Hutchinson City Manager Enrico Villegas delivers the 2025 State of The City address in the 1861 Club building on the Kansas State Fairgrounds on Jan. 15, 2025 CREDIT RICHARD SHANK By Richard Shank The largest crowd ever to attend a Chamber of Commerce breakfast in Hutchinson was
CAPTION: Dr. Paul Erickson, left, Michael Ellegood, Rylie Sanders and Cindy Couchman. CREDIT SAMANTHA NEILL
USD 313 announced Wednesday Buhler High School Agriculture Education teacher Rylie Sanders was awarded Kansas Horizon Award on Jan. 9.
That’s according to a press release issued by Buhler USD 313 and the Buhler High School Journalism Department.
Sanders received a call from Dr. Randy Watson, Kansas Commissioner of Education, congratulating her on this distinguished award.
Horizon nominees must be in their second year of full-time teaching. Nominees are selected by district and building administration. Only 32 teachers across Kansas who rise above other novice teachers earn this award.
Sanders was working through a lesson with her students when family members, colleagues and district administration members walked into her room. They came together to share the news of her award with her.
“I was joyed and surprised to see my biggest supporters from different areas of life all together – my husband, my parents, my colleagues, and my administrators,” Sanders said.
USD 313 Superintendent Cindy Couchman spoke highly of Sanders and her impact on others.
“We are so blessed to have Mrs. Sanders in our district. She is a phenomenal FFA sponsor and Ag teacher for us at Buhler. It is a testament to the hours and hours she puts into the Ag program and her students. She pours her heart into them,” Couchman said. h
Buhler High School Principal Michael Ellegood echoed Sanders’ impact at BHS.
“Mrs. Sanders is wise beyond her years,” Ellegood said. “She brings expertise. She isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions.”
Sanders will receive her award with the other Horizon educators on February 14, 2025 in Topeka at the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network annual conference.
“She is a joy to work with, she’s always got a smile on her face,” Ellegood said.
“I truly believe I chose the best place to start my teaching career. The support and encouragement provided by USD 313 and my colleagues in the Agricultural Education Department have been exceptional,” Sanders said.
CAPTION: Dr. Paul Erickson, left, Michael Ellegood, Rylie Sanders and Cindy Couchman. CREDIT SAMANTHA NEILL USD 313 announced Wednesday Buhler High School Agriculture Education teacher Rylie Sanders was awarded Kansas Horizon Award on Jan. 9. That's according to a press release issued by Buhler USD
By John Mesh The Hutchinson Salthawk boys and girls basketball teams finally hit the hardwood for the first time in 25 days (because of Christmas break and weather postponements) and swept the Valley Center Hornets Tuesday night at the Salthawk Activity Center. The Hutchinson varsity boys (4-1)
CAPTION: CREDIT HUTCHINSON NAACP By Emmie Boese The Hutchinson Community College Social Sciences department and the Human Relations office in partnership with the Hutchinson NAACP will host its annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. celebration on Jan. 17-Jan. 20. All events for the celebration are open and
By Kate Irelan
Mega hit songwriters Nicolle Galyon and her husband Rodney Clawson, along with a few of their friends, will be performing live at the Fox Theatre this Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
The concert, “Nicolle Galyon & Friends,” is a fundraiser for the Firstborn Fund, a benefit to help out people and the community in her hometown, Sterling, Kansas.
According to a Fox Theatre press release, Galyon is an award-winning songwriter with hits including Miranda Lambert’s “Automatic” and Dan + Shay’s “Tequila.” Galyon’s most recent EP (extended play) release is “Second Wife.” Prior to “Second Wife, Galyon released an artist debut, “Firstborn.” She founded the female-focused label and publishing house, Songs & Daughters.
Clawson is a mega-hit songwriter who has written nearly 30 number-one hit songs including some recorded by George Strait, Luke Bryan and Kenny Chesney.
The show promises to be a special evening with Will Bundy (2024 CMA Award winner for producing the Musical Event of the Year: Ella Langley and Riley Green’s smash hit, “You Look Like You Love Me”), Lauren Watkins (Big Loud / Songs & Daughters), Logan Mize and Jill Martin (The Mizes) performing, and Morgan Huelsman (Bobby Bones Show) hosting.
Tickets for the show can be purchased on the Fox Theatre’s ovationtix website. VIP tickets are $100, and are available on a first-come first served basis. VIP tickets include a seat in the first four rows and a meet and greet with the performers. Regular seating tickets range from $35 to $65. Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and the show begins at 7:30 p.m.
The Fox Theatre is located at 18 East First Avenue in Hutchinson, Kansas. For more information visit the Fox Theatre website or call 620-663-5861. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
By Kate Irelan Mega hit songwriters Nicolle Galyon and her husband Rodney Clawson, along with a few of their friends, will be performing live at the Fox Theatre this Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The concert, “Nicolle Galyon & Friends,” is a fundraiser for the Firstborn Fund,
CAPTION: Commissioner Richard Winger is sworn in by Chief Judge Patricia Macke Dick Monday at the Reno County Courthouse. CREDIT SANDRA MILBURN/RENO COUNTY
By Michael Glenn
Commissioners Ron Vincent and Richard Winger were both sworn in Monday as Reno County’s newest commissioners.
Winger represents the fourth commission district and the only district completely within Hutchinson city limits. Winger said he is ready to get to work as commissioner and help the county grow.
“My goal is to make the county as efficient but have the services that all people expect, and also have a forward-looking perspective in trying to get businesses to move here, working with the city and infrastructure things that need to be done, trying to make Hutch a place people want to come and live in,” Winger said.
