HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With Sunday's protest and Tuesday's roundtable in the past, NAACP President Darrell Pope says things need to keep moving forward when it comes to race relations within the community and the police department.

“I think we’ve gotten the players involved who have the ability to make things happen,” Darrell Pope said. “At least we’ve got a commitment that they’re interested in wanting to discuss and work to get meaningful results.”

A protest march that was put together by a local resident caused concern for the safety of protesters and the public. The march was not supported by the NAACP and was eventually postponed from its original Friday date to a more condensed version on Saturday. Pope took the time to comment on what residents need to do to make sure their voice is heard in a peaceful and organized manner.

“First of all, you need to recognize or at least notify those persons who are going to be responsible for making sure you have a successful event,” Pope said. “Whenever there’s some civil disobedience you always have to get the law enforcement involved so there’s some kind of control.”

Pope says it is still plenty of work ahead to find permanent peace along racial lines but the work with local leaders is a good start.

“You sit down with those who can affect change and have the authority to see that change happens,” Pope said. “ And you start working with those people in trying to come up with positive ways to move forward.”

Pope says it will be a long road but hopes the city can come together and continued to stress the need to take a proactive approach and not reactive.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591092788258.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With Sunday's protest and Tuesday's roundtable in the past, NAACP President Darrell Pope says things need to keep moving forward when it comes to race relations within the community and the police department.“I think we’ve gotten the players involved who have the ability to make things happen,” Darrell Pope said. “At least we’ve got a commitment that they’re interested in wanting to discuss and work to get meaningful results.”A protest march that was put together by a local resident caused concern for the safety of protesters and the public. The march was not supported by the NAACP and was eventually postponed from its original Friday date to a more condensed version on Saturday. Pope took the time to comment on what residents need to do to make sure their voice is heard in a peaceful and organized manner.“First of all, you need to recognize or at least notify those persons who are going to be responsible for making sure you have a successful event,” Pope said. “Whenever there’s some civil disobedience you always have to get the law enforcement involved so there’s some kind of control.”Pope says it is still plenty of work ahead to find permanent peace along racial lines but the work with local leaders is a good start.“You sit down with those who can affect change and have the authority to see that change happens,” Pope said. “ And you start working with those people in trying to come up with positive ways to move forward.”Pope says it will be a long road but hopes the city can come together and continued to stress the need to take a proactive approach and not reactive.

Pope says more to be done but discussions off to a good start

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After a long meeting with Hutchinson Police, the city and others, the protest march that was postponed for Friday will be held on Saturday. 

Organizer Teresa Delgado announced after the meeting that the march will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The march will run from 30th Avenue south down Main to 11th Avenue and then back again ending around 1 p.m.&nbsp;

Delgado said that this is a peaceful march and any violence will not be condoned and the police department will be there to watch over the event. She noted that the meeting with law enforcement was a good one.

The event was scheduled for Friday but was postponed after social media highlighted various posts that got law enforcement's attention. Since then some businesses have closed and others have taken action to protect their business. Although the event is now Saturday, most Reno County offices will be closed at noon Friday.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591199953588.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After a long meeting with Hutchinson Police, the city and others, the protest march that was postponed for Friday will be held on Saturday. Organizer Teresa Delgado announced after the meeting that the march will be held Saturday from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. The march will run from 30th Avenue south down Main to 11th Avenue and then back again ending around 1 p.m.&nbsp;Delgado said that this is a peaceful march and any violence will not be condoned and the police department will be there to watch over the event. She noted that the meeting with law enforcement was a good one.The event was scheduled for Friday but was postponed after social media highlighted various posts that got law enforcement's attention. Since then some businesses have closed and others have taken action to protect their business. Although the event is now Saturday, most Reno County offices will be closed at noon Friday.

Condensed version of peaceful protest march set for Saturday 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Because of the uncertainty surrounding the now postponed protest in the city and the chance of counterprotests or other negative activity, most Reno County offices will be closed starting at noon Friday. This includes the district court and its offices as well.

County Administrator Randy Partington says that closings include the annex, community corrections and the health department. RCAT will run their normal schedule on Friday but no decision has been made about service on Saturday.

Partington says the decision to close was made early Thursday after word of the protest came out and other social media postings caused concerns for public safety.&nbsp;

<figure>
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 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Because of the uncertainty surrounding the now postponed protest in the city and the chance of counterprotests or other negative activity, most Reno County offices will be closed starting at noon Friday. This includes the district court and its offices as well.County Administrator Randy Partington says that closings include the annex, community corrections and the health department. RCAT will run their normal schedule on Friday but no decision has been made about service on Saturday.Partington says the decision to close was made early Thursday after word of the protest came out and other social media postings caused concerns for public safety.&nbsp;

County offices closing at noon Friday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Police Department has a new officer. Chief Jeff Hooper swore in Officer Lance Fairchild.&nbsp;

Fairchild started with the police department as an evidence technician in 2016.

Fairchild was sworn in during a brief ceremony on Wednesday.

<figure>
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 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Police Department has a new officer. Chief Jeff Hooper swore in Officer Lance Fairchild.&nbsp;Fairchild started with the police department as an evidence technician in 2016.Fairchild was sworn in during a brief ceremony on Wednesday.

Fairchild sworn in as new HPD officer

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

Hutch Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos at no cost to families. Funeral homes can send notices to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hutchpost@gmail.com" target="_blank">hutchpost@gmail.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573140944016.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Click&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/category/obituaries" target="_blank">HERE</a>&nbsp;to view the most recent obituaries and service times from our funeral home partners.Hutch Post is honored to publish full obituaries and photos at no cost to families. Funeral homes can send notices to&nbsp;<a href="mailto:hutchpost@gmail.com" target="_blank">hutchpost@gmail.com</a>.

