McPherson Hosts National Cultural Event Wednesday at MPL

On Wednesday, September 28 at 6:00 p.m., the public is invited to join Sheryl Winarick, TED Resident and national immigration lawyer, plus a select panel of community members, in a guided discussion exploring the culture, identity, beliefs, and stories of success in our area.

Through collaboration with the McPherson Public Library, McPherson will be included as one of the ten focal communities participating in foundational gatherings across the United States.

The primary focus of these community gatherings is to engage community members in shared experiences to explore culture, identity, leadership, and accountability; celebrate and connect solutions-oriented individuals and initiatives working hard to make local communities a great place to live; and invite everyone to step up and participate in the challenge of creating welcoming communities where future generations can thrive, happily, together.

The idea of a collaborative effort to promote the positive culture surrounding immigration and migration was first developed by Winarick in April of 2016 at TED headquarters in New York City. Winarick is an immigration attorney, advocate and entrepreneur based in Waco, Texas and Washington D.C. Before starting her own immigration law practice, she spent eight years working for a variety of non-profit organizations. She is a former Director of Teaching for Change, Miriam’s Soup Kitchen, and the United Nations Association of the National Capital Area. She co-founded Just Cause, a social group that raises funds for and awareness about locally-serving non-profit organizations. Most recently, she spent three months at the TED offices in New York as part of the inaugural class of TED Residents.

The public is invited to attend the event, and it might be of special interest to individuals interested in sharing their work in promoting positive change in the community, creating safe and inviting spaces for meaningful interactions, and establishing a safe culture for all individuals, including teachers, artists, community volunteers, small business owners, and others who make a difference each day.

For additional information call the library at 620-245-2570 or email them at

library@macpl.org.

Two Drug Arrests Monday in McPherson

A youth was arrested yesterday evening in McPherson for possession of marijuana, interference with a law enforcement officer, and for possession of tobacco by a minor. The juvenile was arrested about 7:00 pm in the 100 block of South Kansas Ave. in McPherson.

Another drug arrest last night in McPherson involved Matthew Wilcher of Texas who was stopped by McPherson police shortly before midnight near the intersection of Ave. A and Deerfield and arrested for possession of marijuana. Wilcher was booked into the McPherson County jail on a $250 bond.

McPherson Festival Experiences First Rainout in 23 Years

photo by Visit McPherson

McPherson’s Festival of Cultures had a rough weekend with torrential rains on Saturday and a lightning storm that drove away attendees and sent vendors and volunteers alike ducking for cover.

“It’s unfortunate that we had such bad weather,” said Mayor Tom Brown, addressing the public this morning at the city commission meeting.

“I think that’s the third time in 23 years that it’s rained,” he commented. “So we had 20 years of sunshine and we’ve had three years of rain.”

Mayor Tom Brown took the opportunity Monday to thank all the volunteers who devoted their time to making the festival happen and to the vendors who participated.

“I’d like to publicly thank Dianna Carter for her leadership and all the work that was done,” Mayor Brown said. “You have to work just as hard and probably harder when it rains because you have to make a lot of adjustments and try to keep things dry, but we do appreciate the group, and appreciate the vendors that were out there when the crowd was sparse because of the downpour on Saturday.”

The festival this year expanded its focus from the Scottish Festival that started in McPherson back in 1993. The Highland Games is a Scottish sporting event that has drawn athletes from all over the country. This year, McPherson hosted its national championships. Fortunately, the athletes were able to complete the competition despite having to take several breaks waiting for storm cells to pass through.

This is the first year in its 23-year history the festival experienced a day that was completely rained out. 

Writers Workshop Meets Tuesday at McPherson Public Library

The monthly writer’s workshop meets this Tuesday evening at 6:30 at the McPherson Public Library. The workshop is open for adults of all ages at any level of writing experience and for any style of writing, whether it’s a novel, short story, company newsletter or fan fiction. New attendees are invited to join at any time.

The library started the workshop last spring. It started out meeting every fourth Monday but has since changed to every fourth Tuesday, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm, at the McPherson Public Library’s meeting room near the front door.

