WICHITA, Kan. — A 26-year-old Goddard man facing a federal indictment for robbing several grocery stores, including the North Main Dillon’s in Hutchinson entered guilty pleas to two of those charges in US District Court Thursday afternoon.
Austan Kinnaird pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery involving involving the Golf Headquarters in Wichita and the Intrust Bank branch in a Dillon’s grocery store on E. Harry Street in Wichita. The robbery of the other three Dillon’s stores including the one in Hutchinson was dismissed. Kinnaird will be sentenced April 17. Kinnaird was arrested in connection with robbing the North Main Dillons store March 11 of last year, along with a bank at a Dillon’s store, two other Dillon’s stores and the retail golf store, all in Wichita.
Kinnaird was originally arrested for the bank robbery and was then indicted on the other four count later following further investigation.
HARVEY COUNTY- Two people were injured during a high-speed chase and crash just before 1:30p.m. on Thursday in Harvey County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2009 Lexus RX driven by Gary Beall, 47, Sterling, CO., was being pursued by law enforcement in the left lane northbound on Interstate 135 just north of Arapaho Road.
The driver made an erratic lane change to right shoulder, continued at a high rate of speed and struck a 2013 Chrysler Town car driven by Baker, James C. Baker, 71, Hillsboro, that was yielding to law enforcement on the right shoulder.
The Lexus left the roadway to left, traveled across the median, crossed southbound lanes of traffic, entered the left ditch and struck a KDOT fence and came to rest.
Beall and Baker were transported to the hospital in Newton. In addition to a variety of charges, Beall was also not wearing a seat belt, according to the KHP.
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HESSTON, Kan. – Harvey County authorities were lead on a high speed chase this afternoon which
ended with one patrol car destroyed and a two vehicle accident.
It started around 1 p.m. when Newton officers attempted to stop a vehicle that had reportedly stolen fuel from a gas station. The vehicle fled at speeds exceeding 100 mph. During the chase, officers reported the driver swerved at and intentionally ran officers off the roadway.
The chase ended when the vehicle struck another on I-135, just northwest of Hesston. The driver fled on foot, but was captured by law enforcement a short time later. The driver claims he is a parole absconder from another state and had stolen the vehicle.
The fleeing driver and the driver of the vehicle he collided with were transported to the hospital for evaluation, but are stable at this time.
All officers are safe, but a Hesston patrol car was lost due to a vehicle fire.
The driver faces charges including three counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, pending review of potential attempted murder of a law enforcement officer charges by the Harvey County Attorney’s Office.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Apparently employees of the Eaton Plant here in Hutchinson were told Wednesday that the local plant will close later this year.
Company Spokesperson Kelly Jasko in an email to Hutchpost says “This is not a reflection on the employees in Hutchinson who have worked very hard over the years to meet our customer’s needs. This is the result of the ongoing declines in key markets and demand for the products made at the facility.”
The facility manufactures components that go into piston and gear pumps for use in mobile and industrial hydraulic applications primarily serving the construction and agriculture markets. Since 2013, agricultural equipment production has declined 21% and construction equipment production has declined 16%. Unfortunately, at this time, we don’t anticipate market conditions improving significantly.
She says over the next few days, they will be meeting with union officials to discuss the company’s intent to close the facility and the effects on represented employees.
She says the approximately 100 employees will receive 60 days’ notice in advance of their positions being eliminated.
You may remember that on August 22, 2006, Eaton announced it would keep the Hutchinson plant open because of a $1 million economic incentive from the city and a $2 million incentive from the state.
WICHITA, Kan. — Numerous area residents were involved in a six-vehicle accident just east of Maize this morning.
According to the Kansas Highway patrol, 39-year-old Jennifer Luedeke of Haven was going east on K-96 when she rear-ended a vehicle driven by 43-year-old Faye Vargas of Hutchinson. The impact set off a chain reaction of collisions of a group of cars that had slowed for another accident near Ridge Road.