Recent obituaries

An update on this story can be found <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5ed97d7cebfb13423b2702a5">HERE</a>.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; A Hutchinson woman’s plans for a peaceful march in Hutchinson have been put on hold.&nbsp;

Various social media posts forced Teresa Delgado to postpone her march that was scheduled for Friday. The march caused a few uneasy moments when some social media posts were less than favorable of the event. The Hutchinson Chapter of NAACP had also posted a statement earlier on Thursday saying that they were not sponsoring the march and felt that it was not a good idea at this time.

Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper said that he would have the department ready to deal with anything negative that could arise from the event.

Delgado has a meeting scheduled with HPD, the NAACP and the City Human Relations department to further discuss an alternative time for the event.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591199990248.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>An update on this story can be found <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5ed97d7cebfb13423b2702a5">HERE</a>.HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; A Hutchinson woman’s plans for a peaceful march in Hutchinson have been put on hold.&nbsp;Various social media posts forced Teresa Delgado to postpone her march that was scheduled for Friday. The march caused a few uneasy moments when some social media posts were less than favorable of the event. The Hutchinson Chapter of NAACP had also posted a statement earlier on Thursday saying that they were not sponsoring the march and felt that it was not a good idea at this time.Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper said that he would have the department ready to deal with anything negative that could arise from the event.Delgado has a meeting scheduled with HPD, the NAACP and the City Human Relations department to further discuss an alternative time for the event.

Peaceful march put on hold

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Work continues on a major expansion project for a longtime Hutchinson company. J&amp;J Drainage at 2nd and Pershing is building a 36,000-square-foot facility on its current campus.&nbsp;

According to Vice President Ron Altvater, the concrete has been poured and the steel structure is being raised. If all goes as planned, the project should be finished by January 2021.&nbsp;

Altvater says the new facility will allow the company to take in raw product and manufacture all in the same building. J&amp;J manufactures culvert end sections and corrugated steel products. The company provides finished materials to state and federal transportation agencies with corrugated culvert pipe.

J&amp;J Drainage has been in Hutchinson since 1946.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591298959261.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Work continues on a major expansion project for a longtime Hutchinson company. J&amp;J Drainage at 2nd and Pershing is building a 36,000-square-foot facility on its current campus.&nbsp;According to Vice President Ron Altvater, the concrete has been poured and the steel structure is being raised. If all goes as planned, the project should be finished by January 2021.&nbsp;Altvater says the new facility will allow the company to take in raw product and manufacture all in the same building. J&amp;J manufactures culvert end sections and corrugated steel products. The company provides finished materials to state and federal transportation agencies with corrugated culvert pipe.J&amp;J Drainage has been in Hutchinson since 1946.

New J&J facility moving along


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Hutchinson City Manager Jeff Cantrell says a month away from the 4th of July, the city is still looking for help with the fireworks.

"Historically, the City has spent $10,000 and those proceeds come in from the tax that's put on the local tents," Cantrell said. "That has historically been the mechanism for payment. Private donations make up approximately another $5,000 of that."

The City has a couple of leads on donors, but they could always use more help, as there aren't that many fireworks tents in town.

"In the past, there's been as many as five local tents," Cantrell said. "I think we might be down to four under the licensing that we're currently seeing. The number might be down slightly, but it looks like we're still going to have a robust collection."

It remains to be seen if the economic downturn will mean less fireworks spending, or if the pent up demand for social interaction will create more spending on the 4th.

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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Hutchinson City Manager Jeff Cantrell says a month away from the 4th of July, the city is still looking for help with the fireworks."Historically, the City has spent $10,000 and those proceeds come in from the tax that's put on the local tents," Cantrell said. "That has historically been the mechanism for payment. Private donations make up approximately another $5,000 of that."The City has a couple of leads on donors, but they could always use more help, as there aren't that many fireworks tents in town."In the past, there's been as many as five local tents," Cantrell said. "I think we might be down to four under the licensing that we're currently seeing. The number might be down slightly, but it looks like we're still going to have a robust collection."It remains to be seen if the economic downturn will mean less fireworks spending, or if the pent up demand for social interaction will create more spending on the 4th.

With fireworks a month away, city seeking sponsors to help


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
An advocate for the Kansas Association of School Boards says the Kansas State Board of Education is working on recommendations for school districts for how they should approach reopening in the fall.

"Everyone is hopeful that schools will reopen," Tallman said. "The question is, what kinds of restrictions may there be on things like social distancing and activities and students coming together."

An unknown factor is the attitude of parents toward putting their kids back together with others in school.

"How many parents may not want their kids to come back or come right away, how do we accommodate that?" Tallman asked. "We've got a group of people who are extremely anxious to make sure school starts and we've got another group who are very concerned about school starting and we're going to have to work through how we try to address both of those concerns."

This decision, like many in the state after the Governor's orders have changed, will likely be different in each district.

"A lot of the actual implementation is going to have to be at the local level," Tallman said. "I think we could see variations. We, of course, saw some of that just in the continuous learning plans. What ability did a district have to get internet-based instruction to all of its students? Some had very little difficulty doing that. Everyone had some struggles. In other districts, it was a much greater challenge."

Economics were an issue in getting online curriculum delivered, so what sorts of flexibility districts will have will be important.

