HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Creighton University economist Ernie Goss talked to Hutch Post after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 50 basis points in their first rate cut since March 2020.

"They did not reduce the long-term interest rates," Goss said. "That was short-term interest rates. That would be the prime interest rate from 8.5% to 8%.&nbsp; If you look at the recessions, the last 10 recessions, what happens at the beginning of the recession? The Fed cuts, takes big whacks off the interest rate."

Goss is dubious about the impact of this cut.

"They're trying to lower the cost of borrowing and head off a recession, which is not going to do it," Goss said. "You're going to have to they'll reduce rates again on November the 6th and 7th when they next meet. They say they whipped inflation. Well, they didn't whip inflation. The core CPI is still around 3 percent, which is well above their target of 2 percent. They whipped, at the time they thought they were whipping inflation, they whipped the economy."

Goss believes this is too much turning of the rudder.

"That's the problem, in my judgment," Goss said. "Every time we see a real problem, we overreact. I mean, you overreact on the up, you overreact on the down. They bailed out three banks in March of 2023. That should not have been done. I mean, in other words, failure is a part of the system. But now we've got a Treasury and it's both Republicans and Democrats, the Treasury that says, well, we can't allow that to happen. Yes, you can, and unfortunately, they will not. And the Fed's now saying, well, if you're too big to fail, we won't let you fail."

Goss thinks that economically, we may need to live with a little pain, at the risk of overreaction and causing more.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712856511662.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Creighton University economist Ernie Goss talked to Hutch Post after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 50 basis points in their first rate cut since March 2020."They did not reduce the long-term interest rates," Goss said. "That was short-term interest rates. That would be the prime interest rate from 8.5% to 8%.&nbsp; If you look at the recessions, the last 10 recessions, what happens at the beginning of the recession? The Fed cuts, takes big whacks off the interest rate."Goss is dubious about the impact of this cut."They're trying to lower the cost of borrowing and head off a recession, which is not going to do it," Goss said. "You're going to have to they'll reduce rates again on November the 6th and 7th when they next meet. They say they whipped inflation. Well, they didn't whip inflation. The core CPI is still around 3 percent, which is well above their target of 2 percent. They whipped, at the time they thought they were whipping inflation, they whipped the economy."Goss believes this is too much turning of the rudder."That's the problem, in my judgment," Goss said. "Every time we see a real problem, we overreact. I mean, you overreact on the up, you overreact on the down. They bailed out three banks in March of 2023. That should not have been done. I mean, in other words, failure is a part of the system. But now we've got a Treasury and it's both Republicans and Democrats, the Treasury that says, well, we can't allow that to happen. Yes, you can, and unfortunately, they will not. And the Fed's now saying, well, if you're too big to fail, we won't let you fail."Goss thinks that economically, we may need to live with a little pain, at the risk of overreaction and causing more.

Goss: Fed rate cut won't be enough

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Housing Commission will hold a public hearing on a federal grant application for $7 million to help at their meeting on Wednesday.

According to agenda documents, housing has been identified as a priority for residents of Hutchinson through the ARPA Task Force, as well as through the preliminary Housing Assessment Data the city has gathered. 

In the City of Hutchinson’s effort to create more housing, and seek opportunities to improve the living conditions of Hutchinson residents, Housing Coordinator Carissa Paxton has been writing a grant proposal for the FY24 Pathways to Removing Obstacles in Housing Grant (PRO Housing.) This is a Federal grant, administered by HUD that provides up to $7 million to be spent over 5 years on eliminating barriers to low and moderate income housing. 

The proposal encompasses new development, home rehabilitation, policy review, down payment incentives, and the establishment of a community land trust.

The public hearing for that application will happen during the Housing Commission meeting. That meeting is at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the City Council Chambers Workroom at 125 East Ave. B.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683043073149.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Housing Commission will hold a public hearing on a federal grant application for $7 million to help at their meeting on Wednesday.According to agenda documents, housing has been identified as a priority for residents of Hutchinson through the ARPA Task Force, as well as through the preliminary Housing Assessment Data the city has gathered. In the City of Hutchinson’s effort to create more housing, and seek opportunities to improve the living conditions of Hutchinson residents, Housing Coordinator Carissa Paxton has been writing a grant proposal for the FY24 Pathways to Removing Obstacles in Housing Grant (PRO Housing.) This is a Federal grant, administered by HUD that provides up to $7 million to be spent over 5 years on eliminating barriers to low and moderate income housing. The proposal encompasses new development, home rehabilitation, policy review, down payment incentives, and the establishment of a community land trust.The public hearing for that application will happen during the Housing Commission meeting. That meeting is at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the City Council Chambers Workroom at 125 East Ave. B.

Housing Commission to hold hearing on grant application

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — John Cukjati, Senior Field Technician in the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Traffic Engineering, has achieved a career milestone and is celebrating 25 years of valued service to the State of Kansas.

He started at KDOT in the Olathe Construction Office in 1999, then moved to Traffic Engineering in 2001 and works to collect traffic field data. The data is used to determine signal light timings, intersection needs, possible speed limit adjustments and pedestrian crossing needs.

Cukjati is a member of ITS Heartland and assists other bureaus with special projects that require traffic data.

He and his wife, Rebecca, have four children and live in Hutchinson.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1724428131694.png" alt="kdot logo.png" />
 <figcaption>kdot logo.png</figcaption>
 </figure>KIM STICH KDOTHUTCHINSON, Kan. — John Cukjati, Senior Field Technician in the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Traffic Engineering, has achieved a career milestone and is celebrating 25 years of valued service to the State of Kansas.He started at KDOT in the Olathe Construction Office in 1999, then moved to Traffic Engineering in 2001 and works to collect traffic field data. The data is used to determine signal light timings, intersection needs, possible speed limit adjustments and pedestrian crossing needs.Cukjati is a member of ITS Heartland and assists other bureaus with special projects that require traffic data.He and his wife, Rebecca, have four children and live in Hutchinson.

Hutch KDOT employee celebrates milestone

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;

9/22/2024 8:32 PM-Brandon	Aaron Pauls-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction)

<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;9/22/2024 8:32 PM-Brandon	Aaron Pauls-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (1st conviction)

Daily Bookings

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — You may have seen the 3 new traffic circles through Panorama Drive. 

Residents in the Panorama neighborhood brought concerns about high traffic volume and speeding to the Hutchinson City Council. 

In response, Councilman Meggers led a series of discussions with the citizens of his district to find a resolution. After several evening meetings, traffic circles were agreed upon as a temporary solution. 

The city will reevaluate this change after a few months.

To help everyone navigate the new traffic circles properly, please watch the video below. Remember, failure to follow traffic laws may result in action from law enforcement.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726882934906.jpeg" alt="Panorama Traffic Circles-Image Courtesy City of Hutchinson" />
 <figcaption>Panorama Traffic Circles-Image Courtesy City of Hutchinson</figcaption>
 </figure>City of HutchinsonHUTCHINSON, Kan. — You may have seen the 3 new traffic circles through Panorama Drive. Residents in the Panorama neighborhood brought concerns about high traffic volume and speeding to the Hutchinson City Council. In response, Councilman Meggers led a series of discussions with the citizens of his district to find a resolution. After several evening meetings, traffic circles were agreed upon as a temporary solution. The city will reevaluate this change after a few months.To help everyone navigate the new traffic circles properly, please watch the video below. Remember, failure to follow traffic laws may result in action from law enforcement.&nbsp;&nbsp;<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fhutchinsonks%2Fvideos%2F421133760581265%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>

🎥 WATCH: City releases video on new Panorama traffic circles

MOLLY M. CARVER Bethany College

LINDSBORG, Kan. — Bethany College announced that Dan Lolli, the Chief Operating Officer for Sporting Kansas City, is the&nbsp;speaker for this year's Carl F. and Catherine Herman Mauney Distinguished Lectureship Series in Economics and Business. 

