Sen. Terry Bruce

NICHOLAS CLAYTON, Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — GOP legislators are weighing the political risks of voting on legislation allowing supermarkets to sell stronger alcohol.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Terry Bruce said in a Wednesday meeting of the GOP Senate caucus that the chamber needs to debate the issue as it looks ahead to the 2016 campaign. That’s because the topic has been the target major lobbying efforts by both supporters and opponents.

Supermarket and convenience store chains like Dillons, Hy-Vee and QuikTrip support the move, saying it will increase consumer choices.

But, opponents say that allowing the major chains to sell alcohol would threaten the state’s roughly 750 individually-owned liquor stores.

Republican Sen. Vicki Schmidt from Topeka said that voting on the measure would be risky because it would force lawmakers to publicly pick sides.

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Amtrak says it will stick with its existing New Mexico route of the Southwest Chief passenger train.

Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari told the Santa Fe New Mexican (http://goo.gl/jwurSF ) last week that the Southwest Chief will continue to make stops in New Mexico towns of Raton, Las Vegas, Lamy and Albuquerque.

The announcement ends more than two years of fear and uncertainty in Northern New Mexico’s smaller communities about whether Amtrak would alter the route.

The Southwest Chief travels between Chicago and Los Angeles, but part of the current route was in jeopardy because of questions about maintenance and upgrades of track.

Colorado and Kansas moved aggressively last year to secure a federal grant and to allocate money for repairs on their sections of the Southwest Chief tracks.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — An accident over the weekend resulted in minor injuries according to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff deputies were dispatched to 108th and Plum for the two vehicle accident. When they arrived they found both vehicles with heavy front end damage.

According to the sheriff’s office, Dakota Hughes of Burrton was northbound on Plum when he swerved into the southbound lane to avoid something in his and then crashed into a vehicle driven by Quinton Luttig of Wichita in a near head-on collision.

Quinton Luttig and his two passengers, Richard Luttig Jr and Mary Gottschalk were all transported to Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. Hughes was not injured.

Sheriff officials say the accident which occurred just after 9 p.m. Saturday is still being investigated.

Victor Gutierrez

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 26-year-old Ford County man convicted of charges associated with a high-speed chase back in September was sentenced to two years, two months Monday by Judge Trish Rose The defense had sought a departure for Victor Gutierrez in sentencing and that was denied by the judge.

Gutierrez entered pleas to criminal possession of a firearm and felony flee and elude, while the state dismissed a charge of possession of cocaine. The chase started because of law enforcement being on the lookout for Gutierrez because of his suspected involvement with a murder in Ford County.

He led law enforcement here in a high-speed chase with speeds as high as 150 miles per hour. The chase reportedly ended at U.S. 50 and Mayfield Road east of Hutchinson, where he pulled over and was taken into custody without incident.

In addition to the murder charge in Ford County, Guttierrez is also charged with aggravated endangerment of a child, criminal possession of a firearm by a felon and defacing identification marks of a firearm. The charges in Ford County come after police responded to a home back on Sept. 23, 2014 and found 30-year-old Natasha Pruitt dead of a gun shot wound.

He’ll now be taken back to Ford County to face the accused crimes in that county including the murder charge.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Some staff changes coming to Hutchinson with the announcement by City Manager John Deardoff that Reg Jones, Director of Public Works, will retire effective December 1, 2015.

Jones’ career with the City of Hutchinson began in 1987 as an engineering technician until he later became Assistant Wastewater Treatment Superintendent. He was promoted to Utilities Director in 1990 and then promoted to Director of Public Works in 2006 where he oversees water treatment and production, water and sewer maintenance, waste water treatment, flood control, public works maintenance, street maintenance, and central garage operations.

Brian Clennan, Director of Engineering, will be appointed to the Director of Public Works position effective on that same date. Starting April 1, until Jones’ retirement, Clennan will be working with Jones as part of the transition, which will include a special project involving an accreditation program through the American Public Works Association.

