MANHATTAN — Republican Senator Pat Roberts will not run for re-election in 2020.
Roberts made the announcement Friday morning at the Kansas Department of Agriculture’s headquarters in Manhattan.
Roberts and his wife during Friday’s news conference in Manhattan
Roberts, 82, is chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee and made the announcement weeks after Congress approved a massive farm bill
Roberts is serving his fourth term in the Senate. He began his career on Capitol Hill as an aide in 1967.
His longevity became a political liability during tough primary and general election races in 2014.
“Senator Pat Roberts has had an impressive tenure as a leader in both the House and the Senate, and has served Kansans honorably as chairman of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Ethics Committee,” said fellow U.S> Sen. Jerry Moran. “Pat’s leadership, wit and ability to bring individuals on both sides of the aisle together, skills he honed in service to our nation as a U.S. Marine, will be missed in Congress. It’s been an honor to work with the senior senator from Kansas on behalf of our state. Thank you, Pat, for your friendship and many years of service.”
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Cosmosphere announced Wednesday that five new board members will be joining the museum and science center in 2019.
Three new Governing Board members — Mike Pritchett, Debra Teufel and Tonya Witherspoon — will help oversee the organization’s operations, while former astronaut Dr. Steven Hawley and Kent Longenecker will be joining the Foundation Board to help build and manage endowed funds that support the Cosmosphere and its programs. Rick Staab will move from his previous position on the Governing Board to the Foundation Board.
Pritchett is the Executive Vice President and Manager for Correspondent Bank Services at First National Bank of Hutchinson. Teufel is President and CEO of the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, where she oversees the Chamber, Economic Development and the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Witherspoon is the current Director of Commercial Ventures and Applied Innovation at Wichita State University.
RENO COUNTY — Investigators are working to determine the cause of a fire in Hutchinson.
Firefighters work early morning blaze after new years party. Photos from the Hutchinson Fire Department.
Just before 7 a.m. Tuesday, the Hutchinson Fire Department responded to the 909 South Main Street East for a reported commercial structure fire, according to Fire Chief Steven Beer.
The structure was a commercial property that was used for a wood hobby shop and was unoccupied at the time the fire was reported.
It was being utilized for a New Year’s Eve party until 3:30 a.m. Tuesday.
First arriving units found fire coming through the roof of the structure. Crews immediately called for a 2nd alarm which brought all fire units from Hutchinson to the scene.
Two elevated master streams were in operation during the height of the fire from Hutchinson’s truck companies. Numerous handlines were also deployed to assist in containment. One minute prior to the report of this fire, Hutchinson fire was dispatched for a report of an electrical fire in a residential structure.
Sub-zero wind chills hampered fire operations with a broken hydrant, freezing water, slippery conditions, and wet gear for the firefighters.
Approximately 40 firefighters were utilized to bring the fire under control. The building of origin is considered a total loss; however, firefighters were able to save two structures to the north and south of the fire building.
Hutchinson Fire Department was assisted by Hutchinson Police Department, Reno County EMS, Kansas Gas, Westar, South Hutchinson Mobile Command, and Hutchinson Public Works.
BARTON COUNTY — One person died in an accident early Saturday in Barton County.
Google map
Just after 8:45a.m., sheriff’s deputies responded to the 10 block of Southwest 140 Avenue twelve miles west and one mile south of the city of Great Bend on the Pawnee County line, according to Barton County Sheriff Brian Bellendir.
Initially deputies believed it was a routine stuck vehicle call, but upon arrival they discovered the body of a man identified as Ronald Reuber, 68, Nickerson, laying near the vehicle.
Investigation at the scene indicates the 2018 Ford Escort became stuck approximately 50 yards south of 10 Road in the east ditch.
Barton County Coroner Dr. E. L. Jones was called the scene to assist with the investigation. Examination of the scene indicates the Reuber died due to health related issues compounded by hypothermia, according to Bellendir.
The Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by Great Bend Fire Department EMS and the Kansas Highway Patrol. Foul play is not suspected.
NEW YORK (AP) — Sears is closing 80 more stores as it teeters on the brink of liquidation. The 130-year old retailer set a deadline of Friday for bids for its remaining stores to avert closing down completely.
