HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It has been in the works for several years and endured several delays, but most of the nation’s railroads will have a majority of what is known as Positive Train Control in place in the next year or two making trains safer through Reno County. The government-mandated technology uses GPS and other technology to help eliminate train collisions and human error.

Several delays have occurred in getting the technology installed due to the immense cost of railroads and the time it takes to install and test the system.

The subject of PTC came to a head again two weeks ago after an Amtrak train jumped the tracks in Tacoma, Washington, killing six people. PTC was installed on the line, but was not working at the time of the accident. If working, PTC would have stopped the train on its own for violating a speed restriction area.

Union Pacific, the nation’s largest railroad, says it plans to install PTC in Kansas starting early in 2018 including the line running through Hutchinson. Jeff DeGraff, area spokesperson for UP, says they hope to have a better idea of where and when the PTC will go first, but that the line running through Hutchinson will be a part of it.

UP runs between 25 and 30 trains per day through Reno County. The railroad suffered a collision of two trains on the line serving Hutchinson three years ago when a train ran through a red signal and hit the back end of another train that was moving onto a siding. The NTSB determined that PTC would have likely prevented the accident.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Area residents’ unwillingness to shop locally in Hutchinson means the bond issue for the new Sports Arena renovation likely won’t finish ahead of schedule.

While the arena will likely be paid off in time, the continued decline in sales tax revenue means it will take the full 10 years to pay for the project instead of what was projected to be less than nine.

City Manager John Deardoff says the city took a conservative approach in projecting sales tax for the city, so funding the project with the sales tax won’t be a problem, it just won’t happen as fast as it could have.

Hutchinson’s sales tax is about 1.6 percent higher than most of Wichita, with the exception of the Maize Road market area, which has a Community Development District much like the Hutchinson Mall that adds another 1 cent on the dollar.

That means a $10,000 purchase is a difference of about $160. At $100, the sales tax difference between Wichita and Hutchinson is just $1.60. Much less if you shop at the New Market Square in Maize, which has a sales tax rate just 1/10th-of-a-percent less than Hutchinson.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The City of Hutchinson will have Christmas tree drop areas again this year.

As in the past, trees can be dropped off at the Salt City Splash parking lot in Carey Park or at the east side parking lot in Rice Park. The city asks that you do all you can to rid the tree of decorations and tinsel before disposing them.

The tree disposal sites will be open until Jan. 10.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson woman was taken into custody after an apparent stabbing that occurred Tuesday.

Police report that Kristin Ardolino was taken into custody after she reported the incident involving Jerry Wells.

During her first appearance the police report indicated that the two got into a physical altercation Tuesday. When Wells followed Ardolino out the door of a residence, she stabbed him twice in the left arm and slashed him across the neck. Ardolino claims self-defense in the case and says she didn’t even realize what harm she had done to Wells.

She remains jailed on a $10,000 bond and is expected to be back in a Reno County courtroom Jan. 3.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The flu is starting to show up in the area, although the numbers are still far from where they could end up. In Reno County, reports of flu have been sporadic. The Reno County Health Department says the area has not reached its peak yet. Because of this, the health department reminds residents that it’s not too late to get a flu shot.

The health department urges people to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their family members from the flu. Influenza vaccine is recommended for everyone six months of age and older. Other ways to avoid spreading influenza include covering coughs and sneezes, washing your hands, and staying home when sick.

Symptoms of influenza include fever, dry cough, extreme tiredness, and muscle aches. Complications can include pneumonia, ear and sinus infections, and dehydration; influenza may also worsen other chronic conditions.

There have been some years where flu vaccine has been in short supply, but the health department reports it has plenty of flu shots available for infants to older adult clients over 65 that receive a high-dose vaccine.

Appointments are available from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. during the week. Walk-ins are welcome.