HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Traffic is already picking up on the north side of Hutchinson with the Kansas State Fair. Hutchinson Police Sergeant Brian Hirt says it’s a time when locals need to plan ahead, and most of all be patient of our guests in town for the fair.

“Anyone who has lived here in town for any amount of time knows we double our traffic during the fair,” said Hirt. “That means it takes longer to get places, there are motorist who are not from Hutchinson, we need to plan according, maybe allow maybe 10 minutes more time to get where we’re going.” He also notes that locals should be courteous and patient with those from out of town.

In addition to traffic, there will also be more pedestrian traffic, especially along Main and Plum Streets, but even a lot of side streets near the fairgrounds.

The temporary lights along Main Street just west of the fairgrounds will be activated as they always are. Anyone who runs those lights will be cited with a fine of $109.00 plus court cost.

In addition to Hutchinson Police and the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, the Kansas Highway Patrol will have an increased presence in the county as well during the fair.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The firm the Reno County Commission picked to help find a new Reno County administrator is wasting no time getting to work.

Officials with the Austin Peters Group plan to be in Hutchinson next week to meet with county officials.

This is the same firm the commission used when Gary Meagher was hired to be the Reno County administrator.

Meagher plans to retire at the end of his contract and the commission wants someone hired to take his place.

The commission would like to hire someone to start Jan. 1.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas Corporation Commission announced it will be collecting data and analyzing recent injection well activity in Reno County in an effort to uncover the cause of a series of earthquakes in the Hutchinson area.

The KCC is sending out notices to gather information from well operators in the region, according to Hutchinson State Representative Jason Probst.

He says operators will have two weeks to submit that information to the KCC. Noncompliance will result in a monetary penalty.

“I get a sense that the KCC isn’t playing around on this,” Probst said in a Facebook post.

He says it will take some time once that information is gathered to compile and analyze, but says he is encouraged by the seriousness with which this issue is being approached.

The latest earthquake in the area occurred early Wednesday morning when a 2.3 magnitude quake struck four miles west of South Hutchinson.

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Six Kansans have been appointed by Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam to serve on the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s Marketing Advisory Board. Board service will begin Sept. 12.

The Marketing Advisory Board provides constituent observation and comment for a variety of industry sector strategies supporting agriculture business development, international agricultural development/trade, From the Land of Kansas trademark program, local foods and affiliated programs, agricultural workforce development, and agricultural education.

Mike Bergmeier of Hutchinson is a newly-appointed member.

The Kansas Department of Agriculture’s purpose is to serve, promote and grow the state’s largest industry. The Division of Agriculture Marketing advocates for and promotes agriculture across the state and works to provide an environment that enhances and encourages economic growth of the agriculture industry and the Kansas economy. For a full list of all advisory board members, visit www.agriculture.ks.gov/MarketingAdvisoryBoard.

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Transportation announces approved bids for state highway construction and maintenance projects in Kansas. The bidding took place Aug. 21, 2019, in Topeka.

Some of the bids may include multiple projects that have been bundled based on proximity and type of work.

The work will include two projects in Rice County. The first is along K-14 from the north city limits of Lyons north, to the Rice/Ellsworth county line. That will include milling and overlay for 11.3 miles. APAC-Kansas Inc. and Shears Division of Hutchinson will do the work at a cost of $1,877,091.

The other project in Rice County is along U.S. 56, from the Lyons east city limits east, to the McPherson/Rice county line. This will also include milling and overlay work for 14.5 miles. APAC-Kansas Inc. and Shears Division of Hutchinson will do the work on this project as well. The cost will be $1,935,248.

BUHLER, Kan. – IdeaTek Telcom announces Tuesday the hiring of Hutchinson attorney and local Superman Ethan Kaplan as general counsel and chief superhero. In this role, Kaplan will help the company’s statewide advocacy efforts to expand broadband access in under-served areas.

He will handle a broad range of legal responsibilities, including broadband deployment barrier reduction. He will also work closely with IdeaTek CIO Daniel Friesen in IdeaTek’s efforts to champion policies that shrink the digital divide for rural Kansans.

“Kaplan understands our mission to bring internet freedom to the people of Kansas,” notes Friesen. “Ethan’s legal expertise and sense of justice will serve a crucial role on our team as we tear down the various barriers to broadband expansion that have long kept Kansans from access to quality internet service.”

Kaplan earned his juris doctorate from Washburn University in Topeka. He practiced law in Iowa before moving to Kansas and starting his own practice in 2010.

In addition to his practice, Kaplan is very involved in the Hutchinson community. He has taught law classes at Hutchinson Community College, and serves on the board and participates in productions for the Family Community Theatre. Kaplan also serves as municipal judge for the City of Buhler. Perhaps his most recognized role is as Smallville’s local Superman, which he takes on throughout the year to bring joy to the children of Hutchinson.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — In probably one of the shortest meetings in some time, the Reno County Commission approved an agreement with WSP USA, Inc., to perform engineering services for three bridge replacements in the county.

The work by the company will be for three bridges. Work will take place on Arlington Road over the North Fork of the Ninnescah River, on Sylvia Road over that same river, and then on 4th Street over Peace Creek.

The total amount of engineering services is $318,300. Funding will come from the Special Bridge Fund.

The bridges are to be designed next year. Letting is anticipated for February of 2021. Construction on one or more of the bridges is expected in 2021 and 2022.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Guardrails will be rebuilt at various spots along highways in Reno and Stafford counties in two Kansas Department of Transportation projects.

The tentative earliest start is Monday, Sept. 9. The projects are expected to begin in Stafford County first, then move to Reno County.

The Stafford County work will occur from the U.S. 50/U.S. 281 junction, east to the Reno County line. The Reno County job will be at the U.S. 50 overpass at K-61.

Traffic will be controlled by temporary stop lights. Drivers should be prepared to stop and should expect delays.

RF Beachner Contractors of Pittsburg is the main contractor for the projects.

The cost is $228,855 for the project in Stafford County and $80,374 for the project in Reno County.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 2019 United Way of Reno County campaign has officially kicked off. This is an effort to raise $1,350,000 for 25 different nonprofit agencies in the county.

Dr. Cory Jackson and his wife, Amanda, are the campaign chairs this year. Dr. Jackson talked about the decision to take on this role in an effort to raise the needed funds.

“We started giving to United Way when we moved back, starting at 15 years now, and we just see the need every day in our daily lives,” Dr. Jackson, who practices family medicine in Hutchinson, said. “We’ve used United Way services through Hospice House, the YMCA and Hutch Rec. Also, every day at work, I see the need in the places that United Way supports, after school programs and early education programs, so we just think it’s a great organization.” Jackson said he and his wife are excited to take on this role for United Way.

Amanda also talked about what she sees in the community and their desire to help with this campaign.

“I work in early education through the early education center as a physical therapist and go into homes. I see the impact that United Way has in our community,” Jackson said. She talked about the Dolly Parton Library and all the services that families need in this community. “It’s just a good fit for us to help this year,” Jackson said.

The United Way campaign is underway with the hope that local residents will donate enough money to reach the goal.