Ron Womble

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Published Content

School districts shop for new teachers at PSU

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- Well-dressed and smiling with freshly printed resumes in hand, the newest crop of Pittsburg State teachers moved from table to table in the Plaster Center, Thursday, where they met with administrators from school districts in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. As demand for teachers in all areas is currently high, it seemed likely that nearly all of the young candidates would have at least one job offer by day’s end. Dr. Jean Dockers, director of Teacher Education at PSU, said enrollment in teacher education dropped dramatically during Covid, but has been steadily growing, meaning Pitt State will be able to help fill some of those open positions.

February 12, 2026
Shortage reaches a crisis

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- That school bus drivers are in short supply is not news. Districts across the U.S. have been struggling to fill vacant positions for a long time. But in Pittsburg’s USD 250, the situation is getting critical.

January 5, 2026
KMEA honors Earl

PITTSBURG, Kan. -- Pittsburg Community Middle School Principal Laura Earl got a nice surprise, Tuesday. As Earl got out her clarinet to join the PCMS Band in playing the National Anthem before the boys’ basketball game with Galena, she was called to the center of the court. There, two representatives of the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) announced that she had been selected as the 2025-26 Administrator of the Year and as the Southeast District Administrator of the year.

January 20, 2026
Johnson helps guide strategic plan

PITTSBURG, Kan. – Late Friday evening, Pittsburg State University President Thomas Newsom announced that PSU Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Jim Johnson had been selected as executive vice president for engagement and executive affairs, a new position at PSU that reports directly to Newsom, and is charged with helping guide the university’s new strategic plan. Noting that universities are not known for moving so quickly, Newsom said in interviews Monday that with the right people already in place for both Intercollegiate Athletics and the university, there was no reason to delay the decision. “Why wait?” he asked, Monday.

February 2, 2026
Electric trains, track improvements

PITTSBURG, Kan. — Dan Smith chuckles at inevitable references to “electric trains.” Smith, the chief executive officer of Watco, said the company’s award of $17.7 million in federal funds to convert eight of its locomotives into fully battery-powered units is just one piece of an important package of awards that will not only help the company become more energy efficient, but will also help it make significant track-related improvements. On Tuesday, Gov. Laura Kelly announced that Watco and its subsidiary, the Neodesha Subdivision of the South Kansas & Oklahoma Railroad (SKOL), will receive a total of $47 million in federal funding for locomotive conversion and rail improvement projects as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).

October 4, 2023
Ringing in the holidays

PITTSBURG, Kan. — It just wouldn’t seem like Christmas without the sounds of bells in the air. Handbells, that is. The Bells of the Balkans will present their 10th annual “Ring in the Season” concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 10, in the Bicknell Family Center for the Arts’ Scott Auditorium.

December 6, 2023
FRC briefs candidates on childcare

PITTSBURG, Kan. — On Monday, the Family Resource Center (FRC) hosted an information session for candidates for City Commission and USD 250 School Board. Organizers said they did so not just to share information about the center, but also the current status of childcare in Pittsburg and the surrounding area. “We felt it was important to share with the candidates what is the current status of childcare in Pittsburg, what are the efforts to support the industry going on at the State level, and finally, share how the center is seen across the state as a model for community collaboration in providing early childhood education that includes pre-k and childcare services,” said Ann Elliott, executive director.

October 25, 2023
Absolutely!

Paula Baker, President and CEO of Freeman Health Systems, seems a little perplexed that some in southeast Kansas may have doubts that Freeman plans to build a new hospital in Pittsburg. “I’ve heard that question (Are you really going to build it?) from a lot of people,” she said this week.

October 21, 2023
Benefits of a simple act of kindness

ARMA, Kan. — It’s not such a big thing, really -- just a lap-sized crocheted afghan. Something to ward off the chill. But woven through each brightly colored pattern is a message: “Someone is thinking of you.” It’s a simple act of kindness that touches the recipient and the giver, as well.

November 7, 2023
Agency celebrates reuniting families

Employees at TFI Family Services took a break from their work, Wednesday, to celebrate the 293 children (represented with golden pinwheels) who they helped reunify with their families in Kansas this past year. Meridith Lynn, director of permanency services, told those gathered it was important to routinely take time to appreciate their successes. “You are special,” she told the case managers and other employees, “because you look past the challenges and see a brighter future.” Lynn also paid tribute to the families “who put in the hard work necessary to be reunified.” Lynn said that TFI is always looking for persons or families interested in fostering children and youth, as well as potential employees who have a desire to serve children and families.

June 27, 2024