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What makes a place?  That's the question we asked in this episode of Rooted. Amy Conkling and Denice Gilliland from HutchRec joined me, along with Kari Mailloux from the Hutchinson Community Foundation. We walked through some of the history and science of placemaking, and discussed some of the intentional spaces and places that people in Hutchinson enjoy today.  For me, this is an important conversation - but it's also one that's very fun to me. I enjoy thinking about those unique corners of our community that hold special memories and meaning. I especially enjoy it when I get to learn the stories about the places that are important to others, too.  One thing I think you'll learn in this episode is how much effort has been put into better understanding what spaces have been underused in our community, and how there's a growing movement to build public places around natural behaviors and actions of the people in a community.  I'm thankful for the work of people like Kari, Amy, and Denice, who put so much of themselves into building up our community. I think you'll feel that when you listen - and I suspect you'll have some new found appreciation for the places that make Hutchinson.

This episode of That Podcast in Hutch is all about feelings - and an upcoming event that hopes to create more public conversation around the topic of mental health in our community.  Bret Thomas visited the studio to talk about Feel Fest - which is being held in Downtown Hutchinson on Oct. 9 and 10. They'll have a dance, a run, some movies, and a number of workshops - all built around normalizing feelings and discussions about their effects on our daily lives.  I really enjoyed this conversation with Bret - who I first met a few years ago when he offered to record a live podcast interview with Brady Scott at the Hutchinson Library. I love Bret's energy, his passion for our community, and his willingness to throw his effort into helping with fun and meaningful events in Hutchinson.  Bret shared some of his own mental health experiences, both as a U.S. Army Veteran and as a young man trying to navigate modern life. I appreciated his vulnerability and openness about his life - and his hope that others might find some resources and tools to help them during Feel Fest.  I hope you'll take time to listen to our conversation - and that you'll support the work they're doing with Feel Fest.  The event kicks off with a dance from 7-10 p.m. at the Farmer's Market Pavilion, 103 W. 2nd Ave.  Saturday morning begins at 9 a.m. with a Run to Remember - to honor those we've lost. You can run, walk, or ride in a golf cart if you have mobility issues. Feel Fest City will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on 1st Avenue, in front of the Fox Theater. This segment will include workshops, an open mic event, and a grief tree - where community members can write the name of a loved one in remembrance.  For more information, including comlete schedule of events, visit feelfest.org

Welcome to another edition of Ounce of Prevention!  I had so much fun with this episode, and I think you'll have a lot of fun listening.  We talk about bats. We talk about sexually transmitted illnesses. We talk about Ebola virus - which to me is one of the scariest things on the planet.  Kate Gardner, the epidemiologist with the Reno County Health Department came into the studio to share with us her work recording, tracking, and educating us about communicable diseases.  This is really important work that a lot of us never see up close - but we're glad it's happening when a restaurant is serving bad chicken or when some random petting zoo in North Carolina is a suspected source of a massive rabies outbreak.  By the way, if you ever wake up with a bat in your house, just assume that you need to go get treated for rabies. It probably got you while you're asleep.  I'm excited for you to hear this episode. It's as fun as it is informative - and I think you'll walk away with a better understanding of the work that happens at your local health department.

I've learned in my time that most of the good things in life come from good people working to create goodness in the world. That's certainly the case with the people who dedicate their time, effort, and talent to HutchRec and the foundations that support their work.  This month's episode of Rooted explores the people - and the relationships - of the people who work behind the scenes to make sure the events, activities, and features in Hutchinson have the financial, technical, and volunteer support necessary for success.  I sat down and visited with Jennifer Weathers, who serves on the Hutch Recreation Foundation Board, Karin Neal, who serves on the Dillon Nature Center Board, and Amy Conklin, Assistant Executive Director of HutchRec. They explained about the relationship between HutchRec, its commission, and how these foundations support HutchRec's mission - and allow the organization to accomplish more than it could alone.  These relationships have been a topic of conversation lately, and I think it's worth taking the time to hear directly from the people who do this work.  As you'll learn in this episode, the people who serve on these boards are just regular people who hope to make a meaningful difference in their community. You'll hear about how their work supports youth sports, summer camps, local artists, long-term improvements, and countless other investments that enrich our daily lives.

