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  Smoky Hills Public TV
     Responding to Needs -- Growing Support                    
     -by Diane Jowers
 
(Posted October 1, 2002)  In central and western Kansas, if you like your news with a local slant, your legislators listening to you, your creativity inspired by your neighbors, and your learning at your convenience, you tune in to Smoky Hills Public Television (SHPTV).  All of this is brought to a 52-county area by a community-licensed station based in Bunker Hill (population 112) in a century-old building that was once a grocery store.  (See photo at right.)
  
Rick Hicks is general manager/CEO of SHPTV, which began broadcasting in 1982 and now has 32 employees to keep the station on track to keep Kansans tuned in.  “We are dedicated to being responsive to the needs of our viewers, letting their interests guide programs and projects development.  We’ve experienced significant growth in recent years and are excited by opportunities presented by technological advancements, particularly expansion of our capabilities through DTV conversion during the next few months,” said Hicks. 
(Note:  Mr. Hicks left the station in 2003.)

The Newslink team: Hesher, McQuade, and Stout
Mike Hesher, Tim McQuade, Jenna Stout - NewsLink
  
With the viewer-prompted launch of NewsLink in May, SHPTV began providing the only news program that is clearly focused on the western half of the state.  The Kansas Legislature gives viewers a weekly opportunity to call-in their questions and comments about what’s going on in the news and in the legislative session.
                             Smoky Hills PTV covers the western half of Kansas
Kansas Arts Today is one of the most popular locally produced programs.  Featuring artists and arts organizations throughout the state won it first place (for the sixth time) in the Entertainment/Cultural category of the Kansas Association of Broadcasters Awards competition in 2001. 

  
"Bombers on the Prairie: The B-29 in Kansas," a documentary on how B-29 airbases affected military and civilian life in the state, received the first place award in the Public Affairs category. 
  

   
The Kansas Department of Commerce & Housing honored the station with its 2002 Merit Recognition Award at a Kansas Business Appreciation Month event.  “We are proud of these honors, the result of hard work and quality productions that meet our viewers’ entertainment and educational needs,” said Hicks.
     
SHPTV is involved in many projects that extend educational programs’ impact on communities.  It is one of 20 PBS stations to receive grant funds to create an outreach project (supplemental materials and workshops) for Cyberchase, the animated math series.  Through participation in “Reading Rockets,” a national multimedia project, SHPTV’s Reading Center focuses on building the foundations for reading before school and better ways to teach children, especially those with learning disabilities, to read.     

     
A previous outreach project, “Kansas Kids Initiative,” was funded by the Kansas Health Foundation and was a collaborative effort of the state’s four public television stations. A statewide show featuring family life enrichment programs was broadcast, and “A Resource Guide for Children’s Health” was printed in English and Spanish.  Another project, “Seeking Solutions: A Pledge to Our Children,” complemented a national program on grassroots efforts to decrease crime.
     
SHPTV’s recently expanded adult learning service offers low-cost courses, and fees help to support SHPTV.   “This no-stress learning opportunity is a way for viewers to do something good for public television while doing something good for themselves,” said SHPTV Director of Educational Services Marlece Brown.
     
Many Kansans in search of “something good” of another sort find it at the Annual Art Auction at The Mall of Hays, one of SHPTV’s most popular fund-raising events.  At the ninth annual auction in April, hundreds of volunteers worked to sell more than 300 pieces of art.  Once again, viewers who tune in to SHPTV and find what they’re looking for turned out to show their support.
   Visit the Smoky Hills PTV Web site:  www.shptv.org
     


   A unique public television facility - Smoky Hills PTV
  For a full-size view
  of Smoky Hills PTV,
  click on the windows
  in the photo above.
  
  
   Smoky Hills PTV GM Rick Hicks
   Rick Hicks,
   GM/CEO at SHPTV
    

 
National Educational Telecommunications Association  -  PO Box 50008 - Columbia, SC 29250  -  Phone: 803.799.5517 / Fax: 803-771-4831