HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Smallville ComicCon this weekend had good crowds throughout the event. In fact, the line to get in Saturday stretched from the main entrance of the Meadowlark Building to the information booth near the train depot on the fairgrounds.

This was the 4th annual Comic Book and Pop Culture Celebration and it brought together another unique mix of celebrities, artists, writers, vendors, and fans eager to explore and share their love and devotion to all things evolving from comic books and popular culture.

One of the highlights would have to be the Munster’s vehicles that Butch Patrick brought while appearing at ComicCon. He played Eddie Munster, the son of Herman Munster, in the 60’s sitcom that continues to be shown in syndication around the world.

Representatives of similar events were on hand over the weekend, including events in both Wichita and Manhattan.

The weather was great for those who did stand in line waiting to get in.

Leo Lamont Wells

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 19-year-old man suspected of being the shooter in the killing of another man early Saturday made a first court appearance Monday where he was read the formal charge against him.

Leo Wells turned himself in at the Law Enforcement Center around 5 p.m. Sunday and was told that the state had charged him with murder in the second degree.

Officers of the Hutchinson Police Department were dispatched to the 100 block of South Elm in reference to a shooting and located the victim, Kenneth Thompson, 24, lying in the street with a gunshot wound. Thompson was transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center where he succumbed to his injuries. The shooting occurred around 3:30 a.m. Saturday.

In court, Wells asked for a bond reduction. That request was denied by District Judge Joe McCarville, who set the $350,000 bond when police asked for the warrant.

The case against Wells now moves to a waiver-status docket on July 12.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson Fire Department responded to 3118 N. Hendricks for a report of a residential home on fire. Upon arrival, they reported heavy fire and smoke conditions on a single-story ranch home.

Crews battled heavy fire conditions that spread into the basement, first floor, and attic space from a rear wood patio deck on the house. Crews contained the fire in approximately 45 minutes, but not before it caused extensive damage to the home.

During the fire operations, one firefighter sustained non-life threatening injuries from an interior ceiling collapse. The firefighter was able to exit the structure under his own power after the collapse happened. A section of drywall fell from an interior ceiling of the home and landed on the firefighter, knocking him down to the floor.

Reno County EMS evaluated the firefighter and he was released at the scene.

Battalion Chief Jeremy Unruh said, “this is a reminder of how dangerous our profession can be. The fire had a head start prior to our arrival, and this made it difficult to contain to the area of origin.” No one was home at the time of the fire and the home is deemed uninhabitable.

Assisting agencies included the Hutchinson Police Department, Reno County Sheriff’s Department, Kansas Gas, Westar Energy and Reno County EMS.

Fire crews remain on scene as of the time of this release (11:02 p.m.). The fire remains under investigation.

HESSTON, Kan. — As previously feared, Excel Industries announced that it was laying off 270 employees as part of an effort to streamline operations.

A statement was released by the company this afternoon:

“Excel Industries, Inc. today announced a reorganization that includes a workforce reduction at its manufacturing facility in Hesston. The reduction in force impacted approximately 270 production positions and is effective immediately. The company will continue operating both a first and second shift.”

“The streamlining in Excel’s production facility follows three years of unprecedented growth as the company more than doubled in size. While marketplace demand for the company’s turf care products continues to increase, the pace has normalized in 2017. Excel continues to grow at a modest pace, though the overall market for turf care products is flat or down in part due to adverse weather and economic conditions in many parts of the country.”

“Excel Industries made this very difficult decision after great deliberation. The company will sponsor a job fair and provide outplacement services, assistance with COBRA benefits, and transition payments to those affected by the reorganization.”

“Excel Industries, Inc. remains committed to its employees, the local community and all industries its products serve.”

A severance package will be offered to those affected and employees will be able to reapply for their jobs if the workforce expands again.

HUTCHINSON Kan. — Saying it is time to put people before business, Jason Probst was nominated, then appointed to take over the 102nd Kansas House seat of the late Patsy Terrell during a meeting of the Reno County Democratic Party.

Probst was picked in the first ballot among three nominees, which included Jim Clark and Loann Trummel-Welborn. The nomination process was done through nine precinct chairs, which nominated the three candidates. Each then got a chance to speak for five minutes, followed by three questions from the audience.

