NICKERSON, Kan. — The Nickerson USD 309 School Board will meet for the first time in the new fiscal year tonight. The board will elect a president and vice president.
The board will also go over personnel matters and set prices for its school meal program for next year. Approval will be given to health and dental plans for the year.
Tonight’s meeting of the Nickerson USD 309 School Board begins at 6 p.m. in the school district offices at 4501 W. 4th Avenue, just west of Fun Valley.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson USD 308 School Board will hold a regular meeting this
evening and approve an update regarding the administration of medication to students.
The board will also go over milk bids for the year. Highland Dairy is the only bidder at $185,665. A bid for new cubicles in the school offices will be accepted at a cost of $32,870. The money will come from the special capital outlay fund. Also this evening, the district will go into executive session for personnel matters and get a look at the budget for the Early Head Start program.
Tonight’s meeting of the Hutchinson USD 308 School Board begins at 6 p.m. in the school district offices at 1520 N. Plum.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Reno County Chamber of Commerce will have a nominating
committee of the Chamber Board of Directors consider applications for the board.
Members in good standing are invited to submit names of persons that the nominating committee may consider.
Nominations can be submitted via email to chelseyd@hutchchamber.com.
The deadline for submission of names is Monday, Aug. 6, 2018.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Since 2010, Hutchinson Community College has worked hard to keep the mill levy in place.
That continued Thursday night as the Board of Trustees went over the numbers for 2019.
The mill levy will stay at 22.5 mills, although the college will see extra funds due to increased valuations. The college also approved a $2 increase in tuition and fees for the year. The mill levy has remained the same for the past seven years.
There is also the expectation of a partial restoration of the 4 percent reduction that was implemented by the state the last two fiscal years.
Also last night, the board approved payment of college bills, the academic catalog for the 2018-19 school year, and set meeting dates for the coming year.
The next meeting of the board will be on Thursday, Aug. 9, at 7:00 p.m. in the Shears Technology Center Justice Theater. The public is invited to attend.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County SWAT team will conduct its annual active shooter training
next week in Pretty Prairie.
The unit holds the training session each year so that officers can keep up their skills in case of such an event.
The training will be held at Pretty Prairie schools this year. The event is held in a different school each year so that officers can stay familiar with the building’s makeup.
The exercise will include officers from the Hutchinson, Buhler and Haven police departments, along with the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and local KHP troopers.
The exercise will run for four days starting Monday, July 23.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The search continues for the next chief of the Hutchinson Police Department.
According to Human Resources Director Tom Sanders, around 20 applications have come in. Out of those, five will go through more screening, starting the week of July 30.
Sanders hopes the city will be able to offer a contract to the new hire by the middle of August. A new chief could be in place by the middle of September.
Police Chief Dick Heitschmidt is retiring Sept. 17 after more than 40 years in law enforcement.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Advance voting for the Aug. 7 primary election is underway. Advance voting
can be done at the Reno County Courthouse Annex from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Advance ballots can be cast until noon on Monday, Aug. 6.
Advanced ballots that were mailed out Wednesday must be postmarked by Tuesday, Aug. 7, or be returned to the clerk’s office by the time polls close Tuesday evening at 7.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It is expected to be a mostly positive earnings session for companies with
Hutchinson connections. Union Pacific got it started on a strong note Thursday morning with a record-setting second quarter.
The nation’s largest railroad reported 2018 second quarter net income of $1.5 billion, or a second quarter record $1.98 per diluted share. This compares to $1.2 billion, or $1.45 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2017.
Operating revenue of $5.7 billion was up 8 percent in the second quarter of 2018, compared to the second quarter of 2017. Second quarter carloads increased 4 percent, compared to 2017, with carloads increasing in every sector. The increased traffic did put a squeeze on the railroads capacity as average train speeds fell to 24 miles per hour, a drop of 3 percent.
Union Pacific operates 25 to 30 trains per day in Reno County and carries a total valuation in the county of nearly $6.3 million.
Arconic is next in line to make its quarterly earnings announcement on July 24. Siemens Gamesa will follow on July 27.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council has reached its budget goal for this year.
With a combination of $500,000 in reductions and fee increases, the budget will accomplish two things. It will prevent a property tax increase and keep the end-of-the-year balance above $4.1 million.
The last round of cuts included the elimination of four more positions within the city. That brings the total number of employee reductions to 10. It also includes the removal of $100,000 from the city’s bridge replacement reserve and the use of a proposed $50,000 gift from the Gossage Trust for the animal shelter.
The budget also allows for a wage increase for employees. That will cost the city about $145,000.
The council will set a public hearing date during its Aug. 7 meeting.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — When current USD 308 Superintendent Dr. Gary Price told his wife that the 
district had asked him to come out of retirement and be the superintendent for a year, she asked him: “Will it get you out of the house?”
When he answered, “yes,” she replied, “count me in.”
With a mix of humor and some very pointed thoughts, Price spoke to the Chamber of Commerce during the monthly luncheon. Price has always been a strong supporter of Hutchinson. He let the audience know just how fortunate the city and county are to have the schools they do:
While Price sees many challenges facing students these days, some of the biggest aren’t included in any curriculum. He says it starts with everyone in and out of school:
Price also indicated that the district needs to take better care of the classified staff. Price said he would try to address that during the next budget cycle.
