
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Jeremy Hill, the director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University, is positive about the state's economy going forward.

"It kind of came up to three categories, how are households doing and they're doing fantastic," Hill said. "Businesses, how are they doing? They're complaining, having a lot of issues because the market has changed, but the fundamentals are still good, they are seeing demand grow, just really not reaching where they want and then on the government side, this is a very different environment. Home prices are up, which is going to be good for them. Retail sales are up and overall population was fairly decent for the overall state and for the region. The region declined, but in recent years, it's been improving again."

Finding good people is the problem, especially locally.

"We are tighter than the U.S. on this labor market," Hill said. "Just in Reno County, it's at 3%, but up in McPherson County, it's at 1%. We're talking about really low. Everyone's engaged. If we want to grow, we need to start really being aggressive right now, before the U.S. gets back to their full employment, bringing people in."

"The biggest issue for the entire state and this is not just rural, this is rural, urban, across the state, is wages," Hill said. "Unlike the U.S., we are already back to full employment and even unlike our regional states right around us, we went back to full employment. If you want to get labor and labor is the biggest issue, increase wages. I tell the story all the time, we keep that gap between the U.S. and Kansas and all their markets continue to get broader and broader. That's why we had outmigration just a few years ago. The opportunities for households were better somewhere else, so they got up and left. It didn't mean we didn't have jobs. We just weren't competitive."

Hill noted that there are some areas where Kansas has a cost of living advantage, but that doesn't necessarily overcome lower aggregate wages, unless moving from a major metropolitan area. Eighty-seven percent of cities have below-average costs of living across the country. The richest 13 percent of cities drive up that average.

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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp;Jeremy Hill, the director of the Center for Economic Development and Business Research at Wichita State University, is positive about the state's economy going forward."It kind of came up to three categories, how are households doing and they're doing fantastic," Hill said. "Businesses, how are they doing? They're complaining, having a lot of issues because the market has changed, but the fundamentals are still good, they are seeing demand grow, just really not reaching where they want and then on the government side, this is a very different environment. Home prices are up, which is going to be good for them. Retail sales are up and overall population was fairly decent for the overall state and for the region. The region declined, but in recent years, it's been improving again."Finding good people is the problem, especially locally."We are tighter than the U.S. on this labor market," Hill said. "Just in Reno County, it's at 3%, but up in McPherson County, it's at 1%. We're talking about really low. Everyone's engaged. If we want to grow, we need to start really being aggressive right now, before the U.S. gets back to their full employment, bringing people in."How do you do that, as a business owner?"The biggest issue for the entire state and this is not just rural, this is rural, urban, across the state, is wages," Hill said. "Unlike the U.S., we are already back to full employment and even unlike our regional states right around us, we went back to full employment. If you want to get labor and labor is the biggest issue, increase wages. I tell the story all the time, we keep that gap between the U.S. and Kansas and all their markets continue to get broader and broader. That's why we had outmigration just a few years ago. The opportunities for households were better somewhere else, so they got up and left. It didn't mean we didn't have jobs. We just weren't competitive."Hill noted that there are some areas where Kansas has a cost of living advantage, but that doesn't necessarily overcome lower aggregate wages, unless moving from a major metropolitan area. Eighty-seven percent of cities have below-average costs of living across the country. The richest 13 percent of cities drive up that average.

Hill: Good news on economy, pay needs to increase


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp; With the state of Kansas continuing to collect more in taxes than anticipated, now for 18 straight months, Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman notes that if legislators want to spend more on education, there's a good place to start.

"We've done some great things with student learning," Couchman said. "Our staff continues to rise to the challenge, no matter what the situation is, no matter what form of learning we throw at them. At some point, we've got to recognize that our staff are underpaid, comparatively."

Couchman believes that is making it harder to hire.

"I have openings right now with just one and two applicants, some without any," Couchman said. "That's a concern. We've got to get quality people and retain quality people in education, or we're going to start seeing the impact on student learning and we'll see it very quickly. This is a concern, I think, across the state of Kansas. One of those things is, we've got to make the field more attractive, financially."

This applies both to those who could retire if they want to stick around and to those deciding what career to go into.

"We have people retiring now that I'm like, can you give us one more year?" Couchman said. "There's nobody graduating in science. There's nobody graduating in math. Actually, you could say that just about in the field right now. The number of graduates versus the number of openings in the state is a huge spread and it's not going to be able to maintain it."

There are policy changes that can be made, including removing the KPERS penalty, so teachers can both 'retire' and continue to teach, but ultimately, teachers have to find those kids who are leaders and help others in their classrooms and direct them into the field.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/7/1625156550797.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp; With the state of Kansas continuing to collect more in taxes than anticipated, now for 18 straight months, Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman notes that if legislators want to spend more on education, there's a good place to start."We've done some great things with student learning," Couchman said. "Our staff continues to rise to the challenge, no matter what the situation is, no matter what form of learning we throw at them. At some point, we've got to recognize that our staff are underpaid, comparatively."Couchman believes that is making it harder to hire."I have openings right now with just one and two applicants, some without any," Couchman said. "That's a concern. We've got to get quality people and retain quality people in education, or we're going to start seeing the impact on student learning and we'll see it very quickly. This is a concern, I think, across the state of Kansas. One of those things is, we've got to make the field more attractive, financially."This applies both to those who could retire if they want to stick around and to those deciding what career to go into."We have people retiring now that I'm like, can you give us one more year?" Couchman said. "There's nobody graduating in science. There's nobody graduating in math. Actually, you could say that just about in the field right now. The number of graduates versus the number of openings in the state is a huge spread and it's not going to be able to maintain it."There are policy changes that can be made, including removing the KPERS penalty, so teachers can both 'retire' and continue to teach, but ultimately, teachers have to find those kids who are leaders and help others in their classrooms and direct them into the field.

Couchman: Getting next generation of teachers 'a concern'


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The South Central Kansas Economic Development District announced their new Executive Director on Facebook Wednesday. 

They have hired Marc Howell, who was with Credit Union of America in Wichita and Derby.

"His background in commercial lending, building business relationships and strategic planning will take SCKEDD to new heights!," the agency said in their post.&nbsp;

Since 1972, SCKEDD has been partnering with communities located in south-central Kansas to advance economic growth and prosperity for all residents.&nbsp;

SCKEDD has programs for business loans, community grants, housing grants and their popular weatherization program.

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HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The South Central Kansas Economic Development District announced their new Executive Director on Facebook Wednesday. They have hired Marc Howell, who was with Credit Union of America in Wichita and Derby."His background in commercial lending, building business relationships and strategic planning will take SCKEDD to new heights!," the agency said in their post.&nbsp;Since 1972, SCKEDD has been partnering with communities located in south-central Kansas to advance economic growth and prosperity for all residents.&nbsp;SCKEDD has programs for business loans, community grants, housing grants and their popular weatherization program.

SCKEDD announces new Executive Director

The Kansas Department of Transportation will do a field survey for proposed guardrail improvements along U.S. 56 west of Lyons.

The field survey&nbsp;will be for two locations: .25 mile east of 10th Road and .14 mile east of 11th Road. The survey will begin around Monday, Feb. 7, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 18. The approximate length of the survey is 800 feet, and it will be based on the existing alignment.

The field survey will gather information needed for detailed design of the proposed improvements.

A member of the survey crew first will contact property owners and/or tenants for permission to enter private property if needed. Survey activities will include the use of survey instruments on the ground to determine locations of existing features within the survey corridor.

