CAPTION: Construction vehicles demolish and work at the sight of the former Cottonwood Hills Golf Course on Buhler Road, east of Hutchinson, Thursday, March 27. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE By Dan Deming Probably not, but a group of investors out of Topeka and Kansas City
By John Mesh Hutchinson Trinity Catholic High School junior Isaac Hammersmith placed second overall in the 220-pound weight class (945 pounds) and ratio (4.678) in the Kansas Class 1A State Powerlifting Meet Saturday at Conway Springs High School. The 2A state powerlifting meet was hosted by Royal
By Gina Long
Happy 18th birthday, Michael.
After our editorial meeting on Saturday, I spent the rest of the day reminiscing about the fantastic journey you have already taken and the incredible road ahead of you.
I remember the first time we were formally introduced at the philosophy book club at Crow & Co in January 2023. I was impressed that a high school student involved in so many extracurricular activities would fit deep discussions about Pascal, Nietzsche, Satre and Camus into his overcrowded schedule was impressive, especially because you read the material and applied the ideas to what you had learned about and observed in the community and the wider world.
I remember after our book discussion in May, you approached me and asked, “Do you want to start a local newspaper?”
That simple question led to more significant discussions about our focus and the “rules” for the publication. Then, we got into the details of choosing a name, structuring the business model, finding stories, writing, setting up our editorial calendar, hiring contractors, and payment and website maintenance.
Many of our early editorial meetings were held at McDonald’s because it was the only food we could afford, they were open late, and they had free Wi-Fi.
You made state and national news, appearing on the video blog of the owner and publisher of Editor & Publisher magazine, KCUR and, most recently, “Hatteberg’s People.” You lectured to journalism classes at Hutchinson Community College and the University of Kansas. We gave a presentation for Talk20 Hutch. We won several awards from the Kansas Press Association last year and will soon find out if we won more this year. You have presented to many local organizations and fraternal orders.
It has been a whirlwind.
You have stayed on top of everything with impressive time and energy management, keeping up with your classroom work and many commitments and extracurriculars while running a business, one you will sell at a profit before you receive your high school diploma. Not many college freshmen can claim that on their university application.
So, as you turn 18 today, please allow me to impart some wisdom I have learned over the years:
Happy birthday. I cannot wait to see what lies ahead.
By Gina Long Happy 18th birthday, Michael. After our editorial meeting on Saturday, I spent the rest of the day reminiscing about the fantastic journey you have already taken and the incredible road ahead of you. I remember the first time we were formally introduced at the philosophy
Trinity Valley Community College is the 2025 NJCAA Men’s Division I Basketball national champion. (Photo courtesy of NJCAA). By John Mesh The Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals are the 2025 NJCAA Men’s Division I champions. The No. 7-seeded Cardinals defeated the No. 17 Connors State College Cowboys 69-61 in the
CAPTION: Red pepper risotto features roasted red bell peppers that melt with fresh parmesan into a creamy, delicious dish that can be paired with everything from mushrooms to shrimp to sausage for dinner. By Lindsey Young Joey and I have a shared joke when we go out
By Michael Glenn
Today, I turn 18 years old.
If you’re reading this the day it was published, today, March 30, 2025 is the first day of my adulthood.
To be honest, I don’t feel any different. Turning 18 is awkward. You’re an adult, but don’t get the legal right to do anything like an adult would.
I looked up a list of things I can do now that I’m 18, and here are some of the highlights:
Very fun! I’m glad to know I can get drafted to serve in the military at any time over the next eight years! But heaven forbid I buy a beer or smoke a joint (well, that second one is a rule for everyone, unfortunately).
Regardless, turning 18 is an important milestone in my life. It’s the marker that I am responsible for my own choices, and with that comes freedom and responsibility.
I feel like I’ve gotten a slice of adulthood from being a part of this publication. I’ve had to deal with payroll, taxes, interviewing adults and writing to an adult audience. I’ve had a lot of fun with this job and plan on continuing providing quality journalism to the Hutchinson community through the rest of the school year and into the summer.