Winger has lived in Hutchinson for over 50 years and has four children and 13 grandchildren. Winger ran as a Republican and has not held a political office before, but did work in the Reno County Maintenance/Facilities Department after retiring from the pool and spa industry. He now works at Hutchinson Community College.
Winger added he will also be connected with rural residents of the county and plans on attending town halls and meetings that are in rural areas.
“I appreciate everyone that participated in the election and the people that voted for me, but I want to be a good commissioner for the county,” Winger said. “I appreciate the people that work in the county and I’m looking forward to the next couple years.”
Vincent represents the third district which encompasses northeastern Hutchinson, Medora and Buhler.
“I became more interested in what was going on commission-wise, and that’s why I decided to run,” Vincent said. “I’m pretty interested in the way they spend money. They’ve had some projects in the past that I feel have gotten out of hand or were not very well planned. I’m really wanting to look into that.”
Vincent has lived his entire life in Hutchinson and owned a business before retiring two years ago. He said he wants to work to grow the county and Hutchinson as well as increase the amount of businesses in the county.
Vincent said even though he ran as a Republican, he has no political agenda he wants to push while on the commission. He said he wants to focus only on growing revenue and population in the county.
Commissioner Ron Hirst also won re-election in November and was sworn in for a third term.
Winger, Vincent and Hirst will join Commission Chair Randy Parks and Vice Chair Don Bogner to make up the commission. All five are Republicans.
Other county officials sworn in Monday include Reno County Sheriff Darrian Campbell, Reno County Register of Deeds Michelle Updegrove, Reno County Clerk Jenna Fager, Reno County, District Attorney Thomas Stanton, Reno County District Court Judge, Dist. 27 Div. II Keith Schroeder, Reno County Magistrate Judge, Dist. 27 Jeff Newsum and District Court Judge, Dist. 27, Div. IV Greg Bell.
CAPTION: Commissioner Richard Winger is sworn in by Chief Judge Patricia Macke Dick Monday at the Reno County Courthouse. CREDIT SANDRA MILBURN/RENO COUNTY By Michael Glenn Commissioners Ron Vincent and Richard Winger were both sworn in Monday as Reno County’s newest commissioners. Winger represents the fourth commission district
By John Mesh The Hutchinson Trinity Catholic boys basketball team defeated Marion 68-64 for its first victory of the season Monday night and Marion defeated Trinity 52-16 in the varsity girls game. The Trinity Catholic girls and boys basketball teams hosted Marion Monday night at the Trinity
CAPTION: Back row: USD 313 Board Members Chris Shank, Greg Lackey, Tim Lackey, Monte Cross Front row: Dr. Michael Green, Jessica Goering, Laura Meyer Dick CREDIT BUHLER USD 313 By Emmie Boese In relation to the Hutchinson Clinic’s decision to terminate its in-network contract with Blue Cross
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 Kate Irelan
Superintendent of Hutchinson USD 308 Dr. Dawn Johnson at the Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education meeting reported that the Kansas State Department of Education suspended their application for $109 million in state bonds because the bond cap was exceeded, and the district will not be able to hold a vote on April 1.
“I had talked in the past about possibly exceeding the bond cap, and I was given every indication that the bond cap has not been exceeded before and that we’d be fine,” Johnson said. Unfortunately, that is not the case. So the bottom line is that we cannot vote on April 1.”
The district will have to pick another date. Johnson highlighted conclusions from the KSDE Deputy Commissioner as to why the bond cap was exceeded. The state board had received applications prior to USD 308’s application in December, leaving a remaining balance of $263 million in the bond pool. The state board reviews applications monthly, and four schools applied in December, including Hutchinson, which exceeded the cap.
“There’s just a lot of schools putting in for new construction,” said Johnson. She explained that the state board then prioritizes the applications according to the state statute using criteria including building safety and disability access, enrollment growth and imminent overcrowding, delivery of educational services, and energy use and efficiency. Then applications are considered in the order they are received.
Johnson said that the state board bond hearings were held on Dec. 20 and after approving applications from two other schools ranking higher in the needs assessments, the remaining balance in the bond cap was $89 million. Hutchinson’s application was for $109 million.
The schools that received state approval will have their local elections, and if one of their bonds fails, that amount will go back into the state bond pool, and Hutchinson might have another opportunity for their application to be approved.
“We don’t have to go through another hearing or application process again, but do have to set a new date to vote for a resolution,” Johnson said. “We could pick a date before this school year is over, but the challenge is that if we pick a date hoping, then we’d have to cancel it if the money isn’t available.”
Johnson said that summer is not as good a time to engage families for a vote, and there are no primary elections they could piggyback off of the costs until November. Not having a primary vote means the school district will have to pay for a special election.
“A special election costs $19,400, which we were already going to do in April,” Johnson said. “To have a mail-in election, it would cost $40,000 for postage. September is not a good time because the polling location is at the Fairgrounds and you know what happens at the fairgrounds in September, the Kansas State Fair.”
She said that the cost to move a polling location would cost an additional $12,000 to notify the community of the new location by mail and the voter turnout will likely be poor because of confusion. The only option that will cost nothing will be to hold a vote in November.
If the district has to wait until next year, they will be first in line for the state board to reconsider their application. No action was requested of the school board.
The USD 308 board meets every second and fourth Monday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in the Administration Center, 1520 N. Plum. For more information and to view the agenda or minutes of the meetings, visit their website, https://www.usd308.com/page/boe
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 Kate Irelan Superintendent of Hutchinson USD 308 Dr. Dawn Johnson at the Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education meeting reported that the
CAPTION: Crow and Co. bookstore, at 2 South Main in Hutchinson. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE By Michael Glenn Crow & Co. bookstore will be closing in downtown Hutchinson at the end of this week. Sara and Lara Crow opened the bookstore in Aug. 2020 in the middle
