HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission Friday seemed to agree to move ahead with some zoning changes in the county. This would apply for such things like wind farms, solar farms, hazardous waste and possibly rendering plants.

There are some areas of the county that have no zoning regulations at all. The commission made it clear, this is not a first step to countywide zoning. Commissioners want some protections for residents of the county if industries want to develop in areas where there is no zoning.

NextEra Energy is still planning a wind farm on land in the southeast part of the county. Officials for the company say they will abide by any zoning regulations the county would put in place.

The discussion centered on placing an overlay zoning district in the county, which the commission favors.

That will come back to the commission at a later date, but commissioners gave the planning department the go-ahead to establish zoning for those types of development.

Commissioners also talked about a proposal from Brady Scott to paint an external mural on the east side of the Reno County Health Department building at a cost of $1,610. The commission decided it wants more information about options. Commissioners want to know how and where it would be placed. The commission is concerned about longevity.

The 24/7 Travel Stores across Kansas are helping to fight hunger in their communities.

Food Bank Fill-Up is a 10-day event in which five cents for every gallon of gas sold at 24/7 Travel Stores is donated to local food banks. The event is scheduled for Monday through October 31.

Hunger is so often an invisible tragedy in communities. The 24/7 Travel Stores’ idea is that by partnering with their customers and local food banks, they can help to improve their communities.

Food banks that will benefit from the Food Bank Fill-up program include the following.

• Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank
• Genesis Food Bank of Sherman County in Goodland
• Genesis Food Bank of Thomas County in Colby
• Trego County Food Pantry in WaKeeney
• St. Joseph Food Bank in Hays
• Russell County Food Bank in Russell
• McPherson County Food Bank in McPherson
• Abilene Area Food & Clothing Bank in Abilene
• Community Health Ministry in Maple Hill

TOPEKA, Kan. — The Kansas Department of Health and Environment has rescinded a boil water advisory for the St. Joseph Catholic School in the small community of St. Joseph in far southeast Reno County.

The advisory was issued because the system at the school could not maintain the minimum required chlorine residual. Failure to maintain required chlorine residual levels could have put the school at risk for bacterial contamination. The school was put under the advisory last Thursday by the state.

Laboratory testing samples collected indicate no evidence of contamination and all other conditions that placed the system at risk of contamination have been resolved according to the KDHE.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission received an update on another natural gas line that Oneok wants to build. It would run from Bushton in Rice County to the fractionation plant west of South Hutchinson. It would parallel an existing Northline 5 pipeline, according to Michael Gallaspie, who heads government relations for the company.

The pipeline includes around 46 miles of new 20-inch diameter pipe and would have the capacity to transport 100,000 barrels per day of unfractionated gas.

Officials are currently working on right of way acquisition as well as civil, environmental and engineering surveys, permit preparation and submittal activities.

They hope construction can begin late this year or early next year and be completed, and in service, by next summer.

RENO COUNTY — With the waters from recent flooding coming down, now comes the task of assessing damage.

Adam Weishaar with Reno County Emergency Management says damage assessment is in progress. He says they have to meet a threshold of $243,000 and the state has to reach a $4.2 million threshold. If that happens, he says they could receive a 75 percent reimbursement for damages. Weishaar expects a lot of roads to be damaged and says he believes damages are already in excess of $400,000. He says that doesn’t include any overtime from the Reno County Sheriff’s Office or other law enforcement agencies.

Two bridges were damaged because of the flooding. One is on Red Rock between Olcott and Netherland.

The total assessment of damage is not known just yet. However, damages appear to have already surpassed the threshold to receive federal dollars.

Weishaar says Cow Creek reached its highest level ever, cresting at 12.91 feet. That tops the 12.81 feet in 2007.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — As Reno County Commissioners and NextEra Energy continue to work on the proposed wind farm in the southern part of the county, a major company announced it entered into a power purchase agreement with NextEra in connection with the project.

Iron Mountain, a major storage and information management services company, announced the signing of a 15-year power purchase agreement for 145 megawatts of new wind energy from the Pretty Prairie Wind Farm. With this agreement, Iron Mountain expects to exceed 75 percent global renewable electricity usage in 2018 and move the company closer to its goal of 100 percent renewable power by 2050.