Probst says he is strongly against Gov. Sam Brownback and potential candidate Chris Kobach. He also said that he will try to follow in Terrell’s footsteps, but also be his own legislator in Topeka.

Probst said he is humbled to be appointed for the 102nd District, though it comes under difficult circumstances. Probst said he likes the direction the economy is going, but much more needs to be done to make sure all people are served in Kansas.

After his nomination, Probst signed paperwork. The matter will now go before Gov. Brownback for his approval, followed by a swearing in ceremony in Topeka.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It certainly got the public’s attention when so many ambulances and EMS crews descended onto the Kansas State Fairgrounds, but it was just an exercise.

The Hutchinson Community College EMS program conducted its 12th annual emergency response field day. The event included EMS crews from 25 different agencies, including some from as far away as Denver. It also involved 65 HCC students who got a chance to watch how such emergency events work.

Volunteers were made up to look injured, then taken to one of 14 different sites around the fairgrounds where an EMS crew was dispatched. At that time, the crew triaged the patient, then transported them to a makeshift hospital, or to a waiting helicopter on the grounds.

Darrell Grubbs, an instructor for the HCC EMS program, says the annual event helps with coordination in such emergencies and also gives the students some good contact with potential employers once their schooling is finished.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The ¼ cent sales tax that has been in place for more than 20 years will come back to a vote once again. The tax, which was first approved by voters in 1993, will be back on the ballot, asking city residents to extend it for another five years to 2024.

The sales tax provides about 30 percent of the funding for city street and sidewalk improvements. Another portion of it goes to the Cosmosphere and The Underground Salt Museum for ongoing operations and capital improvement. The rest is for property tax relief.

Dick Hollowell, CEO of the Cosmosphere, says the funding makes up about 18 percent of the operating budget and is about six percent of the Strataca budget. Both say the money is vital to their operations and pointed out the revenue that both generate from a tourist standpoint.

During Tuesday’s agenda session, the council wanted to stress that the proposal is not a tax hike, but simply keeping the ¼ cent tax on the books for another five years. The council also wanted to stress that the sales tax increases were approved overwhelmingly by the public and that they will have the say on it again in the November election.

If the public votes “no” on the tax proposal, the tax would drop off the books March 31, 2019.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It’s becoming an ever-increasing drug problem. Opioid overdoses are on the increase nationwide, and that includes Kansas.

The drug Fentanyl is one of them, and it’s causing concern among law enforcement and their ability to protect the public and themselves. The drug is being manufactured in Mexico, then added to heroin to make it more powerful. Fentanyl is so strong, just 2 mg can be lethal. In its regular medical use, the drug is a pain reliever used in hospitals.

The danger to law enforcement is that the drug can easily become airborne and inhaled by a DEU agent or law enforcement officer, or even absorbed through the skin, causing serious and even fatal medical issues for the officer.

The Reno County Sheriff’s Office is preparing to take on what is called “Narcan” to help those who suffer an opioid overdose, and to better protect its officers. Sheriff Randy Henderson says they are putting together a list of procedures and training for officers so they can carry Narcan with them.

The S.O. is also working to fit the purchase and use of Narcan into its budget and begin the policy of having at least DEU agents armed with it for their own protection and to revive overdose victims.

The matter was brought before the Reno County Commission last week and Henderson says they hope to have a program ready to put in place in about five weeks.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It has been a part of the city’s sales tax base since 1999 and has been extended by a vote of the city residents twice since then.

Now the Hutchinson City Council will be asked to decide whether it wants to bring the long-running ¼ cent sales tax back for another five-year period. If approved by the council, the matter would go before city residents for a vote that would extend the tax to 2024. The current extension runs out March 31, 2019.

The sales tax is designated for street and sidewalk improvements, property tax reduction, and for the Cosmosphere and the Underground Salt Museum for ongoing operations and capital improvements.

Action on Tuesday would simply allow the council the opportunity to approve an ordinance pledging the future use of the revenue.

The matter will be before the council at the next meeting set for Tuesday at 9 a.m. at the city offices.