HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Reno County District Attorney’s Office Wednesday afternoon filed charges against the two teens who allegedly planned violence at Hutchinson High School.

A charge of conspiracy to commit capital murder was filed against 14-year-old Ayrton Marroquin and 15-year-old Carson Cabral. The threat was made against officials at Hutch High.

The two teens were scheduled for detention hearings Thursday morning, but according to District Attorney Keith Schroeder, their attorney’s waived the hearings, so no hearings will be held at this time.

According to USD 308 Spokesperson Ray Hemman several students came forward just after 8 a.m. Tuesday to express concerns about a threat to students. The school Resource Officer was notified and other officers were called into investigate.

According to Capt. Troy Hoover the two students were taken into custody and during search warrants, they recovered plans for making pipe bombs as well as sketches and plans of where certain teachers and staff would be so they could be targeted.

They also recovered items that could be used to build explosive devices which were confiscated by law enforcement.

We will continue to follow this story and bring you updates as they become available.

HESSTON- Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback was among the first to call Hesston Police Chief Doug Schroeder a hero for his role in stopping the shooter at Excel Industries on February 25.

Without his aggressive response the governor said more people would have been at risk.

On Tuesday, Schroeder’s who has been chief of police in Hesston since 1998 issued his first statement on the incident.

“The events of this past week have devastated our small community — a community with which I have a strong personal connection. I offer my sincere condolences to the families of the victims.

No one should have to go through the pain they have experienced. I pray God’s comfort surrounds them as they begin to heal. There is a difficult road ahead for so many people, but it is one they won’t be walking alone.

I feel God has prepared me throughout my life and career for these events. I am not a hero. I know hundreds of law enforcement officers, each one of them with a different skill set, personality and abilities.

I can’t think of one officer who wouldn’t have done the same thing I did. I am so proud of my brothers and sisters in Harvey County Communications, law enforcement, and EMS. As it is written in Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God.”

I am also proud and thankful of the Excel employees. I was provided valuable information as I was trying to locate the shooter inside the facilities. Some helped direct me toward the shooter. I have also heard stories about employees helping each other to safety and rendering aid to the injured.

Although I have over a hundred first responders and crisis management personnel to thank individually, I would like to mention a few key individuals who played extremely valuable roles during the crisis and shortly thereafter. I would like to thank Hesston Mayor David Kauffman; City Administrator Gary Emry; Newton Police Department Deputy Chief Craig Dunlavy; Newton Police Department Cpl. Brian Rousseau; Harvey County Emergency Management Director Gary Denny; Hesston Police Sergeant Chris Carter; and Harvey County Sheriff T. Walton.

The leadership, composure and compassion of these individuals during a very stressful time minimized the negative outcome of this situation.

The citizens of Hesston, Newton and Harvey County are resilient. No one had to ask for an extra measure of patience with each other; they just gave it. Thank you for the support and caring you have shown me and my family. I look forward to returning to a leadership role in the community as we all begin to heal.”

RENO COUNTY — A Kansas man was injured in an accident just after 6 a.m. on Monday in Reno County.

The Reno County Sheriff’s office reported a 2013 Toyota Camry driven by David Rife, 49, Colwich, was northbound on Haven Road.

The vehicle collided with westbound semi loaded with hay at the intersection of U.S. 50.

Rife was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. The accident temporarily closed the westbound lanes of U.S. 50.

The semi driver Randy Driskell, 50, Yates Center, was not injured.

The accident remains under investigation.

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HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Emergency officials are working a serious accident at the intersection of U.S 50 and Buhler-Haven Road.

911 officials say it involves a semi and a passenger car and one person is reported to be in critical condition.

We were also told that they’re diverting traffic while they work the accident because apparently they have hay bails all over the road.

If you travel 50 highway, you may need to find an alternate route.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Long lines of voters were waiting to register as Democrats on Saturday at the Kansas State Fairgrounds, many carrying Bernie Sanders’ campaign signs.

Republicans also report a large turnout, possibly double what they had four years ago.

Here are the numbers in Reno County on the Republican side.

Ted Cruz 1,182
Donald Trump 397
Marco Rubio 333
John Kasich 186
Ben Carson 17
Jeb Bush 3
Uncommitted 9
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Total 2,127

We have not yet received the exact numbers from Democrats as to how many attended, but the 4-H Ecampment building auditorium was standing room only. It appears that Bernie Sanders won six delegates, while Hillary Clinton won two.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Sheriff deputies were dispatched to an injury accident with a vehicle on fire in the area of 4th and Rayl Road.