Lolli's lecture, FIFA World Cup 2026: The Sport is a Game, The Business is Not, will be held on October 24, 2024, at 1 p.m. in Burnett Center.

Lolli, a seasoned leader in Major League Soccer, has played a crucial role in the evolution of Sporting Kansas City. With over 16 years in the sport, he has overseen the development of world-class facilities and contributed significantly to Kansas City's successful bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2026. His previous roles include managing the Columbus Crew's stadium and leading FC Cincinnati's transition to its new TQL Stadium, the Best Venue of 2022.

While on campus, Lolli will be a guest lecturer in business and economics classes, giving Bethany students a unique opportunity to ask questions and discuss various marketing and business management topics.

In addition to his lectures, attendees are invited to a reception with Lolli on October 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. in the Sandzén Gallery. This event, open to faculty, staff, alums, and the community, offers a unique opportunity to engage with Lolli in a more informal setting.

Angie Martin, Associate Professor of Accounting, shared her excitement about the upcoming events.

"We are thrilled to have Dan here at Bethany College this year as the Mauney Lecturer," Martin said.&nbsp; "His insights about the Economic impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Kansas is something our students cannot receive anywhere else.&nbsp; Endowed gifts like the Mauney's gave make opportunities like this a reality for our students and the community."

Both events are free, but an RSVP is required. For more information and to reserve your spot, please visit <a href="http://bethanylb.edu/mauney-lecture">bethanylb.edu/mauney-lecture</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726912740416.png" alt="Dan Lolli-Photo Courtesy Bethany College" />
 <figcaption>Dan Lolli-Photo Courtesy Bethany College</figcaption>
 </figure>MOLLY M. CARVER Bethany CollegeLINDSBORG, Kan. — Bethany College announced that Dan Lolli, the Chief Operating Officer for Sporting Kansas City, is the&nbsp;speaker for this year's Carl F. and Catherine Herman Mauney Distinguished Lectureship Series in Economics and Business. Lolli's lecture, FIFA World Cup 2026: The Sport is a Game, The Business is Not, will be held on October 24, 2024, at 1 p.m. in Burnett Center.Lolli, a seasoned leader in Major League Soccer, has played a crucial role in the evolution of Sporting Kansas City. With over 16 years in the sport, he has overseen the development of world-class facilities and contributed significantly to Kansas City's successful bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2026. His previous roles include managing the Columbus Crew's stadium and leading FC Cincinnati's transition to its new TQL Stadium, the Best Venue of 2022.While on campus, Lolli will be a guest lecturer in business and economics classes, giving Bethany students a unique opportunity to ask questions and discuss various marketing and business management topics.In addition to his lectures, attendees are invited to a reception with Lolli on October 23, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. in the Sandzén Gallery. This event, open to faculty, staff, alums, and the community, offers a unique opportunity to engage with Lolli in a more informal setting.Angie Martin, Associate Professor of Accounting, shared her excitement about the upcoming events."We are thrilled to have Dan here at Bethany College this year as the Mauney Lecturer," Martin said.&nbsp; "His insights about the Economic impact of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Kansas is something our students cannot receive anywhere else.&nbsp; Endowed gifts like the Mauney's gave make opportunities like this a reality for our students and the community."Both events are free, but an RSVP is required. For more information and to reserve your spot, please visit <a href="http://bethanylb.edu/mauney-lecture">bethanylb.edu/mauney-lecture</a>.

Sporting KC COO to speak at Bethany College next month

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education will consider an agreement between United Way of Reno County and USD 308 at the board meeting Monday. 

The purpose of the agreement is to provide USD 308 with one-time additional funds to support the USD 308: Lil’ Hawks Child Care Center expansion project. 

The funds must be used to either expand or renovate/construct a licensed childcare facility in Reno County for the purposes of adding additional childcare capacity available to the community. 

By signing this agreement, United Way shall provide USD 308 a grant of funds from the Innovation &amp; Expansion Gap Funding Grant in the amount of $103,000.

The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education meets Monday at&nbsp;6:00 p.m. in the Administration Center at 1520 N. Plum. 

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655147159618.jpeg" alt="USD 308 Admin Building-Photo by Daren Dunn" />
 <figcaption>USD 308 Admin Building-Photo by Daren Dunn</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education will consider an agreement between United Way of Reno County and USD 308 at the board meeting Monday. The purpose of the agreement is to provide USD 308 with one-time additional funds to support the USD 308: Lil’ Hawks Child Care Center expansion project. The funds must be used to either expand or renovate/construct a licensed childcare facility in Reno County for the purposes of adding additional childcare capacity available to the community. By signing this agreement, United Way shall provide USD 308 a grant of funds from the Innovation &amp; Expansion Gap Funding Grant in the amount of $103,000.The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education meets Monday at&nbsp;6:00 p.m. in the Administration Center at 1520 N. Plum.

USD 308 board to consider grant agreement Monday

McPherson County Community Foundation

MCPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson County Community Foundation (MCCF) will be hosting their annual Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk on September 28, 2024. The event will be taking place at Memorial Park in McPherson, between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon.

The walk is set to bring a light to an issue that affects nearly every county in the country. The event will be completely open, and participants are encouraged to come and go as they wish. Memorial signs sharing the stories of loved one’s past will be displayed throughout the park. There will be informational handouts and local non-profit booths during the event.

National Alliance for Mental Health (NAMI)

This event is part of the Foundation’s initiative of supporting mental health in McPherson county, along with the mental health task force.

Suicide has been considered an epidemic among young adults. Suicide is attributed to the death of 46,979 Americans in 2020, making it the number 12 cause of death and the third leading cause of death in those aged 15 to 24 according to SAVE.org. Kansas is ranked 33 in the country with a rate of 18.3 deaths per 100,000 almost four deaths higher than the national average.

“One death by suicide is too many,” said Betsy Davis, Director of Community Services for MCCF, “We hope that the Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk will give comfort and support to those who need it and bring light to an issue in our community.”

Those who have family members or friends that have passed away due to suicide and would like to have a sign placed at the park are encouraged to contact the Foundation at (620) 245-9070. A picture along with a note of remembrance must be given to the Foundation prior to Sept. 5 to allow time for printing. These signs will be kept by the Foundation and placed at the walk every year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726851194403.png" alt="Suicide Prevention Walk" />
 <figcaption>Suicide Prevention Walk</figcaption>
 </figure>McPherson County Community FoundationMCPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson County Community Foundation (MCCF) will be hosting their annual Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk on September 28, 2024. The event will be taking place at Memorial Park in McPherson, between the hours of 9 a.m. and noon.The walk is set to bring a light to an issue that affects nearly every county in the country. The event will be completely open, and participants are encouraged to come and go as they wish. Memorial signs sharing the stories of loved one’s past will be displayed throughout the park. There will be informational handouts and local non-profit booths during the event.Participating organizations include:DCCCANational Alliance for Mental Health (NAMI)Valley HopeUnited WayMcPherson Public LibraryCKFMcPherson County Health DepartmentSTEPMCLGBTQ Kansas FoundationThis event is part of the Foundation’s initiative of supporting mental health in McPherson county, along with the mental health task force.Suicide has been considered an epidemic among young adults. Suicide is attributed to the death of 46,979 Americans in 2020, making it the number 12 cause of death and the third leading cause of death in those aged 15 to 24 according to SAVE.org. Kansas is ranked 33 in the country with a rate of 18.3 deaths per 100,000 almost four deaths higher than the national average.“One death by suicide is too many,” said Betsy Davis, Director of Community Services for MCCF, “We hope that the Suicide Prevention and Awareness Walk will give comfort and support to those who need it and bring light to an issue in our community.”Those who have family members or friends that have passed away due to suicide and would like to have a sign placed at the park are encouraged to contact the Foundation at (620) 245-9070. A picture along with a note of remembrance must be given to the Foundation prior to Sept. 5 to allow time for printing. These signs will be kept by the Foundation and placed at the walk every year.

