m
Recent Posts
Sports
Opinion
Connect with:
Wednesday / May 28.
SECTION
logo
mobile-logo
HomeStandard Blog Whole Post (Page 6)
Community Events

CAPTION: CREDIT HUTCH REC

Hutch Rec, in collaboration with the Kansas State Fairgrounds, Strataca, Cosmosphere, Hutchinson Zoo, NaCl Comic Cons LLC and Downtown Hutchinson, announced the 12th annual Smallville Festival taking place June 19-21, 2025, Wednesday in a press release.

Each year, Hutchinson embraces its heroic alter ego by transforming into Smallville, the iconic hometown of Clark Kent, better known as Superman. Residents and visitors are invited to attend the three-day celebration. Events will take place across the city, offering something for everyone, celebrating what makes small-town living super. Smallville Festival focuses on values including tradition, hard work, grit, determination and pride in where we live.

Featured events at this year’s Smallville Festival include:

  • Thursday, June 19
  • Third Thursday – 6-9 p.m.: Celebrate Smallville during Third Thursday, featuring several family-friendly and all-ages events and activities throughout Downtown Hutchinson from 6-8 p.m.
  • Smallville Kids Costume Contest – 6 p.m.: A family favorite returns during Third Thursday; walk-up registration is free for this event.
  • DC Movie Marathon: Batman Begins – Dusk: Kick off the weekend DC Movie Marathon with a movie under the stars at George Pyle Park. Bring a blanket or lawn chair and settle in at dusk, when the movie starts.
  • Friday, June 20
  • Hometown Heroes Luncheon – 12 p.m.: Join us in celebrating our everyday heroes with this special thank-you lunch in front of the Reno County Museum.
  • Zooperheroes at Hutchinson Zoo – 6-9 p.m.: Experience animal encounters, keeper talks, superhero crafts, train rides, scavenger hunts, and much more at the Hutchinson Zoo’s family night, which also features a Zooperhero Cookout. More details and ticket information: http://hutchinsonzoo.org/208/Family-Zoo-Nights-2025.
  • Saturday, June 21
  • Smallville’s Amazing Space Race – 9 a.m. to close: Embark on a Hall of Space scavenger hunt inside the Cosmosphere. Complete the mission and win a super prize!
  • Hutch Comic Con – Doors Open at 10 a.m.: Explore comics, meet cosplayers, and dive into geek culture at the 2nd annual Hutch Comic Con, presented by NaCl Comic Cons, LLC. Panels, vendors, photo ops, and fun continue through Saturday and Sunday, June 22 at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. More details and ticket prices: https://naclcomiccons.com/
  • Most Clark Kents in One Place Photo Op – 6:15 p.m.: Suit up in your best Clark Kent look and join this iconic festival photo op. Glasses and ties encouraged! A photo op will take place on the Midway of the Kansas State Fairgrounds.
  • DC Movie Marathon – The Dark Knight Rises – Dusk: Wrap up our Smallville Festival with the final installment of our weekend movie marathon and an outdoor showing of The Dark Knight Rises. The show begins at dusk on the Midway of the Kansas State Fairgrounds.


Additional details and registration information are available on the Smallville Festival web page here. Follow the Smallville Festival on Instagram and Facebook for more information.

0 Comments

CAPTION: CREDIT HUTCH REC Hutch Rec, in collaboration with the Kansas State Fairgrounds, Strataca, Cosmosphere, Hutchinson Zoo, NaCl Comic Cons LLC and Downtown Hutchinson, announced the 12th annual Smallville Festival taking place June 19-21, 2025, Wednesday in a press release. Each year, Hutchinson embraces its heroic alter

County News, Government

You are unauthorized to view this page.

0 Comments

From left: Reno County Commissioners Richard Winger, Ron Hirst, Don Bogner and Randy Parks at the May 14, 2025, county commission meeting. Commissioner Ron Vincent was absent. CREDIT SANDRA MILBURN/RENO COUNTY By Adam Stewart The Reno County Commission may be ready to approve an agreement to sell

Community Events

Graphic/Poster courtesy of Salty Cycles LLC. The 6th annual Downtown Mayhem Biker Bash will take place on Saturday, May 17 from noon to 10 p.m. This years biker bash will feature the Ives Brothers Wall of Death. 

By Emmie Amezola

The 6th annual Downtown Mayhem Biker Bash is this Saturday from noon to 10 p.m. The annual community gathering is hosted by Salty Cycles LLC.

“This event is about community and motorcycles, of course,” Tammy Ward-Railsack said. Ward-Railsack is in charge of sales, marketing and events for Salty Cycles.