NextEra Energy Resources will build, own, and operate the Pretty Prairie project, with Iron Mountain purchasing a portion of the electricity it generates. When completed, Iron Mountain’s portion of the project will generate enough clean, renewable electricity to power the equivalent of 56,000 U.S. homes and will reduce fossil fuel emissions equivalent to removing more than 101,000 cars from the road annually, according to a release from Iron Mountain.

Reno County Commissioners are ready to enter into an agreement with NextEra for the project, which is forecast to begin operation in late 2019 or early 2020. The project has been met with mixed reaction in the county, but NextEra says — for the most part — it has been positive.  Still, some area residents are asking for a six month moratorium to be considered.  READ MORE

The project should create more than 250 jobs during construction and between 15-20 full-time jobs. Over its first 30 years in operation, the project will generate an estimated $50 million in payments to local landowners, as well as millions of dollars in additional tax revenue to the local community.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson USD 308 School Board received its annual audit report Monday for the 2017-18 school year during a study session.

The annual audit, performed by Swindoll, Janzen, Hawk and Loyd, LLC, found no significant issues with the district’s financial books.

Also during Monday’s meeting, the board approved its annual auto insurance renewal with Fee Insurance for $50,305, a decrease of $16,555 from the previous year.

The board also approved the purchase of web cameras. The web cameras will be used with the new Cleartouch Interactive panels across the district. The Cleartouch devices replace aging interactive white boards.

The inter-agency agreement for the Transitional Learning Center was also approved.

RENO COUNTY  — A Kansas man was injured in a farming accident on Tuesday in Reno County.

The Reno County Sheriff’s department reported Brian M. Miller, 31, was driving a New Holland tractor and pulling a 30-foot no till drill, planting wheat near Blanchard and Dean Road

Miller’s father told the sheriff’s department he believes Brian got off of the tractor to spread the wheat seed in the drill and for an unknown reason the tractor shifted into gear. The tractor was supposed to automatically shift into park if the driver’s seat was unoccupied.

According to his father, Brian last had contact with a friend at approximately 3:19 P.M. and hadn’t been heard from since.

His father began looking in the field for Brian and eventually found him just before 9:30p.m.

Brian told his father he had been run over by the drill. The tractor was located approximately a quarter of a  mile away and had been stopped after running into a tree. The tractor was still running and was in gear.

Brian was airlifted to Wesley Medical Center by Life Team for injuries to his upper body, according to the sheriff’s department.

With the Reno County Planning Department considering limited zoning for the entire county, some say it won’t happen soon enough. The planning department believes it could take as much as six-months for any zoning to be put in place.

Two residents in the Haven area are asking the Reno County Commission to put a six month moratorium in place to stop Next Era Energy from building any wind farms in the county until zoning is in place to protect residents who live in the area of the proposed wind farm.

Kristina Horsh who lives near Haven read a prepared statement over her request.

Commissioner Dan Deming noted that at the county commission meeting last Friday that the Next Era has made a verbal agreement with the county.

But Horsh was not satisfied with just a verbal commitment, she wants it in writing and also voiced other concerns.

Deming told her that he has a meeting next week and says he’ll work to get a zoning agreement in writing.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. – Area voters are invited to meet with Republican legislators and representatives during a special event this Friday at 4 p.m. at the Applewood Restaurant in South Hutchinson.

There will be Hors D’oeurvres, pie and coffee served.

Local Republican Representatives will be present including Jack Thimesch, Paul Waggoner who faces a write-in campaign from Steve Becker, and Joe Seiwert.

Also expected to attend will be special guests Kris Kobach and Wink Hartman, Congressman Roger Marshal, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, Attorney General Derrick Schmidt, plus other special guests.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. – It’s that time again when law enforcement agencies will be collecting expired or unwanted prescription medications, over the counter medications and vitamins.

The South Hutchinson Police Department in association with Communities that Care will be hosting a collection event this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at their offices at 10 East Blanchard.

Some items that will not be accepted include syringes, inhalers and oxygen containers.