Kara LaRiviere, P.S., Survey Project Manager, Bureau of Right of Way, will be in charge of the survey for KDOT.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643837006746.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Kansas Department of Transportation will do a field survey for proposed guardrail improvements along U.S. 56 west of Lyons.The field survey&nbsp;will be for two locations: .25 mile east of 10th Road and .14 mile east of 11th Road. The survey will begin around Monday, Feb. 7, and is expected to be completed by Feb. 18. The approximate length of the survey is 800 feet, and it will be based on the existing alignment.The field survey will gather information needed for detailed design of the proposed improvements.A member of the survey crew first will contact property owners and/or tenants for permission to enter private property if needed. Survey activities will include the use of survey instruments on the ground to determine locations of existing features within the survey corridor.Kara LaRiviere, P.S., Survey Project Manager, Bureau of Right of Way, will be in charge of the survey for KDOT.

Field survey set for U.S. 56 guardrail improvements west of Lyons

RENO COUNTY — 
On Wednesday, the Sheriff's Office "Retro" car was introduced to western Reno County.

Deputies spent the morning checking the road conditions and looking for accidents but also had the chance to stop by several towns to take a picture. 

 The retro car was repurposed from one of our older patrol units, it is meant to look like some of the Sheriff's cars from years past including decals that were used decades ago that the department still had laying on a shelf. 

Reno County automotive and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LowenCertified/?__cft__[0]=AZVzB_C1KtMaRjQvmJx1xFfsHSpFVDRT320mj8K6CNWLIxTGq5FXRXtEMVhZgg5RfHHDECxMk-muQ9pMLL9Qvgtv_IPbfXxNByloRUoU5Z4Ra-4VzAgvpvgMLbkwr3I2o19Odf3ECGizEsCq2I3TmZGyFbJqMUdamW7b5dzYZGk49ulKwNWbeONFFC9nr6vPeN4&amp;__tn__=kK-R">Lowen Certified</a> helped with the design.&nbsp;

The car will be out patrolling Reno County from time to time and will be in every town before long.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643836144594.jpeg" alt="RNSORetro4.jpg" />
 <figcaption>RNSORetro4.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — 
On Wednesday, the Sheriff's Office "Retro" car was introduced to western Reno County.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FRenoCountySheriff%2Fposts%2F303880025105070&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="854" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>Deputies spent the morning checking the road conditions and looking for accidents but also had the chance to stop by several towns to take a picture. The retro car was repurposed from one of our older patrol units, it is meant to look like some of the Sheriff's cars from years past including decals that were used decades ago that the department still had laying on a shelf. Reno County automotive and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/LowenCertified/?__cft__[0]=AZVzB_C1KtMaRjQvmJx1xFfsHSpFVDRT320mj8K6CNWLIxTGq5FXRXtEMVhZgg5RfHHDECxMk-muQ9pMLL9Qvgtv_IPbfXxNByloRUoU5Z4Ra-4VzAgvpvgMLbkwr3I2o19Odf3ECGizEsCq2I3TmZGyFbJqMUdamW7b5dzYZGk49ulKwNWbeONFFC9nr6vPeN4&amp;__tn__=kK-R">Lowen Certified</a> helped with the design.&nbsp; The car will be out patrolling Reno County from time to time and will be in every town before long.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Sheriff's office retro car out Wednesday

RENO COUNTY — 
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced full approval of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 31. The vaccine will be known by the brand name of “Spikevax.” 

The vaccine is available as a two-dose primary series for individuals 18 years of age and older, as a third primary series dose for individuals 18 years of age and older who have been determined to have certain kinds of immunocompromise, and as a single booster dose for individuals 18 years of age and older, at least five months after completing a primary series of the vaccine. 

The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine has been available under emergency use authorization (EUA) for individuals 18 years of age and older since Dec. 18, 2020.

Active cases in Reno County were at 1,188 as of Wednesday morning. 

With the Omicron variant still surging, the Health Department reminds community members to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines, which means fully vaccinated and boosted. Mitigation methods such as mask wearing, social distancing, and frequent hand sanitizing are also still strongly recommended.

The Reno County Health Department is administering vaccines during normal operating hours. Walk-ins are accepted for those age 12 and over. Appointments are required for children aged 5-11. Call 620-694-2900 and select option 6 for scheduling. The Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine is no longer available at the Health Department.

The Health Department is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. For a ride to one of the vaccine sites, call RCAT at 620-694-2913.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/4/1618856566652.jpg" alt="vaccine, covid-19, vial" />
 <figcaption>vaccine, covid-19, vial</figcaption>
 </figure>RENO COUNTY — 
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced full approval of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Jan. 31. The vaccine will be known by the brand name of “Spikevax.” The vaccine is available as a two-dose primary series for individuals 18 years of age and older, as a third primary series dose for individuals 18 years of age and older who have been determined to have certain kinds of immunocompromise, and as a single booster dose for individuals 18 years of age and older, at least five months after completing a primary series of the vaccine. The Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine has been available under emergency use authorization (EUA) for individuals 18 years of age and older since Dec. 18, 2020.Active cases in Reno County were at 1,188 as of Wednesday morning. With the Omicron variant still surging, the Health Department reminds community members to stay up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines, which means fully vaccinated and boosted. Mitigation methods such as mask wearing, social distancing, and frequent hand sanitizing are also still strongly recommended.The Reno County Health Department is administering vaccines during normal operating hours. Walk-ins are accepted for those age 12 and over. Appointments are required for children aged 5-11. Call 620-694-2900 and select option 6 for scheduling. The Johnson &amp; Johnson vaccine is no longer available at the Health Department.The Health Department is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to noon, and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. For a ride to one of the vaccine sites, call RCAT at 620-694-2913.

FDA approves Moderna COVID Vaccine-Health Department urges continued mitigation


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Hutchinson Community Foundation recently awarded $19,330 to two nonprofit organizations in the first round of its 2022 Fund for Reno County grant cycle.

Established in 1990, the Fund for Reno County serves as a permanent resource for the changing needs of Reno County. Grants represent an innovative approach or collaboration, a new efficiency, a critical need that requires funding or an opportunity that needs a bit of local support to leverage resources for the community.

Proposals for the grants are accepted year-round, with awards decided in January, March, May, July, September and November.

The following organizations received grants in January.

Hutchinson Art Association Inc., Dialogue Reconstructed 2022, $4,330:&nbsp;Funding will support Hutchinson Art Association's collaboration with diversity-driven and arts-focused organizations to host a juried exhibition featuring artists of color, highlighting under-represented artists in Kansas and surrounding states. The exhibition will also provide an opportunity to diversify Hutchinson Art Association's permanent collection and give the community an opportunity to discuss representation issues during a public forum at the Hutchinson Art Center.

Milestone Clubhouse, Transitional Employment Program, $15,000:&nbsp;Funds will be used to provide intensive employment supports to participants in a newly created Transitional Employment Program through Milestone Clubhouse, a local branch of Breakthrough (Episcopal Social Services Inc.), addressing the needs of those in Reno County who experience severe mental illness.

Hutchinson Community Foundation’s mission is to inspire philanthropy, collaboration and innovative leadership to strengthen Reno County communities. Since 1989, the foundation has granted more than $92 million.

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HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Hutchinson Community Foundation recently awarded $19,330 to two nonprofit organizations in the first round of its 2022 Fund for Reno County grant cycle.Established in 1990, the Fund for Reno County serves as a permanent resource for the changing needs of Reno County. Grants represent an innovative approach or collaboration, a new efficiency, a critical need that requires funding or an opportunity that needs a bit of local support to leverage resources for the community.Proposals for the grants are accepted year-round, with awards decided in January, March, May, July, September and November.The following organizations received grants in January.Hutchinson Art Association Inc., Dialogue Reconstructed 2022, $4,330:&nbsp;Funding will support Hutchinson Art Association's collaboration with diversity-driven and arts-focused organizations to host a juried exhibition featuring artists of color, highlighting under-represented artists in Kansas and surrounding states. The exhibition will also provide an opportunity to diversify Hutchinson Art Association's permanent collection and give the community an opportunity to discuss representation issues during a public forum at the Hutchinson Art Center.Milestone Clubhouse, Transitional Employment Program, $15,000:&nbsp;Funds will be used to provide intensive employment supports to participants in a newly created Transitional Employment Program through Milestone Clubhouse, a local branch of Breakthrough (Episcopal Social Services Inc.), addressing the needs of those in Reno County who experience severe mental illness.Hutchinson Community Foundation’s mission is to inspire philanthropy, collaboration and innovative leadership to strengthen Reno County communities. Since 1989, the foundation has granted more than $92 million.

