HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Police Chief Jeff Hooper says he will not add an officer to the Drug Enforcement Unit, saying that the technique of enforcement is obsolete. Hooper made that announcement during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. “I don’t like to play defense. I like to be proactive and want a proactive style of law enforcement,” Hooper said. “The idea is not to make a victim feel good that we’re taking a report and we’re going to do something after they’ve been a victim of a crime. The idea is to prevent them from being a victim of a crime in the first place.” 

Hooper says more community engagement has been working in reducing crime in the city. He wants to keep that practice, noting that crime numbers are dropping where community engagement is present. “It’s not about going out and arresting all the bad guys. What you have to do is engage with the community so when we see a crime trend popping up we don’t just all of a sudden throw a bunch of officers and say, ‘arrest everybody,'” Hooper said. “Go talk to the people in the neighborhood. Get out and make public contact.” Hooper says community engagement helps in two very different ways. “If I have officers going door to door, they’re going to contact one of two people,” Hooper said. “They’re going to talk to people in the community who are wonderful upstanding members that want crime reduced in their neighborhood or they’re going to knock on the door of the dope dealer’s house. They’re going to know that we’re there.”

Not all of the law enforcement community is with Hooper on the proactive approach. The Reno County Sheriff’s Department says it will stay with the DEU to help combat the drug activity. “I talked to the sheriff about our strategy . . . and the success we’re having and asked, ‘why don’t you put some detectives in our proactive unit to help us fight crime this way,’ but he doesn’t want to do that. He wants to stick with the DEU and that’s his right,” Hooper said. “I’ve talked with Mr. (John) Deardoff and talked with county staff a little bit and officially we’re going to be pulling out of the DEU because this is where I’m going to devote our resources and manpower because I know it’s an effective style of law enforcement and I have got the stats we’re tracking to prove it.”

Hooper says under the proactive approach he is seeing crime drop in the city. The 2019 crime rate is at 32% compared with the state average of 35%.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — William Long, owner of Long’s, says he plans to retire and close the business in the next couple of months.

A going-out-of-business sale started Tuesday. Long talked about the legacy of the store in Hutchinson.

“Dad started the store in 1946. It would be 73 years the first part of December,” Long said.

Now, many may wonder if the decision to close was because of lack of sales. Long says that is not the case. He says the closing of chain stores like Dillard’s, JCPenney, Target and Sears has helped business.

“We picked up business from all of that,” Long said. “Our business has continually grown and if business hadn’t been so good, I probably would have retired a couple of years ago.”

He estimates the going-out-of-business sale will last a couple of months and joked that he may take a trip over Christmas, something he hasn’t done in 50 years.

MCPHERSON, Kan. (AP) — McPherson College and McPherson Hospital are partners in a new health initiative to improve rural health care.

The two organizations announced last week that they will combine academic programs and community outreach.

As part of the project, McPherson College will offer a new health science degree beginning in the fall of 2020.

Health science students will gain hands-on training with internships, field experiences and observation at McPherson Hospital.

McPherson Hospital CEO Terri Gehring says one goal of the project is to persuade some of the health science students to stay and work in McPherson after graduation. She says the hospital competes with several nearby organizations to recruit and retain employees.

A survey of all health-related opportunities for students in central Kansas is planned as part of the initiative.

CHENEY, Kan. — With most of the summer lost due to flooding, many are heading to Cheney State Park chomping at the bit to take in some boating and camping on the last holiday of the summer.

According to officials at the park, all utility camping is spoken for and there is a two-page long waiting list if anyone cancels. There is still some primitive camping available and all boat docks and facilities are open.

Most of the camping and boating opportunities were lost during the summer after flooding raised the lake level to record heights. Officials say the lake is currently just above normal pool and crews have been working through the summer cleaning up debris as the water receded.

There may still be a few rough spots but for the most part, the lake is in good shape with little debris.

Cheney typically sees about 50,000 visitors during a weekend holiday.

HESSTON, Kan. — Excel Industries announced today it was laying off 70 workers at the Hesston facility. According to a statement from the company, positions are part of the reduction in workforce. The company will continue operating both a first and second shift.