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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
An advocate for the Kansas Association of School Boards says the Kansas State Board of Education is working on recommendations for school districts for how they should approach reopening in the fall."Everyone is hopeful that schools will reopen," Tallman said. "The question is, what kinds of restrictions may there be on things like social distancing and activities and students coming together."An unknown factor is the attitude of parents toward putting their kids back together with others in school."How many parents may not want their kids to come back or come right away, how do we accommodate that?" Tallman asked. "We've got a group of people who are extremely anxious to make sure school starts and we've got another group who are very concerned about school starting and we're going to have to work through how we try to address both of those concerns."This decision, like many in the state after the Governor's orders have changed, will likely be different in each district."A lot of the actual implementation is going to have to be at the local level," Tallman said. "I think we could see variations. We, of course, saw some of that just in the continuous learning plans. What ability did a district have to get internet-based instruction to all of its students? Some had very little difficulty doing that. Everyone had some struggles. In other districts, it was a much greater challenge."Economics were an issue in getting online curriculum delivered, so what sorts of flexibility districts will have will be important.

Tallman: State Board direction for schools likely to be guidelines, local implementation key


BUHLER,
Kan. — 
Starting on Monday June 8, students that have any materials still in a locker of any kind will be allowed to come into Buhler High School following numbers guidelines. 

Times available are June 8–11 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. This is also a great time to return any other materials that you have not turned into the high school.

Graduation is scheduled for July 18 at 9:00 a.m. at Crusader Field. Further details on restrictions for graduation will be released closer to the event date as they are dependent on the COVID-19 situation at the time. 

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BUHLER,
Kan. — 
Starting on Monday June 8, students that have any materials still in a locker of any kind will be allowed to come into Buhler High School following numbers guidelines. Times available are June 8–11 from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. This is also a great time to return any other materials that you have not turned into the high school.Graduation is scheduled for July 18 at 9:00 a.m. at Crusader Field. Further details on restrictions for graduation will be released closer to the event date as they are dependent on the COVID-19 situation at the time.

USD 313 releases information on returning high school items

HUTCHINSON —A physical altercation occurred at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) - Central Unit on Wednesday, June 3, that resulted in property damage and minor injuries, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.

At approximately 5:13 p.m., a physical altercation between two offenders took place in the dining hall. 

A chemical agent was deployed to help gain control of the situation and the remaining offenders were moved from the dining hall to the East Yard for decontamination. 

While in the East Yard, an additional physical altercation began between two offenders. At that time, approximately 40 additional offenders in the East Yard began throwing objects at staff members and state property. Windows and glass doors were broken during the disturbance.

All offenders were returned to their cells and the emergency was cleared at approximately 6:47 p.m.

The HCF - Central Unit has been placed on lockdown until further notice. Two staff members received minor injuries and one offender received non-life threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/5/1588634023977.png" alt="Hutchinson Correctional Facility photo KDOC" />
 <figcaption>Hutchinson Correctional Facility photo KDOC</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON —A physical altercation occurred at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) - Central Unit on Wednesday, June 3, that resulted in property damage and minor injuries, according to a media release from the Kansas Department of Corrections.At approximately 5:13 p.m., a physical altercation between two offenders took place in the dining hall. A chemical agent was deployed to help gain control of the situation and the remaining offenders were moved from the dining hall to the East Yard for decontamination. While in the East Yard, an additional physical altercation began between two offenders. At that time, approximately 40 additional offenders in the East Yard began throwing objects at staff members and state property. Windows and glass doors were broken during the disturbance.All offenders were returned to their cells and the emergency was cleared at approximately 6:47 p.m.The HCF - Central Unit has been placed on lockdown until further notice. Two staff members received minor injuries and one offender received non-life threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.&nbsp;

Hutchinson Correctional Facility on lockdown after fight in dining hall

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Things are starting to pick up at the Kansas State Fair as officials are now just a few months away from the 107th edition. Non-fair activity is picking up as well, according to General Manager Robin Jennison.

“We’re staying in contact with the health officials here in Reno county,” Jennison said. “If we have something that’s going to be over 100 people, we let them know.” 

Jennison says most of the things taking place are private events and events in the livestock area. Social distancing is being practiced. The fair lost about 20 events during the pandemic, but Jennison says he’s confident they will return.

“I think they’ll all be back next year,” Jennison said. “I think everybody realizes that this is a temporary deal.”

Jennison says the fair lost about $200,000 in revenue because of event cancellations and is looking to the state to get some of that money back.

“The money the state's getting is supposed to be used for costs related to COVID-19,” Jennison noted. “Obviously ours was not costs, but it was lost revenue.”

Jennison says that they are also dealing with exhibitors who are still worried about whether the fair will happen or not.

“We’ve set July 15th as when we decide what the fair is going to look like,” Jennison said. “We’re confident we’re going to have a fair. There may be some things we have to do differently.” 

Jennison says the fair is also down on sponsorships for the year and has made concessions to exhibitors and others to make it more financially feasible for them to attend.

“We have folks that come to the Kansas State Fair that go to other fairs that had already paid their first deposit, and they’re not going to get that back,” Jennison said. “We would have generally had the first payment. We’ve extended that out for everybody. We’ve extended that out to try and be understanding, you know, we’re all in this together.” 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/9/1568929115476.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ROD ZOOKHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Things are starting to pick up at the Kansas State Fair as officials are now just a few months away from the 107th edition. Non-fair activity is picking up as well, according to General Manager Robin Jennison.“We’re staying in contact with the health officials here in Reno county,” Jennison said. “If we have something that’s going to be over 100 people, we let them know.” Jennison says most of the things taking place are private events and events in the livestock area. Social distancing is being practiced. The fair lost about 20 events during the pandemic, but Jennison says he’s confident they will return.“I think they’ll all be back next year,” Jennison said. “I think everybody realizes that this is a temporary deal.”Jennison says the fair lost about $200,000 in revenue because of event cancellations and is looking to the state to get some of that money back.“The money the state's getting is supposed to be used for costs related to COVID-19,” Jennison noted. “Obviously ours was not costs, but it was lost revenue.”Jennison says that they are also dealing with exhibitors who are still worried about whether the fair will happen or not.“We’ve set July 15th as when we decide what the fair is going to look like,” Jennison said. “We’re confident we’re going to have a fair. There may be some things we have to do differently.” Jennison says the fair is also down on sponsorships for the year and has made concessions to exhibitors and others to make it more financially feasible for them to attend.“We have folks that come to the Kansas State Fair that go to other fairs that had already paid their first deposit, and they’re not going to get that back,” Jennison said. “We would have generally had the first payment. We’ve extended that out for everybody. We’ve extended that out to try and be understanding, you know, we’re all in this together.” The fair begins Sept. 11.