Suicide prevention walk in McPherson Saturday

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;

9/22/2024 2:13 AM-Dylan	Brook Todd-Drugs; Distribute Opiates/Opium/Narcotic (Cocaine, Crack, Amphetamine); 3.5g to &lt; 100g; Drugs; Distribute Marijuana or Analog thereof; 25g to &lt; 450g; Drugs; Paraphernalia; Sell/Distribute/Possess for illegal use; Possession of Paraphernalia with Intent to Manufacture/Plant/Cultivate/Distribute Controlled Substance; Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Flee &amp; Elude; 1st Offense; Alcohol; Illegal Transportation of Alcoholic Beverage; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant

9/21/2024 8:33 PM-Crystal	Lynn Board-Theft; By Deception; Less than $1,500

9/21/2024 6:49 PM-Courtney	James Stuart-Probation Violation&nbsp;

9/21/2024 8:17 AM-Desiree Jensen-Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

<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;9/22/2024 2:13 AM-Dylan	Brook Todd-Drugs; Distribute Opiates/Opium/Narcotic (Cocaine, Crack, Amphetamine); 3.5g to &lt; 100g; Drugs; Distribute Marijuana or Analog thereof; 25g to &lt; 450g; Drugs; Paraphernalia; Sell/Distribute/Possess for illegal use; Possession of Paraphernalia with Intent to Manufacture/Plant/Cultivate/Distribute Controlled Substance; Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Flee &amp; Elude; 1st Offense; Alcohol; Illegal Transportation of Alcoholic Beverage; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant9/21/2024 8:33 PM-Crystal	Lynn Board-Theft; By Deception; Less than $1,5009/21/2024 6:49 PM-Courtney	James Stuart-Probation Violation&nbsp;9/21/2024 8:17 AM-Desiree Jensen-Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman sent Hutch Post an invitation to the ribbon cuttings for the two new child care facilities in her district.

Those events will take place Monday morning.

The first is at the Buhler Beginnings Daycare at 808 North Main at 10:00 a.m.

The second is at the Crusader Corner Daycare at 509 East 56th at 10:45 a.m.

The open houses for the public for the new buildings will be Tuesday Oct. 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726161887348.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Buhler USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman sent Hutch Post an invitation to the ribbon cuttings for the two new child care facilities in her district.Those events will take place Monday morning.The first is at the Buhler Beginnings Daycare at 808 North Main at 10:00 a.m.The second is at the Crusader Corner Daycare at 509 East 56th at 10:45 a.m.The open houses for the public for the new buildings will be Tuesday Oct. 1 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Buhler daycare ribbon cuttings Monday

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 (9/21 -9/22) 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!&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/12/1701449832848.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Country 102.9's&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.facebook.com/patjames/">Pat James</a>&nbsp;brings you some ideas on events to attend this weekend (9/21 -9/22) around the Hutchinson area. Click the play button to listen.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<div><iframe title="🎧 LISTEN: 'Happening Around Hutch' this weekend (Sept. 21-22)" 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=ribyu-16dbde8-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!&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

🎧 LISTEN: 'Happening Around Hutch' this weekend 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Lacey Mills with the United Way of Reno County let Hutch Post know Friday that they have had a good start to their annual campaign. 

"We are currently sitting at right around $118,000," Mills said.&nbsp; "We are excited about the incredible start to reaching our Campaign goal of $1,300,000!"

You can expect United Way representatives to be approaching businesses across the community in the coming weeks, if they haven't already.

If you'd like to give right away, you can do so online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unitedwayofrenocounty.org/">https://www.unitedwayofrenocounty.org/</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/3/1709746084653.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Lacey Mills with the United Way of Reno County let Hutch Post know Friday that they have had a good start to their annual campaign. "We are currently sitting at right around $118,000," Mills said.&nbsp; "We are excited about the incredible start to reaching our Campaign goal of $1,300,000!"You can expect United Way representatives to be approaching businesses across the community in the coming weeks, if they haven't already.If you'd like to give right away, you can do so online at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.unitedwayofrenocounty.org/">https://www.unitedwayofrenocounty.org/</a>.

Good start for United Way to annual campaign

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;

9/21/2024 1:55 AM-Austin	Joseph Kreutzer-DUI; Under 21 YOA with BAC .02 to .08&nbsp;

9/20/2024 11:23 PM-Wendy	Kay Almond-Agg battery; Knowingly cause great body harm; Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;

9/20/2024 10:03 PM-April	Diane Strong-DUI; 2nd conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+&nbsp;

9/20/2024 8:16 PM-John	Christopher Welch-DUI; 1st conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+&nbsp;

9/20/2024 7:26 PM-Jamie	Michelle Windmeyer-Criminal Use of Weapons; Criminal Carrying; Knowingly carry Any Bludgeon, Sandclub, Metal Knuckles etc...,&nbsp;

9/20/2024 7:23 PM-Sophia	Alyssa Lamas-Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv&nbsp;

9/20/2024 6:39 PM-Brandon	Nicholas Zeh-Probation Violation&nbsp;

9/20/2024 6:36 PM-Seth	Aaron Moss-Probation Violation

9/20/2024 6:11 PM-Grant	Michael Hutton-Probation Violation

9/20/2024 5:17 PM-Antonio	Felix Contresas-Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv&nbsp;

9/20/2024 5:13 PM-Johnathan	Patrick Kelley-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Poss of marijuana; 1 prior conviction; Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500; Forgery; Making, altering, endorsing&nbsp;

9/20/2024 4:21 PM-Cory	Joel Sherbon-DUI; 1st conv; incapable of safely driving&nbsp;

9/20/2024 2:02 PM-Joshua	William Kelley-Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant; Traffic Contraband in Correctional Institution; Introduce Firearm, Ammo, Explosive or Controlled Substance; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Poss of marijuana&nbsp;

9/20/2024 1:20 PM-Amanda	Lucille Davis-Failure to Appear

9/20/2024 11:26 AM-Craig	Ryan Shelton-In Transit From-To Other Agency

9/20/2024 2:30 AM-Joseph	Lee Kelly Jr.-Failure to Appear; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

<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;9/21/2024 1:55 AM-Austin	Joseph Kreutzer-DUI; Under 21 YOA with BAC .02 to .08&nbsp;9/20/2024 11:23 PM-Wendy	Kay Almond-Agg battery; Knowingly cause great body harm; Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;9/20/2024 10:03 PM-April	Diane Strong-DUI; 2nd conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+&nbsp;9/20/2024 8:16 PM-John	Christopher Welch-DUI; 1st conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+&nbsp;9/20/2024 7:26 PM-Jamie	Michelle Windmeyer-Criminal Use of Weapons; Criminal Carrying; Knowingly carry Any Bludgeon, Sandclub, Metal Knuckles etc...,&nbsp;9/20/2024 7:23 PM-Sophia	Alyssa Lamas-Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv&nbsp;9/20/2024 6:39 PM-Brandon	Nicholas Zeh-Probation Violation&nbsp;9/20/2024 6:36 PM-Seth	Aaron Moss-Probation Violation9/20/2024 6:11 PM-Grant	Michael Hutton-Probation Violation9/20/2024 5:17 PM-Antonio	Felix Contresas-Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv&nbsp;9/20/2024 5:13 PM-Johnathan	Patrick Kelley-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Poss of marijuana; 1 prior conviction; Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500; Forgery; Making, altering, endorsing&nbsp;9/20/2024 4:21 PM-Cory	Joel Sherbon-DUI; 1st conv; incapable of safely driving&nbsp;9/20/2024 2:02 PM-Joshua	William Kelley-Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant; Traffic Contraband in Correctional Institution; Introduce Firearm, Ammo, Explosive or Controlled Substance; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Poss of marijuana&nbsp;9/20/2024 1:20 PM-Amanda	Lucille Davis-Failure to Appear9/20/2024 11:26 AM-Craig	Ryan Shelton-In Transit From-To Other Agency9/20/2024 2:30 AM-Joseph	Lee Kelly Jr.-Failure to Appear; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — This is alumni weekend at Central Christian School in Hutchinson. Dr. John Walker is encouraged by what happens when alumni return to visit.

