HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The owners refer to it as Kansas’ best little western store. A5 Western is now open in downtown Hutchinson at 116 N. Main. The owners, Michael Anderson and his wife Jane, opened the store this week.

Anderson says they made the decision after it was announced Long’s, who is known for having western clothing and boots, was closing with Bill Long’s retirement.

“When Mr. Long decided he wanted to retire, we knew that would probably leave a pretty big hole in Hutchinson for people to shop for their work clothes and boots, so we decided to go ahead and make the move and make a second location for ourselves,” Anderson said.

Anderson also talked briefly about what residents can expect to find when they come into the store.

“We’re western and we also do a ladies boutique on the ladies side, which is Ramblin J, which is on my wife’s side,” Anderson said. “We also specialize in fire-resistant clothing, we’re the largest fire-resistant clothing dealer in the state of Kansas.” A5 Western also stocks a huge selection of work boots: steel toe, safety toes and non-safety toes.

They’ve had a store in McPherson since 2010 and have now added the second location in Hutchinson. A5 Western is now open at 116 N. Main, ironically, right next door to Long’s.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A female inmate who was injured inside the Reno County Correctional Facility back in August now faces new charges.

Realiti Courson has been charged with criminal threat from that incident in the jail. She’s also charged with interference with a law enforcement officer. She allegedly made a threat against one of the deputies and also failed to follow orders during that incident back on Aug. 21.

Apparently, there was some dispute between Courson and jailers. The defense claims the guards at the jail used excessive force when they fired a non-lethal weapon using what is called Star Light ammo.

The state contends she didn’t follow rules in the jail and was bullying and threatening other inmates and staff. She refused to comply with the officers’ commands and was placed in solitary. In that room, she allegedly covered up a security camera. They fired the weapon twice in an effort to get her to comply with their commands. After they discovered she actually suffered a wound, she was taken for medical treatment and had surgery to remove the ammo they fired.

With the state filing charges in the case, Courson will be back in court on Oct. 30.

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services Secretary Laura Howard is recognizing adult care homes in Kansas for their achievements in providing and sustaining person-centered care for residents.

Seventeen adult care homes in Kansas have earned a 2018 Promoting Excellent Alternatives in Kansas Nursing Homes (PEAK) award.

Asbury Park in Newton is one of the area facilities recognized in 2018 for their work as person-centered care homes that have moved away from institutional models of care.

Area facilities recognized for their work in sustaining person-center care in 2018 include: Bethesda Home in Goessel, Pine Village in Moundridge, Schowalter Villa in Hesston and Sterling Presbyterian Manor in Sterling

Nursing homes that have successfully implemented positive culture change through the PEAK program have been recognized for the past 17 years. As a result, accommodating the personal preferences of nursing facility residents has become as important as providing the vital services and supports their residents need.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 2nd annual Salt City Half Marathon, presented by RCB Bank of Hutchinson is this Saturday in Hutchinson.

Close to 200 participants will race 13.1 miles through the town with a route featuring Downtown Hutchinson, the city’s trail system, historic neighborhoods including Old Farm Estates and Hyde Park and other sites throughout town.

Hutch Rec, along with race partners, the Boys & Girls Club will host the half marathon race which originally began in 2011 as the Run for the Rocks Half Marathon.

A special walkers-only start begins at 7 a.m. at DCI Park at 2nd & Main, with the official race start at 7:30 a.m.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson will also host Judy’s Mile, a 1-mile event that starts at 8 a.m. at the same location. Special finish line festivities will take place in DCI Park from 9-11 a.m. in correlation with the Downtown Hutch Rod Run event.

More than 100 volunteers are used throughout the course and for set-up and tear-down.

For more information on the Salt City Half Marathon, visit hutchrecraceseries.com or the Salt City Half Marathon Facebook page.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 32-year-old man already facing trial in a drug case in McPherson County now has two cases here in Reno County.

In one case, Aaron Anderson is charged with two alternate counts of felony flee and elude going back to Aug. 5. Other charges include interference with law enforcement and driving while a habitual violator.

The second case involves the distribution of methamphetamine where he was allegedly caught with a sellers quantity of methamphetamine. Other charges include unlawfully transmitting proceeds from drug sales and criminal possession of firearm by a felon. This case from Aug. 27.

Anderson has prior crimes from Harvey and McPherson Counties from 2011 and 2015 also involving drugs.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The certified public accounting firm of Adams, Brown, Beran & Ball, Chartered announced Wednesday that Todd Cravens has been approved for his license as a Certified Public Accountant in Kansas. Cravens joined the firm in 2018 and currently serves as a staff accountant in the firm’s Hutchinson office.

An alumnus of Wichita State University, Cravens earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting with a minor in finance. He is affiliated with the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Kansas Society of CPAs. Cravens currently resides in Hutchinson.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After receiving a lot of complaints about vehicles disobeying school buses that are loading and unloading children, Hutchinson police implemented a proactive approach to remedy the situation. Officers were placed on school buses while other officers stayed in the area. Two vehicles disobeyed the school bus when it was unloading children.

Police remind drivers they are required by law to stop if a school bus is parked with its red flashing lights activated and stop sign extended. The only exemption to this law is for those traveling the opposite direction with a median or barrier separating them from the school bus.

Authorities say they will be periodically placing officers on school buses in the future.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 25-year-old man who tried to grab a purse from a woman outside Dillons at 725 E. 4th on Sept. 24 has been formally charged.

Trae Taylor is now charged with attempted robbery and criminal damage.

The case began around 5:15 p.m. as the victim was walking into the store. Taylor grabbed her purse with so much force that it knocked her to the ground. She held on and was dragged five to six feet. This caused some bruising, but she managed to hold on to the purse. He finally gave up and ran away.

The incident was caught on store video. Police used the video to track down Taylor. He was arrested the next day.

Taylor is expected back in court next month.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission agreed to seek funds to help with the cost of repairing the 43rd Street bridge near old K-61.

The Kansas Department of Transportation announced a new cost sharing program with cities and counties across the state.

Reno County Public Works Director Dave McComb talked about the objective of this program from KDOT.

“The Cost Share Program provides financial assistance to local entities for construction projects that improve safety,” McComb said. The commission wants to leverage state funds to increase total transportation investment and help both rural and urban areas of the state improve the transportation system.

There are two pots, one with as much as $50 million available, however, McComb warns that it will be very competitive.

The minimum a city or county can request is $1 million. That city or county has to give a 25% match. However, county officials decided they would up that match to 50% in hopes of having a better chance of getting some money.

There is a catch: the application has to be in by Oct. 11. Commissioners also want the City of Hutchinson, the Buhler School District, the Fire Department and EMS to produce letters of support to help their chances.

There is possibly another chance in March of next year to apply.