HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Medicare enrollment window is from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, so the Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK)&nbsp; grant funded state program is looking to help again this year. Call ahead to set an appointment at the Department of Aging at (620) 694-2911.

&nbsp;"We can give them at least a list of things that they can bring in with them to make the appointment go extremely smooth," said Natalie Goertzen with the Department on Aging. "Those things would be if they can bring their Medicare card, it would be nice because we need to know exactly how it's with Medicare and then their prescription drugs and possibly like a list that's nice and written so we can read it and if not, they can bring the actual prescription bottle in and then we can see how it's being taken."

You can get a printed list of the medications you take from your pharmacy.

"This year there are many, many changes so we encourage people to double check what they have, read the information that is sent from their plan," Goertzen said. "If they have questions, they need to give us a call."

They will give you plenty of time so that they get your changes right, if you need to make any.

"What we're trying to do is allow at least an hour for the client so we have time to visit with them if there are any questions or concerns," Goertzen said.&nbsp; "Then, of course, just go through the website with them and make sure they're comfortable with the decision that they've made."

They are already scheduling out into November for appointments, so call right away to (620) 694-2911 to be sure you get a time.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728921112147.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Medicare enrollment window is from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, so the Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK)&nbsp; grant funded state program is looking to help again this year. Call ahead to set an appointment at the Department of Aging at (620) 694-2911.&nbsp;"We can give them at least a list of things that they can bring in with them to make the appointment go extremely smooth," said Natalie Goertzen with the Department on Aging. "Those things would be if they can bring their Medicare card, it would be nice because we need to know exactly how it's with Medicare and then their prescription drugs and possibly like a list that's nice and written so we can read it and if not, they can bring the actual prescription bottle in and then we can see how it's being taken."You can get a printed list of the medications you take from your pharmacy."This year there are many, many changes so we encourage people to double check what they have, read the information that is sent from their plan," Goertzen said. "If they have questions, they need to give us a call."They will give you plenty of time so that they get your changes right, if you need to make any."What we're trying to do is allow at least an hour for the client so we have time to visit with them if there are any questions or concerns," Goertzen said.&nbsp; "Then, of course, just go through the website with them and make sure they're comfortable with the decision that they've made."They are already scheduling out into November for appointments, so call right away to (620) 694-2911 to be sure you get a time.

SHICK program taking appointments

MOLLY M. CARVER Bethany College

LINDSBORG, Kan. —&nbsp; Bethany College is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Graham as the new Manager of Advancement Operations.

In this role, Graham will oversee efforts to support the college's development initiatives and ensure the operational success of its advancement programs.

With a strong background in banking and finance, Graham brings valuable experience and a unique perspective to Bethany College. Before joining Bethany, he held roles at Marquette Farmers State Bank, First Bank Kansas, and US Bank in Colorado Springs, earning a 100% customer service rating. His career in the financial sector has honed his leadership, operations, and community engagement skills, making him an excellent fit for the Advancement Team at Bethany.

"People who know Matt know him for his uplifting demeanor," said Hayley Samford, Director of Alumni Development &amp; Engagement at Bethany College. "Matt is dedicated to serving his community and making positive contributions to those around him. We are excited to have an excellent servant leader like Matt on board to strengthen our Alumni and Advancement team further."

A native of Marquette, Kansas, and a Smoky Valley High School graduate, Graham has deep ties to the local community. He has volunteered as a member and treasurer of the Marquette Chamber, served on the Marquette Learning Center board, and contributed to the Marquette Methodist Church. He is also a coach and mentor with the Salt City Smash Youth Volleyball Club, reflecting his dedication to community service.

"I'm excited to join the Advancement Team and start a new challenge where I get to use some of my banking skills in a new way," Graham said. "When I was in college, I spent a lot of time with friends in Mingenback and the Library, so I already feel like Bethany has welcomed me as a family member! I love talking to new people and am excited to meet everyone."

Graham shares Bethany College's mission to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to pursue truth and excellence while leading lives of faith, learning, and service. His experience and enthusiasm for community involvement align perfectly with the college's values and vision for the future.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728926787202.jpeg" alt="Matt Graham-Photo Courtesy Bethany College" />
 <figcaption>Matt Graham-Photo Courtesy Bethany College</figcaption>
 </figure>MOLLY M. CARVER Bethany CollegeLINDSBORG, Kan. —&nbsp; Bethany College is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Graham as the new Manager of Advancement Operations.In this role, Graham will oversee efforts to support the college's development initiatives and ensure the operational success of its advancement programs.With a strong background in banking and finance, Graham brings valuable experience and a unique perspective to Bethany College. Before joining Bethany, he held roles at Marquette Farmers State Bank, First Bank Kansas, and US Bank in Colorado Springs, earning a 100% customer service rating. His career in the financial sector has honed his leadership, operations, and community engagement skills, making him an excellent fit for the Advancement Team at Bethany."People who know Matt know him for his uplifting demeanor," said Hayley Samford, Director of Alumni Development &amp; Engagement at Bethany College. "Matt is dedicated to serving his community and making positive contributions to those around him. We are excited to have an excellent servant leader like Matt on board to strengthen our Alumni and Advancement team further."A native of Marquette, Kansas, and a Smoky Valley High School graduate, Graham has deep ties to the local community. He has volunteered as a member and treasurer of the Marquette Chamber, served on the Marquette Learning Center board, and contributed to the Marquette Methodist Church. He is also a coach and mentor with the Salt City Smash Youth Volleyball Club, reflecting his dedication to community service."I'm excited to join the Advancement Team and start a new challenge where I get to use some of my banking skills in a new way," Graham said. "When I was in college, I spent a lot of time with friends in Mingenback and the Library, so I already feel like Bethany has welcomed me as a family member! I love talking to new people and am excited to meet everyone."Graham shares Bethany College's mission to educate, develop, and challenge individuals to pursue truth and excellence while leading lives of faith, learning, and service. His experience and enthusiasm for community involvement align perfectly with the college's values and vision for the future.

Graham joins Bethany College

Agriculture and aviation are two of the biggest industries in Kansas, but it’s been rare for commodity farmers and commercial airlines to interact as partners. As sustainability moves from boardroom buzzword to real world applications, there’s a need for more conversation between the industries.

Kansas Farm Bureau recently facilitated some of that conversation between farmers in south-central Kansas and representatives from Delta Airlines centered largely around the recent push to produce more sustainable aviation fuel. Essentially, the grains and oilseeds farmers grow will be refined into jet fuel.

Sustainability has a wide variety of meanings depending on the context. For airlines, sustainability is a biofuel with a lower carbon footprint than traditional petroleum-derived propellant. For farmers, sustainability is keeping the land they farm productive so future generations can continue working it.

It’s logical two different industries would have different definitions for the same term. One is a little over 100 years old, while the other has been around for a few thousand years. It makes perfect sense for the upstart industry (relatively speaking) to learn from the much older one of what sustainability looks like.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway is there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to farming. Over visits to farms across just three counties in Kansas, airline officials were able to see firsthand just how different farms are. Many employed the same conservation-minded practices like no-till and cover crops that aim to boost soil health, but the practices were long-term investments in the land. A lower carbon footprint isn’t the goal, it’s merely a byproduct of good stewardship.

To their credit, Delta officials didn’t come to Kansas expecting to resolve all the issues surrounding sustainable aviation fuel, rather they showed up with an open mind and sought to better understand policy perspectives of growers in the region and experiences across the agricultural value chain.

They heard firsthand about opportunities and challenges to implementing conservation practices on farms. Farmers provided their experiences on topics like raising grain sorghum, using cover crops to increase soil health and for grazing, wheat planting, drought and minimum- or no-till practices.

Orville Wright covered 120 feet over the course of 12 seconds in the first powered flight of what’s now known as an airplane. An observer during that first flight could probably figure out a 747 is one of the results of that flight, but couldn’t comprehend the testing, innovation and change necessary to get from one to the other.

The same is true in agriculture. The plow, which may be the most important tool in settling Kansas, is not long for this world. Breaking generations of tradition isn’t easy and doesn’t always happen quickly, but I have no doubt Kansas farmers will be leaders in the coming evolution.

