HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Sports Arena Building Committee got a look at the new arena floor during 
today’s monthly meeting.
The floor will continue with the NJCAA logo as well as the “Sam Butterfield Court” lettering. The court will also feature the Blue Dragon symbol at center court and “Hutchinson” in red letters at both ends.
The floor has already been laid down, but will not be finished until later this summer.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Fire and EMS responded to the West 4th Avenue Arkansas River 
bridge after three people who were making a float trip down the river got into trouble.
According to Jeremy Unruh with Hutch Fire, two females and a male started the trip at 4th Avenue and had gone about 100 yards downstream when they became entangled in some trees. Fortunately, one of them had a cell phone and called 911. Hutch Fire put two rescue personnel into a raft and sent them into the area where all three were rescued without harm.
Hutch Fire wants to remind residents that Reno County has now banned all floating down the river due to the high, fast-moving water.
This is the third water rescue made by Hutch Fire in the river in the past month.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — For years A&W was a fixture near the corner of 30th and Main in Hutchinson. 
But the store closed and the city has been without the famous root beer and burger establishment ever since.
Now A&W is coming back to the Salt City. Work got under way Wednesday on the remodeling of the Long John Silver’s restaurant at 30th and Main, and will become a joint restaurant with A&W. According to Eric Estes with Estes Enterprises out of Pratt, work will include the ability to make the homemade root beer just as in the past, along with its own kitchen and seating space. And yes, the root beer will come in glass mugs.
Estes says they want to bring back the A&W of the past, and says customers are always bringing in old menus and the original glass mugs that were a part of the restaurant’s history.
Estes, who also owns the Qdoba restaurant in Hutchinson, says they hope to have the store open by August.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WICHITA HAS ISSUED A HEAT ADVISORY…WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM CDT THURSDAY.
HEAT INDEX VALUES…UP TO 106 DUE TO TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 90S…AND DEWPOINTS NEAR 70.
IMPACTS…THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL MAKE HEAT RELATED ILLNESS SUCH AS HEAT STRESS…HEAT CRAMPS…AND POSSIBLY HEAT STROKE MORE LIKELY.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A HEAT ADVISORY MEANS THAT A PERIOD OF HOT TEMPERATURES IS EXPECTED. THE COMBINATION OF HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY WILL CREATE CONDITIONS WHERE HEAT ILLNESSES ARE POSSIBLE. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS AND STAY IN AN AIR CONDITIONED ROOM IF POSSIBLE.
STAY OUT OF THE SUN…AND CHECK UP ON RELATIVES AND NEIGHBORS. TEMPERATURES WITHIN VEHICLES CAN BECOME LETHAL IN A FEW MINUTES. NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN OR PETS IN VEHICLES. REMEMBER TO BEAT THE HEAT…CHECK THE BACKSEAT.
FORD COUNTY – A Kansas woman died in an accident just after 7a.m. on Tuesday in Ford County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2015 Dodge Charger driven by trooper Dillon S. Keller, 24, Dodge City, was responding to an accident on U.S. 50 at Road 130 in Ford County.
The Trooper was eastbound on U.S. 50 with lights and siren activated near the Spearville Truck Stop.
A 1999 Freightliner semi driven by Larry Weimer, 71, St. John, was exiting from the truck stop to go eastbound on US 50.
The State Trooper took an evasive action to avoid the semi and drove on the eastbound shoulder while hard braking.
The State Trooper corrected back onto the eastbound lane, crossed the centerline into the eastbound lane and collided with a 2007 Chrysler Sebring driven by Lucinda Lampe, 59, Offerle, that was slowing or stopping on the westbound shoulder.
The Sebring was pushed backwards and it hit a 2004 Chevy HHR driven by Brian S. Herbert, 49, Dodge City, that was behind it.
Lampe was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Frontier Forensics.
Keller was transported to Western Plains Medical Center.
Weimer and Herbert were not injured.
All four were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
The accident investigation shut down U.S. 50 between Dodge City and Kinsley for several hours on Tuesday.
The Ford County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate the accident.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The weather cooperated nicely for what is thought to be the largest Patriot’s Parade ever through Downtown Hutchinson and possibly the largest crowd ever attending the event sponsored by Eagle Stations KHUT – Country 102.9 and KHMY – My 93.1.
With those wanting to be in the parade, but hadn’t signed up, it’s estimated that there were 120 to 125 entries that participated in the parade, including all the politicians running for office.
