Bethany College to host faculty recital

The Bethany College Department of Music will host a faculty recital on Tuesday, September 26 at 7:30 p.m. in Pearson Chapel.

The recital will feature performances by Lillian Green on viola; Leslie Mangrum, soprano; Dan Masterson on piano; Jeff Pelischek on clarinet; Jodi Frisbie Reese, soprano; Ann Samuelson on violin; and Melody Steed on organ.

Works by composers Bach, Brahms, Donizetti, Mozart, and Vieuxtemps will be featured.

The concert is free and the public is invited to attend.

No one hurt in Roxbury grain elevator fire

Firefighters responded to a large fire in Roxbury on Tuesday afternoon at around 1:30 p.m. at an old grain elevator. Nobody was injured, while seven different fire departments battled the blaze in northeast McPherson County.

The flames took down two of the surrounding structures, which also weren’t in use, and were actually being prepared to be torn down that morning. The flames left burn marks all along the side of the grain silos.

Crews were still monitoring the blaze for hot spots. 

McPherson College recognized on best colleges list

For the second year in a row, McPherson College has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report on the 2018 “Best Colleges” list for Regional Colleges Midwest. McPherson College is the top ranked KCAC college on the list.

“It is an honor to be included as a Best College on such a well-respected list,” President Michael Schneider said. “It’s further proof that McPherson College is being recognized for the work being done by our faculty and staff to ensure a quality education and excellent student experience. I couldn’t be more proud of our campus community.”

The U.S. News & World Report has been ranking colleges for 33 years. The rankings are based on several key measures, each weighted as a percentage of the total score. Graduation and retention rates, assessment of excellence by peers and high school counselors, the quality of faculty resources (such as class size and student-faculty ratio), and student selectivity account for more than three-fourths of the ranking.

The remaining approximate one-fourth of the ranking is determined by a college’s actual graduation rate compared to expected rate, the rate and amount of alumni giving, and the financial resources at the institution’s disposal.

McPherson College recently announced that it was also ranked on the 2017 “Best Colleges for the Money” by Money Magazine, and for the third year in a row has been recognized by the Chronicle of Higher Education on its 2017 list of “Great Colleges to Work For.” 

Plum Street crash in McPherson County kills driver

On September 6, 2017 at about 1:57 pm, a white 2012 Toyota Prius driven by Emily E. Lightner, 37 years old from Scott City, KS, was northbound on Plum Street.  A white 2001 Dodge Stratus driven by a 16 year old male from McPherson was eastbound on Avenue V in Rice County approaching Plum Street.  Evidence at the scene and witness statements indicate the 16 year old failed to stop at the posted stop sign at Plum Street and struck Lightner’s vehicle on the driver’s side.  The Stratus came to a stop against a utility pole and started on fire.  The Prius went off Plum Street through a barbed wire fence and into a pasture on the north side of Buckskin Road in McPherson County coming to rest on its roof.  Lightner was pronounced dead at the scene. 

The 16 year old male was transported by Reno County EMS to the Hutchinson Hospital.  Lightner was wearing her seatbelt and it is unknown at this time if the 16 year old was wearing his.  Ark Valley Power and Century Link Telephone Co. had property damaged as a result of this collision.

We thank the Inman Fire and Police Departments as well as the Reno County Sheriff’s Office, Reno County EMS and the Hutchinson Fire Department for their assistance. 

Once again we ask the community to keep all the people involved in this collision as well as their families in your thoughts and prayers.  

Central Christian hosts hooding ceremony for Dr. Brett Janssen

Mr. Brett Janssen, Traditional Music professor at Central Christian College of Kansas, was announced as Dr. Brett Janssen through a commemorative hooding ceremony during the 2017 Academic Convocation at Central Christian College of Kansas’ Greer Auditorium.

After a successful defense of his dissertation, Dr. Janssen was informed that he may now receive all the Rights, Privileges, and Honors that come with said completion.

“We are immensely proud of Dr. Janssen and his successful completion of this milestone. Earning a Ph.D. is an arduous process that demands the highest levels of scholarship and tenacity. Dr. Janssen has demonstrated both and therefore deserves this high honor” said Dr. Lenny Favara, Provost.

When asked for comment, Dr. Janssen responded. “I am honored to be recognized for achieving a goal and reaching a benchmark.   I am thankful to colleagues, friends, and family for their support.  However, through this undertaking, I have realized that learning about God's creation is a continual, exciting process."

His official Hooding Ceremony took place at Kansas State University this past May, where he was conferred with a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a Music Cognate.