The conversation between agriculture and aviation is just getting started. It’s commendable the two industries are talking, trying to figure out how to best help each other thrive in the future. This was just the beginning of the conversation, and no one is quite sure where it will lead. One thing everyone knows: the sky’s the limit.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/11/1574694551876.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Greg Doering, Kansas Farm BureauAgriculture and aviation are two of the biggest industries in Kansas, but it’s been rare for commodity farmers and commercial airlines to interact as partners. As sustainability moves from boardroom buzzword to real world applications, there’s a need for more conversation between the industries.Kansas Farm Bureau recently facilitated some of that conversation between farmers in south-central Kansas and representatives from Delta Airlines centered largely around the recent push to produce more sustainable aviation fuel. Essentially, the grains and oilseeds farmers grow will be refined into jet fuel.Sustainability has a wide variety of meanings depending on the context. For airlines, sustainability is a biofuel with a lower carbon footprint than traditional petroleum-derived propellant. For farmers, sustainability is keeping the land they farm productive so future generations can continue working it.It’s logical two different industries would have different definitions for the same term. One is a little over 100 years old, while the other has been around for a few thousand years. It makes perfect sense for the upstart industry (relatively speaking) to learn from the much older one of what sustainability looks like.Perhaps the biggest takeaway is there’s no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to farming. Over visits to farms across just three counties in Kansas, airline officials were able to see firsthand just how different farms are. Many employed the same conservation-minded practices like no-till and cover crops that aim to boost soil health, but the practices were long-term investments in the land. A lower carbon footprint isn’t the goal, it’s merely a byproduct of good stewardship.To their credit, Delta officials didn’t come to Kansas expecting to resolve all the issues surrounding sustainable aviation fuel, rather they showed up with an open mind and sought to better understand policy perspectives of growers in the region and experiences across the agricultural value chain.They heard firsthand about opportunities and challenges to implementing conservation practices on farms. Farmers provided their experiences on topics like raising grain sorghum, using cover crops to increase soil health and for grazing, wheat planting, drought and minimum- or no-till practices.Orville Wright covered 120 feet over the course of 12 seconds in the first powered flight of what’s now known as an airplane. An observer during that first flight could probably figure out a 747 is one of the results of that flight, but couldn’t comprehend the testing, innovation and change necessary to get from one to the other.The same is true in agriculture. The plow, which may be the most important tool in settling Kansas, is not long for this world. Breaking generations of tradition isn’t easy and doesn’t always happen quickly, but I have no doubt Kansas farmers will be leaders in the coming evolution.The conversation between agriculture and aviation is just getting started. It’s commendable the two industries are talking, trying to figure out how to best help each other thrive in the future. This was just the beginning of the conversation, and no one is quite sure where it will lead. One thing everyone knows: the sky’s the limit."Insight" is a weekly column published by Kansas Farm Bureau, the state's largest farm organization whose mission is to strengthen agriculture and the lives of Kansans through advocacy, education and service. Copyright © 2024 Kansas Farm Bureau, All rights reserved.

Insight: Agriculture and aviation

Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;——————————————&nbsp;&nbsp;

10/15/2024 3:03 AM-Levi	James Allen Gray-Disorderly Conduct; Fighting words or noisy conduct

10/15/2024 2:33 AM-Rolando	Roshown Burris-Failure to Appear&nbsp;

10/15/2024 12:56 AM-Jimmy	Ray Fugate-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction); Viol protection order; Abuse order

10/14/2024 11:13 PM-Kristal	Marlene Annett-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction); Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant; Battery on LEO; Phys contact county/city LEO

10/14/2024 3:42 PM-Randy	Dean Owens-In Transit From-To Other Agency

10/14/2024 11:17 AM-Chavez	Michael Williams-Failure to Appear

10/14/2024 10:53 AM-Douglas	Eugene Bolejack-Failure to Appear

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681919634177.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;——————————————&nbsp;&nbsp;10/15/2024 3:03 AM-Levi	James Allen Gray-Disorderly Conduct; Fighting words or noisy conduct10/15/2024 2:33 AM-Rolando	Roshown Burris-Failure to Appear&nbsp;10/15/2024 12:56 AM-Jimmy	Ray Fugate-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction); Viol protection order; Abuse order10/14/2024 11:13 PM-Kristal	Marlene Annett-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction); Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant; Battery on LEO; Phys contact county/city LEO10/14/2024 3:42 PM-Randy	Dean Owens-In Transit From-To Other Agency10/14/2024 11:17 AM-Chavez	Michael Williams-Failure to Appear10/14/2024 10:53 AM-Douglas	Eugene Bolejack-Failure to Appear

Daily Bookings

Correction: A previous version of this story claimed different seatbelt usage. The KHP has corrected their report, so this story has been, as well. Hutch Post regrets the error.

KINGMAN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 10 a.m. Monday in Kingman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Silverado driven by Michael&nbsp;McCoy, 42, Kingman, was eastbound on NE 50th Street four miles north of U.S. 54.

 The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at the Kansas 14 intersection. The pickup struck a northbound 2014 Toyota Sequoia driven by Gayle&nbsp; Thornbro, 66, Norwich. After impact the Toyota came to rest upright in the field northeast of the intersection.

Thornbro was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Livingston Funeral Home. EMS transported McCoy and a passenger in the Chevy Jennifer Travis, 41, Cunningham, to Wesley Medical Center. McCoy and Travis were not wearing a seat belts, according to the KHP.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/3/1679489016970.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Correction: A previous version of this story claimed different seatbelt usage. The KHP has corrected their report, so this story has been, as well. Hutch Post regrets the error.KINGMAN COUNTY —One person died in an accident just before 10 a.m. Monday in Kingman County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2007 Chevy Silverado driven by Michael&nbsp;McCoy, 42, Kingman, was eastbound on NE 50th Street four miles north of U.S. 54. The driver failed to stop at the stop sign at the Kansas 14 intersection. The pickup struck a northbound 2014 Toyota Sequoia driven by Gayle&nbsp; Thornbro, 66, Norwich. After impact the Toyota came to rest upright in the field northeast of the intersection.Thornbro was pronounced dead at the scene and was transported to&nbsp; Livingston Funeral Home. EMS transported McCoy and a passenger in the Chevy Jennifer Travis, 41, Cunningham, to Wesley Medical Center. McCoy and Travis were not wearing a seat belts, according to the KHP.

Kansas woman dead after pickup, SUV crash

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — An Indiana man was found guilty of killing a Nickerson man and injuring his family in Louisville, Kentucky in 2022.

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

He admitted to officers that he was doing drugs before the July 5, 2022 accident that fatally injured Trey Jones and critically injured Amy and Ava Jones.

Hurley was convicted of one count of murder, three counts of assault and one count of driving under the influence. At sentencing, he could get up to 70 years in prison.&nbsp;

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

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

Hurley convicted on all charges in Jones family case

TOPEKA , Kan. —&nbsp; Governor Laura Kelly announced today that nearly $31.5 million will be awarded for 31 projects in communities across Kansas to create safer, more walkable and bike-friendly routes through the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program.

“This investment is more than just improving infrastructure – it’s about strengthening the safety, accessibility, and mobility of our communities,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “I’m pleased the state can offer the support needed to help advance these projects.”

The competitive grant program, administered by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and provided by the Federal Highway Administration, is currently the primary source of KDOT funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects statewide, including Safe Routes to School. The program also funds transportation projects of a historical nature and scenic and environmental projects, including Main Street beautification projects.&nbsp;

Since 2019, under the Kelly administration’s bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, also known as IKE, KDOT has awarded more than $95 million for 122 TA projects, benefiting both urban and rural communities.

Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed said this year’s announcement marks the largest grant funding the state has awarded since the launch of the federal program.

“By partnering with local communities, we can enhance our state’s transportation infrastructure while improving accessibility and fostering more connected neighborhoods,”&nbsp;Secretary Reed said.

The program requires a 20 percent local match of the project cost. The non-federal required share will consist of $2.79 million in local matching funds and $5.15 million in KDOT state funding.

The Hutch Post area projects awarded include:

Central Kansas Conservancy for the&nbsp;Sunflower Santa Fe Trail – Canton KS in the amount of&nbsp;$649,485.60.

City of McPherson for the&nbsp;McPherson Ave A Trail Phase III in the amount of $849,913.60

City of Hutchinson for the Downtown Hutchinson Pedestrian Safety and Access Improvements in the amount of&nbsp;$908,800.00.

City of Sedgwick for the&nbsp;Commercial Avenue Pedestrian Access and Streetscape Improvements in the amount of&nbsp;$215,384.80.

