BUHLER, Kan. — The Buhler City Council will take time this evening to celebrate the Christmas season. The council will participate in the city tree lighting ceremony at Main and 2nd Avenue before recessing and moving to city hall for a regular meeting.

Among the items on tonight’s agenda are a certification of the votes from the municipal election held Nov. 5 and discussion — and possible action — on wages and benefits for the 2020 fiscal year. The council will also approve the consent agenda, which includes a cereal malt beverage license for Hometown Foods.

Tonight’s meeting of the Buhler City Council begins at 7 p.m. in the Buhler city offices at 219 N. Main.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Public Works announced Friday that all spectators of the Christmas parade on Saturday should be aware of the open trenches associated with the North Main Street work.

Most of the work is along the west side of Main. The open trenches are along the west side of Main between West 10th Avenue and West 12th Avenue.

Public Works asks those viewing the parade to watch at locations away from the barricades and excavated construction areas at the noted intersections.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Public Works announced Friday that McNew Road between K-96 Highway and Trail West Road is now open.

The stretch of road near Crupper’s Corner has been closed since late spring flooding washed out the small span. It was one of two bridges lost during the flood.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The annual Reno County Toy Run is set for Sunday. As in the past couple of years, the parade of bikes will start lining up along Avenue A and Washington around 10 a.m., with the toy run starting at 1 p.m.

Director Harley Phillips wants to remind bikers that there is a need of gifts for children 10-12 years-of-age and cash donations will be accepted as well. The route will run down Main to 30th before going east of K-61 Highway. The route will then move south to Lorraine before stopping at the Moose Lodge at 1st and Lorraine.

Following the parade, the gifts will be turned over and there will be a chili feed along with a live auction and memorabilia available for purchase. All proceeds benefit local charities.

NICKERSON, Kan. — Now that the patrons of Nickerson USD 309 have made their decision regarding the failed $29.9 million bond issue, the district is ready to look over its options.

During Monday’s board meeting there was a push to try to move forward with another bond issue. Interim Superintendent Dr. Jeanie Stroh says the district needs to really look over its options first.

“I think the consensus was really about a discussion at the next meeting with the architect,” Stroh said. “They’ve done this before. Let’s have a discussion about what comes next. Is it a survey, is it to go right back out (with another bond issue) at a lower number . . . where do we start from here?”

The bond issue divided the board and steering committee. Stroh says she wants to see the district come together and find a suitable avenue for dealing with the needs in the district.

“How do we size it up and how do we bring a community together to at least be respectful of each other and listen to what all sides have to say?” Stroh asked. “We don’t all get everything that we want and so what is it we need to do for our kids?”

Some board members suggested trying to bring another bond up for a special vote in April. No action was taken on any discussion during Monday’s meeting.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hospice & Homecare of Reno County has launched the 33rd annual Remember Me Tree campaign at four area locations to raise additional funds to support the organization’s efforts to assist families in dealing with end-of-life care.

Donations will be accepted through Dec. 20 at each location. Hospice staff and volunteers will be stationed alongside a Christmas tree near the east entrance of Dillons Marketplace at 3200 E. Park St. between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Also, donations will be accepted at the Lyons Federal Bank from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays at 200 E. Avenue South in Lyons. Additionally, area residents may drop off their donations at the Hutchinson office of Hospice & Homecare of Reno County from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 2020 N. Waldron, Ste. 100 in Hutchinson. Those who wish to make a donation in the McPherson area are invited to visit the McPherson office of Hospice & Homecare of Reno County from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1318 N. Main St.

The 2018 Remember Me Tree program raised nearly $30,000 to support Hospice programs.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. has long been a leader in the aerospace sector, and the state of Kansas has played a vital role in the industry’s development and long-term success. From manufacturing to innovation, aviation has been the backbone of the state’s economy and growth.

But other countries have begun making significant investments and are accelerating their research and development in the industry. Forecasts show the world’s demand for larger passenger aircraft will double over the next 20 years, generating thousands of new plane orders and investments in new aviation technology. This means the U.S. needs a clear vision and set of priorities in furthering its leadership in the field of long-term aeronautics research.

On Monday, Rep. Roger Marshall, M.D., and Rep. Haley Stevens introduced the Aeronautics Innovation Act, HR 5136, to provide the necessary continuity and budget stability for the U.S. aeronautics research through administration change and political shifts in Congress.

The legislation would strengthen the U.S. aviation industry and workforce in the increasingly competitive commercial aircraft market and establish a national policy for aeronautics research. Its impact would go beyond traditional aviation and sustain exciting and innovative work being done in drone technology and application, which is expected to have a $3 billion economic impact on the state.

