HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman said a parking lot expansion project at the district's newest elementary school has to do with unintended consequences of the pandemic.

"As you know, with buses, we are not able to bus quite as many students as we used to," Couchman said. "The unintended consequence of that is more parents in pickup lines and more parents in drop off lines. We're trying to help accommodate that traffic flow. Hopefully, that will make things a little more efficient in the mornings and afternoons for our parents."

The original thought was that they wouldn't need as much parking, but there are still a lot of folks who drive their kids to school each day.

"The parking is pretty limited there," Couchman said. "We actually built an overflow parking for helping with pickup and drop off of students in the mornings and afternoons and with events that are held there, like concerts. We have found that we just didn't have enough parking, even with the overflow parking that we just put in. We're going to expand that overflow parking just to the south there. We've been working with the city and making sure we have permissions to do that and submitting drawings."

The parking will be expanded about 55 feet to the south.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667684604984.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman said a parking lot expansion project at the district's newest elementary school has to do with unintended consequences of the pandemic."As you know, with buses, we are not able to bus quite as many students as we used to," Couchman said. "The unintended consequence of that is more parents in pickup lines and more parents in drop off lines. We're trying to help accommodate that traffic flow. Hopefully, that will make things a little more efficient in the mornings and afternoons for our parents."The original thought was that they wouldn't need as much parking, but there are still a lot of folks who drive their kids to school each day."The parking is pretty limited there," Couchman said. "We actually built an overflow parking for helping with pickup and drop off of students in the mornings and afternoons and with events that are held there, like concerts. We have found that we just didn't have enough parking, even with the overflow parking that we just put in. We're going to expand that overflow parking just to the south there. We've been working with the city and making sure we have permissions to do that and submitting drawings."The parking will be expanded about 55 feet to the south.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the HutchPost mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily HutchPost email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Plum Creek Elementary to expand parking lot

HAVEN, Kan. — The Haven City Council will have yet another executive session regarding the ongoing issues with the city pool at their Monday meeting. 

The damage to the zero entry area and the rest of the pool continue to be part of a legal battle that is not yet resolved between the original contractor brought in to renovate the pool and the City of Haven.

No meeting minutes since September when the request for bids went out have reflected any accepted bids on the work, and now the city has hired a new Public Works Director, Chad Swartz. His first report will be part of the Monday meeting, as well.

Haven will also have a couple of items looking ahead to 2023, including an ordinance Implementing future trash and recycling rates and a proposed wage plan for city employees for 2023.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1590090767638.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HAVEN, Kan. — The Haven City Council will have yet another executive session regarding the ongoing issues with the city pool at their Monday meeting. The damage to the zero entry area and the rest of the pool continue to be part of a legal battle that is not yet resolved between the original contractor brought in to renovate the pool and the City of Haven.No meeting minutes since September when the request for bids went out have reflected any accepted bids on the work, and now the city has hired a new Public Works Director, Chad Swartz. His first report will be part of the Monday meeting, as well.Haven will also have a couple of items looking ahead to 2023, including an ordinance Implementing future trash and recycling rates and a proposed wage plan for city employees for 2023.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the HutchPost mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily HutchPost email news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Haven City Council continuing to discuss pool matter privately at meeting Monday

MCPHERSON, Kan. —The Great Plains Nature Photographers will be hosting a day-long seminar on Saturday, November 12. The presentation will be held at the Historic McPherson Opera House located at 219 South Main Street in downtown McPherson, KS. Doors will open at 8:00 a.m.&nbsp; with the program starting at 9:00 a.m. and concluding by 4:00 p.m.

The program is open to the public and not limited to photographers, but to anyone who enjoys nature. Cost is $15.00. Students are free! Light refreshments will be served throughout the day.

The featured speaker will be Kansas born photographer, Judd Patterson Judd began to seriously develop his interest in nature photography while in high school. Judd attended Kansas State University where he completed a Bachelor’s in Biology and a Master’s in Geography.

He continues to pursue nature photography to promote environmental education/conservation and for the sheer joy of being outside. Judd’s photography has been used for a variety of regional and national publications, education centers, and birding guides. He has exhibited in Kansas, Florida, and Washington D.C. and remains highly motivated to capture images of imperiled species and habitats in order to play a role in ensuring their future. For more information about Judd Patterson and to see his images, visit his website at: <a href="http://www.juddpatterson.com/">http://www.juddpatterson.com/</a>.

As part of the meeting, there will be a nature photography print competition, also open to the public. Attendees are invited to enter up to two of their own original images, up to 16”x 24”, in 4 different categories. Categories include: Wildlife Captive, Wildlife Non-Captive, Great Plains Nature, and Travel Nature.

The Great Plains Nature Photographers consists of photographers residing in or who photograph the Great Plains of North America, from the Dakotas south through Texas. More information about the group can be found on Facebook under Great Plains Nature Photographers. They welcome postings of work dealing with the nature of the Great Plains, questions about photography, the environment and wildlife of the plains. Members of all skill levels and interest in nature, landscape, and wildlife photography are welcome.

