BUHLER, Kan. — School bus inspections have begun in preparation for the new school year.
Buhler School District Superintendent Mike Berblinger says his district actually owns its own buses and they have been inspected:
Like many districts, a shortage of bus drivers is a concern. Berblinger says that includes his district:
Prospective bus drivers need a CDL, but Berblinger says the district would help any person interested get their license. He also reminded residents to slow down once school starts:
Berblinger says those interested in becoming a bus driver can contact the Buhler School District offices.
MIAMI COUNTY— Two Kansas sheriff’s deputies and a suspect were hospitalized after becoming ill during an arrest for alleged drug violations.
Law enforcement authorities on the scene of Wednesday’s drug arrest photo courtesy KSHB
Just after 1:30p.m. Wednesday, deputies stopped to check on a car for a possible motorist assist on Old Kansas City Road north of 239th near Spring Hill, according to a media release.
Following an investigation, the deputies arrested the driver for possessing drug paraphernalia and narcotics. The suspect and deputies were overcome by some type of substance. Miami County EMS and South Johnson County Fire-Ambulance transported all three to an area hospital.
The deputies were released from the hospital Wednesday night. The suspect remained hospitalized Thursday, according to Sheriff Frank Kelly. He did not release the suspect’s name.
Investigators don’t know what substance caused the deputies to become ill but it may be linked to the narcotics or another substance in the car or on the suspect, according to the media release.
Kelly released no additional details Thursday morning.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Although a vote wasn’t expected until Thursday, the amendment to maintain Amtrak train services along the established, long-distance passenger rail route of the Southwest Chief was included today in the 2018 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. The bill passed the Senate on an overwhelming 92-6 vote.
Amtrak’s SW Chief makes a stop in Newton July 27.
The amendment was introduced by Kansas Senator Jerry Moran and Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico. Moran commented on the passage of the bill.
In addition, this amendment would effectively reverse Amtrak’s decision to substitute rail service with bus service over large segments of the route through fiscal year 2019.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Young Professionals of Reno County Candidates Forum Monday evening for the Republican primary elections in Reno County started out pretty calm. The County Commission forum between Ron Hirst and Kris Knowles discussed taxes, saving the county money on its electric bill and keeping young people in Hutchinson.
However, the forum between incumbent state Rep. Steve Becker and challenger Paul Waggoner got even more intense in what has become a somewhat nasty campaign.
Waggoner accused Becker and others of claiming to want tolerance, when they indeed don’t:
Becker fired back at his opponent by talking about yard signs and using youth:
Other issues covered included education funding and whether the constitution should be changed to take the courts out of the equation. Becker was against that, saying it would never pass in Topeka, while Waggoner called the court’s actions overreach.
Medicaid expansion was also debated. Waggoner says expansion would add to the national debt, while Becker says it would bring money back to Kansas. Becker said it would help the medical community in the 104th district. That includes Hutchinson Regional Medical Center, the Hutchinson Clinic, and others.
Becker called all the claims about his record Monday morning quarterbacking and accused Waggoner of worshiping “ridicule and mockery.” Waggoner again accused Becker of voting more with Democrats than Republicans.
The forum was held at Stage 9 in downtown Hutchinson.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Amtrak’s wishes to cut back or eliminate long-distance train service will not go down without a fight.
Kansas Senator Jerry Moran joined a group of bipartisan senators from states spanning the country in urging Amtrak to uphold its public-private partnership to continue operating the Southwest Chief passenger train and long-distance passenger service, particularly through rural communities.
The letter was also signed by Pat Roberts. The letter was sent to Amtrak President and CEO Richard H. Anderson and expresses deep concern that Amtrak is considering suspending operation of the Southwest Chief passenger train and is focusing on a plan to replace long-distance train service along the route with bus service.
Amtrak’s SW Chief makes a stop in Newton July 27.
The Southwest Chief stops in several Kansas communities including Hutchinson, Lawrence, Topeka, Newton, Dodge City and Garden City.
Amtrak came under fire recently when it announced cuts in service then reneged on $3 million in matching funds from a TIGER grant that was approved in New Mexico for renovation of the Southwest Chief line. It was five years ago that Amtrak threatened to move the Chief off the line unless states chipped in to renovate the BNSF line that only Amtrak uses. Since then, states and cities along the route secured three grants and invested large sums of money to make the needed repairs.
Amtrak says a drop in ridership is the reason for eliminating a part of the Chief route, although ridership fell by just 2,000 last year to 363,000 passengers.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A local woman is $25,000 richer after winning the $25K Super Cash Giveaway Saturday on the Kansas State Fairgrounds.
Local listeners of My 93-1, Country 102.9 and KWBW have been following Super Van since May. Each time Super Van stopped at a local business for an appearance, listeners had a chance to become one of 100 finalists in Eagle Communications’ big summer giveaway.
Tina Fischer, middle, stands with her $25,000 check. Anna Sharp, left, of Yoder Meats; Jake Martin of Your Wireless World and Cheer and Tumbling All-Stars; and Leonard Piontkowski of Quality Structures Incorporated — QSI, far left, stand with My 93-1’s Daren Dunn, right.
Some listeners in attendance Saturday admitted to registering with Super Van more than 20 times over the last few months. Listeners had the opportunity to sign up at 32 different sponsor locations since May. Finalists hailed from 24 different cities in Kansas.