“Kansas is known as the Air Capital of the World, manufacturing up to 70% of the world’s embedded aircraft fleet while creating nearly 50,000 jobs and approximately $10 billion in economic output,” Rep. Marshall said. “Growing up outside Wichita, I was well aware of the impact and importance the aviation industry had on my state. The U.S. has been a world leader in aviation research and innovation, and it is vital to maintain that competitive advantage not only for continued economic growth but for national security, space and science technologies.”

“Michigan was home to one of the first aerospace engineering programs in the country, which began shortly after the Wright Brothers’ historic flight in Kitty Hawk,” Rep. Haley Stevens said. “Today, Michigan’s aerospace supply chain consists of over 600 companies and organizations, powered by the highest concentration of engineers and manufacturing talent in the country. As chairwoman of the Research and Technology Subcommittee, I know how important it is to continue investing in research and development to make our building materials stronger, lighter, more efficient and sustainable through innovative technologies such as composites manufacturing. The bipartisan Aeronautics Innovation Act will help us achieve these goals and maintain our leadership in the aerospace sector by establishing a national policy for aeronautics research.”

“We appreciate the leadership of Rep. Marshall and Rep. Stevens for introducing the House version of the Aeronautics Innovation Act that would authorize the NASA Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technology Program,” Spirit AeroSystems Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer John Pilla said. “Their bill supports efforts by the aerospace industry to drastically reduce the time and cost for design, technology development and certification of future composite aircraft. Authorizing an advanced materials program would build on the research conducted by NASA’s Advanced Composites Consortium and would create opportunities to leverage Spirit’s expertise industrializing composite materials.”

“We are grateful for the leadership of Rep. Marshall and Sen. Moran in supporting the advancement of aviation and the work we do at K-State Polytechnic to further the development of unmanned aircraft system technology,” Kansas State University President Richard Myers said. “Their support will continue to ensure Kansas and the U.S. stay at the forefront in the research and development of advanced technologies for safe unmanned flight operations on a national and global scale.”

“The Aeronautics Innovation Act will play a key role in economic growth in the United States and is essential to ensure our leadership in this technical area in the future,” Dr. John Tomblin, executive director of the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University, said. “I applaud the leadership of Rep. Marshall and Rep. Stevens, as well as Sens. Moran and Warner for having the foresight to understand the impact aerospace sector plays. Investments such as these are key to maintaining the nation’s competitive advantage in aerospace technology.”

“The composites industry is thrilled about expanding growth opportunities in aerospace. These next-generation structures will require the superior performance that composites are poised to provide. The Aeronautics Innovation Act will enable NASA and major aerospace manufacturers to collaborate directly with the entire composites supply chain – shaping future technologies that will ensure America remains the world leader in this sector,” Tom Dobbins, president and CEO of the American Composites Manufacturers Association, said. “Our members commend Rep. Marshall and Rep. Stevens for introducing this bill in the House. We look forward to working with them, as well as Sens. Moran and Warner, to see this vision through to enactment.”

This is the companion bill to bipartisan legislation introduced by Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Mark Warner (D-VA) in the U.S. Senate earlier this year.

WASHINGTON — With so much attention on the impeachment hearings, very little is getting done in Washington. One thing that did happen was the passage of a spending package to keep the government running. It was a House resolution that 1st District Congressman Roger Marshall voted no on. Marshall issued the following statement:

“Congress has a constitutional duty to provide for the common defense, but the Pentagon has been operating under a CR 13 of the last 18 years, which is inhibiting military readiness. Our troops need consistency as they face adversaries around the world, which this CR does not provide. Additionally, this bill continues us down a path of unsustainable debt, the burden of which will fall to our children and grandchildren.”

“Democratic leadership has neglected to send the necessary appropriations bills to the president’s desk. Democrats have been too busy trying to remove President Trump from office and are now cornering Members of Congress into a ‘take it or shut it down vote.’ Democrats seem to have plenty of time for this impeachment charade, but not enough time to actually govern or uphold their constitutional duties.”

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council gave approval to naming the new downtown pocket park after civil rights advocate Chester I. Lewis.

The naming of the park, which is located in the unit block of East 1st Avenue, came as part of a revision to city code, adding the small plaza and the Rivers Banks Orchard Park to the list of city parks.

“I think it’s only fitting that the plaza be named in his memory in Hutchinson, his hometown, where he was born and raised,” Daryl Pope said. “He grew up just a few blocks from where that park is.”

Lewis was a leader in the NAACP and was a leader in pushing for civil rights in central Kansas. He was president of the Wichita chapter of the NAACP. He is credited with helping to desegregate restaurants, swimming pools, aircraft companies and local government agencies. He also lobbied for a fair housing ordinance, and mentored and counseled black students.

“He was a dynamic individual, a forward-progressive thinking young man,” Pope added. “He encouraged others who were younger to pursue social justice and equality for everybody.”

The Parks Department is looking for various ways to dedicate the plaza to Lewis and to tell his story as a civil rights leader in the area.