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

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

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

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

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

On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;988 Suicide Helpline chief officer Tia Dole.

The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call or text 988 or visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://988lifeline.org/">988lifeline.org</a>.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.crisistextline.org/">Crisis Text Line</a>&nbsp;is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HOME to 741741. It is free, available 24/7 and confidential.

<div><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HdkVjfSrKxI?si=KsRD_lNpyox17HNN" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>On this episode of Forward Ever: Leading in Challenging Times, host Gary Shorman speaks with&nbsp;988 Suicide Helpline chief officer Tia Dole.The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a certified listener, call or text 988 or visit&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="http://988lifeline.org/">988lifeline.org</a>.&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.crisistextline.org/">Crisis Text Line</a>&nbsp;is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HOME to 741741. It is free, available 24/7 and confidential.

🎤Forward Ever: 988 Suicide Helpline chief officer Tia Dole

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Following the conviction of Michael Hurley in the case connected with the accident that killed Trey Jones and critically injured Amy and Ava Jones of Nickerson, Kansas, Hurley received a sentence of 70 years in prison at a sentencing hearing on&nbsp;Friday, December 13.

The Jones family was in Louisville for an AAU basketball tournament Ava Jones was playing in.&nbsp;

Michael Hurley was on probation in Indiana for drug-related charges at the time of the crash, according to court documents detailing his criminal history.

He admitted to officers that he was doing drugs before the July 5, 2022 accident.&nbsp;

Hurley was convicted of one count of murder, three counts of assault and one count of driving under the influence.&nbsp;

Ava Jones remains on scholarship at the University of Iowa, though she&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/3b59ae88-485c-4271-a63b-4092b55dc260">announced earlier this spring that she is no longer going to attempt to return to basketball</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657123638963.jpeg" alt="Michael Hurley-Courtesy Louisville Metro Department of Corrections" />
 <figcaption>Michael Hurley-Courtesy Louisville Metro Department of Corrections</figcaption>
 </figure>LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Following the conviction of Michael Hurley in the case connected with the accident that killed Trey Jones and critically injured Amy and Ava Jones of Nickerson, Kansas, Hurley received a sentence of 70 years in prison at a sentencing hearing on&nbsp;Friday, December 13.The Jones family was in Louisville for an AAU basketball tournament Ava Jones was playing in.&nbsp;Michael Hurley was on probation in Indiana for drug-related charges at the time of the crash, according to court documents detailing his criminal history.He admitted to officers that he was doing drugs before the July 5, 2022 accident.&nbsp;Hurley was convicted of one count of murder, three counts of assault and one count of driving under the influence.&nbsp;Ava Jones remains on scholarship at the University of Iowa, though she&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/3b59ae88-485c-4271-a63b-4092b55dc260">announced earlier this spring that she is no longer going to attempt to return to basketball</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hurley sentenced to 70 years in Jones family case

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Laurel Cemetery in Haven, Kansas and Memorial Park Cemetery in Hutchinson will participate this year in the National Wreaths Across America Day.

The cemeteries will join more than 4,200 participating locations across the country to Remember, Honor and Teach on Saturday, December 14, 2024. 

Wreaths Across America started as a simple gesture of thanks and grew into a national, yearlong movement of volunteers and communities coming together to remember our nation’s fallen military and to honor their service and sacrifice by placing live balsam wreaths on their headstones. 

Laurel Cemetery will be placing 186 wreaths on veteran graves. Memorial Park Cemetery will be placing 125 wreaths. There will be events at each cemetery. Each event will start at 11 a.m. with a short ceremony and then wreaths will be placed immediately after the ceremony. 

Memorial Park Cemetery is at 5905 W 4th Ave Hutchinson, KS. 

