HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A South Hutchinson man arrested for charges associated with sexual abuse of children has been formally charged.
Shawn Rosenberg is now facing three counts of aggravated indecent liberties with a child, one of which falls under Jessica’s Law, meaning he could receive a life sentence on that count alone if convicted.
A 15-year-old girl was apparently going to Horizons for depression. It was learned during a session there that she had been sexually abused for some time by Rosenberg.
Also, a woman who is now 20 years old alleges she was sexually abused by Rosenberg. She says the abuse went back to when she was 13, according to the complaint.
Rosenberg is jailed on a $161,000 bond. He will be back in court Sept. 19.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With virtually no discussion, the Reno County Commission decided on a 2-1 vote against changing how many hours must be worked for overtime to kick in for the Reno County Sheriff’s Office employees.
Commissioner Dan Deming wanted the change after noting that overtime pay for last year totaled $687,648. He saw that as extreme and wanted an hour added each year for the next four years. That means employees would have to work 84 hours before overtime would kick in at the end of the four years. However, Commissioner Bob Bush shut down any discussion Tuesday and made a motion to keep it the same. Commission Chair Ron Hirst seconded the motion, which then went to a vote. Bush and Hirst voted to keep things the same, while Deming voted the other way.
In other action, the commission tabled any decision for hiring a school resource officer for USD 309 — the Nickerson-South Hutchinson School District. If approved, the district would pay 85 percent of the cost while the Reno County Sheriff’s Office would pay the other 15 percent.
It may be next month before this item comes back before the Reno County Commission. According to Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson, the school district won’t have another board meeting until Sept. 17, so it may be after that before the issue comes back.
Commissioners did approve the recommendation of the County Appraiser’s Office to deny a disaster relief request for fire damage sustained to a home at 1002 E. 82nd during the March 2017 wildfires. Apparently, a homeowner didn’t meet the criteria for being approved.
A contract with Ward Davis Builders was also approved for work on the Reno County Fire District 2 station building in Buhler. The existing building will receive an addition and remodel. Commissioners agreed to add an additional $4,000 for painting, so the total cost will be $380,200. The county will issue bonds for $218,685 of that cost and the fire district will pay the rest from its equipment fund.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The USD 308 Board approved its 2018-19 budget Monday night. The mill levy will drop slightly.
After a brief public hearing, the board met in a regular study session and approved the 2018-19 budget. The budget calls for a slight decrease of 0.106 mills. The proposed mill levy for 2018-19 is now 54.877, compared to 54.983 in 2017-18.
Also during Monday’s meeting, the board approved an agreement with McPherson College to continue to provide training for teachers who work with English language learners.
The board also approved the shared facilities and cooperation agreement with Hutchinson Community College for Gowans Stadium.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — New Beginnings took a big hit from the storm over the weekend. The roof was torn off the building at Meadowlark Commons, the site of the Transitional Housing facility. Officials say the intense downpour washed through the building and severely damaged most of the offices and quite a few of the apartments.
Photo courtesy of New Beginnings.
This building serves the homeless by determining their needs.
Officials say this is the heart of their operations, everything from important government documents, to the offices where they talk to people about how they ended up homeless, and how they can make a plan to get them back into the community as productive members of society.
As of right now, close to 20 people were displaced with nowhere to go. In other words, they’re homeless again.
The problem over the years is that New Beginnings has taken quite a few hits with fires, vandalism, and other acts of nature and man.
The deductible for damages done from Saturday’s freak storm is $22,640.
New Beginnings is now looking to raise $22,000 this week. A difficult goal to say the least, but officials say they have partners. However, they will be in a “blackout” for September because of the United Way campaign and cannot raise any money during that month.
They’re asking the public for help to meet this goal. New Beginnings has a desperate need to bring peace to the residents and staff.
For more information on how you can help, call New Beginnings at 966-0274 or visit Facebook.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — In addition to considering changes in overtime pay for the Reno County Sheriff’s Department, Reno County Commissioners have other pressing items on the agenda as well.
That includes more consideration about hiring a school resource officer for USD 309 — the Nickerson-South Hutchinson School District. If approved, the district would pay 85 percent of the cost while the sheriff’s office would pay the other 15 percent.
