BURRTON, Kan. — According to a social media post from Burrton police, schools in that Harvey County community were locked down briefly on Tuesday.

Police say they responded just after 10:30 Tuesday morning to the area of Sedgwick Ave. and Monroe St. for the report of a disturbance involving a firearm.

Burrton Police, North Newton Police and Harvey County Sheriff's Officers responded. They found a person had discharged a gun several times inside a home.&nbsp;

Police tried to contact the person by phone and by loudspeaker.

That person eventually came out and was arrested without further incident. Because the incident was close to the school, it was locked down as a precautionary measure. The incident did not involve the school, and no threats were made to students or staff.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1711403777148.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>BURRTON, Kan. — According to a social media post from Burrton police, schools in that Harvey County community were locked down briefly on Tuesday.Police say they responded just after 10:30 Tuesday morning to the area of Sedgwick Ave. and Monroe St. for the report of a disturbance involving a firearm.Burrton Police, North Newton Police and Harvey County Sheriff's Officers responded. They found a person had discharged a gun several times inside a home.&nbsp;Police tried to contact the person by phone and by loudspeaker.That person eventually came out and was arrested without further incident. Because the incident was close to the school, it was locked down as a precautionary measure. The incident did not involve the school, and no threats were made to students or staff.

Burrton schools locked down during Tuesday incident

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Christmas is just around the corner! 

<a href="https://www.country1029.com/">Country 102.9</a> and <a href="https://www.khmyfm.com/">My 93-1</a> have joined with Vermeer Great Plains&nbsp;and the Department for Children and Families for the annual Adopt-A-Child program. This is your opportunity to provide gifts for one or more kids on our list and have those presents delivered by Santa's secret elves just in time for Christmas!

We have the Christmas wish lists from more than 200 deserving kids in need from our area, ages newborn to teen. If you'd like to shop for one or more children, just&nbsp;call us at (620) 662-4486 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. We'll help you choose a child to shop for and email you their list. You can also email <a href="mailto:randy.mckay@eaglemedia.com">randy.mckay@eaglemedia.com</a>.

Please bring your wrapped gifts to our gift drop-off party at the EAGLE Media Center at 825 N. Main on Friday, Dec. 13, from 5-7 p.m. Enjoy pizza, drinks and cookies as a thank you for your kind generosity this holiday season.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1730910354424.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Christmas is just around the corner! <a href="https://www.country1029.com/">Country 102.9</a> and <a href="https://www.khmyfm.com/">My 93-1</a> have joined with Vermeer Great Plains&nbsp;and the Department for Children and Families for the annual Adopt-A-Child program. This is your opportunity to provide gifts for one or more kids on our list and have those presents delivered by Santa's secret elves just in time for Christmas!We have the Christmas wish lists from more than 200 deserving kids in need from our area, ages newborn to teen. If you'd like to shop for one or more children, just&nbsp;call us at (620) 662-4486 Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. We'll help you choose a child to shop for and email you their list. You can also email <a href="mailto:randy.mckay@eaglemedia.com">randy.mckay@eaglemedia.com</a>.Please bring your wrapped gifts to our gift drop-off party at the EAGLE Media Center at 825 N. Main on Friday, Dec. 13, from 5-7 p.m. Enjoy pizza, drinks and cookies as a thank you for your kind generosity this holiday season.THANK YOU FOR ADOPTING A CHILD!

Adopt-A-Child 2024

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County residents can continue to bring their curiosity and ideas for their communities to a series of workshops in the next several days as part of Hutchinson Community Foundation’s Love Where You Live Community Empowerment Initiative.

Workshops have already been held in Buhler, Haven and Hutchinson. The ones left are from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Fairfield School Cafeteria, 16115 S. Langdon Road, Langdon, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 18 in Nickerson at the Community Center, 11 N. Nickerson St. and from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in Pretty Prairie at the Civic Theatre, 105 W. Main St.&nbsp; 

Families are welcome. For more information or to request special accommodations, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://renosurvey.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2mLIsX0kAG0dcqNB4GG2KWwRYSLTg3ZSxRhVfGLAb0aMX9GERaS95GKwU_aem_6vMVGvONwsBdEf8CkEDv-w" target="_blank">RenoSurvey.com</a>&nbsp;or call 620-663-5293.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728484228684.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County residents can continue to bring their curiosity and ideas for their communities to a series of workshops in the next several days as part of Hutchinson Community Foundation’s Love Where You Live Community Empowerment Initiative.Workshops have already been held in Buhler, Haven and Hutchinson. The ones left are from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Fairfield School Cafeteria, 16115 S. Langdon Road, Langdon, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 18 in Nickerson at the Community Center, 11 N. Nickerson St. and from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in Pretty Prairie at the Civic Theatre, 105 W. Main St.&nbsp; Families are welcome. For more information or to request special accommodations, visit&nbsp;<a href="http://renosurvey.com/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2mLIsX0kAG0dcqNB4GG2KWwRYSLTg3ZSxRhVfGLAb0aMX9GERaS95GKwU_aem_6vMVGvONwsBdEf8CkEDv-w" target="_blank">RenoSurvey.com</a>&nbsp;or call 620-663-5293.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Community workshops wrap up in next few days

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Fee Insurance Group has been ranked #6 on the 2024 Best Places to Work in Insurance list for Agents and Brokers by Business Insurance. 

This is Fee's third consecutive year in the top 10. 

This recognition celebrates Fee Insurance's commitment to a work culture of integrity, excellence, leadership, and relationships.&nbsp;

The overall score and ranking are a combination of the employee survey, employer questionnaire, and overall positive response rate from employees for company alignment across eight core focus areas:

Leadership and Planning, Corporate Culture and Communications, Role Satisfaction, Work Environment, Relationship with Supervisor, Training, Development and Resources, Pay and Benefits, and Overall Engagement.

Best Places to Work in Insurance is an annual sponsored content feature presented by the custom publishing unit of Business Insurance and Best Companies Group that lists the agents, brokers, insurance companies and other providers with the highest levels of employee engagement and satisfaction.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731427572440.jpeg" alt="Image Courtesy Fee Insurance" />
 <figcaption>Image Courtesy Fee Insurance</figcaption>
 </figure>Fee Insurance GroupHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Fee Insurance Group has been ranked #6 on the 2024 Best Places to Work in Insurance list for Agents and Brokers by Business Insurance. This is Fee's third consecutive year in the top 10. This recognition celebrates Fee Insurance's commitment to a work culture of integrity, excellence, leadership, and relationships.&nbsp;The overall score and ranking are a combination of the employee survey, employer questionnaire, and overall positive response rate from employees for company alignment across eight core focus areas:Leadership and Planning, Corporate Culture and Communications, Role Satisfaction, Work Environment, Relationship with Supervisor, Training, Development and Resources, Pay and Benefits, and Overall Engagement.Best Places to Work in Insurance is an annual sponsored content feature presented by the custom publishing unit of Business Insurance and Best Companies Group that lists the agents, brokers, insurance companies and other providers with the highest levels of employee engagement and satisfaction.

Fee Insurance awarded again

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education will pursue a $110 million bond issue after the facilities committee presented to them on Monday night.&nbsp;

"We had 20 plus different versions of this master plan a year ago at this point," said Kari Mailloux with the Facilities Steering Committee. "Lots of different scenarios, depending on which lever we leaned into, where we wanted to focus our priorities and our recommendations, and over the process of this last year have really narrowed that down. 

We centered in on what is the experience for kids entering the school district at three and four years old? What is that transition like into the district and then into kindergarten? And then the other pivotal transition point into middle school, through middle school, and into high school. We are all very proud of the experience our students have at Hutchinson High School. That is kind of the premier experience. We wanted to make sure that started from the day a child enters into our school district and that the parents have and kind of marshaling their children on this journey through 12 plus years in the district. This version of the master plan that we're bringing to you today is informed by all of that.&nbsp;

Every time we got to a decision point, kind of a recommendation point, we would say, okay, does this align with our values that we stated at the beginning? Does this align with what we're hearing from the community, with what we're hearing from the buildings, the staff, and the faculty that we're talking to? 

