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CAPTION: The site of what once was the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center on Monday, March 3, located at 1400 North Lorraine in Hutchinson. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE

By Michael Glenn

The Atrium Hotel and Conference Center is on schedule to be completely demolished by the end of March. 

That’s according to Hutchinson City Manager Enrico Villegas, who spoke to The Hutchinson Tribune in an interview Monday. 

“We’re in really good shape,” Villegas said. “The contractor has done a phenomenal job, and we’re definitely on track to be done by the end of March.”

Villegas said the final step of demolition will be to remove the parking lot and replace it with straw and seed to make a grass site. 

The City underwent the condemnation process to condemn and force the property owner to either demolish or repair the structure. In this case, the owner opted not to demolish it, and the City began demolition through a contractor. The cost of demolition will then be placed as a lien on the property. The property owner can then pay the lien, or after a number of years, the lien will go to the Reno County Sheriff’s tax sale.

“I do think that cleaning up blight is a good initiative for the City, and hopefully this is only further positive momentum for the City,” Villegas said. “A lot of people view this as a huge win, so hopefully, we can continue to build on that.”

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CAPTION: The site of what once was the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center on Monday, March 3, located at 1400 North Lorraine in Hutchinson. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE By Michael Glenn The Atrium Hotel and Conference Center is on schedule to be completely demolished by the

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By John Mesh The 2024-25 basketball season will continue for the Hutchinson Central Christian boys squad with a 63-47 victory over No. 1-seed Weskan in the Kansas Class 1A Division II Dighton sub-state #1 semifinal game Monday night at Goodland’s Max Jones Fieldhouse. Brady Froese led the

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Graphic courtesy of Blue Dragon Sports Information By John Mesh Hutchinson Trinity Catholic High School’s Mattie Galliher, a 5-foot-11 middle blocker, signed a letter of intent Wednesday afternoon to play volleyball at Hutchinson Community College. Galliher played volleyball for Celtic coaches Lauren Cost and Jan Frieb. She also

Community Reporting

Members of the Hutchinson Community Foundation’s Youth Philanthropy Council from left: Hutchinson Community Foundation Program Officer Sarah Blake, (back) Gavin Foster, Sam Vogel, Ellie Foos, Libby Trumpp, Kayla Rose, Hollyn Neufeldt and Will Barkley. Front from left: Claudia Taylor, Ruby Tovar-Contreras, Mary Newboles, Lucy Steen and Haley McGill CREDIT GINA LONG/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE

By Gina Long

The Hutchinson Community Foundation Youth Philanthropy Council awarded nine grants to eight local organizations Sunday.

Co-chairs Mary Newboles and Ellie Foos delivered the opening remarks, and Libby Trumpp and Haley McGill outlined the grant-making process.

Grants are awarded yearly from the Richard W. Dillon Memorial Fund for Youth Philanthropy, and each award aims to impact the lives of Reno County youth positively.

The 2024-2025 council members are:

Buhler High School
Claudia Taylor
Libby Trumpp

Fairfield High School
Gavin Foster
Lucy Steeb

Haven High School
Kayla Rose

Hutchinson High School
Ellie Foos
Hollyn Neufeldt

Nickerson High School
Will Barkley
Haley McGill

Trinity Catholic High School
Mary Newboles
Ruby Tovar-Contreras
Sam Vogel

“The work we do with this council is not just scholarships. We choose where our support could make the most impact.” Ellie Foos said. “Real change happens when people trust each other to make it possible.”

“Community needs are almost always more than available resources,” Haley McGill said. “These are projects that matter in the community. They are centered on youth.”

“No one is ever too young to make a difference in the community,” Libby Trumpp said.

The presenters repeatedly thanked YPC mentor, Hutchinson Community Foundation Program Director Sarah Blake.

“She supports and encourages us in everything, not just the youth council,” Mary Newboles said. “I speak for all the council when I say from the bottom of my heart: Thank you, Sarah.”

The programs receiving awards are:

  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson “Future Welders of America,” teaching youth about welding and providing hands-on experience — $500
  • Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters “Games and Craft Nights” to provide social activities for big and little brothers and sisters — $425
  • Spark United Church of the Nazarene “Kitchen Hero Academy,” which teaches youth how to cook delicious and healthy meals on a budget — $350
  • Reno County Education Cooperative “Soft Spotlight Theatre Productions,” working with Family Community Theatre to hold sensory-friendly productions for youth with disabilities — $900
  • Hutchinson NAACP Youth “Cultural Diversity Youth Book Club,” for its culturally diverse book club — $500
  • Sky Ryders Performing Arts Foundation “Building Early Reading Skills,” for a generator to power the Sky Ryders public address system during its nationwide drum and bugle educational and recruiting program — $300
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson “Lyricism 101,” providing funds to purchase music recording equipment — $600
  • Nickerson High School — Debate & Forensics “NSDA National Tournament,” allowing all national debate and forensics qualifiers to attend the national tournament, regardless of family financial contributions — $750
  • Trinity Catholic High School “Sources of Strength” program of peer mentoring and mental health support — $1,000
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Members of the Hutchinson Community Foundation's Youth Philanthropy Council from left: Hutchinson Community Foundation Program Officer Sarah Blake, (back) Gavin Foster, Sam Vogel, Ellie Foos, Libby Trumpp, Kayla Rose, Hollyn Neufeldt and Will Barkley. Front from left: Claudia Taylor, Ruby Tovar-Contreras, Mary Newboles, Lucy Steen

Upcoming Events

Thursday March 6

  • “Lady and The Tramp,” part of the Fox Classic Film Series, 7 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 18 E 1st Ave. Admission is $5. The Fox Film Series Passes are $45 and include 10 admissions and 5 small popcorns
  • Spring Flourishes Symphonic Band Concert With The Nickerson High School Band, 7 p.m. at the Stringer Fine Arts Center, 600 E 11th Ave. Doors open at 6:30. Tickets are $10 adults, $8 seniors, $5 students, free for HutchCC students and staff with school ID

