HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The new city of Highlands in northern Reno County is just now trying to put a budget together and wants to levy property taxes. There will be a special election Thursday.

The city is seeking voter approval to raise $60,000 for its 2019 budget.

The Highlands became a city last year and the tax lid imposed by the legislature for local governments triggered the need for the special election.

Early voting ended at noon, but polls will open inside the Crazy Horse Sports Club at the Highlands Thursday morning at 7 and will be open until 7 p.m.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Thursday may be your last chance to talk with Governor Jeff Colyer before he leaves office. He’ll be on the Kansas State Fairgrounds for a number of events as a part of Governor’s Day at the Kansas State Fair.

At 7:30 a.m., he’ll speak at the Hutchinson–Reno County Chamber Breakfast hosted by the Kansas State Fair. This will be at the Encampment Building in Dillon Hall. The new general manager of the fair, Robin Jennison, is also expected to speak.

At 9:00 a.m., the governor will tour the 4-H Building with 4-H members.

At 9:30 a.m., he’ll visit the Kansas Wildlife & Parks drawing at the Kansas Wildlife & Parks Cabin.

At 11:00 a.m., he will attend the Commemorative Highway Opening Ceremony with the Kansas Highway Patrol at the Lair White House.

At noon, the governor will attend the Agriculture Appreciation Lunch in a tent west of the Meadowlark Building.

That’s followed by the Governor’s Awards Presentations in the Domestic Arts Building at 1:30 p.m.

And finally, at 2:30 p.m., he’ll attend the presentation of the Wheat Yield Award in the Pride of Kansas Building.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the Kansas State Fair continuing in Hutchinson, you may wonder how many people work to make this event such a big success every year.

Interim General Manager Bob Moeder talked about the additional help the fair gets during the 10-day run:

 

In some cases, he says people take a vacation week just to work the fair because they have a passion for the event and love the people.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As expected, it was a quick meeting for the Reno County Commission. Commissioners agreed to reschedule the Oct. 16 meeting to Friday, Oct. 19.

They also approved a request from District 3 Fire Chief Bobby White to purchase extraction tools for $34,420. The tools will be paid through the special equipment fund.

Community Corrections Director Randy Regehr spoke about his program and how it focuses a lot on high-risk clients to try to change their behavior and keep them from going to prison.

He says they have a lot of high-risk clients because of the number of depositional departures granted by district judges. That puts Reno County third in the state behind Sedgwick and Wyandotte Counties.

Reno County District Judge Joe McCarville talked about the reasons for granting departures in criminal cases:

 

He adds that he also has a lot of faith in the community corrections program in Reno County, which he calls one of the best in the state. For those who aren’t familiar with this program, Judge McCarville explains the program and all the things included to help clients get back on track:

 

Regehr and McCarville both agree that they are saving the state around $5.4 million by placing those convicted of crimes on corrections as opposed to sending them to prison.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Police searched a home on May 22 and found a seller’s quantity of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia all within 1,000 feet of a school. The suspect in the case entered a plea for charges in that case, as well as two others.

Charges against Trivey Ortega include possession of methamphetamine within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of drug paraphernalia and felony interference.

Two others were also arrested, that being Ashley Meadows and Drew F. Chattam of Herington.

One of the other two cases against Ortega includes possession of opiates and drug paraphernalia. That case goes back to Jan 29.

The final case was for a misdemeanor charge of criminal damage to property. It goes back to June 26.

With him entering the pleas, sentencing will be in about 30 days.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The USD 308 School Board held its regular first meeting of the month at McCandless Elementary School where Principal Krystal Young and staff gave members and the public an update on academic activities at the school.

The board decided in August that the first meeting each month would be held at the school and give the Continuous Improvement Report for the month. After McCandless, the board moves to Lincoln in October.

The board approved an annual program agreement with the Hutchinson YMCA.

The Reno County Head Start agreement with USD 309, the Nickerson-South Hutchinson School District, and USD 313, the Buhler School District, was also approved.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Police were called to the report of a truck fire in the 200 block of West 4th early Tuesday morning.

Arriving officers attempted to put out the fire in an older Dodge pickup, but were unsuccessful, so the Hutchinson Fire Department was called to the scene and put the fire out.

After further investigation, it was determined that the point of origin was in the truck bed.

The fire occurred around 2:15 a.m. Tuesday.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 30-year-old man remains jailed on a $14,000 bond for allegedly sending a text message that contained a nude photo of a woman.

Derek Stevens is charged with breach of privacy for the illicit photo. In court, however, he stated it wasn’t on purpose and that he tried to delete it.

He’s also jailed for a warrant from Harvey County for a charge of being in possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

Stevens has prior convictions for the sale of drugs and contributing to a child’s misconduct for a case in Lyon County and violation of the offender registration act for a case in Shawnee County.

He’ll be back in court for the Reno County case Sept. 17.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The South Hutchinson Fire Department responded to an explosion at a business Monday morning on the east side of that city.

According to Fire Chief R.C. Watson, a car caught fire at Silas Enterprises at 5th & Maple. This occurred while the car was in a car crusher.

Watson says the cause is still under investigation. No one was injured and no damage estimate has been released.

The call came in around 11:20 a.m.