Thomas Simmons, Reno County Health Educator, (left) visits with Jenifer Shrofer, Chairman of Rotary Club Program Committee in advance of Noon Monday meeting at Hutchinson Community College CREDIT RICHARD SHANK By Richard Shank For Thomas Simmons, a 2018 intake of illegal substances resulting in an overdose was
By John Mesh The Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team will get an opportunity to defend its 2024 NJCAA Division I championship on the same Ford Wyoming Center court in Casper, Wyo., where the Blue Dragons won the 2024 title. The Blue Dragons (28-4), who lost to
CAPTION: The Kansas State Capitol Building, located at the intersection of SW 8th & SW Van Buren St. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE By Michael Glenn TOPEKA - A Kansas Legislature Bill requiring a member of the Kansas State Fair to be a resident of Reno County
CAPTION: Rep. Paul Waggoner, a Hutchinson Republican, reads over a bill in his legislative office Monday, March 17. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE By Michael Glenn TOPEKA - Reno County Republican Reps. Kevin Schwertfeger and Paul Waggoner indicated their support for a Kansas Senate Concurrent Resolution that
By Richard Shank
In 2023, Hutchinson Minister Mike Jobe, pastor of Living Hope Church, 735 East Fifth Avenue, saw a community need for mentoring troubled youth and decided to do something about it.
Soon, Mike, with help from his wife Heather every step of the way, founded Wisdom In Motion, a non-profit youth mentorship program designed to work hand in hand with the city’s youth (ages 10-17), some of whom had had multiple brushes with the law and were no strangers to the city’s legal system.
During a sit-down interview at the organization’s headquarters, located at 314 West First Avenue, Mike and Heather Jobe were animated and well-informed about the issues young people are dealing with.
“Our thrust,” according to Mike, “is working with those young people in the criminal justice system or those who are teetering on the brink of being there.”
Mike, a Hutchinson resident since 1998, is no stranger to mentoring programs and made good use of several during his formative years. Growing up in Kansas City, Royals owner Ewing Kauffman offered to pay for the college education of those who stayed out of trouble and the legal system. Mike seized the opportunity and was soon on his way to the Salt City, his father’s hometown, where he enrolled at Hutchinson Community College.
“I call myself a Ewing Kauffman kid,” Mike said with a hearty laugh.
Four years later, in 2002, Mike was standing in the pulpit as pastor of the Living Hope Church, a position he has held for the past 23 years.
These days, Jobe is a very busy person whose day job is with the Hutchinson Correctional Facility, coupled with his ministerial duties while serving as Program Director for Wisdom In Motion. Heather serves as the program’s manager.
Heather said nearly 500 Reno County Youth are experiencing issues that could benefit from Wisdom in Motion, a program set up to work with youths ages 10-17.
Under the program, mentors meet one-on-one weekly with program participants. Once each month, a group meeting is held. During these get-togethers, classes are offered on everything from financial management to changing a tire to cooking.
Also, speakers are brought in, some of whom have successfully completed similar programs and tell a story of how their lives were improved. The program is one year in length, but participants who are under 17 years of age may apply to redo the course for a second year.
Mike said the program has advanced partly because of grants from the Kansas Department of Corrections and the Hutchinson Community Foundation.
Imitation has been called the world’s greatest form of flattery. Mike said, to date, he has received calls from other cities in Kansas inquiring on how they might develop a similar program.
Students studying to complete a GED, comparable to a high school diploma, are invited to come to the Wisdom In Motion office to take two practice exams without charge prior to taking the supervised final exam at Hutchinson Community College.
Two years into the program, Wisdom In Motion can report success stories. “A 17-year-old with a criminal record joined the program two years ago,” Heather said. “Two years later, and after suffering a brain injury in an accident, he is now fully recovered and living a productive life after completing his GED,” Heather said.
“Then, there was a young woman who went through the program after suffering from addiction,” Heather continued. “Today, she has recovered, married, raising a family and is purchasing a home.”
A fitting last question for Mike is, “Where do you want this program to be five years from now?”
Without pause, Mike said, “I hope to see programs like Wisdom In Motion in cities throughout Kansas during the next five years.”
Heather said her greatest hope is to continue developing leaders.
A Biblical phrase on Mike’s desk explains his mission in all the hats he wears. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord Your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1-9).
The public is invited to an open house scheduled 1 to 3 p.m., Saturday, March 29, at the Wisdom In Motion office at 314 West First Avenue. Mike will make remarks at the start of the meeting and mentors will be on hand to respond to questions from those attending.
Those desiring additional information can log on to the organization’s website at wisdominmotionks.com.
From left: Pastor Mike Jobe of Living Hope Church and his wife, Heather Jobe. The couple founded Wisdom in Motion, a mentoring program for at-risk youth CREDIT RICHARD SHANK By Richard Shank In 2023, Hutchinson Minister Mike Jobe, pastor of Living Hope Church, 735 East Fifth Avenue,
Graphic courtesy of Blue Dragon Sports Information By John Mesh The Hutchinson Community College women’s basketball team will get an opportunity to defend their 2024 NJCAA Division I championship. The Blue Dragons (28-4), who lost to Coffeyville in the Region VI semifinals, are the No. 11 seed in
By Gina Long
Hungry customers lined up for hours on Saturday, March 15, for homemade Mexican cuisine at El Patio, 908 S Main Street, to help a beloved local family and its businesses overcome a decline in business due to the closure of South Main Street since February 22.
