HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The American College of Radiology (ACR) has awarded a three-year gold seal of accreditation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.

Hutch Regional is the only healthcare facility within 50 miles currently accredited by the ACR to perform Magnetic Resonance Angiogram (MRA).

The MRA uses MRI’s magnetic fields and radio waves to produce pictures of blood vessels inside the body, allowing doctors to locate problems that may cause reduced blood flow. The designation is the result of an exhaustive and in-depth review conducted by the ACR. The peer review was conducted by a group of board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are certified experts in the field of imaging.

MRI is a noninvasive medical test that utilizes magnetic fields to produce anatomical images of internal body parts to help physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.

Raleigh White, Director, Imaging Services, said the national designation represents another validation of image quality and patient safety made possible by more than 30 board certified staff. “This distinction is awarded sparingly and to hospitals that meet ACR Practice Parameters and technical standards,” White said. “Criteria of the review include image quality, personnel qualifications and adequacy of facility equipment. The review also focused on quality control procedures and quality assurance programs.”

Wes Hoyt, Chief Operating Officer for Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, said ACR accreditation is a coveted distinction that all hospitals and clinics nationwide strive for. “This honor is a reflection on the competent and hardworking staff at the Hutch Regional’s Imaging Services,” Hoyt said. “The MRI was installed at the hospital in 2018 as part of the construction of the new Intensive Care Unit and during the past year, more and more patients from south central and western Kansas have chosen Hutch Regional for an MRI.”

The ACR, established in 1924 and headquartered in Chicago, serves more than 37,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive healthcare services.

Hutchinson Regional Medical Center is an entity of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System. Other entities are Horizons Mental Health Center, Hospice and HomeCare of Reno County, Health-E-Quip and the Hutchinson Regional Medical Foundation.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Reno County Historical Society recently announced a new Executive Director. Michael Ables comes from the General Patton Memorial Museum in Chiraco Summit, Calif. He replaced Mary Clark who was the Interim Director for the local organization. She will resume her post on the Board of Directors.

President of the Board, Darren Wicks expressed the Boards confidence. “Mr. Ables extensive leadership experience in the museum world, coupled with his strengths in innovation and vision makes him the right person to lead the Reno County Historical Society,” said Wicks.

“I am honored to be leading the Historical Society at this Exciting time in the organizations history,” said Ables.

He and his wife Nikki and their two children will be coming to Hutchinson from California as he starts his new job.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Due to mechanical failure, Cornejo and Sons were not able to pave Main Street from Avenue B to 3rd Avenue on Monday. Main Street will be totally open for traffic and parking.

Here is the updated schedule: On Tuesday, northbound Main Street and parking stalls will be closed for traffic to complete asphalt resurfacing.

On Wednesday, southbound Main Street and parking stalls will be closed for traffic to complete asphalt resurfacing.

On Thursday, two way traffic will resume, however it may require to have the center lanes closed to complete construction.

City officials say partial road closures are needed in order to reduce the time to complete construction on Main Street from Avenue B to 3rd and improve safety of both the traveling public and contractor.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Restless isn’t the way most people would describe a beautiful summer weekend, however, that is exactly how Patti Kreis would describe this past weekend.

A Lyons resident waited more than 48 hours to claim the $20,000 top prize she won playing the $2 Double Bonus Crossword instant scratch game.

“I didn’t sleep great that night. I was too excited to relax. It didn’t feel real to me,” Kreis said with a laugh. “I kept re-checking the ticket just to make sure I wasn’t crazy.”

Kreis explained she bought four tickets on Saturday and once she started scratching, she thought the tickets were non-winners until she started scratching the third ticket.

“I just kept finding letters and making complete words. When I got done, I counted nine complete words and my husband and I were so excited to win $2,000!”

After double checking the ticket, Kreis noticed she missed the “I” in another word meaning the ticket wasn’t a $2,000 winner, but a $20,000 winner!

“I just jumped up and hugged my husband,” Kreis said. “I’m still so excited! It’s all such a whirlwind.”

After days of waiting to claim her prize, Kreis says she can now start thinking about what to do with the winnings.

“I’ll probably pay off my debt and medical bills and the rest will go into savings for now,” she explained.

The winning ticket was sold at Yesway Store, 1115 at 100 South Grand Street, in Lyons. There are still 21 top prizes left in the $2 Double Bonus Crossword instant scratch game, as well as thousands in other prizes!

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Daredevil motorcyclists, strongman and fair favorite Bandaloni will perform in Hutchinson at the Kansas State Fair Sept. 6-15.

Bandaloni, the Kansas State Fair’s beloved one-man band, is back for the 2019 Fair, along with a variety of performers who will flip, juggle fire, bend steel, plus much, much more.

“Each year, the Fair offers a wide variety of free entertaining acts, including few who stroll the fairgrounds and perform wherever they find a crowd,” said Fair Manager Robin Jennison. “This year, visitors and their families can enjoy new and exciting performers, along with a few familiar faces.”

