TOPEKA, Kan. — Several Kansas counties have recently reported stolen cattle.

Todd Domar with the Kansas Livestock Association says this should serve as a reminder for livestock producers to be proactive in preventing theft. He gives some examples:

In addition to that, Domar says there are some things livestock producers can do on their property that could prevent cattle theft:

Todd Domar with the Kansas Livestock Association reminds farmers to think of all possibilities to avoid potential cattle theft.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 41-year-old Hutchinson man accused in a domestic case now faces a total of 16 charges.

Gregory Collins is charged with aggravated kidnapping, aggravated battery, aggravated assault and criminal damage to property. During the preliminary hearing, however, the state charged him with three counts of solicitation to commit perjury and nine counts of violation of a protection from abuse order.

The state is now alleging that Collins may have been attempting to influence the victim’s testimony and that, even though he was in prison, made contact with the victim as many as 500 times and attempted another 300 times. The victim claimed she didn’t know there was a protection order and that the Kansas Department of Corrections stated it didn’t have one. But, Judge Joe McCarville printed out a copy of the order he issued.

The case itself happened around 12:20 a.m. on Jan. 4 when the victim was reportedly attacked with a knife. Collins is also accused of holding the victim against her will, putting her in fear of her safety and causing damage to the home in the 600 block of East F. He is also accused of heating up a taser, then putting it against her neck and threatening to kill her.

On the stand, the victim testified that she struck him first after accusing him of cheating because he was texting someone after he had come home. She also told the court they had both been drinking and that he was high. At one point, she told Judge Joe McCarville, “I don’t want to do this.” But the judge informed her that she was under subpoena and told her to answer the state’s questions.

Detective Jamie Schoenhoff was also on the stand and testified that the victim’s statement after the incident was far more detailed than her testimony Wednesday.

With him bound over for trial, Collins will be arraigned on the 16 charges Sept. 3.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After the Reno County Commission held its formal hearing over the budget Tuesday, commissioners approved the county budget for next year. The mill levy will stay at 41.675 mills. The total budget will be $67,252,698.

Commissioners also approved the 2018–2019 health insurance renewal with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas and set employee rates, which will rise 4 percent.

An agreement with Simplifile, LC, for the electronic and digital recording of documents for the Register of Deeds office was approved.

The commission also discussed a proposal from Miller Homebuilders to build a new maintenance building for the county at a cost of $46,472. This would be built on the property in South Hutchinson, which at one time was used by the noxious weeds department.

The county is expected to approve that item at next week’s meeting.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It doesn’t appear that Commissioner Dan Deming is finding much support from the other two commissioners for putting a nuisance policy into place.

Deming says he received three call and three emails opposed to any such policy, but received three calls and six emails in favor. Add that to the 18 who signed the petition over the condition of a home and property on Zolman Road. He says that’s 27 people who he says want such a policy.

However, Commission Chair Ron Hirst and Commissioner Bob Bush are not in favor. “It seems like we’re creating a whole bureaucratic system and adding additional cost just so we can go out to two, three or four properties to say, look at us, aren’t we great and we’re going to help you out, and I don’t know if that’s great public policy to create these policies that go on forever and cost forever that taxpayers have to pay for,” Bush said.

Deming argues that there needs to be some type of protection, some type of relief for those who live in these situations and wanted to merely put together language for consideration at a later date. However, Deming says, since he doesn’t have the support of the other two commissioners, they’ll just move on.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 51-year-old man on parole for a 1991 case is in more trouble after a new arrest involving weapon theft.

Eric Harbacek made a court appearance Monday. He wants to represent himself on the new charges.

He’s being charged by the state with criminal possession of a firearm for allegedly having a rifle despite prior convictions for a person felony. The latest crime occurred on July 26.

He also faces charges for allegedly stealing some firearms from a building he is supposedly going to rent for a barber shop. This occurred around July 16. In court, he denied that he stole the weapons. Harbacek said he did have them moved to a location in Careyville, where they were being stored.

Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen set a hearing for Wednesday afternoon to discuss Harbacek’s request to represent himself.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Communities That Care announced Friday that it received a CARA grant. The purpose of this program is to prevent and reduce the abuse of opioids or methamphetamine and the abuse of prescription drugs.

Communities That Care will partner with the Hutchinson Clinic — in conjunction with its new opioid policy — and the South Hutchinson Police Department to implement evidence-based strategies to prevent the misuse and abuse of prescription drugs in Reno County over the next three years.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 36-year-old Buhler man made an initial court appearance Friday on nine charges associated with his inappropriate relationship with a 15-year-old girl.

The relationship between Lynn Conrad Hase and the 15-year-old apparently started during rehearsals for the play Shrek, which was performed here in Hutchinson. The relationship went further, leading to the nine charges.

Charges include aggravated indecent liberties with a child, criminal sodomy, five counts of indecent liberties and two counts of indecent solicitation. The crimes occurred from January to March in 2015.

During that period, the parents of the girl suspected something was going on. Her parents eventually discovered the truth and contacted the Reno County Sheriff’s Office.

Hase is free on a $50,000 bond. A no contact order is in place.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas State Fair is coming up next month. Fair officials are proud to announce some new events accompanying the 10 days of fun.

That includes the “Moo U” Barn Tours. These guided trips through the fairground’s barns will take about 45 minutes each and be available all 10 days of the fair.

Tours begin in the Livestock Annex hourly starting at 10 a.m., with the last at 7 p.m. There will be no 10 a.m. tour Sept. 7.

There will be Laser Light Shows on Sept. 7, 8 and 9, at the Nex-Tech Wireless Grandstand after each night’s concert. The laser light show with popular music will create a dynamic late-night experience for fairgoers.

Austin Anderson and the Texas Trick Riders features skilled riders and horses in Bison Arena. Daily shows will be at 10 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. from Sept. 7-12.

Discounted gate admission tickets and packages for families, couples and kids are available through Sept. 6 online, at the Kansas State Fair ticket office — 2000 N. Poplar — or by calling 669-3618.

Advance purchase gate admission tickets are also available at Dillons stores statewide.