HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The fourth featured neighborhood of the Hutchinson Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative has a name. In a two-week voting period the neighborhood bordered by Main Street, Fourth Avenue, Cow Creek, and 11th Avenue, surrounding the Allen Magnet School, was named Creekside Neighborhood by its residents.

The name reflects Creekside’s proximity to Cow Creek, as it’s just one of a handful of residential neighborhoods adjoining natural bodies of water. The name also comes at a time when the new Parks and Recreation Master Plan calls for improved recreational access to Hutchinson’s waterways.

The next steps for Creekside Neighborhood include a National Night Out block party on Aug. 6 at the Hutchinson Wesleyan Church, 10th & Jackson, as well as a proclamation recognizing the neighborhood and development of a logo for sign-toppers.

Creekside Neighborhood residents who want to keep up with all the latest developments and activities in the neighborhood can follow the neighborhood Facebook page.

Updated June 7, 2019 – 2:00 p.m.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 37-year-old ex-con charged with aggravated kidnapping after an incident at a local motel earlier this year was back in court Friday.

Martin Andes entered a “not guilty” plea in front of Reno County District Judge Trish Rose set a tentative trial date of August 27.

Andes also faces trial for criminal threat, criminal possession of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Hutchinson police officers were called to the Sunflower Inn on Feb. 12 for the report of an armed subject. Two employees at the motel told police they were threatened by Andes and that he put them in fear for their safety.

He’s also alleged to have forced his girlfriend into a car at gunpoint and threatened to kill her and their 8-month-old child. He reportedly put a gun to her head while making the threats.

During the incident, Andes also fired the gun in the air a couple of times.

His bond remains at $242,500.

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 37-year-old ex-con charged with aggravated kidnapping after an incident at a local motel earlier this year is scheduled to be arraigned Friday.

Martin Alan Andes was also jailed for criminal threat, criminal possession of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine and two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Hutchinson police officers were called to the Sunflower Inn on Feb. 12 for the report of an armed subject. Two employees at the motel told police they were threatened by Andes and that he put them in fear for their safety.

He’s also alleged to have forced his girlfriend into a car at gunpoint and threatened to kill her and their 8-month-old child. He reportedly put a gun to her head while making the threats.

During the incident, Andes also fired the gun in the air a couple of times.

His bond remains at $242,500 with the arraignment scheduled in front of District Judge Trish Rose.

Kansas State Fair unveils new Explore Kansas Festival

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A new festival the first weekend of the Kansas State Fair will feature the treasures and tourist attractions found in Kansas communities.

The Explore Kansas Festival — a showcase of Kansas culture, history, events and attractions — will take place the first weekend of the Fair, Sept. 7 and 8, in Gottschalk Park.

Fair General Manager Robin Jennison says the first-ever festival is a way to educate fairgoers about Kansas’ many attractions all in one place. Visitors will see an interactive display of Kansas byways, dig for a lost village, learn about one of the nation’s oldest town picnics and celebrate the upcoming 200th birthday of the Santa Fe Trail.

“The two-day showcase brings together Kansas communities and attractions, creating a place for the public to discover our unique treasures,” Jennison said.

A few of the communities represented:

Erie is famous for its annual Old Soldiers and Sailors Reunion, which is held during the second full week of July. The reunion features a Free Bean Feed. The beans are prepared using a historic recipe, simmering all day in cast-iron kettles over wood fires — just like soldiers used in the Civil War. This reunion has been conducted continuously since 1873 and is claimed to be the oldest consecutively running Old Soldiers and Sailors Reunion in the country.

Ark City’s Lost City of Etzanoa — In June 2015, archaeologist Dr. Don Blakeslee led a wide-ranging field study in central and southern Kansas. One of his primary goals was to rediscover the long-lost Native American city of Etzanoa. He was successful. It was in the present location of Arkansas City, Kansas. This site is now available for tours.

Santa Fe Trail — William Becknell, known as the Father of the Santa Fe Trail, left Missouri for Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1821. More than half the trail runs through Kansas and many remnants of the trail still exist. The Santa Fe Trail was the first international trail between the United States and Mexico. The Santa Fe Trail Association will have a display celebrating the trail’s heritage.

“We see the Kansas State Fair as an important mouthpiece for Kansas Tourism,” Jennison added. “The Explore Kansas Festival can help visitors find unique cafes, fishing holes, hiking trails, next summer’s vacation spot, historic sites, natural landmarks, museums, arts and culture and events — or even a new place to call home.”

