HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Everyone has something or some place that brings them comfort. It can be a park, a bedroom or even an object.

The Hutchinson Art Center, along with BrightHouse and photographer Dave McKane, will launch a special exhibit Nov. 21 that will show the photographs of those spaces from the eyes of victims of domestic or sexual violence. The idea came from local photographer Dave McKane, who approached BrightHouse with the proposal.

“The idea was to bring a sense of art into our domestic violence and sexual assault group as a way of empowering and having a creative outlet,” Director of Advocacy Nikki Burkhart said.

But the photos needed a place to go, so they approached the art center. Director Patrick Calvillo said it was an easy decision to make.

“They approached me and I was all for it,” Calvillo said. “I think this is just bringing more awareness to BrightHouse and all of the great things that they do.”

Not only can the photography be a great healing tool, but Calvillo says it can become more than that in the future.

“With the help of Dave McKane to give them tutor sessions of photography and implementing that world of media to them, they can start here and grow from here,” Calvillo noted. “They can get into different art outlets that can help them in the future.”

Burkhart says the photography has helped the healing process, noting that the photos vary widely from past memories to favorite objects. She says it is all part of the healing process.

“Survivors of trauma, of domestic violence and sexual assault, they find safety the same everybody else does, it just takes longer to get there,” Burkhart said. “Being able to have a creative outlet and being able to search within your mind and be able to bring those safety nets to the forefront of your brain helps tremendously with trying to recover from that trauma.”

The exhibit will open during Third Thursday with the event starting at 5:30 p.m. and the launch of the exhibit at 6:30 p.m. A silent auction of the images that will be on display will follow at 7:30 p.m. Proceeds from the auction can either be kept by the artist or donated to BrightHouse.

NICKERSON, Kan. — The Nickerson USD 309 School Board will look over four proposals for renovating the existing athletic complex during Monday’s meeting.

The district is looking at two different plans. One would be to remove and install a new natural grass field. Three other proposals call for an artificial turf football field. Proposals also include building a new softball field with lighting and a new track along with new field event areas.

The renovations and new construction could cost more than $1.5 million.

The board will also look over some revisions to the cost of upgrading the kitchen area at the high school. The renovation was originally part of the failed bond issue, but was removed from the plans before the bond went to a vote.

The board will also go over the list of potential candidates for the vacant school board position. Larry Meadows and Donna Patton have both inquired about the vacant spot.

Monday’s meeting of the Nickerson School Board begins at 7 p.m. at the school district offices at 4501 W. 4th Ave.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Work on the North Main Street project continues.

APAC Shears utilities will continue construction of the waterline between 10th and 12th avenues and continue south. Starting Monday, workers will begin installing the water main between 11th and 12th. During Thanksgiving week, APAC will be installing the water main between 10th and 11th.

The new waterline will primarily be on the west side of Main Street with connections to the existing waterline at each intersection. New water services between the city main and water meter pits will be installed on both sides of the street with this project. The work will bring southbound traffic down to one lane in the immediate work area.

The work will eventually run south to 5th Avenue.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Public Works announced Friday that a portion of G Avenue will be closed for one week starting Monday for maintenance. The area runs from Halstead Street to Airport Road.

A detour will be set up going south on Halstead to Enterprise Drive, then east to Airport Road.

If you have any questions about this or any other street project, contact Hutchinson Public Works at 694-1900.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 50th anniversary celebration of the moon landings continued Thursday. It was 50 years ago on Nov. 14 that Apollo 12 launched from the Kennedy Space Center.

The mission with Alan Bean, Pete Conrad and Richard Gordon almost failed from the beginning. The flight was nearly aborted after lightning hit the Saturn V rocket, causing all of the electrical systems to go offline. It was the quick thinking of mission control that saved the mission and allowed Bean and Conrad to become the third and fourth men to walk on the moon Nov. 19.

“Each mission was so unique,” Cosmosphere Curator Shannon Whetzel said. “We learned different things from each mission.”

Once the crew got to the moon and headed back to earth, more questions surfaced whether the lightning strike damaged the parachutes needed for splashdown. They, of course, worked. However, mission control never told the crew of the possible problem.

The events surrounding the Apollo moon program not only allow a chance to look back, but to use those experiences from 50 years ago to plan for future space travel.

“It was not just learning about how to work on the moon, but also the scientific knowledge we gained,” Whetzel noted. “So we learned so many things about living on the moon, which is going to help us in our future missions. We’re turning back to those historic moments to learn how to move forward.”

As tense as the Apollo 12 mission was, it would pale in comparison with the Apollo 13 explosion in April of 1970.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The fire at the meat processing facility in Holcomb earlier this year shunted Tyson Foods bottom line. The meat processing company released its fourth-quarter revenue on Wednesday.

The fire at the Holcomb, Kansas, slaughterhouse in August left restaurants, food service companies and grocery chains scrambling to buy beef from other facilities.

As a result, volumes in Tyson’s business fell 4.2% in the fourth quarter, with sales down 1.3%. The fire also resulted in $31 million of net incremental costs, the company said.

Tyson’s operating margins for beef were 9.7%, up from 8.9% a year earlier. Margins declined in its pork, chicken and prepared foods units. Excluding items, the company earned $1.21 per share, compared with the average analyst estimate of $1.29.

Total sales rose nearly 9% to $10.8 billion on strength in its pork and chicken segments, but missed the average estimate of $11 billion. Tyson operates meat processing facilities in Hutchinson and South Hutchinson.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Public Works announced Wednesday that Sterling Road between Boundary and Pretty Prairie roads is closed until further notice. The bridge was closed after a state inspection, according to Public Works Superintendent Don Brittain. The area is located eight miles south of Arlington.

The road sees little use and Brittain says the county will discuss the future of the 30-foot span next week. Options include replacing the bridge or removing it permanently. Brittain says the local township does not keep the road up and closing the road would not landlock any farmers in the area.