HALSTEAD, Kan. — With the hot, dry weather, many farmers are keeping their pivot irrigation systems working overtime.

That could bring about a few problems with farmers using too much of their allotted water from the Equus Beds. Ground Water Management District GM Tim Boese says that a lot of phone calls have been coming in from farmers wanting to know if they’re approaching their water usage limits.

He says more farmers are also applying for five-year flex accounts, which give a farmer a chance to spread their water usage out over five years, thus allowing more pumping in dry conditions. With this program, farmers can still have water left over if it’s not needed because of rainy weather. It replaces a year-by-year contract.

As far as the water levels in the Equus Beds go, Boese says the area is not in any “dire straits” when it comes to the water table at this time. The GWMD is currently testing water levels at over 500 wells and should have the results of those tests in early August.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson City Council Chamber President Debra Teufel showed the council some encouraging numbers when it comes to potential industrial development in the city.

Teufel says the second quarter of the year has seen an uptick in companies expressing interest in locating to the area:

Teufel says the competition for these companies is very tough, but she feels confident that, with an improving economy, the city has a chance to land some of these proposals:

Teufel says there are several things the city has going for it, including a very large manufacturing building at the old Eaton facility. She says that building has drawn a lot of interest:

The 26 open projects the city is working on carries a potential total investment of more than $1.4 billion, while the seven existing proposals carry a potential investment of around $10 million.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — One of the men shot on June 26 in the 500 block of North Washington was back before a judge Tuesday.

Tristan Delaney, 18, is now charged with two alternate counts of first-degree murder. In the complaint, the state says the crime occurred in the commission of another felony. However, there are two theories of the crime. One theory is for distribution of drugs and the other is for attempted aggravated robbery. He can be convicted of one of the charges, but not both.

Delaney and 26-year-old Curtis Garcia are charged in association with the shooting death of 18-year-old Norman Cushinberry.

Police were called to the 500 block of North Washington on the report of a shooting and found Cushinberry in the street. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.

Both men remain jailed with $500,000 bonds.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Jen Cooley had a vision. Now, Cooley and her husband, Scott, are turning that vision into a reality.

The Cooleys closed on the old Stevens building recently. They are now in the middle of preparing the building so Jen can relocate Evolution Salon and Spa.

The couple also plans to provide space for other potential use. One day, the space may include their own living quarters. The building is the oldest standing structure in Hutchinson. The building originally provided electricity to the city:

For Jen, it’s a chance to expand her business. She talked about the decision to purchase the building:

Scott hopes a CDBG grant they applied for will help get the exterior masonry work renovated and resolve any code issues inside. He said the building contains many unique features:

The business will feature the original hardwood floors, a dumbwaiter, and the large wooden support beams that make up the entire four floors of the building. The Cooleys should know if they have been approved for the grant in the next six weeks. Jen and Scott also hope they can utilize the rest of the building for other business ventures in the future.

RENO COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating a suspect on drug charges and giving a deputy a lot of credit.

Just before 3 p.m. Saturday, Reno County Deputy Eric DeLaCruz stopped to assist a motorist on U.S. 50 and Dean Road, according to a social media report.

The driver, J.T. Lewis Rowe, Calhan, Colorado, told deputies he had a flat tire and was waiting for assistance.

While speaking with the driver on the passenger side of his vehicle, Deputy DeLaCruz detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle.

After searching the vehicle, he found a one-gallon sized clear bag with a colored glass pipe with marijuana residue, two small silicon containers with marijuana residue and an additional one-gallon size clear bag with marijuana.

The clear bag with marijuana weighed a total of 91.34 grams.

Rowe was arrested for possession of marijuana, possession of para and violation of a protection order.

Since the vehicle broke down, the deputy took the girlfriend and kids to a local restaurant down the highway. “Deputy DeLacruz left his debit card with the restaurant and told the employees to give the lady and the kids whatever they asked for. When he went back he left a ten dollar tip because he felt the rambunctious kids were a lot for staff to deal with.”

This all took place after Deputy DeLaCruz was seen earlier in the morning purchasing a glass of lemonade at a stand two small kids had set up in Hutchinson.

The sheriff’s department then asked: “Guardian? Warrior? Or both? How many likes can Deputy DeLaCruz get?”

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Work on a new apartment complex in downtown Hutchinson continues to move along.

According to Jay Manske with Manske and Associates, construction of “The Link” at Sherman and Washington is running ahead of schedule. The complex will provide 16 one-bedroom apartments and 12 two-bedroom units.

Manske says the building is about 35 percent complete and should be ready by Christmas. When finished, the building will provide housing for people with disabilities and those over age 55.

The nearly $4 million project was partially funded through Affordable Housing Tax Credits from the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Concert ticket sales for this year’s fair are running well ahead of last year’s pace.

According to Interim GM Bob Moeder, the number of concert tickets sold is almost twice what it was at this time last year at 8,269.

The Beach Boys lead the way in ticket sales at 2,216, followed by KC and the Sunshine Band at 1,577. Trace Adkins is next at 1,402. Dan + Shay are at 1,052.

Most concerts include gate admission, but some do not. Fairgoers are reminded to check with the fair ticket office for exact information.

Tickets can be purchased at the State Fair box office or through Etix.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council gave its support to a community development block grant that would help renovate the old Steven’s Building at 225 S. Main.

Developers Jen and Scott Cooley asked the council to classify the building as blighted so they could apply for the grant. The $250,000 grant would be used for renovating the exterior of the building and bringing the interior up to code. Scott Cooley says they will move their salon and spa into the 47,000-square-foot building, but there is certainly more in the works:

With matching funds, the total cost of the first phase of renovation amounts to more than $335,000. While the building has been used for storage, it has otherwise been idle for many years. The Cooley’s should know if they have the grant in place within 45 days after the application is submitted.