This year’s event’s main attraction is the world-famous Ives Brothers Wall of Death.

“They are a nationwide attraction,” Ward-Railsack said. “They travel coast to coast as a family. They’ve been in business since 1911.”

Salty Cycles plans to close Poplar St. and Sherman St. for the attraction. The group will have a 50-by-50-foot wooden circular wall and ride on the side of it. There will be four free featured showtimes for the Wall of Death: 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.

“It is very, very cool,” Ward-Railsack said. “If you want to tip them, they’ll come up and take the money out of your hand, or if you want to order a t-shirt, they will take the $20 out of your hand while on the motorcycle and run back up the wall on the motorcycle and give you your shirt.”

At 12:30, Salty Cycles will reveal the Bretz Injury Law Bike custom bike build.

“So we’ve been building this bike for a while, and it is totally custom and it is totally kickass,” Ward-Railsack said. “We have really worked hard on this bike.”

The Biker Bash will also feature a burnout competition at 3 p.m. on the corner of Sherman and Poplar. First-place winners will receive $500, and second-place winners will receive $200. There will also be a $100 prize for first place in the kids’ bracket.

The event will also feature motorcycle and regular vendors, a kids zone, the Salty Saloon and a live performance by The Penguins. The Salty Saloon will be open all day to serve cold drinks throughout the event, and The Penguins, who are from Lawrence, will take the stage at 6 p.m.

“We are going to have vendors all day,” Ward-Railsack said. “We are going to have a kids zone with face painting. Guardians of the Children will bring their little kitty train. Hutchinson Fire Department is bringing an engine for kids to touch and play on, and then Durham School Bus is going to bring, hopefully, the Hutchinson School bus that the kids designed a route for.”

The event schedule is available on the event’s Facebook page. Salty Cycles LLC is located at 129 E. Sherman St.

“It will just be all day fun,” Ward-Railsack said.

0 Comments

Graphic/Poster courtesy of Salty Cycles LLC. The 6th annual Downtown Mayhem Biker Bash will take place on Saturday, May 17 from noon to 10 p.m. This years biker bash will feature the Ives Brothers Wall of Death.  By Emmie Amezola The 6th annual Downtown Mayhem Biker Bash

Sports

You are unauthorized to view this page.

0 Comments

By John Mesh The Hutchinson High School Salthawks varsity and junior varsity girls soccer teams took on Salina South Tuesday night at the Salthawk Soccer Complex. The Hutchinson varsity (9-6) blasted the Cougars 5-1. Hutchinson led Salina South (8-7) at halftime 1-0 and scored four goals in

Business

You are unauthorized to view this page.

0 Comments

CAPTION: David Foster, Branch Director for the YMCA, addresses the Hutchinson Executives Association, Tuesday morning at the YMCA. CREDIT RICHARD SHANK By Richard Shank Hutchinson’s YMCA will mark two milestones in 2026: celebration of the 150th anniversary of the organization’s origin in the Salt City and dedication

School Board News

CAPTION: Students of the Lil’ Hawks Childcare Center, yellow shirts in front, break ground for the new childcare facility with Sammy the Salthawk, left, with Hutchinson USD 308 staff and others. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE

By Michael Glenn

Hutchinson Public Schools celebrated the groundbreaking of the future Lil’ Hawks Childcare Center near Morgan Elementary School at 29th Ave. and Adams St. Monday. 

The new childcare center will increase USD 308’s capacity for childcare from 38 slots to 65 slots, a nearly double increase. Superintendent Dr. Dawn Johnson said the groundbreaking came from much work from community members and the Reno County Childcare Task Force. 

“This represents that when we have a solution in our community, anything is possible,” Johnson said. “The board has a great vision for excellence in our community, and this is a step to that.”

Board President Laura Corey shared a story of her difficulty finding childcare as an expecting parent 15 years ago. 

“I remember furiously calling everyone I knew, trying to find a spot for a baby that wasn’t even born yet,” Corey said. 

Corey added that research shows early childhood education helps a child succeed in kindergarten and throughout their education. 

“The ripple effect of early childhood care is real,” Corey said. “Childcare is more than service to our families. It’s an economic driver. This center is about building community and driving the future.”

The new facility will be a standalone building and is expected to be completed in Jan. 2026.

0 Comments

CAPTION: Students of the Lil' Hawks Childcare Center, yellow shirts in front, break ground for the new childcare facility with Sammy the Salthawk, left, with Hutchinson USD 308 staff and others. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE By Michael Glenn Hutchinson Public Schools celebrated the groundbreaking of the

School Board News

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 Adam Stewart

Buhler High School is a leader in student participation and achievement in agriculture education, school board members heard at Monday’s USD 313 Board of Education meeting.

