m
Recent Posts
Connect with:
Saturday / May 3.
HomeStandard Blog Whole Post (Page 82)

CAPTION: Back row: Chris Shank, Greg Lackey, Tim Lackey, Monte Cross Front row: Dr. Michael Green, Jessica Goering, Laura Meyer Dick CREDIT BUHLER USD 313

By Kate Irelan

The Buhler USD 313 Board of Education at their regular monthly meeting on October 14 approved bids for new band uniforms, other maintenance updates and also grappled with two changes to the plans at the new daycare centers, one involving possible city water lines at Crusader Corner, and the other a refusal to license Buhler Grade School’s new daycare from the State Fire Marshal.

Buhler High School band instructor Nathan Biggs presented some samples of new uniforms to the board. He shared a versatile sleeveless design that can be customized with colorful undershirts and other style choices from year to year. Shane Hecox, director of finance, explained that the uniforms are purchased on a 10-year rotation, and the money to pay for them is part of the capital outlay plan. They considered three quotes, with Biggs recommending the quote from Truhauf stating that he would prefer to work with a local company for quicker service. The board approved the bid, and it should take about seven months for Truhauf to make all the uniforms.

The board approved a bid from American Chemicals along with an electrical upgrade from Zenor for a new dishwasher at the high school, and a bid from IdeaTek for some new intercoms in different schools in the district.

Superintendent Cindy Couchman gave an update concerning the well at Crusader Corner.

“We have put a pause on drilling the public well,” said Couchman. “I met with City Manager Enrico Villegas and he said the city is willing to extend a water service line to the area. They are looking at bids. They also have requests from Shepard Acres north of Crusader Corner to extend water service.” 

Couchman said she also talked with the Reno County Public Works and they would allow the work to the right-of-way, but it has to be for a public water source. Couchman will meet with Villegas on Wednesday to discuss options.

Crusader Corner has a temporary water system that can remain in place as long as the school district has a plan and is making progress on that plan.

Couchman shared an unexpected refusal from the State Fire Marshal for Buhler Grade School’s new daycare.

“After three State Fire Marshals gave licenses for the space, a fourth would not approve the final build of the basement because of a half wall creating two rooms which both would need exit doors instead of how it is now with one door. Even KDHE approved the design,” Couchman said. “The latest fire marshal said it should never have been approved.”

The stated problem is that if a fire breaks out in that area, it causes evacuation time to be more than four minutes and a longer response time from the fire department to access the area.

Couchman did find an option where they can install a module that will allow the original fire panel to be monitored by the fire department as opposed to replacing the entire fire system or installing another exit and exterior work. Couchman got an amendment to the licensing to get the system monitored.

Couchman shared an update on the strategic plan. She said the plan has four themes: student success, culture, operations/resources and community engagement. Smaller groups of board members, faculty and community members then established sub-themes and they are working on creating an action plan, hopefully ready to present in November.

For more information about the Buhler School District meetings and minutes, visit their website at https://www.usd313.org/page/board-of-education or call 620-543-2258.  The school board meets regularly at 6:00 pm on the second Monday of the month at the Burkholder Administrative Center, 406 7th Avenue in Buhler.

CAPTION: Back row: Chris Shank, Greg Lackey, Tim Lackey, Monte Cross Front row: Dr. Michael Green, Jessica Goering, Laura Meyer Dick CREDIT BUHLER USD 313 By Kate Irelan The Buhler USD 313 Board of Education at their regular monthly meeting on October 14 approved bids for new

You are unauthorized to view this page.

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 Emmie Boese The Hutchinson USD 308 Board of Education passed a motion to approve $1.6 million in capital outlay funds for the

CAPTION: Hutchinson City Hall, located at 125 East Ave B. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE

By Michael Glenn

The Hutchinson City Council will receive a presentation on how the city’s public works department will handle winter weather Tuesday evening during its regular meeting. 

Interim Director of Public Works Cecil Weible and Ryan Linn will direct the presentation. 

“In preparation for this year’s winter weather season the Public Works Street Division will give a brief presentation covering the preparation, training, equipment and reasoning that goes into the City’s snow plan,” the official council agenda packet read. 

In other business, the council will consider approving the Southwest Bricktown Fiesta as a special event to be held Saturday, October 26.

The festival was originally supposed to take place on Sept. 21, 2024, but was canceled due to weather. 

In addition to the rescheduled date, the fiesta will now be a part of a collaborative event called the Hispanic Health and Resource Fair at Memorial Hall on Oct. 26 from 7 a.m. to  6 p.m. and on Sunday, Oct. 27 from 8 a.m. to noon. from The event is a collaboration between Hutch in Harmony, SW Bricktown and Hutch Clinic. 

The Hutchinson City Council meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 5:30 p.m. at Hutchinson City Hall, located at 125 East Ave B. 

CAPTION: Hutchinson City Hall, located at 125 East Ave B. CREDIT MICHAEL GLENN/THE HUTCHINSON TRIBUNE By Michael Glenn The Hutchinson City Council will receive a presentation on how the city’s public works department will handle winter weather Tuesday evening during its regular meeting.  Interim Director of Public Works

 Monday Oct 14

  • Lunch in the Park, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at DCI Park, at the corner of Main St. and 2nd Ave. Enjoy food trucks, yard games and entertainment

Wednesday Oct 16

  • Reno County Farmer’s Market, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. at 103 W 2nd Ave.

