Back row: USD 313 Board Members Chris Shank, Greg Lackey, Tim Lackey, Monte Cross Front row: Dr. Michael Green, Jessica Goering, Laura Meyer Dick CREDIT BUHLER USD 313 By Emmie Boese USD 313's Board of Education discussed declining enrollment at Buhler Grade School Monday evening. Superintendent Cindy Couchman
The Reno County Commission will act on Agency on Aging appointments, sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Prairie Dunes, which is scheduled to host the United States Golf Association Men’s Senior Open in 2029.
The commissioners will also recognize Kathy Winger, who is retiring from the Reno County Health Department after 37 years.
The commissioners are expected to approve turning over cereal malt beverage license background checks to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
The Youth Services Department will give its annual report and the commission make decisions about an open position in the county’s planning department.
Further discussion about proposed solar energy producer regulations will be presented.
Click here to view the meeting agenda and supporting documents
The Reno County Commission meets the second, fourth and fifth Wednesdays each month at 9 a.m. in the Veteran’s Room at the Reno County Courthouse.
The Reno County Commission will act on Agency on Aging appointments, sign a Memorandum of Understanding with Prairie Dunes, which is scheduled to host the United States Golf Association Men's Senior Open in 2029. The commissioners will also recognize Kathy Winger, who is retiring from the
CAPTION: The Buhler High School girls basketball celebrate their Class 4A sub-state championship Saturday night at the Jim Baker Fieldhouse in Buhler. CREDIT BUHLER HIGH SCHOOL VIS SPORTS IN KANSAS By John Mesh The Buhler High School girls basketball team, which defeated Towanda-Circle 35-30 in the
CAPTION: The USD 308 School Board stands in front of the new graphic wrap for the extra-curricular buses. The graphics were designed by Cruz Conner, right, a Hutchinson High School Sophomore. CREDIT KATE IRELAN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE By Kate Irelan The Hutchinson USD 308 School Board viewed a
Tuesday Mar 11 “Jeremy Stolle: No More Talk of Darkness,” 7 p.m. in Memorial Hall. Part of the Community Concert series Wednesday, Mar 12 KSHSAA 3A State Boys and Girls Championship, throughout the day at the Hutchinson Sports Arena Thursday March 13 KSHSAA 3A State Boys and Girls Championship, throughout
By Gina Long
Pop culture, comic book and superhero fans of all ages filled Memorial Hall on Saturday during the second annual Hutch Mini-Con.
Hundreds of attendees participated in costume and cosplay contests, a Mortal Kombat tournament, shopped at vendor booths, and competed in a medallion hunt. At the entrance, each child 15 and under was given a scavenger hunt card and a prize for finding all the items.
Event organizers Kendall and Kimberly Evans and their sons Paul and Wyatt alternated between taking tickets at the door, answering questions, running activities on the main stage, and lining up costume and cosplay participants.
“We’ve had a lot of people this morning,” Kimberly Evans said, but she was not keeping a running tally and did not have an estimate of attendees.
“Hutch came out, and it was awesome,” Kendall said. “Memorial Hall is a great facility. We had people from Salina, Wichita Pratt, Derby and Oklahoma. It’s a great economic boon for Hutchinson.”
The family owns NaCl Comic Cons and manages multiple comic cons in Hutchinson. They recently began organizing conventions in Salina and Ponca City, Okla.
Hutch Mini-Con doubled the number of vendors from the previous year, providing merchandise for many sci-fi, anime, and pop culture fans.
Ralondra “Loni” Brown of Loni’s Handmade Keychains & More sold keychains, lanyards, stuffed animals, necklaces, and more. She handcrafts almost every item sold. Her husband, Theodore, helps with customers and setting up the sales racks. The couple traveled from Yukon, Okla. Last year, they participated in the mini-con and the larger Hutch Comic Con on the fairgrounds.
“I try to cater to everyone,” Loni said, so she carries items including superheroes, popular television shows and anime.
“I just started creating sports stuff,” she said, pointing to NFL-branded keychains and lanyards. “We have a great time working with the Evans family and will be back at Hutch Comic Con in June.”
Final Orbit, a Hutchinson-based eSports startup, debuted at the mini-con, hosting a Mortal Kombat tournament.
Co-owner Davon Demaris talked about plans for Hutch Comic Con in June, during which Final Orbit will host Call of Duty and Magic: The Gathering tournaments at the fairgounds on Friday, June 20, and a Fortnite tournament on Saturday, June 21, during the comic con.
