HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 55-year-old Hutchinson man was found guilty Wednesday for electronic solicitation and violation of the offender registration act or failing to register. The jury got the case just after 3:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon and had reached a verdict shortly before 5 p.m.

Steven Peterman was arrested back on Feb. 12, 2014 when he was allegedly waiting to pick up an underage girl in the parking lot of the Hutchinson Mall. He is accused texting via cell phone with Sheriff Detective Diana Skomal, who posed as the 15-year-old. He allegedly went to the mall to pick her up with the intention of assisting her in running away from home, but also to teach her sex.

The state did amend the second count from aggravated failure to register to just failure to register which makes it a lower level felony.

District Attorney Keith Schroeder tells us that this is a presumptive prison case in large part because of his prior criminal history.

He’s served time in prison for two counts of attempted rape and electronic solicitation of a child from a case in 2001. In fact, Judge Trish Rose read details of those crimes to jury as stipulated facts to show the jury that he was required to register as a sex offender.

Peterman also has convictions for three counts of theft, perjury and issuing a worthless check. Those cases go back to 1979 and 1980.

Sentencing will be in about two weeks on March 20, according to Schroeder.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council will have a study session Tuesday and one of the items on that agenda is discussion and recommendations for a rental housing registration and inspection program.

It stated back in December when the Hutchinson City Council and the Housing Commission talked of implementing a rental inspection program which they say would address the conditions of some rental units. That would include inspecting things like ventilation, passageways, accessibility, heating and electric, plumbing and smoke and fire alarms.

City staff was told to develop a mandatory rental inspection program for consideration by the housing commission and the city council.

That will be up for discussion during the city council study session on Tuesday which begins at 8 a.m., at city hall.

Hutch woman bound over for trial for aggravated battery

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 27-year-old woman was bound over for trial Thursday on charges of aggravated battery, domestic battery and criminal threat. Sarah Alcorn is accused of attacking her boyfriend after the two had an argument.

The case apparently involves her swinging a knife and also striking her boyfriend in the face. She denied in a previous hearing that she had a knife and that the victim may have had his fingers caught in a door. But, he testified Thursday that she was swinging a knife in his direction while he was sitting on a couch. He says this happened after the two had been fighting and he grabbed the knife, in what he described as a reflex move and it cut his hand. The incident occurring back on Nov. 19, 2014.

Alcorn is also charged with striking him in the face a number of times and also at some point, threatened to kill him.

She was released from prison back in March of last year for convictions for drugs, battery, two convictions of aggravated failure to appear and theft.

With her being bound over, she’ll be arraigned on April 6.

Former HCF inmate to be sentenced Friday for attempted rape

Stumper

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 28-year-old inmate who entered a plea to a reduced charge of attempted rape while a second charge of aggravated sexual battery was dropped by the state is scheduled for sentencing Friday. The original charge against Steven Stumpner was rape.

He admitted in court to the sexual contact with a female contract employee back on July 17, 2014. He forced the nurse at the prison into a sexual encounter when he pushed her up against a wall and sexually assaulted her without her consent.

The plea agreement calls for him receiving the maximum sentence which would give him an additional 20-years and seven months on top of the sentence he’s already serving. He also waived his right to appeal any sentence handed down in the case and will have to register as a sex offender.

Stumpner is serving time in prison for two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of theft and battery of a correction’s officer. The first four counts are for crimes in Johnson County, while the final conviction is out of Pawnee County. With those convictions, he’s not eligible for parole until 2024, however once the sentence in this Reno County case is handed down, that will push that date into the distant future.

Although he was at the Hutchinson facility when this incident occurred, he has since been moved to the El Dorado Correctional Facility where he’s currently being housed.

Hutch man in court Friday for pretrial hearing

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 27-year-old man accused of causing a disturbance by barking or growling at customers at a local Dillon’s store is expected back in court Friday for a pretrial hearing.

An employee reportedly advised Johnny Fenton III of criminal trespass and asked him to leave the store, but he refused and police had to be called. The officer said when he made contact, Fenton would not respond and was mumbling to himself. He did ask the officer to arrest him. As they were searching him, they found a straw with meth or meth residue inside.

