HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 27-year-old man well known to law enforcement was arrested over the weekend on a number of warrants and new charges.

Andrew Hufford is jailed for violation of the offender registration act, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon, interference with law enforcement, possession of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

An officer spotted Hufford and knew he had outstanding warrants. The officer tried to make contact with Hufford after he pulled into a driveway. Hufford then reportedly ran from the car. He was found hiding underneath a disabled truck on a neighboring property. He is also accused of being in possession of meth and paraphernalia. He was in possession of a flare gun.

Hufford is jailed on a $34,000 bond and will be back in court Wednesday.

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Transportation announced approved bids Monday for state highway construction and maintenance projects in the area. The letting took place Nov. 13 in Topeka.

Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.

Work includes various locations in Haven for pedestrian and bicycle paths. Bryant & Bryant Construction of Halstead won the bid at a cost of $157,355.60.

Work was also announced on K-11 from the west junction with U.S. 54 in Kingman County, north to the K-61 junction for 16.7 miles of road sealing. Circle C Paving and Construction of Goddard won that bid at a cost $495,513.94.

HESSTON, Kan. — The 21st annual Kansas ECO-Meet State Finals competition was held at the Dyck Arboretum of the Plains in Hesston earlier this month.

A total of almost $3,000 in scholarship money was awarded to the top high school competitors who participated in a series of quiz bowl-type competitions based on knowledge of Kansas plants and animals. Four events made up the 2019 state competition, including: a test on woodland ecosystems; specific groups of animals; a scavenger hunt where student teams look for plants found in the area and prove their identification skills; and an interpretative event that required teams to put together an informative, yet entertaining skit to relay their knowledge of animal/plant species to a team of judges and their peers.

More than 500 students participated in nine regional competitions in October to see who would be representing their regional meet at the state finals.

A total of 24 teams consisting of 90 students from 17 schools participated at the state level, with an additional six students who qualified as individuals. Schools represented included: Blue Valley North, Crest of Colony, Dodge City, Eisenhower of Goddard, Goddard, Goessel, Goodland, Haven, Inman, Lyons, Manhattan, Palco, Pike Valley, Pratt, Salina Central, Shawnee Mission North, Shawnee Mission South, St. John’s of Beloit, St. Mary’s-Colgan of Pittsburg, Smoky Valley of Lindsborg, Stockton, Tescott and Wilson.

The competition proved to be an exciting, hard-fought contest, with the following results:

Overall Team:

1st– Blue Valley North with members Laura Campbell, Todd Eubanks, Olivia Miller, Liam O’Leary and coach Chris Ollig. Each student received a $300 scholarship.

2nd– Manhattan with members Alex Andresen, Payton Day, Caden Hickel, Dominykus Metlevski and coach Noah Bush. Each student received a $200 scholarship.

3rd– St. Mary’s-Colgan, Team A with members Mary Grace Goetting, Anna Guilfoyle, Julia Kerr and coach Donna Maus. Each student received a $100 scholarship.

Individual Events:

Ornithology

1st –Laura Campbell, Blue Valley North, received a $200 scholarship.

2nd– Todd Eubanks, Blue Valley North, received a $100 scholarship.

Woodlands Ecosystem

1st– Alex Andresen, Manhattan, received a $200 scholarship.

2nd– Carly Leal, Shawnee Mission South, received a $100 scholarship.

The 2019 ECO-Meet State Finals competition would not have been possible without the support of sponsors, which include Kansas Wildscape Foundation, Barton Community College, Chickadee Checkoff program, Friends of Cheyenne Bottoms, Friends of Milford Nature Center, Friends of Great Plains Nature Center, Hesston Convention and Visitors Bureau, Kansas Herpetological Society, Kansas Ornithological Society, Kansas Native Plant Society, Lakewood Discovery Center and City of Salina, Manweiler Chevrolet, Kansas Chapter of the Nature Conservancy, Riley County Conservation District, and Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism Education Section staff in Pratt.

Event assistance came the from K-State Extension, Kansas Forest Service, Great Plains Nature Center, Dillon Nature Center, Lakewood Discovery Center of Salina, Kansas Wetlands Education Center, Southeast Kansas Nature Center, Milford Nature Center, Pratt Education Center, Wilson State Park, and KDWPT Wildlife Division and Education Section staff in Pratt. Many other private citizens also volunteered their time, helping make this event a huge success.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County collected $386,763 in sales tax for the month of November, beating October numbers by $19,367. The county also beat last year’s number of $358,684.

The November numbers reflect sales for September of this year.

So far, the county has collected $4,311,531. It appears the county is on track to beat last year’s total.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — An 18-year-old man appeared in court Friday and was read the charges for two counts of attempted aggravated battery.

Clayton Biery is accused of attempting to injure two Hutchinson police officers with a 12-gauge shotgun. This occurred Nov. 16 in the 4100 block of Vicksburg Street.

With the charges filed, he will be back in court Jan. 8.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Communities That Care officially changed its name to Rise Up Reno Prevention Network earlier this week. The organization has been making the transition to the new name since August.

Rise Up Reno Prevention Network has been advocating for youth to live drug-free in Reno County since its inception in 2005, but the former name — Reno County Communities That Care — was a source of confusion to key audiences and the public at-large. The name Communities That Care originated from a grant project funded by the University of Washington.

Rise Up Reno Prevention Network will offer the same services under the new name. These include a school-based youth mentoring program, a leadership group for Hutchinson middle and high school students, a prevention coalition that advocates for policy and environmental changes that support drug-free living, Strengthening Families Program and other parenting classes, and the Reno County Suicide Prevention Coalition.

The organization will be hosting a free launch party Saturday at The Wool Market and DIY School located at 420 N. Main in Hutchinson from noon to 1 p.m. Cookies and cider will be served, and the event is come and go with a brief presentation at 12:30 p.m.

For more information, visit the Rise Up Reno Prevention Network Facebook page or www.riseupreno.org.