Fair open for events again as officials eye September

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Health Department announced Wednesday afternoon it has a positive case of COVID-19.

Health Department Director Nick Baldetti reports that the case is a female in her 50s with an unknown source of exposure. The patient is currently in home isolation.

This makes 44 positive cases of COVID-19 in the county with 43 recovered.

As always, and especially now that things have opened up again, practice good hygiene, social distancing and stay at home if you’re feeling sick.

<figure>
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 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Health Department announced Wednesday afternoon it has a positive case of COVID-19.Health Department Director Nick Baldetti reports that the case is a female in her 50s with an unknown source of exposure. The patient is currently in home isolation.This makes 44 positive cases of COVID-19 in the county with 43 recovered.As always, and especially now that things have opened up again, practice good hygiene, social distancing and stay at home if you’re feeling sick.

Reno County reports 44th case of COVID-19

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It is going to be a long recovery for everyone in the business sector in the wake of the pandemic. That includes finding ways to get visitors back to Hutchinson for various events, according to LeAnn Cox with the Hutchinson CVB.

“It’s going to be a long road, that is for sure. But that’s the way it is everywhere,” Cox said. “What we’ve been doing since this first started, and what we will continue to do, is working closely with the events to try and encourage them to reschedule versus canceling, and sometimes that’s possible and sometimes it’s not.”

Cox says that encouraging people to travel and attend events is a balancing act.

“We are still sensing that people are hesitant about traveling,” Cox said. “And again, it’s all about timing, so we don’t want to jump out there and get in people’s faces. We still want to be careful and cautious.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cox says they have been in contact with many of the events that come to Hutchinson, especially the NJCAA since Hutchinson hosts the national basketball tournament. Cox says they also learned that the NJCAA national track meet that was canceled will be coming back to Hutchinson.

Cox says they expect to see a drop of 70% to 90% in the hotel/motel tax that is generated by visitors to Hutchinson, especially during big events like the tournament and the state fair.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/6/1591213855014.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By ROD ZOOKHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — It is going to be a long recovery for everyone in the business sector in the wake of the pandemic. That includes finding ways to get visitors back to Hutchinson for various events, according to LeAnn Cox with the Hutchinson CVB.“It’s going to be a long road, that is for sure. But that’s the way it is everywhere,” Cox said. “What we’ve been doing since this first started, and what we will continue to do, is working closely with the events to try and encourage them to reschedule versus canceling, and sometimes that’s possible and sometimes it’s not.”Cox says that encouraging people to travel and attend events is a balancing act.“We are still sensing that people are hesitant about traveling,” Cox said. “And again, it’s all about timing, so we don’t want to jump out there and get in people’s faces. We still want to be careful and cautious.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Cox says they have been in contact with many of the events that come to Hutchinson, especially the NJCAA since Hutchinson hosts the national basketball tournament. Cox says they also learned that the NJCAA national track meet that was canceled will be coming back to Hutchinson.Cox says they expect to see a drop of 70% to 90% in the hotel/motel tax that is generated by visitors to Hutchinson, especially during big events like the tournament and the state fair.

CVB working to bring events to Hutchinson again

SOUTH HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Sego Road in Reno County from K-61 to Arlington Road is closed Wednesday for road repair. 

For more information, call Reno County Public Works at 620-694-2976.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1573140919778.jpeg" alt="road-work-construction.jpg" />
 <figcaption>road-work-construction.jpg</figcaption>
 </figure>SOUTH HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Sego Road in Reno County from K-61 to Arlington Road is closed Wednesday for road repair. K-61 is not affected. For more information, call Reno County Public Works at 620-694-2976.

Sego Road closed Wednesday north of K-61 to Arlington Road

&nbsp;ABBYVILLE, Kan. —&nbsp; The Abbyville Frontier Days Rodeo is excited to announce that their annual rodeo will be held July 3-4. “We know that people are ready to get out and enjoy activities. Our goal is to provide the safest atmosphere for the fans to come and celebrate our western heritage and the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans,” said Rod Bergkamp, the booster club president. “In working with the Reno County Health Department, we’ve&nbsp;made several changes from previous years to provide a safer environment.”

This year there won’t be the ham and bean, chicken and noodle dinner at noon on Saturday nor will there be a BBQ Saturday night. Handwashing stations will be available on the rodeo grounds. Since Hutchinson is having a parade on July 4th, there won’t be a parade either. There are other fan-friendly changes that have been made. Instead of buying a ticket for a specific night, tickets purchased will be valid for either night. 12 and under will be admitted free on both nights, not just on Friday as in the past. “We know that many families have been impacted financially and we want to offer them some savings,” said Bergkamp.