Since we last came to you in May, and when you said we would consider up to $110 million bond to support the facility master plan implementation, again, we worked back from that. There were two small subcommittees, task forces that worked on those two transition points. If we lean into early childhood, we lean into middle school, what would we create together? What would we recommend that we create together to create that experience that would align with the full experience in the district? 

You all have taken action on a new daycare on your own in the last few months. That is not a part of this master plan. It is part of the future, but not this master plan recommendation."&nbsp;

The buildings the district has will be repurposed, in addition to building a new middle school.

"We centered in on HMS 8 as a prime location for putting Pre-K on the main floor," Mailloux said. "We saw in the community surveys a lot of support for our existing elementary schools. We have six elementary schools. Not all of them have the same amenities and capacity, however. In the last bond issue, some of them got upgrades to add second gyms, cafeterias, safe rooms for tornado warnings. Not all of the elementary schools have that. Also, in the last bond issue that I might be correct on this, the HVAC systems are replaced, and they're coming due. This is a maintenance issue, again, could be dealt with over time through capital outlay, but this is an opportunity to really ensure the safety and security and the maintenance of all of our elementary schools, going to keep them up to date and on par and the most safe for our families, and potentially for our neighborhoods. These are neighborhood schools, and they could be assets even more so for the they reside in. 

"One of our main recommendations is to combine sixth through eighth grades into one new central middle school. We talked a lot through this process about how amazing Hutchinson High School is, and the campus around it, and all of the amenities. And we thought, how could we create even better, more access to those amenities at the high school, if we had a centralized middle school as well? And if we could eliminate those transitions from sixth to eighth, from sixth to seventh, from seventh to eighth, from eighth to ninth, that all students have been going through for the last 20 years? How do we create a more relationship-centered experience for kids and families in a sixth through eighth middle school? 

"Kind of a technicality of offlining the two existing middle schools would be, we need a new production kitchen at that new facility, which would serve the middle school and three elementary schools every day. As Dr. Johnson said, we would not be touching the high school with this master plan.

"The district owns the land that is currently the site of soccer fields and the baseball fields at 23rd and Severance. That land has enough acreage space potential to put the new sixth through eighth middle school, and it's also within close proximity to the high school.&nbsp;We do need to find a new location for the soccer field. And the potential there is to, again, really build on the assets that already exist at Don Michael Field. So this proposal has adding one turf field at Don Michael Field, increasing parking capacity, improving some of the fan experience there, and really making it even more of a hub for sports for the district.

"Alternative learning would be at Avenue A Elementary, so we'd keep that building. Virtual school would go over to Hutch High Bowtech building. The potential here is Jordan spoke to community partnerships and those partners being at the table through this process, but also thinking about what would these moves with facilities, how could they benefit even more partners and more students, more families in the city?Boys and Girls Club could use Lincoln Elementary as their site.

"The other opportunity with HMS 8 being a four-story building is there's lots of potential there to repurpose multiple floors. Again, a pre-K for three- to five-year-old regulations has to be on the main floor. We could repurpose the upper floors for student services. And then we would keep the Naval building and have those ESC, TSC, and information tech in the Naval building. 

"The buildings that this would also affect that I didn't mention, we see potential for HMS 7 to be sold. That is a prime location in downtown Hutchinson. There's a lot of energy going into downtown Hutch right now. There's a downtown master plan and lots of potential investors. So we feel like there is likely to be a strong partner willing to invest in HMS 7 building as a site for redevelopment. We also see potential to sell Grandview, which is on East 4th. That has not been an elementary school for many years and it's currently being used, I think, for just wrestling. So there's potential there. Midtown, that was a pretty recent acquisition of land and facility for the district. Again, to downtown momentum, there's potential there to sell that. And the administration building, this building, could also have another community partner interested in it. And there's potential to move administration over to HMS 8 along with those other services. All of that together, again, we're sure to get under the $110 million mark. And so we did that at $109,530,000."

Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson wanted to make clear that this is actually a slightly reduced scope from the initial thoughts of the committee.

"They took the survey and the momentum above 65%, that's where that amount per $100,000, that's how it came out to what does that equate to, that's the $110 million,"&nbsp; Johnson said. "That's when I think back in May, the board said, sure, continue to look at projects. We don't want to go above, that's where the threshold is for the community to say that they really support it, we don't want to go above that. 

"That is not to say that we looked out there and said, well, let's find $109 million worth of projects. Because I really think what was asked for was probably around $117 million. And so they did not put in a competition middle school football field. We're still going to transport kids where we've always been transporting. They're not going to get that, that probably cuts out a couple million. 

"I have a correction up there, the pre-K is 16 rooms, not ten, but we're also going to keep Shirley J. Hutcherson open. And so we're not creating, we're still going to have two spaces for early childhood. The cost was not, the threshold for the cost was not there to put all of those students into one building. We can't get them all into HMS-8 and building a brand new building, you know, wasn't possible. So remodeling cut down those costs of that. 

"We currently cook at the high school and the two middle schools. If the two middle schools are going to go away, where are we going to cook? You can see the adding of a three elementary plus one middle school for $1.9 million at the middle school. But that's not everything. So we're still going to have to cook at HMS-8. We'll still have three middle school production kitchens that will come out of HMS-8. So we saved another $2 million there."

