HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A man accused in drug distribution and home invasion cases has decided that maybe it’s not such a good idea to be his own attorney after all.

Jesse Aich informed Judge Trish Rose Friday that, with his cases being very complicated, he now believes he needs an attorney.

It was decided Friday morning that an attorney would be assigned. His attorney before was Nick Oswald, but there was also talk of maybe assigning Wichita Attorney Klaus Mueller. No decision was made at this point it, but it will delay the trial, which was scheduled to begin next week.

The cases against Aich go back to 2014 and 2015.

In one case, law enforcement allegedly found methamphetamine, a digital scale with white residue, new packaging materials and other drugs and paraphernalia items, as well as over $1,000 in cash back on Oct. 28, 2014.

In the case from 2015, he’s charged with two counts of attempted aggravated robbery, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, other weapons charges, possession of methamphetamine, marijuana, five different prescription drugs, and drug paraphernalia, all with intent to distribute.

Aich and 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. that 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. He fired twice, but did not hit anyone.

They will have another status hearing in the case once it’s determined who his attorney is.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 44-year-old man who filed a habeas corpus motion in a sexual assault case that was denied at the District Court level, but reversed by the Kansas Court of Appeals, may get a new trial or at least a plea offer from the state.

James Rodney Quinton was convicted for sexually assaulting a young woman at a local residence. She was able to escape through a window when he fell asleep. She called the police after walking to a closed convenience store in the middle of the night. She was treated at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center for injuries inflicted during the attack.

He was convicted for two counts of aggravated criminal sodomy and rape. The crimes occurred on Sept. 18, 2003.

He filed a habeas corpus motion in 2008 after all of his appeals were exhausted. The case has been going through the court system since that time.

He was sentenced to 72 years in prison by the late District Judge Richard Rome. Quinton was represented by then Public Defender Tim O’Keefe and he claimed ineffective counsel in his appeal.

Apparently, there will be another status hearing set in the case after it was remanded by the Kansas Court of Appeals back to District Court for a new trial.

District Attorney Keith Schroeder says he doesn’t want the victim to have to testify 14 years after the crimes, so he may try to work out some sort of plea deal.

No date was set for any future hearing, but we’ll continue to follow this story.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Dale Dennis, Deputy Commissioner of the Kansas Department of Education and noted expert on school finance, will be the featured speaker at the Hutchinson Rotary Club meeting on Monday, April 17. The meeting, which takes place at the Hutchinson Town Club over the noon hour, is open to those interested in learning about the state of K-12 funding in Kansas.

Dennis joined the Kansas State Department of Education in 1976 as the Assistant Commissioner of Education. In his time at the KSDE, he has assumed many roles, including Interim Commissioner of Education and his current role as Deputy Commissioner.

Dennis supervises the administration of approximately $3.5 billion state and federal funds, which flow through the State Department of Education to unified school districts and non-public schools. He is also the liaison for the State Board of Education to the Legislature and the Governor’s office, presenting materials related to legislation and finance to the State Board of Education. He also audits all state and federal programs administrated by the State Board of Education.

Rotary Club meetings take place on the first and third Monday of the month from 11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Non-members are welcome to enjoy the speaker and lunch for a fee of $15 cash or check.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Officials at Jacam Chemicals say they will be able to resume operations at their facility north of Sterling where fire destroyed a building on Thursday.

Laura Snyder is the spokesperson for Jacam and says they plan to re-energize the plant over the weekend and be up and running again Monday. The fire broke out around 9 a.m. Thursday in a building used to produce a clay product for the oil drilling industry. While the material was not explosive or hazardous, it did burn hot enough to cause the large metal building to collapse.

Snyder also wanted to take time to thank firefighters and Jacam employees for their hard work during the incident. No injuries were reported to either firefighters or employees. The state fire marshal’s office was out investigating the fire Friday, but no cause has been determined at this time. The fire did cause a small group of families and one business to evacuate, but all were allowed to return Thursday as the fire subsided.

Jacam does plan to rebuild that area of the plant and will move the six employees displaced from their jobs by the fire to other duties.

MCPHERSON COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities, including the Kansas Bureau, are investigating a possible murder in McPherson County.