When deputies arrived, they found a single vehicle off the south side of the road fully engulfed in flames. Deputies made contact with 56-year-old Donald Jost of Newton.

Jost said he was westbound on 4th in his vehicle when he lost control of his vehicle and it left the roadway where it struck the ditch embankment. The vehicle then traveled off the roadway striking a post, small tree, and a barbed wire fence. The vehicle then caught fire.

Jost was able to free himself from the vehicle and was transported by Burrton EMS to St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita for burns to his head, back, and arms.

Crews from Burrton Fire, EMS, and Hutchinson Fire assisted with the accident that occurred around 10:15 a.m.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It took some careful deliberations, but a Reno County jury came back with a guilty verdict against a 21-year-old Hutchinson man on all counts against him.

The case against Fredrick Lemons Jr. involved one of the home invasions where a local man was beaten and robbed.

He’s now convicted of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated burglary, two counts of aggravated battery, criminal threat and two counts of criminal damage.

The victim had testified earlier this week that he still suffers from his injuries. That included having a tooth knocked out, stitches on his lip and other lacerations to his head. He had testified that he hasn’t been able to work since Oct. 8 and still has pain he has to deal with daily.

The jury apparently didn’t believe a co-defendant’s claim that Lemons wasn’t there at the time of the incident in question. Jordon Leffel claimed that he was the one seen using an ATM debit at the First National Bank branch at 3rd & Elm. But, the state was able to show that the white hoodie the individual was wearing in fact belonged to Lemons. He was also seen getting in and driving the silver Honda and driving away in it from a local apartment building.

This home invasion occurred on May 14, 2015, at a home in the 3400 block of North Waldron. That was one of two during that time period. But Lemons was only suspected in this case.

With the jury reaching the guilty verdict, Judge Tim Chambers set a special setting for sentencing, which will be April 22 at 1:30 p.m.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The groundbreaking of the $29.5 million renovation of the Hutchinson Sports Arena is set for Monday, March 7 at 2:00 p.m. on the south side of the Sports Arena and being put by the The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce and Greater Hutchinson Convention/Visitors Bureau.

On-hand to speak about the project will be the general contractor JE Dunn Construction, Schafer Johnson Cox Frey Architects, Mary Ellen Leicht from the National Junior College Athletic Association, Hutchinson Mayor Jade Piros de Carvalho, representatives from Hutchinson Community College and a representative from the HutchWins campaign.

The Hutchinson Sports Arena will continue to be operational throughout the construction process, which is scheduled to be completed in April 2017. The planned improvements include replacing the plumbing, electrical and heating systems and adding air conditioning and new locker rooms. Additionally, plans include a new main entrance, lobby and ticketing area, multipurpose rooms, restrooms, three full-sized practice gyms, a Hall of Fame and a new weight room. More seating compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act will be also be created on the upper level of the arena.

Funding for the $29.5 million renovation project comes from a 0.35% sales tax increase that went into effect July 1st, and will last for a period of ten years or less. In addition to the sales tax increase, Hutchinson Community College will allocate $500,000 annually. In April 2015, the Hutchinson community overwhelmingly approved the sales tax increase to fund the project with 75% in support. Jason Ball, President of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, commented “Once completed, the renovated Sports Arena will provide the community with an asset that can be utilized all 12 months of the year. This gives Hutchinson an unprecedented opportunity to recruit new events and tournaments, which will bring with it new visitors and greater economic impact to the community”.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend this event.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Once again, the Kansas Forest Service fire staff in conjunction with Hutchinson Community College and the Hutchinson Fire Department will conduct mitigation efforts to hopefully cut down the risk of fire in areas northeast of Hutchinson.

You may recall that they did this last year as well and again want to get rid of accumulated brush. The burns will again be at and around Sand Hills State Park and Prairie Dunes Country Club as well as other areas they didn’t name. This will occur during the week of March 20 through 26.

The event will be week long, March 20 through 26 and will involve well over a hundred individuals from the Forest Service, the college as well as Hutchinson Fire Department.

Although this is the 12th year that they have done this around the state, this is the second year in a row that they have chosen the Hutchinson area for this event.

HESSTON, Kan. – Thousands turned out for a vigil at Hesston High School Sunday night. Fourteen candles were lit for those wounded and four others for those who lost their lives. They also had one for the shooter.

Numerous pastors from community churches spoke and the crowd sang several songs.

The healing process continues and the motto that has caught on in this small community is “Hesston Strong.”