"The best part about education is the relationships that are built over time with classmates, with former teachers, former administrators, coaches, that kind of thing," Walker said. "Those relationships don't last just the time that you're there when you're a student or you're a coach or a teacher or administrator. They last for a lifetime, and so it is really a blessing to have people come back onto our campus."

Walker knows that it isn't about the facilities, though those upgrades are nice, it's about those relationships that have been built over time.

"When the alumni come back and they start showing pictures of their kids and their grandkids, and in some cases their great grandkids, it's such a blessing to see those people connect with other people, to share photos, to swap stories, to remember the good old days and the stories from the locker room, the stories from the field, the stories from the court, the stories from the classroom, the extracurricular activities, and how they've connected with each other over the years."

Walker invites anyone from the area to come, whether they've ever been to Central Christian or not.

"Members of the community, if you're interested in checking out CCS and want to come check out the facilities and that kind of thing, we'd invite you to come to the football game on Friday night. Come back Saturday morning for the craft fair, for the chili feed. That all begins at nine o'clock. Chili feed at 11 o'clock. Tours happen at 11 and one.&nbsp; We're located at 1910 East 30th Street here in Hutchinson."

Find out more about Central Christian School at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cougarsccs.com/">https://www.cougarsccs.com/</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1688735976693.jpeg" alt="Central Christian School-Hutchinson" />
 <figcaption>Central Christian School-Hutchinson</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — This is alumni weekend at Central Christian School in Hutchinson. Dr. John Walker is encouraged by what happens when alumni return to visit."The best part about education is the relationships that are built over time with classmates, with former teachers, former administrators, coaches, that kind of thing," Walker said. "Those relationships don't last just the time that you're there when you're a student or you're a coach or a teacher or administrator. They last for a lifetime, and so it is really a blessing to have people come back onto our campus."Walker knows that it isn't about the facilities, though those upgrades are nice, it's about those relationships that have been built over time."When the alumni come back and they start showing pictures of their kids and their grandkids, and in some cases their great grandkids, it's such a blessing to see those people connect with other people, to share photos, to swap stories, to remember the good old days and the stories from the locker room, the stories from the field, the stories from the court, the stories from the classroom, the extracurricular activities, and how they've connected with each other over the years."Walker invites anyone from the area to come, whether they've ever been to Central Christian or not."Members of the community, if you're interested in checking out CCS and want to come check out the facilities and that kind of thing, we'd invite you to come to the football game on Friday night. Come back Saturday morning for the craft fair, for the chili feed. That all begins at nine o'clock. Chili feed at 11 o'clock. Tours happen at 11 and one.&nbsp; We're located at 1910 East 30th Street here in Hutchinson."Find out more about Central Christian School at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.cougarsccs.com/">https://www.cougarsccs.com/</a>.

Alumni weekend at Central Christian Friday and Saturday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Clinic has set the dates for their fall flu shot clinics.

For more information, go to&nbsp;https://www.hutchclinic.com/.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Clinic has set the dates for their fall flu shot clinics.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726846085964.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>For more information, go to&nbsp;https://www.hutchclinic.com/.

Hutch Clinic sets flu shot dates

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The unemployment rate in Reno County was lower for the month of August 2024.

According to the Kansas Department of Labor, the jobless rate for the county went down five tenths of a percent to 3.9%. The jobless rate for the same period in 2023 was 3.3%.

There were 1,114 county residents out of work.&nbsp;

Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.3% in August. This is an increase from 3.2% in July and an increase from 2.6% in August 2023.

Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment was unchanged from July. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 3,500 over the month, while government increased by 3,500.

“Estimates for nominal hourly earnings in the private sector have increased in Kansas,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “In August nominal earnings growth exceeded inflation rates, resulting in a 2.6% increase in real hourly earnings compared to last year.”

Since August 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 20,000. This change is due to an increase of 18,500 private sector jobs and an increase of 1,500 government jobs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2019/6/1561209733269.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Kansas Department of LaborHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The unemployment rate in Reno County was lower for the month of August 2024.According to the Kansas Department of Labor, the jobless rate for the county went down five tenths of a percent to 3.9%. The jobless rate for the same period in 2023 was 3.3%.There were 1,114 county residents out of work.&nbsp;Preliminary estimates reported by the Labor Market Information Services (LMIS) division of the Kansas Department of Labor (KDOL) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.3% in August. This is an increase from 3.2% in July and an increase from 2.6% in August 2023.Seasonally adjusted job estimates for Kansas indicate total nonfarm payroll employment was unchanged from July. Total nonfarm includes private sector and government employers. Private sector jobs decreased by 3,500 over the month, while government increased by 3,500.“Estimates for nominal hourly earnings in the private sector have increased in Kansas,” said labor economist, Emilie Doerksen. “In August nominal earnings growth exceeded inflation rates, resulting in a 2.6% increase in real hourly earnings compared to last year.”Since August 2023 Kansas’ seasonally adjusted total nonfarm jobs have increased by 20,000. This change is due to an increase of 18,500 private sector jobs and an increase of 1,500 government jobs.

Unemployment down in August

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Michaela Schommer with the Hutchinson Animal Shelter is pleased that EAGLE Media is helping again by hosting an Adopt-A-Pet event Saturday starting at 11 a.m. at 825 North Main.

"I think the least amount that we've ever had adopted at one of your events here is four," Schommer said. "Usually, I was thinking about this a couple days ago, our average is about six adoptions at an event."&nbsp;

The plan is to have as many pets out at the event as they can, but that's dependent on how many people volunteer to help.

"We always like to bring at least 10 out but to be honest, as of right now, I only have five volunteers that have committed to being present," Schommer said. "We're still gathering people for the event and then based on that number, we'll choose our dogs coming out. At minimum, we're probably going to at least have seven but like I said, 10 to 12 is our goal usually."

There also will be a special deal that day for adoptions, if you find the pet at EAGLE Media.