McPherson College supports relief efforts

With clean up after Hurricane Harvey well underway and Hurricane Irma set to make landfall later this week, McPherson College students, faculty and staff are participating in several relief efforts organized by the Office of Spiritual Life & Service. On Friday, September 8 in the Maker’s Space (basement) of Miller Library from 1 to 5 p.m. the campus will assemble hygiene kits that will be distributed to emergency shelters.

McPherson College is donating the supplies for the kits, which are part of Church World Service’s response to the recent disaster. CWS has committed all of the roughly 140,000 hygiene kits that are in stock to Hurricane Harvey response. There will be a need to replenish the stock, especially if Hurricane Irma hits yet this week. Hygiene kits provide basic necessities to people who have been forced to leave their homes because of disasters. Volunteers are encouraged to come for any amount of time on Friday to assemble the kits. They will be delivered to Wichita and then taken directly to a drop of site.

“We did a lot of research on charities and on what was really needed at this point,” Jen Jensen, director of spiritual life & service, said. “I wanted our community to be involved in activities that everybody could take part in, but also activities that would have a positive impact in the relief efforts. Regardless of how much time or money you have to offer, we tried to find ways to help.”

The college has also reached out to the roughly 20 students who attend McPherson College from the Houston area. “So far all of our students’ families seem to be in good shape,” Jensen said. “Some of the students’ homes have been impacted, but we haven’t heard of anyone in urgent need at this point.”

Other opportunities to support relief efforts include:

       Donate school supplies – Items can be dropped off at the Spiritual Life & Service office in Miller Library from 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, September 7 or at the Maker’s Space in Miller Library on Friday from 9 a.m to noon or 1 to 5 p.m. The items will be packaged and mailed to United Way for distribution to schools affected by Hurricane Harvey. “The need for school supplies will be great as school districts work quickly to return children to their daily routines,” Jensen said. “Even a few dollars will go a long way toward supplies on clearance right now.”       Support college students financially through #harveyHELP – Leaders from across higher education in Texas joined with the Communities Foundation of Texas to launch a crowdfunding campaign to give emergency aid packages to college students impacted by Hurricane Harvey to help them stay in school. According to Jensen, this program is being shared with colleges through ICUT, the Texas athletic conference equivalent to the KCAC. Donations can be made at the #harveyHELP GoFundMe page.

Kansas water rescue teams return home

Water rescue teams from agencies across Kansas who were deployed to Texas to assist in recovery efforts from Hurricane-turned-Tropical Depression Harvey have all returned to Kansas as of Tuesday morning.

“This was a great effort by so many departments across the state,” Randy Hill, the Kansas Office of the State Fire Marshal Search and Rescue Coordinator, said. “It was hard work. Because of the water contamination, it was imperative to wear dry suits, which were extremely hot and steamy in the Texas heat. We kept the teams hydrated and had to work shorter cycles, but everyone worked so well together among the Kansas teams and other teams from across the country.”

The crews, who left last Wednesday, were tasked to search for and transport any people and animals stranded by flood waters. Kansas sent water rescue personnel, along with hard-bottom, air boats, and inflatable boats.

Kansas Search & Rescue swift-water/flood teams, along with teams from the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism, worked a joint 12-hour operational period Sunday in Katy, Texas, with teams from Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Missouri. Collectively there were 15 strike teams with each team consisting of five boat squads for a total of 75 water assets. Kansas strike teams searched close to 1,200 structures and evacuated 27 individuals.  In total, Sunday’s joint operation resulted in over 4000 structures searched and over 100 evacuations. The teams also worked on other small assignments and were on standby as needed.

“We sent over 50 fire, law enforcement and first responder personnel to Texas,” Doug Jorgensen, Kansas Fire Marshal, said. “I’m proud of the hard work and sacrifice of our Kansas first responders when it came to helping the citizens of Texas during this difficult time. They did a spectacular job down there under difficult conditions, and I’m happy they all made it back safely.” 

Agencies involved were: The Kansas Adjutant General’s Office, Kansas Fire Marshal’s Office, Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Chanute Fire Department, Derby Fire Department, Hutchinson Fire Department, South Hutchinson Police Department, Manhattan Fire Department, Mission Township Fire Department, Neodesha Fire Department, Newton Fire/EMS, Parsons Fire Department, Pittsburg Fire Department, Salina Fire Department, Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Sedgwick County Fire District #1, Shawnee Fire Department, and Winfield Fire/EMS

McPherson FD hosting 9/11 memorial ceremony

McPherson Fire Chief Jeff Deal extended an open invitation to join the fire department in a 9/11 memorial ceremony at the fire station from 9:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 11. Because of the involvement of the fire departments at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania during the 9/11 attacks, fire departments nationwide are joining in to commemorate the lives lost.

