HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission approved the contract with A & A Builders for the construction of a secure entrance for the Reno County Courthouse. That work is getting underway this week.

Drive by the front of the building and you’ll see a lot of machinery working the area for a ramp for the disabled that will go on the west side of the main stairs to the courthouse.

A & A Builders won the contract with a $232,900 bid.

The secure entrance, which has been sought by Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson for years and is now starting to become a reality is part of the bond issue approved by voters for the new county jail. The total is $28.9 million. Voters approved the half cent sales tax to cover the cost, which will sunset once the bonds for the project are paid off.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – A bag carried to the moon aboard the Apollo 11 spacecraft and used for the first sample of lunar material is at the center of a legal fight after the government mistakenly sold it during the criminal case against the former director of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center.

The bag was flown on Apollo 11 in June 1969 and has lunar material embedded in its fabric.

The government this week asked a federal judge to rescind its sale. It contends that as result of misidentification the National Aeronautics and Space Administration- which loaned it to the Cosmosphere – was not properly notified.

Cosmosphere founder Max Ary was convicted in 2005 for stealing and selling museum artifacts. The bag was found in his garage during execution of a search warrant.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — More discussion on concession stands and the timeline for construction during Thursday’s Sports Arena building committee meeting.

Work on the building continues to run at pace and most of the work is still forecast to be done by the 2017 National Tournament. Most of the concrete work is done in the north gym area and ceiling, paint and glass work could begin in the next week or two. Steel work is also nearing completion on the south entry way.

JE Dunn also announced that the HCC volleyball team will begin practice next week and the main gym will be available for games, and the Dillon Lecture Series in September. Several locker rooms will be finished and a major portion of the bowl area should be completed by the time basketball season begins in November.

There was still some discussion over the second video board which was not a part of the audio visual bid. There has been talk of the American Legion offering to provide a gift to help fund the second video board but no decision has been made.

JE Dunn reported that between 90 and 100 workers are on, site and have had little trouble finding an available workforce.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – At around 2:20 am., the Hutchinson Fire Department responded to the 1500 block of East 2nd for a report of an explosion in a house with injuries.

Initial crews were met with a fully involved house with fire venting from all windows of the structure.

They initiated the fire attack from the exterior of the home due to the amount of fire and weakening of the structure. The east wall was bowed out approx. 8 – 10 inches. Crews brought the fire under control in approximately 25 minutes before entering the structure to complete work on extinguishing the fire.

The occupant of the home had been removed from the structure prior fire crews arriving with the assistance of an unknown person. The woman was located three houses down at a neighbors where Reno County EMS assisted her. She received burns according to fire officials and was transported to a Wichita hospital.

Cause of the fire has been ruled undetermined, not ruling out a gas explosion from a loose fitting on an interior gas line. The home will more than likely be a total loss. No value on the home was available at this time.

The Hutchinson Fire Department responded with six units with most remaining on scene for three hours.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Their name has been present on a small utility box for some time, but now a building permit has been issued for another store at the Hutchinson Mall. 

The permit is for Harbor Freight Tools. The company is a discount tool retailer known for shipping tools countrywide. Founded in 1977 in North Hollywood, Calif., Harbor Freight Tools has over 700 stores nationwide and sells tools on its website www.harborfreight.com. The building permit is valued at $694,000. No word on when work is expected to begin. Harbor Freight Tools is the sixth store to locate to the mall since it was purchased by Rockstep Capital.

Harbor Freight Tools claims to stock over 7,000 items in categories including automotive, air and power tools, shop equipment and hand tools.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Former HCC President Dr. Ed Berger has won the republican nomination for the 34th State Senate after defeating incumbent Terry Bruce in the primary election.

In the first US District, challenger Roger Marshall defeated Tim Huelskamp on the republican ticket.

 

Results….

