photo by Brandon Steinert

by Brandon Steinert

GREAT BEND -The Kansas Association of Community College Trustees (KACCT) and the colleges’ presidents gathered for its quarterly meeting Friday and Saturday on the campus of Barton Community College.

Barton President Dr. Carl Heilman, President of the Council of Presidents Executive Committee, said the elected officials and administrators convened to address declining state funding support, which is further hampering the commitment of community colleges to offer economic development and workforce training opportunities.

The presidents also discussed the need for a unified communications initiative with cooperation from all 19 Kansas community colleges, which would work to inform legislators and the general public on the many strengths and benefits of the Kansas community college system.

NEWTON, Kan. – A Newton woman was injured in an accident just before 4 p.m. on Sunday in Harvey County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a Buick Lacrosse driven by Donna K. Meier, 55, Hesston was northbound on Interstate135 just north of Meridian.

The driver lost control of the vehicle when it hydroplaned.

The vehicle left the roadway to the left, struck the guardrail in the median, crossed both lanes of northbound traffic and struck the bridge railing.

A passenger Rita C. Hawkins, 57, Newton, was transported to Newton Medical Center.

Meier was not wearing a seat belt and possibly injured according to the KHP. They did not indicate where she was treated.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Heavy rains overnight are causing flooding in low-lying areas and some road closings in south-central Kansas.

The National Weather Service says 3 to 6 inches of rain fell in the area between late Sunday and early Monday in parts of Sedgwick, Harvey, Marion and McPherson counties.

Flash flood warnings were in effect early Monday in northwest Sedgwick County and all of Harvey County. Flood warnings also are were also issued for parts of Marion, McPherson, Reno, Butler and Chase counties.

The weather service says the Big Blue River near Blue Rapids in Marshall County was at 35.3 feet early Monday. Flood stage for the river is 26 feet.

No serious injuries or major damage has been reported.

photo Harvey Co. Sheriff

HARVEY COUNTY, Kan.- The Kansas Highway patrol chased a suspect into Harvey County and made an arrest of a 33-year old Butler County man on Sunday.

Officers reported troopers were working to stop another vehicle when the pickup drove off, ran a red light, and a 20-minute chase started.

The suspect finally stopped on Rock Road near the Harvey County line at 125th Street. He was arrested on several charges including DUI.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A local woman says she was threatened by a black male around 10 p.m. Sunday when she caught him breaking into her vehicle in the 900 block of East 11th.

She alleges he stole some cash from her and, when she confronted him, he warned her that he had a gun.

Around 7:30 p.m., a Hutchinson woman claims that another woman took property from her by force in the 200 block of North Cleveland.

No arrests have been made from either incident.

Several incidents have been reported to police of criminal damage when someone spray painted graffiti on their vehicles.

This occurred with four incidents on Baker Street in east Hutchinson. In one case on Wheatland Street, a resident reported that someone damaged their car and home with spray painted graffiti.

All of those reports came into police on Sunday.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System will be featuring a special community forum during its monthly “First Course” on Tuesday, June 16th.

Representatives from Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, Reno County Health Department, PrairieStar, Hutchinson Clinic, United Way of Reno County and Hutchinson Community Foundation will be on hand, discussing the state of healthcare in Reno County, including current work on the Community Health Improvement Plan.

Everyone is invited to attend, ask questions, and fill out a short survey. Doors open at 4:45 p.m. with a boxed dinner served at 5 p.m. The location is at The Pavilion, on the campus of Hutchinson Regional Hospital.

The event is free and open to the public. No reservations are required.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – For the tenth consecutive year, Hutchinson Public Schools has received national recognition for clarity in telling the district’s financial story.
The budget document is put together each fall by Lori Blakesley, executive director of fiscal management for the district, and the Business Office staff in conjunction with district auditors and includes information on the district’s audit.

Known as the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the document reviews in-depth district finances for the 2013-14 school year. The Government Finance Officers Association gave the document its Certificate of Achievement, the highest award the organization grants.

The 2013-14 CAFR was the tenth the district produced. The district received the certificate for its nine previous budget publications as well.

Unlike most school districts and other governmental units in Kansas, USD 308 does not waive Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. The CAFR provides the public with budget information that would be comparable to that provided by any major business.

Blakesley works hand-in-hand with district auditors to produce the CAFR.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 44-year-old Burrton man convicted of all the charges associated with an accident where he struck another man with his motorcycle causing him to lose his leg is appealing his conviction even though he was granted probation in the case.

