m
Recent Posts
Connect with:
Wednesday / May 28.
HomeStandard Blog Whole Post (Page 2)

You are unauthorized to view this page.

Former Nickerson High School decathlete Hunter Jones, now at Pittsburg State CREDIT SPORTS IN KANSAS FACEBOOK By John Mesh Pittsburg State decathlete Hunter Jones of Nickerson was a multiple-sport star at Nickerson High School, where he excelled in just about anything he did. Sports in Kansas featured Jones

By Gina Long

Michael and I have a running joke. Every Saturday evening, when he sets up the next day’s newsletter framework, he leaves a placeholder for my editorial titled “Opinion: Gina yells at something.” I am notoriously slow in writing my week’s entry, even when I have an idea about the topic. As a result, I spend the wee hours filling in the newsletter and scheduling it.

One night, it was very late, and I was very tired. I finished writing, loaded and scheduled my opinion piece into our website, and then added the link to the newsletter. I neglected to fix the placeholder headline, so the newsletter went out with the editorial piece about Evergy’s next round of rate increases. Michael tried to restrain himself, but he finally broke down in laughter during our usual Sunday afternoon face-to-face editorial meeting at Metropolitan Coffee. It was funny.

We met at a philosophy book club at the former Crow & Co. and found common backgrounds in high school forensics, debate, and a passion for asking questions. After a book club meeting in May 2023, Michael asked me, “Do you want to start a newspaper?” I couldn’t say no, especially to this intelligent, kind, funny and highly motivated young person. I encouraged Michael to reach out to Joey Young, owner of Kansas Publishing Ventures and publisher of Harvey County Now, for advice.

With his parents’ permission, Michael and I found an attorney who drew up the papers for The Hutchinson Tribune, LLC. We chose a newspaper name and masthead and published our first article on Substack on July 5, 2023. Michael ordered business cards, I ordered reporter’s notebooks, and the rest, as they say, is history.

Our primary focus was government: city, county and school board news. I wanted to write about theater and entertainment, conventions and community events. John Mesh approached us in August 2023 to write local sports, and he has diligently covered area prep teams, Hutchinson Community College traveling teams and the multiple sports tournaments and events which draw participants and spectators from across the state and nation.

We’ve hired contractors to help us cover some stories our schedules didn’t allow.

Michael is headed to the University of Kansas on a full-ride John P. Kaiser Scholarship to join the storied William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications. I wish him the best and I am excited that he has the opportunity to learn at a top-ranked school without incurring crippling debt. I also want our talented youth to return, put down roots, and invest in the community.

We want The Hutchinson Tribune to continue growing and covering more, so it made sense to sell to someone with a proven track record and a passion for local news, and who would establish a physical presence in Hutchinson.

Change can be bittersweet. I am saying goodbye to a new vocation and business that has consumed my time and energy for the last two years, but I am proud of having contributed to a successful endeavor that subverted and exceeded expectations.

I am grateful that someone has seen that value and is invested in creating a superior experience.

No worries; I am still salty about property taxes and Evergy’s never-ending demands to tunnel deeper into our wallets, red light runners and College Grove’s uneven sidewalks.

Thank you, readers. We could not have done any of this without you.

By Gina Long Michael and I have a running joke. Every Saturday evening, when he sets up the next day's newsletter framework, he leaves a placeholder for my editorial titled "Opinion: Gina yells at something." I am notoriously slow in writing my week's entry, even when

You are unauthorized to view this page.

By John Mesh The Hutchinson High School and Buhler High School girls swim teams competed in the Kansas Class 5-1A state championships Friday and Saturday at the Topeka-Capitol Federal Natatorium. Hutchinson placed 16th with 41 points. Buhler tied Great Bend for 36th place with 4 points. Hutchinson’s AJ

By Michael Glenn

Around two years ago from today, I was starting a new job at Atwoods Ranch & Home Goods for the summer, going into my junior year of high school. 