"For the dogs at the event, we're doing half price," Schommer said. "An adult dog is $75 and puppies would be $100."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713282938300.jpeg" alt="Hutchinson Animal Shelter" />
 <figcaption>Hutchinson Animal Shelter</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Michaela Schommer with the Hutchinson Animal Shelter is pleased that EAGLE Media is helping again by hosting an Adopt-A-Pet event Saturday starting at 11 a.m. at 825 North Main."I think the least amount that we've ever had adopted at one of your events here is four," Schommer said. "Usually, I was thinking about this a couple days ago, our average is about six adoptions at an event."&nbsp;The plan is to have as many pets out at the event as they can, but that's dependent on how many people volunteer to help."We always like to bring at least 10 out but to be honest, as of right now, I only have five volunteers that have committed to being present," Schommer said. "We're still gathering people for the event and then based on that number, we'll choose our dogs coming out. At minimum, we're probably going to at least have seven but like I said, 10 to 12 is our goal usually."There also will be a special deal that day for adoptions, if you find the pet at EAGLE Media."For the dogs at the event, we're doing half price," Schommer said. "An adult dog is $75 and puppies would be $100."The event will end at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Adopt-A-Pet is Saturday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Friday night is championship night at the Kansas State Fairgrounds for Salt City Racing LLC.

"We'll crown some champions Friday night in the A mods, the B mods, and the stock cars," said Phil Nightingale with Salt City Racing. "It's going to be a fun time, then also the URSS sprint cars, they're going to crown their champion too. It should be some exciting racing because some of the points races are pretty tight. It should be fun and exciting."

Nightingale said a long-term deal to keep the racetrack open is on the table.&nbsp;

"The board does have the new contract that we drafted up for a five-year contract," Nightingale said. "They've got it in their hands. We're going to meet here next month to, I hope, make a nice, easy transition and get a contract signed so we can have a multi-year deal and keep this track alive at Hutchinson."

There definitely seems to be a lot more optimism from the fair board now than there was when Nightingale initially came to them about a year ago.

"A year ago when I came back and met with the board, they were very skeptical and I get it," Nightingale said. "I understand why they were skeptical of that thing, and that's why I told them, I said, let's let me get a proposal together. Let's go for a year and let's see how this works. And I think they all are very excited to move forward."

&nbsp;Attendance figures in the grandstand have averaged over 1600, with over 300 per night on average in the pits heading into Friday's races.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/8/1722741926082.jpeg" alt="The starter at Salt City Racing waves the checkered flag on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)" />
 <figcaption>The starter at Salt City Racing waves the checkered flag on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Friday night is championship night at the Kansas State Fairgrounds for Salt City Racing LLC."We'll crown some champions Friday night in the A mods, the B mods, and the stock cars," said Phil Nightingale with Salt City Racing. "It's going to be a fun time, then also the URSS sprint cars, they're going to crown their champion too. It should be some exciting racing because some of the points races are pretty tight. It should be fun and exciting."Nightingale said a long-term deal to keep the racetrack open is on the table.&nbsp;"The board does have the new contract that we drafted up for a five-year contract," Nightingale said. "They've got it in their hands. We're going to meet here next month to, I hope, make a nice, easy transition and get a contract signed so we can have a multi-year deal and keep this track alive at Hutchinson."There definitely seems to be a lot more optimism from the fair board now than there was when Nightingale initially came to them about a year ago."A year ago when I came back and met with the board, they were very skeptical and I get it," Nightingale said. "I understand why they were skeptical of that thing, and that's why I told them, I said, let's let me get a proposal together. Let's go for a year and let's see how this works. And I think they all are very excited to move forward."&nbsp;Attendance figures in the grandstand have averaged over 1600, with over 300 per night on average in the pits heading into Friday's races.

Championship night coming up Friday at Fairgrounds

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Krystal Young with Hutchinson USD 308 told Hutch Post that there have been considerable increases for classified staff in the district in the last few years.

"In 2021, we had an entry level position for Hutchinson Public Schools at $10.88 an hour," Young said. "This year we are really proud that all of our entry level positions start at $15. And so in those few years we have increased that $4.12, which has drastically improved the ability for us to hire and retain our classified staff and they are absolutely essential in keeping our district running in every aspect."

More than half of those employed by the district are classified staff.

"Classified staff makes up about 52% of our district," Young said. "That staff is not contracted for an entire year, but they are an hourly wage employee. They make up our staff that works with students and works in the other areas of our district, maintenance, food service, technology, custodial staff."

The district is going to be able to narrow its focus when hiring classified staff through the rest of the year.

"Because of our wage increase, we have been able to fill a lot of vacancies that we haven't necessarily filled in the past," Young said. "We have fewer openings in our classified staff than we would normally have in September, and so from this point forward, we're starting to post positions based on the actual position and the location. In the past, you might have gone to apply for a position and it just said, Para. And you wouldn't know if you're applying for a Para at Wiley Elementary or Faris Elementary. However, as we move forward, because we have hired so many positions, we're able to post those individually."

For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usd308.com/page/hiring">https://www.usd308.com/page/hiring</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2022/6/1655147159618.jpeg" alt="USD 308 Admin Building-Photo by Daren Dunn" />
 <figcaption>USD 308 Admin Building-Photo by Daren Dunn</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Krystal Young with Hutchinson USD 308 told Hutch Post that there have been considerable increases for classified staff in the district in the last few years."In 2021, we had an entry level position for Hutchinson Public Schools at $10.88 an hour," Young said. "This year we are really proud that all of our entry level positions start at $15. And so in those few years we have increased that $4.12, which has drastically improved the ability for us to hire and retain our classified staff and they are absolutely essential in keeping our district running in every aspect."More than half of those employed by the district are classified staff."Classified staff makes up about 52% of our district," Young said. "That staff is not contracted for an entire year, but they are an hourly wage employee. They make up our staff that works with students and works in the other areas of our district, maintenance, food service, technology, custodial staff."The district is going to be able to narrow its focus when hiring classified staff through the rest of the year."Because of our wage increase, we have been able to fill a lot of vacancies that we haven't necessarily filled in the past," Young said. "We have fewer openings in our classified staff than we would normally have in September, and so from this point forward, we're starting to post positions based on the actual position and the location. In the past, you might have gone to apply for a position and it just said, Para. And you wouldn't know if you're applying for a Para at Wiley Elementary or Faris Elementary. However, as we move forward, because we have hired so many positions, we're able to post those individually."For more information, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.usd308.com/page/hiring">https://www.usd308.com/page/hiring</a>.

USD 308 now wage competitive

MCPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson College jazz band received the highest distinction for a college band in Kansas by being selected to perform at this year’s Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) state convention in February. The milestone is even more significant since the band program has been selected to perform five times in the past eight years.

“Few bands at any level get selected to perform at KMEA,” said McPherson College Director of Bands Kyle Hopkins. “Our five selections in the past eight years really sets us apart from other private institutions. Since 2018, our concert band has been selected three times and our jazz band two, a historic accomplishment for a private Kansas college.”

The McPherson College Jazz Band is among fewer than 50 other college and high school instrumental and vocal ensembles performing at the state conference, which will be held February 27-28 in Wichita at Century II. It is the only private college jazz ensemble selected to perform this year.

Ensembles are selected to perform through a “blind” audition process, and no ensemble can be selected in consecutive years. The MC band program consists of 57 members from many academic programs and includes a concert and a jazz band. The band’s first public performance this academic year will be on September 30.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726675342808.jpeg" alt="McPherson College Jazz Band." />
 <figcaption>McPherson College Jazz Band.</figcaption>
 </figure>TINA GOODWIN McPherson CollegeMCPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson College jazz band received the highest distinction for a college band in Kansas by being selected to perform at this year’s Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) state convention in February. The milestone is even more significant since the band program has been selected to perform five times in the past eight years.“Few bands at any level get selected to perform at KMEA,” said McPherson College Director of Bands Kyle Hopkins. “Our five selections in the past eight years really sets us apart from other private institutions. Since 2018, our concert band has been selected three times and our jazz band two, a historic accomplishment for a private Kansas college.”The McPherson College Jazz Band is among fewer than 50 other college and high school instrumental and vocal ensembles performing at the state conference, which will be held February 27-28 in Wichita at Century II. It is the only private college jazz ensemble selected to perform this year.Ensembles are selected to perform through a “blind” audition process, and no ensemble can be selected in consecutive years. The MC band program consists of 57 members from many academic programs and includes a concert and a jazz band. The band’s first public performance this academic year will be on September 30.

