HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Commissioners will begin the budget process for 2019 during a study session Thursday. County Administrator Gary Meagher says the meeting will allow commissioners to ask various department heads questions about additions to funding or personnel they may have for next year:

Thursday’s meeting will include department heads from the DA’s office, Sheriff’s Department, Aging and Transportation, and Informational Services.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It is getting to be that time of the year when outdoor pests become a problem. According to Orkin, the Wichita/Hutchinson area is ranked 34th in the nation as one of the worst places for mosquitoes.

The pest control company released its list of top cities for mosquitoes. Kansas City was even worse, ranked at No. 9 in the nation. Atlanta was No. 1 on the list. The list always raises concern since the small pests carry a number of diseases.

Mosquito season starts when spring temperatures arrive. They are most active in temperatures above 80 degrees. Breeding season is usually July through September, while peak West Nile virus season is usually not until late August through September, or even October in some areas. Temperatures need to be around freezing before mosquitoes will start to die off for the winter.

Although the spread of Zika virus in the U.S. has significantly decreased — from 5,168 cases in 2016 to 433 cases in 2017 — it remains a concern because there is no treatment, cure or vaccine for the virus. One of the best strategies for eliminating mosquito-borne diseases is to reduce populations of the mosquitoes that spread them.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Formal charges have been brought against a 60-year-old Hutchinson man who showed up at City Hall last week with what was thought to be an assault weapon.

Johnny Klassen was charged with disorderly conduct — a misdemeanor. He was also charged with possession of meth, marijuana and drug paraphernalia

Klassen was arrested last Thursday after city personnel called 911 and reported a man with what appeared to be an assault weapon. When officers arrived, they discovered Klassen left westbound on a bicycle. Authorities intercepted him and saw the gun slung over his shoulder. Officers ordered him to lay the gun down; he did.

Klassen was taken into custody.

He remains jailed on a $6,100 bond.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Citing too many unknowns and the uncertainty with the costs of building the 43rd Avenue bridge, Reno County Commissioners voted to deny a request from the Vitality Team of Reno County to widen the proposed 200-foot structure by two feet to better accommodate bicycles and pedestrians.

The county will build the span over Union Pacific at a cost of more than $1.6 million. The board said that the expense of the structure and the complexity of working with the railroad is just making it too difficult to justify the added expense — which in this case, was around $100,000.

The board did advise Public Works Director Dave McComb to work with the Vitality Team to come up with ways to make the shoulder safer. The board suggested extra signage and striping could make the four-foot shoulder safer.

The 43rd Avenue bridge and three others are on a proposed bond issue for replacement or major renovation.