The timeline between now and the special bond election is below.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655147159618.jpeg" alt="USD 308 Admin Building-Photo by Daren Dunn" />
 <figcaption>USD 308 Admin Building-Photo by Daren Dunn</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education will pursue a $110 million bond issue after the facilities committee presented to them on Monday night.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731422268210.jpeg" alt="Scope of 2025 USD 308 Bond" />
 <figcaption>Scope of 2025 USD 308 Bond</figcaption>
 </figure>"We had 20 plus different versions of this master plan a year ago at this point," said Kari Mailloux with the Facilities Steering Committee. "Lots of different scenarios, depending on which lever we leaned into, where we wanted to focus our priorities and our recommendations, and over the process of this last year have really narrowed that down. We centered in on what is the experience for kids entering the school district at three and four years old? What is that transition like into the district and then into kindergarten? And then the other pivotal transition point into middle school, through middle school, and into high school. We are all very proud of the experience our students have at Hutchinson High School. That is kind of the premier experience. We wanted to make sure that started from the day a child enters into our school district and that the parents have and kind of marshaling their children on this journey through 12 plus years in the district. This version of the master plan that we're bringing to you today is informed by all of that.&nbsp;Every time we got to a decision point, kind of a recommendation point, we would say, okay, does this align with our values that we stated at the beginning? Does this align with what we're hearing from the community, with what we're hearing from the buildings, the staff, and the faculty that we're talking to? Since we last came to you in May, and when you said we would consider up to $110 million bond to support the facility master plan implementation, again, we worked back from that. There were two small subcommittees, task forces that worked on those two transition points. If we lean into early childhood, we lean into middle school, what would we create together? What would we recommend that we create together to create that experience that would align with the full experience in the district? You all have taken action on a new daycare on your own in the last few months. That is not a part of this master plan. It is part of the future, but not this master plan recommendation."&nbsp;The buildings the district has will be repurposed, in addition to building a new middle school."We centered in on HMS 8 as a prime location for putting Pre-K on the main floor," Mailloux said. "We saw in the community surveys a lot of support for our existing elementary schools. We have six elementary schools. Not all of them have the same amenities and capacity, however. In the last bond issue, some of them got upgrades to add second gyms, cafeterias, safe rooms for tornado warnings. Not all of the elementary schools have that. Also, in the last bond issue that I might be correct on this, the HVAC systems are replaced, and they're coming due. This is a maintenance issue, again, could be dealt with over time through capital outlay, but this is an opportunity to really ensure the safety and security and the maintenance of all of our elementary schools, going to keep them up to date and on par and the most safe for our families, and potentially for our neighborhoods. These are neighborhood schools, and they could be assets even more so for the they reside in. "One of our main recommendations is to combine sixth through eighth grades into one new central middle school. We talked a lot through this process about how amazing Hutchinson High School is, and the campus around it, and all of the amenities. And we thought, how could we create even better, more access to those amenities at the high school, if we had a centralized middle school as well? And if we could eliminate those transitions from sixth to eighth, from sixth to seventh, from seventh to eighth, from eighth to ninth, that all students have been going through for the last 20 years? How do we create a more relationship-centered experience for kids and families in a sixth through eighth middle school? "Kind of a technicality of offlining the two existing middle schools would be, we need a new production kitchen at that new facility, which would serve the middle school and three elementary schools every day. As Dr. Johnson said, we would not be touching the high school with this master plan."The district owns the land that is currently the site of soccer fields and the baseball fields at 23rd and Severance. That land has enough acreage space potential to put the new sixth through eighth middle school, and it's also within close proximity to the high school.&nbsp;We do need to find a new location for the soccer field. And the potential there is to, again, really build on the assets that already exist at Don Michael Field. So this proposal has adding one turf field at Don Michael Field, increasing parking capacity, improving some of the fan experience there, and really making it even more of a hub for sports for the district."Alternative learning would be at Avenue A Elementary, so we'd keep that building. Virtual school would go over to Hutch High Bowtech building. The potential here is Jordan spoke to community partnerships and those partners being at the table through this process, but also thinking about what would these moves with facilities, how could they benefit even more partners and more students, more families in the city?Boys and Girls Club could use Lincoln Elementary as their site."The other opportunity with HMS 8 being a four-story building is there's lots of potential there to repurpose multiple floors. Again, a pre-K for three- to five-year-old regulations has to be on the main floor. We could repurpose the upper floors for student services. And then we would keep the Naval building and have those ESC, TSC, and information tech in the Naval building. "The buildings that this would also affect that I didn't mention, we see potential for HMS 7 to be sold. That is a prime location in downtown Hutchinson. There's a lot of energy going into downtown Hutch right now. There's a downtown master plan and lots of potential investors. So we feel like there is likely to be a strong partner willing to invest in HMS 7 building as a site for redevelopment. We also see potential to sell Grandview, which is on East 4th. That has not been an elementary school for many years and it's currently being used, I think, for just wrestling. So there's potential there. Midtown, that was a pretty recent acquisition of land and facility for the district. Again, to downtown momentum, there's potential there to sell that. And the administration building, this building, could also have another community partner interested in it. And there's potential to move administration over to HMS 8 along with those other services. All of that together, again, we're sure to get under the $110 million mark. And so we did that at $109,530,000."Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson wanted to make clear that this is actually a slightly reduced scope from the initial thoughts of the committee."They took the survey and the momentum above 65%, that's where that amount per $100,000, that's how it came out to what does that equate to, that's the $110 million,"&nbsp; Johnson said. "That's when I think back in May, the board said, sure, continue to look at projects. We don't want to go above, that's where the threshold is for the community to say that they really support it, we don't want to go above that. "That is not to say that we looked out there and said, well, let's find $109 million worth of projects. Because I really think what was asked for was probably around $117 million. And so they did not put in a competition middle school football field. We're still going to transport kids where we've always been transporting. They're not going to get that, that probably cuts out a couple million. "I have a correction up there, the pre-K is 16 rooms, not ten, but we're also going to keep Shirley J. Hutcherson open. And so we're not creating, we're still going to have two spaces for early childhood. The cost was not, the threshold for the cost was not there to put all of those students into one building. We can't get them all into HMS-8 and building a brand new building, you know, wasn't possible. So remodeling cut down those costs of that. "We currently cook at the high school and the two middle schools. If the two middle schools are going to go away, where are we going to cook? You can see the adding of a three elementary plus one middle school for $1.9 million at the middle school. But that's not everything. So we're still going to have to cook at HMS-8. We'll still have three middle school production kitchens that will come out of HMS-8. So we saved another $2 million there."The timeline between now and the special bond election is below.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731425163802.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>The Board approved the plan unanimously.

Bond issue plan approved, vote will be in April

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Congratulations to the winners of the Kiwanis Chili and Soup Fest on Saturday in Downtown Hutchinson.

1st Place: Hutchinson Fire Department 2nd Place: Reno County Sheriff's Department 3rd Place: Salt City Brewery

1st Place: Heartland Credit Union 2nd Place: APAC Kansas 3rd Place: Gentiva Home Care and Hospice

Best Decorated: Salt City Brewery Most Enthusiastic: Hutchinson Public Works

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729611666676.jpg" alt="chili con carne, chili, cook" />
 <figcaption>chili con carne, chili, cook</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson Kiwanis ClubHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Congratulations to the winners of the Kiwanis Chili and Soup Fest on Saturday in Downtown Hutchinson.Chili1st Place: Hutchinson Fire Department 2nd Place: Reno County Sheriff's Department 3rd Place: Salt City BrewerySoup1st Place: Heartland Credit Union 2nd Place: APAC Kansas 3rd Place: Gentiva Home Care and HospiceBest Decorated: Salt City Brewery Most Enthusiastic: Hutchinson Public Works

Chili and Soup Fest results

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — 'I Got You Babe' is in its fifth year of helping out families in need in Reno County. The organization was founded by Hutchinson native, Morgan Turner.

Turner is collecting brand-new baby items to be donated to families in need. Unused diapers in opened packages will be accepted, as well. The drive will run through the month of November, and items can be dropped off at the Reno County Health Department.

"I did found 'I Got You Babe' in 2020, kind of the fall, early winter," Turner said. "Kind of right in the middle of COVID, and I just saw the need for some help in the community. Women with young children, with infants, they're really vulnerable population, and I just wanted to do something in our local community that would make a direct impact for them."

Turner said she received a lot of good feedback after the first year and will continue to do the drive for years to come.

"We had a really positive experience the first year, so I was able to gather quite a few donations and give those to the maternal child health program," Turner said. "When they distributed them, they just gave me such positive feedback from the mothers that were receiving these items and the nurses from the health department just had wonderful things to say, they were so thankful and I just saw that impact that it made and I wanted to continue that."

Turner is a second-year medical student, that doesn't have any children herself, but really enjoys helping others.

"I just have a passion for women's health in general, so that's kind of what inspired me to start this," Turner said.&nbsp;

There are several different ways to donate for the drive.

"The health department can actually take direct donations, you can drop things off there," Turner said. "There is a list of items that are most needed, which include diapers, wipes, sleep sacks are a big thing, we really want to encourage safe sleep habits. They can take items directly, or I accept cash and checks, as well as Venmo, just to go purchase those items in bulk I kind of wrap up the fundraiser."

Other items that are most needed include pacifiers and onesies.

If you wish to make a donation via Venmo, you can do so at @MorganTurner23. If you have any other questions regarding the fundraiser, you can reach Morgan at <a href="mailto:igotyoubabe.renoco@gmail.com">igotyoubabe.renoco@gmail.com</a>.

Although Turner doesn't have kids, this fundraiser means a lot to her.

"Not having children myself, I don't see how everything adds up," Turner said. "You walk through the store and you can see how expensive the baby items are and it really adds up for families."

Turner says spreading the word of the drive would mean a lot.

"Even if you're not able to donate, I'd ask that you just share the message," Turner said. "That's been the big thing is just promoting it. It started on social media, but I've reached out to a lot of people in the community this year to try and reach different groups that might want to help."