Saturday Mar 8

  • 2025 Parade of Quilts in Yoder, throughout March. Visit the event’s website for more information and a list of participating merchants
  • A Gathering For Gardeners, 8:30 a.m. – 3:15 p.m., Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 407 E 12th Ave., presented by the Hutchinson Horticulture Club. Free admission. Please register at the door. Door prize drawings will be held throughout the day
  • Beginning directors workshop, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the Hutchinson Community Foundation conference room (First National Bank building 5th floor). For ages 12 and up. There is a $10 charge to cover the provided lunch. With the completion of the workshop, you can be considered to direct one of the Enchanted Forest shows and assist with a MainStage show. Contact Craig Williams at (620) 727-7194 or cwilliams62@cox.net if you are planning to attend
  • Hutch Mini Con, 11 – 6, Memorial Hall, 101 S Walnut St. $5 admission; 15 and under free with a paid adult. For more information, check the Hutch Mini Comic Con Facebook page
  • “Lady and The Tramp,” part of the Fox Classic Film Series, 2 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 18 E 1st Ave. Admission is $5. The Fox Film Series Passes are $45 and include 10 admissions and 5 small popcorns

Sunday Mar 9

  • Daylight Savings Time begins. Remember to set your clocks ahead 1 hour!
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Thursday March 6 “Lady and The Tramp,” part of the Fox Classic Film Series, 7 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 18 E 1st Ave. Admission is $5. The Fox Film Series Passes are $45 and include 10 admissions and 5 small popcorns Spring Flourishes Symphonic Band Concert

Opinion

CAPTION: The East entrance of Memorial Hall at 101 South Walnut in Downtown Hutchinson. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE

By Michael Glenn

Caution signs: we’ve seen a lot recently. 

I live in South Hutchinson, so navigating the closed Woodie Seat Freeway and Main Street has caused me to read a lot of orange signs around the south side of town. 

I’ve never minded caution or road work signs a lot because I tend to think of it as a good thing that the city is keeping up on maintenance and construction. 

With maintenance, the Hutchinson City Council is in the middle of deciding the fate of one of its most iconic buildings: Memorial Hall. 

Memorial Hall is a building synonymous with Downtown Hutchinson, such as the Historic Fox Theatre and the Landmark Building. While we don’t have much of a skyline, if someone were to draw a silhouette of downtown, Memorial Hall would be in it. 

The Council, at its last meeting on Feb. 19, heard a presentation about the future of the building. To be frank, it’s not in great shape. Much work needs to be done in HVAC, and $5.3 million in renovations is needed to bring it up to modern standards, according to the City’s Parks and Facilities department. 

Furthermore, it doesn’t make any money for the city. The total amount of expenses for Memorial Hall in 2023 was $110,548 in expenses, $15,160 in revenue and $95,388 in net loss. In 2024, it was $126,098 in expenses, $27,080 in revenue and $99,018 in net loss. 

It would be erroneous to demolish the Hall and turn it into green space simply because of that. Many different organizations, community groups and private parties have utilized the space. Here’s a list I came up with just from events we’ve reported on:

  • Family Community Theatre productions
  • TECH Gala
  • “Out of Town” Town Hall
  • Third Thursday
  • Hispanic Health & Resource Fair
  • Hutch Mini-Con
  • Plenty of other community/sporting events

Here’s a thought that I think most of us forget: the government is not a business. If you run a government like a company, it will fail. Running a stable government is more than just dollars and cents. Memorial Hall holds much sentimental and nostalgic value to many people who live here, even if it isn’t in the greatest shape today.

With the Downtown Masterplan beginning to take shape, Memorial Hall has the chance to be the literal crown jewel of Hutchinson, supported by the Landmark and the Fox Theatre. 

From the information we have, here are the three most likely options for its fate, in no particular order:

  1. The City turns the site into a park, connecting it to Avenue A Park and having a three-block green space that includes George Pyle Park. 
  2. The City sells/leases/gets rid of the property to a bidder in the RFP.
  3. The City lets the building stay as it is (status quo).

It’s difficult to say what the “correct” option is here. Selling it would be the most cost-effective and most efficient, but then the developer gains hefty rights to the building, which could include demolition. On the other hand, the building can’t stay the way it is. And on the park, convincing Hutch residents that tearing down the Hall to put a park in would be difficult. 

Depending on the design done for a potential park, there could be benefits to having a green area in the center of downtown. The park could also honor the past events and prestige the Hall has had on Hutchinson while not being a financial burden on the City’s coffers.

As a young person, I would prefer the Hall to stay in some form. It’s a historic building that has a unique space that can be used. If it’s truly not possible to simply renovate and bring it up to standards, having a central green space downtown could benefit local businesses in the area and provide a leisurely break from the busy streets. 

The best option right now for the council, which they have rightfully done, is to wait and see what is available. If there’s a can’t-beat-that offer available, maybe that’s the best option.

Proceed with caution, council. 

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CAPTION: The East entrance of Memorial Hall at 101 South Walnut in Downtown Hutchinson. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE By Michael Glenn Caution signs: we’ve seen a lot recently.  I live in South Hutchinson, so navigating the closed Woodie Seat Freeway and Main Street has caused me to

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Graphic courtesy of Blue Dragon Sports Information By John Mesh Hutchinson Community College sophomore Hailey Jackson passed the 1,000-point mark and the No. 11 Blue Dragon women’s basketball team held off the Seward County Saints 58-50 Saturday afternoon at the Green House in Liberal. Jackson now has scored