HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Salvation Army in Hutchinson is holding its annual fundraising dinner next month.

"It's Friday, August 9th at 6 p.m. It's going to be at the Stringer Fine Arts Center," said Major Paul James. "There'll be dinner, live music and a silent auction. Our guest speaker is going to be Jason Probst. Doors are going to open at 5:30. Silent auction will begin at that time as well, and we'll have some signed, autographed Kansas City Chief jerseys, an autographed KU basketball item,&nbsp;and some gift baskets, many more items from local businesses that will be there for an auction as well. So we're excited for that. It should be a fun event."

The need at the Salvation Army continues to grow.&nbsp;

"Usually pre-COVID, a high amount of people that would come in for rent and utility assistance was in like the 20s," James said.&nbsp; In the summertime we see 70 to 80, in the 80s even, of individuals that come to us for assistance, so it's definitely increased astronomically."

The financial need, therefore, is still large.

"We're projected to be probably about $25,000 short of meeting our budget for the year," James said. "Our fiscal year ends the end of September, and it gets tight, and my board and I, we are just looking at different ways that we can, how can we cut, how can we increase income, and this event is one of those opportunities that we try to raise awareness of our need, but also to raise funds to help meet those goals and ultimately the needs of the community that we serve."

Tickets for the dinner are $50. If you'd like to buy tickets, or just donate to the Salvation Army, give them a call at (620) 663-3353.

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

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1681948628631.jpeg" alt="Stringer Fine Arts Center-Courtesy Kansas Tourism" />
 <figcaption>Stringer Fine Arts Center-Courtesy Kansas Tourism</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Salvation Army in Hutchinson is holding its annual fundraising dinner next month."It's Friday, August 9th at 6 p.m. It's going to be at the Stringer Fine Arts Center," said Major Paul James. "There'll be dinner, live music and a silent auction. Our guest speaker is going to be Jason Probst. Doors are going to open at 5:30. Silent auction will begin at that time as well, and we'll have some signed, autographed Kansas City Chief jerseys, an autographed KU basketball item,&nbsp;and some gift baskets, many more items from local businesses that will be there for an auction as well. So we're excited for that. It should be a fun event."The need at the Salvation Army continues to grow.&nbsp; "Usually pre-COVID, a high amount of people that would come in for rent and utility assistance was in like the 20s," James said.&nbsp; In the summertime we see 70 to 80, in the 80s even, of individuals that come to us for assistance, so it's definitely increased astronomically."The financial need, therefore, is still large."We're projected to be probably about $25,000 short of meeting our budget for the year," James said. "Our fiscal year ends the end of September, and it gets tight, and my board and I, we are just looking at different ways that we can, how can we cut, how can we increase income, and this event is one of those opportunities that we try to raise awareness of our need, but also to raise funds to help meet those goals and ultimately the needs of the community that we serve."Tickets for the dinner are $50. If you'd like to buy tickets, or just donate to the Salvation Army, give them a call at (620) 663-3353.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

Annual Salvation Army fundraising dinner next month

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday approved sending out a notice to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate for the county's budget for 2025.

"The recommendation is to notify the county clerk the intent to exceed the R&amp;R with a maximum budget of tax levy amount of $26,500,190, which equates to 35.762 mills," said Reno County Administrator Randy Partington.&nbsp; "It's a 3.7% increase. That's around $980,000 more in tax levy."

Commissioner John Whitesel wanted to make clear that this means actual dollars in taxes collected are going up under this recommendation. He voted against it.

"A mill levy that is flat is, in this case, a 3.7% tax increase,"Whitesel said.&nbsp; "I think it's dishonest to the public to say we're not raising taxes, and I will say the county doesn't do this, I don't think, but I hear schools do it all the time, and they're like, well, we're not raising taxes. We're keeping the mill levy flat. If you're keeping the mill levy flat, at least at the county level, it's a 3.7% tax increase. That means that on your property, you're going to pay more every month than you did the previous year under this plan."

The assumption Whitesel is making is that your assessed valuation went up, which is true of the vast majority of taxpayers. You do pay according to your own valuation on your property.

The motion to provide the notification passed 4-1.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720626321658.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Board of County Commissioners on Wednesday approved sending out a notice to exceed the Revenue Neutral Rate for the county's budget for 2025."The recommendation is to notify the county clerk the intent to exceed the R&amp;R with a maximum budget of tax levy amount of $26,500,190, which equates to 35.762 mills," said Reno County Administrator Randy Partington.&nbsp; "It's a 3.7% increase. That's around $980,000 more in tax levy."Commissioner John Whitesel wanted to make clear that this means actual dollars in taxes collected are going up under this recommendation. He voted against it."A mill levy that is flat is, in this case, a 3.7% tax increase,"Whitesel said.&nbsp; "I think it's dishonest to the public to say we're not raising taxes, and I will say the county doesn't do this, I don't think, but I hear schools do it all the time, and they're like, well, we're not raising taxes. We're keeping the mill levy flat. If you're keeping the mill levy flat, at least at the county level, it's a 3.7% tax increase. That means that on your property, you're going to pay more every month than you did the previous year under this plan."The assumption Whitesel is making is that your assessed valuation went up, which is true of the vast majority of taxpayers. You do pay according to your own valuation on your property.The motion to provide the notification passed 4-1.&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

County commission approves RNR exceed notice Wednesday

SANDRA MILBURN Reno County Communications Specialist

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Health Department hosted the Department of Justice Reaching Rural Grantees Wednesday and also on Thursday for a site visit to Reno County. 

 These are individuals from rural communities across the United States who have received Department of Justice funding to work on Substance Use Disorder related initiatives in their communities. 

 They traveled to Reno County to meet our partners and understand the journey the Reno County Health Department has been through in hiring someone with lived experience, increasing access to care, and partnering with the recovery community and community organizations. 

The group is holding their meeting at the Reno County Correctional Facility, 1800 S. Severance Ave. 

The first presentation was the "Overview of Reno County's Efforts to Address Substance Use Disorder." Reno County leaders discussed many of the programs and policies in place in our community to address substance use disorder (SUD) and support individuals in recovery. Topics covered during this panel included the Reno County Drug Court system, jail programming to support incarcerated individuals, public health responses to SUD, the local drug impact taskforce, the use of data in measuring and reducing SUD, and how the hiring of an individual in recovery has impacted the work and the direction Reno County is heading. 

 Speakers from Reno County were Thomas Stanton, District Attorney, Reno County; Randy Henderson, former Sheriff, Reno County; Megan Gottschalk, Assistant Director of Community Health, Reno County; Nick Baldetti, Chief Quality Officer, Hutchinson Regional Healthcare; and Seth Dewey, Regional Director, Mirror, Inc.

Other presentations are Incorporating Social Determinants of Health into Overdose Prevention and Community Outreach, Reaching Rural "We" and "it," Identifying Community Needs and Ensuring Stakeholder Buy In and Next Steps and Big Picture Thinking in Kansas. People visiting Reno County were from Miami County, Kansas, Illinois, Wyoming, Nebraska, Arkansas, Georgia, California and North Dakota.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720690252975.jpeg" alt="Seth Dewey with Mirror. Inc presents to DOJ grant recipients in Hutchinson on Wednesday, July 10. Photo by Sandra Milburn." />
 <figcaption>Seth Dewey with Mirror. Inc presents to DOJ grant recipients in Hutchinson on Wednesday, July 10. Photo by Sandra Milburn.</figcaption>
 </figure>SANDRA MILBURN Reno County Communications SpecialistHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Health Department hosted the Department of Justice Reaching Rural Grantees Wednesday and also on Thursday for a site visit to Reno County. These are individuals from rural communities across the United States who have received Department of Justice funding to work on Substance Use Disorder related initiatives in their communities. They traveled to Reno County to meet our partners and understand the journey the Reno County Health Department has been through in hiring someone with lived experience, increasing access to care, and partnering with the recovery community and community organizations. The group is holding their meeting at the Reno County Correctional Facility, 1800 S. Severance Ave. The first presentation was the "Overview of Reno County's Efforts to Address Substance Use Disorder." Reno County leaders discussed many of the programs and policies in place in our community to address substance use disorder (SUD) and support individuals in recovery. Topics covered during this panel included the Reno County Drug Court system, jail programming to support incarcerated individuals, public health responses to SUD, the local drug impact taskforce, the use of data in measuring and reducing SUD, and how the hiring of an individual in recovery has impacted the work and the direction Reno County is heading. Speakers from Reno County were Thomas Stanton, District Attorney, Reno County; Randy Henderson, former Sheriff, Reno County; Megan Gottschalk, Assistant Director of Community Health, Reno County; Nick Baldetti, Chief Quality Officer, Hutchinson Regional Healthcare; and Seth Dewey, Regional Director, Mirror, Inc.Other presentations are Incorporating Social Determinants of Health into Overdose Prevention and Community Outreach, Reaching Rural "We" and "it," Identifying Community Needs and Ensuring Stakeholder Buy In and Next Steps and Big Picture Thinking in Kansas. People visiting Reno County were from Miami County, Kansas, Illinois, Wyoming, Nebraska, Arkansas, Georgia, California and North Dakota.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

Reno County hosting guests working on Substance Use Disorder initiatives 

&nbsp;JESSICA WOODYARD City of Hutchinson

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) will begin repairing tracks at Ave D and Main Street starting at 7:00 a.m. on July 11th, 2024. Main Street will be closed to traffic from July 11 until the repairs are finished.&nbsp;

The city expects to reopen Main Street by 5:00 p.m. on July 17, 2024, depending on the weather and any unexpected issues.