Thursday Oct 17

  • Buhler Community Farmer’s Market, 5 – 9 p.m. at Jack’s for all Trades, 101 E Avenue B in Buhler
  • Third Thursday, 6 – 9 p.m. downtown Hutchinson
  • Salt City Film Fest, 7 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 18 E 1st Ave. Visit the event’s website for the schedule, tickets and more information

Friday Oct 18

  • Spook Walk at the Dillon Nature Center, beginning at 5:30 p.m. Walks are staggered every 10 – 15 minutes. Tickets are available through the Hutch Rec website
  • Salt City Film Fest, 7 p.m. at Strataca, 3650 E Avenue G. Visit the event’s website for the schedule, tickets and more information
  • “The Wild Robot,” 7 pm. in the Carey Digital Dome at the Cosmosphere, 1100 N Plum St.

Saturday Oct 19

  • Reno County Farmer’s Market, 7:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at 103 W 2nd Ave.
  • Talking Tombstones, 5 and 7:30 p.m. at Eastside Cemetery. The 5 p.m. show will take place on a stage by the mausoleum. Please bring a lawn chair. The 7:30 show is a walking tour through the cemetery. Please bring a flashlight and arrive by 7 p.m. Tickets are available for pre-order on the Stage 9 website. They go on sale at 4:30 at Eastside Cemetery and are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors, and $10 for students
  • Salt City Film Fest, 10 a.m. at the Fox Theatre, 18 E 1st Ave. Visit the event’s website for the schedule, tickets and more information
  • Spook Walk at the Dillon Nature Center, 5:30 p.m. Walks are staggered every 10 – 15 minutes. Tickets are available through the Hutch Rec website
  • “The Wild Robot,” 7 pm. in the Carey Digital Dome at the Cosmosphere, 1100 N Plum St.

Sunday Oct 20

  • “Coco,” 2 p.m. at the Fox Theatre, 18 E 1st Ave. Tickets $5. $45 film passes are available, which include 10 movie passes and five free small popcorns
  • “The Wild Robot,” 5 pm. in the Carey Digital Dome at the Cosmosphere, 1100 N Plum St.

 Monday Oct 14 Lunch in the Park, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at DCI Park, at the corner of Main St. and 2nd Ave. Enjoy food trucks, yard games and entertainment Wednesday Oct 16 Reno County Farmer’s Market, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at 103 W 2nd Ave. Thursday

You are unauthorized to view this page.

The No. 1 Hutchinson Blue Dragon football team defeated Independence 48-7 Saturday at Independence. HutchCC improved to 6-0 overall, 2-0 in conference play. (Blue Dragon Sports/HutchCC Sports Information). The No. 1-ranked Hutchinson Community College football team faced its first Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference road test

You are unauthorized to view this page.

Hutchinson Trinity Catholic High School senior Ava Madden placed fifth at the Kansas 3-2-1A girls tennis regional Saturday at Conway Springs. Madden, who was the No. 7 seed for the regional, will take a 17-10 record to the state tournament. She received a first-round bye, won her

CREDIT CITY OF HUTCHINSON

On Wednesday, the Hutchinson City Council approved an $865,000 bid to tear down the decrepit Atrium Hotel.

After a years-long standoff with the absentee Dallas-based landlord, the city is moving to tear down the dangerous mold-riddled structure.

The council had given the owner multiple chances to clean up the property. The Atrium closed in 2019, and the council gave the owner numerous chances to step up and solve his self-created problems or sell the property. He delayed, stalled, obfuscated and laughably described the 87 percent mold infestation as “minor.”

The council wisely rejected his dishonest attempts to stave off a demolition by floating a half-baked idea to build storage space and a strip mall. Salina is also frustrated with owner Joshua Joseph’s negligence, declaring the former Ambassador Hotel a dangerous structure. They, too, have run up against his unwillingness to take action on his dangerous and neglected properties. Another decrepit Joseph-owned property in Hays was razed some years back. He has a track record of letting others clean up his messes.

Demolition costs will be added to the property’s tax bill. Should the owner wish to keep the property, he must pay that to avoid foreclosure. If he abandons the property, the tax debt will be paid through a purchase. The property will sell—it is well-situated and easily accessible on a main highway, close to the hospital, shopping and restaurants.

The eyesore that thousands of people drive by daily will soon be gone. The council gave a timeline of 45 days for asbestos mitigation and 120 days afterward for total demolition and debris haul-off, including signs, support structures and concrete.

The city council, past and present, has been extremely patient. After five years, it is abundantly clear that the owner will not take responsibility, and it is time for the city to step in.

CREDIT CITY OF HUTCHINSON On Wednesday, the Hutchinson City Council approved an $865,000 bid to tear down the decrepit Atrium Hotel. After a years-long standoff with the absentee Dallas-based landlord, the city is moving to tear down the dangerous mold-riddled structure. The council had given the owner multiple