I didn’t know what to expect. I was leaving my previous job that I was working at since I was 14 and was working close to 40 hours a week some weeks. 

At the same time, I was attending philosophy book club meetings at Crow & Co. Books. I met Gina Long there, a research librarian, who sounded like she knew a lot about everything. We were both curious about anything and everything, always striving to know more and answer questions we couldn’t quite solve yet. 

Through those next few weeks, I began looking at research material for the upcoming debate season. At the time, I had planned on doing it junior year and wanted to be prepared to hit the ground running come August. 

That was until I came up with an idea to propose to Gina. 

“Let’s start a newspaper!”

I’m not sure I said it like that. But those were the words of a writer for the “Editor & Publisher” Magazine who featured The Hutchinson Tribune, a paper born out of curiosity and wanting to fill a void that our hometown’s once great publication filled for over a century. 

We initially agreed with almost no idea of how to begin writing or publishing content. Gina recommended calling another local newspaper publisher in Kansas, one from Hutchinson. He ran a newspaper in Newton and had some success in Harvey County. So I picked up the latest edition of “Harvey County Now” and called its publisher, Joey Young. 

He didn’t pick up. I did my best as a 16-year-old to leave the best voice message I could to someone I didn’t know. 

“Hi, uh…. Joey. This is Michael Glenn. I’m a high school student in Hutchinson and saw your newspaper, the ‘Harvey County Now,’ and wanted to talk to you about it. How is your newspaper in a community half the size of Hutch so much better than ours?”

He called me back a little later and said he’d be happy to meet with me. Later, he said that he doesn’t receive many calls from teenagers wanting to talk about newspapers, so he and his managing editor, Adam Strunk, drove 30 minutes to meet me at Scuttlebutts. 

Now I won’t tell the whole story again. After meeting with them, Gina and I formally agreed and began The Hutchinson Tribune on Substack, our first publishing platform. We grew and grew, adding contractors, advertising and an employee through our career with the Tribune.

I recall this moment because this is the last column you’ll see me write as an owner and publisher of The Hutchinson Tribune. 

It’s bittersweet in a way. Bitter in the sense that I’m selling the company, but sweet in every other way, including for you, readers. 

Regardless of our growth, Gina and I have had certain inherent barriers. For example, when I’m at school and Gina’s working full time, who can cover the Reno County Commission meeting at 9 a.m. on a Wednesday? Who can make sales calls and meet during any business time? 

While we’ve managed, new ownership with more resources and time will make The Hutchinson Tribune a serious and solid news media source for Hutch and all of Reno County. 

I’ve had countless new opportunities and options open up because of my work in Hutch. I’ve been able to meet other news executives and publishers across the state and country, be featured on national media and attend college for free the next four years. Furthermore, I’ve been able to work for myself, something I’ve always wanted to do. 

This is all due to everyone who decides to open their phone or computer, go to our website, and read a story. 

Sometimes, the “big, bad media” can take over our minds as a group of people who sit in a dark boardroom and think of what person they want to “take down.” In reality, we journalists are just like everyone else, sharing stories from Hutchinson, about Hutchinson. 

Every time I interview a person, write a story or even talk to someone in the street about The Hutchinson Tribune, I am thankful for the person who took time out of their day to talk to me. 

Without you reading our content, we would cease to exist. It’s as simple as that. Your readership and engagement are what keep this publication alive. 

Thank you.

I have full confidence that Joey and Lindsey Young, along with the new publisher, Jackson Swearer, will continue to provide solid news and increase the ability and quality of the content we produce. 

You’ll still see me very active in the paper this summer, working as the paper’s managing editor under the new ownership until I head off to the University of Kansas in August.

Thank you for making this crazy idea between a 16-year-old high schooler and a research librarian a reality. Together, we have created a community that is informed of its area through storytelling and investigative work. Together, we have helped hold our government accountable, celebrated our city’s achievements, investigated our shortcomings and informed our community. 

