<a href="mailto:sean.boston@eaglemedia.com">SEAN BOSTON</a> Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Trinity Catholic High School cross country team has high expectations, as the Celtics prepare for the class 2A state meet on Saturday in Wamego.

Trinity Catholic finished second in 2023 behind Central Heights, but are eager to claim their first state title since 2012 and their fourth overall in program history. The other two titles came in 2000 and 2002, so if the even numbers mean anything, this is the year for the Celtics.

"Last year we were a young team, mostly sophomores and a few juniors," Trinity Catholic head coach Jarod Wannamaker said. "They ran really well last year, so I knew exactly what we had for this year. They want it, they are doing the work, they're looking into things. They're trying to make each other better and it's all about the team. People don't understand that about cross country sometimes, it's an individual sport, but when it comes to the team aspect, that's where this team thrives. They're all happy about how they each did, but they're always wanting to know how the team did."

Trinity Catholic has claimed back-to-back Heart of America league titles, plus back-to-back regional titles.

The Celtics have already competed this year against the defending state champs, Central Heights.

"They did a pretty good job against us, but I think we're kind of a different team than we were about four weeks ago," Wannamaker said. "I'm really excited to see how our guys do against them this weekend."

Wannamaker is excited about where his team is at at this point in the season.

"Overall we've got a really good and talented team that works well together," Wannamaker said. "We've had to overcome some illness and injuries, but I think we're handling it pretty well and I think we've got some kids who have done a really good job of giving themselves a goal and working towards them."

One of those goals was a record that was recently broken.

"It was a 24-year old school record broken by our junior, Jacob Lindstrom," Wannamaker said. "He ran a 15:54.7 at the Sterling Invitational. He has won the last three races we have ran, he won the Sterling Invitational, he won the HOA league and then just won the regional meet."

Jacob isn't the only Lindstrom on the team, as he is joined by his twin brother, John.

"They definitely push each other out there," Wannamaker said. "They're also their biggest fan, when one is down, the other is helping him up. They are both great athletes, but even better kids."

It's not often that you get one set of twins, let alone two on the same team.

"We also have the Pennycuff twins who are right now around our six and seven runners, but those two push each other and it's the same dynamic there," Wannamaker said. "It's really fun watching Sam and Ambrose just pick each other up when it's not there."

The Lindstrom twins have been atop of the Trinity Catholic runners the past two years.

"John was our No. 1 runner last year for most of the year," Wannamaker said. "Jacob would be on his heels, and he battled some hip issues and stuff like that, but it's kind of flipped this year. Jacob was a little upset with how his track season had gone, so I think he's really worked hard this season and has really come into his own these last three weeks especially. He's always had it in him to do it, but watching him at the Sterling meet and it clicked, then he's just been a different runner. I told him he had that dog in him and he never looked back and that's how he's been racing the last three weeks."

When the Celtics run on Saturday at the Wamego Country Club, it'll be a course they're familiar with.

"We love Wamego, it's a good course, it's a tough course," Wannamaker said. "Up until this year, that's where most of our guys had gotten their PR's. We know how to run it, we enjoy the challenge that it brings, and I'm hoping that will help us get across the finish line and help us win our fourth state championship. Regardless of how we finish on Saturday, I'm very pleased with how our guys have competed this year."

Another runner for the Celtics that has came on strong this year is junior Cameron Kiser. Kiser finished seventh in the 2A regional last week.

"He is a competitor," Wannamaker said. "I always tease him about when he was a freshman he talked about how he was doing this for basketball. I've always told people that you can be talented at running and I can coach that, but if you're competitive, I can really coach that, and I can make you better. That's where Cam is, he's one of those guys that if I tell him what we need, he will find that next level and give us that. He's got the third fastest time in school history, which he did at Sterling, he was right behind Jacob and then John was just a couple of spots behind him. Cam is definitely a competitor, a gamer, he wants to win and that's what drives him."

The 10 Celtics that will make the trip to Wamego are Malachiey Alvarez (12), Dylan Bornholdt (10), Cameron Kiser (11), Jacob Lindstrom (11), John Lindstrom (11), Sam Madden (10), Ambrose Pennycuff (11), Sam Pennycuff (11), Max Ryan (12) and Jonathan Springer (9). 

"Our top seven that will run are Jacob Lindstrom, John Lindstrom, Cam Kiser, Max Ryan, Malachiey Alvarez, Sam Pennycuff and Ambrose Pennycuff," Wannamaker said. "The other three will serve as alternates."

Trinity Catholic will head to Manhattan on Friday afternoon after a team Mass. They will then make the trip 15 miles east to Wamego on Saturday morning.

You can find all of the boys qualifiers for the 2A state meet <a href="https://kshsaa.org/Public/CrossCountry/PDF/Boys/2AQualifiers.pdf">here</a>, plus the results from the meet on Saturday can be found <a href="https://milesplit.live/meets/645235/events/4/results/F/M">here</a>.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730226591390.jpeg" alt="The Trinity Catholic Celtics cross country team earned the second straight regional title on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 at Marion. (Photo Courtesy Jarod Wannamaker)" />
 <figcaption>The Trinity Catholic Celtics cross country team earned the second straight regional title on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024 at Marion. (Photo Courtesy Jarod Wannamaker)</figcaption>
 </figure><a href="mailto:sean.boston@eaglemedia.com">SEAN BOSTON</a> Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Trinity Catholic High School cross country team has high expectations, as the Celtics prepare for the class 2A state meet on Saturday in Wamego.Trinity Catholic finished second in 2023 behind Central Heights, but are eager to claim their first state title since 2012 and their fourth overall in program history. The other two titles came in 2000 and 2002, so if the even numbers mean anything, this is the year for the Celtics."Last year we were a young team, mostly sophomores and a few juniors," Trinity Catholic head coach Jarod Wannamaker said. "They ran really well last year, so I knew exactly what we had for this year. They want it, they are doing the work, they're looking into things. They're trying to make each other better and it's all about the team. People don't understand that about cross country sometimes, it's an individual sport, but when it comes to the team aspect, that's where this team thrives. They're all happy about how they each did, but they're always wanting to know how the team did."Trinity Catholic has claimed back-to-back Heart of America league titles, plus back-to-back regional titles.The Celtics have already competed this year against the defending state champs, Central Heights."They did a pretty good job against us, but I think we're kind of a different team than we were about four weeks ago," Wannamaker said. "I'm really excited to see how our guys do against them this weekend."Wannamaker is excited about where his team is at at this point in the season."Overall we've got a really good and talented team that works well together," Wannamaker said. "We've had to overcome some illness and injuries, but I think we're handling it pretty well and I think we've got some kids who have done a really good job of giving themselves a goal and working towards them."One of those goals was a record that was recently broken."It was a 24-year old school record broken by our junior, Jacob Lindstrom," Wannamaker said. "He ran a 15:54.7 at the Sterling Invitational. He has won the last three races we have ran, he won the Sterling Invitational, he won the HOA league and then just won the regional meet."Jacob isn't the only Lindstrom on the team, as he is joined by his twin brother, John."They definitely push each other out there," Wannamaker said. "They're also their biggest fan, when one is down, the other is helping him up. They are both great athletes, but even better kids."It's not often that you get one set of twins, let alone two on the same team."We also have the Pennycuff twins who are right now around our six and seven runners, but those two push each other and it's the same dynamic there," Wannamaker said. "It's really fun watching Sam and Ambrose just pick each other up when it's not there."The Lindstrom twins have been atop of the Trinity Catholic runners the past two years."John was our No. 1 runner last year for most of the year," Wannamaker said. "Jacob would be on his heels, and he battled some hip issues and stuff like that, but it's kind of flipped this year. Jacob was a little upset with how his track season had gone, so I think he's really worked hard this season and has really come into his own these last three weeks especially. He's always had it in him to do it, but watching him at the Sterling meet and it clicked, then he's just been a different runner. I told him he had that dog in him and he never looked back and that's how he's been racing the last three weeks."When the Celtics run on Saturday at the Wamego Country Club, it'll be a course they're familiar with."We love Wamego, it's a good course, it's a tough course," Wannamaker said. "Up until this year, that's where most of our guys had gotten their PR's. We know how to run it, we enjoy the challenge that it brings, and I'm hoping that will help us get across the finish line and help us win our fourth state championship. Regardless of how we finish on Saturday, I'm very pleased with how our guys have competed this year."Another runner for the Celtics that has came on strong this year is junior Cameron Kiser. Kiser finished seventh in the 2A regional last week."He is a competitor," Wannamaker said. "I always tease him about when he was a freshman he talked about how he was doing this for basketball. I've always told people that you can be talented at running and I can coach that, but if you're competitive, I can really coach that, and I can make you better. That's where Cam is, he's one of those guys that if I tell him what we need, he will find that next level and give us that. He's got the third fastest time in school history, which he did at Sterling, he was right behind Jacob and then John was just a couple of spots behind him. Cam is definitely a competitor, a gamer, he wants to win and that's what drives him."The 10 Celtics that will make the trip to Wamego are Malachiey Alvarez (12), Dylan Bornholdt (10), Cameron Kiser (11), Jacob Lindstrom (11), John Lindstrom (11), Sam Madden (10), Ambrose Pennycuff (11), Sam Pennycuff (11), Max Ryan (12) and Jonathan Springer (9). "Our top seven that will run are Jacob Lindstrom, John Lindstrom, Cam Kiser, Max Ryan, Malachiey Alvarez, Sam Pennycuff and Ambrose Pennycuff," Wannamaker said. "The other three will serve as alternates."Trinity Catholic will head to Manhattan on Friday afternoon after a team Mass. They will then make the trip 15 miles east to Wamego on Saturday morning.You can find all of the boys qualifiers for the 2A state meet <a href="https://kshsaa.org/Public/CrossCountry/PDF/Boys/2AQualifiers.pdf">here</a>, plus the results from the meet on Saturday can be found <a href="https://milesplit.live/meets/645235/events/4/results/F/M">here</a>.&nbsp;