He was arrested for criminal trespass, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia for the incident which occurred back in August.

Fenton has other more serious charges pending in front of Judge Trish Rose. He’s charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell or distribute, possession of Alprazolam with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to package, criminal possession of a firearm, felony theft of a motor vehicle, felony criminal damage to property for damage to that same vehicle, and misdemeanor theft. All of those alleged crimes go back to Nov. 1, 2013.

The hearing Friday is in front of Judge Trish Rose.

KINGMAN – A Kansas woman was injured in an accident just after 4:30 p.m. on Thursday in Kingman County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2012 Dodge pickup driven by Susan L. Goering, 70, Pretty Prairie, was northbound on Northeast 40 Avenue three miles north of Kingman. The vehicle went off the right side of the roadway into the ditch, went over the culvert and struck the north side of the culvert.

Goering was transported to Wesley Medical Center.

The KHP reported she was properly restrained at the time of the accident.

Local firefighters responded to the 700 block of East 56th around 1:30 p.m., Thursday afternoon for a grass fire and found about one and a half acres of grass on fire.

The fire was controlled in 15 minutes. Units were on scene for one hour overhauling the area.

The cause of the fire appears to be a controlled burn that got out of control.

Then around 8:30 p.m., Thursday night, firefighters responded to the unit block of West 19th Terrace for a structure fire. When they arrived, they found a fully involved car in the driveway that had spread to the soffit area of the garage. The vehicle and the garage were extinguished in about 10 minutes. Units were on scene for approximately 30 minutes. Damage was sustained to the soffit area, garage door and the vehicle was totaled.

The cause of the fire appears to be electrical in nature in the vehicle. No one was injured in the fire.

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Labor Friday released the jobs numbers for January which show an increase in the unemployment rate here in Hutchinson.

It shows the rate jumping to 5 percent compared to the rate of 4.3 percent in December. But the rate is still lower then January of last year when the rate was 5.4 percent. The numbers show that 985 residents of the city were looking for work in January.

The rate for Reno County also increased in January with the rate at 4.6 percent, up from 3.9 percent in December. Again that rate is still lower then January of last year when the rate was 4.9 percent. There were 1, 434 residents of the county looking for work in January, but most of those residents are in the city of Hutchinson.

Other area counties rates are as follows. Harvey County is at 4.5 percent, Kingman County at 3.9 percent, McPherson County at 3.4 percent, Pratt County at 3.3 percent, Rice County at 3.5 percent, Stafford County at 4.1 percent and Sedgwick County at 5.3 percent.

The state’s January seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.2 percent, unchanged from December and down from 4.7 percent in January 2014.

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Court of Appeals Friday upheld the sentence for a Hutchinson man convicted for the killing of another man on Halloween night in 2012.

22-year-old Isaac Beltran was sentenced to nearly 13 years in prison by Judge Tim Chambers who said the aggravating factors required him to give the aggravated sentence of 154 months. He says the aggravating factor was the fact that Beltran was on community corrections when the shooting of Dustin Brooks occurred. The judge says he shouldn’t have had a gun in his possession because of a previous felony conviction for possession of cocaine.

Beltran was convicted for shooting 26-year-old Brooks in the alley behind the home where Beltran lived at 203 North Cleveland on Halloween night in 2012. Brooks suffered a gunshot wound to the torso and died after emergency surgery failed at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.

There was some question on appeal of whether the judge should have sentenced him to the aggravated number without a jury deciding guilt and also questions of his criminal history. The appeals court ruling those issues had no merit.

Three men arrested on drug charges after reported noise complaint

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Three men face criminal charges after their arrest this week after a search warrant was served at a home in South Hutchinson.

At around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, deputies with the Reno County Sheriff’s Office and South Hutchinson Police responded to 15 Sunnydell Circle in South Hutchinson for a noise complaint. When they arrived, they heard loud music and made contact with owner of the home. While talking with the occupants, deputies noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside the home. The Kansas Highway Patrol responded to the residence with a K-9 and detected narcotics coming from one of the vehicles as well as the home.