During the closure, a detour will be in place. Drivers should use Ave F to get to Adams Street and return via Ave A.&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720646100967.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>&nbsp;JESSICA WOODYARD City of HutchinsonHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) will begin repairing tracks at Ave D and Main Street starting at 7:00 a.m. on July 11th, 2024. Main Street will be closed to traffic from July 11 until the repairs are finished.&nbsp;The city expects to reopen Main Street by 5:00 p.m. on July 17, 2024, depending on the weather and any unexpected issues.During the closure, a detour will be in place. Drivers should use Ave F to get to Adams Street and return via Ave A.&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

Railroad work to close Main Street starting Thursday

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

7/10/2024 8:08 PM-Vince	Eric Dandy-Flee &amp; Elude; Commits Five or More Moving Violations; Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv; Reckless driving; unknown conviction; Registration Violation; Fail to Remove / Illegal Possession after Transfer of Ownership

7/10/2024 7:51 PM-Ezra	Osbourne Burnett-Church-Failure to Appear

7/10/2024 3:09 PM-Mikahla	Tahira Brown-Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500; In Transit From-To Other Agency&nbsp;

7/10/2024 11:19 AM-Gary	Dean Magby-Drugs; Distribute Substance containing Heroin / Methamphetamine; &lt; 1g; within 1000' of school; Possession of Paraphernalia with Intent to Manufacture/Plant/Cultivate/Distribute Controlled Substance; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Drugs; Acquire proceeds from sale of controlled substance; Drugs; Arrange sale/purchase of controlled substance using a communication facility; Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;

7/10/2024 10:34 AM-Haley	Anne Jay-Probation Violation&nbsp;

7/10/2024 10:19 AM-Brooklyn	Rose Sanchez-Failure to Appear

7/10/2024 9:07 AM-Taylor	Faye Green-Failure to Appear&nbsp;

7/10/2024 8:03 AM-Mykle	Charles Mitchell-Probation Violation

<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; &nbsp;7/10/2024 8:08 PM-Vince	Eric Dandy-Flee &amp; Elude; Commits Five or More Moving Violations; Driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked; misd; unknown conv; Reckless driving; unknown conviction; Registration Violation; Fail to Remove / Illegal Possession after Transfer of Ownership7/10/2024 7:51 PM-Ezra	Osbourne Burnett-Church-Failure to Appear7/10/2024 3:09 PM-Mikahla	Tahira Brown-Theft; Property or Services; Less than $1,500; In Transit From-To Other Agency&nbsp;7/10/2024 11:19 AM-Gary	Dean Magby-Drugs; Distribute Substance containing Heroin / Methamphetamine; &lt; 1g; within 1000' of school; Possession of Paraphernalia with Intent to Manufacture/Plant/Cultivate/Distribute Controlled Substance; Poss of opiate, narcotic, or certain stimulant; Drugs; Acquire proceeds from sale of controlled substance; Drugs; Arrange sale/purchase of controlled substance using a communication facility; Poss of marijuana; Use or Possess with Intent to use Drug Paraphernalia into Human Body&nbsp;7/10/2024 10:34 AM-Haley	Anne Jay-Probation Violation&nbsp;7/10/2024 10:19 AM-Brooklyn	Rose Sanchez-Failure to Appear7/10/2024 9:07 AM-Taylor	Faye Green-Failure to Appear&nbsp;7/10/2024 8:03 AM-Mykle	Charles Mitchell-Probation Violation

Daily Bookings

WASHINGTON D.C. — Kansas First District Congressman Tracey Mann spoke Wednesday on the House floor about the southern border crisis.

"Since President Biden was sworn in, his open border policies have created a national security and humanitarian crisis," Mann said. "House Republicans continue to urge the White House and our Democrat colleagues in Congress to work with us to identify a solution. Again and again, we are met with silence. I understand border security may not be politically convenient for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, but at some point, they must stop pretending that this crisis doesn’t exist."

Mann pushed back against spin coming out of the White House on the situation.

"I found it telling that over the July 4th&nbsp;holiday, the White House touted that illegal crossings along the U.S. southern border decreased following President Biden’s executive order," Mann said. "What they conveniently left out is that even with this executive order, May was still the 39th&nbsp;straight month where illegal immigrant encounters have been higher than even the highest month under President Trump. I understand that the White House is in desperate need of good press, but with all due respect, Mr. Speaker, the facts are the facts. Our borders are far from secure, and no feel-good story or graphic from the White House Communications team is going to change that."

Mann is asking for a change in approach, in Congress and in the White House.

"We must change our tone and send a clear message: do NOT come to the U.S. illegally," Mann said. "At the start of his presidency, President Biden promised outright citizenship to more than 11 million illegal immigrants. America is a nation of legal immigrants, and the President’s false promise was a slap in the face to the 2 million people who legally migrate to the U.S. each year the right way."

Below is the full video of Mann's floor speech.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720632395737.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Office of Congressman Tracey MannWASHINGTON D.C. — Kansas First District Congressman Tracey Mann spoke Wednesday on the House floor about the southern border crisis."Since President Biden was sworn in, his open border policies have created a national security and humanitarian crisis," Mann said. "House Republicans continue to urge the White House and our Democrat colleagues in Congress to work with us to identify a solution. Again and again, we are met with silence. I understand border security may not be politically convenient for my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, but at some point, they must stop pretending that this crisis doesn’t exist."Mann pushed back against spin coming out of the White House on the situation."I found it telling that over the July 4th&nbsp;holiday, the White House touted that illegal crossings along the U.S. southern border decreased following President Biden’s executive order," Mann said. "What they conveniently left out is that even with this executive order, May was still the 39th&nbsp;straight month where illegal immigrant encounters have been higher than even the highest month under President Trump. I understand that the White House is in desperate need of good press, but with all due respect, Mr. Speaker, the facts are the facts. Our borders are far from secure, and no feel-good story or graphic from the White House Communications team is going to change that."Mann is asking for a change in approach, in Congress and in the White House."We must change our tone and send a clear message: do NOT come to the U.S. illegally," Mann said. "At the start of his presidency, President Biden promised outright citizenship to more than 11 million illegal immigrants. America is a nation of legal immigrants, and the President’s false promise was a slap in the face to the 2 million people who legally migrate to the U.S. each year the right way."Below is the full video of Mann's floor speech.<div><iframe width="1280" height="720" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vDNDhhgVq24" title="Rep. Mann Urges Democrats, President Biden to Secure America’s Borders" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

WATCH: Mann discusses open border on House floor

KYLE MCCASKEY Harvey County PIO

HARVEY COUNTY — One person was taken into custody after trying to flee law enforcement on a motorcycle Tuesday night.

A Harvey County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to stop the motorcycle as it traveled on Interstate 135 around mile marker 27, south of Newton, around 10:30 p.m. The motorcycle did not have a license plate displayed.

The driver of the motorcycle refused to stop, causing law enforcement to initiate a pursuit through the southern parts of Newton. The pursuit lasted about five minutes, ending with the motorcyclist losing traction and stopping near the parking lot of the Sand Creek Station Golf Course.

Joseph Irwin, 35, of Mulvane, was taken into custody and charged with felony flee and elude, as well as other traffic misdemeanors. He is being held in the Harvey County Detention Center.

No one was injured in the incident. There was no significant damage to golf course property.

The Newton Police Department assisted with the pursuit.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720634748790.jpeg" alt="Joseph Irwin-Photo Courtesy Harvey County" />
 <figcaption>Joseph Irwin-Photo Courtesy Harvey County</figcaption>
 </figure>KYLE MCCASKEY Harvey County PIOHARVEY COUNTY — One person was taken into custody after trying to flee law enforcement on a motorcycle Tuesday night.A Harvey County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to stop the motorcycle as it traveled on Interstate 135 around mile marker 27, south of Newton, around 10:30 p.m. The motorcycle did not have a license plate displayed.The driver of the motorcycle refused to stop, causing law enforcement to initiate a pursuit through the southern parts of Newton. The pursuit lasted about five minutes, ending with the motorcyclist losing traction and stopping near the parking lot of the Sand Creek Station Golf Course.Joseph Irwin, 35, of Mulvane, was taken into custody and charged with felony flee and elude, as well as other traffic misdemeanors. He is being held in the Harvey County Detention Center.No one was injured in the incident. There was no significant damage to golf course property.The Newton Police Department assisted with the pursuit.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

Mulvane man arrested after motorcycle chase

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — At Wednesday's Board of County Commissioners meeting, Reno County held a public hearing on the usage of state revolving loan funds for the project to get Hutchinson water to Yoder to mitigate the nitrate issue in Water District 101.

