MAIZE, Kan. — There was some concern in the Maize school district Thursday after a social media post involving a threat was made. But school officials say the threat was directed at another student rather than a safety-related threat to any of the Maize schools, student body or employees.

Maize South High School administrators and the Maize Police Department were made aware of the post on social media. The two entities investigated the post and its connection between a student at Maize South High School and another student at Maize High School.

No threat was actually made to any schools in the Maize district.

MANHATTAN, Kan. — On Friday, the Kansas Department of Agriculture Division of Water Resources received notification of the official position of the Fish and Wildlife Service related to the impairment of the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge operated by the service.

“The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will not make a request for water to the State of Kansas for Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Fiscal Year 2020. Throughout the year, the service will continue to work to find local, voluntary, collaborative and non-regulatory solutions, including augmentation, to address the water needs of the community and the wildlife conservation purposes of the refuge before determining if more formal measures are necessary to ensure the refuge’s water rights are secured. We look forward to working with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, the Kansas congressional delegation, and all water users to develop concrete milestones and lasting solutions,” the notification said.

Based on this position, KDA-DWR confirms it will not issue any administrative orders regarding water use in Groundwater Management District 5 for the 2020 growing season.

Public meetings regarding this issue were held in St. John in Stafford County on Oct. 21. At that time, the official position and timetable of the service was uncertain, so KDA-DWR was unable to provide assurance there would be no water administration in 2020. This notification provides that certainty for farmers and ranchers in the Rattlesnake Creek Basin.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Police Department had three officers perform night seat-belt enforcement Thursday.

Twenty residents were cited for adult seat-belt violations. Two people were cited for 14 to 17 year old violations and there were two driver’s license violations.

Police remind residents to buckle up.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Staff from Wiley Elementary School are planning a rally to discuss the redesign efforts at the school.

The rally will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, at the Cosmosphere, 1100 N. Plum. Wiley parents and community members are invited to the meeting.

The event will begin with an introduction about the redesign process by Ginger Lewman, curriculum consultant for ESSDACK. After Lewman’s introduction, parents and community members will break into smaller groups for engaging activities that provide information and allow for input.

The Cosmosphere meanwhile, will provide activities for school-age children during the evening.

Wiley and Hutchinson Magnet School at Allen are two of the district’s schools involved in the redesign process.

The Kansas State Board of Education announced the Kansans Can School Redesign Project in 2017 in support of the board’s vision for education. Kansas leads the world in the success of each student. The vision was created in 2015 based on feedback from 20 community meetings and seven business conversations that took place across the state.

During those conversations, Kansans said that schools need to place an equal amount of focus on helping students develop nonacademic skills, such as social-emotional growth, as they do on developing academic skills. This vision calls for a more student-focused system that provides support and resources for individual success.

To RSVP for the meeting, please call Wiley Elementary at (620) 615-5250.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Two local residents were arrested after a search warrant was conducted on their home in association with a number of burglaries of storage units in Hutchinson.

Kimberly Goertzen and Drew Sims are facing multiple counts of burglary, theft and criminal damage when police found items stolen from the burglaries in their possession.

According to statements made in court, they were apparently renting a storage unit and created a hole through the walls of their unit connecting to others where they’re then alleged to have taken the property which didn’t belong to them.

Goertzen managed to get a bond reduction from $22,000 to $5,000 during a court appearance, but Sims bond was left at $25,500.

Both will be back in court on Oct. 31, or sooner if the state files formal charges.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — One of two men accused of murder for the shooting death of a Hutchinson man who entered a plea in the case is scheduled for sentencing Friday afternoon.

Curtis Garcia entered a plea to reckless second-degree murder as part of an agreement with the state. He was charged with first-degree murder for the killing of Norman Cushinberry.

Some statements early in the investigation revealed Garcia came to the home in the 500 block of Washington to sell an Xbox and accessories. When he arrived, the victim allegedly pulled a handgun and Tristan Delaney came at the vehicle with a rifle or shotgun. There is also evidence that it was a drug buy gone bad.

Police found Cushinberry in the street suffering from gunshot wounds to his upper chest, on his side around the rib cage, and around his upper arm. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Garcia will be sentenced Friday while Delaney who also entered a plea to the same charge will be sentenced on Nov. 1.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Reno County Public Works has announced that Trailwest Road between Avery Road and Lerado Road will be closed to all-through traffic next Monday and Tuesday.

This is part of the county’s crossroad pipe replacement work that they continue to do in the county.

This schedule is subject to change without further notice.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Another earthquake struck near South Hutchinson Wednesday afternoon. The quake registered a 3.1 magnitude. It struck around 4:40 p.m.

USGS indicates it was just over a mile west of South Hutchinson.

Officials believe the earthquakes may be caused by induced seismic activity.

There have been no reports of any damage.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Texas man involved in a fatal accident in Reno County in April of 2017 is scheduled for arraignment Thursday. Benjamin Buzzini will enter his plea in the case. The trial date in the case could also be set.

Buzzini was charged with alternate counts of involuntary manslaughter and a count of second-degree murder. However, Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen found last year there was insufficient evidence that he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs for one of the manslaughter charges. The state didn’t agree with the judge’s decision. The state dropped the case and refiled it.

During the second preliminary hearing, Reno County District Judge Joe McCarville found probable cause for the case to go to trial on all three counts.

The charges come after emergency personnel were dispatched to the 2100 block of south K-96 Highway around 1:45 a.m. on April 25, 2017, for a single-vehicle fatality accident. Buzzini was driving and his passenger, Stephanie Futral, was killed. Buzzini was badly injured.

Arraignment is Thursday morning at 11 a.m.