HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Fire Chief Steve Beer said that 10 years ago outfitting firefighters with a bulletproof vest would have been unthinkable. But times have changed and six Hutchinson firefighters have started on a new program where they will be part of the Emergency Response Team (ERT).

It’s called Tactical EMS. What it means for these six firefighters is that they will be going into active situations along with the ERT to provide any medical care that could be needed.

“There’s definitely a need across America for this type of service in teaming with police departments to provide that medical aid for them,” Beer said. “It’s just a perfect marriage with HPD and HFD working together again for a common goal and that’s really the safety of the ERT team.”

Beer says a similar program was in place when he left Wisconsin. He immediately approached Police Chief Jeff Hooper about putting the program in place in Hutchinson.

The new program certainly is different from what firefighters were originally trained to do. “They’ll learn to operate in what we call a hot zone. A place that is not safe or secure,” Brice Burlie, head of the ERT, said. “They’ll train to learn how to operate with emergency response team members to learn how to do things such as how to treat people in those hot zones.” Two T-EMS personnel will accompany the ERT in each situation. The crew will be stationed out of firehouse five at 11th and Hendricks and will have its own specially equipped vehicle.

One of the six HFD personnel that will be a part of this team is Ron Kaufman. Kaufman says he joined the unit to expand his service to the fire department. “I’ve always wanted to do something more for the fire department,” he said. “When this came around and they asked if anybody would be interested in it I went home and talked to my wife and we said, ‘yeah, let’s try it.’”

Kaufman and the others recently completed a SWAT tactical course in the Kansas City area where he says the training was extensive. “It was very good,” Kaufman said. “It was applying tourniquets, packing bullet wounds, some more advanced stuff with airways and things like that, and there was a lot of lifting.”

The new addition to the ERT is another major step in the fire department working with law enforcement to keep the community better protected. “We’re doing so much more training together. We just spent four days of active shooter training at the (Prairie Hills Middle) school,” Beer said. “The more we practice together the more we’re going to be prepared in the event of a real situation.”

The six firefighters will be outfitted with bulletproof vests, but will not be armed. They’ll carry special gear designed to administer medical care. One medical pack attached to them is to be used to treat themselves by a second person if needed. The new unit will train with the ERT on a regular basis.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A friendship among two co-workers at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center recently turned into an incredible act of kindness.

Gena Bowling, patient accounts front desk receptionist, is married to Roger, who is severely wheelchair-bound. Things got more complicated when Roger lost a significant amount of mobility. With a small vehicle and the difficult task of getting her husband in and out of the vehicle, Bowling needed an act of kindness.

She got it from Amy Horine, who gave a handicapped-accessible van to Bowling — no questions asked. “I have a very nice co-worker,” Bowling said. “We have a Honda Accord and it was impossible for him to get in and out of. We have doctors appointments in Wichita and lots of times it would take three firemen to get him in (the vehicle) and three firemen to get him out.”

Horine didn’t hesitate to offer the van to Bowling. But it wasn’t as simple as having a van. The vehicle had a special place in Horine’s heart as it came to her from the loss of her grandfather. “My grandfather passed away in October,” Horine said. “He was also disabled and an Army veteran. He had the van, drove it every day, and when he passed away, I inherited all of that.”

Horine says it’s great to see Roger getting the chance to have a more mobile lifestyle again. “Gena and Roger just really needed something so they could get him out and get him places,” Horine said. “They go to grandkids’ ballgames. It was nice for him to still be able to get out and do things he really enjoys doing and watching his grandkids.”

Horine volunteered her own hours and money to transfer the title of the van, then washed and tagged the van out of her own pocket. She even went the extra mile and filled the tank with gas.

Of course, the state looks at gifts like this kind of funny so it was sold to Bowling for $1. Another co-worker, Debbie D’Alessio. paid the $1 to complete the transaction. Horine is a single mom that could have sold the van and used the money for her own gain, but said the gift was never a question. “It was the right thing to do,” Horine added. “We’re a really close team in this office and this department and we’re more like family I think than we are co-workers.

Horine put the needs of another ahead of herself. Serving another’s needs is the most selfless act of kindness that is so rarely seen today.

HAVEN, Kan. — The Haven school board has declared an impasse with its teachers on a new contract.

The board met in special session Monday morning to consider the final offer for an increase in base pay. The issue is one of the last sticking points in a new contract for the approaching year.

In a meeting that lasted about 30 minutes, the board came to the conclusion that the offer from the teachers was not acceptable.

The two sides had come to within $1,500 of an agreement on base pay, but could not find middle ground during a session on Thursday.

Superintendent Clark Wedel says a mediator will be brought in and the two sides will come to the table again to try and hammer out some kind of agreement. No timeline was given for when that will happen.

Teachers originally asked for a $6,014 increase in base pay. The district countered with a $2,014 jump. The latest offer by the teachers was a jump of $5,514 over two years. At that time, the faculty said it was the final offer.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Regional Medical Center held a special drill on Thursday to test procedures and systems in regard to a mass casualty event.

According to a release from the hospital, the goal of the mass casualty exercise was to prepare the healthcare system’s response to a catastrophic event that could potentially occur in the community.

According to Ashley Thompson, trauma service coordinator for Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, the drill was simulated from the week-long training that local law enforcement, the fire department, and EMS had been conducting at Prairie Hills Middle School that involved an active shooter scenario.

A local boy scout troop had 10 children and four adults volunteer time to help with the simulation. Each volunteer was assigned a role to simulate this event within the hospital and Moulage was used to enhance the realism of the injuries that the volunteers were presented with.

Each volunteer had a scenario they acted through that allowed many different departments in the healthcare system to practice their response and process in a disaster event.

