HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The number of youth served by the Hutchinson USD 308 summer lunch program made a major jump from last year, while weather issues saw numbers in the Nickerson school district decline.
According to preliminary numbers released by the district on Monday, more than 22,800 meals were served. 20,154 lunches were claimed last year.
The district attributes the increase to mild weather and advertising.
Nickerson High School served 1,189 breakfasts and 1,845 lunches to children. Nickerson served 13 breakfasts and 84 lunches to paying adults.
South Hutchinson Elementary served 2,485 lunches to children and 189 lunches to paying adults. The numbers for NHS were down slightly from last year because of flooding. The district served about 400 more lunches at SHE this summer.
The summer meal program in Haven USD 312 runs through Aug. 9.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Valley Emergency Physicians (VEP), the physician group providing emergency services to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center (HRMC), has designated the hospital “kid-qualified” for its efforts in providing pediatric services and for establishing quality and safety measures for children.
Doctors stand in the pediatric room at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. From left to right: Dr. Richard Price and Dr. Bryan Henderson of Hutch Regional; Dr. Annalise Sorrentino and Dr. Sandy Herman representing VEP; and Teresa Ellis, Director of Patient Care Services for the Hutchinson Regional Medical Center Emergency Department.
VEP provides emergency services to hospitals throughout the nation. The designation was granted following a rigorous confirmation process including an onsite visit to the HRMC Emergency Department (ED).
Ron Dieckmann, director of pediatrics for VEP, said pediatric care at the hospital was evaluated in a number of areas and Hutch Regional distinguished itself in all categories. Hutch Regional maintains an inpatient pediatric unit where staff utilizes the new pediatric services available within the ED.
Additionally, a special “pediatric room” has been established within the ED with hand-drawn wall scenes with a children’s theme throughout the room in an effort to offer young patients a “nonclinical” environment during tests and treatments.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Wind turbine maker Siemens Gamesa slightly trimmed its full-year profit margin forecast on Tuesday and said it had started raising prices to stave off continued pressure. The news came as the company released its third-quarter earnings.
According to Reuters, revenue jumped 23% to $2.9 billion in its third quarter, from a year earlier, boosted by a blockbuster order for offshore turbines from Taiwan.
But margin on earnings before interest and tax came in at 6.1%, missing a forecast of 6.7%, and warned sales volumes and margins would continue to face pressure in the immediate future.
The company, formed by a merger of Spain’s Gamesa with the wind business of Germany’s Siemens, said it expected to hit the lower end of its full-year profit margin guidance, having previously said it would hit the middle of a 7% to 8.5% range.
Profits have fallen across the wind power industry in recent years as governments have introduced competitive auction systems that favor the lowest bidders, shifting away from subsidizing generous fixed tariffs.
Siemens Gamesa employs about 400 workers at the Hutchinson nacelle plant and recently underwent a major overhaul to expand the types of turbines it manufactures.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County commissioners will get a chance to make a final check of the 2020 budget during their regular meeting later this morning.
The proposed budget for next year totals $75,687,419 on total taxes levied of $25,080,339. With that, the mill levy will stay at 41.6 mills. The budget includes increases for employee benefits totaling more than $11.3 million and capital improvements totaling $1.135 million. The county’s road and bridge fund are proposed at $6.5 million with several large projects in the works for next year.
If approved, the county will hold a public hearing on the budget Aug. 13.
This morning’s Reno County Commission meeting is set for 9 a.m. at the Reno County Courthouse.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A portion of West 30th Avenue will be closed off to traffic most of this week.
Hutchinson Public Works says that, starting Tuesday, the street division will be doing work on West 30th Avenue from Main to Monroe. Westbound lanes will be closed to all traffic and detoured up to Carlton Road. Eastbound lanes will be open for most of the project, but will need to be closed for some of the workdays and will also be detoured up to Carlton Road.
The project is scheduled to be done by 5 p.m. on Friday. If you have any questions or concerns, call the Hutchinson Public Works Street Division at 620-694-1900.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A friendship among two co-workers at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center recently turned into an incredible act of kindness.