City of South Hutchinson for the&nbsp;South Hutchinson Pedestrian Connectivity Project in the amount of&nbsp;$273,600.00.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724428131694.png" alt="kdot logo.png" />
 <figcaption>kdot logo.png</figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA , Kan. —&nbsp; Governor Laura Kelly announced today that nearly $31.5 million will be awarded for 31 projects in communities across Kansas to create safer, more walkable and bike-friendly routes through the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program.“This investment is more than just improving infrastructure – it’s about strengthening the safety, accessibility, and mobility of our communities,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “I’m pleased the state can offer the support needed to help advance these projects.”The competitive grant program, administered by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) and provided by the Federal Highway Administration, is currently the primary source of KDOT funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects statewide, including Safe Routes to School. The program also funds transportation projects of a historical nature and scenic and environmental projects, including Main Street beautification projects.&nbsp;Since 2019, under the Kelly administration’s bipartisan Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, also known as IKE, KDOT has awarded more than $95 million for 122 TA projects, benefiting both urban and rural communities.Transportation Secretary Calvin Reed said this year’s announcement marks the largest grant funding the state has awarded since the launch of the federal program.“By partnering with local communities, we can enhance our state’s transportation infrastructure while improving accessibility and fostering more connected neighborhoods,”&nbsp;Secretary Reed said.The program requires a 20 percent local match of the project cost. The non-federal required share will consist of $2.79 million in local matching funds and $5.15 million in KDOT state funding.The Hutch Post area projects awarded include:Central Kansas Conservancy for the&nbsp;Sunflower Santa Fe Trail – Canton KS in the amount of&nbsp;$649,485.60.City of McPherson for the&nbsp;McPherson Ave A Trail Phase III in the amount of $849,913.60City of Hutchinson for the Downtown Hutchinson Pedestrian Safety and Access Improvements in the amount of&nbsp;$908,800.00.City of Sedgwick for the&nbsp;Commercial Avenue Pedestrian Access and Streetscape Improvements in the amount of&nbsp;$215,384.80.City of South Hutchinson for the&nbsp;South Hutchinson Pedestrian Connectivity Project in the amount of&nbsp;$273,600.00.

Governor Kelly announces nearly $31.5M for 31 bicycle, pedestrian projects across Kansas

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As part of the Hutchinson City Council meeting on Tuesday, the city will update its official Urban Area Boundaries Map. 

According to agenda documents, beginning with the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 there has been a legislative requirement to maintain a functional classification system of roadways on the highway system. 

Although there have been some changes since the 1973 Act, the requirement to functionally classify roads for eligibility for federal funding is still in effect. Urban and rural funding differences are based on urban definitions from the census. Those change every 10 years.

The Census has recently released updated definitions of urban areas based on the 2020 Census, and it is time to review and update the Urban Area Boundaries (UAB) map. The UAB must cover the entire incorporated area of cities over 5,000 population (or contiguous incorporated cities) but tends to be a larger area that covers urbanized or urbanizing areas adjacent to cities. The most significant single change to the Reno County map is the addition of a three-mile strip along K-96 that extends down to the public/private partnership site held by Growth Inc. The thought here is that services are likely to be needed in this area to facilitate growth and inclusion in the UAB may open a pathway to urban funds.

Once the UAB map is approved by the City of Hutchinson and the City of South Hutchinson, the Reno County Commission is asked to provide concurrence of the map. The approval documents are then submitted to KDOT.

Once the UAB is approved, the local communities will begin the process of reviewing and approving an updated Functional Classification Map for Reno County. Some types of federal funding for transportation projects are tied to a roadway classification on the approved Functional Classification Map. Some types of funding may only be used for urban areas, some only for rural areas. Some require that the road be classified at a certain level in hierarchy. The goal is to plan for 5 - 10 years into the future. 

KDOT has asked that communities across the state submit the Functional Classification Map by the end of the year. That will require a second round of formal actions by the local communities.

The Hutchinson City Council meets Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728649509597.jpeg" alt="Hutchinson Urban Area Map" />
 <figcaption>Hutchinson Urban Area Map</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As part of the Hutchinson City Council meeting on Tuesday, the city will update its official Urban Area Boundaries Map. According to agenda documents, beginning with the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 there has been a legislative requirement to maintain a functional classification system of roadways on the highway system. Although there have been some changes since the 1973 Act, the requirement to functionally classify roads for eligibility for federal funding is still in effect. Urban and rural funding differences are based on urban definitions from the census. Those change every 10 years.The Census has recently released updated definitions of urban areas based on the 2020 Census, and it is time to review and update the Urban Area Boundaries (UAB) map. The UAB must cover the entire incorporated area of cities over 5,000 population (or contiguous incorporated cities) but tends to be a larger area that covers urbanized or urbanizing areas adjacent to cities. The most significant single change to the Reno County map is the addition of a three-mile strip along K-96 that extends down to the public/private partnership site held by Growth Inc. The thought here is that services are likely to be needed in this area to facilitate growth and inclusion in the UAB may open a pathway to urban funds.Once the UAB map is approved by the City of Hutchinson and the City of South Hutchinson, the Reno County Commission is asked to provide concurrence of the map. The approval documents are then submitted to KDOT.Once the UAB is approved, the local communities will begin the process of reviewing and approving an updated Functional Classification Map for Reno County. Some types of federal funding for transportation projects are tied to a roadway classification on the approved Functional Classification Map. Some types of funding may only be used for urban areas, some only for rural areas. Some require that the road be classified at a certain level in hierarchy. The goal is to plan for 5 - 10 years into the future. KDOT has asked that communities across the state submit the Functional Classification Map by the end of the year. That will require a second round of formal actions by the local communities.The Hutchinson City Council meets Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.

New industrial park site to be added to official map

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — If you'd like to learn more before you vote, you can do that on Tuesday in Hutchinson. 

"Tuesday, the chamber is hosting a candidate forum at Hutchinson Community College Stringer Fine Arts Center," said Debra Teufel with the Chamber. "It starts at 5.30 p.m. We will begin with the candidate forum for the county commission seats, two of the contested races. Then we will close with the state house and senate seats that are up for election in this upcoming general election. We just want to make sure the public is invited to attend. We look forward to hosting that so that we can have a more informed voter base when they make the decisions on these important offices."

Invited to participate are Kansas Senate District 34 candidates Shanna Henry and Michael Murphy, Kansas Representative District 102 candidates Jason Probst and Kyler Sweely, and Kansas Representative District 104 candidates Lynnette Krieger-Zook and Paul Waggoner. Reno County Commission District candidates invited to participate are District 3 candidates Garth Strand and Ron Vincent and District 4 candidates Lindsey Hatfield and Richard Winger.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/7/1657586869660.jpeg" alt="Reno County Candidate Forum-July 11 2022-Nick Gosnell" />
 <figcaption>Reno County Candidate Forum-July 11 2022-Nick Gosnell</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — If you'd like to learn more before you vote, you can do that on Tuesday in Hutchinson. "Tuesday, the chamber is hosting a candidate forum at Hutchinson Community College Stringer Fine Arts Center," said Debra Teufel with the Chamber. "It starts at 5.30 p.m. We will begin with the candidate forum for the county commission seats, two of the contested races. Then we will close with the state house and senate seats that are up for election in this upcoming general election. We just want to make sure the public is invited to attend. We look forward to hosting that so that we can have a more informed voter base when they make the decisions on these important offices."Invited to participate are Kansas Senate District 34 candidates Shanna Henry and Michael Murphy, Kansas Representative District 102 candidates Jason Probst and Kyler Sweely, and Kansas Representative District 104 candidates Lynnette Krieger-Zook and Paul Waggoner. Reno County Commission District candidates invited to participate are District 3 candidates Garth Strand and Ron Vincent and District 4 candidates Lindsey Hatfield and Richard Winger.Teufel will act as the moderator.

Chamber candidate forum is Tuesday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; Anabel Rosario representing Operation Christmas Child visited Hutchinson earlier this month. She was a child recipient and now works for Samaritan's Purse spreading the message of how important this can be for the families that receive it.

"I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic," Rosario said. "These shoeboxes represent something like God's love in a tangible way. When I grew up in the Dominican Republic, my family didn't have extra money for gifts, for Christmas gifts or things like that. Like even the house that I was born, it was made out of this material stronger than cardboard, so my mom used to put plastic packets everywhere so the water won't get into our house, but there was something special that happened to me when I received this gift."

Annabelle grew up in a pastor's home. She saw the shoebox in a different way than some might.

"This shoebox, believe it or not, it was an answer to a prayer because I prayed that I wanted to have a Christmas gift, and that's how I got my shoebox.&nbsp;I prayed and God touched this beautiful family, Brittany, Austin, and Brayden. I still have some items from my shoebox."

One of those items is the letter the family sent to her and she also kept the pictures they sent in the shoebox.

"After I received my shoebox, a few years after, there was a huge car accident and that ended the life of my mom, my dad, and my oldest sister," Rosario said. "When I was going through that process, God reminded me that when I was a little girl, he answered a prayer through the shoebox, and now that I'm an adult, this is a reminder of God's faithfulness."

Anyone can pack a shoebox. Individuals, families, churches and groups fill empty shoeboxes with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys, such as dolls or soccer balls.