NaCl Comic Cons’ next event is the Hutchinson Comic Con, which will be held on June 20 and 21 in the Pride of Kansas building on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. The event is partnering with Salt City Pride, so the $10 entrance fee covers both events on Friday and Saturday.
A new three-day event, “Past, Present, Future,” will debut on the fairgrounds October 17-19.
Chase Quint, 8, of So. Hutchinson selects his prizes after finding the hidden medallion during Hutch Mini-Con in Memorial Hall on Mar. 8, 2025 CREDIT GINA LONG/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE By Gina Long Pop culture, comic book and superhero fans of all ages filled Memorial Hall on Saturday
CAPTION: Leo LeGrande wins a national championship in the 800-meter run on Saturday at the NJCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship at Lubbock, Texas. CREDIT HUTCHCC SPORTS INFORMATION Hutchinson CC Sports Information For the second-straight day, Hutchinson Community College sophomore Leo LeGrand broke a Blue Dragon school
CAPTION: The 2025 Hutchinson Youth City Council will meet for the first time Thursday, March 27, at Hutchinson City Hall. CREDIT HUTCHINSON YOUTH CITY COUNCIL By Michael Glenn The 2025 Hutchinson Youth City Council is ready to take action at its first meeting Thursday, March 27, at
The Hutchinson Central Christian Cougar boys basketball team won the Class 1A II Dighton sub-state #1 with a 45-31 victory over Wallace County-Sharon Springs Saturday. Central Christian will play a first-round game at the Class 1A Division II state tournament Thursday at the Colby Event
By Gina Long
Can the city of Hutchinson afford to keep Memorial Hall when its net loss is just short of $100,000 yearly?
I pondered that today while attending and reporting on Hutch Mini-Con, an event that drew several hundred attendees and vendors, drawing from Wichita, Salina, Pratt, and Oklahoma.
Memorial Hall is the only downtown indoor space that can accommodate more than one thousand people. Today, it hosted a fan convention. On Tuesday evening, I will attend a Community Concert, during which the landmark building showcases its superb acoustics on the large stage. The building will host a regional boxing tournament in the fall and many private events, from wedding receptions to proms and fundraising galas.
The storied facility hosts many events, but not enough to even come close to breaking even.
One reason is that from June 1 through September 30, the building is unusable because it lacks air conditioning. Many existing air handlers are not working, leaving the building somewhat warm in winter except on bitterly cold days and uncomfortably warm during our increasingly longer, hotter summers and autumns.
Downtown indoor space that can accommodate more than one thousand people and has adequate parking does not exist. The state fairground has buildings appropriate for larger crowds, and the buildings for smaller groups are not laid out for a convention’s needs.
What are the options?
In 1996, Hutchinson residents voted to keep Memorial Hall open and under the city’s ownership.
It’s hard to believe, but that was thirty years ago.
Renovations, including to the restrooms and the HVAC system, would cost millions, and I don’t see much support for a tax increase, especially with new county property valuations arriving this week. Repairs to broken air handlers to improve airflow without adding air conditioning would cost less, but the facility would still be closed during the summer.
The city has considered funding the project through STAR bonds, which would not increase taxes, but the fewer than sixty events hamper state approval for a bond district.
Tearing down the storied building is also an option, and several variations exist on what to do with the property.
One suggestion is to add more park space, creating a sizeable continuous park along Avenue A from Poplar Street across Main Street to Washington Street. I like parks, but I think this is the least creative use for the space.
Another option is to tear down the hall and create an open pavilion similar to the Reno County Farmer’s Market at 2nd Avenue and Washington Street, with park space. Such a facility would be unusable in winter and uncomfortable on windy and hot days.
The most likely option is to sell the building. Unfortunately, this risks the buyer deciding on a demolition. Hopefully, an investor would remodel the interior and add air conditioning, but still offer the space at an affordable rent. It carries the additional benefit of adding the property to the tax rolls.
Contact your city councilperson and let them know what you think. The council’s contact information is on the City of Hutchinson’s website and lists phone numbers and email addresses.
The time to decide on Memorial Hall’s future is now.
By Gina Long Can the city of Hutchinson afford to keep Memorial Hall when its net loss is just short of $100,000 yearly? I pondered that today while attending and reporting on Hutch Mini-Con, an event that drew several hundred attendees and vendors, drawing from Wichita, Salina,