This episode of An Ounce of Prevention began with a simple question: What does the Reno County Health Department do, anyway? Turns out a lot - and it’s not just vaccinations and restaurant inspections.  For the record, the State of Kansas took restaurant inspections away from local health departments more than 10 years ago and gave them to the Kansas Department of Agriculture.  But I digress - our local health department does way more than most of us realize, working daily to study trends, anticipate issues, and deploy measures to help us all live healthier lives.  We have a program that helps older adults do light house keeping and tasks around the house - which helps people to live better independently in their own homes.  They schedule foot care for seniors who struggle to care for themselves. They help manage maternity education programs, healthy food and living, substance misuse information.  And, of course, they help track the spread of infectious diseases - and develop plans to help our community respond effectively.  There’s so much that falls under their work, it’d take too much to list it all here.  I really enjoyed this conversation with Candace and Kara - and I am certain you’ll learn something about the Reno County Health Department that you didn’t know before!  An Once of Prevention is made possible through a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant. Our theme music is Never Going Home by Charlie Lewis, Free Music Archive, licensed CC BY-NC-SA

Thanks for the great response to our first episode of Rooted - with HutchRec. It was great to see the positive feedback from so many of you.  Our second episode of Rooted focuses on the power of stories and storytelling. My friend Sue Wray came to the studio to share a story about the important role the Hutchinson Recreation Commission has played in her life - starting when she was a young child in Hutchinson. We also talk about the quarterly magazine Inspire! Marketing Director LoriBeth Reynolds shares her original vision for the publication, as well as how it’s evolved over it’s first three years in print, and digital form.  Sue’s story is included in the most recent edition of Inspire - complete with an adorable piece of artwork of Sue as the youngster in her story, created by Arts and Culture Coordinator Jocelyn Chambers.  You can pick up the latest copy at HutchRec downtown, at all the coffee shops in town, or online here.  I’m sure you’re going to enjoy this episode. It’s a fun look back in time that allows us to examine the importance of recreation and growth opportunities in the lives of children in our community.  We also talked about a few upcoming events - including the Farm to Table Dinner in September. Tickets are already on sale, and you can get them here.  Rooted is partnership between That Podcast in Hutch and the Hutchinson Recreation Commission - one that focuses on how HutchRec builds community through its programming, events, and sports activities in Hutchinson and Reno County.  Look for Rooted in your favorite steaming service on the 2nd Thursday of every month.

I'm very excited to help bring an informative and entertaining new podcast to That Podcast in Hutch listeners!  An Ounce of Prevention will be an up-close conversation about public health with Candace Davidson and Kara Bunce, who both work in the field every day with the Reno County Health Department.  In this first episode, we talk about the history of public health in the United States. It reaches back to the 1940s, when one of its earliest missions was to combat the growth of malaria. During that conversation, I realized how fortunate I've been in my life to not worry daily about contracting the mosquito-borne illness - which is prevalent and fatal in many parts of the world.  We explore the ways in which public health has touched individual lives across the country, in Kansas, and here at home in Reno County. I guarantee that you'll learn something in this episode, and find the conversation engaging and informative.  Look for an Ounce of Prevention to hit your streaming service on the 4th Thursday of each month!  An Once of Prevention is made possible through a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant. Our theme music is Never Going Home by Charlie Lewis, Free Music Archive, licensed CC BY-NC-SA

We’re embarking on something new here at That Podcast in Hutch, and I can barely tell you how excited we are about it!  That Podcast in Hutch has partnered with the Hutchinson Recreation Commission to present a new Podcast - Rooted. A podcast that focuses on how HutchRec builds community through its programming, events, and sports activities in Hutchinson and Reno County.  We’ll be exploring a different topic related to the world of recreation each month - and along the way we’ll share behind-the-scenes stories and examples of how HutchRec’s history in our community has made us richer, healthier, and more vibrant.  In this first episode, I visited with HutchRec executive director Tony Finley, and Assistant executive director Amy Conklin about HutchRec’s history, and how the organization has adapted to the changing landscape of entertainment and recreation over the years.  But we also visit about how recreation is more than recreation. It’s about connecting people, building community, and creating spaces where people can come together for shared experiences that create stronger bonds, and build bridges.  I’m excited to present the inaugural episode of Rooted - a story about the important role HutchRec plays in building a rich community.

