HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Community Foundation announced the 2017 Fund for Hutchinson grant awards Thursday afternoon at the Cosmosphere.

Established in 1990 by the founding Board of Directors as a permanent resource for the changing needs of Reno County, more than $3.3 million have been awarded to more than 170 area organizations and agencies from this fund. This year, 25 organizations providing a wide variety of services and programs in Reno County are collectively receiving more than $214,000. Additionally this year, Fund for Hutchinson Community Leadership grants totaling more than $27,000 were celebrated.

Grant recipient organizations are:

Arts & Culture – $19,600

Hutchinson Symphony Association ………. $2,000

New Music, New Audience: Attract a larger and more diverse audience by renting and performing modern orchestral arrangements by John Williams and Fedor Vrtacnik for the 2018 season.

Hutchinson Theatre Guild (Stage 9) ………. $7,600

Fiddler on the Roof: A collaboration with the Hutchinson Symphony for a production of Fiddler on the Roof at Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre, creating a rare and significant artistic opportunity for residents of Reno County in April 2018.

Hutchinson Theatre Guild (Stage 9) ………. $10,000 x 3 years

Producing the Producer: Second year of a three-year grant to support capacity building toward a new strategic vision at Stage 9 that will strengthen and sustain the performing arts in Reno County.

Civic Improvement – $49,533

Hutchinson Police Department ……… $9,533

Community Enhancement Training for Community Resource Officers: Provide Community Resource Officers with adequate training through NeighborWorks America as they interact with community members, fulfilling their duties of enhancing the quality of life of the citizens of Hutchinson by serving as liaisons between citizens and the City.

Hutch Rec ………. $15,000 x 3 years

Neighborhood Development: First year of a three-year grant to support collaborative work with residents and community partners, including the City of Hutchinson and the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce, on innovative neighborhood development strategies with the overarching goal of ensuring Hutchinson has safe neighborhoods and is an attractive place to live, work, play and raise an active family.

Interfaith Housing Services, Inc. ………. $15,000 x 3 years

Projects Coordinator: Second year of a three-year grant to support a central Projects Coordinator position that coordinates community efforts in addressing Hutchinson’s housing needs, including critical repair and rehabilitation, by connecting organizations, programs, volunteers, and funding.

Interfaith Housing Services, Inc. ………. $10,000 x 2 years

Keeping Homes Healthy and Safe: First year of a two-year grant to make necessary home repairs for very low income households, persons with disabilities, and the elderly, so they can continue living with dignity in their affordable homes.

Health & Human Services – $55,676

Arlington City Library ……… $5,000

Creating Digital Literacy: Develop and improve digital literacy among seniors and residents who have limited computer and internet access by providing the equipment, materials, and education needed for basic to intermediate computer and internet skills.

Prairie Independent Living Resource Center (PILR) ………. $7,100

PILR Efficient!: Increase staff’s capacity to efficiently and effectively serve Reno County residents with disabilities by updating computers and other equipment in the Hutchinson office.

Reno County Drug Court ………. $8,359

Recovery Support: Provide substance dependence recovery support through safe housing, transportation, and basic needs such as a State ID, clothing, and hygiene items.

Reno County Head Start ………. $2,717

Jobs Work Classes: In partnership with Hutchinson community clothing organizations and Kansas Works, provide training and support for Head Start and Early Head Start parents and guardians as they learn skills to empower and enable them to find full or part-time employment.

Reno County Health Department ………. $7,500

Water Wise for Reno Community Wide: Expand existing work of educating and engaging rural Reno County residents to ensure a safe water supply for children and young families by offering water testing, treatment, and well repair.

Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center, Inc. (SADVC) ………. $25,000

Rebranding the Sexual Assault Domestic Violence Center: Develop a new brand, fresh appearance, upgraded website, and comprehensive communications and marketing plan, allowing for increased community awareness and support of SADVC’s continued work toward a domestic and sexual violence-free community.