Hutchinson resident Jacelyn Chambers set up a local fundraiser known as a “cash mob” and advertised the event on Facebook. In a Facebook post, Chambers asked the community to turn out and support the Pena family, “a passionate and hardworking family doing beautiful things in a part of Hutch that most of us ignore.”
The event occurred from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., but customers continued to come by throughout the afternoon and evening.
Local musician Margot Kimble performed for the crowd waiting patiently through the restaurant’s door, the front outside patio dining area, and the sidewalk.
Martha said customers purchased food, then walked across the street and purchased items at The Beer Point, a liquor store owned by her and Victor, her husband.
On February 22, a gas main line ruptured, causing an explosion that destroyed one South Main Street business and forced the street’s closure. Business dropped precipitously at the restaurant and the store.
“We needed more business because it has been very down. Victor had many days in which he only made about $100 in sales. That’s not enough to pay a utility bill or other expenses,” Martha said.
She noted that many of those who supported the business were regular customers, but quite a few were people visiting for the first time.
“I felt bad because our restaurant is so small. Many people waited an hour for their food. We make everything to order. Nothing is prepared beforehand, and nothing is frozen. Everything is fresh and takes time to prepare. We make fresh salsa three or four times every day. I want people to feel like they are dining in my house,” she said.
Martha said the entire Pena family came to help, working in the kitchen and taking orders.
“I am beyond grateful. The whole community came together to help us. I am so emotional, and I want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone. So many people came to support us. I can’t say how thankful I am to everyone for helping the restaurant and the store and supporting us. Thank you so much.”
El Patio is open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, and The Beer Point, which specializes in Mexican beers, wines and liquors, is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Customers wait in line to order in the portico of El Patio, 908 S Main Street on Sat., Mar. 15, 2025 CREDIT SETH FARLEY By Gina Long Hungry customers lined up for hours on Saturday, March 15, for homemade Mexican cuisine at El Patio, 908 S Main
Thursday March 20 Coffee at the Cosmosphere, 9 a.m. Astronaut Dorothy “Dottie” Metcalf-Lindenburger, Mission Specialist on STS-131, the second-to-last flight of the Space Shuttle Discovery, and commander of NEEMO 16, in which she and her crew lived at the bottom of the ocean for nearly two
By Gina Long
Michael is on spring break from school, so he is heading to Topeka this week to complete on area politicians in the Statehouse.
That leaves me to hold down the fort. I’ve been planning a vacation this week for a couple of months, so naturally, it will be very windy. The high will be above 80 on Tuesday, followed by plummeting temperatures, much-needed rain, and possible snow on Wednesday.
Besides keeping The Tribune running, I plan to take my high-energy dog for long walks and runs in the dog park and at Dillon Nature Center. I tried that on Friday but decided it wasn’t worth the danger of her blowing to Nebraska in the clutches of the unrelenting gale-force winds.
I plan to do heavy-duty grocery shopping at Aldi’s and Ollie’s during the week, taking advantage of thinner weekday crowds. It’s a rare treat not to have to cart joust through a store.
I enjoy some of the snack items at Ollie’s and try to go by every couple of weeks to see what’s new and if they have brought back some old favorites.
Dodging the increasing number and size of the famous potholes is my least favorite aspect of being anywhere near the mall year-round.
When I see them, it is yet another reminder of a long-neglected building now dependent on the few remaining stores at which customers pay a slightly higher sales tax and, in return, simulate an Olympic-style giant slalom race in their vehicle. Losers get to spend $100 for a tire alignment.
The mall has enjoyed retaining a special taxing district with no conditions. Each sale on the mall’s property has an additional 1% tax added. The mall’s owners retain that extra penny on the dollar, presumably to help with maintenance expenses (the roof still leaks, and half the plumbing doesn’t work) and lot maintenance. There isn’t much green space, so landscaping costs are probably a tiny part of that budget. The parking stalls have not been striped for so long that they resemble dinosaur fossils embedded in the asphalt.
We know that very little of those retained funds go into maintaining the parking lot. After the freezing rain, snow, and cold, potholes appear from the freeze-thaw cycle, popping out small sections of roadways and parking areas.
We see that on city streets. Those street potholes can be there for days and months but are usually fixed quickly when someone reports them on the City of Hutchinson’s SeeClickFix portal, whether the report comes from a city worker, official, or everyday citizen. The request is easy to fill out, as I found when I reported a rapidly changing stop light along Poplar Street last year.
So, what is the best way to keep from sinking your car into a swimming pool-sized mall sinkhole?
I have tried calling the mall office a few times with no answer. I haven’t tried dropping by to see if there is anyone occupying the mall office during the week, but I will have some free time next week, and it sounds like an adventure.
Asking store managers to bring up the poor parking lot conditions with the mall may help, but I feel that the mall stores’ workers are already aware because they encounter the craters frequently.
The next question is whether a poorly-maintained and dangerous parking lot falls under the city’s commercial property codes.
Regardless, when I head off to shop at the mall next week, I will indeed have the Indiana Jones theme song blaring as I jostle along, zig-zagging like I am driving through a minefield.
By Gina Long Michael is on spring break from school, so he is heading to Topeka this week to complete on area politicians in the Statehouse. That leaves me to hold down the fort. I've been planning a vacation this week for a couple of months, so
The Halstead High School Dragons celebrated their 48-45 win over Silver Lake in the Kansas Class 3A girls state basketball championship game Saturday at the Hutchinson Sports Arena. (Photo courtesy of Halstead High School). By John Mesh The Halstead Dragons rallied from a 13-point deficit to defeat
