HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The latest unemployment numbers show an increase in those looking for work. The unemployment rate for Hutchinson rose to 4% in July compared with a 3.3% rate in June. However, that rate is lower than the 4.2% in July of last year.
The rate for Reno County also went up, according to the Kansas Department of Labor. Reno County had a rate of 3.8% last month compared with 3.2% in June. The rate in July of last year was at 4%.
1,105 residents of the county were seeking employment, according to the report, with most of those living in Hutchinson.
For the entire state, Kansas had a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.3% in July. This was down from 3.4% in June and unchanged from 3.3% in July 2018.
NEWTON, Kan. — Officials say ballots have been mailed to residents within the Newton school district over a couple of questions regarding a proposed bond issue.
The ballots will come with a postage-paid return envelope so residents can drop them in the mail, bring them to the Harvey County Election Office in the courthouse or drop them off in the payment box found on the south side of the courthouse.
Ballots are due back to the election office by noon on Sept. 3.
The upcoming bond issues are made up of two questions that school officials say will help prepare the district for the future.
The first question is for a bond amount of $61,320,000 and would be used for an update to Newton High School.
That includes safety and security upgrades, a science wing addition, a remodel of the auditorium and district kitchen, a new storm shelter and gym, and a remodel of classrooms.
Also included is the safety and security at Chisholm Middle School and Santa Fe 5/6 Center, safety and security at the elementary schools, Santa Fe and Chisholm deferred maintenance and deferred maintenance at all elementary schools.
The second question is for a bond amount of $24,420,000. This amount is for a new school south of Newton. It would be a kindergarten through sixth grade building. The building will have three sections so there is room for growth.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 29-year-old man facing charges in three distribution cases in Reno County entered a plea Wednesday.
Kirk Surdi entered pleas to four counts for the sale of methamphetamine, one count of possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to sell, four counts of using a cellphone to make the transactions and one count of issuing a worthless check.
All of the cases are from November of 2018.
Surdi has prior convictions for indecent liberties, burglary and theft. Sentencing will be Sept. 19.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Those who drive by Morgan Elementary School in Hutchinson may notice a map of the United States on the playground. It has a new coat of paint and sealing thanks to a teen who decided to repair and repaint the art for a Boy Scout project.
Steven Hayse with the U.S. map he refurbished at Morgan Elementary School.
Steven Hayse says the idea to repair the piece started a few years back.
“There was an adult that was friends with one of my leaders who was on the PTO Board here at Morgan,” Hayse said. “She came up with the project saying how the map was in disrepair, it needed some painting done to it, there was a crack running through it.” He was approached about the project and just took it from there.
Hayse says he ran out of time to do the project last year because school started. He made sure the project got done this year.
Hayse says this work was his Eagle Scout project for the Boy Scouts. “The Eagle project is kind of the last step in scouting. The Eagle Scout is the highest rank you can achieve as an adult,” Hayse said. “I’m trying to get that last step to earn that Eagle rank.”
His dad, Darol Hayse, also helped. Darol was pretty proud of his son and also thankful to the USD 308 school district.
“This is a great project and we’re very thankful to the school district for allowing us to be a part of this,” Darol Hayse said. “He’s done a great job and he’s had a lot of help from his troop and from his friends and family.”
Morgan Elementary School is the benefactor of this project and work. Morgan Principal Bryan Cunningham talked about what this means to student learning.
“It’s an amazing thing, it’s been the topic of the new year,” Cunningham said. “Parents have driven in and said, ‘man, you can see that from the street.’ Walking around classrooms, kids were asking about it and we have new students from Colorado. We can use that as a teaching tool asking, ‘where is Colorado from Kansas, east or west?'” Cunningham says he posed that question for students at recess and encouraged them to learn from the map.
Cunningham says teachers have a game using the map where the first child is asked to find a state, such as California. If they do, then they get to call out another state and the next child has to find that state. It’s a way to have fun and learn some geography.
Alaska and Hawaii are included and are located adjacent to the 48 states so students learn where they actually are in the world. Cunningham says it’s used throughout the year.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Sheriff’s Office is one of numerous law enforcement agencies that will be participating in the DUI campaign “You Drink, You Drive, You Lose” starting Thursday and continuing through Sept. 2.
Deputies will be out looking for impaired drivers during these times.
This year’s campaign includes a “No Refusal Weekend” Aug. 16 – 17 when all suspected impaired drivers who refuse breath testing may be subject to blood testing for alcohol and drugs.
This “No Refusal Weekend,” law enforcement officials may work in coordination with prosecutors to obtain blood draw warrants for drivers who refuse breath or drug testing. No refusal programs help ensure that prosecutors obtain the scientific evidence needed to effectively prosecute cases involving impaired driving.