But don’t think this ownership change is a step in the wrong direction. The opposite is true. In the words of Joey, 

“You will have a damn good newspaper in Hutchinson.”

Love ya, Hutch.

By Michael Glenn Around two years ago from today, I was starting a new job at Atwoods Ranch & Home Goods for the summer, going into my junior year of high school.  I didn’t know what to expect. I was leaving my previous job that I was

You are unauthorized to view this page.

By John Mesh Schools in the Hutchinson Tribune coverage area competed in regionals Thursday and qualified numerous for the 2025 Kansas State Track and Field Championships May 29-30 at Wichita State University’s Cessna Stadium. The top four places in each individual event and relays from regional competition

United Way of Reno County and Reno County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) have partnered to raise $250,000 to help Plevna residents impacted by Sunday’s tornado.

In a press release, United Way of Reno County CEO Lacey Mils said that 100 percent of donations will go toward recovery efforts.

“Per VOAD protocols, donations made to United Way Reno County’s Plevna Disaster Fund will help to first ensure affected residents will have their basic needs met (like access to food, clean water and electricity. Following those efforts, donations will then be used to make sure that each primary residence is safe and livable.”

United Way has set up a donation website at https://www.unitedwayofrenocounty.org/disaster. The website includes contact information for Plevna residents needing assistance, a button for contributing online, and a list of the most-needed specific donated items.

Sandhills Brewing will hold a “Party For Plevna” event on Friday, May 30. “Whatever’s Cookin’,” a local food truck, will begin serving at 5 p.m., and local band “Bluez Warning” will perform from 7-9. Donations taken at the event and a portion of sales will be donated to the United Way disaster fund.

United Way of Reno County and Reno County Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) have partnered to raise $250,000 to help Plevna residents impacted by Sunday's tornado. In a press release, United Way of Reno County CEO Lacey Mils said that 100 percent of donations will

The 2025 Fox Kids Summer Film Series starts on June 10 and runs through August 7. Tickets are $4 per person or $16 for an 8-admission punch pass. CREDIT COURTESY OF FOX THEATRE

By Emmie Amezola

Affordable entertainment for the kids this summer will be available in town soon. The 2025 Fox Kids Summer Film Series starts on June 10. 

The film series is hosted at the Fox Theatre every Tuesday at 2 p.m. and every Thursday at 10 a.m. 

Tickets are $4 per person at the door. Fox kids series passes are also available for purchase. 

Each pass comes with a punch card and is good for up to eight admissions. Passes are $16 per person, which equates to $2 per movie. 

The doors will open 45 minutes prior to showtimes. A kids combo is available at the concession stand for each film at $4 a piece. The combo includes a 12 oz drink, 32 oz popcorn and a package of fruit snacks. 

The first film of the series is “Sing 2,” which will play on June 10 and June 12. The last film of the series is “Kung Fu Panda 4” and will play on Aug. 5 and Aug. 7

Other films in the series include “Despicable Me 4,” “The Lorax,” “The Wild Robot,” “Inside Out 2,” “Sonic The Hedgehog 3” and “IF.”  

The Fox Theatre is located at 18 E. 1st Ave. in downtown Hutchinson. 

The kids summer film series is sponsored by Prairie Star Health Center, Cosmosphere, RCB Bank and First Bank Kansas. 

More information is available at hutchinsonfox.com

The 2025 Fox Kids Summer Film Series starts on June 10 and runs through August 7. Tickets are $4 per person or $16 for an 8-admission punch pass. CREDIT COURTESY OF FOX THEATRE By Emmie Amezola Affordable entertainment for the kids this summer will be available in town

You are unauthorized to view this page.

CAPTION: Stacy Goss, Mayor of Hutchinson, visits with Jeremy Hill, Assistant Vice President-Regional Executive for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, following Chamber of Commerce Breakfast Thursday morning at the Kansas State Fair. CREDIT RICHARD SHANK By Richard Shank “Lots of things are pulling on the