

Adopt A Child recipient parents will pick up gifts next week.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734138113831.jpeg" alt="Adopt A Child 2024" />
 <figcaption>Adopt A Child 2024</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — EAGLE Media and Vermeer Great Plains came together on Friday evening for the 2024 Adopt a Child turn in party.&nbsp;Throughout the holiday season, Country 102.9 and the Hutchinson EAGLE Media stations called on the community to adopt 208 children from Reno, Harvey and McPherson counties whose families needed assistance to give them a better Christmas. The stations were given the names thanks to the Kansas Department of Children and Families."We are so blessed to have the help of the community and Vermeer Great Plains to let us help kids in need in 2024," said organizer and Country 102.9 Program Director, Randy McKay. "The generosity of EAGLE Media listeners is always so humbling. We are happy to be able to help this year and every year."Adopt A Child recipient parents will pick up gifts next week.

More than 200 children adopted in 2024

Tax Planning is More Than Making Estimated Payments

There is a popular misconception that tax planning for small and medium-sized businesses is simply figuring out how much tax will be owed and making estimated payments. But those are just tax projections.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/8/1659978436526.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Tax Planning is More Than Making Estimated PaymentsThere is a popular misconception that tax planning for small and medium-sized businesses is simply figuring out how much tax will be owed and making estimated payments. But those are just tax projections.True tax planning is looking at the life span of a business and asking where it is today in terms of growth and profitability, where it has been in the recent past and where it is going based on current projections.What goals do the owners have? In the long term, do they want to position the business to sell, to expand into new markets, or transition to family members who will drive the business into the next generation?“Tax planning” may, in fact, be a misnomer because tax planning is very much like strategic planning, but with a unique goal.Tax planning specifically looks at how tax laws can be used as a tool to help business owners pay the least amount of dollars in taxes over the lifetime of a business, not just quarter by quarter.Unlike larger corporations that may have entire departments dedicated to tax strategies, small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) often operate with limited resources and personnel. Thus, it is important to understand and implement effective tax planning with the help of trusted advisors to ensure the long-term financial health of your business.What are Tax Planning Strategies?Tax planning involves analyzing a business’s financial situation with the aim of maximizing tax efficiency while ensuring compliance with current laws and regulations. It encompasses a range of activities, including choosing the right business structure, optimizing deductions and strategically timing income and expenditures to best optimize tax brackets over multiple years.Strategies for tax planning depend heavily on where a business is in its lifecycle. For example:· A young startup company may be pre-revenue with a promising new product that is just beginning to take off. While its taxes are low now, the prospect of a steep climb in sales over the next two years could mean a heavy tax bill at a time when the company is still vulnerable. With tax planning, the company can plan now to utilize deductions and credits they may have been unaware of, as well as net operating loss carryforwards that could tame future tax bills.For young companies and mature companies alike, the choice of business structure — whether a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability company (LLC) or corporation — has profound tax implications. <a href="https://www.adamsbrowncpa.com/blog/entity-selection-impacts-tax-efficiency/">Each structure is taxed differently</a> and comes with its own set of regulations. Effective tax planning involves evaluating the potential benefits and drawbacks of each structure to determine which is most advantageous for the business’s situation. For instance, an LLC may provide liability protection while allowing profits to be passed through to owners without facing double taxation, unlike a C corporation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734124057780.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Cash Flow ManagementOne of the most significant benefits of tax planning is its role in enhancing financial stability. For SMBs, <a href="https://www.adamsbrowncpa.com/blog/cash-flow-modeling-building-a-strong-cash-position/">cash flow is the lifeblood of operations</a>. By strategically planning taxes, businesses can improve cash flow management. For example, by timing income recognition and deductible expenses, businesses can minimize taxable income in a given year, thus reducing the immediate tax burden. This can free up cash for reinvestment in the business, pay down debts or handle unforeseen expenses.It’s important to remember that tax planning is a long game.The purpose is to ensure the financial health of the company well into the future. That may result in some decisions that business owners may be uncomfortable with in the short term; specifically realizing that minimizing tax this year does not always result in the lowest tax expense over time – it may be best to pay more this year in order to maximize a low tax bracket.For many SMBs, growth is a primary objective. However, rapid expansion can lead to complex tax situations. Tax planning allows businesses to anticipate and prepare for these complexities. The lowest tax a CPA can get for you is not necessarily the best. There may be a reason to pay more taxes. You don’t want to leave money on the table by dropping into the 12% bracket when you know you will be in the 37% bracket next year. Evening out those bumps results in a smoother, more predictable financial picture for your company.Challenges in Today’s Tax Planning EnvironmentCertain challenges are impacting <a href="https://www.adamsbrowncpa.com/services/tax/business-tax/">tax planning for SMB</a> owners these days due to the uncertainty around what will happen to the federal estate tax exclusion at the end of 2025. Some business owners will be significantly affected. Also, the current interest rate environment is unpredictable. High rates are slowly giving way to reductions, but whether those reductions will be continued is a guess right now.Additionally, many business owners are vexed these days by delays in receiving K-1 forms that are necessary for filing taxes. It’s important to note that your tax planning advisor will ensure your taxes – including estimates for the current year – are paid on time so you can delay filing your returns until after the deadline, when you are more likely to have K-1 forms and other necessary documents.Business owners must plan for what is known right now and be flexible enough to revisit their tax planning strategies on a regular basis to make adjustments as needed.Adams Brown CPAs typically check in with business owners on a quarterly basis to discuss tax plans and to learn what is new in the company that may necessitate a change in the plan.Adams Brown goes beyond just tax planning. We’re a holistic advisory firm, which means we’re here to help with the big picture – from managing your <a href="https://www.adamsbrownwc.com/services/">personal financial planning</a> to providing <a href="https://www.adamsbrowntech.com/">managed IT services</a>. Our team works together to make sure every aspect of your business life is covered.If you would like to discuss tax planning or other business needs, contact an Adams Brown tax advisor at <a href="https://www.adamsbrowncpa.com/contact/">adamsbrowncpa.com/contact</a>.Positioned to go above + beyond® for you and your business with teammates stationed throughout Kansas, working from a network of offices and remotely. <a href="https://www.adamsbrowncpa.com/about/locations/">Find an Adams Brown office near you.</a>

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