If you plan to drink, please arrange for a ride or have a designated driver. The point of the campaign is to ensure everyone arrives at their destination alive.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A southwest Kansas woman who announced earlier this month that she will seek the Democratic nomination for the 1st Congressional District seat in Kansas talked with HutchPost.com about her campaign. Kali Barnett is a political newcomer and is running for the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall.
What made her decide to run? “I found myself saying we need more teachers at the federal level who know how hard it is for our teachers and build in support and incentives for them to continue their careers in that field,” Barnett said. “I also know, growing up as a third generation farmer’s daughter, there are real world problems that are happening to our farmers across the country with the tariffs and we have current electives who I feel are not voting for Kansas farmers.” Barnett says she wants to advocate for them and other Kansans.
She talked about her decision to run as a Democrat in a pretty conservative state. Barnett thinks of herself as someone outside the box and doesn’t want to be cast in any particular category.
“I know I can still be conservative with my values. I know I can be progressive if that’s what you want to call it,” Barnett said. “If we’re talking about getting green renewable energy to take care of our planet, if that means I’m progressive in that sense of the word, then absolutely you can put me there, but I don’t feel I fit into most of those categories.”
Barnett says she’s seen firsthand the struggles and heartbreak of trying to keep a farm afloat in southwest Kansas. She also noted that, in America, it shouldn’t be so hard to make an honest living, care for a family and get healthcare when you need it.
She will face Dr. Marshall in the election unless he decides to run for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. Pat Roberts, who announced he will retire at the end of his term.
For more information, visit Barnett’s website at www.kaliforkansas.com. She is also on social media.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A man charged with two alternate counts involving injury to a child saw his bond double Wednesday after he initially failed to appear in court.
Jesse Depenbusch is charged by the state with abuse of a child, or in the alternative, aggravated battery.
The state alleges that he inflicted cruel and inhuman corporal punishment on a 6-year-old child and also caused injury. The alleged crime occurred on Dec. 12, 2018, in Reno County. The state alleges this is a crime in a domestic violence case.
Because he was a no-show in court, Magistrate Judge Daniel Gilligan granted the state’s request to increase the bond from $20,000 to $40,000.
However, that was rescinded after he showed up an hour late.
The case will now move to a future judge’s docket.
Original story
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A man charged with two alternate counts involving injury to a child saw his bond double Wednesday when he failed to appear in court.
Jesse Depenbusch is charged by the state with abuse of a child, or in the alternative, aggravated battery.
The state alleges he inflicted cruel and inhuman corporal punishment on a 6-year-old child and also caused injury. The alleged crime occurred on Dec. 12, 2018, in Reno County. The state alleges this is a crime in a domestic violence case.
Because he was a no-show in court, Magistrate Judge Daniel Gilligan granted the state’s request to increase the bond from $20,000 to $40,000.
TOPEKA, Kan. — Seven Kansas school districts, including the Haven district, were honored this week for outstanding practices in Child Nutrition and Wellness programs that help support the Kansans Can vision.
The Kansans Can 2018-2019 Best Practice Awards were presented during the Kansas State Board of Education meeting in Topeka. This is the third year for the awards.
That included the Haven school district where the second annual Family Farm Fun Food Fitness Day brought local farmers and the community together. The event featured carnival games and a free farmers market for families to pick fresh produce and healthy snacks. Local 4-H participants also set up at the event to display projects.
Students at Haven High School asked for more lunch choices and the nutrition staff delivered.
Using Google, students make an online order to choose between four options daily. The cooks use the results of the orders to create the right amount of food, cutting both waste and excess.
The Kansans Can vision was established by the State Board of Education in 2015.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters, or VOAD, is requesting volunteers to assist residents of Reno County still recovering from flood damage.
The Reno County Emergency Management team and VOAD were contacted by almost 200 people with homes in Reno County that were damaged by flood waters this past spring. VOAD assisted many of those families, but the organization said it’s not done. There are still almost 20 families that still need help.
The Reno County VOAD has coordinated with disaster relief teams from Great Plains United Methodist Disaster Response and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief ministries, but has still not found enough volunteers.
There’s currently a small team from United Methodist Disaster Services headed this way that could use some additional volunteers to help with the efforts.
If you could commit some hours this week and are willing to work with this team, VOAD would like to hear from you.
You can call Jeff Tomsin at Interfaith Housing at 620-662-8370, extension 720, if you are willing to help. If he doesn’t answer, he asks that you leave a message and he will get back to you.