Agriculture education teacher John Clark told the board that one-third of students took an agriculture class this year, and he estimated that 75% of this year’s graduating class took at least one class during their high school careers.

This year, Buhler High School had 13 students who received the State FFA Degree, and the number would have been higher if weather cancellations hadn’t happened during a key part of the application period, Clark said. Buhler students also accounted for 14 of the 200 Career and Technical Education Scholars in the state, and 22 of the 44 recipients of the Agriculture Skills and Competence Certificates awarded by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

Forensics champions

The board also recognized three students who won state championships in forensics events.

Seniors Henry Trumpp and Chase Beals won the state championship in Duet Acting, going undefeated the entire season. Also undefeated was sophomore Kiron Bradley, state champion in Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Overall, Buhler placed fifth in state forensics.

Medical committee warns against summer burnout, injuries

Board member Dr. Tim Lackey, who is on the Kansas State High School Activities Association’s Medical Advisory Committee, said that since KSHSAA greatly relaxed restrictions on summer practice and conditioning a few years ago, there has been a noticeable increase in students suffering from burnout and overuse injuries.

That committee isn’t ready to recommend reinstating the old summer practice limits yet, but if the trend doesn’t improve, they may ask KSHSAA to step back in with tighter limits on summer practices, he said.

Board members talked about the competitive pressures facing both students and coaches. Even with voluntary workouts, students may worry about getting playing time if they don’t make it to those workouts and others do. And coaches may worry about having their teams ready, especially early in the fall season, if they aren’t doing as much over the summer as their opponents.

Virtual learning costs increasing as current platform shuts down

The platform the district has used for virtual learning the past four years is shutting down this summer, with the company behind it pushing schools to new software that costs dramatically more without meaningful improvements. If Buhler stayed with its current provider, its per-student cost would increase from about $25 per year to about $800 per year.

Instead, administrators recommended software from SchoolsPLP, which does have better features at the lowest cost of the platforms they looked at. The cost for USD 313 with Schools PLP will be about $230 per student, Paul Erickson said during a break in the meeting. That is still a considerable increase, but Erickson said it covers all subject areas for virtual academy students.

Wednesday, Sunday activity policy updated

The board approved an update to its policy regarding activities Wednesday nights and Sundays. Superintendent Cindy Couchman said the existing policy wasn’t followed, so the district should either follow it or change the policy.

Previously, the policy was that there would be no school activities on Wednesday nights without written approval from the superintendent and a report to the school board. Couchman said that some sports and activities postseasons may include a Wednesday night, which is out of the district’s control, and sometimes games need to be rescheduled and Wednesday is the only time both teams have available.

Couchman proposed an updated policy that calls for activities on Wednesdays after 6 p.m. only when necessary and given consideration of family and community commitments. The policy also specifies activities can take place after 1 p.m. on a Sunday.

The board approved the policy update 6-0. Board member Laura Meyer Dick was absent.

Unified communications of activities sought

During an update about the district’s strategic plan, Couchman said she has heard from parents frustrated at how many different methods updates about student activities are sent through. Different teams, clubs, and groups use different apps to send updates, while others use email or SMS text messages, and it can be difficult to keep track of all those different communication channels for parents of students who are involved in many different activities.

No plan was presented Monday, but Couchman said that is an issue that is being looked at.

Facilities projects, phone towers discussed

Tennis courts at Prairie Hills Middle School are scheduled for resurfacing starting this Friday.

The administration is also getting quotes for roof repairs at the Union Valley and Buhler Grade School gyms and Ad Astra Academy.

The district has looked into solar panels for electricity, but Couchman said they would take too long to pay for themselves based on information the district gathered.

The board asked administrators to negotiate further with Branch Communications, who has requested a lease to put up a cell phone tower on district property. The company’s initial proposal was one the district couldn’t approve, as state law limits those leases to 10 years, Director of Finance Shane Hecox said.

With that information, Branch Communications’ latest proposal was instead for a 50-year easement rather than a lease. They were offering an up-front payment of $250,000 for such an easement, which works out to about $417/month.

Couchman said she wasn’t comfortable with a 50-year agreement, and it wasn’t entirely clear that the difference between a lease and an easement would matter for the state law.

Board members also weren’t satisfied that the amount Branch Communications was offering was an appropriate rate.

0 Comments

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 Adam Stewart Buhler High School is a leader in student participation and achievement in agriculture education, school