Luedeke and seven others in the van, 4-year-old Cody, Isaiah, who was less than 1 year of age, 2-year-old Reuben, 13-year-old Gideon, 6-year-old Micah, 8-year-old Treysen and 11-year-old Levi were all taken by EMS to St. Francis Regional Medical Center with possible injuries.
Vargas was also taken to St. Francis with injuries, as was a passenger in the third vehicle, 42-year-old Rachel Serrano of Colwich.
Two other vehicles involved were driven by Reno County residents. Fifty-nine-year-old Jolene Yoder of Haven was in the fifth vehicle hit while 54-year-old Randall Parks of Hutchinson and a passenger in his vehicle, 60-year-old Terry Lawrence, were in the sixth vehicle. All escaped injury.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. The trial for a Goddard man facing federal charges for robbing a number of Dillon’s stores including the Hutchinson store on North Main, has been continued once again.
However 25-year-old Austan Kinnaird is scheduled for a change of plea hearing in US Federal Court on Thursday. His trial was to begin Tuesday in front of Judge J. Thomas Martin.
Kinnaird is accused of robbing the North Main Dillon’s store March 11 of last year, when he walked into the store shortly before the noon hour and told the clerk he had a weapon and wanted money. He then made off on foot with an undetermined amount of cash.
Kinnaird also is charged with an April 29, 2016, robbery at the Intrust Bank in the Dillons store at 9450 E. Harry in Wichita, two more Wichita Dillons stores and the Golf Shop in Wichita
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the start of the new year comes our look at who pays the most property taxes in Reno County and where companies lie when it comes to their value.
Some companies are not on the list due to tax breaks or incentive programs, most notably Siemens which still has several years of tax abatement before they come on the rolls.
As always, utilities lead the way and are led by Westar Energy who is always at the top of the list. Westar’s property taxes for 2016 totaled over $6.3 million on valuation of $39.9 million. Both numbers are higher than the next six companies combined.
Up next is Panhandle eastern at $1.26 million in property taxes paid, followed by both of the major railroads in the county. BNSF comes in at number three paying $1.25 million and Union Pacific is fourth at $1.06 million. Mainline Pipeline Inc. rounds out the top five at $945 thousand in property taxes.
Other notable companies or entities on the top 50 list includes Dillon Companies at number 10 at $563 thousand; Tyson at number 19 at $302 thousand and Collin’s Bus at number 30 at $201 thousand.
Also making the top 50 list again is developer Jim Strawn who came in at number 26 with $1.3 million in valuation and total property taxes paid just over $242 thousand.
A list of the top 10 companies in Reno County is listed below. Figures are supplied by the Reno County Clerk’s Office.
WESTAR ENERGY (ELECTRIC DIVISION) $39,922,242 valuation $6,301,458.86 taxes PANHANDLE EASTERN PIPELINE COMPANY $8,505,141 valuation $1,264,671.16 taxes BNSF $8,013,523 valuation $1,253,837.82 taxes UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY $6,858,054 valuation $1,069,875.98 taxes MID AMERICA PIPELINE COMPANY LLC $6,132,246 valuation $881,702.34 taxes MAIN LINE, INC $5,389,921 valuation $945,548.78 taxes KANSAS GAS SERVICE A DIVISION OF ONEOK $5,198,776 valuation $879,871.80 taxes MAGELLAN PIPELINE COMPANY LLC $4,664,780 valuation $695,811.82 taxes DILLON REAL ESTATE CO, INC $3,219,619 valuation $563,133.88 taxes DILLON COMPANIES, INC $3,176,224 valuation $556,818.72 taxes
WASHINGTON (AP) — A day after anarchists created chaos, thousands of women descended upon Washington for what is a more orderly show of force on the first full day of Donald Trump’s presidency.
Organizers of Saturday’s Women’s March on Washington expect more than 200,000 people to attend their gathering, a number that could rival Trump’s swearing-in ceremony. The organizers’ mission statement says attendees are “hurting and scared” as the new president takes office and want a greater voice for women in political life.