You can expect to see a lot of contestants at this year’s rodeo. “With limited rodeos happening, they have not been given the opportunity to compete,” Bergkamp said. The PRCA &amp; WPRA members are ready to "Kick Open the Chutes" and get back to doing what they love.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1560872419185.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;ABBYVILLE, Kan. —&nbsp; The Abbyville Frontier Days Rodeo is excited to announce that their annual rodeo will be held July 3-4. “We know that people are ready to get out and enjoy activities. Our goal is to provide the safest atmosphere for the fans to come and celebrate our western heritage and the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans,” said Rod Bergkamp, the booster club president. “In working with the Reno County Health Department, we’ve&nbsp;made several changes from previous years to provide a safer environment.” This year there won’t be the ham and bean, chicken and noodle dinner at noon on Saturday nor will there be a BBQ Saturday night. Handwashing stations will be available on the rodeo grounds. Since Hutchinson is having a parade on July 4th, there won’t be a parade either. There are other fan-friendly changes that have been made. Instead of buying a ticket for a specific night, tickets purchased will be valid for either night. 12 and under will be admitted free on both nights, not just on Friday as in the past. “We know that many families have been impacted financially and we want to offer them some savings,” said Bergkamp. You can expect to see a lot of contestants at this year’s rodeo. “With limited rodeos happening, they have not been given the opportunity to compete,” Bergkamp said. The PRCA &amp; WPRA members are ready to "Kick Open the Chutes" and get back to doing what they love.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Abbyville Rodeo July 3 and 4

Hutchinson Public Schools were the victim of an internet hoax. 

According to a Facebook post from Superintendent Mike Folks Wednesday:

"A very serious and alarming racist Facebook post happened overnight by an individual who listed Hutchinson Public Schools as her employer," Folks said. "The posts were about the national turmoil involving the killing of George Floyd.

"First and foremost, the district will respond swiftly and harshly to all comments of this nature.

"Our research this morning finds the district does not have and has not had a Marsha Williams on staff who matches her Facebook profile. A check of all staff using her listed birthdate found none of our employees were born on that date.

Again, USD 308 has policies in place that will be followed and will not tolerate any such activity by an employee."

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 </figure>Hutchinson Public Schools were the victim of an internet hoax. According to a Facebook post from Superintendent Mike Folks Wednesday:"A very serious and alarming racist Facebook post happened overnight by an individual who listed Hutchinson Public Schools as her employer," Folks said. "The posts were about the national turmoil involving the killing of George Floyd."First and foremost, the district will respond swiftly and harshly to all comments of this nature."Our research this morning finds the district does not have and has not had a Marsha Williams on staff who matches her Facebook profile. A check of all staff using her listed birthdate found none of our employees were born on that date."Her profile has since been taken down.Again, USD 308 has policies in place that will be followed and will not tolerate any such activity by an employee."

USD 308 addresses internet hoax


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The City of Hutchinson is seeing progress on payment of water bills after disconnections started up again June 1. Nichole Martinez with the City reports that there are $65,909.47 worth of bills outstanding. This is down from $82,299 as of Friday.

119 accounts are 20-31 days past due, down from 191 on Friday and 405 accounts 36 days or more past due, down from 437 on Friday. Those less than a month behind owe $7,378.82. Those more than a month in arrears owe $58,530.65.

The city stressed that if customers need more time, they can visit hutchgov.com/pay-agreement to begin the process of setting up a payment agreement to keep their service from being interrupted. To talk with a customer service representative, call 620-694-2621 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. 

Those in need of financial assistance because of coronavirus are encouraged to apply for help online at RallyReno.org or by calling 2-1-1. The Reno County VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster) Unmet Needs Fund is there to aid with essential expenses, like utilities and housing, for those financially impacted by the pandemic. 

City Hall is open to the public as of June 1. While in-person utility payments may resume at that time, customers are encouraged to use the following services to pay utility bills when possible: 

• Visit waterbill.hutchgov.com to pay your bill online 

• For help in setting up online bill pay, please visit <a href="https://www.hutchgov.com/536/Online-Bill-Pay-Help">https://www.hutchgov.com/536/Online-Bill-Pay-Help </a>

• Use the drop box on the west side of City Hall, 125 E. Ave. B, or mail payment to the same address.

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HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The City of Hutchinson is seeing progress on payment of water bills after disconnections started up again June 1. Nichole Martinez with the City reports that there are $65,909.47 worth of bills outstanding. This is down from $82,299 as of Friday.119 accounts are 20-31 days past due, down from 191 on Friday and 405 accounts 36 days or more past due, down from 437 on Friday. Those less than a month behind owe $7,378.82. Those more than a month in arrears owe $58,530.65.The city stressed that if customers need more time, they can visit hutchgov.com/pay-agreement to begin the process of setting up a payment agreement to keep their service from being interrupted. To talk with a customer service representative, call 620-694-2621 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Those in need of financial assistance because of coronavirus are encouraged to apply for help online at RallyReno.org or by calling 2-1-1. The Reno County VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster) Unmet Needs Fund is there to aid with essential expenses, like utilities and housing, for those financially impacted by the pandemic. City Hall is open to the public as of June 1. While in-person utility payments may resume at that time, customers are encouraged to use the following services to pay utility bills when possible: • Visit waterbill.hutchgov.com to pay your bill online • For help in setting up online bill pay, please visit <a href="https://www.hutchgov.com/536/Online-Bill-Pay-Help">https://www.hutchgov.com/536/Online-Bill-Pay-Help </a>• Call 620-694-2621 to pay by phone • Use the drop box on the west side of City Hall, 125 E. Ave. B, or mail payment to the same address.

Payment progress being made on water bills


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
In the 2019 Community Health needs Assessment 12.1% of people reported that their mental health was not good on 14 or more days in the past 30 days compared to 9.7% of people in Kansas.

Stepping Up Council of Reno County was created to come up with collaborative solutions offering alternatives to incarceration for people with mental illness, co-occurring substance use disorders or developmental disabilities, who encounter the criminal justice system for low-level offenses. The initiative is designed to intercede whenever possible to provide treatment or needed supports, prevent repeat encounters with the criminal justice system, improve public safety, promote a healthier community to be more cost effective and an efficient use of public funding.