The Fair is September 6-15. Here are some of the free highlights:

Back after a year hiatus is the one and only Bandaloni. This one-man band gives musical entertainment a humorous facelift as he belts out familiar family favorites while playing bass and rhythm guitar, harmonica, kick drum, two high-hats, snare drum, cowbell and tambourine.

Find him throughout the grounds daily.

Jason D’Vaude (that’s Vaude as in Vaudeville) is a self-taught one-man circus. The Kansas City entertainer brings his comedic juggling, fire and clowning show to Fair audiences with his humor and distinct but refined awkwardness. Watch him juggle sharp items, climb up precariously balanced objects, ride an extra-tall unicycle and manipulate fire like a master.

Look to the sky or spot the flames to find this roaming act on the grounds.

The Fair will have its own version of Superman. Strongman John Beatty can bend steel, flip over cars and pull one-ton pickups. Beatty can also turn a horseshoe into a heart, lift 10 kids in the air at once and drive a nail with his hand. Beatty has performed at world strongman competitions, and his impressive skills helped him make it to the quarterfinals on Season 5 of America’s Got Talent.

He’ll perform on Grandstand Avenue at the Fort Riley Boulevard intersection by the fountain.

At Gottschalk Park, it’s the “Fearless Flores Thrill Show.”

You’ll be able to see the dangerous acts the Flores family perform. That includes the Globe of Death containing motorcycle-madness and skilled stunts. The Flores family also will perform acrobats on a sway pole from 50-feet in the air. Their death-defying feats earned them a spot-on America’s Got Talent.

The Fearless Flores Thrill Show is sponsored by Hutchinson Clinic.

Hours/Location: 1:30 and 6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6; and 11 a.m., 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sept. 7-Sept. 15 at Gottschalk Park.

And an act that never gets old is hypnotist Ron Diamond. He is a regular to the fair and puts dozens of fair-goers under his hypnotic spell for an hour-long performance of laughs and fun. Sponsored by Kuhn-Krause, Diamond performs daily at the Bretz & Young Injury Lawyers Arena.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — East Avenue G between Kent Road and Buhler Road, east of Hutchinson will be closed Monday, July 15, through Thursday, July 18, for a bridge replacement.

Those who use this county road will need to find an alternate route while the bridge is being replaced.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Another coffee shop has opened in Hutchinson. Scooter’s Coffee has opened at the corner of 30th and Plum, located in the parking lot of Genzada.

Scooters is a 550-square-foot building with a drive-thru offering a wide coffee menu along with tea, smoothies and Red Bull products. They also have a food menu with breakfast items served throughout the day. The area has a small patio seating for customers.

Scooter’s Coffee was born in 1998 with the first drive-thru coffeehouse in Bellevue, Nebraska.

And now you can enjoy coffee at Scooters in Hutchinson.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 29-year-old man faces serious criminal charges after his arrest Saturday evening for distribution of drugs.

Terry Gant was arrested in the Walmart parking lot after an officer spotted him and knew he had warrants to Hutchinson Police and the Reno County Sheriff’s office.

A K-9 officer smelled the presence of drugs and a search of his vehicle led to the discovery of a backpack which contained a clear bag. Inside that bag were 15-smaller bags with a crystal substance which field tested for methamphetamine. They also allegedly found a scale, a grinder and marijuana.

Potential charges include distribution of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute and for personal use.

His bond is set at $18,500 and he’ll be back in court on July 22.

Gant is well known to law enforcement with prior convictions for aggravated battery, drugs, theft and making false writings.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 38-year-old man serving a sentence of more than 38 years for a 2004 case where he was convicted of aggravated criminal sodomy was back before a judge Friday seeking relief from what he deems is an illegal sentence.

Sidney Clark entered a plea as a level two person felony for aggravated criminal sodomy. His criminal history score was a “B” — which is next to the highest there is based on past criminal convictions. The sentencing range was 416 to 460 months and Judge Tim Chambers sentenced him to the maximum.

However, Clark argues that one of the items in his criminal history is for a crime in Oklahoma, which was for spitting on a government employee. If charged in Kansas, he says it would have been a charge of battery of a law enforcement officer, a class A misdemeanor. He says finding the Oklahoma charge as a felony in Kansas was an error. He admits at the time of sentencing that he stipulated to the criminal history as was indicated in the pre-sentence report here in Kansas. Even though he stipulated to his criminal history, he says it cannot be held as a bar to challenge the sentence as illegal. He believes the maximum sentence should have been 18 years. Clark also presented the court with supporting documents to make his argument.

There seems to be some confusion over what exactly the law is here in Kansas. Judge Tim Chambers says he’ll have a special setting for a hearing and have both sides argue what they believe the law is in Kansas. That should be done in the next 30 days or so.

Clark was convicted for the sodomy count involving a child back on Jan. 16, 2004.

He also has prior convictions for burglary, forgery and the criminal conviction in Oklahoma.