Fort Hays State University’s Kaleb Hammeke. (Photo courtesy of FHSU Sports Information). By John Mesh Kaleb Hammeke of Fort Hays State was named the MIAA Men’s Basketball Athlete of the Week on Monday for his efforts over the past couple of weeks. This week’s honor combined games from the
By Gina Long
Beginning December 26, Hutchinson residents have gathered in the Hutch in Harmony office each evening to celebrate Kwanzaa, the holiday celebrating key concepts in African culture.
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration from December 26 through January 1, honoring African-American culture in the United States and other countries with sizeable African descendant populations. It was created in 1966 by Maulana Karenga, based on African harvest festival traditions.
Natasha Russell-Iverson has celebrated Kwanzaa since 1985, raising her children and grandchildren in the observance.
“I celebrate all seven days. I made a commitment to it a long time ago,” she said.
She explained that the observance involves seven core principles, each emphasized on its day throughout the week. “Kwanzaa” means “first fruits” in Swahili, and the principles and traditions are referred to in the language.
The seven core principles of Kwanzaa, known as “Nguzo Saba,” are “Umoja” (Unity), “Kujichagulia” (Self-determination), “Ujima” (Collective Work and Responsibility), “Ujamaa” (Cooperative Economics), “Nia” (Purpose), “Kuumba” (Creativity), and “Imani” (Faith).
Russell-Iverson pointed out items in her Kwanzaa set, explaining that some elements are required by tradition, and some are optional.
“The mkeke (mat) is the foundation that ties the elements together. The ear of corn is another. The kinara (candle holder) and the seven candles, one for each night, have their own meanings. A basket of crops, a communal unity cup and gifts are required items,” she said. “Traditional gifts are books because they transmit knowledge, and handmade gifts because they are more personal and meaningful.”
Optional items included a list and explanation of the seven principles and the red, green and black Pan-African flag.
Quincy Baker, 22, of Hutchinson and a Hutchinson Community College student, participated in his first Kwanzaa.
“This is the type of celebration I have been looking for the last few years of my life. I’ve been disappointed with classic holiday celebrations in the U.S. It’s not that the meaning has been lost, but the culture. I wanted something celebrated on the foundation of principles. I wanted something to talk about instead of big gifts. I feel that Kwanzaa encourages and pushes people into the principle of the holiday,” he said.
The Saturday evening observance’s principle was “Ujima.” Russell-Iverson lit the first three candles and then explained the holiday’s history, meaning, and main traditions. She discussed some history and how the traditions and principles are tied to the culture and history of the African diaspora.
Each attendee then took turns discussing what collective work and responsibility meant to them personally and within the community. Some tied the principles to broader struggles and global conflicts, namely Palestine and the ongoing civil war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The discussion ended with a libation poured from the communal cup.
Russell-Iverson thanked the Hutchinson Emancipation Committee for sponsoring this year’s observance.
The public is welcome to attend the final two days’ observances on Tuesday and Wednesday, from 7 – 9 p.m., at the Hutch in Harmony office at 11 E Sherman St.
A traditional Kwanzaa set, including traditional elements such as the mkeke (mat), corn, kinara (candle holder), seven candles for each night of the celebration, a food basket and a communal cup CREDIT GINA LONG/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE By Gina Long Beginning December 26, Hutchinson residents have gathered in
HAVEN – Local Wreaths Across America volunteers are working to ensure all veterans laid to rest at both Laurel Cemetery and Haven (Priest) Cemetery are honored next December as part of National Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.
To fully cover all veterans (228) in both cemeteries, Wreaths Across America is asking for sponsorships for the wreaths.
Wreaths Across America has agreed to match 1:1 all wreath sponsorships from now through Jan. 17, 2025.
“Every $17 sponsorship made is a meaningful gift from a grateful American who knows what it means to serve and sacrifice for the freedoms we all enjoy,” Karen Worcester, executive director of Wreaths Across America, said. “We are so grateful to the good people of this wonderful community for participating in our mission to Remember, Honor and Teach.”
In 2024, ceremonies were held across the country at more than 4,200 participating locations, placing more than three million wreaths for interred veterans. In 2025, Wreaths Across America Day will be held on Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025.
HAVEN - Local Wreaths Across America volunteers are working to ensure all veterans laid to rest at both Laurel Cemetery and Haven (Priest) Cemetery are honored next December as part of National Wreaths Across America Day, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. To fully cover all veterans (228)
By Michael Glenn
Captain Dayton Gates with the Hutchinson Police Department advised those planning on celebrating the beginning of 2025 to have a Plan A and Plan B for arriving home safe Monday afternoon in an interview with The Hutchinson Tribune.