Fund for Reno County grants awarded


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper gave a report to the City Council Tuesday on how the Crisis Response Team has worked in 2021.

"The Crisis Response Team is really designed to pair law enforcement officers with professionals in the field, mental health professionals and in Hutchinson, what we've also paired with are substance abuse professionals to be able to respond together into the field," Hooper said. "The officers become specially trained in identifying and working with people who are suffering from a mental health situation or substance abuse. The mental health professionals and substance abuse professionals learn from our officers on safety and tactical positioning and how to approach those situations. Together, as a team, the desire is to be able to defuse and de-escalate."

The Crisis Response Team wants to see people get the help they need.

"People that suffer from mental illness, we don't want them in our criminal justice system," Hooper said. "Working with Lisa Gleason and the Stepping Up council, that's one of the things that we've really started to focus on. The Mayor sits on that particular council. We had a lot of programs kind of on the back end to deal with people in mental health coming out of the jail and reintegrating them, but what we've never had in this community before was a program where we could divert people so they wouldn't end up in the criminal justice system in the first place."

The situation in Hutchinson regarding crisis calls is improving.

"After they initiated and were able to make contact with individuals that had been in crisis, they had a rolling list of ten people that they were following up on every day," Hooper said. "As soon as they would get one member off their list stabilized, connected with services, another person in our community would hop on. It's truly an overwhelming situation. Now, come the first of this year, that list is four to five people, maybe six on any given day. That's a manageable number. Our team is actively working four to five people in our community right now that are still in crisis and are saving lives. That's much more manageable than the overwhelming number we had."

Also, the diversion of cases seems to be having a positive effect.

"Fourteen people over the last nine months that the team was active last year, would have been arrested and would have been in our county jail, but instead we diverted those charges and kept them out of the criminal justice system," Hooper said. "You think, well 14 doesn't sound like that much, but in reality, I think that 14 number is huge. That's 14 people that would have had a criminal record, but now they are connected with services and they are productive members of our community. That's potentially 14 lives saved in our community and I don't know how you can put a price tag on success like that."

Crisis Response was also able to clear uniformed officers off of calls 58 times last year, which allows them to go on to their next calls and saves the community in the long run.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643821606262.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper gave a report to the City Council Tuesday on how the Crisis Response Team has worked in 2021."The Crisis Response Team is really designed to pair law enforcement officers with professionals in the field, mental health professionals and in Hutchinson, what we've also paired with are substance abuse professionals to be able to respond together into the field," Hooper said. "The officers become specially trained in identifying and working with people who are suffering from a mental health situation or substance abuse. The mental health professionals and substance abuse professionals learn from our officers on safety and tactical positioning and how to approach those situations. Together, as a team, the desire is to be able to defuse and de-escalate."The Crisis Response Team wants to see people get the help they need."People that suffer from mental illness, we don't want them in our criminal justice system," Hooper said. "Working with Lisa Gleason and the Stepping Up council, that's one of the things that we've really started to focus on. The Mayor sits on that particular council. We had a lot of programs kind of on the back end to deal with people in mental health coming out of the jail and reintegrating them, but what we've never had in this community before was a program where we could divert people so they wouldn't end up in the criminal justice system in the first place."The situation in Hutchinson regarding crisis calls is improving."After they initiated and were able to make contact with individuals that had been in crisis, they had a rolling list of ten people that they were following up on every day," Hooper said. "As soon as they would get one member off their list stabilized, connected with services, another person in our community would hop on. It's truly an overwhelming situation. Now, come the first of this year, that list is four to five people, maybe six on any given day. That's a manageable number. Our team is actively working four to five people in our community right now that are still in crisis and are saving lives. That's much more manageable than the overwhelming number we had."Also, the diversion of cases seems to be having a positive effect."Fourteen people over the last nine months that the team was active last year, would have been arrested and would have been in our county jail, but instead we diverted those charges and kept them out of the criminal justice system," Hooper said. "You think, well 14 doesn't sound like that much, but in reality, I think that 14 number is huge. That's 14 people that would have had a criminal record, but now they are connected with services and they are productive members of our community. That's potentially 14 lives saved in our community and I don't know how you can put a price tag on success like that."Crisis Response was also able to clear uniformed officers off of calls 58 times last year, which allows them to go on to their next calls and saves the community in the long run.

Hooper: Crisis Response Team with 2021 successes


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Prairie Hills Middle School in Buhler USD 313 now has a calm room for those with behavioral issues.

"We're really excited about this," said USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman. "We used some of our Social-Emotional Learning money from our ESSER II funds to create a calm room for our counselors to use to have small groups. This is something new our counselors are doing this year is they are having small group sessions with a group of students. That kind of gives them a connection with each other."

That connection between students can help to alleviate some of those behavior issues, as well, but it also can help individual students in crisis.

"If a student is really having a rough day, or sometimes, you just need to be alone, let's face it," Couchman said. "This is a room that they can go to and just calm themselves down and have someone in there with them to talk them through things. It's very private. It's a great space and they are using it quite a bit already and we're excited about that."

Social-Emotional Learning is where students learn how to interact with each other responsibly and how to be aware of their own triggers and learn to calm them. 

It's also important to note that the last full normal school year was three years ago, so, as an example, a seventh grader hasn't had the chance to interact normally with their peers in school for the entire year since fourth grade.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/3/1584543839140.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Prairie Hills Middle School in Buhler USD 313 now has a calm room for those with behavioral issues."We're really excited about this," said USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman. "We used some of our Social-Emotional Learning money from our ESSER II funds to create a calm room for our counselors to use to have small groups. This is something new our counselors are doing this year is they are having small group sessions with a group of students. That kind of gives them a connection with each other."That connection between students can help to alleviate some of those behavior issues, as well, but it also can help individual students in crisis."If a student is really having a rough day, or sometimes, you just need to be alone, let's face it," Couchman said. "This is a room that they can go to and just calm themselves down and have someone in there with them to talk them through things. It's very private. It's a great space and they are using it quite a bit already and we're excited about that."Social-Emotional Learning is where students learn how to interact with each other responsibly and how to be aware of their own triggers and learn to calm them. It's also important to note that the last full normal school year was three years ago, so, as an example, a seventh grader hasn't had the chance to interact normally with their peers in school for the entire year since fourth grade.

Prairie Hills Middle School using COVID funds to help emotionally

HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp; According to <a href="https://kandrive.org/@-97.79315,38.31192,9?show=winterDriving">KanDrive.org</a>, most major highways are partially to completely snow covered as of 5 a.m. Wednesday.

The Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday.&nbsp;

Earlier this morning, much of K-61 highway in far northeast Reno County had drifts in the passing lane and snow cover in spots in the driving lane.

According to the Reno County Sheriff's Office, county blacktops are icy and snow packed.  Use caution along shelter belts and bridges.  Some roads have clear portions based on direction of wind. Center and edge lines come and go.

State Highways KDOT has been out must of the night.  Roads are snow packed and icy.  Use caution on elevated portions and bridges. Center and edge lines come and go.

If you have the option then stay home and enjoy watching the snow.  If you must get out plan extra time for your drive and slow down. Posted speed limits are mostly useless on days like today and speed should be governed by road conditions.

Further rounds of snow will continue throughout the day Wednesday.