McPherson College jazz band to perform at KMEA

HAVEN, Kan. — The economic outlook on rural main street is not good, according to a survey released Thursday from Creighton University. 

"This is a September survey of bank CEOs and rural areas of ten states including Kansas," said Creighton University economist Ernie Goss. "The overall number was down from last month and last month was not good. In fact, the number indexed 50 as growth neutral. This is well below growth neutral. In fact, back to pandemic levels when we were back in May of 2020. The agricultural sector is definitely limping along and that's what we're seeing. Their projections are 40% of the farmers are into negative income territory this year, 2024."

There are major headwinds for the grain markets in particular.

"There is global economic weakness and excess supplies," Goss said. "We've got a lot of supply out there. It's been a good year for yields, but not good in terms of prices. We need to see some of those. We need to see the prices rebound. Corn price is hovering around $4 a bushel. That's below break-even for a lot of farmers out there."

Also, the overall value of land is going down, too.

"We asked the bankers about going forward, and they, on average, expect about a 5.2% reduction in farmland prices predicted over the next year," Goss said. "We even had a high proportion, that would be one-fourth of the bankers, one-fourth expect the farmland prices to come down by 10 to 20%. Hopefully that doesn't hit, but that's pretty negative there when we look at the bankers."

A lot of the collateral for loans made to farmers is predicated on the land value they hold, so reduction in those values can give them less borrowing power.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1721252436997.jpg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHAVEN, Kan. — The economic outlook on rural main street is not good, according to a survey released Thursday from Creighton University. "This is a September survey of bank CEOs and rural areas of ten states including Kansas," said Creighton University economist Ernie Goss. "The overall number was down from last month and last month was not good. In fact, the number indexed 50 as growth neutral. This is well below growth neutral. In fact, back to pandemic levels when we were back in May of 2020. The agricultural sector is definitely limping along and that's what we're seeing. Their projections are 40% of the farmers are into negative income territory this year, 2024."There are major headwinds for the grain markets in particular."There is global economic weakness and excess supplies," Goss said. "We've got a lot of supply out there. It's been a good year for yields, but not good in terms of prices. We need to see some of those. We need to see the prices rebound. Corn price is hovering around $4 a bushel. That's below break-even for a lot of farmers out there."Also, the overall value of land is going down, too."We asked the bankers about going forward, and they, on average, expect about a 5.2% reduction in farmland prices predicted over the next year," Goss said. "We even had a high proportion, that would be one-fourth of the bankers, one-fourth expect the farmland prices to come down by 10 to 20%. Hopefully that doesn't hit, but that's pretty negative there when we look at the bankers."A lot of the collateral for loans made to farmers is predicated on the land value they hold, so reduction in those values can give them less borrowing power.

Rural Mainstreet struggling, survey says

Hutchinson Community Concert Association

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; With the first of the 2024-2025 Hutchinson Community Concerts coming up, here's the list for the year. You can buy a single membership for $50 or a family membership for $110 at the first concert at Memorial Hall.

Thursday, September 26, 2024 – 7:00 p.m. Legendary Ladies of Country

Lisa Brokop celebrates female country music pioneers with heartfelt stories and the hits of Loretta Lynn Dottie West, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Anne Murray, and other favorites.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Thursday, October 31, 2024 – 7:00 p.m. Jared Freiburg and the Vagabonds

This entertaining piano maestro leads you into a time capsule of the golden era of American music with those great hits of the 50’s by unforgettable artists from Sinatra to Elvis!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Sunday, November 17, 2024 – 3:00 p.m. Jason “Floyd” Coleman - Duets with Granddad

Jason brings new life to the country and pop classics made famous by his grandfather while taking you on a keyboard journey through the musical history of Floyd Cramer the highlight of the show is Jason performing video duets with his granddad!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 – 7:00 p.m. Jeremy Stoll, “No More Talk of Darkness”

The famous line from Phantom of the Opera aptly describes this veteran phantom performer’s show. His peerless voice and talented team of musicians will delight you with great Broadway songs and insider stories.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 

Thursday, May 1, 2025 – 7:00 p.m. Sail On - It’ll be Fun, Fun, Fun!

Who doesn't love the music of “America's Band”? Enjoy the enthusiastic recreation of The Beach Boys’ classic hits with the timeless music of surfing, cruising, dancing, and dreaming.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Monday, May 5, 2025 – 7:00 Alliance Brass - The Perfect Blend

They've been referred to as the perfect blend of virtuosity and vitality this exciting ensemble is known for dazzling audiences with the repertoire of great music celebrating both stage and screen.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A season membership entitles each member to attend all six concerts. There are no individual concert tickets.&nbsp;

If you want your tickets in advance, see their webpage at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hutchinsonconcerts.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2kkFb4PQ1Fed2UE0PUyKSee4Ei-GYFRKlKuEwl7VEdODtcNOupZHLI5Yg_aem_Ad9x96F9GHA4vm8vUTrxRKz3qdEdwLhRqwbDR8vrLanz5sM2bj7Y7dz9YgGbolb5dA9Q2dbK81zsk9L79BO8WOWa&amp;h=AT3mScsANJDeu8KZlH4L7p5--F1JZ8TYZyu_UwROXgL8jquHvsDLetV8rmCpZZSK0Ic5LVt8Aiq3ZnTK7kudfyYLE5BvkEHILL0ZuVyzT_kgPdAhV7-nd6syl6Tl2Xxtvw&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT1MZeq1AO2kWhZTAfilLy4Dr8TEppzVjtB47WRSzPi_di4pPfHI2f6cUGkDjjUoGWjkoDXouGvlbCwq6fSIt0twyfmntAq47YhwViJTlUgyrsNE7AheFbgYsOBvSy75FlTXW3WgzNMgChy5RCk15IXVYMyXHCkQS2cKM4jv56QA7MegexZ-2HququyZV67sJupCgvna5FPAdNBlK19FU4GhX8FuzfkmuVA2" target="_blank">www.hutchinsonconcerts.com</a>