For more information on the meeting and print competition visit the Great Plains Nature Photographers Facebook page at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/GreatPlains/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/GreatPlains/</a>. Registration will be available at the door on the day of the seminar.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667685956629.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy-Great Plains Nature Photographers by Judd Patterson" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy-Great Plains Nature Photographers by Judd Patterson</figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON, Kan. —The Great Plains Nature Photographers will be hosting a day-long seminar on Saturday, November 12. The presentation will be held at the Historic McPherson Opera House located at 219 South Main Street in downtown McPherson, KS. Doors will open at 8:00 a.m.&nbsp; with the program starting at 9:00 a.m. and concluding by 4:00 p.m.The program is open to the public and not limited to photographers, but to anyone who enjoys nature. Cost is $15.00. Students are free! Light refreshments will be served throughout the day.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667685997468.jpeg" alt="MandarinDuck-by Judd Patterson-Courtesy Great Plains Nature Photographers" />
 <figcaption>MandarinDuck-by Judd Patterson-Courtesy Great Plains Nature Photographers</figcaption>
 </figure>The featured speaker will be Kansas born photographer, Judd Patterson Judd began to seriously develop his interest in nature photography while in high school. Judd attended Kansas State University where he completed a Bachelor’s in Biology and a Master’s in Geography.He continues to pursue nature photography to promote environmental education/conservation and for the sheer joy of being outside. Judd’s photography has been used for a variety of regional and national publications, education centers, and birding guides. He has exhibited in Kansas, Florida, and Washington D.C. and remains highly motivated to capture images of imperiled species and habitats in order to play a role in ensuring their future. For more information about Judd Patterson and to see his images, visit his website at: <a href="http://www.juddpatterson.com/">http://www.juddpatterson.com/</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667686142412.jpeg" alt="Photo by Judd Patterson-Courtesy Great Plains Nature Photographers" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Judd Patterson-Courtesy Great Plains Nature Photographers</figcaption>
 </figure>As part of the meeting, there will be a nature photography print competition, also open to the public. Attendees are invited to enter up to two of their own original images, up to 16”x 24”, in 4 different categories. Categories include: Wildlife Captive, Wildlife Non-Captive, Great Plains Nature, and Travel Nature.The Great Plains Nature Photographers consists of photographers residing in or who photograph the Great Plains of North America, from the Dakotas south through Texas. More information about the group can be found on Facebook under Great Plains Nature Photographers. They welcome postings of work dealing with the nature of the Great Plains, questions about photography, the environment and wildlife of the plains. Members of all skill levels and interest in nature, landscape, and wildlife photography are welcome.For more information on the meeting and print competition visit the Great Plains Nature Photographers Facebook page at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/GreatPlains/">https://www.facebook.com/groups/GreatPlains/</a>. Registration will be available at the door on the day of the seminar.

Nature Photographers to hold event in McPherson Nov. 12

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the end of Daylight Saving Time, Kansas motorists need to prepare for related changes during their commute Monday.

"The interruption in sleep patterns, combined with the earlier dusk and darkness during the evening commute, that can become a formula for drowsy driving and fatigue related traffic crashes," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "It usually takes a few days for our bodies to adjust, to not only the very early darkness in the evenings, but much brighter mornings than we've been used to recently."

Ninety percent of drivers’ reaction time is dependent upon their vision, which is severely limited at night.

AAA recommends wearing high-quality sunglasses and adjusting the car’s sun visors as needed. Late afternoon driving also presents a similar glare problem, so drivers should take the same precautions. Use of the night setting on rearview mirrors can reduce glare from headlights approaching from the rear.

"Nationwide, drowsy driving is a factor in an average of 328,000 crashes every year," Steward said. "109,000 of those result in injuries and there are 6400 fatal crashes every year."

Symptoms of drowsy driving can include having trouble keeping eyes open, drifting from lanes or not remembering the last few miles driven.

"More than half of drivers involved in fatigue-related crashes had no symptoms before falling asleep behind the wheel," Steward said. "Be aware of that this time of year. If you are feeling really tired on a long trip, take a break every couple of hours. Just stop on the side of the road or at a rest stop or at a gas station or wherever you can be safe and take a break from the road."

Also, November and December are among the most dangerous months of the year for motor vehicle collisions with animals. A collision with a deer or other animal can put a serious dent in your vehicle, if not destroy it completely, and could result in serious injuries or fatalities. With the time change, you could cross paths with wildlife that you either leave too early or too late to encounter prior to these months.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667681315161.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the end of Daylight Saving Time, Kansas motorists need to prepare for related changes during their commute Monday."The interruption in sleep patterns, combined with the earlier dusk and darkness during the evening commute, that can become a formula for drowsy driving and fatigue related traffic crashes," said Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas. "It usually takes a few days for our bodies to adjust, to not only the very early darkness in the evenings, but much brighter mornings than we've been used to recently."Ninety percent of drivers’ reaction time is dependent upon their vision, which is severely limited at night.AAA recommends wearing high-quality sunglasses and adjusting the car’s sun visors as needed. Late afternoon driving also presents a similar glare problem, so drivers should take the same precautions. Use of the night setting on rearview mirrors can reduce glare from headlights approaching from the rear."Nationwide, drowsy driving is a factor in an average of 328,000 crashes every year," Steward said. "109,000 of those result in injuries and there are 6400 fatal crashes every year."Symptoms of drowsy driving can include having trouble keeping eyes open, drifting from lanes or not remembering the last few miles driven."More than half of drivers involved in fatigue-related crashes had no symptoms before falling asleep behind the wheel," Steward said. "Be aware of that this time of year. If you are feeling really tired on a long trip, take a break every couple of hours. Just stop on the side of the road or at a rest stop or at a gas station or wherever you can be safe and take a break from the road."Also, November and December are among the most dangerous months of the year for motor vehicle collisions with animals. A collision with a deer or other animal can put a serious dent in your vehicle, if not destroy it completely, and could result in serious injuries or fatalities. With the time change, you could cross paths with wildlife that you either leave too early or too late to encounter prior to these months.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the HutchPost mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily HutchPost email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Steward: Even fall back can create drowsy driving danger

BUHLER, Kan. — Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman said the Crusaders basketball teams will have a literal new home floor before too long.

"We hope it's completed by the end of Christmas vacation," Couchman said. "That would be a great goal. If you've been into our gym last year, or recently, you've noticed at Jim Baker Fieldhouse at Buhler High School, that our gym floor is torn up. We had a water pipe break at the end of the season last year."

They have approval for the insurance claim on the floor.

"We are just now getting to the point where we are ready to replace that floor," Couchman said. "We had subflooring that needed to be redone. We're reworking the concrete in that gym floor and we are actually going to replace the entire floor of Jim Baker Fieldhouse, and that's a process."

That will impact this winter's basketball schedule.

"It's been torn out for quite some time," Couchman said. "We are going to start working on that. We hope to be laying floor in the next week or so. After that, of course, we will be ready to do. We have to let it cure for a little bit. That means rescheduling some things. Our athletic director, Justin Seuser, has been amazing through this process. He has rescheduled all of our December games. They are going to be away, so any home December game is now going to be away."