The Stepping Up Council is comprised of the Reno County Sheriff’s Department, City of Hutchinson Police Department, The Reno County District Attorney, Reno County Judges, Horizons Mental Health, Community Corrections, Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, City and County Officials, NAMI and is chaired by the United Way of Reno County. The Council has met semi-monthly for the past two years.

Counties around the United States are encouraged by the national Stepping Up Initiative to gather accurate, accessible data on the prevalence of people in their jails who have serious mental illness (SMI)* to help them understand the scale of the problem in their jurisdictions. When a County meets these criteria, they can apply to become an Innovator County. The Stepping Up Council of Reno County is proud to announce that it has been named an Innovator County.

Stepping Up is highlighting counties from around the country for their ability to accurately identify people in their jails who have SMI, collect and share data on these individuals to better connect them to treatment and services, and use this information to inform local policies and practices. To gather this data, these Innovator Counties are implementing Stepping Up’s recommended three-step approach:

1. Establish a shared definition of SMI for your Stepping Up efforts that is used throughout local criminal justice and behavioral health systems.

2. Use a validated mental health screening tool on every person booked into the jail and refer people who screen positive for symptoms of SMI to a follow-up clinical assessment by a licensed mental health professional; and

3. Record clinical assessment results and regularly report on this population.

The Stepping Up Council in Reno County continues to look for ways to improve our systems, align our resources and create a shared vision to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in our jail.

*************************************************************************************

Severe and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) and Severe Mental Illness (SMI) are terms used to describe a collection of mental disorders that often affect people in early adulthood and have profound effects on a person's ability to maintain an occupation, family relations, social functioning, and often lead to hospitalization due to their mental health needs. Disorders associated with SPMI and SMI individuals are schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorders and others found in the DSM 5. These diagnoses along with assessment criteria deemed necessary by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) determine if a person is defined as SPMI or SMI.

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HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
In the 2019 Community Health needs Assessment 12.1% of people reported that their mental health was not good on 14 or more days in the past 30 days compared to 9.7% of people in Kansas.Stepping Up Council of Reno County was created to come up with collaborative solutions offering alternatives to incarceration for people with mental illness, co-occurring substance use disorders or developmental disabilities, who encounter the criminal justice system for low-level offenses. The initiative is designed to intercede whenever possible to provide treatment or needed supports, prevent repeat encounters with the criminal justice system, improve public safety, promote a healthier community to be more cost effective and an efficient use of public funding.The Stepping Up Council is comprised of the Reno County Sheriff’s Department, City of Hutchinson Police Department, The Reno County District Attorney, Reno County Judges, Horizons Mental Health, Community Corrections, Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, City and County Officials, NAMI and is chaired by the United Way of Reno County. The Council has met semi-monthly for the past two years.Counties around the United States are encouraged by the national Stepping Up Initiative to gather accurate, accessible data on the prevalence of people in their jails who have serious mental illness (SMI)* to help them understand the scale of the problem in their jurisdictions. When a County meets these criteria, they can apply to become an Innovator County. The Stepping Up Council of Reno County is proud to announce that it has been named an Innovator County.Stepping Up is highlighting counties from around the country for their ability to accurately identify people in their jails who have SMI, collect and share data on these individuals to better connect them to treatment and services, and use this information to inform local policies and practices. To gather this data, these Innovator Counties are implementing Stepping Up’s recommended three-step approach:1. Establish a shared definition of SMI for your Stepping Up efforts that is used throughout local criminal justice and behavioral health systems.2. Use a validated mental health screening tool on every person booked into the jail and refer people who screen positive for symptoms of SMI to a follow-up clinical assessment by a licensed mental health professional; and3. Record clinical assessment results and regularly report on this population.The Stepping Up Council in Reno County continues to look for ways to improve our systems, align our resources and create a shared vision to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in our jail.**************************************************************************************Serious Mental Illness (SMI) DefinitionSevere and Persistent Mental Illness (SPMI) and Severe Mental Illness (SMI) are terms used to describe a collection of mental disorders that often affect people in early adulthood and have profound effects on a person's ability to maintain an occupation, family relations, social functioning, and often lead to hospitalization due to their mental health needs. Disorders associated with SPMI and SMI individuals are schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, major depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic disorders and others found in the DSM 5. These diagnoses along with assessment criteria deemed necessary by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disability Services (KDADS) determine if a person is defined as SPMI or SMI.

Stepping Up Reno County Council named Innovator Status


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The economic consequences of COVID-19 to the state budget aren't fully known, but the Chief Executive Officer of Kansas Policy Institute isn't optimistic.

"It is going to be exponentially worse," said Dave Trabert. "The official number from the Kansas Consensus Revenue Estimating Group would put next year's deficit at $653 million. It could be easily double that."

The assumptions made by the estimators believe in more of a bounce than is currently evident.

"They are, unbelievably, only predicting a two-year loss, the rest of this year and next year, a two-year loss of $88 million in state revenue. That's less than 10% of what we lost over two years in the Great Recession and every indicator says this is far worse than what happened back then."

The response to the pandemic in Kansas is different than some other states that Trabert cited Tuesday.

"This is going to be really, really ugly," Trabert said. "The Governor shut down the state. There were eight states that weren't shut down by their governors. Guess what? They not only have better COVID outcomes than the shut down states, they also have far less job loss. This was preventable."

The special session that starts Wednesday likely will not address the budget. They'll save that heavy lifting for after the election in November.

