HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It was an evening of exciting change for the Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Center of Hutchinson on Thursday night. The SADVC announced the change of its name to Bright House.

A very good crowd turned out at the Hutchinson Art Center for the unveiling of the new name. The night featured a unique fashion show that depicted challenges and gave examples of how domestic violence and sexual assault plague the community.

Bright House began in 1976 as the Rape Center. In 2017, the organization served 415 victims of sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking. Additionally, Bright House sheltered 81 people from abusers — including 33 children — and helped coordinate safe child/parent visitation for 120 children through its Child Visitation and Exchange Center program.

This event was a chance for the public and supporters to learn more about Bright House and how it is growing to address critical needs in Hutchinson.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kroger reported a strong start to the year with first quarter adjusted net earnings of $626 million, or $0.73 per diluted share, compared with $546 million or $0.58 per share in 2017.

Total sales increased 3.4 percent to $37.5 billion in the first quarter compared to $36.3 billion for the same period last year. Total sales, excluding fuel, increased 2.3 percent in the first quarter over the same period last year. Excluding fuel and the effect of Kroger’s recently-sold convenience store business unit, total sales increased 2.8 percent.

The report is the first since the sale off Kroger’s convenience store segment, which included area Kwik Shops.

The second quarter earnings report kicked off July 19 when Union Pacific released its second quarter numbers.

HUTCHINSON. Kan. — Two people were injured in a two-vehicle accident in Hutchinson this morning.

Hutchinson Police report that an eastbound pickup driven by 65-year-old Randall Voth of Haysville passed through the intersection of 17th and Lorraine and struck a southbound car driven by 44-year-old Samantha Mondragon of Garden City.

Rescue crews had to use the jaws of life to extricate Mondragon and a juvenile from the car. Both were taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.

The accident happened just after 9 a.m.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A drug court program has been in place in Reno County for several years now. The strictly-watched and heavily-structured program gives repeat drug offenders a chance to turn their lives around.

One of the requirements of the program is employment. With a felony record, that can be difficult. A group called the “Reno County Drug Free Alliance” is working with the drug court to help clients find employment and help companies find skilled workers.

Brook Stover is part of the alliance and the current Assistant Director of Operations at the Hutchinson Clinic. She talks about why this program was put into place:

 

 

Stover says steady employment is quite often one of the biggest steps to recovery for a person with substance abuse issues:

 

While clients in drug court may have gaps in their work history, Stover says they usually possess much needed work skills that local employers are looking for:

 

Stover says the alliance and drug court will work with employers and communicate back and forth to make sure the client stays on the right path:

 

Stover and Libertee Thompson presented their program to guests at the noon Chamber luncheon.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The end of what has been a positive quarterly earnings session for companies with ties to Hutchinson and Reno County ends Thursday.

Kroger, the parent company of Dillons, is expecting a net profit of $0.63 per share on revenue of more than $37.3 billion.

The report is the first since the company sold off its convenience store chain, which included area Kwik Shops.

For the quarter, area companies did well with all reporting mostly positive numbers.

While Siemens/Gamesa is still not on the tax rolls in Reno County, the other major companies in the area carry a total valuation of more than $22,498,000 with $4,418,000 in total taxes.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council held its first evening meeting in years to honor repeated requests to give the public a better chance to attend. A few people did show up for what was a light agenda.

The council approved an annual contract with Burns McDonald for monitoring the Obee Landfill and 4th and Carey pollution sites. The cost of the service is $96,600.

Both sites have been under the responsibility of the city since a settlement was reached with the companies responsible for the pollution. The city received a total of around $11 million and used that money to help fund the $35 million R.O. plant.

Public Works Director Brian Clennan reported to the council that they now need to monitor the Obee Landfill site after restrictions were tightened by the EPA. Water at the site is not being pumped to the R.O. plant and is just being monitored for any movement of pollution.

The 4th and Carey site is being used for the city’s water supply and is pumped to the R.O. plant for treatment. Clennan says the pumping has reduced the pollution plume to an extent. Clennan also noted that the city now bears more costs with the elimination of a TIF district that was put in place to help fund remediation of the site. The approximately $300,000 generated from the TIF funds offset the cost of monitoring the site and the expense of pumping water to the R.O. facility.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council ventures into new territory tonight when it meets for regular session.

This will be the first in a trial run of meetings that will be held at 5:30 p.m. instead of the usual 9 a.m. Evening meetings will be held the last meeting of each month. City Manager John Deardoff commented about the time change:

 

 

Deardoff says the council hopes the public will become more engaged:

 

Deardoff says there is no time table set to make a decision regarding the permanency of evening meetings. Tonight’s Hutchinson City Council meeting begins at 5:30 in the city office.