The hope is for the Crusaders to be back home after winter break for basketball.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584543839140.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostBUHLER, Kan. — Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman said the Crusaders basketball teams will have a literal new home floor before too long."We hope it's completed by the end of Christmas vacation," Couchman said. "That would be a great goal. If you've been into our gym last year, or recently, you've noticed at Jim Baker Fieldhouse at Buhler High School, that our gym floor is torn up. We had a water pipe break at the end of the season last year."They have approval for the insurance claim on the floor."We are just now getting to the point where we are ready to replace that floor," Couchman said. "We had subflooring that needed to be redone. We're reworking the concrete in that gym floor and we are actually going to replace the entire floor of Jim Baker Fieldhouse, and that's a process."That will impact this winter's basketball schedule."It's been torn out for quite some time," Couchman said. "We are going to start working on that. We hope to be laying floor in the next week or so. After that, of course, we will be ready to do. We have to let it cure for a little bit. That means rescheduling some things. Our athletic director, Justin Seuser, has been amazing through this process. He has rescheduled all of our December games. They are going to be away, so any home December game is now going to be away."The hope is for the Crusaders to be back home after winter break for basketball.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the HutchPost mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily HutchPost email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Jim Baker Fieldhouse to get new floor soon

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 35th year of the annual Coats for Kids drive with Ineeda Cleaners in Hutchinson was again a large success.

"We hit 2032 coats this year," said Rachel Nelson with Ineeda Cleaners. "We also had lots of blankets, gloves and sweaters."

The drive was founded by Ineeda Cleaners founder John Neal and lasts through the month of October.&nbsp;

A typical year for the event is about 1400 to 1500 items.

Distribution of the coats took place on Saturday and continues Monday at the Salvation Army at 700 North Walnut.

&nbsp;Monday's distribution time is&nbsp; from 9 a.m. to noon.

For the coat distribution, photo ID is required for adults and children must be present to receive coats. No appointment is necessary for the coat distribution.

In addition, registration for the Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance programs with the Salvation Army in Hutchinson continues.

Registration is open through December 4&nbsp;<a href="https://forms.gle/cC2h3tVdcwPKCcPm7">online</a>, or you can register in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays between now and November 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For either registration type for Thanksgiving and Christmas, you will need:

Photo ID, proof of address, proof of income, and SS cards OR medical card printout for all dependent children.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667556533670.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 35th year of the annual Coats for Kids drive with Ineeda Cleaners in Hutchinson was again a large success."We hit 2032 coats this year," said Rachel Nelson with Ineeda Cleaners. "We also had lots of blankets, gloves and sweaters."The drive was founded by Ineeda Cleaners founder John Neal and lasts through the month of October.&nbsp;A typical year for the event is about 1400 to 1500 items.Distribution of the coats took place on Saturday and continues Monday at the Salvation Army at 700 North Walnut.&nbsp;Monday's distribution time is&nbsp; from 9 a.m. to noon.For the coat distribution, photo ID is required for adults and children must be present to receive coats. No appointment is necessary for the coat distribution.In addition, registration for the Thanksgiving and Christmas assistance programs with the Salvation Army in Hutchinson continues.Registration is open through December 4&nbsp;<a href="https://forms.gle/cC2h3tVdcwPKCcPm7">online</a>, or you can register in person on Tuesdays and Thursdays between now and November 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.For either registration type for Thanksgiving and Christmas, you will need:Photo ID, proof of address, proof of income, and SS cards OR medical card printout for all dependent children.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Coats For Kids 35th year brings in over 2000 coats

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — No. 1 Hutchinson's defense scored before the offense ever had to take a snap.&nbsp;

Independence quarterback Greg Jones dropped back on the first third down of the game and Rodney Green Jr. knocked the ball loose.&nbsp;

The ball hit the turf and was reluctantly picked up by Ja'Mez Drummer, who stopped — thinking the ball was ruled incomplete.&nbsp;

Officials let the play finish as Drummer kicked it into gear for a scoop-six.&nbsp;

Independence challenged the ruling, since Jones had the ball behind his head, ready to throw, when the ball came out. Coach Jason Martin was hoping for an incomplete pass ruling, but officials confirmed the call.&nbsp;

The early 7-0 lead was just the beginning of Hutchinson's rout of a very good Pirate team.&nbsp;

The Pirates (3-5, 2-3) have a losing record on the year, but all of the losses have been close and against top-tier teams (Iowa Central, Butler, Iowa Western, Garden City and Hutchinson).&nbsp;

Coach Dallas said the focus was to "Get off the field on third down." Indy went 0 for 11 on third down conversions. "They didn't convert all day," Dallas said. The Pirates also went for it on fourth down and did not convert against the Dragon D.

The defense pitched a shutout for the second time this season and has allowed just 10.1 points per game this year.

Hutchinson held the Pirates to 58 total yards.&nbsp;

Once the Dragon offense got on the field, it played at a high level, too.

Quarterback Dylan Laible threw for 150 yards on 9 of 17 completions for two touchdowns.

Malik Benson, the nation's top recruit, caught both of Laible's TD passes. Both scores came in the first quarter after Drummer's 20-yard scoop-and-score.

Laible's 9-yard pass to Benson capped an 8-play, 62-yard drive that took just 3:31 off the clock. The Dragons turned around and scored on a 51-second drive that needed just four plays to cover 58 yards.

That 4-yard pass to Benson came compliments of a Stephen Matina fumble recovery.

In the blink of an eye, an Indy defense that had surrendered just 18.7 points per game going into Saturday's matchup, found itself down 24-0 after one quarter.

Cole Segraves added field goals from 33 and 28 yards away. He should have been kicking for one after a Dylan Kedzior touchdown in the second quarter, but that run was called back for a holding penalty.

It was not the only Kedzior TD called back. Later in the game, his 72-yard dash to the end zone was also nullified by a holding penalty.

Hutchinson (9-0, 6-0) had seven penalties for 80 yards, while Indy racked up 15 penalties for 149. Three Pirates were booted from the contest for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Despite the nullified runs, Kedzior finished with 88 yards rushing and a touchdown from two yards out just before halftime.

Defensive end Nikko Taylor forced Jones to throw away a pass from the end zone while he was still in the pocket. That safety and the Kedzior run put Hutchinson up 36-0 at the break.

Tre Bess got some good touches at RB and made the most of a 42-yard scamper to the end zone in the third quarter. Bess averaged eight yards per carry on eight touches.

Ed Williams III also ran for a touchdown. His seven-yard run was the final score of the game with 7:40 left. His carry capped a 9-play, 44-yard drive that took 4:31 off the clock.

FINAL: Hutchinson 53 Independence 0

Next week's matchup against Iowa Western was potentially a No. 1 vs. No. 2 contest. However, No. 2 Iowa Western (8-1) lost to No. 8 Coffeyville Saturday night 23-7.

Iowa Western will certainly drop a few spots in Monday's poll.

