HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Although no final decision was made at Tuesday’s Reno County Commission meeting, commissioners appear to be on track to sunset the bonds that were used to build the Reno County Correctional Facility, improve the Reno County Jail Annex and improve security at the courthouse.

The county expects to save $879,400 in interest and maybe have as much as $1 million from the sales tax collected that won’t need to be spent on the project.

Former County Commissioner Dan Deming, who was very much involved in getting the jail bond issue approved, says he’s happy with the outcome:

The commission was told it could spend the $1 million in savings for items associated with the project voters approved. The commission is considering setting up a maintenance fund. That fund could be used if issues arise with the jail or some of the security equipment.

The plan is to pass a resolution on March 19 and provide notice to the Kansas Department of Revenue to sunset the tax on April 1. The tax would then sunset on July 1. On Aug. 1, the county could deposit funds to the treasurer’s office. On Sept. 1, the bonds would officially be paid off.

Deming, who was always a spending hawk while on the commission, says he’s happy with the savings to the county:

The commission will adopt the resolution to sunset the half-cent jail tax on March 19. It is expected to come off the books July 1.

PRETTY PRAIRIE, Kan. — One person died as a result of a house fire near Pretty Prairie.

Fire units were dispatched to the area of 9 E. Horseshoe Lane east of Pretty Prairie, near Cheney Lake, around 2:42 a.m. Tuesday for the report of a structure fire with possible occupants still inside.

Upon arrival, they found a single-story double-wide residence on fire. The fire spread quickly to other parts of the structure within minutes. Twenty-one-year-old Hannah Lynn Perry was able to get out of the residence with her two children: Charlotte 2 and Wyatt 1. Perry went to the neighbor’s house across the street and called 911. She reported that her grandmother, Judy Kay Alley, 70, was still inside the residence.

Once the fire was under control, firefighters found one individual, Alley, deceased within the residence.

The fire is still under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Perry and the 1-year-old child were transported to Via Christi St. Francis by Reno County EMS. The 2-year-old was flown by EagleMed to Via Christi St. Francis.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The upcoming Reno County Commission meeting could be lengthy since commissioners did not meet Tuesday.

This Tuesday, commissioners will discuss the county’s ability to retire building bonds for the Reno County Correctional Facility and other county facility improvements. With that, the ½ cent sales tax county residents have been paying will come to an end.

Commissioners will also consider a contract with Landmark Architects to complete a study for the renovation, or possible replacement, of the building housing Fire District 3, located in Nickerson. The cost of the contract would not exceed $5,300.

The commission will also consider placing items on Purple Wave to be sold and the purchase of other vehicles for various departments.

The commission could approve a new economic policy for companies coming to the county.

Commissioners will consider amending the agreement with Tyler Technologies for law enforcement software. The amendment would allow the Hutchinson Fire Department to add fire records and fire mobile modules to the shared software system already in place. Reno County has to sign the agreement since it is the license holder for the software.

There would be no financial obligation on the county’s part. That cost would be paid by the city of Hutchinson.

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

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 59-year-old man with previous convictions for drugs and forgery is in more trouble after his arrest last month.

Kevin Keesling is now charged with distribution of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute.

He’s accused of selling drugs from his home on Feb. 22.

Keesling is free on bond and will be back in court on April 3.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 36-year-old man arrested on Feb. 24 for aggravated battery in a domestic case has been formally charged.

Garrett Spillman is charged with a battery count for choking the victim during a domestic altercation. He’s also charged with criminal damage to a door of the residence and harassment of the victim.

In court Friday, Spillman claimed he was also battered. Spillman said he didn’t tell police because he didn’t want the victim to be arrested with her children present. He now wants to report that battery.

Spillman has served time in prison for domestic battery and drug charges for a case back in 2000.

He is free on bond and was told to have no contact with the victim.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 34-year-old man arrested in Hays this week for the shooting death of another man has a case pending here in Reno County.

Ryan Thompson was charged with criminal possession of a firearm by a felon for reportedly having a Beretta Tomcat 32 Automatic on Feb. 24. The state also claims the weapon was stolen, leading to a second charge for possession of stolen property.

Thompson was scheduled to be in Reno County District Court Friday morning for the reading of charges. However, Magistrate Judge Daniel Gilligan was told Thompson was being held in Ellis County for the shooting death of another man.

Hays police responded to a domestic disturbance call Wednesday night and found a 26-year-old man dead from a gunshot wound. Thompson fled the scene, but was apprehended with the help of officers from the nearby town of Ellis.

Thompson has previous convictions for burglary, aggravated endangerment of a child and drug charges.

Judge Gilligan issued a bench warrant with a $10,000 bond to bring Thompson back to Reno County, but it could be a long time before that happens, considering the murder case in Ellis County.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson man sentenced to 18 years in prison for a 2015 robbery case was back in court Thursday morning where the state argued for restitution in the case.

District Judge Trish Rose agreed to order restitution of more than $23,000. Jerry Anderson will have to pay that amount once he is released from prison. However, he is appealing the conviction and sentence.

He was convicted of aggravated robbery for walking into LoanMax Title Loans on May 4, 2015, and demanding money at gunpoint.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Amtrak has informed federal, state and local officials along the daily Southwest Chief route that, with the enactment of the recent full-year funding bill by Congress, it will provide matching funds to enable a federal grant for safety and reliability upgrades on the train’s route in Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico.

Earlier this year, Congress passed and the president signed into law the fiscal year 2019 Appropriations Act, which included critical funding for Amtrak and intercity passenger rail service. The legislation set aside at least $50 million of its National Network grant for improvements to the Southwest Chief route that passes through Hutchinson.

Amtrak is using $3 million of these funds to match a $16 million grant successfully sought by these states, counties and cities. The grant and matching funds from the partners will result in an investment of more than $26 million.

Amtrak and BNSF Railway began community discussions regarding needed route safety and other infrastructure improvements in 2011. Since then, more than $80 million has been committed from U.S. Department of Transportation grant programs, state and local governments, Amtrak and BNSF.

Amtrak officials previously proposed replacing train service with bus service between Dodge City and Albuquerque, New Mexico — about a quarter of the 2,265-mile route providing daily train service between Los Angeles and Chicago.

The Southwest Chief, Amtrak Trains 3 and 4, provides daily service between Chicago and Los Angeles and is the shortest and fastest Amtrak route between those cities.