HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The deadline to file income taxes is Monday. While there still may be time to get things in order, many will not make the deadline.

Jo Wiebe with H&R Block says there are only two options if you can’t make the April 15 deadline. “If they don’t file a tax return and owe money on the tax return, they will owe a penalty in addition to the tax,” Wiebe said. The other option is to file an extension so you can avoid a penalty, which would be added on to any tax you owe, but will still give you some time to get things in order.

The number of people who file online has also changed the tax season in one other area. The U.S. Post Office in Hutchinson says it will be open normal hours on Monday. In the past, many post offices stayed open late to accommodate the large rush of mail that would come in at this time of year. Postmaster Lori Finny says the post office does see more business during the last few days of tax season, but online tax returns have slowed the number of people who mail in their return.

The post office is open from 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. The last pickup of the drop box outside the post office is at 6:45 p.m. The last pickup inside the post office is at 6:30 p.m.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The settlement process continues for the parent company of Kwik Shops and a petroleum transportation company that mistakenly filled a store’s storage tank with the wrong fuel last month.

Cindy Rantanen of EG Group, which owns the local convenience stores, says the company is working with Groendyke Transport to settle claims against the company after diesel fuel was placed in a storage tank for regular gasoline. The mistake caused a large number of vehicles to break down.

The mistake affected more than 20 vehicles in the area. Rantanen says there are still some motorists who have not filed a claim with Kwik Shops and urged them to do so as soon as possible. While Kwik Shop is not liable for the mistake, the company is assisting Groendyke with the claims.

Some car dealerships estimated repairs to vehicles ran from a few hundred dollars to as much as $1,000.

If you were affected by this situation, EG asks that you fill out a report at Kwik Shop.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce held its second downtown coalition meeting on Wednesday.

Chamber President Debra Teufel says the meeting was part of the continued process of absorbing the city’s downtown revitalization sector into the Chamber. “We’re kind of working through some of the transition as the downtown Hutchinson revitalization partnership becomes an entity within the Hutch Chamber,” Teufel said. “We had about 30 people in attendance, about the same attendance we had last month, and a lot of people passionate about the downtown.”

Teufel says the group has some specific goals for the coalition. “Really the goals of this coalition coming together are to continue to do great promotion of the downtown Hutchinson area and then keep the lines of communication open.”

The coalition was formed when the city of Hutchinson dropped downtown development because of budget constraints.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It is a problem most, if not all, of law enforcement is encountering — a shortage of patrol officers and jail staff.

The problem has been brought to the forefront by the Hutchinson Police Department as it looks to fill 16 positions. The department recently hired five new officers who are going through training at the Law Enforcement Training Center near Yoder. That still leaves the department 11 officers short.

The city has been going nationwide to recruit potential workers and offered an incentive package as well. Many other surrounding communities are doing the same.

It’s not as bad in surrounding communities, although most are short officers. McPherson Capt. Mark Brinick says he is using resource officers in schools to get in touch with potential recruits as early as possible. “We’re trying to get out into the community to let people know about the department,” Brinick said. “Some people just aren’t familiar with what we do.”

The story is not as bad in Newton where Capt. Craig Dunlavy is two officers short. The department is constantly attending job fairs and using social media to find new officers. At full strength, the department has a staff of 40. “Years ago we really didn’t have a problem. Now we have to go nationwide to find potential officers,” Dunlavy said.

The shortage hits in two areas for the Reno County sheriff’s department. Currently, the department is short just one patrol officer, but needs to fill four spots in the county correctional facility. At full staff, the department has 45 deputies and 42 jail staff.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The slowdown in production of the Boeing 737 MAX jet following two software-related crashes could have some impact on a Hutchinson company.

Media personnel at Arconic would not comment on the Hutchinson finishing facility or what effect the cut in production could have here.

Tracie Gliozzi, media spokesperson for Arconic, says the matter will likely come up during an earnings call at the end of the month. Gliozzi said Arconic might be able to shed some light on the matter following that meeting.

The Hutchinson Arconic facility does finishing work for the aerospace industry and employs about 75 people. The company is a spin-off of Alcoa, which split its mining and smelting operation from finishing operations two years ago.

The company also announced this week that it would cut costs by more than $200 million and split the current company into two different segments.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Cold weather in the forecast could harm your spring plantings.

Right now, it depends on several things. Jason French with Stutzman’s Greenhouse says, as long as temperatures don’t fall into the mid- to upper 20s, most plants should be OK. He did say any early gardening that is already done might need a little protection. If you haven’t started yet, it’s probably best to wait. “In this part of the country, April 15 is usually the average last frost date,” French said. “We’re really not quite to that average time yet, so if you haven’t done that, it’s probably best to hang on a few days.”

A good way to protect tomatoes and other tender garden plants is to use a plastic bucket or some other type of cover. The forecast calls for low temperatures around 30 with a chance of some snow showers over the weekend.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community College Board of Trustees will give consideration to the school calendar for the next two years during Thursday’s agenda session.

If approved, the 2020 school year would begin Aug. 19. The first semester would end Dec. 10. The spring semester would start Jan. 11. The final day of school would be May 6.

The fall 2021 semester would begin Aug. 18. Christmas break would run Dec. 9 through Jan. 10. The spring semester would end on May 5.

Also Thursday, the board will seek approval of the elimination of surplus property and go into executive session regarding negotiations.

Thursday’s meeting of the HutchCC Board of Trustees begins at 7 p.m. at the Shears Technology Center on the HutchCC campus.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It is always a problem when it comes to tickets for various sporting or entertainment events. The Kansas State Fair is not immune to the problem.

Fair officials are warning grandstand concert buyers to beware of third-party ticket sellers.

Fraudulent websites have popped up selling Nex-Tech Wireless Grandstand tickets, according to the fair’s Marketing Director Amy Bickel.

Bickel said one website listed seats for Bobby Bones and the Raging Idiots between $60 and $300. The fair is selling those same seats for $20 to $65.

All concert tickets should be purchased at the state fair ticket office or through Etix.

As a safety precaution, Etix and the fair allow patrons to only purchase six tickets at a time.