On Friday, police responded to the report of a man on the floor of his home in the city of McPherson, according to a media release.

When first responders arrived, the man was dead. Police believe the victim was targeted and knew the suspects. They do not believe the crime is a random act.

No additional details were released late Saturday morning.
Anyone with information on the crime is asked to contact McPherson County Crimestoppers.

This Third Thursday we are celebrating the Week of the Young Child in Downtown Hutchinson! There will plenty of activities for a full evening of fun!

Make your own paper dolls at the Reno County Museum. These dolls have been reproduced from real dressing dolls in the Museum’s collection from World War I.

This event is perfect for all ages and it is free to attend. Plus, you can take your new dolls home with you!

Learn the history behind your new dolls and what Reno County Experienced during World War I by visiting the exhibit “For Home and Country: Reno County in the Great War.”

There will be light snacks provided.

The Oodleplex play area will be open until 7:30 and admission is free!

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Retailer rue21 said on its website Saturday that the store at Salina’s Central Mall will close.

The clothing store announced the Salina location will be among several stores nationally to close.

“It’s true – we are closing the store. It was a difficult but necessary decision. Stop by and check out the deals before it’s too late. But the good news is we still have hundreds of locations across the country, and our website rue21.com, open for business!” the store said on its website.

Other Kansas locations with the same message include Hays and Emporia.

The company also has locations in Hutchinson, Manhattan, Dodge City, Garden City, Topeka, Wichita and Liberal.

The National Weather Service in Wichita has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for…Southwestern McPherson County in central Kansas…Southeastern Rice County in central Kansas…

Until 1145 PM CDT

At 1038 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located near Windom, or 12 miles northwest of Inman, moving east at 15 mph.

HAZARD…Quarter size hail.

SOURCE…Radar indicated.

iMPACT…Damage to vehicles is expected.

Locations impacted include…Mcpherson, Inman, Little River, Windom and Mcpherson Airport.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A 31-year-old Mesa, Arizona, woman is jailed in the Reno County Correctional Facility on a $100,000 bond after she was stopped for speeding at U.S. 50 & Main Street in South Hutchinson.

Allissa Holler apparently granted a search by South Hutchinson Police and they uncovered 44 pounds of suspected marijuana in that vehicle.

She was then placed in custody for suspicion of being in possession of marijuana with intent to
distribute.

This occurred around 2:50 p.m. Saturday. Unless she makes bond, she should make a first appearance in court Monday morning.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Two people face possible drug distribution and other charges after their arrest in the 1400 block of East 4th early Saturday.

Twenty-six-year-old James Anderson of Turon was arrested on numerous charges. Possible charges include possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, paraphernalia with intent to distribute, personal use drug paraphernalia, felony interference, felon in possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, driving while suspended and no insurance.

Twenty-three-year-old Hali E. Laws, Turon, was also arrested and faces basically the same charges.

Laws is jailed on a $20,000 bond while Anderson has apparently posted bond.

The arrest came just after 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

Carter Lee Krehbiel-photo courtesy Elliot Mortuary

RENO COUNTY — Funeral services are scheduled for a Kansas boy found not breathing and with no pulse in a Hutchinson swimming pool on April 6.

Carter Lee Krehbiel died April 12 at a Wichita hospital.  A Rosary service is scheduled for Monday, 6 p.m., at Church of The Holy Cross , 2631 Independence Rd. in Hutchinson. The funeral service at the church is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Just after 4 p.m. on April 6, first responders were dispatched to a home in the 1100 Block of Bramble Bush Drive in Hutchinson.

They found Carter Lee Krehbiel, 4, Hutchinson, in critical condition. He was taken to a Wichita hospital, according to Hutchinson Police Lt. Josh Radloff.

The child lived a few houses down the street from the pool.

His mother went into her home to check on another child and when she came back the 4 year old was missing.

The home owner with the pool had put a hose in her pool to fill it up and was inside when she noticed the hose was out of the pool and a gate to the pool open.

She went to check on the hose and saw pants by the pool. That’s when she saw the child.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The expansion of the ICU facility at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center has exposed a need for changes in city parking regulations that the City Council will consider changing during Tuesday’s meeting.