Early Childhood & Youth Development – $47,000

Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson, Inc. ………. $12,000 x 3 years

Hawk it Out!: First year of a three-year grant for an afterschool program providing 7th and 8th grade students at Hutchinson Middle School with homework help and opportunities to become involved in school events, allowing for continuous academic assistance while a sustainable funding source is built.

Hutchinson Public Schools ……… $5,000 x 3 years

Making the IB More Accessible and Successful: Second year of a three-year grant to support teacher training and exam scholarships for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programmes (Diploma and Career-related) at Hutchinson High School, providing rigorous college-preparatory courses to make students more college and career ready upon graduation. Matched 1:1 by the Davis Foundation.

Kansas Children’s Service League ……… $10,000

Healthy Families – Reno County: Meet the needs of Reno County’s Hispanic population through a bi-lingual home visitor position to provide primary child abuse and neglect prevention services. Matched 1:1 by Medicaid.

South Hutchinson Afterschool Kids & Preschool ……… $10,000

Let’s Keep Moving: Strengthen and enhance the lives of youth served through the purchase of a bus to provide transportation to enrichment opportunities.

Trinity United Methodist Church ………. $10,000 x 3 years

Salthawk Community Support: First year of a three-year grant supporting efforts to remove barriers to education by providing students in need at Hutchinson High School with basic necessities and access to academic tutoring, financial education, and self-esteem building activities coordinated by emotionally encouraging staff and volunteers.

Helen Adams Hamilton Children and Education Fund – $30,000

To foster the growth, education, and development of young people who are eighteen years of age and younger, with a preference for funding activities that result in an early intervention in an at-risk child’s life.

Abundant Life Child Care & Preschool ………. $10,000

2020 Vision: Update carpet in classrooms to ensure a clean, safe, and healthy environment for the children cared for in the center each day as an extension of The Father’s House church.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Reno County ………. $5,000

Mentoring Young Men for the Future: Support a male mentor recruitment campaign that will help the organization find mentors for 20 of the 41 boys currently on the waiting list, with an emphasis on the youth who face significant risk factors to become juvenile offenders.

Families Together, Inc. ………. $2,500

Family Employment Awareness Training: Encourage persons with disabilities and their families to plan for employment, educate families about the supports available to persons with disabilities, and empower persons with disabilities and their families to explore different options for employment in their community.

Hadley Day Care Center ………. $10,000

Hadley Refresh: Restore Hadley’s facility and provide the children a safe, clean environment with age-appropriate activities and equipment in a structured learning environment.

Our Redeemer Lutheran Church ………. $2,500

Early Learning Center: Purchase curriculum materials that address the developmental needs of the center’s preschoolers and prepares them for Kindergarten entry.

Kansas Health Foundation Public Health Endowment Fund – $13,000

Supporting health and wellbeing through healthy lifestyles, behaviors, and environments.

Girls on the Run Heart of Kansas ………. $3,000

Strengthening Girls from Start to Finish: Financial assistance to underserved 3rd-8th-grade girls in Reno County, ensuring all girls can participate in the 10-week GOTR program that inspires girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident through a fun, experienced-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

Hutchinson Zoo ………. $10,000

Pelican Point Playspace: Provide children ages 18 months to four years old an active play area where they will have a safe environment to explore and learn while visiting the Hutchinson Zoo.

Fund for Hutchinson – Community Leadership – $27,225

Strategic grants supporting Hutchinson Community Foundation’s leadership priorities, timely community needs, or catalytic opportunities to strengthen our communities through collaboration and innovative leadership.

Horizons Mental Health Center ….. $10,000 x 3 years

ABC Program: As a funding partnership with the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, support establishment of the evidence-based ABC (Attachment and Bio-behavioral Catch-Up) Program in Reno County, providing a 10-week intervention to families with children ages 6-24 months who have experienced early adverse environments, with the goal to improve parent-child attachment and the child’s ability to cope and respond to continued stressful situations and buffer against the long-term effects of toxic stress.