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 </figure>
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. —&nbsp; According to <a href="https://kandrive.org/@-97.79315,38.31192,9?show=winterDriving">KanDrive.org</a>, most major highways are partially to completely snow covered as of 5 a.m. Wednesday. The Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 6 a.m. Thursday.&nbsp;Earlier this morning, much of K-61 highway in far northeast Reno County had drifts in the passing lane and snow cover in spots in the driving lane.According to the Reno County Sheriff's Office, county blacktops are icy and snow packed. Use caution along shelter belts and bridges. Some roads have clear portions based on direction of wind. Center and edge lines come and go.State Highways KDOT has been out must of the night. Roads are snow packed and icy. Use caution on elevated portions and bridges. Center and edge lines come and go.If you have the option then stay home and enjoy watching the snow. If you must get out plan extra time for your drive and slow down. Posted speed limits are mostly useless on days like today and speed should be governed by road conditions.Further rounds of snow will continue throughout the day Wednesday.

Road conditions mostly snow covered as of 6 a.m. Wednesday

MCPHERSON COUNTY — A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Tuesday in McPherson County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1994 Ford Ranger driven by William E. Einfeldt, 69, Lindsborg, was westbound on Kansas 4 at 15th Avenue. The pickup crossed the center line, traveled into the south ditch, struck a KDOT sign, traveled back across the highway, entered the north ditch and rolled.

EMS transported Einfeldt to Salina Regional Health Center. The KHP did not have seat belt usage information.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/7/1561976171858.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON COUNTY — A Kansas man was injured in an accident just before 8p.m. Tuesday in McPherson County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 1994 Ford Ranger driven by William E. Einfeldt, 69, Lindsborg, was westbound on Kansas 4 at 15th Avenue. The pickup crossed the center line, traveled into the south ditch, struck a KDOT sign, traveled back across the highway, entered the north ditch and rolled.EMS transported Einfeldt to Salina Regional Health Center. The KHP did not have seat belt usage information.

Kansas man hospitalized after pickup rolls

MCPHERSON — 
The McPherson Police Department investigated a threat to commit violence at the McPherson High School and arrested the suspect.

On Monday evening, January 31, 2022, the McPherson Police Department received a report concerning a threat communicated on Snapchat to commit violence at the McPherson High School using knives. On Tuesday, February 1, 2022, the McPherson Police Department posted additional officers in the high school and middle school. 

With the assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the McPherson Police Department identified the suspect who communicated the threat of violence via Snapchat as a 15-year-old McPherson High School student. Officers arrested the suspect for Criminal Threat. The suspect was processed through Juvenile Intake and Assessment; and then transported to a detention center. 

Chief Mikel T. Golden says “Thank you” to the students and parents, who saw the Snapchat and made the “right” decision to notify Law Enforcement right away. Additionally, to address rumors of a threat of violence involving “guns,” no threats involving guns or firearms were communicated.

Officers at McPherson High School handled an unrelated incident involving a juvenile/student trespassing and in possession of a vape device. Officers transported the juvenile to the McPherson Police Department, where the juvenile was processed through Juvenile Intake and assessment; and then, released to a guardian. The juvenile later made threats against the guardian and attempted self-harm in the 800 block of North Wheeler. Officers took the juvenile into custody and transported the juvenile to the McPherson Center for Health.

The McPherson Police Department takes incidents like these seriously, since “A Threat of Violence is An Act of Violence.” We ask anyone with information regarding this incident or any other criminal activity contact the McPherson Police Department at (620) 245-1266 or McPherson County Crime Stoppers at (620) 241-1122.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643754213818.jpeg" alt="McPhersonPolice2022.jpg" />
 <figcaption>McPhersonPolice2022.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>MCPHERSON — 
The McPherson Police Department investigated a threat to commit violence at the McPherson High School and arrested the suspect.On Monday evening, January 31, 2022, the McPherson Police Department received a report concerning a threat communicated on Snapchat to commit violence at the McPherson High School using knives. On Tuesday, February 1, 2022, the McPherson Police Department posted additional officers in the high school and middle school. With the assistance from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the McPherson Police Department identified the suspect who communicated the threat of violence via Snapchat as a 15-year-old McPherson High School student. Officers arrested the suspect for Criminal Threat. The suspect was processed through Juvenile Intake and Assessment; and then transported to a detention center. Chief Mikel T. Golden says “Thank you” to the students and parents, who saw the Snapchat and made the “right” decision to notify Law Enforcement right away. Additionally, to address rumors of a threat of violence involving “guns,” no threats involving guns or firearms were communicated.Officers at McPherson High School handled an unrelated incident involving a juvenile/student trespassing and in possession of a vape device. Officers transported the juvenile to the McPherson Police Department, where the juvenile was processed through Juvenile Intake and assessment; and then, released to a guardian. The juvenile later made threats against the guardian and attempted self-harm in the 800 block of North Wheeler. Officers took the juvenile into custody and transported the juvenile to the McPherson Center for Health.The McPherson Police Department takes incidents like these seriously, since “A Threat of Violence is An Act of Violence.” We ask anyone with information regarding this incident or any other criminal activity contact the McPherson Police Department at (620) 245-1266 or McPherson County Crime Stoppers at (620) 241-1122.

McPherson Police deal with two juvenile incidents this week


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Brian Clennan with Hutchinson City Public Works told the council Tuesday that they have already brined the streets in town in advance of tonight's storm and they are going to 12-hour shifts starting at 8 p.m. tonight through the end of storm cleanup. During a snow/ice event crews work 24 hours a day.

A reminder that in the city, when snow plow trucks pass by residences and businesses, a windrow of snow is pushed up against the curb and in front of driveway entrances. This is due to the plow removing snow from the center of the road and is unavoidable. Residents are encouraged to clear snow from their driveways before the snow re-freezes and becomes more difficult to remove.

In some areas of town, primarily Main Street and the Downtown area, street width allows for snow storage on the street; therefore, snow is plowed to the center of the street and removed after the storm.

The city has 7 tandem-axle trucks and 1 single-axle truck equipped with spreaders and front plows. There are 3 one-ton trucks equipped with front plows, 3 Loaders, 2 Road Graders, 3 Backhoes, and 1 Skid steer that can be deployed.

The majority of snow events only require the city to address the primary routes. Although the City of Hutchinson has never developed a bare pavement policy, we strive to achieve bare pavement on our primary routes within 24 to 48 hours after the storm.

The decision to plow or salt streets is largely based on the severity of the storm and predicted storm totals. All winter events will begin with treating the primary routes with salt. Crews will begin plowing primary routes when storm totals reach approximately 2 inches.

Our primary weapon for fighting snow and ice storms is salt. The city does not use abrasives such as sand along with the salt because of the residue left behind.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643750214298.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Brian Clennan with Hutchinson City Public Works told the council Tuesday that they have already brined the streets in town in advance of tonight's storm and they are going to 12-hour shifts starting at 8 p.m. tonight through the end of storm cleanup. During a snow/ice event crews work 24 hours a day.A reminder that in the city, when snow plow trucks pass by residences and businesses, a windrow of snow is pushed up against the curb and in front of driveway entrances. This is due to the plow removing snow from the center of the road and is unavoidable. Residents are encouraged to clear snow from their driveways before the snow re-freezes and becomes more difficult to remove.In some areas of town, primarily Main Street and the Downtown area, street width allows for snow storage on the street; therefore, snow is plowed to the center of the street and removed after the storm.The city has 7 tandem-axle trucks and 1 single-axle truck equipped with spreaders and front plows. There are 3 one-ton trucks equipped with front plows, 3 Loaders, 2 Road Graders, 3 Backhoes, and 1 Skid steer that can be deployed.The majority of snow events only require the city to address the primary routes. Although the City of Hutchinson has never developed a bare pavement policy, we strive to achieve bare pavement on our primary routes within 24 to 48 hours after the storm.The decision to plow or salt streets is largely based on the severity of the storm and predicted storm totals. All winter events will begin with treating the primary routes with salt. Crews will begin plowing primary routes when storm totals reach approximately 2 inches.Our primary weapon for fighting snow and ice storms is salt. The city does not use abrasives such as sand along with the salt because of the residue left behind.

