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Author: Hutch Post Staff

Chamber legislative forums begin Feb. 2

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the 2019 Legislative Forum dates:

Saturday, February 2: 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Mennonite Friendship Communities, 600 W. Blanchard Ave., South Hutchinson

Saturday, March 2: 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Shears Technology Center, 1300 N. Plum, Hutchinson

Saturday, April 6: 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. at Wesley Towers, 3711 Asbury Place, Hutchinson

The forums are co-sponsored by AT&T and the Hutch Chamber Public Policy Committee to offer attendees the opportunity to interact with Reno County legislators.

Hutchinson Mall to get fitness and training business

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A new business is coming to the Hutchinson Mall. Ojeda Fitness and Personal Training will move into the space formerly occupied by the Deb clothing store.

Owner Tony Ojeda says he hopes to have his business in the mall by the first of February. Ojeda specializes in personal training, along with fitness and exercise classes and exercise therapy for stroke patients.

Ojeda is currently renting space in the basement of a church and says he is excited to make the move to a new location.

Dechant to play volleyball at Fort Hays

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Fort Hays State University announced that Trinity Catholic volleyball player Paige Dechant has signed onto the Tiger program.

The 5-foot-9-inch setter earned a trio of Heart of America all-league honors, picking up first team honors as a senior after earning honorable mention recognition as a sophomore and junior.

Dechant twice earned all-tournament honors at the Coleman Classic as well as the Red & Blue Classic. In addition to picking up four volleyball varsity letters, Dechant was a four-year member of the nationally-recognized cheerleading squad.

HPD deals with texting while driving

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Police Department has stressed its enforcement of phone and texting ordinances the last few months in the city.

The numbers are not good. Officers wrote more than 100 tickets in the last three months. Law enforcement says that ticket count is way too high and shows too many people are distracted while driving.

Officials say they do not want to work crashes where you, a passenger, or anyone else gets hurt because of distracted driving.

Just a few months ago in Larned, a 22-year-old girl was killed because she was on Snapchat and got into a crash.

The Standard Traffic Ordinance explains that “no person shall operate a motor vehicle on a public road or highway while using a wireless communication device to write, send, or read a written communication.”

There are exceptions to the rule if you park off the roadway; send or receive a phone call; receive an emergency traffic or weather alert; or receive a message related to GPS functionality.

Fire investigation continues

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The investigation continues into the New Year’s Day fire that destroyed a commercial building in the 900 block of South Main in Hutchinson.

According to Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer, parts of the building were taken apart so hot spots could be extinguished. It also allowed the department to send two investigators to comb through the building and look for a possible cause. Beer says no cause has been found at this time, but anything suspicious has been ruled out.

Fire crews had to battle the intense blaze and sub-zero temperatures during the fire, which broke out a few hours after the conclusion of a New Year’s Eve party.

No injuries were reported.

Roughly 120 tickets remain for Chamber’s annual meeting

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — If you want dinner tickets for this year’s Chamber of Commerce annual meeting, you better act fast.

As of Wednesday morning, only about 120 tickets remain. The Chamber actually increased the number of dinner seats to 1,000 this year to try and accommodate the demand, but, as usual, the tickets have gone quickly.

Tickets for Chamber members are $60 if purchased by Jan. 8. After that, the price goes up to $70. Non-member tickets are $80. Gallery seating will be available again this year. That cost is $10 in advance or $20 at the door for members, and $20 in advance or $30 at the door for non-members.

The keynote speakers for this year’s event are authors of the documentary “I’ll Push You” — Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray, inspirational adventurers and lifelong friends.

New this year, a special trade show before the meeting will take place in the auxiliary gymnasiums. The event will run from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. If you visit by 5 p.m., you can register for a night out on the town courtesy of the Chamber.

For more information, contact the Chamber at 620-662-3391.

USD 308 to hold special meeting Friday

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson USD 308 School Board will hold a special meeting on Friday to take the next major step in finding a new superintendent.

According to district spokesman Ray Hemman, the Kansas Association of School Boards will spend the day Friday going over the list of applications. That will be followed by an executive session at 6 p.m. During the meeting, the KASB will provide a list of two to five candidates for interviews.

If all goes as planned, those interviews will be held next week. Each candidate will spend the day going through the district’s facilities and then have a final interview with the board.

Hemman says they could name a new superintendent during a special meeting the week of Jan. 14 or during the board’s regular meeting Jan. 21.

Cosmosphere announces new board members

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Cosmosphere announced Wednesday that five new board members will be joining the museum and science center in 2019.

Three new Governing Board members — Mike Pritchett, Debra Teufel and Tonya Witherspoon — will help oversee the organization’s operations, while former astronaut Dr. Steven Hawley and Kent Longenecker will be joining the Foundation Board to help build and manage endowed funds that support the Cosmosphere and its programs. Rick Staab will move from his previous position on the Governing Board to the Foundation Board.

Pritchett is the Executive Vice President and Manager for Correspondent Bank Services at First National Bank of Hutchinson. Teufel is President and CEO of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, where she oversees the Chamber, Economic Development and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Witherspoon is the current Director of Commercial Ventures and Applied Innovation at Wichita State University.

 

County Planning Commission to begin discussion on wind farm

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SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Planning Commission will begin discussion on a possible conditional use permit that is expected from NextEra Energy in regards to the proposed wind farm near Pretty Prairie on Thursday.

Planning Director Mark Vonachen says the commission will discuss various matters pertaining to the wind farm, including scheduling alternative meeting dates. The planning commission was left to make some of the major decisions on the wind farm after a moratorium that was requested by area residents failed to gain any support by the commission.

Vonachen says that once the permit is filed, the planning board will have to piece any concerns together. Once that is completed, a public hearing will be held, which is sure to draw a lot of attention. Once that is finished, the planning board will make their recommendation to the county commissioners for action.

Thursday’s meeting of the Reno County Planning Commission begins at 5 p.m. at the County Public Works offices in South Hutchinson.

Area nursing student recognized for her achievements

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HAYS, Kan. — An area nursing student of Fort Hays State University was recognized as an Outstanding fall 2018 graduate during their pinning ceremony Friday.

Kaetlin Weninger of Burton was given the On Campus Bachelor of Science in Nursing award.

Weininger is a member of the esteemed Fort Hays State University Honors College program. Her summer internship was in Acute Care at Rooks County Health Center. During her BSN studies, she traveled abroad to the Dominican Republic, China, and the African country of Senegal. The award is part of the Leora B. Stroup Awards given by the Department of Nursing at Fort Hays State University each year.

The Stroup awards, named for the founder of FHSU’s nursing program, recognize outstanding clinical performance, community involvement and academic achievement.

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