HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The state has now filed an additional charged against a 28-year-old Wichita man arrested back in January of last year for being in possession of a large quantity of high-grade marijuana here in Hutchinson.

Demarcus Phillips Sr. is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana with a prior conviction.

He apparently bonded out, but has failed to show in court in this case. Deputy District Attorney Tom Stanton has now filed two counts of aggravated failure to appear.

The case itself started on Jan. 18, 2015 when Reno County Drug Unit detectives observed a vehicle pull into the back of a residence in the 1300 block of East 3rd. They saw a white male walk up to the driver’s side window and meet with the black male driving. Officers then approached the vehicle and allege that they could smell a strong odor of marijuana. The white male was placed in handcuffs and two black males in the vehicle were also placed in handcuffs. Detectives say behind the driver’s seat was an Olive Garden bag that contained four aluminum pans each containing gallon size zip-close bags of marijuana. They say the bags contained approximately two pounds of what they called the high-grade stuff. They also found three previously rolled marijuana cigarettes in the vehicle.

Phillips has prior convictions for drug offenses in Sedgwick County and a possession with intent to sell conviction out of Saline County.

The Reno County drug case is pending jury trial.

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) – A federal judge in Kansas has ruled that a bag used to collect lunar samples during the first manned mission to the moon legally belongs to an Illinois woman who bought it for $995 when it was mistakenly sold during a government auction.

The  bag carried to the moon aboard the Apollo 11 spacecraft and used for the first sample of lunar material was  at the center of a legal fight after the government mistakenly sold it during the criminal case against Max Ary, the former director of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center.

The bag was flown on Apollo 11 in June 1969 and has lunar material embedded in its fabric.

The government this week asked a federal judge to rescind its sale. It contends that as result of miss identification the National Aeronautics and Space Administration- which loaned it to the Cosmosphere – was not properly notified. But Judge J. Thomas Marten says in his Wednesday ruling that he doesn’t have the authority to reverse the sale of the space artifact.

Ary was convicted in 2005 for stealing and selling museum artifacts. He served three years in federal prison. The bag was found in his garage during execution of a search warrant.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The City of Hutchinson’s housing commission will take action on a proposed incentive program that they hope will entice residents in some areas of the city to make major home improvements. Action on the proposal could come during their commission’s next meeting Dec. 21.

During the 2017 Annual Budget process, City Council approved allocating $70,000 for Housing Initiatives. City Council requested the Housing Commission develop strategies as part of the process, resulting in the Housing Commission recommending two new incentives for feature neighborhoods and the City’s residential historic district in 2017.

The first strategy – Down Payment Match Program – was approved by the Commission in October and City Council in November. The second recommended initiative is a zero interest home repair loan program, with a maximum expenditure of $35,000. 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 districts, The maximum interest amount per loan can not exceed $2,500, there are no income restrictions and homeowners and landlords are both eligible for the program. If approved the funding could make improvements to between 15 and 25 homes.

Staff proposes partnering with Peoples Bank and Trust as the loan holder for all Zero Interest Home Repair Loans.

Staff is recommending approval of the program, and if so the matter would then go before the City Council..

photo KDOT

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Ten more Kansas road projects are being postponed because of the state’s budget shortfall.

Kansas Department of Transportation spokesman Steve Swartz told The Wichita Eagle on Wednesday that the department would be taking on more projects if “there wasn’t some uncertainty right now.”

The state had planned to put 18 projects with estimated construction costs of around $24.7 million out to bid for work next month. That number has now been trimmed to eight projects that will cost $7.25 million.

Last month, the department indefinitely postponed 24 road projects that would have cost $32 million.

The state faces a projected $348 million budget shortfall this year with a larger shortfall of $582.6 million on track for the next fiscal year.

Jeterri Davis               Antoine Alexander

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Two men were arrested Wednesday after they showed up at an apartment building downtown in the unit block of East 2nd with one of them accused of forcing his way in and threatening the occupant with a handgun.

Jeterri J. Davis in jailed on a $17,000 bond for suspicion of aggravated burglary, aggravated assault, criminal possession of a firearm and defacing identification marks on the firearm. He was found by police about 20-minutes after the altercation.

Also arrested was Antoine Alexander for a charge of felony interference. Police were looking for him and when they arrived at a residence in the 200 block of East 7 th, he reportedly jumped from a second story window of the home and ran from officers. He was captured about three blocks away.

Davis has another case pending in Reno County District Court where he’s accused of stealing a pickup, then leading police police on a chase before being arrested in the unit block of Carey Street. The robbery occurring in the 200 block of Hayes Street. This occurring back in Nov.

He earlier denied he stole the pickup by force claiming it belongs to his step-dad and that he often drives it. He also denied that he had a gun on him at the time of the alleged robbery.