Laurel Cemetery is at 5395 E. Greenfield Road Haven, KS.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729675881243.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Wreaths Across America" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Wreaths Across America</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Laurel Cemetery in Haven, Kansas and Memorial Park Cemetery in Hutchinson will participate this year in the National Wreaths Across America Day.The cemeteries will join more than 4,200 participating locations across the country to Remember, Honor and Teach on Saturday, December 14, 2024. Wreaths Across America started as a simple gesture of thanks and grew into a national, yearlong movement of volunteers and communities coming together to remember our nation’s fallen military and to honor their service and sacrifice by placing live balsam wreaths on their headstones. Laurel Cemetery will be placing 186 wreaths on veteran graves. Memorial Park Cemetery will be placing 125 wreaths. There will be events at each cemetery. Each event will start at 11 a.m. with a short ceremony and then wreaths will be placed immediately after the ceremony. Memorial Park Cemetery is at 5905 W 4th Ave Hutchinson, KS. Laurel Cemetery is at 5395 E. Greenfield Road Haven, KS.

Two Reno County cemeteries part of Wreaths Across America

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Erica Miller, DVM with Apple Lane Animal Hospital told Hutch Post that it is important that you think about your pets as you decorate your home for the holidays.

"I would say one of the biggest issues, especially for cats, is tinsel and garland," Miller said. "I always think it's so funny because when you see pictures of cats and kittens and different things, people always show them with like a yarn ball or some kind of string and like in the vet world, I just cringe because tinsel and things like that that are shiny and just cats love it, but if they eat that, then it gets stuck in their intestines because it's long and skinny, and so as the intestines try and move along, they can't really grab that so it gets stuck in it, it can cause some pretty serious issues."

If you put food on as decoration, like popcorn or candy canes, keep pets away from those.

"Most of those popcorn chains, cause I remember making one of those when I was younger, have string in the middle of them," Miller said. "String can cause some major issues inside in the intestines. Also, if you've got a notorious lab puppy that likes to eat everything can end up getting stuck and needing emergency foreign body surgery. So a lot of it too is knowing your pet."

If you do plan to give your pets treats, make sure they are treats they are familiar with and that they don't get too much.

"If people are giving your pets some treats that they don't normally have or aren't normally used to that, even sometimes treats that are specifically made for pets can still, if your pet has a sensitive stomach can cause their belly to be upset," Miller said. "Knowing your pet, if your pet has a sensitive stomach, then probably giving them treats or things they're not used to, even if they're made for dogs, can cause problems."

Most of all, think ahead about how the holidays may impact your pet and make accommodations in advance, so that they can enjoy the time as much as you do.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734090011543.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Erica Miller, DVM with Apple Lane Animal Hospital told Hutch Post that it is important that you think about your pets as you decorate your home for the holidays."I would say one of the biggest issues, especially for cats, is tinsel and garland," Miller said. "I always think it's so funny because when you see pictures of cats and kittens and different things, people always show them with like a yarn ball or some kind of string and like in the vet world, I just cringe because tinsel and things like that that are shiny and just cats love it, but if they eat that, then it gets stuck in their intestines because it's long and skinny, and so as the intestines try and move along, they can't really grab that so it gets stuck in it, it can cause some pretty serious issues."If you put food on as decoration, like popcorn or candy canes, keep pets away from those."Most of those popcorn chains, cause I remember making one of those when I was younger, have string in the middle of them," Miller said. "String can cause some major issues inside in the intestines. Also, if you've got a notorious lab puppy that likes to eat everything can end up getting stuck and needing emergency foreign body surgery. So a lot of it too is knowing your pet."If you do plan to give your pets treats, make sure they are treats they are familiar with and that they don't get too much."If people are giving your pets some treats that they don't normally have or aren't normally used to that, even sometimes treats that are specifically made for pets can still, if your pet has a sensitive stomach can cause their belly to be upset," Miller said. "Knowing your pet, if your pet has a sensitive stomach, then probably giving them treats or things they're not used to, even if they're made for dogs, can cause problems."Most of all, think ahead about how the holidays may impact your pet and make accommodations in advance, so that they can enjoy the time as much as you do.

Christmas decorations can be dangerous for pets

Emanuel Lutheran, Grace Episcopal and First Presbyterian

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Emanuel Lutheran, Grace Episcopal, and First Presbyterian Churches, all of Hutchinson, will jointly host a “Blue Christmas” worship service on December 19, at 7 p.m., at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 140 E 30th Avenue. The event is open to the entire Hutchinson community.

Traditionally occurring on or around the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, a Blue Christmas service is meant to provide hope and healing for those experiencing grief, loss, or other difficult life situations during the holiday season.