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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
The economic consequences of COVID-19 to the state budget aren't fully known, but the Chief Executive Officer of Kansas Policy Institute isn't optimistic."It is going to be exponentially worse," said Dave Trabert. "The official number from the Kansas Consensus Revenue Estimating Group would put next year's deficit at $653 million. It could be easily double that."The assumptions made by the estimators believe in more of a bounce than is currently evident."They are, unbelievably, only predicting a two-year loss, the rest of this year and next year, a two-year loss of $88 million in state revenue. That's less than 10% of what we lost over two years in the Great Recession and every indicator says this is far worse than what happened back then."The response to the pandemic in Kansas is different than some other states that Trabert cited Tuesday."This is going to be really, really ugly," Trabert said. "The Governor shut down the state. There were eight states that weren't shut down by their governors. Guess what? They not only have better COVID outcomes than the shut down states, they also have far less job loss. This was preventable."The special session that starts Wednesday likely will not address the budget. They'll save that heavy lifting for after the election in November.

Trabert: Revenue estimators likely minimizing COVID-19 impact

The City of Hutchinson and Reno County were announced as two of 66 recipients of Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Response Supplement (CDBG-CV) funds on Tuesday.

Hutchinson recieved $132,000 and Reno County also received $132,000.

Grants were available in two categories – Economic Development and Meal Programs. Economic Development grants provide communities with funding to help local businesses retain jobs for low-to-moderate income people by covering working capital expenses such as inventory, wages and utilities.

CDBG-CV grants are part of the state’s allocation from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and are designed to help Kansas communities respond to the needs of their residents and businesses during the reopening phase of the state.

<figure>
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 </figure>The City of Hutchinson and Reno County were announced as two of 66 recipients of Community Development Block Grant Coronavirus Response Supplement (CDBG-CV) funds on Tuesday.Hutchinson recieved $132,000 and Reno County also received $132,000.Grants were available in two categories – Economic Development and Meal Programs. Economic Development grants provide communities with funding to help local businesses retain jobs for low-to-moderate income people by covering working capital expenses such as inventory, wages and utilities.CDBG-CV grants are part of the state’s allocation from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and are designed to help Kansas communities respond to the needs of their residents and businesses during the reopening phase of the state.

Hutchinson, Reno County get federal grant money


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Prompted by a question from Hutchinson City Council member Jon Daveline Tuesday, Ryan Hvitlok with the City talked about the work his office has been doing to look at the City's comprehensive plan.

"We have not met with the planning commission in gosh, probably three months, but we do have a meeting starting next week to kind of begin some of that process," Hvitlok said. "One of the things is kind of a longstanding text amendment that we've been looking at with some research and development. It was spurred by Sensor Dynamix over here. Our zoning ordinance looks at research and development as kind of more heavy type uses. Sensor Dynamix showed that we have a great ability to kind of bring some of those more technology-based businesses into our community and when we looked at our ordinance, it just didn't line up. One of the things that we're looking at is expanding it, so that research and development can be in our downtown area, it can be in one of our commercial zones. Genzada's another great example. They really are a research and development company. Previous department heads classified it as office and that was just kind of a way, this was really a use we wanted in the community and we didn't really have the time to go through that process."

The changing economic landscape needs planning that is ready for it and that's going to be a goal in the coming months.

"Okay, what are some things we can do? What are gaps we're having? Where are some things the ordinance might not have anticipated?" Hvitlok asked. "I know we're going to have a lot more of those conversations, because I think the economy is shifting, I think a lot quicker. One of the things about COVID-19 is, I think it kind of hit the fast forward button on a lot of things that were happening in our economy rather slowly and kind of pushed those maybe 5 or 10 years quicker than we thought. You know, looking at things of how retail's going to change and things like that. I anticipate having a very robust conversation with our planning commission here, once we kind of get some of the lag work done that we needed to get done, probably later this summer on, okay, what are some things we can look at in our ordinance and our plans."

An agenda for the next planning commission meeting has not been released.

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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Prompted by a question from Hutchinson City Council member Jon Daveline Tuesday, Ryan Hvitlok with the City talked about the work his office has been doing to look at the City's comprehensive plan."We have not met with the planning commission in gosh, probably three months, but we do have a meeting starting next week to kind of begin some of that process," Hvitlok said. "One of the things is kind of a longstanding text amendment that we've been looking at with some research and development. It was spurred by Sensor Dynamix over here. Our zoning ordinance looks at research and development as kind of more heavy type uses. Sensor Dynamix showed that we have a great ability to kind of bring some of those more technology-based businesses into our community and when we looked at our ordinance, it just didn't line up. One of the things that we're looking at is expanding it, so that research and development can be in our downtown area, it can be in one of our commercial zones. Genzada's another great example. They really are a research and development company. Previous department heads classified it as office and that was just kind of a way, this was really a use we wanted in the community and we didn't really have the time to go through that process."The changing economic landscape needs planning that is ready for it and that's going to be a goal in the coming months."Okay, what are some things we can do? What are gaps we're having? Where are some things the ordinance might not have anticipated?" Hvitlok asked. "I know we're going to have a lot more of those conversations, because I think the economy is shifting, I think a lot quicker. One of the things about COVID-19 is, I think it kind of hit the fast forward button on a lot of things that were happening in our economy rather slowly and kind of pushed those maybe 5 or 10 years quicker than we thought. You know, looking at things of how retail's going to change and things like that. I anticipate having a very robust conversation with our planning commission here, once we kind of get some of the lag work done that we needed to get done, probably later this summer on, okay, what are some things we can look at in our ordinance and our plans."An agenda for the next planning commission meeting has not been released.

Hvitlok: City plan needs updating as COVID-19 has accelerated change


HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Democratic Representative Jason Probst hopes the focus of the Special Session underway on Wednesday can remain narrow and focused on COVID-19 response.