Alexander has a case pending where he’s charged with aggravated battery for the beating of Darrell Beachy.

Davis is no stranger to law enforcement with convictions for burglary, forgery, theft and drugs from Geary and Sedgwick counties.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Hutchinson Police have arrested two people in association with two robberies of Dillons stores in Hutchinson.

Arrested for a robbery of the North Main Dillons is Majesty Wade and he was also suspected of driving the vehicle for the robbery at the East 4th Dillons. The person who entered the store in that robbery was D’Angelo Williams.

The North Main Dillons store robbed on Oct. 17 and the East 4th store was robbed on Oct. 21.

The Dillons at 14th and Main was robbed when a man wearing a Halloween mask, walked in and demanded money before attempting to flee on a bicycle. And then a man wearing a mask walked into the 4th Street store and demanded money.

Williams made a first appearance Thursday morning where his bond was left at $10,000, while Wade was arrested Thursday morning when he came to the law enforcement center. His bond set at $20,000. He may also face additional charges in Harvey County over a separate incident. That has been referred to the Harvey County Attorney.

Wade should appear in court Friday morning.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. ( Dec. 15, 2016) — Saying he has a natural love for the Cosmosphere and a respect for the military, Apollo era NASA flight director and Presidential Medal of Freedom awardee, Gerry Griffin, visited the Cosmosphere on Thursday. Griffin spoke to 65 leadership members from Fort Riley and then participated with the group in the Cosmosphere’s flagship problem solving exercise, Apollo Redux, a simulation experience of a space emergency.

Griffin, told Eagle Radio Thursday afternoon that he is amazed that the military can use today what they did in the 1960’s and 70’s to help in real life missions for the Army. Lt Col. David Gardner with Ft Riley said it was a privilege to work with Griffin, and said that they will incorporate the exercise into various situations.

Griffin also took time to discuss the future of spaceflight, and said that until NASA has a firm target of where they want their next mission to go, it will be very difficult to get the SLS Orion project going full speed. Griffin says the SLS high cost will keep the program in check unless the space agency gets an infusion of both interest from the Government and public, and the funds to keep the program going.

Griffin, who played an important role in the Apollo 13 crisis, was also the Flight Director of the Apollo 12 mission, which was nearly aborted after the rocket was struck by lightning just after take off, and the Apollo 15 and 17 missions. Apollo 17 with astronauts Gene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt and Ron Evans, was the last Apollo moon mission in December of 1972. He also served as the director of the Johnson Space Center from 1982 through 1986.

CINCINNATI, Oh (12-16-16) Kroger announced today that they will ask for voluntary buyouts to about 2000 non-store employees. The parent company of Dillon’s said that in a concession to difficulties of the current operating environment, Kroger was offering voluntary retirement buyouts. Kroger CEO Rodney McMullin said that the the announcement is in support of the company’s Customer 1st” strategy to reduce costs in areas not affecting the customer experience, such as in stores.

Because the program is voluntary, savings and cost will be based on the number of associates who accept the offer between now and early March, when the consideration periods expire, Kroger said. Expenses related to the offer will be reflected in Kroger’s first quarter 2017 results.

The effect of this buyout plan was not included in the company’s initial comments on its fiscal 2017 outlook. Bill Kirk, an analyst at RBC Capital, in a research note Thursday said the move would not likely have a material impact on Kroger, which employs some 431,000 workers in the U.S., but was indicative of the difficult operating environment. Kirk noted that if the number of employees that take the offer is lower than expected layoffs could be the next step.

The announcement comes on the heels of weakening sales at the Cincinnati ­based retailer, which early this month posted non­fuel comparable­ store sales of 0.1% in its fiscal third quarter, its lowest quarterly sales gain in 13 years.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. ( 12-16-16) — The Board of the Hutchinson/ Reno County Chamber of Commerce has named Kirk Johnson as the Chambers Interim President and CEO.

Johnson was named to the post during a board meeting on Tuesday. He will step in for current President and CEO Jason Ball, who will be leaving his post next month to take a similar job in Sioux Falls South Dakota..

The board also established an eleven member Executive Search Committee. Allen Fee from Fee Insurance will be the Committee Chair. The committee includes representatives from important community organizations including the City of Hutchinson and the Community Foundation. The committee also includes a diverse base of business and industry representatives, eight of whom are current Chamber Board members.

The committee will convene for the first time in January, and hope to complete the process by April of 2017.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The trial for one of the suspects in a home invasion case from South Hutchinson and drug distribution case will be delayed even longer after he was once again granted a new attorney.

Thirty-year-old Jesse Aich is charged with possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to package, possession of three other drugs (hydrocodone, oxycodone and morphine), as well as a final count of personal use drug paraphernalia.

