HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The city of Hutchinson will receive a $250,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce to improve the former Stevens Building. The funds will be used by Scott and Jen Cooley, who want to turn the building at 225 S. Main into the new home of Evolution Salon and Spa.

The funds are part of the CDBG funding the state receives from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development. The Cooleys are providing $115,400 in matching funds to make needed repairs to the building.

Built in 1876, the Stevens Building is the oldest building still standing in Hutchinson and started as the city’s power plant. Along with Evolution Salon, the Cooleys see the building as an opportunity to provide space for other businesses.

The CDBG program provides federal funds to local governments for the development of viable communities by addressing their housing, public facilities and economic development needs.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It is a chance to thoroughly dissect the last Kansas State Fair and an opportunity to look at next year and beyond.

The State Fair Board and its various committees will hold a retreat today and Tuesday at the fairgrounds.

General Manager Robin Jennison commented on what he hopes to address:

Members will also discuss how to make the fair better for patrons and vendors. They will address the new sales tax law passed during the summer.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the election quickly approaching, the number of advance ballots cast or mailed out in Reno County continues to grow at a good pace.

As of Thursday evening, 4,109 ballots had been cast with another 2,115 mailed out. That translates to about a 15 percent voter turnout as long as the mailed ballots are returned. During the August primary, the voter turnout was at 25.8 percent.

Elections Clerk Jenna Fager says some voters are saying they haven’t voted in an election in many years. The number of registered voters in the county is also much higher than in the past several elections at 40,753.

The Reno County Annex will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. for voting.

A couple of reminders: If you have a mailed-out ballot, it must be returned by 7 p.m. election day. Mailed-out ballots postmarked by election day will be accepted until Friday, Nov. 9. Advance voting will end at noon on Monday, Nov. 5.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The North Main Street project will begin moving into the next phase of construction as crews begin to mill and overlay a four-block-long section next week.

Starting Tuesday, crews will begin milling operations — weather permitting. The milling will run from 13th to 17th Avenue.

As asphalt milling progresses on Main Street, two-way traffic will be maintained. It should be noted, however, that traffic control will be moved several times during milling operations to facilitate completion of this portion of the project.

If the weather stays nice, crews will lay asphalt in the four-block area starting the week of Nov. 12.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Applications are now being accepted for the 2019 Leadership Reno County class.

More information and applications for Leadership Reno County can be found at hutchchamber.com. Leadership Reno County provides a leadership skills training experience for a cross section of community members. The skills are taught in the context of community issues and initiatives with the goal of increasing participants’ level of civic engagement.

Since 1984, over 910 community members have been participants in leadership programs offered by the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce. Originally known as Leadership Hutchinson, the program was renamed Leadership Reno County in 2005 and was revamped to provide skill-based training with the purpose of increasing participants’ level of civic engagement. Currently, each class is comprised of 28 to 32 participants.

Tuition is $750 per class participant. Full and partial scholarships are available from the Leadership Reno County Alumni Association. If you are interested in a scholarship, please complete the Program Application.

To be eligible, participants must live or work in Reno County and not be convicted of a person or sex crime of severity level 3 or higher, or its equivalent, unless they have lived in the community at least five years without any criminal arrests following the completion of their sentence or parole, whichever is later.