 

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — While violent crime in Kansas continues an upward trend, the same cannot be said for Reno County.

According to the latest Crime Index released by the KBI, the crime rate in Reno County fell in nearly every category. In 2018 there were a total of 2,235 offenses, a drop of 366 from 2017. Violent crime dropped by 84 to 193.

There were fewer property crimes in the county as well with 2,042 reported property crimes in 2018 compared with 2,324 in 2017. The report also showed 169 fewer thefts in the county and 12 fewer cases of arson.

The number of rape cases reported in the county did stay relatively flat at 31 in 2018, an increase of one from the previous year.

The state’s violent crime index rose 5.3% to 12,367. The violent crime rate in Kansas is currently 16.5% above the 10-year average.

HAVEN, Kan. — A meeting which lasted about an hour Thursday morning failed to find common ground between the Haven USD 312 School District and its teachers.

The two sides are still apart on a base salary increase that would make it one of the higher ones in the county. Teachers originally asked for an increase of $6,014. That was met with an offer of $2,014 by the district. Since then, the two sides have come to within $1,500 of an agreement but could not find middle ground during the latest negotiating session. The teachers have come down $2,000 in their latest offer and the district has come up $500.

During Thursday’s meeting, the teachers said they would agree to the district’s latest offer of a $2,514 increase, if they promise to add another $2,500 next year. The two increases would raise the districts base pay to $41,000.

Superintendent Clark Wedel stated that they could not make a commitment to next year without some consultation with the school board. With that, a special meeting is scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. which the board will go into executive session to discuss what the teachers say is their “final offer”. Wedel says with step increases and benefits, the current proposal of $2,514 by the district adds up to a 7% increase. The increase in base pay alone would cost the district about $163,000.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 17-year-old Girl Scout from Hutchinson can do a little bragging. Lacy Bower managed to get the Gold Award for a project she did back in June to help a local non-profit. She talks of what the Gold Award is.

“The Gold Award Project for Girl Scouts is the highest award is the highest standard in Kansas Heartland of America,” said Bower. “You have to be a Senior or Ambassador Girl Scout to achieve this standard level of girl scouts and get it approved to go and actually get it going.”

She explains that she raised money and items for a local non-profit for the project, which meant of lot of standing.

“I collected toiletries and money donations standing in front of Walmart for the last three weekends of June,” said Bower. “I collected 146 dollars short of $5,000 worth of toiletries.”

She is counting those dollars prior to any taxes being taken of the purchase.

So which non-profit benefited from this effort? One that she’s helped in the past and helps those who have been battered or abused.

She says the money and toiletries they collected will go to Brighthouse, which is the non-profit she chose. None of the money, gift cards or other items goes to the Girl Scouts.

Brighthouse is a local organization that strives to eliminate sexual assault and domestic violence in Reno, Rice, Kingman and Harper Counties.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Governor Laura Kelly appointed Dylan Evans, Sarah Green, and Kathy Brazle to the Kansas State Fair board.

The board acts as the showcase of Kansas agriculture, commerce and industry, and is responsible for presenting a format of entertainment and education that appeals to people from all walks of life in Kansas.

The state fair emphasizes the importance of family, education, public/private entities and Kansas as a whole.

Dylan Evans, Lebo, is the owner of Farmers State Bank of Aliceville and DWE Livestock. Evans received his master’s degree in food science, a bachelor’s degree in animal science and industry, and a bachelor’s degree in food science and industry, all from Kansas State University. He succeeds Steve Abrams.

Sarah Green, Wichita, currently serves as a writer, editor and strategic consultant, working as an independent contractor. Previously, she served as Local Foods and Rural Outreach Coordinator under the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Green participated in a graduate fellowship through George Washington University in food policy. She received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas. She succeeds Matthew Lowen.

Kathy Brazle, Chanute, is a retired school administrator. Previously a teacher in Erie, Brazle received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics and physical education from Southwestern College, and a master’s degree in physical education from the University of Kansas. Brazle also received an administration certification from Emporia State University. She succeeds Monica Lair.

The governor’s appointments to the state fair board are not subject to senate confirmation.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Just two days after the celebration of the Apollo 11 moon landing, the man who started it all has died.

Christopher Kraft passed away on Monday. Kraft started NASA as we know it and was Mission Controls first flight director leading the space agency through the Apollo moon missions and beyond. “Chris Kraft is a legend,” Jim Remar, President of the Cosmosphere said. “Without his efforts on the ground, two astronauts who touched down on Tranquility Base 50-years-ago probably don’t get there, at least don’t get there to fulfill ( President) Kennedy’s challenge.”

Mission Control was assembled by a group of men who were just out of college and was willing to give it their all for the space program, which included inventing procedures and solutions moment to moment. “Most of the flight controllers and Directors were in their early 20’s so they were really writing the rules and procedures as they went,” Remar said. “ As a whole, the team needed a figurehead like Chris Kraft to guide them through

Remar says he hopes that more people who grew up after the Apollo program will use Kraft’s legacy in the space program to inspire them.

Christopher Columbus Kraft was 95-years-old and will be remembered for his leadership under immense pressure during the space race to the moon, and for great vision to establish the inner workings of Mission Control.

HAVEN, Kan. — Haven USD 312 teachers have rejected the district’s current offer for an increase in base pay leaving the two sides $1,500 apart as the school year nears.

According to Superintendent Clark Wedel, Friday’s negotiation session failed to provide an agreement between the two sides. Another meeting is set for Thursday morning.

The teachers originally asked for a $6,014 increase. The district’s offer was $2,014. The teachers countered with $4,014. That was rejected by the district who upped the offer to $2,514.

The teachers said no, so negotiations continue. A $4,014 increase would raise teacher’s base salary to $40,000.