Michael Kramer, a civil engineer in the city’s engineering department, will be promoted to Clennan’s position of Director of Engineering, effective April 1, 2015.

Deardoff in a news release had this to say about Jones, “Reg Jones has played a major role in some very important projects during his tenure with the City of Hutchinson. He’s a great asset to the city. In my view, his most remarkable accomplishment has been his contribution toward securing the city’s water supply with the construction of the Reverse Osmosis Water Plant and aptly steering us through complex challenges related to groundwater remediation to get us to that point.”

Motion deadline set in marijuana distribution case

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 32-year-old man who waived his preliminary hearing in a marijuana distribution case was in court Monday for a pretrial hearings.

Gerardo Saucedo was arrested after a search warrant was served on his home and was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute, and no drug tax stamp.

The state alleges that he had around 90 pounds of marijuana in brick form, believed to be from Mexico. But they also allegedly found numerous containers of high-grade marijuana which were found scattered throughout the home, as well as new packaging materials, a digital scale and some weapons.

The trial has been continued, however Judge Tim Chambers Monday did set a motion deadline of May 5, and there will also be a status hearing over whether a plea deal may be in the works. He didn’t set a new trial date at this point.

State seeks continuance in the trial of Nickerson man

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Judge Trish Rose will hear arguments Tuesday over the states motion to continue the jury trial for a Nickerson man charged with crimes associated with inappropriate touching of his autistic step-daughter and distributing pornographic images of her over the internet

Shanon Patrick Williams is charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child, indecent liberties with a child and three counts of sexual exploitation of a child. He was arrested after the Reno County Sheriff’s Department assisted Homeland Security officers and the Wichita Missing and Exploited Child Unit serve a search warrant on his residence at 103 S. Paine. They seized his computers as well as a camera allegedly used to take some of the pictures.

The case has to do with Williams taking pictures of his step-daughter who was 13 and 14 years old at the time of the alleged crimes. Some of the photos included lewd close-ups of the child, some with clothing, but most without. The naked ones allegedly showed her private parts. They discovered through their investigation that there were 250 e-mail strings with conversations in 30-35 countries. There were indications that he was trying trade the photos for other pornographic pictures and movies.

The crimes allegedly occurring between September 13, 2011 and July 31, 2013.

The state wants the continuance because some of their witnesses not being available. Judge Trish Rose indicated Monday that if she grants the continuance, the trial will be push back to April 14.

Convicted felon who absconded from corrections arrested on firearms charge

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 28-year-old man who was granted corrections back in December for a conviction of distributing marijuana back to February of last year is back in jail after allegedly absconding from those corrections.

Robert Allen Clyborne is now jailed on a $160,000 bond and according to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office was in possession of firearms at the time of his arrest. That included a couple of pistols and rifles according to Sheriff Captain Steve Lutz. So, he now faces a new charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Clyborne has been listed as an absconder from his corrections on the Kansas Department of Corrections website for the marijuana conviction. Sheriff officials were given tips as to his location

Clyborne will now face the additional charge as well as facing of a community corrections violation which could see him sent to prison. Lutz says he also has a warrant out of Texas involving the distribution of marijuana.

Man charged with theft and financial crimes

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A local man was in Reno County District Court for the reading of charges in two cases, both in theft and financial crimes.

Travis Donaldson in one case is charged with two counts of felony theft, both occurring on February 3. That includes him allegedly stealing some rings with a value of a thousand dollars or more and a video camera stolen from Hutchinson Community College with a value also a thousand dollars or more.

In the other case, he’s charged with three counts of making false information, all three involving a pawn tickets. He’s also charged with three counts of theft by deception.

Two of the crimes occurring on April 24, two more on August 28 and the last two on September 2, all in 2014. The theft by deception charges involve the loss of cash for a local pawn shop totaling $3,050.