New Year’s Eve is a holiday commonly celebrated with alcohol use which can lead to impaired drivers on the roadway. Gates said to always drive sober and to be mindful of others on the road, even if the driver hasn’t consumed any intoxicating substances.
“We encourage everyone to find obviously a designated driver, but everybody needs to be safe when they’re driving, being responsible and just be aware of your surroundings,” Gates said. “What I mean by that is even though you hadn’t been drinking anything, it doesn’t mean the person that’s driving across the intersection hasn’t been.”
Gates said if a person plans on drinking alcohol, they should find a designated driver to ensure they arrive home safely. Even walking home while intoxicated poses its own risks.
“Sometimes that’s just as dangerous because again, you’re not thinking straight, you’re impaired to some degree, you may not be paying attention when you’re crossing the roadway, so it’s always good to have that plan B in place to have someone just come, you stay where you are and have someone come pick you up,” Gates said. “That’s going to be the safest bet.”
By Michael Glenn Captain Dayton Gates with the Hutchinson Police Department advised those planning on celebrating the beginning of 2025 to have a Plan A and Plan B for arriving home safe Monday afternoon in an interview with The Hutchinson Tribune. New Year’s Eve is a holiday
By Michael Glenn For those still making plans to kick off 2025, the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation has party-only tickets available to purchase for the New Year’s Eve Party at the 1861 Club on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Executive Director of the Kansas Fairgrounds Foundation James Fischer said
CAPTION: Florida State University wide receiver Malik Benson (10), who played one year of college football at the University of Alabama and two years at Hutchinson Community College, reportedly has entered the transfer portal and will visit Kansas State University and Texas A&M. CREDIT ESPN'S
Monday Dec 30 “The Polar Express,” 7 p.m. at the Cosmosphere. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8.50 for children and $9 for seniors. Ask at the box office for the Movie Night Combo for adults Tuesday Dec 31 New Years Eve “The Polar Express,” 3 p.m. at the
The Hutchinson Fire Department extinguished a working structure fire in the 100 block of East 13th Avenue early Sunday morning.
Per a press release, the fire department said the call came in around 12:30 a.m.
The building’s occupants were outside before firefighters arrived, and the fire damaged the room in which it started and the attic above that.
An investigation into the cause is still ongoing.
The HFD asks residents to check smoke detectors. If the detectors are not working properly or to obtain information on how to obtain them, call the HFD’s Community Risk Reduction office at (620) 694-2871.
The Hutchinson Fire Department extinguished a working structure fire in the 100 block of East 13th Avenue early Sunday morning. Per a press release, the fire department said the call came in around 12:30 a.m. The building's occupants were outside before firefighters arrived, and the fire damaged
By Gina Long
We are halfway through the craziest time of the year, which for my family begins with Halloween and ends with Valentine’s Day.
In between, we celebrate Thanksgiving, Yule, Christmas and New Years, followed by Martin Luther King, Jr Day, which we dedicate to community service. Finally, we wrap it up with Valentine’s Day, which is more candy-oriented than romantic.
This year’s December is special, though, because Hanukkah began on Christmas Day, the first time since 2005 and only the fourth time since 1900.
An often overlooked observance which begins on December 26 and continues through January 1 is Kwanzaa, celebrated predominantly within the African-American community.
I had the opportunity to attend the third day celebration on Saturday evening, and I will publish a longer and more detailed article about the tradition- and symbol-rich Kwanzaa observance, but I was struck by the thoughtful and honest discussion surrounding each day’s theme. Many attendees were young Hutchinson residents, and their voices are often dismissed, shouted down and ignored.
Listening to their thoughtful analysis and their hopes and fears with full attention and respect is an act sorely missing in our everyday behavior.
The normal journalistic interview with asking questions and settling in to be a “dispassionate observer” quickly became an intimate quiet space for sharing, a new manner of experiencing a celebration without the preparatory frantic activity involved with many other observances and commemorations.
After a quiet Thanksgiving and a stressful pre-Christmas during which my car decided to break down catastrophically, I am hoping for a tame New Year’s. The raucous huge extended family get-togethers are in the past, and sometimes we just need some rest. The good weather made this year’s preparations much easier than normal, even with an ailing automobile. My post-Covid lagging fatigue has demanded some extra sleep, too.
I wish our readers a happy celebratory season, with good tidings to all. And maybe some snow!
By Gina Long We are halfway through the craziest time of the year, which for my family begins with Halloween and ends with Valentine's Day. In between, we celebrate Thanksgiving, Yule, Christmas and New Years, followed by Martin Luther King, Jr Day, which we dedicate to community
CAPTION: Chocolate chip pie takes the flavors of a good chocolate chip cookie and puts it into pie form, featuring little pockets of chocolate throughout every bite and a nice, thick layer of whipped topping to cap it off. By Lindsey Young One of my favorite parts