The Reno County Health Department is at 209 West 2nd Ave. in Hutchinson.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731342144509.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Morgan Turner" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Morgan Turner</figcaption>
 </figure>SEAN BOSTON Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — 'I Got You Babe' is in its fifth year of helping out families in need in Reno County. The organization was founded by Hutchinson native, Morgan Turner.Turner is collecting brand-new baby items to be donated to families in need. Unused diapers in opened packages will be accepted, as well. The drive will run through the month of November, and items can be dropped off at the Reno County Health Department."I did found 'I Got You Babe' in 2020, kind of the fall, early winter," Turner said. "Kind of right in the middle of COVID, and I just saw the need for some help in the community. Women with young children, with infants, they're really vulnerable population, and I just wanted to do something in our local community that would make a direct impact for them."Turner said she received a lot of good feedback after the first year and will continue to do the drive for years to come."We had a really positive experience the first year, so I was able to gather quite a few donations and give those to the maternal child health program," Turner said. "When they distributed them, they just gave me such positive feedback from the mothers that were receiving these items and the nurses from the health department just had wonderful things to say, they were so thankful and I just saw that impact that it made and I wanted to continue that."Turner is a second-year medical student, that doesn't have any children herself, but really enjoys helping others."I just have a passion for women's health in general, so that's kind of what inspired me to start this," Turner said.&nbsp;There are several different ways to donate for the drive."The health department can actually take direct donations, you can drop things off there," Turner said. "There is a list of items that are most needed, which include diapers, wipes, sleep sacks are a big thing, we really want to encourage safe sleep habits. They can take items directly, or I accept cash and checks, as well as Venmo, just to go purchase those items in bulk I kind of wrap up the fundraiser."Other items that are most needed include pacifiers and onesies.If you wish to make a donation via Venmo, you can do so at @MorganTurner23. If you have any other questions regarding the fundraiser, you can reach Morgan at <a href="mailto:igotyoubabe.renoco@gmail.com">igotyoubabe.renoco@gmail.com</a>.Although Turner doesn't have kids, this fundraiser means a lot to her."Not having children myself, I don't see how everything adds up," Turner said. "You walk through the store and you can see how expensive the baby items are and it really adds up for families."Turner says spreading the word of the drive would mean a lot."Even if you're not able to donate, I'd ask that you just share the message," Turner said. "That's been the big thing is just promoting it. It started on social media, but I've reached out to a lot of people in the community this year to try and reach different groups that might want to help."The Reno County Health Department is at 209 West 2nd Ave. in Hutchinson.&nbsp;

'I Got You Babe' helping families in need through November

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Thanks to the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act or the PACT Act being signed into law in 2022, more Kansans than ever are able to access their Veterans benefits.

"Over a two-year period, we've seen a 33% increase VA-wide in the number of Veterans who have enrolled for VA health care," said spokesperson Jeff Herndon with the Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita. "We had over 700,000 enroll over the last two years. Locally, we've had 2,600 enroll, and it would normally take us about three and a half, almost twice as long, about three and a half years to achieve that. So Secretary McDonough early on speculated that this may be the largest expansion ever of Veterans benefits, and I think the numbers are showing that indeed it has been."

"In FY23, we completed over 400,000 outpatient visits," Herndon said. "That's not just in the VA hospital, but also when we're coordinating visits out in the community as well, but over 400,000. We serve about 30,000 veterans a year, so that's absolutely incredible. That's 13, 14 visits per year per veteran on average."

Also available to serve Veterans are Community Based Outpatient Clinics, like the one in Hutchinson at 1625 East 30th Ave.

"Our CBOCs are fully capable of handling the increased enrollment that we've experienced," Herndon said. "We have not had any delays in care there as well, and if a veteran is out in a rural area, they don't have to come to Wichita for specialty care. If there's a provider in their area and we can get them connected through our community care service, we do that."

If you have questions about VA health care, the staff at the Hutchinson CBOC would be happy to help you. Just walk in to the clinic with your DD-214 and they'll get you taken care of.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731343621260.png" alt="Hutch CBOC-Photo Courtesy Veterans Administration" />
 <figcaption>Hutch CBOC-Photo Courtesy Veterans Administration</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Thanks to the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act or the PACT Act being signed into law in 2022, more Kansans than ever are able to access their Veterans benefits."Over a two-year period, we've seen a 33% increase VA-wide in the number of Veterans who have enrolled for VA health care," said spokesperson Jeff Herndon with the Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita. "We had over 700,000 enroll over the last two years. Locally, we've had 2,600 enroll, and it would normally take us about three and a half, almost twice as long, about three and a half years to achieve that. So Secretary McDonough early on speculated that this may be the largest expansion ever of Veterans benefits, and I think the numbers are showing that indeed it has been."Veterans are using that care a lot."In FY23, we completed over 400,000 outpatient visits," Herndon said. "That's not just in the VA hospital, but also when we're coordinating visits out in the community as well, but over 400,000. We serve about 30,000 veterans a year, so that's absolutely incredible. That's 13, 14 visits per year per veteran on average."Also available to serve Veterans are Community Based Outpatient Clinics, like the one in Hutchinson at 1625 East 30th Ave."Our CBOCs are fully capable of handling the increased enrollment that we've experienced," Herndon said. "We have not had any delays in care there as well, and if a veteran is out in a rural area, they don't have to come to Wichita for specialty care. If there's a provider in their area and we can get them connected through our community care service, we do that."If you have questions about VA health care, the staff at the Hutchinson CBOC would be happy to help you. Just walk in to the clinic with your DD-214 and they'll get you taken care of.

PACT Act making Veterans care more accessible

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Several appointments for boards and commissions for Reno County are on the business agenda for the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday.

Included is the appointment of three citizens to serve a three-year term on the Planning Commission, approval of a resolution updating the Reno County Health Department (RCHD)’s Advisory Board Guidelines, replacement appointments to the Reno County Health Department (RCHD) Advisory Board and renewal of appointments to&nbsp;the Reno County Council on Aging to serve three year terms effective January 1, 2025, along with a renewal of appointments to the&nbsp;Reno County Public Transportation Commission for three year terms effective January 1, 2025.

County Commissioner John Whitesel has asked repeatedly to have nominees to such boards and commissions interview with the Board of County Commissioners prior to appointment, and has voted against all appointments that did not follow that procedure during his tenure as County Commissioner. Whitesel lost in the August primary and will be leaving the commission at the end of the year.

As currently proposed, Reno County Administrator Randy Partington expects the commission to approve the department recommendations, which is what they have done lately on 4-1 votes, with Whitesel voting against. However, the commission still could ask for interviews and defer the choice to a meeting between now and the end of the year, if a majority wants that to happen.

The Board of County Commissioners meets Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the Veterans Room of the Reno County Courthouse.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716032579635.jpeg" alt="Reno County Commission-File Photo by Sandra Milburn" />
 <figcaption>Reno County Commission-File Photo by Sandra Milburn</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Several appointments for boards and commissions for Reno County are on the business agenda for the Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday.Included is the appointment of three citizens to serve a three-year term on the Planning Commission, approval of a resolution updating the Reno County Health Department (RCHD)’s Advisory Board Guidelines, replacement appointments to the Reno County Health Department (RCHD) Advisory Board and renewal of appointments to&nbsp;the Reno County Council on Aging to serve three year terms effective January 1, 2025, along with a renewal of appointments to the&nbsp;Reno County Public Transportation Commission for three year terms effective January 1, 2025.County Commissioner John Whitesel has asked repeatedly to have nominees to such boards and commissions interview with the Board of County Commissioners prior to appointment, and has voted against all appointments that did not follow that procedure during his tenure as County Commissioner. Whitesel lost in the August primary and will be leaving the commission at the end of the year.As currently proposed, Reno County Administrator Randy Partington expects the commission to approve the department recommendations, which is what they have done lately on 4-1 votes, with Whitesel voting against. However, the commission still could ask for interviews and defer the choice to a meeting between now and the end of the year, if a majority wants that to happen.The Board of County Commissioners meets Wednesday at 9 a.m. in the Veterans Room of the Reno County Courthouse.

Board approvals on county agenda

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Veterans' Memorial is looking for help to replace a flagpole.

"We had a flagpole break in the windstorm back in May, it was the American flagpole and POW flagpole," said Kelly Danyluk with the Memorial's board. "I apologize for not having that back up yet. We are working with the vendor and trying to work through some, if there's some warranty that might help cover the cost of replacing that."

There is a significant cost to replace the pole.

"The pole is between $7,000 and $8,000," Danyluk said. "They're not cheap, it's 40 feet."

They already have a donor that will help if there is a shortfall, but if you would like to help too, you can contact Danyluk at RCB Bank. The number there is (620) 860-7734. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/5/1653742898426.jpeg" alt="Reno County Veterans Memorial-Photo by Nick Gosnell" />
 <figcaption>Reno County Veterans Memorial-Photo by Nick Gosnell</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Veterans' Memorial is looking for help to replace a flagpole."We had a flagpole break in the windstorm back in May, it was the American flagpole and POW flagpole," said Kelly Danyluk with the Memorial's board. "I apologize for not having that back up yet. We are working with the vendor and trying to work through some, if there's some warranty that might help cover the cost of replacing that."There is a significant cost to replace the pole."The pole is between $7,000 and $8,000," Danyluk said. "They're not cheap, it's 40 feet."They already have a donor that will help if there is a shortfall, but if you would like to help too, you can contact Danyluk at RCB Bank. The number there is (620) 860-7734.

