SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has executed a settlement with the City of South Hutchinson Police Department to resolve a violation of the Kansas Open Records Act stemming from an accidental shooting that left a 3 year old dead.
In November 2016, the attorney general’s office received a complaint from the Denver office of USA Today alleging the South Hutchinson Police Department violated the KORA by failing to respond within three business days to a request for a copy of a Kansas Standard Offense Report. The publication was requesting information into the dead infant who was the son of a Reno County Sheriff’s Deputy. The newspaper also wanted photos of the scene, which Police Chief Scott Jones refused to offer.
Jones tells BW News that he was waiting for a legal opinion on the matter when the complaint was filed with the AG’s office. Upon investigation, the attorney general’s office determined the department violated the KORA by failing to timely respond to the request. Additionally, the investigation concluded that the department withheld records that were responsive to the KORA request.
At the conclusion of the investigation, the City of South Hutchinson Police Department signed a Consent Order admitting that it violated the KORA when it failed to respond to the complainant’s request within three business days as required by law. The department also agreed to comply with the requirements of the KORA in responding to future requests and pay a $100 civil penalty.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission will hold a public hearing and seek approval of the 2018 budget during its regular agenda session Tuesday. The 2018 budget totals $58,237,715 on total taxes levied of $24,141,271. The tax levy will stay at 41.77 mills.
Also Tuesday, the commission will seek approval for the purchase of 25 sets of protective equipment for rural fire district 4 at a cost of $49,603 and the purchase of two fire trucks at a cost of $160,000.
Finally, the commission will consider changing the method in determining assessments in relation to the Sewer District 3-10 Improvements in the Blue Spruce Addition after some residents claimed the assessment was unfairly distributed.
Tuesday’s meeting of the Reno County Commission begins at 9 a.m. at the Reno County Courthouse.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Hutchinson Fire Department responded to 715 East 5th for a report of a structure fire just before 6 a.m.
On arrival, crews located a male individual with multiple lacerations that he sustained after escaping the fire by breaking out a bedroom window and crawling out of the structure. Reno County EMS responded to provided additional aid to the victim.
Additional fire crews then located and contained the fire to the room of origin. Significant heat and smoke damage were sustained to the rest of this single-story home.
Initial crews reported that there were no working smoke detectors in the residence. Battalion Chief Rex Albright states that “yet this is an all too frequent occurrence in a home with no smoke alarms” With today’s home furnishings being produced with plastics and synthetics, fires burn hotter and faster than previous years. In fact, reports show that you only have 3 minutes to escape a fire after your smoke alarm sounds.
Fire crews remain on scene as of the time of this release. Hutchinson Fire was assisted at the scene by Hutchinson Police Department, Reno County EMS, Kansas Gas and Westar Energy. The fire remains under investigation.
First responders on the scene of Thursday’s crash-photo courtesy KWCH
SEDGWICK COUNTY – One person was injured in an accident just after 7:30p.m. Thursday in Sedgwick County.
A BNSF train traveling near the 6900 Block of Kansas 15 near Red Powell Drive just across from the Derby city limits hit a 2013 Ford Fiesta driven by a 50-year-old Wichita woman, according to Lt. Lin Dehning of the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Department.
Emergency crews transported to driver to a local hospital in serious condition. Officials did not release her name.
Deputies are investigating whether alcohol possibly played a role in the crash, according to Dehning.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 59-year-old man was taken to the hospital shortly before 1 p.m. Thursday after a motorcycle, SUV accident at 24th & Westminster Drive in city’s west side.
According to Police, the operator of the motorcycle, Troy Watts was southbound and the driver of the SUV, 51-year-old Cathy Nisley was eastbound and they collided with each other.
Watts was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment.
Watts was cited for failing to yield an open intersection.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas’ prisons chief says a staffing shortage constitutes an emergency at a maximum-security lockup that has seen several recent inmate disturbances, requiring mandatory overtime and shifts as long as 16 hours.
Corrections Secretary Joe Norwood made that pronouncement in a Tuesday letter to an employee union in rejecting a grievance over long hours at the El Dorado Correctional Facility.
Mandatory overtime and extended hours are allowed in emergencies under the department’s agreement with the Kansas Organization of State Employees, the union representing prison workers.
The prison moved to 12-hour shifts in June and the union later filed a grievance saying some workers were being required to work 16-hour shifts. The union’s director says the department deliberately held off on declaring an emergency until Tuesday.
SALINA -Authorities say a woman suffered serious bite wounds after her American Bulldog attacked her Monday morning.
Salina Police Capt. Paul Forrester said that 58-year-old Angela Fassnacht was attempting to take the dog outside at around 11 a.m. when it attacked. Authorities believe it was trying to reach a female dog in heat that was inside the house, located on the 500 block of West Iron in Salina.
