HUTCHINSON, Kan. —The recent rainfall is certainly ramping up the mosquito population in the area. This has put majority of Kansas in the moderate to high risk of mosquito-borne illnesses such as the West Nile Virus.

Because of this, the Reno County Health Department is providing free mosquito dunks and directions for their proper use.

The larvicide can be placed in standing water to help curb the mosquito population. As always, there are other ways to slow down the insect population. Most notably by draining water out of tire wings, bird baths and wading pools as often as possible. If they can not be drained, the larvicide should help.

If you need any more information, you can contact the health department at 620-694-2900.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The summer season has passed by quickly and this is the last weekend for the Salt City Splash in Carey Park. The pool will be closed after this weekend.

Before they officially close for the season, the Splash will host some final events. The Back-to-School Bash at the Splash will be Friday from 6-8:30 p.m. The Bash at the Splash is co-sponsored by The Father’s House and the Volunteer Patrol of the Hutchinson Police Department. Admission is FREE to youth under 18 and $2 for adults. Children 7 and younger must have an adult with them in the water at all times.

The pool will be open Saturday and Sunday from 12:30-6:30 p.m. with Sunday being the final swimming day of the season.

The final event for the pool will be on Monday with the annual Dog’s Day at the Splash, taking place from 4-8 p.m. Dogs are $5 and must be current on licenses and able to be around other dogs. Humans are FREE. Youth under 16 are NOT allowed in the water at any time during this event.

A portion of the proceeds go to Cause for Paws.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — More than a year after purchasing much of the Pic Quik stores in Hutchinson, Iowa based Yesway has started the transformation. The Yesway on E. 30th has undergone the full transformation from Pic Quik red, to Yesway green. The changes will continue for the other stores that were purchased from Dan and Deb Fast in March of 2017.

Yesway bought all locations except the one on South Main from the Fast who owned that Pic Quik since 1982. The company has also purchased the Cheney based Kaps Convenience stores from owner Kevin O’Brien, who now runs O’Brien’s Marina at Cheney Reservoir.

Yesway is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. The two Kansas purchases were part of a plan for the company during the next several years to acquire and rebrand 500 convenience stores in selected regions of the United States.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The South Hutchinson City Council will hold a special meeting Thursday that could shed some light on how various departments are being manned in the future.

Budget constraints are putting a pinch on the small community’s numbers for next year, and the Thursday meeting may address that.

The city budget was passed Aug. 6 calling for $6.3 million dollars in expenditures with a mill levy of 43.8 mills.

No word on if any departments will be cut and where. Mayor Mandi Bluminhorst has refused to comment on where any cuts in the budget could be made.

Thursday’s meeting is a simple executive session. It is still unknown if any actions will be taken at that time. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. at the South Hutchinson city office.

HUTCHINSON Kan. — The boil water advisory for the Western Acres Mobile Home Park near Yaggy Field continues.

The KDHE issued the advisory after the owner of the park failed to produce the required samples for coliform bacteria.

It’s the second time this year a small rundown mobile home park has been under the advisory.

The advisory took effect Aug. 8, and will remain in effect until the conditions that placed the system at risk of bacterial contamination are resolved. That means the owner of the land will have to provide valid test samples, which for unknown reasons has not yet happened. The park is required to provide two samples to the KDHE each month.

No word on if the two sides are working at this time to fix the situation. It’s not known if the state will take further action against the park if the samples are not provided.

Under the advisory, residents need to boil water for one minute prior to drinking or food preparation, or use bottled water, and do not use ice from a household automatic ice maker. Residents also need to disinfect dishes and other food contact surfaces by immersion for at least one minute in clean tap water. This should contain one teaspoon of unscented household bleach per gallon of water.

Water used for bathing does not generally need to be boiled. Supervision of children is necessary while bathing so water is not ingested. Persons with cuts or severe rashes may wish to consult their physicians.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Tickets still remain for the Boys & Girls Club of Hutchinson and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Reno County Salt & Sauce, an underground cookout at Strataca.

The first-ever such event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 25, at 5:30 p.m. at the Kansas Underground Salt Museum. The evening will feature live music from Morgan Wilk, food from Hickory Stix, along with beer and wine. The event is unique in that two local agencies are working together on one event. Skip Wilson of Boys and Girls Club says it comes down to brand identity:

Tickets are $65 or $500 for a table of 8. Tickets may be purchased online at bgchutch.com, by calling Lindsey at 620-665-7171, extension 104, or at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson administrative office at 111 N. Walnut, Suite A.

You may also contact Denice Gilliland for tickets at 620-662-8161 or dgilliland@kansasbigs.org.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — There are a couple of special events coming up in the next few days at the Cosmosphere.

The first is Thursday, with their monthly Coffee at the Cosmo event. Carla Stanfield with the Cosmosphere talks about Thursday’s guest:

The week is capped off with a Space Out Saturday event, which will center on aviation and a special dedication:

For more information about this week’s events, go to cosmo.org.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A special block party makes up this month’s Third Thursday in downtown Hutchinson. The event will feature films at the Fox Theater and a block party along E 1st Avenue between Main and Walnut.

The Fox Theatre will show selected short films from the Tallgrass Film Festival. The Fox will also have their concessions and lobby bistro open during the evening.

The block party will include free hot dogs from the Wiley District; cookies and water from TECH; outdoor games with Hutch Rec, Electrex, and the Hutch CC Chess Club. Entertainment will feature performances from the Hutch CC jazz vocal music group.

Third Thursday’s activities will also take place along Main Street between Avenue B to 1st Avenue, and includes more than 30 community groups, organizations and artists. Live music will also be playing in both the featured area and along Main Street.

Third Thursday runs from 5:30 until 8:30.