RENO COUNTY — The family of a pregnant Great Bend woman who was seriously injured in an accident last weekend created a GoFundMe page to help cover expenses. Joanna Simmons was badly injured and taken to Wesley Medical Center, where she remains in serious condition.

A GoFundMe page was set up because Simmons lost her child as a result of the accident in Reno County. The family is trying to raise $5,000 to help cover medical and funeral costs.

Simmons’ injuries were severe and she lost her baby girl. The family named her Chloe Lynn.

The rollover accident happened Saturday around 9:45 p.m. on K-14 in southern Reno County.

The vehicle was driven by Joseph Rolf, also of Great Bend, who says he slid on some ice, left the roadway and rolled over.

Simmons was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected.

Rolf was wearing his seat belt and suffered minor injuries to both of his hands. He was treated by EMS and released.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County District Attorney Keith Schroeder announced two new additions to his staff.

 

Jennifer Harper assumed the position as an Assistant District Attorney on Jan. 2. She was previously a Deputy Sumner County Attorney. She attended Washburn University and graduated from Washburn University’s School of Law in 2015. She is currently handling the juvenile, child in need of care, and care & treatment (substance abuse/mental illness) caseload.

Kimberly Rodebaugh has been appointed as a Senior Assistant District Attorney and will assume that position next month. She’s currently an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Wichita. From 1997 to 2016, she was the legal instructor at the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center. She was previously an Assistant Lyon County Attorney and an Assistant Sedgwick County District Attorney. She attended Emporia State University and graduated from Washburn University School of Law in 1992. She has 27 years of prosecution experience. Rodebaugh will handle a general felony caseload, including violent person crimes.

“I believe both Jennifer Harper and Kimberly Rodebaugh will be valuable additions to the District Attorney’s Office here in the 27th Judicial District,” Schroeder said. “Both have positive attitudes, are passionate about protecting our communities, and will naturally blend into the current prosecution staff.”

After 8 ½ years of service, Senior Assistant District Attorney Daniel Gilligan left the DA’s office on Jan. 11. He was appointed as a magistrate judge for Reno County by the governor.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 2019 Dillon Lecture Series began Tuesday with inspirational speaker Dr. Rick Rigsby.

Dr. Rigsby encourages and empowers audience members to become great people who do great things.

In 2017, he delivered one of the most passionate speeches ever heard – Lessons From a Third Grade Dropout. He talked about that speech going viral:

 

He talked about his book, “Lessons from a Third Grade Dropout.” The book did not sell well until his speech went viral:

 

Dr. Rigsby used himself and his speeches to emphasize how working at something and being positive is something everyone can work toward:

 

Click here for a list of upcoming speakers.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission approved all the items on its agenda, including a request from Reno County Solid Waste for the purchase of a 2019 Caterpillar dozer from Foley Equipment for a cost of $835,539.

The commission also gave direction to county staff on where they want to go with a modification to their economic development job incentive policy.

That would include dropping the number of full-time jobs created from 10 to 5. However, at the five job level, the company would only receive 80 percent of the amount that is normally given by the county as an incentive to companies creating jobs in the county.

The way it is now, the county pays $500 for any company the creates 10 jobs at $15 per hour, $1,000 for any job created that pays $18 and $1,500 for any new jobs with a base wage of $21. That will not change.

The wording for the new policy should come before the commission in a couple of weeks.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The legislation being proposed in Topeka concerning wind energy has one Reno County commissioner a little upset.

Bob Bush is angry that commissioners were not informed when the bill was introduced last week, considering there is a wind farm proposal in Reno County.

He’s also upset that all of the Reno County delegation told audience members at a recent forum it’s a local matter that should be decided at the local level. With this legislation, that is not the case:

 

The proposed legislation with House Bill 2273 states that there must be at least a mile and a half between wind farms and surrounding homes, but Commissioner Bush says it even goes beyond that. He says it is a badly written bill:

 

Bush says county officials are elected because they know the area being considered and what the project entails. Bush says he is very much against this legislation.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission will have a fairly busy agenda Tuesday. No major items are scheduled, but there will be many routine and annual items.

That includes canceling certain county warrants, the noxious weed annual report and a policy update for the Community Corrections Criminal Justice information system.

Commissioners will also consider the Equal Employment Opportunity plan and policy statement.

The commission will consider a request from Reno County Solid Waste for the purchase of a 2019 Caterpillar dozer from Foley Equipment for a cost of $835,539.

The commission will also have one discussion item to consider a modification to the economic development job incentive policy.

Commissioners will receive updates from the Automotive Department and Aging and Public Transportation.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County District Judge Trish Rose kept her word and gave a downward departure to a 19-year-old Hutchinson man convicted of second-degree murder.

Taylor Lukone entered a plea for the fatal hit-and-run accident that killed Jose Lopez on Sept 21, 2017. Lopez died 11 days after the incident at a Wichita hospital.

The state had requested a sentence of more than 13 years for the three charges, which included failing to stop at an accident and interference with law enforcement.

As part of the agreement, Lukone could not seek a departure sentence and both sides had agreed on a recommended sentence.

Judge Rose ruled that Lukone was barely 18 at the time of the crime, doesn’t have a substantial criminal history and accepted responsibility for his actions.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Davidson argued to the court that there are no substantial and compelling reasons to depart. Davidson said Lukone earned the 13-year sentence.

Defense Attorney Shannon Crane noted that Lukone had been evaluated and it was determined that he suffered from PTSD. She said Lukone was upset because Lopez had beaten his mother and was let out of jail. But, Lopez had entered a plea in the case against him and had yet to be sentenced.

Lukone told the court he takes responsibility for his actions and that he didn’t mean for it to happen.

Davidson says he will appeal the sentence handed down by Judge Rose.

TOPEKA, Kan. — When Westar and KCP&L merged last June, new company officials announced a range of benefits to their customers, including customer credits.

Active Westar residential utility customers as of Feb. 16 will receive a merger credit of approximately $6.19 on their next bill. Officials say the amount will vary based on applicable taxes and fees.

Westar already distributed $73.1 million in merger and federal tax bill credits in December. Another $8.6 million in annual bill credits will be distributed from 2020-2022.

Westar officials say they have reduced electric rates. Both Westar and KCP&L completed rate reviews last year and, because of ongoing merger and federal income tax savings, base prices for electricity decreased by about $66 million.

These base rates are locked in for five years and will not change until December of 2023.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Planning and Zoning Director has received the application for a wind energy project from NextEra Energy for a wind farm in southern Reno County. It arrived late Thursday afternoon.

Reno County Administrator Gary Meagher says the application is now currently being reviewed by staff. A tentative hearing date of April 4 is scheduled for the planning commission to hear comments on both sides of the controversy.

Any recommendations will then be sent to the Reno County Commission, who will have the final say on whether the project moves forward.

The company stated earlier that it would have the application submitted by Feb. 15.