HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 63-year-old man is jailed on a $40,000 bond after he was arrested for running from a Hutchinson police officer.

The officer responded to a criminal trespass report at 1st and Maple early Sunday morning and spotted Roy Anthony Jr. pushing a bike. The officer honked his horn and told the man he wanted to talk with him. Anthony got on his bike and took off. The officer then turned his lights on and a chase began. It finally ended in a parking lot in the 200 block of Avenue A when Anthony fell off his bike. Anthony ran. The officer chased Anthony down on foot and tackled him.

Anthony was reportedly throwing things from his pockets during this time. He had drug paraphernalia and clear bags with drug residue. Potential charges include possession of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and interference.

He also had warrants for a case where he was arrested for distribution of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and interference with law enforcement. That was on May 23.

Anthony has a substantial criminal history including convictions for aggravated battery, criminal possession of a firearm and drug-related charges.

He will be back in court over the latest arrest on July 8.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — In response to a growing need for Pulmonary services in south central and the western regions of Kansas, Hutchinson Regional Medical Center will open Hutchinson Pulmonology Associates in mid-July, a specialty clinic located within the hospital.

Joining the Hutch Regional staff will be Dr. Mohammed Al-Halawani and Dr. Tariq Musa, who are slated to see their first patients July 18 in an area of the hospital adjoining the Heart and Vascular Center. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 620-513-4800.

Dr. Al-Halawani and Dr. Musa bring impeccable credentials to their positions at Hutch Regional. Dr. Al-Halawani is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Medicine. He trained in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center and Sleep Medicine at Yale-New Haven Hospital at Yale University.

Dr. Musa is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine and trained in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Ken Johnson, President and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, said Pulmonology is an area of medicine that focuses on the health of the respiratory system.

“Pulmonologists treat everything from asthma to tuberculosis,” Johnson said. “Currently, there are an insufficient number of Pulmonologists to serve growing needs in south central and the western regions of Kansas, and it is our hope that Dr. Al-Halawani and Dr. Musa will help alleviate the shortage.”

Among the most common respiratory ailments are Sleep Apnea and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). More than 18 million Americans are diagnosed with Sleep Apnea.

“Dr. Al-Halawani’s certification in sleep medicine will be an asset to the Hutch Regional Sleep Center in diagnosing and treating an increasing number of sufferers of this sometimes life-threatening disease,” Johnson said. “COPD is defined as a narrowing of the airway resulting in breathing problems and was the third leading cause of death in 2018.”

Both physicians will be residing in Hutchinson and are looking forward to being a part of the community. Additional information on Hutchinson Pulmonology Associates can be found at www.hutchregional.com/hpa.

Hutchinson Regional Medical Center is an entity of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System.

WICHITA, Kan. — A 22-year-old Hutchinson woman was taken to a Wichita hospital after a semi crossed into her lane and struck her vehicle Sunday.

Sebastiana Romero was in one lane of K-96. A semi driven by 42-year-old Christopher Lunsford of Wichita was in the other lane. Lunsford started to merge into the Romero lane and the two vehicles collided.

Romero complained of pain after the accident and was transported to Wesley Medical Center for treatment. Lunsford was not injured.

The accident occurred around 11:40 a.m. Sunday, about a half-mile east of West Street on K-96 in Wichita.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission will decide Tuesday whether it will give a letter of support for the City of Hutchinson’s grant application for tearing down the Woodie Seat Freeway and rebuilding a new system to connect Hutchinson with South Hutchinson. 

The city received results of a study on how to deal with the traffic on the interchange and the two aging bridges over avenues A and B.

The proposal from KDOT would mean a $6 million-plus reconstruction of the interchange. It would also mean the closing of Avenue B between Adams and Madison. The proposal adds roundabouts at Adams and Avenue A and Woodie Seat, eliminating the interchange and the two bridges. The freeway would incline up and over the K and O and Union Pacific Railroad tracks and continue on as normal.

The commission will consider its letter of support.

Commissioners will also consider a budget request for Hutchinson Fire District Two for next year. That district not only covers parts of the city but also areas of Reno County.

The commission will also consider surplus property on Purple Wave that consists mainly of office furniture.

The Reno County Commission meeting starts at 9 a.m. Tuesday at the Reno County Courthouse.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Someone tried to pass off a fake bill at a local fast food restaurant.