Donaldson has another case pending and a fourth where he faces a probation violation.

In court, he asked for a reduction of the $14,000 bond for the two cases. Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen wouldn’t go as low as the defendant wanted, but did reduce it to $10,000. Donaldson expected to be back in court Tuesday morning for the three pending case as part of a waiver-status docket.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission made quick work of their agenda Tuesday passing every item that was brought before them.

That included the approval of a contract with Dan Link and Landmark Architects to work on the jail annex project. The project is expected to cost $2,158,700. That includes redoing the roof on the structure, updating the exterior of the building, installing fire sprinklers in the county offices and in the part of community corrections building that will be used for office space. But, add the $171,700 cost of architectural and engineering fees, that brings the total cost to $2,330,400.

Four county departments including, the Register of Deeds, County Treasurer, County Clerk and County Appraiser will move into the new space once remodeled. That won’t begin until inmates housed in the annex building are moved to the new Reno County Correctional Facility currently under construction.

They also approved the purchase of a three thousand gallon poly tanker for Fire District 9 at a cost of $219,000. County Administrator Gary Meagher says the district has plenty in their equipment fund to cover the cost.

They also approved allowing the solid waste department to purchase a 2011 Cat Motor Grader from Foley Equipment of Wichita at a cost of $240,000.

They also approved allowing Reno County Drug Court to seek a three year federal grant in the amount of $659,334.

The commission also agreed to move their meeting next week to Wednesday because of it being election day.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — We talked a little last week about the latest county sales tax collections which shows a slight decrease over the previous month.

During the Reno County Commission meeting Tuesday, County Administrator Gary Meagher told the commission that the collections for the construction of the new jail are also down.

The numbers show that the county collected $427,765 dollars in March, compared with $567,186 in Feb. That’s a difference of over $139,000. That number is also lower then the $446,522 collected in March of last year.

Meagher says at the time voters approved the half cent sales tax to build the jail, they figured with would need at least $400,000 per month to pay off the bonds in ten years or 2023. He still believes they’re on track to pay them off before that time.

The March numbers reflect sales in January.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Siemens has been awarded an order from Apex Clean Energy to supply, support installation and provide long-term service for 130 wind turbines for the Kay Wind project to be located in Kay County, Oklahoma, approximately two hours north of Oklahoma City. Installation of the wind turbines is scheduled to begin this year, with the start of operations expected for the fourth quarter of 2015. Upon completion of the project, Southern Company subsidiary Southern Power will acquire the wind facility from Apex Clean Energy, marking the company’s first wind project. Apex will continue to serve as asset manager of the project.

“Wind power helps form the backbone of an energy mix that is affordable, reliable and sustainable. We welcome the opportunity to work with Apex Clean Energy on this project, which will offer a significant source of clean power,” said Jacob Andersen, CEO Onshore Americas, Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Division. “America’s wind industry helps deliver clean energy while also sustaining jobs here in the United States. Siemens is proud that workers at our factories in the Midwest will produce the blades and nacelles for this project, and our highly skilled technicians will provide service that ensures
these turbines operate at optimal levels.”

“Apex is pleased to be working with Siemens to bring the benefits of affordable, renewable energy to Oklahoma and Kansas,” said Apex President Mark Goodwin. “This project will help boost the Kay County economy and support local schools, while helping to reduce rates for energy consumers in the Southwest Power Pool system.”

The 299-MW project is expected to create enough clean energy to power approximately 100,000 average U.S. homes annually. Power produced at the site will be purchased by Westar Energy and GRDA. The project will feature Siemens SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines, each with a power rating of 2.3 megawatts (MW) and 53 meter blades.

The Siemens SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines are part of the company’s G2 platform of onshore geared products – the workhorse of Siemens’-installed portfolio with rotor diameters optimized for all wind conditions. The G2 platform features highly-engineered, designed and manufactured components, exceptional reliability and low operational costs for an optimized return on investment.