👟 Lindstrom twins lead Trinity Catholic to 2A state meet

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — On Halloween, injuries can be just as scary as ghosts and ghouls but are much more real. Pedestrian accidents, falls, burns and poisonings are just a few of the common injuries that occur on this particular night. The good news is they are preventable.

"It's getting darker earlier," Sage said. "Children are out on the streets, walking on sidewalks and crossing streets at a time of day that is not typical for us to see. They may be in dark costumes. They're very excited and distracted."

Because the trick-or-treaters are distracted, drivers must be extra vigilant.

"Drivers have the responsibility to slow down and be especially alert in our residential neighborhoods," Sage said. "Children are really excited. They are thinking about the next house they are going to go to. They may move in very unpredictable ways. You just need to be prepared for that. That also means you need to eliminate any distractions in your car. Please put those cell phones down and make sure that you're really looking at the road in front of you and your surroundings, that you're paying particular attention as you are turning at intersections or entering and exiting driveways or going through any alleyways. Really be on alert for those kids."

Review safety rules with your kids before they leave the house. Trick-or-treaters are often out when it’s dark and more difficult for drivers to see them. Children younger than age 12 should not be crossing streets alone on Halloween without an adult or responsible teenager.

"We also want to make sure that kids and drivers don't even have a lot of opportunity to interact," Sage said. "Make sure kids are staying on the sidewalk whenever possible. Remind them not to cut through yards. There might be hazards in their lawn that they may not be able to see at night and be aware of. Stick to the sidewalk. If you don't have sidewalks where you are walking, then make sure that you are walking toward traffic, so people can see your face and walk as close to the side of the road as possible."

Remind children to be careful with candy. It’s hard to resist the temptation to dive right into treats, but it is best to check sweets before children are allowed to eat them. Only eat treats in original and unopened wrappers. Also, be aware kids are in a candy-seeking mode, so keep medicine locked up and away and keep the Poison Help number programmed into your phone. That number is 800-222-1222.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730204799110.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — On Halloween, injuries can be just as scary as ghosts and ghouls but are much more real. Pedestrian accidents, falls, burns and poisonings are just a few of the common injuries that occur on this particular night. The good news is they are preventable."It's getting darker earlier," Sage said. "Children are out on the streets, walking on sidewalks and crossing streets at a time of day that is not typical for us to see. They may be in dark costumes. They're very excited and distracted."Because the trick-or-treaters are distracted, drivers must be extra vigilant."Drivers have the responsibility to slow down and be especially alert in our residential neighborhoods," Sage said. "Children are really excited. They are thinking about the next house they are going to go to. They may move in very unpredictable ways. You just need to be prepared for that. That also means you need to eliminate any distractions in your car. Please put those cell phones down and make sure that you're really looking at the road in front of you and your surroundings, that you're paying particular attention as you are turning at intersections or entering and exiting driveways or going through any alleyways. Really be on alert for those kids."Review safety rules with your kids before they leave the house. Trick-or-treaters are often out when it’s dark and more difficult for drivers to see them. Children younger than age 12 should not be crossing streets alone on Halloween without an adult or responsible teenager."We also want to make sure that kids and drivers don't even have a lot of opportunity to interact," Sage said. "Make sure kids are staying on the sidewalk whenever possible. Remind them not to cut through yards. There might be hazards in their lawn that they may not be able to see at night and be aware of. Stick to the sidewalk. If you don't have sidewalks where you are walking, then make sure that you are walking toward traffic, so people can see your face and walk as close to the side of the road as possible."Remind children to be careful with candy. It’s hard to resist the temptation to dive right into treats, but it is best to check sweets before children are allowed to eat them. Only eat treats in original and unopened wrappers. Also, be aware kids are in a candy-seeking mode, so keep medicine locked up and away and keep the Poison Help number programmed into your phone. That number is 800-222-1222.

Halloween safety about attention

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — If you haven't researched your ballot yet for the Nov. 5 election, Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said you can look those things up online.

"You can go to <a href="https://sos.ks.gov/elections/elections.html">votekansas.gov</a> and <a href="https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/voterview">click on Voter View</a>. You can see a sample ballot. You can also see where your polling place is and how to contact your local election office. If you do an advance mail ballot, you can track there to make sure they received your application, make sure the ballot came out, make sure the ballot got back and things like that as well."

Recently, Schwab had a conversation with the Postmaster General about making sure that election mail is taken care of properly.&nbsp;

"We were very frustrated for several weeks that we were not getting an answer from the United States Post Office," Schwab said. "Finally, Postmaster General DeJoy called me on his personal cell phone and said can we walk through this? They treat the general election different than they treat the primary election. They're gonna do better for the general election, but they're not going to be stellar and it's not his fault. Congress has to decide if the post office is going to be a business unit or just a function of government that doesn't make money and they get stuck. There's a lot of things Congress can't decide on right now. Add that one to the list."

Schwab still recommends that if you did get an advance mail ballot, drop it in the drop box at the Reno County Annex.&nbsp;

"Just put it at the county office where it's handled by your neighbors, one from each party," Schwab said. "Then, it's within the ballot custody laws of Kansas as opposed to the policies and procedures of the United States Postal Service."

Advance voting continues at the Annex during regular business hours and there will also be voting until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2. Advance voting closes at noon on Nov. 4.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/5/1716318291592.jpeg" alt="Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab" />
 <figcaption>Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — If you haven't researched your ballot yet for the Nov. 5 election, Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab said you can look those things up online."You can go to <a href="https://sos.ks.gov/elections/elections.html">votekansas.gov</a> and <a href="https://myvoteinfo.voteks.org/voterview">click on Voter View</a>. You can see a sample ballot. You can also see where your polling place is and how to contact your local election office. If you do an advance mail ballot, you can track there to make sure they received your application, make sure the ballot came out, make sure the ballot got back and things like that as well."Recently, Schwab had a conversation with the Postmaster General about making sure that election mail is taken care of properly.&nbsp;"We were very frustrated for several weeks that we were not getting an answer from the United States Post Office," Schwab said. "Finally, Postmaster General DeJoy called me on his personal cell phone and said can we walk through this? They treat the general election different than they treat the primary election. They're gonna do better for the general election, but they're not going to be stellar and it's not his fault. Congress has to decide if the post office is going to be a business unit or just a function of government that doesn't make money and they get stuck. There's a lot of things Congress can't decide on right now. Add that one to the list."Schwab still recommends that if you did get an advance mail ballot, drop it in the drop box at the Reno County Annex.&nbsp;"Just put it at the county office where it's handled by your neighbors, one from each party," Schwab said. "Then, it's within the ballot custody laws of Kansas as opposed to the policies and procedures of the United States Postal Service."Advance voting continues at the Annex during regular business hours and there will also be voting until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 30 and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2. Advance voting closes at noon on Nov. 4.

Ballot research available online

NEWTON, Kan. —&nbsp;In a presentation to the Harvey County Commission on Tuesday, Tim Boese said that the Equus Beds GWD 2 has had quite a bit of water usage in recent drought years in comparison to the average.