City crews to start 12 hour plowing shifts tonight


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The Meals on Wheels / Friendship Meal program will be closed on&nbsp;Wednesday Feb. 2nd and Thursday, Feb. 3rd due to severe weather conditions that are forecasted&nbsp;for our area.&nbsp; 

No meals will be served at the Salvation Army and there will be no deliveries to the homebound participants.

The program does plan to serve and deliver meals on Friday, Feb. 4th.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643053155492.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The Meals on Wheels / Friendship Meal program will be closed on&nbsp;Wednesday Feb. 2nd and Thursday, Feb. 3rd due to severe weather conditions that are forecasted&nbsp;for our area.&nbsp; No meals will be served at the Salvation Army and there will be no deliveries to the homebound participants. The program does plan to serve and deliver meals on Friday, Feb. 4th.&nbsp;&nbsp;

No Meals on Wheels or Friendship Meals Wed. or Thurs.


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The Hutchinson City Council heard from the ARPA Task Force on Tuesday and wants to table any final decisions on assisting with the childcare situation with that money until after the study that has been commissioned on the subject comes back later this year. However, City Manager Jeff Cantrell reminded the council that they may need to use some of the ARPA money for other things given the many big ticket items they have taken on lately.

"As you guys know, we have a ton of infrastructure that is non-budgeted," Cantrell said. "It's going to eat at our budget in a pretty significant way. We've got The Atrium, we've got certainly Woodie Seat in some form or fashion. We're going to have those major projects staring at us and that is going to impact our ability to have bond coverage for other projects in the future. We'll certainly revisit that and we appreciate the work of the committee."

The general thought is that any recommendations of the task force and long term projects would split the allocation 50-50.

"I think, at times, that's probably not a popular suggestion, because it's not enough," Cantrell said. "At other times, it's not popular because it's too much. Under that scenario, I would engage with Hutchinson Community Foundation to make sure that it's a feasible way to allocate those funds and to have those funds managed out to these outside organizations. We already do that. That's a practice that's already been done for many years here. I believe that it would conform to the auditing protocols that follow the federal act."

The study on child care needs is likely to be back in October of 2022. The money doesn't have to be spent until 2024.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/12/1606842356959.jpeg" alt="Jeff Cantrell-File Photo" />
 <figcaption>Jeff Cantrell-File Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The Hutchinson City Council heard from the ARPA Task Force on Tuesday and wants to table any final decisions on assisting with the childcare situation with that money until after the study that has been commissioned on the subject comes back later this year. However, City Manager Jeff Cantrell reminded the council that they may need to use some of the ARPA money for other things given the many big ticket items they have taken on lately."As you guys know, we have a ton of infrastructure that is non-budgeted," Cantrell said. "It's going to eat at our budget in a pretty significant way. We've got The Atrium, we've got certainly Woodie Seat in some form or fashion. We're going to have those major projects staring at us and that is going to impact our ability to have bond coverage for other projects in the future. We'll certainly revisit that and we appreciate the work of the committee."The general thought is that any recommendations of the task force and long term projects would split the allocation 50-50."I think, at times, that's probably not a popular suggestion, because it's not enough," Cantrell said. "At other times, it's not popular because it's too much. Under that scenario, I would engage with Hutchinson Community Foundation to make sure that it's a feasible way to allocate those funds and to have those funds managed out to these outside organizations. We already do that. That's a practice that's already been done for many years here. I believe that it would conform to the auditing protocols that follow the federal act."The study on child care needs is likely to be back in October of 2022. The money doesn't have to be spent until 2024.

Cantrell: Best practice with ARPA funds may be 50-50 split

Hutchinson, Kan. – The Hutchinson Community College livestock judging team returned home from the prestigious Sioux Empire Livestock Show in Sioux Falls, SD with several honors, including being named the Champion Overall Sophomore Team.

The team judged a total of 12 classes of livestock, including cattle, swine, sheep and meat goats, and gave eight sets of oral reasons. In the sophomore division, results were as follows:

· Sheep and Goat Division: Kasey Johnson, High Individual; Jade Parrish, 3rd High Individual; Sarah Sergeant, 5th High Individual

· Swine Division: Jade Parrish, 2nd High Individual; Sarah Sergeant, 4th High Individual

· Cattle Division: Tray Zabokrtsky, High Individual; Will Banks, 3rd High Individual

· Reasons Division: Jade Parrish, High Individual; Will Banks, 4th High Individual; Baxter Blair, 5th High Individual; Kasey Johnson, 6th High Individual; Sarah Sergeant, 7th High Individual; Lorren Herndon, 10th High Individual

· Overall: Kasey Johnson, High Overall; Jade Parrish, 3rd Overall; Will Banks, 4th Overall; Sarah Sergeant, 7th Overall

· Team Rankings: High Team Overall, High Team Reasons, 2nd High Team Cattle

The Freshmen team also competed and found success. Their results are as follows:

· Sheep and Goat Division: Emmitt Meyring, 3rd High Individual; Bridget Weller 5th High Individual

· Cattle Division: Bridget Weller, 4th High Individual

· Reasons Division: Bridget Weller, 3rd High Individual

· Overall: Bridget Weller, 3rd Overall; Emmitt Meyring, 9th Overall

The freshmen team members include (from left to right in the photo): Back row: Kinley Siemens, Buhler, KS; Dillon Knepp, Lincolnville, KS; Wyatt Lange, Clyde, KS; Ryan Borer, Buchanan, VA; Emma Balisky, Grande Prairie, Alberta. Front row: Emmitt Meyring, Steamboat Springs, CO; Lindsey Lehman, Mt. Vernon, IL; Bridget Weller, Zeeland, MI; Ashlyn Robinson, North Platte, NE; Guy Wright, Ignacio, CO. Not pictured: Makayla Talley, Craigsville, VA.

The team is coached by Kane Austin, Agriculture Instructor and Pat Arkfeld, Instructor and Cow Herd Manager at Hutchinson Community College.