The nacelles for the project will be assembled at the Siemens facility in Hutchinson, Kansas. The blades will be manufactured at the Siemens blade facility in Fort Madison, Iowa.

A long-term service and maintenance agreement was also signed for the project and includes Siemens’ remote monitoring and diagnostic services, which offer a proactive approach to service and maintenance to help bolster the performance of the turbines during their lifetime. Siemens’ Financial Services (SFS) Division has committed to fund up to $80 million of the project’s construction financing.

Hutchinson woman busted for burglary and theft of firearms

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 23-year-old Hutchinson woman was in court Tuesday morning where she was told of the charges against her.

Charges against Jazmin Larue includes three counts of burglary of a dwelling and six counts of felony theft three include the theft of firearms. The others according to the complaint involved the theft of personal property.

She allegedly entered the same home in the 4600 block of North Pennington Road three days in a row, between Sept 30, and Oct. 2, 2014.

All of thefts involve the same individual. The burglary charges are level seven person felonies with a sentencing range on each count of between 11 months and 34 months or just under three years in prison. The burglaries are level nine non-person felonies with a sentencing range on each count of between 5 months and 17 months in prison.

This case involves the Reno County Sheriff investigation, but she was also arrested for failing to appear in a theft case and interference with law enforcement. That last charge is for what allegedly happened in the 200 block of West 2nd. The arrest coming on Sept. 30.

Her bond set at $7,000 and her case will now be scheduled as part of a future waiver-status docket.

Hutch man arrested for aggravated battery scheduled for court Wednesday

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 20-year-old man arrested for suspicion of aggravated battery for an incident which occurred just over a week ago is scheduled to be back before a judge Wednesday for the reading of formal charges.

Cody Andrew Martin is accused of striking another individual with a baseball bat. That person was apparently trying to break up a fight between him and another person. During his first appearance, he says he only swung the bat once and hit the wrong person. He told the judge that he was using the bat as a defensive move while the fight was going on.

The hearing Wednesday is in front of Magistrate Judge Randy McEwen.

State granted continuance in the trial of Nickerson man

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Judge Trish Rose after hearing arguments Tuesday over the states motion to continue the jury trial for a Nickerson man, she officially agreed to the continuance.

Shanon Patrick Williams is charged with aggravated indecent liberties with a child, indecent liberties with a child and three counts of sexual exploitation of a child. The case has to do with Williams taking pictures of his step-daughter who was 13 and 14 years old at the time of the alleged crimes. Officials discovered through their investigation that there were 250 e-mail strings with conversations in 30-35 countries. There were indications that he was trying trade the photos for other pornographic pictures and movies. The crimes allegedly occurring between September 13, 2011 and July 31, 2013.

With the continuance, the trial is now scheduled for April 14.

Bardo

NEWTON, Kan. (AP) — Organizers behind a new 10-county regional economic development effort plan to host an introductory town hall meeting.

Blueprint for Regional Economic Growth event runs from 9:30 a.m. to noon on Thursday at the Meridian Center in Newton.

The initiative’s leaders include Wichita State University President John Bardo and Jeremy Hill, the director of the university’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research. They plan to introduce goals and methodology for moving forward.

CANTON, Kan. – According to a media release, two deputies from the McPherson County Sheriff’s Office arrived at a residence at 2663 Dakota Road south of Canton just before 10:30 p.m.

The officers were following up on an investigation concerning an incident reported earlier.

As the officers approached the residence on foot a man was observed standing near a garage pointing a shotgun at them.

The man was told several times to drop the shotgun but refused to do so while still pointing it at one of the deputies.

Shots were fired at the subject and he was struck once.

Canton EMS responded to the scene and the subject was transported to a local hospital.

Neither of the deputies was injured in this incident. Officers with the McPherson P.D., Canton P.D. and Galva P.D. assisted. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation and the McPherson County Sheriff’s are continuing their investigation.