"Our 2022 usage was 238,000 acre-feet," Boese said. "I don't have the 2023 data, I'm working on compiling that, but our averages over, let's say, the last 30, 31 years have been about 177,000 acre-feet. Irrigation is usually in around 60% to 65% municipal, somewhere in the 20%, 20% to 25% industrial, in the 10% to 15%, and then other users, which are generally recreational, stock water, contamination, remediation, those sorts of things, make up less than 5%."

With that said, Boese also noted that most parts of the district can recharge fairly well when they do get rain. To illustrate this, he showed the commission maps that compare the distance to water back in 1940 to the distance in the last few years.

"Our area has been mostly, again, plus or minus 10 to 20 feet," Boese said. "Some areas are actually higher than was recorded. Some are slightly lower."

The last 20 years are pretty close to the same, as well.

"You can again see we're basically in the plus or minus, roughly about 5 feet, 5 to 10 feet over the last 20 years in our district," Boese said.

Boese also noted that state water plan fund money is not how the districts are funded. They actually get money from those that have the water rights. They pay an assessment per acre foot of what they're permitted or what they use, so the total budget for GMD 2 is between $750,000 and $800,000 annually, so if they are to do some of their long-term projects, they will need help from local and state governments to set aside funds for their future needs.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1712865557187.jpg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostNEWTON, Kan. —&nbsp;In a presentation to the Harvey County Commission on Tuesday, Tim Boese said that the Equus Beds GWD 2 has had quite a bit of water usage in recent drought years in comparison to the average."Our 2022 usage was 238,000 acre-feet," Boese said. "I don't have the 2023 data, I'm working on compiling that, but our averages over, let's say, the last 30, 31 years have been about 177,000 acre-feet. Irrigation is usually in around 60% to 65% municipal, somewhere in the 20%, 20% to 25% industrial, in the 10% to 15%, and then other users, which are generally recreational, stock water, contamination, remediation, those sorts of things, make up less than 5%."With that said, Boese also noted that most parts of the district can recharge fairly well when they do get rain. To illustrate this, he showed the commission maps that compare the distance to water back in 1940 to the distance in the last few years."Our area has been mostly, again, plus or minus 10 to 20 feet," Boese said. "Some areas are actually higher than was recorded. Some are slightly lower."The last 20 years are pretty close to the same, as well."You can again see we're basically in the plus or minus, roughly about 5 feet, 5 to 10 feet over the last 20 years in our district," Boese said.Boese also noted that state water plan fund money is not how the districts are funded. They actually get money from those that have the water rights. They pay an assessment per acre foot of what they're permitted or what they use, so the total budget for GMD 2 is between $750,000 and $800,000 annually, so if they are to do some of their long-term projects, they will need help from local and state governments to set aside funds for their future needs.

Boese explains state of GMD 2 to Harvey Co. Commission

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;

10/29/2024 8:26 PM-Trevor	Mark Hover-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Drugs; Distribute Opiates/Opium/Narcotic (Cocaine, Crack, Amphetamine); 3.5g to &lt; 100g; Drugs; Paraphernalia; Sell/Distribute/Possess for illegal use; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv&nbsp;

10/29/2024 6:41 PM-Kaylee	Marie Wagner-Failure to Appear&nbsp;

10/29/2024 6:32 PM-Angel	Antonio Estrada III-Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000&nbsp;

10/29/2024 6:30 PM-Caden	Allen Regier-Failure to Appear

10/29/2024 6:17 PM-Pilar	Aissa Cabral-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Drugs; Distribute Opiates/Opium/Narcotic (Cocaine, Crack, Amphetamine); 3.5g to &lt; 100g; Drugs; Distribute, Market, Possess w/ intent to distribute a precursor for unlawful use; Poss of THC; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Failure to Appear

10/29/2024 4:36 PM-Anthony	Wayne Ryan-Probation Violation

10/29/2024 11:15 AM-Danielle	Dae Lesser-Operate a MV w/o a valid license

<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; &nbsp;10/29/2024 8:26 PM-Trevor	Mark Hover-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Drugs; Distribute Opiates/Opium/Narcotic (Cocaine, Crack, Amphetamine); 3.5g to &lt; 100g; Drugs; Paraphernalia; Sell/Distribute/Possess for illegal use; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv&nbsp;10/29/2024 6:41 PM-Kaylee	Marie Wagner-Failure to Appear&nbsp;10/29/2024 6:32 PM-Angel	Antonio Estrada III-Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000&nbsp;10/29/2024 6:30 PM-Caden	Allen Regier-Failure to Appear10/29/2024 6:17 PM-Pilar	Aissa Cabral-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Drugs; Distribute Opiates/Opium/Narcotic (Cocaine, Crack, Amphetamine); 3.5g to &lt; 100g; Drugs; Distribute, Market, Possess w/ intent to distribute a precursor for unlawful use; Poss of THC; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Failure to Appear10/29/2024 4:36 PM-Anthony	Wayne Ryan-Probation Violation10/29/2024 11:15 AM-Danielle	Dae Lesser-Operate a MV w/o a valid license

Daily Bookings

There are currently three ongoing fires along K-96 between Hutchinson and Maize that crews are battling.&nbsp;

The left lanes of both directions may be blocked while fire crews work to put out these fires, so please be cautious while traveling either way.

There is an ongoing <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/749b9052-aea0-48c6-9a7f-3ec55c679eb0">Wind Advisory</a> through 1 a.m. Wednesday.

Check back with Hutch Post as more information becomes available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730236252430.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Pat James" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Pat James</figcaption>
 </figure>There are currently three ongoing fires along K-96 between Hutchinson and Maize that crews are battling.&nbsp;The left lanes of both directions may be blocked while fire crews work to put out these fires, so please be cautious while traveling either way.There is an ongoing <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/749b9052-aea0-48c6-9a7f-3ec55c679eb0">Wind Advisory</a> through 1 a.m. Wednesday.Check back with Hutch Post as more information becomes available.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1730236389900.jpeg" alt="Photo Courtesy Pat James" />
 <figcaption>Photo Courtesy Pat James</figcaption>
 </figure>

Crews battling fires along K-96 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas notes that the seasonal tumble of prices at the pump is happening again in 2024. 

"We've been in a trend here the last several weeks of gas prices falling back as well, Steward said. "We've seen a decline in the past week here in Kansas of three cents. We're now at $2.78 a gallon for the average price, and if you're filling up in Reno County, you've got the lowest price in Kansas at $2.59 a gallon. So 20 states right now across the country are sub-$3 on their average gas price."

Other area counties are on either side of the state average.

"During the summer, there are government regulations that require a summer blend of gasoline that is less susceptible to creating air pollution," Steward said. "That's more expensive to produce, and that's required to be in the gas pumps during the summer months. But when we get into the fall, we go back to the so-called winter blend, and that usually knocks prices down a little bit, because it is less expensive to refine."

The parts of the U.S. with offshore oil have generally been spared the worst of hurricane damage this season, as well.

"The major refineries in the Gulf have generally stayed free of any damage or outages," Steward said. "When there is a hurricane that comes through, it can knock out power in that area. Gas pumps obviously can't work if there's no power. So we've seen some of that in the southeast U.S. But fortunately, no refining production operations have been impacted in any serious way."

For the latest information on gas prices, go to <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=KS">gasprices.aaa.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/9/1631897543449.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. —&nbsp;Shawn Steward with AAA Kansas notes that the seasonal tumble of prices at the pump is happening again in 2024. "We've been in a trend here the last several weeks of gas prices falling back as well, Steward said. "We've seen a decline in the past week here in Kansas of three cents. We're now at $2.78 a gallon for the average price, and if you're filling up in Reno County, you've got the lowest price in Kansas at $2.59 a gallon. So 20 states right now across the country are sub-$3 on their average gas price."Other area counties are on either side of the state average.McPherson $2.72Harvey $2.70Sedgwick $2.85Kingman $2.93Pratt $2.93Stafford $2.94Rice $2.90"During the summer, there are government regulations that require a summer blend of gasoline that is less susceptible to creating air pollution," Steward said. "That's more expensive to produce, and that's required to be in the gas pumps during the summer months. But when we get into the fall, we go back to the so-called winter blend, and that usually knocks prices down a little bit, because it is less expensive to refine."The parts of the U.S. with offshore oil have generally been spared the worst of hurricane damage this season, as well."The major refineries in the Gulf have generally stayed free of any damage or outages," Steward said. "When there is a hurricane that comes through, it can knock out power in that area. Gas pumps obviously can't work if there's no power. So we've seen some of that in the southeast U.S. But fortunately, no refining production operations have been impacted in any serious way."For the latest information on gas prices, go to <a href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=KS">gasprices.aaa.com</a>.