Hutchinson, Kan. – The Hutchinson Community College livestock judging team returned home from the prestigious Sioux Empire Livestock Show in Sioux Falls, SD with several honors, including being named the Champion Overall Sophomore Team.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643747380859.jpeg" alt="The sophomore team members include (from left to right in the photo): Kendal Stalnaker, Lake Butler, FL; Lorren Herndon, Lyons, GA; Kasey Johnson, Mayslick, KY; Sarah Sergeant, Lebo, KS; Baxter Blair, McLean, Saskatchewan; Jacey Massey, Strathmore, Alberta; Will Banks, Cynthiana, KY; Jade Parrish, Parrish, FL; Tray Zabokrtsky, Morrowville, KS." />
 <figcaption>The sophomore team members include (from left to right in the photo): Kendal Stalnaker, Lake Butler, FL; Lorren Herndon, Lyons, GA; Kasey Johnson, Mayslick, KY; Sarah Sergeant, Lebo, KS; Baxter Blair, McLean, Saskatchewan; Jacey Massey, Strathmore, Alberta; Will Banks, Cynthiana, KY; Jade Parrish, Parrish, FL; Tray Zabokrtsky, Morrowville, KS.</figcaption>
 </figure>The team judged a total of 12 classes of livestock, including cattle, swine, sheep and meat goats, and gave eight sets of oral reasons. In the sophomore division, results were as follows:· Sheep and Goat Division: Kasey Johnson, High Individual; Jade Parrish, 3rd High Individual; Sarah Sergeant, 5th High Individual· Swine Division: Jade Parrish, 2nd High Individual; Sarah Sergeant, 4th High Individual· Cattle Division: Tray Zabokrtsky, High Individual; Will Banks, 3rd High Individual· Reasons Division: Jade Parrish, High Individual; Will Banks, 4th High Individual; Baxter Blair, 5th High Individual; Kasey Johnson, 6th High Individual; Sarah Sergeant, 7th High Individual; Lorren Herndon, 10th High Individual· Overall: Kasey Johnson, High Overall; Jade Parrish, 3rd Overall; Will Banks, 4th Overall; Sarah Sergeant, 7th Overall· Team Rankings: High Team Overall, High Team Reasons, 2nd High Team CattleThe Freshmen team also competed and found success. Their results are as follows:<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643747354996.jpeg" alt="The freshmen team members include (from left to right in the photo): Back row: Kinley Siemens, Buhler, KS; Dillon Knepp, Lincolnville, KS; Wyatt Lange, Clyde, KS; Ryan Borer, Buchanan, VA; Emma Balisky, Grande Prairie, Alberta. Front row: Emmitt Meyring, Steamboat Springs, CO; Lindsey Lehman, Mt. Vernon, IL; Bridget Weller, Zeeland, MI; Ashlyn Robinson, North Platte, NE; Guy Wright, Ignacio, CO. Not pictured: Makayla Talley, Craigsville, VA." />
 <figcaption>The freshmen team members include (from left to right in the photo): Back row: Kinley Siemens, Buhler, KS; Dillon Knepp, Lincolnville, KS; Wyatt Lange, Clyde, KS; Ryan Borer, Buchanan, VA; Emma Balisky, Grande Prairie, Alberta. Front row: Emmitt Meyring, Steamboat Springs, CO; Lindsey Lehman, Mt. Vernon, IL; Bridget Weller, Zeeland, MI; Ashlyn Robinson, North Platte, NE; Guy Wright, Ignacio, CO. Not pictured: Makayla Talley, Craigsville, VA.</figcaption>
 </figure>· Sheep and Goat Division: Emmitt Meyring, 3rd High Individual; Bridget Weller 5th High Individual· Cattle Division: Bridget Weller, 4th High Individual· Reasons Division: Bridget Weller, 3rd High Individual· Overall: Bridget Weller, 3rd Overall; Emmitt Meyring, 9th OverallThe freshmen team members include (from left to right in the photo): Back row: Kinley Siemens, Buhler, KS; Dillon Knepp, Lincolnville, KS; Wyatt Lange, Clyde, KS; Ryan Borer, Buchanan, VA; Emma Balisky, Grande Prairie, Alberta. Front row: Emmitt Meyring, Steamboat Springs, CO; Lindsey Lehman, Mt. Vernon, IL; Bridget Weller, Zeeland, MI; Ashlyn Robinson, North Platte, NE; Guy Wright, Ignacio, CO. Not pictured: Makayla Talley, Craigsville, VA.The team is coached by Kane Austin, Agriculture Instructor and Pat Arkfeld, Instructor and Cow Herd Manager at Hutchinson Community College.

HutchCC Livestock Judging Excels at Sioux Empire Livestock Show


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is attempting to engage the next generation of workers earlier than ever before.

"We've started a program that's launching," said CEO Debra Teufel. "It's a pilot program this semester with USD 308 called Career Quest. We are starting with two sixth grade classes at Wiley and McCandless elementary schools to educate young people about the jobs, but get them out there, interacting with businesses, so they can learn about jobs and get excited about what those jobs might mean for them six years later when they are graduating from high school."

It's important for kids to see the point of school to keep their effort up, even if they may not see a four-year degree in their future.

"I think if we start early and really help every young person across Reno County realize that there are employers ready to hire them tomorrow, that they will plan their education path to get there," Teufel said. "I think it's going to pay off for our community. That's kind of betting on the long game."

The Chamber has been working with community groups, as well.

"We also partner with Boys and Girls Club in their EPIC Skillz program," Teufel said. "Businesses across this community are opening their doors for those middle school kids in EPIC Skillz, as well as high schoolers, to come in, again, maybe take a little deeper dive in to what those jobs mean, maybe line up an internship for them while they are in high school so that they can get a real taste of a job."

The goal is to let them figure out what they like to do in time to get themselves on the right educational path to be able to use programs that will allow them to spend little or no money and get post-secondary credentials necessary for their vocation.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/1/1580397097469.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is attempting to engage the next generation of workers earlier than ever before."We've started a program that's launching," said CEO Debra Teufel. "It's a pilot program this semester with USD 308 called Career Quest. We are starting with two sixth grade classes at Wiley and McCandless elementary schools to educate young people about the jobs, but get them out there, interacting with businesses, so they can learn about jobs and get excited about what those jobs might mean for them six years later when they are graduating from high school."It's important for kids to see the point of school to keep their effort up, even if they may not see a four-year degree in their future."I think if we start early and really help every young person across Reno County realize that there are employers ready to hire them tomorrow, that they will plan their education path to get there," Teufel said. "I think it's going to pay off for our community. That's kind of betting on the long game."The Chamber has been working with community groups, as well."We also partner with Boys and Girls Club in their EPIC Skillz program," Teufel said. "Businesses across this community are opening their doors for those middle school kids in EPIC Skillz, as well as high schoolers, to come in, again, maybe take a little deeper dive in to what those jobs mean, maybe line up an internship for them while they are in high school so that they can get a real taste of a job."The goal is to let them figure out what they like to do in time to get themselves on the right educational path to be able to use programs that will allow them to spend little or no money and get post-secondary credentials necessary for their vocation.

Chamber launching program for sixth graders to learn about jobs


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The Hutchinson City Council is going to order further study on the option for the Woodie Seat Freeway that would end the freeway at Avenue F and upgrade streets in the south end of the city. 

Members of the public, along with councilwoman Sara Bagwell, argued that the options that were not on the table for grant funds did not get as much study as the roundabout option that was originally eligible for federal money that the city did not get.

"The bridge is in dire need," said community member Cecilia Pena. "It needs to be fixed. We're putting bandaids on it right now to make it safe. I'm happy for that. Until we have all the options on the table, transparent, for everybody to see, everybody to make a choice, is all we're asking. Transparency."

The council reached a consensus that they would look at it more, but councilman Jon Richardson brought up the elephant in the room, which is the railroads whose tracks run under the Woodie Seat.

"We'd have to get permission from three different railroads?" Richardson asked. "It would be nice, if, before our next meeting we had some sort of, if possible, some sort of memorandum of understanding or something from the railroads on what we're wanting to do, before we order the study."

The issue is that railroads respond on their own timeline, not to mention that it's not as if the city of Hutchinson is their primary priority. Also, speaking generally, when aiming for cost sharing whether it's at the state or federal level, the people writing the supporting check have their own ideas of what is best.

"The history of option 3 (the single roundabout that was recommended by engineering), is pretty much in the lens of experts telling us how to design to get the money," said City Manager Jeff Cantrell. "That's a pretty common practice for all cities. You design to get the grant dollars. It makes the most sense, it's sustainable. It conforms to new design, all the good stuff, the key words that you'd want to hear. It's not really created in a vacuum of staff, evil staff nefariously sitting in cubicles coming up with a strategic plan to screw the community, it's really more about, how do we get these grant dollars, and what's the most responsible design?"