The case against Aich started with a search warrant served on his residence where he apparently lived in a basement bedroom. Inside that room, law enforcement allegedly found a baggie that contained a crystal substance, a baggie containing a powder substance, a digital scale with white residue, new packaging materials, used baggies with residue, two 100-count boxes of syringes, glass pipes with burnt residue they say was used to smoke meth, several types of pills and over $1,000 in cash.

Aich is also charged in another case with two counts of attempted aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal discharge of a firearm, criminal possession of a firearm, possession of methamphetamine, marijuana and five different prescription drugs, all with intent to distribute, and possession of drug paraphernalia with intent to distribute drugs.

Aich and 32-year-old Charles Swepston were arrested for an incident that happened early in the morning on Friday, July 31, 2015.

South Hutchinson police were called to a home shortly after 7 a.m. Friday and were told two men had forced their way inside and demanded money and valuables. The two victims reportedly fought with the intruders before Aich allegedly left and came back with a handgun, firing twice, but not hitting anyone.

The cases are pending trial with a new attorney Nick Oswald assigned after attorney Shannon Crane was allowed to withdraw which most likely means another delay in these cases going to trial.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The Reno County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after a 67-year-old woman reported that her home was broken into and items being taken. She also says her dog was cut up by the intruder or intruders causing serious injury to the animal. A witness told deputies they saw two individuals leave the residence.

The investigation into the burglary and animal cruelty case is ongoing and no arrest have been made.

The crimes reported around 8:40 a.m. Thursday morning.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A local woman arrested after a domestic case from August was scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Thursday, but entered a plea instead.

Anastasia Patterson was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, but as part of the agreement with the state, she entered a plea to criminal threat instead. Patterson also entered pleas to domestic battery, battery of a law enforcement officer and interference with law enforcement.

The case started with her threatening a man with a knife. She was also convicted of striking the victim and a police officer. She’s also resisted arrest and removing the handcuffs an officer had placed on her.

This occurred during a disturbance call back on Aug. 16.

Judge Joe McCarville set sentencing for next month.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The latest unemployment numbers have been released from the Kansas Department of Labor and they show the unemployment rate for Hutchinson in Nov. was at 4.6 percent. That’s a drop from 5 percent on Oct. but still higher then in Nov. of last year when the rate was 4.1 percent.

The rate for Reno County for Nov. was at 4.2 percent down from 4.5 percent in Oct., but again higher then Nov. of last year when the rate was at 3.9 percent.

Other surrounding counties rates either stayed the same or also dropped some last month.

For the state, the Nov. seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.3 percent. This was down from 4.4 percent in Oct. and up from 4 percent in Nov. of 2015.

The ‘Nights Before Christmas’ event at the Hutchinson Zoo has been cancelled for tonight.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Fire crews responded Saturday night to 1015 East 9th for a reported structure fire. When they arrived, they found light smoke inside the structure, began fire attack procedures.

The fire was found in the kitchen area attic and was extinguished within 20 minutes of arrival. Crews continued overall procedures and investigation, finding the cause to be electrical in nature, likely from an overloaded circuit. Fire damage is estimated at $25,000.

The fire was reported about 6:40 p.m.

SALINE COUNTY — A Harvey Co. teen was injured in an accident just after 11:30 p.m. on Sunday in Saline County.

A Pontiac G6 driven by Maycee Nichole Jones, 19, Newton, was northbound on Interstate 135, three miles south of Assaria.

The Pontiac struck the trailer of a northbound semi, crossed the center median and came to rest on the southbound side of Interstate 135.

Jones was transported to the hospital in Salina. Two passengers in the Pontiac and the semi driver from Oklahoma were not injured.

All four were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

Security personnel train for the new secure entrance to the Reno County Courthouse

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The new security at the Reno County Courthouse will start Tuesday, Dec. 27.

At that time, anyone other than county employees needing to do business in the Courthouse between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. will be required to enter through the main door of the Courthouse and go through security screening. No weapons will be allowed in.

Exit from the building will be through a single exit right next to the entrance. Other exits will be emergency only and will not open without code or key.

For those needing to do business with law enforcement after hours or on weekends, the front entrance to the Law Enforcement Center lobby doors will be open. You will pick up the appropriate phone inside to contact either the Police Department or the Offender Registration Office.

An employee will meet you and you will then go through security measures before entering the secure part of the building.

Sheriff Randy Henderson stated in a Facebook post that this is different than what has been done before and he knows there will be some resistance, but he says, “unfortunately times are changing and security measures are warranted.”

They will have a list of banned items listed on their Facebook page in the near future.

Jerry Hill

Feb. 18, 1938 – Dec. 15, 2016

Galloway Sales and Hill Sale, Inc.