During&nbsp;National Collection Week (Nov. 18–25, 2024), Samaritan’s Purse will collect the gift-filled shoeboxes at over 4,700 drop-off locations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

Learn how to pack a shoebox, view gift suggestions, get your Follow Your Box label and find the nearest drop-off location at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/">samaritanspurse.org/occ</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/2/1582750752139.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; Anabel Rosario representing Operation Christmas Child visited Hutchinson earlier this month. She was a child recipient and now works for Samaritan's Purse spreading the message of how important this can be for the families that receive it."I was born and raised in the Dominican Republic," Rosario said. "These shoeboxes represent something like God's love in a tangible way. When I grew up in the Dominican Republic, my family didn't have extra money for gifts, for Christmas gifts or things like that. Like even the house that I was born, it was made out of this material stronger than cardboard, so my mom used to put plastic packets everywhere so the water won't get into our house, but there was something special that happened to me when I received this gift."Annabelle grew up in a pastor's home. She saw the shoebox in a different way than some might."This shoebox, believe it or not, it was an answer to a prayer because I prayed that I wanted to have a Christmas gift, and that's how I got my shoebox.&nbsp;I prayed and God touched this beautiful family, Brittany, Austin, and Brayden. I still have some items from my shoebox."One of those items is the letter the family sent to her and she also kept the pictures they sent in the shoebox."After I received my shoebox, a few years after, there was a huge car accident and that ended the life of my mom, my dad, and my oldest sister," Rosario said. "When I was going through that process, God reminded me that when I was a little girl, he answered a prayer through the shoebox, and now that I'm an adult, this is a reminder of God's faithfulness."Anyone can pack a shoebox. Individuals, families, churches and groups fill empty shoeboxes with school supplies, hygiene items and fun toys, such as dolls or soccer balls.During&nbsp;National Collection Week (Nov. 18–25, 2024), Samaritan’s Purse will collect the gift-filled shoeboxes at over 4,700 drop-off locations in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.Learn how to pack a shoebox, view gift suggestions, get your Follow Your Box label and find the nearest drop-off location at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.samaritanspurse.org/what-we-do/operation-christmas-child/">samaritanspurse.org/occ</a>.

Operation Christmas Child recipient visits Hutchinson

RENO COUNTY, Kan. — The Pressing On Trail Race, a 5K to benefit Victory Village in Reno County is Nov. 2, with the race starting at 4 p.m. Jesse and Rebecca Nininger organized the race, which raised $1700 in its first year in 2023. Jesse Nininger was pleasantly surprised by the amount.

"My goal was to put on a good race and raise a little money for Victory Village," Nininger said. "Part of the reason I decided not to charge anything for the race was because I couldn't figure out how to make it all work. I thought, well, we'll just see what happens. I was really pleased with the result."

Victory Village is one mile east from Avenue G and Buhler/Haven Road, then north to 201 South Victory Road. You can&nbsp;<a href="https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/Hutchinson/PressingOn5Kand10K">sign up online</a>&nbsp;so that they know how many people will be running. There were around 80 last year.

"I enjoy getting out, doing a 5K with others, or other distances," Nininger said. "Especially when it's for a cause that I agree with. I think a lot of people support what's done out at Victory Village and enjoy being together and enjoy getting a little exercise."

Free will donations to Victory Village Christian Academy can be made at their website or in person at the race.&nbsp;Donations to help with race expenses can be made at the <a href="https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/Hutchinson/PressingOn5Kand10K">race webpage "Donate" button</a>.

"Victory Village is also going to give us a chili and cinnamon roll feed after the race," Nininger said.&nbsp;

Victory Village was founded in 1970 by Bill and Carole Cowell and offers education through high school and an environment where wounded youth can heal and grow into the people God created them to be.

Find out more about Victory Village at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.victoryvillagechristianacademy.org/">https://www.victoryvillagechristianacademy.org/</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1697462440475.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostRENO COUNTY, Kan. — The Pressing On Trail Race, a 5K to benefit Victory Village in Reno County is Nov. 2, with the race starting at 4 p.m. Jesse and Rebecca Nininger organized the race, which raised $1700 in its first year in 2023. Jesse Nininger was pleasantly surprised by the amount."My goal was to put on a good race and raise a little money for Victory Village," Nininger said. "Part of the reason I decided not to charge anything for the race was because I couldn't figure out how to make it all work. I thought, well, we'll just see what happens. I was really pleased with the result."Victory Village is one mile east from Avenue G and Buhler/Haven Road, then north to 201 South Victory Road. You can&nbsp;<a href="https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/Hutchinson/PressingOn5Kand10K">sign up online</a>&nbsp;so that they know how many people will be running. There were around 80 last year."I enjoy getting out, doing a 5K with others, or other distances," Nininger said. "Especially when it's for a cause that I agree with. I think a lot of people support what's done out at Victory Village and enjoy being together and enjoy getting a little exercise."Free will donations to Victory Village Christian Academy can be made at their website or in person at the race.&nbsp;Donations to help with race expenses can be made at the <a href="https://runsignup.com/Race/KS/Hutchinson/PressingOn5Kand10K">race webpage "Donate" button</a>."Victory Village is also going to give us a chili and cinnamon roll feed after the race," Nininger said.&nbsp;Victory Village was founded in 1970 by Bill and Carole Cowell and offers education through high school and an environment where wounded youth can heal and grow into the people God created them to be.Find out more about Victory Village at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.victoryvillagechristianacademy.org/">https://www.victoryvillagechristianacademy.org/</a>.

Victory Village benefit 5K coming up next month

Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;——————————————&nbsp; &nbsp;

10/14/2024 12:27 AM-Airon	Richard Barton-Failure to Appear&nbsp;

10/13/2024 9:16 PM-Nicholas	Alexander Rivera Sanchez-Failure to Appear; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;

10/13/2024 6:53 PM-Kellie	Brittney Sanchez-Failure to Appear; Poss of hallucinogenic drug; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;

10/13/2024 4:29 PM-Demarkio	Mondrako Campbell-Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000; Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; $1,000 to $24,999; Criminal Trespass; Posted or Locked Premises&nbsp;

10/13/2024 4:14 PM-Montana	Tanner York-Failure to Appear

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681919611658.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;——————————————&nbsp; &nbsp;10/14/2024 12:27 AM-Airon	Richard Barton-Failure to Appear&nbsp;10/13/2024 9:16 PM-Nicholas	Alexander Rivera Sanchez-Failure to Appear; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;10/13/2024 6:53 PM-Kellie	Brittney Sanchez-Failure to Appear; Poss of hallucinogenic drug; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;10/13/2024 4:29 PM-Demarkio	Mondrako Campbell-Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000; Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; $1,000 to $24,999; Criminal Trespass; Posted or Locked Premises&nbsp;10/13/2024 4:14 PM-Montana	Tanner York-Failure to Appear

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Erica Miller, DVM with Apple Lane Animal Hospital reminds pet owners to keep Halloween safe for your pets by thinking ahead.

"I know most people will think about the candy, the candy bowls, right?" Miller said. "Keeping the candy bowls up and then the candy after trick-or-treating with your kids. My kids like to get home and kind of like dump their candy out and compare with each other. We always tell them, hey, we either need to do this at the table, or if you're in your room on the floor, the door's shut, they know the dogs can't get the candy, it'll make them sick."

"Normally with milk chocolate, we'll see just kind of a little bit of upset stomach, maybe some vomiting or diarrhea," Miller said. "The dark chocolate we're more concerned about. I know we talked about a lot of the sugar-free candies. The xylitol, that we can see bigger issues in our pets with those."

Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, liver failure, or even death. Also, know your pets tolerance for dressing up before trying to put them in a costume.

"Some people will dress their pets up, and some dogs love it, right? They love being the center of attention. They love being dressed up. There are some dogs that...we have three dogs, and one of our dogs, you put a Christmas sweater on her, you put a costume on her, and she's frozen like a statue, has no idea what to do with herself, but some dogs just, they love it. As far as costumes and things like that, also knowing your pet, and do they really wanna be a part of what you're trying to make them be a part of?"

Also, check the weather to be sure that you are not going to make your pet too hot or cold if you do dress them up.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728657920617.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Erica Miller, DVM with Apple Lane Animal Hospital reminds pet owners to keep Halloween safe for your pets by thinking ahead."I know most people will think about the candy, the candy bowls, right?" Miller said. "Keeping the candy bowls up and then the candy after trick-or-treating with your kids. My kids like to get home and kind of like dump their candy out and compare with each other. We always tell them, hey, we either need to do this at the table, or if you're in your room on the floor, the door's shut, they know the dogs can't get the candy, it'll make them sick."It isn't just about chocolate any more."Normally with milk chocolate, we'll see just kind of a little bit of upset stomach, maybe some vomiting or diarrhea," Miller said. "The dark chocolate we're more concerned about. I know we talked about a lot of the sugar-free candies. The xylitol, that we can see bigger issues in our pets with those."Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, liver failure, or even death. Also, know your pets tolerance for dressing up before trying to put them in a costume."Some people will dress their pets up, and some dogs love it, right? They love being the center of attention. They love being dressed up. There are some dogs that...we have three dogs, and one of our dogs, you put a Christmas sweater on her, you put a costume on her, and she's frozen like a statue, has no idea what to do with herself, but some dogs just, they love it. As far as costumes and things like that, also knowing your pet, and do they really wanna be a part of what you're trying to make them be a part of?"Also, check the weather to be sure that you are not going to make your pet too hot or cold if you do dress them up.