This Sears 7700 E Kellogg Drive in Wichita’s Town East Mall is on the list to close-google map
The retailer that began out as a mail order catalog in the 1880s has been in a slow death spiral, hobbled by the Great Recession and then overwhelmed by rivals both down the street and across the internet.
A flood warning has been issued for Cow Creek near Hutchinson, affecting Reno and Rice counties.
This warning is in effect from Saturday morning until further notice.
At 7:15 a.m. Friday, the stage was 6.9 feet — the flood stage is 9.5 feet.
Minor flooding is forecast.
Water should rise above flood stage by late Saturday morning and continue to rise to near 10.3 feet by Tuesday morning.
At 10.5 feet, there would be numerous road closures northwest of Hutchinson because of high water. Low water crossing on 43rd Street just east of Pennington floods. Expect road closure on 43rd Street between Pennington to Hendricks roads. Also, 69th Street floods between Wilson to Pennington roads. Then, 50th Street floods between Wilson and Pennington roads. Flooding occurs along Pennington Road from Nickerson Boulevard to 50th Avenue.
The Flood Warning for Reno and Harvey counties is no longer in effect.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce January Membership Breakfast will include the annual State of the City Address from the Hutchinson City Manager, John Deardoff.
The event will be on Wednesday, Jan. 16, from 7 to 8:00 a.m., at the Atrium Hotel & Conference Center at 1400 N Lorraine.
Those wanting to attend should contact Belinda McClanahan at 620-662-3391, or register online.
If you do not have a 2019 FLASH PASS, the cost to attend is $12 per person for members, or $22 for non-members.
RENO COUNTY — Just after 3 p.m. Sunday, Reno County sheriff’s deputy Eric De La Cruz was patrolling the area of South Brownlee Road and West Silver Lake Road when he observed a green Ford Mustang traveling eastbound on Silver Lake. The deputy recognized the vehicle and knew it belonged to 28-year-old James Anderson, who has a suspended driver’s license.
The deputy attempted to catch up with the vehicle on Silver Lake Road, but soon realized he was not going to be successful. Deputy De La Cruz used his radar to get the vehicle’s speed. The vehicle was traveling 91 miles per hour on the dirt road, where the limit is 55 mph. They ended up in Turon.
After going through city streets at high speeds, driving down alleyways, running stop signs and driving through private property, the deputy performed a Tactical Vehicle Intervention maneuver, disabling the Mustang and the pursuit ended. All occupants were placed into custody without further incident.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of several high-powered rifles and a shotgun in the trunk of the Mustang. One of the rifles was later reported as stolen.
The driver was identified as James Anderson, the front passenger was identified as Theron Allen Young, Anderson’s brother, and the rear passenger was identified as Hali Laws, Anderson’s girlfriend.
Anderson was arrested for suspicion of felony flee and elude for having five or more moving violations, aggravated battery of a law enforcement officer, driving while suspended, two counts of kidnapping domestic violence — because the passengers asked James to stop the vehicle numerous times — and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The other occupants were released.
There were no injuries reported from the officers involved or any occupants in the Mustang.
Anderson has prior convictions for felony flee and elude, driving while suspended, and theft.
A state audit of Kansas’s only juvenile corrections facility uncovered allegations of violence between staff members and sexual relationships between workers and the underage inmates.
Seven respondents to a survey of current and former Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex staff said they had been assaulted or attacked by other staff. NOMIN UJIYEDIIN / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
A survey attempted to reach 229 current and former employees of the Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex in Topeka. Only 48 responded.
But of those responding, seven people reported being attacked or assaulted by other staff. There were three reports of sexual relationships between staff and youth at the facility.
Other comments alleged that the facility falsified metrics by removing residents from solitary confinement during auditors’ visits.
The Kansas Juvenile Correctional Complex in Topeka housed 171 youth in July 2018, when the state conducted an audit of the facility’s workplace culture. CREDIT NOMIN UJIYEDIIN / KANSAS NEWS SERVICE
Staff at the Kansas Legislative Division of Post Audit said that the number of responses was too low to draw definitive conclusions, but the comments were still cause for concern. The audit did not verify the responses, which were anonymous.
“The responses do provide some insight into the culture at the facility,” wrote Legislative Post Auditor Justin Stowe in the report.