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713631300800.jpeg" alt="Hutchinson Community Concert Association" />
 <figcaption>Hutchinson Community Concert Association</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson Community Concert AssociationHUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp; With the first of the 2024-2025 Hutchinson Community Concerts coming up, here's the list for the year. You can buy a single membership for $50 or a family membership for $110 at the first concert at Memorial Hall.Thursday, September 26, 2024 – 7:00 p.m. Legendary Ladies of Country<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713631010204.jpeg" alt="Lisa Brokop-Photo Courtesy Hutchinson Community Concerts" />
 <figcaption>Lisa Brokop-Photo Courtesy Hutchinson Community Concerts</figcaption>
 </figure>Lisa Brokop celebrates female country music pioneers with heartfelt stories and the hits of Loretta Lynn Dottie West, Tammy Wynette, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, Anne Murray, and other favorites.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thursday, October 31, 2024 – 7:00 p.m. Jared Freiburg and the Vagabonds<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713631050523.jpeg" alt="Jared Frieburg-Photo Courtesy Hutchinson Community Concerts" />
 <figcaption>Jared Frieburg-Photo Courtesy Hutchinson Community Concerts</figcaption>
 </figure>This entertaining piano maestro leads you into a time capsule of the golden era of American music with those great hits of the 50’s by unforgettable artists from Sinatra to Elvis!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Sunday, November 17, 2024 – 3:00 p.m. Jason “Floyd” Coleman - Duets with Granddad<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713631106099.jpeg" alt="Jason "Floyd" Coleman-Photo Courtesy Hutchinson Community Concerts" />
 <figcaption>Jason "Floyd" Coleman-Photo Courtesy Hutchinson Community Concerts</figcaption>
 </figure>Jason brings new life to the country and pop classics made famous by his grandfather while taking you on a keyboard journey through the musical history of Floyd Cramer the highlight of the show is Jason performing video duets with his granddad!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Tuesday, March 11, 2025 – 7:00 p.m. Jeremy Stoll, “No More Talk of Darkness”<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713631145962.jpeg" alt="Jeremy Stoll-Photo Courtesy Hutchinson Community Concerts" />
 <figcaption>Jeremy Stoll-Photo Courtesy Hutchinson Community Concerts</figcaption>
 </figure>The famous line from Phantom of the Opera aptly describes this veteran phantom performer’s show. His peerless voice and talented team of musicians will delight you with great Broadway songs and insider stories.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Thursday, May 1, 2025 – 7:00 p.m. Sail On - It’ll be Fun, Fun, Fun!<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713631186169.jpeg" alt="Sail On-Photo Courtesy Hutchinson Community Concerts" />
 <figcaption>Sail On-Photo Courtesy Hutchinson Community Concerts</figcaption>
 </figure>Who doesn't love the music of “America's Band”? Enjoy the enthusiastic recreation of The Beach Boys’ classic hits with the timeless music of surfing, cruising, dancing, and dreaming.&nbsp;&nbsp;Monday, May 5, 2025 – 7:00 Alliance Brass - The Perfect Blend<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713631235072.jpeg" alt="Alliance Brass-Photo Courtesy Hutchinson Community Concerts" />
 <figcaption>Alliance Brass-Photo Courtesy Hutchinson Community Concerts</figcaption>
 </figure>They've been referred to as the perfect blend of virtuosity and vitality this exciting ensemble is known for dazzling audiences with the repertoire of great music celebrating both stage and screen.&nbsp;&nbsp;A season membership entitles each member to attend all six concerts. There are no individual concert tickets.&nbsp;If you want your tickets in advance, see their webpage at&nbsp;<a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hutchinsonconcerts.com%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2kkFb4PQ1Fed2UE0PUyKSee4Ei-GYFRKlKuEwl7VEdODtcNOupZHLI5Yg_aem_Ad9x96F9GHA4vm8vUTrxRKz3qdEdwLhRqwbDR8vrLanz5sM2bj7Y7dz9YgGbolb5dA9Q2dbK81zsk9L79BO8WOWa&amp;h=AT3mScsANJDeu8KZlH4L7p5--F1JZ8TYZyu_UwROXgL8jquHvsDLetV8rmCpZZSK0Ic5LVt8Aiq3ZnTK7kudfyYLE5BvkEHILL0ZuVyzT_kgPdAhV7-nd6syl6Tl2Xxtvw&amp;__tn__=-UK-R&amp;c[0]=AT1MZeq1AO2kWhZTAfilLy4Dr8TEppzVjtB47WRSzPi_di4pPfHI2f6cUGkDjjUoGWjkoDXouGvlbCwq6fSIt0twyfmntAq47YhwViJTlUgyrsNE7AheFbgYsOBvSy75FlTXW3WgzNMgChy5RCk15IXVYMyXHCkQS2cKM4jv56QA7MegexZ-2HququyZV67sJupCgvna5FPAdNBlK19FU4GhX8FuzfkmuVA2" target="_blank">www.hutchinsonconcerts.com</a><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Community Concerts kick off Thursday

When the final fields are cut, the trucks empty, the bins full and the combines cleaned out, Kansas wheat farmers breathe a quick sigh of relief that harvest season is complete. But for Kathy Brower, lab manager for Grain Craft’s Innovation and Quality Lab, harvest is just the start of her busy season as she takes samples from those farmers and puts them to the test for how that wheat will perform in making a consistently good loaf of bread.&nbsp;

“Grain Craft leads by example through educating their customers about wheat quality while communicating those needs back to wheat farmers and researchers,” said Aaron Harries, Kansas Wheat vice-president of research and operations, who interviewed Brower for an episode of the organization’s “Wheat’s On Your Mind” podcast. “That dialogue supports the advancement of wheat quality for the entire supply chain.”

Grain Craft is the largest independent flour miller in the United States. The company has longstanding relationships with Kansas Wheat and Kansas State University. So when it came time in 2021 to establish a new laboratory focused on varietal research, there was little doubt an ideal location would be inside the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center on K-State’s north campus. Today, Grain Craft has 12 mills in the United States and the lab in Manhattan does the analysis for quite a few of them, especially for hard wheats destined for the bread industry.&nbsp;

And who better to manage the lab than Brower, the daughter of a fifth-generation wheat farmer and K-State food science graduate with the experience needed to connect the dots between the wheat developed by breeding programs, the varieties planted each year and the final end-use quality of those kernels.&nbsp;

“Having us here at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, we can bring in various tour groups, even famous football coaches like Bill Snyder,” Brower said. “I really love making that connection with people. We’ve even had some of the farmers come in and they’ve got to see their specific variety baked out in our process. It’s a tremendous opportunity to put those connections together.”&nbsp;

While the lab’s work is never truly complete, their new crop testing starts as soon as producers begin wheat harvest. In mid-June, a company courier starts collecting samples from throughout the region, which are brought into the lab and tested. Mills, breeding programs and even individual farmers also send in samples. With kernels in hand, testing begins in the Grain Craft laboratory’s milling facility, where kernels are tempered, cleaned, processed and ground.&nbsp;

The resulting flour moves into the company’s flour analysis lab. Grain samples are run through near infrared imaging (NIR), which measures both protein content and initial moisture ash - a common quality factor requested by millers.&nbsp;

“Ash is the mineral left behind after you’ve burned off all the carbohydrates and all the protein,” Brower said. “If you have that outer layer of the kernel, that outer layer contains a lot of mineral content in it. When we’re putting something through the mill - grinding - that part is always going to be present within the flour itself. If we know our ash content, we can get a good idea of how well we’re grinding.”

After initial testing, it is time to make some bread dough. Using a farinograph - a piece of equipment that looks like a miniature mixing bowl with two paddles inside - the flour is mixed with water. The machine then turns the paddles, and the resulting mixture generates torque against those paddles, which measures water absorption and helps determine peak development time.&nbsp;

If dough breaks down after a certain amount of mixing time, it becomes very sticky and very soft and is virtually impossible to remove from the mixer. As a result, the goal of a baking process is to mix the dough to a nice, developed state where it will still retain gas throughout baking.&nbsp;

“From a baker’s standpoint, the baker is wanting to know - how much water can I potentially put into this flour? And then what is the mixability of it? How strong is it going to be? How long am I going to be able to mix it out?” Brower explained. “The farinograph is one piece of equipment that can allow us to give a heads up to those bakeries as well as in our own test baking scenario as to what the performance of that flour is going to be.”

After flour analysis, a sponge and dough process is used to test how the flour will turn into bread. Lab technicians take about 70 percent of the flour and mix it with yeast and water. The mix is put into a three-and-a-half-hour fermentation process, resulting in the “sponge” that can be tested - is it too soft? A little overhydrated? Underhydrated, dry and shaggy? Or just right?