"I know the city and the county are working together on, I guess, the cost to get the water from Yoder, or from Hutchinson to Yoder," said Reno County Administrator Randy Partington. "The city sent us a contract and we had a couple questions. We sent that back to them last week. And we're hoping to get that in front of the city council and county commission sometime in August or September."

The loan is for $1 million, with a grant for $600,000 due to come in to help, and then forgiveness of a portion of the loan, as well.

"It's because there is the nitrate issue there within the Yoder system," said&nbsp;Rosemary Saunders with Ranson Financial Group, who is helping with the financing. "This is correcting that by being able to hook it up to a safe potable water source. And that's why loan forgiveness is available for the project. It's basically 30% up to a million dollars on a project."

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719504666434.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — At Wednesday's Board of County Commissioners meeting, Reno County held a public hearing on the usage of state revolving loan funds for the project to get Hutchinson water to Yoder to mitigate the nitrate issue in Water District 101."I know the city and the county are working together on, I guess, the cost to get the water from Yoder, or from Hutchinson to Yoder," said Reno County Administrator Randy Partington. "The city sent us a contract and we had a couple questions. We sent that back to them last week. And we're hoping to get that in front of the city council and county commission sometime in August or September."The loan is for $1 million, with a grant for $600,000 due to come in to help, and then forgiveness of a portion of the loan, as well."It's because there is the nitrate issue there within the Yoder system," said&nbsp;Rosemary Saunders with Ranson Financial Group, who is helping with the financing. "This is correcting that by being able to hook it up to a safe potable water source. And that's why loan forgiveness is available for the project. It's basically 30% up to a million dollars on a project."The motion was passed unanimously.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

Yoder water financing going forward

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — There are two options for enrollment this fall in Hutchinson USD 308.

ONLINE ENROLLMENT:&nbsp;New and Returning students will be able to <a href="https://www.usd308.com/page/enrollment-landing-page">enroll for the school year online</a>, beginning July 10. For the best experience, please complete this process on a laptop or computer. New Students will need to call 620-615-4004 to create a new account.

IN-PERSON ENROLLMENT:&nbsp;Each school will host an in-person enrollment event on July 30th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you complete online enrollment, you do not need to attend an in-person enrollment event. At in-person enrollment, you will be provided with a computer to complete the online enrollment via Skyward. You may enroll all students in your household from one building. You will not need to attend multiple buildings.

ENROLLMENT FEES:&nbsp;The enrollment fee for each K-12 student is $65. Optional fees include yearbooks and activity passes for students in grades 7 through 12. Please complete the Free &amp; Reduced Meal application during the enrollment process. If your household qualifies for Free Meals, enrollment fees will be waived. If your household qualifies for Reduced Meals, enrollment fees will be capped at $40 per student. Some restrictions apply.

<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 USD 308HUTCHINSON, Kan. — There are two options for enrollment this fall in Hutchinson USD 308.ONLINE ENROLLMENT:&nbsp;New and Returning students will be able to <a href="https://www.usd308.com/page/enrollment-landing-page">enroll for the school year online</a>, beginning July 10. For the best experience, please complete this process on a laptop or computer. New Students will need to call 620-615-4004 to create a new account.IN-PERSON ENROLLMENT:&nbsp;Each school will host an in-person enrollment event on July 30th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. If you complete online enrollment, you do not need to attend an in-person enrollment event. At in-person enrollment, you will be provided with a computer to complete the online enrollment via Skyward. You may enroll all students in your household from one building. You will not need to attend multiple buildings.ENROLLMENT FEES:&nbsp;The enrollment fee for each K-12 student is $65. Optional fees include yearbooks and activity passes for students in grades 7 through 12. Please complete the Free &amp; Reduced Meal application during the enrollment process. If your household qualifies for Free Meals, enrollment fees will be waived. If your household qualifies for Reduced Meals, enrollment fees will be capped at $40 per student. Some restrictions apply.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

Enrollment underway for Hutchinson USD 308

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The City of Hutchinson has&nbsp;updated the website at <a href="http://waterbill.hutchgov.com">waterbill.hutchgov.com</a>. It has a user-friendly format and soon will provide additional ways to pay.

Customers will need to create a new login and add their payment methods. Staff has found that clearing your cache allows the site to run without any hassle. Please take note of your account and customer number, and then press control+shift+delete while your browser is open.&nbsp;

Step-by-step instructions are on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hutchinsonks">City of Hutchinson Facebook page</a>.

If you have other questions, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hutchgov.com/198/Online-Bill-Pay-Help">https://www.hutchgov.com/198/Online-Bill-Pay-Help</a>&nbsp;or contact the City of Hutchinson Utility Billing Department at <a href="mailto:billing@hutchgov.com">billing@hutchgov.com</a>&nbsp;or call 620-694-2621.

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 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683043073149.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>City of HutchinsonHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The City of Hutchinson has&nbsp;updated the website at <a href="http://waterbill.hutchgov.com">waterbill.hutchgov.com</a>. It has a user-friendly format and soon will provide additional ways to pay.Customers will need to create a new login and add their payment methods. Staff has found that clearing your cache allows the site to run without any hassle. Please take note of your account and customer number, and then press control+shift+delete while your browser is open.&nbsp;Step-by-step instructions are on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/hutchinsonks">City of Hutchinson Facebook page</a>.If you have other questions, go to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hutchgov.com/198/Online-Bill-Pay-Help">https://www.hutchgov.com/198/Online-Bill-Pay-Help</a>&nbsp;or contact the City of Hutchinson Utility Billing Department at <a href="mailto:billing@hutchgov.com">billing@hutchgov.com</a>&nbsp;or call 620-694-2621.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

City of Hutchinson updates water bill site

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Michaela Schommer with the Hutchinson Animal Shelter said that most of the pets they housed because they were lost due to being scared by fireworks are back where they need to be.

"We call it reclaims, an animal being reclaimed by their original family, but it's it's not easy work finding owners, especially if the pets don't have tags or microchips in them," Schommer said. "I will say this season we were incredibly fortunate, and the majority of the dogs that came into our care due to fireworks have been reclaimed and were able to get reunited back with their families."

They use every method they can to get pets back home.

"A variety of different ways," Schommer said.&nbsp; "We, of course, are going to check the dog first for a microchip, and if they do have a microchip, we're going to look up the chip number, we're going to look up who it's registered to, and hopefully have current up-to-date contact information for the owners. Sometimes they are microchipped, but the owners didn't update their phone number or they've moved, and they can still be dead ends. First microchips, then tags. If they've got a collar or any form of ID, sometimes just even a rabies tag, we will call the vet clinic that gave the rabies, and hopefully they can narrow down and find us who the owner might be. Many dogs coming into our care have no microchip and no tags. We, of course, post photos of them on our social media and on our website and mark them as stray so the public knows. We ask our community, and let me tell you, Hutchinson is wonderful at sharing our Facebook posts. Our stray hold Facebook post gets tons of shares. They get posted in the Reno County Missing Pets Facebook group and Hutchinson Pets pages all over. Lastly, it's the owner's responsibility, if your pet's gone missing, to look throughout your neighborhood, check with your neighbors, but to physically come out to the shelter, to call the shelter, to look through our animals. It's really just a combination, and different animals are reclaimed in different ways."

If your pet is microchipped, it is a simple process to make sure they have the right information, if you have moved or changed contact information.

"You're welcome to come out to the shelter, and we can scan the pet, make sure we've got the correct microchip number, and then we contact the chip company for you and update it in our system, and it will change your address, your phone number, whatever the information is that needs to be updated, and then we send it up to the microchip company for you."

If your pet is not microchipped, getting one is easy, too.

"Microchipping for the community, we do do that," Schommer said. "We charge a small $15 fee, and we schedule a time for you to bring your dog in, or your cat. We microchip any animal, really, and it takes maybe five minutes to microchip them, and to get down your name, address, contact information, and we register it for you. It's that easy."

Call the Hutchinson Animal Shelter to set up a time for microchipping at (620) 694-1924.