Kansas state Sen. Anthony Hensley and state Rep. John Alcala requested the audit following the assault of a KJCC employee in December 2017. Kyle Rohr, then superintendent of the facility, was convicted of battery this July for grabbing an accountant’s arm after she failed to gather enough volunteers for a Christmas party. Rohr resigned following the conviction.
Alcala said he was concerned about the work environment at the facility and the culture of management at the Kansas Department of Corrections.
“No one should have to be working in that type of environment,” he said. “Physical contact, from staff to staff, employee to employee, should be zero tolerance.”
As of July’s audit, KJCC housed 171 residents aged 13 through 21. The Topeka facility provides maximum- and medium-security detention for young people convicted of charges that would be considered felonies if they were adults.
The state previously audited the KJCC in 2012, finding issues with management, safety, training and staff discipline. A follow-up audit in 2015 found that some of the problems had been resolved, while others, like outdated policies and inadequate supervision of youth at the facility, were not adequately addressed.
This year’s audit received fewer responses and revealed mixed perspectives. Six respondents to the survey agreed with the statement that “Employee morale at KJCC is high,” while 23 employees disagreed. Sixteen respondents agreed that “Appropriate actions are taken when staff violate policies,” while 21 disagreed. Twenty-three respondents agreed that they feel safe working at the facility and 12 disagreed.
Some survey respondents agreed that they felt intimidated or threatened by co-workers or management. Some agreed that they feared retaliation from peers or management.
“Staff should never be in fear of termination on a daily basis and many are scared if they ‘screw up,’ they will be fired. Even for minor things,” commented one respondent.
Another survey comment: “Anyone that speaks out about staff safety or any issues is targeted until the staff can no longer take the abuse and quits.”
The audit also received multiple comments reflecting “a pervasive ‘boys’ club’ mentality that provides preferential treatment to favored staff and encourages others to quit if they are unhappy,” and lenient treatment of residents “which puts staff in danger.”
Andy Brienzo, who conducted the audit, said the results couldn’t be projected onto every KJCC employee, but they accurately reflected the opinions of the 48 respondents.
“When you have a number of people saying similar things, or saying the same thing on a survey,” he said in a phone interview, “that lends some gravity to what they’re saying.”
Kansas Department of Corrections spokesman Samir Arif declined to comment on personnel matters. He said allegations of sexual assault are investigated according to guidelines set by the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act.
“It is absolutely the duty of every staff member of the Kansas Department of Corrections to report if there are sexual assault allegations,” Arif said.
Arif said the department had a “zero tolerance” policy for sexual abuse, but he did not clarify whether the policy included termination of employment or prosecution. Under Kansas law, incarcerated people are unable to consent to sexual activities with corrections staff.
Mike Fonkert, a juvenile justice advocate at nonprofit Kansas Appleseed, said the survey results reflected a need for change at the management level.
“These are the kids with the highest needs,” he said. “If we’ve got a facility that has infighting and staff problems… it’s not difficult to imagine that they’re not getting what they need.”
Alcala, who requested the KJCC audit, agreed.
“Any time you’re talking about a hostile work environment, physical contact, sexual assault or sexual affairs, I think that is a priority,” Alcala said. “If the corrections director hasn’t seen that and looked at that and immediately addressed it, what does that tell you?”
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Pediatric patients at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center were the benefactors of a toy drive conducted during the holiday season by Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse and the Salt City Chapter of the Guardians of the Children, an international organization dedicated to children and the prevention of child abuse.
Celestina Walker (Lowe’s) presents Jaxon Guise, a patient in Hutch Regional Pediatrics, with a toy as his parents Zach and Sydney Guise look on. Photo courtesy of HRMC.
Representatives of the two groups visited the hospital Friday morning to deliver approximately 200 toys. While at the hospital, they took time to visit patients and spread a little Christmas cheer.
Sam White, assistant manager of the Hutchinson Lowe’s store, said the donation included games, dolls, stuffed animals and toy trucks.
“Lowe’s has undertaken a project during each of the past nine years to benefit children hospitalized at HRMC,” White said.
“Toys can be an important part of the recovery process for young patients,” Jill White, RN, BSN, director of Patient Care Services at the hospital, said.
“Hospitalization may be especially difficult during the holiday season and in particular, for young children,” Ken Johnson, president and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, said.
