HAVEN, Kan. — One person was injured when the tractor trailer rig he was driving collided with a train near Haven.

According to the Kansas Highway Patrol 66-year-old  Floyd Bogner of Burrton was south bound on Victory Road when he pulled into the path of an eastbound    K and O freight train. The train hit the semi in the trailer that was filled with grain knocking  it into the south ditch. The last of three locomotives and 12 cars derailed with a half dozen laying over on their sides. The locomotive stayed upright.

Bogner was taken by EMS to a Wichita Hospital. The engineer of the train 57-year-old Mark Wells of Hutchinson was not injured. Officials with K and O are on the scene to address the cleanup and removal of the wreckage. Haven Road was closed in Haven. Victory Road was closed also.

The accident happened just after 3 p.m. about one mile east of Haven.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The City of Hutchinson has its new police chief. City Manager John Deardoff announced late Friday afternoon that Jeff Hooper will fill the position left open by the retirement of Dick Heitschmidt.

Hooper is currently a captain with the joint Riley County/Manhattan Police Department. He has 27 years of experience in law enforcement and 14 as captain.

Hooper has a B.S. in Sociology/Criminal Justice and is a graduate of the F.B.I. National Academy. Deardoff believes Hooper’s educational accomplishments, leadership abilities and broad law
enforcement experience make him a perfect fit for the Hutchinson Police Department. “I am really excited about the energy and professionalism Jeff will bring to our Department and look
forward to working with him.”

Hooper said “I am extremely honored for the opportunity to serve the City of Hutchinson as its next Chief of Police. I have been humbled by commitment shown by the city staff, members of the public, and the men and women of the Hutchinson Police Department.”

Hooper was actually a finalist for the chief’s position with his current department, but withdrew his name from consideration to take the job in Hutchinson.

Hooper takes over his new duties Oct. 22. In the meantime, the department is being led by Interim Chief Alan Stoecklein.

YODER, Kan. — United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions was in Yoder this afternoon to speak to law enforcement and cadets of the law enforcement training center.

Sessions was the guest of Sen. Jerry Moran, who praised Sessions for his work:

 

 

Sessions says the uptick in the crime rate is something that needs to be addressed. He spoke on the vigilance of the U.S. Attorney’s office and the support law enforcement has from the president:

 

Sessions also announced a grant to the Wichita Police Department that will allow the department to purchase better technology, including body cameras.

RENO COUNTY — Attorney General Jeff Sessions will be Hutchinson,

Friday to speak to the Kansas Law Enforcement Training Center (KLETC), according to a media release from the United States Attorney’s office.

Attorney General will give remarks on reducing violent crime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(Jeff Sessions arrives at the Hutchinson Airport Friday)

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — One person was injured in an accident just before 3 p.m. Tuesday in Reno County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2014 Kenworth Box truck driven by Donald Cope Jr., 63, Tulsa, Oklahoma, was northbound on K-14 five miles south of Hutchinson.

The truck traveled off the road to the right. The driver over-corrected, causing the truck to roll over on the driver’s side.

Cope was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center. He was wearing a seat belt at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

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Original Story

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — One person was injured when a semi they were driving overturned on K-14 south of
Hutchinson Tuesday afternoon.

According to Reno County 911, the accident happened about 2:45 p.m. near Greenfield Road, or about three miles south of Crupper’s Corner. No other details on the accident were made available.

The driver of the truck was taken by EMS to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center with serious injuries.

K-14 is closed while crews work to remove the wreckage.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A familiar face to law enforcement has been named by the City of Hutchinson to serve as the interim police chief.

City Manager John Deardoff announced Monday afternoon that Alan Stoecklein will serve in the interim position until the new chief is named and comes on board. That is expected to happen Nov. 1.

Stoecklein enjoyed a 40-year career in law enforcement, mostly with the Kansas Highway Patrol, where he retired as a lieutenant colonel.

Deardoff says he appreciates Stoecklein’s willingness to step in the role and oversee the department until the replacement for Chief Dick Heitschmidt arrives.

No announcement was made about Heitschmidt’s replacement. Two men have been interviewed for the position.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. —  The Kansas State Fair’s funding for capital improvements may be at risk because of fairgoer misconceptions about the new Kansas State Fair sales tax law.

“Commercial exhibitors are telling us that fairgoers think state sales tax is higher at the Kansas State Fair,” Bob Moeder, Interim General Manager, said. “We want to make sure our visitors understand that Kansas sales tax is consistent everywhere in the state, but when they buy and take delivery of goods at the fair, a portion of the state sales tax collected returns to the fair for greatly-needed improvements to our facilities.”

Exhibitors and vendors are provided a special tax number to use for all goods and services delivered during the event. Fiscal 2017 figures show returning the sales tax generated on the Kansas State Fairgrounds during the fair would produce just over $400,000. About 5 percent of the 6.5 percent state tax would go into the State Fair Capital Improvements Fund.

Moeder said, “The more people shop during the fair, the more we can accomplish to improve the facilities not only for the 10 days of the Kansas State Fair, but also for the hundreds of events held on the grounds throughout the year.”

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The latest debate Saturday between the three top candidates for governor brought a nearly-packed house of supporters. The lively crowd cheered and booed throughout the course of the debate.

The candidates discussed taxes. Secretary of State Kris Kobach wants to go back to former Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax plan, but he would like to cut more spending. Democratic challenger Laura Kelly believes the course the state is on now is working, but she also wants to cut sales tax on food. Independent candidate Greg Orman says Kansas has to grow the economy and create a strong tax base to cover priorities.

None of the candidates said they could produce a 7 1/2 percent ending balance at this point.

Other topics included: the tariffs of agriculture — put in place by President Donald Trump — and expanding Medicaid.

Democrat Laura Kelly says she will expand Medicaid and get rid of Kan-Care:

 

Secretary of State Kris Kobach fired back at Kelly with his response against any expansion:

 

Independent candidate Greg Orman is also in favor of expanding Medicaid in a reasonable way:

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment is taking civil action against the owner of the Western Acres Mobile Home Park near Yaggy for failure to correct water issues.

The park has been under a boil water advisory since Aug. 8. No action has been taken by the park’s owner, Justin Whitt.

The petition was originally filed in May requesting action be taken by Whitt to deal with the drinking water at the park. The civil action can allow the Secretary of the KDHE to levy stiff penalties ranging from $1,000 to as much as $10,000 for failure to comply with orders in the petition, or for violations.

On Aug. 8, the park was placed under a boil water advisory because Whitt failed to provide water test samples to the KDHE, which is required twice per month. It’s the second time the park has been placed under a boil water advisory this year.

The KDHE could not say exactly what action was being taken by the state to help fix the problem and only said civil action is being taken against Whitt.