News and Media

Bluestem PACE to open new location with services for seniors in Hutchinson

Tuesday, December 01, 2020

Bluestem PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) of McPherson, will expand its services by opening an alternative care site in Hutchinson in spring of 2021. The PACE program, which partners with individuals aged 55 and better and their caregivers so seniors can remain safe and independent in their homes for as long as possible, has been serving seniors in McPherson, Harvey, Marion, Reno, Rice and Saline counties for four years. PACE participants are nursing home-eligible, however more than 95 percent are able to live in the community with the services and support they receive from PACE. “Establishing a location i...

Ken's Pizza Receives Small Business Award

Tuesday, December 01, 2020

The Hutchinson store opened in 1978, first as on operational location. After Marty Foster met the owner of the franchise through his fraternity in Tulsa, he purchased the franchise and brought on his brother, Paul Foster, to run the restaurant. Throughout the years they have increased their number of employees from 15 to 30, and while Ken’s was first known for its lunch buffet, they have now evolved to offer the buffet for lunch and dinner. Also, as young families have become more involved in activities, their carry out business has had a steady increase as well, and they continu...

Three-Year Contract Extension Announced For Kansas Beef Expo

Friday, October 23, 2020

The Kansas Beef Expo, Visit Hutch and the Kansas State Fairgrounds have announced a three-year contract extension that keeps the Winter Beef Expo in Hutchinson through 2022. Hutchinson and the Kansas State Fairgrounds have been home to the Kansas Beef Expo since they moved the show from Wichita in 1998. “The Kansas State Fairgrounds, City of Hutchinson and the surrounding area have been phenomenal to work with for the Kansas Beef Expo. Kansas has one of the best facilities to host a cattle event in all the Mid-West. We are excited about continuing our relationship with the Kansas State Fair an...

KMS, Inc. to Open Additional Location in Hutchinson

Thursday, October 22, 2020

KMS, Inc., a wholesale and distribution company headquartered in Wichita, announced today that it has purchased the former Eaton building, located at 3401 E. 4th Street, that was vacated in 2017. KMS Inc. was founded in 1976 and has over 40 years of experience in the wholesale and distribution of goods. “This large building presents a great opportunity for KMS to continue to grow and expand in our distribution business in the core of the country,” said Tom George, President & CEO of KMS, Inc. “We look forward to bringing jobs and this building back online.” KMS, Inc. currently operates four distributio...

Hutch Lawn Care Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Greg Fast began when he was 29 years old by taking care of a neighbor's lawn. Shortly thereafter he had fifteen yards he was taking care of and then after three years, he purchased a business that had grown exponentially. His company didn’t have a name at first, but he purchased a small lawn care company's equipment and contracts and eventually Hutch Lawn Care was officially born. What makes Hutch Lawn Care special is the team always brings integrity to their work. They began on a solid foundation with old-school, high standards and the people of Hutchinson really understand and appreciat...

Zenor Electric Company Receives Small Business Award

Thursday, September 17, 2020

Zenor Electric started in 1982 by Larry Zenor and one other person. Dusty Moore purchased the business in 2001 and today has 28 full-time employees. The business began in the back of Cooper Tire, and at one point moved to South Hutchinson, before ultimately ending up on West 4th Street across from the COOP in 1998, where it operates today. Since Dusty purchased the business in 2001, they have added on to the original building, purchased the building to the west for warehouse storage and also purchased the lot to the south of the business for additional vehicle and traile...

Grammy Award-winning artist Lauren Daigle to perform in drive-up concert at Kansas State Fairgrounds

Tuesday, September 01, 2020

HUTCHINSON — Two-time Grammy Award winner and multi-platinum recording artist Lauren Daigle will have a live drive-up concert event at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Daigle’s concert is at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25 in the parking lot east of the Fairgrounds off Plum Street. It is one of two “Autumn Nights” performances. The other event takes place at Rogersville, Missouri. The drive-up concert series is being presented by a third-party promoter who is renting the lot. “Autumn Nights” will adhere to CDC recommendations and both local and state health and safety regulations and guidelines. The Fair is working with the Reno Count...