Keep pets safe in spooky season

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The finishing touches on the window work in Pretty Prairie USD 311 were wrapped up this past week.

"Everything looks so great, but I think we're excited to kind of have our space back," said USD 311 Superintendent Ashley Anderson. We've got repairs to do to our ceiling and the auditorium, so that will happen probably over the summer. They're gonna have to do some special scaffolding with the seats in there. They're gonna have to build some things to get over those seats. That'll all happen this summer when the building is not being used. We use that auditorium so often that we couldn't really get around it during the school year. We've got that project left. We've got secure entrances left. We'll start looking at designs for those here at the beginning of the year in 2025 and start kind of narrowing down some ideas on that, and they'll start working on those over the summer."

The gym work at the middle school continues, as well.

"The talk around town is how quickly these walls have been built," Anderson said. "It kind of felt like we were at a standstill for a while just because you couldn't see really a lot of the progress once we got our North wall torn down. It just kind of felt like a standstill. They were working hard every day, but your eye couldn't really see anything. Well, now within the last couple of weeks, once those beams went up, my goodness, we've got a concrete floor, we've got all the concrete block is going up and it's just amazing. It's like, wow, it feels like it's almost done to us because it's just gone so fast. So then they'll start working on the insides and plumbing and stuff like that."

The improvements to the educational areas at the high school are already in use.

"Our ag shop, our science classroom, science is done and everything is working well in there," Anderson said. "Our kids can do experiments and we've got a fume hood, we've got gas again. So burners are working and then the ag shop, I think we've got an electrical project left out there. And then that one's gonna be checked off the list. We're making good progress."

The bond issue was approved in May of 2023.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721071743324.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The finishing touches on the window work in Pretty Prairie USD 311 were wrapped up this past week."Everything looks so great, but I think we're excited to kind of have our space back," said USD 311 Superintendent Ashley Anderson. We've got repairs to do to our ceiling and the auditorium, so that will happen probably over the summer. They're gonna have to do some special scaffolding with the seats in there. They're gonna have to build some things to get over those seats. That'll all happen this summer when the building is not being used. We use that auditorium so often that we couldn't really get around it during the school year. We've got that project left. We've got secure entrances left. We'll start looking at designs for those here at the beginning of the year in 2025 and start kind of narrowing down some ideas on that, and they'll start working on those over the summer."The gym work at the middle school continues, as well."The talk around town is how quickly these walls have been built," Anderson said. "It kind of felt like we were at a standstill for a while just because you couldn't see really a lot of the progress once we got our North wall torn down. It just kind of felt like a standstill. They were working hard every day, but your eye couldn't really see anything. Well, now within the last couple of weeks, once those beams went up, my goodness, we've got a concrete floor, we've got all the concrete block is going up and it's just amazing. It's like, wow, it feels like it's almost done to us because it's just gone so fast. So then they'll start working on the insides and plumbing and stuff like that."The improvements to the educational areas at the high school are already in use."Our ag shop, our science classroom, science is done and everything is working well in there," Anderson said. "Our kids can do experiments and we've got a fume hood, we've got gas again. So burners are working and then the ag shop, I think we've got an electrical project left out there. And then that one's gonna be checked off the list. We're making good progress."The bond issue was approved in May of 2023.

Pretty Prairie USD 311 done with window work

BOB KENYON Special to Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — My
wife and I treated ourselves to a retirement present of a 2024 Red
(Go Chiefs!) Ford F150 Lightning. It’s all electric but looks like
any other F150 except that there is no exhaust pipe. Our first takeaway was its speed. The Lightning
goes 0-60 in 3.8 seconds. You literally get smashed against the seat
backs if you punch the gas, or rather, the accelerator. Lightning
fast.

Charging
is doable, however, there is much to know. There are three levels of
charging: level 1, 2 and 3. Level one is a 120v plug like what you
plug your toaster into. Level one will take several days to charge
your EV, not practical, but better than nothing in a pinch. Level 2
uses 240v like what you plug your dryer into. That will take around
6-8 hours which is great for overnight or while you’re at work, but
not great if you’re on a road trip, unless you take 6 hour lunch
breaks. You can install a level 2 charger in your garage. Midwest
Ford allows us to use their level 2 charger. We plug it in in the
evening and it’s full in the morning. It’s free with a code to
anyone who purchases an EV there. Level 3 or fast chargers, get the
job done in 20-60 minutes. They can be found every 100 miles or less
on interstates. Level 2 chargers have a power rating of about 10kw.
Level 3 are generally 100-350kw although they sometimes are as low as
50kw. The higher the number, the faster it goes.

A
couple definitions: kw stands for kilowatt and indicates how powerful
the station is. Just like your 120v outlet is half as powerful as
your 240v outlet, the 100kw level 3 charging station is 10 times as
powerful as your 10kw level 2 charger in your garage. If you have a
100 watt incandescent lightbulb, you will use 100 watts in one hour.
If the light is on for 10 hours you will use 1,000 watts or 1 kwh
(kilowatt hours). Kilo = 1,000. The power level is kw, the amount you
use is kwh. 


Then
things get more complicated. You’d think any EV could charge at any
EV station and you’d be wrong. There are three types of plugs:
J1772/CCS for the Lightning and most non-Tesla EVs, CHAdeMo
connector, which stands for “CHArge de Move” and is used by the
Nissan Leaf, Tesla created the NACS plug which stands for “The
North American Charging Standard” (NACS) -most modest of them to
declare their plug was the North American Standard. The level 3
version of the level 2 J1772 is the CCS connector, which stands for
“Combined Charging System”. Clear as mud? We’ll have a J1772
level 2 charger in our garage and look for CCS when on the road or
the NACS with the converter.

Until
recently, Tesla only allowed Teslas to use their charging stations.
After purchasing a $200 adapter, the Lightning can now use a Tesla
charging station if the Tesla charging station has been updated. The
app on our phone tells us whether the Tesla charging station will
work for our truck. They are ubiquitous and super fast. The cords
tend to be very short, fine for the Tesla but a little problematic
for the Lightning which needs a longer chord.  Rivians can also use
the Tesla station with more EV models being added to those allowed.

So
you think that’s all you need to know, wrong. There are at least a
dozen different companies that have EV stations. Each uses a
different app. We drove from Hutchinson to Boulder CO to Durango CO
and back and found stations to make the trip with a little
preplanning.  Going across Kansas not via I70 took some analysis.
There are presently pretty much no fast chargers from Garden City to
Hutch, so plan ahead. 


Finding
the chargers is another project. You can ask google maps or apple
maps to show you charging stations. Be sure to specify fast chargers
if you’re on a road trip. Plugshare.com is another option. The
thing we really appreciated about the plug share app is the ability
to enter your destination into the app and it shows you all the
charging stations along several routes. Also, the stations are color
coded so it is easy to identify fast chargers, they’re the orange
ones. We also used the Electrify America app to find their chargers,
which are easy to find if you are on a major interstate highway. The
map on the truck also showed stations. Eventually, we’ll have an
app that shows them all. It was handy to have a wife who ran 4 or 5
apps to locate our next charging station with the proper plug.

What
you pay per kwh (kilowatt hour) will vary at different stations and
you might not know the rate until you get there. The cost per kwh at
your home is somewhere around 7 cents. Our biggest charge took
something like 90kwh so it would cost about $6.30 to charge at home.
Not bad compared to around $80 to fill a truck with gas.
Unfortunately the cost per kwh at a fast charger is around 50 cents
so we paid around $40 each time we charged on the road. There isn’t
a big sign telling you the cost per kwh, but this information can
generally be found on all the charger apps. We also found a fast
charger which was free at a Village Inn. “Came for the charge,
stayed for the pie”. Hint - restaurants looking to increase
patronage should add a fast charger. Make it free and you’ll make
it up for what customers buy while they are waiting for their vehicle
to charge. We paid about $400 for electricity on the trip and
calculated it probably would have been $200 for gasoline. Surely the
fast chargers will get less expensive after the installation costs
are covered and there is more competition. It’s cheap to charge at
home, expensive on the road, free if you have solar or can find a
free charger.

