HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The two men arrested last week for passing fake 100-dollar bills have both made court appearances and are now formally charged.

Cody Langley is charged with two counts of counterfeiting currency. The first bill was allegedly passed out on Oct. 12. He was also charged with theft by deception when he handed the fake bill for cigarettes at a smoke shop in South Hutchinson. The second was on Oct. 26 at a liquor store.

Brian Conrad faces two counts of counterfeiting currency on Oct. 26 and again on Oct. 29.

Both men are free on bond and will appear in court on the charges in the near future.

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Julia Henry who is a Hutch High Alumni and a Senior at the University of Kansas participated in the Harvard Debate Tournament this past weekend which the Jayhawks won.

This was one of a number of tournaments KU Debate has attended so far this semester.

Julia Henry is the daughter of Erika Luna-Gordon and Nathan Henry. Henry is the principal at Hutchinson Middle School – 7.

 

*We added the name of mother for Julia Henry.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 23-year-old Arlington man is jailed on a bond of $13,250 on several charges including aggravated battery.

Travis McWilliam was arrested in the 100 block of South Maple in Arlington just around 6:30 p.m.

Reno County Sheriff Deputies received a report of a vehicle with no lights driving in Arlington pulling a trailer. Apparently parts from a lawn mower were falling from the trailer. They spotted the vehicle at a restaurant and made contact. McWilliam told officers that he wasn’t driving because he didn’t have a valid driver’s license. Later they see him get in the vehicle and drive away. They attempted to make a traffic stop when he sped up, eventually crashing into the back of a pickup when he tried to turn on Maple. McWilliam is then alleged to have walked away from the vehicle. Deputies were able to take him into custody.

There was a juvenile female in the vehicle who was reported as a runaway from Wichita. She suffered some minor injuries and was treated at the scene by Reno County EMS. She also told deputies she was in fear of her safety.

Other possible charges against McWilliam include interference with law enforcement, child endangerment, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident and driving while suspended.

His request for a bond reduction was denied when he appeared in court Wednesday morning. He’ll be back in court on Nov. 12.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The historic Fox Theatre in Hutchinson will be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of its restoration.

They’ll be showing the movie “Picnic” this Saturday evening as part of that celebration. Those wanting to attend will be admitted for a throwback admission price of only 50 cents per person with tickets available at the door.

Picnic, filmed in Hutchinson and Halstead, premiered at the Fox in 1955. Many local residents were cast as extras in the film and have fond memories and incredible stories about that magnificent event.

The principal cast of the film, including William Holden, Kim Novak, and Rosalind Russell, all appeared on the Fox stage in celebration of its premier on June 16th, 1955.

The public is invited for a very special presentation of the original film as the Fox looks back on the incredible history of this National Historic Landmark.

The Fox, which closed in 1985 after 54 years of operation, was rescued by a small group of local citizens. A monumental fundraising campaign was launched which, by the end of the 1990s, had raised over $4.5 million. Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre reopened on January 29th, 1999 featuring a sold-out performance by actor and dance legend Gregory Hines.

The theatre continues to thrive 20 years after that unforgettable evening, fulfilling the dreams and promises of all those who have believed in it over its now 88-year history.

The showing of the movie is at 7:30 p.m.

The Fox Theatre is located at 18 E 1st Ave, in Hutchinson.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County’s search for a new County Administrator seems to be on track according to Human Resources Director Renee Harris.

She says they have a nice pool of applicants who met the qualifications for the position. She says the commission will have an executive session on Nov. 19 to consider these candidates and then cut that number down.

They have tentatively scheduled the week of Dec. 1 for interviews, however that could change some depending on the schedule of those candidates.

The commission wants to have someone in place to take over for the current administrator Gary Meagher who will retire at the end of his contract on Dec. 27.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A man charged with multiple counts of indecent liberties with a child was in court Tuesday where all those charges went away after he entered a plea to two less serious charges.

Lynn Hase also faced a charge of criminal sodomy, but entered a plea to two counts of indecent solicitation of a child. The crimes occurred between Feb. 1, 2015, and March 31, 2015. This involved a child that was in a local play with him where he played the part of Shrek. The child was between the ages of 14 and 16 at the time.

With him entering a plea to the two charges, he agreed that he should receive the maximum sentence on each count with them running consecutively. He would then possibly be placed on community corrections. He also has to register as a sex offender.

Reno County District Judge Tim Chambers set sentencing for Jan. 3.

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Transportation announced October bids for work on area roads.

Crews will work on K-14 pavement markings for 1.2 miles in Reno County. Cillessen and Sons, Inc. of Kechi won the contract for $23,099.40.

The major portion of that contract along K-14 will be in Rice County where the pavement marking work will run for 10.7 miles. Cillessen and Sons of Kechi will also do the work in Rice County at a cost of $126,772.60.

There will also be work done on K-14 for a little more than 21 miles from just south of Arlington Road north to Trail West Road in Reno County for crack repair. Pavement Pros of McPherson won that contract at a cost of $118,873.47.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission approved the resolutions for replacing the 43rd Avenue bridge just east of Old K-61 Highway Tuesday. Another bridge over the Arkansas River, along Nickerson Road south of Nickerson, is also included in this bond issue.

The county will use bond financing to cover the cost of the work. The county will finance $6.2 million using general obligation temporary notes for the two projects.

The total cost of the two projects is estimated now at $5,901,485. The additional amount with the bonds is for any added cost that might arise.

The county is able to move forward with the 43rd Avenue project after reaching an agreement with Union Pacific and will pay the sum of $1,000 for temporary access onto railroad property for 24 months or until the project is completed.

The bridge has been in failing condition for several years and was closed, forcing Buhler school buses to find a different route to Prairie Hills Middle School.

Because the bridge work on Nickerson Road is also included in the bond issue, it has also been on hold.

County Administrator Gary Meagher indicated that work could begin in February or March of 2020.

HESSTON, Kan. — A 50-year-old Hutchinson man was taken to a Wichita hospital after a one-vehicle rollover accident just after 4 a.m. Monday in Harvey County.

Fifty-year-old Jimmy Tinin was westbound in the 18600 block of West Dutch Avenue when he lost control of his vehicle. He entered the south ditch and his vehicle rolled several times, according to Kyle McCaskey with the Harvey County Sheriff’s Office.

Tinin was taken to St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita with serious injuries.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The winners of the Downtown Soup and Chili Festival over the weekend were announced shortly after the event.

The Reno County Sheriff’s Office won the soup category. Peoples Bank came in second, followed by the Crystal Ballroom in third.

In the chili category, the Hutchinson Fire Department retained its title. Kindred Hospice of Hutchinson came in second and Potter’s Plumbing in Hutchinson won the third place title.

A good crowd was in the downtown area for this annual fall event Saturday.