The decision is the result of a loss in business from a mass retail partner. While the impact is significant, the company says its longstanding commitment to smaller, independent dealers remain the bulk of business. The statement went on to say that the company will continue its strategy to grow the commercial market. The company says it is committed to an ongoing strategy that includes mass retail partners.

The company says it will provide access to employment and training services, assistance with health benefits, and transition payments to those affected.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — There is no hiding Mike Ables’ enthusiasm for The Reno County Museum. Ables, who is a graduate of Hutchinson Community College and Wichita State University, has been at the helm of the Reno County Historical Society for nearly three months.

The path to Hutchinson and his current position started from a chance meeting while at WSU. That meeting led him to Jerry Martin and an anthropology class. “He basically took me under his wing,” Ables said. “That’s kind of the beginning for everything. He led me down this path.” After working at several museums around Texas, Ables went to California and the General Patton Memorial Museum before coming to Hutchinson.

Ables says the museum is not just about looking at the past, it is an important teaching tool. “What we do here, now, always goes back to education. Everything we will always do goes back to education.” That education is moving toward high technology to not only promote the museum, but bring it to everyone, everywhere. “Having the use of technology is a force to go with you rather than against you,” Ables added. “Here at the Reno County Museum, we have that opportunity to play with it and we’re starting to invest more time and energy into that so that we’re able to apply those new mechanisms into the educational realm.”

It also takes the museum to the public. Especially when nearly 90% of the artifacts in the museum are not on display. “What we’re trying to do is get more and more of the pieces people are giving to us disseminated to the public. We not only want people to know about the Reno County Museum, but also know about our history,” Ables said. “People donate here. An unbelievable amount of artifacts come through these doors and I’m trying to wrap my head around them. It’s amazing to see how many people donate to the museum.”

Ables also talked about how some areas of the country are seeing their history erased because of certain events that have reflected negatively on the country’s history. “Unfortunately the reality is we cannot rewrite history. However, let’s look at it and be fair about it,” Ables said. “Its never going to be black and white, it’s going to have its gray (area). The thing is we have to be capable as an organization to be objective about subjects like that.”

Ables says the public will see some changes inside the museum as he looks for more display space and prioritizes what is shown. The museum is getting ready to take down the display of artifacts depicting the history of the Hutchinson Fire Department and is preparing the same display for the Hutchinson Police Department. The museum is also getting ready for a memorial brick campaign starting next month.

As far as his favorite artifact in the museum, it’s the old Indian motorcycle and sidecar currently on display.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — If you are at the Kansas State Fair this year and want to take advantage of the great food or entertainment, there is now an app that will steer you in the right direction.

The new app launched for this year’s event can tell you where the nearest free concert is, where restrooms are located and where your favorite food is at.

The app is free to download for both iPhone and Android devices. It will help plan the day at the fair. It will also send real-time notifications — such as when the next calf at the birthing center is being born. It also allows fairgoers to purchase tickets to the grandstand concerts and events.

The app will also feature a scavenger hunt that takes fairgoers around the grounds to different locations where they can take photos and win prizes.

The Kansas State Fair opens Sept. 6.

Here is a list of things the app will provide:

DAILY SCHEDULE: Stay up-to-date with all events, contests, free concerts and much more.

BUY TICKETS: Don’t have your NexTech Wireless Grandstand concert tickets purchased? No worries! Purchasing tickets through the app is easy!

INTERACTIVE FAIRGROUNDS MAP: Navigate the grounds easily with the GPS-based map.

FOOD FINDER: Find those once-a-year fair food favorites. Learn more about all the new and traditional foods on this year’s menu.

WHAT’S HOT: See what other fairgoers find popular at this year’s fair.

PHOTO HUNT: A scavenger hunt will take fairgoers around the grounds to different locations where they can take photos and win free prizes.

NEWS & FAQ: Get the latest weather, parking and everything else you need to know when planning your trip.

PLAN YOUR DAY: Create daily schedules of must-see music, events, entertainment and more.

WIN SOME KSF SWAG: Enter to win prizes, including concert tickets, gate admission and T-shirts.