The gathering featured a morning rally and afternoon march.
It comes a day after protesters set fires and hurled bricks in a series of clashes that led to more than 200 arrests.
Women in Kansas also marched in solidarity with the Women’s March on Washington,
The march in Wichita began at 10am at The Keeper of the Plains, 650 North Seneca. They marched to City Hall where a rally was held.
A similar rally was held at 1p.m. in on the south steps of the state capitol in Topeka.
Among the scheduled speakers were Stephanie Mott (LGBTQ), Elise Higgins (Repro Rights)
Barbara Ballard (KS legislator), Heather Ousley (Education), Dot Nary (Disability Rights)
Ana Maldonado (Sexual Assault/Violence)
Glenda Overstreet (BLM), Anaya Vasu and Sho Glashausser (Youth), CarynMirriam-Goldberg (KS Poet Laureate, 09-12)
Trump describes closed factories as “tombstones” that dot the county and says the federal government has spent billions defending “other nations’ borders while refusing to defend our own.”
The Republican president says the U.S. “will confront hardships but we will get the job done.”
He says the oath of office he just took “is an oath of allegiance to all Americans” and said that the country will share “one glorious destiny.”
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12:12 p.m.
President Donald Trump says that he will govern the country by putting America first.
Trump is saying in his first speech as president that “from this day forward, a new vision will govern our hand” and that “from this day forward it’s going to be only America first.”
Trump says that every decision he makes, on issues from trade to taxes to immigration and foreign affairs will be made to benefit American workers and families.
He says “We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries” taking American jobs.
Trump says that under his leadership, America “will start winning like never before.”
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12:11 p.m.
President Donald Trump says Americans came by the tens of millions to become part of a historic movement “the likes of which the world has never seen before.”
Trump says the United States exists to serve its citizens.
He says Americans want great schools, safe neighborhoods and good jobs.
But he says too many people face a different reality: rusted-out factories, a bad education system, crime, gangs and drugs.
Trump says the “carnage stops right here and right now.”
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12:10 p.m.
President Donald Trump is declaring his victory a victory for working people.
Trump says in his inauguration speech: “Today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another,” but “transferring power from Washington D.C. and giving it back to you, the people”
Trump says that, for too long, too few have had power and the people have paid the price.
He says: “Washington flourished but the people did not share in its wealth. Politicians prospered but the jobs left and the factories closed.”
He says, “That all changes starting right here and right now.”
Trump is also thanking former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama for their “gracious” aid through the transition.
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12:09 p.m.
President Donald Trump says change starts “right here and right now.”
The new president is using his inaugural address to say it doesn’t matter which party controls the government. He says that what matters is “whether our government is controlled by the people.”
Trump says the forgotten men and women of the country “will be forgotten no longer.”
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12:05 p.m.
President Donald Trump is beginning his inaugural address by saying that “together we will determine the course of America and the world for many, many years to come.”
He says Americans have “joined a great national effort to build our country and restore its promise for all people.”
It began to rain in Washington as Trump started speaking.
Trump also thanked all of the past presidents in attendance, including former campaign foes Barack Obama and Bill Clinton.
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12 p.m.
Donald Trump is now the 45th president of the United States. He’s just taken the oath of office on the West Front of the Capitol.
The combative billionaire businessman and television celebrity won election in November over Democrat Hillary Clinton, and today he’s leading a profoundly divided country — one that’s split between Americans enthralled and horrified by his victory.
The unorthodox politician and the Republican-controlled Congress are already charting a newly conservative course for the nation. And they’re promising to reverse the work of the 44th president, Barack Obama.
Up next is Trump’s inaugural address — where the new commander in chief is expected to set out his vision for the country’s next four years.
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11:55 a.m.
Mike Pence has been sworn in as the vice president of the United States.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administered the oath of office.