Just before 5 p.m. Saturday, an employee of Taco John’s reported receiving a fake $20 bill.

Local businesses need to be on guard for fake money floating around.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A woman who helped a Wichita man by bringing him here to Hutchinson where he robbed a Kwik Shop was given 32 months for a conviction of conspiracy to commit robbery.

Elaina Matos was granted 36 months community corrections after she serves another 60 days in the Reno County Jail. That was the sentence handed down by Reno County District Judge Tim Chambers.

Her co-defendant, Emerson Noble, was scheduled to enter a plea Friday, but his attorney told the court he needed to have a mental evaluation before sentencing. Judge Chambers agreed to have him meet with someone from Horizons Mental Health Center. He is charged with aggravated robbery.

The robbery occurred on Feb. 18 at the Kwik Shop at 17th and Lorraine. Noble allegedly entered the store and requested to purchase an item from behind the counter. Once the clerk opened the register, he reportedly punched her one time in the face and grabbed some money.

His case is on hold pending the outcome of the mental evaluation.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community College Board of Trustees held its final meeting of the fiscal year Thursday evening.

The meeting opened with the recognition of two individuals for their service to Hutchinson Community College. Sen. Ed Berger presented a proclamation to Dale Conard, who started the college’s Agriculture Diesel program in 1976 and is retiring after 43 years as the program’s coordinator.

Berger also recognized Rusty Hilst, who recently retired after 50 years of broadcasting athletics for Hutchinson Community College and Hutchinson High School for Eagle Communications. Steve Kappenman, HutchCC’s Assistant Athletic Director, presented Hilst with a proclamation and a jersey.

The board approved the renewal of the college’s property and workers compensation insurance for the coming year and conducted several items of routine business including approval of the final bills to be paid for the 2018-19 fiscal year.

The next meeting of the board will be on Thursday, July 19. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the Shears Technology Center Justice Theater. The public is invited to attend.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Horizons Mental Health Center has been recognized as a “Pinnacle Practice,” one of just five physician practices in Kansas to receive the distinction, which comes with a $12,000 award.

Horizons is one of 180 practices in the Kansas Practice Transformation Network (PTN), which is administered by the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative (KHC) and awarded the distinction.

“We appreciate the resources and technical know-how that working with the Kansas Healthcare Collaborative has afforded us for several years now,” Vikki Mader, Director of Health Information Management, said. “Working with KHC has helped us ensure that we are delivering the very best health care possible to our patients—making the kind of improvements that lead to being recognized as a Pinnacle Practice.”

KHC is the state lead for the Compass PTN, a regional network that is one of 29 PTNs nationwide. Together they are part of the Transforming Clinical Practice initiative (TCPi), a program of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services aimed at promoting broad payment and practice reform in primary care and specialty care, promoting care coordination between providers of services and suppliers, establishing community-based health teams to support chronic care management and promoting improved quality and reduced cost by developing a collaborative of institutions that support practice transformation.

PTNs are peer-based learning networks designed to mentor and assist practices in improvement in the broad areas. A “Pinnacle Practice” is among the top 5% of enrolled practices based on reporting and phase progression as TCPi enters its fourth and final year.

PRETTY PRAIRIE, Kan. — Two armadillos were shot by a Pretty Prairie animal control officer around 12:15 p.m. Thursday.

They say that a couple of children were getting dangerously close to them when they were caught.

They ask that parents talk to their children about staying away from armadillos and call the city office if you see one.

They note that only an animal control officer can discharge firearms in the city of Pretty Prairie.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Three people well known to law enforcement were arrested for drug distribution and other associated charges. They apparently went to Wichita and were at a house there for 15-minutes or so before they were arrested.

When 35-year-old Bridgett Barrett, 37-year-old Brice Reed and 36-year-old Lorenzo Hester, came back, they were stopped by law enforcement and a search of their vehicle was done after a K-9 unit indicated there were drugs.

They allegedly found marijuana and crack cocaine during that search as well as $419.00 in cash.

Barrett had a warrant out of drug court. Reed had two warrants and has two prior convictions for distribution of drugs. In court Thursday morning, Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton requested his bond be increased because of his criminal history and the fact that the cocaine was allegedly found on his person. Magistrate Judge Daniel Gilligan agreed and raised it from $10,000 to $50,000.

The three will be back in court Friday, July 5, for the reading of any formal charges.