HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council will take action on a market study contract during Tuesday’s meeting. The study would explore market needs for a new hotel and convention center.

A task force with city and Chamber representation was recently assembled to identify options for the community when it comes to a new or renovated convention center or hotel project.

The task force initially sent out a request for proposals to various hotel development groups. The task force received four letters of interest. Three development groups, one of which was the current owner of the Atrium, were then interviewed.

The task force decided to move into the discussion stages with Leisure Development Group out of Leawood, Kansas. After an initial meeting with Leisure, the development group requested exclusive negotiation between the two parties.

During a meeting last week to discuss the Leisure agreement and market study, a consensus was reached to hold off on negotiations until the market study is completed.

If approved, the study will be done by Hospitality Real Estate Counselors of Memphis, Tennessee, at a cost of $14,500.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Tyson posted lower earnings to end the calendar year with what it uses as its first quarter report.

The chicken and processed meats company with two facilities in Reno County saw total income of $10.19 billion the last three months of 2018 compared with $10.22 billion the year before. Earnings per share totaled $1.58 compared with $1.81 last year — a decline of 13 percent.

Sales in the prepared foods division fell from $2.29 billion to $2.14 billion. It was the second largest segment decline in the company.

The lower numbers are the first negative earnings reported by companies with ties to Hutchinson this past quarter.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Archer Daniels Midland saw its fourth quarter earnings were lower amid several factors during the last three months of 2018.

Earnings per share for the oil seed giant were $0.55 compared with $1.39 the previous year after merchandising and handling results were lower than the prior-year period, which included significant insurance settlements and other income.

Segment operating profit totaled $786 million compared with $733 million last year. Sold businesses, acquisition costs and insurance settlements ate into ADM’s bottom line.

ADM operates five elevators in Hutchinson and employs more than 50 workers.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As work continues on the new Clayworks facility in Hutchinson, the McPherson site has worked to expand its reach. Disability Supports of the Great Plains designed the opportunity for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to not only create art, but to turn that art into a business.

A friend of Clayworks brought the art to the attention of a gallery in North Platte, Nebraska. Now the pieces of art are being sold at the Prairie Arts Center. According to Teresa Preston, who is the program manager for Clayworks, the pieces that were taken to PAC have already sold and they are preparing to send more.

The best part of a program like Clayworks is that clients who create the ceramics get 100 percent of the sale. Preston says many of the clients take it as a job and work five days a week to generate revenue for themselves. The ability to make income is important when the unemployment rate for those with disabilities can run over 70 percent.

Meanwhile, work continues on the Clayworks facility in Hutchinson. The building on North Main is expected to be completed later this spring.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutch Rec and the city parks department will host two meetings later this month to continue piecing together the look of the city’s future recreational needs.

Green Play, an organization taken on by Hutch Rec, will complete a study of the city’s park and rec facilities. The study is being funded through a grant from Blue Cross of Kansas.

Two surveys have been sent out to gather public input. Hutch Rec Director Tony Finlay says, while all of the data won’t be disclosed until the meetings, there have been few surprises:

Finlay says one thing that has come to light during the survey is use of the Arkansas River for recreation:

Green Play and Hutch Rec will hold a public meeting Feb. 25 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Dillon Nature Center. That will be followed by a joint meeting with Hutch Rec and the City Council on Feb. 26. Green Play will then submit a final draft for the city and Hutch Rec to consider by late spring.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community College Board of Trustees will give consideration to a fee and tuition hike for the fall semester during a monthly meeting Thursday night.

Under the proposal, tuition and student fees for Kansas residents would each increase by $2. Tuition would increase from $89 per credit hour to $91. Student fees would go up from $21 to $23. Out-of-state student tuition would go up from $120 to $122 with fees increasing to $23.

International student tuition would also increase by $2 to $131 with fees increasing to $33. Fees for special courses would also increase under the proposal.

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

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Four students from Hutchinson High School were honored at the annual Family, Career and Community Leaders of America district competition held recently in Hutchinson. More than 60 participants from surrounding schools were on hand.

Juniors Alih Magana, Tina Robertson and Giselle Graciano competed in the Sports Nutrition event and received a silver medal. Senior Hailey Kisner competed in the Illustrated Talk event and did a project called “Keeping JUULs Out of Schools.” JUUL is a type of e-cigarette that has become a problem in schools across the nation. She received the top gold medal in her event and will continue on to the FCCLA state competition held in Wichita in April.

Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a nonprofit national career and technical student organization for young men and women in Family and Consumer Sciences education in public and private school through grade 12.

Today, over 160,000 members in more than 5,300 chapters are active in a network of associations in 49 states, in addition to the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.