President-elect Donald Trump chose Pence, the former governor of Indiana, as his running mate last summer.
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11:45 a.m.
U.S. embassies and consulates in at least 10 nations in Asia, Europe and Latin America are warning of potentially violent protests through the weekend against the inauguration of Donald Trump as U.S. president.
Security notices posted by U.S. diplomatic missions in Chile, Denmark, France, Greece, Haiti, Italy the Netherlands, Paraguay, Portugal and the Philippines advise American in those countries to steer clear of embassies and consulates on Friday and, in some cases, on Saturday and Sunday. That’s due to the possibility of unrest and clashes with police.
The notices say the planned demonstrations are either focused on “U.S. politics” or are “inauguration-related.”
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11:32 a.m.
President-elect Donald Trump has taken the stage for his inauguration.
The Republican businessman from New York flashed a thumbs-up to the crowd as he was introduced.
Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence took the stage at the Capitol minutes after President Barack Obama and members of his family and administration.
Trump will soon be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States.
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11:30 a.m.
Hundreds of people who worked for President Barack Obama are arriving at Andrews Air Force Base to hear some final parting words from the soon-to-be ex-president.
Hours before Obama was to speak, former White House and administration staffers are gathering in a hangar where a small stage with a lone American flag was set up for him.
Obama and his wife, Michelle, are leaving the Capitol by military helicopter after witnessing Donald Trump’s swearing-in, and they’re being flown to the base in Maryland just outside Washington.
The Obamas will vacation in Palm Springs, California.
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11:25 a.m.
The dais is filled for the inauguration on the West Front of the Capitol.
President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden have taken their seats.
And President-elect Donald Trump’s family is ready.
The stage is set for Donald Trump to be sworn in as the next president of the United States.
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11:20 a.m.
In the crowd gathered on the National Mall for the inauguration, there’s no shortage of fans of Democratic figures.
Big cheers went up when images were shown of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who ran for president against Hillary Clinton. But the biggest cheer so far for a Democrat has gone to first lady Michelle Obama. She received sustained applause as people watched her appear on the television screens.
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11:15 a.m.
As Donald Trump and President Barack Obama made their way to the Capitol, police were confronting a group of demonstrators wearing black in downtown Washington, and authorities were using what appeared to be pepper spray.
Protesters were carrying signs denouncing capitalism and Trump.
Police cordoned off about 100 demonstrators who chanted “hands up, don’t shoot.”
A helicopter hovered overhead.
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11:10 a.m.
President Barack Obama and his successor, Donald Trump, have arrived at the Capitol for Trump’s swearing-in ceremony.
Trump is joined by his family, including his five children Eric, Don Jr., Ivanka, Tiffany and youngest son, Barron.
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11:05 a.m.
Incoming first lady Melania (meh-LAH’-nee-ah) Trump is wearing a sky blue cashmere jacket and mock turtleneck combination by Ralph Lauren for Inauguration Day.
In a statement, the Lauren Corp. says: “It was important to us to uphold and celebrate the tradition of creating iconic American style for this moment.”
Mrs. Trump’s hair is in a soft updo and accessorized with long suede gloves and matching stilettos. She was greeted at the White House by President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama. Mrs. Obama was wearing red, short-sleeve dress.
Ivanka Trump chose Oscar de la Renta, and Hillary Clinton showed up in a white Ralph Lauren pantsuit that harkened back to the one she wore to accept the Democratic nomination for president at her party’s convention in July. Her jacket matched.
Who else made a large fashion statement for Trump’s big day?
Trump senior adviser Kellyanne Conway wore a military-style wool coat by Gucci of red, white and blue, with two rows of cat-head buttons and a matching red cloche hat. She described her look as “Trump revolutionary wear.”
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11 a.m
President Barack Obama’s departing White House staff is offering a subtle message on the walls of their lower press office as he leaves office.