 

United States Senate (D) County Precincts Reporting: 40 of 80 State Precincts Reporting:2612 of 3511

Candidate County Votes County % State Votes State % View Map

D-Monique Singh 444 32% 28,314 37%

D-Patrick Wiesner 961 68% 49,288 64%

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United States Senate (R) County Precincts Reporting: 40 of 80 State Precincts Reporting:2592 of 3511

Candidate County Votes County % State Votes State % View Map

R-Jerry Moran 5,710 82% 177,136 78%

R-DJ Smith 1,275 18% 49,186 22%

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United States House of Representatives 001 (R) County Precincts Reporting: 40 of 80 State Precincts Reporting: 833 of 1338

Candidate County Votes County % State Votes State % View Map

R-Tim Huelskamp 1,697 45% 29,181 43%

R-Roger Marshall 2,113 56% 39,536 58%

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Kansas Senate 034 (R) County Precincts Reporting: 40 of 80 State Precincts Reporting: 40 of 95

Candidate County Votes County % State Votes State %

R-Edward E. Berger 2,430 63% 2,430 63%

R-Terry Bruce 1,432 37% 1,432 37%

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Kansas House of Representatives 104 (R) County Precincts Reporting: 10 of 20 State Precincts Reporting: 10 of 20

Candidate County Votes County % State Votes State %

R-Steven R. Becker 1,452 64% 1,452 64%

R-Lowell J. Peachey 812 36% 812 36%

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Kansas House of Representatives 114 (R) County Precincts Reporting: 14 of 28 State Precincts Reporting: 21 of 62

Candidate County Votes County % State Votes State %

R-Herchel A Crainer III 376 50% 647 51%

R-Jack Thimesch 371 50% 628 49%

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STATE SENATE 34TH – REP REP Total Number of Precincts 80 Precincts Reporting 80 100.0 % Total Votes 9593 Edward E. Berger 5586 58.23% Terry Bruce 4007 41.77%

 

STATE REP. 101ST – REP REP Total Number of Precincts 10 Precincts Reporting 10 100.0 % Total Votes 1010 Joe Seiwert 1010 100.00%

 

STATE REP. 102ND – REP REP Total Number of Precincts 22 Precincts Reporting 22 100.0 % Total Votes 1285 Jan Pauls 1285 100.00%

 

STATE REP. 104TH – REP REP Total Number of Precincts 20 Precincts Reporting 20 100.0 % Total Votes 4888 Steven R. Becker 2921 59.76% Lowell J. Peachey 1967 40.24%

 

STATE REP. 114TH – REP REP Total Number of Precincts 28 Precincts Reporting 28 100.0 % Total Votes 1865 Jack Thimesch 983 52.71% Herchel A Crainer 882 47.29%

 

DIST. COURT JUDGE 27, 2 – REP REP Total Number of Precincts 80 Precincts Reporting 80 100.0 % Total Votes 8395 Timothy J. Chambers 8395 100.00%

 

DIST. COURT JUDGE 27, 4 – REP REP Total Number of Precincts 80 Precincts Reporting 80 100.0 % Total Votes 8121 Patricia Macke Dick 8121 100.00%

 

DIST. MAG. JUDGE 27 – REP REP Total Number of Precincts 80 Precincts Reporting 80 100.0 % Total Votes 7864 Cheryl I. Allen 7864 100.00%

 

DISTRICT ATTORNEY 27 – REP REP Total Number of Precincts 80 Precincts Reporting 80 100.0 % Total Votes 8488 Keith Schroeder 8488 100.00%

 

CO. COMM. 2 – REP REP Total Number of Precincts 37 Precincts Reporting 37 100.0 % Total Votes 2129 Ron Hirst 1078 50.63% James D. Schlickau 1051 49.37%

 

CO. COMM. 3 – REP REP Total Number of Precincts 22 Precincts Reporting 22 100.0 % Total Votes 2994 Bob Bush 2994 100.00%

 

CO. CLERK – REP REP Total Number of Precincts 80 Precincts Reporting 80 100.0 % Total Votes 7950 Donna Patton 7950 100.00%

 