Since the city is not going to get the federal cost share, the thought was that they might be able to get some state money with the roundabout option. At this point, all of that is on hold pending the study on the surface streets option, which could take up to a year to finish.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643734592350.jpeg" alt="Option 5 Woodie Seat" />
 <figcaption>Option 5 Woodie Seat</figcaption>
 </figure>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The Hutchinson City Council is going to order further study on the option for the Woodie Seat Freeway that would end the freeway at Avenue F and upgrade streets in the south end of the city. Members of the public, along with councilwoman Sara Bagwell, argued that the options that were not on the table for grant funds did not get as much study as the roundabout option that was originally eligible for federal money that the city did not get."The bridge is in dire need," said community member Cecilia Pena. "It needs to be fixed. We're putting bandaids on it right now to make it safe. I'm happy for that. Until we have all the options on the table, transparent, for everybody to see, everybody to make a choice, is all we're asking. Transparency."The council reached a consensus that they would look at it more, but councilman Jon Richardson brought up the elephant in the room, which is the railroads whose tracks run under the Woodie Seat."We'd have to get permission from three different railroads?" Richardson asked. "It would be nice, if, before our next meeting we had some sort of, if possible, some sort of memorandum of understanding or something from the railroads on what we're wanting to do, before we order the study."The issue is that railroads respond on their own timeline, not to mention that it's not as if the city of Hutchinson is their primary priority. Also, speaking generally, when aiming for cost sharing whether it's at the state or federal level, the people writing the supporting check have their own ideas of what is best."The history of option 3 (the single roundabout that was recommended by engineering), is pretty much in the lens of experts telling us how to design to get the money," said City Manager Jeff Cantrell. "That's a pretty common practice for all cities. You design to get the grant dollars. It makes the most sense, it's sustainable. It conforms to new design, all the good stuff, the key words that you'd want to hear. It's not really created in a vacuum of staff, evil staff nefariously sitting in cubicles coming up with a strategic plan to screw the community, it's really more about, how do we get these grant dollars, and what's the most responsible design?"Since the city is not going to get the federal cost share, the thought was that they might be able to get some state money with the roundabout option. At this point, all of that is on hold pending the study on the surface streets option, which could take up to a year to finish.

Surface streets option for Woodie Seat issue to be studied


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Due to the winter storm, Reno County Area Transportation fixed route buses will be operating snow routes on Wednesday February 2, 2022. 

Maps of the snow routes are posted on all Fixed Route vehicles, in the Rcat Transfer Station and the Reno County website: <a href="http://www.renogov.org">www.renogov.org</a>&nbsp;

If you have questions, call Rcat at (620) 694-2913.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/10/1602530692777.jpeg" alt="Rcat Logo" />
 <figcaption>Rcat Logo</figcaption>
 </figure>
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Due to the winter storm, Reno County Area Transportation fixed route buses will be operating snow routes on Wednesday February 2, 2022. Maps of the snow routes are posted on all Fixed Route vehicles, in the Rcat Transfer Station and the Reno County website: <a href="http://www.renogov.org">www.renogov.org</a>&nbsp;If you have questions, call Rcat at (620) 694-2913.

Rcat will run snow routes Wednesday

TOPEKA — IdeaTek co-founder and chief innovation officer Daniel Friesen has been named to a special task force charged with recommending how federal COVID-19 relief money for broadband is spent in Kansas. The SPARK executive committee — short for Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas — named Friesen to the task force’s Connectivity Advisory Panel. Friesen represents the state’s competitive rural internet providers on the panel. “COVID-19 magnified the struggles many still have in connecting to the internet for work, school and healthcare,” Friesen said.“ Closing the digital divide with long-term sustainable broadband infrastructure is one of the most pressing issues of our time and essential to Kansas’ competitive edge in the digital age. “I’m eager to put IdeaTek’s experience to work with my fellow committee members to bring greater access to Kansans across the state,” Friesen added. The Connectivity Advisory Panel is one of four SPARK advisory panels that gather information and feedback from Kansans on the distribution of funds allocated to the state through the American Rescue Plan, or ARPA. Each panel recommends investments to the executive committee, and the executive committee then makes recommendations to the State Finance Council. Besides connectivity, panels focus on health and education, economic revitalization and efficiency and modernization. Topics the Connectivity Advisory Panel will evaluate include connectivity expansion, affordability and sector-specific applications like telehealth and digital education. The public is encouraged to provide input for the panel by submitting ideas to https://covid.ks.gov/spark-submission-form. IdeaTek was founded by Friesen and four high school friends in 1999. Today, the company employs over 120 Kansans and is continuing to grow. The team is dedicated to the mission of connecting underserved communities with affordable high-speed internet. To date, IdeaTek has deployed more than 4,000 miles of fiber — plus built more than 100 fixed wireless towers — serving customers in over 50 Kansas communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/8/1628158712566.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA — IdeaTek co-founder and chief innovation officer Daniel Friesen has been named to a special task force charged with recommending how federal COVID-19 relief money for broadband is spent in Kansas. The SPARK executive committee — short for Strengthening People and Revitalizing Kansas — named Friesen to the task force’s Connectivity Advisory Panel. Friesen represents the state’s competitive rural internet providers on the panel. “COVID-19 magnified the struggles many still have in connecting to the internet for work, school and healthcare,” Friesen said.“ Closing the digital divide with long-term sustainable broadband infrastructure is one of the most pressing issues of our time and essential to Kansas’ competitive edge in the digital age. “I’m eager to put IdeaTek’s experience to work with my fellow committee members to bring greater access to Kansans across the state,” Friesen added. The Connectivity Advisory Panel is one of four SPARK advisory panels that gather information and feedback from Kansans on the distribution of funds allocated to the state through the American Rescue Plan, or ARPA. Each panel recommends investments to the executive committee, and the executive committee then makes recommendations to the State Finance Council. Besides connectivity, panels focus on health and education, economic revitalization and efficiency and modernization. Topics the Connectivity Advisory Panel will evaluate include connectivity expansion, affordability and sector-specific applications like telehealth and digital education. The public is encouraged to provide input for the panel by submitting ideas to https://covid.ks.gov/spark-submission-form. IdeaTek was founded by Friesen and four high school friends in 1999. Today, the company employs over 120 Kansans and is continuing to grow. The team is dedicated to the mission of connecting underserved communities with affordable high-speed internet. To date, IdeaTek has deployed more than 4,000 miles of fiber — plus built more than 100 fixed wireless towers — serving customers in over 50 Kansas communities.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Friesen named to SPARK executive committee Connectivity Advisory Panel


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
If your business or a business you know has doubled in size since January 1, 2019 (even from 1 to 2 employees), StartUp Hutch encourages you to nominate them for the Reno County Double Dare Challenge! 

They want to recognize all Reno County businesses who have experienced growth over the last few years. The last day to sign up is February 4th.&nbsp; 

Those interested in submitting a business for this recognition may do so online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startuphutch.com/post/reno-county-double-dare-challenge" target="_blank">https://www.startuphutch.com/post/reno-county-double-dare-challenge</a>.&nbsp; Honors will come out in the coming weeks.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/9/1599831307342.jpeg" alt="" />
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 </figure>
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
If your business or a business you know has doubled in size since January 1, 2019 (even from 1 to 2 employees), StartUp Hutch encourages you to nominate them for the Reno County Double Dare Challenge! They want to recognize all Reno County businesses who have experienced growth over the last few years. The last day to sign up is February 4th.&nbsp; Those interested in submitting a business for this recognition may do so online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startuphutch.com/post/reno-county-double-dare-challenge" target="_blank">https://www.startuphutch.com/post/reno-county-double-dare-challenge</a>.&nbsp; Honors will come out in the coming weeks.

StartUp Hutch Double Dare Challenge wraps up Friday

The National Weather Service office in Wichita has issued a Winter Storm Warning in effect from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Thursday.

A wintry mix, will quickly transition to moderate to  heavy snow by Wednesday morning. Total snow accumulations of 5  to 7 inches are likely. Little if any ice accumulation are expected over portions of Central, South Central and Southeast  Kansas.

Plan on slippery road conditions. Patchy blowing  snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous  conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.

Cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero  Wednesday night into Thursday morning could result in  hypothermia if precautions are not taken.

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 511.

Below is info from the KSStorm.Info Weather Center. They are predicting 6 to 9 inches of snow in the Eagle listening area, which stretches a little farther west than the Wichita forecast area.

___________________________________________

What We Believe Will Happen:&nbsp;We will likely see a few showers break out for areas southeast of a line from Topeka to Hutchinson during the afternoon hours, with a hundredth of an inch or two expected.