Robby Heironimus was found guilty of leaving the scene of an injury accident, which is a felony because of injuries occurring. Other charges include failing to report an accident, driving while suspended, failing to give information and having an illegal tag. He was granted 18 months probation on a 24-month underlying sentence.

It was back on May 12, 2012, when Heironimus was riding his motorcycle and struck 26-year-old Jeffrey Nusser as he attempted to cross Main at 19th in Hutchinson. Nusser was taken by air-ambulance to Via Christi St. Francis Regional Medical Center in Wichita for trauma to his right leg resulting in it being amputated below the knee.

Heironimus is appealing whether the evidence at trial was sufficient and also jury instructions in the case, that according to Assistant District Attorney Andrew Davidson who prosecuted the case.

Oral arguments involving the appeal are scheduled for Tuesday.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A new report shows that 2 percent of the Kansas winter wheat has been cut since harvest activity began last week in the state.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service reported Monday that is about the same amount compared to a year ago at this time. But it is well behind the 18 percent typically cut by now on average.

The agency reported that 20 percent of the Kansas wheat crop has matured. That is behind the 26 percent that had done so at this time a year ago and well behind the 40 percent average for this late in the season.

About 29 percent of the wheat is reported in poor to very poor condition with 41 percent in fair shape. About 30 percent is in good to excellent condition.

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WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — The winter wheat harvest has gotten off to a soggy start in Kansas.

A few spots in south-central and southeast Kansas have seen very limited harvest activity. The industry group Kansas Wheat says one farmer as far north as Salina reported cutting last week.

The group’s marketing director Aaron Harries says the wheat is ready in much of southern Kansas, with the exception of southwest Kansas. But he doesn’t know of any harvest going on anywhere on Monday.

Heavy rains across much of Kansas in recent days have brought harvest to a screeching halt.

Scott Van Allen started cutting his acres in south-central Kansas last Tuesday and got three good days of harvest before the rains came. He has harvested 500 acres, and has nearly 2,000 more to go.

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt today announced that his office has filed lawsuits against five roofing contractors, including one doing business in Hutchinson, for violating the Kansas Roofing Registration Act by failing to register with his office.

Super Siding LLC and Daniel Roberts, Hutchinson, was named in the lawsuit announced by Schmidt Monday afternoon. In this case, Schmidt alleges the defendant engaged in advertising, soliciting or performing roofing contractor services without registering with the attorney general’s office as required by the Kansas Roofing Registration Act. Schmidt is seeking restitution to consumers who did business with Super Siding LLC as well as penalties for doing business without registering.

Schmidt reminds consumers to make sure roofing contractors are properly registered before signing any contract or having any work done. Consumers should request a copy of their roofer’s registration certificate and then should check the attorney general’s consumer protection website at www.InYourCornerKansas.org to confirm that the registration remains active.

Dr. Nannery- Central Care Cancer Center photo

By DAN MARGOLIES
A whistleblower lawsuit alleging a Kansas oncologist provided medically unnecessary services is the second suit to question his practices, according to The Wichita Eagle.

The newspaper reported on Sunday that Viran Roger Holden, the former chair of the Mercy Clinic oncology department in Springfield, Missouri, claims he was fired after raising questions about Greg Nanney, a cancer doctor who now works for Central Care Cancer Center in Newton and Great Bend, Kansas, and in Bolivar, Missouri.

Nanney formerly worked at Mercy Clinic, which used to be known as St. John’s Clinic. Before that, he practiced in rural areas in Kansas and at Hutchinson Clinic, according to The Eagle.

Holden’s lawsuit says that both Nanney and Steven Braun, a radiation oncologist who worked with Nanney and remains employed by Mercy, treated patients “in a manner that would maximize reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid, while disregarding well-established national cancer treatment guidelines,” The Eagle reported.

The newspaper said Nanney did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Holden’s complaint says Mercy told him it was firing him for cause after it questioned him about a relationship he had with a co-worker and about two prescriptions he wrote for a patient three years earlier.

A previous lawsuit was filed against Mercy Clinic by Hyewon “Helen” Kim, a radiation oncologist who was the hospital’s medical director. Kim alleged that Nanney was let go by the clinic in July 2012 because of “substandard care to patients, and jeopardizing their safety,” according to The Eagle.

Kim’s lawsuit alleges that Kim observed several violations by Nanney and Braun of medical standards affecting patient safety, including concurrent chemoradiation therapy, “which resulted in financial gain” for the clinic, the newspaper reported.