The fair has already filled up one tent for the festival and is working on filling a second overflow location. There are only a few vacant spots. The community application deadline is Monday, June 10. Spots after this date will be filled if spaces are still available.

To apply for the Explore Kansas Festival, please visit the fair’s website. For more information, call Kansas State Fair Director of Marketing Amy Bickel at (620) 669-3624 or email her at amy.bickel@ks.gov.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Gov. Laura Kelly and Lt. Gov. Lynn Rogers announced details on the upcoming Office of Rural Prosperity Listening Tour.

The tour is intended to foster new ways to help rural Kansas communities by hearing from the residents themselves.

This upcoming series of events serve as the first phase of the new Office of Rural Prosperity, which has been approved for a $2 million allocation in the newly approved FY 2020 budget. Each location will partner with local hosts in order to set up locations and events.

The tour is intended to travel to Nickerson on June 17 and Lindsborg on July 10.

The tour will cover a wide area of the state in order to learn specific challenges and opportunities for the many different rural communities across Kansas.

MCPHERSON, Kan. — West First Street in McPherson from Hickory Street to Hospital Drive was temporarily closed Thursday morning because of a gas leak.

The closure included the intersections of First and Hickory and First and Mulberry.

Some businesses in the area were evacuated as a precaution.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Carrie Boley of Pratt received a $20,000 surprise thanks to the help of the sharp eyes of her family.

She bought six $2 Double Bonus Crossword tickets last week but waited a few days to scratch the tickets off.

“After I scratched the winner, I was shaking with excitement and I showed my sister Jammie the ticket and told her it was a $500 win,” Boley enthusiastically explained.

However, once Boley’s sister looked at the ticket, she found Boley had miscounted the number of words on the ticket and believed it was actually worth $2,000, so they rushed to the convenience store to double check.

“When they scanned the ticket the clerk gave us the claim form and we got back in the car,” Boley explained.

But the story doesn’t stop there. Boley’s niece then asked to look at the winning ticket and discovered one letter on the ticket had been overlooked.

“My niece found an ‘H’ that I hadn’t scratched off and told me that it made a tenth word, which meant the ticket was worth $20,000! I couldn’t believe it. I got so excited that I felt sick,” she explained.

Boley added she plans to use her winnings to pay off her new car.

The winning ticket was sold at Kwik Shop 709 located at 116 South Washington St. in Pratt. The Kansas Lottery retailer isn’t a stranger to selling winning tickets. In 2018, the store sold three $2,000 winning $2 Double Bonus Crossword tickets within a six-week period.

There are still 27 $20,000 top prizes left in the $2 Double Bonus Crossword instant scratch game, as well as thousands in other cash prizes.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 29-year-old man has been charged by the state with a serious crime involving inappropriate contact with an 11-year-old girl.

Donovan Roy Hall is charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child. The contact occurred March 7 and again on July 21, 2018.

The charge is a level three felony with a maximum sentence of over 20 years in prison.

Hall made an initial appearance in court Wednesday morning where Reno County District Judge Trish Rose informed him of the charge and potential sentence. He then asked for a reduction of bond, but the state objected. Even after the investigation began, he was still attempting to contact the child. That led to the family of the 11-year-old to seek a protection from abuse order against Hall. Judge Rose denied Hall’s request for a bond reduction and left it at $15,000.

Hall will be back in court on June 26.

NICKERSON, Kan. — After hearing the results of a recent survey on the proposed school bond issue, the Nickerson USD 309 School Board will seek voter approval of nearly $29.9 million for improvements to district schools. The bonds would be financed for 25 years.

School Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson talked about some of the improvements the district wants to make.

“Some of the big things is adding a storm shelter and early childhood wing at South Hutch Elementary,” Johnson said. “They’re in a typical classroom and we need a functional classroom.”

At Nickerson Elementary, they have a cafeteria-gym and want to do some work on that. At Reno Valley, they want to expand classrooms for arts and science, and add additional space for the wrestling and weight rooms. A number of things will also be updated at Nickerson High School.

“All of the buildings will get secured access entry,” Johnson said. All of that will be a key component with this bond issue. Johnson says they also want to update all of the science labs in the district.

Later this summer, Johnson says they will start a campaign to hopefully convince voters in the district to vote yes for the bond issue.