The commission will also consider the recommendation of the County Appraiser’s Office to deny a disaster relief request for fire damage sustained at a home at 1002 E. 82nd during the March 2017 wildfires.
Commissioners will also consider the contract with Ward Davis Builders for work on the Reno County Fire District 2 building in Buhler. Plans include an addition and remodel of the building at a cost of $376,200.
These items are up for action by the Reno County Commission during Tuesday’s meeting in the Reno County Courthouse.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A local man convicted of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute was granted just under two years of probation with an underlying sentence of 18 months.
Tanner Evans entered a plea to the distribution charge as well as possession of methamphetamine and possession of marijuana. As part of the plea agreement, the state dropped the other charges, including possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute and personal use paraphernalia.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Another award comes to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. Only this time, the award goes to the man at the top. It was announced Monday that the American Hospital Association, in partnership with the Kansas Hospital Association, awarded Ken Johnson, President and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, with the American Hospital Association Grassroots Champion Award.
Ken Johnson, center, was awarded the Grassroots Champion Award.
As the 2018 Grassroots Champion from Kansas, Johnson was recognized for his exceptional leadership in generating grassroots and community activity in support of his hospital’s mission. AHA awards one individual from each state who is especially effective in state and federal advocacy.
The Grassroots Champion Award was created to recognize those hospital leaders who most effectively educate elected officials on how major issues affect the hospital’s vital role in the community, who have done an exemplary job in broadening the base of community support for the hospital, and who are tireless advocates for hospitals and their patients.
A statement issued by KHA commended Johnson for his efforts on the state and national level. “Ken Johnson has earned the respect and reputation for being one of Kansas’ most effective advocates for hospitals and he has a keen sense of what is important and how to communicate an effective advocacy message.”
Johnson said the HRHS leadership team maintains year-round contact with area legislators to discuss issues affecting healthcare. Each February, a delegation from HRHS spends a day at the legislature for one-on-one meetings with lawmakers serving in the Kansas Senate and House of Representatives. The day concludes with a dinner for lawmakers.
“Earlier this year, we were honored to host Governor Jeff Colyer and Senator Jerry Moran for a tour of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center,” Johnson said. “We are aided in our efforts by the KHA Governmental Affairs team, a group of high caliber healthcare experts who understand the vast number of issues being debated that affect our future.”
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Tuesday’s Reno County Commission meeting could be busy with a whole slate of agenda items.
Commissioner Dan DemingSheriff Henderson
The most controversial would have to be the decision regarding the increase of overtime pay for Reno County sheriff’s employees. This comes after Commissioner Dan Deming was concerned about the amount of overtime pay last year.
He noted that overtime last year totaled $687,648 and that it hasn’t substantially changed over the past four budget years. He doesn’t foresee it coming down this year.
He’s proposing that the threshold be raised by one hour over the next four years starting next year. That would mean employees of the department would have to work 84 hours before any overtime would kick in by 2022. It’s currently at 80 hours.
Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson opposes any change and says it could drive some deputies to quit because they’re often called to duty during their off hours for a variety of reasons.
This issue is just one of several items on the agenda Tuesday when the commission meets at 9 a.m. in the Reno County Courthouse.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Strong thunderstorm winds caused a lot of tree damage and forced power lines down in the Hutchinson area early Saturday morning.
Here is a tree destroyed on the HutchCC campus.
Westar Energy has hundreds of customers without power. Westar is experiencing longer-than-normal restoration times in Hutchinson and surrounding areas due to the storms early Saturday.
Large trees were damaged or even destroyed. The campus of Hutchinson Community College was especially hit hard by the storms.
Some of the animal pens on the Kansas State Fairgrounds were also blown around from the strong winds.
Some cable customers also saw issues with their service because of the storms.
Tree damage on east 11th.Damage to animal pens on the Kansas State Fairgrounds.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Reno County man jailed on a $100,000 bond has been formally charged with rape and aggravated criminal sodomy.
Nathan Allen Crum is accused of sexually assaulting a local woman he met online. Crum invited her to his home to watch a movie. He is then accused of forcing her into a sexual relationship after she repeatedly said “no.”
Crum admitted they had sex, but claims the sexual relationship was consensual.
The female victim was taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment.