Entering Saturday, 99 finalists had been named. Only one remained: Finalist 100.
When the doors opened, finalists and finalist-hopefuls alike filled the Sunflower South building with a common goal: to win $25,000.
A Last Chance Registration was held on location to find Finalist 100. Marsha Hill of Hutchinson had that honor.
Once she dropped her ping pong ball in the bingo machine, the contest was on.
Since 5 finalists missed the noon registration deadline, all finalists in attendance had a 1-in-95 chance of winning life-changing cash.
With 95 ping pong balls in place, Mark Trotman, Eagle Communications General Manager, flipped the switch on the bingo machine.
One ball floated to the top.
It belonged to Tina Fischer of Hutchinson:
Fischer not only chased Super Van around all summer, but has been following the Eagle Communications’ promotion for years. For the first time, all her hard work and dedication paid off in a big way.
Relive the moment Tina’s name was announced:
It was an emotional moment for Fischer. On stage, she wasn’t sure what she would do with the money. Later, she revealed a very touching plan to remember a loved one:
Every finalist won something again this year. The Sleep Shoppe and Furniture Gallery in downtown Hutchinson gave each finalist a $100 gift certificate. Four runner-up prizes were also drawn. Some finalists walked away with an additional $50 gift certificate and $20 to Pizza Ranch.
Pizza Ranch of Hutchinson gave free samples for all in attendance. Morgan Wilk entertained the crowd for an hour before the giveaway officially began.
MILWAUKEE — REV Group announced Thursday that its Collins Bus subsidiary has been awarded a $26 million contract from the New York City Transit to provide 400 para-transit buses.
The buses will be built to NYCT’s custom specifications on a Ford F-350 chassis.
The bid for the NYCT opened in the Fall of 2016 and was awarded to Collins Bus this month. NYCT is a new customer for Collins Bus and the contract represents the single-largest commercial order in the history of the company.
The NYCT contract comes on the heels of Collins Bus’ 50th anniversary and the launch of the brand’s new low-floor bus product.
NEWTON, Kan. — The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office has identified Mark Olsen as the man that died in a mowing accident south of Newton on Wednesday.
Olsen, 68, of Elbing, died after being pinned under a riding lawnmower around 2:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 5800 block of South Kansas.
Olsen was mowing grass for a homeowner in the area. Olsen was mowing around a culvert when he lost control of the lawnmower, falling into the culvert. Olsen was pinned in the culvert under the lawnmower.
The culvert contained two-to-three feet of water. Olsen drowned in the water. He was found dead at the scene by first responders.
The Harvey County Sheriff’s Office, Newton Fire/EMS, Newton Police Department and Kansas Highway Patrol responded to the incident. A sheriff’s office investigation ruled the death accidental.
ORIGINAL STORY
NEWTON, Kan. — A Harvey County man was killed in a mowing accident Wednesday afternoon three miles south of Newton.
EMS and first responders were called to the 5800 block of South Kansas Avenue around 2:30 p.m. and found a man trapped under a mower in a ditch that had 2 to 3 feet of water in it.
Officials say the man was mowing around a culvert when the mower tipped and trapped him underneath. The exact cause of death is unknown and is under investigation.
The victim’s name is not being released until family members have been notified.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — When Westar Energy announced it was closing down the four original steam turbine generators in the Hutchinson Energy Center, many thought the plant would soon close for good.
On Wednesday, the company held a ribbon cutting for its new operations and work center at the plant east of Hutchinson. The new building will be used to operate the four existing gas turbine units that are still in use. Those four generating units are also getting a major refitting at the plant. The refitting and new center cost Westar more than $25 million.
Casey Boo, Senior Director of Renewables, Gas and Oil for Westar, talked about changes at the power plant, including a new name:
Boo says there is still work to be done. That work includes the demolition of the old steam turbine plant:
With renewable energy making up 50 percent of the state’s energy needs, Boo says the Hutchinson station will be used only during peak or emergency needs:
Boo says the old power plant and the adjacent cooling towers will come down starting later this summer. Work will be completed in about a year.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce and the University of Kansas brought school administrators and corporate leaders together on Tuesday to talk about an initiative they hope will get both sides working together to fill the skill gaps in the area’s future workforce.
Nick Jordan with the University of Kansas headed up the meeting as part of a study and series of similar meetings. He hopes the meetings will provide information to the Board of Regents and state education about what is needed to fill that gap. Jordan says the skilled workforce shortage started with a separation of the education and business sectors:
During the meeting, both sides seemed to feel that more needed to be done by the other to make sure students are more engaged and that opportunities exist for students to have the exposure in the workplace.
Some business leaders said that students don’t receive the problem solving skills and abilities because some school districts don’t provide enough hands-on opportunities. Educators feel that some companies aren’t engaging students in school enough mostly because labor laws prohibit such exposure. Jordan stressed the necessity for both:
One company in attendance was Bradburry Corporations in Moundridge. CEO David Cox talked about, not only getting students exposure to the skills needed to work, but also the other attributes an employee needs to be successful:
USD 308 Superintendent Gary Price, who took time to tout the school district Career and Technical Education Academy, says the district is ready to meet any challenge the business sector asks for. He hopes Chamber President Debra Teufel can get both sides together again and come up with a plan that the area schools and businesses can use to get students more engaged in learning. He would like the plan to remind students that what they are learning does have an impact on their futures.