CO. TREASURER – REP REP Total Number of Precincts 80 Precincts Reporting 80 100.0 % Total Votes 8604 Valorie L. Garcia 3490 40.56% Brenda L. Kowitz 5114 59.44%

 

CO. REG. OF DEEDS – REP REP Total Number of Precincts 80 Precincts Reporting 80 100.0 % Total Votes 8165 Celeste Nicewander 3528 43.21%

 

 

0 0% 0 0%

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U.S. REP. 1ST- DEM DEM Total Total Votes 30 Write-in Votes 30 100.00%

 

STATE SENATE 34TH- DEM DEM Total Total Votes 490 Homer L. Gilson 490 100.00%

 

STATE REP 101ST- DEM DEM Total Total Votes 22 Clifton Beck 22 100.00%

 

STATE REP. 102ND- DEM DEM Total Total Votes 176 Patsy Terrell 176 100.00%

 

STATE REP. 104TH- DEM DEM Total Total Votes 256 Betty Taylor 256 100.00%

 

STATE REP 114TH- DEM DEM Total Total Votes 6 Write-in Votes 6 100.00%

 

DIST. COURT JUDGE 27, 2 – DEM DEM Total Total Votes 36 Write-in Votes 36 100.00%

United States Senate (D) County Precincts Reporting: 40 of 80 State Precincts Reporting:1001 of 3511

Candidate County Votes County % State Votes State % View Map

D-Monique Singh 444 32% 13,103 34%

D-Patrick Wiesner 961 68% 25,273 66%

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United States Senate (R) County Precincts Reporting: 40 of 80 State Precincts Reporting: 987 of 3511

Candidate County Votes County % State Votes State % View Map

R-Jerry Moran 5,710 82% 86,932 78%

R-DJ Smith 1,275 18% 24,275 22%

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United States House of Representatives 001 (R) County Precincts Reporting: 40 of 80 State Precincts Reporting: 457 of 1338

Candidate County Votes County % State Votes State % View Map

R-Tim Huelskamp 1,697 45% 16,264 43%

R-Roger Marshall 2,113 56% 21,939 57%

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Kansas Senate 034 (R) County Precincts Reporting: 40 of 80 State Precincts Reporting: 40 of 95

Candidate County Votes County % State Votes State %

R-Edward E. Berger 2,430 63% 2,430 63%

R-Terry Bruce 1,432 37% 1,432 37%

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Kansas House of Representatives 104 (R) County Precincts Reporting: 10 of 20 State Precincts Reporting: 10 of 20

Candidate County Votes County % State Votes State %

R-Steven R. Becker 1,452 64% 1,452 64%

R-Lowell J. Peachey 812 36% 812 36%

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Kansas House of Representatives 114 (R) County Precincts Reporting: 14 of 28 State Precincts Reporting: 20 of 62

Candidate County Votes County % State Votes State %

R-Herchel A Crainer III 376 50% 637 51%

R-Jack Thimesch 371 50% 621 49%

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DIST. COURT JUDGE 27, 4 – DEM DEM Total Total Votes 25 Write-in Votes 25 100.00%

 

DIST. MAG. JUDGE 27 – DEM DEM Total Total Votes 18 Write-in Votes 18 100.00%

 

DISTRICT ATTORNEY 27 – DEM DEM Total Total Votes 22 Write-in Votes 22 100.00%

 

CO. COMM. 2 – DEM DEM Total Total Votes 154 Mary Adams Treaster 154 100.00%

 

CO. COMM. 3 – DEM DEM Total Total Votes 4 Write-in Votes 4 100.00%

 

CO. CLERK – DEM DEM Total Total Votes 21 Write-in Votes 21 100.00%

 

CO. TREASURER – DEM DEM Total Total Votes 31 Write-in Votes 31 100.00%

 

CO. REG. OF DEEDS – DEM DEM Total Total Votes 26 Write-in Votes 26 100.00%

 

CO. SHERIFF – DEM DEM Total Total Votes 29 Write-in Votes 29 100.00%

 