The top four teams in the final poll will enter a playoff to determine the teams headed to Arkansas for the national championship in December.&nbsp;

Hutchinson has now won the last three KJCCC titles.

CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app. CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667682854315.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By DAREN DUNN Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — No. 1 Hutchinson's defense scored before the offense ever had to take a snap.&nbsp;Independence quarterback Greg Jones dropped back on the first third down of the game and Rodney Green Jr. knocked the ball loose.&nbsp;The ball hit the turf and was reluctantly picked up by Ja'Mez Drummer, who stopped — thinking the ball was ruled incomplete.&nbsp;Officials let the play finish as Drummer kicked it into gear for a scoop-six.&nbsp;Independence challenged the ruling, since Jones had the ball behind his head, ready to throw, when the ball came out. Coach Jason Martin was hoping for an incomplete pass ruling, but officials confirmed the call.&nbsp;The early 7-0 lead was just the beginning of Hutchinson's rout of a very good Pirate team.&nbsp;The Pirates (3-5, 2-3) have a losing record on the year, but all of the losses have been close and against top-tier teams (Iowa Central, Butler, Iowa Western, Garden City and Hutchinson).&nbsp;Coach Dallas said the focus was to "Get off the field on third down." Indy went 0 for 11 on third down conversions. "They didn't convert all day," Dallas said. The Pirates also went for it on fourth down and did not convert against the Dragon D.The defense pitched a shutout for the second time this season and has allowed just 10.1 points per game this year.Hutchinson held the Pirates to 58 total yards.&nbsp;Once the Dragon offense got on the field, it played at a high level, too.Quarterback Dylan Laible threw for 150 yards on 9 of 17 completions for two touchdowns.Malik Benson, the nation's top recruit, caught both of Laible's TD passes. Both scores came in the first quarter after Drummer's 20-yard scoop-and-score.Laible's 9-yard pass to Benson capped an 8-play, 62-yard drive that took just 3:31 off the clock. The Dragons turned around and scored on a 51-second drive that needed just four plays to cover 58 yards.That 4-yard pass to Benson came compliments of a Stephen Matina fumble recovery.In the blink of an eye, an Indy defense that had surrendered just 18.7 points per game going into Saturday's matchup, found itself down 24-0 after one quarter.Cole Segraves added field goals from 33 and 28 yards away. He should have been kicking for one after a Dylan Kedzior touchdown in the second quarter, but that run was called back for a holding penalty.It was not the only Kedzior TD called back. Later in the game, his 72-yard dash to the end zone was also nullified by a holding penalty.Hutchinson (9-0, 6-0) had seven penalties for 80 yards, while Indy racked up 15 penalties for 149. Three Pirates were booted from the contest for unsportsmanlike conduct.Despite the nullified runs, Kedzior finished with 88 yards rushing and a touchdown from two yards out just before halftime.Defensive end Nikko Taylor forced Jones to throw away a pass from the end zone while he was still in the pocket. That safety and the Kedzior run put Hutchinson up 36-0 at the break.Tre Bess got some good touches at RB and made the most of a 42-yard scamper to the end zone in the third quarter. Bess averaged eight yards per carry on eight touches.Ed Williams III also ran for a touchdown. His seven-yard run was the final score of the game with 7:40 left. His carry capped a 9-play, 44-yard drive that took 4:31 off the clock.FINAL: Hutchinson 53 Independence 0Next week's matchup against Iowa Western was potentially a No. 1 vs. No. 2 contest. However, No. 2 Iowa Western (8-1) lost to No. 8 Coffeyville Saturday night 23-7.Iowa Western will certainly drop a few spots in Monday's poll.The top four teams in the final poll will enter a playoff to determine the teams headed to Arkansas for the national championship in December.&nbsp;Hutchinson has now won the last three KJCCC titles.CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app. CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.

🏈 No. 1 Dragons stifle Pirates

KINGMAS COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 10 a.m. Saturday in Kingman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Escape driven by 78-year-old Mary A. Yahnke of Norwich, was northbound on SE 100 Avenue three and one half miles south of Murdock when Yahnke failed to&nbsp;stop at a stop sign and struck the passenger side of an eastbound 1997 Chevy 1500 driven by 77-year-0ld Jeffrey Lynn Krehbiel of Wichita.&nbsp; Both vehicles entered the northeast ditch and rolled.

Yahnke was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Livingston Funeral Home. EMS transported Krehbiel to Via Christi in Wichita. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1592389654778.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>KINGMAS COUNTY —A Kansas woman died in an accident just before 10 a.m. Saturday in Kingman County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Ford Escape driven by 78-year-old Mary A. Yahnke of Norwich, was northbound on SE 100 Avenue three and one half miles south of Murdock when Yahnke failed to&nbsp;stop at a stop sign and struck the passenger side of an eastbound 1997 Chevy 1500 driven by 77-year-0ld Jeffrey Lynn Krehbiel of Wichita.&nbsp; Both vehicles entered the northeast ditch and rolled.Yahnke was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Livingston Funeral Home. EMS transported Krehbiel to Via Christi in Wichita. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dies, man injured after Kingman Co. crash

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson fire crews were called to 1709 East 2nd Avenue at 2:23 a.m. Saturday. 

One adult and four dogs were able to get out safely, but the home had heavy fire when firefighters got there, and the side and rear of the home were heavily damaged and fire also got into the attic and walls. 

Firefighters couldn't completely stop the fire until Evergy cut power to the house, as there were live power lines down in the yard.

The cause of the fire is still being investigated. Red Cross was called to help, because there was too much damage to the house to let them back in this morning.

Hutch Fire reminds the public to test your smoke detectors at least once a month and be sure they have fresh batteries.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667639511702.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson fire crews were called to 1709 East 2nd Avenue at 2:23 a.m. Saturday. One adult and four dogs were able to get out safely, but the home had heavy fire when firefighters got there, and the side and rear of the home were heavily damaged and fire also got into the attic and walls. Firefighters couldn't completely stop the fire until Evergy cut power to the house, as there were live power lines down in the yard.The cause of the fire is still being investigated. Red Cross was called to help, because there was too much damage to the house to let them back in this morning.Hutch Fire reminds the public to test your smoke detectors at least once a month and be sure they have fresh batteries.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Early Saturday fire significantly damages Hutchinson home

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After just opening a women and children's home last month in McPherson, addiction recovery-housing organization, Oxford House is in the final stages of opening a men’s home in the same area.