Hutchinson Public Schools …. $10,000

HHS Child Care Center: Support for the construction costs to renovate the former art building into a daycare classroom for 3-5-year-olds, increasing the financial sustainability of the center.

Hutchinson Zoo … $3,225

Rewrite: A “Zoo” Vision for Signage: In honor of the Legacy Society of Hutchinson Community Foundation and their commitment to the future prosperity of Reno County, provide funding for new modern, engaging, and fun signage at the Hutchinson Zoo to reflect the Zoo’s rebranding and renewed focus on environmental education.

Poverty Collaborative Task Force … $4,000

Capacity Building for Collaboration: Coaching, supplies, and materials to strengthen collaborative relationships among churches, nonprofits, and other community groups concerned about poverty and identify potential interventions in the emergency services system for increased efficiency and empathy.

The Hutchinson Community Foundation’s mission is to inspire philanthropy, collaboration and innovative leadership to strengthen our communities. Since 1989 the foundation has granted $70 million. You can visit their website at www.HutchCF.org.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — This month’s Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce breakfast took time to recognize agriculture and the economic impact it has on the state and Reno County.

The meeting included naming the Farm Focus Families of the year. The award was started in 1985 as a chance to recognize farm families in the area. The two families named were Stacy and Robin Krehbiel and Brett and Lori Engelland.

The Chamber also presented the first Ag Business of the Year for the area, presenting that award to Kuhn Krause.

The featured speaker was Ag Secretary Jackie McKlaskey, who spoke on the importance of agriculture, which makes up for more than 70 percent of the Reno County economy. She urged the crowd to inspire and teach the next generation about the importance of farming and the need to keep agriculture in Kansas on the front burner across the country.

The meeting was also attended by four chapters of Future Farmers of America with students from Haven, Pretty Prairie, Fairfield and Buhler high schools.

Finally, the small business award went to Bob and Ann Bush of City Beverage. Bob and Ann have owned the company since they purchased it in 1974. They currently employ 37 workers at their 50,000-square-foot facility.

HAVEN, Kan. — A good crowd showed up to express its views on the proposed closing of Partridge Elementary school in the Haven USD 312 District. But in the end, it was not enough to sway the board from doing just that. On a 5-2 split vote, the board passed a resolution to close the elementary school at the end of the year due to declining enrollment.

With a subject that always brings a lot of emotion, those who spoke during the public hearing were cordial, but firm in their wishes to keep the building open. Current Partridge Principal Delon Martin suggested that the district put together a task force to try and find the necessary enrollment figures and give the committee three years to address the issue before making a decision. He also felt, as others did, that the district did not do enough to try and bring in the large number of homeschooled students in that area of the county, which numbered around 105.

During the regular board meeting, board member Kent McKinnis made a motion to make partridge a K-8 school and re-address the issue three years from now. That motion was given a second by Paul Caffery, who has been the most outspoken about closing the school. However, the vote was 5-2 against the proposal. Shortly afterward, the motion to approve the resolution to close the school passed by the same 5-2 vote.

The closing comes after two years of debate and discussion regarding the school building, which currently has 51 students. Last year, it appeared the board was ready to close the school, but a sudden change of heart kept the building open another year.

Superintendent Clark Wedel says, with the low enrollment and little promise of any improvement, it was necessary to bring the matter back to the board again this year. Wedel says closing the school will save the district about $200,000 a year.

 

PRATT COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities continue to investigate a criminal threat at Pratt High School.

According to Pratt Police, staff members at Pratt High School received a bomb threat from an unidentified person(s) through a fictitious e-mail account.   In response, school administrators contacted officers of the Pratt Police Department and began planning for the evacuation of school students and staff and the cancellation of school events.

On Tuesday, officers of the Pratt Police Department, assisted by Troopers
from the Kansas Highway Patrol and their canine partners, conducted a
search of all USD 382 facilities.  Following the search, supplemented by
USD 382 staff, officers were able to determine there to have been no device as indicated by the e-mail.

