HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council gave its approval to the new incentive package for eNGines-LPG, LLC, during Tuesday’s agenda session.

The small engine company is preparing to relocate to the old Betts Bakery and begin the assembly of small engines for generators and other industrial applications.

The company will receive $56,500 over a five-year period. The incentive is similar to one approved by the County Commission last week. The proof of employment by eNGines-LPG to the city and county will be on the same schedule, making reporting easier for the company.

The incentives are employee driven with the company adding 10 jobs in 2020, 15 jobs in the following year, 14 in 2022 and another 17 in 2023 for a total of 56.

The company, which currently has offices in Ohio, plans to move its company headquarters and offices to Hutchinson in the future.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After 10 months of work and more than 50 designs presented and looked over, the city of Hutchinson has an official flag. The Hutchinson City Council approved a resolution to establish the new flag.

The flag offers three panels of blue, yellow and white with an eight-pointed star in the blue field.

The design was approved by a special committee that was assembled back in January after the idea of having a city flag surfaced.

Not all of the council members were in favor of the flag design. Mayor Steve Dechant had some questions:

Three of the flags were given to the city for flying at offices. The flag is in circulation right now for the public. It is also in sticker form at local businesses.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Unfortunately, the holidays bring an increase in thefts and auto burglaries. Hutchinson police have some suggestions to prevent you from being a victim of these crimes.

Some of them include:

– Lock your vehicles at all times and don’t leave your valuables in them. This includes wallets, GPS, cell phones, purses, car keys and firearms.

– Make sure all doors on your residence are secured with at least a deadbolt even when you’re home.

– Have motion-detecting lights on the exterior of your residence so you can see who is approaching your house.

– Have a light by your front door so you can see who is at your door and have a peephole on your door that is accessible and wide enough for you to view the person at your door.

Some others that you might not think about include:

– Trim your shrubbery around the windows of your residence so your view isn’t obstructed. Don’t leave items in the yard overnight such as bicycles, lawn equipment and expensive items.

– If you are going away on an extended vacation, stop your mail and newspaper. Set your lights on a timer and set up a house check with the police department.

The department asks that you go back to the good old days where neighbors watch out for their neighbors. If you see something that is out of place, call 911.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A new restaurant with a very familiar name has opened in South Hutchinson.

Bogey’s Jr. opened Monday morning at 400 N. Main.

The takeout and drive-thru is a slimmer version of the popular restaurant in Hutchinson. It has a limited food menu that features burgers, grilled chicken and fries.

The drive-in also has the full drink and always impressive shake menu. The restaurant has a drive-thru and walk-up window only with no dining area.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Tickets for the annual Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting go on sale Tuesday. The annual meeting is set for Monday, Feb. 11, at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.

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 for members $10 in advance and $20 at the door, and $20 in advance and $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, lifelong friends.

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

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Cosmosphere’s Earthrising event was also a chance for NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine to reflect on one of NASA’s greatest moments as the agency looks to the future. Bridenstine talked about how the mission changed the view of the United States worldwide:

Bridenstine says the mission and the moment the astronaut spoke from the moon on Christmas Eve was heard all over the world, even in the eastern block countries:

The Apollo 8 mission was full of risks and rush after NASA discovered intel that the Soviet Union appeared ready to send man to the moon:

During his speech, Bridenstine drew applause from the crowd as he promised that NASA and other space agencies would work together to sustain life on the moon and reach for Mars in the future.