<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 said that most of the pets they housed because they were lost due to being scared by fireworks are back where they need to be."We call it reclaims, an animal being reclaimed by their original family, but it's it's not easy work finding owners, especially if the pets don't have tags or microchips in them," Schommer said. "I will say this season we were incredibly fortunate, and the majority of the dogs that came into our care due to fireworks have been reclaimed and were able to get reunited back with their families."They use every method they can to get pets back home."A variety of different ways," Schommer said.&nbsp; "We, of course, are going to check the dog first for a microchip, and if they do have a microchip, we're going to look up the chip number, we're going to look up who it's registered to, and hopefully have current up-to-date contact information for the owners. Sometimes they are microchipped, but the owners didn't update their phone number or they've moved, and they can still be dead ends. First microchips, then tags. If they've got a collar or any form of ID, sometimes just even a rabies tag, we will call the vet clinic that gave the rabies, and hopefully they can narrow down and find us who the owner might be. Many dogs coming into our care have no microchip and no tags. We, of course, post photos of them on our social media and on our website and mark them as stray so the public knows. We ask our community, and let me tell you, Hutchinson is wonderful at sharing our Facebook posts. Our stray hold Facebook post gets tons of shares. They get posted in the Reno County Missing Pets Facebook group and Hutchinson Pets pages all over. Lastly, it's the owner's responsibility, if your pet's gone missing, to look throughout your neighborhood, check with your neighbors, but to physically come out to the shelter, to call the shelter, to look through our animals. It's really just a combination, and different animals are reclaimed in different ways."If your pet is microchipped, it is a simple process to make sure they have the right information, if you have moved or changed contact information."You're welcome to come out to the shelter, and we can scan the pet, make sure we've got the correct microchip number, and then we contact the chip company for you and update it in our system, and it will change your address, your phone number, whatever the information is that needs to be updated, and then we send it up to the microchip company for you."If your pet is not microchipped, getting one is easy, too."Microchipping for the community, we do do that," Schommer said. "We charge a small $15 fee, and we schedule a time for you to bring your dog in, or your cat. We microchip any animal, really, and it takes maybe five minutes to microchip them, and to get down your name, address, contact information, and we register it for you. It's that easy."Call the Hutchinson Animal Shelter to set up a time for microchipping at (620) 694-1924.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

Animal Shelter successful getting scared pets back home

Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is holding a candidate forum Thursday, July 11 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Stringer Fine Arts Center on the HutchCC campus.

KS. Senate District 34: Bob Fee / Michael Murphy KS. Rep District 102: Kyler Sweely / Tyson Thrall KS. Rep District 114: Steve Schweizer / Kevin Schwertfeger

Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce CEO Debra Teufel will moderate the forum.&nbsp;

There will be an additional forum on Tuesday, July 16. Invited to that forum are:

Reno County Commission District 2: Melony Ball / Ron Hirst / Kenneth Nisly Reno County Commission District 3: Timothy Davies / Ron Vincent Reno County Commission District 4: John Whitesel / Richard Winger

The Chamber public policy committee will develop the slate of questions and ensure diversity of topics. No questions will be allowed from the audience.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/7/1689585129087.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of CommerceHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is holding a candidate forum Thursday, July 11 starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Stringer Fine Arts Center on the HutchCC campus.Invited to participate are:KS. Senate District 34: Bob Fee / Michael Murphy KS. Rep District 102: Kyler Sweely / Tyson Thrall KS. Rep District 114: Steve Schweizer / Kevin SchwertfegerHutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce CEO Debra Teufel will moderate the forum.&nbsp;There will be an additional forum on Tuesday, July 16. Invited to that forum are:Reno County Commission District 2: Melony Ball / Ron Hirst / Kenneth Nisly Reno County Commission District 3: Timothy Davies / Ron Vincent Reno County Commission District 4: John Whitesel / Richard WingerThe Chamber public policy committee will develop the slate of questions and ensure diversity of topics. No questions will be allowed from the audience.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

State Legislative candidate forum Thursday

WENDY SKELLENGER Hutchinson Community Foundation

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Leadership Reno County class.

LRC is a program of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce and Hutchinson Community Foundation, and it is open to participants who live or work in Reno County.

Most class sessions meet on Thursdays. The following are class meeting dates and times:

Retreat: Aug. 15 and 16 (Thursday and Friday days with overnight stay)

Session 7: Nov. 14, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m.

All meals for the overnight retreat and lunches on remaining days

Full and partial scholarships are available.

Applications are being accepted through July 23.&nbsp;Submit an application <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8ZNWqN1Yb2_LZyEkfj8vA-BZCuMEzXa9DD6mdOjqRYV7gsw/viewform">online</a>&nbsp;or you can contact Program Coordinator Phil Auxier at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@leadrenocounty.org">info@leadrenocounty.org</a>&nbsp;or 620-474-0263.&nbsp;&nbsp;

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720539192996.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>WENDY SKELLENGER Hutchinson Community FoundationHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Applications are now being accepted for the 2024 Leadership Reno County class.LRC is a program of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce and Hutchinson Community Foundation, and it is open to participants who live or work in Reno County.Most class sessions meet on Thursdays. The following are class meeting dates and times:Retreat: Aug. 15 and 16 (Thursday and Friday days with overnight stay)Session 2: Sept. 5, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Session 3: Sept. 19, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Session 4: Oct. 10, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Session 5: Oct. 24, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Session 6: Nov. 7, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.Session 7: Nov. 14, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5:30 to 7 p.m.Tuition is $900 and includes:Eight full-day training sessionsLodging for the overnight retreatAll meals for the overnight retreat and lunches on remaining daysAll course materialsFull and partial scholarships are available.Applications are being accepted through July 23.&nbsp;Submit an application <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd8ZNWqN1Yb2_LZyEkfj8vA-BZCuMEzXa9DD6mdOjqRYV7gsw/viewform">online</a>&nbsp;or you can contact Program Coordinator Phil Auxier at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:info@leadrenocounty.org">info@leadrenocounty.org</a>&nbsp;or 620-474-0263.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

Leadership Reno County seeks applicants for 2024 class

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Back for its third year, it's Fairy "Tails" Family Night at the Hutchinson Zoo! Once upon a time, in a Zoo not so far away, there was an enchanting evening for all the princes, princesses, knights, maidens, and subjects in the royal kingdom. 

The night will feature a magical evening of entertainment, treats, costumed characters, special stories, and animal encounters! Grab your crowns and gowns, and come out for a night of fables and folktales.&nbsp;

The event is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. <a href="https://secure.rec1.com/KS/hutchinson/catalog/index/fdf69abc05fa8c6fa38a33f331acc833?filter=c2VhcmNoPSZyZW50YWwlNUJmcm9tJTVEPSZyZW50YWwlNUJ0byU1RD0=">Tickets are $10</a>.

Zoo Experiences included with Family Night Admission:

Cookout meal tickets available: $5/person (purchase in advance or at the door)

This is a fundraiser to support the Hutchinson Friends of the Zoo.

All tickets must be provided at the gate to ensure entry for your entire party into the event.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/6/1719582721024.jpeg" alt="Fairy Tails-image courtesy Hutchinson Zoo" />
 <figcaption>Fairy Tails-image courtesy Hutchinson Zoo</figcaption>
 </figure>Hutchinson ZooHUTCHINSON, Kan. — Back for its third year, it's Fairy "Tails" Family Night at the Hutchinson Zoo! Once upon a time, in a Zoo not so far away, there was an enchanting evening for all the princes, princesses, knights, maidens, and subjects in the royal kingdom. The night will feature a magical evening of entertainment, treats, costumed characters, special stories, and animal encounters! Grab your crowns and gowns, and come out for a night of fables and folktales.&nbsp;The event is from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. <a href="https://secure.rec1.com/KS/hutchinson/catalog/index/fdf69abc05fa8c6fa38a33f331acc833?filter=c2VhcmNoPSZyZW50YWwlNUJmcm9tJTVEPSZyZW50YWwlNUJ0byU1RD0=">Tickets are $10</a>.Zoo Experiences included with Family Night Admission:Fish FoodMini Farm feedingsKeeper Talks throughout the eveningUp-close Animal EncountersTrain RidesScavenger Hunt with prizesCraft stationFun and Educational ActivtiesOther Experiences:Cookout meal tickets available: $5/person (purchase in advance or at the door)Event Music provided by "620 in the Mix"Additional InformationThis is a fundraiser to support the Hutchinson Friends of the Zoo.All tickets must be provided at the gate to ensure entry for your entire party into the event.Tickets are non-refundableEvent held rain or shineBuy three get one free!<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

Fairy "Tails" Family Night at the Hutchinson Zoo is Friday

This is day 13 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.

With harvest down to the final few days, this will be the last report for the 2024 Kansas wheat harvest. Rain delays continue to stretch out the season, but producers welcome the moisture as they turn their attention to planting fall crops and managing the weeds coming up rapidly in wheat stubble.

