Hutchinson's skies about to light up

Hutchinson’s skies will be lighting up next week as fireworks will be fired as part of the annual July 4 celebration that will sweep the nation. 

City Attorney Paul Brown said Hutchinson’s residents are allowed to shoot fireworks on private property 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily from Sunday, June 30 for five days through Thursday, July 4. 

Brown reported nine vendors are licensed to sell fireworks during the same hours Hutchinson residents can shoot them. Tents will start appearing this week in Hutchinson where fireworks will be marketed. 

Shooting fireworks is a 248-year-old tradition in America. The ink was barely dry on the Declaration of Independence July 4, 1776, when patriots outside Philadelphia’s Independence Hall where the document was signed, ignited fireworks in a spirit of celebration. 

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The founding fathers called fireworks a show of patriotic pride for the new nation. On April 30, 1789, George Washington’s inauguration in New York City as the first president was followed by a fireworks display. The tradition established to celebrate great national events is one that has remained throughout the nation’s history with no end in sight. 

Violating the fireworks ordinance is a Class C Misdemeanor for first-time offenders, resulting in a fine of $250 or 50 hours of community service, or both. The fine for second-time offenders increases to $500 and is doubled to $1000 for a third-time offense. 

Brown encourages those shooting fireworks to follow safety practices.

“Fireworks are just that and we urge adult supervision when children are shooting fireworks,” Brown said. “Bottle rockets and aerial luminaries are banned year-round.”
Brown said Hutchinson’s Fire Department personnel will be circulating throughout the city next week for response to any issues that may occur. 

“One of our biggest concerns is that high winds accompanied by hot temperatures and fireworks could stoke fires,” Brown said. “We encourage everyone to refrain from shooting fireworks near structures.”

Brown said many years ago, a fireworks show malfunctioned and sent fire streaming into the grandstands at the Kansas State Fair, before being quickly distinguished.

Hutchinson’s July 4 celebration kicks off with a 10 a.m. parade, which will run north in the city’s downtown area from Avenue B to 12^th Avenue. 

A fireworks display is slated for 9:45 p.m. at the Kansas State Fair. The event is free and open to the public. 

Hutchinson’s skies will be lighting up next week as fireworks will be fired as part of the annual July 4 celebration that will sweep the nation. City Attorney Paul Brown said Hutchinson’s residents are allowed to shoot fireworks on private property 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Be prepared, help your fireworks-fearing dog

Dr. Jonathan Austin, DVM of the Hutchinson Small Animal Clinic, says that if your dog is frightened of fireworks, “Be prepared like the Boy Scout motto says. This time of year can be hard on pets but there are things you can do to prepare.”  

According to a 2019 study by the National Library of Medicine, 52% of dogs were considered to be significantly fearful of fireworks. 

• The American Veterinary Medical Association says that the average number of dogs per US household is 1.46. 

• The 2022 US Census indicates the number of households in Reno County is slightly over 25 thousand. 

That calculates to possibly 18 to 19 thousand dogs in Reno County that have debilitating anxiety and fear of fireworks.

He says there are plenty of dogs who don’t like the sudden noise and don’t understand where it is coming from or why it is happening. And the anxiety and fear manifest as a change in behavior. 

“Dogs will not want to go outside to urinate, some will stop eating, sometimes for days. Most will pant, drool, and try to hide. Some will try to escape. It’s important that if you normally let your pet out in the yard, have them on a leash instead.”

Dr. Austin says some things dog owners can try are:

• If you have a basement, take the dog there to help muffle the noise and help the dog feel safer.

• Take them to a quiet room and add ‘white noise’ with a radio, fan, etc.

• Give your dog some veterinarian-prescribed medications like Acepromazine or Trazadone. 

• Do your best to prevent your dog from being stressed. When you take them out, take them on a leash to help them feel comforted. 

• If your dog won’t urinate outside because of the fireworks, try setting an alarm during the night to take them out after the fireworks are over. 

• You can also try talking to your neighbors. Perhaps compromises can be made about how long they shoot off fireworks or certain times of the day or to go to a friend’s house one evening to set fireworks so that your pet can have some relief.  Communicate with your neighbors and be polite, most people are nice and will understand.