U.S. REP. 1ST – REP REP Total Total Votes 3077 Roger Marshall 1729 56.19% Tim Huelskamp 1348 43.81%

 

STATE SENATE 34TH – REP REP Total Total Votes 3116 Edward E. Berger 2013 64.60% Terry Bruce 1103 35.40%

 

STATE REP. 101ST – REP REP Total Total Votes 183 Joe Seiwert 183 100.00%

 

STATE REP. 102ND – REP REP Total Total Votes 395 Jan Pauls 395 100.00%

 

STATE REP. 104TH – REP REP Total Total Votes 1853 Steven R. Becker 1215 65.57% Lowell J. Peachey 638 34.43%

 

STATE REP. 114TH – REP REP Total Total Votes 534 Jack Thimesch 254 47.57% Herchel A Crainer 280 52.43%

 

DIST. COURT JUDGE 27, 2 – REP REP Total Total Votes 2725 Timothy J. Chambers 2725 100.00%

 

DIST. COURT JUDGE 27, 4 – REP REP Total Total Votes 2652 Patricia Macke Dick 2652 100.00%

 

DIST. MAG. JUDGE 27 – REP REP Total Total Votes 2558 Cheryl I. Allen 2558 100.00%

 

DISTRICT ATTORNEY 27 – REP REP Total Total Votes 2728 Keith Schroeder 2728 100.00%

 

CO. COMM. 2 – REP REP Total Total Votes 579 Ron Hirst 297 51.30% James D. Schlickau 282 48.70%

 

CO. COMM. 3 – REP REP Total Total Votes 997 Bob Bush 997 100.00%

 

CO. CLERK – REP REP Total Total Votes 2589 Donna Patton 2589 100.00%

 

CO. TREASURER – REP REP Total Total Votes 2809 Valorie L. Garcia 1117 39.77% Brenda L. Kowitz 1692 60.23%

 

CO. REG. OF DEEDS – REP REP Total Total Votes 2616 Celeste Nicewander 1150 43.96% Michelle Updegrove 1466 56.04%

 

CO. SHERIFF – REP REP Total Total Votes 2848 Randy Henderson 2848 100.00%

 

 

 

 

 

 

NEWTON, Kan. – The North Newton couple accused of 12 felonies including child abuse, aggravated battery and child torture were arraigned Monday where they entered “not guilty” pleas according to Harvey County Attorney David Yoder’s office.

James and Paige Nachtigal were charged in February and are accused of abusing three children they adopted from a Peruvian orphanage while working as international missionaries.

The child abuse allegations say the couple used cruel and inhuman corporal punishment, seven counts of aggravated battery and two counts alleging child torture.

Court documents released earlier indicated that a 11-year-old was regularly beaten with a wooden spoon and had his arm broken after he ran away from his North Newton home.

A date for the jury trial was set for Jan. 17, of next year.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 49-year-old man charged in a drug distribution case while he was a counselor at a local elementary school entered a “not guilty” plea during his arraignment Monday morning.

Terry Lamont McMurry is charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana, both with intent to distribute, sale of marijuana, possession of drug proceeds, drug paraphernalia with intent to package, no drug tax stamp and using a communications device to make a drug deal.

The Drug Unit set up a controlled buy from McMurry using an informant with a listening device back on Nov. 5, 2015. That then led to the eventual search warrant being served on McMurry’s home back on Dec. 16, 2015.

The state alleges that between Nov. 1 and Dec. 16, 2015, he was selling the drugs from his home in the 1600 block of Aurora.

They allegedly found marijuana and cocaine inside the home packaged for sale, packaging material, scales and cash. Marijuana was also found in McMurry’s Mustang and crack cocaine was found in his Mercedes convertible. Three Mercedes cars and the Mustang were seized during that search.

He was a school counselor at Faris Elementary School at the time of his arrest.

With the arraignment complete, the case will now be scheduled by Judge Trish Rose for a jury trial.