Another
perk of the Lightning is the frunk (front trunk). With no engine,
it’s spacious and has a compartment with a drain for cerveza and
ice. There are 120v outlets all over so you can plug in your crockpot
with chili for tailgating. The truck has built in wifi and hands free
driving. With the right equipment, the truck can be configured to
power your house if the grid goes down. Your sump pump and fridge can
power on through the storm.

In
sum, we have a ways to go before charging plugs and stations and apps
are standardized, but it's doable. We’re buying a house with a huge
solar array and a J1772 charging station in the garage so our in-town
“fuel cost” will be zero. And, we’ll put zero carbon in the
air. See Mike at Midwest Ford if this sparks your interest in a
Lightning. Go for a test drive. Newly retired with no particular
deadlines, this has been a fun adventure. If I was still in the
“world of hurry”, this could be a little frustrating, yet,
trying not to toast the planet is virtuous.

<a href="mailto:BobKenyon@gmail.com">BobKenyon@gmail.com</a>

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728324086916.jpeg" alt="Image Courtesy Bob Kenyon" />
 <figcaption>Image Courtesy Bob Kenyon</figcaption>
 </figure>BOB KENYON Special to Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — My
wife and I treated ourselves to a retirement present of a 2024 Red
(Go Chiefs!) Ford F150 Lightning. It’s all electric but looks like
any other F150 except that there is no exhaust pipe. Our first takeaway was its speed. The Lightning
goes 0-60 in 3.8 seconds. You literally get smashed against the seat
backs if you punch the gas, or rather, the accelerator. Lightning
fast.Charging
is doable, however, there is much to know. There are three levels of
charging: level 1, 2 and 3. Level one is a 120v plug like what you
plug your toaster into. Level one will take several days to charge
your EV, not practical, but better than nothing in a pinch. Level 2
uses 240v like what you plug your dryer into. That will take around
6-8 hours which is great for overnight or while you’re at work, but
not great if you’re on a road trip, unless you take 6 hour lunch
breaks. You can install a level 2 charger in your garage. Midwest
Ford allows us to use their level 2 charger. We plug it in in the
evening and it’s full in the morning. It’s free with a code to
anyone who purchases an EV there. Level 3 or fast chargers, get the
job done in 20-60 minutes. They can be found every 100 miles or less
on interstates. Level 2 chargers have a power rating of about 10kw.
Level 3 are generally 100-350kw although they sometimes are as low as
50kw. The higher the number, the faster it goes.A
couple definitions: kw stands for kilowatt and indicates how powerful
the station is. Just like your 120v outlet is half as powerful as
your 240v outlet, the 100kw level 3 charging station is 10 times as
powerful as your 10kw level 2 charger in your garage. If you have a
100 watt incandescent lightbulb, you will use 100 watts in one hour.
If the light is on for 10 hours you will use 1,000 watts or 1 kwh
(kilowatt hours). Kilo = 1,000. The power level is kw, the amount you
use is kwh. 
Then
things get more complicated. You’d think any EV could charge at any
EV station and you’d be wrong. There are three types of plugs:
J1772/CCS for the Lightning and most non-Tesla EVs, CHAdeMo
connector, which stands for “CHArge de Move” and is used by the
Nissan Leaf, Tesla created the NACS plug which stands for “The
North American Charging Standard” (NACS) -most modest of them to
declare their plug was the North American Standard. The level 3
version of the level 2 J1772 is the CCS connector, which stands for
“Combined Charging System”. Clear as mud? We’ll have a J1772
level 2 charger in our garage and look for CCS when on the road or
the NACS with the converter.Until
recently, Tesla only allowed Teslas to use their charging stations.
After purchasing a $200 adapter, the Lightning can now use a Tesla
charging station if the Tesla charging station has been updated. The
app on our phone tells us whether the Tesla charging station will
work for our truck. They are ubiquitous and super fast. The cords
tend to be very short, fine for the Tesla but a little problematic
for the Lightning which needs a longer chord. Rivians can also use
the Tesla station with more EV models being added to those allowed.So
you think that’s all you need to know, wrong. There are at least a
dozen different companies that have EV stations. Each uses a
different app. We drove from Hutchinson to Boulder CO to Durango CO
and back and found stations to make the trip with a little
preplanning. Going across Kansas not via I70 took some analysis.
There are presently pretty much no fast chargers from Garden City to
Hutch, so plan ahead. 
Finding
the chargers is another project. You can ask google maps or apple
maps to show you charging stations. Be sure to specify fast chargers
if you’re on a road trip. Plugshare.com is another option. The
thing we really appreciated about the plug share app is the ability
to enter your destination into the app and it shows you all the
charging stations along several routes. Also, the stations are color
coded so it is easy to identify fast chargers, they’re the orange
ones. We also used the Electrify America app to find their chargers,
which are easy to find if you are on a major interstate highway. The
map on the truck also showed stations. Eventually, we’ll have an
app that shows them all. It was handy to have a wife who ran 4 or 5
apps to locate our next charging station with the proper plug.What
you pay per kwh (kilowatt hour) will vary at different stations and
you might not know the rate until you get there. The cost per kwh at
your home is somewhere around 7 cents. Our biggest charge took
something like 90kwh so it would cost about $6.30 to charge at home.
Not bad compared to around $80 to fill a truck with gas.
Unfortunately the cost per kwh at a fast charger is around 50 cents
so we paid around $40 each time we charged on the road. There isn’t
a big sign telling you the cost per kwh, but this information can
generally be found on all the charger apps. We also found a fast
charger which was free at a Village Inn. “Came for the charge,
stayed for the pie”. Hint - restaurants looking to increase
patronage should add a fast charger. Make it free and you’ll make
it up for what customers buy while they are waiting for their vehicle
to charge. We paid about $400 for electricity on the trip and
calculated it probably would have been $200 for gasoline. Surely the
fast chargers will get less expensive after the installation costs
are covered and there is more competition. It’s cheap to charge at
home, expensive on the road, free if you have solar or can find a
free charger.Another
perk of the Lightning is the frunk (front trunk). With no engine,
it’s spacious and has a compartment with a drain for cerveza and
ice. There are 120v outlets all over so you can plug in your crockpot
with chili for tailgating. The truck has built in wifi and hands free
driving. With the right equipment, the truck can be configured to
power your house if the grid goes down. Your sump pump and fridge can
power on through the storm.In
sum, we have a ways to go before charging plugs and stations and apps
are standardized, but it's doable. We’re buying a house with a huge
solar array and a J1772 charging station in the garage so our in-town
“fuel cost” will be zero. And, we’ll put zero carbon in the
air. See Mike at Midwest Ford if this sparks your interest in a
Lightning. Go for a test drive. Newly retired with no particular
deadlines, this has been a fun adventure. If I was still in the
“world of hurry”, this could be a little frustrating, yet,
trying not to toast the planet is virtuous.Comments?
Questions? Drop me a line.<a href="mailto:BobKenyon@gmail.com">BobKenyon@gmail.com</a>Bob
recently retired as a professor of Computer Science at Loyola
University Maryland. Carla retired from Sandy Springs Friends School
in Maryland where she was a teacher of upper level Mathematics
including AP Calculus. She previously taught AP Statistics at Wichita
Collegiate School in Wichita. They have family in Kansas City,
Dallas, Western Arkansas and Wichita. They now live in Hutchinson.

What I Learned in First Two Months of EV Ownership

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Applebee's will donate 25% of your order on Wednesday, Oct. 16 to benefit KS4Vets, a group of individuals and businesses that work together for Kansas veterans.

KS4Vets is formally known as Central Kansas Veteran Community Partnership (CKVCP), but was changed to KS4Vets on Oct. 13, 2023.

For more information on KS4Vets, visit their <a href="https://ks4vets.org/">website here</a>, or you can find information on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ks4vets">Facebook page</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728567623199.png" alt="Photo Courtesy KS4Vets" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy KS4Vets</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Applebee's will donate 25% of your order on Wednesday, Oct. 16 to benefit KS4Vets, a group of individuals and businesses that work together for Kansas veterans.KS4Vets is formally known as Central Kansas Veteran Community Partnership (CKVCP), but was changed to KS4Vets on Oct. 13, 2023.For more information on KS4Vets, visit their <a href="https://ks4vets.org/">website here</a>, or you can find information on their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ks4vets">Facebook page</a>.

