Hutch Post Staff – Page 163 – Hutch Post Archive

Wells Aircraft to service new Cirrus jet

Posted on April 27, 2018

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Wells Aircraft at the Hutchinson Airport will be getting more service business in the very near future. The Cirrus Aircraft service provider has been selected as one of the new Cirrus Jet Line Service Centers to support the growing fleet of SF-50 Cirrus Aircraft Jets.

The Vision Jet is the first non-piston powered aircraft for Cirrus and is designed to be flown by the owner. The plane does not require a full-time professional pilot or a full-blown flight department. And yes, it does come with the Cirrus Airframe Parachute System, according to the company.

Wells has been a longtime service center for Cirrus Aircraft and was host to two of the airplanes over the past several days.

Union Pacific reports record 1Q earnings

Posted on April 26, 2018

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Area quarterly earnings reports got off to a good start as Union Pacific announced a record first quarter for 2018.

The nation’s largest railroad, and fourth highest property tax payer in Reno County, saw earnings of $1.3 billion, or $1.68 per share, compared with $1.3 billion, or $1.32 per share, one year ago.

Operating revenue was $5.5 billion, up 7 percent. Lead by increases in coal shipment, U.P.’s car loadings increased by 2 percent. The railroad did see a decline in ag shipment

An improving economy is also making for some career opportunities as train crews and workers are being called back. Some of the jobs even include as much as a $25,000 signing bonus as the railroad tries to keep up with increasing demand.

The next company with ties to Reno County to announce its earnings will be Arconic on Monday, April 30.

Hutchinson woman injured in Wichita accident

Posted on April 26, 2018April 26, 2018

WICHITA, Kan. — A Hutchinson woman was injured in a three-vehicle accident in Wichita Thursday morning.

The Kansas Highway patrol says 46-year-old Angela Ogorman was going west on K-96 at the interchange with I-235 when she was hit by a car driven by 34-year-old Hillary Thomas of Wichita. Ogorman’s car then struck a third vehicle driven by 41-year-old Daren Martin of Wichita.

Ogorman was taken by EMS to St. Francis for treatment. The other two drivers were uninjured. The KHP says Thomas fell asleep at the wheel, which caused her to hit Ogorman’s vehicle.

The accident happened around 8:50 a.m.

New company coming to Hutchinson

Posted on April 25, 2018April 25, 2018

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Minden, Nevada, company is coming to Hutchinson to build public restrooms.

The company manufactures restrooms for outdoor parks and ships them to locations across the United States.

According to company president and founder Chuck Kaufman, the building is along East 4th Avenue in the old Mega Manufacturing facility at 714 Cory, just west of Superior Boiler Works. The building is currently being leased by Siemens for storage.

Kaufman hopes to employ 40-50 workers with what he calls “a good wage and very generous benefits package,” which includes all health insurance paid to the employee. Kaufman says the company has been looking for another location for some time now and chose Hutchinson because of an available workforce. The building has the necessary equipment to manufacture its product.

The company assembles whole restrooms and then ships them to the location. Some of its products are at the bottom of the Grand Canyon and other major parks. The modular restrooms weigh between 30 and 40 tons when finished.

The rapidly expanding company expects to have between $50 million and $75 million in annual sales in the next few years.

County birth rate increases

Posted on April 24, 2018

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The number of births in Reno County actually increased in 2017, breaking a longstanding declination.

According to numbers released by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, 694 babies were born in Reno County in 2017, compared with 683 the previous year.

The report also shows the number of births to those under age 20 also increased from 47 in 2016 to 54 last year. The largest increase in births came from women between the ages of 25 and 29 where 242 babies were born last year, compared with 209 in 2016.

More women in their 40s gave birth as well. Fourteen women over 40 had a baby last year, compared to 10 the previous year.

Specialized license plates put on hold

Posted on April 24, 2018

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Personalized license plates are always popular, but those planning to get one may want to order it this week.

Because of changes in the way Kansas will produce license plates in the near future, all orders for special plates will be put on hold throughout most of the summer.

Reno County Treasurer Brenda Kowitz says the cutoff date for ordering specialized plates is this Friday. Otherwise, residents will have to wait until Aug. 1 to place an order. This includes any veterans, specialty or donation life plates.

The state is going to a digitized license plate. It will be made of a plastic printed surface with an aluminum backing.

Siemens Gamesa lands Kansas wind project

Posted on April 24, 2018

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Siemens Gamesa and the Hutchinson nacelle facility won a contract to supply 225 MW of wind turbines for an undisclosed project in Kansas. It’s the second new contract for Hutchinson this month.

Siemens Gamesa will deliver 98 units of the SWT-2.3-108 model for a wind farm that will take up more than 40,000 acres of land, according to the announcement.

Siemens Gamesa expects to start deliveries this summer. The project is expected to become operational by the end of the year.

Siemens Gamesa has now installed more than 5 GW of the SWT-2.3-108 model in the U.S. to date.

Kroger convenience store sale completed

Posted on April 20, 2018April 20, 2018

CINCINNATI — The Kroger Company announced today it has completed the sale of its convenience store business unit to EG Group for $2.15 billion.

Kroger announced in October 2017 its intention to explore strategic alternatives for its convenience store business, including a potential sale, in conjunction with Restock Kroger. In February, Kroger and EG Group announced a definitive agreement for the sale of Kroger’s convenience store business unit to EG Group. The sale includes all Kwik Shop stores.

Included in the sale were 762 convenience stores, including 66 franchise operations, operating in 18 states and employing 11,000 associates.

Kroger’s supermarket fuel centers and its Turkey Hill Dairy were not included in the sale. There will be several changes in the fuel rewards program and other perks from Kwik Shops. The first is that customers will no longer be able to accumulate fuel points on Kwik Shop purchases. Customers will still be able to get the fuel discounts from their Plus Shopper’s Card. The Coffee Club, and other similar perks from Kwik Shop, will no longer be available.

EG Group will establish North American headquarters in Cincinnati, Ohio, and continue to operate stores under its established banner names.

South Hutchinson works to update storm sirens

Posted on April 19, 2018

SOUTH HUTCHINSON. Kan. — South Hutchinson Police want residents to know that, due to changes in the system, storm sirens cannot currently be activated remotely. The system is scheduled for upgrades to correct the problem.

Until the upgrades are completed, each siren will be activated manually by members of the police, fire, and/or city maintenance crews. During an emergency weather event, this may take several minutes to accomplish.

Officials say residents should not rely solely on storm sirens for hazardous weather conditions. Residents should ensure weather radios are up to date, batteries are fresh, etc. There are also several weather alert applications that can be downloaded to a mobile device. Of course, local radio stations — KWBW AM 1450 AM and 98.5 FM; Country 102.9 and My 93-1 — will have updates on air. Check for online updates on Hutch Post.

Residents should have an emergency plan in place that includes a storm kit.

Hutch Rec adaptive track meet Friday

Posted on April 19, 2018

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Close to 200 adaptive athletes of all ages will be participating in this year’s Hutch Rec-Kiwanis Adaptive Track Meet tomorrow starting at 9 a.m. at Gowans Stadium.

To date, 193 athletes have registered, which include mostly K-12 students from Lyons, Hutchinson, Buhler, and Nickerson, as well as 25 adults from Disability Supports of the Great Plains.

Athletes will compete in a variety of track and field events. More than 50 volunteers from around the community will assist. The event will conclude with a cookout.

For more information about the Hutch Rec-Kiwanis Adaptive Track Meet, contact Jami Woodyard, Coordinator of Adaptive Recreation at Hutch Rec, at jwoodyard@hutchrec.com or (620) 663-6179.