A search warrant was then obtained and served on the vehicle and residence. Two firearms, 260 grams of marijuana, and miscellaneous drug paraphernalia were seized.

26-year-old Brandell Chalmers of South Hutchinson was arrested for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of paraphernalia, criminal possession of a firearm with controlled substance and no drug tax stamp. 26-year-old Michael Alexander of Hutchinson was arrested for possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. 26-year-old Ryker Duncan of McPherson was arrested for possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.

All three men are free on bond and should be back in court next week for the formal reading of charges.

Suspect in hour and a half chase formally charged

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 46-year-old man arrested after he led law enforcement on a high speed chase made a first appearance Friday morning where he was read the formal complaint against him.

Donald Mayer is charged with two alternate counts of felony flee and elude. One of the charges alleges he five or more moving violations during the chase and the other alleges that he was reckless in his driving.

It started around 1:45 a.m., on March 1, when sheriff deputies attempted to stop a Chevy Blazer allegedly driven by Mayer for failing to signal a turn and also for an obstructed license plate. They says he refused to stop and led officers from the Sheriffs Dept, Hutchinson Police, and South Hutchinson Police on a chase that lasted an hour and 24 minutes.

The chase was primarily in the southern and eastern part of the city of Hutchinson and passed through South Hutchinson twice. At one point, the chase went as far south as Yoder, but then returned back to the Hutchinson area.

Numerous attempts were made to deploy tire deflation devices, but he was able to avoid them each time. The chase finally ended when Mayer pulled into the west parking lot of the Law Enforcement Center and surrendered without incident.

Because the formal charges have been filed, the case will now move to a waiver-status docket.

Hearing for former HCF inmate convicted of attempted rape continued

Stumper

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The sentencing hearing for a 28-year-old inmate has been continued because apparently wires were crossed somewhere and his attorney informed the court that Steven Stumpner was not transported from the El Dorado Correctional Facility where he’s currently being housed.

Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton informed the court that they had prepared a transfer order already last month, so both sides asked that the hearing to be continued two weeks so they can determine what went wrong and make sure it doesn’t happen again.

Stumpner entered a plea to a reduced charge of attempted rape while a second charge of aggravated sexual battery was dropped by the state. The original charge against Stumpner was rape. He admitted in court to the sexual contact with a female contract employee back on July 17, 2014. He forced the nurse at the prison into a sexual encounter when he pushed her up against a wall and sexually assaulted her without her consent.

The plea agreement calls for him receiving the maximum sentence which would give him an additional 20-years and seven months on top of the sentence he’s already serving. He also waived his right to appeal any sentence handed down in the case and will have to register as a sex offender.

Stumpner is serving time in prison for two counts of aggravated robbery, two counts of theft and battery of a correction’s officer.

The sentencing hearing is now set for March 27.

PRATT, Kan. – One person died in a small plane crash Saturday afternoon in Pratt County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported the 1995 fixed wing RV6 piloted by Harrison D. Rosenbaum, 85, Pratt, was coming in to land northbound, two miles south of South East 60 Avenue just east of South East 20 Avenue on a private landing strip.

The plane made contact with the ground, went off the east side of the runway and overturned in a pasture.

Rosenbaum was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Sedgwick County Forensic Center.

The KHP reported he was not wearing a safety restraint at the time of the crash.

————————-

PRATT – One person died in a small plane crash on Saturday afternoon in Pratt County.
Law enforcement authorities reported the crash occurred two miles south of South East 60 Avenue just east of South East 20 Avenue on a private landing strip.

Check the Post for additional details as they become available..

NICKERSON, Kan. — A Claflin couple was injured in a motorcycle accident in northern Reno County Sunday afternoon.

The Reno County Sheriff’s office reports that 52-year-old Glenn Gabbard was going west on 101st Avenue when he failed to negotiate a curve. The bike left the road and flipped. Gabbard and his wife, 52-year-old Patty, were both airlifted to Wichita hospitals in serious condition.

The accident happened around 12:35 p.m. about 6 miles west of Nickerson.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Hutchinson Regional Medical Center has been verified as a Trauma III Center by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), a prestigious international organization headquartered in Chicago. The verification is for a period of two years until February 2017.