KS4Vets Applebee's fundraiser Oct. 16

Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;——————————————&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

10/12/2024 9:15 PM-Nicholas	Patrick Teske-Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;

10/12/2024 8:02 PM-Matthew	Allen Gulick-Violation of conditions of release, on parole, conditional release or postrelease supervision

10/12/2024 6:36 PM-Joseph	Ryan Taber-DUI; 2nd conv; drugs or combination of drugs; Fail to Give Information at Unattended Property or Vehicle Accident; Ignition Interlock Device; Operate MV without device during restriction

10/12/2024 4:33 PM-Marcus	Juanell Hill-Failure to Appear	

10/12/2024 7:23 AM-Olga	Yaritza	Gutierrez Vasquez-DUI; 1st conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+; MVA; Failure to Report an Accident; Fail to Give Information at Unattended Property or Vehicle Accident; In Transit From-To Other Agency

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681919634177.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Here’s the latest booking activity from the Reno County Jail. This information is provided by the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and is not criminal history. The Hutch Post assumes no legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, or completeness, of this information. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.&nbsp;——————————————&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;10/12/2024 9:15 PM-Nicholas	Patrick Teske-Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;10/12/2024 8:02 PM-Matthew	Allen Gulick-Violation of conditions of release, on parole, conditional release or postrelease supervision10/12/2024 6:36 PM-Joseph	Ryan Taber-DUI; 2nd conv; drugs or combination of drugs; Fail to Give Information at Unattended Property or Vehicle Accident; Ignition Interlock Device; Operate MV without device during restriction10/12/2024 4:33 PM-Marcus	Juanell Hill-Failure to Appear	10/12/2024 7:23 AM-Olga	Yaritza	Gutierrez Vasquez-DUI; 1st conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+; MVA; Failure to Report an Accident; Fail to Give Information at Unattended Property or Vehicle Accident; In Transit From-To Other Agency

Country 102.9's&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/patjames/">Pat James</a>&nbsp;brings you some ideas on events to attend this weekend around the Hutchinson area. Click the play button to listen.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

<a target="_blank" href="https://hutchpost.com/category/podcasts">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to listen to more Hutch Post podcasts on demand! <a target="_blank" href="https://hutchpost.com/pages/community-calendar">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to submit an event for this podcast or to see area events listed on the Visit Hutch Event Calendar.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701449832848.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Country 102.9's&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/patjames/">Pat James</a>&nbsp;brings you some ideas on events to attend this weekend around the Hutchinson area. Click the play button to listen.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<div><iframe title="🎧 LISTEN: 'Happening Around Hutch' this weekend (Oct. 12-13)" allowtransparency="true" height="150" width="100%" style="border: none; min-width: min(100%, 430px);height:150px;" scrolling="no" data-name="pb-iframe-player" src="https://www.podbean.com/player-v2/?i=62pxc-16fe061-pb&from=pb6admin&share=1&download=1&rtl=0&fonts=Arial&skin=60a0c8&font-color=&logo_link=episode_page&btn-skin=ff6d00" loading="lazy"></iframe
</div><a target="_blank" href="https://hutchpost.com/category/podcasts">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to listen to more Hutch Post podcasts on demand! <a target="_blank" href="https://hutchpost.com/pages/community-calendar">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to submit an event for this podcast or to see area events listed on the Visit Hutch Event Calendar.&nbsp;&nbsp;

🎧 LISTEN: 'Happening Around Hutch' this weekend

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County CROP Hunger Walk is coming up Oct. 13 in Hutchinson.

"The CROP Hunger Walk here in in Reno County is one of 2,000 crop hunger walks sponsored by Church World Service just in our nation," said Eileen Porter with the walk. "This has been kind of a long-term effort here in Reno County. We have a number of churches involved and we have just folks who are not affiliated with any particular community, but are affiliated with Reno County and want to help the folks who live here."

A significant portion of the dollars will assist local organizations.

"Twenty-five percent of what we raise and we're looking at a goal of $9,000 this year, stays local," Porter said. "It is divided by the Reno County Food Bank and the Christian Soup Ministry."

In August, according to Penny Taapken, of the Reno County Food Bank, they served 1696 people at the Hutchinson location. Of the 611 families served, 80 were new. That is, they had never been served before. The number of new families per month has doubled in the last few years. 

Even when both parents are working, some families cannot afford rent, utilities, and food, let alone other expenses. Some families of four or five people move in with another family to share expenses. This means that households are larger, and those families need food.

The Reno County Food Bank also serves 200 families a month at the Arlington Food Bank and 80 at the Turon Food Bank, while assisting food banks in Sylvia and Pretty Prairie. 

Taapken gets some free food from the Kansas Food Bank (KFB), but she has to buy most of it from the KFB or local grocers, some of whom also donate produce.

The walk is also an opportunity to join together with those overseas that need to walk to get food or water.

&nbsp;"We will actually meet at Rice Park at 1:30 p.m. for registration," Porter said. "Then we'll walk at 2:00 p.m. That is up to 3 miles, folks can walk as long as far as they want. The idea is to walk in solidarity with people who are in need both here at home, and around the world. Globally 75% of the money will go to help farmers overseas who are in great need or to dig wells for people who have no water."

To donate, walk, or for more information, contact Porter or go online to&nbsp;<a href="https://events.crophungerwalk.org/cropwalks/event/hutchinsonks">https://events.crophungerwalk.org/cropwalks/event/hutchinsonks</a>.

Bring a donation Sunday or make a check to CWS/CROP and send it to Grace Episcopal Church, 2 Hyde Park Dr., Hutchinson, 67502. Thank you!

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1727187644872.jpeg" alt="Image Courtesy CROP Hunger Walk-Photo by Anita Christian" />
 <figcaption>Image Courtesy CROP Hunger Walk-Photo by Anita Christian</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County CROP Hunger Walk is coming up Oct. 13 in Hutchinson."The CROP Hunger Walk here in in Reno County is one of 2,000 crop hunger walks sponsored by Church World Service just in our nation," said Eileen Porter with the walk. "This has been kind of a long-term effort here in Reno County. We have a number of churches involved and we have just folks who are not affiliated with any particular community, but are affiliated with Reno County and want to help the folks who live here."A significant portion of the dollars will assist local organizations."Twenty-five percent of what we raise and we're looking at a goal of $9,000 this year, stays local," Porter said. "It is divided by the Reno County Food Bank and the Christian Soup Ministry."In August, according to Penny Taapken, of the Reno County Food Bank, they served 1696 people at the Hutchinson location. Of the 611 families served, 80 were new. That is, they had never been served before. The number of new families per month has doubled in the last few years. Even when both parents are working, some families cannot afford rent, utilities, and food, let alone other expenses. Some families of four or five people move in with another family to share expenses. This means that households are larger, and those families need food.The Reno County Food Bank also serves 200 families a month at the Arlington Food Bank and 80 at the Turon Food Bank, while assisting food banks in Sylvia and Pretty Prairie. Taapken gets some free food from the Kansas Food Bank (KFB), but she has to buy most of it from the KFB or local grocers, some of whom also donate produce.The walk is also an opportunity to join together with those overseas that need to walk to get food or water.&nbsp;"We will actually meet at Rice Park at 1:30 p.m. for registration," Porter said. "Then we'll walk at 2:00 p.m. That is up to 3 miles, folks can walk as long as far as they want. The idea is to walk in solidarity with people who are in need both here at home, and around the world. Globally 75% of the money will go to help farmers overseas who are in great need or to dig wells for people who have no water."To donate, walk, or for more information, contact Porter or go online to&nbsp;<a href="https://events.crophungerwalk.org/cropwalks/event/hutchinsonks">https://events.crophungerwalk.org/cropwalks/event/hutchinsonks</a>.Bring a donation Sunday or make a check to CWS/CROP and send it to Grace Episcopal Church, 2 Hyde Park Dr., Hutchinson, 67502. Thank you!

Reno County CROP Hunger Walk is Sunday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Board of County Commissioners approved this week the bonding for the Sheriff’s training facility, and the two fire district stations, in Turon and Nickerson, respectively. The amount of bonds will not exceed $2,045,000, which includes the principal amounts for each project and issuance costs. 

The timeline for the bonds to be issued has the closing of bonds in early December 2024.

The decision to issue the bonds by the Public Building Commission will require a future vote by the commission to approve a lease agreement that will detail the repayment terms from the county to the PBC.&nbsp;

Sheriff’s Office –Firearms Training Center Phase II

Hutton Construction estimates this at $1.45 million, with a five year pay back.

Fire District # 3 (Nickerson) – New fire building

Estimated total cost $450,000 with the district paying $200,000 of this amount from their reserves and a&nbsp; 10 year pay back.

Fire District #7 (Turon) – New fire building

Estimated total cost $450,000 with the fire district paying $150,000 of this amount from their reserves with a 10 year pay back.

The firearms training center bond payments will be paid for by the county’s capital improvement reserve fund. This fund has enough money to cover the entire cost, but by using all of the money at this time, it hinders the potential needs for the reserve funds for other emergent needs that might come up that are not in the current year’s operating budget. The amount of interest earned on these idle funds is also higher than the interest rates for the bonds, allowing the county’s General Fund to earn more interest that helps offset the mill levy amounts.