Gas prices fall back ahead of standard time

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — There are just a few days left to contribute to Ineeda Cleaners Coats for Kids drive this year. 

The donations will be delivered to the Hutchinson Salvation Army for distribution in early November.

The store will take donations until Oct. 31.&nbsp;

Inneda Cleaners is located at 1224 N. Main St. in Hutchinson. More information about the business is&nbsp;available at&nbsp;<a href="http://ineedacleaners.com/">ineedacleaners.com</a>&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1727972769846.jpeg" alt="Ineeda Cleaners is the drop off location for the Coats for Kids drive, now through Oct. 31. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)" />
 <figcaption>Ineeda Cleaners is the drop off location for the Coats for Kids drive, now through Oct. 31. (Hutch Post Photo/Sean Boston)</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — There are just a few days left to contribute to Ineeda Cleaners Coats for Kids drive this year. The donations will be delivered to the Hutchinson Salvation Army for distribution in early November.The store will take donations until Oct. 31.&nbsp;Inneda Cleaners is located at 1224 N. Main St. in Hutchinson. More information about the business is&nbsp;available at&nbsp;<a href="http://ineedacleaners.com/">ineedacleaners.com</a>&nbsp;

Coats for Kids drive wraps up Thursday

Hutch Post is still taking submissions for this list. If your group has an event that isn't on here, send it our way at <a href="http://hutchpost@eaglemedia.com">hutchpost@eaglemedia.com</a>.

'The Shining' movie at the Hutchinson Public Library-901 N. Main St. 5:15 p.m.

Uptown Hutch-1500 East 11th 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Saint Francis-501 North Monroe 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/10/1698785642670.jpeg" alt="Photo by Emmie Boese" />
 <figcaption>Photo by Emmie Boese</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutch Post is still taking submissions for this list. If your group has an event that isn't on here, send it our way at <a href="http://hutchpost@eaglemedia.com">hutchpost@eaglemedia.com</a>.Wednesday, Oct. 30'The Shining' movie at the Hutchinson Public Library-901 N. Main St. 5:15 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 31Uptown Hutch-1500 East 11th 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.Saint Francis-501 North Monroe 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.Hutchinson Health and Rehab 5 p.m.Fairgrounds Parking Lot 7 p.m.Saturday, Nov. 2Fall Fest at Bethany Nazarene 6-8 p.m.

Halloween Trunk or Treat list

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;

10/28/2024 11:47 PM-Season	S Johhny-DUI; Misdemeanor; DL Violation; No Drivers License; Alcohol; Illegal Transportation of Alcoholic Beverage&nbsp;

10/28/2024 7:59 PM-Seth	Jamison Ward-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Endangerment; Recklessly expose another to a danger of great bodily harm or death

10/28/2024 6:26 PM-Courtney	James Stuart-Probation Violation

10/28/2024 6:21 PM-Alexus	Ann Canady-Failure to Appear; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Endangerment; Recklessly expose another to a danger of great bodily harm or death&nbsp;

10/28/2024 6:11 PM-Joshua	Lee Ruiz-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Criminal Trespass; Posted or Locked Premises	$5,750.00	10/28/2024	2024-00043550		2024-00002757	119	Aguilera	false

10/28/2024 5:30 PM-Ryan	Allen Currie-Probation Violation&nbsp;

10/28/2024 3:40 PM-Benjamin	Dewayne Bolden-Ignition Interlock Device; Operate MV without device during restriction; Insurance; Fail to maintain liability insurance

10/28/2024 12:28 PM-Christian	Armando Contreras Munoz-Failure to Appear

10/28/2024 12:04 PM-Tori	Tennille Randle-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body

10/28/2024 9:56 AM-Douglas	Xavier Henderson-Failure to Appear; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;

10/28/2024 8:12 AM-Johnathon	Theodore Carson-Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv&nbsp;

10/28/2024 4:25 AM-Robert	Leo Tibbits-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; DUI; 1st conv; drugs or combination of drugs

10/28/2024 3:26 AM-Lucas	Isaiah Mattew Bolen-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;&nbsp;10/28/2024 11:47 PM-Season	S Johhny-DUI; Misdemeanor; DL Violation; No Drivers License; Alcohol; Illegal Transportation of Alcoholic Beverage&nbsp;10/28/2024 7:59 PM-Seth	Jamison Ward-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Endangerment; Recklessly expose another to a danger of great bodily harm or death10/28/2024 6:26 PM-Courtney	James Stuart-Probation Violation10/28/2024 6:21 PM-Alexus	Ann Canady-Failure to Appear; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Endangerment; Recklessly expose another to a danger of great bodily harm or death&nbsp;10/28/2024 6:11 PM-Joshua	Lee Ruiz-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; Criminal Trespass; Posted or Locked Premises	$5,750.00	10/28/2024	2024-00043550		2024-00002757	119	Aguilera	false10/28/2024 5:30 PM-Ryan	Allen Currie-Probation Violation&nbsp;10/28/2024 3:40 PM-Benjamin	Dewayne Bolden-Ignition Interlock Device; Operate MV without device during restriction; Insurance; Fail to maintain liability insurance10/28/2024 12:28 PM-Christian	Armando Contreras Munoz-Failure to Appear10/28/2024 12:04 PM-Tori	Tennille Randle-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body10/28/2024 9:56 AM-Douglas	Xavier Henderson-Failure to Appear; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;10/28/2024 8:12 AM-Johnathon	Theodore Carson-Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv&nbsp;10/28/2024 4:25 AM-Robert	Leo Tibbits-Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body; DUI; 1st conv; drugs or combination of drugs10/28/2024 3:26 AM-Lucas	Isaiah Mattew Bolen-Failure to Appear

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced the second round of funding for the Drug Endangered Children in Kansas (DECK) program. The first round of funding, awarded in October 2023, included 18 communities. With the additional funding, there will be a total of 29 DECK grantees across the state receiving a total of $3 million. The funding is part of a grant KDHE received from the U.S. Department of Justice. 

“Providing resources and assistance to stop the impact of drug addiction on Kansas children is critical,” KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said. “This funding increases awareness and allows us to establish important partnerships with the justice system and behavioral health and public health practitioners across the state.”

Drug endangered children are those who are at risk of suffering physical, mental or emotional harm as a result of substance misuse by a parent or caregiver. They may also be children whose caretaker’s substance use interferes with the ability to parent and provide a safe and nurturing home.

An estimated 165,847 Kansas children are living in environments where their parent or caregiver uses substances. In addition, approximately 3,781 infants are born exposed to substances in Kansas each year. The goal of DECK is to reduce the number of children who experience environments where substances are used by increasing identification of and improving the response to these children.

The Hutch Post area organizations receiving funding include:

Central Kansas Partnership — $50,000 ($130,000 previous award) (Rice and Barton Counties)

Harvey County Health Department — $50,000 award ($130,000 previous)

McPherson County Health Department — $96,400 award

Rise Up Reno Prevention Network — $50,000 award ($122,000 previous)

This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA-22-GG-04475-COAP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

For more information about the DECK project, visit DECK website at <a href="http://Kansas-dec.org">Kansas-dec.org</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1713303526303.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) announced the second round of funding for the Drug Endangered Children in Kansas (DECK) program. The first round of funding, awarded in October 2023, included 18 communities. With the additional funding, there will be a total of 29 DECK grantees across the state receiving a total of $3 million. The funding is part of a grant KDHE received from the U.S. Department of Justice. “Providing resources and assistance to stop the impact of drug addiction on Kansas children is critical,” KDHE Secretary Janet Stanek said. “This funding increases awareness and allows us to establish important partnerships with the justice system and behavioral health and public health practitioners across the state.”Drug endangered children are those who are at risk of suffering physical, mental or emotional harm as a result of substance misuse by a parent or caregiver. They may also be children whose caretaker’s substance use interferes with the ability to parent and provide a safe and nurturing home.An estimated 165,847 Kansas children are living in environments where their parent or caregiver uses substances. In addition, approximately 3,781 infants are born exposed to substances in Kansas each year. The goal of DECK is to reduce the number of children who experience environments where substances are used by increasing identification of and improving the response to these children.The Hutch Post area organizations receiving funding include:Central Kansas Partnership — $50,000 ($130,000 previous award) (Rice and Barton Counties)Harvey County Health Department — $50,000 award ($130,000 previous)McPherson County Health Department — $96,400 awardRise Up Reno Prevention Network — $50,000 award ($122,000 previous)This project was supported by Grant No. 15PBJA-22-GG-04475-COAP awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and the SMART Office. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.For more information about the DECK project, visit DECK website at <a href="http://Kansas-dec.org">Kansas-dec.org</a>.