Because of the parking requirements in city code, the Hospital will be out of compliance once the ICU unit is finished. The number of stalls needed under city code is far greater than most other cities require. That’s because the city bases the number of parking spaces at the hospital on the size of the building rather than the number of beds and employees.

Under the proposal, the city would change the Hospital parking requirements to the number of beds and employees, similar to other cities including Wichita. This would bring the hospital to within compliance.

Also Tuesday, the Council will consider a contract with CDM Smith for monitoring the 4th and Carey water contamination site at a cost of $114,119 and get a full report on the Sports Arena project from City Manager John Deardoff.

Tuesday’s Hutchinson City Council meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the city offices.

(Left to Right) Jim Hanni, AAA Kansas; Lt. Neufeld and Chief McClarty, McPherson Police Department.

McPHERSON, Kan. – During the McPherson City Council meeting Monday morning, the McPherson Police Department represented by Chief Robert McClarty and Lt. Stan Neufeld were presented with their second AAA Kansas Traffic Safety Award by Jim Hanni of AAA Kansas.

The award’s purpose is to encourage communities to address local traffic safety issues in a coordinated and cost-effective way. Communities can score points for the utilization of each traffic safety enforcement, education, emergency medical response, and engineering programs they conduct and submit, as well as the traffic safety statistics achieved and reported.

They also scored points for having a departmental policy requiring all employees to wear a seat belt.

They were also being recognized for their participation in the highly successful, Kansas-born SAFE seat belt usage education program at McPherson High School, but they also work with Washington, Lincoln & Roosevelt Elementary schools, too.

The department was being recognized for their new social media education efforts on Facebook, with Traffic Stop Tuesday, posting information on traffic safety topics selected from citizen’s concerns.

They were also recognized for the stepped up, high visibility enforcement support of Click It Or Ticket, You Drink You Drive You Lose and speed enforcement efforts in the spring and the fall. Proof of their efforts in traffic safety are shown in the trend of McPherson traffic safety statistics: Teen belt use is at 86%. Child passenger seat use is at 88% and adult belt use has risen from 74% in ’12 to 85% in ‘15; and there has only been one fatality in the past four years, three of those years, then, with none.

McPherson Police Department qualified for a SILVER Award, given to communities that implement programs and projects that demonstrate a STRONG, SUSTAINED effort to address local traffic safety issues.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A budget proposal that puts a passenger train route that passes through Kansas at risk is raising concerns.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports that President Donald Trump’s budget calls for the elimination of federal subsidies for some money-losing long-distance train routes.

Amtrak spokesman Marc Magliari said in an email that the final and full budget plan for Amtrak’s federal aid hasn’t been released. But he confirmed that among “several services targeted” would be the Southwest Chief, which spans from Chicago to Los Angeles. It has stops in several Kansas towns, including Topeka, Lawrence, Garden City and Hutchinson.

Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins has voiced concern, saying that “infrastructure is vital to Kansas and rural America.” Kansas generates just shy of 50,000 passengers per year for Amtrak.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It appears to be a fairly busy morning for the Reno County Commission Tuesday, which includes one item for discussion postponed from last week.

That includes the commission’s overall goals and changes in meeting times and procedures.

The commission will also consider setting a date for applying for natural disaster tax abatement for those affected by the wildfires last month.

Also for discussion is approval of a quitclaim deed on real estate deemed as surplus to be conveyed to the city of Arlington located southwest of the Coop in that city between K-61 and the railroad tracks.

They will also talk about a request from the county transportation department for surplus property they want to sell, which includes a couple of vehicles that would be placed on the Purple Wave Auction site.

And they’ll also look at designating Friday May 19 as “National Bike to Work Day,” which would also include a free ride day for all RCAT services.

The County Commission meeting begins at 9 a.m. at the Reno County Courthouse.

HUTCHINSON , Kan. — The Hutchinson Sports Arena is nearly completed and, despite some of the unforeseen expenses that occurred with the renovation, the project will come in under budget.

Parks Director Justin Combs, who was the liaison for the project, reported to the City Council that the project will come in as much as $30,000 under budget. The arena project was met with several high-ticket expenditures that were not part of the project, most notably the resurfacing of the floor in the concourse that cost more than a quarter of a million dollars.