During the night Tuesday, a storm system moving in from the southwest will create a broad and diffluent flow aloft. Combined with moisture from the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico, this will allow precipitation to become widespread for most of the area. With temperatures being below freezing, most of the precipitation should fall as snow, though, there will be an area southeast of the Kansas Turnpike that deals with a period of sleet and freezing rain.

As we move through the day Wednesday, the lift over the state deepens and we see areas of moderate to heavy snow.&nbsp; 

The heaviest precipitation is expected through about midnight Wednesday.

Flurries and snow showers are likely to continue into Thursday, but there is disagreement among models on whether we see more accumulating snow in southern Kansas.

North and northeast winds will run 10-20 mph during the event, which will be enough to create some blowing snow issues, especially given the fluffy nature of the snow.

The cold will also be an increasing storyline with this event. Temps will fall Tuesday night below freezing for most of the state, and will continue falling during the day Wednesday into the teens across the state. 

The most critical periods for wind chills will be Thursday and Friday morning, as we see temps fall into the single digits either side of zero and winds from the north continuing. This will drive wind chills into the -10 to -20 range for most areas and we do expect that wind chill advisories will come out at some point closer to when these values are expected.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/2/1643715426299.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The National Weather Service office in Wichita has issued a Winter Storm Warning in effect from 9 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Thursday.A wintry mix, will quickly transition to moderate to heavy snow by Wednesday morning. Total snow accumulations of 5 to 7 inches are likely. Little if any ice accumulation are expected over portions of Central, South Central and Southeast Kansas.Plan on slippery road conditions. Patchy blowing snow could significantly reduce visibility. The hazardous conditions could impact the morning or evening commute.Cold wind chills as low as 15 below zero Wednesday night into Thursday morning could result in hypothermia if precautions are not taken.If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 511.Below is info from the KSStorm.Info Weather Center. They are predicting 6 to 9 inches of snow in the Eagle listening area, which stretches a little farther west than the Wichita forecast area.___________________________________________MATTHEW HARDING KSSTORM.INFO&nbsp;What We Believe Will Happen:&nbsp;We will likely see a few showers break out for areas southeast of a line from Topeka to Hutchinson during the afternoon hours, with a hundredth of an inch or two expected.During the night Tuesday, a storm system moving in from the southwest will create a broad and diffluent flow aloft. Combined with moisture from the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico, this will allow precipitation to become widespread for most of the area. With temperatures being below freezing, most of the precipitation should fall as snow, though, there will be an area southeast of the Kansas Turnpike that deals with a period of sleet and freezing rain.As we move through the day Wednesday, the lift over the state deepens and we see areas of moderate to heavy snow.&nbsp; The heaviest precipitation is expected through about midnight Wednesday.Flurries and snow showers are likely to continue into Thursday, but there is disagreement among models on whether we see more accumulating snow in southern Kansas.North and northeast winds will run 10-20 mph during the event, which will be enough to create some blowing snow issues, especially given the fluffy nature of the snow.The cold will also be an increasing storyline with this event. Temps will fall Tuesday night below freezing for most of the state, and will continue falling during the day Wednesday into the teens across the state. The most critical periods for wind chills will be Thursday and Friday morning, as we see temps fall into the single digits either side of zero and winds from the north continuing. This will drive wind chills into the -10 to -20 range for most areas and we do expect that wind chill advisories will come out at some point closer to when these values are expected.

UPDATE: Winter Storm Warning has been issued

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Temporary repairs are completed on the Woodie Seat Freeway, according to a post from the city of Hutchinson. The road reopened as of 5 p.m. Monday afternoon.

The freeway was closed in both directions from Avenue A to Avenue F after the approaches to the bridge over Avenue B failed. Public Works Director Brian Clennan told Hutch Post the road failed because the subsurface gave way, causing the concrete to break apart.&nbsp;

The long term future of the Woodie Seat Freeway is up for discussion at Tuesday's Hutchinson City Council meeting.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/1/1643669383136.jpeg" alt="Road Open Graphic-Courtesy City of Hutchinson" />
 <figcaption>Road Open Graphic-Courtesy City of Hutchinson</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Temporary repairs are completed on the Woodie Seat Freeway, according to a post from the city of Hutchinson. The road reopened as of 5 p.m. Monday afternoon.The freeway was closed in both directions from Avenue A to Avenue F after the approaches to the bridge over Avenue B failed. Public Works Director Brian Clennan told Hutch Post the road failed because the subsurface gave way, causing the concrete to break apart.&nbsp;The long term future of the Woodie Seat Freeway is up for discussion at Tuesday's Hutchinson City Council meeting.

Temporary repairs completed on Woodie Seat Freeway


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Jason Younger with 30th Street Daylight Donuts announced their purchase of the downtown Daylight Donuts location in Hutchinson on Facebook Monday.

"My wife and I looked at the downtown Daylight, at purchasing it back in, I think 2009 originally," Younger said. "Even clear back then, we always kind of had that dream of opening or owning a Daylight Donuts shop. When the location up on 30th Street was available and we had the opportunity to build, the timing was just right. That's been a great location for us and we absolutely love being on 30th Street, but it was also really nice to come full circle and be able to acquire the Daylight Donuts on Main Street, just because we know there's so much potential there."

Younger said it's the right thing to do for downtown Hutchinson and for those who remember that location when it was new.

"It is a special place," Younger said. "It's Hutchinson's longest running donut shop. We just wanted to really do it right."

That starts with closing for a few days to do some deep cleaning and updating of the downtown space, with the goal to open as soon as they can in February. They will need some additional employees, as well.

"It's really early mornings and overnights and stuff like that, but the way we do small shifts several times through the week, you work a little bit early morning hours, catch a little bit of a nap and then you get the whole day," Younger said. "Anybody that's interested in applying, you can go to <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScc-1xFJqf3-Axp3R93uw2DJph7F380hIah3tbzYi70L3bOsw/viewform">hutchinsondaylightdonuts.com. Click on work for us.</a> We will split our staff a little bit right now, here in the beginning, but we're always looking for great, dependable people that are just friendly and love making donuts because they're fun."

Younger also said he's looking forward to getting to know the regulars who have helped the shop be so successful under the previous owners and they can't wait to take care of them.

<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FHutchinsonDaylightDonuts%2Fvideos%2F615887859385926%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>
By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — Jason Younger with 30th Street Daylight Donuts announced their purchase of the downtown Daylight Donuts location in Hutchinson on Facebook Monday."My wife and I looked at the downtown Daylight, at purchasing it back in, I think 2009 originally," Younger said. "Even clear back then, we always kind of had that dream of opening or owning a Daylight Donuts shop. When the location up on 30th Street was available and we had the opportunity to build, the timing was just right. That's been a great location for us and we absolutely love being on 30th Street, but it was also really nice to come full circle and be able to acquire the Daylight Donuts on Main Street, just because we know there's so much potential there."Younger said it's the right thing to do for downtown Hutchinson and for those who remember that location when it was new."It is a special place," Younger said. "It's Hutchinson's longest running donut shop. We just wanted to really do it right."That starts with closing for a few days to do some deep cleaning and updating of the downtown space, with the goal to open as soon as they can in February. They will need some additional employees, as well."It's really early mornings and overnights and stuff like that, but the way we do small shifts several times through the week, you work a little bit early morning hours, catch a little bit of a nap and then you get the whole day," Younger said. "Anybody that's interested in applying, you can go to <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScc-1xFJqf3-Axp3R93uw2DJph7F380hIah3tbzYi70L3bOsw/viewform">hutchinsondaylightdonuts.com. Click on work for us.</a> We will split our staff a little bit right now, here in the beginning, but we're always looking for great, dependable people that are just friendly and love making donuts because they're fun."Younger also said he's looking forward to getting to know the regulars who have helped the shop be so successful under the previous owners and they can't wait to take care of them.

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