“We haven’t decided when the men’s house will open, but it was voted upon and it is going to be added to our chapter.” said organization member Stephen Bonnar. “We have our next chapter meeting on November sixteenth and we’ll talk about it that day.”

Oxford House’s concept for addiction recovery is described as a democratically run, self-supporting and drug free home.

"It's all self-supporting, we don’t get any outside donations," said Bonnar, "We’re just a group of people trying to stay clean. Everybody’s equal in the house, there’s no bosses, everybody has a vote of anything that’s going on in the house. There’s no ruling unless it’s voted upon by everybody.”

According to Bonnar, the first Oxford House was opened in Hutchinson in 2014. There are now 10 Oxford Houses in Hutchinson. With the women’s and children's house in McPherson opened, and another house opening soon, 12 houses will be operated under this chapter.

In line with Oxford House’s democratic approach to recovery, every person in a home fulfills a role.

“There’s the president, the comptroller, the treasurer, the housing services rep, and the secretary,” said Bonnar.

The presidents of each house go to a monthly chapter meeting to discuss and vote on new items for a house or the chapter.

The reason for separate women’s and men’s houses is recovery-oriented.

Member Ryan Eiliers said the separation of house promotes people in recovery to work on themselves, as often romantic relationships during recovery can lead to relapse.

“If they’re early in recovery, relationships tend to be a downfall,” said Eiliers.

Bonnar added, “People need to work on themselves early in recovery. You need to work on yourself. You can’t be in a relationship and successfully work in your own program. It’s an easy way to relapse if things don’t work out and feelings get hurt.”

While Oxford House does not have a lot of rules, there are a few. The major rules are no using drugs or alcohol, no counter-recovery and disruptive behavior, and make sure individual equal shares of house finances are paid.

“It’s your bills basically,” explained Bonnar. “Everybody pays the same amount, they all put in money each week to pay the bills. We call it Equal Expenses Shared.”

Anyone who uses drugs or alcohol during their stay at an Oxford House is subject to an eviction process by voting.

Oxford Houses say 18 months in one of their homes yields an 86% success rate of recovery.

After a recovered person of six months leaves the house, they can be voted in as alumni to their house or chapter. There is an association for active members with alumni status, dedicated to spreading and growing Oxford House.

Oxford House’s style of recovery programs has yielded many successes.

“People have got their kids back thanks to Oxford House,” said Bonnar. “We support members in court. If you’re going through anything, we’re here to support you, no matter what.”

Oxford House accomplishes so much despite residents at times facing a stigma to their recovery efforts.

“Jobs sometime look at you differently, court looks at you differently,” said Bonnar.

Eiliers added, even neighbors to Oxford Houses will look at them with trepidation.

Bonnar explained members try to overcome such concerns by introducing themselves to their neighbors to tell them what Oxford House is about.

“Sometimes people aren’t okay with it,” said Bonnar. “There’s eleven people living in a house usually. It’s kind of a lot.”

Bonnar did commend Hutchinson people for coming around to the idea of Oxford Houses in their neighborhoods.

“There really is not much of a stigma in this town about Oxford,” said Bonnar.

Oxford House promotes activity in the community, with chapters and houses frequently holding fundraisers, open houses, and being involved in Narcotics Anonymous (NA) activities.

Additionally, Oxford House works with the Transition Jobs Program (TJP) provided by New Beginnings Inc.

New Beginnings Inc. is a Hutchinson based community outreach program. Their TJP service provides time limited wage paying jobs combining real work, skill development and coordinated services to overcome barriers to permanent employment.

Oxford House members also volunteer at treatment centers and homeless shelters.

On opening the men’s house in McPherson, Bonnar said McPherson is in need of a men’s house.

“There’s a lot of recovery in McPherson,” said Bonnar. “And you can’t really have a house somewhere where there’s no recovery. I know they have a lot of need for Oxford House.”

Bonnar said he is confident the community of McPherson is on board with Oxford House.

Things are expected to ramp up as the new men’s house prepares to open. Oxford House is currently gathering core members for the house.

To find out more information about Oxford House for a loved one or an individual seeking to recover, visit their website <a href="https://www.oxfordhouse.org/">https://www.oxfordhouse.org/</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667599164181.jpeg" alt="Oxford House Phillips West-Hutchinson" />
 <figcaption>Oxford House Phillips West-Hutchinson</figcaption>
 </figure>By JUDD WEIL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — After just opening a women and children's home last month in McPherson, addiction recovery-housing organization, Oxford House is in the final stages of opening a men’s home in the same area.“We haven’t decided when the men’s house will open, but it was voted upon and it is going to be added to our chapter.” said organization member Stephen Bonnar. “We have our next chapter meeting on November sixteenth and we’ll talk about it that day.”Oxford House’s concept for addiction recovery is described as a democratically run, self-supporting and drug free home."It's all self-supporting, we don’t get any outside donations," said Bonnar, "We’re just a group of people trying to stay clean. Everybody’s equal in the house, there’s no bosses, everybody has a vote of anything that’s going on in the house. There’s no ruling unless it’s voted upon by everybody.”According to Bonnar, the first Oxford House was opened in Hutchinson in 2014. There are now 10 Oxford Houses in Hutchinson. With the women’s and children's house in McPherson opened, and another house opening soon, 12 houses will be operated under this chapter.In line with Oxford House’s democratic approach to recovery, every person in a home fulfills a role.“There’s the president, the comptroller, the treasurer, the housing services rep, and the secretary,” said Bonnar.The presidents of each house go to a monthly chapter meeting to discuss and vote on new items for a house or the chapter.The reason for separate women’s and men’s houses is recovery-oriented.Member Ryan Eiliers said the separation of house promotes people in recovery to work on themselves, as often romantic relationships during recovery can lead to relapse.“If they’re early in recovery, relationships tend to be a downfall,” said Eiliers.Bonnar added, “People need to work on themselves early in recovery. You need to work on yourself. You can’t be in a relationship and successfully work in your own program. It’s an easy way to relapse if things don’t work out and feelings get hurt.”While Oxford House does not have a lot of rules, there are a few. The major rules are no using drugs or alcohol, no counter-recovery and disruptive behavior, and make sure individual equal shares of house finances are paid.“It’s your bills basically,” explained Bonnar. “Everybody pays the same amount, they all put in money each week to pay the bills. We call it Equal Expenses Shared.”Anyone who uses drugs or alcohol during their stay at an Oxford House is subject to an eviction process by voting.Oxford Houses say 18 months in one of their homes yields an 86% success rate of recovery.After a recovered person of six months leaves the house, they can be voted in as alumni to their house or chapter. There is an association for active members with alumni status, dedicated to spreading and growing Oxford House.Oxford House’s style of recovery programs has yielded many successes.“People have got their kids back thanks to Oxford House,” said Bonnar. “We support members in court. If you’re going through anything, we’re here to support you, no matter what.”Oxford House accomplishes so much despite residents at times facing a stigma to their recovery efforts.“Jobs sometime look at you differently, court looks at you differently,” said Bonnar.Eiliers added, even neighbors to Oxford Houses will look at them with trepidation.Bonnar explained members try to overcome such concerns by introducing themselves to their neighbors to tell them what Oxford House is about.“Sometimes people aren’t okay with it,” said Bonnar. “There’s eleven people living in a house usually. It’s kind of a lot.”Bonnar did commend Hutchinson people for coming around to the idea of Oxford Houses in their neighborhoods.“There really is not much of a stigma in this town about Oxford,” said Bonnar.Oxford House promotes activity in the community, with chapters and houses frequently holding fundraisers, open houses, and being involved in Narcotics Anonymous (NA) activities.Additionally, Oxford House works with the Transition Jobs Program (TJP) provided by New Beginnings Inc.New Beginnings Inc. is a Hutchinson based community outreach program. Their TJP service provides time limited wage paying jobs combining real work, skill development and coordinated services to overcome barriers to permanent employment.Oxford House members also volunteer at treatment centers and homeless shelters.On opening the men’s house in McPherson, Bonnar said McPherson is in need of a men’s house.“There’s a lot of recovery in McPherson,” said Bonnar. “And you can’t really have a house somewhere where there’s no recovery. I know they have a lot of need for Oxford House.”Bonnar said he is confident the community of McPherson is on board with Oxford House.Things are expected to ramp up as the new men’s house prepares to open. Oxford House is currently gathering core members for the house.To find out more information about Oxford House for a loved one or an individual seeking to recover, visit their website <a href="https://www.oxfordhouse.org/">https://www.oxfordhouse.org/</a>.