Moisture over the weekend continues to prevent harvest from wrapping up in northwest Kansas, but no one is complaining about the beneficial moisture for fall crops, according to Jeanne Falk Jones, Multi-County agronomist with the Northwest Research-Extension Center in Colby.&nbsp;

Area producers started test cutting after Father’s Day and harvest kicked into full gear the following weekend. The end of harvest is now in sight - maybe three days more if the skies stay clear. This last push feels more like last year’s harvest - foggy mornings and tough wheat that can’t be cut until late in the day.&nbsp;

Yields are all over the board - from 20 to 100 bushels per acre - across the northwest region, not surprising given the challenges to get stands established last fall. Weather during the grain fill period was much more favorable with moisture, fewer triple-digit days and especially cooler night temperatures.&nbsp;

As a result, Falk-Jones reported average test weights between 58 to 62 pounds per bushel and proteins between 9 and 11.5 percent, depending on field fertility and conditions during grain fill.&nbsp;

“Everybody is pleasantly surprised on how good our wheat has been,” she said, adding that the wheat looked pretty tough for the majority of the growing season. “Now, not every field has been that way.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Falk-Jones did investigate a fair amount of wheat disease this year, including Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus, Triticum mosaic and High Plains disease, all of which are transmitted by the wheat curl mite. She sent several samples off to the diagnostic labs in Manhattan to determine which virus was on the rise after seeing the characteristic yellow leaves in fields planted to varieties with decent resistance to WSMV. The result was a bit of uptake in Triticum mosaic. The earlier the infection of viral disease, the more impacts on yields, but a good number of fields already had yield potential set when symptoms showed at heading.&nbsp;

She attributes the uptick in disease pressure to severe hail last year after kernels were formed. As a result, there were more shattered kernels in the field and continual flushes of volunteer wheat after catching little rain showers. While folks tried hard to control volunteer wheat, even kernels left in wheels tracks were enough to harbor the disease vector - wheat curl mites - over the fall.

In Sherman County, Brian Linin has about five or six days left to cut near Goodland, after starting harvest on June 26 - three to five days earlier than normal and three weeks earlier than last year.&nbsp;

Expectations were low after the wheat did not have good stand last fall, thinking this year would be a repeat of the last. Blowing fields this spring added to the anticipated disappointment. Linin noted he went ahead and applied fungicide and did not see a lot of rust or Wheat Streak Mosaic virus, but controlling volunteer wheat will be essential to prevent the spread into next year’s crop.&nbsp;

While the cooler days and nights during grainfill helped the wheat do better than expected, this year will still be about 20 percent below an average yield. Linin reported yields on dryland wheat ranging from 30 to 70 bushels per acre, with most in the 40s. Test weights were averaging 58.5 to 59 pounds per bushel, but this weekend’s rain may cause them to lose a bit. Protein ranges from 12 to 14 percent.&nbsp;

“Growing wheat has a lot of value for our farm,” Linin said. “Wheat stubble once again has proven its value. Not only is wheat a good cash crop, if you are able to get a good price with forward contracting, but the importance of the stubble to plant into makes such a huge difference on fall crops. There are a lot of factors that going into profitability.”

In Smith County in north-central Kansas, Bryce Wiehl finished wheat harvest near Smith Center on Monday, July 8, after a week-long weather delay on his last 100 acres. He’s not complaining about the rain, which will benefit double-cropped soybeans on all his now-harvested wheat fields.

The wet conditions are in stark contrast to how the growing season started last fall, when Wiehl harvested bone-dry soybeans last September and October then drilled wheat in an absolute desert. The good fields were barely 50 percent up when the area had a rare rain in December that brought 1.5 to 1.75 inches of moisture. The wheat had snow on it through most of the winter, emerging from dormancy in February. Wiehl noted he had more moisture this past winter than the last seven years.

After starting on Monday, June 24, harvest is above average with a final farm yield of 65 bushels per acre and average test weights of 58 to 59 pounds per bushel. He noted other producers reported test weights clear up to 63 to 64 pounds per bushel.

Last year, his wheat averaged seven bushels per acre, well behind the 38 to 39 bushel-per-acre average he aims for with wheat behind soybeans. While the moisture and the bushels are welcome, the commodity prices are half what they were, driven more by investment funds than fundamentals.

“It was a wheat year; we caught early spring rains, and the wheat will do what it will do,” he said. “But it looked like a total train wreck in the fall.”

In southwest Kansas, wheat harvest is 98 percent complete in Finney County, down to the last few mud holes, according to Jeff Boyd, CEO/general manager of Garden City Co-op.&nbsp;Wheat harvest started earlier than the normal on June 20 this year, meaning many folks were finished up and able to enjoy the July 4th holiday weekend.&nbsp;

The wheat came in dry this year with moisture at 9 to 13 percent, solid test weights between 60 and 62 pounds per bushel and average protein for the area. Yields were all over the place depending on cropping rotation. Wheat after fallow did really well, thanks to the additional moisture, while wheat planted after corn or milo was not as good. Irrigated and dryland yields were comparable.&nbsp;

“No year is the same and that keeps getting reiterated,” he said. “The volatility we see goes from one extreme to the other.”&nbsp;

Taking out the last couple drought years, Boyd reported the cooperative’s overall take is back up to the five and 10-year average. In general, folks are surprised and happy with their harvest, although he noted some area producers were hit by hailstorms.&nbsp;

“It wasn’t until that wheat was really drying down that it really started to look good,” Boyd said. “That wheat in the field just looked thicker the more mature it got.”&nbsp;

The draw area for Garden City Co-op extends down to Hooker, Oklahoma, where substantial five to 10 inches of rain will continue to affect test weights and delay harvest, but Boyd said no one is going to scare the rain away.&nbsp;

As harvest finishes, he noted the next priority for producers is going to be managing the weeds coming in fast into the wheat stubble. For the elevator, Boyd explained that with a thin international market, domestic mills in Kansas and California are driving the final destination for those bushels - along with increasing demand from the wheat gluten plants in Phillipsburg and Russell.

Look for a final round-up and quality reports as the data is crunched from the 2024 wheat harvest. Producers are also encouraged to start controlling weeds and volunteer wheat now as the much-appreciated moisture will bring plenty of green to harbor wheat curl mites – the vector that will foster WSMV infections next harvest.