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CANTON, Kan.- Law enforcement authorities in McPherson County are investigating an officer involved shooting.

One person was injured and transported to a hospital for treatment. Officers were not injured.

McPherson County Sheriff Larry Powell said additional details would be released Wednesday morning.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Local firefighters responded to a structure fire early Wednesday morning at 905 Lee. When they arrived, they found smoke coming from the roof line and the residents safely in the front yard.

The fire was controlled in about 15 minutes with units on scene for about two hours for overhaul. Damage is estimated at about $20,000. No cause for the fire has been released.

The Hutchinson Fire Department responded with six units with the fire reported around 2:30 a.m.

WICHITA, Kan. — A 40-year-old man who was arrested here in Kansas after escaping from a prison in Oklahoma has been indicted on federal firearms charges.

Lance D. Colbert is an inmate at the Mack Alford Correctional Center in Stringtown, Okla. He’s now charged with one count of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction, one count of unlawful possession of ammunition following a felony conviction, and one count of unlawfully possessing a .38 caliber revolver with the serial number removed.

It was back on March 11, when Colbert was arrested in Spivey, a small town in Kingman County. He and another man had escaped from the prison in Oklahoma two days earlier.

Also from Kingman County, 28-year-old Walt Jasper Samuel Shrum is charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm following a felony conviction, one count of unlawful possession of ammunition following a felony conviction and one count of possession of methamphetamine. The crimes are alleged to have occurred March 11 in the city of Kingman.

If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000 on each of the firearms charges and a civil penalty up to $10,000 on the misdemeanor methamphetamine charge.

Hutchinson woman facing three counts of attempted murder gets hearing date

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The 35-year-old woman charged with three counts of attempted murder in the second degree and criminal discharge of a firearm now has a date for a preliminary hearing in the case.

Judge Joe McCarville set a hearing date of April 15, for Nicole Renee Green. The case occurring February 21, when Hutchinson Police were dispatched to Midas Muffler and Brake Shop at 1101 N. Lorraine after a vehicle struck the building.

The occupants of the vehicle, 28-year-old Daniel Newburn, 42-year-old Stacey Plantz and 39-year-old Michael Beason, reported they were at Walmart and were confronted by Green in the parking lot. After a brief argument, the three left the parking lot and drove south on K-61. Green followed them in her vehicle and repeatedly shot at the vehicle they were in until they eventually ended up on Lorraine and crashed the vehicle into the southwest side of Midas.

Green left the scene and later turned herself in at the Law Enforcement Center.

Judge sets hearing date for suspect in stabbing case

Sims

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — We now have a preliminary hearing date for a 32-year-old man charged with aggravated battery for allegedly stabbing 30-year-old man after the two got into an argument over money. Judge Joe McCarville set a hearing date of April 16 for Drew Sims.

It was back on Feb. 23 when officers were dispatched to the area of 12th & Monroe and found Brandon Zeh with a stab wound to his chest. He was transported to an area hospital and underwent emergency surgery.

Back on Feb. 6, Sims had been granted community corrections for crimes that included two counts of theft, forgery and giving a worthless check. Those crimes go back to July of last year. There my be a hearing over whether the revoke those corrections at a future date.

Sims in no stranger to law enforcement or the courts with other convictions that go back to 2001 and 2007, including flee and elude and theft.

Convicted felon who allegedly absconded from corrections faces firearm charge

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 28-year-old man who absconded from community corrections was back in court Wednesday morning where he was told the state had filed a charge with being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Robert Allen Clyborne was granted corrections for distribution of marijuana for a case that goes back to Feb. of last year. He had absconded from those corrections and law enforcement was tipped off as to where he was staying. They were also warned that he could be armed and dangerous, so there was some concern when they went to the location where he was, but he ended up surrendering without incident.