The service is free and anonymous.

There will also be a similar event in McPherson from 10 a.m. To 2 p.m at the Joint Law Enforcement Center, at 1177 West Woodside Street.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – A 38-year-old Hutchinson man faces charges for two incidents in the past two days.

Titus Thompson faces potential charges, of aggravated kidnapping, aggravated robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated burglary, criminal threat, burglary and theft.

On Monday, Thompson and an unknown white male forced their way into a home in the 400 block of East B in Hutchinson, according to police. They demanded prescription drugs from the homeowner believed to be in his 50s.

The homeowner tried to fight back, but was kicked repeatedly. The suspects took a knife the victim used to try to defend himself and put it to his neck and threatened him with his life.

Thompson then forced the man to search the home looking for prescription drugs. The suspects took some prescription medications as well as the victim’s wallet, cell phone, a big screen TV and clothing from the home.

They then blindfolded the victim and loaded him and the stolen items into the victim’s car.

The suspects left and at some point stopped at a Kwik Shop, a liquor store in Burrton and traveled to a farmhouse in eastern Reno County.

This is where Thompson allegedly tried to sell some items to two individuals. The victim was still in the back seat and saw an opportunity to escape. He jumped into the front seat of the car and took off. During that time a TV fell off the top of the car where it had been placed.

The victim’s call 911 started the investigation.

On Tuesday, two residents reported a black male entering an unattached shed at a home in the 1400 Block of East 23rd in Hutchinson and taking a bicycle.

Thompson was later found walking in the 1800 block of Landon and based on the description from the victims and also surveillance video from Monday, police arrested Thompson.

The victim from Monday’s home invasion suffered bruises and cuts according to police.

Thompson is jailed on a $167,000 bond and during a first court appearance, he was denied a bond reduction.

He has prior convictions for obstruction, domestic battery, and driving while suspended for a case in Reno County in 2008. He also has priors for convictions of aggravated burglary and criminal possession of a firearm for a case in Sedgwick County in 2001.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A man convicted in a 1993 carjacking and murder in Topeka has been granted parole, but he won’t get out of prison right away.

Kaiser -photo KDOC

The Kansas Department of Corrections says 43-year-old Joshua Kaiser was granted parole recently in the death of 33-year-old Tim Riley of Topeka.

Corrections spokesman Samir Arif says Kaiser will still serve a 32-month sentence for an aggravated battery committed in Reno County.

Kaiser’s sentence for that crime is expected to end January 2021.

Kaiser and 42-year-old Jason Schaeffer, an inmate at Ellsworth Correctional Facility, were convicted of crimes linked to Riley’s murder.

Authorities said Riley was robbed of his car outside his central Topeka home, forced at gunpoint into the trunk and driven to another area, where he was fatally shot.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Union Pacific reported 2018 third quarter net income today of $1.6 billion, or a third quarter record $2.15 per diluted share. The nation’s largest railroad saw increases across the board in shipments as the economy continued to improve. The quarter compares to $1.2 billion, or $1.50 per diluted share, in the third quarter 2017.

Operating revenue of $5.9 billion was up 10 percent in the third quarter 2018 compared to third quarter 2017. Third quarter car loads increased 6 percent compared to 2017. Volume increases in industrial, premium, and agricultural products more than offset declines in energy.

In addition:

While the earnings numbers were good, moving the increased car loads proved difficult as the railroad’s average train speed fell by 6 percent, meaning goods took longer to reach their intended destinations.

Union Pacific operates between 25 and 30 trains per day through Hutchinson with a total county valuation of more than $6.3 million.

HUTCHINSON , Kan. — Siemens Gamesa announced Thursday that it will supply 48 SG 3.4-132 and 14 SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines for Southern Power’s latest wind project. The Reading wind facility will be located in Lyon and Osage counties.

The agreement also features a 20-year service and maintenance program. The nacelles will be manufactured in Hutchinson with the blades for the project produced in Fort Madison, Iowa.

In Kansas, Siemens Gamesa has 484 wind turbines installed across nine projects, totaling over 1,000 MW. Southern Power has previously partnered with Siemens Gamesa on four other wind turbine project installations totaling over 300 turbines and approximately 720 MW.