Obama aides left up on a wall printed front pages from some of Obama’s biggest moments, including his 2009 inaugural, his signing of his health care law and the death of Osama bin Laden.
The wall typically features the day’s front pages. The compilation of Obama front pages was put up about a week ago.
Obama’s press offices were largely emptied out when Trump arrived at the White House for tea with the outgoing president.
It was unclear whether the front pages will still be there when Trump’s team arrives. A cleaning crew was expected to prepare the premises for the incoming administration.
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10:55 a.m.
Hillary Clinton says she’s attending Donald Trump’s inauguration to “honor our democracy.”
Clinton made the comment on Twitter Trump took the oath of office. Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton are both in attendance.
Here’s what Clinton is saying: “I’m here today to honor our democracy & its enduring values. I will never stop believing in our country & its future.”
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10:50 a.m.
President Barack Obama and his successor, Donald Trump, are departing the White House to head to Trump’s inauguration.
The pair got into a limousine that will take them to the Capitol.
Also on their way are Vice President Joe Biden, first lady Michelle Obama and Trump’s wife, Melania (meh-LAH’-nee-ah).
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10:35 a.m.
Crowds on the National Mall — where people without tickets can watch the inauguration — are growing steadily.
But less than two hours before the swearing-in, there are still wide swaths of empty space. There are strong suggestions that the crowds will not match President Barack Obama’s first inaugural eight years ago.
Some people were prevented by security barriers from getting closer to the Capitol despite having plenty of space in front of them.
The grass on the Mall was protected by white plastic and there were some muddy spots amid intermittent rain.
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10:33 a.m.
Most of the Donald Trump backers who are walking to the inauguration past Union Station in Washington are trying to ignore protesters outside the train station.
Then there’s Doug Rahm, who engaged in a lengthy and sometimes profane yelling match with protesters.
“Get a job,” Rahm said. “Stop crying snowflakes, Trump won.”
Rahm — who’s from Philadelphia and does high-rise restorations, is with Bikers for Trump. He says the protesters should get behind the new president.
He says, “This is unite America day.”
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10:25 a.m.
President Barack Obama has left a letter for his successor in the Oval Office before departing the White House — as is the tradition from one president to the next.
The White House is providing no details about what Obama conveyed to Donald Trump.
Obama campaigned vigorously against Trump. But the president and president-elect have had regular phone conversations since the election, with the president offering guidance and advice.
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10:20 a.m.
Belgium’s prime minister hopes Donald Trump will uphold NATO’s security guarantees and live up to the expectations of the American people.
Charles Michel says in a statement before Trump takes the oath of office that “it is essential that our engagement is maintained” to guarantee peace and stability through NATO.
Trump has called NATO “obsolete” and says European members aren’t paying their fair share.
Michel’s statement contains no congratulations. He does say “the expectations of the American people are high” and hopes Trump “will be able to deliver.”
Michel also says the European Union is entering a new era and it’s his belief “that Europe more than ever needs to defend its own agenda and interests.”
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10:05 a.m.
The White House says members of the residence staff have presented President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama with two American flags that were flown atop the building.
One of the flags was flown on the first day of Obama’s presidency. The other was flown on his final morning as president.
The Obamas are preparing to depart the White House for the last time as president and first lady when they head to Donald Trump’s inauguration.
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9:45 a.m.
President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama are asking the public to help them develop projects for his new presidential center on Chicago’s South Side.
The Obamas are starting up a foundation website — Obama.org — in the hours before Donald Trump is inaugurated the 45th president.
Obama says the foundation’s projects will be developed “all over the city, the country and the world.” He asks Americans to “tell us what you want this project to be and tell us what’s on your mind.”
The foundation is developing Obama’s presidential library and center in Chicago.
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9:40 a.m.
Donald Trump is heading to the White House to meet with President Barack Obama.
Trump has left St. John’s Church across from the White House. He paused to shake hands with a clergy member at the door and then walked to his waiting vehicle.
There were cheers from supporters as Trump left the church.
