CAPTION: Jay Schrock reflects on the history of Woodwork Manufacturing, a company he joined 65 years ago, in 1960. CREDIT RICHARD SHANK By Richard Shank America is home to 35 million businesses. Barely 0.5% are more than 100 years old. Hutchinson just added one business to this
By Michael Glenn Property evaluations throughout Hutchinson have risen between 16% and 36% since 2020, according to records obtained by The Hutchinson Tribune from the Reno County Appraiser’s Office. Rising property evaluations are a result of an increase in the average market price of homes in Hutchinson
CAPTION: Ashlyn Franz (left) and Luke Eigsti from Central Christian School hand out oranges and bananas at last year’s United.Read.Connect! event at Gowans Stadium. The 2025 United.Read.Connect! event is on Saturday, May 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at DCI Park in downtown Hutchinson. CREDIT RICHARD SHANK
By Emmie Amezola
United Way of Reno County is hosting the 4th annual United.Read.Connect! at DCI Park on Saturday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. DCI Park is located at 208 N. Main St.
Carla Stanfield, Director of Development at United Way of Reno County, said there is a little bit of something for everyone at the event. She said children will have the opportunity to receive free and new Scholastic books.
“We also support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program in our county so we’ll have books for a little bit younger than elementary-aged as well,” Stanfield said.
Field said the United.Read.Connect started as a book giveaway program. Over the last four years, the event has evolved into more of a resource fair.
“So I like to tell people you know when you remember the Scholastic Book fairs at school, right?” Stanfield said. “Well, this is like that, but free and in addition to the books, you have the opportunity to connect with about 30 community partners and learn about programs and services that are in our community on a free level but also anybody with a sliding scale program has been invited or just cost-efficient programming.”
Fun activities will be available for folks and children to participate in too. Activities will include a bouncy house, face painting, improv skits and a scavenger hunt.
Resources in attendance include the Magic Clothes Bus, the Reno County Food Bank Truck while supplies last and Touch-A-Truck with the Hutchinson Fire Department and Hutchinson Police Department. A taco truck and therapy dogs will also be in attendance.
“If you’ve got a young reader who’s maybe hesitant, they can read to a non-judgmental little puppy,” Stanfield said. “They are always a big hit.”
Other events will also be going on in downtown Hutchinson on Saturday. The Reno County Farmers’ Market will kick off its 40th anniversary season. The market will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is located at 103 W. 2nd Ave. The Cinco De Mayo Festival will be held at George Pyle Park from noon to 4 p.m. George Pyle Park is located at Ave B and Poplar St.
“So you can kind of make a whole day of it downtown,” Stanfield said.
CAPTION: Ashlyn Franz (left) and Luke Eigsti from Central Christian School hand out oranges and bananas at last year's United.Read.Connect! event at Gowans Stadium. The 2025 United.Read.Connect! event is on Saturday, May 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at DCI Park in downtown Hutchinson.
CAPTION: From left: Board Members Gleysha Mendez-Rosario, Tad Dower, Cheryl Thompson, Darcie Canfield-Riggs, Valarie Gibson-Smith, Lance Patterson and President Laura Corey. CREDIT USD 308 By Michael Glenn The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education approved a vote for a $109.53 million bond resolution to take place Nov.
By John Mesh The Hutchinson Blue Dragon baseball team lost 17-3 (7 innings, run rule) Monday afternoon to Cowley College at Tiger Ballpark in Arkansas City. The Cowley College Tigers are ranked No. 3 in the NJCAA Division I poll. The Blue Dragons (34-17 overall) stranded five runners
By Gina Long
The Reno County Commission will recognize a retiring employee, sign a proclamation and hear budget requests presentations from three agencies.
Public Transportation Supervisor Kevin Kienzle is retiring on Wednesday after 12 years working for RCAT.
The commissioners will sign a proclamation declaring National Police Week.
The Reno County 4-H Fair, EMS and the Reno County Museum will present their budget requests for 2026, and the commissioners will take action on extending the solar power moratorium on unzoned property.
The Reno County Commission meets the second, fourth and fifth Wednesdays of each month at 9 a.m. in the Veterans Room inside the Reno County Courthouse.
By Gina Long The Reno County Commission will recognize a retiring employee, sign a proclamation and hear budget requests presentations from three agencies. Public Transportation Supervisor Kevin Kienzle is retiring on Wednesday after 12 years working for RCAT. The commissioners will sign a proclamation declaring National Police Week. The
CAPTION: From left: Reps. Paul Waggoner, Kevin Schwertfeger, Kyler Sweely and Sen. Michael Murphy at the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce legislative forum Saturday morning. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE By Michael Glenn The Kansas Legislature overrode 14 out of 18 of Governor Laura Kelly’s vetoes in
CAPTION: The Hutchinson Blue Dragon softball team celebrates after clinching a share of the Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference title with a doubleheader split with Barton Community College Sunday at Cougar Field in Great Bend. The Blue Dragons won their second league championship in the
CAPTION: Jacqulyn Ashcraft has worked in education for 55 years. She is a part of the 49th Kansas Teachers' Hall of Fame class. CREDIT COURTESY OF JACQULYN ASHCRAFT By Emmie Amezola Jacqulyn Ashcraft's, formerly known as Jacqulyn Andrews, educational career started in the basement of her childhood
CAPTION: Celtic artist Katie McMahon is one of six shows in the 2025-1016 Community Concert Series schedule. The membership sales drive continues through Friday, May 2 CREDIT HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY CONCERT ASSOCIATION
The Hutchinson Community Concerts Association’s annual membership drive culminates this weekend.
Concert Association Vice President Beth Hinshaw said in a press release that the 2025-206 season features six shows.
Existing members should have received their renewal envelopes.
New members have the option to purchase season passes online at https://www.hutchinsonconcerts.com/, which is the only option for purchasing with a credit or debit card.
The website has a form that can be downloaded, printed and mailed for those who prefer to pay with a check.
New memberships are also available this week, from Wednesday, April 30, to Friday, May 2, at First National Bank (located on Sherman Avenue and Main Street) during regular bank hours.
Season tickets are $60 for adults and $10 for students K-12. A family membership is $130 and includes two adults and all K-12 students living in the home.
The upcoming season’s lineup is:
The Hutchinson Community Concert Association continues its reciprocal arrangement with the Golden Belt Concert Association in Great Bend, which allows Hutchinson Concert Association members to attend any of the concerts in Great Bend as well.
The officers for the Community Concert Association are Jay Brown, President; Donna Pitzer, 1st Vice president; Betty Oliver, 2nd Vice president; Beth Hinshaw, 3rd Vice president; Mary Falter, Secretary; and Craig Johnson, Treasurer.
All concerts will be held in historic Memorial Hall, Avenue A and Walnut, in Hutchinson.
The final two shows for the 2024-2025 season are coming within the next week.
“Sail On: The Beach Boys Tribute” will take the stage on Thursday, May 1, and “Alliance Brass: Celebrating Stage and Screen” on Monday, May 5. Both shows begin at 7 p.m in Memorial Hall.
CAPTION: Celtic artist Katie McMahon is one of six shows in the 2025-1016 Community Concert Series schedule. The membership sales drive continues through Friday, May 2 CREDIT HUTCHINSON COMMUNITY CONCERT ASSOCIATION The Hutchinson Community Concerts Association's annual membership drive culminates this weekend. Concert Association Vice President Beth