At the time of his arrest, he was heavily armed with a couple of pistols and rifles according to Sheriff Captain Steve Lutz.

Clyborne will also face a community corrections violation which could see him sent to prison. He also has a warrant out of Texas involving the distribution of marijuana. When asked if he had any comment on bond while appearing via-video from the Reno County Jail, he stated “no.” His bond totals $160,000.

He’ll be back in court on the new charge on April 28.

Hutch man arrested for aggravated battery read formal charge

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 20-year-old man has been formally charged with aggravated battery for an incident which occurred back on March 24 was back before a judge Wednesday for the reading of formal charge.

Cody Andrew Martin is accused of striking another individual with a baseball bat. That person was apparently trying to break up a fight between Martin and another person.

During his first appearance, he says he only swung the bat once and hit the wrong person. He told the judge that he was using the bat as a defensive move while the fight was going on.

His case now moves to a waiver-status docket on April 28.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas State Fair has announced that in celebration of “Ye Old Mill’s” 100th birthday, the 2015 Kansas State Fair Museum’s exhibit will be “The Year Of The Ride”.

“It is a perfect theme” says State Fair Museum Director, Charlotte Summers. “There is so much history and great stories about Ye Old Mill, Royal American Shows, and the other featured fair rides.” Summers and the museum volunteers are busy collecting and identifying artifacts. If anyone is willing to loan or donated information or artifacts for the display contact The Kansas State Fair info@kansasstaefair.com or 620.669.3600

The Kansas State Fair Museum, located in the Lair White House, opened in 2014 with the inaugural exhibit dedicated to J.B. Holdren, “Bardo the Clown”. Even though it is the “Year of the Ride”, Holdren’s work, as it relates to the rides, will be featured. Additional museum items will include a Ye Old Mill original boat, vintage photos, history of the carousel horse and much more. The State Fair Museum will be open during the Fair and admission to the museum is free.

BUHLER, Kan. – Buhler High School student Taylor Martens has earned national recognition in The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2015 for her colored pencil drawing titled “Sleeping.”

Martens’ work was identified by a panel of creative professionals as one of the most talented young artists and writers in the nation.  This year, 300,000 works of art and writing were submitted.  Only the top 1 percent were recognized at the national level.  

Martens will be attending a ceremony at the world-famous Carnegie hall on Thursday, June 11. Her drawing is displayed at the Hutchinson Public Library for the month of April.

HAVEN, Kan. – The Haven USD 312 School District continues its search for a new Superintendent.

The first person interviewed with the district last night during a special board meeting. The candidate is current Moundridge Principal Clark Wedel. According to the school district, Wedel is one of what they hope will be five finalists for the job. Those names, and any dates for when those interviews will occur, have not been determined at this time.

The school district is looking for a replacement for Rick White, who is retiring at the end of the school year. The district hopes to have the new Superintendent in place some time in May.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Sheriff’s office is investigating the burglary of the USD 309 Administration building west of Hutchinson.

They report that on Wednesday between 6:30 and 7:00 a.m., an individual broke into the offices at 4501 West 4th. They report that several items from that building were stolen.

They are asking that if anyone has any information that will help identify the suspect or any vehicles seen at the building during this time frame, please contact law enforcement at 911 or Crime Stoppers at 620-694-2666 or 1-800-222-8477 (222-TIPS). You may remain anonymous if you wish.

Additional photo
 

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — If you saw a lot of fire trucks in the area of 11th & Halstead Thursday, it wasn’t because of a fire or any emergency. Fire Department officials say they were implementing a planned exercise at Airgas at 1200 North Grand.

Airgas representatives had been planning the exercise with Fire Department Training Division for a couple of months. The employees at the facility were not aware of the drill and were tested along with Fire Department resources.

A recap of the events was held with both partners on what could be learned from the event.

A number of emergency vehicles were in the area in conjunction with Airgas officials, but they emphasize, it was an exercise only and no real emergency occurred.