In a statement issued by ACS, the organization commended Hutch Regional for their efforts to provide the hospital’s full resources for treating trauma patients while addressing the needs of all injured patients from pre-hospitalization through the rehabilitation process.

The ACS committee on trauma’s verification doesn’t designate trauma centers, but verifies and confirms the center is demonstrating its commitment to providing the highest quality trauma care for all injured patients. Included in the verification process was an on site visit to the hospital by physician representatives of the ACS committee on verification.

Kevin J. Miller, F.A.C.H.E., President and CEO of Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, said that the ACS verification is reaffirmation of the quality of trauma care provided by HRMC.

“It is most gratifying when a respected worldwide organization dealing with trauma patients recognizes the high quality of trauma care provided by Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System,” Miller said.

The 72,000 member ACS was established in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical education and practice and to improve the care of medical procedures at all levels. A verification committee dealing with Trauma Centers was established within the organization in 1922.

Hutch man bound over on charges associated with injury accident

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The man charged in a case involving a chase through the city which resulted in a two vehicle accident was bound over for trial Monday by District Judge Joe McCarville.

56-year-old Curtis Cleveland faces trial of two counts of aggravated battery, with DUI added into the complaint, failure to stop at an accident, felony flee and elude and interference with law enforcement.

He was allegedly fleeing from a sheriffs deputy back on June 24, 2014, when he hit a small pick up driven by 26-year-old John Trussell of Hutchinson, at the intersection of G and Plum. Cleveland’s vehicle continued to Campbell Street before coming to rest in the yard of a residence there. He then allegedly tried to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended

Trussell and his passenger, a 10-year-old boy were both taken to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment. A passenger in Cleveland’s vehicle, 37-year-old Nichole Hansen of Wichita, was treated at the scene and released. The charge against Cleveland involving Hansen was dismissed by the state because she failed to show for Monday’s hearing.

Trussell took the stand and told of his injuries which includes a laceration behind his left ear, a concussion and lower back pain. He was forced to end his employment at a grain elevator in Partridge as result.

With Cleveland being bound over, arraignment in the case will be on April 6, in front of Judge Trish Rose.

Man busted for aggravated robbery makes initial court appearance

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 33-year-old man arrested late last week on some serious charges after he allegedly battered a local man and then stole items from him made an initial court appearance where he managed to get his bond lowered some.

Chancey Brownfield was jailed with a bond of $30,500 for suspicion of aggravated robbery, aggravated battery and theft. The victim was at a local hotel at 14 West 4th and when he says he was attacked by Brownfield and he took items by force. The incident occurring around 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon.

In court, Brownfield told Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen that the robbery count was mistake, in that he thought the cell phone he took was his and not the alleged victims.

The state indicated that it has been awhile since Brownfield has been in trouble other then traffic charges. The Kansas Department of Corrections website shows one serious prior felony for aggravated robbery for a case in Geary County in September of 1997. Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen agreed to lower the bond to $20,000.

He also set his next court appearance for March 18.

Convicted felon arraigned in weapons case

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It was about a month ago that Judge Tim Chambers granted a request by a local attorney to withdraw as counsel for a 24-year-old man accused of criminal possession of a firearm and possession of stolen property.

Now with a new attorney, Antahj Jenkins was arraigned in the case and entered “not guilty” pleas to the two charges against him, again in front of Judge Tim Chambers.

Jenkins in an earlier case was convicted of two counts of aggravated battery and was sentenced to a little over four years in prison by Judge Chambers. The state alleges he possessed a stolen semi-automatic pistol back on October 21, 2014, which is unlawful when it’s within ten years of previous felony crimes.

Jenkins was found guilty of the two aggravated battery counts when he drove a vehicle into a crowd of people at a party back on October 3, 2010 when he ran over 24-year-old Matthew Price of Hutchinson, and struck 21-year-old Kayla Coley. This occurring after he claims he was beat up during that party north of Hutchinson.

The case will now be set for a pretrial hearing and trial date.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — We bring you the following story with a heavy heart as we mourn the death of one of our own.