“If you’re running a fermentation process, it gives you a really good look at that initial stability of a flour,” Brower said. “It also gives us a way to judge if we hit the correct absorption.”&nbsp;

After the sponge is tested, it’s time to add back in the remaining 30 percent of the flour, add shortening, sugar and salt and bring that back as a final dough. Then it is time to make a loaf of bread.&nbsp;

In a commercial bakery, loaves are made in an assembly line, not one at a time like at home. In a commercial setting, after bread leaves the mixing bowl, it must go through a sheeting process - a set of rollers that takes out air pockets and makes a smooth sheet of dough - and then divided and molded into individual loaves. This process puts stress on the dough, meaning it needs to be strong enough to maintain its shape and texture. The dough cannot mix and fall apart, or it messes up everything else down the line before it ever gets into an oven. All this to say, it requires high protein quality, not just content, to provide that strength.&nbsp;

“If you’re bulking up for weight training or something similar, you have to have that protein coming in so you can retain your strength,” Brower said. “And it’s very much the same with flour.”&nbsp;

Using a similar process, albeit on a smaller scale, lab technicians divide, sheet and mold the dough into loaves. From there, the dough is put in a pan, goes through a 60-minute proof time and then placed in the oven. Once the loaves are fully baked, they are cooled overnight and evaluated the next morning.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/9/1726823022384.png" alt="Wheat Scoop Grain Craft" />
 <figcaption>Wheat Scoop Grain Craft</figcaption>
 </figure>JULIA DEBES Kansas WheatWhen the final fields are cut, the trucks empty, the bins full and the combines cleaned out, Kansas wheat farmers breathe a quick sigh of relief that harvest season is complete. But for Kathy Brower, lab manager for Grain Craft’s Innovation and Quality Lab, harvest is just the start of her busy season as she takes samples from those farmers and puts them to the test for how that wheat will perform in making a consistently good loaf of bread.&nbsp;“Grain Craft leads by example through educating their customers about wheat quality while communicating those needs back to wheat farmers and researchers,” said Aaron Harries, Kansas Wheat vice-president of research and operations, who interviewed Brower for an episode of the organization’s “Wheat’s On Your Mind” podcast. “That dialogue supports the advancement of wheat quality for the entire supply chain.”Grain Craft is the largest independent flour miller in the United States. The company has longstanding relationships with Kansas Wheat and Kansas State University. So when it came time in 2021 to establish a new laboratory focused on varietal research, there was little doubt an ideal location would be inside the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center on K-State’s north campus. Today, Grain Craft has 12 mills in the United States and the lab in Manhattan does the analysis for quite a few of them, especially for hard wheats destined for the bread industry.&nbsp;And who better to manage the lab than Brower, the daughter of a fifth-generation wheat farmer and K-State food science graduate with the experience needed to connect the dots between the wheat developed by breeding programs, the varieties planted each year and the final end-use quality of those kernels.&nbsp;“Having us here at the Kansas Wheat Innovation Center, we can bring in various tour groups, even famous football coaches like Bill Snyder,” Brower said. “I really love making that connection with people. We’ve even had some of the farmers come in and they’ve got to see their specific variety baked out in our process. It’s a tremendous opportunity to put those connections together.”&nbsp;While the lab’s work is never truly complete, their new crop testing starts as soon as producers begin wheat harvest. In mid-June, a company courier starts collecting samples from throughout the region, which are brought into the lab and tested. Mills, breeding programs and even individual farmers also send in samples. With kernels in hand, testing begins in the Grain Craft laboratory’s milling facility, where kernels are tempered, cleaned, processed and ground.&nbsp;The resulting flour moves into the company’s flour analysis lab. Grain samples are run through near infrared imaging (NIR), which measures both protein content and initial moisture ash - a common quality factor requested by millers.&nbsp;“Ash is the mineral left behind after you’ve burned off all the carbohydrates and all the protein,” Brower said. “If you have that outer layer of the kernel, that outer layer contains a lot of mineral content in it. When we’re putting something through the mill - grinding - that part is always going to be present within the flour itself. If we know our ash content, we can get a good idea of how well we’re grinding.”After initial testing, it is time to make some bread dough. Using a farinograph - a piece of equipment that looks like a miniature mixing bowl with two paddles inside - the flour is mixed with water. The machine then turns the paddles, and the resulting mixture generates torque against those paddles, which measures water absorption and helps determine peak development time.&nbsp;If dough breaks down after a certain amount of mixing time, it becomes very sticky and very soft and is virtually impossible to remove from the mixer. As a result, the goal of a baking process is to mix the dough to a nice, developed state where it will still retain gas throughout baking.&nbsp;“From a baker’s standpoint, the baker is wanting to know - how much water can I potentially put into this flour? And then what is the mixability of it? How strong is it going to be? How long am I going to be able to mix it out?” Brower explained. “The farinograph is one piece of equipment that can allow us to give a heads up to those bakeries as well as in our own test baking scenario as to what the performance of that flour is going to be.”After flour analysis, a sponge and dough process is used to test how the flour will turn into bread. Lab technicians take about 70 percent of the flour and mix it with yeast and water. The mix is put into a three-and-a-half-hour fermentation process, resulting in the “sponge” that can be tested - is it too soft? A little overhydrated? Underhydrated, dry and shaggy? Or just right?“If you’re running a fermentation process, it gives you a really good look at that initial stability of a flour,” Brower said. “It also gives us a way to judge if we hit the correct absorption.”&nbsp;After the sponge is tested, it’s time to add back in the remaining 30 percent of the flour, add shortening, sugar and salt and bring that back as a final dough. Then it is time to make a loaf of bread.&nbsp;In a commercial bakery, loaves are made in an assembly line, not one at a time like at home. In a commercial setting, after bread leaves the mixing bowl, it must go through a sheeting process - a set of rollers that takes out air pockets and makes a smooth sheet of dough - and then divided and molded into individual loaves. This process puts stress on the dough, meaning it needs to be strong enough to maintain its shape and texture. The dough cannot mix and fall apart, or it messes up everything else down the line before it ever gets into an oven. All this to say, it requires high protein quality, not just content, to provide that strength.&nbsp;“If you’re bulking up for weight training or something similar, you have to have that protein coming in so you can retain your strength,” Brower said. “And it’s very much the same with flour.”&nbsp;Using a similar process, albeit on a smaller scale, lab technicians divide, sheet and mold the dough into loaves. From there, the dough is put in a pan, goes through a 60-minute proof time and then placed in the oven. Once the loaves are fully baked, they are cooled overnight and evaluated the next morning.&nbsp;That evaluation includes measuring loaf volume and then slicing the bread to look at the texture of the crumb - important determinants of flour strength and how well it would perform in a commercial setting.&nbsp;“We are trying to mimic that process as closely as we can because we want to simulate what they would potentially see in their system,” Brower said.&nbsp;This whole process is repeated with every sample that comes into the lab - about 1,300 samples last year. The lab shares the results with mills as far away as Los Angeles, the Kansas farmers who sent in samples and university breeding programs - like K-State. The participation of wheat breeders is essential, especially since Grain Craft runs a preferred variety program for farmers.&nbsp;“We couldn’t run a program like a preferred variety program without the cooperation from the breeders,” Brower said. “It’s so important that we have those samples coming in year after year because varieties are changing constantly. If those breeding programs are willing to work with us, it really does help us make decisions for what can go onto that preferred list.”“It’s very important that those perform well for the farmers. We want to make sure that they have really good yield, quality, drought tolerance and pest resistance and all those things built in that are going to make it so the farmer can actually profit. But we also want to make sure that the quality is going to work out for our bakers.”Learn more about Brower, the Grain Craft Innovation and Quality Lab and the importance of protein quality in the featured episode of Wheat’s On Your Mind” podcast at <a href="http://wheatsonyourmind.com">wheatsonyourmind.com</a>.

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