For more information, contact Shannon Brake at 620-245-2570 or email the library at

library@macpl.org

The McPherson Public Library is located at 214 W. Marlin, across the street from the McPherson County Courthouse. 

Weekend Drug Arrests in McPherson County

McPherson city and county police on Friday arrested William Nickel of Marquette for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Nickel was booked into the McPherson County jail on a $2500 bond.

Daniel Preston of Newton was also arrested in McPherson for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Preston’s bond was also set at $2500 with an additional bond of $320 for a municipal warrant.   

And in Lindsborg Police arrested Devon Freeman of Desoto early Sunday morning for possession of marijuana, transporting an open container, and having a minor in consumption of alcohol. 

Open House Monday for Proposed Wind Energy Center in McPherson County

McPherson BPU

McPherson area residents are invited to an Open House for the proposed wind generation facility to be built in McPherson County.

The McPherson Wind Energy Center Open House is scheduled for next Monday, September 26, as a come-and-go between 5:00 and 7:00 pm at the McPherson Museum. Local area residents are invited to meet staff and learn about the project and its potential benefits for the community.

NextEra Energy Resources is proposing to build the facility:

www.nexteraresources.com

The McPherson Museum is located at 1111 E. Kansas Ave. in McPherson. 

McPherson Resident Backs a "Back the Blue" Campaign

McPherson resident Kathy Allison has taken it upon herself to show support for local law enforcement in a simple but effective way.

“In support of our law enforcement, I’ve collected blue light bulbs here from area businesses,” Kathy said. “And I’m giving them out to people that will put them in their porches and turn them on at night, every night, until the light bulbs go out.

“Our officers risk their lives for us every day,” she continued. “Let them know how much we appreciate all that they do.”

Kathy is giving these lightbulbs out to anyone in the McPherson County area who would like to show their support for all the McPherson County Police Departments and the McPherson County Sheriff’s Office.

“You know, they’re risking their lives for us every day, police officers and law enforcement,” Kathy said. “They’re risking their lives, and we need to do something for them. We need to support them.

“We need to back them,” she added. “‘Back the Blue,’ I just thought, that’s perfect.”

Kathy borrowed the idea from a local retail store that was giving out the blue bulbs directly to police officers for them to put in their houses.

“But God told me no. This is in support of them. You put it out there for them to see.”

She went on, “It’s hard to hear how people can look them down, can look a police officer down for what they do for us, I just can’t imagine.”

If you’d like to Back the Blue and install a blue light bulb in your front porch to show your support for local law enforcement, give Kathy a call at 620-241-7443 and she’ll deliver one to you herself.

Blue light bulbs can also be picked up here at the station. Just come by Mid Kansas Radio during business hours at 411 E. Euclid in McPherson.

Two Drug Arrests This Week in McPherson

Police arrested Jamie Stieben Wednesday afternoon near the intersection of Ash and Elizabeth on a warrant for criminal damage and criminal trespass. Stieben was also arrested for possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He was booked into the McPherson County jail on a district county bond of $2500 with an additional bond of $591 set for the McPherson County warrant.

In a separate incident, McPherson police Wednesday evening arrested Aaron Harter of McPherson, who was pulled over and arrested in the 300 block of West Marlin. Harter is being held without bond on a McPherson County warrant for disorderly conduct and failure to appear. He is also being charged with trafficking a controlled substance into a correctional facility and for possession of marijuana. That bond was set at $2500. 

McPherson College Art Professor Wayne Conyers Receives Prestigious Award from Kansas Art Education Association

McPherson College Art Professor Wayne Conyers Receives Prestigious Award from Kansas Art Education Association

When Wayne Conyers first got the letter, he had to read it twice.

“My first thought was, ‘I have to have read that wrong,’” Conyers said.

But he was right the first time: The Kansas Art Education Association has named him Outstanding Art Educator-Higher Education for 2016-2017.

“I was shocked because it was something I never saw coming,” said the professor of art at McPherson College. “It’s just me. I’m just this guy who makes paintings and enjoys turning others on to what turns me on. I’ve been one of those lucky people whose vocation and avocation are the same thing.”

Shawny Montgomery, an art educator and the president of the KAEA, nominated Conyers for the prestigious award.