A total of 2,397 SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines have been installed in the U.S. accounting for 5.5 GW of installed capacity across 31 projects. The first SG 3.4-132 wind turbine for the U.S. was completed in August 2018. This product features an output of 3.465 megawatts and a rotor diameter of 132 meters. These turbines are optimized for Class II sites to maximize energy production with low noise emission levels.

The Hutchinson facility recently underwent a complete retooling to handle the new 3.4-132 nacelle.

PRATT COUNTY — One person was injured in an accident just after 10:30a.m. Thursday in Pratt County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2003 Dodge Caravan driven by Phyllis Evelyn Black, 81, Bemidji, MN., was westbound on U.S.54 just west of southwest 19th Street.

The driver tried to make a left turn into a driveway. The van left the roadway to the south and came to rest facing southwest

Black was transported to the hospital in Pratt. She was properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — With the recent flooding and so many roads closed, it may have been a challenge for students to get to school in a number of districts across the area. Buhler was no exception, according to Superintendent Mike Berblinger:

He says Sheriff Randy Henderson was very good about keeping him informed of road closings. Since there were closings, Berblinger was asked if the school was understanding of some students being a little late for class:

Winter is getting closer, so Berblinger also talked about Buhler’s policy when it comes to canceling school for inclement weather. He says it’s all about the safety of students and staff:

As always, HutchPost.com will keep you up to date this winter with closings across the area.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Kansas 4H youth will be benefiting from a collection of dollars from customers as part of Tractor Supply’s 2018 Paper Clover Campaign.

Photo courtesy of Tractor Supply.

This bi-annual fundraiser is held in partnership with the National 4H Council. Kansas Tractor Supply stores collectively raised $16,502 this year through donations made with purchases in-store and online.

Earlier this month, Kansas Tractor Supply customers participated in the Fall Paper Clover event by purchasing paper clovers — the emblem of 4 H — for a donation during checkout at stores nationwide or through purchases made online. From Oct. 3 to Oct. 14, Kansas Tractor Supply stores raised $8,798. The Kansas funds raised are a portion of the more than $1 million nationwide grand total — marking the most successful fundraiser in Tractor Supply’s history. Combined with results from the Spring Paper Clover event held earlier this year, Kansas stores raised a total of $16,502.

These fundraising efforts will help fund scholarships for numerous state-level 4H programs nationwide. Every Kansas donation benefits Kansas youth. Scholarships are used for camps and leadership conferences.

The Fall Paper Clover event rounds out the ninth year of the campaign, which generated $1,999,661 in 2018.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A local man on probation for a number of charges associated with forgery and theft by deception can now add five counts of burglary involving some well known targets.

Dylan Samms has been charged by the state with burglary of the Tomahawk Oxford House, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, the Cosmosphere, and Hutchinson Community College — twice.

The crimes reportedly occurred on various dates from Aug. 31 to Oct. 15.

Authorities did not specify what items were taken from these facilities, but if convicted, Samms could be sentenced up to nearly three years for each count.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson School Board has scheduled a series of meetings to gain input on the qualities of a new superintendent.

The board wants to hire a new superintendent for the 2019-20 school year in January. As part of the process, the board is gathering information on attributes wanted by the community in their next superintendent.

Gary Price has served the past two years as interim superintendent.

The face-to-face meetings with staff from the Kansas Association of School Boards, which has been hired to do the search, will be on Nov. 8 from 10 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Another meeting will take place Nov. 26 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:45 p.m.

All the public community meetings will be in the Hutchinson Career and Technical Education Academy, which is on the northwest side of the Hutchinson High School campus at 800 15th Circle.

KASB staff will also meet with different groups of staff and community leaders during the two days. Additionally, KASB will be doing an online survey, which will be open in November. A link to the survey will be posted on the district website, www.usd308.com, and on the district’s Twitter and Facebook feeds. Staff and parents with valid email addresses on file will get information on the link.

At the board’s Nov. 26 regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the Administration Center, members will prioritize the superintendent characteristics based on community and staff input.