Age: 78

Peggy Lee (Pierson) Webb

Dec. 14, 1964 – Dec. 15, 2016

Paraprofessional

Age: 52

Jerie Ann Kahmeyer

March 21, 1948 – Dec. 15, 2016

Jerie’s Beauty Salon

Age: 68

Kristina Jolene Hewitt

Aug. 7, 1962 – Dec. 13, 2016

Siemens Wind Power

Age: 54

Rex Taylor Garnett

Nov. 24, 1965 – Dec. 13, 2016

Age: 51

Margaret Frances Grilliot

July 6, 1939 – Dec. 13, 2016

Homemaker

Age: 77

Vivian Anne Phelps

June 11, 1918 – Dec. 12, 2016

Administrative Assistant

Age: 98

John W. Warner

July 28, 1935 – Dec. 10, 2016

Dillons

Age: 81

Gerald Bruce Wickliffe

April 28, 1935 – Dec. 8, 2016

Firefighter

Age: 81

Linda Sue Osner

Oct. 16, 1950 – Dec. 8, 2016

R.N.

Age: 66

Nola L. Schott

March 3, 1923 – Dec. 7, 2016

Office Manager

Age: 93

Harold “Nebs” R. Nevius

Aug. 20, 1925 – Dec. 7, 2016

Fireside Club

Age: 91

Robert “Bob” H. Peel

Jan. 14, 1927 – Dec. 6. 2016

Peels Salon Service

Royal E. Perkins

Dec. 14, 1916 – Nov. 29, 2016

Farmer

Age: 99

Mary Jo Vecchiarelli

Oct. 16, 1930 – Dec. 5, 2016

Nurse’s Aide

Age: 86

Peggy J. Long

June 10, 1929 – Dec. 3, 2016

Housewife

Age: 87

Alice W. Duft

July 8, 1923 – Dec. 3, 2016

Jackson Frozen Food Center

Age: 93

James “Jim” G. Payton Jr.

Nov. 3, 1921 – Dec. 2, 2016

Payton Optical

Age: 95

Juliana L. Ewald

Feb. 16, 1919 – Dec. 2, 2016

Smoot Grain-Salina Terminal Elevator

Age: 97

Jane Frances Nevius

March 25, 1935 – Nov. 29, 2016

Pitney Bowes

Age: 81

Robert “Bob” Val Glynn

Nov. 26, 1926 – Nov. 30, 2016

Hutchinson Community College

Age: 90

Gary Lynn Brinkley

Jan. 15, 1950 – Nov. 27, 2016

Gary’s Heating & Air Conditioning

Age: 66

Margaret Alice McClain Graber

Feb. 18, 1927 – Nov. 27, 2016

Lowen Corporation

Age: 89

Eva C. Bock

July 19, 1945 – Nov. 28, 2016

Hutchinson Correctional Facility

Age: 71

Nancy Ruth Burns Jaehde

June 21, 1944 – Nov. 21, 2016

R.N./Professor

Age: 72

Brandon W. Hornbaker

June 7, 1983 – Nov. 26, 2016

IT Consultant

Age: 33

John Patrick Bignell

Aug. 1, 1935 – Nov. 25, 2016

Idaho Dept. of Transportation

Age: 81

Dale Boyd Williams

June 4, 1947 – Nov. 23, 2016

Service Master

Age: 69

Beverly J. Miller

April 1, 1937 – Dec. 7, 2016

Homemaker

Age: 79

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 34-year-old Hutchinson man who entered pleas in two serious domestic cases was sentenced Monday afternoon to three years in prison.

Charles Mendenhall III entered pleas earlier this year aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the case from Dec. 24, of last year and aggravated burglary for the case from Jan. 10 of this year.

Judge Trish Rose sided with protecting the community when she handed down the sentence and denied a defense request for some form of probation. The state had argued for prison calling him a danger to the community. District Attorney Keith Schroeder told the court that what he did in both cases were “acts of violence.”

His attorney argued that he is getting treatment, both for substance abuse and also mental treatment through Horizon’s. She wanted the probation so he could continue the treatment.

The victim also spoke at sentencing and also argued for a non-prison sanction and give him a second chance.

But Judge Rose was bothered by him waiving a gun around and firing three shots in the home with a children inside during the first altercation.

Mendenhall told the court prior to sentencing that he was struggling during that time and admits he made a serious mistake. He says in the second incident, he couldn’t stand being away from home and tried to sneak in, but a window broke and then police came. He denies he was holding the victim against her will.

Mendenhall had been charged with kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, criminal discharge of a firearm, criminal threat and two counts of aggravated endangerment of a child in the Christmas Eve incident where he held police at bay for several hours.

In the case from Jan. 10, he was charged with aggravated battery, aggravated burglary, interference with law enforcement, violation of a protection from abuse order, criminal restraint and battery of Hutchinson Police Officer Josh Long.

He was again sentenced to three years in prison for the two crimes from the two incidents.