Veterans' Memorial looking to replace flagpole

JENNIFER WEATHERS Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Farm Focus Family Award began in 1985 as part of National Farm City Week.  There have now been over 100 families in Reno County that have been recognized for their contributions to Reno County Agriculture. This year’s Farm Focus Family Award goes to the Headings family.

Nestled near Hutchinson, Kansas, Randy and Marie Headings proudly operate their fourth-generation family farm, with the invaluable support of their son, Ben. Together, they cultivate a diverse array of crops, including wheat, sorghum, and soybeans, while also raising beef cattle and producing alfalfa for both feeding and selling.

The family’s agricultural legacy continues with their daughter Kendra, who, along with her husband Camron, is raising two daughters, Nora (7) and Naomi (5), ensuring that the values of hard work and dedication to farming are passed down through generations.

In addition to their core operations, Randy has historically produced straw for local businesses, further contributing to the community. Headings Farms is a testament to family values, sustainable agriculture, and a commitment to the future of farming.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731332606234.jpeg" alt="The Headings Family is the Farm Focus Family of the Year. Image Courtesy Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce." />
 <figcaption>The Headings Family is the Farm Focus Family of the Year. Image Courtesy Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce.</figcaption>
 </figure>JENNIFER WEATHERS Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of CommerceHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Farm Focus Family Award began in 1985 as part of National Farm City Week. There have now been over 100 families in Reno County that have been recognized for their contributions to Reno County Agriculture. This year’s Farm Focus Family Award goes to the Headings family.Nestled near Hutchinson, Kansas, Randy and Marie Headings proudly operate their fourth-generation family farm, with the invaluable support of their son, Ben. Together, they cultivate a diverse array of crops, including wheat, sorghum, and soybeans, while also raising beef cattle and producing alfalfa for both feeding and selling.The family’s agricultural legacy continues with their daughter Kendra, who, along with her husband Camron, is raising two daughters, Nora (7) and Naomi (5), ensuring that the values of hard work and dedication to farming are passed down through generations.In addition to their core operations, Randy has historically produced straw for local businesses, further contributing to the community. Headings Farms is a testament to family values, sustainable agriculture, and a commitment to the future of farming.

Headings family is Farm Focus Family Award winner

Outside of holidays, the most important date on the calendar when I was growing up was always the second Saturday of November or the traditional opening of pheasant and quail seasons. While I did plenty of quail hunting in east Kansas, we always headed west for the opening day to chase ring-necked pheasants.

While life has interrupted my participation for the last several opening weekends, including this year’s, the memories of past hunts are always on my mind when the time rolls around. Provided we were heading to the far western frontier, pheasant hunting remains the only reason I was ever permitted to leave school early without suffering a dire illness.

Leaving in the early afternoon still meant hours of driving after dark until we arrived at our destination. We’d scroll through AM radio stations and listen to high school football games we didn’t have a rooting interest in.

Lodging arrangements varied from hotels to the spare bedrooms and basement couches of friends and extended families. I still smile when I check in to a hotel that prominently asks guests to refrain from cleaning birds in the rooms. I’ve never done that, but I understand why the signs are there.

We’d rise well before daybreak to make it to the fields, stopping for a quick bite at some breakfast fundraiser held in either a church basement or VFW hall. The food was always good and fellow diners included a large number of people in orange coats and vests taking part in the same ritual.

After fueling up, it was on to the hunt, which consisted of walking down rows of harvested corn and milo fields hoping to flush a rooster close enough to get a shot off. On a good field you could see birds running down the rows. Blockers at the end of the field helped hold the pheasant until those walking the fields and the dogs could arrive.

Ideally the dogs would assist in the hunt by helping push the birds or go on point and calmly wait for someone to get close by before flushing the bird. In reality, the mix of labs and German shorthairs our group hunted with were as likely to charge ahead with wild abandon as they were to stay on point.

When everything went to plan, there’s nothing that can replicate the rush of a pheasant taking off in front of you. The rustle of wings against the crop stubble followed by seeing a bright green head contrasted against a rooster’s coppery body gets your heart pumping.

Under the best of circumstances, the pheasants would fly against a blue sky, but we also hunted in some truly miserable conditions. Only once can I remember quitting early. It was late in the afternoon of a perfect November Saturday and we stopped to hear Greg Sharpe call the fourth quarter of a K-State-Nebraska game.

That was a good year for pheasants and football. This year’s crop of ringnecks is looking good according to roadside surveys. The 100,000-plus hunters who will chase them from now until the end of January should have plenty of opportunity.

I hope to be among them at some point over the next few weeks. Even though it won’t be quite the same as all those hunts that began on the second Saturday of November.

"Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>Greg Doering, Kansas Farm BureauOutside of holidays, the most important date on the calendar when I was growing up was always the second Saturday of November or the traditional opening of pheasant and quail seasons. While I did plenty of quail hunting in east Kansas, we always headed west for the opening day to chase ring-necked pheasants.While life has interrupted my participation for the last several opening weekends, including this year’s, the memories of past hunts are always on my mind when the time rolls around. Provided we were heading to the far western frontier, pheasant hunting remains the only reason I was ever permitted to leave school early without suffering a dire illness.Leaving in the early afternoon still meant hours of driving after dark until we arrived at our destination. We’d scroll through AM radio stations and listen to high school football games we didn’t have a rooting interest in.Lodging arrangements varied from hotels to the spare bedrooms and basement couches of friends and extended families. I still smile when I check in to a hotel that prominently asks guests to refrain from cleaning birds in the rooms. I’ve never done that, but I understand why the signs are there.We’d rise well before daybreak to make it to the fields, stopping for a quick bite at some breakfast fundraiser held in either a church basement or VFW hall. The food was always good and fellow diners included a large number of people in orange coats and vests taking part in the same ritual.After fueling up, it was on to the hunt, which consisted of walking down rows of harvested corn and milo fields hoping to flush a rooster close enough to get a shot off. On a good field you could see birds running down the rows. Blockers at the end of the field helped hold the pheasant until those walking the fields and the dogs could arrive.Ideally the dogs would assist in the hunt by helping push the birds or go on point and calmly wait for someone to get close by before flushing the bird. In reality, the mix of labs and German shorthairs our group hunted with were as likely to charge ahead with wild abandon as they were to stay on point.When everything went to plan, there’s nothing that can replicate the rush of a pheasant taking off in front of you. The rustle of wings against the crop stubble followed by seeing a bright green head contrasted against a rooster’s coppery body gets your heart pumping.Under the best of circumstances, the pheasants would fly against a blue sky, but we also hunted in some truly miserable conditions. Only once can I remember quitting early. It was late in the afternoon of a perfect November Saturday and we stopped to hear Greg Sharpe call the fourth quarter of a K-State-Nebraska game.That was a good year for pheasants and football. This year’s crop of ringnecks is looking good according to roadside surveys. The 100,000-plus hunters who will chase them from now until the end of January should have plenty of opportunity.I hope to be among them at some point over the next few weeks. Even though it won’t be quite the same as all those hunts that began on the second Saturday of November."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service. Copyright © 2024 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

Insight: Second Saturdays

<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;

11/12/2024 3:07 AM-Gabriela Geurian-Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant; Pedestrian; Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs upon Roadway

11/12/2024 1:24 AM-Thomas	Joseph Goin-DUI; 1st conv; drugs or combination of drugs; Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;

11/11/2024 11:24 PM-Marcus	Lowe Lamar-DUI; Misdemeanor

11/11/2024 10:04 PM-Quinton	James Bower-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction); Assault; Simple; Disorderly Conduct; Fighting words or noisy conduct

11/11/2024 8:19 PM-Jonathan	Michael Scothorn-Failure to Appear

11/11/2024 7:29 PM-Nelson	Smith Escobar-Lara-Agg battery; Knowingly use deadly weapon; In Transit From-To Other Agency&nbsp;

11/11/2024 6:08 PM-Kendall	Loula Ryan-Criminal Deprivation of Property; Other than Motor Vehicle or Firearm