The 2024 Harvest Reports are brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council. To follow along with harvest updates, use #<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23wheatharvest24&amp;src=typed_query&amp;f=live">wheatharvest24</a>&nbsp;on social media. Tag us at @kansaswheat on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kansaswheat">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kswheat">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/KansasWheat">Twitter</a>&nbsp;to share your harvest story and photos.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720602435064.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>JULIA DEBES Kansas WheatThis is day 13 of the Kansas Wheat Harvest Reports, brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council.With harvest down to the final few days, this will be the last report for the 2024 Kansas wheat harvest. Rain delays continue to stretch out the season, but producers welcome the moisture as they turn their attention to planting fall crops and managing the weeds coming up rapidly in wheat stubble.Moisture over the weekend continues to prevent harvest from wrapping up in northwest Kansas, but no one is complaining about the beneficial moisture for fall crops, according to Jeanne Falk Jones, Multi-County agronomist with the Northwest Research-Extension Center in Colby.&nbsp;Area producers started test cutting after Father’s Day and harvest kicked into full gear the following weekend. The end of harvest is now in sight - maybe three days more if the skies stay clear. This last push feels more like last year’s harvest - foggy mornings and tough wheat that can’t be cut until late in the day.&nbsp;Yields are all over the board - from 20 to 100 bushels per acre - across the northwest region, not surprising given the challenges to get stands established last fall. Weather during the grain fill period was much more favorable with moisture, fewer triple-digit days and especially cooler night temperatures.&nbsp;As a result, Falk-Jones reported average test weights between 58 to 62 pounds per bushel and proteins between 9 and 11.5 percent, depending on field fertility and conditions during grain fill.&nbsp;“Everybody is pleasantly surprised on how good our wheat has been,” she said, adding that the wheat looked pretty tough for the majority of the growing season. “Now, not every field has been that way.”&nbsp;&nbsp;Falk-Jones did investigate a fair amount of wheat disease this year, including Wheat Streak Mosaic Virus, Triticum mosaic and High Plains disease, all of which are transmitted by the wheat curl mite. She sent several samples off to the diagnostic labs in Manhattan to determine which virus was on the rise after seeing the characteristic yellow leaves in fields planted to varieties with decent resistance to WSMV. The result was a bit of uptake in Triticum mosaic. The earlier the infection of viral disease, the more impacts on yields, but a good number of fields already had yield potential set when symptoms showed at heading.&nbsp;She attributes the uptick in disease pressure to severe hail last year after kernels were formed. As a result, there were more shattered kernels in the field and continual flushes of volunteer wheat after catching little rain showers. While folks tried hard to control volunteer wheat, even kernels left in wheels tracks were enough to harbor the disease vector - wheat curl mites - over the fall.In Sherman County, Brian Linin has about five or six days left to cut near Goodland, after starting harvest on June 26 - three to five days earlier than normal and three weeks earlier than last year.&nbsp;Expectations were low after the wheat did not have good stand last fall, thinking this year would be a repeat of the last. Blowing fields this spring added to the anticipated disappointment. Linin noted he went ahead and applied fungicide and did not see a lot of rust or Wheat Streak Mosaic virus, but controlling volunteer wheat will be essential to prevent the spread into next year’s crop.&nbsp;While the cooler days and nights during grainfill helped the wheat do better than expected, this year will still be about 20 percent below an average yield. Linin reported yields on dryland wheat ranging from 30 to 70 bushels per acre, with most in the 40s. Test weights were averaging 58.5 to 59 pounds per bushel, but this weekend’s rain may cause them to lose a bit. Protein ranges from 12 to 14 percent.&nbsp;“Growing wheat has a lot of value for our farm,” Linin said. “Wheat stubble once again has proven its value. Not only is wheat a good cash crop, if you are able to get a good price with forward contracting, but the importance of the stubble to plant into makes such a huge difference on fall crops. There are a lot of factors that going into profitability.”In Smith County in north-central Kansas, Bryce Wiehl finished wheat harvest near Smith Center on Monday, July 8, after a week-long weather delay on his last 100 acres. He’s not complaining about the rain, which will benefit double-cropped soybeans on all his now-harvested wheat fields.The wet conditions are in stark contrast to how the growing season started last fall, when Wiehl harvested bone-dry soybeans last September and October then drilled wheat in an absolute desert. The good fields were barely 50 percent up when the area had a rare rain in December that brought 1.5 to 1.75 inches of moisture. The wheat had snow on it through most of the winter, emerging from dormancy in February. Wiehl noted he had more moisture this past winter than the last seven years.After starting on Monday, June 24, harvest is above average with a final farm yield of 65 bushels per acre and average test weights of 58 to 59 pounds per bushel. He noted other producers reported test weights clear up to 63 to 64 pounds per bushel.Last year, his wheat averaged seven bushels per acre, well behind the 38 to 39 bushel-per-acre average he aims for with wheat behind soybeans. While the moisture and the bushels are welcome, the commodity prices are half what they were, driven more by investment funds than fundamentals.“It was a wheat year; we caught early spring rains, and the wheat will do what it will do,” he said. “But it looked like a total train wreck in the fall.”In southwest Kansas, wheat harvest is 98 percent complete in Finney County, down to the last few mud holes, according to Jeff Boyd, CEO/general manager of Garden City Co-op.&nbsp;Wheat harvest started earlier than the normal on June 20 this year, meaning many folks were finished up and able to enjoy the July 4th holiday weekend.&nbsp;The wheat came in dry this year with moisture at 9 to 13 percent, solid test weights between 60 and 62 pounds per bushel and average protein for the area. Yields were all over the place depending on cropping rotation. Wheat after fallow did really well, thanks to the additional moisture, while wheat planted after corn or milo was not as good. Irrigated and dryland yields were comparable.&nbsp;“No year is the same and that keeps getting reiterated,” he said. “The volatility we see goes from one extreme to the other.”&nbsp;Taking out the last couple drought years, Boyd reported the cooperative’s overall take is back up to the five and 10-year average. In general, folks are surprised and happy with their harvest, although he noted some area producers were hit by hailstorms.&nbsp;“It wasn’t until that wheat was really drying down that it really started to look good,” Boyd said. “That wheat in the field just looked thicker the more mature it got.”&nbsp;The draw area for Garden City Co-op extends down to Hooker, Oklahoma, where substantial five to 10 inches of rain will continue to affect test weights and delay harvest, but Boyd said no one is going to scare the rain away.&nbsp;As harvest finishes, he noted the next priority for producers is going to be managing the weeds coming in fast into the wheat stubble. For the elevator, Boyd explained that with a thin international market, domestic mills in Kansas and California are driving the final destination for those bushels - along with increasing demand from the wheat gluten plants in Phillipsburg and Russell.Look for a final round-up and quality reports as the data is crunched from the 2024 wheat harvest. Producers are also encouraged to start controlling weeds and volunteer wheat now as the much-appreciated moisture will bring plenty of green to harbor wheat curl mites – the vector that will foster WSMV infections next harvest.The 2024 Harvest Reports are brought to you by the Kansas Wheat Commission, Kansas Association of Wheat Growers, Kansas Grain and Feed Association and the Kansas Cooperative Council. To follow along with harvest updates, use #<a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23wheatharvest24&amp;src=typed_query&amp;f=live">wheatharvest24</a>&nbsp;on social media. Tag us at @kansaswheat on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/kansaswheat">Facebook</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/kswheat">Instagram</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/KansasWheat">Twitter</a>&nbsp;to share your harvest story and photos.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

Final Kansas Wheat Harvest Report 2024

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;

7/9/2024 11:17 PM-John	Brenton Swortwood-Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry manner

7/9/2024 11:12 PM-Christopher	Robert White-Probation Violation

7/9/2024 8:57 PM-David	Lee Smith-Failure to Appear

7/9/2024 1:37 PM-Samuel	Othon Christians-Probation Violation&nbsp;

7/9/2024 10:57 AM-Justin	Dean Pisoni-Distribution of contr subs; Causing death; Drugs; Distribute Opiates/Opium/Narcotic (Cocaine, Crack, Amphetamine); &lt; 3.5g&nbsp;

7/9/2024 10:30 AM-Brian	Kelly Callaway-Failure to Appear

7/9/2024 9:55 AM-Pleasure	Marie Uluwehi Vansyckle-Probation Violation

7/9/2024 8:30 AM-Amy	Jo Kendall-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;7/9/2024 11:17 PM-John	Brenton Swortwood-Battery; Phys contact rude/insult/angry manner7/9/2024 11:12 PM-Christopher	Robert White-Probation Violation7/9/2024 8:57 PM-David	Lee Smith-Failure to Appear7/9/2024 1:37 PM-Samuel	Othon Christians-Probation Violation&nbsp;7/9/2024 10:57 AM-Justin	Dean Pisoni-Distribution of contr subs; Causing death; Drugs; Distribute Opiates/Opium/Narcotic (Cocaine, Crack, Amphetamine); &lt; 3.5g&nbsp;7/9/2024 10:30 AM-Brian	Kelly Callaway-Failure to Appear7/9/2024 9:55 AM-Pleasure	Marie Uluwehi Vansyckle-Probation Violation7/9/2024 8:30 AM-Amy	Jo Kendall-Failure to Appear

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — No one was hurt in an accident at 4th and Adams Tuesday afternoon. 

According to Reno County Dispatch, the two vehicle accident took place just before 3:30 p.m.

Information on the drivers was not available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720560571631.jpeg" alt="Photo from John Brennan" />
 <figcaption>Photo from John Brennan</figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — No one was hurt in an accident at 4th and Adams Tuesday afternoon. According to Reno County Dispatch, the two vehicle accident took place just before 3:30 p.m.Information on the drivers was not available.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

Rollover slows traffic at 4th and Adams

&nbsp;STACY GOSS Hutchinson USD 308

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The USD 308 Board of Education held their regularly scheduled meeting on July 8th&nbsp;at 6:00p.m. The first agenda item was to elect a President to serve for the 2024-2025 school year. Laura Corey was nominated and accepted as President. Her nomination passed in a 6-0 vote. &nbsp;Corey has served as Board President since February of 2024. She previously held the position of Vice President. Darcie Canfield-Riggs was voted in, 6-0, as Vice-President. She has served on the Board since June of 2023.

During the Superintendent’s Update, Dr. Johnson asked Deputy Superintendent Krystal Young to provide an update from Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, and Human Resources. Young shared that the District will begin an 18-month process to adopt a new math curriculum which aligns with new standards to be released this fall from the state of Kansas. The adoption process will begin January of 2025.

The District is preparing for a site visit by KSDE in November, followed by a data presentation in January 2025, where it will join Leavenworth and Kansas City, Kansas public schools to showcase its progress.

USD 308 is still hiring for multiple teaching positions. During the 23-24 school year, the District shifted educational aides to paraprofessionals. The District is looking to fill 35 paraprofessional positions for the upcoming school year. Information about these and other open positions can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://u345601.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.AWagEuh61Tby9DP97u1iBzMA-2BsW1ue9O9KWzD-2FuhIj4ISyulM3kc-2F4TLxoK8CMYDOSTx_-2BBxK0BSqAd-2BprHf4m5NZjVsYrwneFvFXH6RGjOVtkAEfkWkzNEsurIsNG3bUBUSqv359eNi8rg7f7wIhYsOBEKydwEe7Hl-2BP0C03BAEjO5HYPY-2F-2BFyNct67FAKsulONwxkIkYPYvE8F9FToCdHQqqZATIS8o-2B3PLhrUsUTpPg6Fnb0Jfu8M-2F9BC3jlx5wnNs6g9SEbdnjbpjgv-2BvG5dwg1BqPW-2BkPkXBAp5elCn6gUTj36OKfWrXYohO4oCH6H0WzYdJvee2Kx7wYxGZZvya4KWFK3DcW0733vTHLdXPcVU-3D">www.usd308.com/hiring</a>. The Board heard introductions from four new hires, Justin Vilmer, Abby Stockebrand, Steve Kappenman, and Keith Schroeder.

Board Policy Updates were approved 6-0. &nbsp;District Handbooks were presented to the Board at the last meeting for a first read. The elementary schools aligned their handbooks. The two middle schools will work to align their handbooks next year. The motion passed 6-0.