Gena Bowling (right) and Amy Horine stand in front of the van given to Bowling by her co-worker.
Gena Bowling, patient accounts front desk receptionist, is married to Roger, who is severely wheelchair-bound. Things got more complicated when Roger lost a significant amount of mobility. With a small vehicle and the difficult task of getting her husband in and out of the vehicle, Bowling needed an act of kindness.
She got it from Amy Horine, who gave a handicapped-accessible van to Bowling — no questions asked. “I have a very nice co-worker,” Bowling said. “We have a Honda Accord and it was impossible for him to get in and out of. We have doctors appointments in Wichita and lots of times it would take three firemen to get him in (the vehicle) and three firemen to get him out.”
Horine didn’t hesitate to offer the van to Bowling. But it wasn’t as simple as having a van. The vehicle had a special place in Horine’s heart as it came to her from the loss of her grandfather. “My grandfather passed away in October,” Horine said. “He was also disabled and an Army veteran. He had the van, drove it every day, and when he passed away, I inherited all of that.”
Horine says it’s great to see Roger getting the chance to have a more mobile lifestyle again. “Gena and Roger just really needed something so they could get him out and get him places,” Horine said. “They go to grandkids’ ballgames. It was nice for him to still be able to get out and do things he really enjoys doing and watching his grandkids.”
Horine volunteered her own hours and money to transfer the title of the van, then washed and tagged the van out of her own pocket. She even went the extra mile and filled the tank with gas.
The van comes complete with an electric ramp for the electronic wheelchair used by Bowling’s husband and a safety harness to keep the wheelchair in place.
Of course, the state looks at gifts like this kind of funny so it was sold to Bowling for $1. Another co-worker, Debbie D’Alessio. paid the $1 to complete the transaction. Horine is a single mom that could have sold the van and used the money for her own gain, but said the gift was never a question. “It was the right thing to do,” Horine added. “We’re a really close team in this office and this department and we’re more like family I think than we are co-workers.
Horine put the needs of another ahead of herself. Serving another’s needs is the most selfless act of kindness that is so rarely seen today.
BUHLER, Kan. — The Buhler City Council will set a date for the public hearing on the 2020 budget during Tuesday’s agenda session. The budget as proposed would call for a 0.5 mill increase to 51.7 mills.
The budget totals $1.648 million on total taxes levied of $355,495.
City Manager Merrill Petersen says equipment purchases in public safety and the usual cost increases caused the need for the half mill increase.
If all goes as planned, the city council will hold the public hearing Aug. 13.
Tuesday’s meeting of the Buhler City Council begins at 7 p.m. in the city offices at 219 N. Main.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Fox Theatre is getting close to naming its new executive director.
According to current Executive Director Josh Davies, his replacement could be named in the next several days. “We’re very, very close. It’s a matter of days,” Davies said. “The next time I come here (KWBW studios), it will either be with someone or he might come in my place.”
Davies said he’s pleased with the finalist the board selected and hopes to have an official announcement soon.
It was in the fall that Davies announced he was stepping down from that position as soon as a replacement could be found. He will stay on as the technical director, the position he held for 15 years before assuming both roles.
Davies has been with the Fox for more than 20 years and held the current position for about six years.
NEWTON, Kan. — A Harvey County Detention Center inmate died Friday after suffering what appears to have been pulmonary congestion and edema.
Sean Abbott – photo courtesy of the Harvey County Detention Center.
Just before 7:30 a.m. Friday, authorities found 42-year-old Sean Abbott unresponsive, according to a news release.
Detention deputies and medical staff performed CPR until Newton Fire/EMS arrived.
Abbott was transported to Wesley Medical Center in critical condition. He was pronounced dead Friday at 11 p.m.
The Sedgwick County Coroner’s Office conducted the preliminary finding for the cause of
death. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and Harvey County Sheriff’s Office investigations
unit processed the scene. It is standard protocol for the KBI to be notified of an inmate
death.
This incident is the first known in-custody death of a Harvey County Detention Center
inmate.