11/11/2024 6:04 PM-Ricky	Dean Davis-Failure to Appear

11/11/2024 5:06 PM-Amanda	Lucille Davis-DL Violation; No Drivers License

11/11/2024 11:32 AM-Milissa	Lea Lewis-Failure to Appear

11/11/2024 10:17 AM-Xavier Manon-Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&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;11/12/2024 3:07 AM-Gabriela Geurian-Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant; Pedestrian; Under the Influence of Alcohol/Drugs upon Roadway11/12/2024 1:24 AM-Thomas	Joseph Goin-DUI; 1st conv; drugs or combination of drugs; Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;11/11/2024 11:24 PM-Marcus	Lowe Lamar-DUI; Misdemeanor11/11/2024 10:04 PM-Quinton	James Bower-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction); Assault; Simple; Disorderly Conduct; Fighting words or noisy conduct11/11/2024 8:19 PM-Jonathan	Michael Scothorn-Failure to Appear11/11/2024 7:29 PM-Nelson	Smith Escobar-Lara-Agg battery; Knowingly use deadly weapon; In Transit From-To Other Agency&nbsp;11/11/2024 6:08 PM-Kendall	Loula Ryan-Criminal Deprivation of Property; Other than Motor Vehicle or Firearm11/11/2024 6:04 PM-Ricky	Dean Davis-Failure to Appear11/11/2024 5:06 PM-Amanda	Lucille Davis-DL Violation; No Drivers License11/11/2024 11:32 AM-Milissa	Lea Lewis-Failure to Appear11/11/2024 10:17 AM-Xavier Manon-Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;

Daily Bookings

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson firefighters were called out just after 8 a.m. Monday to the report of a structure fire in the 1100 block of North Orchard. The person who called dispatch saw smoke coming from the roof vents.

When crews arrived, they saw light smoke coming from the attic vents and eaves of the home. Everyone got out safely and firefighters found an overheated electrical wire that had caused the insulation to start smoldering.&nbsp;

Once power was off, crews disconnected the wire and began pulling ceilings, then wet down the areas and the home was ventilated. The home was then checked for hot spots with a thermal imaging camera.

They don't know what overloaded the wire, but want to remind the public not to do things like plug space heaters into extension cords or other things that would draw too much current in old wiring.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1707240042490.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson firefighters were called out just after 8 a.m. Monday to the report of a structure fire in the 1100 block of North Orchard. The person who called dispatch saw smoke coming from the roof vents.When crews arrived, they saw light smoke coming from the attic vents and eaves of the home. Everyone got out safely and firefighters found an overheated electrical wire that had caused the insulation to start smoldering.&nbsp;Once power was off, crews disconnected the wire and began pulling ceilings, then wet down the areas and the home was ventilated. The home was then checked for hot spots with a thermal imaging camera.They don't know what overloaded the wire, but want to remind the public not to do things like plug space heaters into extension cords or other things that would draw too much current in old wiring.&nbsp;

Overheated wire likely cause of Monday fire

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present the November Small Business of the Month award to Chaffin Electric.&nbsp;

Roger Chaffin’s path to entrepreneurship started with a roadblock that might have stopped others in their tracks. After serving in the military and earning his master electrician certification in Washington, he returned to Kansas in 1998. But he faced a setback: his certification wasn’t recognized here. This meant starting from scratch to qualify for Kansas’ licensing exam. Not one to be discouraged, Roger joined a local company to gain the hours needed and eventually passed the exam, finally opening Chaffin Electric in 2006. His business was inspired by a simple yet powerful mission: to offer quality electrical services at fair prices, so everyone can afford a safe and comfortable home.

From those humble beginnings, Roger has grown Chaffin Electric into a successful enterprise, expanding from a one-man operation to a dedicated team of five. This growth reflects his commitment to service and the loyalty of his customers, many of whom praise his willingness to respond personally, even after hours—a testament to his dedication, especially in Kansas’ extreme&nbsp;weather when power is crucial.

Chaffin Electric offers a full range of services, from new construction and remodeling to specialized lighting, panel upgrades, and even data cabling. But what truly sets them apart is Roger’s personal approach. His responsiveness, especially during emergencies, and commitment to fair pricing ensure that Chaffin Electric is a reliable, accessible option for both residents and businesses in Hutchinson, South Hutchinson, and beyond.

Roger has also adapted to changing customer needs, expanding services to include energy-efficient and smart home solutions. By staying flexible, building strong supplier relationships, and constantly&nbsp;updating skills, Roger has navigated supply chain challenges and rising material costs—valuable lessons in resilience that other small businesses can certainly admire.

Employee retention is also a key part of Chaffin Electric’s success. Roger believes in creating a supportive environment and offering fair wages, flexible schedules, and continual learning opportunities. As Roger puts it, “pay people what they’re worth,” and they’ll stay committed. His team’s dedication is clear in their quality work and the strong customer relationships they help to build.

Chaffin Electric also places a high value on community involvement. Roger supports local organizations like the Boys &amp; Girls Club, veteran organizations, and the Moose Lodge, and he encourages his employees to get involved as well. This community engagement has not only&nbsp;strengthened his business through customer loyalty but has also fostered a deeper connection with the people of Reno County.

Roger measures his success by the satisfaction of his customers and the impact he has on the community, and it’s clear that he is making a positive difference. His advice for future small business owners? “Treat people well, provide quality work, and success will follow naturally.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731320644922.jpeg" alt="Image Courtesy Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce" />
 <figcaption>Image Courtesy Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce</figcaption>
 </figure>JENNIFER WEATHERS Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of CommerceHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present the November Small Business of the Month award to Chaffin Electric.&nbsp;Roger Chaffin’s path to entrepreneurship started with a roadblock that might have stopped others in their tracks. After serving in the military and earning his master electrician certification in Washington, he returned to Kansas in 1998. But he faced a setback: his certification wasn’t recognized here. This meant starting from scratch to qualify for Kansas’ licensing exam. Not one to be discouraged, Roger joined a local company to gain the hours needed and eventually passed the exam, finally opening Chaffin Electric in 2006. His business was inspired by a simple yet powerful mission: to offer quality electrical services at fair prices, so everyone can afford a safe and comfortable home.From those humble beginnings, Roger has grown Chaffin Electric into a successful enterprise, expanding from a one-man operation to a dedicated team of five. This growth reflects his commitment to service and the loyalty of his customers, many of whom praise his willingness to respond personally, even after hours—a testament to his dedication, especially in Kansas’ extreme&nbsp;weather when power is crucial.Chaffin Electric offers a full range of services, from new construction and remodeling to specialized lighting, panel upgrades, and even data cabling. But what truly sets them apart is Roger’s personal approach. His responsiveness, especially during emergencies, and commitment to fair pricing ensure that Chaffin Electric is a reliable, accessible option for both residents and businesses in Hutchinson, South Hutchinson, and beyond.Roger has also adapted to changing customer needs, expanding services to include energy-efficient and smart home solutions. By staying flexible, building strong supplier relationships, and constantly&nbsp;updating skills, Roger has navigated supply chain challenges and rising material costs—valuable lessons in resilience that other small businesses can certainly admire.Employee retention is also a key part of Chaffin Electric’s success. Roger believes in creating a supportive environment and offering fair wages, flexible schedules, and continual learning opportunities. As Roger puts it, “pay people what they’re worth,” and they’ll stay committed. His team’s dedication is clear in their quality work and the strong customer relationships they help to build.Chaffin Electric also places a high value on community involvement. Roger supports local organizations like the Boys &amp; Girls Club, veteran organizations, and the Moose Lodge, and he encourages his employees to get involved as well. This community engagement has not only&nbsp;strengthened his business through customer loyalty but has also fostered a deeper connection with the people of Reno County.Roger measures his success by the satisfaction of his customers and the impact he has on the community, and it’s clear that he is making a positive difference. His advice for future small business owners? “Treat people well, provide quality work, and success will follow naturally.”

Chaffin Electric is Small Business of the Month

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The USD 308 Board of Education will receive the facility master plan from the Facility Steering Committee at their meeting Monday night.&nbsp;

This committee has been meeting and discussing facility options for the past 20 months. This plan will help inform the Board of Education as they discuss the potential dates and scope of a future bond issue in 2025.

