GODDARD, Kan. — A popular area lake is under a algae warning from the Kansas Department of Health
and Environment.
Lake Afton, located near Goddard in Sedgwick County, remains under the warning along with 13 other lakes in the state.
The algae is toxic to humans and animals and contact with the water is strongly discouraged. The waterways are still safe for boating and fishing but any contact with the water should be avoided.
All camping and other park facilities at the lake are still open.
HAVEN, Kan. — The summer lunch program in Haven was well attended. The program served 3,235
breakfasts and 3,555 lunches.
Sheree Jones, the Food Service Director, says that the program was a success especially for the first year of serving breakfast.
Jones says she hopes to reach more children in the district next year.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Sentencing in the case of a former Hutchinson Community College student who
recently entered a plea in a sexual battery and kidnapping case, has been continued to later this month.
Victor Pedraza Jr. entered the pleas in April. Since then, Pedraza requested his plea be withdrawn. After discussion with his new attorney, Steve Osborn, it was decided that Pedraza will go through a status hearing to see where the case goes from here on August 22.
The state has indicated that if Pedraza does withdraw his plea, they will reinstate two counts of rape in the case which were dismissed as part of a plea agreement. A conviction could see the 21-year-old serve significant time in prison compared to what is under the plea agreement.
Pedraza was convicted in the beating of another college student from Japan he had been dating off-and-on. He then set her passport and documents on fire. Police say the victim was tied to a bed and beaten, then forced into sex twice. The state entered the agreement so that the victim would not have to come back to the U.S. to testify.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce will hold their August
luncheon on Wednesday from 11:45 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Hutchinson Town Club. This month’s event is hosted by Mennonite Friendship Communities.
The guest speaker will be Amy Allison, the Housing Program Manager for the City of Hutchinson. She will present on the recent positive development changes that have been implemented by the City of Hutchinson.
The cost is $15 for members and $25 for non-members. Flash passes are accepted. For more information contact the Chamber at (620)-662-3391.
HAVEN, Kan. — The Haven USD 312 school board will get a look at the 2019 budget and set a date for
their public hearing during tonight’s agenda session. The budget for next year totals $15,927,781 on taxes levied of $4,185,347.
The mill levy for the district will be 60.707 mills. If approved, a public hearing on the budget would be held August 20.
Also tonight, the board will get an update on the efforts to sell the Partridge Elementary School. During their last meeting the board agreed to lower the asking price of the building to $300,000.
The board will make some decisions on what to do with remaining bond funds from a facilities improvement project as well.
Tonight’s meeting of the Haven USD 312 school board begins at 6 p.m. at the district offices.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — In a recent speech during a Chamber dinner, USD 308 Superintendent Gary
Price, expressed his desire to better pay for classified staff in the district.
Monday evening, the school board will get a chance to do just that with a proposed pay of $1 raise across the board.
Price says it really comes down to keeping employees on board:
Monday’s school board meeting begins at 6 p.m. at the school district offices on 1520 N Plum.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Scuttlebutts Restaurant has closed its doors.
The small business located on North
Main closed on Saturday. Owners Joe and Lori Young said in a release that it was a very difficult decision for to make, but were taking their health and family into consideration.
The Young’s said on their Facebook page that, “the past three years have been a great adventure. We have met and grown to love so many wonderful people at Scuttlebutts and would never trade that experience.”
The Young’s say they will continue to operate their location at Hutchinson Hospital, where gift cards and the loyalty program will still be accepted.
Scuttlebutts had been open for three years with the Youngs taking over the former Wilder’s on Main.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas State Fair board will hold a special meeting on Tuesday to
announce a new General Manager.
The meeting comes after the board agreed to enter two finalists into negotiations last week.
The meeting is set for 10:30, at which time the board will go into executive session, then come back and announce their pick.
The new leader of the fair will replace Susan Sankey, who left the fair last year for another job. Since then, the fair has been under the leadership of Interim GM, Bob Moeder.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The registration deadline for the annual American Legion Legacy Run is Saturday. Registration can be done at www.legion.org.
So far, 515 participants have registered for the Legacy Run, which will leave Hutchinson Aug. 19 and arrive in Minneapolis, Minnesota, for the 2018 National Convention. The ride will make stops in Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin before finishing Aug. 23.
During the trip, Legion Riders will take part in wreath-laying ceremonies at various memorials and cemeteries, as well as make lunch and dinner stops at Legion posts whose charters all date between 1919-1921. Legion Riders will also have the opportunity to meet with American Legion Legacy Scholarship recipients at the final two stops of the ride.
The Legacy Run raises money for the Legacy Fund, which provides college assistance for the children of U.S. military personnel killed in active duty on or after Sept. 11, 2001, as well as children of post-9/11 veterans with a combined VA disability rating of 50 percent or higher.
The 2017 Legacy Run raised a record $1,224,653 – the fourth straight year the ride raised more than $1 million.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The race for the 104th house seat is still close. Challenger
Paul Waggoner increased his lead to five votes after mail-in ballots were counted.
After the primary, Waggoner led incumbent Steven Becker by a single vote. After counting 23 mail-in ballots, Waggoner now has 2,023 votes. Becker has 2,018.
While Waggoner’s lead increased, the race is not over. There are still about 65 provisional ballots yet to be counted.
That will be done during the canvassing of the votes next Thursday morning.
