NEWTON, Kan. — A great crowd turned out to see the Amtrak test train that made a stop in Newton Friday afternoon.

The train, carrying officials from Amtrak, BNSF Railway and county, city and state officials from Oklahoma and Kansas, continues its study on bringing back rail passenger service between Kansas City and Fort Worth. The route is already served from Oklahoma City southward.

Joe McHugh, vice president of Amtrak, says the trip went smoothly as officials from both companies discussed what would need to be done to the infrastructure, since the proposed line sees significantly more train traffic than when Amtrak last ran on the line.

Newton residents gathered at the station to welcome the train. Conductors provided tours of the train during its 20-minute stop. McHugh says the interest on re-establishing the line continues to grow, as the bus service currently provided by Amtrak to Oklahoma City continues to increase ridership.

Due to cuts by Congress, the Reorganization Act of 1979 pressed by the U.S. Department of Transportation under the Carter administration, Amtrak’s Lone Star — as it was called back then — was discontinued on Oct. 8, 1979. At the time of its discontinuance, the train was ranked as Amtrak’s 7th-most-popular long-distance train.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Two workers were injured, one of them critically, after they were exposed to anhydrous ammonia at the Tyson Foods plant in South Hutchinson.

According to South Hutchinson Police Chief Scott Jones, the two were working on the refrigeration system in the plant when the exposure occurred. There are no details on how the accident happened.

The two workers were not Tyson employees and were working under contract. One of the two victims was treated at the scene, but the other was transported by Reno County EMS in critical condition.

The plant was evacuated for about two hours while the area was secured. Jones says everyone was accounted for at the plant.

The plant had a similar incident before. In 2006, one worker was killed and another injured after being exposed to anhydrous ammonia after a refrigerant line broke.

The names of the two workers have not been released.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Saying that they were running into too many obstacles and growing short on time to overcome them, the HutchFest committee has made the decision to cancel this year’s event.

Todd Peach, chairman of the committee, said that they simply could not get what he felt was enough cooperation from the entities that they felt were important to holding the event. Peach says they hope to hold the event in 2018.

Peach and the committee have been trying to keep the festival, which has gone through numerous transformations, going by holding an event that would better coincide with the Independence Day holiday. Since then, the festival has changed locations several times and shortened the number of days in an effort to draw more people.

The fireworks will still go on as before with sponsorship to help pay the costs.

As always, Eagle Communications (Country 102.9, My 93.1 and KWBW Radio) will host the Patriots Parade at 10 a.m. on July 4th.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The HCC Board of Trustees will go over the first reading of the school’s concealed carry policy during Thursday’s agenda session.

Under the proposed policy, no one under the age of 21 would be allowed to have a concealed weapon on campus. The policy also includes the usual state regulations regarding ammunition, the type of weapon, and restrictions on use by individuals under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Also Thursday, the board will get an update on the Sports Arena, seek approval of a new contract for the use of the Axtell Education Bldg. LLC, which is the old Axtell Hospital in Newton, and take time to go into executive session for several matters.

Thursday’s meeting of the HCC Board of Trustees begins at 7 p.m. at the Shears Technology Center on the HCC campus.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A misstep in zoning for an area that includes the Hutchinson Airport meant the Hutchinson City Council had to pass an amendment to bring the airport into compliance with its normal operations during Tuesday’s agenda session.

Airport General Manager Pieter Miller says that the error in zoning actually made the airport non-compliant for normal operations.

The change is also being made to provide opportunities to have more activities at the airport, tap into its industrial potential and even provide short-term living quarters for pilots.

Also Tuesday, the council approved renaming Ashmede Park to SW Bricktown Park to coincide with the name of the new neighborhood designation around Avenue A Elementary School, and approved phase three of the construction of the Rivers Banks Orchard Park along 43rd Avenue at a cost of $426,931.

Improvements include an expanded walking trail, new green space and a disc golf course.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It certainly got a lot of attention Monday morning as a U.S. Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter touched down in the small field next to the Atrium Convention Center.

The aircraft and its crew were a part of the noon Hutchinson Rotary Club dinner meeting. The speaker was Lt. Col. Todd Loughney, who spoke about the recent service the helicopter and crew provided during the March wildfires in Reno County. Loughney also talked to the Rotary about what the National Guard can provide, and how the civic organization can help them as well, by showing area young adults the opportunities in the Guard.

Once the Black Hawk landed, it didn’t take long for residents to come over and take a close look at the aircraft. The crew was more than happy to show everyone its inner workings.

During the wildfires, the Black Hawk flew water drop missions in the area, filling up at the gravel pit near Nickerson. The water bladder used in the operation carries 660 gallons of water and weighs about 6,000 pounds when loaded.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — At around 3:25 p.m. Saturday, the Hutchinson Fire Department responded to the area of Avenue F and Monroe for a water rescue.

Additional information provided by dispatch reported three individuals in the water hanging onto a tree. Fire and Reno County Sheriff Department officials worked to locate the individuals. They were located approximately a quarter mile west of Cow Creek and the Arkansas River. All three individuals were rescued by boat and were brought to shore safely to a waiting Reno County EMS unit.

In addition, HFD crews prepared numerous technical rescue rope deployments downstream to provide safety for the victims and rescuers. All victims were evaluated and refused any further treatment. The three male individuals, ranging in age from 17 to 19, started a float trip at Fun Valley on the Arkansas River, approximately one hour prior to fire officials being notified.

The individuals lost their inflatable floats while floating down the river. With limited swimming abilities, all three were able to cling onto a tree that had previous fallen into the water. None of the individuals had life jackets on them or with them.

Chief Steven Beer states, “no matter how good a swimmer you are, you never know what will happen when you’re swimming, rafting or boating, wear your life jacket at all times.”

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 57-year-old man who was to be resentenced in a 2006 aggravated burglary conviction will have to wait a little longer for that hearing.

The sentencing for Richard Webb was continued again after Judge Trish Rose felt the victim in the case should be notified that the hearing was taking place, thus giving him a chance to express his views. The hearing was also continued earlier in May after Defense Attorney Sam Kepfield asked for departure on the sentence to time served. But, Assistant District Attorney Andrew Davidson had argued that he doesn’t believe the judge can grant a downward departure because one has already been given in the case.

Webb was convicted and sentenced to 19 years for the robbery charge after he beat and robbed a man by force.

He appealed the sentence, saying information with his criminal history was incorrect. He won that appeal and the case was sent back to District Court for resentencing, which could knock the sentence down to 18 years.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — From now until the end of the month, the South Hutchinson Municipal Court will hold its annual Food for Fines program.

The program assists citizens who have outstanding fines and warrant fees through the South Hutchinson Municipal Court by allowing them to pay a portion of those fees with non-perishable food items.

Each item will add a $5 credit toward the fines or warrant fees, up to $50 for each person. The food will be donated to the Food Bank of Reno County. No dented, rusted, non-labeled, opened, or expired items will be accepted.

If residents have questions concerning their eligibility for the program, they should contact the South Hutchinson Municipal Court at 620-560-6251.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Fire crews from South Hutchinson and Hutchinson were called to the unit block of Wabash in South Hutchinson for  structure fire around 11:15 Wednesday morning.

According to South Hutchinson Interim Fire Chief RC Watson, the fire started in the rear portion of the home near the attic, and spread very quickly throughout the structure.

The home was unoccupied at the time of the fire and there were no injuries reported. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.