“It’s become a reoccurring event with fire departments across the nation that we utilize that day to memorialize and pay tribute to the firefighters that lost their lives, and pay tribute to the firefighters that are doing this every day,” Deal said.

There will be refreshments and cookies available to those in attendance, and they will also conduct tours of the station after the ceremony is over. 

September proclaimed as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in McPherson

September was proclaimed as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in McPherson at Tuesday’s city commission meeting. Gloria Schroeder presented at this week’s city commission and believes that sometimes childhood cancer is overlooked and is not on as many people’s radars.

“It’s not in your realm, you don’t hear it unless it’s in your family,” Schroeder said. “There are several children in McPherson County that are fighting childhood cancer.”

Last week there was a blood drive in McPherson in honor of Kaiden Schroeder, and the Red Cross anticipated 28 people would come donate blood, but instead 71 people donated blood and helped potentially 215 people with their donations.

There be a Childhood Cancer Walk on Sept. 14 in McPherson starting at 6:30 p.m. The walk will start at Genesis Health Club and will end up at the Plaza. There will be speakers, refreshments and the proclamation to make September “Childhood Cancer Awareness Month” in McPherson will be read. Schroeder encourages everybody to wear a yellow ribbon or wear gold.

Every year more than 15,000 children or adolescents are diagnosed with cancer, and now September has been designated to be aware of how many are affected.

Bethany's Good Life Scholarship off to a strong start

Bethany College welcomed 75 Good Life Scholarship recipients at the start of classes this fall. 

College officials announced the four-year, full-tuition scholarship program last December for graduates from Saline and McPherson County high schools who are accepted to Bethany for the next five years. Students that utilize the scholarship are required to live on campus and enroll in the college’s meal plan. This is the first year freshmen at the college have had access to the life-changing scholarship.

“Bethany College is grateful for the generous support of our local community. This is our 136th year. We would not be here it if were not for the support of our alumni, friends, and the local community. The Good Life Scholarship is our way of saying thank you and honoring our historical mission of serving families from these two counties,” said President Will Jones. He added, “We believe this scholarship is a win for local students and families, a win for local economic development efforts, and win for the college.”

Of the 75 incoming freshmen utilizing the scholarship at Bethany, 38 are from Saline County and 37 are from McPherson County.  The average ACT for the recipients is 21 and the average GPA is 3.22. Women represent 41 of the 75 scholarship recipients. 

“These students are very strong students and great young people. We are excited to have them on campus. They will be leaders at Bethany during their four years and then leaders for a lifetime in our local communities,” stated President Jones.

Local officials have praised the college for their creative approach and for the college’s support of area communities and families. Combined, the 75 Good Life Students studying at Bethany this year will receive more than id="mce_marker",960,000 in tuition scholarship support.  

Bill Nelson ‘86, Principal at Smoky Valley High School, stated, “Bethany’s Good Life Scholarship provides a great opportunity for our students to receive a quality education that’s affordable and close to home.” He continued, “Bethany College infuses our community with its academic enrichment, diversity, athletic competitions, tradition of excellence in the performing arts, and the many alumni that choose to live locally after they graduate from Bethany.” 

Mindy Tillberg, a board member of The Earl Bane Foundation, congratulated Bethany. “The foundation is focused on benefiting the local community. Education transforms lives. Bethany is to be commended and celebrated for the strong commitment it is making to investing in the lives of local students and families.”

“Receiving the Good Life Scholarship is such a blessing for me and my family,” Kelli Nightingale a freshman from Galva, Kansas, said. “I received scholarship offers from other great colleges, but Bethany’s faculty and staff convinced me this was the best place for me. It’s a terrific education at a great price close to home.”

The Good Life Scholarship is offered to first-time, full-time freshman. Transfer students, who may have graduated from a local high school before attending another institution, and students from outside of Saline and McPherson Counties can take advantage of the college’s generous merit scholarships, which range from $7,500 to id="mce_marker"6,000 and are based on grades and standardized test scores. In addition, Bethany College offers need based grants and athletic and talent scholarships. 

Informational sessions are planned for the fall in Salina, McPherson, and Lindsborg for students and parents wanting more details about the Good Life Scholarship and other scholarship opportunities.