Bogey's Receives Small Business Award

Thursday, August 20, 2020

Craig Davis started Bogey’s in 1987 after being the area manager for the corporate Long John Silvers in the Midwest. He had become familiar with a relatively new restaurant in Salina called Bogey’s and decided to open his own restaurant. He was the first and only franchisee of the Salina Bogey’s. In the early 90s, the two operations had a “falling out,” and officially ended their relationship. While both stores share the same name, there is no actual connection between the two stores anymore. When Bogey’s opened in 1987, the building was about half the size it currently is. The dinin...

Bridgman LLC Receives Small Business Award

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

In 1960 Elmer (Bud) Bridgman started selling Standard oil products as a commissioned agent in Mt. Hope, Kansas. In 1964 Standard Oil Company was transferred to Bud in Burrton, expanding his sales territory. In 1976 Standard Oil sold Bud the business where he started Bridgman Oil selling petroleum products as an Amoco jobber. In 1977, the Hutchinson location was purchased, and the office was established here. In 1989, Bud hired Brad Thompson and sold the business to him when he was ready to retire. After working hard for 30 years to increase the business, Brad sold the company to hi...

Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson Embarks on Collaboration with Chamber

Wednesday, July 08, 2020

In bad situations we look for silver linings. In responding to COVID-19, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Hutchinson and the Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber of Commerce are collaborating to provide teens with a summer day camp focused on workforce readiness and summer fun. It’s called The Mine and it is housed in the Chamber building at 117 N. Walnut in space formerly occupied by the Red Cross. As the Boys & Girls Clubs worked carefully to plan its summer programs amidst changing requirements on group gathering sizes it appeared unlikely the Club would be able to serve teens during the da...

Hutch Rec, Hutch Chamber to begin Downtown Neighborhood process

Wednesday, July 08, 2020

Hutch Rec and Hutch Chamber, in a partnership through the Hutchinson Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative, is starting work in its next featured neighborhood, Downtown Hutchinson. This joint effort will allow Hutch Rec staff to engage with Downtown Hutchinson residents and employees, while the Hutch Chamber will oversee conversations with business and building owners. The first phase of the process includes one-on-one conversations with Downtown Hutchinson residents and businesses, which will begin in July. Phase two includes data collection, followed by neighborhood gatherings and action. Typically, this process takes six to nine months. The Hutchinson Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative is a collaborate approach in improving th...

Pediatric Dentistry Receives Small Business Award

Monday, May 18, 2020

Dr. Roger Gausman first opened the pediatric dental office in 1980 as a specialized dental office for children. Dr. Kricket C. Young joined the practice in August of 1998, directly after graduating from the University of Nebraska Medical Center Pediatric Dentistry Residency program. At that time, they changed the office name to Pediatric Dentistry, LLC and when Dr. Gausman retired, he left the practice to Dr. Young. The business of pediatric dentistry is unique in that they only treat children and special needs patients. Their dental services include everything from preventative services like cleanings, to restoring teeth that have been "broken"...

Superior Boiler Will Relocate Richmond, Virginia, Subsidiary and Add Jobs in Hutchinson, Kansas

Wednesday, April 01, 2020

Superior Boiler recently announced that it will relocate its Richmond, Virginia, subsidiary to Hutchinson, Kansas. The relocation will begin in second quarter 2021. Superior acquired the Richmond business, which produces industrial watertube boilers, as part of its 2016 purchase of English Boiler LLC. “Over the past two years, we looked at multiple sites in five states and in the Richmond area,” said Superior’s President and CEO Doug Wright. “Hutchinson became the clear choice because of the facility available to us, the assistance provided by state and local governments and the ability to combine resources with our current business operations.” “We are thrille...

IdeaTek Wins CARES Funding to Fast-Track Rural Internet Access in Reno County and Surrounding Areas

Thursday, October 15, 2020

When Tamera Heitschmidt received a $600 cellular hotspot bill last spring, she was ready to pack her beloved rural Nickerson home and buy a place in town. The costs of running a website development business on a slow, spotty mobile hotspot connection were driving her to a breaking point. It was also the only tenable option available. Now, Heitschmidt and thousands of residents in more than 1,900 Reno County area homes can celebrate a breakthrough, thanks to rural internet pioneer IdeaTek and a Kansas Connectivity Emergency Response Grant (CERG). IdeaTek announced on Thursday that the company will complete a $2.5 millio...