The USD 308 Board of Education will meet at 6:00 p.m. at the USD 308 Admin Center located at 1520 N Plum Street.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655147159618.jpeg" alt="USD 308 Admin Building-Photo by Daren Dunn" />
 <figcaption>USD 308 Admin Building-Photo by Daren Dunn</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The USD 308 Board of Education will receive the facility master plan from the Facility Steering Committee at their meeting Monday night.&nbsp;This committee has been meeting and discussing facility options for the past 20 months. This plan will help inform the Board of Education as they discuss the potential dates and scope of a future bond issue in 2025.The USD 308 Board of Education will meet at 6:00 p.m. at the USD 308 Admin Center located at 1520 N Plum Street.

Facility master plan presentation Monday

RACHEL MCMASTER Bluestem Communities

NORTH NEWTON, Kan. —&nbsp;Suderman Assisted Living Center at Kidron Bethel Village has added a respite opportunity for anyone needing short-term care needs.

This fully-furnished suite provides a short-term retreat opportunity for individuals who require some assistance with day-to-day tasks, offering access to new experiences and social interactions, and providing temporary relief for caregivers.

“We’re excited to have this new option at Kidron Bethel Village and a way to meet a variety of needs,” said Jennifer Traglia, Kidron Bethel Village Executive Director. “It offers individuals the opportunity to receive some help on a short-term basis or gives those who might be interested in assisted living the chance to try it out.”

Guests to the suite follow the same admission requirements as assisted living residents, and receive support equivalent to assisted living residents, including three meals per day, basic assistance with daily living tasks and medication administration.&nbsp;

“In-home caregiving can take a toll on family members or friends,” said Traglia. “The respite suite offers a respite for the caregiver as much as the individual using the suite. It can simply provide a break for the caregiver, allow them the opportunity to travel or attend to other needs without the added responsibility of caregiving, or offer individuals considering a move to assisted living the chance to explore new experiences and social interactions to see if it would fit with their lifestyle and care needs more permanently.”

For more information or to inquire about the suite’s availability, contact the Bluestem Communities Senior Living Advisor Team at 888-388-7445.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731319399491.jpeg" alt="Suderman Assisted Living Center at Kidron Bethel Village is now offering an assisted living short-term respite suite for the community." />
 <figcaption>Suderman Assisted Living Center at Kidron Bethel Village is now offering an assisted living short-term respite suite for the community.</figcaption>
 </figure>RACHEL MCMASTER Bluestem CommunitiesNORTH NEWTON, Kan. —&nbsp;Suderman Assisted Living Center at Kidron Bethel Village has added a respite opportunity for anyone needing short-term care needs.This fully-furnished suite provides a short-term retreat opportunity for individuals who require some assistance with day-to-day tasks, offering access to new experiences and social interactions, and providing temporary relief for caregivers.“We’re excited to have this new option at Kidron Bethel Village and a way to meet a variety of needs,” said Jennifer Traglia, Kidron Bethel Village Executive Director. “It offers individuals the opportunity to receive some help on a short-term basis or gives those who might be interested in assisted living the chance to try it out.”Guests to the suite follow the same admission requirements as assisted living residents, and receive support equivalent to assisted living residents, including three meals per day, basic assistance with daily living tasks and medication administration.&nbsp;“In-home caregiving can take a toll on family members or friends,” said Traglia. “The respite suite offers a respite for the caregiver as much as the individual using the suite. It can simply provide a break for the caregiver, allow them the opportunity to travel or attend to other needs without the added responsibility of caregiving, or offer individuals considering a move to assisted living the chance to explore new experiences and social interactions to see if it would fit with their lifestyle and care needs more permanently.”For more information or to inquire about the suite’s availability, contact the Bluestem Communities Senior Living Advisor Team at 888-388-7445.

Respite suite now available in North Newton

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;

11/11/2024 1:44 AM-Nicholas	Deonta Rogers-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction); Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000&nbsp;

11/10/2024 9:05 PM-Rachel	Marie Roth-DUI; 2nd conv; blood or breath .08 or higher; Ignition Interlock Device; Operate MV without device during restriction; Registration Violation; No/Expired License Plate&nbsp;

11/10/2024 7:56 PM-Eugene	Archie Rankin-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction)

11/10/2024 7:35 PM-Justin	Eugene Gardner-Failure to Appear; Flee &amp; Elude; 3rd Offense; DL Violation; No Drivers License; Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant&nbsp;

11/10/2024 4:36 PM-Aneesa	Brielle Durant-Harassment by Telephone; Texting to harass or threaten

11/10/2024 2:57 PM-Marichelle	Alejandra Morales-Failure to Appear; Viol protection order; Abuse 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;11/11/2024 1:44 AM-Nicholas	Deonta Rogers-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction); Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000&nbsp;11/10/2024 9:05 PM-Rachel	Marie Roth-DUI; 2nd conv; blood or breath .08 or higher; Ignition Interlock Device; Operate MV without device during restriction; Registration Violation; No/Expired License Plate&nbsp;11/10/2024 7:56 PM-Eugene	Archie Rankin-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction)11/10/2024 7:35 PM-Justin	Eugene Gardner-Failure to Appear; Flee &amp; Elude; 3rd Offense; DL Violation; No Drivers License; Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant&nbsp;11/10/2024 4:36 PM-Aneesa	Brielle Durant-Harassment by Telephone; Texting to harass or threaten11/10/2024 2:57 PM-Marichelle	Alejandra Morales-Failure to Appear; Viol protection order; Abuse order

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 or some renewable source of energy like wind or hydro. More on solar in future articles. I would often tell my children: There are two ways to have more money, make more or spend less. Likewise there are two ways to get to Net Zero: produce more electricity or use/waste less. Let’s focus on wasting less - a useful goal for any home.

The envelope of your home refers to the exterior: the ceiling/roof, walls, basement, windows and doors. The better insulated and sealed your home is, the less heat or cool you will lose. The low hanging fruit in optimizing your envelope is insulation. While you should be concerned with all 6 sides of your home, the most significant is the attic.

Recall from your science class that heat rises and cool falls. That’s why your basement is always cool in the summer even if you don’t actively cool it - your cooled air

automatically drops through the floor or staircase to the basement. Note also that the earth is about 55 degrees year round which is why geothermal heating/cooling is so effective.

All the heat you produce will attempt to escape through your ceiling. Insulation is rated by the R value. The higher the R value, the better the barrier against loss, and therefore the more heat your house retains. You intuitively get this since you might wear a hoodie when the temperature is in the 60’s, a light jacket in the 50’s and your thickest coat with hat and mittens on the coldest winter day.

Your attic is an easy place to add insulation and will be the most bang for your buck. My Maryland house was built in 1900 and barely had 2” in the attic. When built, there was little concern for energy efficiency. Since home builders won’t be paying the heating or cooling bill, there is little motivation for them to provide an optimized envelope. The present building code is R-38 in the attic. That’s roughly 11” of insulation. If you want R- 50, that requires 17” of insulation. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, Lowes and Home Depot sell loose insulation that can be blown in. Home Depot offers a free 24 hour blower machine rental with the purchase of 10 bags. Your return on investment depends on your bills. If you blow $1,000 worth of insulation into your attic and save $1,000 in a year on heating/cooling bills, you’ve broken even in a year and will have reduced bills for as long as you own the home. I plan to go R-50 - more is better. Maybe 60.

The pink rolls of insulation at your local home improvement store are R-19 for 6 inch thick walls. The rolls for 2X4 walls are R-13. If you’re building a house, exterior walls should be at least 6” thick. It’s pretty hard to upgrade existing walls although there are companies who will drill holes in your walls and blow in more insulation.

The other component of maximizing your envelope is checking how leaky your house is.

You can have all the insulation in the world but if air blows through cracks, you’re just chasing your tail. How tight your house is can be determined by a blower door test.

A blower door test will establish how well sealed your home is. A temporary door or window is installed with a fan blowing inside air to the outside. The fan is calibrated to blow at a constant rate. Monitors are placed inside the home to measure air change per hour.