Join producer Christopher as he leaves Hutchinson to meet up with Jason in Burden Kansas, a stop along the Bike Across Kansas route. Christopher joins Jason, along with several other cyclists on BAK as they discuss the hardships and struggles of BAK, the community they have built, the history of the ride, and the towns along the way.

They say that History doesn't repeat itself, but that it sure does rhyme.  On this week's episode of That Podcast in Hutch, I have the Reno County Historical Society joining me - which includes both the Reno County Museum, and Strataca - the underground salt museum.  The team from the historical society visit about the challenges they're facing - including an aging building in desperate need of repair, and the struggle they face in accepting, storing, and curating Reno County's History.  Our history is valuable, and serves as a guide to our future. But when there are significant challenges in preserving that history, and making it available for future generations, we might one day forget the stories that shaped who we are.  I think you'll gain a lot from this episode, and come to better understand the role the Reno County Historical Society plays in our community.

This week's episode is electrifying! I'm sure you'll get a real jolt out of it! It might be the most shocking episode yet! OK. Enough with the Dad jokes.  This week's episode of That Guy In Hutch features a couple of stand out Allen STEM Magnet School students - and their coach - who are headed to the World KidWind Competition in Madison, Wisconsin after taking tops the Statewide Competition.  You'll hear Clayton Hatfield, Milo Miller, and coach Keith Gable discuss the work that goes into designing a winding wind turbine, and all the skills the students learn in the process.  Before we get into that, however, I am going to ask a favor.  Allen STEM Magnet School has two teams headed to the world competition: the Whirlwinds (4th and 5th grade) and the Mavericks (6th-8th grades). Both teams won first place in their division at the state competition and need to raise about $15,000 to cover travel costs for the students and their sponsors. While these students learn a great deal in the KidWind competition, it's not something covered by normal school expenses.  You can mail a check to to Allen STEM Magnet School: KidWind Team, 403 W 10th Ave, Hutchinson, KS 67501. The Checks can be made out to Allen PTO c/o KidWind Team. Alternately, you can also drop a check off at the Allen office.  They also have a gofundme where the money goes directly to help with these expenses. That's how I'll donate this week, and I hope you will too! As you listen to this episode, I think you'll find the KidWind competition is a valuable and enriching experience for these students. I was most impressed with they way Clayton and Milo talked about the process of trial and error. As they develop their ideas and plans, they must put those ideas into practice; when they fail, they revise their plans and try again.  Projects like this give students permission to be imperfect. It's teaching them how to think. How to problem-solve, and how to create. It was such a shining example of what is happening in our education systems—something that often isn't highlighted as prominently as it should be.  I know you'll find this episode informative and adorable. And I hope when you listen you'll also consider supporting our local kids who are looking to do some really big things on a really big stage.  For more information on KidWind www.kidwind.org kansasenergyprogram.org/events/2026-state-kidwind-challenge-salina facebook.com/AllenSTEMKidWind kidwind.org/worlds/2026-2/ For additional questions, contact the school at 620-615-4900

You’ve seen the work going on at the corner of 5th and Main over the past several years - and today I’m happy to sit down for a conversation with Laura Meyer Dick, developer of the Meyer Landmark building.  In our conversation, you’ll learn about her motivation for renovating the once-dilapidated building - including her initial battle with the pigeons who had taken up residency in the building.  You’ll also learn about her vision and spirit for downtown, and how the work she’s doing to redevelop the Meyer Landmark is building on the legacy of her father, Nation Meyer, who was a strong advocate for downtown Hutchinson.  If you’ve been curious about what’s happening at the corner of 5th and Main, you’ll want to make sure to listen to this episode of That Podcast in Hutch