Textbook fees were discussed as item 7C. At the last meeting, Lance Patterson mentioned that he would like to discuss the fees. The current fees are $65. The Board committed to continuing the conversation at a future date and inviting finance and nutrition staff to provide them a better understanding of how a reduction of fees would impact the school’s At-Risk funding which is tied to Free and Reduced Lunch applications. Fees will remain unchanged for the 2024-2025 school year, which will begin enrollment on July 10th.

The Board approved new furniture for the Virtual School program which will move to the V building on the Hutchinson High School campus. The program was previously housed at Avenue A. The new furniture will provide desk space for three staff as well meeting space for when students are on-site for instructional support or testing. The furniture can also be repurposed and moved in the future. The ESSDACK MOU and Title IX policies were removed from the agenda before it was approved. Multiple MOU’s and agreements with community partners were approved.

The Board approved $450,000 increase in salaries in a 6-0 vote. The full agenda can be found at <a href="http://www.usd308.com/boe">www.usd308.com/boe</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>&nbsp;STACY GOSS Hutchinson USD 308HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The USD 308 Board of Education held their regularly scheduled meeting on July 8th&nbsp;at 6:00p.m. The first agenda item was to elect a President to serve for the 2024-2025 school year. Laura Corey was nominated and accepted as President. Her nomination passed in a 6-0 vote. &nbsp;Corey has served as Board President since February of 2024. She previously held the position of Vice President. Darcie Canfield-Riggs was voted in, 6-0, as Vice-President. She has served on the Board since June of 2023.During the Superintendent’s Update, Dr. Johnson asked Deputy Superintendent Krystal Young to provide an update from Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, and Human Resources. Young shared that the District will begin an 18-month process to adopt a new math curriculum which aligns with new standards to be released this fall from the state of Kansas. The adoption process will begin January of 2025.The District is preparing for a site visit by KSDE in November, followed by a data presentation in January 2025, where it will join Leavenworth and Kansas City, Kansas public schools to showcase its progress.USD 308 is still hiring for multiple teaching positions. During the 23-24 school year, the District shifted educational aides to paraprofessionals. The District is looking to fill 35 paraprofessional positions for the upcoming school year. Information about these and other open positions can be found at&nbsp;<a href="https://u345601.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.AWagEuh61Tby9DP97u1iBzMA-2BsW1ue9O9KWzD-2FuhIj4ISyulM3kc-2F4TLxoK8CMYDOSTx_-2BBxK0BSqAd-2BprHf4m5NZjVsYrwneFvFXH6RGjOVtkAEfkWkzNEsurIsNG3bUBUSqv359eNi8rg7f7wIhYsOBEKydwEe7Hl-2BP0C03BAEjO5HYPY-2F-2BFyNct67FAKsulONwxkIkYPYvE8F9FToCdHQqqZATIS8o-2B3PLhrUsUTpPg6Fnb0Jfu8M-2F9BC3jlx5wnNs6g9SEbdnjbpjgv-2BvG5dwg1BqPW-2BkPkXBAp5elCn6gUTj36OKfWrXYohO4oCH6H0WzYdJvee2Kx7wYxGZZvya4KWFK3DcW0733vTHLdXPcVU-3D">www.usd308.com/hiring</a>. The Board heard introductions from four new hires, Justin Vilmer, Abby Stockebrand, Steve Kappenman, and Keith Schroeder.Board Policy Updates were approved 6-0. &nbsp;District Handbooks were presented to the Board at the last meeting for a first read. The elementary schools aligned their handbooks. The two middle schools will work to align their handbooks next year. The motion passed 6-0.Textbook fees were discussed as item 7C. At the last meeting, Lance Patterson mentioned that he would like to discuss the fees. The current fees are $65. The Board committed to continuing the conversation at a future date and inviting finance and nutrition staff to provide them a better understanding of how a reduction of fees would impact the school’s At-Risk funding which is tied to Free and Reduced Lunch applications. Fees will remain unchanged for the 2024-2025 school year, which will begin enrollment on July 10th.The Board approved new furniture for the Virtual School program which will move to the V building on the Hutchinson High School campus. The program was previously housed at Avenue A. The new furniture will provide desk space for three staff as well meeting space for when students are on-site for instructional support or testing. The furniture can also be repurposed and moved in the future. The ESSDACK MOU and Title IX policies were removed from the agenda before it was approved. Multiple MOU’s and agreements with community partners were approved.The Board approved $450,000 increase in salaries in a 6-0 vote. The full agenda can be found at <a href="http://www.usd308.com/boe">www.usd308.com/boe</a>.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

Notes from USD 308 Board of Education meeting

NEW YORK (AP) — Target will no longer accept personal checks from shoppers as of July 15, another sign of how a once ubiquitous payment method is going the way of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4f8c481007014190ac534c17c2592fdc">outmoded objects</a>&nbsp;like floppy disks and the Rolodex.

The Minneapolis-based discounter confirmed the move in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday, citing “extremely low volumes” of customers who still write checks. Target said it remained committed to creating an easy and convenient checkout experience with credit and debit cards, “buy now, pay later” services and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/target-fourth-quarter-earnings-inflation-231a975d4bf95a80ed623b52a8c77dff">Target Circle membership program</a>, which applies deals automatically at checkout.

“We have taken several measures to notify guests in advance" about the no-checks policy, the company said.

Target's decision leaves&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-price-cuts-inflation-target-65fbc568804f20919a609c594531e129">Walmart</a>, Macy’s and Kohl’s among the retailers that still accept personal checks at their stores. Whole Foods Market and the Aldi supermarket chain previously stopped taking checks from customers.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spending-consumers-inflation-economy-growth-federal-reserve-b1d34bc43a0da960a152911b7c230881">Shoppers</a>&nbsp;have pulled out checkbooks increasingly less often since the mid-1990s.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jpmorgan-chase-bank-branches-hiring-5ee9b9ce933759b2b37217d9effef53a">Cash-dispensing ATMs</a>, debit cards, online banking and mobile payment systems like Venmo and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-pay-digital-payments-visa-mastercard-affirm-d8e85a7d30c02523998dfbdd6f0b0497">Apple Pay</a>&nbsp;mean many young adults may never have written a check.

Check usage has been in decline for decades as Americans have largely switched to paying for their services with credit and debit cards. Americans wrote roughly 3.4 billion checks in 2022, down from nearly 19 billion checks in 1990, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/federal-reserve-system">the Federal Reserve</a>. However, the average size of the checks Americans wrote over the 32-year period rose from $673 in 1990 — or $1,602 in today’s dollars — to $2,652.

The drop in check writing enabled the Federal Reserve to sharply reduce its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/check_about.htm">national check processing infrastructure.</a>&nbsp;In 2003, it ran 45 check-processing locations nationwide; since 2010, it has operated only one.

Rising incidents of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/check-fraud-banks-organized-crime-5f033b93bd87e2cbeb82b4ab4865a916">check fraud</a>&nbsp;are also making people shy away from check writing. It's being fueled by organized crime that is forcing small businesses and individuals to take additional safety protections or to avoid sending checks through the mail altogether.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/9/1695774515942.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>NEW YORK (AP) — Target will no longer accept personal checks from shoppers as of July 15, another sign of how a once ubiquitous payment method is going the way of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/4f8c481007014190ac534c17c2592fdc">outmoded objects</a>&nbsp;like floppy disks and the Rolodex.The Minneapolis-based discounter confirmed the move in a statement to The Associated Press on Tuesday, citing “extremely low volumes” of customers who still write checks. Target said it remained committed to creating an easy and convenient checkout experience with credit and debit cards, “buy now, pay later” services and the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/target-fourth-quarter-earnings-inflation-231a975d4bf95a80ed623b52a8c77dff">Target Circle membership program</a>, which applies deals automatically at checkout.“We have taken several measures to notify guests in advance" about the no-checks policy, the company said.Target's decision leaves&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/retail-price-cuts-inflation-target-65fbc568804f20919a609c594531e129">Walmart</a>, Macy’s and Kohl’s among the retailers that still accept personal checks at their stores. Whole Foods Market and the Aldi supermarket chain previously stopped taking checks from customers.<a href="https://apnews.com/article/spending-consumers-inflation-economy-growth-federal-reserve-b1d34bc43a0da960a152911b7c230881">Shoppers</a>&nbsp;have pulled out checkbooks increasingly less often since the mid-1990s.&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jpmorgan-chase-bank-branches-hiring-5ee9b9ce933759b2b37217d9effef53a">Cash-dispensing ATMs</a>, debit cards, online banking and mobile payment systems like Venmo and&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/apple-pay-digital-payments-visa-mastercard-affirm-d8e85a7d30c02523998dfbdd6f0b0497">Apple Pay</a>&nbsp;mean many young adults may never have written a check.Check usage has been in decline for decades as Americans have largely switched to paying for their services with credit and debit cards. Americans wrote roughly 3.4 billion checks in 2022, down from nearly 19 billion checks in 1990, according to&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/federal-reserve-system">the Federal Reserve</a>. However, the average size of the checks Americans wrote over the 32-year period rose from $673 in 1990 — or $1,602 in today’s dollars — to $2,652.The drop in check writing enabled the Federal Reserve to sharply reduce its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/paymentsystems/check_about.htm">national check processing infrastructure.</a>&nbsp;In 2003, it ran 45 check-processing locations nationwide; since 2010, it has operated only one.Rising incidents of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/check-fraud-banks-organized-crime-5f033b93bd87e2cbeb82b4ab4865a916">check fraud</a>&nbsp;are also making people shy away from check writing. It's being fueled by organized crime that is forcing small businesses and individuals to take additional safety protections or to avoid sending checks through the mail altogether.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

Target will stop accepting personal checks next week

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The public meeting Monday night in Nickerson attended by three county commissioners was designed to get public feedback on some issues they are considering.