"I would personally like it if we would just address the issue at hand and get on our way," Probst said Monday. "If we are going to address anything else, I think I would like to see us have a discussion about Medicaid expansion. I've always been a supporter of that, but I think, when you have so many people who have lost their job who have also lost their health insurance and we're a little uncertain about what the future might hold, I think this is a good opportunity to provide some baseline protection for people, particularly if they have underlying conditions."

Probst does think that those leaving the Legislature whether for retirement or another office may do things differently in the Special Session, since the filing deadline is past.

"If they don't have to face voters again, they may be able to do some things that they would feel pressure otherwise not to do," Probst said. "For those that are running for something else, there's a lot of pressure to get this wrapped up, so they can go back to campaigning. They'll want to be able to go out and do the fundraising and visiting with constituents and doing the things that they'll need to do for a campaign."

Many prominent members of the Kansas Senate, in particular, Senate President Susan Wagle and Majority Leader Jim Denning are not running for re-election.

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By
NICK GOSNELL
Hutch
Post
HUTCHINSON,
Kan. — 
Democratic Representative Jason Probst hopes the focus of the Special Session underway on Wednesday can remain narrow and focused on COVID-19 response."I would personally like it if we would just address the issue at hand and get on our way," Probst said Monday. "If we are going to address anything else, I think I would like to see us have a discussion about Medicaid expansion. I've always been a supporter of that, but I think, when you have so many people who have lost their job who have also lost their health insurance and we're a little uncertain about what the future might hold, I think this is a good opportunity to provide some baseline protection for people, particularly if they have underlying conditions."Probst does think that those leaving the Legislature whether for retirement or another office may do things differently in the Special Session, since the filing deadline is past."If they don't have to face voters again, they may be able to do some things that they would feel pressure otherwise not to do," Probst said. "For those that are running for something else, there's a lot of pressure to get this wrapped up, so they can go back to campaigning. They'll want to be able to go out and do the fundraising and visiting with constituents and doing the things that they'll need to do for a campaign."Many prominent members of the Kansas Senate, in particular, Senate President Susan Wagle and Majority Leader Jim Denning are not running for re-election.

Probst: Special session needs narrow focus, but Medicaid expansion makes sense

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Leaders of various churches in the city along with Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper gathered for a roundtable discussion before a large number of area residents Tuesday night. The meeting was a follow up to the peaceful protest held Sunday at the Reno County Courthouse. The event was sponsored by the local NAACP.&nbsp;

Hooper started by making it clear that the actions that led to the death of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer will not be tolerated in Hutchinson.

“If officers under my leadership can not follow our core values and can not treat this community right and serve them, I’ll fire them,” Hooper said.

Hooper took most of the questions from the crowd. One of the questions surrounded the issue of law enforcement carrying firearms.

“The part of that question that saddens me is that they equate carrying a gun to power. Because in my opinion, that leads to fear,” Hooper said. “I hope that we can earn enough trust in our community to understand that carrying a firearm should not be about power.”

Pastor Charles Crumble of the New Resurrection Ministries says the amount of distrust among African American citizens and police starts early.

“We have to comfort our young brothers and sisters because eighty percent of the time, they’ve already been mistreated,” Crumble said. “They’ve already been out in the street, they’ve already been profiled. So when they come to us they are already beaten and broken.”

Crumble also stressed that there is love in the church but there is also a division that needs to be addressed.

“I believe there’s enough love in the church that it can overflow into the streets,” Crumble said. “There’s so much division in the church, there’s so much division between the churches. How can love overflow from the churches and reach the community when we all can’t stand together?”&nbsp;

Hooper said that the police department and community members need to have continuous dialogue and answers. Hooper said that the department needs to learn from the African-American community in the city to have a better relationship. Hooper went on to say that he will hold the department to a higher standard.

Other participating ministers also spoke of how modern-day issues of race, creed, and sexual preference are dividing the church and the church needs to come together to address racism and other issues.

<figure>
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 </figure>By ROD ZOOKHutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Leaders of various churches in the city along with Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper gathered for a roundtable discussion before a large number of area residents Tuesday night. The meeting was a follow up to the peaceful protest held Sunday at the Reno County Courthouse. The event was sponsored by the local NAACP.&nbsp;Hooper started by making it clear that the actions that led to the death of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer will not be tolerated in Hutchinson.“If officers under my leadership can not follow our core values and can not treat this community right and serve them, I’ll fire them,” Hooper said.Hooper took most of the questions from the crowd. One of the questions surrounded the issue of law enforcement carrying firearms.“The part of that question that saddens me is that they equate carrying a gun to power. Because in my opinion, that leads to fear,” Hooper said. “I hope that we can earn enough trust in our community to understand that carrying a firearm should not be about power.”Pastor Charles Crumble of the New Resurrection Ministries says the amount of distrust among African American citizens and police starts early.“We have to comfort our young brothers and sisters because eighty percent of the time, they’ve already been mistreated,” Crumble said. “They’ve already been out in the street, they’ve already been profiled. So when they come to us they are already beaten and broken.”Crumble also stressed that there is love in the church but there is also a division that needs to be addressed.“I believe there’s enough love in the church that it can overflow into the streets,” Crumble said. “There’s so much division in the church, there’s so much division between the churches. How can love overflow from the churches and reach the community when we all can’t stand together?”&nbsp;Hooper said that the police department and community members need to have continuous dialogue and answers. Hooper said that the department needs to learn from the African-American community in the city to have a better relationship. Hooper went on to say that he will hold the department to a higher standard.Other participating ministers also spoke of how modern-day issues of race, creed, and sexual preference are dividing the church and the church needs to come together to address racism and other issues.

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