“I have observed his unlimited commitment and dedication to students, his fellow faculty members, art educators and the art education profession,” Montgomery said.

Dr. Bruce Clary, vice president for academic affairs, started at McPherson College in 1983 at the same time as Conyers. Because of this, Dr. Clary said he has had a great perspective on what has made Conyers successful.

“Wayne has a contagious passion and joy for making art, and he has passed that on to hundreds – maybe thousands – of students over his decades-long career,” Dr. Clary said. “He inspires them to trust their own imaginations.”

Conyers received a Master of Fine Arts in Painting at Fort Hays State University and started his career teaching high school art for 10 years. After Baldwin, he came to McPherson College and is now in his 33rd year of being an “artist who has chosen to teach” at MC, with 19 of those as department chair. His instruction has been primarily focused on ceramics and painting.

At the same time, he’s been a significant contributor to professional and community art organizations. These include serving as a board member for Watercolor USA and Kansas Watercolor Society; member of Phi Kappa Phi, National Art Education Association, Kansas Art Education Association, and Visual Arts Alliance of McPherson. He also has served the community with leading watercolor workshops, serving as juror to high school exhibitions, and hosting and organizing the annual Central Kansas Art Educators Exhibition and the Central Kansas League Art Festival on the campus of McPherson College.

Professionally, his works have won awards and been invited to well over 125 exhibitions at all levels – local, national and international – and has earned dozens of prominent awards for his work. He’s probably best known for his watercolor paintings, which are included within a variety of private, corporate and museum collections.

He has drawn from his life experience as inspiration for much of his work, but recently he’s been getting ideas from studying theoretical physics – dark matter, the multiverse, string theory, and the like. In his technique, Conyers tends to blend surreal images with colorful geometric patterns – often infused with his quirky sense of humor.

Conyers said he never expected to receive the Outstanding Art Educator award for his lifetime of work, but he could not be happier.

“This is the icing on the cake of my career,” Conyers said. “How could anyone ask for more as an art educator?”

Contact:Adam Pracht, public relations coordinator, 620-242-0425,prachta@mcpherson.edu

McPherson College, located in central Kansas, is a four-year private liberal arts college offering more than 20 bachelor’s and pre-professional programs. Throughout the curriculum, students are encouraged to explore their ideas, to learn through doing and to make a difference in the world.  McPherson College, affiliated with the Church of the Brethren, is committed to the ideals of scholarship, participation, and service – developing whole persons, prepared for fulfilling life vocations.

Visitwww.mcpherson.edufor more information about McPherson College.  

2016 Scholarship Recipients for the Evaline Hess Health Education and Scholarship Trust

The Evaline Hess Health Education and Scholarship Trust has awarded 23 scholarships to local students who are pursuing education in the health care industry. Each year, a local trustee board selects from a pool of both new applicants and previous candidates and recipients. The trustees share control of the trust with the McPherson Hospital Board of Trustees and the McPherson Hospital Volunteers in McPherson.

George and Evaline Hess had an interest in advancing health education. The original trust set forth by Evaline Hess has been awarding scholarships since 1980. At the time the scholarship was created, Evaline said “George and I know what it is like to struggle and work hard. We know also that real wealth comes only with good health and knowledge. George and I care about people and when one cares, one shares, doesn’t one?”

The Hess’s generosity has been helping generations of students achieve their educational goals. To date, over 300 scholarships have been awarded since 1980.

There are three major categories in which the trust provides financial awards for recipients: initial       entry into health care, career advancement in health care, or update of technical training.      

The recipients are as follows:

Magan Alexander 

Anna Bahr

Alisa Becker

McKenzie Becker  

Katie Benson 

Makenzie Benson  

Michelle Carrillo  

Ryan Eilts  

Shelby Gudenkauf 

Olivia Hansen  

Allison Ivers

Nathan Kasting 

Price Kramer

Sarah Kroeker

Lindsay McGraw 

Doralynn Mellinger 

Raquel Otero

Joel Piper 

Josh Piper  

Ashtyn Schieferecke  

Kyle Stucky 

Andrea Voth  

Andrew Zeitlow