Issues with the soil around the arena and unexpected problems with the concrete in the north addition led to delays and extra costs in laying the new practice gym floors. Combs and City Manager John Deardoff credited using the Construction Management at Risk method for the project, which they say kept the arena on schedule and on budget. Deardoff says that contractor J.E. Dunn and architect Schaefer Johnson Cox Frey were able to work together to keep cost down.

A ribbon cutting and open house is set for June 15th.

Law enforcement on the scene of Tuesday’s chase, crash-photo courtesy KWCH

NEWTON, Kan. — Police in Newton received a call early Tuesday morning about three individuals attempting to break into a home with a family inside. The suspects left and Newton Officers quickly located a vehicle matching the given description. When they attempted to stop the vehicle, a chase ensued.

The chase made its way through town and eventually toward I-135. The vehicle continued fleeing southbound, eventually crossing over into the northbound lanes, running vehicles off of the roadway.

The vehicle exited the interstate near 125th street and fled south toward Kechi. Officers were able to deploy stop sticks and the vehicle eventually stopped near K-254 and Oliver in Kechi.

The suspects fled, one armed with a handgun. They were all taken into custody within 20 minutes and no one was harmed.

The suspects were returned to Harvey County where they will face charges. Officers are
continuing to search the area for a weapon the suspect may have discarded.

Names of those arrested were not released.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Family Health Fair, a free annual event sponsored by Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, is scheduled for 8 to noon on Saturday in the Sunflower South Building on the Kansas State Fairgrounds.

The Family Health Fair will offer a wide range of health-related services during the four-hour event.

Complimentary health checks including screenings for cholesterol levels, body mass, and Carotid Doppler checks designed to determine the onset of plaque build up in arteries leading to the heart will be available.

The hospital’s nutrition department will be on hand to offer healthy eating suggestions, recipes, how best to eat on a budget, and a short evaluation on your current diet.

Visitors to the Sleep and Diagnostic Center exhibit will be given the opportunity to complete an eight question survey to evaluate their general level of daytime drowsiness and quality of nighttime sleep. Reno County Emergency Medical Services will park an ambulance in the Sunflower Building for tours and those who stop by will be offered a blood pressure check. Nearby, a pharmacist will respond to questions regarding prescription medications.

Jan Potter, HRMC Healthcare Navigator, will assist fairgoers desiring information on the required steps to sign up for health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County commission made pretty quick work of the items on its agenda.

That included setting a date for those applying for natural disaster tax abatement who were affected by the wildfires last month. That would be as of March 1 and any time after with the fires occurring in early March. January and February would not be included in any tax abatement.

They also approved a request from the county transportation department to sell off surplus property including two vehicles that will be placed on the Purple Wave Auction site this summer. A 2008 Ford El Dorado Areotech bus with $115,576 miles on it, a 2002 Chevrolet Activan with 176,487 miles and various mobile data terminal components will be sold.

They also approved Friday May 19 as a part of National Bike to Work Day, a free ride day for all RCAT services.

They also approved a letter of support for the Reno County Health Department to seek national accreditation.

In addition to passing those items, they also took time where each commissioner gave a laundry list of things they would like the county commission to be involved with and look at in the months ahead.

It was suggested that meetings should be held in the evenings so more people could attend. The commission would also like to have meetings in some of the smaller communities to hear from residents on issues that concern them.

Commission Chair Dan Deming brought to the table some familiar themes, things he has wanted for some time including possibly expanding the commission to five members, something that was rejected by former Commissioners Brad Dillon and James Schlickau. Current Commissioner Ron Hirst appeared to oppose that idea, stating that he wants to maintain the current three.

Deming also wants meetings with officials from both the cities of Hutchinson and South Hutchinson. Deming again feels they could explore potential mergers of departments with Hutchinson, which he believes could save tax-payer money.

He also wants meetings to be held every other week instead of the current weekly meetings, saying they often only have a few items on their agenda.

Commissioner Bob Bush also wants the small wooden bridge on 43rd addressed, which has caused issues for the Buhler School District.

Those listed above are just a sampling of items they want considered in the future.