HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Police are investigating an incident in which several students reported an attempted abduction near Faris Elementary after school on Tuesday.
According to Ray Hemman of USD 308, the district sent out notices to all parents of Faris students advising them of the situation.
The notice says that an older man attempted to abduct three students.
The students gave the description of the individual as an older man, wearing a black mask. He was described as tall and skinny and driving an older red and white pickup truck.
Hemman noted that Faris has about 20 staff members who assist with school dismissal each day outside the school, and that the staff is aware of what happened.
If you have any information in this incident, please call 911.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It was almost a given that sales tax revenue for Reno County would fall far short of last year’s total. The November revenue numbers released by the county Tuesday morning certainly reflect that.
Sales tax revenue fell for the fifth straight month, when compared to 2016, at $392,416. That compares with $416,516 last year.
The number is still the second highest recorded by the county in the past 15 years, but still shows the slowdown in spending.
Year-to-date the county has taken in $3,965,122 — which is more than $530,000 short of reaching last year’s total of just under $4.5 million.
Sales tax numbers for November reflect shopping for the month of September.
GRAY COUNTY — A man is recovering in the hospital following a rattlesnake bite Monday in Gray County.
The man was bitten while hunting pheasant and quail in tall grass in southern Gray County, according to the sheriff’s department.
The victim called 911 and EMS transported him to the hospital in Dodge City. Another first responder drove the victim’s pickup and dogs to the hospital.
A hospital spokesperson and the sheriff’s department did not have details on the man’s condition early Tuesday.
The sheriff’s department did issue a reminder to use caution when working or enjoying the outdoors and beware that even though it is at the end of November, venomous snakes are out and do pose a severe threat.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — What happens when a hero needs help? In the case of one of our local emergency responders, you hold a chili feed and silent auction.
That’s what will happen Tuesday night when friends and family of Hutchinson Police Officer Darrell Tossie will gather to raise funds for Tossie’s wife who has a life-threatening condition for which there is no cure.
Kristine Tossie, 54, a former computer class teacher at the Hutchinson Public Library was diagnosed in 2013 with neurosarcoidosis and has been in treatment at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio since early October.
Darrell Tossie has been a Hutchinson Police Officer for the past 15 years and is searching for the proper care facility once she returns to Kansas. But the cost of surgical procedures, traveling to and from hospitals, and medical care continues to be great.
Tuesday’s night’s “Team Kristine Fundraiser” will be held at the Sand Hills Event Center, formerly the Prosperity School at 4601 N. Plum. The event will be from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be a chili feed, silent auction and country music from Nebraska group, the Emmett Bower band, whose bass player, Troy Johnson, is Kristine Tossie’s brother. Her father, Gregg Johnson, will provide the homemade chili.
Fellow Officers and others in the community have gathered a variety of merchandise and gift certificates for the silent auction from numerous local businesses and individuals. Signed Dallas Cowboys footballs, Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Chargers tickets, a storm chasing trip for two including dinner and a Fender Stratocaster Guitar are among the items to be auctioned off.
The disease that Kristine Tossie suffers from involves inflammation in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver and other vital organs that expands into the overall nervous system. In the past, she’s been involved in clinical trials, which seemed to help her pain, but the FDA didn’t approve continuing the experiment and her condition has worsened.
Any free will donations will be accepted at the Event Center Tuesday evening. Families are invited to attend for the chili and entertainment.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Fire crews responded to 118 E. Avenue A for a structure fire Wednesday evening.
Initial arriving units reported light-to-moderate smoke on the second story of the apartments and moderate-to-heavy smoke on the third story in a three-story Tierra Verdee apartment complex.
The apartment complex has 30 units in total, with 28 rented. The first crews made an aggressive fire attack and quickly located and contained the fire to the area of origin. The fire was contained in approximately 20 minutes.
At the time of the fire, the complex was occupied by 20 individuals who self-evacuated before crews arrived. The working smoke detectors and fire alarm system alerted the occupants and notified 911. This complex also has a working sprinkler system, which aided in extinguishing the fire.
