HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Commissioners will go over the process for finding a new County Administrator during Tuesday’s meeting.
Current Administrator, Gary Meagher announced he would retire at the end of the year. The meeting will decide what avenues to take including a possible search for a firm, which Human Resource Director Rene Harris says seems likely. “The plan right now is the Commission wants to look into using a recruiting firm like we did with Gary. That worked well,” Harris said.
What that means is sending out a request for proposals for such a firm. “So that’s what I’m doing next week is bringing . . . a request for proposal to them for approval, to then send out to some firms that we have identified.
One of the requirements on the RFP is a quick timeline for finding Meagher’s replacement. “Obviously it’s going to have to happen fairly quickly because we would like to have someone in place…by January 1,” Harris said.
The Hutchinson City Council is expected to begin discussion for finding a new City Manager as John Deardoff also announced his plans to retire next spring.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It is the second weekend for the Hutchinson Fire Department school supply drive.
The fire department is holding its third annual drive to make sure students in area elementary schools have the supplies they need. “Friday from 4-8 in the evening we’ll be at the Dillons on 5th St., the Dillons on 30th and Walmart. Then again Saturday at all three locations from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. collecting school supplies,” Tony Arpin of the Hutchinson Fire Department said.
The fire department does their school supply collection a little differently from some other area agencies. “They go right to the schools,” Arpin said. “This year we sent out an order form to all the schools and they let us know their specific needs because they know what they need,” Arpin said.
The fire department hopes to be able to share the generosity with all of the elementary schools around Hutchinson. “We give to all of the area schools. Not only the ones in Hutchinson but last year we were fortunate enough . . . we got enough supplies that we donated to Buhler grade school, South Hutchinson and Nickerson grade school, and hopefully we’ll be able to do that again this year.”
Those wanting to donate can also drop off school supplies at any Hutchinson fire station or at Allen Samuels Motors with their “Jam the Jeep” promotion through Saturday. The promotion also includes the Ramanator monster truck that will smash three cars on Saturday, along with many other activities starting at 11 a.m.
First Call For Help will also be on hand selling raffle tickets to help fund their Backpack Program which also provides school supplies for those in need.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The new Scooter’s Coffee which just opened in Hutchinson will hold its grand opening on Friday, Aug. 9, at 30th and Plum. The store is Scooter’s 35th location in the state of Kansas. The grand opening will include giveaways throughout the day.
The new location is owned and operated by Jessica and Justin Gillette. The Gillettes also plan to open a location in Salina next year.
“We truly feel that opening a drive-thru specialty coffee location in Hutchinson will allow us to do so. We are already enjoying getting to know our loyal customers and can’t wait to introduce them to even more of Scooter’s Coffee’s signature offerings.”
Scooter’s Coffee is a drive-thru franchise that has been serving coffee for more than 20 years and has more than 220 locations in 14 states across the nation. With over 200 franchise commitments to build new stores, the company plans to open many additional stores in 2019.
On Grand Opening Day, customers can expect to receive several fun giveaways.
10 a.m. – First 50 customers will receive a $5 Scooter’s Coffee gift card with purchase
1 p.m. – First 50 customers will receive a free Scooter’s Coffee tumbler with purchase
4 p.m. – First 50 customers will receive a free t-shirt with purchase
The drive-through offers a wide coffee menu along with tea, smoothies and Red Bull products. There will also be a food menu with breakfast items served throughout the day. The area will have patio seating for customers. Plans are to be open in middle or late July.
Scooter’s Coffee was born in 1998 with the first drive-thru coffeehouse in Bellevue, Nebraska.
The name Scooter’s comes from the co-founder’s daughter whose nicknamed was “Scooter” and when naming the company, “Scooter’s” became the favorite.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Another member of the Fee family has joined the family business, adding to the list of fourth-generation family members with the long-standing company.
Tyler Fee recently joined Fee Insurance. He joins his brother Jordan and cousin Ashton as fourth-generation family members to work for the 136-year-old insurance firm.
Fee Insurance Group, of Hutchinson, announced Thursday that Tyler Fee has joined the agency as a Risk Advisor. Tyler has over five years of experience in the insurance industry and has earned designations such as Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter, Accredited Adviser in Insurance and Certified Authority on Workers’ Compensation. He will be based out of the Wichita, KS office. Tyler is the third fourth-generation family member to join the 136-year-old company, joining Ashton and Jordan.