I’ve also been told I act like an adult long, long before I actually became one. For example, I’m listening to “Rubber Soul” by The Beatles on vinyl as I write this. I picked it up from Permanent Records (not a plug for the store, but check it out if you’re into music!) and continue to pick up Beatles albums. They’re my favorite band.
Here’s my Beatles (and their solo careers) collection as of now:
You’d be surprised how many young people around my age listen to The Beatles. But, I bet most people would still associate them with the older generations.
As I prepare for college and living on my own, I’m looking forward to seeing what adulthood brings. It’s a huge step that I feel like I’m ready to successfully make.
Thank you for your support of The Hutchinson Tribune and of me. I’ve been very grateful for this opportunity, and I hope you continue supporting us and our mission of brining local news to our community.
By Michael Glenn Today, I turn 18 years old. If you’re reading this the day it was published, today, March 30, 2025 is the first day of my adulthood. To be honest, I don’t feel any different. Turning 18 is awkward. You’re an adult, but don’t get the
By John Mesh The Hutchinson Blue Dragon softball team swept the Barton Cougars in a Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference doubleheader Wednesday at Fun Valley. The Blue Dragons won the first game 6-0 and the second game 6-2. In Game 1, Hutchinson jumped out to a 6-0 lead
By Richard Shank
Some say there are no secrets in Hutchinson, but after visiting with a couple of dozen Salt City residents, I was unable to determine how many years the American Legion has hosted its annual Pancake/Sausage Breakfast, which coincides with the National Junior College Athletic Association Basketball Tournament.
This year’s event was held at the American Legion Lysle Rishel Post 68 on Thursday morning at 730 West Fourth Avenue. Cindy Keast, Executive Director of the Hutchinson Community College (HCC) Endowment Association, was on duty, wearing an apron while assisting with kitchen duties.
Keast said the funds raised at the breakfast are earmarked to provide scholarships for HCC students, with an emphasis on those whose parents or grandparents are members of the American Legion.
For many Hutchonians, the breakfast is an annual ritual.
The American Legion opened its doors at 6:30 a.m., and a crowd stood at the door, eager to enter and partake of a hearty breakfast meal. The menu was the same for all, including as many pancakes as possible, sausage, coffee, and orange juice. By 11 a.m., the crowd was dwindling, and the event was signed off for another year with the assurance that there would be an encore in 2026.
Larry Collins, an NJCAA tournament volunteer, talked about signing up to assist with the tournament 53 years ago, in 1972. The following morning, Larry noted he attended his first pancake/sausage breakfast and has been returning every year since then.
No one seems certain about the time frame when the event was first held, and Keast said some people think it may have seen its origin soon after the tournament. “I have heard stories of the pancake breakfast being held at the Bisonte Hotel or at what is now Pat’s Lock and Key, the original location of the Town Club,” Keast said.
The serving crew advised attendees that if anyone desired a second helping of anything on the menu, they should just wave a hand in the air, and somebody would take their order. It seemed that many eaters enjoyed visiting with old friends as much as the food they were eating. At a meager $7 per person, it was the best deal in town and a gigantic social event on this spring morning in Hutchinson.
As is the spirit of the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament, the pancake/sausage breakfast is operated by volunteers who are happy to rise early and assist in hosting another event.
“We’ll be back next year” were five words commonly spoken by diners as they exited the American Legion. One individual seemed slightly philosophical and said, “The pancakes and sausage get better with age.”
The kitchen crew from the American Legion Pancake Feed relax in the dining room after serving hundreds of diners at the Thursday morning event, Mar. 27, 2025 CREDIT RICHARD SHANK By Richard Shank Some say there are no secrets in Hutchinson, but after visiting with a couple
Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball coach John Ontjes and the Blue Dragons lost a second-round matchup 50-48 to Three Rivers Community College Friday night in the NJCAA Women’s Division I Tournament the Ford Wyoming Center in Casper, Wyo. (Photo courtesy of HutchCC Sports Information). By John
By Kate Irelan
What started as a way to pay for college, Rev. Bill Waln with Grace Episcopal Church in Hutchinson made a career fighting fire, which grew into a lifelong passion for firefighting and helping people internationally.