The air change per hour at 50 Pascals is the standard unit of measure and is denoted ACH50 (Air Change per Hour at 50 Pa). ACH is the number of times the volume of air in your house will blow out the fan in an hour. Less is better. Early building codes required an ACH of less than 8. Newer codes require less than 3. For a home to be certified as a passive house, it must be less than 0.6.

Having an exceptionally well sealed home has multiple advantages. Indoor air quality can be controlled to improve overall health. If you have a family member with asthma or other breathing difficulties, you will want air absent of pollen, dust or other pollutants.

You want the ability to control the humidity in your home to avoid mold or overly dry air - hard to do with a leaky house. No leaks means no insidious insects entering your home.

Lastly and perhaps most importantly, you want to maintain a constant temperature, which is far more costly with drafts.

If the test discloses a number you consider too high, you have some detective work to do. If the outside temperature is significantly different than the inside temperature, you may be able to feel the temperature difference with your hand. Windows, doors, can lights and electrical outlets will be your prime suspects. An infrared camera may also disclose a disparity in temperature. Should the leaks still elude your detection, theatrical fog can be used so you can see air movement.

While essential for constructing an efficient new building, the test can be used for an existing building to identify leaks. Google “Door blower test near me”. Get yourself some caulk and plug up those drafty cracks! Paraphrasing Nancy Reagan: “Just say no to crack”.

Mike Pfeifer at Green Factor Insulation (https://www.gfipro.com/) will perform an analysis of my home including a blower door test. I’ll report back how that goes. GFI adds insulation as well. Note that they are based in Kansas City and Hutch is not in their normal service area. If they receive enough requests for service, perhaps they’ll add us to their normal service area.

Comments? Questions? Drop me a line. <a href="mailto:BobKenyon@gmail.com">BobKenyon@gmail.com</a>

Bob recently retired as a professor of Computer Science at Loyola University Maryland.

Carla retired from Sandy Springs Friends School in Maryland where she was a teacher of upper level Mathematics including AP Calculus. She previously taught AP Statistics at Wichita Collegiate School in Wichita. They have family in Kansas City, Dallas, Western Arkansas and Wichita. They now live in Hutch.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/11/1731082390504.jpeg" alt="Blower Door Test-Image Courtesy Green Factor Insulation" />
 <figcaption>Blower Door Test-Image Courtesy Green Factor Insulation</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 or some renewable source of energy like wind or hydro. More on solar in future articles. I would often tell my children: There are two ways to have more money, make more or spend less. Likewise there are two ways to get to Net Zero: produce more electricity or use/waste less. Let’s focus on wasting less - a useful goal for any home.The envelope of your home refers to the exterior: the ceiling/roof, walls, basement, windows and doors. The better insulated and sealed your home is, the less heat or cool you will lose. The low hanging fruit in optimizing your envelope is insulation. While you should be concerned with all 6 sides of your home, the most significant is the attic.Recall from your science class that heat rises and cool falls. That’s why your basement is always cool in the summer even if you don’t actively cool it - your cooled airautomatically drops through the floor or staircase to the basement. Note also that the earth is about 55 degrees year round which is why geothermal heating/cooling is so effective.All the heat you produce will attempt to escape through your ceiling. Insulation is rated by the R value. The higher the R value, the better the barrier against loss, and therefore the more heat your house retains. You intuitively get this since you might wear a hoodie when the temperature is in the 60’s, a light jacket in the 50’s and your thickest coat with hat and mittens on the coldest winter day.Your attic is an easy place to add insulation and will be the most bang for your buck. My Maryland house was built in 1900 and barely had 2” in the attic. When built, there was little concern for energy efficiency. Since home builders won’t be paying the heating or cooling bill, there is little motivation for them to provide an optimized envelope. The present building code is R-38 in the attic. That’s roughly 11” of insulation. If you want R- 50, that requires 17” of insulation. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, Lowes and Home Depot sell loose insulation that can be blown in. Home Depot offers a free 24 hour blower machine rental with the purchase of 10 bags. Your return on investment depends on your bills. If you blow $1,000 worth of insulation into your attic and save $1,000 in a year on heating/cooling bills, you’ve broken even in a year and will have reduced bills for as long as you own the home. I plan to go R-50 - more is better. Maybe 60.The pink rolls of insulation at your local home improvement store are R-19 for 6 inch thick walls. The rolls for 2X4 walls are R-13. If you’re building a house, exterior walls should be at least 6” thick. It’s pretty hard to upgrade existing walls although there are companies who will drill holes in your walls and blow in more insulation.The other component of maximizing your envelope is checking how leaky your house is.You can have all the insulation in the world but if air blows through cracks, you’re just chasing your tail. How tight your house is can be determined by a blower door test.A blower door test will establish how well sealed your home is. A temporary door or window is installed with a fan blowing inside air to the outside. The fan is calibrated to blow at a constant rate. Monitors are placed inside the home to measure air change per hour.The air change per hour at 50 Pascals is the standard unit of measure and is denoted ACH50 (Air Change per Hour at 50 Pa). ACH is the number of times the volume of air in your house will blow out the fan in an hour. Less is better. Early building codes required an ACH of less than 8. Newer codes require less than 3. For a home to be certified as a passive house, it must be less than 0.6.Having an exceptionally well sealed home has multiple advantages. Indoor air quality can be controlled to improve overall health. If you have a family member with asthma or other breathing difficulties, you will want air absent of pollen, dust or other pollutants.You want the ability to control the humidity in your home to avoid mold or overly dry air - hard to do with a leaky house. No leaks means no insidious insects entering your home.Lastly and perhaps most importantly, you want to maintain a constant temperature, which is far more costly with drafts.If the test discloses a number you consider too high, you have some detective work to do. If the outside temperature is significantly different than the inside temperature, you may be able to feel the temperature difference with your hand. Windows, doors, can lights and electrical outlets will be your prime suspects. An infrared camera may also disclose a disparity in temperature. Should the leaks still elude your detection, theatrical fog can be used so you can see air movement.While essential for constructing an efficient new building, the test can be used for an existing building to identify leaks. Google “Door blower test near me”. Get yourself some caulk and plug up those drafty cracks! Paraphrasing Nancy Reagan: “Just say no to crack”.Mike Pfeifer at Green Factor Insulation (https://www.gfipro.com/) will perform an analysis of my home including a blower door test. I’ll report back how that goes. GFI adds insulation as well. Note that they are based in Kansas City and Hutch is not in their normal service area. If they receive enough requests for service, perhaps they’ll add us to their normal service area.Comments? Questions? Drop me a line. <a href="mailto:BobKenyon@gmail.com">BobKenyon@gmail.com</a>Bob recently retired as a professor of Computer Science at Loyola University Maryland.Carla retired from Sandy Springs Friends School in Maryland where she was a teacher of upper level Mathematics including AP Calculus. She previously taught AP Statistics at Wichita Collegiate School in Wichita. They have family in Kansas City, Dallas, Western Arkansas and Wichita. They now live in Hutch.

Net Zero: Optimize your envelope

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The strategic planning process is continuing for Buhler USD 313.

"It's been a huge process right now," said USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman. "We've narrowed it down to our three themes,which is student success, culture, and resources and operations. We are developing an action plan under each one of those three themes right now."

Staff members, administration and the district site council have all weighed in on the plans.

"We will then take it to our staff at the building level and have them look at it and get input," Couchman said. "Finally it ends in the board of education's hand, hopefully in December to finalize that action plan for each one of those three themes. And this is a five-year cycle of a strategic plan."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1696683579907.jpeg" alt="Buhler USD 313" />
 <figcaption>Buhler USD 313</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The strategic planning process is continuing for Buhler USD 313."It's been a huge process right now," said USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman. "We've narrowed it down to our three themes,which is student success, culture, and resources and operations. We are developing an action plan under each one of those three themes right now."Staff members, administration and the district site council have all weighed in on the plans."We will then take it to our staff at the building level and have them look at it and get input," Couchman said. "Finally it ends in the board of education's hand, hopefully in December to finalize that action plan for each one of those three themes. And this is a five-year cycle of a strategic plan."The Hutchinson Community Foundation and the City of Hutchinson are also working on strategic planning at this same time, so it remains to be seen how the plans for all three entities will be able to interact in the coming years.