KDHE announces more DECK funding

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Allen Samuels CDJR Teacher of the Month for October, Angela Ediger, teaches four-year-olds at South Hutchinson Elementary. She told Hutch Post that social skills are the foundation of getting these kids ready to learn.

"The biggest thing is teaching them the social skills," Ediger said. "That's the biggest part of it. Otherwise, you're not going to get anywhere with anything else. All we work on in the first nine weeks is social skills. So they're learning how to navigate their world and navigate 19 other students, learning how to follow directions and resolving conflict in a positive way. They're also learning how to just learn how to be independent within the boundaries of a school environment."

Letting the kids get to know each other in smaller groups also helps, especially for some kids whose families may not speak English as the primary language at home.

"We create our centers all around movement between different groups of kiddos," Ediger said. "They'll be with the same group for one week and then move into a different group for the next week during centers. And that's all about different language opportunities, different developmental levels, and the movement forward in each of those, so those kiddos that have English as a second language are presented a multitude of opportunities to learn from their peers, as well from the different teachers, because I have two paras in my room, so those opportunities are constantly rotating, which provides differentiation for each of those kiddos."

Ediger has been in this area of education for 25 years, and she still has positive memories when she looks at the progress these kids make each year.

"I love watching them come in and kind of being the baby and having mom and dad do things for them, having them look at mom and dad if a question is asked of them or if they're asked to do something, they automatically look at mom and dad. Then in May, they know how to do exactly what they need to do, and if a question is asked, they automatically they know how to think through it and answer. If they're asked to do something, they know how to process that and figure it out on their own, and they have that confidence. They don't feel like they have to look at mom and dad. They can figure it out on their own because they know they can do it."

Ediger's class received a treat thanks to Pizza Hut and Braums to commemorate her award.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729904805724.jpeg" alt="Angela Ediger from South Hutch Elementary is the October 2024 Allen Samuels CDJR Teacher of the Month." />
 <figcaption>Angela Ediger from South Hutch Elementary is the October 2024 Allen Samuels CDJR Teacher of the Month.</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Allen Samuels CDJR Teacher of the Month for October, Angela Ediger, teaches four-year-olds at South Hutchinson Elementary. She told Hutch Post that social skills are the foundation of getting these kids ready to learn."The biggest thing is teaching them the social skills," Ediger said. "That's the biggest part of it. Otherwise, you're not going to get anywhere with anything else. All we work on in the first nine weeks is social skills. So they're learning how to navigate their world and navigate 19 other students, learning how to follow directions and resolving conflict in a positive way. They're also learning how to just learn how to be independent within the boundaries of a school environment."Letting the kids get to know each other in smaller groups also helps, especially for some kids whose families may not speak English as the primary language at home.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729904888843.jpeg" alt="Mrs. Ediger's class at South Hutchinson Elementary." />
 <figcaption>Mrs. Ediger's class at South Hutchinson Elementary.</figcaption>
 </figure>"We create our centers all around movement between different groups of kiddos," Ediger said. "They'll be with the same group for one week and then move into a different group for the next week during centers. And that's all about different language opportunities, different developmental levels, and the movement forward in each of those, so those kiddos that have English as a second language are presented a multitude of opportunities to learn from their peers, as well from the different teachers, because I have two paras in my room, so those opportunities are constantly rotating, which provides differentiation for each of those kiddos."Ediger has been in this area of education for 25 years, and she still has positive memories when she looks at the progress these kids make each year."I love watching them come in and kind of being the baby and having mom and dad do things for them, having them look at mom and dad if a question is asked of them or if they're asked to do something, they automatically look at mom and dad. Then in May, they know how to do exactly what they need to do, and if a question is asked, they automatically they know how to think through it and answer. If they're asked to do something, they know how to process that and figure it out on their own, and they have that confidence. They don't feel like they have to look at mom and dad. They can figure it out on their own because they know they can do it."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729905072501.jpeg" alt="Ediger's class received ice cream from Braums as part of her award for Teacher of the Month." />
 <figcaption>Ediger's class received ice cream from Braums as part of her award for Teacher of the Month.</figcaption>
 </figure>Ediger's class received a treat thanks to Pizza Hut and Braums to commemorate her award.

Ediger is Teacher of the 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;

10/27/2024 11:50 PM-Chase	Bradley Myrtle-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (2nd conviction in 5 yrs);Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000; Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry manner&nbsp;

10/27/2024 11:01 PM-Kaalisha	Lsherri Thomas-Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv; Insurance; Fail to maintain liability insurance&nbsp;

10/27/2024 3:08 PM-Rider	Jason Morse-Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000

10/27/2024 4:02 AM-Scott	Allan Angell-DUI; 2nd conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+&nbsp;

<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;10/27/2024 11:50 PM-Chase	Bradley Myrtle-Domestic Battery; Knowingly Cause Physical Contact (2nd conviction in 5 yrs);Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000; Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry manner&nbsp;10/27/2024 11:01 PM-Kaalisha	Lsherri Thomas-Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv; Insurance; Fail to maintain liability insurance&nbsp;10/27/2024 3:08 PM-Rider	Jason Morse-Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,00010/27/2024 4:02 AM-Scott	Allan Angell-DUI; 2nd conv; comp evidence of blood/breath .08+&nbsp;

🏐 State tournament seeding and schedules for all 7 classes

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Police's Ian McIntire is the Allen Samuels CDJR Hero of the Month for October. He told Hutch Post that he wanted to make the community safer, and that's why he joined the department.&nbsp;

"I think for me, what surprised me the most is the citizens truly do care about law enforcement," McIntire said. "They appreciate what we do and kind of go above and beyond to help us with what we need, the majority of them."

Law enforcement isn't a job for anyone, it's a calling for those who make that choice.

"A change like that comes from the heart," McIntire said. "If you have a passion for helping people, then it's a great opportunity to get involved within your community."

His family of five makes it possible for him to put on the badge and go to work for the rest of Hutchinson, and he appreciates that.

"The family sacrifices a lot, but they also, you know, understand what's important," McIntire said. "They are totally on board with everything that we do."

An honorable mention this month goes to a future first responder, Madison Suppes, a nursing student at HutchCC.&nbsp;

Suppes was nominated by Karla Bretz. A portion of her nomination text is in italics below.

"Madison went above &amp; beyond a person's expectations. My husband had a stent done due to a heart attack. He was admitted due to the situation. Madison Suppes was leaving work and I was in the lobby crying. This young lady sat beside me and offered me tissues and asked if I needed company. Hutchinson Hospital needs to know what an asset they have in this young lady. She is in the Nursing program at HutchCC. I was treated with dignity &amp; respect. I felt like an angel was with me as I waited, No questions, just sympathy from her heart got me through this terrible ordeal. Madison stayed with me an hour and a half. I would not have been able to have handled it without her. I know this young lady is spectacular, I wish her the best in each and everything she chooses for her career, I hope that if I myself was in medical need , Madison would be my chosen nurse for my care and needs. Her personality and her caring heart makes no obstacle too big, meeting her that day I felt I was not with a stranger."

Congratulations to both for going the extra mile for those in need.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729903123637.jpeg" alt="Ian McIntire is the Hero of the Month from Allen Samuels CDJR for October. " />
 <figcaption>Ian McIntire is the Hero of the Month from Allen Samuels CDJR for October. </figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Police's Ian McIntire is the Allen Samuels CDJR Hero of the Month for October. He told Hutch Post that he wanted to make the community safer, and that's why he joined the department.&nbsp;"I think for me, what surprised me the most is the citizens truly do care about law enforcement," McIntire said. "They appreciate what we do and kind of go above and beyond to help us with what we need, the majority of them."Law enforcement isn't a job for anyone, it's a calling for those who make that choice."A change like that comes from the heart," McIntire said. "If you have a passion for helping people, then it's a great opportunity to get involved within your community."His family of five makes it possible for him to put on the badge and go to work for the rest of Hutchinson, and he appreciates that."The family sacrifices a lot, but they also, you know, understand what's important," McIntire said. "They are totally on board with everything that we do."An honorable mention this month goes to a future first responder, Madison Suppes, a nursing student at HutchCC.&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729902872447.jpeg" alt="Madison Suppes was recognized for her compassion as a future first responder by Allen Samuels CDJR and Eagle Media in October." />
 <figcaption>Madison Suppes was recognized for her compassion as a future first responder by Allen Samuels CDJR and Eagle Media in October.</figcaption>
 </figure>Suppes was nominated by Karla Bretz. A portion of her nomination text is in italics below."Madison went above &amp; beyond a person's expectations. My husband had a stent done due to a heart attack. He was admitted due to the situation. Madison Suppes was leaving work and I was in the lobby crying. This young lady sat beside me and offered me tissues and asked if I needed company. Hutchinson Hospital needs to know what an asset they have in this young lady. She is in the Nursing program at HutchCC. I was treated with dignity &amp; respect. I felt like an angel was with me as I waited, No questions, just sympathy from her heart got me through this terrible ordeal. Madison stayed with me an hour and a half. I would not have been able to have handled it without her. I know this young lady is spectacular, I wish her the best in each and everything she chooses for her career, I hope that if I myself was in medical need , Madison would be my chosen nurse for my care and needs. Her personality and her caring heart makes no obstacle too big, meeting her that day I felt I was not with a stranger."Congratulations to both for going the extra mile for those in need.

