Reno County

A pedestrian is injured after a hit and run in northern Reno County. It happened early Sunday morning in the 1600 block of west 56th street. When authorities arrived at the scene they found that there was a large party for an individual going overseas at a nearby residence. 23-year-old Matt Price of Hutchinson was in the area where vehicles were parked just west of the party site. Price was struck by a vehicle. Authorities say he sustained major injuries. The vehicle fled the scene.

A Great Bend man is recovering in a Wichita hospital after his motorcycle struck a deer in Reno County Thursday evening. The Reno County Sheriff's office says it happened just before 7:00 Thanksgiving Day around a half-mile east of Sylvia Road on West 4th Avenue.  The 39-year-old motorcycle rider was headed home toward Great Bend when a deer hopped into the road.  The rider tried to stop, but ended up hitting the deer and wrecking his motorcycle. ...

A 28-year-old Abbeyville man is dead after his truck was struck by a train in Reno County on Saturday. Reno County authorities tell us the crash happened around 2:00 Saturday afternoon at K-61 and Sterling.  Bronc Kraft was headed south on Sterling Road in a truck pulling two stock trailers.  Police say didn't stop at a railroad intersection, and his truck was struck by an eastbound train.  Kraft jumped from the truck before the...

A man is flown to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita after a crash in Reno County. The Sheriff's Office says an F-250 pick and a Peterbuilt truck with a grain trailer collided around 3:45 Thursday afternoon. The crash happened at US-50 and K-14. Investigators say it appears the pickup failed to yield for the semi and was hit. The 82-year-old driver was pinned in the pickup until rescue crews could free him. He was then taken in critical condition to Wichita. The driver of the semi was not hurt.

Reno County resident Lodema Robinson is thankful. "The fan is going to sit right in front of me, it will help for sure," she says.  She just received a fan from the Hutchinson Salvation Army. Robinson came to get a fan when she heard that three Reno County men died because of the heat in the last week.  Her air-conditioner doesn't work and her house has reached 96 degrees. "I get light-headed and confused and my chest feels heavy," she said. While she cools off, the Hutchinson Salvation Army knows more people need the help.   It's already given away more than 300 fans this summer - more than any other year.  The Red Cross also gave away about 90 fans.  Both organizations say they do this every summer but the need this year is especially great and groups are running out of fans.

Two people are hospitalized after an accident in the Reno County town of Turon. It happened around 8:15 Wednesday evening. The Reno County Sheriff's Department says four people were transporting a stove from one location to another in the back of a pickup.  Two people were in the cab, the other two were in the bed of the truck holding the stove. The driver hit a dip in the road, which threw both of the people off of the back of the truck.  A 55-year-old man struck his head on the pavement and was flown to a Wichita hospital for treatment.

Residents in Reno County could again be asked to approve funding for a new jail. Reno County Sheriff Randy Henderson says the current facilities are too crowded and need many improvements. Several years ago voters said no to funding a new jail. Now a committee looking at the issue is suggesting a temporary sales tax to fund building a new jail and renovate and expand the current law enforcement center. While the sheriff says it will be a hard sell in the current economic climate, he says he believes it needs to be done.

Money is tight for many people these days - and that means charities are struggling this holiday season. The United Way in Reno County does not expect to meet it's goal this year of $1.3 million even though it met last year's goal. You can hear the laughter spilling out of the room, through the closed door.  Inside, several senior men are taking shots on pool tables -- and each other.  Making each shot takes skill, and a little luck.  Most days, the men sharpen their inner pool shark at Hutchinson's Elmdale 50 Plus Center.

Most volunteer firefighters such as Jerry McMillian say they do it to help people. "It takes it out of you," McMillian says.  "It's a physcial challenge.  It's a mental challenge. " But McMillian says there's also the excitement of fighting rapidly moving, potentially deadly fires.  Reno County Deputy Steve Lutz says that may be what motivated 20-year-old Cody Knox who investigators say set fires, only to turn around and help put them out. "Sometimes you get a couple of them that are in it for the wrong reasons, and they need a little more excitement," Lutz says.  "I don't know if that's his reasoning or not, but that is something that has happened in the past.

In 1945, World War II was ending.  The Chicago Cubs made their last appearance in the World Series.  And... Max Banker wasn't born yet. "My parents weren't even thought of, you know what I mean,” Banker said. It seems so long ago.  That's why this check from 1945 is so captivating to Banker.  The Reno County Public Works employee found it in a ditch near a Buhler bridge he was working on. "I looked at it and it said 1945 on it.  I was like wow.  Took some pictures and put it back in the truck so it was safe,” Banker said.