Robert Middleton, known to area radio listeners as “Bob Walker” has passed away at the age of 64.

Walker has been a part of the Eagle Communications radio family for the past 15 years. He has been the morning jock on My 93.1, KHMY for several of those years. But, Walker has been a fixture on radio in the Hutchinson-Wichita area since 1980.

Bob was born on July 9, 1950 in the Atlanta, Ga. area and died Saturday of natural causes.

Bob loved to make people laugh both on air and off and had classic lines that will live on. The closing to his show was always; “come get me mother, I’m through” will be one that will never be forgotten.

Needless to say, those of us who had the pleasure and honor to work with Bob will miss him very much.

Services for Robert “Bob Walker” Middleton are pending. We’ll let you know when and where they are as soon as we know.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As expected, the Reno County Commission Tuesday went over the architectural drawings for renovations to the current Reno County Jail Annex. That area will become the future home of some county departments once the new county jail is completed and inmates in the annex are moved out.

It’ll take some time to convert the building from a jail to an office building and move those county departments to that area. Total cost is estimated at $2,266,200. However, that doesn’t include the cost of furniture for the new area which could be as much as $200,000.

It was also recommended Tuesday that a new roof be added to the project which could be another $125,000.

There’s some thought that there may be some savings from the building of the current jail which could be used to cover these additional cost, however Commissioner Dan Deming cautioned that there could be more cost to adding a secure entrance to the courthouse, saying any savings from the jail would be offset by those cost.

No decisions were made at this point with the item brought up as a discussion item only. It’s expected to be brought up again next week and they could make some final decisions then.

They hope is to have a design and take bids late this summer and then begin construction with the hope of it being completed in 2016.

The commission did approve two items, one being a new vehicle for Reno County Community Corrections. On a 2 to 1 vote, they granted permission to purchase a Chevy Equinox from Shep Chevrolet in Haven at a cost of $21,538. But, given a trade in allowance of $6,100, that knocks the price down to $15,438. Commissioner Dan Deming voted against it, saying they should go with the lower bid for a Chevy Trax, even though its smaller in size.

They also approved the Reno County Health Department application for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment grants totaling $483,265.20 which would require a local match of just over $198,000.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The USD 308 School Board Monday was greeted by elementary art students as part of the district’s Youth Art Month celebration.

Each March, the district conducts a series of events to highlight the importance of visual arts, beginning with an online art show of sixth grade students and culminating with a show of art at the Hutchinson Art Center at 7 p.m. April 16.

District students also have artwork displayed in all elementary buildings, the Administration Center and the Kansas Capitol. Friday, middle school art students constructed a collaborative art display in Topeka. Hutchinson Middle School – 8 student artist Maxwell Logan received an honorable mention for his work in the display.

Also during Monday’s meeting, the board gave its approval to begin the process of selling a Building Trades Program home that is under construction at 816 West 32nd. The asking price for the home will be $279,900.

An open house for the home also will be scheduled.

Hutch woman charged in indecent liberties case may enter a plea

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A local woman is scheduled to be in court Wednesday where she may enter a plea on a charge of indecent liberties with a child.

Samantha Otterbein is accused of inappropriate touching of a 15-year-old girl back on July 24, 2014. The crime is a level 5 person felony with a sentencing range of two years, seven months, to over 11 years in prison.

The hearing is scheduled in front of Judge Joe McCarville, but as always, scheduled court hearings are subject to change.

Plea hearing in drug distribution case rescheduled for Wednesday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Although a plea hearing for a 35-year-old parolee jailed after drugs were found in a search of his residence was scheduled for Monday, but it was pushed back to Wednesday afternoon according to Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton.

As it stands now, Bruce Alexander II is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, criminal possession of a firearm, defacing identification marks on a firearm and personal use drug paraphernalia. Details of any plea agreement won’t be known until the hearing.

The case involved a drug-related search being served on his home back on Oct. 22, 2014 and officers allegedly finding new and used packaging materials, digital scales with crystal residue, a glass pipe with burnt residue, a Benelli 12-gauge shotgun with the serial number filed off and two grams of methamphetamine.