Those occupants displaced by the fire are being assisted by the American Red Cross.
The fire remains under investigation. No injuries were reported.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — On Thursday, Dec. 7, all supporters of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson are invited to the Youth of the Year Banquet. Three finalists will compete for the title of 2018 Hutchinson Youth of the Year. Being named Youth of the Year is the highest honor a Boys & Girls Club member can receive. The winner will advance to the statewide competition.
The banquet will be held at Memorial Hall at 101 S. Walnut from 6:30 to 9 p.m. There is no cost to attend, but space is limited to the first 225 guests.
Guests will enjoy dinner from Olive Garden, as well as coffee and dessert from Scuttlebutt’s.
The evening will feature a live auction of six different packages, as well as a fund-the-need auction to raise money to provide opportunities and experiences to club members.
Guests may RSVP online at www.bgchutch.com, or by calling Lindsey at (620) 665-7171 ext. 104.
The Hutchinson Boys & Girls Club is one of over 4,000 clubs located across the country serving 4.1 million youth. The Hutchinson Club has nearly 1,000 members each year and provides programs in the areas of education and career; character and leadership; health and life skills; the arts and sports, fitness and recreation.
Each club is locally funded and is dependent upon the generosity of the community it serves.
MCPHERSON — Law enforcement authorities and schools district officials are investigating a reported bomb threat.
On Monday, McPherson Middle School (MMS) Students found a note posted in the girl’s restroom, which was threatening in nature, according to a social media report from police.
The note stated “there would be a Bomb Threat at 1o’clock tomorrow.”
Administrators from USD 418, and from MMS, along with Officers from the McPherson Police Department are actively investigating the incident.
The threat has warranted an increased law enforcement presence at the school. There will be additional Police presence in and around the School throughout the day, on Tuesday, November 21st, providing additional security and peace of mind.
Anyone with information related to the incident, is asked to contact the McPherson Police Department.
WICHITA – Samantha “Sam” Neill, an English language arts teacher at Buhler High School, Buhler Unified School District 313, was named the 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year on Saturday, Nov. 18, during a special ceremony in Wichita.
Kansas Commissioner of Education Randy Watson made the announcement at a gathering of 480 people during the Kansas Teacher of the Year Banquet at the Marriott Hotel, 9100 E. Corporate Hills Drive, in Wichita.
“I am very excited to present the 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year award to Samantha,” Watson said. “Samantha exemplifies all that is great about Kansas’ education and the teaching profession. She possesses the courage to tackle hard challenges, and she has an innovative spirit that is infectious and deeply rooted in the need to ensure each of her students becomes successful. Samantha is a leader, not only in her classroom, but throughout the school and community. Congratulations to Samantha, our 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year.”
Neill was named the 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year from a field of eight finalists.
Throughout the coming year, all of the finalists will work as a team to advocate for education and teaching.
Selected from a pool of more than 100 nominations, the 2018 finalists were: Gilbert R. Still Jr., a fourth-grade teacher at Northwest Elementary School in Dodge City (Dodge City USD 443); Bradley “Brad” W. Weaver, an elementary music teacher at Atchison Elementary School (Atchison USD 409); Jamie D. Manhart, a junior high and high school journalism teacher at Silver Lake Junior-Senior High School (Silver Lake USD 372); Jennifer L. Donovan, an elementary music teacher at Clear Creek Elementary School in Shawnee (De Soto USD 232); Angela “Angie” R. Powers, a high school English teacher at Olathe Northwest High School (Olathe USD 233); Megan E. Nagel, a sixth-grade English language arts and science teacher at Santa Fe 5/6 Center in Newton (Newton USD 373); and Sarah C. VenJohn, a high school mathematics teacher at Winfield High School (Winfield USD 465).
Neill has taught at Buhler High School for 15 years. She received her bachelor’s degree in English and secondary education in 2002 from Emporia State University. In 2008, Neill received her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Wichita State University.
