Announced in fall 2019, the Neodesha Promise Scholarship — funded by high school alumnus and philanthropist Ben Cutler — vowed to turn the tide for the southeast Kansas town of about 2,100, which for years had seen a dwindling population and enrollment in the school system. With Cutler’s funding from a lifetime as an executive in the finance and insurance industries, the program essentially guaranteed qualified graduates like Leck from Neodesha High School that their tuition to any college in Kansas or the country would be paid for, at least up to the equivalent of the highest in-state tuition and fees [...]

The Hutchinson Fire Department and Hutchinson Regional Medical Center are raising funds to provide a safe and anonymous way for mothers or guardians to legally surrender a child. The Infant Safety Box Project is aimed at raising at least $50,000 to install Hope's Cradles at two fire stations. If more funds are raised, more cradles will be installed across the community. ... “Our goal really is to ensure both the guardian and the child have a future,” Hutchinson Fire Chief Steven Beer said in a statement. “This cradle can give the guardian hope in a desperate situation and prevent the loss [...]

Terminating a live wire didn't exactly come with his job description, but it's something that Peterson, executive director of the Community Housing Development Organization, would gladly do again. Saline County funded a home Weatherization Assistance Program with American Rescue Plan Act dollars and asked his organization to take the lead. Since the program's inception, Peterson has been able to help homeowners who are in situations that cause large energy bills, often unbeknownst to them. “We’ve seen a lot of things that made us feel extremely good about what we were doing — not only saving energy dollars but protecting them from [...]

Human resources director Jacque Russell, the longest-tenured department head for Topeka’s city government, is leaving city employment. Russell has resigned effective Dec. 1, city communications director Gretchen Spiker said Wednesday. Russell joined the city in July 2007 as its classification and compensation manager before being promoted to human resources director in April 2008, Spiker said. The city over the coming weeks will identify an employee to serve as interim human resources director, then conduct a nationwide search to fill the position permanently, Spiker said. Source: CJonline