First responder glad to be part of 'brotherhood'

BOB KENYON Special to Hutch Post

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — I have a contract to buy a house near the airport in Hutch. My previous plan was to build a fully electric Net Zero house in The Highlands, KS. What is a Net Zero house you ask - it’s a house which produces as much electricity as it consumes. Hence, the net is zero. The plan was to build a super efficient house with massive insulation and a 15 kw solar system from King Solar in Yoder, KS (<a href="http://www.kingsolar.net">www.kingsolar.net</a>). The stovetop would be induction, all light bulbs LED, every appliance Energy Star certified. We’d have 17” of insulation in the attic for an R value of 50. Windows would be super high quality, possibly triple pane. Perhaps geothermal heating/cooling. We planned to install a couple Tesla Powerwall batteries in the garage to hold power for nighttime and attempt to avoid ever pulling from the grid. The goal was two-fold: if we never had to pay for heating, cooling, charging our Lightning truck or any electrical needs, the retirement budget would be more comfortable. Secondly, we’re trying to avoid putting any carbon in the air. If you don’t pull electricity from the grid, you don’t cause the power company to burn more coal.

Life sometimes throws a curve at you and when we got down to hard numbers with the builder, the cost was just too high. The realtor who sold us the lot in The Highlands,&nbsp;found us a house in Hutch with solar, which was under budget so we pivoted. Another reason to change plans was the difference in how the two electric companies involved deal with solar. Net metering pretty much means the electric meter dial spins in both directions. If on a sunny mild Fall day you produce 60 kWh and consume 30 kWh, you bank the extra 30 kWh for another day. The house we were going to build was going to have a 15 kw solar system and the house we’re buying has a 10.5 kw system. A 10 kw solar system will produce 10 kWh every hour the sun is shining. A day with 6 hours of sun will produce 60 kWh. A typical house will consume 35 kWh per day so with at least 3.5 hours of sun per day, you’re good to go - zero power bills. Charging our Lightning truck can consume as much as 100 kWh so that’s another issue. Evergy serves Hutch and offers net metering which is preferable in our case.

The Highlands is served by Ark Valley Co-op for electricity. They do not offer net metering but rather use parallel metering if you have solar. That means there are two readings on the meter - one for electricity coming in and one for electricity going out.

The kicker is that you pay retail for what you use and are compensated for what you return at wholesale * 1.5. Because Ark Valley is not-for-profit, they are immune from the&nbsp;law that requires power companies to offer net metering. That was another factor in&nbsp;deciding not to build in The Highlands. We were going to buy expensive batteries in The Highlands to avoid pulling from the grid at night. With Evergy, the grid essentially serves as your battery, you put the excess in the grid and pull it out at a later time and use your&nbsp;credit.

A few notes about net metering. In Maryland, I had friends with solar who would receive&nbsp;a check every April first if they produced more electricity than they consumed for the year - sounds reasonable. Early in my research I found that in Kansas, any credit is zeroed out April 1 - just gone. But wait - it gets worse. It is now the policy that any new solar system installed can bank any extra day to day, however it gets zeroed out at the&nbsp;end of every month. If I produce more zucchini than I consume in a month and someone just takes away the excess, that seems like theft to me. I digress. Fortunately a law was just passed that grandfathers me into the rollover month to month policy because the system was installed many years ago. I’ll still lose any excess April 1. April fools indeed.

I had the house appraised before making an offer. We asked the appraiser if the solar was considered in the valuation of the house. She indicated she had very little data but in general she did not add value to the house due to the solar. Some people might want&nbsp;to avoid it so it could be considered a negative value. I consider it a huge asset given that it would probably cost me around $40,000 to add this system. I’m getting a “free” system and no electric bill over $14.25. Seems like a winner to me.

The sellers shared with me their Evergy bill which shows that nearly 3,000 kWh have been banked. The minimum cost to be connected to Evergy is $14.25/month and that’s&nbsp;all they ever pay. The minimum monthly fee for Ark Valley is $50/month.

They used 268 kWh and produced 878 kWh so they added 610 kWh to their total of 2,954 kWh&nbsp;banked.

So back to the original question: Am I about to buy a Net Zero house? Well, according to the definition of producing more than you consume, yes, this presently is a Net Zero house.

However, it is not fully electric and the sellers didn’t have an EV charging in the garage. If our goal is to have zero carbon footprint, we need to consider the natural gas furnace and water heater. If I flip them both to electric, will it still be Net Zero? Only time will tell.

<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 Hutch.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729690809614.png" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>BOB KENYON Special to Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — I have a contract to buy a house near the airport in Hutch. My previous plan was to build a fully electric Net Zero house in The Highlands, KS. What is a Net Zero house you ask - it’s a house which produces as much electricity as it consumes. Hence, the net is zero. The plan was to build a super efficient house with massive insulation and a 15 kw solar system from King Solar in Yoder, KS (<a href="http://www.kingsolar.net">www.kingsolar.net</a>). The stovetop would be induction, all light bulbs LED, every appliance Energy Star certified. We’d have 17” of insulation in the attic for an R value of 50. Windows would be super high quality, possibly triple pane. Perhaps geothermal heating/cooling. We planned to install a couple Tesla Powerwall batteries in the garage to hold power for nighttime and attempt to avoid ever pulling from the grid. The goal was two-fold: if we never had to pay for heating, cooling, charging our Lightning truck or any electrical needs, the retirement budget would be more comfortable. Secondly, we’re trying to avoid putting any carbon in the air. If you don’t pull electricity from the grid, you don’t cause the power company to burn more coal.Life sometimes throws a curve at you and when we got down to hard numbers with the builder, the cost was just too high. The realtor who sold us the lot in The Highlands,&nbsp;found us a house in Hutch with solar, which was under budget so we pivoted. Another reason to change plans was the difference in how the two electric companies involved deal with solar. Net metering pretty much means the electric meter dial spins in both directions. If on a sunny mild Fall day you produce 60 kWh and consume 30 kWh, you bank the extra 30 kWh for another day. The house we were going to build was going to have a 15 kw solar system and the house we’re buying has a 10.5 kw system. A 10 kw solar system will produce 10 kWh every hour the sun is shining. A day with 6 hours of sun will produce 60 kWh. A typical house will consume 35 kWh per day so with at least 3.5 hours of sun per day, you’re good to go - zero power bills. Charging our Lightning truck can consume as much as 100 kWh so that’s another issue. Evergy serves Hutch and offers net metering which is preferable in our case.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729690595301.jpeg" alt="Electric Bill Image Courtesy Bob Kenyon" />
 <figcaption>Electric Bill Image Courtesy Bob Kenyon</figcaption>
 </figure>The Highlands is served by Ark Valley Co-op for electricity. They do not offer net metering but rather use parallel metering if you have solar. That means there are two readings on the meter - one for electricity coming in and one for electricity going out.The kicker is that you pay retail for what you use and are compensated for what you return at wholesale * 1.5. Because Ark Valley is not-for-profit, they are immune from the&nbsp;law that requires power companies to offer net metering. That was another factor in&nbsp;deciding not to build in The Highlands. We were going to buy expensive batteries in The Highlands to avoid pulling from the grid at night. With Evergy, the grid essentially serves as your battery, you put the excess in the grid and pull it out at a later time and use your&nbsp;credit.A few notes about net metering. In Maryland, I had friends with solar who would receive&nbsp;a check every April first if they produced more electricity than they consumed for the year - sounds reasonable. Early in my research I found that in Kansas, any credit is zeroed out April 1 - just gone. But wait - it gets worse. It is now the policy that any new solar system installed can bank any extra day to day, however it gets zeroed out at the&nbsp;end of every month. If I produce more zucchini than I consume in a month and someone just takes away the excess, that seems like theft to me. I digress. Fortunately a law was just passed that grandfathers me into the rollover month to month policy because the system was installed many years ago. I’ll still lose any excess April 1. April fools indeed.I had the house appraised before making an offer. We asked the appraiser if the solar was considered in the valuation of the house. She indicated she had very little data but in general she did not add value to the house due to the solar. Some people might want&nbsp;to avoid it so it could be considered a negative value. I consider it a huge asset given that it would probably cost me around $40,000 to add this system. I’m getting a “free” system and no electric bill over $14.25. Seems like a winner to me.The sellers shared with me their Evergy bill which shows that nearly 3,000 kWh have been banked. The minimum cost to be connected to Evergy is $14.25/month and that’s&nbsp;all they ever pay. The minimum monthly fee for Ark Valley is $50/month.They used 268 kWh and produced 878 kWh so they added 610 kWh to their total of 2,954 kWh&nbsp;banked.So back to the original question: Am I about to buy a Net Zero house? Well, according to the definition of producing more than you consume, yes, this presently is a Net Zero house.However, it is not fully electric and the sellers didn’t have an EV charging in the garage. If our goal is to have zero carbon footprint, we need to consider the natural gas furnace and water heater. If I flip them both to electric, will it still be Net Zero? Only time will tell.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 Hutch.

