HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson man was arrested after he led police on a short foot-chase.

William Crider has numerous cases pending in connection to the theft of a $4,000 piece of equipment from Oz Chiropractic and several cases of buying merchandise with counterfeit $100 bills. He’s also thought to be connected to more than 60 mailbox thefts.

He’s facing potential charges for numerous counts of making false writings, theft by deception and failure to appear in other cases. He’s also in violation of his parole in two similar cases.

Bond has been set at $14,000.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commissioners took time to discuss some preliminary matters regarding the budget during a study session Thursday afternoon.

County Administrator Gary Meagher says the meeting allowed commissioners to ask various department heads questions about additions to funding or personnel they may have for next year. Some of the matters discussed included capital purchases for the Sheriff’s Department and personnel requests from District Attorney Keith Schroeder.

Schroeder wants to hire two additional attorneys to help cover what he calls an ever-increasing number of cases. Two commissioners said they might be in favor of hiring one additional attorney, but two would be unlikely. The board also met with Aging and Public Transportation and IT during the meeting. One thing that was not discussed was the amount of overtime costs generated by the sheriff’s department. It is an issue that caused much discussion in the past.

Meagher says that matter will be discussed further during another meeting set for May 22.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 44-year-old Hutchinson man who was originally given a 72-year sentence will now serve just 10 more years in prison after being sentenced Thursday afternoon in Reno County District Court.

James Quinton, who was convicted in 2003 for sexually assaulting his girlfriend and sentenced to 72 years in prison, filed a civil motion for a new trial. That trial was granted by the court of appeals. Quinton then pleaded guilty just before the start of his new trial to one count of rape; the other charges were dismissed.

During sentencing, the victim stood up and told Quinton: “I have had to deal with you and your master manipulation for over 14 years in and out of this courtroom, so don’t you dare tell me you’re sorry.” She said she was the victim 14 years ago, but stood in the courtroom today as a survivor.

Quinton also spoke and talked about his rough upbringing. Quinton said he was truly sorry for what happened. He said that night was the result of many unresolved issues.

The defense asked for a 20-year sentence that would allow Quinton to be released in five years. However, Judge Trish Rose stuck to the plea deal agreement and gave Quinton 28 years and nine months.

That sentence is still significantly shorter than the 34 years he could have received as the standard mid-range sentence, or the 72-year sentence in the original case.

 

Editor’s Note: A previous version of this story paraphrased the victim. Paragraph three now utilizes the statement read in court.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — When former Reno County Sheriff Jim Fountain died in February of 2017, his family chose to have his memorials sent to the Reno County Deputy Sheriff’s Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 18.

Roughly 10 months later, Jim’s son, Gregg, died. The Fountain family chose to send his memorials to the local F.O.P. Lodge as well.

After a great deal of discussion between lodge members and the Fountain family, a scholarship fund was established with the memorial money, donations from the F.O.P. Lodge, and additional donations from the Fountain family. Thus, the Jim Fountain Memorial Scholarship was established.

In order to receive the scholarship, the recipient must be a graduating Senior from Nickerson High School pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice.

This year’s recipient of the first-ever Jim Fountain Memorial Scholarship is Pearson Schrag.

Schrag has a cumulative 3.45 GPA and plans to pursue Criminal Justice at Friends University on a football scholarship. He was active in football, baseball, basketball, stuco, leadership, debate, madrigals and choir.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The quarterly earnings season is winding down, but good news continues for companies with ties to Hutchinson. BNSF reported a strong first quarter.

The nation’s second-largest railroad reported total revenue of $5.6 billion, compared with $5.1 billion in 2017, and totaled income of $1.7 billion — an increase of 11 percent from the previous year.

Total shipments were up 5 percent for the quarter to 2,606,000 cars. Coal shipments continued to decline, falling 2 percent. The railroad did see an increase in ag shipment, along with industrial and consumer products. Freight revenue jumped by 7 percent.

The earnings season for this area ends when Kroger announces its quarterly earnings next month.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 12-year-old girl escaped serious injuries when she was hit by a vehicle Wednesday afternoon in front of HMS-7 as school was letting out.

The girl, whose name was not released, was taken by EMS to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.

The driver of the vehicle, 19-year-old Bryce Patterson, was cited by police for failure to yield right-of-way to a pedestrian.

The accident happened just before 3:30 p.m.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With earthquakes becoming more common than tornadoes this spring in central Kansas, the question becomes: can a big earthquake happen here? Rick Miller with the Kansas Geological Survey says, despite all of the recent activity, the quakes are not a precursor to something bigger:

 

A special meeting with the Kansas Geological Survey, Kansas Corporation Commission, and Kansas Department of Health and Environment will cover more on this topic. The KGS will present some information about what’s happening in this area as it relates to seismic activity. There will be an opportunity to ask the panel questions.

That meeting, which is being put together by Hutchinson Rep. Jason Probst, is Wednesday, May 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center pavilion.

PRETTY PRAIRIE, Kan. — Pretty Prairie EMS and the Reno County Sheriff’s Department were dispatched to the 5000 block of East Smoots Creek Road for an injury accident around 11:20 Wednesday morning.

According to the report, 65-year-old Edward Giefer was run over by an unoccupied truck he was working on.

His wife said she was out fixing their cattle fences when she could not get her truck started and called her husband. Giefer was trying to tap the starter solenoid when the truck went back into gear and ran him over.

He was transported by Pretty Prairie EMS to St. Francis hospital with chest and other injuries. He was listed in critical condition.