Oxford House continuing recovery with new McPherson house

WICHITA — McPherson College, a Kansas liberal arts college known for its one-of-a-kind Automotive Restoration Technology degree program, held a press conference on Friday in Wichita to announce that it has received the largest-ever single commitment to a small liberal arts college in the United States. 

The anonymous double match estate commitment is worth $500 million and over time will allow the college to reimagine and reinvent its campus while it pursues initiatives that enhance the student experience. 

As part of the “double match” estate gift, the anonymous donor will contribute two dollars for every dollar given by others, up to $500 million to the college’s endowment. 

The anonymous donor can opt to pay over time, or the total is due in full upon their death.  The college has until June 30, 2023 to meet this target, and is well on its way having raised $130 million to date.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/12/1577416544200.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WICHITA — McPherson College, a Kansas liberal arts college known for its one-of-a-kind Automotive Restoration Technology degree program, held a press conference on Friday in Wichita to announce that it has received the largest-ever single commitment to a small liberal arts college in the United States. The anonymous double match estate commitment is worth $500 million and over time will allow the college to reimagine and reinvent its campus while it pursues initiatives that enhance the student experience. As part of the “double match” estate gift, the anonymous donor will contribute two dollars for every dollar given by others, up to $500 million to the college’s endowment. The anonymous donor can opt to pay over time, or the total is due in full upon their death. The college has until June 30, 2023 to meet this target, and is well on its way having raised $130 million to date.

McPherson College gets $500 million matching estate gift

PRATT —Pratt Police reported that one person was injured in an accident early Friday. 

The accident took place in the 700 block of North Main when a Pratt resident drove her vehicle into a business. 

She was transported to the hospital. This crash is under investigation.

The accident took place around 1:25 a.m. Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667578712147.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>PRATT —Pratt Police reported that one person was injured in an accident early Friday. The accident took place in the 700 block of North Main when a Pratt resident drove her vehicle into a business. She was transported to the hospital. This crash is under investigation.The accident took place around 1:25 a.m. Friday.

Accident injures one in Pratt early Friday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kroger, the parent company of Dillons, announced a virtual veteran and military family career expo event scheduled for Thursday, November 10 from noon to 1 p.m.

The Veteran Career Expo will provide an opportunity for veterans and their families to learn more about career opportunities with the Kroger Family of Companies and participate in one-on-one conversations about recruitment and hiring. 

The virtual event will also spotlight Kroger veteran leaders to provide insight on the veteran experience within the organization.&nbsp;In the last 10 years, Kroger has hired more than 50,000 veterans.

Prospective associates may register for the Veteran Career Expo&nbsp;<a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=3699725-1&amp;h=2458089781&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fus06web.zoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fregister%2FtZUkfuqopjkpHtzGm7CZtnigtefH9LqZoF0D&amp;a=here" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655241309322.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kroger, the parent company of Dillons, announced a virtual veteran and military family career expo event scheduled for Thursday, November 10 from noon to 1 p.m.The Veteran Career Expo will provide an opportunity for veterans and their families to learn more about career opportunities with the Kroger Family of Companies and participate in one-on-one conversations about recruitment and hiring. The virtual event will also spotlight Kroger veteran leaders to provide insight on the veteran experience within the organization.&nbsp;In the last 10 years, Kroger has hired more than 50,000 veterans.Prospective associates may register for the Veteran Career Expo&nbsp;<a href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&amp;l=en&amp;o=3699725-1&amp;h=2458089781&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fus06web.zoom.us%2Fmeeting%2Fregister%2FtZUkfuqopjkpHtzGm7CZtnigtefH9LqZoF0D&amp;a=here" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>.

Kroger announces virtual veterans career event Nov. 10

UPDATE (8 a.m.): Power to the My 93-1 transmitter was restored around 7:59 Friday morning.

PLEVNA, Kan. — Early Friday morning storms caused a power outage for more than 3,000 customers in Reno County and more than 2000 in the Hutchinson area at its peak, according to the Evergy outage map.

KHMY, <a href="https://www.khmyfm.com/">My 93-1</a>, was knocked off air as part of the outage.

The outage was first reported around 5:30 a.m. and the Reno County outages appeared to be resolved by 10:30 a.m. Friday.

KHMY is still streaming the worldwide web. Click the link below to listen.

