By John Mesh
The Hutchinson Tribune
During 40-plus years in journalism, dating back to working on college newspapers (the Hutchinson College, Wichita State University Sunflower), I have quit (which was stupid), I have been fired, and I have been laid off.
A couple of publications I did some work for went out of business.
About a week ago, the Hutchinson Tribune “traded” me to Ad Astra Radio to provide local sports content.
It’s the first time I have been “traded.”
It was not exactly the journalistic equivalent of the Micah Parsons trade from the Dallas Cowboys to the Green Bay Packers. It might not have been for a bag of baseballs, but it was close. I’m exaggerating, and I’m being sarcastic.
The Hutchinson Tribune has made big moves
•The Hutchinson Tribune was founded by Michael Glenn and Gina Long a couple of years ago. They brought back local journalism to Hutchinson and filled the news and sports void. Michael was a 16-year-old Hutchinson Trinity Catholic High School student — now he’s off to journalism school at the University of Kansas.
•The Hutchinson Tribune will be a weekly newspaper with local news in it. People now will be able to smell newsprint in the morning. It smells like victory.
I want to thank Michael Glenn for giving me the opportunity at the Hutchinson Tribune. I want to thank the new owners, including Jackson Swearer. I want to thank Aaron Napier for the opportunity at Ad Astra Radio.
Fall sports season has begun
The high school and college fall sports season has begun in the state of Kansas.
The Hutchinson High School Salthawks will kick off the 2025 football season next Friday at Andover Central.
The Salthawks lost to the Jaguars 37-7 last season, so this game surely has been circled on the schedule for Hutchinson.
Other football games involving area teams include Inman at Hutchinson Trinity, Buhler at Mulvane, Hutchinson Central Christian at Sunrise Christian Academy, Hillsboro at Haven, Hartford at Fairfield, Conway Springs at Nickerson, Pretty Prairie at Lyndon, Halstead at Hesston, Chase County at Little River and Reno County Sabres at Stafford.
The Hutchinson Community College Blue Dragons will open defense of their national championship Saturday with a road game against New Mexico Military Institute.
Kickoff is 1 p.m. at Colt Field on the NMMI campus in Roswell, N.M.
The No. 1 Blue Dragons’ first home game is Saturday, Sep. 13, against No. 2 Iowa Western Community College. Kickoff at Gowans Stadium is noon.
The Blue Dragons defeated the Reivers twice in 2024: 38-37 on Sept. 7 and 28-23 in the NJCAA Division I national championship game on Dec. 18.