On Wednesday, acting on information obtained through a cooperative
investigation by school officials and local enforcement officers, a subject
was identified and taken into custody without incident.  She is
identified as Claudia Rodriguez-Oviedo, a 32-year-old white female, has
been booked into the Pratt County Jail on felony charges of Aggravated
Criminal Threat and Unlawful use of computers.

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PRATT COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities and school district officials continue to investigate the alleged online threat against the schools in Pratt.

On Wednesday, the Pratt Police Department informed USD 382 officials that the investigation led to an arrest in connection with the email threat that prompted the district to cancel Monday night activities and classes on Tuesday, according Superintendent Suzan Patton.

The school district released no additional details Wednesday afternoon.

Police are expected to release additional details on the arrest of 32-year-old Claudia Rodriguez-Oviedo. She was listed as a secretary for Southwest Elementary School in Pratt. They removed her name from the school web site late Wednesday.

She is being held in the Pratt County Jail on a $10, 000 Bond for Aggravated Criminal Threat; Cause Terror, Evacuation or Disruption and Computer Unlawful Acts; Access without Authorization with Damage.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 1/4 cent sales tax for the city of Hutchinson will be extended again for another five years.

This will be the fourth time the city voting public has approved the extension for the tax that has been in place since 1994.

The vote was 2,177 yes and 1,296 votes no.

In the lone race for Hutchinson City Council, Nancy Soldner defeated Amanda Gonzalez 290 votes to 166.

Unofficial results of contested races:

 

Hutchinson ¼ Cent Sales Tax
2,177 yes
1,296 no

Hutchinson City Council SW Dist
Nancy Soldner 290
Amanda Gonzalez 166

Hutchinson USD 308
Mary Gere Bridger NP 747
Jordan Brown NP 799
Kail K. Denison NP 1,076
Tad Dower NP 1,567
Valarie Gibson-Smith NP 850
Anette Roberson NP 969
Write-in 56

Nickerson USD 309
Tammy Davis NP 419
Marc C Marciano NP 264
Write-in 2 0 0 2

Fairfield USD 310
Seth Beck NP 187
Brent Fowler NP 239
Melford Holmes NP 96
Derek A. Zongker NP 262
Write-in 10

Pretty Prairie USD 311
Jay Gehring NP 115
Tina M Goering NP 83
Sid Graber NP 192
Priscilla Hoyt NP 103
Jon Schrag NP 120
Roy L. Stucky NP 35
Steven Stucky NP 96

Buhler USD 313
Laura Meyer Dick NP 621
Randall Turner NP 331

Buhler Mayor
Daniel Friesen 218
Chris Ledbetter 195

City of Haven
Philip Kauffman NP 71
Tricia Paramore NP81
Kylie Rush NP 42
Sandra Dean Williams 58
Write-in 3

City of Pretty Prairie
Katie Belden NP 65
Dennis Detter NP 87
Barry Hendrixson NP 46
Kevin Larson NP 47
Daryl Markel NP 59
Steven L. Vogt NP 22
Write-in 1

City of South Hutchinson
Tammie Fletchall NP 114
Stephanie Harris NP 121
Shannon E. Heath NP 92
Luke Herren NP 142
Write-in  57

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The general election is today. Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

You will need to present a valid photo ID in order to vote.

The election also presents the one-quarter-cent sales tax question that would fund street improvements in the city and allow for some property tax relief. Some tax dollars would also be used for operational expenses at the Cosmosphere and Strataca.

Find a list of candidates here.

See your polling place here.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson area is losing a major retailer. The corporate offices for Target confirmed Monday afternoon that the store in Hutchinson will be closing its doors Feb. 3, eliminating more than 70 full- and part-time jobs from the area.

Target’s corporate office in Minnesota confirmed the store would close Feb. 3, citing “decreasing profitability.” Employees were notified about the closing on Monday.

According to corporate officials in Minneapolis, Minnesota, employees who do not wish to transfer will be offered a separation package based on years of service.

The store joins Sears, JCPenney and Kmart as major retailers to close in Hutchinson over the past three years.