Tag Archives: pittsburg

PSU students are making a difference in their communities

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — Most people have happy memories from school, but that wasn’t always the case for Irvin Augur.

So he did something about that recently to prevent the same thing from happening at a Pittsburg Elementary School.

Augur called his fundraiser “Clothes for Kids.”

“And there were certain times when I couldn’t go out to recess because I didn’t have winter attire, and because of this I felt like, embarrassed to go to school, so we had a self-defense seminar this past Saturday for the children and charged them $20 for the entry fee, and all the money is going to purchase children’s clothing at Meadowlark Elementary School,” said Irvin Augur, PSU Social Work Senior.

Augur is one of a group of seniors in the PSU social work program that selected a cause near to their heart, and is making it happen.

His classmate Haylee Miller, a native of Lamar, is also fundraising for a good cause.

“I’m raising money for a domestic violence shelter called “Moss House” and I’m selling T-shirts and sweatshirts that I designed, and 100% of the proceeds go directly to Moss House, Moss House serves a huge community and they don’t have a ton of resources so I wanted to help raise money so they can better provide my community as also their community in Nevada,” said Haylee Miller, PSU Social Work Senior.

Dr. Kristen Humphrey says the social work department program is a great way to get experience in serving the community, something they’ll be doing for a living after graduation.

“It’s one thing to sit in a classroom and talk about doing community advocacy, and it’s an entirely something different to get out there and actually do it, so the students have the opportunity to see a project from beginning to end, from the spark of an idea to planning it out,” said Dr. Kristen Humphrey, PSU Professor of Social Work.

By the end of the semester, students will have collected fundraising dollars, dispersed them to the organization they’re helping, and presented their project for faculty, staff, and other students to look at.

The "Midwest Trumpet Festival" is back, and better than ever

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — Trumpet enthusiasts from all over the Midwest are likely to be heard playing in Pittsburg.

Sunday and Monday, the annual “Midwest Trumpet Festival” is being held at “Pittsburg State University”. The event is all put together by music professor Todd Hastings, who started the program in 2009.

The two days are full of recitals, master classes and presentations for students and educators coming from all over the region.

The festival hasn’t happened in two years due to COVID-19, so this year was even more of an excitement for those participating.

“So, being able to make the drive down to Pittsburg, and just spend a couple days like totally immersed in incredible teaching and incredible playing, it’s something that I know my students don’t get to do very often, but it’s been great to be able to bring them to this so that they can experience that,” said Eric Dickson, Trumpet Professor, Truman State University.

If you didn’t make today’s concert, that’s okay. Monday offers more concerts, workshops and presentations from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

It’s all happening at the “Bicknell Center for the Arts” in Pittsburg.

Advanced voting in Crawford County underway

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PITTSBURG, Kans. — Crawford County gave people the chance to cast their ballots before election day.

Advanced voting is underway across the state of Kansas ahead of the November 8th election.

Today Crawford County set up booths inside the Homer Cole Senior Citizen’s Center in Pittsburg.

Many voters took advantage of their chance to cast an early ballot.

The Crawford County Clerk says the goal is to give people the chance to make their voices heard in case they can’t make it to the polls election day.

“Yeah we have had a steady flow. There’s been around 50 people in the first half hour. We want people to vote advanced sometimes because you know, you don’t know if you can make it to the polls on election day. Things come up all the time and that way we know that you know you’re going and you’re getting your vote counted,” said Lisa Lusker, Crawford County Clerk.

You can still cast an advanced ballot by stopping by the Crawford County Clerk’s Office Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. all the way up to election day.

National Drug Take Back Day places old prescriptions in safe hands

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — People get the chance to drop off their old prescription drugs at the Pittsburg Police Department.

The goal of National Drug Take Back Day is to get the drugs off the streets and into proper hands.

These drugs will be sent to the evidence department so they can be disposed of properly.

“We have the drug drop of to get the drugs off the street. Keep them from contaminating landfills, people flushing down toilets and stuff like that. It gives them a safe place to bring them where we can make sure they’re disposed of properly,” said Cheryl Landon. Pittsburg Police Department.

The Pittsburg Police Department also has a white bin in their lobby so people can drop off prescription meds all year round.

Annual Diwali Night celebration at PSU

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PITTSBURG, Kan. — Over 100 came out tonight to share and learn about Indian culture.

The “Indian Students Association” of Pittsburg State University held their annual “Diwali Night” tonight.

It was an evening of traditional dancing, art, music, clothing and much more.

Traditionally, Diwali is known as the annual festival of lights.

It’s also when the Indian culture celebrates the new year.

Tonight was all about enjoying and having fun.

“We would, we would be very happy to, teach everyone about our culture and traditions, as well as share as much as we could,” said Srikar Reddy Nagirebdypally, President, Indian Students Association.

“We want everyone to come and enjoy, have fun, you know, get to know other Indian cultures, wear traditional dress because everyone, if you look around, they are colorful today,” said Raj Thakor, Member, Indian Students Association.

The night ended later with fireworks and even more dancing.

Downtown Pittsburg art district designation will open doors for new projects

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PITTSBURG, Kans. — There’s already a lot of public art in Downtown Pittsburg, and more of it is now on the way. Earlier this week, the Pittsburg City Commission gave its blessing to the creation of an arts district in the downtown area.

Crista Cunningham is the president of the Pittsburg Artwalk Association, the group that has been pursuing the idea for the last year. She says the new designation will pave the way for even more public art in that part of town.

“To hopefully enhance what’s already happening, so if there’s a way for those business owners to get grants using that title, the possibility is there. Hopefully, it will shine up our downtown even more, bring more people to the area,” she said.