“To me, it’s just a great deal of pride,” Bob Fee company president said. “I look back at when I joined my dad and brother and I often think of my dad…you know, we’ve been up here in the bank for 30 years overlooking Main Street. These little kids used to come up on the fourth of July during the parade and get a pop out of the refrigerator and watch the parade from the seventh floor in my office and their grandad’s office.”
Fee says having the fourth generation of the family members in the business is reason for pride in the company. “It’s a lot of things. It’s legacy, it’s family, it’s tradition and it just gives me pride that we have established a feeling of desire to be a part of something.”
Passing a business down to family members is challenging in the state of Kansas, which makes this continued transition unique. “The hard part about family business and passing it from generation to generation is, honestly, our tax laws,” Fee said. “It’s like passing a family farm. It’s not always easy because of the valuations that you have. Allen and I get called monthly by big brokers wanting to buy us and we could sell out for a lot of money, but what would that leave. Your legacy is gone.”
Fee says they continue to work hard to try and figure out how to keep the business going from generation-to-generation.
Tyler was born in Hutchinson and graduated with honors from Hutchinson High School. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in finance and entrepreneurship from the University of Kansas in 2014. He has spent the past three years as a business development consultant for United Heartland, a leading workers compensation insurance carrier.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Archer Daniels Midland Company felt the pressure of the spring flooding with the release of its second-quarter earnings.
“We took aggressive action in the face of challenging external conditions, and we are confident that our work over the first half of the year will help deliver a stronger back half,” Chairman and CEO Juan Luciano said. “Just as important, our transformative changes are positioning ADM to capitalize on significant market opportunities and grow earnings and returns in 2020 and beyond.”
The company which employs about 60 workers at five elevators in Hutchinson, reported earnings of $235 million or $0.60 per share, compared to $566 million and $1.02 the same period last year.
Total revenue for the quarter was $16.2 billion, compared to the $17 billion earned in 2018. Flooding ate into the company’s profits and several segments of the company continued to struggle in the market. ADM says it is taking steps to turn things around, including consolidation of several segments and offering early retirement to employees in both the US and Canada.
ADM carries a total valuation in the county of more than $2.35 million and is the 14th largest property taxpayer in Reno County.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Aluminum products company Arconic is set to release its quarterly earnings report on Friday.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues for Arconic for the second quarter stands at $3,642 million, reflecting an expected year-over-year growth of 1.9%.
The embattled company which has endured a power struggle and an abandoned sell-off are still forecast to split into two companies by the first quarter of 2020. The company will split it’s Engineered Products & Forgings and Global Rolled Products in separate directions. Then one of the businesses will be sold off.
Any decision on how that spinoff will affect the Hutchinson Rolled Products Facility and its 75 employees, is still not known.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As you would expect, advance voting to the upcoming city primary election is not hitting very high numbers.
As of Wednesday afternoon, only 251 votes had been cast ahead on the Aug. 6 primary. In the November midterm elections, 5,369 advance ballots were cast.
Tuesday was the last day ballots could be mailed out. If you have taken a ballot by mail in advance, those ballots must be turned into the County Clerks office by 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Enrollment continues for area schools today. In Nickerson, USD 309 enrollment will be held at the administration building on W. 4th Avenue today from 7 a.m. in til 7 p.m.
The Reno County Health Department will be available to administer necessary vaccines from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Information is available at www.usd309ks.org
For students in Haven, USD 312 enrollment is from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. and on Friday from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. at the student’s school. Information is available at www.havenschool.com
Enrollment for students in Fairfield, USD 310 is set for today and tomorrow. Today’s enrollment runs from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and tomorrow from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As wet as it was in the area in May and June, the same can not be said for the month of July.
After record flooding in the spring and early summer, most of central Kansas could actually use some rain. According to the official statistics from the National Weather Service, Hutchinson received just 1.38 inches of precipitation in July with more than an inch of that occurring in the first eight days of the month.
That puts the area more than 1.8 inches behind our normal numbers. The lack of rain is also starting to show in the latest soil moisture numbers. According to the Kansas Ag Statistics Service, several areas are starting to see soil and subsoil moisture levels dropping after being in surplus most of the summer.
Temperatures for the month ran about normal with an average high of 81 degrees.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/ Reno County Chamber of Commerce will host its next Lunch and Learn on Friday, Aug. 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Clayworks, 1125 N Main.
This month’s program will feature Heath Bechler, the Director of Clinical Services at Bel Aire Recovery Center on Opioid Addiction in the Workforce and how employers can take action.
The cost for this event is $15 for members and $25 for non-members. For more information, contact Belinda McClannahan at 620-662-3391, or go to belindam@hutchchamber.com.