A neighbor helped distract the dog by breaking down part of a wooden fence, allowing Fassnacht to enter her home.
Fassnacht was transported by emergency medical services to Salina Regional Health Center with serious wounds on both arms and her back. She has since been transferred to a Wichita hospital.
According to Capt. Forrester, the victim requested that the dog be euthanized.
Officials on the scene of the weekend accident -photo KDWP&T Game Wardens
POTTAWATOMIE COUNTY- A man is recovering from injuries sustained in an accident on the Kansas River in Pottawatomie County over the weekend.
On Saturday afternoon Game Wardens were dispatched to a report of a man with a possible broken leg on the River. Wardens along with a paramedic, launched a department rescue airboat and located the group between Wamego and St George, according to a social media report.
Upon arrival, it was learned that the man’s injuries were worse than reported. Authorities administering an IV, paramedic and wardens loaded the victim on a spine board and he was transported by airboat back to the Wamego boat ramp where EMS took over.
Officials released no additional details on the accident.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The stage was set. The finalists were on hand. Knowing they were guaranteed $100, 95 0f 99 finalists registered in the Sunflower North building of the Kansas State Fairgrounds to see if they would win the $10,000 grand prize from Eagle Communications in the Summer Cash Giveaway.
Irene Vincent (middle) stands with Jake Martin (left) of Your Wireless World and Dean Hachenberger (right) of DH Home Improvement. Kirby Martin of Stone Creek Nursery was unable to attend the event. Without these sponsors, the Summer Cash Giveaway would not have been possible.
Mike Smith became Finalist No. 100 in the Last Chance Registration Saturday. Not only did he win $100, he also took home tickets to see Tim McGraw and Faith Hill in Wichita.
With 96 of the 100 finalists now present, $400 was left unclaimed. Eagle Communications decided to do something a little different. Names of the no-shows were quickly tossed off the board. The names remaining were in the running for big money, and their odds got better. With four empty spots, one more name was drawn from the Last Chance Registrations. Shirley Comes-Jeffrey was drawn as an extra finalist. She also won $100 and got a chance to win the grand prize.
With all of the pieces in place, the $10,000 winner was drawn, but not announced. With the help of Jake Martin from Your Wireless World and Cheer and Tumbling All Stars, a ping pong ball was pulled from the bingo machine. That number was taken off the finalist board and placed in an envelope. The contents were then placed inside a lock box.
With the winner drawn, and the anticipation building, Eagle Communications had one more surprise. The $300 of unclaimed money was also given away. Another ball hopped to the top of the bingo machine and it belonged to Lisa Goering. She claimed the extra cash as a runner-up in the contest.
Esther Smith, last year’s grand prize winner, then joined Randy McKay on the stage to remind the finalists she once sat where they were currently sitting. A year ago, she let out a shriek when her name was announced. Esther told the crowd how she donated much of her winnings from last year.
Now, with the finalists on the edge of their seats, Dean Hachenberger from DH Home Improvement was welcomed to the stage. He was in charge of unlocking the box and revealing the winner. As he turned the key, the crowd joined together in shouting, “Unlock the box!”
The envelope revealed Irene Vincent as the grand prize winner. People from the crowd scanned the entire building trying to find the winner and observe her reaction. The finalists had reserved seats up front by the giveaway stage, but Irene was sitting in the very last row where friends and family filled the remaining seats.
Irene was shocked. Not only was she in disbelief, she couldn’t get up.
The shock made her knees buckle as she attempted to stand. Adrenaline of the victory finally kicked in and Irene joined Daren Dunn of My 93.1 on the stage.
She shared her plans to spend the money on a new stove, saying hers recently stopped working. She also wants a dishwasher and a new can opener.
Irene was very grateful for the prize. Her family and friends joined her on stage to hoist the $10,000 check and bask in the moment.
None of this would have been possible without Stone Creek Nursery, DH Home Improvement, Your Wireless World, and Cheer and Tumbling All Stars. It also would not have been a success without the loyal listeners of Country 102.9, KWBW and My 93.1.
Irene Vincent with her family and friends.
The calm before the storm.
Irene Vincent with the staff of Eagle Communications.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Watch as one lucky winner takes home the $10,000 grand prize from Eagle Communications (My 93.1, Country 102.9 and KWBW 1450 AM/98.5 FM).
Today alleging the South Hutchinson Police Department violated the KORA by failing to respond within three business days to a request for a copy of a Kansas Standard Offense Report. The publication was requesting information into the dead infant who was the son of a Reno County Sheriff’s Deputy. The newspaper also wanted photos of the scene, which Police Chief Scott Jones refused to offer.
