HUTCHINSON, Kan. — It’s been standing in Hutchinson for nearly 140 years, but the old sugar mill along East 1st Avenue may be coming down.

The limestone structure, which was built in 1881, suffered partial collapse two weeks ago. Now the rest of the building may have to come down. Tearing it down won’t be simple because the building is on the historical register. The Landmarks Commission, which oversees such historical structures, cannot give the go-ahead to raze the building, so the matter will have to go before the city council by default.

The facility is owned by Technique Manufacturing. Co-owner Ted Robinson says the northeast corner of the building fell to the ground Feb. 4. Since then, architects have been brought in to examine the building. Robinson says the cost to repair the damage is simply too much. They’ll go before the Landmarks Commission and ask for the building to be razed, but that will be denied by the commission. That will send the matter over to the city council for action. Robinson says they have been working with the city to deal with the building. While the building is secure for the moment, if it should show signs of further collapse, the city can come in and remove the structure right away without council approval.

The sugar mill was built in 1881 to house the processing plant of the Kansas Sugar Refining Company, which was established in 1881. In July 1888, the Hutchinson Soap Factory began manufacturing operations in the former sugar mill building. Around 1900, the structure was purchased by the Nelson Manufacturing and Supply Company, producers of irrigation pumps and galvanized iron products, and later plumbing supplies. It continued to be used by the Nelson company until 1965. Other firms occupied the building until 1978, when it was abandoned.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Planning and Zoning Director has received the application for a wind energy project from NextEra Energy for a wind farm in southern Reno County. It arrived late Thursday afternoon.

Reno County Administrator Gary Meagher says the application is now currently being reviewed by staff. A tentative hearing date of April 4 is scheduled for the planning commission to hear comments on both sides of the controversy.

Any recommendations will then be sent to the Reno County Commission, who will have the final say on whether the project moves forward.

The company stated earlier that it would have the application submitted by Feb. 15.

TOPEKA, Kan. — When Westar and KCP&L merged last June, new company officials announced a range of benefits to their customers, including customer credits.

Active Westar residential utility customers as of Feb. 16 will receive a merger credit of approximately $6.19 on their next bill. Officials say the amount will vary based on applicable taxes and fees.

Westar already distributed $73.1 million in merger and federal tax bill credits in December. Another $8.6 million in annual bill credits will be distributed from 2020-2022.

Westar officials say they have reduced electric rates. Both Westar and KCP&L completed rate reviews last year and, because of ongoing merger and federal income tax savings, base prices for electricity decreased by about $66 million.

These base rates are locked in for five years and will not change until December of 2023.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County District Judge Trish Rose kept her word and gave a downward departure to a 19-year-old Hutchinson man convicted of second-degree murder.

Taylor Lukone was placed in handcuffs after sentencing Friday.

Taylor Lukone entered a plea for the fatal hit-and-run accident that killed Jose Lopez on Sept 21, 2017. Lopez died 11 days after the incident at a Wichita hospital.

The state had requested a sentence of more than 13 years for the three charges, which included failing to stop at an accident and interference with law enforcement.

As part of the agreement, Lukone could not seek a departure sentence and both sides had agreed on a recommended sentence.

Judge Rose ruled that Lukone was barely 18 at the time of the crime, doesn’t have a substantial criminal history and accepted responsibility for his actions.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Davidson argued to the court that there are no substantial and compelling reasons to depart. Davidson said Lukone earned the 13-year sentence.

Defense Attorney Shannon Crane noted that Lukone had been evaluated and it was determined that he suffered from PTSD. She said Lukone was upset because Lopez had beaten his mother and was let out of jail. But, Lopez had entered a plea in the case against him and had yet to be sentenced.

Lukone told the court he takes responsibility for his actions and that he didn’t mean for it to happen.

Davidson says he will appeal the sentence handed down by Judge Rose.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Reno County Commission will have a fairly busy agenda Tuesday. No major items are scheduled, but there will be many routine and annual items.

That includes canceling certain county warrants, the noxious weed annual report and a policy update for the Community Corrections Criminal Justice information system.

Commissioners will also consider the Equal Employment Opportunity plan and policy statement.

The commission will consider a request from Reno County Solid Waste for the purchase of a 2019 Caterpillar dozer from Foley Equipment for a cost of $835,539.

The commission will also have one discussion item to consider a modification to the economic development job incentive policy.

Commissioners will receive updates from the Automotive Department and Aging and Public Transportation.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council will take action on a market study contract during Tuesday’s meeting. The study would explore market needs for a new hotel and convention center.

A task force with city and Chamber representation was recently assembled to identify options for the community when it comes to a new or renovated convention center or hotel project.

The task force initially sent out a request for proposals to various hotel development groups. The task force received four letters of interest. Three development groups, one of which was the current owner of the Atrium, were then interviewed.

The task force decided to move into the discussion stages with Leisure Development Group out of Leawood, Kansas. After an initial meeting with Leisure, the development group requested exclusive negotiation between the two parties.