Did I just buy a Net Zero house?

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As the Hyde Park neighborhood prepares for the 41st Luminaries in December, Richard Hall, who has been the ambassador for the North Pole at the Luminaries for decades, is unable to continue in 2024.

Angela Rice passed on to Hutch Post some memories of Hall's time in the red suit, compiled by his daughter, Joleen Jantz. These reflections are hers, but they are a fitting tribute to the goal of keeping the spirit of Christmas alive that Hall showed over the years.

Matthew Jantz, Hall's Grandson, was in the Hutchinson Hospital for 2 weeks before and during Thanksgiving in November 1988. Matthew was 2.  After Thanksgiving, Matthew got transferred to the KU Medical Center in Kansas City.  He was there for 4 weeks.  There were a lot of local visitors, but Richard saw how hard it was on the family.  Matthew’s sister Danielle would stay with Richard and Imogene a lot, or she would spend some time with her other grandparents and some with her dad, while her mom was in KC with Matthew. Sometimes Richard and his wife Imogene would bring Danielle to Kansas City.  They would stay with Matthew, while Mom and Dad had time with Danielle.  It was a rough month.  That year Richard decided, he was going to become Santa.

In 1989, Imogene, who was a seamstress, made him a Santa suit.  He spent Christmas morning at the Hutchinson Hospital.  He visited every patient and handed out candy canes.  He did his rounds until last year. From there it spread.  He started doing a few private appearances.  He did a few schools, he became the Santa for the Hutchinson Holiday parade, the Downtown Santa, and the Santa at the Luminaries in Hyde Park.  He purchased all the candy canes himself.  He never asked for payment.  Although, people would sometimes generously give him some compensation.  

Several years after he began, Imogene decided she wanted to help.  So she created a costume for herself, and she went as Mrs. Claus.  Sometimes the children would come to her instead of Santa.&nbsp;

In December 2014, Hall's great grandchildren were living in South Carolina.  Their dad was on deployment for the USAF, so Danielle (granddaughter), Logan (great grandson) and Kailey (great granddaughter) came home for Christmas. Family picked them up at the airport and went straight to Hyde Park for the Luminaries.&nbsp; &nbsp;As they walked up, Santa greeted them by name, and he knew every detail about them.  Their names, where they lived, where their dad was, they had come home for Christmas.  They were shocked.  As we walked away, Kailey said “Grandma, that’s the real Santa, he knew my name without me telling him.”

Here's hoping that someone will be able to provide that service to the Salt City. If you are interested, contact Rice at <a href="mailto:rice.angela@usd308.com">rice.angela@usd308.com</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729935903394.jpeg" alt="Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Hutchinson Christmas Parade-Contributed Photo" />
 <figcaption>Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Hutchinson Christmas Parade-Contributed Photo</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As the Hyde Park neighborhood prepares for the 41st Luminaries in December, Richard Hall, who has been the ambassador for the North Pole at the Luminaries for decades, is unable to continue in 2024.Angela Rice passed on to Hutch Post some memories of Hall's time in the red suit, compiled by his daughter, Joleen Jantz. These reflections are hers, but they are a fitting tribute to the goal of keeping the spirit of Christmas alive that Hall showed over the years.Matthew Jantz, Hall's Grandson, was in the Hutchinson Hospital for 2 weeks before and during Thanksgiving in November 1988. Matthew was 2. After Thanksgiving, Matthew got transferred to the KU Medical Center in Kansas City. He was there for 4 weeks. There were a lot of local visitors, but Richard saw how hard it was on the family. Matthew’s sister Danielle would stay with Richard and Imogene a lot, or she would spend some time with her other grandparents and some with her dad, while her mom was in KC with Matthew. Sometimes Richard and his wife Imogene would bring Danielle to Kansas City. They would stay with Matthew, while Mom and Dad had time with Danielle. It was a rough month. That year Richard decided, he was going to become Santa.In 1989, Imogene, who was a seamstress, made him a Santa suit. He spent Christmas morning at the Hutchinson Hospital. He visited every patient and handed out candy canes. He did his rounds until last year. From there it spread. He started doing a few private appearances. He did a few schools, he became the Santa for the Hutchinson Holiday parade, the Downtown Santa, and the Santa at the Luminaries in Hyde Park. He purchased all the candy canes himself. He never asked for payment. Although, people would sometimes generously give him some compensation. Several years after he began, Imogene decided she wanted to help. So she created a costume for herself, and she went as Mrs. Claus. Sometimes the children would come to her instead of Santa.&nbsp;In December 2014, Hall's great grandchildren were living in South Carolina. Their dad was on deployment for the USAF, so Danielle (granddaughter), Logan (great grandson) and Kailey (great granddaughter) came home for Christmas. Family picked them up at the airport and went straight to Hyde Park for the Luminaries.&nbsp; &nbsp;As they walked up, Santa greeted them by name, and he knew every detail about them. Their names, where they lived, where their dad was, they had come home for Christmas. They were shocked. As we walked away, Kailey said “Grandma, that’s the real Santa, he knew my name without me telling him.”Here's hoping that someone will be able to provide that service to the Salt City. If you are interested, contact Rice at <a href="mailto:rice.angela@usd308.com">rice.angela@usd308.com</a>.

Long-time Hyde Park Santa to hang up red suit

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Beyond Barriers presents Laughter without Limits, a special fundraiser event featuring renowned comedian Josh Blue on Nov. 2 at the Fox Theatre. This event aims to support Beyond Barriers, a nonprofit dedicated to the independence and inclusion of individuals with disabilities in 60 Kansas counties.

Josh Blue is celebrated for his unique humor and ability to break down the stereotypes of people with disabilities. He had a groundbreaking win on Last Comic Standing in 2006. In 2018, he was featured on the Tonight Show, performed at the William H. Macy Gala, and recorded his fifth hour special, Broccoli. Since his 3rd place finish on NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2021, he’s been traveling around the world performing over 200 shows annually.

Blue will take the stage at the Fox at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2. All proceeds from ticket sales will directly benefit Beyond Barriers, assisting them in their mission to break down barriers and create opportunities for those with disabilities.

Show tickets are available at $25, $35, and $45, offering various seating options to suit every preference. For $100, guests will receive a show ticket and an opportunity to indulge in a pre-show cocktail event. Attire is casual…come as you are!

Join Beyond Barriers for "Laughter without Limits" at the Fox Theatre in Hutchinson where comedy meets compassion. Help make a meaningful impact in your community with an evening that promises to uplift your spirit!