Neill is involved in several leadership roles and professional organizations.
“I have had the opportunity to see her develop as a teacher and then as a leader of teachers,” said Michael Ellegood, principal at Buhler High School. “Sam works extremely well with students and staff; she goes above and beyond on any task she is given. She is the ultimate team player. Her ability to meet kids where they are and then move them forward is outstanding. She takes many of our most challenging students and turns their difficult years at Buhler High School into their best years. She is a positive world changer for students and our school.”
Jenifer Purvis, vice president of human resources and chief learning officer for Security Benefit Corp., presented Neill with a $4,000 cash award
In addition, Neill will receive the Kansas Teacher of the Year Lifelong Learning Scholarship to attend participating universities free of charge as long as she continues teaching in Kansas, and The Hubbard Foundation Kansas Teacher of the Year Ambassadorship. The ambassadorship provides funds for travel and other necessary expenses incurred by the Kansas Teacher of the Year. Neill also will receive the use of a rental car from Enterprise Rent-a-Car for Kansas Teacher of the Year travel. Jostens Inc. also provided Neill with a Leader in Education ring.
All eight members of the 2018 Kansas Teacher of the Year team received a $2,000 cash award from Security Benefit and a red marble apple from the Master Teacher in Manhattan. In addition, each will receive Capturing Kids’ Hearts training from The Flippen Group, of College Station, Texas, and a one-year membership in the Kansas State Teachers of the Year organization.
The Teacher of the Year program has state and national competitions. The national program, presented by Voya Financial, is a project of the Council of Chief State School Officers. The Kansas program is sponsored by the Kansas State Department of Education.
Neill is now a candidate for National Teacher of the Year.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A Hutchinson man has died in a crash in central Kansas that happened as he was being chased by a sheriff’s deputy.
The Friday night crash killed 25-year-old Angel Montiel. Officials say Montiel was fleeing a Rice County Sheriff’s deputy in a chase that began in Rice County and extended into Reno County.
Investigators say Montiel was driving a minivan south on Wilson Road when he went off the left side of the road just before 10 p.m. and sideswiped a tree about halfway between Hutchinson and Nickerson.
The Kansas State Patrol says the minivan spun out of control, and Montiel was thrown from the vehicle. The patrol says he died at the scene.
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RENO COUNTY — A Hutchinson man died in an accident just before 10p.m. Friday in Reno County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2005 Chrysler Town and Country driven by Angel Montiel, 25, was southbound on Wilson Road just south of Nickerson Boulevard.
The vehicle left the roadway, sideswiped a tree, spun out of control and came to a stop facing northwest. The driver was ejected.
Montiel was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to the Sedgwick County Forensics Center. He was not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
Thursday evening fire in North Newton-photo Newton Fire and EMS
HARVEY COUNTY — The fire at the storage building at Midkansas Coop in the 1900 Block of North Main in Newton is out, according to Newton Fire Chief Scott Metzler, a crew is expected to remain on the scene most of the Friday. There are no injures reported. Cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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HARVEY COUNTY — Fire crews were still on the scene of a fire in North Newton early Friday.
The fire started just after 4p.m. in a storage building next to the grain elevator at Midkansas Coop in the 1900 Block of North Main in North Newton, according to Newton Fire and EMS.
Bales of compressed plastics and recyclables are burning. Old Highway 81 and Main Street in the remain closed.
There are no injuries reported and no word on what caused the fire.
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HARVEY COUNTY — Fire crews are on the scene of a fire in North Newton.
The fire started just after 4p.m. in a storage building next to the grain elevator at Midkansas Coop in the 1900 Block of North Main in North Newton, according to Newton Fire and EMS.
Bales of compressed plastics and recyclables are burning. Fire crews expect to remain on the scene overnight. Streets in the area are closed.
There are no injuries reported and no word on what caused the fire.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — A Hutchinson man has died in a crash in central Kansas that happened as he was being chased by a sheriff’s deputy.