The two fire districts will pay back their portion of the bond from their respective operational budgets that are set each year. To help reduce the need for a tax increase for these funds, it is possible that the amount of year-end transfers for each fund that goes into their reserve funds for equipment purchases will be reduced by the amount needed to pay the bond. To minimize the tax payer impact, staff has used a 10 year pay back of the bonds for the fire districts.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716032579635.jpeg" alt="Reno County Commission-Photo by Sandra Milburn" />
 <figcaption>Reno County Commission-Photo by Sandra Milburn</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Board of County Commissioners approved this week the bonding for the Sheriff’s training facility, and the two fire district stations, in Turon and Nickerson, respectively. The amount of bonds will not exceed $2,045,000, which includes the principal amounts for each project and issuance costs. The timeline for the bonds to be issued has the closing of bonds in early December 2024.The decision to issue the bonds by the Public Building Commission will require a future vote by the commission to approve a lease agreement that will detail the repayment terms from the county to the PBC.&nbsp;Sheriff’s Office –Firearms Training Center Phase IIHutton Construction estimates this at $1.45 million, with a five year pay back.Fire District # 3 (Nickerson) – New fire buildingEstimated total cost $450,000 with the district paying $200,000 of this amount from their reserves and a&nbsp; 10 year pay back.Fire District #7 (Turon) – New fire buildingEstimated total cost $450,000 with the fire district paying $150,000 of this amount from their reserves with a 10 year pay back.The firearms training center bond payments will be paid for by the county’s capital improvement reserve fund. This fund has enough money to cover the entire cost, but by using all of the money at this time, it hinders the potential needs for the reserve funds for other emergent needs that might come up that are not in the current year’s operating budget. The amount of interest earned on these idle funds is also higher than the interest rates for the bonds, allowing the county’s General Fund to earn more interest that helps offset the mill levy amounts.The two fire districts will pay back their portion of the bond from their respective operational budgets that are set each year. To help reduce the need for a tax increase for these funds, it is possible that the amount of year-end transfers for each fund that goes into their reserve funds for equipment purchases will be reduced by the amount needed to pay the bond. To minimize the tax payer impact, staff has used a 10 year pay back of the bonds for the fire districts.

Bonding approved for county projects

TOPEKA, Kan. — Governor Laura Kelly has signed a proclamation approving updated drought declarations for Kansas counties.

“Drought conditions have persisted across the state through the summer season, and Kansans are continuing to see the effects,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “With conditions expected to remain dry throughout the fall, Kansans should consider their water usage and take extra care to prevent wildfires.”

The drought declaration placed three counties into emergency status, 55 into warning status, and 47 into watch status. This action was recommended by Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team. Although recent rainfall provided widespread drought relief, this relief was short-term, with many areas experiencing below-average rainfall for several months. Forecasts indicate that drought will persist and expand across most of the state through October and into the winter.

“Many of our state’s large river basins are currently being supported by federal reservoirs, utilizing storage in those reservoirs to maintain streamflow,”&nbsp;said Owen.&nbsp;“If conditions persist, as predicted, the demand and stress on water resources may increase quickly. The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to monitor the drought conditions across Kansas and make recommendations to Governor Kelly as conditions change.”

Through an interagency agreement between the Kansas Water Office, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, counties in the emergency stage are eligible for emergency water use from certain state fishing lakes and some federal reservoirs.

Individuals and communities must contact the Kansas Water Office for a water supply request before withdrawing water from lakes. These requests will, in turn, be referred to the appropriate office to obtain the necessary permits to withdraw the requested water.

This proclamation shall remain in effect for those counties identified until rescinded by a proclamation ending the declaration or revising the drought stage status of the affected counties.

The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to watch the situation closely and work to minimize the negative drought-induced effects on Kansans.&nbsp;Kansans are encouraged to report drought-related conditions and impacts in their region through the&nbsp;<a href="https://droughtimpacts.unl.edu/Tools/ConditionMonitoringObservations.aspx" target="_blank">Condition Monitoring Observer Reports</a>&nbsp;(CMOR) system.

For more detailed information about current conditions, visit the Climate and Drought webpage on the Kansas Water Office website at&nbsp;<a href="https://climate-and-drought-ksdot.hub.arcgis.com/" target="_blank">kwo.ks.gov</a>.

Drought Emergency:&nbsp;Harvey, Reno, Sedgwick.

Drought Warning:&nbsp;Barton, Bourbon, Brown, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Clay, Cloud, Cowley, Crawford, Decatur, Elk, Ellis, Ellsworth, Graham, Hamilton, Harper, Jewell, Johnson, Kingman, Labette, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marshall, Miami, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morton, Nemaha, Neosho, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Pottawatomie, Rawlins, Republic, Riley, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Scott, Shawnee, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stafford, Stanton, Sumner, Thomas, Wabaunsee, Wallace, Washington, Wyandotte.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728727237388.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Water OfficeTOPEKA, Kan. — Governor Laura Kelly has signed a proclamation approving updated drought declarations for Kansas counties.“Drought conditions have persisted across the state through the summer season, and Kansans are continuing to see the effects,”&nbsp;Governor Laura Kelly said. “With conditions expected to remain dry throughout the fall, Kansans should consider their water usage and take extra care to prevent wildfires.”The drought declaration placed three counties into emergency status, 55 into warning status, and 47 into watch status. This action was recommended by Connie Owen, Director of the Kansas Water Office and Chair of the Governor’s Drought Response Team. Although recent rainfall provided widespread drought relief, this relief was short-term, with many areas experiencing below-average rainfall for several months. Forecasts indicate that drought will persist and expand across most of the state through October and into the winter.“Many of our state’s large river basins are currently being supported by federal reservoirs, utilizing storage in those reservoirs to maintain streamflow,”&nbsp;said Owen.&nbsp;“If conditions persist, as predicted, the demand and stress on water resources may increase quickly. The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to monitor the drought conditions across Kansas and make recommendations to Governor Kelly as conditions change.”Through an interagency agreement between the Kansas Water Office, the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, and the Kansas Division of Emergency Management, counties in the emergency stage are eligible for emergency water use from certain state fishing lakes and some federal reservoirs.Individuals and communities must contact the Kansas Water Office for a water supply request before withdrawing water from lakes. These requests will, in turn, be referred to the appropriate office to obtain the necessary permits to withdraw the requested water.This proclamation shall remain in effect for those counties identified until rescinded by a proclamation ending the declaration or revising the drought stage status of the affected counties.Effective immediately, the proclamation:<ul>
 <li>Declares a Drought Emergency, Warning, or Watch for the counties as identified below;</li><li>Authorizes and&nbsp;directs&nbsp;all agencies under the jurisdiction of the Governor to implement the appropriate watch, warning, or emergency-level drought response actions assigned in the Operations Plan of the Governor’s Drought Response Team.</li>
 </ul>The Governor’s Drought Response Team will continue to watch the situation closely and work to minimize the negative drought-induced effects on Kansans.&nbsp;Kansans are encouraged to report drought-related conditions and impacts in their region through the&nbsp;<a href="https://droughtimpacts.unl.edu/Tools/ConditionMonitoringObservations.aspx" target="_blank">Condition Monitoring Observer Reports</a>&nbsp;(CMOR) system.For more detailed information about current conditions, visit the Climate and Drought webpage on the Kansas Water Office website at&nbsp;<a href="https://climate-and-drought-ksdot.hub.arcgis.com/" target="_blank">kwo.ks.gov</a>.County Drought Stage Declarations:Drought Emergency:&nbsp;Harvey, Reno, Sedgwick.Drought Warning:&nbsp;Barton, Bourbon, Brown, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Clay, Cloud, Cowley, Crawford, Decatur, Elk, Ellis, Ellsworth, Graham, Hamilton, Harper, Jewell, Johnson, Kingman, Labette, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Marshall, Miami, Mitchell, Montgomery, Morton, Nemaha, Neosho, Norton, Osborne, Ottawa, Phillips, Pottawatomie, Rawlins, Republic, Riley, Rooks, Rush, Russell, Scott, Shawnee, Sheridan, Sherman, Smith, Stafford, Stanton, Sumner, Thomas, Wabaunsee, Wallace, Washington, Wyandotte.Drought Watch:&nbsp;Allen, Anderson, Atchison, Barber, Butler, Chase, Clark, Coffey, Comanche, Dickinson, Doniphan, Douglas, Edwards, Finney, Ford, Franklin, Geary, Gove, Grant, Gray, Greeley, Greenwood, Haskell, Hodgeman, Jackson, Jefferson, Kearny, Kiowa, Leavenworth, Logan, Lyon, Marion, McPherson, Meade, Morris, Ness, Osage, Pawnee, Pratt, Rice, Saline, Seward, Stevens, Trego, Wichita, Wilson, Woodson.

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