For tickets, visit <a href="http://www.hutchinsonfox.com">www.hutchinsonfox.com</a>, contact the Fox Theatre at 877-FOX-SHOW, or visit the Box Office at 18 E. 1st Ave. in Hutchinson.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/4/1711981764777.jpeg" alt="Comedian Josh Blue" />
 <figcaption>Comedian Josh Blue</figcaption>
 </figure>Beyond BarriersHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Beyond Barriers presents Laughter without Limits, a special fundraiser event featuring renowned comedian Josh Blue on Nov. 2 at the Fox Theatre. This event aims to support Beyond Barriers, a nonprofit dedicated to the independence and inclusion of individuals with disabilities in 60 Kansas counties.Josh Blue is celebrated for his unique humor and ability to break down the stereotypes of people with disabilities. He had a groundbreaking win on Last Comic Standing in 2006. In 2018, he was featured on the Tonight Show, performed at the William H. Macy Gala, and recorded his fifth hour special, Broccoli. Since his 3rd place finish on NBC’s America’s Got Talent in 2021, he’s been traveling around the world performing over 200 shows annually.Blue will take the stage at the Fox at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 2. All proceeds from ticket sales will directly benefit Beyond Barriers, assisting them in their mission to break down barriers and create opportunities for those with disabilities.Show tickets are available at $25, $35, and $45, offering various seating options to suit every preference. For $100, guests will receive a show ticket and an opportunity to indulge in a pre-show cocktail event. Attire is casual…come as you are!Join Beyond Barriers for "Laughter without Limits" at the Fox Theatre in Hutchinson where comedy meets compassion. Help make a meaningful impact in your community with an evening that promises to uplift your spirit!For tickets, visit <a href="http://www.hutchinsonfox.com">www.hutchinsonfox.com</a>, contact the Fox Theatre at 877-FOX-SHOW, or visit the Box Office at 18 E. 1st Ave. in Hutchinson.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile app. <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Tickets still available for Beyond Barriers fundraiser

10/27/2024 3:36 AM-Jarred	Alexander Bell-Battery; AGGRAVATED; Knowingly use Physical contact in angry/rude manner w/ weapon; Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000; Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant; Intimidation of a Witness; AGGRAVATED; Act is accompanied by an expressed or implied threat of force; Endangering a Child&nbsp;

10/27/2024 12:53 AM-Terrell	Jovan Parker-Direct Contempt; Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant&nbsp;

10/26/2024 11:48 PM-Christabel	Anna Erwin-Agg battery; Knowingly cause great body harm; Battery on LEO; Phys contact county/city LEO; Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000&nbsp;

10/26/2024 6:22 PM-Julienne	Courtney Erwin-Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant&nbsp;

10/26/2024 4:04 PM-Clayanthony	River Williams-Failure to Appear&nbsp;

10/26/2024 11:00 AM-Brittania	Kae Sisson-Probation Violation

<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;10/27/2024 3:36 AM-Jarred	Alexander Bell-Battery; AGGRAVATED; Knowingly use Physical contact in angry/rude manner w/ weapon; Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000; Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant; Intimidation of a Witness; AGGRAVATED; Act is accompanied by an expressed or implied threat of force; Endangering a Child&nbsp;10/27/2024 12:53 AM-Terrell	Jovan Parker-Direct Contempt; Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose; Felony Case, Execution of a Felony Warrant&nbsp;10/26/2024 11:48 PM-Christabel	Anna Erwin-Agg battery; Knowingly cause great body harm; Battery on LEO; Phys contact county/city LEO; Criminal Damage to Property; Without consent; &lt; $1,000&nbsp;10/26/2024 6:22 PM-Julienne	Courtney Erwin-Interference with Law Enforcement; Obstruct, Resist, Oppose, Misd case, Execution of Misd Warrant&nbsp;10/26/2024 4:04 PM-Clayanthony	River Williams-Failure to Appear&nbsp;10/26/2024 11:00 AM-Brittania	Kae Sisson-Probation Violation

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Below is a short photo gallery from the 2024 Boo at the Zoo on Oct. 26, 2024. Over 2,000 kids and parents came in costume to the Hutchinson Zoo.

Nicole Mantz with the Hutchinson Zoo said that it looked like a record crowd up to the point when Hutch Post came out to take the photos Saturday afternoon.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729969638429.jpeg" alt="EAGLE Media Market Manager Matt Althouse dressed up for the 2024 Boo at the Zoo." />
 <figcaption>EAGLE Media Market Manager Matt Althouse dressed up for the 2024 Boo at the Zoo.</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Below is a short photo gallery from the 2024 Boo at the Zoo on Oct. 26, 2024. Over 2,000 kids and parents came in costume to the Hutchinson Zoo.Nicole Mantz with the Hutchinson Zoo said that it looked like a record crowd up to the point when Hutch Post came out to take the photos Saturday afternoon.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729969307080.jpeg" alt="Staff checking in visitors at Boo at the Zoo." />
 <figcaption>Staff checking in visitors at Boo at the Zoo.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729969369252.jpeg" alt="Country 102.9's Randy McKay was live at Boo at the Zoo. " />
 <figcaption>Country 102.9's Randy McKay was live at Boo at the Zoo. </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729969425958.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729969462285.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729969500294.jpeg" alt="The Scooby Doo gang at Boo at the Zoo." />
 <figcaption>The Scooby Doo gang at Boo at the Zoo.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729969537845.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729969568436.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729969638429.jpeg" alt="EAGLE Media Market Manager Matt Althouse dressed up for the 2024 Boo at the Zoo." />
 <figcaption>EAGLE Media Market Manager Matt Althouse dressed up for the 2024 Boo at the Zoo.</figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729969692076.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729969728915.jpeg" alt=" " />
 <figcaption> </figcaption>
 </figure>

2024 Boo at the Zoo photo gallery

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A dedication ceremony was held Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Cosmosphere for the signs commemorating the highway section of K-96 encompassing the city of Haven as the Henry Lee Fisher Memorial Highway.

Army Pfc. Henry Lee Fisher died in combat on June 18, 1967, shortly after he turned 20. His brother, James Fisher, said remembering the sacrifice of those who died in Vietnam is why the family wanted to see this done.

"It's very important," James Fisher said. "Those guys went over there, they were drafted, a lot of them, probably the majority of them enlisted, because they felt it was their duty to represent their country."

Fisher was one of four children. After he graduated from Haven High School in 1965, he decided to join the military with two buddies. Fisher had to have hernia surgery and could have chosen not to go, but he instead volunteered for service after the problem was fixed. 

His sister, Julie Marshall, explained that it was hard to understand at the time why her brother died.

"I was 16," Marshall said. "My age group didn't really understand what was going on. We weren't in the draft stages. We just sat home and watched what was happening on TV."

The signs are at the Hutchinson KDOT office and ready to be installed in the next two to three weeks. Rep. Joe Seiwert of Pretty Prairie introduced the legislation to get the highway signs authorized and it was passed last session, but the family had to raise the money to get them installed.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729963354482.jpeg" alt="A photo of the sign to be installed on K-96 in the next two to three weeks to commemorate the Henry Lee Fisher Memorial Highway in Haven. Photo by Nick Gosnell." />
 <figcaption>A photo of the sign to be installed on K-96 in the next two to three weeks to commemorate the Henry Lee Fisher Memorial Highway in Haven. Photo by Nick Gosnell.</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — A dedication ceremony was held Saturday, Oct. 26 at the Cosmosphere for the signs commemorating the highway section of K-96 encompassing the city of Haven as the Henry Lee Fisher Memorial Highway.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1728055825685.jpeg" alt="Henry Lee Fisher. Contributed Photo." />
 <figcaption>Henry Lee Fisher. Contributed Photo.</figcaption>
 </figure>Army Pfc. Henry Lee Fisher died in combat on June 18, 1967, shortly after he turned 20. His brother, James Fisher, said remembering the sacrifice of those who died in Vietnam is why the family wanted to see this done."It's very important," James Fisher said. "Those guys went over there, they were drafted, a lot of them, probably the majority of them enlisted, because they felt it was their duty to represent their country."Fisher was one of four children. After he graduated from Haven High School in 1965, he decided to join the military with two buddies. Fisher had to have hernia surgery and could have chosen not to go, but he instead volunteered for service after the problem was fixed. His sister, Julie Marshall, explained that it was hard to understand at the time why her brother died."I was 16," Marshall said. "My age group didn't really understand what was going on. We weren't in the draft stages. We just sat home and watched what was happening on TV."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/10/1729964178173.jpeg" alt="This is the section of the authorizing legislation for the PFC Henry Lee Fisher memorial highway. Photo by Nick Gosnell." />
 <figcaption>This is the section of the authorizing legislation for the PFC Henry Lee Fisher memorial highway. Photo by Nick Gosnell.</figcaption>
 </figure>The signs are at the Hutchinson KDOT office and ready to be installed in the next two to three weeks. Rep. Joe Seiwert of Pretty Prairie introduced the legislation to get the highway signs authorized and it was passed last session, but the family had to raise the money to get them installed.