• Call your dog’s veterinarian ahead of time and be prepared. Part of the vet’s job is to treat the animal, and the other part is to help a dog be a good citizen.

Austin said, “Acepromazine works really well. It sedates the dog. It is considered safe. It can be taken orally 2 to 3 times per day which works well in temporary situations like storms, moving homes with your pet or even flying with your pet.”

Austin says to talk to your vet about medications if your pet is severely involved. There are medications for long-term anxiety, but he’s a fan of 8 to 12-hour products. 

“It is important to talk to your vet about your pet’s health conditions before using medications. Knowing your pet’s general health and heart conditions and having a relationship with your vet are important to make good recommendations. Prescriptions will be much more reliable because they are regulated.”

“I am not against Eastern medications or supplements like CBD (non-hallucinogenic Cannabidiol). But it’s not regulated,” Austin said.

“As CBD gains popularity, more people are trying it with their pets. A study on CBD dog treats showed that each treat varied widely in the same bag,” Austin said. “One treat had 10 units of CBD, another had none, and one had 100 units of CBD. There was no consistency like what we expect from FDA-approved products.”

Austin said, “You have to trust the manufacturer. CBD products are like the Wild Wild West. Give them to your pet at your own risk. Vets don’t prescribe CBD because of the inconsistency.” 

Training Options

Ray Brooks from Brooks Kennels in Hutchinson trains hunting dogs. And it’s important that a hunting dog not be scared of loud noises like gunfire. Many dogs can be helped with their anxiety or phobia with counterconditioning or desensitization training.

Brooks says that the training starts with finding the noise threshold where the dog has no reaction and pairing the noise with something that positively distracts them like eating, playing, chasing a bird wing, ball, or toy, or even praise. Then slowly increase the volume or kinds of noises as long as the dog has no startle reaction.

‘The worst mistake you can make is to suddenly shoot a gun over a puppy while it is eating. That is such old thinking.”

Brooks said that it’s also important to help your dog build some resilience. Let them learn that it’s OK to be uncomfortable for a little bit and then learn they will be OK. Let them learn it’s OK to be alone. They don’t need constant attention. Help them understand both inside and outside environments. Let them experience some uncomfortably hot and cold temperatures. 

“Many dog owners treat their dogs as if they are people,” said Brooks, “And that’s where behavior problems happen.”

Brooks said to not worry about their reactions or lavish attention. To soothe the dog by saying, “Oh, it’s ok, don’t worry,” and petting them, the dog doesn’t understand. What they do understand is they are getting attention for anxious behavior so their anxious behavior must be the right behavior. “Comforting a dog like you would comfort a human has the opposite effect,” said Brooks.

But fireworks and thunderstorms are random. Brooks said that a dog owner training a dog can create predictable environments with increasingly loud noises by starting with a cap gun or other items and always watching for that threshold of no reaction from the dog. “If the dog reacts fearfully, back off, and try again later,” said Brooks.

He is a big believer in using noisy tools to help dogs overcome noise phobia like lawnmowers, cordless power tools, banging pans, or dropping stuff.

“How they are socialized is a big deal,” said Brooks.

Brooks offers hourly private classes or monthly boarding training for hunting dogs. For non-sporting dogs, he recommends finding a trainer who understands counterconditioning and desensitization training.

Dr. Jonathan Austin, DVM of the Hutchinson Small Animal Clinic, says that if your dog is frightened of fireworks, “Be prepared like the Boy Scout motto says. This time of year can be hard on pets but there are things you can do to prepare.”  According

Senator Moran visits Hutchinson to make federal grant

Senator Jerry Moran, in a Thursday morning visit to Hutchinson, announced a $408,000 federal grant to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office for technology upgrades in the department. 

Moran told of his work on a senate committee, which funds the U.S. Justice Department, and how he worked with New Hampshire’s Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen who chairs the committee (Moran is ranking Republican on the committee) in a bi-partisan effort to provide grants for law enforcement agencies across the nation including Hutchinson. 