He was followed by family members and Vice President-elect Mike Pence. Pence said he was “very humbled” when he was asked about his message for the day.
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9:35 a.m.
President Barack Obama is taking a final stroll from the Oval Office through the Rose Garden as a sitting president. He’s soon to welcome his successor, Donald Trump, to the White House.
Obama was seen leaving papers on his desk in the Oval Office. He’s told reporters he’s feeling nostalgic on his final day as president.
He says his final message to the American people is “thank you.”
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9:30 a.m.
President Barack Obama is bidding farewell on Twitter.
Here’s what it says on the official presidential account: “It’s been the honor of my life to serve you.”
The president has been striking an optimistic tone in the final days of his administration.
He tells followers that he’s “still asking you to believe – not in my ability to bring about change, but in yours.”
The president is also asking people to share their thoughts about the focus of his new foundation’s work.
He says: “I won’t stop; I’ll be right there with you as a citizen, inspired by your voices of truth and justice, good humor, and love.”
HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) will have a hand in the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump Friday.
Wild mustangs trained at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility (HCF) that are now used by military and border patrol groups will march in the ceremonial inauguration parade in Washington D.C. Friday.
Two or three of a group of Fort Riley soldiers who will participate in the parade will be riding mustangs trained at HCF. The fort’s 1st Infantry Division Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard is taking 13 horses in total for the parade. The commander leading the color guard will be riding one of the mustangs trained in the KDOC program.
In the same parade, eight mustangs trained at HCF will be ridden by U.S. Border Patrol agents of the Rio Grand Valley Sector. These horses are used in patrolling the border between the U.S. and Mexico.
The horses trained at the Hutchinson facility are wild mustangs captured on government land by the Bureau of Land Management. The KDOC wild horse and burro program, which operates under the auspices of Kansas Correctional Industries (KCI), employs offenders at HCF to provide initial training to the animals. The offenders at HCF help to make the wild horses useful for organizations and individuals who adopt them.
“It’s a great honor and very exciting to see horses that were trained here in our program participating in such a historic and important event, said Dexter Hedrick, KCI Horse Program Manager. “The offenders who work with the horses are taking great pride in knowing that they contributed to something so meaningful.”
Nearly all the horses used in the Rio Grand Valley Sector come from the HCF program. A representative of HCF said that over the years more than 60 horses patrolling the border from Brownsville, Texas. to San Diego, Calif. were trained at Hutchinson.
The Presidential Inauguration Parade, which follows the swearing in of each new president, is a procession of ceremonial military regiments, citizens’ groups, marching bands, and floats. The parade up Washington D.C.’s Pennsylvania Avenue will be televised. The new president leads the parade as it travels from the U.S. Capitol to the White House, where he then reviews the rest of the parade as it passes. The parade lasts about two hours.
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council approved a contract with an engineering firm for a major repair project at the wastewater treatment plant.
The Council approved the contract with CDM Smith of Wichita to do the design, engineering work and other services at a cost of just over $248,000.
The city needs to replace two boilers at the plant. One which has already failed and the second which is nearly at the end of its life cycle. The contract does not include the cost of the two boilers. City Engineer Brian Clennan told the Council that the project should be completed by this fall and will be paid for through the plant’s equipment reserve fund.
Also Tuesday, the Council approved the zero interest housing incentive program.The incentive will assist current property owners in the two feature neighborhoods and the residential historic district by providing a zero-interest loan to make home repairs and updates.
To qualify, the homeowner must live in the SW Bricktown, College Grove or the Houston Whiteside Historic district. The maximum interest amount per loan cannot exceed $2,500, which would be covered by the city, thus the zero interest paid for by the property owner.
stores, including the North Main Dillon’s in Hutchinson entered guilty pleas to two of those charges in US District Court Thursday afternoon. 
HARVEY COUNTY- Two people were injured during a high-speed chase and crash just before 1:30p.m. on Thursday in Harvey County.