<a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/ce/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KHMY2">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN ONLINE</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667561497755.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>UPDATE (8 a.m.): Power to the My 93-1 transmitter was restored around 7:59 Friday morning.PLEVNA, Kan. — Early Friday morning storms caused a power outage for more than 3,000 customers in Reno County and more than 2000 in the Hutchinson area at its peak, according to the Evergy outage map.KHMY, <a href="https://www.khmyfm.com/">My 93-1</a>, was knocked off air as part of the outage.The outage was first reported around 5:30 a.m. and the Reno County outages appeared to be resolved by 10:30 a.m. Friday.KHMY is still streaming the worldwide web. Click the link below to listen.<a href="https://streamdb7web.securenetsystems.net/ce/index.cfm?stationCallSign=KHMY2">CLICK HERE TO LISTEN ONLINE</a>

UPDATE: Large power outage knocks My 93-1 off air

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;Randy Parks won a hard fought Republican primary campaign in Reno County District 1, but he is not taking the on the ballot advantage for granted.

"I talked about doing this for several years," Parks said. "Finally, it came to the point this year I thought, you know, in the sake of, even looking at just my family, grandkids, kids, that kind of stuff for the future, the way things are going, I felt I needed to be involved. Even more so, when I began to talk to people about the possibility of running in the community, getting involved with some other groups and talking to them and hearing their voice that they wanted to have somebody with a positive outlook and a positive leadership style."

Coming to good policy decisions that respect the opinions of the entire commission is going to take time, but Parks believes it is time worth taking.

"I think the background work has to be done on each issue to find out and bring it to the table," Parks said. "Certainly, transparency is the key in front of people in public meetings, so a lot of them know what you've done in that background work, so a lot of them know why you have come to the process you did. Certainly, between the commissioners, I think there needs to be a good roundtable type discussion at times, where we come up with the appropriate answers for the people that we serve."

Parks notes that it is the taxpayers money and it's their county. 

"Especially with the way things are going around us, with the cost of things going up, expenses are going to go up," Parks said. "I think, at home, we all look at our budgets and see where we can cut in these times. I think that may be an issue, what we have to do there, see where we can trim things up, not necessarily to cut, but to make them extremely efficient. That's something I think I've been given a gift to do."

County Commission District 1 includes the northwest portion of Hutchinson.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667576051254.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;Randy Parks won a hard fought Republican primary campaign in Reno County District 1, but he is not taking the on the ballot advantage for granted."I talked about doing this for several years," Parks said. "Finally, it came to the point this year I thought, you know, in the sake of, even looking at just my family, grandkids, kids, that kind of stuff for the future, the way things are going, I felt I needed to be involved. Even more so, when I began to talk to people about the possibility of running in the community, getting involved with some other groups and talking to them and hearing their voice that they wanted to have somebody with a positive outlook and a positive leadership style."Coming to good policy decisions that respect the opinions of the entire commission is going to take time, but Parks believes it is time worth taking."I think the background work has to be done on each issue to find out and bring it to the table," Parks said. "Certainly, transparency is the key in front of people in public meetings, so a lot of them know what you've done in that background work, so a lot of them know why you have come to the process you did. Certainly, between the commissioners, I think there needs to be a good roundtable type discussion at times, where we come up with the appropriate answers for the people that we serve."Parks notes that it is the taxpayers money and it's their county. "Especially with the way things are going around us, with the cost of things going up, expenses are going to go up," Parks said. "I think, at home, we all look at our budgets and see where we can cut in these times. I think that may be an issue, what we have to do there, see where we can trim things up, not necessarily to cut, but to make them extremely efficient. That's something I think I've been given a gift to do."County Commission District 1 includes the northwest portion of Hutchinson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667575875576.jpeg" alt="District 1 is in green" />
 <figcaption>District 1 is in green</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Parks: Transparency is the key to serving on county commission

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;Cris Corey is a write in candidate for Reno County Commission who came up just short in the Republican primary in August.

"It was just short by two votes," Corey said. "With one vote going the other way, that would have been a tie right there. It was very close. At that point, it's the primary, so it was just the Republican Party that was voting and that could vote for me or my opponent. Really, we split the votes. Now, to give the rest of District One the opportunity to have a choice of who they want, I thought that was crucial."

Corey believes the breadth of his discussions with people as an insurance agent help him know the importance of listening.

"I work with all walks of life," Corey said. "I meet with them. I obviously meet with people daily and I find out what's most important to them and I find ways to protect it. I don't see this much differently with people in the county at the County Commission level. Meeting with people, finding out what's important to them and seeing what we can do about it."

Corey knows that there will be three brand new commissioners on the board in January and there is going to be a learning curve for all of them, no matter who wins Nov. 8.

"Be very curious and get involved," Corey said. "Really talk to all different parts of the county. Public works, the Sheriff's department, any of the departments. Really get in there and get your hands dirty and talk with the people. I think that's the best way to do that. I talked to [current commissioner] Ron Hirst and he said that the learning curve, he's been doing it for years now. He said when he started the learning curve was like this and he made a straight up 12:00 motion, now after doing it for years, it's like this and he made about a 12:15."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667574758399.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;Cris Corey is a write in candidate for Reno County Commission who came up just short in the Republican primary in August."It was just short by two votes," Corey said. "With one vote going the other way, that would have been a tie right there. It was very close. At that point, it's the primary, so it was just the Republican Party that was voting and that could vote for me or my opponent. Really, we split the votes. Now, to give the rest of District One the opportunity to have a choice of who they want, I thought that was crucial."Corey believes the breadth of his discussions with people as an insurance agent help him know the importance of listening."I work with all walks of life," Corey said. "I meet with them. I obviously meet with people daily and I find out what's most important to them and I find ways to protect it. I don't see this much differently with people in the county at the County Commission level. Meeting with people, finding out what's important to them and seeing what we can do about it."Corey knows that there will be three brand new commissioners on the board in January and there is going to be a learning curve for all of them, no matter who wins Nov. 8."Be very curious and get involved," Corey said. "Really talk to all different parts of the county. Public works, the Sheriff's department, any of the departments. Really get in there and get your hands dirty and talk with the people. I think that's the best way to do that. I talked to [current commissioner] Ron Hirst and he said that the learning curve, he's been doing it for years now. He said when he started the learning curve was like this and he made a straight up 12:00 motion, now after doing it for years, it's like this and he made about a 12:15."County Commission District 1 includes the northwest portion of Hutchinson.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667575875576.jpeg" alt="District 1 is in green" />
 <figcaption>District 1 is in green</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Corey: Just short in primary, so staging write-in

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Another local business is preparing to close its doors. Smallville Comics is shutting down its North Main storefront in December.