We’re wrapping up our series on Kansas Property taxes this week with Chris Courtwright, who served as the principal economist for the Kansas Legislature for 34 years.  In that role, Chris provided lawmakers with unbiased and reliable economic data used to make key decisions about the state budget. He also led the twice-a-year Consensus Revenue Estimating Group, which the legislature and the governor use as a basis for their revenue and budget projections for the coming year.  Few people possess Chris’s understanding of the history and the changes in Kansas tax policy. He is a wealth of knowledge, and he does a great job of helping unpack the complex history taxation in Kansas - including property taxes.  I think you’ll learn a great deal from this episode. But one thing I hope you’ll take away from this episode is how the pinch you’re feeling today when you look at your property tax bill began years ago - initiated by people who made decisions on tax policy that have, and continue to, put the burden squarely on working families in Kansas.  My conversation with Chris is Part 4 in That Podcast In Hutch’s multi-part series on property taxes. Part one is a conversation with Kansas Senator Mike Murphy, who introduced legislation this session aimed at eliminating property taxes in Kansas and replacing it with a surtax, which is a sort of sales tax on consumption. In Part 2, I visited with Reno County Appraiser Michael Plank, who discussed the property valuation process. In Part 3, I visited with former Hutchinson City Council member Jon Richardson about how policy affects city budgets, and in Episode 4, I visited with Chris Courtwright, the Kansas Legislature’s lead economist for 34 years.  This package of episodes of TPIH contains a lot of valuable information for anyone who is interested in learning more about property taxes, tax appraisals, and the ways in which policy decisions from years ago are affecting you today.  Now up, Chris Courtwright, and his insight on the history of taxation in Kansas.

We’re continuing our series on Kansas Property taxes this week, with former Hutchinson City Council member Jon Richardson, who left the council in January. I asked Jon to talk about the difficulty of managing a city budget, especially when faced with a changing landscape - and mandates - from the state and federal governments.  We discuss a number of different topics in our conversation, and the time flew by while we recorded. I am confident you’ll feel the same as you listen.  It’s both important and enlightening to hear Jon’s takeaways and insights from his time on the council. It’s also a good reminder that at the local level, the people serving in elected capacity - your city council members, county commissioners, and school board members - are effectively neighborhood volunteers who care about their communities. They don’t make real money, typically aren’t politically driven, and often are tackling big, complex issues. And in a town the size of Hutchinson, any decision you make is bound to make one group or another upset.  My conversation with Jon is Part 3 in That Podcast In Hutch’s multi-part series on property taxes. Part one is a conversation with Kansas Senator Mike Murphy, who introduced legislation this session aimed at eliminating property taxes in Kansas and replacing it with a surtax, which is a sort of sales tax on consumption. In Part 2, I visited with Reno County Appraiser Michael Plank, who discussed the property valuation process. In Part 4, I visit with Chris Courtwright, the Kansas Legislature’s lead economist for 34 years.  This package of episodes of TPIH contains a lot of valuable information for anyone who is interested in learning more about property taxes, tax appraisals, and the ways in which policy decisions from years ago are affecting you today.  Now up, Jon Richardson, and his experience on the Hutchinson City Council.

We’re continuing our series on Kansas Property taxes this week, with Reno County Appraiser Michael Plank, who joined That Podcast in Hutch to discuss property valuations here and across the state.  Like lots of people, you might still be reeling from the recent valuation statement that came in the mail. And like some, your first instinct might have been to cuss the county appraiser’s office - and I think a good number of people have done just that.  But Michael helped me understand how those valuations are calculated, and how much of their work in the appraiser’s office is governed by laws dictated by the Kansas Legislature. He unpacks the complicated and heavily mathematical world of valuations in a way that is easy to understand.  He even offers tips and suggestions on how to appeal your valuations.  My conversation with Mike is part two in That Podcast In Hutch’s multi-part series on property taxes. Part one is a conversation with Kansas Senator Mike Murphy, who introduced legislation this session aimed at eliminating property taxes in Kansas and replacing it with a surtax, which is a sort of sales tax on consumption.  Michael Plank unpacks valuations. In coming episodes I visit with former Hutchinson City Council member Jon Richardson and Chris Courtwright, who served for 34 years as the chief economist for the Kansas Legislature.  This package of episodes of TPIH contains a lot of valuable information for anyone who is interested in learning more about property taxes, tax appraisals, and the ways in which policy decisions from years ago are affecting you today.  Now up, Michael Plank, to help us better understand the valuation process.