REAL-TIME NOTIFICATIONS: No need to worry about missing the action in the birthing center or at that next pig race. The fair will send notifications on the day’s happenings, whether it is news about an upcoming concert or when the next calf will be born.

BUHLER, Kan. — The Buhler City Council will hear a report from Westar officials about several projects going on in the area and some outages that have occurred recently in the city.

The report is part of Tuesday’s agenda session. Westar continues with several projects in the area, but because of various outages and aging infrastructure, the company is changing some of the work schedules and doing other things to keep the system running as it should, according to City Manager Merrill Peterson.

Also Tuesday, the council will get a report from County Commissioner Bob Bush, who will update the city on the county road improvements because of flooding. The council will consider a change to the current ordinance regarding the use of golf carts on city streets. Under the proposal, golf carts would be allowed on the streets at night if they have proper lights and turn signals.

Also on the agenda is a request from Buhler USD 313 to allow for more parking along Main Street in front of the schools. The spaces will take the place of unneeded bus parking.

Because of the crowd that is expected for the Westar presentation, Tuesday’s meeting has been moved to the Buhler Elementary School at 800 N. Main at 7 p.m.

I HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Questions surrounding a female inmate being injured in the Reno County Correctional Facility came before Reno County District Judge Trish Rose Friday.

Apparently, there was some dispute between 25-year-old Realiti Courson and jailers earlier this week. The defense claims the guards at the jail used excessive force when they fired a non-lethal weapon using what is called Star Light ammo. Justin Bravi argues that Courson should be released early from a 30-day sanction, having only six days left to serve, considering she suffers from anxiety and also PTSD.

There is some questions as to what exactly happened to cause the officers to fire the weapon. The state contends she didn’t follow rules in the jail and was bullying and threatening other inmates and staff. She refused to comply with the officers commands and was placed in solitary. In that room, she allegedly covered up a security camera. They fired the weapon twice in an effort to get her to comply with their commands. After they discovered she actually suffered a wound, she was taken for medical treatment and had surgery to remove the ammo they fired.

The defense wanted her released saying she has more than paid her debt because of being wounded, but the state wants some assurance that there is a plan to deal with her mental issues before being released.

Judge Rose will set a hearing for Monday over this case, and she also ordered that any evidence from this incident being preserved. That incident is also being investigated.

Courson was convicted of interference with law enforcement, possession of marijuana, a second offense and felony obstruction. She’s currently on community corrections.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Those who attend the Billy Currington concert Sept. 7, at the Kansas State Fair’s Nex-Tech Wireless Grandstand should come early and be prepared to wait just a little bit longer to get to their seats. The fair announced Thursday that they will have security checks for the concert.

The Fair has routinely upgraded its security, staffing and surveillance with the aim of ensuring the event remains a great memory for those who attend. “More entertainers are putting these provisions in their contracts. If we are going to continue to get popular entertainment at Kansas State Fair, we may need to have the same security measures that similar venues already have in place. It is a practice entertainers and spectators have grown to expect and accept,” Fair’s Director of Marketing Amy Bickel said.

The Currington contract only calls for bag checks and prohibited certain items, most of which are already prohibited. The contract also prohibits firearms.

“This is complicated a little by the Kansas law,” General Manager Robin Jennison said.
“Kansas has long had a philosophy that if you are going to take someone’s ability for personal protection away from them, you need to provide adequate security measures.”

Adequate security measures include armed security and electronic equipment to check for
firearms, he said. The professional security firm, 360 Security, that is responsible for security at the concerts, will perform the bag checks. Guests will also be subject to metal detector screenings using wands to provide adequate security.

To better control access to the grandstand on this evening, the fair will only use the two
entrances inside the grandstand, plus the outside south entrance as an ADA entrance and for those going to the two Partner on the Patio areas. Both inside entrances have two lanes for a total of four lanes inside.

The grandstand opens at 6 p.m. for this concert. Even though the fair believes they have made plans to efficiently perform the security checks at the inside entrances, it is prepared to open the north and south outside grandstand entrances, as well, to accommodate the concert’s growing ticket sales.