Waln was a wildland firefighter for the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for 38 years. He now works as the State Fire Management Officer for the Kansas Forest Service. He made the career change as he saw it as an opportunity to provide a positive impact to the firefighters of Kansas. Waln said what keeps him going is the people. He enjoys working with highly skilled people who are passionate about providing service to the public. In 2015, Waln completed a three-year seminary program through the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry in Topeka. He was ordained into the order of the Presbyterate in 2017. He serves as an assistant priest at Grace Episcopal Church in Hutchinson and works with Fr. Ted Blakley.
“I’m lucky he is kind with my schedule. He knows my job as a firefighter often pulls me away from home, and sometimes I am gone for 14 days at a time,” said Waln.
Waln served on Incident Management Teams for 25 years, and for the last six years, he served as an Incident Commander for a Complex Incident Management Team. An Incident Management Team is comprised of individuals with a special skill set who come in to manage large, complex fires. He said the job takes him to fight fires nationwide and across the northern border. Waln said when it comes to fighting fires,
“It could be in California, Montana, Idaho or even Canada.” The most recent complex fire Waln worked on was the West Mountain Complex in August 2024, where four fires were burning north of Boise, Idaho, near Cascade, Idaho.
“Qualifications for the National Complex Management Team program are successive; it does take time and effort to gain higher-level qualifications. It took me 25 years to gain the qualification of Incident Commander,” Waln said. “Incident Command System qualification balances formal training with documented experience. Wildfire training courses are taught all over the United States and meet the standards set by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group. They set the standards and the coursework. The Kansas Forest Service is a member of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group.” He said that the Hutchinson Community College fire program offers beginning levels of firefighter training and does not offer this higher-level training.
The Kansas Forest Service Fire Program offers support across the state and training grants for equipment. According to the Kansas Forest Service website, the mission of the Fire Management Program is to empower fire departments to provide better service to Kansans through training, equipment, and financial assistance. The Kansas Forest Service is housed as an independent agency within K-State Research and Extension.
Part of what he does is to assist volunteer fire departments in Kansas. Waln said, “Volunteerism has fallen in many rural areas across the nation, including ambulances, EMT, libraries, etc. and it has affected rural departments that are primarily run by volunteers. We have to find ways to assist and bring the resources they need. The number one job is to support the fire department in suppression, training and equipment.”
Waln said federal grants fund 75% of the Kansas Forest Service Fire Management. While not speaking as an official KFSFM representative, he said it’s too early to tell how recent cuts from the federal government will impact the service. “We are very closely watching how funding is impacted. If we do receive federal funding cuts, we would not be able to provide those services at a level we have been,” said Waln. “If fed grant funding dries up, it will shut us down.”
“Unfortunately, the Kansas Forest Service just requested a budget increase of $1.5 million in funding from the Kansas legislature, and it didn’t pass in committee. This just happened Wednesday,” said Waln. He said Governor Laura Kelly created a wildfire task force to document and research Kansas landowners’ needs and make Kansas more resilient in response to wildfires. Kelly’s report was released in November 2023.
“The report recommendations are intended to protect the people of Kansas, larger values at risk, and obtain pass-through dollars for landowners to help them reduce Eastern Red Cedar trees on their land,” Waln said. “The funding requested by the Kansas Forests Service was what the task force recommended to Governor Kelly. In addition to the pass-through grants to help Kansas landowners deal with hazardous fuel reduction, the funding request would have increased wildfire mitigation efforts to communities and increased the ability to assist small fire departments with training and equipment as well prescribed fire training for private landowners.”
The Kansas Forest Service helps landowners manage their lands. Waln said, “They can write a prescription for a management plan for landowners, but because the Kansas legislature denied the request for additional funding, they can’t help landowners fund the implementation of the management plan.”
If you are a landowner interested in learning more about your wildfire risk, visit the Kansas Wildfire Risk Assessment website.
To learn more about the Kansas Forest Service, visit their website, https://www.kansasforests.org
To learn more about the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, visit their website, https://www.nwcg.gov
Photo courtesy of Fr. Bill Waln By Kate Irelan What started as a way to pay for college, Rev. Bill Waln with Grace Episcopal Church in Hutchinson made a career fighting fire, which grew into a lifelong passion for firefighting and helping people internationally. Waln was a wildland
