By John Mesh The Hutchinson Trinity Celtic football team opens the 2024 season Sept. 6 at Inman and will host home games Sept. 13 against Sedgwick and Sept. 20 against Remington. The 2024 Celtics return four returning starters on offense, six starters on defense and a total
CREDIT THE HUTCHINSON PUBLIC LIBRARY The Hutchinson Public Libary will commemorate the 85th anniversary of "The Wizard of Oz" on Wed., Aug. 14, at 5:30 p.m. The film will be screened in Meeting Room 1 (formerly the Auditorium) on the second floor. The event is free and open
Monday Aug 12
Wednesday Aug 14
Thursday August 15
Friday August 16
Saturday August 17
Monday Aug 12 Lunch in the Park, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at DCI Park, at the corner of Main St. and 2nd Ave. Enjoy food truck, yard games and entertainment Wednesday Aug 14 Reno County Farmer’s Market, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at 103 W 2nd Ave. “The
By Michael Glenn Republican Candidate for Kansas House District 102 Kyler Sweely responded to comments from his opponent, Rep. Jason Probst, over his residency in the district and in Hutchinson. Probst, in a Facebook post after Sweely’s defeat of Republican Primary Candidate Tyson Thrall, referred to his
By John Mesh The Hutchinson High School Salthawk football team returns 14 starters from the 2023 team that posted a 7-3 record and lost to Maize South in the regional round of the Kansas Class 5A state playoffs. Mike Vernon, who begins his seventh season as Hutchinson
By Gina Long
On Tuesday evening, Michael and I grabbed a table and a couple of pizzas at Sandhills Brewery, connected our laptops to the Wi-Fi and watched the primary results roll in.
We discussed our predictions and the results, looked at the preliminary precinct and district information, and Michael planned his candidate interviews.
I was hoping for a voter turnout of around 25 percent. Sadly, the final tally for Reno County came in at less than 17 percent, meaning less than one in five registered voters voted in the primary.
Turnouts are higher in presidential election years—over 30 percent—with a precipitous dropoff during non-presidential cycles. During the last presidential election year, primary turnout was over 30 percent, attributed to a hotly contested ballot question that would have amended the state’s constitution to outlaw abortion. 2016 was a heated election year with a primary turnout of over 30 percent.
Municipal elections, in which voters elect city council and school board members, are nonpartisan, so unaffiliated voters and members of smaller political parties are not excluded. Unfortunately, turnout hovers around 17 percent. City council and school board elections have the greatest direct impact on our lives, but because they don’t dominate the airwaves and our social media feeds, many voters don’t cast a ballot.
Discussing low voter turnout with a high school student who won’t be eligible until next year is enlightening and, unfortunately, sad. Low youth engagement and turnout continue. And parents who don’t vote don’t teach their kids to vote. My son, now 28, accompanied me to every polling station, whether in a primary, general, or municipal election. We also showed up for several ballot measures. We were living in Nebraska then, and direct ballot questions are common. He registered to vote the day he turned 18 in 2014 and has not missed any election since. He has talked to his friends to encourage them to vote, and he canvasses for candidates.
Nebraskans approved Medicaid expansion via a ballot initiative in 2018, but it has not been implemented due to strong opposition from the current and former governors. Recreational marijuana legalization will be on the ballot in November. Those contentious ballot questions drive turnout, as we saw in Kansas in August 2022 for the Value Them Both State constitutional amendment.
Primary elections choose candidates on partisan tickets, disenfranchising some 38.7 percent of the Reno County electorate. Other states have implemented ranked-choice voting, but little evidence shows that it increases turnout. Open primaries allow partisan meddling. There are no easy solutions.
Rancor and vitriol by candidates at all levels have turned off many voters, who are weary of the noise, the elevation of style over substance, and the lack of policy positions.
But on Tuesday evening, just under 17 percent of Reno County voters made decisions for all of us.
By Gina Long On Tuesday evening, Michael and I grabbed a table and a couple of pizzas at Sandhills Brewery, connected our laptops to the Wi-Fi and watched the primary results roll in. We discussed our predictions and the results, looked at the preliminary precinct and district
CAPTION: Raspberry danishes include decadent sweetened cream cheese, along with tart fresh berries and crunchy puff pastry. They can also be made with pretty much any fresh berry, if raspberries aren’t your thing. By Lindsey Young Throughout our marriage, one of my side projects with Joey has
CAPTION: Community members, volunteers and the Hutchinson Youth City Council met at George Pyle Park Saturday morning to clean up Cow Creek. CREDIT YCC By Michael Glenn The Hutchinson Youth City Council hosted a clean-up of Cow Creek beginning at George Pyle Park Saturday morning. The council, volunteers
By Michael Glenn
Those words were spoken by John Lewis, the late civil rights activist and United States Representative from Georgia.
Voting is extremely important in our democratic society. I hope we can all agree on that.
However, the unofficial turnout numbers from the Reno County Clerk’s Office are bleak and embarrassing for anyone interested in state or local politics.
16.89%. Are you kidding me?
Let’s take a look at other turnout percentages from presidential years. In 2020, the turnout was 37.55% and in 2016? 30.02%.
While these are still lower-than-they-should-be numbers, it begs an important question.
Let’s face it, some districts in Reno County and much of Western Kansas aren’t decided in November, but in August. The 114th House District, which is most of rural Reno County, doesn’t even have a Democrat running.
Tuesday was the race, and the same argument could be had to a lesser extent for Senate District 34.
We should learn from the 2022 primary election. The “Value Them Both” constitutional amendment, which would have given the power to regulate any and all abortions to the supermajority Republican Kansas Legislature, brought 19,153 Reno County voters to the ballot box.
Compare that to this year’s number: 7,026.
When people’s rights are on the ballot directly, we tend to show out. But when people who decide on our rights and freedoms and shape our future are on the ballot, we don’t follow suit?
Our legislators, county commissioners, city council members and school board members make decisions that impact our day-to-day lives more than anything in Washington, D.C.
Act like your votes are direct referendums on policies, social issues and your rights. Because they are.
By Michael Glenn “The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.” Those words were spoken by John Lewis, the late civil rights activist and United States Representative from Georgia. Voting is extremely important in
The Reno County Housing Commission released a report of its most important achievements over the past year, including expanding one of its most visible programs to all of Reno County.
City of Hutchinson Housing Coordinator Carissa Paxton highlighted the organization’s programs and their economic benefits to the community in a press release Friday.
The commission guided the completion of over 200 homeowner renovation projects.
The Brush Up Hutch program, which provides financial assistance for homeowners to purchase paint, jumped from five to 95 projects this year and expanded throughout Reno County.
The commission used federal ARPA funds to expand its cooperation with Interfaith Housing and the South Central Kansas Economic Development District (SCKEDD), purchasing and renovating vacant houses and increasing housing inventory for home buyers.
The program has directly contributed $2.1 million to local contractors, stimulating the local economy.
Per the press release, “The improved housing stock makes Hutchinson more attractive to potential businesses and residents alike. The progress made with ARPA relief funds is expected to continue, leading to improved housing, new jobs, and new businesses coming to the community.”
For more information about the Reno County Housing Commission and its programs, visit their website.
The Reno County Housing Commission released a report of its most important achievements over the past year, including expanding one of its most visible programs to all of Reno County. City of Hutchinson Housing Coordinator Carissa Paxton highlighted the organization's programs and their economic benefits
