HUTCHINSON, Kan. — After a delay due to weather, the United Way of Reno County’s Over the Edge event got underway with sunny, warm conditions. Jodi Elliott Bowen and United Way Director Lisa Gleason (pictured right) took their turn in front of a good-sized group of onlookers.

Others who will make the 93-foot drop off the First National Bank building include City Manager John Deardoff and United Way’s Steven Peterman. BW Radio personalities Sue Achilles and Glen Grunwald made their descent at 1:15 p.m.

The event is being held as a major fundraiser for the United Way. Each participant was required to raise $1,000 in order to make their drop.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — There was widespread damage to trees and power lines in the city of Hutchinson with the storm that blew through the area Thursday.

Hutchinson Fire responded to the 1900 block of North Monroe after a large tree fell on a house, causing significant damage. There were other reports of downed trees on cars and downed power lines throughout the city. At one time, more than 4,000 Westar customers were without power in Hutchinson, with more in rural areas.

The good news is that there does not appear to have been any injuries.

The National Weather Service reported some wind gusts of 115 MPH during the storm. Officially at the Hutchinson Airport, the highest wind speed was 62 MPH.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — We are getting reports of tree limbs and wires down throughout the city with the line of storms that are moving through the area. Winds have been gusting to over 60 MPH.

Westar energy is reporting about 4,000 customers without power along with 75 in the Pleasantview area and about 145 in Yoder.

If you come upon a downed line or tree limb, please stay away until help arrives.

At this moment, we do not have any reports from structural damage in the city.

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BULLETIN – IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
National Weather Service Dodge City KS
702 PM CDT THU JUN 15 2017

The National Weather Service in Dodge City has issued a

* Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…
Barber County in south central Kansas…

* Until 745 PM CDT

* At 702 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 9 miles southwest
of Medicine Lodge, moving northeast at 30 mph.

HAZARD…Golf ball size hail and 70 mph wind gusts.

SOURCE…Radar indicated.

IMPACT…People and animals outdoors will be injured. Expect hail
damage to roofs, siding, windows, and vehicles. Expect
considerable tree damage. Wind damage is also likely to
mobile homes, roofs, and outbuildings.

* Locations impacted include…
Medicine Lodge, Kiowa, Lake Arrowhead, Hardtner, Sharon, Hazelton,
Lake City, Sun City, Deerhead and Elm Mills.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a
building.

 

 

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SVSICT

Severe Weather Statement
National Weather Service Wichita KS
708 PM CDT THU JUN 15 2017

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Reno KS-Sedgwick KS-Harvey KS-Butler KS-Kingman KS-
708 PM CDT THU JUN 15 2017

…A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 800 PM CDT
FOR SOUTHERN RENO…SEDGWICK…HARVEY…NORTHWESTERN BUTLER AND
KINGMAN COUNTIES…

At 705 PM CDT, A severe thunderstorm was located along a line
extending from near Halstead to Haven to 6 miles northeast of Turon,
moving southeast at 30 mph.

These are very dangerous storms.

HAZARD…80 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail.

SOURCE…Law Enforcement.

IMPACT…Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without
shelter. Mobile homes will be heavily damaged. Expect
considerable damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles.
Extensive tree damage and power outages are likely.

Locations impacted include…
Wichita, Newton, Park City, Valley Center, Bel Aire, Goddard,
Hesston, Maize, Kingman, Cheney, Halstead, North Newton, Sedgwick,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — An area of central Kansas, including Reno County has been placed under an enhanced chance of severe weather this afternoon and evening. Stay tuned to Eagle Radio and hutchpost.com for the latest weather information.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Community College, in conjunction with the City of Hutchinson and Hutchinson Recreation Commission, will be hosting an open house of the newly renovated Hutchinson Sports Arena on Thursday.

Local officials and those involved with the project will make brief remarks at 4:00 p.m., followed by a ribbon cutting at 4:30 p.m. and tours from 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Not only will you get a behind-the-scenes look at the newly renovated Sports Arena, you’ll have a chance to test your hoops skills against two of the best to ever play for Blue Dragon women’s basketball: Taylor Stahly and Lakin Preisner.

Lakin once went more than a year without missing a free throw while Taylor holds the Blue Dragon and Jayhawk Conference record for career 3-pointers. Both will be on hand at the open house.

 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A nice crowd of people turned out to hear some great patriotic music and, at the same time, thank all the volunteers who help with the activities and operations of the Hutchinson Public Library.

The Kansas Army National Guard’s 35th Infantry Division Band Brass Quintet played a concert with military marches, patriotic music, big band selections, and a special salute to veterans and their families. Library Director Gregg Wamsley says the picnic and concert were a way to say “thank you” to the volunteers at the library.

Hutchinson Public Library staff cooked up hamburgers for everyone to enjoy while they listened. Wamsley says that the volunteers do so much for the library that many never see or appreciate enough.

The concert was held on the north lawn of the library grounds and lasted a little over an hour.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The jury trial for a man accused of setting fire to an apartment at Plaza Towers continued Wednesday in Reno County District Court.

Chase Coble faces three counts of aggravated arson and two counts of criminal use of explosives. Testimony Wednesday included that of Lt. Michael Torres of the Sedgwick Co. Fire Department, who told of the tests that were done inside Coble’s apartment after the fire. Tests showed various chemicals that Torres said could be used to make explosives. He even called the apartment a homemade explosives lab. Torres did admit under cross-examination several chemicals that could be used in making explosives or gunpowder were not present.

The fire happened when Coble was said to be experimenting with plastic and chemicals when it got out of hand. Police say he had the chemicals to make black powder to use in explosives. Coble claims he was trying to bond metals and plastic when chemicals spilled, causing a fire.

The chemicals he had were all toxic and volatile, according to authorities.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The future of the 43rd Avenue bridge over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks drew more discussion during today’s Reno County Commission meeting.

The bridge, which is under the lowest weight restrictions allowed, still sees more than 1,000 vehicles per day, some of which exceed the posted limit. The structure has been the topic of discussion for 10 years now.

Commissioners got a report from Public Works Director Dave McComb, who stated that the bridge does not meet the guidelines set under the county’s bridge replacement program. McComb also noted that the $1.6 million price tag would equal the cost of seven needed projects elsewhere. He also noted that the bridge program is for county bridges only and the span in question is on a township road.

There are certainly reasons for replacing the bridge, most notably the lack of ingress and egress from the area during an emergency. That was evident during the Jupiter Hills fire. Closing the bridge would also increase the traffic congestion around Prairie Hills Middle School on East 30th, Apple Lane and Lucille Drive.

McComb said that using the bridge program funds would only cause the county to lose more ground in getting other bridges repaired or replaced. He suggested that, if the county decides to rebuild the 43rd Avenue bridge, they take on several other bridge projects and pay for it through bonds. The total cost of the projects would be around $6,000,000.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Formal charges have been brought against a 20-year-old man arrested last week in the beating and rape of his girlfriend.

Victor Pedraza is charged with two counts of rape, kidnapping, arson, battery-domestic violence, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal damage.

Pedraza, a former Hutchinson Community College student from Texas, is suspected of beating and raping a foreign exchange student who attended HCC. The two were staying with each other and had issues in the past.

Pedraza is being held on a bond of $207,000. His next court appearance is set for June 28.