“Although we often think of the holidays as a time of joy, celebration, and fellowship with family and friends, for some, the Christmas season means anxiety, stress, and isolation,” said the Reverend Lisa Simmelink, pastor of Emanuel Lutheran. “By working together, our congregations hope to provide a meaningful service for the community and an experience of solace and comfort for those having a hard time.”

The churches hope the joint Blue Christmas service will become an annual event. The location will rotate yearly among the three congregations, with Emanuel Lutheran as the inaugural host.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734086067037.jpg" alt="christmas, ornament, lights" />
 <figcaption>christmas, ornament, lights</figcaption>
 </figure>Emanuel Lutheran, Grace Episcopal and First PresbyterianHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Emanuel Lutheran, Grace Episcopal, and First Presbyterian Churches, all of Hutchinson, will jointly host a “Blue Christmas” worship service on December 19, at 7 p.m., at Emanuel Lutheran Church, 140 E 30th Avenue. The event is open to the entire Hutchinson community.Traditionally occurring on or around the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, a Blue Christmas service is meant to provide hope and healing for those experiencing grief, loss, or other difficult life situations during the holiday season.“Although we often think of the holidays as a time of joy, celebration, and fellowship with family and friends, for some, the Christmas season means anxiety, stress, and isolation,” said the Reverend Lisa Simmelink, pastor of Emanuel Lutheran. “By working together, our congregations hope to provide a meaningful service for the community and an experience of solace and comfort for those having a hard time.”The churches hope the joint Blue Christmas service will become an annual event. The location will rotate yearly among the three congregations, with Emanuel Lutheran as the inaugural host.

Three Hutchinson churches to host "Blue Christmas" service

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — According to information provided to Hutch Post, the Hutchinson Siemens Gamesa plant provided the nacelles for an upgraded wind project in West Texas.

Jake Rubin with Siemens Gamesa said that replacing nacelles and blades on an existing wind farm is known as “repowering”. This practice revitalizes existing wind farms: extending the operational life, increasing the power production, and reducing the levelized cost of energy. Repowering is a significant growth area for Siemens Gamesa in North America.

The wind farm is run by RWE, the third largest renewable energy company in the U.S. They signed an agreement with electric car manufacturer Rivian and Champion Wind will help supply Rivian’s fast-charging network with 100% renewable energy.

In an October announcement, Rivian agreed to purchase electricity from RWE’s Champion Wind, a 127 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Nolan and Mitchell Counties in Texas. This will help supply Rivian’s fast-charging network, the Rivian Adventure Network, with 100% renewable energy. The project contributes to Rivian’s vision for a carbon-free future and commitment to enable 7 billion miles of renewable driving. The Champion Wind farm is currently undergoing upgrades to install new, state-of-the-art turbine nacelles and blades that will extend the lifetime of the facility. The repowering of Champion Wind will be completed in mid-2025.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/7/1595968398587.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — According to information provided to Hutch Post, the Hutchinson Siemens Gamesa plant provided the nacelles for an upgraded wind project in West Texas.Jake Rubin with Siemens Gamesa said that replacing nacelles and blades on an existing wind farm is known as “repowering”. This practice revitalizes existing wind farms: extending the operational life, increasing the power production, and reducing the levelized cost of energy. Repowering is a significant growth area for Siemens Gamesa in North America.The wind farm is run by RWE, the third largest renewable energy company in the U.S. They signed an agreement with electric car manufacturer Rivian and Champion Wind will help supply Rivian’s fast-charging network with 100% renewable energy.In an October announcement, Rivian agreed to purchase electricity from RWE’s Champion Wind, a 127 megawatt (MW) wind farm in Nolan and Mitchell Counties in Texas. This will help supply Rivian’s fast-charging network, the Rivian Adventure Network, with 100% renewable energy. The project contributes to Rivian’s vision for a carbon-free future and commitment to enable 7 billion miles of renewable driving. The Champion Wind farm is currently undergoing upgrades to install new, state-of-the-art turbine nacelles and blades that will extend the lifetime of the facility. The repowering of Champion Wind will be completed in mid-2025.

