Representatives from Pioneer Electric presented Pheasant Heaven Charities with a  check totaling $14,352.52 on Friday, January 8. Funds for the donation were available due to the disbanding of the Underground, Overhead, Metering (UOM) School. Beginning in 1974, the UOM school provided training to linemen and kept them up-to-date on new tools and products used in electrical power distribution.  The non-profit training event, sponsored by Pioneer Electric, Wheatland Electric and the City of Garden City Electrical Department, formally disbanded in 2020.

“We wanted to ensure that these funds, created in southwest Kansas, were given back to a southwest Kansas organization,” said Mike Haney, a former board member for the UOM school and manager of engineering and operations at Pioneer Electric. “Pheasant Heaven Charities goes above and beyond to assist those in need throughout our region.”

Pheasant Heaven Charities will use the donation to fund assistance opportunities for individuals dealing with medical needs. Additionally, the charity will use the money for their scholarship program and assist in supporting other organizations throughout southwest Kansas and the Oklahoma Panhandle.

Pheasant Heaven Charities’ goal is to assist individuals with medical needs. In addition to its benevolent assistance program, Pheasant Heaven Charities provides support to cancer patients within a 50-mile radius of Hugoton through its Love From Above Committee. The committee also provides snacks and water for two cancer center locations in Liberal. Persons in need of assistance may apply online at www.pheasantheavencharities.com or contact Sharon Concannon at 620-544-4318.

Members of the Pioneer Electric Helping Us Give to Society (H.U.G.S.) team presented Grant County Extension staff with a $2,000 grant. The grant will help purchase equipment to assist with virtual education presentations. The Extension staff hopes the equipment will allow them to better reach Grant County residents and provide them with various educational opportunities.

“The (H.U.G.S.) team felt this was a great opportunity for the Extension and our community,” said Dee Longoria, H.U.G.S. team member. “We see more and more organizations utilize digital tools and resources to help empower southwest Kansas. We hope that this will assist the Grant County Extension to serve our local youth and others.”

In December, K-State Research and Extension mandated that Extension events be held virtually unless there is justification for holding it in person. Additionally, in-person events should have a virtual option available. To accommodate the new requirements, the Grant County Extension looked into cameras and other equipment to make meetings more accessible. The new camera system will allow virtual viewers to see all the individuals in attendance in a meeting/presentation and focus on the person speaking. Extension staff will also have the ability to record events and share them digitally.

“We have provided 4-H cooking workshops, project meetings, and club meetings virtually,” said Monica Walker, extension agent. “However, we lack the technology to do this effectively. The equipment will help us better facilitate virtual meetings and will allow us to hold hybrid meetings for those that can attend in person and those that can’t. This allows those that are not attending in person to hear and see the speakers better and increase their engagement. The equipment will also allow us to record and present educational presentations.”

Those interested in learning more about the various programs offered by the Grant County Extension may call their office at 356-1721.