HUTCHINSON, Kan. – On Tuesday, the Reno County Commission approved their agenda items that included the purchase of two 2019 Crew Cab F-250 pickups from Midwest Superstore, costing $57,400 for the Solid Waste Department. 

They approved a license agreement with the City of South Hutchinson for signs, benches and shelter facilities to support R-CAT by placing them on city property. There are apparently two locations that they’re looking at.

Also approved, was the transfer of a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan from the Department of Public Transportation to the Department of Aging. This vehicle will be used for delivering groceries to the elderly in rural parts of the county.

They then approved placing two R-CAT buses on Purple Wave to be auctioned off. There are already two replacement buses which were put into service Dec. 1.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 25-year-old woman was able to post bond after she was arrested just before 11 p.m. Monday on drug-related charges.

Ashley Davis of Pretty Prairie was arrested in the 4000 block of West 4th for possession of methamphetamine drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

Because she posted bond, any court appearance will come at a later date.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 36-year-old man was arrested over the weekend when he allegedly entered two homes with people inside.

Sammy Cox reportedly entered a home in the 100 block of East 11th. The occupant reported finding a man upstairs in the home. The man, later identified as Cox, then ran north trying to avoid police who spotted him based on the description given by the occupant of the home. He then reportedly entered a second home in the 100 block of East 15th. The person in that home told him they had a gun, so he then ran from that home and was captured by police a short time later.

According to Police Lt. Dustin Leopp, Cox told officers that he spotted a man running into the home on East 11th and went in to stop them from stealing. No other person was found.

Potential charges include two counts of aggravated burglary and theft.

His bond is set at $25,000. Cox will be back in court Dec. 26.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson police officer traveling on Poplar Sunday night observed what she believed was a drug buy occurring in the Burger King parking lot.

That led to a traffic stop in the 100 block of East 4th. Gregory Glass then apparently gave a different name of Brandon Johnson and a different birth date. Police eventually discovered who he was.

That led to a search of his vehicle where officers found a seller’s quantity of methamphetamine, pills, smoking pipes and four fake $20 bills all with the same serial number.

Potential charges include distribution of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute and for personal use, counterfeiting, and interference with law enforcement.

Bond is set at $25,000. Glass will be back in court Dec. 26.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 31-year-old man serving prison time for murder in a Seward County case and a conviction for aggravated battery of a corrections officer saw his conviction in the battery case upheld by the Kansas Court of Appeals.

Eddie Nunez was found guilty of battering and causing injury to a female officer at the central unit of the Hutchinson Correctional Facility back on Jan. 13, 2016.

The officer had given permission for his cell door to be opened so he could supposedly empty his trash. She says she was distracted by other inmates and turned and saw his fist. That was when she was struck repeatedly. She stated that she went underneath a nearby stairway trying to escape, but he followed her and continued to hit and kick her. During the altercation, she couldn’t get to her radio, so she finally started screaming. Help then arrived. She suffered a black eye and other bruising from the altercation.

Nunez is serving that sentence at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility central unit under special management.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — We’ve talked about the need for more teachers across the state and, according to one area school superintendent, it’s not going to get any better soon.

Buhler superintendent Mike Berblinger says the district has done some research and it appears this will be a problem for awhile:

 

He jokes that candidates are kind of in the driver’s seat because of that shortage:

 

He also talked about the need for substitute teachers in the district. He talked about the process to become a substitute:

 

You can contact any school district to find out more about becoming a substitute in that district.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Hutchinson police have reported an increase of counterfeit bills being passed in Hutchinson.

Officials say a majority of the bills being passed at local businesses are fake $20 bills.

Businesses need to be aware that this is happening and be on the lookout.

There are ways you can determine if you have received U.S. currency:

Officials say you can hold a bill up to a light and look for a holograph of the face image on the bill. Looking at the bill through a light will also reveal a thin vertical strip containing text that spells out the bill’s denomination.

There is also color-shifting ink. If you hold the new series bill and tilt it back and forth, you can observe the numeral in the lower right-hand corner as its color shifts from green to black and back.

Also, look for the watermark, the security thread running from top to bottom and the ultraviolet glow. If the bill is held up to an ultraviolet light, the $5 bill glows blue, the $10 bill glows orange, the $20 bill glows green, the $50 bill glows yellow, and the $100 bill glows red if they are authentic.

If you receive a counterfeit bill, don’t put yourself in danger. Do not return the bill to the passer, delay the passer with some excuse, if possible.

Observe the passer’s description, their companions’ descriptions and write down their vehicle license plate numbers if you can.

Contact your local police department or call your local secret service office.