As a result, Cunningham says there are even more business owners now interested in having art projects on their buildings. The new arts district spans north to Trailhead Park, south to Jolly Fox Brewery, east to Frisco Event Center, and west to the city’s public library.

Pittsburg PD requests public assistance to identify vehicle in a pedestrian hit-and-run

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PITTSBURG, Kans. — The Pittsburg Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance in locating the below-pictured vehicle.

It is believed to be an early 2000s Chevrolet Tahoe or GMC Yukon. It may have damage in the front passenger side area.

On October 28, 2022, authorities arrived to the 1400 block of E. 20th Street, in Pittsburg, in response to a report of a victim being struck by a vehicle. According to reports, a pewter-colored SUV was traveling west on 14th Street when it struck 43-year-old Melanie L. Ishimura, of Pittsburg, and then immediately fled the area without stopping to render aid.

Ishimura was taken to Ascension Via Christi Hospital for injuries and remains in serious condition.

The accident is still under investigation by the Pittsburg Police Department. Anyone having information related to this incident is urged to contact the Pittsburg Police Department at 620-231-1700, or at their tip line, 620-231-TIPS (8477). Callers may remain anonymous.

Homecoming Week at PSU includes "Banana Extravaganza"

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PITTSBURG, Kans. — “Homecoming Week” this week at Pittsburg State University, and something new has been added to the lineup.

The “Banana Extravaganza” turns classrooms and the oval into a campus-wide scavenger hunt.

Students get clues on social media to hunt down bananas hidden in different spots. Student organizers say it’s a fun way to incorporate the campus footprint into celebratory mix of things.

“We have three large prizes for social media, so if they find the three big bananas then they get the three big prizes. Then our spirit chair Morgan Castellan is in charge of that so she’s on social media. But also we have about 30 little bananas that are just kind of hidden around campus that students can find and take to the CAC office,” said Hope Rainey, PSU Homecoming Committee President.

There are smaller prizes like gift cards and also a food truck and raft races tonight.

Saturday’s parade is at 9 a.m. on Broadway Street. The game between the 5th-ranked Gorillas and Missouri Western is on Saturday at 2 p.m.

A space for our Veterans, at Pittsburg State University

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PITTSBURG, Kans. — Service in the armed forces can help boost the college experience for some students, and at Pitt State University, there’s a new benefit for members of the military.

Pitt State student Mason Harmon has a very busy schedule. Harmon is working on a degree in the diesel and heavy equipment automotive program, and also, he’s in the military.

“Right now in the Kansas Army National Guard,” said Mason Harmon, KS National Guard.

It helps to pay for college, and gives him a quiet space to study.

“The Veterans Resource lounge at the Kansas Technology Center,” said Harmon.

Space set aside, exclusively for Veterans and current service members.

“I find myself in the resource lounge for Veterans almost daily. I like come here for my class, kind of do some homework study, prepare myself for the day,” said Harmon.

It gives him access to computers and a free printer. There’s a small kitchen and information posted specifically for vets.

The center gives students with similar experiences a change to interact, or enjoy time away from a busy campus.

“It’s quiet. There’s a library here but it can get kind of noisy sometimes with printers and people on computers at most times. I see three people in here at most, which is fine, and I know most of them are all Veterans. So I have great conversations in here,” said Mason Harmon, KS National Guard.

This is the second Veterans’ resources center at PSU, a recent addition in the Kansas Technology Center.

The first, in Whitesitt, has been open about five years. It’s popularity and the size of the campus prompted the expansion.

“Probably 20% of my people that use VA benefits are technology majors. And so if they are, almost all of the classes are out there. It’s very hard for them to get to main campus to print off a sheet of paper to get back to class,” said Robin Stricklin, PSU Certifying Officer.

A grant of about $10,000 helped to fix that, along with some funding on campus.

“Look what they gave up for us. So we want to do what we can for them. I have a tiny budget, but I’m willing to spend it on them,” said Stricklin

And that is something Mason Harmon greatly appreciates.

“I’m very proud of the university for doing something like this and I hope more campuses follow this path,” said Harmon.

PSU hosts giant health and recreation conference for students

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PITTSBURG, Kans. — A large group of students was on the Pittsburg State campus Thursday. All from different schools, but all with the same goal in mind: health and recreation.

Getting someone to do regular, physical activity, to the point where they don’t even realize they’re exercising, is one of the goals of students in the P.S.U. Department of Health, Human Performance, and Recreation. Many of them joined with their peers from other Sunflower State schools to participate in the Kansas Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Conference.

“College students majoring in physical education, recreation, exercise science, athletic training, things like that, from across the state to come here, go to a few activity sessions, talk about the value of belonging to a professional organization,” said Dr. John Oppligar, PSU Health, Human Performance & Recreation.

Teri Lund, a P.E. teacher in Chanute, and presenter for the event, used an activity called, “Drumtastic” to teach conference attendees how to get people of any age up and moving.

“Creativity, rhythm, we were doing speech patterns. We do a lot of cross-lateral. I do a lot of brain-based education in my “Drumtastic” and then that drumming and fitness, but not only, not only the physical part but the mental part as well,” said Lund.

Students from all over the State of Kansas are taking part in this event, including those from rival MIAA schools. They may be bitter rivals on the playing field, but when it comes to exercise and promoting a healthy lifestyle, they’re all really on the same team.

“We might have different majors or going in different fields after graduation, but yeah, just getting everyone to work together, have the same goal,” said Breonna Goodwin, PSU Health, Human Performance & Recreation.