Mercy has denied Kim’s allegations in court documents.

Holden, who gave deposition testimony in Kim’s lawsuit, says Mercy placed him on administrative leave a little more than a month after he was deposed and subsequently fired him.

Dan Margoiles is a reporter for Heartland Health Monitor, a news collaboration focusing on health issues and their impact in Missouri and Kansas.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 24-year-old man entered a plea to a lesser charge of aggravated battery Monday afternoon in Reno County District Court.

Matthew Ledin was originally charged with sexual battery after his arrest for fondling a woman he met on an internet dating site.

The two apparently got together and watched a movie and that’s when things apparently went too far. He was initially arrested on a charge of rape, but the state filed the lesser charge of sexual battery.

Sentencing in the case is set for July 17^th.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Officials announced Monday that Kevin J. Miller, F.A.C.H.E., President and CEO at Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System (HRHS) since July 2011 has resigned his position effective immediately.

Kim Moore, Chairman of the Board of Directors for HRHS, thanked Miller for his four years of leadership in managing the organization, which is comprised of Hutchinson Regional Medical Center and five other affiliates, including Hospice and Homecare of Reno County, Horizons Mental Health Center, Health-E-Quip, Ray E. Dillon Living Center and Hutchinson Regional Medical Foundation.

“Kevin’s accomplishments are many during his four-year tenure at Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, including an expansion of the hospital’s Emergency Department along with other capital improvements, re-accreditations of major entities within the hospital and a return of financial solvency throughout the healthcare system,” Moore said.

“We thank Kevin for his untiring efforts on behalf of HRHS and wish him the very best in all his future endeavors,” Moore continued.

The HRHS Board of Directors has named Ken Johnson to serve as Interim President and CEO. A national search to hire a replacement for Miller will get underway immediately. Moore and other officials didn’t release the reason for the resignation.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A Hutchinson area man was in Reno County District Court Monday where he entered a “guilty” plea to one count of felony theft.

Mahlon Stutzman admitted that between Jan. 1, 2011, and Jan. 1, 2014, he scammed five men out of $493,000. The state says he gave false representation to the victims to deprive them of their money.

The charge has a sentencing range between two years, seven months, to eleven years and four months in prison.

Stutzman remains jailed on a bond of $100,000 and Judge Joe McCarville set sentencing for July 17.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce and the Hutchinson Community Foundation have partnered with the Kansas Leadership Center, the Kansas Rural Housing Coalition, and J Van Sickle & Company to study the motivations underlying the choices that individuals make to live and or work in Hutchinson.

The Chamber is asking Reno County residents and employees to participate in a brief, 31 question survey at www.hutchchamber.com. The survey takes approximately five minutes to complete. The Chamber is also encouraging businesses to ask their employees to participate.

The study will characterize the factors that influence a person’s decision to live or not live in Reno County. The insights gained will help local business, housing, community organizations better understand how to attract and retain residents as members of our workforce and our community.

“After years of assumptions about why people choose to live or not live in Reno County, we are glad to support the Chamber in their efforts to gather meaningful data on the issue,” Aubrey Abbott Patterson, President and Executive Director of the Hutchinson Community Foundation, said. “We believe the results can help our community respond to tangible needs to remove the barriers that keep people from living or working here and further establish Hutchinson and Reno County as a community of choice.”

“The Chamber is very excited about this initiative,” Jason Ball, President of the Chamber, said. “We anticipate this study will shed new light on how we address challenges related to housing, community amenities, and make Hutchinson and Reno County a more desirable place for people to live in.”

“We really want to encourage as many people, in as many businesses in Reno County to take the survey,” Ball said. “The more participants we have, the better the information we can develop from it.”

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Hutchinson Police department is working out the final details for body cameras they will use on the force, and a grant that will purchase in-car cameras.

Chief Dick Heitschmidt informed the City Council Tuesday that they have received a grant that will provide more than $17,000 to purchase three in-car video systems. That purchase will complete that part of the camera program. Then the attention turns to the body cams. The force has been testing a system from Watch Guard, which is the same system as the in-car cameras. By using the same camera brand, the force will be able to tie in both systems in the playback and memory downloading hardware at the station, thus saving money, according to Heitschmidt. The plan is to purchase 20 of the cameras with ten cameras on patrol, and ten at the station either recharging or being downloaded.