Siemens Gamesa assists Texas wind system upgrade

KAYLA MORITZ McPherson Center for Health

MCPHERSON, Kan. — On December 11, 2024, McPherson Center for Health proudly welcomed Kansas State Senator Michael Fagg for a visit aimed at fostering dialogue around healthcare initiatives and addressing barriers to care for rural Kansans. The visit included a tour of the facility and in-depth discussions with healthcare professionals about the challenges they face in delivering high-quality care to the local community.

During the visit, Senator Fagg engaged with hospital staff to gain insight into the operational and logistical difficulties of rural healthcare delivery. Among these are limited access to specialized care, recruitment and retention of healthcare providers, and the financial sustainability of rural hospitals — challenges that rural Kansans face daily.

The tour highlighted McPherson Center for Health’s comprehensive services, including the Rural Health Clinic, Emergency Services, Women’s Care and Birthing Center, and a range of outpatient services. The hospital underscored how legislative support and healthcare policy improvements can bolster its mission to provide high-quality, accessible care close to home.

"It was a pleasure hosting Senator Fagg and getting the opportunity for him to tour our great facility while discussing challenges and opportunities for healthcare in rural communities,” said Tanner Wealand, CEO of McPherson Center for Health.

“Senator Fagg’s visit emphasizes the critical role of collaboration in healthcare,” added Charity Clark, COO. “We appreciate the Senator’s commitment to understanding our challenges and supporting our efforts to provide exceptional care.”

The event concluded with an open dialogue session where healthcare leaders and the Senator exchanged ideas on advancing healthcare policies that align with community needs. This conversation reinforced the importance of partnerships between healthcare providers and policymakers in ensuring that all Kansans, regardless of location, receive the care they need.

For more information about McPherson Center for Health and its services, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mcphersoncenterforhealth.org/" target="_blank">www.mcphersoncenterforhealth.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734085052166.jpeg" alt="Senator Michael Fagg, Charity Clark- COO at McPherson Hospital, Tanner Wealand- President and CEO at McPherson Hospital" />
 <figcaption>Senator Michael Fagg, Charity Clark- COO at McPherson Hospital, Tanner Wealand- President and CEO at McPherson Hospital</figcaption>
 </figure>KAYLA MORITZ McPherson Center for HealthMCPHERSON, Kan. — On December 11, 2024, McPherson Center for Health proudly welcomed Kansas State Senator Michael Fagg for a visit aimed at fostering dialogue around healthcare initiatives and addressing barriers to care for rural Kansans. The visit included a tour of the facility and in-depth discussions with healthcare professionals about the challenges they face in delivering high-quality care to the local community.During the visit, Senator Fagg engaged with hospital staff to gain insight into the operational and logistical difficulties of rural healthcare delivery. Among these are limited access to specialized care, recruitment and retention of healthcare providers, and the financial sustainability of rural hospitals — challenges that rural Kansans face daily.The tour highlighted McPherson Center for Health’s comprehensive services, including the Rural Health Clinic, Emergency Services, Women’s Care and Birthing Center, and a range of outpatient services. The hospital underscored how legislative support and healthcare policy improvements can bolster its mission to provide high-quality, accessible care close to home."It was a pleasure hosting Senator Fagg and getting the opportunity for him to tour our great facility while discussing challenges and opportunities for healthcare in rural communities,” said Tanner Wealand, CEO of McPherson Center for Health.“Senator Fagg’s visit emphasizes the critical role of collaboration in healthcare,” added Charity Clark, COO. “We appreciate the Senator’s commitment to understanding our challenges and supporting our efforts to provide exceptional care.”The event concluded with an open dialogue session where healthcare leaders and the Senator exchanged ideas on advancing healthcare policies that align with community needs. This conversation reinforced the importance of partnerships between healthcare providers and policymakers in ensuring that all Kansans, regardless of location, receive the care they need.For more information about McPherson Center for Health and its services, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.mcphersoncenterforhealth.org/" target="_blank">www.mcphersoncenterforhealth.org</a>.

