Streaming video service now available at McPherson Public Library

The next great thing has arrived at the McPherson Public Library!  Through the library website, library patrons can sign up for quality video entertainment and education with RBdigital Video.

This popular streaming service offers a full slate of original and exclusive programming, from the best in movies and television to concerts to educational courses. Included are popular favorites on Acorn TV and IndieFlix, as well as concerts on Stingray Qello and educational channels, such as The Great Courses and LearnItLive. Viewers will enjoy both the quality and the selection. 

Thousands of hours of commercial-free programming are available, and new shows are added weekly, so there’s always something to explore. Streaming content may be viewed on laptops, PCs, mobile devices, or television. Please note that this service is available only to library patrons residing in the 67460 zip code.

“This project has been in the planning stages for eight months, and we are excited to make it available for patrons now,” said Library Director Steve Read, “There is just the right balance of entertainment and educational channels.” 

To access RBdigital video, go to macpl.org/mplstreaming. This page will provide information for support services, details for watching streaming channels on a variety of technology, and step-by-step instructions for streaming access. 

RBdigital Video is made possible by the McPherson Public Library Endowment Fund. 

For additional information call the library at 245-2570 or email them at [email protected] 

Key road games Tuesday for MHS cagers

The Buhler boys were McPherson High’s friend on Friday, but they’ll return to their customary role of foe on Tuesday.

The Crusaders shocked Augusta by 19 points on Friday, handing the Orioles only their second AVCTL Division III loss.

And what that means is if MHS can defeat Buhler on Tuesday in Crusader Country, the Bullpups clinch a share of the league title (provided Augusta doesn’t lose to Circle) and then could win it outright with a win at home over Circle on Friday.

But first things first. The Bullpups have a major test with the Crusaders, who will be trying to avenge a 64-47 loss in December in the Roundhouse.

“It is always a good atmosphere at Buhler,” MHS coach Kurt Kinnamon said. “Their victory over Augusta on Friday really caught our attention. They are a team that has three really good wins over Great Bend, Salina South and Augusta. We are looking forward to a good challenge on the road.”

Game time is 7:30, with the girls kicking off the action at 6:00. Catch all the play-by-play on 96.7 KBBE-FM with award-winning “Voice of the Bullpups” Jim Joyner on the call, with pre-game set for 5:40.

Buhler is 10-6 on the season and had a stretch where it won 6 of 7. But it suffered back-to-back losses to Mulvane and Maize before Friday’s 57-38 victory over Augusta that turned a lot of heads.

After MHS, the Crusaders close with games against Winfield, El Dorado and Circle, so they have a chance to move up in 4A West. They currently are in fifth and need to move up a spot to be home for both sub-state games.

In the first meeting, an inspired Bullpup team played one of its best games of the year for the 17-point victory. Seth Madron scored 20 points, while Cody Stufflebean had a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

MHS is 7-0 in the league and 11-6 overall as it has climbed to No. 6 in the Class 5A West seedings. The Bullpups want to finish at least at 6, as that would probably keep them away from undefeated teams Carroll and Andover in the sub-state.

In the girls’ game, the Bullpups will attempt to continue their recent domination of the Crusaders. Even without starters Lakyn Schieferecke, Emma Ruddle and Andrea Sweat, MHS rolled to a 62-35 rout in the first meeting after leading 44-13 at the half. Grace Pyle scored 27 points and Kassidy Beam added 13 to lead the Bullpups.

“The girls are always ready to play Buhler, so we are looking forward to going to their place on Tuesday,” MHS coach Chris Strathman said. “Buhler comes in at 10-6 and having won 3 of their last 4, so they are playing better and that is showing up on film. They played Salina Central really tough in the semis of the SIT and they are a highly ranked team in Class 5A.”

Strathman said this is a crucial week for his team, 7-0 in the league and 16-1 overall.

“This is a big week for us as it will pretty much decide the D-III league race and also go a long way in securing seeding for sub-state,” Strathman said. “We are in a good position to be able to host both sub-state games, now it is about getting the highest seed possible and also playing at a high level as we enter the home stretch. Buhler is always a fun place to play and they are our most natural rival now, so we know they will be really excited to play us as their senior class has never beat us. I'm sure that is one big thing they would like to get done, so it is our job to make sure our girls are just as motivated to compete and play together.”

McPherson College president elected to national board

Michael Schneider, president of McPherson College, was elected to a three-year term to the Board of Directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU). He will represent Region VII, which includes Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. President Schneider was elected at the close of the 2020 NAICU Annual Meeting and Advocacy Day held in Washington, D.C. last week.

“NAICU does extraordinary work for private colleges and I am honored to serve,” said Schneider. “I am excited to advocate for the hundreds of mission-driven colleges and universities that educate many of our nation’s best students.”

President Schneider has served McPherson College in a number of key positions since 2002 helping spearhead increased giving to the college and enrollment numbers. The college appointed him president in 2009, at the time he was the youngest college president in the United States. He is a graduate of McPherson College and earned an MBA from the University of Denver and a doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to returning to McPherson College, he ran a publishing company and supported a range of start-ups from information technology to green energy.

Today, he is passionate about lifting up liberal arts through an entrepreneurial mindset that sparks the interest and imagination of the entire campus. The college’s strategic plan, Community by Design, changed the way the campus plans for the future. The plan, created by the entire campus, focuses on creative initiatives like The Student Debt Project, which partners with students to eliminate student loan debt. Under his leadership, McPherson College has been named in the Chronicle of Higher Education on the list of “Great Colleges to Work For” for the past five years.

As a NAICU board member, President Schneider will help set the association’s agenda on federal higher education policy, actively encourage support for the association’s priorities and initiatives, and oversee the organization’s financial administration. As part of his service, President Schneider will be a member of the board’s student aid committee, which is spearheading work to enhance the federal Pell Grant program. 

With more than 1,000 colleges, universities, and associations as members, NAICU serves as the unified national voice of independent higher education and reflects the diversity of private, nonprofit higher education in the United States. Member institutions include major research universities, church-related colleges, historically black colleges, art and design colleges, traditional liberal arts and science institutions, women’s colleges, two-year colleges, and schools of law, medicine, engineering, business, and other professions.