HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Four area college students are among 20 that were named as Kansas Independent College Foundation, 2019 Maud Wyatt Recognition Scholarship Recipients. Area student to receive the scholarship are:

Lydia Nicholson — Hesston, Bethany College
Kaci Williams — Sterling, Bethel College
Melissa Reimer — Hesston, Central Christian College
Kento Aizawa — McPherson, McPherson College

KICF awards up to 20 individual scholarships for a student at each foundation member institution. The recipients are all full-time, degree-seeking students nearing graduation and have each maintained GPAs of 3.5 or above while also contributing to their respective communities.

The Kansas Independent College Foundation is a 501(c)3 that develops the competitive standing of its 20-member independent, non-profit, colleges and universities, and strives to assure opportunity in higher education for all students.

PRETTY PRAIRIE, Kan. — The mill and overlay project on Pretty Prairie Road between K-14 and Dean Road continues.

Work crews will be laying asphalt on the five-mile stretch of road starting today. Motorists can expect delays as traffic will be reduced to one lane in spots.

No word on when the project will be completed. For more information on this or any other county road project contact Reno County Public Works at 620-694-2976.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council will hold a special session to address two matters.

The first is an emergency solutions grant for BrightHouse totaling $37,525. BrightHouse is the area domestic violence shelter formerly known as the Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Center. The grant is administered by the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation.

The council will also hold a public hearing and take possible action for a community development block grant for housing rehab projects within the newly-established Creekside Neighborhood.

The $256,500 grant will target an area that is bordered by West 8th Avenue on the north, the alley between West 5th Avenue and West 6th Avenue on the south, the alley between North Washington Street and North Main Street on the east, and North Adams Street on the west. The proposed rehab includes nine rental properties and seven that are owner-occupied. The funds are through the Kansas Department of Commerce.

Tuesday’s special meeting of the Hutchinson City Council begins at 9 a.m. in the Hutchinson city offices.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson USD 308 held its annual convocation Monday with more than 900 staff members attending.

Several educators were honored during the event. The Davis Foundation made its annual Teachers of the Year Awards. The elementary winners were Heather Ramos, a third-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, and Glinda Theus, a third-grade teacher at Hutchinson Magnet School at Allen.

The middle school winner was Kendall Vogts, English language arts teacher at Hutchinson Middle School – 8.

The high school winners were Judy Goetz, English teacher at Hutchinson High School, and Brian McCandless, a science teacher at HHS.

Each winner receives $4,000. The Davis Foundation has contributed millions of dollars to Hutchinson Public Schools’ staff and students since its first scholarships were awarded to HHS seniors 61 years ago. This is the 37th time the awards have been made to teachers. Since the first awards, Davis has made awards of more than $450,000 to USD 308 teachers.

Robin Getting, secretary at Graber Elementary School, was recognized as the Classified Employee of the Year.

Angela Allen, Head Start teacher, and Laura Benscheidt, health sciences teacher at the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy, have been nominated as the district’s entries in the Kansas National Teacher of the Year competition.

During the morning, staff heard from new Superintendent Mike Folks in his inaugural convocation presentation. They also heard from LaDonna Gatlin, a motivational speaker. Gatlin’s appearance was sponsored by First National Bank Hutchinson.

Students in pre-kindergarten through ninth grade return to school on Thursday, Aug. 15. High school sophomores through seniors begin the year on Friday, Aug. 16.