State senator visits McPherson Center for Health

Ready to make 2025 your year of baking? Resolve to rise to the challenge and take your baking skills to the next level by entering the 2025 National Festival of Breads. Entries are open now through January 16, 2025, for the biennial competition for amateur bakers.&nbsp;

“The National Festival of Breads showcases the creativity of home bakers across the country,” said Cindy Falk, Kansas Wheat nutrition educator and festival co-director. “Join us for this beloved tradition that celebrates baking bread at home with your original entry.”&nbsp;

The Festival of Breads was started 34 years ago by the Kansas Wheat Commission, the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Kansas Wheathearts, a women’s auxiliary group of wheat growers. The contest was designed to honor the art of baking, encourage the use of Kansas products and recognize the Kansas wheat and milling industries. The contest went national in 2009 and champions from all over the United States have won prior competitions.

The 2025 contest is sponsored by Kansas Wheat, King Arthur Baking Company, Manhattan Hy-Vee, Kansas Department of Agriculture and Stafford County Flour Mills. The contest is open to adult home bakers, 18 years or older, who submit an original recipe and photo in the online entry system. Entries for the 2025 contest will be accepted online through January 16, 2025.&nbsp;

This year’s competition includes two categories — quick bread and yeast bread.&nbsp;

Quick bread is defined as recipes made without yeast and with a leavening agent (baking powder or baking soda), which allows for immediate baking after preparation. Examples include muffins, scones, soda bread, tortillas, coffeecakes, pancakes, fritters, dumplings, fruit and nut breads, waffles, beer bread, biscuits and more.&nbsp;

Yeast breads are made with yeast (instant, active dry, bread machine yeast, etc.) and most often use bread flour, high-protein flour, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour or a combination of flours. Examples include sweet or savory breads and rolls, whole grain breads and rolls, Dutch oven breads, holiday breads and fancy braids, sandwich loaves and more.&nbsp;

Select recipes will be baked and evaluated in the test kitchen at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center by Falk and a team of experts before winners are selected and announced on June 4, 2025. Category winners will each receive a $1,000 check and a baking prize bundle. Honorable mention winners will receive a check for $100.&nbsp;

“The National Festival of Breads is the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself in the new year,” Falk said. “Whether you are putting a modern twist on a family favorite recipe or experimenting with new flavors or ingredients, this is your chance to showcase your baking style. Celebrate the joy of baking with family and friends as you practice, connect with a longstanding community of bakers and have some fun as you create something original!”