Moran complimented Reno County Sheriff Darrian Campbell for successfully completing the grant application that seeks federal dollars. A similar grant was made in 2022 to the Hutchinson Police Department. 

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Campbell gave kudos to his staff at the Sheriff’s office for their efforts in writing the grant and noted the funds will be utilized to fulfill two important upgrades within the department.

“A portion of the grant funds earmarked for radio upgrades will satisfy federal mandates,” Campbell said. “Also, the Sheriff’s Office will purchase a body scanner capable of detecting literally anything on an inmate’s body, including contraband.”

Campbell said the technology upgrades will assist in coordinating with area law enforcement agencies on matters of mutual concern. 

Moran pointed out that the federal dollars will alleviate the county commission’s budget in providing funds for the technology upgrades. Commissioners in attendance nodded in appreciation when the Senator made those remarks. 

Moran’s visit to Hutchinson was part of a week-long barnstorming tour that included stops in Manhattan, Liberal, Elkhart, Johnson City, Syracuse, Lakin, Garden City, Jetmore, Ness City and McPherson in advance of the Senator’s stop in Hutchinson. Additional stops for the week include Wichita for a Thursday afternoon meeting with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs who is visiting the Air Capital and Fort Riley to participate in a change of command. 

On several of the stops, Moran conducted town hall meetings where his constituents voiced a wide range of concerns.

“Many were talking about the wheat harvest,” Moran said. “Some reported better than expected yields and others said the opposite.”

Some expressed concerns regarding issues on the nation’s southern border and there was concern about the survival of rural hospitals.

“Also, a number of people inquired about the postal service, including slow delivery in rural areas,” Moran said. “On the other hand, there was optimism voiced as a number of people seemed hopeful about the state’s future in part due to increased economic activity.”

Moran, who was first elected to Congress in 1996, is no stranger to Hutchinson having visited the city many times during his 27-year career in Washington. He was accompanied by Mike Zamrzla, his office’s long-time deputy state director, who is also a frequent visitor to Hutchinson. 

Following hundreds of miles of driving with more to go before returning to the nation’s capital, Kansas’ senior United States Senator reconfirmed his thoughts on the state he serves. 

“I love rural America,” Moran concluded before getting back on the road for a quick trip to Wichita for another meeting. 

Senator Jerry Moran, in a Thursday morning visit to Hutchinson, announced a $408,000 federal grant to the Reno County Sheriff’s Office for technology upgrades in the department. Moran told of his work on a senate committee, which funds the U.S. Justice Department, and how he worked

Atrium hotel to be addressed

The City of Hutchinson is moving forward with addressing the safety concerns surrounding the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center, located at 1400 N Lorraine Street.

“The safety and well-being of our community is our top priority,” City Manager Enrico Villegas said. “The current state of the Atrium Hotel poses significant risks, and it is essential that we take immediate action to protect our residents.” 

On July 2, 2024, the City Council will meet to schedule a public hearing for August 20, 2024, to discuss the potential condemnation and demolition of the property. 

“The City has determined that this structure is a substandard building and constitutes an unsafe and dangerous building,” the official city press release said.

The City conducted an inspection of the hotel and identified several critical safety issues: 

• No running water since December 2019 

• Extensive vandalism resulting in the removal of most copper wiring and rendering electrical services inoperable 

• Fire suppression system broken for over three years 

• Non-functional heating and air conditioning units due to stripped copper tubing and wiring 

• Broken windows and doors 

• Presence of black mold, posing significant health risks 

The City has undertaken temporary measures, including painting over graffiti, boarding up doors and windows, and mowing the grass. However, there are 16 unpaid invoices for these abatement activities. 

According to the city’s code on unsafe and dangerous buildings, the city council must set a time and place for a public hearing to discuss the issue. The Council will be asked to schedule a public hearing for August 20, 2024. At the hearing, property owners, agents or interested parties can present evidence, and the building official will provide detailed findings. 

The City of Hutchinson is moving forward with addressing the safety concerns surrounding the Atrium Hotel and Conference Center, located at 1400 N Lorraine Street."The safety and well-being of our community is our top priority,” City Manager Enrico Villegas said. “The current state of the