Heitschmidt says they are still working on protocol for the cameras, but one requirement is that the camera be turned on every time an officer steps out of the vehicle. Heitschmidt admitted that an officer might forget to turn on the camera at first until they get used to the new system.

Plans are to have the cameras in place by the end of the summer. The cameras cost about $800 a piece.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The hearing for a 26-year-old Hutchinson man charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal discharge of a firearm at or in an occupied dwelling, possession of stolen property and misdemeanor possession of marijuana is in recess.

Christopher A. Vanwye is accused of threatening his mothers fiancee during an altercation back on December 15, 2014. He’s alleged to have put the gun the Delbert East head while threatening him. East testified that Vanwye wasn’t himself that night and was threatening suicide. He tried to down play the incident, but Senior Assistant District Attorney Steve Maxwell persisted in getting him to tell the court what he told police about the incident occurred that night. East finally admitted that Vanwye threatened him and told him to leave.

The suspects mother told the court that her son was suicidal and that she had never seen him that way. Maria Vanwye testified that her son put the gun to his head and she pushed the chair he was in and the gun went off, missing her son, but going through a wall, this at a home in the 800 block of West 14th.

A neighbor told the court that the bullet went through a screen, storm window and a window in her home and lodged into a wall of her home, located across the alley from the home on West 14th.

The state also alleges that the weapon the Astra 357 revolver was stolen from another individual and that at the very least, VanWye was in possession of stolen property. At the time of his arrest, he reportedly was in possession of marijuana.

Christopher M. Tenbraak testified about his gun being taken from his unlocked car back on October 17, 2011. He says he didn’t realize the gun had been located until he read an earlier story about this case on Hutchpost.com. He says the burglar or burglars had also tried to steal his car, but were unsuccessful.

The state had trouble locating an officer to testify in the case, so Judge Joe McCarville agreed to recess the hearing until June 25.

He remains jailed on a $15,000 bond.

Legislation recently passed in Topeka continues to concern Reno County Commissioners. The bill which will have an effect on city and county governments and how much they can raise taxes with the state passing the legislation putting a tax lid on what they can do.

According to the legislation, anything over the rate of inflation would have to be approved by voters. County Commissioner Brad Dillon says his concern is that it covers not just the mill levy, but the budget as a whole. He asked that County Administrator Gary Meagher get with Hutchinson City Manager John Deardoff and try to set up a meeting with Senator Terry Bruce to hear his thinking on the legislation and whether he was for it, but also give them a chance to voice their concerns. Dillon called this legislation “unsettling.”

Commissioner Deming also suggested inviting the other Reno County legislators to the meeting which Dillon didn’t opposed, however Dillon noted that his focus is on Senator Bruce because the legislation was introduced in the Senate.

The legislation as approved won’t take effect until 2018, but that could mean cities and counties would raise taxes between now and then to avoid the limits that would take effect at that time.

Dillon said he would like the meeting to be set up within the next two months. We’ll let you know when such a meeting is scheduled.

PRATT, Kan. – The Sheriff’s office in Pratt County through their investigation has determined that the break in and criminal damage at the Ninnescah Archery Range was done by two juveniles in that county.

They say they recovered some of the stolen property and is referring charges to the Pratt County Attorney on two juvenile male suspects.

They say the success of this case was the result of a surveillance camera and good old fashion police work involving cooperation between Pratt County Sheriff’s Deputies and Pratt Police Officers.

Although two juveniles are suspected, the case remains under investigation.

TOPEKA, KAN. – The Kansas Lottery has launched a new instant scratch game for this year’s Kansas State Fair. On sale now at Lottery retailers throughout the state, the new $1 “Fried N’ Joy” ticket features this year’s State Fair theme and artwork.

Fried N’ Joy, developed in partnership with the Kansas State Fair Foundation, offers a matching number play style and a chance to win up to $1,000 instantly. In addition to the $1,000 top prizes, there are more than 140,000 other prizes in the game, as well, ranging from $500 to a free ticket.

“The Kansas Lottery loves being part of the fun at the Kansas State Fair,” Kansas Lottery Marketing Director Colleen O’Neil said. “For the past several years, we have enjoyed extending our support of the Fair with instant scratch games that specifically recognize and promote this great event.”

In addition to selling Fried N’ Joy at approximately 1,800 retail locations, the Lottery will also have Fried N’ Joy tickets available at the Kansas Lottery Building at the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson Sept. 11-20.

For more information on the State Fair, visit www.kansasstatefair.com.