Find inspiration from previous winners, read the rules and enter the&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=00119AsOizUmFPEvqZkc-6MrmOXTxGpxABjDANq4eh5opBX8giruapIwl_WWE0h01IH5362ub263r6L0xkXf4WdqVnZ41YzjQMTWmV5h5pQqmitv3elxFKLVlgfGn7W9kV_Va_j2ogDH0n_UWwmsH06SBSD7uXfTQZyodMwhSYKYhE=&amp;c=GkanP0UVbvuPGWhdGZQvQqMgcMibghkJiO0HKKHVPmErQ8FO8g8RFQ==&amp;ch=zvZ7CBEL0A6Q0qiX1o6yuwcvaeZWq5Fdq14YsIh3R5vlBlxM23Xeww==" target="_blank">National Festival of Breads</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1734085204937.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>JULIA DEBES Kansas WheatReady to make 2025 your year of baking? Resolve to rise to the challenge and take your baking skills to the next level by entering the 2025 National Festival of Breads. Entries are open now through January 16, 2025, for the biennial competition for amateur bakers.&nbsp;“The National Festival of Breads showcases the creativity of home bakers across the country,” said Cindy Falk, Kansas Wheat nutrition educator and festival co-director. “Join us for this beloved tradition that celebrates baking bread at home with your original entry.”&nbsp;The Festival of Breads was started 34 years ago by the Kansas Wheat Commission, the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Kansas Wheathearts, a women’s auxiliary group of wheat growers. The contest was designed to honor the art of baking, encourage the use of Kansas products and recognize the Kansas wheat and milling industries. The contest went national in 2009 and champions from all over the United States have won prior competitions.The 2025 contest is sponsored by Kansas Wheat, King Arthur Baking Company, Manhattan Hy-Vee, Kansas Department of Agriculture and Stafford County Flour Mills. The contest is open to adult home bakers, 18 years or older, who submit an original recipe and photo in the online entry system. Entries for the 2025 contest will be accepted online through January 16, 2025.&nbsp;This year’s competition includes two categories — quick bread and yeast bread.&nbsp;Quick bread is defined as recipes made without yeast and with a leavening agent (baking powder or baking soda), which allows for immediate baking after preparation. Examples include muffins, scones, soda bread, tortillas, coffeecakes, pancakes, fritters, dumplings, fruit and nut breads, waffles, beer bread, biscuits and more.&nbsp;Yeast breads are made with yeast (instant, active dry, bread machine yeast, etc.) and most often use bread flour, high-protein flour, all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour or a combination of flours. Examples include sweet or savory breads and rolls, whole grain breads and rolls, Dutch oven breads, holiday breads and fancy braids, sandwich loaves and more.&nbsp;Select recipes will be baked and evaluated in the test kitchen at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center by Falk and a team of experts before winners are selected and announced on June 4, 2025. Category winners will each receive a $1,000 check and a baking prize bundle. Honorable mention winners will receive a check for $100.&nbsp;“The National Festival of Breads is the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself in the new year,” Falk said. “Whether you are putting a modern twist on a family favorite recipe or experimenting with new flavors or ingredients, this is your chance to showcase your baking style. Celebrate the joy of baking with family and friends as you practice, connect with a longstanding community of bakers and have some fun as you create something original!”Find inspiration from previous winners, read the rules and enter the&nbsp;<a href="https://sfdzp7cab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=00119AsOizUmFPEvqZkc-6MrmOXTxGpxABjDANq4eh5opBX8giruapIwl_WWE0h01IH5362ub263r6L0xkXf4WdqVnZ41YzjQMTWmV5h5pQqmitv3elxFKLVlgfGn7W9kV_Va_j2ogDH0n_UWwmsH06SBSD7uXfTQZyodMwhSYKYhE=&amp;c=GkanP0UVbvuPGWhdGZQvQqMgcMibghkJiO0HKKHVPmErQ8FO8g8RFQ==&amp;ch=zvZ7CBEL0A6Q0qiX1o6yuwcvaeZWq5Fdq14YsIh3R5vlBlxM23Xeww==" target="_blank">National Festival of Breads</a>.

2025 National Festival of Breads entries open

<a href="https://wesleytowers.com/jobs/registered-nurse-rn/">CLICK HERE TO APPLY!</a>

Plan nursing care and coordinate changes in physician orders with resident care plans. Observe, assess, and report changes in resident behavior/physical condition. Offer input into the assessment of the residents and care planning. Assist the resident with transfers, promote ambulation and exercise, and transport residents as needed. Oversee the care provided by CNA/CMAs. Supervise the passing of medications by CMAs.

Valid Kansas license required. Experience in adult care and services helpful. Strong leadership and communication skills. Ability to collaborate with a team. Previous supervisory experience is helpful. Must be able to lift 30 pounds unassisted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/1/1704483907273.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Registered Nurse (RN)<a href="https://wesleytowers.com/jobs/registered-nurse-rn/">CLICK HERE TO APPLY!</a>Responsibilities:Plan nursing care and coordinate changes in physician orders with resident care plans. Observe, assess, and report changes in resident behavior/physical condition. Offer input into the assessment of the residents and care planning. Assist the resident with transfers, promote ambulation and exercise, and transport residents as needed. Oversee the care provided by CNA/CMAs. Supervise the passing of medications by CMAs.Qualifications:Valid Kansas license required. Experience in adult care and services helpful. Strong leadership and communication skills. Ability to collaborate with a team. Previous supervisory experience is helpful. Must be able to lift 30 pounds unassisted.Benefits for Full-Time:Health, dental, and vision plans available the first day of the month following employment. Membership in onsite, direct-care physician’s clinic with health insurance plan. Superior employee assistance program available to employees. Company-paid life insurance plan. 401(k) after 90 days. Generous PTO plan.Wesley Towers is a 50-acre, vibrant retirement community nestled in a quiet neighborhood in northwest Hutchinson. We offer independent living, assisted living, memory care, rehabilitation and skilled home care. We currently have multiple positions available. Join our team TODAY!<a href="https://wesleytowers.com/job-openings/">CLICK HERE TO VIEW ALL OPEN POSITIONS!</a>

Local