HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A manual elevator at the Historic Reno County Courthouse hasn’t been working for awhile and the county has been looking at what to do since it is so old.

This elevator is original to the building, along with a majority of the associated wiring and mechanical controls, according to Maintenance Director Harlan Depew. He says it uses a large generator that converts AC power to run the DC motor. That piece of equipment failed.

Depew says they did find a company in Wichita that would be willing to rebuild the generator, but can’t guarantee how long it will work. The wiring and mechanical controls for the elevator are also old and brittle and could fail as well, which could mean spending lots of money.

This leaves them with two options, according to Depew. One is to remove the entire elevator and install a new one from top to bottom. The second is the partial modernization of the existing equipment.

Depew says he’ll recommend the second option when he meets with the Reno County Commission Tuesday morning at 9.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County District Judge Trish Rose took under advisement the motion to suppress in a distribution of methamphetamine case from last year.

Christopher Krebbs was arrested after drug enforcement officers did surveillance on him on Jan. 10, 2018. They followed him to Wichita where he allegedly bought a large quantity of methamphetamine. Once back in Reno County, officers performed a traffic stop on K-96 at Worthington Road. They searched the vehicle and found a bundle of methamphetamine in the glove compartment, several burnt marijuana cigarettes, two glass pipes and a Taurus 40-caliber handgun. Total weight of the meth discovered was around one pound.

Krebbs who is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana, is now seeking to have all the evidence suppressed with their belief that law enforcement didn’t have probable cause for a traffic stop while he was coming back to Reno County.

Judge Rose told the two sides she would have a ruling on the motion within 10 days with the trial expected to begin on July 30.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As part of the follow-up to last October’s “Curbside Chat with Strong Towns’ Charles Marohn” in front of an audience of 225 at Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre, the five organizations that partnered to bring Marohn to Hutchinson will host a “Strong Towns Community Convening.” This discussion will be from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18, at the Hutchinson Art Center, 405 N. Washington St.

In the months since Marohn’s visit, representatives from the city, Hutch Chamber, Hutch Rec, Young Professionals of Reno County and Hutchinson Community Foundation have been meeting to review the results of the post-event survey from attendees. They have worked to identify strategies that the community can focus on in the effort to make Hutchinson a strong town.

Members of the public are invited to lend their voices to the discussion of those strategies and bring other residents along who will do the same.

The event is free, but RSVP is requested by emailing kari@hutchcf.org.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A unique event is coming to Hutchinson starting Thursday through Sunday. Cirque Italia, the first traveling Italian Water Circus, with a 35,000-gallon water stage featuring amazing artists from all over the world, is performing at the Hutchinson Mall.

This innovative and unique production which is the only one of its kind in the country will be premiering their newest show “Aquatic Spectacular.”

The performances will start on Thursday and Friday evenings at 7:30 p.m. They will then have three performances on both Saturday and Sunday. Times are 1:30 p.m., 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available on show days from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased through their website at www.cirqueitalia.com/tickets, or by phone at 941-704-8572. They will also respond to text messages.

The shows will be at the Hutchinson Mall on the southwest parking lot near the Dollar Tree.

NEWTON, Kan. — Officials with the Newton Fire and EMS have announced the promotion of Division Chief Cory Lehman to the rank of Fire/EMS Deputy Chief.

Lehman is a 17-year member of the department who has previously held the ranks of firefighter and paramedic, Lieutenant and Division Chief of Logistics.

Officials say Chief Lehman has been instrumental in the success of several community initiatives within the department.

WICHITA, Kan. — Another “Heroes Welcome Home” event to show thanks and gratitude to our local Kansas veterans who sacrificed so much for our great nation is coming again this Friday. This will occur at Wichita’s Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport as part of the Honor Flight program.

The ceremony will take place at noon Friday on the far east end of the airport’s lower level.

Officials recommend everyone wishing to attend be in the terminal around 11 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. They say these flights sometimes arrive early and they want everyone to be in place and ready when the veterans arrive.

Small American flags will be available for a small donation.

For more information on these veterans and their flight to Washington, D.C., and to see the national memorials of various wars, visit www.kansashonorflight.org.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 22-year-old man on community corrections for aggravated assault for a case from 2016 was arrested once again in another domestic case.

Deangelo Cantu is now accused of battering his girlfriend, punching her in the face and cracking her tooth. Cantu fled before police arrived.

Cantu is well known to law enforcement and an officer spotted his black pickup. He was stopped and believed to be under the influence of alcohol.

Potential charges include aggravated battery, driving under the influence and driving while suspended.

He managed to make bond, meaning he will appear in court at a later date.

Cantu is on corrections for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for allegedly threatening another person with a gun on Sept. 18, 2016.