During a meeting last week to discuss the Leisure agreement and market study, a consensus was reached to hold off on negotiations until the market study is completed.

If approved, the study will be done by Hospitality Real Estate Counselors of Memphis, Tennessee, at a cost of $14,500.

Amtrak’s Southwest Chief -courtesy photo

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Lawmakers say a federal budget compromise approved by Congress and signed by President Donald Trump provides $50 million of additional federal funding to maintain Amtrak rail passenger service through New Mexico, Colorado and Kansas.

New Mexico Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Rep. Ben Ray Lujan said Friday the funding for the Southwest Chief route will enable Amtrak to pay matching funding for a grant to pay for maintenance and safety improvements to the Southwest Chief route.

Amtrak officials previously proposed replacing train service with bus service between Dodge City, Kansas, and Albuquerque, New Mexico — about a quarter of the 2,265-mile (3,645-kilometer) route providing daily train service between Los Angeles and Chicago.

The New Mexico lawmakers said the funding was also pushed by senators from Colorado and Kansas.

Damage done during a disturbance at a Kansas prison in 2017- photo courtesy Cheryl Cadue Kansas Department of Corrections

HUTCHINSON, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say more than five inmate fights that all occurred within a week at the Hutchinson Correctional Facility prompted jail officials to move up the timing of a large-scale search that confiscated contraband, including inmate-made weapons.

Jail spokesman Jordan Bell said Friday the fights were all gang-related and none of the inmates suffered serious injuries. The fights broke out among two or three inmates and involved “homemade stabbing devices.” Several inmates were treated for injuries at the facility’s clinic. No staff members were hurt.

The facility temporarily halted visitation privileges the weekend of Feb. 2-3

and restricted movement of inmates because of the fights.

Tuesday’s search involved more than 1,000 inmates in the jail’s central unit yielded 46 weapons, 10 cell phones, eight phone chargers, illicit drugs and drug paraphernalia.

RENO COUNTY — Hutchinson Police are investigating an aggravated robbery and asking the public for help to identify a suspect.

Image courtesy Hutchinson Police

Just before 3 a.m. on Monday, police were dispatched to a robbery at the  Kwik Shop, 1401 E 17 th.

Through their investigation they determined an unknown suspect entered the business striking the cashier and forcefully removing currency from the register.

Police asking the public for help in identifying the suspect from security images.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police or Reno County Crime Stoppers at 620-694-2666 or 911.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Kansas State Extension Office in South Hutchinson will be one of three sites that will provide a program for farmers wanting to plant sunflowers.

The production school for the crop that is becoming more popular will be held Feb. 28 from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the South Hutchinson Community Building at 101 Ave. C.

Topics include trial results for high yield sunflowers, new innovations for the crop and industry, and market updates.

Registration must be done by Feb. 26. To register, or for more information, call the Reno County Extension Office at 620-662-2371 or visit www.reno.ksu.edu.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A local bank is providing scholarships to sixth grade students who want to attend summer camp at the Cosmosphere.

Citizens Bank of Kansas will also increase the number of scholarships to eight following CBK’s acquisition of Verus Bank earlier this year. This is the fourth year CBK has offered the scholarships.

Scholarship winners will attend the Cosmosphere’s Mars Academy camp. During the three-day overnight camp, students will build robotic sensor platforms to navigate a Martian landscape, construct a power grid, engineer and program robots to find their survival needs, and build a Martian habitat.

To be eligible, students must be entering sixth grade in the fall of 2019 and submit a 100 to 200 word original essay on “Why I want to attend Cosmosphere camp this summer.” Parental consent is required and essay entries are due April 26. Those interested should email: essays@cbok.com to request a copy of the contest rules and an entry form.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A major change could be coming to the Hutchinson Police Department’s look. For years, the look of the force has traditionally been tan shirts and green slacks. Before that, the slacks were brown. But New Chief Jeffrey Hooper says it is becoming harder to match the shirts and wants a change. He is proposing changing over to a more traditional blue uniform.

Along with the color change to traditional law enforcement blue, Hooper is looking at a variety of outer vest carriers as more and more agencies are going to an outer vest. Hooper says officers find it more comfortable and more functional. The initial changeover cost will be somewhere between $29,000 to $36,600.

Hooper says the decision to make a major change in the police attire has been one of the more difficult decisions, between balancing HPD tradition against law enforcement tradition and current trends. He stated in his brief to the council that, ultimately, it comes down to increased officer safety, comfort and the prevention of back injuries.

The matter goes before the City Council on Tuesday during the regular meeting set for 9 a.m. in the Hutchinson city offices.

SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Reno County Planning Director Mark Vonachen says that a piece of legislation making its way through the House won’t have any effect on a public hearing regarding the NextEra wind project.