Alexander remains jailed on an $18,000 bond.

He has two prior felonies for aggravated assault, both convictions out of Shawnee County.

HAVEN, Kan. — Haven EMS responded to a two-vehicle accident Tuesday evening.

According to report, vehicles driven by 62-year-old Francis Peterson of Yoder and 71-year-old Evelyn Hufford of Hutchinson collided at the intersection of K-96 and Arlington Road around 6 p.m.

Peterson, Hufford and a passenger in her car, 50-year-old Edith Johnson of Hutchinson, were all transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment of injuries.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Two Kansas teens were announced at a ceremony Monday, as recipients of statewide honors and college scholarships by the Kansas Boys & Girls Club.

Alliyah Gray, of Hutchinson, was selected by a panel of judges as the Kansas Boys & Girls Club’s Youth of the Year, while Ebony Garrett of the Fort Riley Youth Center was chosen as Kansas Military Youth of the Year. The recipients were chosen from 10 candidates who came to Topeka to present their qualifications and to participate in a youth service activity—a reading activity delivered to children at Pine Ridge Prep, a Topeka Public School learning community.

The Kansas Department for Children and Families (DCF) supports the Boys & Girls Clubs financially and through programs such as the Kansas Reading Roadmap, a grant-funded reading initiative. DCF is proud to participate in the selection of the Youths of the Year.

At the ceremony, DCF employee Matt Billingsley was honored as the Kansas Boys & Girls Club Board Member of the Year.

The Youth of the Year program promotes and celebrates young people’s service to their club, community and family; academic performance; moral character; and public speaking abilities. Each year, the Kansas Boys & Girls Club selects a Youth of the Year and a Military Youth of the Year to represent the organization at a regional competition. Winners from the regions then compete in Washington D.C. for National Youth of the Year.

Kansans recently claimed back-to-back National Youth of the Year honors. In 2013, Kiana Knolland, Wichita, won the national honor, which, along with a substantial scholarship, came with the opportunity to meet the President of the United States. Trei Dudley, Lawrence, the award recipient in 2012, attended this year’s ceremony to help present the awards.

Gray and Garrett will each receive a $5,000 scholarship supported by Boys & Girls Club sponsors: Disney, Toyota, Taco Bell for Teens Foundation and the University of Phoenix.

Gray will travel to Dallas on June 2, to compete for the southwest regional title. Graham will travel to San Antonio on June 25, for the Southwest Military Youth of the Year Competition.

“It’s a true honor to represent the State of Kansas as Youth of the Year, and I’m very excited to represent my community, my parents and my state at the Southwest Region competition this summer,” Gray said upon receiving her award.

First runner up for Kansas Youth of the Year was Dakisha Brooks, Topeka. The first runner up for Kansas Military Youth of the Year was Kaylen Morin, Leavenworth.

“We are extremely proud of all the young people who participated,” Government Relations Director for the Boys & Girls Club Joyce Glasscock said. “These young people have tremendous potential as leaders of our future.”

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — On Wednesday, My 93.1 on-air personalities Casey Osburn and Daren Dunn paid tribute to Bob Walker with a two hour show that featured colleagues and friends of the famed disc jockey. Relive the magical radio moments of Bob Walker with a video that features many of his hysterical characters. Audio from the tribute show is also available below.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Hutchinson Firefighters responded to the area of US 50 and Whiteside for a grass fire. When they arrived, they found two small grass fires along the railroad right of way.

The fire was controlled in about 20 minutes, while units remained on scene for mop up for about an hour.

They say access was a challenge at that location. Only a capable 4 wheel drive vehicle could reach the fire. They say fires of this type can stretch for miles. They found and extinguished the fires in two locations.

Fire crews in other area counties were also working to stop grass fires. The majority of the fires in neighboring counties started as controlled burns and became unmanageable.

The largest fire was in McPherson County. The McPherson County Sheriff’s office said multiple fire crews went to the scene of the blaze at Sioux Road and 2nd Ave. The smoke from that fire could be seen here in Hutchinson.

There were also grass fires reported in Saline and Dickinson Counties on Wednesday afternoon as well.