"The intent of the meeting was to kind of find out from residents, mainly those living in the unincorporated unzoned areas of Reno County to kind of get an understanding of whether or not they wanted to look at possible zoning countywide or in their areas," said Reno County Administrator Randy Partington. "Then it kind of led into what their feelings were about commercial solar farms and so the the three county commissioners were just trying to kind of get a gauge of the public's interest for that."

Right now, the majority of Reno County is not zoned.&nbsp;

"About a third of the county is zoned and it's really Hutchinson up north everything east and then when you're south of South Hutchinson it's about Yoder Road," Partington said. "Everything east is zoned, everything west of Yoder Road is pretty much unzoned once you get past South Hutchinson, Hutchinson and Nickerson."

The difference in zoned and unzoned is relatively simple to explain.

"It protects residents property rights there, of the owners," Partington said. "It does have some regulations, so it regulates kind of where you can place buildings. Ag land is exempt, ag buildings are exempt anything over 40 acres would be exempt. This doesn't include any cities in Reno County. What they would do is if they're going to put up a new building or have a lot split of less than 40 acres into five acres, three acres, they would then go through a process pay $50 to the planning department to run through the zoning planning process. Really it's about setbacks of the location of the building on the property that's kind of what it would do, that's the regulations part. The protection is it would give owners property owners a say if in kind of what their neighbors may do if say a salvage yard was going to be put up next door to a property owner they would have if they are zoned they would have a chance before that to go through a conditional use permit process and property owners within a thousand feet radius would have the opportunity to go before the planning commission and protest or explain why they think that's bad for their neighborhood, their area. It's kind of a protection of property rights but it's also regulations to kind of have somewhat orderly growth in the county."

There are still two more of those meetings to happen, one on July 22 in Arlington and one July 23 in Pretty Prairie.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720542970510.jpeg" alt="Reno County Zoning Map-Green area and cities are zoned." />
 <figcaption>Reno County Zoning Map-Green area and cities are zoned.</figcaption>
 </figure>NICK GOSNELL Hutch PostHUTCHINSON, Kan. — The public meeting Monday night in Nickerson attended by three county commissioners was designed to get public feedback on some issues they are considering."The intent of the meeting was to kind of find out from residents, mainly those living in the unincorporated unzoned areas of Reno County to kind of get an understanding of whether or not they wanted to look at possible zoning countywide or in their areas," said Reno County Administrator Randy Partington. "Then it kind of led into what their feelings were about commercial solar farms and so the the three county commissioners were just trying to kind of get a gauge of the public's interest for that."Right now, the majority of Reno County is not zoned.&nbsp;"About a third of the county is zoned and it's really Hutchinson up north everything east and then when you're south of South Hutchinson it's about Yoder Road," Partington said. "Everything east is zoned, everything west of Yoder Road is pretty much unzoned once you get past South Hutchinson, Hutchinson and Nickerson."The difference in zoned and unzoned is relatively simple to explain."It protects residents property rights there, of the owners," Partington said. "It does have some regulations, so it regulates kind of where you can place buildings. Ag land is exempt, ag buildings are exempt anything over 40 acres would be exempt. This doesn't include any cities in Reno County. What they would do is if they're going to put up a new building or have a lot split of less than 40 acres into five acres, three acres, they would then go through a process pay $50 to the planning department to run through the zoning planning process. Really it's about setbacks of the location of the building on the property that's kind of what it would do, that's the regulations part. The protection is it would give owners property owners a say if in kind of what their neighbors may do if say a salvage yard was going to be put up next door to a property owner they would have if they are zoned they would have a chance before that to go through a conditional use permit process and property owners within a thousand feet radius would have the opportunity to go before the planning commission and protest or explain why they think that's bad for their neighborhood, their area. It's kind of a protection of property rights but it's also regulations to kind of have somewhat orderly growth in the county."There are still two more of those meetings to happen, one on July 22 in Arlington and one July 23 in Pretty Prairie.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

Public meeting in Nickerson goes well

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the Hutchinson Clinic announcing earlier this summer that they intend to end their contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas at the end of the year regarding employer-sponsored plans, those using Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Medicare Supplement coverage asked if they were included, too.

According to spokesperson Ashley Jones-Wisner with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, "There is no impact to Medicare Supplement. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas members can go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare."

Despite that, as of this writing, there is no deal past the end of the year for employer-sponsored plans between the Hutchinson Clinic and BCBS of Kansas.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2020/8/1597338317192.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the Hutchinson Clinic announcing earlier this summer that they intend to end their contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas at the end of the year regarding employer-sponsored plans, those using Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Medicare Supplement coverage asked if they were included, too.According to spokesperson Ashley Jones-Wisner with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, "There is no impact to Medicare Supplement. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas members can go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare."Despite that, as of this writing, there is no deal past the end of the year for employer-sponsored plans between the Hutchinson Clinic and BCBS of Kansas.<a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>

BCBS clarifies position on Medicare Supplement

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Public Schools will welcome back all staff on Thursday, August 8th. The annual Convocation event, to be held at the Hutchinson Sports Arena, will energize and inspire Salthawk staff as they head into the 2024-2025 school year.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/7/1720536272184.jpeg" alt="Kristen Brown-Via Kristen Brown Presents" />
 <figcaption>Kristen Brown-Via Kristen Brown Presents</figcaption>
 </figure>STACY GOSS Hutchinson USD 308HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Public Schools will welcome back all staff on Thursday, August 8th. The annual Convocation event, to be held at the Hutchinson Sports Arena, will energize and inspire Salthawk staff as they head into the 2024-2025 school year.In partnership with the Davis Foundation, USD 308 will host Kristen Brown as keynote speaker. Kristen is known as The Energy Phoenix, and is a Certified Speaking Professional who reshapes leadership energy in today's workplace. Leveraging her journey as a young widow and 15 years of corporate leadership, Kristen has transformed workplace dynamics at major companies across various industries. She holds a Master's in Integral Theory and several wellness certifications, offering a comprehensive approach to impact, resilience, and results. Featured in Forbes and "Live with Kelly," Kristen is among only 360 active Certified Speaking Professionals worldwide, ensuring a blend of fun, expertise, and dynamic energy in her engagements, helping organizations not just adapt, but rise.“We have reimagined the Convocation event for this year. We will honor a longstanding tradition of a breakfast sponsored by Heartland Credit Union, welcome messages from District leaders, followed by a staff awards and recognition ceremony. New this year, the Davis Foundation is sponsoring an exciting and engaging keynote speaker to help our staff tap into their ‘7 Energies of Leadership.’ Not only is this our first opportunity of the year to welcome back our staff, but we want to send them into the year ready to set big goals and shoot for the stars. It’s going to be a great year at 308!” says USD 308 Director of Communications, Stacy Goss.The first day of school for Hutchinson Public School students this year is August 14th&nbsp;for Kindergarten through 9th&nbsp;grades and August 15th&nbsp;for 10th&nbsp;through 12th&nbsp;grades.For more information, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://u345601.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=u001.AWagEuh61Tby9DP97u1iB9NE88ItLuvDiVxWb0g9zpI-3DOya5_-2BBxK0BSqAd-2BprHf4m5NZjVsYrwneFvFXH6RGjOVtkAEfkWkzNEsurIsNG3bUBUSqv359eNi8rg7f7wIhYsOBEPizZDqdlM8cnOVk2SCYqlu6qH4AmTWLUYV1LiaH0XLT7L-2Bhx15jxumGv9W9FSNUc5QL9dAz7WQY8Xy2AETFFAIjZqJZaqvyLsz0wE87zCkLIyHOi-2FNITyn2dhJVEHwz2SHnI9mWjB8IQL6h-2FG1NTvPY3LGVmuIWkLEcBno6IqJ-2F34eYLM7GpdcoPg0R610-2BJaRsjCXdf-2FRrH6KDGNdgCXM-3D">www.usd308.com</a><a href="https://hutchpost.com/download">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to download the Hutch Post mobile&nbsp;app.</a> <a href="https://hutchpost.com/posts/5e73b532afae0f4d5f5d90ea">CLICK HERE&nbsp;to sign up for the daily Hutch Post email news update.</a>