The Grand Marshal this year was Captain Charles M. Good Jr., who entered World War II as a Naval Cadet in 1942 and, after flight training, entered the Marine Corps Airborne Unit and was assigned to the B-25, also known as the PNJ twin engine bomber Squadron.
He recently turned 99 years old talked of serving his time in the military in the Philippines.
Thanks to everyone who participated and our sponsors, and of course everyone who came for this annual event that celebrates America.
Also a huge “thank you” to the Hutchinson Police Department. The help and service they provided to make this event run smoothly as possible is more than appreciated. We couldn’t do it without them.
And of course the fireworks show ended the holiday weekend on the parking lot of the state fairgrounds, which Eagle Communications sponsored in partnership with the city of Hutchinson and Bretz and Young Law Offices in Hutchinson.
TOPEKA – The Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism (KDWPT) reminds outdoor enthusiasts that no alcohol is allowed at posted state fishing lakes (SFL) and wildlife areas (WA). The no alcohol list includes beer, wine, liquor and spirits. Osage SFL was recently added to those regulations, so no alcohol will be allowed at that lake, according to a media release.
Other state fishing lakes and wildlife areas in northeast Kansas where alcohol is not allowed include:
Atchison SFL, Benedictine WA, Brown SFL and WA, Buck Creek WA, Burr Oak WA, Dalbey WA, Douglas SFL and WA, Elwood WA, Jeffery Energy Center WA Area 2, Kansas River WA, K-18 River Access, La Cygne Lake and WA, Leavenworth SFL, Lyon SFL and WA, Middle Creek Lake Area, Miami SFL, Pillsbury Crossing WA, Pottawatomie SFL’s 1 and 2, Rising Sun (Perry-Lecompton) River Access, Shawnee SFL and WA, and Osawatomie Dam and Parking Area.
Fireworks are not allowed at state fishing lakes and wildlife areas. In addition, no swimming is allowed at Melvern WA Quarry Pond and Pillsbury Crossing WA.
A complete list of all department state laws and regulations can be found at KSOutdoors.com, then click on Laws, Regulations & Enforcement on the left side of the page.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 22-year-old man arrested by police back on June 21 after a fire and explosion at the Plaza Towers building faces now five felony counts.
Chase Coble is now charged with three counts of aggravated arson with substantial risk of great bodily harm and two counts criminal use of explosives. The first three counts are level three felonies with a maximum sentence on each count of over 20-years in prison.
He was apparently experimenting with plastic and chemicals and it got out of hand. Police say he had the chemicals to make black powder to use in explosives, but he claims he wasn’t doing that.
The chemicals he had were all toxic and volatile according to authorities. The fire and explosion cause significant damage to the apartment on the 12th floor of the Towers building and also some damage to the apartment below.
He asked for a bond reduction once again saying that his dad is paying for damages to apartment and can’t afford to bond him. But, Magistrate Judge Cheryl Allen denied the request once again citing the safety of the community, but also with the charges calling for presumptive prison, there is danger of flight risk.
Bond in the case is only set at $25,000 and the case now moves to waiver-status docket on July 27.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After some delays, bids were opened for a major renovation project involving 
the Hutchinson Airport. Tying up some loose ends with the FAA pushed back bidding for the project to late spring with the bids opened Tuesday.
Two companies bid for the project, with Dondlinger and Sons of Wichita having the low bid at $4.45 million and Cornejo and Sons, also of Wichita, coming in with a bid of $6.03 million. The engineer’s estimate for the renovation was $5.24 million.The bids, and a contract proposal will now go before the City Council for their approval.
The project includes the complete reconstruction of the north/ south runway along with new signage, lighting and GPS approach capabilities. It also includes the shortening of the southwest to northeast runway by 1,600 feet.
Construction is expected to take seven months to complete.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The second of two teens arrested on a single count of conspiracy to commit capital murder entered a plea in the case Tuesday afternoon in Reno County Juvenile Court.
As with his co-defendant, 15-year-old Carson Cabral entered a no contest plea as charged. Cabral and Ayrton Morraquin now await disposition in their cases.
The two were arrested after several students came forward to express concerns about a threat to students. Officers were called in to investigate, and the two students were then taken into custody.
Several search warrants were issued, which turned up plans for making pipe bombs as well as sketches and plans of where certain teachers and staff would be so they could be targeted. Police also recovered items that could be used to build explosive devices, which were confiscated by law enforcement. Morraquin was to have his disposition on Monday, but that was continued until July 12.
No date for such a hearing has been set for Cabral.