“It’s mostly to do with the economy,” said owner Cory Zeferjahn. “We were open in a tinier store right before the pandemic for two years.”

During a COVID-19 pandemic-forced closure, Smallville Comics moved from their previous location to 2606 N. Main St. and reopened in June 2020.

“Everything was fine,” said Zeferjahn. “People at that point were coming in, the economy was still going.

"People were spending their stimulus checks, coming in and buying collectibles.”

However, following post-closure success, 2022 saw a steady decline for Smallville Comics.

“Distributors started raising their prices, so there was no more free shipping, everything was costing more for me to get,” said Zeferjahn. “Prices started going up. Finally, I feel like the last three or four months started hitting Hutch more with people just not having the extra money.”

Being unable to completely bring back the pre-pandemic organized card games and tournaments that garnered a lot of business was also a factor in Zeferjahn’s reason to shut the store’s doors. He also cited being unable to compete with most online prices. Zeferjahn fondly remembers collecting comic books as a kid with his father. He took up the tabletop card game (TCG), Magic: The Gathering in the '90s.

Smallville Comics originally opened its doors in 2017.

“The main thing we opened the store for was to give a place for the community to go to,” said Zeferjahn. “We went in heavy on Pokemon to try and get kids in here and give them something to do and interact with other people.

“That was a big, the community, giving to them.”

In addition to their standard comics, cards, and collectibles, as well as their card tournaments, Smallville Comics also used to host a weekly gathering of various Dungeons and Dragons groups.

Despite their impending closure, Smallville Comics is still taking care of their customers by running several discounts.

Furthermore, the closure has not diminished the spirit of community that opened Smallville Comics as Zeferjahn said they will be donating a lot of their items.

“We haven’t decided exactly how we’re going to do it, whether it be through the Salvation Army Angel Tree program or what,” said Zeferjahn. “We’re going to be donating a lot of the extra stuff, Funkos, comics, toys we don’t sell, to families.”

Krystal Zeferjahn added, “And schools or any other programs that kids are involved in that we can help, like Boys and Girls Club.”

Krystal is Cory Zeferjahn’s wife and owner of Krystal Emporium located at 2610 N. Main St.

Cory Zeferjahn said if things were different, Smallville Comics would stay open for the community.

“For example, we have a group of high school kids that come in on the weekends, they come here and play Magic instead of going out and getting in trouble,” he said. “Then we have little kids spending their allowance to buy Pokemon cards.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/11/1667513196420.jpeg" alt="Smallville Comics is a passionate family affair for the Zeferjahn clan-Photo by Judd Weil" />
 <figcaption>Smallville Comics is a passionate family affair for the Zeferjahn clan-Photo by Judd Weil</figcaption>
 </figure>By JUDD WEIL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Another local business is preparing to close its doors. Smallville Comics is shutting down its North Main storefront in December.“It’s mostly to do with the economy,” said owner Cory Zeferjahn. “We were open in a tinier store right before the pandemic for two years.”During a COVID-19 pandemic-forced closure, Smallville Comics moved from their previous location to 2606 N. Main St. and reopened in June 2020.“Everything was fine,” said Zeferjahn. “People at that point were coming in, the economy was still going."People were spending their stimulus checks, coming in and buying collectibles.”However, following post-closure success, 2022 saw a steady decline for Smallville Comics.“Distributors started raising their prices, so there was no more free shipping, everything was costing more for me to get,” said Zeferjahn. “Prices started going up. Finally, I feel like the last three or four months started hitting Hutch more with people just not having the extra money.”Being unable to completely bring back the pre-pandemic organized card games and tournaments that garnered a lot of business was also a factor in Zeferjahn’s reason to shut the store’s doors. He also cited being unable to compete with most online prices. Zeferjahn fondly remembers collecting comic books as a kid with his father. He took up the tabletop card game (TCG), Magic: The Gathering in the '90s.Smallville Comics originally opened its doors in 2017.“The main thing we opened the store for was to give a place for the community to go to,” said Zeferjahn. “We went in heavy on Pokemon to try and get kids in here and give them something to do and interact with other people.“That was a big, the community, giving to them.”In addition to their standard comics, cards, and collectibles, as well as their card tournaments, Smallville Comics also used to host a weekly gathering of various Dungeons and Dragons groups.Despite their impending closure, Smallville Comics is still taking care of their customers by running several discounts.Furthermore, the closure has not diminished the spirit of community that opened Smallville Comics as Zeferjahn said they will be donating a lot of their items.“We haven’t decided exactly how we’re going to do it, whether it be through the Salvation Army Angel Tree program or what,” said Zeferjahn. “We’re going to be donating a lot of the extra stuff, Funkos, comics, toys we don’t sell, to families.”Krystal Zeferjahn added, “And schools or any other programs that kids are involved in that we can help, like Boys and Girls Club.”Krystal is Cory Zeferjahn’s wife and owner of Krystal Emporium located at 2610 N. Main St.Cory Zeferjahn said if things were different, Smallville Comics would stay open for the community.“For example, we have a group of high school kids that come in on the weekends, they come here and play Magic instead of going out and getting in trouble,” he said. “Then we have little kids spending their allowance to buy Pokemon cards.”After the doors physically close on Dec. 23, Smallville Comics will still exist in spirit online through a variety of avenues including Facebook, their TCG website store, and Ebay.Cory Zeferjahn said the store doors could close earlier if they sell out of most of their stock.In the meantime, Smallville Comics will also be hosting two more pay-to-play Magic: The Gathering tournaments. A pioneer tournament will take place on Dec. 3. The prize is an uncut cardsheet and a few other prizes. The other tournament, their final Two-Headed Giant tournament, will take place on Dec. 10. The winner will take home several store exclusive posters.“The major thing that is killing small stores like this is online shopping,” said Cory Zeferjahn.Krystal Zeferjahn said, “we’re just going to miss everybody. We’re going to miss the community we got to meet and the people that ended up just not being customers but family.“We’re going to miss the place for kids and for people that are looking for likeminded individuals to go to and hang out.”Smallville Comics can be reached at (620) 200-9744.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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