House Bill 2273 says there must be at least a mile and a half between wind farms and surrounding homes. Residents in Reno County have been expressing concerns over the amount of distance between their homes and the NextEra proposal. This bill could provide some relief for them. Vonachen says that he is watching the legislation, but it won’t change anything when it comes to the public hearing April 4:

Reno County residents had asked for a moratorium on wind energy until more study could be done on the effects of wind energy. The commission instead handed the matter over to the planning department. Sedgwick County Commissioners recently passed a moratorium on wind and solar farms for a period of six months.

NextEra Energy Resources submitted a permit to build a wind farm in Pretty Prairie last Friday.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — A forum regarding Hutchinson Community College’s ongoing accreditation process through the Higher Learning Commission is Tuesday. The forum will run from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Parker Student Union.

The purpose of the forum is to solicit feedback on the college’s Mission Statement, Vision Statement and Values. The forums are open to the public, especially the college’s stakeholders, business and industry, and educational partners. College President Dr. Carter File will lead the discussion.

Those unable to attend the forum can request a copy of the college’s Mission, Vision and Values by emailing mvvfeedback@hutchcc.edu or calling the president’s office at 620-665-3505.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The legislation being proposed in Topeka concerning wind energy has one Reno County commissioner a little upset.

Bob Bush is angry that commissioners were not informed when the bill was introduced last week, considering there is a wind farm proposal in Reno County.

He’s also upset that all of the Reno County delegation told audience members at a recent forum it’s a local matter that should be decided at the local level. With this legislation, that is not the case:

The proposed legislation with House Bill 2273 states that there must be at least a mile and a half between wind farms and surrounding homes, but Commissioner Bush says it even goes beyond that. He says it is a badly written bill:

Bush says county officials are elected because they know the area being considered and what the project entails. Bush says he is very much against this legislation.

WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 A.M. WEDNESDAY:

Russell-Lincoln-Barton-Ellsworth-Saline-Rice-McPherson-Reno-
Kingman-
Including the cities of Russell, Lincoln, Sylvan Grove,
Great Bend, Ellsworth, Wilson, Salina, Lyons, Sterling,
McPherson, Hutchinson, and Kingman

* WHAT…Snow, heavy at times this evening. Total snow
accumulations around 6 inches with ice accumulations of a light
glaze.

* WHERE…Portions of Central and South Central Kansas.

* WHEN…Until 6 A.M. Wednesday.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Plan on slippery road conditions. The
hazardous conditions could impact the evening commute.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow, sleet
and ice will make travel very hazardous or impossible.

The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can
be obtained by calling 511.

RELATED STORY: Emergency Accident Reporting Plan in effect

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Emergency Accident Reporting Plan is in effect until further notice.

The Hutchinson Police Department and the Reno County Sheriff’s Department are both implementing the emergency reporting system.

If you are involved in a traffic accident and there is no alcohol, drugs or injuries involved, or roadways are not blocked by disabled vehicles, you can report your accident as soon as possible after the roads have cleared.

However, owner and driver information should be exchanged before leaving the accident scene.

Delayed report forms for the city can be picked up at all Kwik Shops or the Law Enforcement Center.

The forms can be mailed to:

Hutchinson Police Department
Attn: Sgt Brian Hirt
210 W. 1st Ave.
Hutchinson, KS 67501

For accidents in the county, please go to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office website and print off the Emergency/Delayed Accident Reporting Form.

Fill the form out and mail it to:

Reno County Sheriff’s Office
Attn: Patrol Captain
210 W. 1st
Hutchinson, KS 67501

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The practice of parking semi trucks along East 20th Avenue north of Trinity Catholic High School has been a long-discussed issue.

The City of Hutchinson may finally take some action on the practice as the council considers adopting an ordinance prohibiting semi parking on that stretch of street. The matter came up for discussion during Tuesday’s meeting.

City Attorney Paul Brown says such an ordinance would be confined to that street only. He cautioned the council to not overstep the intended reach of the proposal:

No timeline was given for when the council could take up such an ordinance.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The Hutchinson City Council approved a contract with Hospitality Real Estate Counselors Tuesday.

The Memphis, Tennessee, firm will produce a study of the market and its needs for a new hotel and convention center.

The contract will cost the city $14,500. The study was requested after a task force was assembled to get Hutchinson a better hotel and convention center.

The group is in discussions with Leisure Development Group — the current owner of the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center. The task force wants the study completed before negotiations proceed with Leisure Development.

City Councilman John Daveline says the city is at a crossroads when it comes to attracting convention business to the area:

City Manager John Deardoff says the study should begin in about three weeks and will take about two months to complete.

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The failing Payless ShoeSource chain will honor gift cards and store credit until March 11 as the company liquidates all operations.

The Topeka, Kansas, company, which filed for bankruptcy protection this week, will allow returns and exchanges of non-final sale items through the end of this month for goods bought before Feb. 17.

Payless said Wednesday that it received court approval to support the orderly closing of about 2,500 stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico and Canada, as well as its e-commerce business. It also received authorization to pay employee wages and benefits, as well as claims from critical vendors.

Retail operations outside of North America, including company-owned stores in Latin America, are separate entities and are not included in the bankruptcy filing.